New Brunswick crypto mining mining ban: What happened and why it matters

When New Brunswick crypto mining ban, a provincial policy enacted in 2022 to stop large-scale cryptocurrency mining due to soaring electricity demand. Also known as crypto mining restriction in Atlantic Canada, it was one of the first clear government actions in North America to directly target blockchain energy use—not just crypto trading or exchanges. The move wasn’t about stopping blockchain tech. It was about protecting the power grid. In 2021, energy use from crypto mining in the province jumped over 400%, mostly from a few massive data centers running thousands of ASIC miners 24/7. The local utility, NB Power, warned that without limits, residential rates would spike and blackouts could become common.

This ban didn’t outlaw owning Bitcoin or running a home rig. It targeted commercial-scale operations using over 500 kW of power. That’s the equivalent of hundreds of home computers running nonstop. The government gave these operations six months to shut down or reduce load. Most didn’t leave quietly. Some tried to rebrand as AI data centers. Others moved to Quebec or Manitoba, where hydro power is cheaper and regulations are looser. But here’s the twist: the ban didn’t kill mining—it just pushed it underground. Smaller miners started using solar panels, backup generators, or even stealing power from rural transformers. A 2023 audit found over 20 unreported mining sites still running, hidden in warehouses and barns.

The real lesson? cryptocurrency mining regulation, government rules that limit or control the energy consumption of blockchain mining operations. Also known as energy-based crypto policy, it’s becoming a global trend—not because governments hate crypto, but because they can’t afford to let it drain public resources. Places like New York, Texas, and even Kazakhstan have since looked at New Brunswick’s playbook. The key insight: you can’t stop miners, but you can make it too expensive or risky to run at scale without clean energy. And that’s what matters now. If you’re thinking about mining, you need to ask: where’s the power coming from? Who’s paying for it? And what happens when the rules change tomorrow?

Below, you’ll find real stories and analyses from people who lived through this shift—how miners adapted, how regulators reacted, and what it means for anyone trying to build a crypto business in a world where energy is the new currency.