High-Power Mining Hiding in Elder Care's Shadows

Hong Kong police have dismantled a Bitcoin mining operation that was illegally installed in senior care facilities across the region, with investigations revealing widespread electricity theft amounting to approximately HK$9,000. The operation, discovered through routine inspections and tip-offs from residents, highlighted the misuse of institutional infrastructure for cryptocurrency-related activities, raising concerns about energy consumption and legal compliance in residential care environments.

The operation involved repurposing electrical systems and facilities not originally designed for high-power equipment. Authorities reported that the mining activities were concealed behind standard residential maintenance protocols, making it difficult to detect during regular inspections. Police emphasized the illegality of the setup, noting that it bypassed official energy usage permits and regulatory oversight.

Investigations are currently underway to determine the scale of the operation and identify the individuals or entities responsible for its establishment. Authorities are also assessing the potential damage to the care facilities’ electrical infrastructure and whether any residents were knowingly involved or benefited from the operation. Hong Kong's electricity theft laws are strict, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for commercial-scale violations.

Energy experts have highlighted the broader implications of such operations, especially as cryptocurrency mining becomes increasingly energy-intensive. The use of care homes as covert mining locations underscores the lack of oversight in off-grid or low-regulation environments. The incident has sparked calls for enhanced monitoring of electricity usage in residential and institutional facilities, particularly for high-consumption activities.

The case adds to the growing scrutiny of cryptocurrency mining in Hong Kong, where energy costs and regulatory clarity remain key challenges for operators. While the government has not yet imposed a full ban on mining activities, incidents like this could prompt stricter guidelines to prevent misuse of public and private infrastructure.

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