Crypto miners form lobby group 'Digital Energy Council' in Washington

Odaily Planet Daily News As regulators and Congress are deciding the next steps in cryptocurrency regulation, crypto miners are establishing a new voice for US policy and creating a digital energy committee to lobby for friendly policies. The membership group will advocate for policies that "promote responsible and sustainable energy development, grid resilience, maintain U.S. competitiveness and protect national security," they said in a statement Tuesday. Miners are already in an antagonizing position with the White House, which has been calling for a 30 percent excise tax on mining operations to punish them for “the harm they cause to society.” The miners have also been facing persistent criticism from Democratic lawmakers who see the companies as a threat to the environment. Tom Mapes, founder and chair of the new organization, said: “In policy discussions, the focus has been lost on how digital asset mining and the energy industry can work together and work together to enhance energy infrastructure, increase resilience and support energy sustainability and efficiency. Mapes previously worked on energy policy at the Chamber of Digital Commerce, a broader crypto advocacy group. “The energy and digital asset mining communities — two key stakeholders in our national grid — should have a true sound."