Arkansas Town Rejects Bitcoin Mining as Crypto Crackdown Grows

The decision followed weeks of protests from residents who warned that the project would bring unbearable noise pollution, strain the local power grid, and threaten the town’s environment.

One local resident summed up the community’s sentiment, saying they moved to Vilonia seeking peace — not Bitcoin.

Crypto Mining Faces Strong Resistance in Affluent Arkansas Town

Vilonia, a prosperous community with a median household income above $80,000 (as of 2023), has become an attractive target for crypto miners. Its strong energy infrastructure, anchored by an Entergy substation and surplus capacity, offers a prime setup for mining operations hungry for cheap power.

However, residents fear that the persistent hum of mining cooling systems and a spike in energy demand could disturb their way of life and increase utility costs.

This is not Vilonia’s first rejection. In 2023, commissioners also denied Vilo AR’s application for a crypto mining site.

Broader Pushback: Arkansas Tightens Mining Regulations

Vilonia’s rejection fits into a broader statewide trend. In 2024, Arkansas lawmakers passed two bills aimed at tightening restrictions on cryptocurrency mining operations. As local communities and legislators alike push back, Arkansas may become a model for a more cautious national approach to regulating crypto mining.

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