Bitcoin mining drowns out the sound of Niagara Falls – here’s how

In the US border town of Niagara Falls, residents accustomed to the soothing roar of the famous falls recently discovered a much less pleasant sound: the “haunting hum” of bitcoin mining facilities.

Bitcoin mining facilities have multiplied in United States since China banned them from its territory in 2021. The US is now emerging as a global leader in the industry.

Attracted by cheap hydropower available in Niagara Fallsdigital mining company Blockfusion took up residence in a former coal factory there in 2019, followed by US Bitcoin in 2020, which operates from a former sodium plant.

Why does a Bitcoin mining facility make so much noise?

If you are not familiar with Bitcoin mining and how it works, check it out this explanation.

Bitcoin mining uses computers to perform complex mathematical equations to earn more coins. And as we all know, computers need fans to stay cool.

In a bitcoin mining facility, there are thousands of computers, which means thousands of fans, all buzzing constantly.

“I get four hours of sleep, maybe, because of the constant noise,” said Elizabeth Lundy, a Niagara Falls resident who lives about two blocks from the US Bitcoin facility.

“I can hear the noise even through the storm windows.”

From Elizabeth’s porch, the sound can be heard loud and clear. And it only gets louder as you get closer to the facility on Buffalo Avenue.

Another local, who lives more than 1.5 km from the facility, compares the sound to a 747 jet. Once he could hear the sound of Niagara Falls – over 3 km away – from his back garden, but now there is only the whirring sound of the Bitcoin plant.

How can local people stop noise pollution?

One resident, Bryan Maacks, has had enough and started a petition to try to stop the noise. He also drives around town with a large “US Bitcoin Stop the Noise” sign attached to this truck.

“It’s like having a toothache 24 hours a day, every day,” Maacks says of the noise.

Faced with a flood of complaints, mainly regarding US Bitcoin, the mayor of Niagara Falls enacted a moratorium on any new mining activity in December 2021. In early September 2022, he set a strict noise limit of 40 to 50 decibels near residential areas.

In early October, City Hall ordered the closure of the two bitcoin farms until they comply with new local ordinances.

“The noise pollution of this industry is like nothing else that’s been there,” says Robert Restaino, Niagara Falls’ mayor.

That’s quite a statement in a city that has embraced heavy industry for decades.

Does US Bitcoin Care About The Noise Pollution?

While both companies say they are cooperating with the city, only Blockfusion had shut down its processors by the end of October and reduced the number of fans running, while US Bitcoin is still running at full capacity, an AFP reporter found.

However, US Bitcoin said it is taking steps to address the issue.

“Immediately after these concerns were flagged, we erected a plastic barrier,” the company told AFP.

“We also conducted acoustic studies and had plans for a larger noise reduction wall” – but according to US Bitcoin, the moratorium prevented them from building it.

Niagara Falls is not the only place struggling with the problem in the United States. Noise pollution complaints from Bitcoin mining have surfaced in residential areas around most of the facilities.

Watch the video above to learn more about the noise pollution caused by Bitcoin mining.