Putin Says US Eyeing Crypto Mining at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

What Was Said About Crypto Mining at Zaporizhzhia?

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States has expressed interest in using a proposed stake in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for cryptocurrency mining, according to a report by Russian newspaper Kommersant. The comments were made during a recent meeting with Russian business leaders and framed as part of broader negotiations tied to a possible peace arrangement between Washington and Moscow.

Kommersant reported that the idea surfaced in discussions around future management of the power plant, suggesting the U.S. could use electricity from its stake to support large-scale crypto mining operations. The report did not specify which cryptocurrencies or mining operators would be involved, nor whether the proposal reached a formal negotiation stage.

The Zaporizhzhia facility, located in southeastern Ukraine, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It has been under Russian control since 2022 and has remained offline for extended periods due to security risks and grid instability. Its status has become one of the most contentious issues in ceasefire and peace talks, given the plant’s strategic importance to Ukraine’s energy system and regional power flows.

Investor Takeaway

Who Would Control the Plant Under Competing Proposals?

Control over Zaporizhzhia remains unresolved, with sharply diverse proposals circulating among the parties involved. Kommersant said Russia has discussed a joint management arrangement with the United States that would exclude Ukraine. Under that framework, and allocation of output.

Other reporting points to alternative structures. The BBC said the United States has floated a model where Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. would each hold equal stakes in the plant. Reuters, meanwhile, reported that Ukraine has proposed a 50–50 joint venture with the U.S., under which Ukraine would receive half of the electricity produced while the U.S. would control the remainder. Euronews added that Kyiv assumes Washington would then pass part of its share to Russia.

Each proposal carries diverse implications for energy distribution, sovereignty, and security. Whoever controls the plant controls a major source of electricity for southern Ukraine and plays a central role in stabilizing—or destabilizing—the regional grid.

Why Does Crypto Mining Enter the Discussion at All?

The idea of mining at a nuclear power plant highlights how energy-intensive digital infrastructure is increasingly intersecting with geopolitics. Large-scale mining requires predictable, low-cost electricity—conditions that nuclear generation can provide. In theory, surplus or allocated power from a plant like Zaporizhzhia could support industrial-scale mining operations.

In practice, the proposal raises immediate questions. The plant has been repeatedly shut down or placed in standby due to military risks. International regulators have warned about securety concerns, while Ukraine has accused Russia of using the site as a military asset. Against that backdrop, the feasibility of appears remote.

There is also the issue of legitimacy. Any mining operation would depend on recognized ownership, access to grids, and legal authority to export or monetize electricity. Without a binding agreement on the plant’s governance, crypto mining remains a theoretical bargaining chip rather than an actionable plan.

Investor Takeaway

How Does This Fit Into Broader Ceasefire Efforts?

The discussion comes as diplomatic efforts to halt the Russia–Ukraine war intensify. As the conflict entered its fourth year, U.S. increased engagement aimed at brokering a ceasefire, with talks covering territorial arrangements, security guarantees, and economic components.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this week that Ukraine and the U.S. moved closer to a 20-point peace framework, according to Reuters. Putin has also said Russia is prepared to make concessions, though he has remained firm on Donbas, another disputed region.

Against that backdrop, references to crypto mining appear less about near-term deployment and more about signaling economic options tied to energy control. Whether such ideas gain traction will depend on who ultimately governs Zaporizhzhia and under what international guarantees.

With no agreement in place, the future of the plant—and any crypto-related use of its power—remains uncertain. For now, the proposal sits at the intersection of energy security, war diplomacy, and the growing role of digital infrastructure in state-level negotiations.