Two bills aimed at regulating cryptocurrency mining in Arkansas have advanced to the final step before becoming law. SB78 and SB79 address issues that arose from a state law passed last year (Act 851) that provided additional protections for sites in the state.
The first bill, passed by House members, addresses noise and water complaints by requiring mine owners to install soundproofing measures and regulating water usage for servers. The second bill ensures that mining sites are a certain distance away from nearby structures and prohibits ownership by certain foreign entities.
Those involved in the bills, including Wooster Mayor Terry Robinson and property owner Jerry Lee Bogard, are pleased with the outcome of Wednesday’s House session. Robinson mentioned concerns about water usage for cooling fans at mining sites, while Bogard emphasized the need for protection against “bad actors” that have moved into the state.
Both bills now await Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signature before becoming law. This marks the beginning of efforts to address cryptocurrency mining in Arkansas, with more work to come in the future.