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Hong Kong police have uncovered a brazen crypto mining crime, arresting two men accused of secretly diverting electricity from local care homes to power hidden mining rigs.
Investigators say the suspects concealed eight devices in facility ceilings, exposing a fast-growing global trend of illicit crypto operations that strain energy grids and exploit vulnerable institutions.
According to police reports, the operation inflicted a heavy financial burden on the care facilities.
The appliances generated electricity bills ranging from HK$8,000 to HK$9,000 (US$1,153) per month—costs that were unknowingly passed onto the institutions meant to serve vulnerable residents.
Inspector Ng Tsz-wing of the Sham Shui Po technology and financial crime squad said the case came to light on September 4 when IT staff at one home noticed an unusually slow internet connection.
Troubleshooting revealed hidden mining rigs draining bandwidth and electricity, ultimately leading to the discovery of this crypto mining crime.
“The public should also pay more attention to electricity bills or network usage and make relevant checks and notify police in case they find some suspicious circumstances,”
—Ng Tsz-wing, Hong Kong Police Inspector.
Police revealed that the suspects worked for an energy engineering firm and allegedly installed the mining devices during planned renovations in August.
While no larger network has been uncovered, investigators believe the men acted individually.
Both now face charges under Hong Kong’s Theft Ordinance for abstracting electricity, which carries a potential five-year prison sentence.
Experts argue that electricity theft in the name of crypto undermines the credibility of the industry.
“Electricity theft for crypto mining is both unlawful and harmful. It goes against the core tenets of Bitcoin and other digital assets, which are built on respecting property rights,”
—Shanon Squires, Chief Mining Officer at Compass Mining.
He added that crypto mining crime damages trust by literally taking someone else’s resources without permission.
The Hong Kong arrests are not isolated. Around the world, crypto mining crime continues to plague law enforcement and utility providers:
Thailand (2025): Police raided abandoned houses in Pathum Thani, seizing 63 illegal mining machines connected to utility poles.
UK (2025): Police in West Yorkshire uncovered a mining operation in Bradford using diverted electricity.
Tajikistan (2025): Authorities reported $3.5 million in electricity losses from illegal mining in just the first half of the year.
Research from Digiconomist estimated that Bitcoin mining’s annual carbon emissions rival Belgium’s footprint, while energy usage mirrors that of Thailand.
When paired with widespread crypto mining crime, the environmental and economic stakes climb even higher.
The crackdown comes just months after the 2024 Bitcoin halving, which slashed mining rewards by 50%.
Experts warn that shrinking returns may drive more opportunists into crypto mining crime, seeking to offset costs by stealing electricity rather than investing in legitimate infrastructure.
Inspector Ng urged organizations—especially care institutions, schools, and businesses undergoing renovations—to monitor sudden spikes in utility bills and network slowdowns. These can often be telltale signs of hidden crypto rigs.
As the arrests in Hong Kong show, crypto mining crime is no longer confined to remote warehouses or industrial sites—it can infiltrate even the most unexpected places, including facilities caring for society’s most vulnerable.
The Hong Kong arrests spotlight a troubling global pattern: crypto mining crime is escalating, exploiting loopholes and vulnerabilities at the expense of ordinary institutions.
From Asia to Europe and Central Asia, electricity theft for crypto mining is not just a financial crime—it’s an ethical and environmental issue demanding urgent attention.
