Annoying Bitcoin mining noise causing headaches for residents? Residents accuse Marathon Holdings of long-term noise pollution.

About 70 miles from Dallas, Granbury was originally a quiet rural town, but is now shrouded in a constant buzzing noise. Residents say the nights here are no longer peaceful, with the noise causing them long-term headaches and making life unbearable. According to residents, the noise comes from a massive Bitcoin Mining Farm located just a few hundred feet from residential areas, specifically the strange sound waves generated by Marathon Digital Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed company valued at over $6 billion. Marathon Digital Holdings has subleased part of the Constellation Energy plant space for Bitcoin mining, and nearby residents believe it is the sound of machines mining that makes them feel unwell. This article is adapted from the documentary report “I Live 500 Feet From A Bitcoin Mine. My Life Is Hell,” which reveals that the relaxing of regulations in the US crypto assets industry has led to a wave of investment opportunities, with numerous corporate mining farms operating day and night to mine Bitcoin, but potentially bringing about noise and health hazards from the mining process.

The Brownings' headache

Nick and Virginia Browning have lived in Granbury for 35 years. Both are in their eighties and originally planned to enjoy their golden years here, but now they find themselves in a dilemma. Virginia recalls when they first moved to Granbury, life was peaceful and comfortable, and they could even raise animals. However, since Marathon Digital Holdings) began constructing a Bitcoin Mining Farm nearby three years ago, the constant noise from the mining machines has made it impossible for them to sleep and caused severe headaches. Nick says that he has been experiencing continuous pain in the back of his head, and his eyes hurt as well, which has plunged their lives into hell mode. It's not just them; nearby neighbors often visit the hospital for check-ups and need to wear hearing protection devices. He sometimes even thinks that maybe someone really needs to die for anyone to notice their suffering.

Tom Wicks, the neighbor of the Browning couple, also stated that he was awakened at two in the morning by a type of sound that is a different kind of noise pollution. It is not like the noise from truck traffic; it is a special kind of noise, a low-frequency noise coming from mining operations. This noise is continuous and forms a very cruel chronic torment. According to Texas law, the legal limit for noise is 85 decibels, but residents have tested it in their homes at levels reaching several hundred decibels.

Bitcoin Mining Farm accelerates expansion, tens of thousands of high-speed computers mining day and night.

The Bitcoin mining farm operated by Marathon Digital runs continuously with tens of thousands of high-speed computers, consuming up to 300 megawatts of power, equivalent to the total electricity usage of nearly 500,000 households in Austin, Texas. This is just a snapshot of the Bitcoin mining industry in Texas. According to forecasts, the scale of the crypto mining industry in the United States will reach up to $2.25 billion, with most concentrated in Texas, a state where electricity is cheap, regulations are loose, and lawmakers are keen to support cryptocurrency.

Texas Governor Embraces Bitcoin

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is a well-known Bitcoin advocate, publicly stating that Texas should become the “Crypto Assets Capital.” Under his push, more and more companies are flocking to Texas to set up operations. According to the investigation in the video I Live 500 Feet From A Bitcoin Mine, many Texas politicians have close ties to the Bitcoin industry. Senator Ted Cruz received approximately $350,000 in donations from the cryptocurrency political action committee (Freedom PAC) and claims to have started “Mining.” Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill allowing the establishment of “Bitcoin reserves” using public funds.

Trump significantly changed his stance during the 2024 presidential campaign. Although he referred to Bitcoin as a “scam” earlier in his career, he is now actively embracing the crypto industry with strong support from the cryptocurrency sector. He has also publicly emphasized that if crypto assets can define the future, he hopes they will be mined, minted, and manufactured in the United States. According to statistics from a citizen public interest research organization, nearly half of the corporate political funding in the 2024 federal elections came from the cryptocurrency industry, which also received policy returns after the election. Many residents in Texas voted for Trump, including the interviewees in this video, but they also hope the U.S. government will hear their needs and address the environmental and health crises that Bitcoin Mining Farms may bring.

This article is about the annoying Bitcoin mining noise causing headaches for residents? Residents complain that Marathon Holdings has been producing noise for a long time, first reported by Chain News ABMedia.