The conflict that lasted 4 years between the residents of the rural Hood area and neighboring Bitcoin mining operations revealed the social costs of the rise of digital currencies in Texas. Homeowners made one of the largest digital asset mining companies in the state their adversary.
The dispute revolves around a large Bitcoin mine operated by MARA Holdings near the city of Grapevine, in the unincorporated Hood area.
Bitcoin mining becomes a continuous psychological torment
Neighbors complain of a constant low-frequency hum from the facility's cooling systems, considering their daily lives an endless suffering. MARA (formerly known as Marathon Digital) announced that it operates within the law, provides investment and job opportunities, and has taken steps to reduce noise. The mine began operations in 2022 next to a natural gas power plant outside of Graber. Residents reported continuous noise throughout the day, likening it to "standing on a runway at an airport" or "the edge of Niagara Falls." Complaints escalated during 2023 as the site expanded.
Al Jazeera reported that one resident said this sound assaults him every day when he steps out of the back door of his home. Others reported suffering from insomnia, headaches, and stress. One resident stated that the community is sick. He added that the problem is not just the noise, but it is a physical assault. He described the situation as torture.
The rise of digital currencies in Texas faces local limits.
Texas has become the largest center for Bitcoin mining in the United States, hosting about 30% of the national mining power by 2023, after attracting it with cheap land, low taxes, and an unregulated electricity market. This growth conflicts with an important legal fact. Texas counties cannot usually enact binding noise laws; only cities can do that.
Hood County officials attempted to rely on state laws regarding "unreasonable noise" in 2024, issuing violations based on exceeding certain decibel levels.
However, the attempt in court failed, highlighting how restrictive these laws are compared to common noise laws in cities.
Lawsuits and meticulous studies
Residents organized and filed a private nuisance lawsuit in local court, arguing that the noise and vibrations from the mine significantly interfere with their enjoyment of their homes.
The case remains active, with ongoing disputes regarding access to operational data and measurements.
Hood County was separately tasked with an independent sound study in late 2024. The report documented high sound levels near the site and confirmed that the legal limit used in criminal law is much more lenient than noise standards in other cities.
The study also noted access and coordination constraints, which prevented a full assessment under all operating conditions.
MARA reported that it invested heavily to mitigate impacts. The company built a large sound barrier and replaced some cooling fans with quieter models, and began gradually transitioning some parts of the site to liquid immersion cooling.
The island reported, citing a statement from MARA, that the company invested more than $320 million locally, supports dozens of jobs, generates tax revenue, and "remains committed to being a good neighbor."
Residents say these steps have not been sufficient yet.
One homeowner said: "This was our forever home. I can't sell my property. I'm now taxed at a higher rate than the value of my property."
Failed attempt to gain city status
Residents in 2025 sought a final strategy. They wanted to transform their community into a city, which would allow them to enact local noise laws.
This effort attracted national attention and legal opposition from MARA, but a judge allowed the voting to proceed. Ultimately, voters rejected the conversion of the community into a municipality, thereby ending the attempt to gain municipal authority.
One organizer for the island said, "This was the plan. But it simply collapsed because they lost that battle."
Residents assert that excluding the option to convert to a municipality, they will continue to fight through the courts.
