Ukrainian police raided a warehouse in Vinnytsia and discovered nearly 3,800 PlayStation 4 consoles running automated FIFA matches. Authorities initially suspected a crypto mining farm, but instead uncovered one of the largest FIFA coin farming operations ever exposed.
The consoles were stacked on racks, programmed to play FIFA Ultimate Team nonstop to generate coins and rare player cards.
Massive Gaming Setup
Officials reported the hardware was worth around US$1.5 million. Analysts estimate the operation could earn between US$3–5 million annually through coin sales and card farming. We saw images of rows of PlayStations buzzing in unison, a sight that shocked gamers worldwide. Our sources confirmed that the farm was designed to bypass Electronic Arts’ official channels and flood the underground coin market.
Electricity Theft
The facility consumed nearly US$259,000 worth of electricity each month, illegally siphoned from the grid. Investigators said the excessive demand caused recurring power disruptions across Vinnytsia. Unlike crypto mining farms that rely on GPUs, this setup used gaming consoles programmed to simulate matches around the clock.
Why FIFA Coins Matter
Electronic Arts earns about US$1.6 billion annually from FIFA Ultimate Team purchases. Players spend real money to buy packs containing virtual athletes and collectibles. The underground coin market is estimated at US$200 million per year, attracting organized groups who exploit demand for rare cards. “It’s not just gaming anymore, it’s a business model for criminals,” one industry observer told Coin Edition. (Source: Coin Edition).
Impact on Gamers
We talked to FIFA players online who said the raid highlights how black markets distort the game’s economy. Coins and cards from such farms often end up on encrypted marketplaces, where buyers bypass EA’s official system.
