Norway has almost all-renewable hydro power, a stable grid and a cold climate that cuts cooling costs. The government itself lists these as reasons the country attracts miners. CCAF's 2025 survey put Norway at 2.8% of reported mining, the largest share in Europe.
The rules today (as of October 2026)
- Since 1 January 2025 the data-centre regulation (datasenterforskriften) requires data centres above 0.5 MW to register, including an estimate of power used for crypto mining.
- On 18 September 2026 the minister answered Stortinget that 9 registered data centres mine crypto.
- There is no general ban. The government says a general ban is hard to reconcile with the EEA agreement.
The political pressure
- Stortinget asked the government to study a ban in 2024 (vedtak 718) and to propose measures in December 2025 (vedtak 81) and again in March 2026 (vedtak 526).
- The government is studying a state planning provision for a temporary, limited ban on new power-hungry crypto data centres. As of September 2026 it had not been presented.
Bitcoin's case
The government argues mining gives few local jobs. Miners answer that they pay for power at market prices, can switch off when the grid is tight, and can supply heat – for example to drying or greenhouses. Whether Norway sees mining as a flexible customer or an unwanted one is still being decided.