Summary
- Montana’s state senate passed a bill on Feb. 23 in order to protect the right to engage in cryptocurrency mining.
- The bill seeks to prevent higher electricity rates and additional taxes on cryptocurrencies, as well as ensuring firms can operate in industrial zones and individual miners can operate in residential areas.
- The bill was backed by Dennis Porter, CEO and co-founder of the Satoshi Action Fund.
Montana Passes „Right To Mine“ Crypto Bill
On Feb. 23, Montana’s state senate passed a bill to protect individuals‘ and businesses‘ right to engage in cryptocurrency mining. The bill specifically aims to prevent the government from imposing higher electricity rates on crypto miners or additional taxes on cryptocurrencies. It also ensures that mining firms can operate in industrial zones and individual miners can operate in residential areas (with an exception for noise complaints). The bill passed with 37 votes in favor and 13 votes opposed, backed by Dennis Porter, CEO and co-founder of the Satoshi Action Fund.
Missoula County Law Affects Mining
The pro-crypto bill may counteract an earlier Missoula County law that has introduced new environmental zoning regulations and affects mining. Montana appears to be a reasonably popular destination for industrial crypto miners — firms such as Madison River Equity, Marathon Digital, Atlas Power, Bitzero, and Project Spokane have operated or attempted to operate there.
Other States Regulations On Crypto Mining
In mid-2022, New York passed a bill to restrict crypto mining; meanwhile Mississippi passed a bill earlier this year to prevent discriminatory mining laws.