Dagestan under attack: 52 illegal mining farms eliminated, damage exceeds 129 million rubles
A large-scale crackdown on the shadow cryptocurrency mining sector in Dagestan is yielding its first tangible results. Since the beginning of 2026, specialists from the energy company "Rosseti North Caucasus" have managed to identify and neutralize 52 illegal mining farms. During the operational measures, 968 units of equipment for digital asset mining were seized, which in itself speaks to the industrial scale of the underground business.
The damage inflicted on the regional energy system is estimated at more than 129 million rubles. According to preliminary calculations, mining accounts for over 13% of the total volume of stolen energy resources — about 2.7 million kilowatt-hours. These are not just numbers: each such farm is a direct threat to grid stability, leading to voltage fluctuations, breakdowns of household appliances, and creating a real danger of fires and electric shock for local residents.
Law enforcement response and miners' new tactics
The reaction was not long in coming. Five criminal cases have already been opened over the theft of electricity, one of which has reached court and resulted in a guilty verdict. Energy workers, together with the republic's law enforcement agencies, continue raids, and judging by the number of identified violations — 952 cases of unmetered consumption — the problem remains extremely acute.
It is telling that the schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In June, a farm was eliminated in the village of Maydanskoye, where 90 devices with a total capacity of about 315 kW were hidden under a false floor and connected to the grid bypassing the contract. Similar cases are being recorded across the country: in the Irkutsk region, police discovered 12 units of equipment in a forest area, camouflaged with netting and connected directly to a power line pole. In the Tyumen region, a woman mistook a camouflaged crypto farm on her property for beehives — so well-thought-out was the disguise.
The logic of the violators is simple and cynical: the cost of electricity is the main factor in mining profitability. Legal sites with their tariffs lose on cost, so underground operators seek any connection points away from metering. This is a systemic problem requiring not only targeted raids but also a revision of tariff policy for bona fide miners.
It is worth recalling that unauthorized connection to the grid carries a fine of up to 15 thousand rubles for individuals and up to 200 thousand for legal entities. In case of repeat violations, the amounts increase manifold, and criminal liability for energy theft provides for up to two years of imprisonment. However, as practice shows, tougher penalties are not yet stopping shadow operators, forcing energy workers and police to increase pressure on all fronts.