How Trump’s Embrace of Crypto Could Disrupt Peace in Small-Town America

By Niamh Rowe | Sun 4 May 2025, 11:00 BST

When Shenice Copenhaver first noticed patches of missing fur on her dogs, her vet attributed it to a genetic condition. But soon, more disturbing behavior followed—one of her puppies began hoarding blankets and hiding under furniture for hours at a time. It wasn’t just a strange phase. Something was unsettling the animals—and their owner.

That something, Copenhaver believes, is the relentless, mechanical hum of a nearby cryptocurrency mining facility.

Cryptocurrency mines—warehouses packed with high-powered computers running 24/7—are becoming an increasingly common feature in rural America. And with Donald Trump’s vocal support for the crypto industry, critics worry the spread of these noisy, energy-hungry operations will accelerate if he returns to the White House.

For residents like Copenhaver, it’s not about politics or digital currency. “I just want quiet,” she says.