Share this article
Quebec Halts Crypto Mining Approvals Pending New Restrictions
Quebec has halted approvals for new cryptocurrency mining operations while it draws up new rules and may raise energy costs.
By Nikhilesh De
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 8:02 a.m. Published Jun 8, 2018, 7:00 a.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Quebec has issued a moratorium on new cryptocurrency mining operations in a bid to give officials time to develop new restrictions and potentially increase energy costs, Reuters reported Thursday.
The Canadian province long known for its cheap hydroelectric power has formally stopped approving new projects in order to create new rules around which mining firms will be allowed to set up shop in the region, according to the news agency.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Further, Hydro Quebec, the state-owned power producer, hopes to limit the power that can be available for miners to 500 megawatts in total, or just "a fraction of the 17,000 megawatts" that miners have requested so far.
Hydro Quebec has also reportedly asked Quebec's energy board to create new rates so as to "help maximize the energy producer's revenue."
This is not the first time Quebec has halted approvals for new cryptocurrency mining firms. As previously reported, Hydro Quebec briefly stopped accepting new clients from the space in March, citing the large amount of energy demanded by miners.
At the time, the firm produced a document stating it would be unable to meet demand if every mining project that applied for space was approved.
With new restriction rules, as Reuters reported, Hydro Quebec would be able to choose "the best among the companies" vying to develop facilities in the region.
This will in turn help the province grow its economy without resulting in higher costs for local residents, said Hydro-Quebec's distribution president, Eric Filion, in a statement.
Hydro Quebec image via Shutterstock
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
How a 'perpetual’ stock trick could solve Michael Saylor’s $8 billion debt problem
The bitcoin treasury firm is using perpetual preferreds to retire convertibles, offering a potential framework for managing long-dated leverage.
What to know:
- Strive upsized its SATA follow on offering beyond $150 million, pricing the perpetual preferred at $90.
- The structure offers a blueprint for replacing fixed maturity convertibles with perpetual equity capital that removes refinancing risk.
- Strategy has a $3 billion convertible tranche due in June 2028 with a $672.40 conversion price, which could be addressed using a similar preferred equity approach.
Top Stories
