Malaysia Cracks Down on Crypto Mining Power Theft with Smart Meter System
Malaysian authorities have escalated efforts to combat electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining operations. Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the national utility, reports losses exceeding $1 billion over four years due to meter tampering by miners seeking to avoid high energy costs.
The new enforcement system deploys smart meters and a detection database to identify abnormal consumption patterns. Raids across the country have uncovered nearly 14,000 illegal connections since 2020, with mining operators systematically bypassing meters to power energy-intensive rigs.
This widespread theft threatens Malaysia's energy grid stability, prompting parliamentary scrutiny. The crackdown highlights the tension between cryptocurrency's energy demands and infrastructure sustainability in emerging markets.
