BITCOIN MINING: THREE REASONS WHY ENERGY CONSUMPTION RHETORIC IS PURE NONSENSE

When they aren’t bashing Bitcoin as a bubble, nocoiners can usually be found trying desperately to prove how the activities of miners will bring about the end of the world. Here are three reasons why the energy consumption rhetoric is utter garbage.

THE GLOBAL ENERGY MISCONCEPTION
The pseudo-environmentalist brigade will have you believe that Bitcoin (BTC) $6533.49 -0.09% mining would be the death of the planet. Much of their arguments revolve around the energy consumption of data centers used for carrying out the complex mathematical computations needed to validate transactions on the blockchain.

The problem with these arguments is that they imagine the world as having a single energy grid as highlighted in a recent series of tweets by @nic_carter. To them, energy is a finite concept which means that Bitcoin miners are simply guzzling vast chunks of it to the detriment of other would-be users.

It is beyond puzzling even to see noted economists like Nouriel Roubini making such flawed equivalencies. So, when mining farm A in China and mining farm B in Iceland are in operation, the remaining parts of the world somehow suffer dips in energy supply?

Bitcoin mining cannot in any meaningful way affect global energy consumption more so than truly heavy industries like smelting plants and banks. Yes, you read that right, banks. Furthermore, many studies show that the process isn’t even as energy-consumptive as the critics say.

OFF-GRID UTILIZATION
Not content with ignorantly espousing misconceptions about energy consumption by Bitcoin miners, these critics go on to talk about environmental impact. Let’s make one thing clear — climate change isn’t something to be taken lightly.

However, critics who bring up this point either don’t know much about BTC mining or are deliberately misrepresenting facts. Many mining facilities around the world use off-grid renewable energy sources. There is the former Alcoa smelting plant in upstate New York which will have its own hydroelectric power source.

In other places around the world, companies have established solar-powered and wind-powered mining centers. There is even the Upstream Data HashGen mining facility which uses natural gas to power its operations. In a recent tweet, the company revealed that it consumed 150,000 cubic meters of natural gas thereby reducing carbon emissions by more than 6,750 tons.