Power Outages Linked to Illegal Bitcoin Mining in Thailand

Thai authorities recently uncovered an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi, a town near Bangkok, after residents complained about persistent power outages.

The raid on August 23 revealed that the mining operation, which had been running for over a month, was the likely cause of the blackouts.

Investigations began after locals reported frequent power failures starting in mid-July. Authorities from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and local police traced the power issues to a specific house. Upon inspection, they found it was being used for Bitcoin mining, with evidence of power theft.

The mining equipment had been set up by a company renting the house for about four months. Although the mining operation had caused significant power disruptions, no arrests were made, and the operators may have fled before the raid.

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Illegal Bitcoin mining is a growing problem in Southeast Asia due to low electricity costs. In Malaysia, similar operations have resulted in substantial theft of electricity, prompting severe measures against illegal mining.

Thailand, while generally supportive of cryptocurrency, faces challenges regulating such activities. Recent regulatory changes have made it easier for retail investors to buy digital tokens, but the rise in illegal mining indicates a need for tighter enforcement.

Alexander Stefanov