Texas Blockchain Council And Riot Platforms Win Lawsuit Against US Energy Officials

In a win for cryptocurrency miners, the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and Bitcoin mining firm Riot Platforms have secured a temporary victory in their lawsuit against U.S. energy officials.

The lawsuit, filed in February, accused the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Information Administration (EIA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and their leadership of demanding “invasive” data from crypto miners. This data collection, according to the TBC and Riot, was excessive and lacked proper justification.

A U.S. District Court judge in Texas sided with the plaintiffs, issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the EIA. This order prevents the agency from:

• Requiring crypto miners to respond to the data collection survey.
• Sharing any data already collected from the survey.

The court’s decision acknowledges the potential harm that could be inflicted on the plaintiffs if the data collection continued. This harm includes:

• Unrecoverable costs associated with complying with the survey.
• Risk of legal repercussions for non-compliance.
• Exposure of sensitive proprietary information.

The court also found the EIA’s estimated completion time of 30 minutes for the survey to be “extremely inaccurate.” Evidence presented by the TBC and Riot indicated that compliance costs exceeded 40 hours, highlighting the potential burden placed on miners.

While the TRO offers temporary relief, the lawsuit is ongoing. The court ultimately ruled that the TBC and Riot are likely to succeed on the merits of their case, suggesting concerns about the EIA’s authority and justification for the data collection effort.

The TRO will expire before March 25, serving its purpose of “preserving the status quo” while the legal battle unfolds. This case has significant implications for the future of data privacy within the cryptocurrency industry and sets a precedent for how government agencies can collect information from businesses.

Read Also: Riot Platforms Reports Strong Bitcoin Mining Performance, Mined 6,626 BTC

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are subject to market risks, and individuals should seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.