The protracted dispute lasting 4 years between residents in the rural area of Hood County and a nearby Bitcoin mining operation has revealed the social costs that accompany the crypto boom in Texas. Homeowners have turned their backs on one of the largest digital asset mining companies in the state.
The center of the conflict is a large Bitcoin mine operated by MARA Holdings near Granbury, in an area outside the municipal boundaries of Hood County
Bitcoin mining has become a continuous mental torment
Neighbors reported that the continuous low-frequency hum from this mining center's cooling system has turned daily life into what each describes as an endless torment. Even though MARA (formerly Marathon Digital) insists it operates legally, bringing investment and jobs to the area while attempting to reduce the noise, the mine began operations in 2022 next to the natural gas power plant outside Granbury. Subsequently, residents reported noise disturbances around the clock, comparable to standing on an airplane runway or at the edge of Niagara Falls. And in 2023, as the mine expanded, complaints increased
This is the noise that pounds at me every day when I walk out the back door, one resident said in a recent Al Jazeera report. Others reported insomnia, headaches, and stress. One of the residents said that the community is sick; it's not just the noise, but it's an onslaught on the body. Everyone is suffering greatly
The crypto boom in Texas faced local restrictions
Texas has become the largest Bitcoin mining hub in the United States, accounting for nearly 30% of the national hash rate by 2023, driven by factors such as cheap land, low taxes, and a deregulated energy market, but this rapid growth has collided with significant legal constraints: counties in Texas generally cannot enforce noise regulations, only municipalities can
Hood County officials attempted to use state law regarding 'unreasonable noise' in 2024 by issuing citations related to high decibel levels
But this effort failed in court, showing that those laws are quite limited compared to the general municipal noise restrictions
Lawsuits regarding noise studies
Residents collectively filed a lawsuit against the mining company in state court, stating that noise and vibrations from the mine significantly disturb everyone’s home life
Currently, the case is still ongoing, and there are disputes regarding access to operational data and various measurements
On the other hand, the Hood County Board has commissioned an independent noise study in late 2024, which found that noise levels near the site were above normal, also emphasizing that the legal standards used in criminal cases are much more lenient than noise standards in other cities
The study also indicated that there are limitations in both access and coordination, thus it cannot be fully assessed under all working conditions
MARA indicated that the company has invested heavily to mitigate impacts. The company built large sound barriers, replaced some cooling fans with quieter models, and began converting some cooling systems to liquid cooling
In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera, MARA said that the company has already invested more than 320 million USD locally, created dozens of jobs, generated tax revenue, and remains committed to being a good neighbor
However, for the residents, all these measures are still not sufficient
This house is our permanent home, one homeowner said. I cannot sell my property. I am currently being taxed at a rate higher than the value of my own property
The attempt to become a city failed
In 2025, residents attempted to use a last-ditch strategy; everyone wanted to establish a community as a city to be able to enact local noise control laws
This effort has garnered national attention and sparked legal disputes from MARA, but the judge allowed the referendum to proceed, which ultimately led voters to reject the city establishment, resulting in the end of the attempt to gain municipal authority
That's the plan, one organizer told Al Jazeera, but everything fell apart because they lost that battle
When the city establishment fell through, residents said that everyone would continue to fight through the justice process
