Bitcoin Mining Operation Is Uncovered During U.K. Drug Bust

[CloudWatcher]

6. mining bitcoins

The way you "make" brand new bitcoins is by solving a math problem. Initially it was easy, then it gets harder and harder over time. Now it requires very fast computers running for a long time.

The main cost to the bitcoin "miner" is energy consumption.

So if you can get others to run it for you (via bitcoin mining malware), you get a free ride.

Or if you can steal the electricity (by hooking up your computers on the "other" side of the electricity meter), then you also get a free ride.

The cops figured out that this place was consuming a lot of electricity and producing a lot of heat. Normally signs of an illegal grow. But it turns out it was people mining bitcoins.