On December 17, 2024, British Columbia's provincial government reaffirmed its ban on new bitcoin mining connections until December 2025, despite Vancouver's City Council exploring becoming a 'bitcoin-friendly city'. The ban, initiated in December 2022 to address energy concerns, was upheld by the B.C. Supreme Court in early 2024, emphasizing its alignment with public utility regulations.
BC Hydro, the province's primary electricity utility, generates over 90% of its power from hydroelectric sources. Although Vancouver's Mayor Ken Sim advocates for the financial benefits of bitcoin mining, provincial regulations prevent any influence on mining operations.
Earlier this year, the legislature updated the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, allowing the provincial government to bypass the BC Utilities Commission's oversight, thus granting it direct regulatory control over electricity services for cryptocurrency mining.
Conifex Timber, which faced challenges due to the mining ban, argued the regulations were discriminatory, but the court ruled in favor of the province. Legal experts have raised concerns about the implications of such regulations potentially extending to other energy-intensive industries.