Environmental impact of bitcoin

The environmental impact of bitcoin has been characterized in the literature as significant, particularly due to its energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and electronic waste. Bitcoin mining, the process by which bitcoins are created and transactions are finalized, is energy-consuming and results in carbon emissions, as 48% of the electricity used in 2025 was generated through fossil fuels while 52% was generated through sustainable energy sources. Moreover, bitcoins are mined on specialized computer hardware resulting in electronic waste. Scholars argue that bitcoin mining could support renewable energy development by utilizing surplus electricity from wind and solar. As of 2025, several empirical studies report an association between higher bitcoin-mining electricity use and worse environmental-sustainability indicators. Bitcoin's environmental impact has attracted the attention of regulators, leading to incentives or restrictions in various jurisdictions.

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