Malaysian police destroy 1,069 bitcoin mining rigs with steamroller
Malaysian cops seized and destroyed 1,069 bitcoin mining rigs by crushing them with a steamroller — after the miners allegedly siphoned off almost $2 million worth of electricity to power the energy-intensive machines. The machines, which were estimated to be worth about $1.25 million, were seized in a joint operation carried out by police in the city of Miri and electric utility company Sarawak Energy between February and April, according to a report from the Malaysian National News Agency. A video of the steamrolling posted last week by local news outlet Dayak Daily has made the rounds on social media. Six people were arrested for electricity theft in the operation, and have been fined almost $2,000 as well as “jailed for up to eight months,” according to a statement from Miri police chief ACP Hakemal Hawari that was quoted by local outlets. So-called bitcoin mining involves using computers to solve complex math problems in an effort to be rewarded with freshly minted