Imagine a serene temple, a place of quiet contemplation. Now, picture it buzzing with hundreds of machines, not devoted to prayer, but to the pursuit of digital riches. Well, that's exactly what Thai authorities stumbled upon in a recent raid that netted over $5 million worth of crypto mining equipment.

Fueled by tip-offs about skyrocketing electricity bills, Thai officials swooped in on two locations – a temple in Samut Sakhon and a warehouse in Ratchaburi. The surprise? The temple wasn't exactly practicing mindfulness when it came to their power consumption.

Hidden within the holy grounds were 187 crypto mining devices, feasting on electricity that investigators suspect wasn't exactly paid for. Evidence suggests tampered meters, hinting at a cool $135,000 siphoned off the grid.

The raid wasn't just about a holy heist. A separate warehouse yielded another 465 machines, potentially linked to the same operation. Three individuals were apprehended, confessing to managing the illegal mining scheme for a good two months.

But the plot thickens! These digital disciples weren't just running their own crypto farm. They were allegedly in the business of selling the equipment, most likely imported illegally from China, and even offering "hosting services" for other miners.

Here's the twist: these "services" involved housing the miners' machines at the temple and the warehouse, for a monthly fee that supposedly covered electricity costs. Talk about a baptism by fire (and hefty electricity bills)!

This bust in Thailand is just the latest in a string of global crackdowns on clandestine crypto mines stealing power. From hidden data centers in Siberia to shophouses and residences in Malaysia, authorities are getting wise to these energy-guzzling operations.

So, the next time you visit a temple in Thailand, keep your ears peeled. You might just hear the whirring hum of a crypto revolution, fueled by not-so-holy means.