Thailand is on a mission to tackle illegal mining operations causing massive power disruptions in its capital, Bangkok, and neighboring areas.
In its latest action against this unregistered activity, the kingdom’s Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced that it has closed illegal bitcoin mining farm in the Phanat Nikhom district of Chonburi.
This time, the energy company cooperated with the Crime Prevention Department on a raid on a suspicious mining facility tampering with electricity meter for cryptocurrency mining purposes.
According to local reports, PEA and CSD officials confiscated 996 Bitcoin mining machines and similar equipment. A representative of the attack team said that cryptocurrency mining operations operate hundreds of millions of baht worth of stolen energy.
Those responsible for the questionable cryptocurrency mining operations are unknown, but CSD is preparing the necessary arrest warrants issued by a local court.
Image: The Nation
Illegal cryptocurrency mining remains a problem for Thai authorities
Cryptocurrency mining is a complicated technical process that requires high-end computers and related equipment. Since it requires enormous power and investment in advanced equipment, it is not surprising that many groups conduct illegal cryptocurrency mining operations.
Several cryptocurrency mining operations were established in Thailand, and many of them illegally interfered with the country’s electricity supply.
In November 2024, Thai authorities raided and shut down at least nine illegal cryptocurrency mining operations, and charged two people with stealing electricity worth over PLN 280,000. dollars.
In 2022, Bangkok’s Department of Special Investigations also conducted raids on more than 50 illegal cryptocurrency mining operations.
Image: The Nation
Mining operator in Chonburi illegally connected to local electricity supply
According to local reports, an unidentified employee of a mining company provided the authorities with information about the possible theft of electricity at the plant. Authorities said the facility used the electricity meter correctly every day to avoid suspicion and switch to illegal electricity consumption at night.
Police Major General Montree Theskhan of the Crime Suppression Department said the company was registered to trade digital assets. However, it also operated cryptocurrency mining rigs that illegally used the state power source at night.
The investigation also revealed that solar panels were added to the complicated but were not used to power the mining platforms.
Illegal cryptocurrency mining operations have also been reported in other countries
Unregistered Bitcoin mines also operate in various parts of the world. For example, in its October 2024 report, the Malaysian energy major reported over $100 million in theft losses.
These illegal cryptocurrency mining activities have forced national governments to tighten regulations and launch campaigns against violators. Some governments have completely banned mining and technology to control their negative effects.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
