Thai authorities successfully raided an illegal bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi after residents reported power outages. This marks the fourth such raid in 2024.
Bollywood Fever: Thai authorities successfully raided an illegal bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi on August 23, following complaints from residents about frequent power outages.
The mining operation was found to be consuming electricity that the occupants were not fully paying for, exacerbating the power issues in the area.
Bitcoin Mine Raided Amid Power Outage Complaints
On August 25, Thai police and officials from the Provincial Electricity Authorities (PEA) announced the successful raid of the illegal bitcoin mining site in Ratchaburi, a province located west of Bangkok.
The raid came after residents had endured more than a month of frequent power cuts, prompting an investigation into the cause.
According to Jamnong Chanwong, a chief district security officer, the raid revealed several bitcoin mining rigs in operation.
The evidence suggested that the occupants of the house were mining bitcoin while avoiding full payment for the electricity they consumed.
“We found bitcoin mining rigs, pointing to people using this house to operate a mine and using [the] power they didn’t fully pay for,” Chanwong stated.
Ratchaburi Raid the Fourth in 2024
This raid was the fourth of its kind in Thailand in 2024. An earlier attempt to raid the house had failed when officials were blocked from entering by a guard.
When authorities returned with a search warrant, much of the mining equipment had been removed, and no arrests were made during the raid.
In Thailand, bitcoin miners are considered manufacturers and are required to pay taxes associated with their operations.
There are ongoing discussions within the government about imposing a specific digital asset tax on bitcoin miners.
Despite these regulations, illegal bitcoin mining operations persist, contributing to increased electricity costs for legitimate consumers.
Authorities continue to take action against illegal mining activities, but the issue remains a significant challenge, as evidenced by the ongoing raids throughout the year.
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