Share this article
Microsoft Bans Crypto Mining on Its Online Services Without Permission
Google has a similar policy in place and Amazon's AWS prohibits crypto mining during its 12-month free trial.
By Aoyon Ashraf
Updated Dec 15, 2022, 3:58 p.m. Published Dec 15, 2022, 2:39 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Tech giant Microsoft won't allow its customers to mine cryptocurrencies on its online services without prior written permission, according to a policy update that came into effect on Dec. 1.
"Neither Customer, nor those that access an Online Service through Customer, may use an Online Service ... to mine cryptocurrency without Microsoft’s prior written approval," the update said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
The company didn't have much explanation on the ban. However, in an update on Azure - its cloud platform - Microsoft said that crypto mining is prohibited in all online services as part of actions required to "secure the partner ecosystem."
This isn't the first time a tech giant has banned crypto mining in its online platform. Google has similar policy in place – prohibiting mining without the company's prior written permission. Google said last year that most of the “malicious actors” have used compromised cloud accounts to mine crypto, and earlier in 2022 added a mining malware threat detection service for compromised accounts in its cloud service.
Amazon's AWS also prohibits crypto mining for its 12-month free trial. Customers could be charged a fee if they chose to mine on AWS and may have their accounts suspended.
The Microsoft ban was first reported by The Register.
Earlier this year, Microsoft-owned video game Minecraft banned non-fungible tokens (NFT) from its game to ensure "players have a safe and inclusive experience."
Read more: Minecraft Bans NFTs, Sending One In-Game Builder’s Token Spiraling
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
Solana’s new phase is ‘much more about finance,’ says Backpack CEO Armani Ferrante
The Solana ecosystem has spent the past year doubling down on a financial infrastructure, Backpack CEO Armani Ferrante told CoinDesk.
What to know:
- Solana’s latest phase looks a lot less flashy than its memecoin-fueled highs, and that may be the goal.
- Armani Ferrante, CEO of crypto exchange Backpack, told CoinDesk in an interview the Solana ecosystem has spent the past year doubling down on a more sober focus: financial infrastructure. A
- fter years of experimentation as the wider crypto industry focused on NFTs, games and social tokens, attention is now shifting back toward decentralized finance, trading and payments.
Top Stories
