The discovery comes amid the country's ongoing crackdown on power theft targeting digital asset production facilities.
Malaysia Crypto News
Malaysia's national utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad has identified over $1.1 billion in losses from electricity stolen for crypto mining operations across roughly five years. The discovery comes amid the country's ongoing crackdown on power theft targeting digital asset production facilities.
The energy ministry stated in a parliamentary filing dated Tuesday that TNB identified 13,827 premises that illegally siphoned power to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies between 2020 and August 2025. The activity resulted in losses of at least 4.57 billion ringgit, equivalent to $1.1 billion.
Malaysia has battled illicit crypto mining operations since 2018 to prevent soaring electricity costs. In August 2024, local authorities destroyed over 900 Bitcoin mining rigs worth nearly 2 million ringgit, approximately $482,160.
The ministry described the activity as a serious threat to the national electric supply system, public safety, and the country's economic stability. TNB built an internal database of property owners and tenants suspected of involvement in electricity theft to better identify and track suspicious sites going forward.
The database serves as an important internal reference for identifying and monitoring suspicious premises and forms the basis for operational inspection actions, according to the translated document from the energy ministry. On the technical front, TNB deployed smart meters and launched the Distribution Transformer Meter pilot program at energy substations.
The initiatives aim to better monitor energy usage and detect abnormal patterns indicating unauthorized power consumption for mining operations. The 13,827 identified premises represent a widespread issue requiring coordinated enforcement and monitoring systems to protect grid stability and prevent further revenue losses for the state utility provider.
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