Malaysia loses $1,1 billion due to electricity theft for mining

TNB has discovered nearly 14 000 facilities that were illegally mining cryptocurrency using the power grid

Malaysia records $1,1 billion in losses from electricity theft for mining

19.11.2025 - 12:45

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2 min

Key poiyns:

TNB has identified 13 827 illegal mining sites.
The losses amounted to 4,57 billion ringgit ($1,1 billion).
Authorities are stepping up energy consumption controls and monitoring of suspicious facilities.

Malaysia’s national energy company Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) reported losses of more than $1,1 billion related to electricity theft for cryptocurrency mining from 2020 to August 2025. The Ministry of Energy said that during this period, 13 827 facilities were identified that were illegally connected to the grid for the extraction of digital assets. The ministry emphasizes that such activities threaten the stability of the power system, public safety, and the country’s economy.

Malaysia has been fighting illegal mining for several years in a row. In 2024, the authorities destroyed more than 900 bitcoin mining rigs, valued at nearly $482 000. In recent years, the load on the power grid due to hidden mining farms has become one of the key problems for regional operators.

How the authorities are responding

The Ministry of Energy reported that TNB has created an internal database of property owners and tenants associated with suspicious connections. It is used to identify risky properties and conduct inspections.

The company is also implementing technical control measures: smart meters and a pilot system of “distribution transformer meter” that allow abnormal energy consumption to be recorded in real time. The ministry notes that these measures should reduce the number of illegal mining operations and increase the transparency of energy consumption in the country.

At the end of October 2025, British Columbia introduced a long-term ban on new cryptocurrency mining projects, cementing a policy that had previously been in place as a temporary moratorium. The authorities said that free energy resources would be directed to industries that create jobs and provide public benefits.

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