Miner from Kemerovo region fined 4.7 million rubles
A resident of the Kemerovo region, who organized an underground cryptocurrency mining farm in his garage, received a fine of 100 thousand rubles and lost all equipment - more than 50 units of equipment used for mining.
According to the court materials, the man took advantage of a preferential electricity tariff intended exclusively for household needs to launch a commercial activity in mining digital currencies. The court decision notes that the defendant knowingly exceeded the established energy consumption limits without paying for it in full at the utility tariff. Thus, he caused damage to PJSC Kuzbassenergo in the amount of 4.6 million rubles, using the power grid for business purposes, although no theft of resources was formally recorded.
“He was significantly exceeding the permitted consumption standards and paying regulated prices, but was directing his energy towards cryptocurrency mining,” the document says.
The suspect fully admitted his guilt and compensated the energy company for its losses. In addition, the man will pay an additional fine of 100,000 rubles, and the crypto mining equipment will be transferred to state control.
Earlier, Malaysian energy provider Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) reported that the country's electricity consumption in shadow mining has increased tenfold.
