TENAGA Nasional Berhad (TNB) has incurred losses amounting to RM4.57 billion between 2020 and August 2025, largely due to the illicit use of electricity by premises engaged in cryptocurrency mining, particularly Bitcoin.
Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who also serves as Minister of Energy Transition and Water, revealed the scale of the losses in a written parliamentary reply on Tuesday.
He explained that TNB has created a centralised database containing detailed records of property owners and tenants suspected of stealing electricity for crypto mining, which serves as an internal reference for identifying and monitoring suspicious premises and guiding inspection operations.
“The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water (PETRA) and the Energy Commission (ST), together with TNB, are always committed to combating meter tampering and the illegal use of electricity, particularly in Bitcoin or cryptocurrency mining.
“These activities not only threaten the safety of consumers but also jeopardise the stability of the national economy, increase public safety risks and property damage, and pose a serious threat to the national power supply system,” he stated.
The announcement followed a parliamentary question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) regarding the number of premises detected using electricity illegally for cryptocurrency mining, estimated losses, and measures taken by TNB to prevent such activity.
Fadillah outlined that TNB has undertaken a series of strategic measures, including coordinated operations with PETRA, the Energy Commission, and enforcement agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police, the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, CyberSecurity Malaysia, the Inland Revenue Board, local authorities, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“These joint efforts have allowed TNB to seize Bitcoin mining machines from the premises involved and effectively curb illegal activities,” Fadillah said.
He added that public awareness campaigns have also been rolled out through press releases, television segments, and other mass communication channels, alongside formal engagements with legislators, government ministries, and judicial officers to strengthen cooperation and support the fight against illicit electricity use.
TNB has additionally implemented technical monitoring through the Pilot Distribution Transformer Meter project at distribution substations to detect abnormal power consumption patterns, identify energy gaps, and uncover potential electricity theft.
Smart meters have been installed to enable real-time monitoring of power usage, allowing for swift detection of tampering or meter manipulation.
“The combination of data tracking, technical monitoring, enforcement operations, and public awareness campaigns represents a comprehensive approach to protecting the integrity of Malaysia’s energy supply while mitigating the financial impact of illegal electricity use in cryptocurrency mining,” Fadillah added - November 19, 2025
