Russian authorities have uncovered and dismantled one of the largest illegal cryptocurrency mining operations in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk Krai region. The massive 30,000 square meter facility, hidden in an industrial zone in Nazarovo, was secretly mining Bitcoin while stealing electricity from the local power grid.
Investigators found the operation had sophisticated mining equipment including transformers, generators, and cooling systems, all illegally connected to bypass proper power infrastructure. The facility was drawing so much electricity that it caused noticeable instability in the regional power grid, which ultimately led to its discovery.
Authorities reported multiple violations including unauthorized power connections, serious fire safety hazards, misuse of state-owned land, and fraudulent lease agreements. Despite previous warnings, the operators continued their activities until prosecutors obtained a court order to shut down the operation completely.
This incident follows a similar case in February where a regional energy employee was arrested for accepting bribes to ignore illegal mining activities that had already cost the grid about $119,000 in stolen electricity. The Krasnoyarsk region has now become one of Russia's top three areas for such illegal mining operations, alongside Irkutsk and Tatarstan.
