Russian authorities have dismantled a major illegal cryptocurrency mining operation in Nizhny Tagil and Kushva, seizing approximately 10,000 mining rigs. The operation, hidden in an abandoned industrial park, was shut down by the Federal Security Service, police, and local power utilities. The regional power company reported nearly 1 billion rubles ($12.7 million) in electricity losses due to the illegal activity. Three suspects have been arrested and placed under house arrest as a criminal investigation is underway. They face charges of "causing property damage through fraud or abuse of trust," which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Investigations revealed that the operators accessed the power grid through intermediaries and manipulated meter data to hide their excessive electricity consumption.