The US has reportedly proposed deploying cryptocurrency mining operations in the disputed region between Russia and Ukraine, which has become a bargaining chip in US-Russia negotiations.

[US Reportedly Proposes Cryptocurrency Mining in Disputed Russia-Ukraine Region, Becoming a Bargaining Chip in US-Russia Negotiations] According to a report by Russian media outlet Kommersant on December 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that the United States expressed interest in conducting cryptocurrency mining operations at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) during negotiations with Russia. This arrangement may be part of the US-Russia power struggle. The Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in southeastern Ukraine, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and has been under Russian control since 2022. It has long been a core issue in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and peace negotiations. Significant differences exist among the parties regarding the ownership, operation, and power allocation of the plant. The report states that Russia and the US are discussing a joint management plan excluding Ukraine; while the BBC revealed that the US proposed a plan for joint operation by the US, Russia, and Ukraine, with each party holding equal shares. Meanwhile, Reuters cited sources saying that Ukraine proposed a 50:50 joint venture between the US and Ukraine to operate the nuclear power plant, with the US able to allocate its share of the electricity it receives. Ukraine speculates that some of this electricity may flow to Russia. Control of the nuclear power plant is not only related to the power supply and regional grid stability in southern Ukraine, but also involves significant security and geopolitical risks. Given the lack of consensus among the parties involved, the feasibility of cryptocurrency mining on ZNPP remains highly uncertain. In the background, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year, US President Trump is intensifying his mediation efforts to push for a ceasefire and peace agreement, focusing on territorial, security, and economic arrangements. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that the US and Ukraine are close to a 20-point peace plan; Putin has also expressed a willingness to make concessions, but remains firm on the Donbas issue.