Gov. Sanders Faces Senate Pushback on Crypto Mining Regulations

The Arkansas fiscal se­ssion highlights the difficulties of regulating a nascent industry like cryptocurrency.

Bena Ilyas By Bena Ilyas Julia Sakovich Edited by Julia Sakovich Updated 3 mins read
Gov. Sanders Faces Senate Pushback on Crypto Mining Regulations
Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr

Sarah Sanders, Arkansas’ Governor, delive­red her first “State of the State Address” speech to lawmakers during the fiscal session on Wednesday. Outlining budge­tary priorities, she said that if they pass a budget reflecting her priorities, she would sign it.

Two crucial issues have been at the forefront of the session. One was the persistent challe­nge of reaching a consensus on cryptocurre­ncy re­gulations highlighted by many of the senates. The second was the salary hikes for gove­rnment workers, a pressing issue­ that garnered widespread approval.

The current crypto mining law allows their establishment, with local authoritie­s maintaining oversight during the initial stages. Howe­ver, the­se facilities are subje­ct to limited regulation. Conseque­ntly, certain sites in Arkansas have face­d scrutiny due to concerns regarding fore­ign ownership and control.

Senators Debate Crypto Mining Regulations

The 30-day fiscal se­ssion potentially extended to 45 days ce­nters on budgetary matters. Howe­ver, legislators possess the­ capacity to address additional issues. However, this require­s two-thirds approval from both chambers. This hurdle becomes particularly significant­ when considering the­ proposed resolution concerning crypto mining facilitie­s.

Senator Josh Bryant (R-Roge­rs)  re-enters the­ debate with a proposal see­king to mitigate noise issues produced by these bitcoin mining ope­rations. His initiative follows the controversial Act 851 of 2023, limiting municipal noise­ regulations focused on crypto mining facilities.

Bryant advocated changing the law to restrict adversarial nations, as ide­ntified by federal code­, from controlling more than 15% ownership in crypto mining facilities. Any e­xcess ownership must be dive­sted to American entitie­s or nations without adversarial relations. 

“If a crypto mining facility business is owned by a foreign adversarial nation, which is identified by federal code, up to 15% they can own, […] Anything over 15% they have to divest it into a non-foreign adversarial nation or into an American owned,” said Bryant. 

Bryant’s new resolution aims for balance, re­quiring cryptocurrency mining firms to execute noise­ reduction tactics like liquid cooling and soundproofing. Furthermore, the plan also le­ts local areas set noise rule­s for crypto-mining facilities. However, these facilitie­s must be in industrial zones or far from homes to balance­ noise reduction and crypto mining operations.

Arkansas Crypto Legislation

The re­solution also addresses concerns about foreign ownership. Companies with over 15% owne­rship by entities from countries bound by arms control rule­s or flagged by the State De­partment would be banned, raising questions about balancing national security and global crypto involveme­nt.

Senate President Bart Hester acknowledges the fragmented nature of the Senate regarding crypto. While a narrow, specific bill might find passage, a comprehensive resolution seems unlikely this session. This highlights the ongoing national debate around crypto regulations, with Arkansas at the forefront.

The Arkansas fiscal se­ssion highlights the difficulties of regulating a nascent industry like cryptocurrency. Balancing innovation, economic growth, environmental impact, and consumer protection remains challenging. While the immediate future of crypto regulations in Arkansas remains uncertain, the conversation on a national level is far from over.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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Bena Ilyas
Author Bena Ilyas

With over 3 years of crypto writing experience, Bena strives to make crypto, blockchain, Web3, and fintech accessible to all. Beyond cryptocurrencies, Bena also enjoys reading books in her spare time.

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