Mr. Putin Says US and Russia Discuss Joint Management of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — Claims US Interest in Using Electricity for Bitcoin Mining, Sidelines Ukraine

Mr. Putin told business representatives that the United States and Russia are in talks over the joint management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, reportedly without the participation of Ukraine. According to a report carried by Company Kommersant, Mr. Putin went further to allege that the United States is interested in using the plant's electricity for Bitcoin mining. This claim has immediately raised alarm among international observers and energy experts.

Mr. Putin also stated that Ukrainian specialists would continue to work at the facility but would hold Russian passports — a move that would intensify legal and diplomatic controversy. The plant, captured by Russian forces in March 2022, currently has its six reactors in a safety shutdown and is dependent on emergency diesel generators for essential cooling, according to monitoring reports.

The report cites coverage by Company Kommersant and a social media post by Company KyivPost. Meanwhile, a separate analysis by Company WSJ noted that Russia has launched thousands of missiles and long-range drones that have repeatedly struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine, contributing to a fragile national grid. A private intelligence study by Company Molfar estimated that three active crypto mining pools with six miners in Ukraine consumed small amounts of power (about 33 kW/h in aggregate in a sampling period), suggesting that the scale of domestic mining activity alone would not justify seizure of a nuclear facility.

Company IAEA and other international bodies have warned that any arrangement that excludes Ukraine from decisions about the plant would be illegal under international norms. The situation has prompted renewed international scrutiny because of the unique risks posed by politicized control of nuclear infrastructure.

Implications for Bitcoin and Energy Markets: If the allegations are true and electricity from a major nuclear facility were redirected toward industrial-scale Bitcoin mining, the episode would raise several concerns: potential escalation of geopolitical tensions over control of valuable energy resources, reputational and legal risks for firms considering operations tied to contested power supplies, and ethical questions about exploiting disputed assets for profit. Market participants should monitor statements from the Company IAEA, the Company WSJ, and official communications from the United States and Russia closely.

Current official responses and next steps: As of publication, the United States has not released an official statement confirming the negotiation details described by Mr. Putin. Company Kommersant remains the primary Russian outlet reporting the comments, while the story has been summarized on international outlets including Company Cryptonews. Observers note that the practical and legal hurdles to transferring plant-generated electricity across borders — especially to power intensive crypto-mining operations — are substantial.

For stakeholders in the crypto space and energy markets, the episode is a reminder of the intersection between geopolitics and digital-asset infrastructure. Bitcoin miners and investors should be cautious about supply-chain provenance and the geopolitical context of energy sources. Continued monitoring of official channels and verified reporting from Company Kommersant, Company KyivPost, Company WSJ, and Company IAEA is advised.