MEW cuts power supply to crypto mining homes, amid legal crackdown
Some miners are reportedly considering relocating to regional countries that permit mining under regulated higher rates. A source suggested Kuwait could benefit by adopting a similar regulated framework instead of enforcing a total ban
The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy has begun cutting power to homes engaged in illegal cryptocurrency mining following ongoing monitoring efforts.
This is done in coordination with the Ministry of Interior to track and punish violators. The Al-Rai daily said the authorities identify suspected homes by analyzing smart meter data and comparing unusually high-power consumption to typical residential levels.
Once confirmed, power supply is disconnected followed by legal proceedings. Individuals involved often pay their bills regularly to avoid suspicion, but forensic meter analysis reveals constant, unusual inconsistent meter reading with normal household patterns.
Currently, judicial teams are monitoring homes in Sabah Al-Ahmad, with operations expanding to the Mutla’a area. In Al-Wafra, a large-scale campaign identified around 100 homes showing excessive, non-variable energy consumption—some exceeding 100,000 kilowatts in March 2025, about 20 times more than average homes—strongly indicating unauthorized crypto-mining activity.
The ministry spokesperson Fatima Hayat confirmed unusual power load increases in several areas, and emphasized collaboration with the Communications and Information Technology Commission and the Ministry of Interior in tracking suspicious Internet activity linked to mining.
She urged the public to cooperate and warned of strict legal consequences for individuals or entities proven to exploit electricity for unlicensed activities, which jeopardize the national power grid’s stability.
Monitoring steps include:
- Investigations by the Interior Ministry
- Information from the Communications Authority
- Smart meter and consumption data analysis
Meanwhile, some miners are reportedly considering relocating to regional countries that permit mining under regulated higher rates. A source suggested Kuwait could benefit by adopting a similar regulated framework instead of enforcing a total ban.
