Crypto Law Profile
Texas SB 1929 and PUCT Rule 16 TAC §25.114 require qualifying virtual currency mining facilities in ERCOT to register as large flexible loads and report facility and load data.
As of June 9, 2026, the Texas Virtual Currency Mining Facility Registration Regime is an effective state-level framework for qualifying virtual currency mining facilities in the ERCOT power region. The regime is anchored in Texas Senate Bill 1929 from the 88th Legislature and implemented through Public Utility Commission of Texas registration rules for large flexible loads. It is best described as a registration and grid-awareness regime, not as a broad statutory right to mine virtual currency.
SB 1929 added a large flexible load registration provision for virtual currency mining facilities that enter into retail electric service agreements in the ERCOT power region. The statute defines a virtual currency mining facility as a facility using electronic equipment to add virtual currency transactions to a distributed ledger. The statutory trigger applies where the facility requires more than 75 megawatts of total load and the load is interruptible.
The PUCT rule, 16 TAC §25.114, adds operational detail. It requires a covered facility receiving retail electric service in ERCOT at transmission or distribution voltage to register as a large flexible load if it requires more than 75 MW and its interruptible load equals 10% or more of actual or anticipated annual peak demand. Existing covered facilities had a February 1, 2025 registration deadline; new covered facilities must register no later than one working day after beginning retail electric service.
The registration filing is designed to give the PUCT and ERCOT visibility into large, interruptible mining loads. Registrants must provide legal business names, parent and principal information, business names, mailing and contact details, business form, Texas Secretary of State information, and facility-specific data. Facility data includes the name, address, county, property owner, lessor or host, square footage, infrastructure description, serving transmission and distribution providers, load zone, premise identifier, anticipated five-year peak load, interruptible-load percentage, prior-year actual peak load, and prior-year total power consumption where applicable.
The rule also requires an affidavit from an authorized person affirming the registrant’s authority to do business in Texas, the accuracy of the filing, timely updates, notice to relevant transmission and distribution providers, and compliance with applicable law and rules. Registrants must amend registration information within 30 days after a covered change.
SB 1929 authorizes the PUCT to share registration information with the independent organization certified for ERCOT. The rule’s annual renewal cycle requires virtual currency mining facility registrations to be renewed on or before March 1 each calendar year. Commission staff must identify registrations that have not been renewed by December 31 and provide ERCOT with a list by January 31. Violations of the rule are treated as Class A violations under the PUCT’s electric-service enforcement classification system.
SB 1929 was filed on March 8, 2023, passed the Texas Senate on April 12, 2023, passed the House as amended on May 22, 2023, was signed by the governor on June 9, 2023, and took effect on September 1, 2023. The PUCT rule was adopted in the Texas Register with an effective date of December 11, 2024.
Texas also saw a rights-oriented Bitcoin resolution in the same legislative session. House Concurrent Resolution 89 would have expressed support for Bitcoin coding, ownership, self-custody, and mining in Texas, including language welcoming Bitcoin miners to seek energy in the state. However, the official legislative record shows HCR 89 was referred to the House State Affairs Committee and did not become the operative law profiled here. For CryptoSlate taxonomy and import purposes, the enacted and operative profile should therefore use the controlled status “Effective” and the topics “Mining,” “Licensing & Registration,” and “Market Structure & Regulatory Perimeter.”
The Texas regime is important because it treats large virtual currency mining facilities as a distinct class of large flexible load for grid-planning and regulatory visibility. It does not resolve every issue that may affect a mining site, including local land-use rules, interconnection studies, environmental permits, noise disputes, tax incentives, demand-response participation, or later large-load legislation. Editors should review adjacent Texas energy-law developments separately when linking this profile to broader data-center, ERCOT, or Bitcoin-mining coverage.
Qualifying virtual currency mining facilities in ERCOT must register as large flexible loads when statutory and rule thresholds are met.
New covered facilities must register no later than one working day after beginning retail electric service.
Registrants provide ownership, contact, location, service-provider, demand, interruptible-load, and prior consumption information.
Registrations renew by March 1; commission staff provides ERCOT a list of registrations not renewed by January 31.
Rule violations are classified as Class A violations under the PUCT electric-service enforcement framework.
Senate Bill 1929 was filed in the Texas Senate during the 88th Regular Session.
The Texas Senate passed SB 1929 before House consideration.
The Texas House passed SB 1929 as amended.
SB 1929 was signed by the governor and listed with a September 1, 2023 effective date.
SB 1929 took effect under the enrolled bill’s effective-date clause.
PUCT Rule 16 TAC §25.114 became effective, adding detailed registration requirements.
Existing covered facilities had to register by this rule-specific deadline.
ERCOT, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Texas Legislature
Virtual currency
Requested “rights” framing is not used in SB 1929. Texas HCR 89 expressed support for Bitcoin mining and self-custody rights but was referred to State Affairs and did not become operative law. This profile covers the effective registration regime.
