Russian authorities and power companies have shut down unauthorized crypto mining operations, seizing equipment and prosecuting operators. In one instance, the leaders of a mining operation have been accused of stealing a significant amount of electricity. In another instance, a Nadezhda villager could be charged with a crime for operating the underground facility, which cost more than 6 million rubles ($78,000) and consumed 954,000 kWh of electricity.
Over 1,000 lawsuits have been brought against at-home cryptocurrency miners in Irkutsk and Tomsk as a result of a crackdown on illegal mining by Russian authorities. The bill has been amended to include harsh penalties and criminal liability for so-called “gray” miners.
Several Crypto Mining Operations Busted in Russia