Malaysia’s national power utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, has reported losses exceeding $1 billion due to illegal electricity use by cryptocurrency miners between 2020 and August 2025. According to the country’s energy ministry, more than 13,800 premises were found to have tapped power illegally for crypto mining activities, a trend that has placed significant financial strain on the utility provider.
The ministry explained that illegal mining operations, especially those focused on bitcoin, resulted in losses amounting to 4.6 billion ringgit. While Malaysia does not have dedicated regulations governing cryptocurrency mining, the act of bypassing or tampering with electricity meters constitutes an offence under the Electricity Supply Act. Authorities say the scale of the operations underscores the need for stronger enforcement and monitoring mechanisms.
To address the growing problem, Tenaga Nasional has been working with multiple agencies, including the police, the communications regulator, and the anti-graft commission, enabling the seizure of bitcoin mining machines from implicated premises. These joint operations have intensified in recent months as the government seeks to clamp down on power theft tied to digital currency operations.
As part of preventive measures, TNB has created a database containing detailed information on owners and tenants of premises suspected of electricity theft. The ministry added that the utility is also installing smart meters at distribution substations to monitor real-time energy consumption and detect manipulation more effectively, aiming to reduce future losses and strengthen the integrity of the nation’s power grid