Bitcoin Miners in Texas Win Legal Battle Against EIA Survey

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has been forced to temporarily suspend its controversial survey on the electricity consumption of Bitcoin miners in the country. This comes after a lawsuit filed by the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and Riot Platforms, a Bitcoin mining company, alleging that the survey was unlawful and violated their privacy.

EIA’s Survey Faces Legal Challenge from TBC and Riot Platforms

The EIA, a federal agency that collects and analyzes energy data, announced in January that it would start gathering information on the electricity usage of specific US-based crypto miners, starting from February. The agency said it received emergency approval for data collection from the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 26. The survey was mandatory for commercial miners, who were required to disclose their energy consumption and other details.

However, the TBC and Riot Platforms, both based in Texas, challenged the survey in a lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas on Feb. 18. They claimed that the survey was unlawful, unreasonable, and intrusive. They also expressed concern that the private data collected by the EIA could become public and expose them to more scrutiny and regulation from the government.

Judge Albright Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against EIA

On Feb. 26, Judge Alan Albright granted a temporary restraining order against the EIA, preventing the agency from enforcing the survey or sharing any data collected so far. The order also blocks the agency from any data collection or sharing, even of information already received, for four weeks.

Judge Albright said that the EIA cannot compel the TBC or its members to answer the survey, and that the plaintiffs have demonstrated that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their case. He also said that the declaration by EIA Administrator Joseph DeCarolis, who offered to voluntarily halt the survey until March 22, was insufficient and lacked any enforcement mechanism.

TBC and Riot Platforms Hail the Court’s Decision as a Victory for Bitcoin Miners

The TBC and Riot Platforms welcomed the court’s decision as a victory for Bitcoin miners and the blockchain industry in the US. They said that the EIA’s survey was an attempt to collect unnecessary and sensitive data from the industry, without following the proper procedures and safeguards. They also said that the survey was based on a false premise that Bitcoin mining poses a threat to the national energy security and the environment.

The TBC and Riot Platforms said that they will continue to fight for the rights and interests of Bitcoin miners and the blockchain community in the US. They also said that they hope to educate the government and the public about the benefits and potential of Bitcoin and blockchain technology.