Thailand Busts Seven Bitcoin Mines Stealing State Power for 5-Bn-Baht Scam

Thailand’s power grid has been propping up a hidden network of scam operations – until now. A recent crackdown uncovered seven covert bitcoin farms, unveiling how illicit miners siphon state electricity to fund transnational fraud.

Key takeaways for Thai residents

• 7 illegal sites raided in Samut Sakhon (6) and Uthai Thani (1)

• 3,642 high–performance rigs impounded, valued at 270 M baht

• 300 M baht worth of additional electrical gear seized

• Mining proceeds channelled into a 5 B baht Chinese–linked scam network

• Department of Special Investigation (DSI) calling on Beijing for joint probes

Inside the covert operations

Investigators from the DSI, backed by engineers from the Provincial Electricity Authority, descended on six warehouse conversions and one residential compound. Each site concealed rows of ASIC miners inside sound-dampened containers equipped with water-cooling loops to evade detection. Officials described a maze of hacked high-voltage lines feeding the rigs nonstop, mimicking legitimate data-centre infrastructure.

Beyond the 3,642 mining devices, authorities removed transformers, cables and switchgear valued at 30 M baht, bringing the total haul to roughly 300 M baht. Many containers had been retrofitted with false ceilings and hidden vents – a testament to how far operators will go to stay off the radar.

The true cost of a bitcoin

Producing a single bitcoin consumes about 155,000 kWh under today’s most efficient setups. At Thailand’s household tariff of 4 baht per kWh, that translates to around 620,000 baht in electricity alone. Over thousands of machines running 24/7 for more than three years, the state utility has quietly borne losses topping 3 B baht, effectively subsidising the scam network.

These figures highlight the tension between Thailand’s growing legitimate crypto sector and a shadow economy thriving on stolen power. Experts warn that unchecked mining could disrupt energy-security planning, especially as global fuel prices wobble and domestic demand for reliable supply pushes higher.

From hidden farms to cross-border fraud

Data forensics traced illicit bitcoin flows through a web of mixers and shell wallets before landing in accounts tied to "จีนเทา" scam hubs in Myanmar’s border zones. These networks orchestrate "pig-butchering" romance scams that lure victims from China and beyond, raising funds artificially through fake investment platforms.

Authorities estimate the syndicate has moved more than 5 B baht in tainted transactions, using crypto as a lubricant to launder proceeds across multiple jurisdictions. Now, the DSI has formally requested cooperation from Chinese counterparts to freeze suspect wallets and track masterminds based in Beijing and beyond.

Grid vulnerability and policy response

Thailand’s reliance on centralised power leaves room for illegal miners to blend in. The PEA is now fast-tracking AI-driven load-anomaly detection to flag sudden spikes in energy consumption. Meanwhile, new guidelines could hold property owners and landlords accountable if they fail to vet tenants’ electricity use.

Regulators are also exploring whether seized bitcoin can be liquidated to recoup some of the state’s losses. At a time when the country is expanding renewable capacity and debating carbon pricing, curbing unauthorised power theft is emerging as a national priority.

What happens next?

Multi-agency task force to monitor suspected crypto hubs

Bilateral cooperation with China to pursue ringleaders and frozen assets

Landlord liability rules to close loopholes in leased properties

Public-private partnerships on grid-security innovations

As the containers sit silent under guard, Thailand’s consumers and policymakers alike are left to reckon with a stark reminder: in the digital era, every flicker of a transformer or unexplained energy bill could conceal a multimillion-baht operation fuelling scams far beyond its walls.