What is crypto mining on wheels, and how did Russian authorities discover it?
A mobile cryptocurrency mining operation involves installing mining equipment, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or graphics processing units (GPUs), in portable units like trucks, vans or shipping containers.
Mining equipment can be easily relocated to take advantage of inexpensive or unregulated electricity sources, often in remote or industrial areas. Unlike fixed mining farms, mobile setups avoid detection by frequently moving, bypassing electricity meters or directly accessing power lines. While these operations make it easier for illegal miners to participate, they create significant risks to energy infrastructure.
In Pribaikalsky District in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, authorities unearthed an illegal mobile cryptocurrency mining operation during a routine inspection of a 10-kilovolt power line. Inspectors found a parked KamAZ truck containing 95 mining rigs and a mobile transformer station, secretly connected to the local power grid. The setup used enough electricity to supply a small village, raising concerns among utility officials. Images showed the truck equipped with cooling systems and hidden power connections, enabling it to operate undetected in remote areas.
As authorities approached, two suspects fled in an SUV, abandoning the equipment. This incident was the sixth illegal crypto mining case in Buryatia since the beginning of 2025, highlighting the increasing use of mobile setups to bypass mining restrictions and avoid electricity costs.
Russia’s seasonal and regional crypto mining bans
Russia has introduced seasonal and regional restrictions on cryptocurrency mining due to concerns about energy theft and power grid instability.
According to the authorities in Russia’s Republic of Buryatia, illegal mining operations heavily strain local infrastructure, often causing voltage drops and blackouts in nearby villages. This issue is especially severe in Siberian regions like Buryatia, where subsidized electricity attracts unauthorized miners.
Buryatia imposes a mining ban from Nov. 15 to March 15 every year to protect energy supplies during the harsh winter. Outside this period, only registered companies may mine in designated areas, such as the Severo-Baikalsky and Muisky districts. These rules ensure that subsidized electricity, meant for households and essential services, is not misused for unlicensed mining.
Similar restrictions apply in other energy-stressed regions, including Dagestan, Chechnya and parts of Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine. In April 2025, Irkutsk banned all mining despite hosting BitRiver, a major legal mining company. These measures aim to prevent energy misuse while maintaining grid stability and ensuring public electricity access.
Did you know? China once accounted for over 70% of global Bitcoin (BTC) mining until a nationwide ban in 2021. Many miners fled to countries such as Kazakhstan and Russia, reshaping the global mining map almost overnight.
Legal vs. illegal mining: The case of BitRiver
While illegal cryptocurrency mining operations continue to strain Russia’s energy grid, BitRiver is an example of regulated, large-scale mining. Located in Irkutsk, BitRiver operates legally, using electricity from local hydroelectric plants.
BitRiver’s Bratsk data center, opened in 2019, is the largest crypto mining facility in the region. It has become a key part of Russia’s mining industry, demonstrating how mining can be both scalable and compliant. The center aligns with the government’s goal of fostering a regulated industry that supports innovation while protecting energy stability. Renewable energy sources enable the company to conduct energy-intensive mining without overburdening public infrastructure or relying on subsidized residential electricity.
Unlike covert operators who secretly exploit rural infrastructure, licensed companies like BitRiver align with legal and environmental guidelines. This case underlines the need to differentiate between regulated industrial mining and illicit setups threatening regional power networks.
Ivan Chebeskov, an official from the Russian Finance Ministry, has stated that only 30% of crypto miners have registered with the Federal Tax Service since late 2024. The Russian government started implementing two laws related to crypto mining in October and November 2024, which established legal definitions and mandatory registration for mining businesses.
The evolving threat of digital energy theft in Russia
Energy theft has evolved from physical to digital. Russian hacker groups use technology to secretly access compromised devices’ computing power, increasing electricity consumption and carbon footprints. Digital theft is harder to detect compared to traditional energy theft.
According to Kaspersky, a secretive Russian hacking group called Librarian Ghouls, or Rare Werewolf, is targeting users with phishing emails that appear to be legitimate business communications. These emails trick users into clicking on malicious attachments or links, which install specialized malware.
Once installed, the malware disables Windows Defender to avoid detection and deploys crypto mining software that runs quietly during off-hours, such as late at night or on weekends. The timing helps the hackers mine cryptocurrency without users noticing the increased resource usage.
Kaspersky’s findings show that hundreds of devices have been affected by this advanced attack, demonstrating the scale and sophistication of Librarian Ghouls’ operations. Their ability to bypass security, disable protections and exploit energy through cryptomining highlights the need for increased awareness and stronger cybersecurity measures.
Did you know? Crypto mining rigs generate so much heat that some miners repurpose the heat to warm homes, greenhouses or even swimming pools, turning wasted energy into an unconventional heating solution.
Broader implications of cryptojacking for Russia’s crypto landscape
Cryptojacking has created challenges for the Russian crypto ecosystem, particularly affecting energy stability and regulatory enforcement. These unauthorized activities secretly use large amounts of electricity for crypto mining, putting pressure on regional power grids without being noticed.
Activities of cryptojackers disrupt energy planning. It may lead to unexpected power outages, especially during winter when electricity demand is high in Russia. Illegal mining operations are set up in remote areas or on mobile platforms, such as trucks, making them hard to locate or stop. Operators remain anonymous by using fake identities, rented locations and decentralized systems.
To deceive and evade law enforcement, cryptojackers use creative methods, such as hiding mining equipment in shipping containers, masking energy use with secret transformers or quickly moving operations to avoid inspections.
Cryptojacking creates stress between the need to foster innovation and to enforce regulations in Russia’s crypto sector. While the country aims to legitimize parts of the industry to encourage investment, widespread illegal activities undermine trust and complicate efforts to implement supportive policies.
Did you know? Ethereum’s switch to proof-of-stake (PoS) in 2022 (known as “the Merge”) reduced its energy consumption by over 99%, virtually ending GPU mining for Ether (ETH) and marking a massive shift in sustainable crypto operations.
How the KamAZ truck discovery reflects broader issues of crypto mining abuse
The KamAZ truck case reflects a broader pattern where illegal crypto miners profit at the expense of public utilities and honest citizens. Such operations can disrupt the grid, causing blackouts or requiring emergency power cuts.
This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger enforcement measures, including real-time grid monitoring, stricter penalties and closer cooperation between law enforcement and energy providers. Current efforts are often reactive, allowing mobile and hidden mining operations to take advantage of regulatory gaps. Implementing proactive surveillance systems and digital energy auditing tools could help identify unusual power consumption patterns and locate illegal mining setups.
Moreover, improved coordination among local governments, utility companies and cybersecurity experts is crucial to counter sophisticated evasion tactics. Without swift policy changes, mobile crypto farms and covert operations will continue to deplete public resources, both electrical and institutional, while obstructing efforts to build a compliant and sustainable cryptocurrency economy.
If left unaddressed, this issue could also deter legitimate businesses from entering the market due to concerns over reputational risks or heightened scrutiny. A well-regulated framework would not only reduce illegal mining but also position Russia as a responsible leader in global cryptocurrency innovation.
