Watch: Malaysian Authorities Steamroll Over 1,000 Crypto Mining Rigs
Image via Leroy Evans / Unsplash
In Sarawak, Malaysia, authorities recently destroyed 1,069 cryptocurrency mining rigs at once by crushing them with a steamroller, reported VICE.
According to Malaysian publication Dayak Daily, these rigs were confiscated between February and April this year. Its owners were accused by the province’s electric utility company, Sarawak Energy Berhad, of stealing electricity for their mining activities. The utility firm alleged the miners stole over RM8.4 million (US$2 million) worth of energy.
Sarawak Police Chief Hakemal Hawari told Dayak Daily that energy theft has become rampant due to these mining operations, causing three houses to catch on fire and burn down due to unsafe electric connections.
As per Engadget, cryptocurrency miners often use PCs built especially for mining, and the process consumes a large amount of electricity. Theft is common where miners operate, such as in Ukraine where the Security Service recently raided a mining operation using PS4 Pros to steal electricity from the country’s power grid.
To dispose of the illegal mining rigs it confiscated, Malaysian authorities used a steamroller to crush all RM5.3 million (US$1.26 million) worth of hardware at once. Watch the clip below to see it for yourself.
[via Engadget, cover image via Leroy Evans / Unsplash]
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