British Columbia said it plans to permanently ban new cryptocurrency mining operations connected to its power grid, citing the need to protect electricity supplies to industries that generate jobs and government revenue.
The move by the government of Canada’s third most populous province is part of a broader legislative and regulatory overhaul unveiled Monday that also imposes new limits on electricity consumption by data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) companies.
“The government will also implement several regulatory and policy changes in fall 2025 that will permanently prohibit new BC Hydro connections to the power grid for cryptocurrency mining to preserve the province’s electricity supply and avoid overloading the power grid,” the government said in a message posted on its website.
The province said the restrictions would help prevent strain on the grid and ensure industrial development is powered by clean electricity.
We are seeing unprecedented demand from traditional and emerging industries,” said Charlotte Mitha, president and CEO of electric utility BC Hydro, in the web publication. “The province’s strategy allows BC Hydro to manage this growth responsibly, keeping our grid reliable and our energy future clean and affordable.”
Crypto mining operations often consume large amounts of electricity without creating many local jobs or tax revenues, according to the release.
In contrast, projects such as mines or liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are considered more beneficial to the economy.
In addition to the crypto ban, the province will cap the availability of electricity for AI and data centers, while launching a competitive allocation process in January 2026.
Detailed regulations are expected to be rolled out in November, and a competitive process for allocating power to AI and data centers is planned for January 2026.
