North Texas residents vote against forming a city to regulate noisy Bitcoin mine
Residents of a small rural community in North Texas have voted against forming their own city — a move that would have allowed them to regulate noise from a nearby Bitcoin mining operation.
Out of 138 ballots cast on Tuesday, 62% of voters rejected the proposal to incorporate the area as the City of Mitchell Bend.
The noise that sparked the movement
The controversy began after a cryptocurrency facility owned by MARA Holdings (formerly Marathon) opened in 2022. The site runs around 60,000 computers, cooled by massive industrial fans that locals say have destroyed the peace of their quiet countryside.
Residents describe the constant drone — compared to a never-ending leaf blower — as unbearable. Some have started using personal decibel meters to track the noise, reporting sleepless nights, headaches, and even hearing issues.
In response to mounting complaints, MARA built a 24-foot sound barrier last year and converted 67% of its fans to a liquid cooling system. Despite those changes, many locals say the noise remains overwhelming.
Why the vote mattered
Texas counties don’t have the power to enforce noise restrictions, leaving residents without a clear path to relief. By incorporating, the roughly two-square-mile community — home to about 600 people and one stop sign — hoped to establish a city government with authority to pass a noise ordinance.
“It was very disappointing last night,” said Danny Lakey, who lives half a mile from the mine. “We were hoping to have some tools to fight the noise a little. Although we took a loss here, we’re going to move forward and keep doing what we can to make sure industry doesn’t take over Hood County.”
The issue divided neighbors. Some saw incorporation as their only option to fight back, while others worried that forming a city would bring the kind of regulations they moved to the countryside to avoid.
MARA responds
MARA Holdings welcomed the outcome of the vote.
“We’re pleased that Hood County voters saw through the sham incorporation effort and rejected it at the ballot box,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “As we’ve said from the start, this was an unlawful attempt to weaponize municipal incorporation against law-abiding businesses like MARA.”
The company added that it remains “focused on creating jobs, supporting local communities, and being a responsible neighbor.”
Ongoing legal battles
The vote is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between residents and MARA, which operates at least three other Bitcoin mining sites in Texas. Last month, the company sued to block the election, arguing that incorporation would harm its operations. A judge denied the request, allowing the vote to proceed.
For now, the Bitcoin mine will keep running — and the hum of thousands of computers will continue to echo across Mitchell Bend
