- A recent science podcast called Bitcoin “one big disaster for the environment,” reigniting debate over mining energy use.
- Advocates such as Alex Gladstein and Daniel Batten pushed back, citing energy-market context and recent studies.
- Research by You et al. and Menati et al. suggests mining is increasingly powered by low-carbon and renewable sources.
- Company case studies like Terawulf and Crusoe Energy Systems show use of renewables and wasted gas recovery for mining.
- The debate now centers on how mining energy sourcing is measured rather than on electricity consumption alone.
This week, a science podcast labeled Bitcoin “one big disaster for the environment,” prompting a strong response from the crypto community. The episode criticized mining’s high electricity use and limited utility, while a short social post about the episode gained wide attention via a linked social post. The discussion focused on where mining gets its power and how that sourcing is counted.
Human rights advocate Alex Gladstein argued that mining must be assessed against broader energy-market dynamics and noted that operations often use power that would otherwise be wasted or curtailed; his statement appears in Alex Gladstein’s response. Climate-focused researcher Daniel Batten challenged the environmental claims and pointed to recent studies, as seen in Daniel Batten’s post.
The article notes earlier work by analyst Alex de Vries, who created the Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index to track sustainability metrics; his views are available in an archived video by Alex de Vries. Recent research, including the You et al. and Menati et al. studies, suggests the share of low-carbon and renewable energy in mining has risen to above 50% in some estimates.
Real-world examples include Terawulf, which reports using wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, and Crusoe Energy Systems, which converts otherwise flared natural gas into power to reduce methane emissions. Bitcoin traded near $88,933, down about 0.9% in the last 24 hours, while debate continues over measurement and policy approaches rather than raw electricity totals.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- Nifty Gateway to Close Feb 23, 2026, Ending NFT Marketplace.
- Polymarket: 77% Chance of US Shutdown Shakes CLARITY Bill Up
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs See Five-Day Outflow, $1.72B Lost Amid FUD
- Tax policy, not tech, prevents Bitcoin as everyday money now
- Ethereum Foundation opens Post-Quantum team, $2M prizes set!
