Canadian Crypto Mining Policy Comparison Tool
This tool compares provincial crypto mining policies in Canada as of October 2025. Hover over province cards to see detailed information.
New Brunswick
Moratorium
Utility: NB Power
End Date: None (Indefinite)
Scope: All new PoW connections & expansions
Grid Capacity: 1,200 MW
Impact Level: High
Manitoba
Extended Moratorium
Utility: Manitoba Hydro
End Date: April 30, 2026
Scope: New connections only (expansions allowed)
Grid Capacity: 6,100 MW
Impact Level: Medium
British Columbia
Statutory Caps & Rate Hikes
Utility: BC Hydro
End Date: Ongoing (no set end)
Scope: New & existing limited to 1 MW each
Grid Capacity: 12,000+ MW
Impact Level: Medium
Alberta
Open-Door Policy
Utility: Deregulated market
End Date: None
Scope: No specific mining limits
Grid Capacity: 20,000+ MW
Impact Level: Low
Québec
Temporary Reduction + Higher Rates
Utility: Hydro-Québec
End Date: Review annually
Scope: Existing farms capped; new requests limited
Grid Capacity: 25,000+ MW
Impact Level: Medium
Comparison Summary
New Brunswick: Most restrictive with no end date
Alberta: Open for mining operations
Manitoba & BC: Temporary restrictions with review dates
Québec: Annual review policy
How This Affects Miners
Miners are increasingly relocating from provinces with strict restrictions like New Brunswick to more permissive jurisdictions such as Alberta. The decision often comes down to:
- Grid capacity - Can the province support large-scale mining operations?
- Regulatory clarity - Are there defined rules or ongoing uncertainty?
- Electricity cost - Are rates competitive for mining operations?
- Long-term stability - Will the policy remain consistent?
Current trend: Mining activity is shifting towards Alberta and U.S. states with less restrictive energy policies.
TL;DR
- New Brunswick’s Crown utility, NB Power, has blocked every new electricity request from crypto miners since November2023.
- The ban covers both fresh projects and expansion plans for existing PoW operations like Bitcoin mining.
- Unlike Manitoba or British Columbia, the moratorium has no set end date - it’s open‑ended.
- Miners are moving to Alberta or U.S. jurisdictions with fewer energy restrictions.
- Future changes will depend on grid capacity upgrades, advances in low‑energy mining tech, and provincial politics.
Why Provinces Are Targeting Crypto Mining
Energy‑intensive cryptocurrency mining is a process that turns electricity into digital coins. The most common type, Bitcoin mining, relies on a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism that solves cryptographic puzzles using massive amounts of power. When dozens of miners line up in a region, the local grid can see a sudden jump of several thousand megawatts - enough to power a small city.
Governments across Canada have started to ask: can the grid handle that surge without raising residential rates? The answer has been “not without consequences,” prompting a wave of moratoriums, caps, and rate hikes.
New Brunswick’s Moratorium - The Basics
On New Brunswick, the provincial cabinet issued an order on 1March2022 that instructed its Crown utility, NB Power, to stop processing any new electricity service requests from crypto miners. The interim pause became permanent in November2023 when the cabinet announced a comprehensive moratorium.
The policy applies to:
- New mining facilities that have never been connected to the grid.
- Existing miners that request additional capacity to expand their rigs.
- All PoW operations, with Bitcoin being the primary target.
NB Power is mandated to refuse any connection request indefinitely, unless the province issues a future order that explicitly lifts the ban. No timeline for review has been published.
How the Ban Is Enforced
When a company files an electricity connection application, NB Power’s engineering team runs a load‑forecast model. Under the moratorium, any application flagged as “crypto‑related” receives an automatic rejection notice. The utility also audits existing contracts to ensure no hidden expansion clauses exist. Violations can trigger penalties under the provincial Energy Act.
Because the restriction is written into the utility’s operating procedures, it bypasses the need for courts or lengthy public hearings. In practice, the moratorium functions as a hard stop for any large‑scale PoW project.
Impact on Existing Operations
Before the ban, New Brunswick attracted several mid‑size Bitcoin farms because of its relatively cheap hydroelectric power. Those farms can continue operating at their approved capacity, but they cannot add new hash‑rate or install additional cooling systems that would require more electricity.
Industry insiders estimate that the province’s total mining load caps at roughly 300MW, far below the 1GW that would strain the grid during peak winter months. The moratorium therefore caps growth, locks in current employment levels, and sends a clear signal to investors: New Brunswick is not a long‑term mining hub.
How New Brunswick Stacks Up Against Other Provinces
Other Canadian jurisdictions have taken a similar but less absolute approach. The table below summarizes the key features of each region’s policy as of October2025.
| Province | Utility | Policy Type | End Date (if any) | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | NB Power | Indefinite moratorium | None | All new PoW connections & expansions |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Hydro | Extended moratorium | 30April2026 | New connections only (expansions allowed) |
| British Columbia | BC Hydro | Statutory caps & rate hikes | Ongoing (no set end) | New & existing limited to 1MW each |
| Alberta | Deregulated market | Open‑door policy | None | No specific mining limits |
| Québec | Hydro‑Québec | Temporary reduction + higher rates | Review annually | Existing farms capped; new requests limited |
Economic and Grid Implications
The numbers speak for themselves. In Manitoba, former CEO Jay Grewal warned that adding every interested miner in a 16‑month window would have consumed 4,600MW of the province’s 6,100MW capacity - a 75% jump. New Brunswick’s grid is smaller, roughly 1,200MW total, so even a single 300MW mine would represent 25% of the load.
When large miners connect, utilities often have to purchase extra generating capacity or import power at higher market rates. Those costs are ultimately passed to residential customers via higher tariffs. In British Columbia, the court‑ordered limit on BC Hydro helped keep the average residential rate increase below 1% despite a surge in mining applications.
From a fiscal perspective, the moratorium also cuts potential tax revenue from mining businesses. However, provincial officials argue that protecting grid reliability and keeping consumer electricity affordable outweighs those short‑term gains.
Industry Reaction - Where Are Miners Going?
Crypto mining firms looking for cheap, abundant electricity have redirected their capital to Alberta, where the deregulated market still offers bulk power contracts at competitive prices. Some have also eyed the northern United States - North Dakota and Texas - where the regulatory environment is more permissive.
In response to the New Brunswick ban, a handful of operators announced plans to retrofit their hardware to less energy‑hungry consensus algorithms (e.g., moving from PoW to Proof of Stake). While technically possible, the transition requires completely new hardware stacks and is not a quick fix.
Overall, the moratorium has accelerated a geographic reshuffling of hash‑rate across North America, concentrating mining power in regions with fewer grid constraints.
Future Outlook - Will the Ban Ever Lift?
The province has not set a formal review date, but three factors could trigger a policy shift:
- Grid upgrades: If NB Power invests in additional hydro or wind capacity, the spare margin might increase enough to reconsider the ban.
- Technological change: Emerging low‑energy mining ASICs that consume 30% less power could make PoW operations less of a grid risk.
- Political pressure: Lobbying from mining firms and local municipalities that see job creation benefits could sway the next provincial cabinet.
Until one of those conditions materializes, the moratorium will likely remain in place, serving as a case study for other jurisdictions weighing the trade‑off between renewable‑energy‑rich regions and the strain of crypto mining.
Key Takeaways
- New Brunswick’s crypto mining moratorium is the most restrictive in Canada, with no end date.
- Only existing Bitcoin farms can operate at previously approved capacity; no expansions or new projects are allowed.
- Other provinces apply temporary caps or rate hikes, while Alberta stays open.
- Miners are relocating to more permissive jurisdictions, reshaping the North American hash‑rate map.
- Future policy changes hinge on grid capacity, low‑energy hardware, and political lobbying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the New Brunswick moratorium affect small‑scale hobby miners?
The ban targets large‑scale PoW operations that request utility‑scale connections. Hobby miners who run a few rigs off a residential circuit are not directly subject to the moratorium, but they may still face higher residential rates if the grid is stressed.
Can an existing miner apply for a temporary power increase?
No. NB Power has been instructed to reject any expansion request for crypto‑related loads until the moratorium is officially lifted.
What is the main reason behind the moratorium?
Provincial officials cite grid reliability and the protection of residential electricity rates. Adding a 300MW Bitcoin farm would consume a quarter of the province’s total capacity, risking blackouts during winter peaks.
How does New Brunswick’s approach compare to Alberta’s?
Alberta operates a deregulated market with no specific mining caps, making it the most miner‑friendly province in Canada. New Brunswick, by contrast, has an open‑ended blanket ban.
Could the moratorium be challenged in court?
So far, no miner has filed a successful lawsuit against NB Power. The policy is grounded in provincial energy legislation, which gives the cabinet broad authority to protect the public interest.
Marie-Pier Horth
October 3, 2025 AT 19:03The moratorium in New Brunswick reads like a manifesto against unchecked ambition. It tells us that power, both literal and metaphorical, must be tamed before it devours the common good. In simple terms, the province is saying that mining rigs cannot swamp the grid like an unstoppable tide. Yet the same grid lights up homes and farms, a paradox that begs reflection. Perhaps the true lesson is that society must balance progress with prudence, lest we trade freedom for a fleeting glow.
Gregg Woodhouse
October 10, 2025 AT 19:03This whole thing is just a power grab by the government.
F Yong
October 17, 2025 AT 19:03One cannot help but notice the uncanny timing of New Brunswick’s ban, as if a hidden cabal whispered the word “moratorium” into the ears of policymakers. The official line cites grid reliability, yet the same officials champion other energy‑intensive projects with a wink. It is almost as though the province is shifting the burden onto miners while keeping the lucrative hydro contracts for themselves. In any case, the narrative of protecting residents masks a deeper game of control and profit.
Sara Jane Breault
October 24, 2025 AT 19:03If you’re thinking about moving your operation, start by mapping out the local electricity rates and check if any community incentives exist.
Talk to the utility early, and keep a backup plan ready in case policies shift.
Ron Hunsberger
October 31, 2025 AT 19:03There’s a practical path forward for miners who still want to stay in Canada. Focus on provinces like Alberta where the deregulated market offers bulk contracts. Pair that with energy‑efficient ASICs to lower your consumption per hash. Engage with local economic development agencies; they often have programs to attract high‑tech jobs. By aligning your goals with regional growth plans, you can turn a regulatory hurdle into a partnership opportunity.