In Malaysia, authorities seized more than 75 thousand cryptocurrency mining devices in more than 3 thousand operations across the country between 2022 and May 2026. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar, in his statement in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of parliament, reported that 629 people were detained in the same period.
Electricity theft was the focus of the operations
The operations were carried out jointly by the Royal Malaysian Police, public energy company Tenaga Nasional Berhad and local governments. Authorities noted that the investigations did not focus directly on cryptocurrency buying and selling, but on interfering with meters, illegal electricity use and illegal mining activities carried out through unlicensed installations.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad operates as Malaysia’s main electricity distribution company. The company is one of the main institutions that detect irregular uses that occur in mining facilities, especially due to high and uninterrupted energy consumption.
Shamsul Anuar said that the ministry has expanded its intelligence collection and technology-supported inspection methods, thus aiming to identify risky areas in advance and intervene faster and more accurately.
The deputy minister stated that the strong demand for digital assets and the possibility of profit offered by volatile prices keep illegal mining alive. On the other hand, he emphasized that stealing electricity and interfering with the energy infrastructure cannot be justified in any way.
Crypto trading allowed, certain mining methods prohibited
Although it is possible to hold and trade cryptocurrencies within the legal framework in Malaysia, digital assets are not accepted as official means of payment. Illegality occurs when unauthorized electrical connections are made, meters are replaced, energy supplies are damaged, or activities are carried out without the necessary licenses.
While Securities Commission Malaysia oversees the digital asset market in the country, the central bank Bank Negara Malaysia observes financial stability, payment systems and anti-money laundering rules.
Shamsul Anuar emphasized that potential profits cannot be an excuse for crimes such as electricity theft to reduce operating costs.
The wave of inspections spanning years continues
The latest data is an extension of a broader audit process that has been ongoing for several years. The Malaysian Ministry of Energy announced that the electricity loss associated with approximately 14 thousand illegal mining points discovered in a five-year period in late 2025 reached 1.1 billion dollars. Following this, a coordination committee was established, including the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia and Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
The applications also witnessed harsh images from time to time. Authorities destroyed hundreds of confiscated devices in previous years by crushing them with a roller. Similar images were reflected to the public in 2021 and 2024.
The pressure in the region was not limited to Malaysia alone. Operations against crypto mining facilities powered by illegal electricity have recently accelerated in some Asian markets, including Thailand and Hong Kong.
