According to a report in the local newspaper Sinar Harian, Malaysian police have destroyed 1,773 Bitcoin ASIC miners associated with illegal mining.
Aside from mining devices, the authorities disposed of laptops, modems, desktop switches and routers, and surveillance cameras. The items were seized as a consequence of 38 searches in the Kota Setar District.
Kedah police examined 21 places after receiving a tip to look into electrical power theft, electric meter manipulation, and the extent of damage to electricity supply lines.
In Malaysia, illegal mining is quite widespread. Malaysian officials seized over 1,700 Bitcoin mining machines worth over $800,000 in December. They were used to mine Bitcoin using stolen power.
In July 2021, a video of Malaysian officials steamrolling hundreds of Bitcoin miners went popular on social media. Sarawak Energy power lines were used to power the wrecked ASICs. Those in charge of the mining activity were detained.
Bitcoin mining necessitates a significant quantity of electrical power since ASIC machines must solve exceedingly difficult mathematical problems. When unscrupulous miners steal electricity, it puts enormous strain on power lines, resulting in blackouts. Three homes were set on fire as a result of the unlawful mining operation in the aforementioned case.
Illegal mining is equally widespread in other parts of the world. According to reports, Iran’s government recently announced that people who operate illegal mining farms will face harsher sanctions.
During a search for a cannabis factory in May 2021, authorities in the United Kingdom unintentionally discovered an illicit Bitcoin mining farm.
