Illegal crypto mining farm in Bukhara region stole 2.1 billion UZS in electricity

The PGO has uncovered another illegal mining farm in the Bukhara region.

Law enforcement authorities found the unauthorized mining operation in Gijduvan district while inspecting a non-residential building belonging to a local resident. The farm used 22 Antminer L3+ devices to mine cryptocurrency.

According to preliminary estimates, the illegal mining farm consumed electricity worth 2.1 billion UZS. A criminal case has been initiated under paragraph "a" of part 4, Article 169 of the Criminal Code (theft on an especially large scale).

Additionally, during the inspection, authorities seized four Whatspower P21 devices, which were disconnected from the power grid, and 28 faulty Antminer L3+ units.

The largest mining farm discovered in 2024 was found in the Syrdarya region in April. It consisted of 107 cryptocurrency mining devices and had consumed electricity worth 34.3 billion UZS over two years.

In December, "UzEnergoInspection" uncovered a "gray" mining farm in the Samarkand region that had used $2.2 million worth of electricity. Cryptocurrency mining was carried out using 89 devices in the basement of a family-owned enterprise.

In 2024, "UzEnergoInspection" detected gas and electricity theft amounting to 1.4 trillion UZS. Due to violations, licenses were revoked from 51 CNG filling stations, and 91 illegal mining farms were discovered.