Buncombe County Extends Ban on Cryptocurrency Mining
Buncombe County in North Carolina has decided to extend its temporary ban on cryptocurrency mining operations by a year due to concerns over noise and other disruptions caused by such activities. The ban, which was set to expire on May 1, has now been extended until April 30, 2025.
Cryptocurrency mining, such as Bitcoin mining, involves using specialized computers in a warehouse to complete billions of computations every second in order to verify transactions and add them to the blockchain. This process requires a significant amount of electricity and water to run the equipment and keep it cool.
Residents in Cherokee County, the state’s farthest western county, were outraged in 2019 when cryptocurrency mines began setting up shop and creating noise pollution with industrial fans running day and night. The county landfill also struggled to handle the large amount of electronic and Styrofoam waste generated by the mines.
In addition to Buncombe County, neighboring Madison County has also imposed a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining to give officials time to develop regulations to protect residents from the negative impacts of such operations.
County officials are considering how to regulate cryptocurrency mining from a land use perspective while ensuring that data centers, which are essential for various operations, are not affected. The fluctuating demand for cryptocurrency operations due to their speculative nature has prompted officials to proceed with caution in developing regulations.
Commissioner Terri Wells emphasized the importance of thorough research before implementing any regulations to address the challenges posed by cryptocurrency mining. The extension of the moratorium will allow Buncombe County to carefully consider how to balance the needs of the community with the potential impacts of cryptocurrency mining.
Overall, Buncombe County’s decision to extend the ban on cryptocurrency mining reflects the ongoing challenges and considerations surrounding this rapidly evolving industry.