In 2020, something extraordinary happened. The energy consumed by cryptocurrency miners in the United States surpassed the amount of energy consumed by all the computers in the country. If that statement sounds absurd to you, you’re not alone. It’s hard to fathom how a relatively new technology could outpace the energy consumption of an established industry that has been around for decades. But as more people invest in crypto, the energy consumption numbers are only expected to rise.
To put things in perspective, in 2020, the entire U.S. technology industry consumed around 69 billion kWh, while cryptocurrency miners consumed around 75.6 billion kWh. This is a significant jump from 2019 when the crypto mining energy consumption was only 47.6 billion kWh. The surge in usage can largely be attributed to the increased demand for cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin.
So, how does cryptocurrency mining consume so much energy? Well, to understand that, you need to understand how cryptocurrencies work. Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that use blockchain technology for their functioning. When someone makes a cryptocurrency transaction, it needs to be verified and added to the blockchain. This is where miners come in.
Mining is essentially the process of adding new blocks to a blockchain. Miners use powerful computers to solve extremely complex mathematical problems, and once a block is successfully added to the chain, they are rewarded with a certain amount of cryptocurrency. This is the incentive that drives people to invest in mining hardware and consume vast amounts of energy to verify transactions.
Bitcoin mining, in particular, is extremely energy-intensive. It’s estimated that a single Bitcoin transaction consumes around 741 kWh of energy, which is equivalent to the amount of energy needed to power an average U.S. household for 25 days. Considering the sheer number of Bitcoin transactions that take place every day, the energy consumed by mining is astronomical.
Most of the energy consumed by cryptocurrency mining comes from electricity generation. In most cases, mining operations are set up near sources of cheap electricity, such as hydroelectric power plants. This has led to concerns about the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining, as many of these sources are not renewable.
The energy consumption of cryptocurrency mining has become such a concern that some countries have banned or restricted mining altogether. China, which was once home to around two-thirds of the world’s Bitcoin mining operations, has cracked down on the practice due to the high energy consumption and the impact on the environment.
As more people invest in cryptocurrency, the energy consumption numbers are only expected to rise. This has led to calls for more sustainable mining practices and the development of renewable energy sources for mining operations. Some companies have already started exploring alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, for their mining operations.
In conclusion, the fact that cryptocurrency mining used more energy than all the computers in the United States last year is a testament to how popular and profitable the industry has become. However, it also raises concerns about the environmental impact of the practice, and the need for more sustainable mining practices. With the rise of renewable energy sources and the development of more efficient mining hardware, we may see a shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly cryptocurrency mining in the future.
The world of cryptocurrency is often shrouded in mystery. Its proponents tout it as the future of finance, while detractors see it as a dangerous and unsustainable bubble. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, and a recent White House report on cryptocurrency mining in the United States provides some startling numbers to back up both sides.
According to the report, cryptocurrency mining in the US used more energy than every computer in the entire country – even Apple Macs. In fact, at 50 billion kWh, crypto mining in the US consumed almost as much power as all the televisions in the country combined. That’s a staggering amount of energy, and it’s causing a huge amount of carbon emissions.
Not only is cryptocurrency mining bad for the environment, but it can also cause energy prices to spike for normal citizens in the surrounding area. All of this for the pursuit of “digital assets whose broader social benefits have yet to materialize,” as the report puts it.
The image accompanying the report shows a graph comparing the estimated power consumption of cryptocurrency mining in the US to various other types of energy use. The figures used are based on both global crypto energy usage and the United States’ share of bitcoin and ethereum mining up until “The Merge” happened. This estimate shows that the potential variation in the overall number could range from the low 30 billion kWh used (which is still higher than all the computers in the US) to the high 60 billion kWh – putting it in the same ballpark as the power drawn by every light in the country for 2022.
It’s clear that something needs to be done about the unsustainable energy usage of cryptocurrency mining. The proposed Digital Asset Mining Energy (DAME) excise tax is one attempt to address the issue. If implemented, this tax could make it so unprofitable to mine cryptocurrency that the industry grinds to a halt.
There are some believers, however, who think that the potential benefits of cryptocurrency justify its energy usage. They argue that it’s an innovative new way to store and transfer value, and that its decentralization makes it more resistant to government interference and corruption.
But even these believers must acknowledge that the current state of cryptocurrency is not sustainable. With the environmental and social costs of mining becoming more apparent, it’s clear that something needs to change.
Perhaps a better solution would be for the cryptocurrency industry to focus on developing more sustainable mining methods, or to find ways to use existing sources of renewable energy to power their operations. There are already some examples of this happening, such as cryptocurrency mines in Iceland that use geothermal energy. If more efforts are made in this direction, it’s possible that the benefits of cryptocurrency could be realized without causing so much harm.
In conclusion, the White House report on cryptocurrency mining in the US provides some chilling numbers that highlight the unsustainability of the current state of the industry. While there are certainly potential benefits to cryptocurrency, its energy usage must be addressed in order for it to be a viable long-term solution. Whether through punitive taxes, sustainable mining methods, or some other means, the industry must find a way to reduce its impact on the environment and society.
