Mexico Raids Cartel-Linked Crypto Farm Tapping into Hydroelectric Dam

Authorities in Mexico have dismantled a massive illegal crypto mining operation linked to organized crime, seizing over 300 specialized computing units and other equipment worth thousands of dollars. The facility, located near Tlaola in the Sierra Norte mountains, was tapping into the medium-voltage grid of the Nuevo Necaxa hydroelectric dam, a federal asset run by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

The operation's discovery was made possible after CFE and local police tracked energy surges that exceeded the consumption baseline of surrounding rural communities. Residents up to a kilometer away had reported a constant mechanical hum from the cooling systems.

The seized equipment includes 80 medium-voltage terminals and transformers, as well as eight satellite internet antennas that provided an independent connection. Authorities believe the mining operation was producing altcoins or privacy-focused tokens using graphics hardware, which are still profitable despite being less energy-efficient than ASIC machines.