The cryptosphere is buzzing with the news of crypto miners forging a politically driven alliance in the form of the Digital Energy Council. These miners, who’ve been navigating choppy waters amid regulatory upheaval globally and in the United States, are now striving to look beyond the tumult to carve out their space in U.S. policy.
Their mission seems as ambitious as it is crucial in the current context: for friendly laws fostering responsible and sustainable energy development, fortifying grid resilience, upholding U.S. competitiveness, and safeguarding national security.
However, the road ahead isn’t entirely free of hurdles. Their stance collides starkly with the White House’s outlook under President Joe Biden. A proposed excise tax of 30% on mining operations, viewed as a reprisal for mining’s perceived societal harms, looms over the industry. Add to that Democratic lawmakers’ repeated calls out on miners over their potential environmental impact, the strain is apparent.
Tom Mapes, the organization’s founder and president, elucidates the organization’s focal point: Lost in policy dialogues are discussions on how digital asset mining and the energy sector can cooperate for enhanced energy infrastructure, resilience, and sustainable, efficient energy support. A former employee of Chamber of Digital Commerce, a broader crypto advocacy group, and a previous chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of International Affairs, Mapes champions the critical need for energy and digital asset mining communities to be well-represented at the federal level.
Operating from Washington, Mapes presently presides solo over the organization, but one of his notable objectives revolves around showcasing digital asset mining as a potent mechanism for achieving U.S. energy goals.
Zach Bradford, CEO of CleanSpark, one of DEC’s member companies and an advocate of energy surplus, recognises the council’s unique positioning at the convergence of mining and energy abundance.
In an industry consistently dictated by evolving political scenarios, Bradford’s closing note reaffirms the call for a robust, committed coalition and the belief that in politics, as in many areas of life, there’s greater strength in unity. This belief resonates within the nascent Digital Energy Council, whose inception could herald a newfound voice and vision for crypto miners amid an ever-evolving regulatory landscape.
Source: Coindesk
