Law enforcement officials are using a unique method to punish illegal cryptocurrency mining

Police in Malaysia have used a unique approach to combat illegal crimes Cryptocurrency mining As part of its nationwide commitment to combating electricity theft.

What is happening?

As reported CCNPerak Tengah District Police authorities used a steam locket to crush 985 Bitcoin mining rigs on August 19. The value of the destroyed equipment is estimated at approximately 1.98 million Malaysian ringgit ($452,500).

per CCNThe district police chief and supervisor, Hafez Hilmi Hamza, told… Malaysian newspaper – any I posted a video On social media – the disposal of cryptocurrency mining rigs follows the country’s e-waste and solid waste disposal guidelines. This method is strictly different from other countries such as the United States or China, where authorities usually auction off seized goods.

Since 2021, A video The steamroller crushing multi-million dollar Bitcoin mining rigs has gone viral every year.

Hamza He added He and his team carried out 24 raids in 2022, nine in 2023, and one in 2024 that led to the confiscation of the platforms. In July, Malaysian authorities collectively destroyed more than 2,022 seized items, including Bitcoin mining rigs, worth RM2.2 million ($502,000).

CCN male Perak Tengah is just one of many areas in Malaysia where electricity theft for cryptocurrency mining has become a problem. Earlier in August, Sepang district police arrested seven suspects for operating Bitcoin mining rigs using stolen electricity.

Why is this important?

Cryptocurrency mining is Energy-intensive process Which requires large amounts of computing power. The increase in popularity of cryptocurrency mining has led to… Environmental concerns because of Dirty energy use To generate huge amounts of electricity, thus contributing to pollution and climate changes in global warming.

While some countries did I made efforts To regulate cryptocurrency mining, some cryptocurrency enthusiasts ignore those policies by resorting to illegal electricity theft. per CCNMalaysia’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Diversion, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, said in July that the country had lost at least $722 million in electricity thefts linked to cryptocurrency mining over the past six years.

What is being done about this?

Malaysia is not the only country cracking down on cryptocurrency mining.

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Earlier this month, Russia Introduce a blanket ban began mining cryptocurrencies in more than a dozen regions in hopes of ending the mining process The ongoing economic crisis.

In November, nine secret Bitcoin mining farms were established in Thailand Had to stop operations After the authorities discovered their presence responsible for Nearly $300,000 in losses to electricity providers.

These efforts should Help deterrence Crypto enthusiasts use illegal activities to fund their goals.

Meanwhile, many efforts have been made to improve the Bitcoin mining rate through renewable energy such as solar and wind farms or green hydrogen-powered plants, through professional Bitcoin mining operations. There are both optimism and croak That Bitcoin could also help finance innovation and investment in renewable energy could make the cryptocurrency net positive over time, but clear progress is being made either way.

some Estimates Putting the renewable energy rate at more than 50% of the total energy allocated to Bitcoin, although operations like this one in Malaysia remain a problem regardless – as do some large-scale operations in the US, such as Greenidge Generation’s. Bitcoin Natural Gas Plant In New York.

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