Washington D.C., Monday, March 4, 2024 – The Department of Energy officially withdrew its crypto mining usage survey today, a win for crypto mining and the entire crypto asset community, Senator Cynthia Lummis said in her post on the X platform on March 2.
“I will continue to fight back against this blatant government overreach to ensure crypto is not unfairly targeted by the Biden admin,” she said.
Earlier, a US federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the Department of Energy (DOE) from collecting data on the energy consumption of Bitcoin miners.
This was announced by Brian Morgenstern, Head of Public Policy, Former White House & U.S. Treasury in his X post. 1
This ruling came after a legal challenge by the Texas Blockchain Council and Bitcoin mining company Riot Platforms.
The industry groups argued that the DOE’s “emergency collection of data request” lacked proper justification and violated procedural requirements. The judge’s temporary order halts data collection until a more comprehensive hearing can be held.
Bitcoin mining, a process that verifies transactions on the Bitcoin network, has come under increasing scrutiny for its significant energy consumption.
Critics argue that energy usage is unsustainable and contributes to climate change.
Proponents, on the other hand, highlight the security benefits of Bitcoin mining and its potential to incentivize the development of renewable energy sources.
The legal battle regarding the DOE’s data request is the latest development in the ongoing debate surrounding Bitcoin’s environmental impact.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future regulation of Bitcoin mining in the United States.
Earlier Brian Morgenstern, Head of Public Policy, Former White House & U.S. Treasury, said that
