Arkansas Senate rejected a crypto mining restriction near military facilities

0

The bill aimed to prevent the establishment of crypto mining enterprises within a 30-mile radius of military facilities.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the Arkansas Senate’s City, County, and Local Affairs Committee voted against a bill that aimed to prohibit the establishment of crypto mining enterprises within 30 miles of military facilities.

The measure, which was shot down on Thursday by six votes to one, would have also permitted the state to revoke business permits that had already been granted to a crypto mining facility if it is located in close proximity to a military establishment.

The proposed legislation contained an emergency clause that required immediate implementation. This clause cited potential national security and state security dangers from crypto mining operations in close proximity to military facilities, such as military hospitals or clinics.

The original measure stated that “this act is urgently necessary to assure the health and safety of the State of Arkansas and its citizens.”

In May of last year, former U.S. President Joe Biden issued an order to prevent Mine One Partners Limited, a crypto mining company with a majority Chinese ownership, from acquiring property in close proximity to an Air Force base in Wyoming. The reason for the order was national security concerns.

Concurrently, President Donald Trump of the United States has pledged to provide assistance to the domestic bitcoin mining sector, stating that the nation should be the sole source of future bitcoin mining. TheMinerMag reported earlier this month that the United States is responsible for over 40% of global crypto mining.

Aside from national security concerns, environmentalists have also criticized crypto mining for its high demand for electricity and production of environmental pollution.

In response to the criticism, mining companies have been making an effort to create more sustainable mining equipment. Canaan, a mining hardware manufacturer, introduced a novel bitcoin miner at CES 2025 that also functions as a home heater.

Also Read: Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan believes that Trump’s crypto order has the potential to bring down the current cycle

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.