Malaysia Loses $1.1 Billion to Crypto Mining Electricity Theft

Core Insights - Malaysia's national utility firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has incurred losses exceeding $1.1 billion due to illegal power usage by crypto miners from 2020 to August 2023 [1][2] - A total of 13,827 premises were identified as illegally using electricity for cryptocurrency mining, primarily bitcoin [1][2] Enforcement and Response - TNB is collaborating with various enforcement agencies to combat electricity theft, which involves tampering with electricity meters or bypassing connections, violating the Electricity Supply Act [2][4] - A comprehensive database has been established by TNB to track owners and tenants at premises suspected of electricity theft related to bitcoin mining, aiding in operational inspections [3][4] - Joint operations with the Energy Commission, police, and other agencies have led to the seizure of bitcoin mining machines and the shutdown of numerous illegal setups, ensuring the stability of the power grid [4] Technological Enhancements - TNB is implementing smart meters at electricity distribution substations to monitor energy usage and detect manipulation in real time [4] - The company has proposed the use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to enhance detection capabilities by analyzing consumption patterns for suspicious energy usage [5] Trends in Power Theft - Power theft linked to illegal crypto mining has surged by 300% from 2018 to 2024, with detected cases increasing from 610 to 2,397 [6] - The average number of crypto-related electricity thefts is projected to be 2,303 per year from 2020 to 2024, with TNB receiving approximately 1,699 complaints related to crypto thefts between January 2020 and December 2024 [6][7] - Increased public awareness has contributed to the rise in complaints regarding illicit crypto mining activities [7]