Malaysia’s national utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), has revealed losses exceeding $1.1 billion due to illegal electricity usage by cryptocurrency mining operations over the past five years. This discovery comes amid ongoing government efforts to combat widespread power theft.
According to a parliamentary filing by the country’s energy ministry, TNB identified 13,827 premises involved in illicit bitcoin and other crypto mining activities between 2020 and August 2025. The unauthorized electricity consumption has resulted in losses totaling at least 4.57 billion ringgit ($1.1 billion).
Scope of Illegal Crypto Mining and Economic Impact
The energy ministry warned that unauthorized crypto mining poses significant risks to Malaysia’s national power grid and public safety, as well as potential disruptions to economic stability. The illicit operations have contributed to escalating electricity costs, prompting intensified regulatory actions.
Malaysia has actively addressed illegal crypto mining since 2018. In August 2024, authorities destroyed more than 900 bitcoin mining rigs valued at nearly 2 million ringgit ($482,160) during enforcement operations.
Measures to Detect and Prevent Power Theft
TNB has developed an internal database cataloging property owners and tenants suspected of electricity theft to enhance monitoring and enforcement efforts. The energy ministry described this database as a critical tool for identifying and tracking suspicious locations.
“This database serves as an important internal reference for identifying and monitoring suspicious premises and forms the basis for operational inspection actions,” the ministry stated in the translated document.
Technological advancements have also been deployed. TNB introduced smart meters and initiated the Distribution Transformer Meter pilot program at energy substations to closely monitor consumption patterns and detect anomalies indicative of theft.