Stray cats in a Chinese cryptocurrency mining facility in Inner Mongolia caused millions in damage by nesting on hot graphics cards, reducing hash rates and leading to overheating issues during the cold season.
-
Nearly 200 cats sought warmth in the facility starting in October, turning mining rigs into unintended beds.
-
The animals’ presence strained equipment output, necessitating costly hardware replacements.
-
Despite the ban on mining in the region since 2021, the operation accommodated the cats with a dedicated shelter.
Discover how stray cats disrupted a Chinese crypto mining operation in Inner Mongolia, causing significant losses. Learn the details of this unusual incident and its implications for miners. Stay updated on crypto news today.
What Happened When Stray Cats Invaded a Chinese Crypto Mining Facility?
Stray cats in Inner Mongolia’s cryptocurrency mining facility created an unexpected challenge for a local entrepreneur, leading to millions in losses from damaged equipment. Starting in early October, around 200 cats entered the private mining workshop seeking warmth from the heat generated by running graphics cards. Employees reported that the felines’ nesting habits caused overheating and reduced efficiency, forcing hardware upgrades to maintain operations.
How Did the Cats Affect the Mining Rigs?
The cats frequently curled up on top of the mining machines, where the graphics cards emit considerable heat—typically between 54-82°C per rig, according to data from Coinwarz. This behavior strained the hardware, lowering hash rates and contributing to equipment failures. One employee shared with StoryTime on Facebook that the situation, while endearing, resulted in substantial financial setbacks, with the Bitcoin network’s mining difficulty at 155.97 trillion hashes per second exacerbating the impact of any downtime.
Workers noted that each mining rig consumes 1.5-3.3 kilowatts of power, producing enough warmth to attract the cats during Inner Mongolia’s frigid temperatures of 0-16°C. The persistent presence led to repeated cleaning and maintenance, but ultimately required interventions to protect the valuable components. Experts in cryptocurrency mining emphasize that such environmental factors can significantly disrupt operations, highlighting the need for secure facility designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the stray cats to enter the crypto mining facility in Inner Mongolia?
The cats arrived during the cold early October season, drawn to the heat from the mining machines. Over weeks, their numbers grew to nearly 200 as they sought shelter in the facility, transforming it into a makeshift haven for strays in the autonomous region.
Is cryptocurrency mining still legal in Inner Mongolia?
No, cryptocurrency mining has been banned in Inner Mongolia since 2021 under directives from the region’s Development and Reform Commission. The policy aims to control financial risks and promote carbon neutrality, with penalties including license revocations and social credit deductions for violators.
Key Takeaways
- Unexpected disruptions in mining: Environmental factors like stray animals can cause real damage to high-value equipment, underscoring the importance of facility security.
- Historical context of mining in China: Inner Mongolia once contributed nearly 8% of global Bitcoin hash power, per the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, before nationwide restrictions.
- Humanitarian response: The facility owner, an animal lover, provided heating mats and a separate shelter, integrating the cats into the site’s routine despite operational challenges.
Conclusion
This incident of stray cats disrupting a Chinese crypto mining operation in Inner Mongolia illustrates the unpredictable risks miners face, even in banned regions. While the financial losses highlight vulnerabilities in hardware-dependent setups, the owner’s compassionate approach to the cats’ welfare adds a heartwarming element to the story. As global cryptocurrency regulations evolve, such events remind operators to balance efficiency with unforeseen challenges—consider implementing robust protections in your own ventures to avoid similar setbacks.
A Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur in Inner Mongolia has reportedly lost millions after nearly 200 stray cats, seeking warmth from mining video cards, damaged equipment in his workshop. The felines turned the private mining facility into an unintended sanctuary, with their nesting habits causing overheating and reduced performance.
Employees described how the cats first appeared in the cold season of early October, initially in small numbers but quickly multiplying to around 200. The animals’ preference for the warm graphics cards led to strained output, lowering hash rates and requiring expensive upgrades to sustain operations.
“It’s cute and touching, but these ‘beds’ literally cost us millions of dollars,” one employee explained to StoryTime on Facebook, pointing to the overheating issues triggered by the cats’ presence.
Mining Rigs Turned into a Cat Inn
The facility owner, known among workers as a dedicated animal lover, chose to accommodate the strays rather than remove them harshly. “Luckily, the man who owns these machines is a cat guy,” a worker noted. He arranged for over 200 heating mats and designated a separate room adjacent to the main hall, equipped with insulated walls and comfortable bedding to keep the cats warm.
This setup allowed mining activities to continue with minimal further interference. Online reactions highlighted the irony, with one X user commenting, “I find it so beautiful that, of all animals that could have sabotaged crypto, it had to be cats—the backbone of internet culture.” Another post read: “Finally, a decent use for crypto,” accompanied by an image shared by user horse dentist on November 10, 2025.
Technical details from Coinwarz indicate the Bitcoin network’s mining difficulty stands at 155.97 trillion hashes per second, meaning rigs must handle immense computational loads. Each unit generates 1.5-3.3 kilowatts of power, emitting 54-82°C of heat—precisely the allure for cats escaping Inner Mongolia’s 0-16°C winters.
Today, the cats are fully integrated into the site, receiving care as part of the “family.” A technician remarked, “The mining rigs may be quieter, but at least the cats are warm,” reflecting a blend of pragmatism and empathy amid the disruptions.
Mining in a Region Where It Is Banned
Despite the 2021 ban on cryptocurrency mining in Inner Mongolia, enforced by the Development and Reform Commission, underground operations persist. The commission warned of severe consequences, including license revocations and social credit penalties, for those involved in mining or supporting activities. Reuters reported on these measures as part of broader efforts to curb energy-intensive practices.
Historically, Inner Mongolia was a Bitcoin mining hub, representing about 8% of global hash power according to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index. This prominence stemmed from abundant energy resources, but Beijing’s carbon neutrality goals and financial stability initiatives prompted a nationwide crackdown.
China’s State Council, under Vice Premier Liu He, committed to preventing risks from digital currencies, extending bans to new projects and warning telecom and internet firms against involvement. Inner Mongolia aligned with these policies, vowing to cleanse its sector to align the big data industry with national priorities.
China and the US Bitcoin Hack Blame Game
The cat disruption unfolds amid escalating US-China tensions over digital assets. This week, Beijing’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre accused US state-backed hackers of stealing 127,272 Bitcoin—valued at roughly $13 billion—from the LuBian mining pool in December 2020. Chinese officials, as cited by Cryptopolitan, described it as a “state-level hacker operation” linked to the US government.
Authorities claimed the tokens were later seized by US officials in a money-laundering case involving Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi. The US Department of Justice pursued civil forfeiture for 127,271 Bitcoin but offered no details on acquisition methods, fueling ongoing disputes in cybersecurity and cryptocurrency governance.
These developments underscore the geopolitical stakes in crypto, where mining bans and alleged hacks reflect broader regulatory battles. For miners navigating such landscapes, incidents like the Inner Mongolia cat saga serve as quirky yet costly reminders of operational fragility.
