- Thai officials seized 63 illegal crypto mining machines after reports of stolen electricity in Pathum Thani province.
- The illegal mining rigs caused losses of over $327000 to the electricity department and posed a serious fire risk.
- Authorities linked the mining operation to a Bangkok home and are seeking a warrant to find those responsible.
Officials from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) seized 63 illegal cryptocurrency mining machines on Friday. The mining rigs, valued at approximately 2 million baht ($60,000), were discovered in three abandoned houses in Pathum Thani province.
Authorities conducted the raid after residents reported some people were stealing power from utility poles and transformers. Police believe the stolen power supported illegal cryptocurrency mining operations hidden in unsecured buildings.
Authorities Estimate Heavy Losses for Electricity Department
Crypto mining consumes large amounts of electricity. Authorities estimate that these illegal operations caused losses of over 11 million baht (more than $327,000) to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority. Investigators believe the mining activities were remotely controlled, as no suspects were present during the raid.
Officials also seized three crypto mining controllers, three routers, three internet signal boosters, three modified electricity meters, a desktop computer, a laptop, and two bank passbooks. Investigators are analyzing the evidence to track the individuals behind the operation.
Connections to Bangkok Residence Under Investigation
Authorities discovered links between the illegal mining operation and a luxury residence in Ram-Indra Soi 65, located in Bangkok’s Khan Na Yao district. Officials have requested a search warrant to inspect the property and identify the individuals responsible. Investigators are working to determine the full extent of the operation.
Illegal mining rigs carry fire risks because they draw excessive power while operating without proper oversight. Public safety departments have consistently warned about the safety issues that result from uncontrolled crypto mining activities.
The financial authority in Thailand classifies Bitcoin miners as manufacturers who must follow special tax laws. The number of illegal mining operations is increasing throughout both Southeast Asia and the entire country.
Ongoing Crackdowns on Illegal Crypto Mining
Authorities have conducted several raids in recent months to combat illegal mining. In January, officials seized 996 illicit Bitcoin mining rigs in the Phanat Nikhom district. In November 2024, nine illegal Bitcoin farms were shut down in Surat Thani, with stolen electricity losses nearing $300,000. In August, a similar raid west of Bangkok was prompted by frequent power outages reported by locals.
