The bizarre discovery was made after smoke was spotted leaking from ventilation ducts at the University of Wrocław’s law department.
When police arrived, they found the mining equipment had been covertly installed in the faculty’s basement, where it had been connected to the university’s electrical system.
Police spokesman Wojciech Jabłoński said: “The smoke resulted from a short circuit in the devices, which were wirelessly linked to external systems via routers.”
He added that multiple devices consuming “a very large amount of electricity” were involved in the operation.
Cryptocurrency mining involves using powerful computer systems equipped with advanced graphics cards to solve complex calculations around the clock.
While the process can generate digital currencies like Bitcoin, it consumes substantial amounts of electricity.
The equipment has now been handed over to Poland’s Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime, which is working to identify those responsible.
Jabłonski said that in addition to charges for the illegal setup, the perpetrators could face additional penalties for electricity theft.
The university’s financial losses have yet to be determined. University spokeswoman Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz said: “I can only confirm that this incident occurred in mid-October.
“The investigation is being conducted by the police.”
The incident follows that of another mining operation discovered last year in a ventilation shaft of the Supreme Administrative Court in Warsaw, with damages later estimated at over 1 million złoty (€233,000).
Cryptocurrency mining surged in popularity following the sharp rise in cryptocurrency values.
Bitcoin, the world’s most widely recognized cryptocurrency, saw its value skyrocket by almost 1,300% in five years, climbing from €6,800 in November 2019 to over €94,000 in November 2024.
