In a recent incident in Malaysia, an illegal Bitcoin mining operation caused an explosion at an uninhabited house in the city of Puncak Alam, located in the Kuala Selangor District. The blast, which was reported to be caused by the excessive electricity usage of the Bitcoin mining rigs, raised alarm among local authorities.
Seizure of Mining Equipment and Investigation Underway
Following the explosion, local authorities discovered a significant amount of mining equipment in the house. The police seized nine Bitcoin mining rigs, nine blower fans, and a D-Link router from the premises. Firefighters and police officers had to break into the uninhabited house to extinguish the fire that had occurred in a room with modified electrical circuitry, which appeared to have shorted.
According to the police, the electricity used to power the mining operation had been illegally connected, without proper authorization. This form of energy theft has become a growing issue in Malaysia, where illegal cryptocurrency mining activities have become widespread.
Rising Concerns Over Illegal Crypto Mining in Malaysia
This incident is part of a larger trend of increasing illegal cryptocurrency mining activities in Malaysia. In recent years, the country has faced significant financial losses due to these activities, with as much as 3.4 billion ringgit (approximately $763 million) lost since 2018. Malaysian authorities are concerned about the negative impact of illegal crypto mining, including the strain it places on the country’s power supply.
Government Efforts to Combat Power Theft
Malaysian authorities have recognized the need to combat this illegal mining phenomenon. Energy companies have been working closely with the government to detect abnormal electricity usage through advanced monitoring techniques. However, the problem persists, as many illegal miners use sophisticated methods to bypass detection.
While Bitcoin mining itself is not illegal in Malaysia, the unauthorized use of electricity for mining purposes is considered unlawful. The Malaysian government has been actively addressing this issue, with plans to introduce new measures to prevent further illegal activities.
