Bitcoin mining is an energy-hungry business even when you’re paying for the power. When you’re not, it tends to attract attention from people with badges. Thai authorities dismantled a large-scale illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Nan Province, where operators allegedly stole more than $80,000 worth of electricity to keep their rigs humming. The bust is part of an escalating nationwide effort to shut down mining setups that bypass the grid and pocket the savings. In Pathum Thani, authorities seized 63 mining rigs linked to an estimated financial loss of over 11 million baht, roughly $327,000, in stolen electricity. ... (full story)