Malaysia Forms Air and Ground Task Force to Shutdown 14,000 BTC Mining Rigs
Malaysian authorities have announced the formation of a joint task force utilizing drones and police to shut down nearly 14,000 illegal Bitcoin mining operations. Since 2020, these illegal miners have siphoned off electricity worth $1.1 billion from the national grid, according to a report by CoinDesk.
The task force employs high-performance cameras and ground police to locate and dismantle these mining rigs. Drones are deployed to detect thermal signatures from buildings, while police patrol areas with sensors that identify illegal electricity usage. Reports from neighbors often lead to the discovery of these operations, which have surged by 300% in electricity theft between 2018 and 2024.
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"The risk of allowing such activities is no longer just about theft," stated Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, the Deputy Minister for Energy Transition and Water Transformation. "They can actually damage our facilities, which poses a challenge to our system."
The $1.1 billion in stolen electricity could have provided basic food needs for over 567,000 people in Malaysia for an entire year, based on figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which estimates that the average Malaysian consumer spent about $1,940 annually on food in 2023. Alternatively, this amount could supply electricity for approximately 373,000 average-sized households in Malaysia for a year, according to estimates from the University Utara Malaysia.
This crackdown is not the first of its kind; in May, authorities reported a significant increase in electricity theft, leading to the closure of nearly 2,400 illegal Bitcoin mining operations. The state energy provider, Tenaga Nasional (TNB), has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding this ongoing issue.
Key Takeaways:
- 14,000 illegal Bitcoin mining rigs targeted by Malaysian authorities.
- Electricity theft valued at $1.1 billion since 2020.
- Task force employs drones and police for detection and shutdown.
- Potential impact on food security and household electricity supply in Malaysia.
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