Kazakh Authorities Seize 1,300 Illegal Crypto Mining Devices in Astana

In Astana, law enforcement agencies seized 1,300 illegally operated cryptocurrency mining devices, which had been functioning under the guise of a tech center. The mining farm operated from 2022 to May 2024, consuming electricity comparable to the monthly consumption of a residential area in a large metropolis.

According to the Agency for Financial Monitoring of Kazakhstan, the illegal miners extracted cryptocurrency worth over 143 mln tenge ($300,000). The organizers accumulated a debt of 25.3 mln tenge ($4.8 mln) for electricity. All equipment, including mining devices, industrial fans, and a transformer substation, was confiscated.

A criminal case has been initiated against the organizers. Since the beginning of 2024, Kazakhstan has issued 7 convictions related to illegal digital asset activities, confiscating assets worth over 1.2 bln tenge.