Irkutsk Miner Accused of $172K Power Theft

A 28-year-old man in Irkutsk has been accused of illegally consuming electricity for bitcoin mining. Authorities say the damage to the energy company reached 16 million rubles.

Investigation details

In Irkutsk, Russia, investigators detained a 28-year-old man accused of illegal cryptocurrency mining. Between March 2022 and September 2025, he operated a mining farm in a wooden house on Partizanskaya Street. The equipment was secretly connected to the city’s power grid.

Authorities reported that the suspect paid for electricity under household tariffs while consuming industrial-level volumes. This scheme caused energy losses worth around 16 million rubles ($172,000).

Energy company reports major losses

According to Irkutskenergosbyt, the farm consumed over 2.9 million kWh of electricity. This equals the annual usage of twenty apartment buildings. Company specialists noted that the house owner refused access to meters for inspections, with the last reading submitted in August 2024.

Officials emphasized that this case is one of the largest detected in the Irkutsk region. The house appeared abandoned, with windows boarded up to hide the activity inside.

Equipment seized and criminal charges

During a raid involving the FSB, investigators seized ASIC miners, routers, mobile phones, and a car. A criminal case was opened for large-scale fraud, which carries severe penalties under Russian law.

The case highlights the growing risks for illegal bitcoin miners in Russia. Energy providers are stepping up monitoring efforts, while law enforcement increases pressure on unregistered farms causing massive financial damage.