ChainCatcher news, according to Data Center Dynamics, Nova Energy has obtained permission to build a natural gas-powered cryptocurrency mining data center in Frenchcreek, Pennsylvania.The permit is based on the approval of three lean-burn natural gas engines that will provide power for cryptocurrency mining.According to a 2023 study by the United Nations, natural gas is the energy source for 21% of global Bitcoin mining operations, second only to coal (45%).

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptoslate, officials from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand seized 63 illegal cryptocurrency mining machines worth approximately 2 million baht (60,000 USD) last Friday in three abandoned houses in Pathum Thani Province. Local residents complained about unidentified individuals stealing electricity from utility poles and transformers in the area, prompting officials to conduct a raid. Locals suspect that the stolen electricity was used for cryptocurrency mining operations hidden in the abandoned buildings.Investigators estimate that the stolen electricity from these three houses due to cryptocurrency mining is expected to cause losses of over 11 million baht (327,000 USD) to the electricity authority. Police stated that in addition to the mining equipment, three cryptocurrency mining controllers, three routers, three internet signal boosters, three modified electric meters, one desktop computer, one laptop, and two bank passbooks were also confiscated. Police discovered that this illegal operation was linked to a mansion in Ram-Indra Soi 65 in the Khan Na Yao district of Bangkok. CIB officials have applied for a search warrant to raid the relevant residences and locate the gang leader and other accomplices. Authorities pointed out that in addition to causing damage to the electricity department, the illegal mining equipment also poses a significant fire hazard, consuming a large amount of electricity without supervision.

ChainCatcher news, the Prosecutor's Office of the Bokhan District in Irkutsk region has discovered an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation in a three-story orphanage in the village of Kazachye, where law enforcement officials seized 96 mining devices. The building was originally an educational institution but has been closed. A non-profit organization operated the mining site without permission, violating electricity and fire safety regulations, failing to maintain the equipment, and not installing a fire alarm system.The court ruled to dismantle all mining equipment and to stop the illegal use of the land, and the prosecutor's office has filed an administrative lawsuit against the head of the organization. Irkutsk region attracts a large number of miners due to low electricity prices and a cold climate, and although the government plans to completely ban mining by 2031, illegal mining sites continue to emerge in various buildings, becoming a key target for crackdown.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, cybersecurity company Kaspersky has discovered that hackers are using copyright complaints to threaten YouTube content creators, forcing them to add the cryptocurrency mining Trojan SilentCryptoMiner in their video descriptions. This malware is based on XMRig and is used to mine cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Monero, and Ravencoin, and it controls a botnet via the Bitcoin blockchain.The primary targets of the hackers are YouTubers who provide installation tutorials for the Windows Packet Divert driver. They first launch false copyright complaints against the videos, then contact the creators claiming to be the developers of the driver, demanding that they add malicious links. Currently, it is known that one YouTuber with 60,000 followers has fallen victim, leading to over 40,000 downloads of the infected files. Kaspersky estimates that at least 2,000 devices have been infected.Kaspersky security researcher Leonid Bezvershenko warned that hackers are exploiting the trust between YouTubers and their audiences, and such threats may spread to platforms like Telegram. He advises users not to trust tutorials that request disabling antivirus software and to verify the source before downloading any files to prevent infection by cryptocurrency mining Trojans.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed the newly appointed Minister of Energy to start developing the country's cryptocurrency mining industry to make full use of surplus electricity resources. This decision comes as Lukashenko is forming a new government, and he emphasized that the current priority is to upgrade the national 5,700 kilometers of power grid to meet the growing electricity demands of households and economic activities.

ChainCatcher news, according to GlobalNewswire, the publicly listed crypto mining company DMG Blockchain announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an undisclosed counterparty to acquire a 10-megawatt data center to support its deployment of the Gen AI strategy. The final agreement is expected to be completed within the next 90 days. Currently, DMG Blockchain has paid a $5 million deposit, and subsequent payments will be made according to the Gen AI computing power purchase agreement.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Singapore-based cryptocurrency mining equipment manufacturer Bgin Blockchain Limited has applied for a listing in the United States, expecting to raise $50 million.In a filing submitted to the U.S. SEC on February 21, Bgin stated that it will issue approximately 59.54 million Class A common shares and 15.69 million Class B common shares. Its registration statement also indicated that it has applied to list its Class A shares on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "BGIN." Bgin's filing did not disclose its offering price, but investment consulting firm Renaissance Capital stated in a report on February 21 that Bgin's initial public offering (IPO) could raise up to $50 million.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, the Russian power grid company Rosseti Group disclosed that in 2024, losses due to illegal cryptocurrency mining will exceed 1.3 billion rubles (approximately 14.2 million USD). Among them, the North Caucasus region suffered the most significant losses, exceeding 600 million rubles; the Novosibirsk region incurred losses of 400 million rubles.The company has investigated 130 cases of unauthorized access and electricity theft, with the largest case occurring in Novosibirsk, involving 3,200 mining devices and resulting in a loss of 197 million rubles. Currently, over 40 cases are being prosecuted under Russian criminal law.

ChainCatcher news, according to TASS, Aisen Nikolaev, chairman of the Russian State Duma Energy Committee, has proposed plans to establish dedicated power plants for cryptocurrency mining activities. These power plants will specifically serve the cryptocurrency mining community and will not connect to the public power grid.Nikolaev stated that the State Duma Energy Committee is in communication with the Ministry of Energy regarding cryptocurrency mining issues. He believes that innovative solutions will emerge in the near future, allowing Moscow to develop its cryptocurrency mining business while protecting the interests of the public. It is reported that the electricity used for mining in some regions of Russia has already reached an "out of control" state, leading to capacity shortages and affecting the power supply quality for residents and businesses.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, court documents show that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has suspended its lawsuit against the cryptocurrency mining company Geosyn Mining.The FBI's indictment states that these executives are accused of defrauding client funds by promising to purchase and host Bitcoin mining machines for clients, but instead misappropriating the funds for personal expenses. The SEC previously stated in its lawsuit that Ward and McNutt allegedly defrauded approximately 64 investors out of $5.6 million between November 2021 and December 2022.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, cryptocurrency mining service provider HashFlare co-founders Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turogin pleaded guilty on February 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The two admitted to a conspiracy to commit telecommunications fraud involving more than $550 million.As part of the plea agreement, the two agreed to forfeit all digital assets frozen by U.S. authorities. Sentencing is scheduled for May 8, and the two could face up to 20 years in prison.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, Abu Dhabi cryptocurrency mining company Phoenix Group has released its annual report for 2024.The data shows that the company's mining revenue increased by 236% year-on-year to $107 million, with total revenue reaching $206 million and a net profit of $167 million. The company currently contributes a hash rate of 15.0 EH/s to the Bitcoin network, accounting for 1.9% of the total network hash rate.The company plans to go public on Nasdaq this year.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com News, Russia has released new regulations for cryptocurrency mining, requiring miners to report their income by the 20th of each month, and only approved entities can operate mining businesses. The new regulations clearly state that individuals with a financial crime record will be prohibited from engaging in cryptocurrency mining activities.In addition, Russia will establish a national miner registration system to strengthen the regulation of the cryptocurrency mining industry.

ChainCatcher news, the Russian Ministry of Energy announced today plans to establish a single registration authority for cryptocurrency mining equipment, mandating all cryptocurrency mining operations to register. According to TASS, if the plan is implemented, cryptocurrency mining with unregistered devices in the system will be "impossible."The plan, led by Deputy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak, is part of proposed amendments to existing mining regulations aimed at better identifying domestic mining activities, especially those taking place in areas where mining is not permitted.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, the governor of Irkutsk Oblast, Igor Kobzev, has called for a year-round ban on cryptocurrency mining in areas with energy shortages.He stated that the winter ban has released about 300 megawatts of power capacity, but the electricity shortage issue remains severe. Although this policy may impact the local economy and tax revenue, Kobzev emphasized that this measure is crucial for the region's sustainable development.Currently, mining activities in the northern part of Irkutsk Oblast are still permitted, and the regional government plans to establish a committee to assess the impact of tax policies on the mining industry. The ban is set to last until 2031, but it may lead to an increase in "gray" mining activities while pushing other regions to compete for the mining market.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, the Arkansas Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee voted 6 to 1 to reject a bill that would "prohibit the establishment of cryptocurrency mining operations within 30 miles of military facilities."The bill originally included an emergency clause that would allow the state government to revoke the operating licenses of licensed cryptocurrency mining facilities located near military installations. The bill stated that this measure was necessary to ensure the health and safety of Arkansas and its citizens.

ChainCatcher news, according to TASS, Russia's largest energy supplier Rosseti plans to launch a cryptocurrency mining business, allowing specific power supply centers to collaborate with Bitcoin mining companies.Rosseti stated that the company will act as "the operator coordinating the deployment of crypto mining infrastructure," focusing on "low-utilization power supply centers." Cryptocurrency mining can not only improve the utilization of idle capacity but also increase grid load and tariff revenue, thereby promoting the development of the Russian economy and tax growth. Rosseti is exploring various tools to incentivize low-load power centers to participate in mining, including adopting special electricity pricing policies while leveraging the grid's load management capabilities to ensure the reliability of power supply.