Opinion
It looks like the US government is getting close to mining Bitcoin
A Department of Energy survey to collect data on the energy consumption of cryptos can be used to justify the position that blockchain creates “public harm”.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is scrutinizing Bitcoin {BTC} mining. Is this cause for alarm?
Specifically, the Energy Information Administration (EIA), a statistical agency under the DOE, will review the electricity consumption of select U.S.-based miners over the next six months starting next week, after issuing an "emergency set of data requests."
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Given the wording of an "emergency" order and the current administration's critical stance, many are concerned that the information collected could be used to inform policies potentially harmful to the mining industry. In its public filing, the EIA notes the potential for "public harm" from mining cryptocurrency for data collection.
