Mining Update | Malaysian police seize over a thousand mining rigs, Chinese miners relocate to the United States and Kazakhstan

In the second largest city of Miri in Sarawak State, Malaysia, a mining theft incident occurred. Surprisingly, instead of seizing and auctioning off the confiscated thousands of mining machines, the police brought in a steamroller and crushed all the mining machines. According to the latest hash rate distribution chart, the percentage of mining power in the United States has more than doubled compared to last year.

Electricity Theft Exceeding $2 Million

According to Malaysia's The Star, in the period from February to April this year, police in a joint operation with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) seized 1,069 Bitcoin mining machines worth over $1.2 million.

Miri police chief ACP Hakemal Hawari stated that an organized group of 8 individuals had been mining using stolen electricity from SEB during this period, causing SEB losses exceeding $2 million. Six individuals have been charged and sentenced to 8 months in prison.

Surprisingly, local news outlet DayakDaily released a video showing that local authorities and SEB chose to destroy all 1,069 Bitcoin mining machines worth over $1.2 million using a steamroller.

Rise of the United States and Kazakhstan

Earlier reports from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) Bitcoin Mining Map showed that China accounted for 65.08% of global Bitcoin hash rate last year, and the map has not been updated since April last year.

However, the latest update to the map shows the distribution up to April this year, with China's hash rate dropping to 46%. Considering China's subsequent crackdown on mining activities, the percentage of hash rate may be even lower.

The United States has risen from 7.24% last year to 16.8%; Kazakhstan has climbed to third place with 8.19%, Russia remains at approximately 6.84%, but drops to fourth place.