Thailand authorities conducted a raid on an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi, west of Bangkok, in response to complaints of power outages. The raid on Aug. 23 revealed that the mining activities were causing blackouts in the area for over a month. Residents reported power failures starting in mid-July, prompting an investigation by the Provincial Electricity Authority and local police. The source of the power drain was traced to a house being used for Bitcoin mining, where operators were stealing electricity. Despite no arrests during the raid, authorities suspect the operators fled. Illegal Bitcoin mining is a growing issue in Southeast Asia, with Malaysia also facing significant electricity theft. While Thailand has been relatively open to cryptocurrencies, the incident underscores the need for stricter enforcement. In contrast, Thailand's financial authorities have recently eased restrictions on retail investors in the crypto market. Read more AI-generated news on: https://app.chaingpt.org/news