FBI Vows to Hunt Down Rogue Cryptocurrency Miners Stealing Power from National Grid
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a coordinated nationwide operation announced Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has formally declared a targeted crackdown on illicit cryptocurrency miners who are siphoning electricity directly from the U.S. national grid. Authorities confirm that at least six underground mining farms have been dismantled in the past month across three states, resulting in the seizure of thousands of high-performance computer rigs and the arrest of twelve individuals. According to the FBI, these operations bypassed electric meters to steal power valued at millions of dollars annually, causing voltage fluctuations and equipment damage. The bureau is now collaborating with state utility regulators and the Department of Energy to track digital transactions linked to the stolen electricity. Federal prosecutors state all suspects face charges of wire fraud and theft of utility service, with maximum sentences of up to twenty years in prison.