Under a court in Warsaw, cryptocurrency mining

Employees of the Superior Administrative Court of Poland in Warsaw discovered in the court several powerful cryptocurrency mining devices powered by the local power grid. Mining equipment was hidden in the ventilation ducts and even under the floor.

According to the Polish news channel TVN 24 , the devices had their own modem to connect to the Internet, which means they were not connected to the court's network.

Judge Sylvester Marciniak told the TV channel that this episode “does not pose any threat to the security of data stored at the Supreme Administrative Court” and added that law enforcement has already been informed of the discovery.

It was reported that the appliances could consume electricity worth several thousand Polish zlotys per month (1,000 zlotys equivalent to 228 euros at the current exchange rate) and were placed near energy sources.

A few weeks after the discovery, in September 2023, the court terminated the contract with the third company in charge of maintaining the equipment in the building. Two employees responsible for maintaining the part of the building where the mining devices were found were also fired.

Subsequently the equipment was dismantled and seized by police, and the electricity theft investigation is now being investigated by the prosecutor's office, who will have to find out how long the equipment has been operating secretly in court. To date, no one has been charged.