Malaysia’s national power utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), has incurred over US$1.1 billion in losses due to widespread electricity theft by cryptocurrency miners between 2020 and August 2025, according to the Ministry of Energy. The ministry disclosed that over 13,800 mining sites were found illegally accessing power supply during this period. Authorities state these operations involved tampering with or bypassing power meters to run energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining machines, predominantly Bitcoin. The illegal consumption resulted in a financial loss of 4.6 billion ringgit (US$1.11 billion) for TNB, making crypto-related electricity theft one of the most costly forms of utility fraud in Malaysia. While cryptocurrency mining itself is legal in Malaysia, the practice of tampering with meters or stealing power remains illegal under the Electricity Supply Act. 4.6 billion ringgit (US$1.11 billion) in financial losses for TNB as a result of this activity. Authorities have collaborated with law enforcement agencies such as the national police and other enforcement bodies to seize large numbers of Bitcoin mining machines, highlighting joint operations’ effectiveness in tackling this issue. A centralized database maintained by TNB serves as a tool to identify potential locations of power theft, enabling the utility to expedite inspections and enforcement strategies. Additionally, TNB has initiated the installation of smart meters at distribution substations nationwide, allowing for real-time monitoring of electricity usage, which facilitates quick detection of suspicious activity or illegal mining activity. Malaysia has long been a hub for underground cryptocurrency mining operations, partly due to its lower electricity costs. Authorities are optimistic that these advanced monitoring systems and coordinated enforcement efforts will significantly curb power theft associated with crypto mining in the future.