Marathon Digital sued for bitcoin mining noise in Texas, residents seek injunction

Crypto mining giant Marathon Digital has been sued by residents of Granbury, Texas, over noise pollution, which locals claim harms their health and disrupts their daily lives.

A group of Grabury community members filed a lawsuit with the Texas State Court, Hood County, against Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc., alleging that the mining giant’s Bitcoin mine is causing “serious health and quality of life impacts” for those living nearby.

According to the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, which represents the concerned citizens, at least two dozen locals have faced serious health problems, including permanent hearing loss, debilitating migraines, tinnitus, and severe vertigo.

Further, the lawsuit highlights growing concerns about rising electricity costs in the community, with some reporting an increase of $100 to $200 per month in their bills.

Beyond financial strain, residents are also facing a sharp drop in property values, as relentless noise and vibrations from the cryptomine shake their homes—turning peaceful retreats into a “prison.”

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to force Marathon to stop creating or allowing unreasonable noise from its operations. It also asks for any relief the court deems appropriate to protect the community’s rights and well-being.

“Residents’ homes are no longer the refuge they once were. Marathon must take immediate action to reduce their overwhelming noise pollution,” said Rodrigo Cantú, a senior attorney at Earthjustice.

The lawsuit follows multiple noise complaints by residents to local authorities, such as the Hood County Constable and Sheriff’s Office, from November 2023 through March 2024. 

As previously reported by crypto.news, attempts to reduce the noise, including the construction of a 24-foot sound barrier, have fallen short. Residents argued that local regulations are toothless, with noise violations resulting in nothing more than a $500 fine. 

At the time, Marathon said it commissioned a third party to conduct a sound study and pledged to investigate further.

A crypto mining hub

Cryptocurrency mining, notorious for its constant noise from thousands of high-powered machines and cooling fans, has found a major hub in Texas. After China banned crypto mining in 2021, Texas quickly emerged as a top destination due to its cheap electricity rates and regulatory incentives.

By April 2023, the state was home to five of the ten largest Bitcoin mining facilities in the U.S., including the massive Riot facility in Rockdale. However, the explosive growth of crypto mining has raised concerns about its impact on the state’s power grid, rising electricity costs for residents, and now increasing reports of health issues.

Since its inception in 2022, the Granbury mining site has changed hands multiple times. It started with Compute North Holdings before passing to U.S. Bitcoin Corp. and later Hut 8 Mining Corp., before ultimately handing over the keys to Marathon Digital Holdings, which took over in early 2024.