The latest case emerged in Hong Kong, where police arrested two men accused of hiding mining rigs inside the ceilings of care facilities for the elderly.

Power Bills That Didn’t Add Up

The scheme unraveled after IT staff at one center reported sluggish internet speeds. Investigators soon discovered concealed devices drawing both bandwidth and electricity. In total, eight rigs were uncovered across two facilities in Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong, generating an extra HK$17,000 ($2,180) in monthly power bills.

The suspects, both in their early thirties and employed by a renovation contractor, were detained on September 5. Authorities believe the pair acted on their own, taking advantage of access during building work to install the miners. If convicted of “abstracting electricity,” they could face up to five years in prison.

A Warning for Institutions

Hong Kong police urged organizations to be alert to sudden spikes in power consumption or unexplained network slowdowns, especially when outside contractors are involved. Inspector Ng Tsz-wing stressed that vigilance is key: unusual utility charges should be investigated promptly, as crypto mining operations are increasingly being hidden in offices, schools, and even homes for the elderly.

A Worldwide Pattern

The Hong Kong arrests are not an isolated case. Across the globe, authorities are reporting similar crackdowns. Thai police recently seized more than 60 illegal rigs siphoning power from utility poles, while UK officers in Bradford uncovered a mining farm wired directly into the grid. In Tajikistan, stolen electricity for mining has already cost the country over $3.5 million this year.

Industry figures say the problem goes beyond financial theft. Shanon Squires of Compass Mining argued that unauthorized operations undermine the principles many Bitcoin advocates defend: “It’s taking property without consent and leaving the victims with the bill.”

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Shrinking Margins, Rising Temptations

Behind these incidents lies the economics of mining itself. Since the 2024 Bitcoin halving, rewards have dropped by half, while network difficulty keeps climbing. According to Digiconomist, the industry now consumes as much electricity as Thailand and produces carbon emissions on par with Belgium.

Large firms can still thrive — U.S.-based MARA Holdings recently posted a 64% year-on-year revenue jump to $238 million, buoyed by Bitcoin’s rally. But for small players with limited capital, the temptation to cut corners by stealing power has grown, turning mining into a flashpoint for law enforcement worldwide.

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