Tennessee County Enacts Second Cryptocurrency Operation Prohibition
Twelve county commissioners cast a unanimous vote to prohibit cryptocurrency mining operations and data centers from operating in areas without municipal incorporation, amid ongoing litigation with a digital currency firm.
County commissioners in Hawkins County, Tennessee have enacted a second prohibition targeting digital asset operations, coming after a comparable restriction implemented in 2025.
During Monday's session, commissioners delivered a unanimous 12-0 vote to prohibit the establishment, construction, installation, expansion and operation of crypto mining facilities and data centers within the county's unincorporated territories. The legislative body had previously enacted a prohibition on comparable activities in September 2025 in an attempt to prevent the ExoticRidge mining company from setting up operations within county boundaries, and subsequently passed a resolution in January reaffirming its jurisdiction to implement such measures.
In January, ExoticRidge and officials from the Tennessee county put forward a settlement agreement regarding the cryptocurrency company's operations, which would permit the company to construct and run its facility with noise restrictions. The settlement terms under consideration would limit the company from operating at more than 80 A-weighted decibels (dBA) at the property line "for more than 30 minutes during any four-hour period."
This county-level prohibition represents the most recent action by Tennessee officials targeting crypto companies conducting business in the US states. On July 1, the use and installation of cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks became illegal under a Tennessee law signed in April. The restriction came in response to incidents of residents, particularly senior citizens, using the machines to send funds to scammers.