Investigators report that employees of Moscow region’s Rosseti provided paid services to crypto mining farm owners, including sharing information about upcoming inspections and falsifying meter readings. According to the investigation, this enabled two illegal data centers in the city of Chekhov to operate since 2024 outside the supervision of regulatory authorities. The preliminary damage from such covert assistance is estimated at approximately 10 million rubles, with a separate mention of the closure of another illegal farm in Transbaikalia.
Details of the Accusations Against Rosseti Employees
According to law enforcement, the scheme involved several elements: energy company employees, for compensation, helped miners evade inspections and distorted data on electricity consumption. If confirmed, these actions constitute violations of electricity accounting and control rules, as well as undermine oversight of energy infrastructure facilities.
- Paid services for mining farm owners, including advance warnings about inspector visits.
- Manipulation of electricity meter readings to conceal actual consumption.
- Assistance in avoiding scheduled and unscheduled inspections, complicating the work of regulatory bodies.
Illegal Data Centers in Chekhov
The investigation indicates that two cryptocurrency mining data centers were located on private properties in Chekhov and operated successfully since 2024 without proper oversight from regulatory authorities. This setup allowed owners to hide actual electricity consumption and avoid official accounting.
- Located on private properties in the city of Chekhov.
- Operating since 2024 outside the supervision of regulatory bodies.
- Lack of official control facilitated covert operation of equipment.
Damage from Rosseti Employees’ Actions
Preliminary estimates put the damage from covert assistance to miners at about 10 million rubles. This figure reflects the difference between actual and declared electricity consumption and potential losses to the distribution network.
- Preliminary damage estimate: approximately 10 million rubles.
- For the energy company, this implies financial losses as well as risks of reputational and legal consequences.
Closure of Illegal Farm in Transbaikalia
FSB and police officers shut down another illegal crypto mining farm in Transbaikalia; as a result, the E.P. Slavsky Priargunsky Mining and Chemical Association suffered losses of 5 million rubles. These operations illustrate ongoing efforts by authorities to identify and dismantle underground cryptocurrency mining facilities.
Comparisons with other cases help to understand the scale of these processes and law enforcement methods in detecting farms, their interaction with energy companies, and the consequences for affected enterprises. For example, see also materials on other discovered farms where investigations led to damage assessments and closures: in Kemerovo Region and in Saint Petersburg.
Why This Matters
For miners in Russia, this case shows that interactions with energy company employees regarding electricity accounting are under law enforcement scrutiny. Even if you operate one or two rigs, controls and inspections can affect all links in the chain—from equipment owners to energy network staff.
Besides financial losses for companies, such schemes lead to increased oversight and inspections in the region, raising the risk of checks for small and medium miners. Investigations may involve not only farm owners but also third parties involved in concealing consumption.
What to Do?
If you are engaged in mining in Russia or planning to launch equipment, follow basic rules to minimize the risk of claims from regulatory authorities. A simple set of measures can help keep your activities within legal boundaries and reduce the likelihood of issues.
- Verify and properly document electricity consumption accounting according to supplier requirements and regulations.
- Avoid unofficial agreements with energy company employees and do not pay for “assistance” circumventing accounting.
- Prepare for possible inspections: have equipment documents and proof of legal electricity sources.
- If you suspect unlawful actions by third parties, notify your supplier and, if necessary, regulatory authorities.
In Brief
Investigators accuse Rosseti employees of paid assistance to miners—meter tampering and evading inspections—resulting in two data centers in Chekhov operating outside control, with preliminary damage estimated at 10 million rubles. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to dismantle underground farms in other regions.
FAQ
Who is conducting the investigation? The investigation into assistance to miners is being carried out by law enforcement agencies; the text mentions the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and FSB, which participate in identifying and shutting down illegal farms.
What consequences do farm owners face? Specific consequences depend on investigation results and decisions by judicial or administrative bodies; the article reports inspections and farm closures, as well as preliminary damage assessments.