Arkansas Senate Rejects Bill to Halt Crypto Mining Operations Near Military Bases

The Arkansas Senate Committee voted down a bill seeking to halt crypto mining operations near military bases within 30 miles.

The Arkansas Senate Committee has voted down a bill that would have halted crypto mining operations within 30 miles of military bases in the state. The bill, which cited national security concerns, was tabled with a 6-1 vote against it. The bill also included an emergency clause that would have barred new crypto mining operations and revoked the permits already granted to existing operators.

The bill sparked debate over the impact of crypto mining on national security, noise pollution, and the environment. Opponents of the bill argued that crypto mining near military zones would harm the health and safety of Arkansans and could damage sensitive government facilities.

The crypto mining bill may have been voted down in Arkansas, but that doesn’t mean it’s getting any easier for operators to set up shop anywhere in the United States. For one, the industry faces widespread opposition from environmentalists due to its high energy use and waste. Another point of contention is foreign ownership of crypto mining companies, especially those located near military bases, which former President Joe Biden has taken a strong stance against. For instance, the Biden administration recently banned Mine One Partners Limited, a Chinese-owned company, from operating a crypto mining facility near an Air Force base in North Dakota, citing national security risks.

However, former President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for local crypto mining operations. With the United States holding the majority share of Bitcoin mining at over 40%, Trump believes it’s crucial to maintain this global status without regard to the environmental impacts.

Overall, crypto mining finds itself at the crux of a heated debate that pits national security against environmental concerns and economic opportunities. While some regions, like Arkansas, have tighter restrictions on mining, others view it as an essential industry for technological and financial advancement.