Texas Residents Take MARA Holdings to Court Over Disruptive Bitcoin Mining Noise

Nine residents living near MARA Holdings’ Bitcoin mining site in Granbury, Texas, have filed a lawsuit accusing the company of creating a "permanent private nuisance" through relentless noise, vibrations, and low-frequency sounds. The complaint, filed in the Northern District of Texas, demands over $1 million in damages and a jury trial, alleging that MARA’s operations have severely disrupted daily life and reduced property values.

According to the lawsuit reported by Blockspace, plaintiffs live as close as 0.01 miles from the facility, which runs cooling systems 24/7 that produce noise penetrating into homes. Residents report they avoid opening windows or spending time outdoors due to the disturbance. The complaint details a range of health issues linked to the noise pollution, including insomnia, headaches, tinnitus, anxiety, fatigue, hearing loss, and hypertension. Livestock and wildlife in the area have also been affected.

The plaintiffs accuse MARA of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, arguing the company has ignored the harmful effects despite being aware of them. MARA took over the facility in 2024 and claims it is working with the community to address concerns. The company says it has implemented sound reduction measures like shutting down some air-cooled units, building sound barriers, and shifting to liquid immersion cooling—efforts residents say have done little to resolve the problem.

This case is part of a broader backlash against the expansion of Bitcoin mining operations and data centers, which increasingly serve artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads. These facilities often face criticism for noise pollution, heavy electricity consumption, water use, and strain on local infrastructure. Maine recently passed a moratorium on new large-scale AI data centers, signaling growing legislative pushback.

MARA Holdings and the plaintiffs’ attorneys have not responded to requests for comment. But this lawsuit underscores the rising tension between crypto companies’ rapid growth and the communities forced to bear the environmental and health costs of their operations. As Bitcoin mining pivots to AI and data center services, local residents nationwide are demanding accountability and relief from the disruptive impacts.