Mining bans in Russia are not yielding the desired results, as illegal miners continue to operate. Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee Anton Gorelkin believes that confiscating illegally mined cryptocurrency could be a more effective measure. Large 'gray' farms with thousands of devices, valued at tens of millions of dollars, have been identified in the Irkutsk region. Law enforcement agencies have already seized equipment, but owners may hide their involvement through proxies and rental schemes. The draft law from the Ministry of Digital Development provides for fines and confiscation of cryptocurrency for illegal mining, which will help combat illegal farms. Experts insist on the need for cooperation between energy companies and the implementation of clear legal mechanisms — fines and confiscations — to limit illegal mining. In the Irkutsk region, measures are also being introduced to identify illegal miners through load analysis and anomalies in energy networks, which helps combat this phenomenon.
