A proposal by Argentine presidential candidate Sergio Massa to use excess natural gas from the Vaca Muerta oil fields to mine Bitcoin has generated controversy in the country’s cryptocurrency community.

Vaca Muerta, which translates to “dead cow,” got its name in the 19th century when fossilized remains of megafauna—think giant ground sloths and glyptodonts—were found in the Vaca Muerta formation. The abundance of these fossils led early geologists to nickname the area “Vaca Muerta” or Dead Cow. The name stuck and became official after large petroleum reserves were discovered in the Vaca Muerta shale rock in the late 20th century.

The idea was presented to Massa last week by computer scientist Santiago Siri. It involves utilizing surplus gas from Vaca Muerta, a major shale oil and gas deposit in western Argentina, to power bitcoin mining operations. Supporters say it would allow the gas to be put to productive use rather than being flared or vented.

However, the proposal has met skepticism from Bitcoin miners and advocates. In a recent online forum hosted by the NGO Bitcoin Argentina, participants argued that BTC mining is too complex and competitive for the government to get involved.

But the project still has its proponents.

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Author: Decrypt AI, Edited by Stacy Elliot

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