Police in northern China seize 600 Bitcoin-mining computers
The northern China city of Tianjin was the scene of a police raid Wednesday in which police seized 600 computers that were being used to mine Bitcoin, along with eight high-power fans.
Local power grid operators reported unusual activity and spiking electrical usage in the area, leading police to the location, where they also arrested at least five people in connection with the investigation.
They are calling the alleged crime “power theft,” as the bitcoin miners apparently avoided paying for electricity by bypassing the meter.
Crypto mining is on the wane in China following last year's crackdown on operations by the central government, forcing miners to move operations offshore or to shut down altogether.