--- title: "New York State May Ban Any Crypto Mining Powered by Fossil Fuels" description: "A bill that would ban all crypto mining that uses fossil fuels is languishing on the desk of New York's governor, which begs the question — what now?" date: "2022-06-17" modified: "2022-06-17" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/new-york-crypto-ban-possible" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Energy" - "Fossil Fuels" - "Future Society" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "bitcoin" - "crypto" - "Mining" - "the digest" --- # New York State May Ban Any Crypto Mining Powered by Fossil Fuels ![A bill that would ban all crypto mining that uses fossil fuels is languishing on the desk of New York's governor, which begs the question — what now?]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Crypt Tick Boom For weeks now, a bill that would ban all crypto mining that uses fossil fuels has languished on the desk of New York's governor. The dramatic story, as [reported by *The Daily Beast*](), has gone mostly underreported as both the [stock market]() and the [cryptocurrency industry]() have cratered. In an extremely short time span, the *Beast* notes, New York's cryptocurrency mining bill went from looking incredibly uncertain to passing through both houses of the state's legislature after a public outcry convinced legislators to push it through. In the ensuing two weeks, the bill that would be the first in the United States to place a two-year moratorium on fossil-fueled proof-of-work crypto mining has sat on Governor Kathy Hochul's desk — even as New York City's [crypto-loving mayor](), Eric Adams, [encourages her to veto]() the ban. ## Proof of Life As the *Beast* notes, this bill is unique in that it only would ban crypto mining that uses fossil fuels. Crypto's main mining method, known as proof-of-work mining, currently uses tons of electricity, often generated via burning dead dinosaurs, to power the computers that compete to solve the cryptographic puzzles at the heart of blockchains. Notably, this bill would allow less energy-intensive mining methods, such as proof-of-stake mining that hinges on a miner's existing crypto cache, or proof-of-authority, which relies upon their reputation as a miner and/or holder. Solar and wind would also be allowed. ## Hard Choices While crypto advocates are unsurprisingly against the New York ban, those in favor of the bill say that it shouldn't be that big of a problem because, unlike previous iterations of the bill that failed in the state legislature, this one is quite narrow in what it won't allow. "\[Crypto miners\] constantly say they aren't planning to purchase fossil fuel power plants," Earthjustice policy advocate and bill backer Liz Moran told the *Beast*. "So if that's the case, why do they have a problem with this moratorium?" For now, the future of New York's crypto mining industry hangs in the balance as the governor weighs all the bills on her desk even as she runs to be elected to the seat she inherited from her infamous predecessor. **READ MORE:** [New York’s New Mining Ban Begins the War Against Crypto’s Climate Sins]() \[*The Daily Beast*\] **More on so-called "green" crypto mining:** [*It Would Be Incredibly Hard to Make Bitcoin Sustainable, Experts Say*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()