Russian authorities bust truck-based crypto mine draining village power

Russian authorities in the Republic of Buryatia uncovered an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation hidden inside a KamAZ truck that was siphoning electricity intended for a nearby village.

The operation involved 95 mining rigs and a mobile transformer station, drawing power from a 10-kilovolt line sufficient to supply a small village. Two suspects fled the scene before police arrived. This incident is the sixth electricity theft case linked to crypto mining in Buryatia since the start of 2025. Authorities have warned that such illegal connections disrupt local power grids, causing voltage drops, overloads, and risks of blackouts.

Mining is banned in most of Buryatia from November 15 to March 15 due to regional energy shortages, and outside this period, only registered companies in designated districts are allowed to mine.

This crackdown aligns with broader federal restrictions, including bans on mining during peak energy months in several Russian regions. Illegal mining operations have been a significant problem in Russia, leading to power outages and substantial damage to electrical grids, with previous raids seizing hundreds of rigs in other regions as well.

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