Live data from Hacker News

Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

cbeci.org

21–30 of 1001 posts

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#21

Genuine question: how much does this matter if much of it is renewables and cheap hydro? I feel like the negative externalities of using a lot of electricity are very very tied to where that electricity came from

This is a bit too hypothetical: the most generous estimate I can find is that Bitcoin is still using 61% non-renewable energy, in as much as farms are favourably set up in places with cheap energy (somewhat but not entirely correlated with renewable energy).

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#24
post #4

Perhaps not all of it is entirely "wasted" though. I've largely been able to avoid heating this winter as a result of crypto mining. A computer pumping ~300W into the air 24/7 is remarkably effective for a small apartment

Electricity is one of the most inefficient ways to heat a dwelling. I think natural gas is still considered to be several times more efficient but I haven’t looked at it in a few years. Of course if you are also getting benefits from the crypto you mined that will offset the cost.

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#26

Genuine question: how much does this matter if much of it is renewables and cheap hydro? I feel like the negative externalities of using a lot of electricity are very very tied to where that electricity came from

According to their mining map[1], 35% of the global hashrate happens in Xinjiang. From Wikipedia, it looks like most major power stations in Xinjiang are coal driven[2].

10% is in Sichuan, which appears to be largely hydro-driven[3].

1: https://cbeci.org/mining_map

2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_major_power_stations_i...

3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_major_power_stations_i...

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#27
post #12

Does anyone have any figures on what regular banking systems use for accepted/official currencies? I feel like this has blown up so much that it makes sense to compare and contrast.

Bitcoin provides very few of the services that regular banking systems do, and to a far, far smaller audience. Unless that's taken into account, such a comparison is meaningless.

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#28
post #7

Question that came to mind after reading the headline: could this become a future reason for governments to criminalise the trading / use of Bitcoin because of negative environmental effects? On the surface it seems the value of Bitcoin is directly tied to its energy consumption and thus environmental harm. I get that Bitcoin itself is decentralised and cannot be banned outright. But could it be neutered in such a wa…

Yes. Holding gold in the US was illegal due to executive order 6102.

There's no need for mental gymnastics of blaming energy. Just one powerful guy says "no" and poof, its illegal. Now laws or logic required.

There was an exception for collector coins and jewelry

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#29

Genuine question: how much does this matter if much of it is renewables and cheap hydro? I feel like the negative externalities of using a lot of electricity are very very tied to where that electricity came from

If you freed all those resources, you could equivalently reduce fossil fuel consumption (up to 0%, of course). So I say it matters very much.

Re: Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index

#30
post #28
post #7

Question that came to mind after reading the headline: could this become a future reason for governments to criminalise the trading / use of Bitcoin because of negative environmental effects? On the surface it seems the value of Bitcoin is directly tied to its energy consumption and thus environmental harm. I get that Bitcoin itself is decentralised and cannot be banned outright. But could it be neutered in such a wa…

Yes. Holding gold in the US was illegal due to executive order 6102. There's no need for mental gymnastics of blaming energy. Just one powerful guy says "no" and poof, its illegal. Now laws or logic required. There was an exception for collector coins and jewelry

It's not mental gymnastics to have a legitimate concern about energy usage.
Post reply on HN