Mexico Authorities Bust 300-GPU Crypto Farm Tapping Stolen Hydroelectric Power

A 300-GPU cryptocurrency mining farm operating near Tlaola, Mexico, was dismantled by authorities in early September 2026. The operation, suspected to be linked to organized crime, tapped into what investigators believe was stolen hydroelectric power from the nearby Nuevo Necaxa complex.

The facility's hardware included 300 graphics processing units (GPUs), 80 medium-voltage terminals, and eight satellite antennae. Authorities discovered a pedestal-mounted transformer consistent with the heavy-draw electrical infrastructure required for a mid-size mining operation.

This is the fourth clandestine crypto operation found near the Nuevo Necaxa hydroelectric system since early 2025. Authorities have applied the term 'huachicoleo,' traditionally used for fuel theft from pipelines, to electricity theft as criminal groups shift toward energy infrastructure that converts stolen power directly into digital assets.

Cybersecurity firm SILIKN reported a 55.8% year-on-year increase in crypto use for money laundering in Mexico in 2025. Groups including Sinaloa and CJNG used Bitcoin, Monero, and Tether to move funds, with cartel crypto laundering estimated at up to $25 billion annually.