Nighttime meter tricks: 996 mining rigs in Thailand

A high-profile investigation in Thailand revealed that criminals operated bitcoin mining exclusively at night, adjusting meter readings to evade full payment for electricity. Local authorities discovered that all 996 seized devices were running from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., when consumption checks were less rigorous. Preliminary data shows that energy providers may have lost hundreds of millions of baht in half a year due to this scheme.

More than 120 police officers and cybersecurity experts were involved in the operation to locate hidden network connections. Each machine consumed a few kilowatt-hours, and a single farm’s total consumption ranged from 4 to 7 megawatts monthly. For rigs with maximum hashrate, criminals had installed special scripts to “mask” sudden power spikes.

According to a police spokesperson, the investigation was complicated by the fact that many participants came from other countries, including those who relocated after clampdowns in China. Thai authorities are now drafting additional measures to prevent further mass meter manipulation. Negotiations with energy companies are underway to implement intelligent monitoring systems.