US Judge Halts EIA’s Mandatory Bitcoin Miner Survey
A US judge has issued a temporary restraining order to halt the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) attempt to enforce a mandatory survey on Bitcoin miners. The order prevents the EIA from compelling the Texas Blockchain Council or its members to answer the survey and also blocks the agency from collecting or sharing any data for four weeks. While the restraining order was issued, EIA Administrator Joseph DeCarolis announced that the agency would voluntarily suspend the survey. However, Judge Alan Albright stated that the agency’s offer falls short and does not address the plaintiffs’ concerns.
Texas Blockchain Council and Riot Platforms Sue EIA
The Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and crypto miner Riot Platforms filed a lawsuit against the EIA, alleging that the mandatory survey constitutes unlawful data collection. The survey requires commercial miners to disclose their energy consumption and was implemented after emergency approval from the Office of Management and Budget. TBC expressed concerns about the privacy of this data becoming public and leading to increased scrutiny on the industry.
Judge Albright’s Concerns with EIA’s Offer
Judge Albright expressed concerns about the EIA’s offer to delay enforcement, stating that it is not sufficient. He highlighted that the offer fails to bind all defendants, does not remove the threat of enforcement from other defendants or the EIA after March 25, and does not address the plaintiffs’ costs of compliance with the survey. The judge also noted that there is no enforcement mechanism in place if the EIA Administrator chooses not to honor the terms set forth in his declarations.
TBC Questions Legality of Emergency Approval
TBC raised concerns about the emergency approval granted for the Bitcoin miner survey, deeming it legally insufficient. The council argued that the approval bypassed necessary public safeguards and was unreasonable. TBC also expressed worries about the potential public disclosure of private data and the increased scrutiny on the industry.
Hot Take: Temporary Relief for Texas Miners
A US judge has granted temporary relief to Bitcoin miners in Texas by issuing a restraining order against the Energy Information Administration’s mandatory survey. This decision comes after the Texas Blockchain Council and Riot Platforms sued the EIA, alleging unlawful data collection. While the EIA offered to voluntarily suspend the survey, the judge deemed their offer insufficient. The case raises important questions about privacy and regulatory oversight in the crypto mining industry. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and what implications it may have for Bitcoin miners across the country.
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