Chinese authorities have seized over 10,000 crypto mining rigs from a retail park in Inner Mongolia.

The first arrest made by China’s National Development and Reform Commission is this one since the country tightened restrictions on cryptocurrency trading and mining a few weeks ago.

Chinese state news reports that the authorities were tipped off about an operation to mine crypto in Inner Mongolia’s retail parks. Officials responded to the tip-off and searched the location, locating 10,100 mining equipment that was eventually taken into custody.

Remember that crypto mining activities are under increased surveillance by the Chinese government. To help catch illegal miners operating in this region, the NDRC stated that it will begin monitoring energy consumption levels.

State media reported that the raided farm consumed 1,104kW/h of power. Although officials are yet to disclose the digital currencies that were being mined in the facility, the power consumption and the number of rigs suggest they were GPU miners.

Prior bans had been directed at listed mining firms. Authorities are shifting their attention to small mining operations, which have managed to slip past the radar.

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