Electricity Theft Rises in Southeast Asia Due to Crypto Mining

Malaysia In late July, authorities in Johor discovered 71 crypto‑mining rigs across four sites.
During the operation, three suspects were arrested and the theft of electricity from outside the meter caused a loss of $16,600 in a single month.
Professor Sonny Zulhuda said that thousands of investigations have been launched nationwide.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) reported nearly 14,000 theft cases between 2020 and 2025, with total losses exceeding $1.2 billion.
In 2018 there were 610 incidents, rising to 2,397 in 2024.
The ministry warned that the situation poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and grid security.
Thailand In 2025, more than 6,300 mining rigs were seized, and the electricity company estimated losses above $28 million.
Indonesia In December 2023, over 1,100 Bitcoin mining rigs were confiscated in North Sumatra, resulting in losses exceeding $800,000 over six months.
Countermeasures and Legal Framework Malaysia has installed smart meters at transformer stations to monitor abnormal consumption and established an inter‑agency committee.
The Digital Crimes Act and Cybersecurity Act have tightened inspections.
Technical measures include transformer monitoring and scrutiny of bank transactions.
Systematic theft for crypto mining continues to pressure Southeast Asian grids and cause billions in revenue loss.
Authorities are strengthening legal and technical safeguards to protect grid stability and reduce energy sector losses.