- Malaysia recorded 14,000 illegal Bitcoin mining sites over the past five-year period.
- Power theft inflicted $1.1 billion in losses on state-owned Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
- Government formed a cross-agency committee to coordinate a crackdown on rogue operators.
Malaysian authorities are intensifying efforts to track down illegal Bitcoin miners who have stolen approximately $1.1 billion worth of electricity from the national grid. The country recorded about 14,000 illicit mining sites over the past five years, according to the energy ministry.
State-owned energy company Tenaga Nasional Berhad absorbed the losses during this period as miners tapped directly into power infrastructure without authorization. By early October, authorities had logged approximately 3,000 power-theft cases linked to mining operations as Bitcoin prices reached record highs before declining more than 30%.
Government Forms Special Task Force
The government launched a cross-agency special committee on November 19 to coordinate enforcement efforts. The task force includes members from the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia, and TNB. Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, chairs the panel.
Akmal stated that the activity poses risks beyond theft, noting that operations can damage electrical facilities and challenge grid stability. The committee held its first meeting on November 25, where members debated whether to recommend banning Bitcoin mining entirely.
Authorities employ drones equipped with thermal imaging to detect unusual heat signatures from mining equipment. Ground teams use handheld sensors that identify irregular power consumption patterns. Miners have adapted by installing heat shields to mask thermal output and setting up CCTV cameras and security systems at entry points.
Miners Use Multiple Techniques to Prevent Detection
The operations frequently move between empty storefronts and abandoned houses. Miners use closed-circuit cameras, reinforced security measures, and broken-glass deterrents to prevent detection. Residents sometimes report strange bird noises, which authorities discover are nature sounds used to disguise machinery noise.
ElementX Mall, a complex overlooking the Strait of Malacca that emptied during the pandemic, hosted Bitcoin miners in early 2022. The operation continued until early 2025, when a viral TikTok video exposed the activity. In Sarawak, a company called Bityou established a mining farm in a former logging yard.
Bitcoin mining remains legal in Malaysia, provided operators obtain power through authorized channels and pay applicable taxes. However, Akmal expressed skepticism about legitimate operations, stating that market volatility prevents successful legal mining ventures.
The deputy minister suggested that organized crime syndicates operate the illegal sites based on their mobility patterns. He noted that operators quickly relocate from one location to another.
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