The rolling hills of rural Georgia and North Carolina have become an unexpected battleground in the growing debate over cryptocurrency mining. Once quiet, these regions are now disrupted by the relentless, monotonous roar of crypto mining operations—large facilities packed with computers that demand massive amounts of electricity and use powerful, industrial fans to cool the equipment. For many residents, the constant noise is more than just an annoyance; it’s a blight that disrupts daily life and peace of mind.

Local opposition has been fierce. After the arrival of a crypto mine near their dream retirement cabin in Cherokee County, North Carolina, Cyndie Roberson and her husband felt compelled to move. Like many others, Roberson discovered that beyond the environmental and economic conversations surrounding crypto, the most immediate problem was the sheer noise. Roberson is now on the board of the National Coalition Against Crypto Mining, echoing the concerns of communities across more than a dozen counties in North Carolina and Georgia. Many of these counties have responded by passing restrictions or outright bans on crypto mining, drawing a clear line in the sand against further encroachment.

The debate extends beyond local grievances. State legislatures are grappling with bills that would, under the banner of “modernizing” regulation for new technologies, strip local governments of their ability to regulate or restrict crypto mining. These so-called “Right to Mine” bills have stirred controversy, especially in the South, where a block of states has recently rejected such legislation. The experience of Arkansas, which quickly had to tighten restrictions after backlash against a Right to Mine law, has served as a cautionary tale.

Though crypto supporters argue that better technology and soundproofing could eventually solve the noise problem, for those living nearby, relief is far from guaranteed. The industry is also grappling with broader scrutiny, with some of the largest operations in the U.S. operated by foreign entities that relocated after China banned crypto mining, in part over noise and environmental concerns.

Amid the promise of economic innovation, a fundamental challenge remains: while the world is racing forward with digital currency, rural communities are left with the literal noise of progress. Without meaningful solutions, the “sound of crypto” may come to symbolize the costs that some people bear for the ambitions of a new financial era.