Russia and the U.S. are discussing whether electricity tied to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant could be used for bitcoin mining, according to Russian statements and local reporting.

Talks tied to peace negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the plant is part of wider discussions connected to a potential Ukraine peace plan.

Kommersant reported that, according to Putin, American officials have shown interest in using Zaporizhzhia’s electricity for bitcoin mining.

The Kremlin also said the sides have discussed joint management of the facility without Ukraine’s involvement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said contacts followed U.S. proposals related to a possible peace agreement.

Peskov said:

“The information was reviewed and on behalf of President Putin, contact was established between the Russian and US administrations.”

Plant status and safety warnings

Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear facility and sits near Enerhodar in southern Ukraine.

Russian forces took control of the plant in March 2022.

Before the war, it supplied about 20% of Ukraine’s electricity.

Since September 2022, all six reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, and the facility is not producing power for the grid.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that nearly all basic nuclear safety rules at the site are being violated and said the reactors cannot be safely restarted under current conditions.

Why bitcoin mining is being discussed

Reports cited in the article said Zaporizhzhia previously generated around 136.8 gigawatt-hours of electricity per day, creating surplus power.

Bitcoin mining requires a steady electricity supply, and nuclear power can provide continuous output.

Ukraine opposition and Russia mining footprint

Ukraine has opposed decisions about the plant made without its participation.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the plant one of the hardest issues in peace negotiations and said Ukraine wants to regain control.

The latest estimates say that Russia accounts for more than 16% of global bitcoin computing power.