Venezuela Seizes 4,000 Bitcoin Miners as Brazil, Thailand Escalate Raids

Authorities in Venezuela conducted the largest raid to date on May 18, confiscating roughly 4,000 ASIC miners from an illegal 8-10 MW facility in Maracay. The action follows Brazil’s May 20 seizure of 1,400 rigs in São Paulo that stole 2 GWh and Thailand’s earlier bust tied to $80,000 in unmetered power losses. Both Latin American operations coincide with a March 2026 Brazilian law enabling liquidation of crime-linked crypto and Venezuela’s reaffirmed mining ban. Market effects remain localized, though rising enforcement raises compliance risks for illicit operators and could trim regional hash rate. Legitimate miners face no direct policy shift.