Norway Introduces Data Center Legislation, Posing Greater Scrutiny for Bitcoin Miners Amid Environmental Concerns

Norway has enacted new legislation aimed at data centres, requiring official registration and detailed information about their owners, leaders, and digital services offered, making it the first European country to establish such regulations. This move, according to Terje Aasland, Norway’s energy minister, aims to provide policymakers with better insights into data centre operations to facilitate informed decisions about their acceptance or rejection. The legislation, while targeting data centres, could also lead to increased scrutiny for Bitcoin miners in Norway, particularly amidst concerns about their energy consumption and environmental impact. Aasland emphasised the government's stance against businesses seeking to exploit Norway's cheap energy for activities like crypto mining, expressing preference for data centres serving beneficial societal functions. The number of Bitcoin mining operations in Norway remains unclear, but the new regulations aim to provide clarity and align with the country's digitalization objectives.