Officials from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) confiscated 63 illegal cryptocurrency mining machines on Friday, as reported by The Nation. These mining rigs, valued at approximately 2 million baht ($60,000), were discovered in three deserted houses in the Pathum Thani province. The raid took place after local residents reported unidentified individuals stealing electricity from utility poles and transformers, suspecting it was being used for illegal cryptocurrency mining operations hidden in abandoned properties.
Cryptocurrency mining, which requires huge amounts of electricity, led to estimated losses exceeding 11 million baht (over $327,000) to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
During the raid, police also seized three crypto mining controllers, three routers, three internet signal boosters, three modified electricity meters, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and two bank passbooks. The operations, managed remotely, resulted in no arrests. However, evidence pointed to a connection with a luxury house in Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao district, prompting officials to request a search warrant to investigate further.
Authorities warned that these illegal operations not only caused financial damage to the electricity sector but also posed significant fire hazards due to high power usage with no human oversight.
Thailand has long struggled with illegal mining activities. In a previous raid in January, authorities seized 996 illicit Bitcoin mining machines in Thailand’s Phanat Nikhom district. In November 2024, nine illegal Bitcoin mining farms were shut down in the Surat Thani province, with stolen electricity valued at nearly $300,000. Similarly, in August, a town west of Bangkok was raided following local complaints about power outages, revealing more illegal crypto mining activities.
Twitter: Crypto mining bust in Thailand! 🚨 63 illegal rigs seized, causing over $327k in electricity losses. Authorities continue to crack down on these operations. #Cryptocurrency #Thailand #CryptoMining
