Belarus Eyes Bitcoin Mining Amid U.S. Crypto Reserve Plans

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signaled interest in cryptocurrency mining, citing the country's surplus electricity. Speaking with Energy Minister Alexei Kushnarenko, Lukashenko suggested that if mining proves profitable, Belarus should embrace the opportunity.

“More and more people are approaching me about mining. If it benefits us, let’s do it. We have excess electricity—let them mine crypto,” he said, according to Belarusian news outlet Belta.

The statement comes as the U.S. government explores creating a national strategic crypto reserve, potentially including bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), solana (SOL), ripple (XRP), and cardano (ADA). Lukashenko referenced the White House’s interest, noting, “The world’s largest economy just announced they will maintain a crypto reserve. That means demand will grow—maybe we should mine it too.”

Belarus wouldn't be the first country to tap into state-backed crypto mining. Bhutan, leveraging its hydropower, operates over 100 megawatts (MW) of bitcoin mining infrastructure, with plans to expand by 500MW. The country reportedly holds $950 million in BTC, according to Arkham Intelligence. Similarly, El Salvador uses geothermal energy for small-scale bitcoin mining.

Lukashenko’s remarks hint at Belarus potentially entering the crypto-mining industry, leveraging its energy resources to capitalize on the growing global demand for digital assets.