In North Carolina, a group of Airbnb mined guests cryptocurrency worth more than $100,000 (roughly Rs. 84 lakh) during a three-week stay at a rental property, leaving host Ashley Class with a hefty electricity bill of $1,500 (roughly Rs. 1.25 lakh). The cryptocurrency mining operation came to light after guests left the property, with Class noticing the removal of at least ten computers and the dismantling of a makeshift electric vehicle charging station. Despite the guests leaving the property in excellent condition and receiving a five-star review, the substantial increase in electricity usage raised alarm bells.
Upon discovering the unusually high electricity bill, Class contacted Airbnb and provided evidence of the guests’ activities. Shockingly, the guests admitted to using the property for cryptocurrency mining and acknowledged that they had made a profit of over $100,000 from their operation. This incident has led Class to revise its rental rules and explicitly ban cryptocurrency mining and electric vehicle charging on its property.
Class’s experience is not isolated; it highlights a growing trend of people exploiting Airbnb properties for energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining operations. The incident sheds light on the broader problem of cryptocurrency miners looking for profitable ways to fuel their operations by renting out properties. As a precaution, other Airbnb hosts have reported similar occurrences and are taking steps to prevent such activities. Reports indicate that 137 cryptocurrency miners alone account for 2.3% of total electricity consumption in the United States, highlighting the significant energy demands of this practice.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.