What happened? BC has permanently barred new crypto-mining grid connections and turned its 2022 moratorium into long-term policy.
The provincial energy ministry said BC Hydro will no longer accept new connection requests for cryptocurrency mining and will redirect available electricity toward industries seen as higher value. Officials pointed to the huge power demands of pending crypto projects — more than 11,700 GWh a year — and said mining provided limited local economic benefit. The move is part of broader reforms that will prioritize industries like natural gas processing, hydrogen, manufacturing and AI/data centers through competitive power allocation.
Who does this affect? New and planned crypto miners lose access to BC’s grid while industrial and AI projects gain priority.
Crypto companies planning to build in BC will have to pause, relocate or look for off-grid solutions because they can’t get new grid hookups. Hosting providers, investors and contractors with pending projects face stranded plans or higher costs as the province shifts power to other sectors. Meanwhile, manufacturers, energy processors, hydrogen projects and data-center/AI firms that promise jobs and revenue will be first in line for the limited industrial power available.
Why does this matter? It reshapes regional energy competition and has clear market impacts for mining, data centers and energy buyers.
Taking cheap, renewable hydro out of the pool for miners will likely push some crypto operations to pricier jurisdictions, raise hosting and mining costs, and shift where hash rate is concentrated globally. At the same time, prioritizing AI and job-heavy industries increases demand for large industrial power contracts and data-center capacity, which could lift prices and investment in those sectors. Investors, utilities and miners should expect more competition for power, shifts in project locations, and changing economics for energy-intensive businesses.