Malaysia Seizes 75,000 Crypto Mining Rigs in Billion-Dollar Power Theft Crackdown

The Malaysian government has launched an aggressive crackdown on crypto mining operations that have been stealing massive amounts of electricity. According to official reports, over 75,000 machines used for digital asset extraction were seized as part of a nationwide raid by security forces.

The operation, which involved 3,049 raids between 2022 and May 2026, resulted in the detention of 629 individuals directly linked to the illegal infrastructure. The Ministry of Energy estimates that these clandestine operations have cumulatively caused losses of approximately $1.1 billion over the last five years.

The possession and commercial trading of virtual assets are permitted under Malaysia's current legal framework, but mining activity becomes illegal when it is based on unauthorized electrical connections or tampering with consumption meters.