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Jimmy Aki
Author
Jimmy Aki
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Thailand’s Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has dismantled a Bitcoin mining farm in Chonburi on Thursday for tampering with power meters to steal electricity.
The farm’s operators caused losses amounting to hundreds of millions of baht, further straining the country’s power grid.
Details of the Illegal Bitcoin Mining Operation
According to local reports, the raid, conducted in collaboration with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), resulted in the seizure of 996 Bitcoin mining rigs from the farm in the Phanat Nikhom district.
Investigations revealed that the operators had rigged their electricity meters to consume power at night without detection. During the day, the meters functioned normally to avoid raising suspicions.
Despite the scale of the operation, those responsible for running the mining farm remain unidentified.
For more context, Bitcoin mining is a resource-intensive process requiring substantial electricity to power high-performance computers.
The high energy cost often drives some operators to resort to illegal measures to boost profitability.
In this case, the sophisticated theft inflicted financial losses on the state and highlighted the vulnerabilities in monitoring electricity consumption.
Thailand has experienced repeated instances of illegal mining activities.
In August 2024, a similar operation in Ratchaburi was dismantled after unregistered miners caused blackouts and increased energy costs for local residents.
Earlier in 2025, two individuals in Surat Thani province were charged with stealing over $280,000 worth of electricity for mining rigs.
The CSD continues its investigation to bring those responsible for the Chonburi operation to justice.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s PEA will likely intensify efforts to monitor and prevent electricity theft in light of the recurring abuses.
Global Context of Illegal Bitcoin Mining And Thai Authorities’ Crypto Fraud Challenge
The issue of illegal Bitcoin mining is not confined to Thailand – it is part of a broader, global problem.
In July 2024, Russian authorities raided Irkutsk, a well-known Bitcoin mining hub, and seized 500 mining rigs.
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These miners were found to have exploited preferential electricity rates designated for households, resulting in over $2.3 million in damages to local power providers.
Meanwhile, Thailand has been at the center of related cross-border crypto crimes.
In October 2024, Thai authorities dismantled an organized crypto fraud network operating across Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
The network scammed a Thai woman out of $620,000 through a well-coordinated scheme involving identity theft, fraudulent investment opportunities, and sophisticated fund-laundering strategies.
