According to ChainCatcher, Malaysia's national energy company reported that from 2018 to 2024, cases of electricity theft related to illegal cryptocurrency mining increased from 610 to 2,397, a rise of 300%. These actions severely impact grid stability, resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars for the company.
Recently, Malaysian authorities launched a joint law enforcement operation, uncovering multiple cases of illegal mining. The national energy company has deployed a smart meter network to monitor abnormal electricity usage, and under the Electricity Supply Act, violators can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison or fined up to $212,000.
Data shows that some homeowners received electricity bills as high as $278,400 due to tenants setting up mining machines. Similar situations have occurred in countries like Kuwait, leading to a sudden increase in pressure on the power grid and causing blackouts.