Russia uses drones to capture crypto mining trucks.

Russian authorities have arrested a cryptocurrency miner who had been on the run for several months while operating a “mobile farm” in a truck in Dagestan. The energy agency discovered the facility thanks to a drone equipped with a thermal camera. The Gazelle vehicle contained 72 mining machines, owned by a local resident who had previously had similar equipment confiscated last year. The estimated damage is around 1.5 million rubles (18.500 USD).

Dagestan banned cryptocurrency mining from the beginning of 2025, but many people still secretly mine due to the low electricity prices. Russia legalized cryptocurrency mining from 2024, requiring miners using over 6,000 kWh/month to register and pay taxes. However, less than a third of facilities comply with regulations, resulting in the state losing more than 120 million USD in revenue each year. Authorities are intensifying crackdowns, confiscating equipment, and penalizing illegal mining farms.