North Carolina
Crypto concerns: Why makers of digital currency want to be here. What makes NC counties wish they left.
Of all the companies that have come to North Carolina in recent years, from Toyota to Google to Amazon, cryptomining operations don’t exactly spring to mind.
But the state, because of its vast swaths of land, is increasingly being targeted by these outfits looking to operate here — much to the chagrin and consternation of local residents.
But as politicians and lawmakers cozy up to crypto, these mining operations are of ever-increasing importance.
When it comes to the “mining” of digital currency, don’t think of it like digging for coal. The mines authenticate crypto transactions and add these transactions to what’s known as a “blockchain.” Without mining, Bitcoin and other digital currencies would cease to function.
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Which brings us to North Carolina. When digital currency mining was outlawed in China during 2021, many cryptomining operations migrated to the United States. Crypto companies are attracted to sparsely-populated areas where power — of which they need a staggering amount — is affordable and abundant.
As a bonus, there aren’t many people around to complain about the thunderous noise, which comes from the whirring of high-speed fans that run day and night to cool the mine’s computers.
Recently, a cryptomine operation appeared ready to open in Burke County until the Town Council passed a set of restrictive zoning laws — after a group called the National Coalition Against Cryptomining drew attention to the company’s plans.
Sounding the alarm
It’s hard to sleep when you live near a cryptomine.
People compare the sound of the fans to a roaring jet engine. Or a continually crashing waterfall. Or a motorcycle endlessly revving its engine.
Cyndie Roberson left Cherokee County to escape the din of the mines. She has seen others break down in tears at public meetings when describing the noise.
For Roberson, cryptocurrency mining is environmentally destructive and socially disruptive. The operation only benefits distant crypto investors, leaving the community itself in a noisy confusion. It is about as welcome as a high-speed racetrack in her backyard.
To the untrained eye, cryptomines look like unremarkable rows of storage containers. There are no employees. The computers loudly hum along on their own, verifying crypto transactions by attempting to solve an endless stream of complex mathematical puzzles.
When the computers solve a puzzle correctly, it verifies a group of cryptocurrency transactions and adds it to the public ledger known as the blockchain. As a reward for the intensive work of verification, the cryptomining company receives newly-minted cryptocurrency and transaction fees. To do this work, the computers use a tremendous amount of electricity and generate a lot of heat, which explains the need for the deafening fans.
One cryptomine uses hundreds of megawatts of power per hour. Consider that one megawatt can supply more than 400 homes.
For this reason, cryptominers like to set up their facilities near substations or other sources of power.
Nine of North Carolina’s mountain counties, including Cherokee, now have a ban or protective ordinance against cryptomining. But by the time Cherokee County outlawed cryptomining in 2023, three mines were already in operation and not subject to the ban.
Today, they continue their intense blare.
Too legit to quit
Digital currency is gaining legitimacy in North Carolina. House Bill 920 aims to transform cryptocurrency into valid, legal tender in the state. Another bill — approved by the House — allows NC Treasurer Brad Briner to place up to 5% of the state’s investments into crypto.
But even though Briner thinks crypto is a smart investment for North Carolina, he doesn’t necessarily want it to be mined in the state.
“I’m concerned about cryptomines,” Briner told Carolina Public Press. “If your business is not really employing people and just consuming a ton of cheap power, that’s not the best business for us to recruit.”
At the federal level, President Donald Trump promised to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world,” establishing a Bitcoin reserve and loosening all kinds of restrictions on digital currency.
North Carolina doesn’t keep a registry of cryptomines, so it’s hard to know how many are operating across the state.
Cryptomining controversy
Despite the growing fondness of crypto in Raleigh and Washington, local governments are pushing back against allowing these operations to exist within their borders.
When Digihost, a Canadian cryptomining company, bought a piece of land inside the limits of Hildebran, a small Burke County town northwest of Charlotte, the transaction initially went unnoticed by many.
The town had no idea Digihost was planning to build a mine on the land the company bought a couple years back.
Once alerted to the company’s plan, however, Hildebran acted swiftly, passing restrictive zoning ordinances against cryptomining at a Town Council meeting in late April. The laws restrict the decibel level to an almost unattainable quiet for cryptomines — 55 decibels, which compares to the sound of a household refrigerator. Normal cryptomines can reach 95 decibels, which at sustained exposure, can cause permanent hearing loss.
But the mines aren’t expressly banned, and Hildebran is leaving the door open.
“At this time, the town has no official knowledge of when or if any such operation will begin,” according to a statement from Hildebran’s Town Council. “Our goal with the proposed ordinances is to keep cryptomining operations sound-neutral … and not to impact the power usage of citizens and industries in town.”
The zoning also limits the hours of operation, which bars the mine from running overnight.
Roberson says this is “game over” for cryptomines.
That may be true in Burke County.
But not necessarily in North Carolina.
Related
North Carolina
North Carolina Democrats, Republicans share takes on deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina political leaders disagree heavily on what happened during a deadly-ICE involved shooting in Minnesota and what should happen next.
Several videos immediately circulated depicting the moment when Renee Good was shot in her vehicle by an ICE agent. Democrats and Republicans dispute what the video actually shows.
“I’m horrified and I’m disgusted,” Democratic state Sen. Sophia Chitlik said.
Chitlik represents Durham where immigration enforcement agents had a large presence a few weeks ago. She stated the video shows why she and some of her constituents don’t want the agents back.
“Get out,” she said. “We do not want ICE and CBP in our community. Not only do citizens and constituents not want them here, law enforcement doesn’t want them here. Our sheriff’s office, our police department, is very focused on keeping people safe, which is why crime is down. We manage public safety here.”
Matt Mercer, the communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, stated the video shows the ICE agent acting in self-defense.
“I think what you see is the video speaks for itself,” Mercer said. “You had a federal agent acting in self-defense after potentially being rammed by someone in a vehicle, which is unfortunate. You just hate to see what happened.”
Chitlik disputes the notion that the ICE agent acted in self-defense, saying, “It’s not true. The video shows that it’s not true. [Good] was trying to back up, not move forward, trying to leave the situation. They aggressively pursued her.”
Republicans continue to back the federal agents in Minnesota and across the country, arguing it’s what millions of Americans voted for.
“It’s already shown a lot of progress,” Mercer said. “You’ve had over two million illegals deported or self-deported from our country, which is exactly what President [Donald] Trump campaigned on.”
Some Democrats say immigration enforcement agents don’t make communities safer and instead incite violence fear.
“ICE is not here to keep us safe,” Chitlik said. “ICE is here to police us. ICE is here as an agent of fascism in our cities. They are not welcome here.”
Republicans say the immigration agents aren’t the ones raising tensions.
“Anytime you see people using an iPhone app and saying there’s ICE [in the area], it’s intentionally provoking and stoking tensions,” Mercer said. “You’d like to see people using their right to protest in a way that’s not obstructing the mission these hardworking officers are doing every day.”
CBS 17 has not heard of any plans for the immigration agents to return to North Carolina.
North Carolina
Current State of North Carolina’s Quarterback Room
This offseason has been a complete quarterback carousel for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Following the debacle of last season, it was obvious that North Carolina needed to make significant changes at quarterback.
In Bill Belichick’s first year as the head coach, the Tar Heels compiled a 4-8 record and failed to qualify for bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. There were several factors that led to the lackluster season, but the production and effectiveness from the quarterback position may take the cake, in terms of who should be blamed the most for North Carolina’s failure of a season.
In 11 games, Gio Lopez threw for only 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions while attempting 6.7 yards per pass. If you don’t possess a quarterback who can operate at a competent level, it is virtually impossible to compete with that player leading the offense.
As mentioned, it was apparent that the front office had to venture out in the transfer portal to potentially find their next quarterback. The Tar Heels did land 2026 four-star quarterback recruit Travis Burgess, but it was not yet known that both Max Johnson and Bryce Baker would enter the transfer portal this offseason.
Not to mention, after recently announcing that he will return to Chapel Hill in 2026, Lopez became the latest quarterback to leave the program, making his intentions of entering the portal known on Monday. On Wednesday, Lopez officially signed with Wake Forest.
Here is what general manager Michael Lombardi and North Carolina’s front office orchestrated to add depth to the quarterback room, and how those moves affect that position.
Assessing the Tar Heels’ Quarterback Situation
With three total quarterbacks leaving the program, North Carolina needed to orchestrate multiple moves to improve the depth at the position. While the Tar Heels landed Billy Edwards Jr. and Miles O’Neill, those two additions do not instill a ton of confidence in a room lacking experience and proven production.
In four years, Edwards Jr. has one year of starting, while O’Neill has eight appearances over the last two seasons. The Texas A&M transfer possesses more potential than Edwards Jr., as he still has three years of eligibility remaining. There is more room to grow for O’Neill. We already know what Edwards Jr is: a backup quarterback who could play here and there as a starter.
Meanwhile, Au’Tori Newkirk played sparingly during his freshman season in 2025, and Burgess will be a true freshman in 2026. None of these quarterbacks provide both high potential and experience. They possess one or the other, which could become problematic if no one establishes themselves as the clear-cut starter.
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North Carolina
NC health officials urge vaccines amid measles and respiratory illness surge
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is responding to the most recent measles cases and a spike in respiratory illnesses in North Carolina.
In a meeting hosted by NCDHHS, health officials stressed the importance of staying up to date on vaccines.
Those officials were also asked about the vaccination status of the three kids who tested positive for measles in Buncombe County.
“The three cases in Buncombe County, all three of them, had at least one dose of MMR vaccine,” said Dr. Erica Wilson with NCDHHS.
News 13 reported on Tuesday that the three siblings contracted measles after visiting Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where there’s currently a large measles outbreak.
3 BUNCOMBE COUNTY CHILDREN CONTRACT MEASLES AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA VISIT, NCDHHS REPORTS
The Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room in Asheville was listed as a possible measles exposure location on Sunday, Jan. 4, between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
Mission Health sent News 13 a statement, saying in part, “Our hospitals work with state and federal health officials on proactive preparedness, and we are following guidance provided by the CDC.”
The hospital provided state health officials with a list of 26 people who may have been exposed to measles on Jan. 4, according to Mission Health.
It’s not just Buncombe County that has reported measles in North Carolina recently.
“One in Polk County and three in Buncombe County. Additionally, there was a measles exposure alert we released in Gaston County. All are connected to an ongoing measles outbreak in Spartanburg County, South Carolina,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple with NCDHHS. “About 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed will become infected.”
POLK COUNTY CHILD CONTRACTS MEASLES AFTER SOUTH CAROLINA VISIT, NCDHHS REPORTS
In the meeting, health officials also addressed the increase in respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and influenza.
“Whether it’s the childhood immunizations for things like measles, mumps, and rubella, or even the seasonal immunizations for things like RSV, COVID, and flu, vaccines are a critical and important part of remaining healthy and having healthy communities,” said NCDHHS secretary Dr. Devdutta Sangvai.
Additionally, as News 13 previously reported, there was a chickenpox outbreak in Buncombe County, with four cases confirmed at Fairview Elementary as of Jan. 6.
Health officials are reminding people that it’s not too late to get their seasonal vaccines. There are also additional preventative actions to protect oneself against respiratory viruses.
FLU CASES SURGE IN NC, STRAINING HOSPITALS AND INCREASING DEATH TOLL
“This includes regularly washing your hands with soap and water,” said Kimple.
Kimple suggests avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. She also said to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces that may be contaminated.
“Cover those coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly. Stay home when sick, except to seek medical care or testing, and take steps to avoid spreading infection to others in your home,” said Kimple.
NCDHHS also has helpful resources on its website, like a measles immunity checker, information about vaccines, and a program that helps eligible families get free vaccines.
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