In Russia, large illegal miners were detained

The illegal mining farm in the Irkutsk region caused damage to the network company for 200 million rubles. Miners used hundreds of cryptocurrency production devices and paid for electricity at a preferential tariff, farm organizers were detained, the regional department of the Investigative Committee said, writes RBC Crypto.

Investigators found out that residents of DNT “Cozy” and TSN “Molodezhnoye” in the Irkutsk district placed 500 mining devices. They paid for the consumed electricity for the tariff intended for household needs.

A criminal case was opened on the fact of illegal electricity consumption, classified as fraud committed on an especially large scale. The investigation group conducted searches, seized equipment and interrogated the witnesses.

With the help of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, two tenants and the owner of the shopping center organized illegal production of cryptocurrencies in the territory of TSN Molodezhnoye were detained, the report said. The case against residents of the DNT “Cozy” has already been sent to the court.

Irkutsk district is included in the list of energy deficiency territories in which mining is prohibited until the spring of 2031. Previously, the restriction was introduced in the winter period, but the region’s leadership insisted that it was necessary to introduce a year -round ban.

According to the governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, seasonal restrictions did not allow the use of miners idle in winter. Large centers for cryptocurrency mining in the south of the region consume up to 650 MW, and these capacities with a complete ban on mining can be redirected to the needs of socially significant projects, the head of the region believes.

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