A recent article published by the BBC has sparked a heated debate among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and critics regarding the environmental impact of Bitcoin (BTC) mining.
The piece, titled “Every Bitcoin payment ‘uses a swimming pool of water,’” raised concerns about the water consumption associated with the mining process.
However, critics argue that focusing solely on “per transaction” values fails to capture the complexities of the system and the true drivers of energy and water consumption. This disagreement highlights a fundamental question: Do the costs of BTC mining outweigh its benefits?
Opinion Piece Or Scientific Study?
The BBC article in question references a commentary published in Cell Reports Sustainability, an opinion piece rather than a peer-reviewed study exploring sustainability-related issues.
The author, Alex de Vries, employed indirect estimates and assumptions to calculate water consumption and energy usage in Bitcoin mining operations.
One of the main contentions arises from using a “per transaction” value to estimate water consumption and energy usage. Critics argue that this approach fails to acknowledge the intrinsic nature of the Bitcoin system, where transactions do not directly drive energy consumption or water usage.
Instead, miners are primarily incentivized by potential rewards, consisting of newly issued Bitcoin and transaction fees.
Furthermore, critics argue that BTC transactions occurring off the blockchain should be considered part of the system’s use. Excluding these transactions skews the ratio of environmental costs to syste
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Author: Ronaldo Marquez
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