A Heilongjiang court sentenced two defendants for stealing electricity to power 36 Bitcoin mining machines, with the combined stolen power exceeding 1 million kWh and losses topping 800,000 yuan.
A court in Heilongjiang sentenced two men for stealing electricity to operate 36 Bitcoin mining machines. Zhang was found to have stolen 565,375.2 kWh of electricity worth 438,580.52 yuan and received a 10-year prison sentence, while Zhao stole 468,060 kWh worth 363,750.78 yuan and was sentenced to 4 years and 10 months. The reported losses totaled more than 800,000 yuan. The case centers on illegal electricity use tied to a Bitcoin mining operation.