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 <p>During the Christmas weekend, Indonesian authorities conducted raids at ten locations. These were suspected of illegal Bitcoin mining operations fueled by stolen electricity from the national grid. While Indonesia is becoming increasingly involved in the <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency realm, it has not been traditionally recognized as a major mining hub. The crackdown poses a new challenge for authorities, given that electricity theft is deemed a criminal offense in Indonesia. It carries penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine double the value of the unpaid electricity.</p>
 <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electricity-theft-in-indonesia-s-crypto-scene">Electricity Theft in Indonesia’s Crypto Scene</h4>
 <p>While Indonesia has rapidly embraced <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency adoption in recent years, mining activities have not been a focal point until the recent crackdown. The surge in <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency prices may be drawing more individuals into mining operations, elevating the risk of electricity theft.</p>
 <p>Similar issues have been faced by Malaysia, Indonesia’s neighboring country. Here, authorities have been making arrests related to electricity theft by <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency miners. However, the recent raids in Medan, North Sumatra, represent one of the initial reported cases of such activities within Indonesia.</p>
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 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="585" src="https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp" alt class="wp-image-123138" srcset="https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 1024w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 300w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 768w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 1536w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 380w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 550w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 800w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 1160w, https://cdn.thebittimes.com/images/2023/12/31/53b4f57595b4da4cfdf3f6e2863e652a.webp 1792w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
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 <p><strong>Also Read: MicroStrategy Now Holds 189,150 Bitcoin (BTC) Worth $8.1 Billion</strong></p>
 <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-details-of-the-raids">Details of the Raids</h4>
 <p>During the raids in Medan, authorities uncovered 1,314 Bitcoin mining rigs. This further led to the detention of 26 individuals suspected of involvement in illicit operations. The suspects allegedly stole electricity by tapping into utility poles owned by the state-owned electricity company, PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara), over the past six months. This unauthorized usage resulted in losses of approximately 14.4 billion Indonesian rupees ($100,000) for the state.</p>
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 <p>While this monetary value might seem relatively small, it translates to about 10 million kilowatt-hours at recent local energy prices, equivalent to the yearly energy consumption of approximately 7,500 individuals in the country. The raids shed light on the potential scale of such illicit operations and their impact on the national grid.</p>
 <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-response-from-authorities-and-pln">Response from Authorities and PLN</h4>
 <p>In response to the discovery related to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency, an official from PLN affirmed that the company would collaborate with authorities to address similar cases in the future. The crackdown underscores the significance of preventing electricity theft to maintain the stability and integrity of the national power grid.</p>
 <p><strong>Also Read: Bitcoin: $103 Million Flows In as Crypto Investments Rebound</strong></p>
 <p>The recent crackdown on Bitcoin miners stealing electricity in Indonesia underscores the evolving challenges faced by authorities as the country navigates the growing <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency landscape. The raids serve as a reminder that legal and regulatory frameworks must keep pace with the industry. This is to ensure responsible and lawful engagement in <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>currency-related activities. As Indonesia continues to emerge as a <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a>-friendly nation, balancing innovation with regulatory measures becomes crucial for sustaining a healthy and secure digital economy.</p>
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  <li>bitcoin</li>
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  <li>crypto</li>
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<p>Source: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://thebittimes.com/1-314-bitcoin-rigs-seized-in-indonesia-s-battle-against-electricity-theft-tbt75200.html">https://thebittimes.com/1-314-bitcoin-rigs-seized-in-indonesia-s-battle-against-electricity-theft-tbt75200.html</a></p>

1,314 Bitcoin Rigs Seized in Indonesia's Battle Against Electricity Theft

TheBitTimes

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