Thai police recently dismantled a large-scale Bitcoin mining facility in Chonburi province, estimated to have stolen electricity worth 3 million USD (equivalent to over 100 million baht). This is one of many similar incidents that have occurred in this country.

Sophisticated Tricks to Steal Electricity

Mining #bitcoin took place in Phanat Nikhom district, using about 1,000 mining machines. According to information from The Nation newspaper, miners tampered with the electric meter of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to secretly use electricity at night, while during the day the electric meter operated normally to avoid detection.

The incident was discovered when police from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) collaborated with PEA to conduct inspections and seized 996 Bitcoin mining machines along with related equipment at the scene.

Currently, the identities of the individuals or organizations behind the incident have not yet been identified. Thai police are working with the court to seek arrest warrants.

Thailand: A Hotspot for Electricity Theft for Bitcoin Mining

This is not the first time Thailand has faced electricity theft related to cryptocurrency mining. Some notable recent incidents:

  • May 2024: Police arrested an illegal mining facility in Samut Sakhon, seizing equipment worth nearly 69 million baht.

  • October 2024: Bitcoin mining activities in Tha Muang district, #Bangkok , were dismantled after being discovered to have tampered with the electric meter.

  • November 2024: 9 illegal mining farms in southern Thailand were shut down for stealing electricity worth more than 270,000 euros (about 278,000 USD).

Thailand and Its Position in the Bitcoin Mining Industry

Despite the continuous incidents related to Bitcoin mining, Thailand remains a small player in this field. According to Cambridge University, Thailand accounted for only 0.97% of global Bitcoin production in 2022, far behind countries like #Kazakhstan , Russia, and the United States.

Electricity Theft for Bitcoin Mining: A Global Issue

Not only in Thailand, the act of stealing electricity for cryptocurrency mining also occurs in many other places around the world:

  • Malaysia: The government estimates it has lost about 754 million USD (3.4 billion ringgit) due to Bitcoin miners stealing electricity from 2018 to 2023.

  • UK: In 2021, a man in Leicestershire was imprisoned for stealing electricity worth 44,000 USD to operate two Bitcoin mining facilities.

Conclusion

The crackdown in Thailand serves as a strong warning about the consequences that illegal Bitcoin mining can cause. Strengthening regulation, monitoring, and international cooperation is necessary to tackle this issue while protecting the national energy system.