BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 December 5, Thursday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
I first spoke with local business leaders about “alternative currencies” back in 2003. When I moved to Blair in the summer of 2003, I maintained an office in the same building as the Chamber of Commerce. More than a few times, I broached the topic of Blair creating an alternative currency like, say “Ithaca Dollars”, or a precious metals based option (silver or gold) like the “Liberty Dollar”.
When bitcoin was introduced 15 years ago I began to openly talk about a crypto-currency for Blair. By 2016 I was offering to accept bitcoin for things I sold on Facebook marketplace. And, I’ve openly posted more than once about the desire to work with others on the creation of an alternative currency.
Today, as Bitcoin surpasses the historic $100,000 mark, I can’t help but reflect on how much has changed. While I wasn’t able to garner support from businesses or the Chamber of Commerce back then, Bitcoin has now arrived in Blair. You can buy and sell them via a kiosk at the Blair Smoke Shop (in the Family Fare shopping center).
There is a company called LibertyX which shows on their website that they maintain Bitcoin kiosks at Walgreens and Taylor’s. However, I found no kiosks at either Taylor’s or Walgreens. And, when I spoke with the Walgreen’s manager she told me two things: 1) There have been conference calls with upper management about adding the Bitcoin kiosks, but 2) There is no timeline at the moment for them to be added.
What I envisioned for Blair two decades ago is now happening across Nebraska. Recent estimates show roughly one in five Americans – more than 50 million people – have acquired a digital asset, and Nebraska businesses are increasingly accepting Bitcoin for everything from groceries to airline tickets to real estate.
Major players are taking notice. Compass Mining just launched a facility housing 2,400 Bitcoin miners in Nebraska, while Vinanz Limited, a British Virgin Islands-based company, activated new mining hardware, bringing their total Nebraska hashing power to 9.2 petahash.
However, this growth hasn’t been without challenges. In Stanton County, residents near a Bitcoin mining operation report significant disruption to their rural lifestyle. “This gets to your head and we call it psychological warfare,” said local resident Tony Wortmann, describing the constant noise from the mining facility.
Nebraska’s leadership seems committed to cryptocurrency’s future. Attorney General Mike Hilgers is co-leading an 18-state coalition challenging federal cryptocurrency regulations, stating that “Nebraska has been a leader and innovator in encouraging the use of digital assets and blockchain technology.”
As adoption grows, authorities are implementing safeguards. Omaha’s city council recently passed an ordinance requiring warning signs at cryptocurrency kiosks after the FBI reported $12.5 billion in losses from financial crimes and scams last year. There are now at least 50 cryptocurrency ATMs in Douglas County alone.
The economic impact is becoming evident. In Stanton County, a single mining operation is expected to generate approximately $24,000 in property taxes for 2024. As County Commissioner Duane Rehak notes, “They’re going to bring great tax revenue to the county. And with the power companies getting revenue is great. So what we’re trying to do is trying to get businesses to move into Stanton County.”
I believe Blair’s businesses would benefit greatly from the creation of and/or acceptance of crypto currency or an alternate currency of some variety. And, if enough businesses in Blair get tired of seeing dollars spent at Walmart or head to Omaha, maybe we can finally see that happen.
Looking back on my twenty-year journey advocating for alternative currencies, I’m encouraged by how far we’ve come. While my early vision for Blair hasn’t fully materialized, Nebraska has become an unexpected leader in the cryptocurrency revolution. As Bitcoin reaches new heights and more communities embrace digital assets, perhaps the local currency movement I envisioned will finally take root in Blair and beyond.
