Russian Police Seize 3,200 Crypto Mining Rigs in Siberia Raids

Russian police have seized over 3,200 crypto mining rigs in raids on four large "illegal" data centers in Siberia. The Novosibirsk branch of the Russian power provider Rosseti, reported by RBC Crypto, stated that police officers have charged the mining center operators with criminal charges.

Illegal Crypto Mining 'Network' Shut Down in Novosibirsk

Rosseti stated that the centers were operating as part of an interconnected "network." The firm said miners ran centers located "in different parts" of the city of Novosibirsk. The power firm estimated that the miners stole a combined total of $2.1 million worth of electricity from the Novosibirsk grid.

Police Confiscate 3,225 Cryptocurrency Mining Devices

Police officers conducted searches and confiscated nine power transformers and 3,225 cryptocurrency mining devices. Novosibirsk police officers said they had completely shut down "the work" of all four "crypto farms at once" in simultaneous raids.

Crypto Mining Farms Found All Around City, Police Say

Police raided facilities near a wastewater treatment plant and swooped on a center in a forest on the outskirts of the Leninsky District. Another farm was operating near "a city landfill on the left bank" of the River Ob, and one more was found in a "private sector" area in the Kalininsky District. All four mining farms "were equipped with modern power equipment," energy company officials said.

Crackdown Continues

Power firms have targeted illegal crypto mining in crackdowns both in Siberia and beyond in recent months. In February, energy specialists and law enforcement officers discovered an illegal crypto mining farm with 100 ASIC miners on the outskirts of Novosibirsk. Officials said at the time that the miners had stolen "several million rubles" worth of power from the grid.

Irkutsk Oblast officials shut down a 217-rig mining farm in late March, with a 35-year-old man charged with stealing $11,000 worth of power.