Russia Cracks Down on Illegal Crypto Mining Operations in Siberia
Russian authorities have dismantled multiple illicit cryptocurrency mining operations in the Kemerovo Oblast region, uncovering farms running on stolen electricity. The raids, conducted by utility workers and law enforcement, targeted three separate facilities—one housed in an abandoned hangar, the others in trailers. Preliminary estimates place the financial damage to the power grid at 21.7 million rubles ($275,000).
The largest operation, located in Promyshlennaya, featured 91 mining rigs consuming 335 kW of power—enough to rack up 5 million rubles in unpaid electricity bills. The crackdown reflects Moscow's escalating efforts to curb unauthorized mining, which has strained local infrastructure amid Russia's evolving stance on digital assets.
