British Columbia said it plans to permanently ban new cryptocurrency mining operations from connecting to its power grid, citing the need to protect energy supplies for industries that generate jobs and public revenue.
The move by the government of Canada’s third most populous province is part of a broader legislative and regulatory reform unveiled Monday that also imposes new limits on electricity use by data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) companies.
“The government will also implement several regulatory and policy changes in the fall of 2025 that… will permanently ban new BC Hydro connections to the power grid for cryptocurrency mining to preserve the province’s power supply and prevent overloading of the power grid,” the government said in a post on its website.
The province said the restrictions will 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,” Charlotte Mitha, president and CEO of energy company BC Hydro, said 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 revenue, according to the statement.
On the contrary, projects such as mines or liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are considered more beneficial to the economy.
In addition to the cryptocurrency ban, the province will limit the availability of electricity for artificial intelligence and data centers, while launching a competitive allocation process in January 2026.
Detailed regulations will be implemented in November, and a competitive process to allocate electricity to AI and data centers is scheduled for January 2026.
