The recent agreement between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on the U.S. debt ceiling has revealed a notable outcome for the cryptocurrency industry. One key aspect of the agreement seems to have blocked the proposed Digital Asset Mining Energy (DAME) excise tax, which would have imposed a 30% tax on cryptocurrency mining firms. The Biden administration had argued that this tax was necessary to limit the environmental and societal consequences of crypto mining operations.
This has raised questions among experts like Dennis Porter, CEO of Bitcoin mining advocacy group Satoshi Action Fund, who questioned if the “DAME excise tax proposal is gone?” given the absence of Bitcoin mining in the bill. In response, U.S. Congressman Warren Davidson tweeted: “Yes, one of the victories is blocking proposed taxes.”
The debt ceiling agreement is a comprehensive 99-page bill aimed at suspending the nation’s debt limit until 2025, thereby preventing a federal default and imposing restrictions on government spending. However, this agreement still faces thorough scrutiny and debates in Congress.
The DAME tax had been initially suggested in March this year. If imposed, it would be applicable to both digital asset miners operating on Proof-of-Work (PoW) networks like Bitcoin and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks like Ethereum, despite the significant differences in their energy consumption levels. Additionally, it would require miners to disclose their electricity consumption, the source of that electricity, and its corresponding value, including off-grid power generation.
The Biden administration reaffirmed its stance in a recent White House report, stating that financial constraints imposed on miners are in the best interest of American communities and the environment. However, the proposal has faced criticism from crypto advocates.
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argued on Twitter that Bitcoin mining uses about the same energy as video games, which are not facing bans. He criticized the environmental argument as a selective pretext to suppress anything that threatens elite power structures. Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis also criticized the proposal at the Bitcoin 2023 conference, stating that a thriving Bitcoin mining industry is vital for both national and energy security.
Senator Lummis encouraged Bitcoin enthusiasts to join groups advocating for the world’s largest cryptocurrency in the U.S. economy and expressed confidence that the proposed energy tax “isn’t going to happen.”
In conclusion, the blocking of the proposed DAME tax in the current debt ceiling agreement signifies a victory for the cryptocurrency industry. While this may provide relief for digital asset miners, the debate around the environmental impact of such operations is far from over. As the industry continues to grow, it will be crucial for stakeholders to address energy consumption concerns and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Source: Decrypt
