Thai authorities shut down illegal Bitcoin mining facility

Thai authorities have shut down an unauthorized Bitcoin mining facility in Ratchaburi, a town west of Bangkok after a surge in power outages raised concerns.

The Provincial Electricity Authorities and local police uncovered the clandestine operation, which was consuming excessive amounts of electricity and evading proper registration and payment.

The mining operation, which likely began in mid-July, coincided with the start of frequent blackouts in the area.

This unregistered activity not only disrupted local power supplies but also posed a risk to the electrical infrastructure, potentially leading to increased costs and long-term damage.

Despite the significant energy use, the facility was paying only minimal fees, leading to suspicions and the subsequent raid.

By the time officials arrived, much of the equipment had already been moved, and no arrests were made.

Bitcoin mining is known for its high energy demands and requires proper registration and fees. In a related incident earlier this month, an Airbnb host faced a $1,500 electricity bill after discovering that guests were mining cryptocurrency on the property.