Local police smashed the rigs using a steamroller, as shown in a video, as a message that authorities would continue to clamp down on energy theft associated with bitcoin mining.
The Malaysian government has incinerated 985 bitcoin mining machines, which were valued at approximately 1.98 million Malaysian ringgits ($452,500), according to local media. This action is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to combat electricity theft that is associated with bitcoin mining.
According to the Malaysia Gazette, the Perak Tengah district police utilized a steamroller to destroy the devices on Monday following directives from a court. Enforcement operations dating back to April 2022 resulted in the seizure of the devices.
The most recent warning and enforcement actions from the authorities were implemented in conjunction with a more extensive campaign to address power theft issues that are linked to bitcoin miners. The authorities in Sepang district apprehended seven individuals last week for allegedly engaging in bitcoin mining operations that involved electricity theft.
Last month, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, the deputy minister of energy transition and water transformation, disclosed that crypto miners in Malaysia misappropriated a minimum of RM3.4 billion ($777 million) in power between 2018 and 2023.
China, which prohibited all crypto mining activities in 2021, has seen an increase in the relocation of crypto mining operations to the United States and other countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand. Southeast Asian nations are attractive to miners because of their competitive electricity prices, competent personnel, and established infrastructure.
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