The Arkansas state Senate has rejected a bill aimed at prohibiting crypto mining near military facilities, citing various national security threats.
The Bill and its Justifications
The Arkansas Senate's city, county, and local affairs committee rejected a bill that would have banned crypto mining facilities within a 30-mile radius of any military facility. The bill claimed that digital asset mining could pose a threat to national security, especially near military facilities, including hospitals and clinics.
Opposition to Mining
Noise pollution, sustainability and national security concerns are some of the main objections cited in similar legislative efforts across the US. In April 2022, 23 US lawmakers sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raising questions about the environmental impacts of mining operations.
Similar Cases and Consequences
Previously, the Biden administration ordered the removal of a mining facility near the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, citing the owners' Chinese nationality as a potential security threat. The facility allegedly belonged to MineOne Cloud Computing Investment. In October 2024, residents of Granbury, Texas, filed a lawsuit against the MARA mining operation, citing excessive noise.
Regulation of crypto mining near sensitive sites remains a contentious issue with ongoing debates over its impacts.