EIA Agrees to Wipe Out Prior Bitcoin Mining Survey Data, Plans Fresh Study

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has agreed to discard any data it already collected in response to its emergency Bitcoin mining survey, court documents filed Friday showed.

If the agency receives any further data, it has committed to destroying that as well.

“EIA will sequester and keep confidential any information it has received or will receive in response to the EIA-862 Emergency Survey until it is destroyed,” the filing said.

The agreement with the Texas Blockchain Council effectively terminates a temporary restraining order that had been in effect until March 8, halting the US energy regulators from collecting the data during the lawsuit.

Further, the EIA will now initiate a 60-day period for public feedback as it prepares to issue a new notice proposing the collection of information to replace the previous one. The agency committed to reviewing any comments received in response to the notice.

BREAKING: Our lawsuit against the @EIAgov has successfully HALTED their emergency survey targeting #Bitcoin miners.

Before considering any similar requests in the future, the EIA will HAVE TO follow standard notice and comment processes.

Read more:https://t.co/phJ9huTyv4

— Texas Blockchain Council (@TXblockchain_) March 1, 2024

Texas Blockchain Council Challenges EIA’s ‘Unlawful’ Bitcoin Mining Survey

In February, the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and cryptocurrency miner Riot Platforms sued the EIA, claiming that the agency’s recently implemented mandatory survey constitutes illegal data gathering from the industry.

The council described the action as aligning with a larger strategy by Senator Elizabeth Warren and the Biden Administration, claiming they have adopted a comprehensive approach across all government agencies to target the digital asset industry.

TBC also described the action as a direct attack on private enterprises disguised as an emergency measure.

EIA Agrees to Pay Legal Fees to Texas Blockchain Council

The EIA will pay the Texas Blockchain Council $2,199.45 for legal fees and costs up to March 1, 2024. The council agreed that it won’t seek further relief, and both parties will ask the court to suspend and close the case.