Brazilian law enforcement raided an illegal Bitcoin mining operation in São Paulo state on May 20, seizing roughly 1,400 mining rigs that had been quietly stealing enormous amounts of electricity from the local power grid. The stolen power totaled approximately 2 gigawatt-hours, enough to supply about 2,000 households for a full month.
Inside the operation
The São Paulo State Property Crime Investigation Department, known by its Portuguese acronym DEIC, led the bust in coordination with regional utility CPFL Piratininga. The operation was running nine three-phase transformers with a combined capacity of 8,470 kVA.
No specific individuals or organizations have been publicly named in connection with the seizure. The investigation appears to be ongoing, with authorities focused on the electricity theft rather than the mining activity itself.
Legal mining, illegal power
