The National University of Singapore has launched an investigation after learning that one of their students had set up a cryptocurrency mining rig in a dormitory.
The university last night said they had ordered the student to remove the crypto mining setup found in a UTown Residence apartment last week following a routine inspection.
“We are investigating this matter and have ordered the equipment to be removed for the safety of our residents,” a spokesman for UTown Residence, one of NUS’ student dormitories, said.
The university’s management on Monday sent an email to all dormitory residents informing them that crypto mining rigs were strictly prohibited. A picture attached showed at least six devices rigged together with a small fan aimed at them.
The email said the devices pose a “fire hazard” as they “were emitting unusually high heat dissipation” which could sabotage the entire electrical system.
“These devices consume extremely high levels of energy which can overload our electrical circuit boards and cause power outages,” it added.
The management said they will enforce disciplinary action against those who do not comply with the dorm’s rules.
Cryptocurrency mining is the process used to verify crypto transactions and create new currency. It requires incredibly powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems. Crypto mining has been criticized as being terrible for the environment due to the large amount of power it requires, which generates exorbitant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
According to The Digiconomist’s Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, one Bitcoin transaction takes over 2000 kWh to complete, which is an amount equivalent to powering an average US household for 73 days.
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