Wednesday, 20 August 2025
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How Russian miners built a mobile crypto farm and got busted

Illegal crypto miners were using a truck in a Russian province for their activities

What is crypto mining on wheels, and how did Russian authorities discover it?

A mobile cryptocurrency mining operation involves installing mining equipment, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or graphics processing units (GPUs), in portable units like trucks, vans or shipping containers. 

Mining equipment can be easily relocated to take advantage of inexpensive or unregulated electricity sources, often in remote or industrial areas. Unlike fixed mining farms, mobile setups avoid detection by frequently moving, bypassing electricity meters or directly accessing power lines. While these operations make it easier for illegal miners to participate, they create significant risks to energy infrastructure.

In Pribaikalsky District in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, authorities unearthed an illegal mobile cryptocurrency mining operation during a routine inspection of a 10-kilovolt power line. Inspectors found a parked KamAZ truck containing 95 mining rigs and a mobile transformer station, secretly connected to the local power grid. The setup used enough electricity to supply a small village, raising concerns among utility officials. Images showed the truck equipped with cooling systems and hidden power connections, enabling it to operate undetected in remote areas. 

As authorities approached, two suspects fled in an SUV, abandoning the equipment. This incident was the sixth illegal crypto mining case in Buryatia since the beginning of 2025, highlighting the increasing use of mobile setups to bypass mining restrictions and avoid electricity costs.

Russia’s seasonal and regional crypto mining bans

Russia has introduced seasonal and regional restrictions on cryptocurrency mining due to concerns about energy theft and power grid instability. 

According to the authorities in Russia’s Republic of Buryatia, illegal mining operations heavily strain local infrastructure, often causing voltage drops and blackouts in nearby villages. This issue is especially severe in Siberian regions like Buryatia, where subsidized electricity attracts unauthorized miners.

Buryatia imposes a mining ban from Nov. 15 to March 15 every year to protect energy supplies during the harsh winter. Outside this period, only registered companies may mine in designated areas, such as the Severo-Baikalsky and Muisky districts. These…

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