The energy company hid an illegal cryptocurrency mine that may have caused a power outage

But Russia supposedly doesn’t get any taxes on illegal cryptocurrency mining, and power outages could be costly for everyone in the region. So, next year, Russia will ban cryptocurrency mining in 10 regions for six years and put in place seasonal restrictions that will disrupt some cryptocurrency mining operations during the cold winter months in regions like Irkutsk, Coin Telegraph. I mentioned.

Illegal mining still exists It is said Thriving in Irkutsk, despite government attempts to close underground farms. To deter any illegal cryptocurrency mining that took down power grids last year, authorities seized hundreds of cryptocurrency mining rigs in Irkutsk, according to Crypto News. I mentioned.

In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin linked power outages to illegal cryptocurrency mines, warning that cryptocurrency mining currently consumes “nearly 1.5 percent of Russia’s total electricity consumption,” but “the number continues to rise,” the newspaper reported. Moscow Times. I mentioned. In September, he told Reuters I mentioned That the illegal mines were literally underground to avoid detection as the Russian crackdown continued.

Although illegal mines appear to be common in parts of Siberia and operate increasingly out of the public eye, the discovery of an illegal mine hidden on state land controlled by an electric utility may have come as a surprise to officials.

The energy provider was not named in the ad, and there are several in the area, so it is currently unclear who made the controversial decision to lease state land to an illegal mining operation.