Norway’s government just dropped a bombshell on crypto miners. A temporary ban on new Bitcoin mining data centers, coming by year’s end.
Why? They’re worried about the environment, the energy bill, and frankly, they think mining’s just not pulling its weight economically. We don’t know if they will ban the jet fuel for the elite’s private jets.
Virtue signaling?
Karianne Tung, Norway’s Minister of Digitalisation and Public Administration, laid it out straight: crypto mining guzzles electricity like a gas-guzzling muscle car but creates barely any jobs or tax dough.
They want to limit cryptocurrency mining as much as possible, she said. The government’s thinking? That electricity could be better spent on industries that actually boost the economy.
Like oil rigs on the sea, and selling fossil fuels. But while the government’s playing hardball, Norway’s corporate big shots are playing a different game. Instead of running for the hills, companies are doubling down on Bitcoin.
Standoff?
Take Aker ASA, for example. This industrial giant is sitting pretty with 754 BTC, that’s over $80 million worth of digital gold.
New data table for Nordic Bitcoin Treasuries.
Additions:
– Aker ASA: 754 BTC
– Goobit/BTCX: 2.3 BTC
– Standardcoin: 0 BTC (NOK 40 million incoming)
– Bitcoin Treasury Capital: 0 BTC (stock listing & SEK 100 million incoming) pic.twitter.com/U7WqpxMSBD— Steve Platz (@steve_btcfo) June 20, 2025
Then there’s K33, a crypto investment firm that just scooped up 25 BTC and has its eyes on a cool 1,000 BTC soon.
Even Norwegian Block Exchange is in the mix, grabbing 6 BTC and aiming for 10 by month’s end.
It’s like watching a classic office showdown, the boss says no more coffee breaks, but the employees keep sneaking sips anyway.
Norway’s government and its corporate world are clearly not on the same page when it comes to Bitcoin.
Game theory
Zoom out a bit, and you see this isn’t just a Norway thing. Around the globe, countries are split on crypto mining.
Some, like El Salvador, Belarus, and Pakistan, are rolling out the red carpet with state-run mining projects, hoping to turn excess energy into jobs, cheaper electricity, and more government cash.
Others, like Norway, are slamming the brakes, worried about wasting precious resources.
What’s clear is that Bitcoin’s becoming a heavyweight asset, even in places where politics try to throw shade.
Companies see it as a treasury treasure, a hedge, a future-proof investment. Meanwhile, governments wrestle with balancing innovation against environmental and economic concerns.
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