A four-year-long conflict between rural residents in Hood County and a nearby Bitcoin mine has revealed the social costs of Texas's crypto boom. Homeowners turned against one of the state's largest digital asset mines.
At the center of the conflict is a large Bitcoin mine operated by MARA Holdings near Granbury in unincorporated Hood County.
Bitcoin mining becomes a constant mental torment.
Neighbors say that a constant, low-frequency hum from the facility's cooling system has made daily life a constant trial. MARA (formerly Marathon Digital) claims that they comply with the law, contribute investments and jobs, and have tried to reduce the noise. The mine started in 2022 next to a natural gas power plant outside Granbury. Residents soon began reporting noise around the clock, comparing the sound to 'standing on a runway' or 'the edge of Niagara Falls.' Complaints increased in 2023 as the site was expanded.
“This sound hits me every day when I go out into my backyard,” a resident recently said in an Al Jazeera report. Others reported sleepless nights, headaches, and stress. “The community is sick,” said another. “It's more than just the noise. It's a physical burden. It's painful.”
Texas's crypto boom faces local restrictions
Texas is the largest in Bitcoin mining in the USA and accounted for nearly 30% of the nation's mining power in 2023. Low land prices, low taxes, and a free electricity market attracted many. But this growth faces legal hurdles. Counties in Texas are often not allowed to impose local noise regulations. Only cities can do that.
Hood County officials tried to use the state's law on 'unreasonable noise' in 2024 and issued fines for high decibel levels.
But the initiative failed in court, and it became clear that the laws are narrower than ordinary municipal noise limits.
Lawsuits and sound studies
The residents organized and sued the mine for private nuisance in state court. They argued that noise and vibrations disturb their daily lives at home.
The case is still ongoing, and the parties disagree about access to operational data and measurements.
At the same time, Hood County commissioned an independent sound study at the end of 2024. The report showed elevated noise levels near the mine and emphasized that the legal noise threshold under the penal code is much higher than the city's noise requirements in other areas.
The study also noted that limited access and coordination made it impossible to measure under all operating conditions.
MARA says they have invested heavily to reduce the impact. The company built a large noise barrier, replaced some cooling fans with quieter models, and has begun using liquid cooling in parts of the area.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, MARA said they have invested over 320 million USD locally, created several jobs, generated tax revenue, and are trying to “continue to be good neighbors.”
For the residents, these measures are not enough.
“This was our forever home,” said a homeowner. “I can't sell my property. I'm paying higher property taxes now than what the house is worth.”
A failed attempt to become a city
In 2025, residents made one last attempt. They wanted to make the area its own city in order to implement local noise regulations.
The attempt gained national attention and opposition from MARA. But a judge allowed the vote to proceed. Voters voted no to city formation, which halted the attempt to gain municipal control.
“That was our plan,” said an organizer to Al Jazeera. “But it fell apart because they lost that battle.”
After the defeat, residents say they will continue to fight in court.
