Arkansas Legislators Introduce Bill to Restrict Crypto Mining Near Military Bases

As cryptocurrency adoption increases in the U.S., mining companies are expanding operations, particularly for Bitcoin. This expansion raises energy consumption concerns among regulators.

In response, Arkansas legislators have introduced Senate Bill 60 (SB 60) to restrict crypto mining near military installations. Key points include:

Prohibition of crypto mining facilities within a 30-mile radius of military bases, camps, hospitals, clinics, and arsenals.
Existing mining facilities operational before December 31, 2023, can continue their activities.
The bill aims to address national security concerns stemming from a new mining facility near Little Rock Air Force Base.

Concerns were raised by local officials about potential threats to infrastructure and noise pollution. This is not the first attempt by Arkansas lawmakers to regulate crypto mining; previous bills proposed noise limitations, water usage regulations, and state licensing frameworks.

Recent developments indicate that the earlier measures are advancing toward approval by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.