Buncombe County, located in North Carolina, is considering a temporary one-year ban on cryptocurrency mining due to its potentially negative environmental impact.
The proposal advanced by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners during a meeting on April 4 would define crypto mining as a specific land use and exclude single-device mining but apply to server farms that involve three or more computers.
A public hearing is set to be held on May 2, with the ban expected to begin on that date if approved. The adverse effects of crypto mining, such as high electricity consumption, environmental damage, electronic waste, and noise pollution, are motivating the proposal.
The ban may end earlier if officials create a regulatory standard for crypto mining before the deadline. Other areas in North Carolina, including Cherokee County, have faced mining-related issues, with certain groups pushing for a ban on the practice.
The proposed ban in Buncombe County follows similar moves in other jurisdictions, including a temporary ban on crypto mining imposed by British Columbia in December 2022.
