Nebraska Criticizes High Energy Consumption, Mining Over 1 Megawatt May Face Heavy Penalties!

The state of Nebraska may become a new nightmare for cryptocurrency miners— the state legislature unanimously passed a high-pressure bill specifically targeting large-scale mining operations. If the governor signs it, the regulation will officially take effect on October 1st, imposing several strict restrictions on cryptocurrency mining sites consuming more than 1 megawatt of electricity.

Heavy Penalties Await: High Energy Consumption Miners Will Face Three Major Regulatory Measures

The bill number LB 526, initiated by Republican lawmaker Mike Jacobson, includes key provisions such as:

Must bear the costs of upgrading grid infrastructure

Mandatory disclosure of annual energy consumption

Must comply with power outage orders during grid stress

More importantly, power suppliers will have priority discretion to assess the electricity load of large-scale miners and enforce restrictions if necessary. Although the bill demands “fair treatment,” in practice, power has already tilted towards energy regulators.

Regulatory Approaches Vary Across the U.S., Cryptocurrency Mining Faces Major Policy Overhaul

This move signifies Nebraska's entry into the ranks of states applying the brakes on high-energy mining activities. Meanwhile, other states are heading in the opposite direction:

Arizona has just legislated to protect home miners

Kentucky has explicitly stated that mining and staking do not constitute securities actions

The Trump campaign even called for “nationwide Bitcoin mining” to reclaim “energy sovereignty”

Conclusion: As the regulatory storm approaches, where can large miners escape?

Nebraska's actions serve as a wake-up call for the national mining industry. High energy consumption is becoming a policy minefield, and large mining operations may need to relocate, transform, or even exit in the future. The tug-of-war between regulation and energy may just be beginning.