Internet reports that Yevgeny Masharov, a member of the Russian Public Chamber of Commerce and policy maker, said authorities should be given the power to confiscate the cryptocurrency of illegal or quasi-legal Bitcoin miners. Masharov believes the proposal will deter "gray" miners by "making illegal mining unprofitable." Masharov said illegal miners in many regions are putting tremendous pressure on their power grids, and if the proposal is accepted, Russian regions,"especially those with energy shortages, will breathe a sigh of relief."