Hidden Mining Farm Operated for Six Years in Tomsk Basement

Residents of a Tomsk apartment complex were puzzled by persistent noise and heat emanating from their building’s basement. Investigations showed a covert crypto mining operation had been running for six years, using the shared utility lines. Local sources reported that industrial-grade equipment was employed by the tenant of the basement area.

Monthly electricity usage in that basement exceeded 5,000 kWh, according to the inspection. The management company repeatedly dismissed tenants’ complaints as “ventilation” or a “drying process.” However, after the homeowners’ committee changed leadership, they revisited the basement’s access protocols and discovered the unauthorized activity.

Preliminary estimates suggest that the total damages over the years might run into several million rubles. The local prosecutor’s office is conducting an inquiry into the unlicensed consumption of resources. Experts emphasize an urgent need for tighter oversight by housing authorities, as such incidents appear to be on the rise.