British Columbia said it plans to permanently ban new cryptocurrency mining operations from connecting to its electricity grid, citing the need to protect power supplies for industries that drive jobs and public revenue.
The move by the government of Canada’s third-most populous province is part of a broader legislative and regulatory overhaul unveiled on Monday that also imposes new limits on electricity use by data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) companies.
“The government will also implement a number of regulatory and policy changes in the fall of 2025 that will permanently ban new BC Hydro connections to the electricity grid for cryptocurrency mining to preserve the province’s electricity supply and avoid overburdening the electricity grid,” the government said in a post on its website.
The province said the restrictions will help prevent grid stress and ensure industrial growth is powered by clean electricity.
We are seeing unprecedented demand from traditional and emerging industries,” Charlotte Sweet, president and CEO of power utility BC Hydro, said in the web post. “The province’s strategy empowers BC Hydro to manage this growth responsibly, keeping our grid reliable and our energy future clean and affordable.”
According to the statement, crypto mining operations often consume large amounts of electricity without creating many local jobs or tax revenue.
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 limit the availability of electricity for AI and data centres, starting a competitive allocation process in January 2026.
Detailed rules are due to come into force in November, with the competitive process to allocate power to AI and data centers scheduled for January 2026.