Thai Officials Confiscate Approximately 1,000 Bitcoin Mining Devices from Local Business
Thai Police Confiscate Bitcoin Mining Devices from JIT Co. over Alleged Electricity Theft
In a significant move against illegal Bitcoin mining operations, Thai authorities have confiscated 996 Bitcoin mining devices from JIT Co., a company based in Chonburi, an eastern province of Thailand. The closure of the illegal mining facility occurred in August 2024.
The confiscation was a result of local complaints about frequent power outages and suspicions of electricity theft. One employee of JIT Co. admitted to the police that the electricity theft occurred at night, with the Bitcoin mining devices being turned off during the day to avoid detection.
Preliminary estimates suggest the electricity theft losses amount to hundreds of millions of Thai baht (millions of dollars), although the exact amount of electricity stolen by JIT Co. is not specified. The authorities have not disclosed any further details about the ongoing investigation, including the identities of the suspects and the exact number of individuals involved.
JIT Co. is a company registered for digital asset trading, but the illegal mining facility was not operating under the radar. It was not registered for digital asset trading, and the authorities are preparing arrest warrants for the suspects involved.
Thailand has strict regulations in place for digital asset trading and enforces laws to curb electricity theft associated with Bitcoin mining. Digital asset trading is regulated under the country’s Digital Asset Business Act, with the Digital Asset Development Agency (DADA) overseeing the regulatory framework. Electricity consumption for cryptocurrency mining faces scrutiny due to the high power demand, and unauthorized use of electricity, such as theft, is monitored and prosecuted under relevant energy and criminal laws.
This is not the first instance of Bitcoin mining operations being shut down for massive electricity theft in Thailand. There have been reported cases in the past, including a notable incident in Chonburi in January 2025. These enforcement actions suggest that the Thai authorities are taking steps to prevent illegal electricity use for mining activities.
However, specific details on the full number of confiscations or the latest regulatory updates are not fully detailed in the current search results. It is clear that Thailand maintains regulatory controls on digital asset trading and enforces laws to curb electricity theft associated with Bitcoin mining, with multiple enforcement instances reported.
As the investigation into JIT Co.'s illegal Bitcoin mining operation continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance with regulations and the consequences of unauthorized electricity consumption. The Thai authorities will undoubtedly continue to take action against such illegal activities to ensure a fair and secure digital asset trading environment.
Bitcoin mining, being a significant part of the technology sector, often faces cybersecurity concerns, such as the allegations of electricity theft. In this case, Thailand's authorities seized 996 Bitcoin mining devices from JIT Co., a company registered for digital asset trading, due to such allegations. The authorities are investigating further and have not disclosed many details yet, but they are taking steps to prevent illegal electricity use for mining activities and ensure a fair and secure digital asset trading environment.
