On Friday, officers from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) uncovered a big unlawful crypto mining operation, seizing 63 mining machines valued at roughly 2 million baht ($60,000).
The machines have been found hidden in three deserted homes situated in Pathum Thani province.
The investigation started after native residents reported suspicious exercise involving theft of electrical energy from utility poles and transformers within the space. They suspected that the stolen energy was getting used to gas unauthorized cryptocurrency mining actions throughout the vacant buildings.
Crypto mining is an energy-intensive course of, and authorities estimate that the unlawful operation led to losses of over 11 million baht (about $327 million) for the Metropolitan Electrical energy Authority. Along with the mining rigs, officers confiscated a number of associated objects, together with three mining controllers, routers, web boosters, modified electrical energy meters, and private electronics like computer systems and financial institution passbooks. Regardless of the invention, no arrests have been made for the reason that operation was remotely managed.
Additional investigation revealed a hyperlink between the unlawful mining operation and a luxurious residence in Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao district. CIB officers have requested a search warrant to analyze the property and establish these behind the operation.
Past the monetary injury to the electrical energy supplier, authorities highlighted the numerous hearth dangers posed by the unlawful mining actions. These operations, which consumed huge quantities of electrical energy, have been left unsupervised, growing the hazard of fireside outbreaks.
Unlawful crypto mining has been a persistent situation in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia for years. In January, Thai authorities confiscated 996 unlawful mining rigs in Phanat Nikhom district, and in November 2024, they shut down 9 unlawful Bitcoin farms in Surat Thani province, which have been liable for stealing practically $300,000 price of electrical energy. Related mining actions have been additionally uncovered in August when residents of a city close to Bangkok reported energy outages brought on by illicit operations.
