Key Takeaways
- Thai authorities seized 63 unlawful Bitcoin mining rigs in Pathum Thani.
- The mining operation stole over $327,000 in electrical energy.
- Officers traced the operation to a luxurious dwelling in Bangkok.
Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) seized 63 unlawful Bitcoin mining rigs on Friday after locals in Pathum Thani province reported unexplained electrical energy thefts.
The mining gear, valued at round 2 million baht ($60,000), was found in three deserted homes, based on a report by The Nation.
Monetary influence
Authorities estimate that the illicit mining operations led to losses exceeding 11 million baht ($327,000) for the Metropolitan Electrical energy Authority.
The high-energy consumption of the mining rigs, which have been managed remotely, additionally posed a major hearth hazard because of the absence of on-site supervision.
Confiscated gear
Along with the mining rigs, officers confiscated controllers, routers, web sign boosters, modified electrical energy meters, computer systems, and financial institution passbooks.
No arrests have been made, however investigators traced the operation to a luxurious residence in Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao district, for which they’ve requested a search warrant.
Ongoing points with unlawful mining
Thailand has confronted persistent unlawful Bitcoin mining actions.
In January, officers seized 996 illicit mining rigs within the Phanat Nikhom district.
In November 2024, 9 unlawful Bitcoin mining farms in Surat Thani province have been shut down after stealing almost $300,000 price of electrical energy.
Crackdown on unlicensed operations
Authorities proceed to crack down on unlicensed mining operations, which not solely trigger monetary losses but additionally enhance the danger {of electrical} hazards and outages.