Today marks a significant triumph for the cryptocurrency mining sector as the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has retracted its emergency survey targeting cryptocurrency miners. In coordination with The Texas Blockchain Council and Riot Platforms, the Chamber of Digital Commerce prevented the survey’s implementation. Following initial success in securing a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) last week, the EIA officially rescinded the survey and its emergency justification.   

This development represents a monumental victory for the industry. As per the agreement reached today, if the EIA seeks to survey cryptocurrency miners in the future, the EIA must undergo the proper notice and comment procedure mandated by law, ensuring public input on the survey’s scope before any re-issuance. We urge the community to remain alert and engage in the comment process should it become available.  

 This win for the cryptocurrency mining industry underscores the importance of transparency and adherence to the rule of law. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Texas Blockchain Council, Riot Platforms, and the legal teams at Gray Reed LLP, National Civil Liberties Alliance, and Cherry, Johnson, Siegmund, James, PLLC for their pivotal roles in this achievement. The swift and unified response of this coalition has been remarkable, and we are enthusiastic about the possibilities this victory opens for the future.  

 Background

On January 31, 2024, the EIA released a mandatory survey of cryptocurrency miners using an ‘emergency’ justification. The Chamber of Digital Commerce immediately acted to protect the industry and our mining members. While we support reasonable data sharing, this survey and the emergency justification were not reasonable, leading to an imminent threat of irreparable harm to the U.S. cryptocurrency mining industry.   

During this time, we reached out to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) several times to revise the process and the survey but to no avail. After TBC and Riot Platforms initiated the lawsuit last week, we joined as a co-plaintiff to shield our members from the survey’s potential damages. Following our victory in obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that prevented the EIA from enforcing the survey, the government has now consented to abandon the current survey initiative.