Malaysia Sees 300% Increase in Power Theft Due to Illegal Crypto Mining
Electricity theft cases in Malaysia rose by 300% from 2018 to 2024, attributed largely to illegal crypto mining activities. Key points include:
- Detected cases increased from 610 in 2018 to 2,397 in 2024.
- Joint operations involved Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the Energy Commission, and police.
- Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 2,303 cases related to crypto mining were reported annually.
- Public awareness about reporting illegal mining contributed to rising complaint numbers.
- Crypto mining is legal in Malaysia, but tampering with electrical installations can result in fines up to 1 million ringgit ($232,720) and imprisonment of up to 10 years.