A routine inspection linked to scrap metal theft and fencing led officers to about 15 ASIC miners and three servers worth more than 200,000 reais, while a 37-year-old employee was arrested.
Brazilian police uncovered a hidden Bitcoin mining operation during a routine inspection connected to scrap metal theft and fencing, exposing what authorities said was an illicit setup powered by stolen electricity. Officers seized about 15 ASIC miners (specialized crypto-mining hardware) and three servers valued at more than 200,000 reais ($39,400). Utility Cemig estimated the power theft caused losses of about 60,000 reais ($11,800) a month, and a 37-year-old employee was arrested. The case highlights a recurring pressure point in crypto mining, where electricity is a core operating cost and stolen power can materially change the economics of a clandestine operation.