A large unauthorized Bitcoin mine was discovered by officials in the United Kingdom who were investigating a suspected illegal cannabis plantation. 

Thousands Of Pounds Electricity Was Consumed By A Large Bitcoin Mine

The mine is located in an industrial zone on the outskirts of Birmingham, England. West Midlands Police said the large Bitcoin mine was consuming thousands of pounds worth of electricity from the mains supply.

Police investigated the apartment in Sandwell on May 18 after receiving information that led them to assume it was being used as a cannabis plantation.

Officials Discovered A Place With 100 Computers But No Cannabis Plantation

According to the officials, the apartment was visited by a large number of people at different times of the day, who added that there were several wiring and ventilation ducts visible. A police drone also detected a significant amount of heat emanating from the structure.

Officials stated these are all “typical symptoms” of a cannabis plantation. When authorities entered the facility, they discovered a bank of roughly 100 computers but no cannabis.

“It’s certainly not what we were expecting,” Sandwell police sergeant Jennifer Griffin said in a statement. “It had all the signs of a cannabis growth setup, and I think it’s just the second such crypto mine we’ve come across in the West Midlands.”

Lack Of Information Led Officials Assume It Was Being Used As Cannabis Plantation

Bitcoin miners utilize custom-built computers to solve complicated mathematical equations that allow a Bitcoin transaction to be completed. Miners are compensated for their work in creating digital money.

However, because of the quantity of power consumed by the computers, the entire process is extremely energy demanding. According to Digiconomist, Bitcoin has a carbon footprint similar to that of New Zealand, emitting 36.95 megatons of CO2 each year.

“My understanding is that mining for cryptocurrencies is not unlawful in and of itself, but certainly using electricity from the public grid to fuel it is,” Griffin added.

Although the computer equipment was confiscated, no arrests were made.