After the ban decided by the Chinese authorities, many cryptocurrency mining left China and moved its facilities to other countriessuch as the United States, Kazakhstan or Russia. The arrival of new mining farms on Russian territory was met with skepticism by the authorities.
To prevent miners from moving to residential areas, Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) has threatened to overcharge electricity. To justify this measure, the federal agency points its finger. a sharp increase in energy consumption In residential areas of the country, including Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory and Dagestan.
Mining farm illegally consumed 8,400 kW of electricity
In this context, the Russian authorities began to search for secret mining farms operating in Russia. By tracking peaks of electricity consumption, authorities discovered the presence of a mining farm inside. Butyrskaya prison In the center of Moscow. According to expert media Bitcoin.com, it is the oldest prison in Russia. Opened in 1774, the prison hosted many political prisoners.
Police forces discovered equipment designed for cryptocurrency mining in the building of the prison’s psychiatric clinic. one of the deputy wardens of the prison would apparently be the origin of the enterprise. The manager would have set up the mining machines last November with the help of his accomplices. man is accused “Actions that clearly exceed their power and thus significantly violate the interests of society or the state”Russian officials explain to local media.
Between November and February, the machines relied on the prison’s power grid to mine cryptocurrencies. Near 8.400 kW electricity monopolized by the mining farm, that is, 62,000 rubles (just over 1000 euros). The investigation is still ongoing.
It is not uncommon for miners to go illegally to take advantage of free electricity. Last year, Malaysian police arrested 7 Bitcoin miners accused of stealing electricity equivalent to 1.7 million euros.
Source : news.bitcoin.com
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