A Chinese cryptocurrency mogul has reportedly lost millions of dollars after nearly 200 stray cats turned his secret mining workshop into an accidental winter refuge. According to a StoryTime report, employees at the facility in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region discovered that the animals had been crawling into the warehouse in search of warmth from the mining rigs, which run hot enough to heat a small room.
The cats arrived gradually as temperatures dropped in early October. Workers said a handful of strays were first spotted curled up near the equipment, then dozens, and eventually close to 200. The warmth generated by the mining machines, which typically operate between 54 and 82 degrees Celsius because of their high power draw, created the perfect environment for the animals to sleep on top of the graphics cards. Each time they did, the rigs overheated and hash rates dropped, forcing the owner to repair or replace damaged components.
One employee told StoryTime that the situation was both heartwarming and financially disastrous. The cats were adorable, he said, but each nap sabotaged performance and caused hardware failures worth millions of dollars. Despite the mounting costs, workers said the owner chose compassion over profit. Described as a lifelong cat lover, he ordered more than 200 heating mats and had staff set up an insulated room next to the mining hall so the animals could stay warm without damaging equipment.
The makeshift shelter is now fully operational, and technicians say the cats have become permanent residents. The rigs may be running slower, one worker joked, but at least the animals are comfortable.
The unusual incident has drawn attention not only because of the damage but also because cryptocurrency mining is officially banned in Inner Mongolia. The region began cracking down in 2021 after Beijing’s push for carbon neutrality and financial risk control. Inner Mongolia was once among the world’s largest Bitcoin mining hubs, responsible for nearly 8 percent of global hash power, but authorities have since issued penalties for anyone caught operating or supporting mining activity.
The cat episode comes at a time of rising geopolitical tension over digital assets, as China recently accused the United States of orchestrating a major Bitcoin theft against a Chinese-linked mining pool. While that dispute remains unresolved, the mining facility in Inner Mongolia has found itself dealing with a very different kind of threat, one that purrs, sheds, and refuses to leave.