Russians Come Up with AI Tool to Combat Illegal Crypto Mining

A group of Russian academics from St. Petersburg State University claims to have developed an innovative AI solution to detect illegal crypto mining operations.

According to the state-run news agency TASS, the system, which is described as a "world's first," aims to help power companies combat illegal mining, a growing concern for Russia's energy infrastructure.

In collaboration with private firms Lartech, a leader in IoT data transmission services, and Energomera, Russia's largest manufacturer of electricity meters, the researchers integrated AI into electricity meters to create a system that does more than record data.

The AI meters analyse consumer behavior by monitoring power and electrical signal frequencies, enabling them to detect irregular consumption patterns.

This allows energy suppliers to identify signs of illicit crypto mining activities, such as those typical of mining farms operating in residential areas.

Another Solution to Combat Illegal Crypto Miners

The university highlighted that in regions with low electricity tariffs, illegal crypto miners place significant strain on power networks, causing interruptions and losses for supply companies.

To address this, it claims its new AI-powered device can automatically detect abnormal electricity consumption and prevent such abuses.

Additionally, the university has co-developed another solution with Lartech to further assist power companies in combating energy fraud.

This anti-fraud system analyses data from smart meters and uses advanced algorithms to help engineers identify tampered meters, illegal connections, and other forms of energy theft.

Together, these innovations aim to mitigate the growing challenge of unauthorised crypto mining and safeguard energy resources.