Bitcoin Miners in St. Petersburg Cause 8 Million Rubles in Damages

The police in St. Petersburg discovered 58 illegally connected ASIC miners at a local enterprise’s substation. The mining farm occupied several hundred square meters.

Upon inspection, it was found that electricity was being used for the entire facility, including the mining equipment and ventilation system, bypassing metering devices.

Energy company representatives have drawn up the necessary inspection reports. The preliminary damage is estimated at 8 million rubles.

The equipment has been seized, further inspections are underway, and authorities are searching for the farm’s owners to initiate criminal proceedings.

In July 2024, basic regulations for cryptocurrency mining were adopted in Russia. ForkLog examined its impact on the industry in a separate article.

Soon after, mining was banned in several Russian regions until March 15, 2031, due to the significant strain on local power systems.