Key Points
- A large-scale Bitcoin mining operation in Thailand has been shut down due to electricity theft.
- The incident highlights the strain of cryptocurrency mining on power grids and the need for stricter regulations.
A Bitcoin mining operation in Chonburi, Thailand, has been halted by authorities due to a significant electricity theft scheme.
In this operation, nearly 1,000 mining machines were confiscated, demonstrating the extent of the illicit activity.
Thailand: High-scale Electricity Theft Scheme Uncovered
The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in Thailand discovered an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Chonburi.
The facility in Phanat Nikhom was raided after evidence of electricity theft through tampering with the power meter was found.
The theft primarily took place at night to avoid detection, while the power meter operated normally during the day.
Strain on Thailand’s Energy Grid
This strategic misuse allowed Bitcoin to be mined without incurring substantial electricity costs.
The operators were accused of stealing large amounts of electricity to power the machines.
The illegal operation was discovered by a team led by Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan, the CSD commander.
An employee revealed that electricity theft occurred only at night, using a tampered power meter to conceal the operation’s energy consumption.
However, the identities of the company or individuals behind the scheme are still unknown.
The CSD plans to obtain court warrants to identify and arrest the operators behind the illegal mining activity.
This incident emphasizes the growing need for strict regulations and monitoring of Bitcoin mining in Thailand.
