Venezuelan authorities raided a massive illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Maracay on May 18, seizing roughly 4,000 ASIC mining machines. The operation, called "Cazador" ("Hunter"), targeted a facility in the San Vicente Industrial Zone of Aragua state.
Agents also confiscated industrial cooling and ventilation systems. The warehouse-sized operation consumed between 8 and 10 megawatts of power.
Venezuela's power grid is under extreme strain, with peak demand hitting 15,579 MW-the highest in nine years. The government reaffirmed a nationwide ban on illegal mining on May 7. The country has oscillated between tolerating and cracking down on crypto mining for years, but the urgency now stems from a nine-year peak in electricity demand, giving authorities political cover for aggressive enforcement.
The fate of the seized equipment remains unclear: destruction, auction, or repurposing by government entities.