Residents of a Texas town southwest of Dallas are reporting a multitude of health issues, allegedly stemming from the incessant noise of a nearby Bitcoin mining facility. The facility, operated by MARA Holdings, has become a source of immense distress for those living in close proximity.

The mining operation, located in an unincorporated area of Hood County near Granbury, Texas, began in 2022 under Compute North before MARA acquired it in January 2024. The facility houses thousands of computers that require constant cooling to prevent overheating, and the cooling process relies on industrial fans that generate a continuous, low-frequency noise.

Many residents describe their lives as "hell" due to the relentless noise. One elderly resident, in a video released by the nonprofit advocacy organization More Perfect Union, stated that the headaches "never go away". The noise is so pervasive that it can be heard clearly in the background of the video.

The constant noise has allegedly led to a variety of health problems among the residents, including hearing issues, sleep disturbance, dizziness, and constant headaches. Some residents have even been hospitalized, with conditions reportedly exacerbated by the mining operation's noise. A registered nurse anesthetist and Granbury resident, Cheryl Shadden, said that the noise feels like an "alien invasion" and is now invading homes, making it difficult to think, causing motion sickness, nausea, and dizziness. Shadden also mentioned that her 77-year-old neighbor, Larry Potts, experienced hearing loss and sleep problems before being rushed to the hospital with a heart condition.

The noise levels produced by Bitcoin mining machines can range from 70 to 90 decibels (dB). Experts say that sounds exceeding 70 dB can cause hearing damage over time. Residents have reported noise levels consistently above 85 dB. The European Environmental Agency suggests that noise above 55 decibels is detrimental to health.

In October 2024, a group of residents filed a lawsuit against MARA, then known as Marathon Digital, alleging that they have suffered "sensory, emotional, psychological, and health impacts" from the noise. Deputy managing attorney at Earthjustice, Mandy DeRoche, described the noise as a "different type of noise pollution" – a low-frequency sound unlike typical traffic noise.

MARA has acknowledged receiving complaints from Granbury residents and elected officials since taking over the site in April 2024. A representative stated that they have been working to address the concerns, including extending a sound wall, removing fan-based miners, and converting containers to immersion cooling systems to reduce noise.