Hidden crypto farm in Mexican mountains puts spotlight on cartel funding

Mexican authorities have uncovered a clandestine cryptocurrency mining operation in the Sierra Norte region of Puebla, linking the activity to the laundering of criminal proceeds. Reuters reports that police were drawn to the site by loud machinery and, crucially, the unusually high electricity demand used to power and cool hundreds of specialized computing units. The haul included 300 GPUs, 80 medium-voltage terminals and eight satellite antennae. It is the fourth such crypto farm found in the area since early last year. Security analyst David Saucedo said cartels are showing “new levels of sophistication,” likely needing technical expertise and funding. Prosecutors declined comment due to an active investigation.