A recent explosion in Bandar Puncak Alam, Malaysia, revealed an illegal Bitcoin mining operation utilizing stolen electricity. The incident, which occurred on February 13, 2025, prompted local authorities to investigate after a fire ignited at a house, discovered to be housing nine Bitcoin mining rigs connected to an unauthorized power source. While Bitcoin mining itself is legal in Malaysia, the act of tampering with electricity supply is a punishable offense, potentially leading to fines or imprisonment. This case is part of a broader issue in Malaysia, where authorities are grappling with escalating incidents of crypto-related power theft. Since 2018, the country has reportedly incurred losses totaling around $750 million due to such activities. The rising price of Bitcoin, which recently approached $97,000, has intensified these occurrences, as miners increasingly target local electricity infrastructures to support their operations.

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