Russia's Ural region uncovers 10k mining machines at an illegal mining farm, with electricity theft losses totaling nearly 1 billion rubles.

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Golden Finance reports that on June 2nd, according to Bits.media, a large illegal cryptocurrency mining farm was seized in Nizhny Tagil, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, and the nearby Kushva area. The farm was hidden inside an abandoned industrial park, with approximately 10k mining machines deployed. It was dismantled through joint efforts by the Federal Security Service (FSB), police, and power companies.
Local power companies estimate that the long-term illegal electricity use by the farm caused losses close to 1 billion rubles (about $12.7 million). Investigators stated that its electricity consumption was enough to meet the lighting needs of a small city. Law enforcement has detained three suspects, who are currently under house arrest, and are investigating on charges of "causing property damage through deception or abuse of trust." Under Russian law, those involved could face up to five years in prison.
Investigations revealed that the operators of the farm accessed the power grid through intermediary agencies and are suspected of tampering with meter data to conceal the actual electricity usage. Authorities said the farm’s actual electricity consumption was about twice the approved limit. The local energy department initially launched the investigation due to frequent voltage fluctuations, power outages, and equipment failures in the abandoned factory area, ultimately locating the farm. A documentary titled "Mining" was also filmed by local TV stations to record this operation.
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