Illegal Mining Rig Found Hidden in a Truck
Russian officials in Buryatia just uncovered a bizarre setup—a KamAZ truck packed with 95 cryptocurrency mining rigs, quietly siphoning power from a village’s electricity supply. The discovery happened during a routine check on a power line in the Pribaikalsky District. According to reports, the rigs were hooked up to a mobile transformer, drawing enough energy to power a small settlement.
Two people apparently involved in the operation took off in an SUV before police could question them. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened—it’s actually the sixth case of illegal crypto mining in Buryatia this year alone. Authorities say these unauthorized setups strain the local grid, causing voltage drops and even risking blackouts for residents who rely on that power.
Why Buryatia Bans Mining in Winter
Buryatia, like some other parts of Russia, has strict rules around cryptocurrency mining, especially when energy demand spikes. Between mid-November and mid-March, mining is completely banned here to keep the power grid stable during freezing Siberian winters. Outside of those months, only registered operations in specific zones—like Severo-Baikalsky—are allowed to run.
This isn’t just a local issue. Russia’s been tightening restrictions nationwide, especially in regions where electricity is already stretched thin. Last December, officials expanded seasonal bans to places like Dagestan and Chechnya. Irkutsk, another mining hotspot, saw a full ban kick in this past April.
Still, some areas remain hubs for large-scale mining. Irkutsk, for example, has cheap hydroelectric power, making it attractive despite the crackdowns. BitRiver, one of Russia’s biggest mining firms, runs a massive data center there.
Hackers Are Getting in on the Action Too
Meanwhile, cyber threats are adding another layer to Russia’s crypto headaches. A group calling itself “Librarian Ghouls”—or sometimes “Rare Werewolf”—has been infecting Russian computers with malware that secretly mines cryptocurrency. Kaspersky researchers say the hackers send phishing emails disguised as official documents. Once installed, the malware shuts down Windows Defender and runs mining operations late at night, when users are less likely to notice.
Between rogue mining rigs and stealthy hackers, Russian authorities are scrambling to keep up. The energy thefts are one thing, but the cyberattacks make it even harder to track and control. For now, it seems like both problems are only getting worse.
