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US Bitcoin Miners Sue Biden Administration In Battle Over Regulation

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On Thursday, February 22, Bitcoin miner Riot Platforms, along with industry groups Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and the Chamber of Digital Commerce, initiated legal action against key agencies of the Biden-Harris Administration. The lawsuit targets the US Department of Energy (DOE), the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), challenging the administration’s recent steps to gather detailed energy consumption data from the cryptocurrency mining sector.

The legal complaint arises from a January decision by the OMB, which approved an emergency request by the EIA to collect data on energy usage from 82 Bitcoin mining operations, including that of Riot Platforms. This move has been criticized by the plaintiffs and supported by United States Representative Tom Emmer, who allege it represents an abuse of power aimed at the crypto industry under the guise of an emergency.

The plaintiffs’ filing articulates a multifaceted critique of the government’s actions, accusing it of “sloppy government process, contrived and self-inflicted urgency, and invasive government data collection.” Brian Morgenstern, Head of Public Policy at Riot Platforms, expressed his stance on the matter, stating,

Proud of our team standing up against unlawful government overreach. Fanatics declared a phony emergency to publish the proprietary information of Bitcoin miners to attack decentralized assets & advance a CBDC. We must fight at this step in order to win at the next & the next.

US Bitcoin Miners Call Foul Play

The core of the complaint hinges on allegations of procedural violations and overreach. The plaintiffs argue that the DOE and EIA breached the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and the Administrative Procedure Act by rushing the approval and implementation of the survey without proper public notice and opportunity for comment.

They claim this action not

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Author: Jake Simmons

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