US government allows key data center regulation to expire in September

The US government is allowing a crucial data center regulation to expire, potentially affecting various industries including crypto mining and AI infrastructure.

The landscape of cryptocurrency regulation in the United States is set to shift yet again, as the federal government plans to let a key regulation governing data center efficiency standards expire on September 30, 2026. This regulatory change promises to create a vacuum that impacts a broad spectrum of industries, from artificial intelligence infrastructure to crypto mining operations. What Does This Expiration Mean for Crypto Mining? The expiring rule, specifically the OMB Memorandum M-25-03 , provided crucial guidance for federal data centers on how to operate, optimize, and measure energy efficiency. With no planned successor, federal guidance will effectively vanish, leaving federal agencies uncertain about how to proceed in terms of data center operations. The lack of oversight might seem limited to federal operations, but the implications reach into the private sector, including crypto mining businesses. While private miners were never bound by these standards, the absence of federal regulation could lead to complications in a complex and fragmented regulatory environment across various states. Is the Deregulation a Step Backward? This expiration fits into a broader deregulatory agenda championed during the Trump administration. An executive order issued in July 2025 seeks to expedite the permitting processes for substantial data center projects, specifically those requiring more than 100 megawatts of electrical load or investments over $500 million. Consequently, over 300 data center-related bills have already been introduced across 30 states in the early months of 2026, addressing diverse concerns such as energy costs, environmental implications, and community impacts. This emerging patchwork of state laws raises significant challenges for crypto miners. A facility compliant in, say, Texas may suddenly encounter significant obstacles when operating in a different state like New York. This growing complexity means that traders and miners will need to navigate