Arkansas Senate rejects 30-mile crypto mining ban near bases
The Arkansas Senate’s City, County, and Local Affairs Committee has voted against a bill seeking to restrict cryptocurrency mining facilities within a 30-mile radius of military installations.
The bill was rejected in a 5-1 vote, following debates over its implications on national security and community concerns.
The proposed legislation argued that crypto mining operations near U.S. military facilities could pose risks, including potential threats to national security.
“Risks posed by digital asset mining include, without limitation, threats to national security and the security of the State of Arkansas,” the bill stated.
Concerns about noise pollution and environmental sustainability were also cited as reasons for the proposed restrictions.
This is not the first time crypto mining operations have faced scrutiny in the U.S.
In April 2022, 23 lawmakers sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raising concerns about the environmental impact of mining activities.
The letter questioned whether mining operations complied with the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and highlighted issues such as excessive energy use and pollution.
In May 2024, former President Joe Biden ordered the removal of a crypto mining facility near Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
The facility, owned by MineOne Cloud Computing Investment, was accused of being controlled by Chinese nationals and potentially conducting surveillance on a sensitive military installation.
More recently, residents in Granbury, Texas, filed a lawsuit against a local mining facility in October 2024, alleging noise pollution that caused physical and psychological health issues.
