Residents in a town southwest of Dallas, Texas, are reportedly facing health problems associated with noise from a crypto mining facility operated by Mala Holdings. In a video released recently, reporter Dan Lieberman talked to a local resident in Granbury, Texas, where a coalition of nonprofit groups is advocating for change. Long-time residents and retirees characterize their experience as “hell” due to the near-constant noise of mining operations in Hood County.
“The headache never goes away,” shared an older resident on camera.
Mining activities around the outskirts of Granbury began in 2022, but the operation filed for bankruptcy in the same year. Mala took over the site in January 2024.
“This is a different kind of noise pollution,” said Mandy Deroche, an assistant management lawyer with the nonprofit environmental law group Earthjustice. “It’s unlike typical noise from truck traffic; it’s a unique, low-frequency sound that’s relentless.”
A group of locals has been battling Marathon Digital in court for years, citing the noise as a source of “sensory, emotional, psychological, and health issues.” In an interview, residents claimed the continuous noise has led to hospitalization, “constant headaches,” and even the death of a horse.
Attempts to reach Mala and Earthjustice for comments were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Recently, Mala announced plans to issue convertible senior notes worth up to $1 billion, with part of the funds earmarked for Bitcoin purchases. The company reportedly holds around 50,000 BTC, valued at approximately $6 billion.
Could Crypto Mining Impact Future US Elections?
Prior to Texas residents filing their lawsuit against Mala, several crypto mining executives met with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. This meeting seemingly influenced Trump’s public endorsement of Bitcoin mining, as he incorporated it into his campaign promises during a speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville.
When asked about their thoughts on voting for Trump in 2024, Granbury residents responded, “I have no issues with the industry. I think that’s been ignored.”
Though the Republican-led Congress during Trump’s term has not enacted specific legislation regarding Bitcoin mining, they recently advanced three bills aimed at stabilizing the digital asset market and exploring central bank digital currency. Additionally, the president signed an executive order in March aimed at establishing a national cryptocurrency and Bitcoin reserve in the United States.
