20 votes

The crypto racket - public officials at all levels are propping up a Texas Bitcoin mining boom that’s threatening water and energy systems while afflicting locals with noise pollution

Posted by patience_limited
Tags: energy, climate change, pollution.air, pollution.noise, usa.tx, politics.usa, government.local, republican party, greg abbott, corruption, cryptocurrency, bitcoin, bitcoin mining, infrastructure, utilities, power lines, scarcity.water, coalition against cryptomining, author.candice bernd, source.texasobserver, long read
https://www.texasobserver.org/the-crypto-racket/

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Title
The Crypto Racket
Authors
Candice Bernd
Published
May 5 2025
Word count
4281 words

1 comment

  1. patience_limited
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    While Texas has long been notable for public corruption and lax enforcement of environmental and other laws against corporations, this story is emblematic of what the U.S. can expect nationwide...

    While Texas has long been notable for public corruption and lax enforcement of environmental and other laws against corporations, this story is emblematic of what the U.S. can expect nationwide from the "crypto friendly" Republican Party and Federal government. Fortunately, the Trump-friendly GENIUS Act was just defeated in the U.S. Senate.

    Proof-of-work cryptocurrencies are inherently vast, escalating wastes of energy that continue to encourage carbon pollution, and IMHO should be banned globally. If cryptocurrencies have any utility at all, there are environmentally better, if less profitable, alternatives. See also.

    If this is a concern in your area, look up the National Coalition Against Cryptomining.

    3 votes