Hawkins County, Tennessee has passed an ordinance prohibiting the operation of cryptocurrency mining facilities and data centers in unincorporated areas
The Hawkins County Commissioners in Tennessee, USA, passed a ban with 12 votes in favor and 0 votes against, prohibiting the establishment, construction, installation, expansion, and operation of cryptocurrency mining facilities and data centers in the county's unincorporated areas.The commission had previously passed a similar ban in September 2025 to prevent the digital asset company ExoticRidge from conducting mining operations locally, and in January confirmed its related authority through a resolution. ExoticRidge proposed a settlement with Hawkins County officials in January, allowing the company to build and operate facilities under noise restrictions. The proposed terms require that the A-weighted decibel noise at the property boundary must not exceed 80 decibels for more than 30 minutes within any 4-hour period.A law signed in Tennessee in April has stipulated that, starting July 1, the use and installation of cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks will be illegal, with the restrictions aimed at incidents of residents transferring money to scammers using the devices.
