BITCOIN SEASON 2: Inside Russia's Secret Bitcoin Mining Industry

Anna Baydakova discusses Russia's dramatic shift toward Bitcoin, covering mining legalization, the crypto exodus, sanctions impact, and how Russians use Bitcoin to survive economic isolation and preserve wealth amid political repression. Anna Baydakova, Senior Reporter at CoinDesk joins us to talk about Russia's complex relationship with Bitcoin. From Putin's surprising embrace of crypto mining to the grey market of mining rig distribution, Anna reveals how sanctions transformed Russia's crypto landscape. We explore Siberian mining operations and why Russians increasingly turn to Bitcoin as both protest and preservation against an authoritarian regime. Link to the full report: https://blockspace.media/insight/in-between-worlds-the-state-of-bitcoin-mining-in-russia/ Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: • Russia legalized Bitcoin mining in November 2024 • Hash rate dropped 10-15% after Ukraine invasion • Electricity costs $0.02-0.04/kWh in Siberia • Putin shifted from anti-crypto to pro-mining • Telegram channels became primary crypto platform Timestamps: 00:00 Start 01:16 Russia mining overview 02:56 Past 3 years of growth 08:30 Top Russian Miners 09:11 Mining "ban" is complicated 13:30 Who owns these miners? 17:31 Sanctions & War 23:23 Grey ASIC market 26:36 Wrap up - 👋Bitcoin Season 2 is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech! Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here. Questions or want to sponsor? [email protected]