Thai authorities recently shut down an illegal bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi province, following a series of power outages that had sparked numerous complaints from local residents. The raid, conducted on August 23, uncovered a mining setup that was siphoning electricity without full payment, exacerbating the energy disruptions in the area.
On August 25, Thai officials confirmed that they had successfully targeted a suspected illegal bitcoin mining site in Ratchaburi, located just west of Bangkok. The operation was exposed after residents endured over a month of intermittent power failures, prompting an investigation.
The raid was carried out by a joint task force comprising Thai police and representatives from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). Upon entering the premises, authorities discovered equipment used for mining bitcoin, which was drawing significant amounts of electricity from the grid. Jamnong Chanwong, a chief district security officer involved in the raid, noted that the mining operation had been running at the expense of local energy consumers.
“We uncovered bitcoin mining rigs, indicating that this house was being used to operate an illicit mining facility that was not properly compensating for the electricity it consumed,” Chanwong stated.
The raid was not without complications. An earlier attempt to inspect the property was thwarted by a security guard, forcing officials to return with a search warrant. By the time they gained access, much of the mining equipment had been removed, and no arrests were made.
In Thailand, bitcoin mining is classified as a manufacturing activity, subjecting operators to certain taxes. The government has been considering the introduction of a digital asset tax specifically targeting bitcoin miners. Despite these regulatory efforts, illegal mining operations continue to pose challenges, particularly in regions where they have been linked to increased electricity costs for legitimate users.
The Ratchaburi raid marks the fourth such operation that Thai authorities have disrupted in 2024, highlighting the ongoing struggle to combat unauthorized bitcoin mining in the country.
