Malaysia’s Power Network in Jeopardy: Cryptocurrency Theft Highlights Weaknesses in Infrastructure and Law

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Malaysia’s Power Network in Jeopardy: Cryptocurrency Theft Highlights Weaknesses in Infrastructure and Law

Bitget-RWA2025/11/19 10:42

By:Bitget-RWA

- Malaysia's TNB reports $1.1B losses from crypto mining-linked electricity theft at 13,827 sites over five years. - Power theft cases surged 300% (2018-2024), with raids seizing $482K in mining rigs and disrupting networks. - TNB deploys AI analytics and smart meters to detect theft, while authorities push for crypto-specific regulations. - Current laws impose minimal penalties ($2,400 fines/jail), failing to deter sophisticated theft operations. - Experts warn theft destabilizes grid and pricing, urging

Malaysia’s main electricity provider, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), has reported losses

surpassing $1.1 billion

over the last five years as a result of electricity theft associated with unauthorized cryptocurrency mining, based on a parliamentary disclosure from the Ministry of Energy and Water Transformation. The ministry stated that 13,827 locations nationwide were found to have tampered or bypassed meters to supply power to mining equipment, mainly for

Bitcoin

. This widespread theft has

put pressure on the national power grid

, created public safety risks, and posed threats to economic security.

These illegal activities, which often involve direct wiring to transformers or altered smart meters, have grown more advanced. Criminal groups frequently move their operations—

concealing them in seldom-used warehouses

as well as in retail spaces or residential properties to avoid being caught.

Malaysia’s Power Network in Jeopardy: Cryptocurrency Theft Highlights Weaknesses in Infrastructure and Law image 0

TNB has observed a 300% increase in electricity theft cases related to crypto mining from 2018 to 2024, averaging 2,303 cases per year between 2020 and 2024

as reported

. Law enforcement has responded with joint operations, confiscating mining hardware and dismantling illegal setups. For instance, in August 2024, local officials

destroyed 900 Bitcoin mining machines

valued at close to $482,000.

In response, TNB has rolled out sophisticated monitoring tools, such as smart meters and AI-powered analytics, to

identify unusual electricity usage trends

. The company has also established an internal registry to track suspected landlords and tenants involved in theft, allowing for more focused inspections

based on available data

. At the same time, the energy ministry has advocated for tighter rules tailored to crypto mining, since current regulations treat such theft as standard electricity fraud, leading to relatively mild punishments of up to $2,400 in fines or imprisonment

according to assessments

The financial impact goes beyond TNB’s direct losses.

Experts caution

that these thefts threaten the sustainability of regulated power tariffs and could jeopardize the stability of the national grid. The ministry stressed that the situation

underscores the importance of upgrading infrastructure

and establishing clearer legal standards to tackle the distinct issues brought by energy-heavy crypto mining.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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