Russian Police Halt Illegal Crypto Mining in Buryatia

Russian Police Halt Illegal Crypto Mining in Buryatia

In the Pribaikalsky District near Lake Baikal, Russian authorities recently discovered an illicit truck-based cryptocurrency mining operation. This discovery was made during a routine power line inspection, revealing 95 mining rigs inside a KamAZ truck.

The incident underscores Russia’s challenges in curbing illegal crypto mining in energy-rich areas. Despite theft detection, there have been no immediate market impacts on BTC or ETH prices.

Authorities from Rosseti Siberia’s Buryatenergo unit identified the mining operation during a grid inspection. The truck contained 95 rigs and a mobile transformer, with suspects fleeing the scene before police arrival.

The mining activity, involving stolen electricity from a 10-kilovolt line, targeted Bitcoin and Ethereum due to their profitability. Russian state news agency TASS initially reported the incident, but no market impacts have been observed.

The crackdown reflects the broader issue of unlicensed mining in Buryatia and Irkutsk. Mining bans are enforced during peak periods, and incidents like these highlight regulatory hurdles faced by authorities.

Illicit mining setups regularly occur in Russia, with prior cases not causing significant price changes. However, the stress on local infrastructure remains a concern for authorities.

While the exact consequences of this incident remain undetermined, the Russian government’s stance on illegal mining activities continues to tighten. As of June 15, 2025, there are no direct, attributable quotes from key officials or influential figures in the cryptocurrency space regarding the Russian police crackdown on truck-based illegal cryptocurrency mining in Buryatia.

Past trends show a pattern of grid overloading risks leading to increased regulatory actions. For more comprehensive insights, you may refer to Cointelegraph , AINVEST , Chaincatcher , and TradingView .