Follow
WhatsApp

2 Russian nuclear researchers arrested

2 Russian nuclear researchers arrested

MOSCOW — Two employees of Russia’s top nuclear research institute have beenarrested for using the facility’s supercomputer for crypto-currency mining.

Russian news agencies cited the Russian Federal Nuclear Center asconfirming the arrests on Friday. But the reports did not indicate whetherthe employees had made any money from the computer use. In mining,computers are used to solve mathematical problems to verify transactionsand are rewarded in crypto-currency.

The center, in the closed-off city of Sarov, 400 kilometers (240 miles)east of Moscow, is a research and development facility for nuclear weapons.

The Interfax and state RIA-Novosti news agencies cited the center as sayingthat criminal charges apparently were filed against the employees, but thecharges were not specified.