Malaysia’s Crypto Mining Surge Hits a $100 Million Power Theft Roadblock

Malaysia’s crypto mining boom just got a reality check—authorities uncovered a $100 million electricity theft operation fueling the industry’s growth. Turns out, ''free energy'' isn’t part of the blockchain’s trustless ethos.

Power play gone wrong: Mining farms were allegedly bypassing meters, siphoning off grid capacity to mint digital assets. Who needs ESG compliance when you’ve got creative wiring?

The irony? This ''off-grid'' strategy might’ve worked if they’d just mined Bitcoin—the original energy-guzzling protocol that makes regulators shrug. Instead, they picked the one crime even decentralized finance won’t forgive: stealing from centralized utilities.

Malaysia Mining Faces Power Theft Crisis

According to national utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), hidden rigs in homes and offices have been tapping into the grid without permission. Over the last five years, TNB logged power losses worth RM441 million. That’s more than $100 million in stolen electricity.

Now, grid instability is rising. Local communities risk outages. And real miners worry their bills could spike to cover the shortfall.

Legal Mining Growth Could Bring RM700 Million

Based on reports from ACCESS, formalizing crypto mining could unlock RM700 million in hardware and infrastructure this year alone. It could also create 4,000 new jobs and boost annual tax revenues by around RM150 million.

Malaysia already ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide by Bitcoin hash rate share. Cheap industrial tariffs in places like East Sarawak help explain the hike. Yet many legal players stay under the radar. They fear unclear rules and sudden policy shifts.

The study points out that no agency specifically licenses mining. The Securities Commission looks after asset trading and custody, but it stops there. Miners have no dedicated permit. They face vague electricity tariffs and murky environmental rules.

That confusion deters investors who want stability. ACCESS calls for a clear mining license, fair pricing, and defined environmental checks.

In neighboring Thailand and Indonesia, illegal mining has also spiked. Between 2018 and 2024, power-theft incidents tied to crypto rigs jumped nearly 300%, totaling nearly 2,400 cases. That regional trend underlines a shared headache. If Malaysia doesn’t tighten laws, it risks losing credibility in the fast-growing digital asset arena.

TNB has started using smart meters and data analytics to spot theft early. But enforcement remains patchy. Multiple government bodies share responsibility, which means cases often slip through the cracks. Without a unified team on this, illegal operators keep hitting the grid—and the public.

ACCESS suggests updating landlord liability laws so building owners can’t turn a blind eye to unauthorized rigs. It also recommends energy pricing tied to sustainability, nudging miners toward greener power.

Featured image from LinkedIn, chart from TradingView