**Thai Authorities Bust Illegal Bitcoin Mining Operation in Ratchaburi**

Thai authorities have raided an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi, west of Bangkok, following complaints about persistent power outages. The raid on August 23 revealed that the mining activities were likely causing the blackouts that had plagued the area since mid-July.

- **Investigation**: Initiated after residents reported unexplained power failures.

- **Discovery**: The Provincial Electricity Authorities (PEA) and local police traced the power drain to a house used for Bitcoin mining.

- **Electricity Theft**: The house had unusually high electricity consumption but suspiciously low payments, indicating power theft.

- **Operators**: The mining equipment was installed by a company renting the house for four months. No arrests were made as the operators likely fled.

Illegal Bitcoin mining is a growing issue in Southeast Asia, exploiting low electricity costs while evading high energy bills. This incident underscores the challenges of regulating the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency industry. Despite Thailand's generally crypto-friendly stance, stricter enforcement and monitoring are needed to combat illegal activities.