Senator Elizabeth Warren claims foreign ‘cryptomines’ being used to spy on the US

US lawmaker Senator Elizabeth Warren has continued her anti-crypto evangelism despite her thinning support base.

On July 25, she opined that foreign-owned crypto-mining operations pose a national security threat during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Warren stated:

“Foreign adversaries are using cryptomines to spy on US military operations. That is an obvious national security risk. But it isn’t the only risk. Foreign-owned cryptomines also threaten the energy grid.”

The anti-crypto lawmaker further highlighted the environmental threat of these mining facilities, pointing out that their activities could pose “a disaster for the environment.” She said:

“Increasingly, foreign companies are building cryptomining facilities on US soil. These mines are actually warehouses stuffed with computers that process crypto transactions and produce new crypto tokens. They’re loud, they’re hot, and they suck up a ton of electricity, which can crash the power grid. And that’s why many countries have banned cryptomining.”

[Editor’s Note: Bitcoin miners have been shown to be a net benefit to power grids through their ability to curtail demand, unlike Web 2 and AI server farms, which cannot be switched off. Further, Bitcoin miners are able to make use of surplus and waste energy when public demand drops. Lastly, unlike FIAT, Bitcoin energy usage directly correlates to available resources without allowing for derivatives that abuse the climate.]

Money laundering concerns

Warren also raised concerns about how foreign nationals acquire crypto mines in the US, noting that it presents enormous financial risks to the country.

According to her, foreign nationals often buy crypto mines with cryptocurrencies, circumventing traditional banking systems and anti-money laundering regulations.

She added:

“Foreign nationals have been able to buy up cryptomines in the United States in secret. How? By paying in crypto. Crypto allows them to bypass our traditional banking system and the anti-money laundering rules that are supposed to prevent any anonymous foreign money from coming into the US.”

Warren cited an example of a Chinese investor who secretly bought a $6 million crypto mine in Texas using digital assets and furthered that these foreign-owned mining facilities often repatriate funds to China using crypto.

Thus, she urged Congress to implement stricter anti-money laundering laws to prevent anonymous funding.

Thinning support base

Warren’s anti-crypto base is shrinking as Republican Senator Roger Marshall withdrew his support for the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act (DAAMLA) bill.

According to the official Congress directory, Marshall, who co-sponsored the bill with Warren in 2022, withdrew his support on July 24. However, 18 lawmakers remain in support of the legislation.

Warren claims the bill would attempt to bring the digital asset ecosystem into compliance with the existing anti-money laundering system. However, industry advocates have criticized the proposed legislation, saying it is part of the lawmaker’s effort to curtail the sector’s growth.

Marshall has not publicly commented on his decision, but some market observers believe it is linked to crypto’s growing significance in the current electoral cycle.

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