QUICK BITE

• Airbnb host hit with $1,500 electricity bill after guests mined $100,000 worth of cryptocurrency during three-week stay.
• Host Ashley Class adds “no crypto-mining” and “no electric vehicle charging” to house rules following unexpected high-cost incident.

A North Carolina Airbnb host had to add a surprising new rule: no cryptocurrency mining. This change came after the host, Ashley Class, was hit with a huge $1,500 (₹1.25 lakh) electricity bill following a three-week stay by guests who appeared trustworthy. 

During their stay, the guests mined over $100,000 (₹84 lakh) worth of cryptocurrency, leaving the host with a hefty bill.

The crypto-mining operation was discovered by Class after the guests had already left. She noticed the guests taking out at least 10 computers from the property and dismantling an improvised electric vehicle charging station. 

Even though the guests left the house spotless and earned a five-star review, their activities caused a sharp increase in electricity usage during their stay.

After finding the huge electricity bill, Class contacted Airbnb to ask the guests to pay for it. She showed proof of their activities, and the guests admitted to mining cryptocurrency during their stay. 

In a follow-up TikTok video, Class mentioned that it was cheaper for the guests to rent the house and cover the electricity costs than to pay for their crypto-mining operation elsewhere. 

She has since updated her house rules to include “no crypto-mining” and “no electric vehicle charging.” 

Others who commented on the video shared similar experiences, with one person noting that they were surprised to hear how others get away with mining cryptocurrency in Airbnb rentals.

Cryptocurrency has a significant energy consumption issue. As per a report, Bitcoin alone is estimated to use 127 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year, more than some countries like Norway. In the US, cryptocurrency activities are estimated to emit between 25 to 50 million tons of CO2 annually, comparable to the emissions from diesel fuel used by US railroads.