In April, the Arkansas House and Senate approved a bill to regulate miners that would put mining farms under the same level of scrutiny as data centers (DPCs). However, some local lawmakers believe the bill would not prevent discrimination against miners, but would only limit the power of city officials to control cryptocurrency mining.
Among the opponents of the new regulations is Arkansas Senator Bryan King, who is preparing a counter bill. The parliamentarian is convinced that the increased noise level from the equipment can reduce the quality of life of local residents and badly affect the environment.
The senator’s colleague, Republican Joshua Bryant, is confident that the bill approved by the local parliament was aimed at protecting the property rights of miners and eliminating prejudice against cryptocurrency entrepreneurs. Mainers can be Arkansas residents who invest in the state’s infrastructure, optimize utility costs and support the local economy, the politician said.
Approaches to cryptocurrency mining vary widely from state to state. Last year, the New York State Senate upheld a two-year ban on new mining companies that mine cryptocurrencies using the Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mining method. And in May, the governor of Montana signed a law prohibiting local governments from passing laws against miners.