In a landmark ruling, the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and Riot Platforms Inc. have triumphed in their lawsuit against the Biden administration, successfully halting the data collection efforts on bitcoin mining operations.
TBC and Riot Platforms Win Case Against Bitcoin Mining Data Survey
The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas has issued an order in favor of the plaintiffs, Riot Platforms and the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC), against the Department of Energy (DOE) and other defendants. The court’s decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing dialogue about regulatory oversight and data privacy within the crypto mining industry.
By challenging the emergency collection of data through Form EIA-862, the plaintiffs have underscored the critical balance between regulatory objectives and the operational confidentiality of blockchain enterprises. According to Judge Alan Albright’s order, the agreement reached by the parties entails the formal discontinuation of the contested data collection efforts.
Furthermore, any data previously collected under this initiative will be destroyed, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the information pertaining to bitcoin (BTC) mining operations. Albright’s ruling included a directive for the administrative closure of the case, reflecting the comprehensive resolution achieved through the agreement. “In light of plaintiffs’ and proposed intervenor’s withdrawal of their request for preliminary injunction, that request for preliminary injunction is denied as moot,” stated Albright, marking the end of this legal battle.
Albright added:
The court stays this case and directs the clerk to administratively close this case.
In a recent email correspondence, Lee Bratcher, the TBC founder and president, expressed satisfaction over the filing of an agreement in the Federal District Court. He stressed that this accord, reached between the DOE and Energy Information Administration (EIA) and its fellow litigants, marks a significant development for the industry.
“This case was not about wanting to obfuscate or stall the disclosure of data,” Bratcher wrote. “The bitcoin mining industry is one of the most transparent in the world. We are more than happy to talk about data. The data continues to show that bitcoin mining is the most flexible load on any grid.”
Source : Bitcoin.com / March 3, 2024