Trying To Fix His Rig, Bitcoin Miner In Thailand Dies

Danai Makmek, the first person in the world to die from mining crypto. (photo: instagram)

JAKARTA - A Bitcoin miner in Thailand Danai Makmek (26) has died. He died from electrocution while trying to turn on his computer system to collect more currency on Tuesday, July 20, in Chonburi province. This incident is believed to be the first cryptocurrency-related death.

Like many cryptocurrency miners, Danai has installed multiple hard drives to create a sprawling crypto mining machine, which he uses to cool electric fans. Danai allegedly panicked when his system died and he couldn't turn it back on.

He enlisted the help of his brother, Apiwat Makmek, to repair the damaged rig, fearing he would lose valuable mining time. Apiwat said he promised to go with Danai to a technician the next day to fix the system, which is capable of generating thousands of dollars worth of Bitcoin every week.

Worried about the loss of income, Danai took matters into his own hands and decided to try and fix the machine himself.

"I warned him but he couldn't wait. I think he panicked and stayed up all night to fix it", Apiwat told reporters on Wednesday, July 21.

Danai eventually died after his Bitcoin mining computer exploded and electrocuted him. A photo shows the mess of cables and drives that make up the rig, including at least 19 hard drives.

Apiwat said that he was worried about the security of the computer system, which Danai had created himself.

“The computer has been modified to provide more power. I don't think it's safe but my brother has built it himself to mine Bitcoin, which he really likes”, Apiwat said.

Apiwat said he found his brother dead on Wednesday morning after he arrived with a technician to fix the computer system. Danai lay limp over a Bitcoin mining setup.

Emergency services were called and paramedics tried to save him but were unable to save Danai. Police were also called to the scene to investigate.

Police Colonel Santi Shoosheud said there was no sign of forced entry into the room. Danai also did not suffer any suspicious injuries. This led them to believe that he had been electrocuted.

"We believe he tried to repair the damaged machine and was electrocuted himself. We are still investigating the case but so far no forced entry or suspicious injuries have been found", said a source at the Police.

Danai's death is believed to be the first in the history of people dying from cryptocurrencies. This could be due to the large amount of electricity required for mining has resulted in accidents in the past.

In February 2018, a fire destroyed an apartment block near the Russian city of Vladivostok after a resident plugged his computer into the building's main power supply to mine Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is a digital currency invented in 2009 whose popularity soared in 2017. Miners earn coins by verifying digital transactions to ensure they are legal.

The unregulated process is voluntary and carried out by hundreds of thousands of cryptocurrency miners worldwide, most of whom are in Asia.

For some, like Danai, Bitcoin mining is a serious source of income but a number of countries are starting to investigate the process due to concerns that the amount of power used to mine Bitcoins could be harmful to the environment.

A study from the University of Cambridge found that Bitcoin uses more electricity each year than the entire electricity consumption in Argentina. China is moving to regulate the industry, a decision that has had a huge impact on the value of Bitcoin which has fallen by half since its peak earlier this year.

The European Union is also taking steps toward regulation, announcing proposals on Tuesday aimed at targeting crypto money laundering.