TL;DR
- Russia and the United States are discussing joint management of Zaporizhzhia and the use of its electricity for Bitcoin mining, without including Ukraine in the talks.
- The nuclear plant, under Russian control since 2022, remains on Ukrainian territory.
- Ukraine rejects any agreement without its approval, insists on regaining control, and warns that prioritizing crypto mining diverts critical energy.
Russia and the United States held talks about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that introduced an unexpected element: using its electricity for Bitcoin mining.
According to Vladimir Putin, the discussions included the possibility of jointly managing the facility and using excess energy for crypto operations, without Ukraine’s participation. This has sparked intense debate, as the plant remains located on Ukrainian territory under international law.
Zaporizhzhia: A Strategic Power Plant for Europe
Zaporizhzhia is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and has been under Russian control since March 2022. Its status combines nuclear safety risks, energy supply concerns, and sovereignty issues. In that context, Putin said U.S. representatives showed interest in channeling energy toward Bitcoin mining and, at the same time, mentioned proposals to supply electricity from the plant to Ukraine. None of these claims have been confirmed by Washington.
Ukraine rejected any negotiations that exclude its authorities. Kyiv insists that any governance framework must restore Ukrainian control and ensure the site’s demilitarization, with the involvement of international partners. Ukrainian officials have also challenged Russian statements about technical staff, after Putin claimed that Ukrainian workers continue to operate the plant using Russian passports, a version Ukraine considers illegitimate.
The International Atomic Energy Agency maintains a permanent presence at Zaporizhzhia and repeatedly warns about the risks associated with nearby military activity. Power outages and reliance on backup systems keep the plant in a fragile operational state, increasing the sensitivity of any discussion about its use.
Ukraine Will Reject Any Agreement Without Its Consent
Ukraine is heading into winter with an exhausted power grid under pressure from ongoing attacks on its infrastructure. The idea of allocating nuclear-generated electricity to Bitcoin mining is, at the very least, controversial. Mining requires a stable and continuous power supply, something nuclear generation can provide, but critics argue that prioritizing that use in a war zone diverts attention from the country’s immediate needs.
Kyiv has made it clear that it will not recognize any agreements over Zaporizhzhia signed without its consent. For now, the alleged U.S. interest in crypto mining remains without official confirmation, while the plant’s future remains tied to negotiations over territory, security, and energy control
