Malaysia has suffered a staggering loss of over $1.1 billion due to illegal cryptocurrency mining activities. Authorities estimate that over 13,800 sites have tampered with electricity meters to bypass costs associated with powering mining rigs. This illicit practice has significantly impacted the national utility provider, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The Ministry of Energy revealed that these operations started in 2020 and were fueled by miners seeking to avoid high electricity bills. By bypassing power meters, these operators were able to run their equipment without paying for the energy consumed, placing a heavy financial burden on the country’s national utility company.