Shockingly Sustainable: How Bitcoin Mining Helps Build A Clean Energy Future
Over the last 10 years, Bitcoin mining has evolved from a hobbyist activity to a multi-billion-dollar industry. Unsurprisingly, this has stunned academics, government officials, and entrepreneurs alike, leaving everyone grasping to understand what's happening and where this industry is heading - especially as it relates to climate change. Unfortunately, given how complex and novel the Bitcoin protocol is, many have incorrectly analyzed Bitcoin's mining process, resulting in apocalyptic news articles and misinformed scientific studies, such as Newsweek's article titled, "Bitcoin Mining on Track to Consume All of the World's Energy by 2020" and Nature's article titled, "Bitcoin emissions alone could push global warming above 2°C". While these articles have been debunked and proven to be based on mathematical extrapolations that don't accurately reflect the technical limitations of Bitcoin, that has not stopped them from being shared at large. For example, as of March 2024, Nature's article has been cited 237 times, including in Climate and Energy Implications of Crypto-Assets, a study conducted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
As with all things, the truth of the matter is much more nuanced than it appears on the surface. Yes, Bitcoin uses a lot of energy, however, many are learning that it uses energy in a unique way that can help transition to a clean energy future. Unlike other energy assets, Bitcoin mining is location and time-agnostic, interruptible, portable, and easily scalable, making it an energy consumer that can soak up stranded energy, reduce carbon emissions, and finance new renewable energy buildouts.
Join us at Digital Garage on Tuesday, April 23rd for a panel discussion with philosophers (yes, you read that right!) and entrepreneurs leveraging Bitcoin mining to build novel clean energy products, reduce climate emissions, and increase grid stability.
Panelists include:
Ali Chehrehsaz: Ali is a founding member and CEO at Optimize Infrastructure, a company utilizing Bitcoin mining to increase solar deployment worldwide. He is a mechanical engineer by training and has been in the energy industry for over 16 years.
Troy Cross: Troy is Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Reed College. He has been involved in Bitcoin for over a decade, most prominently working around the question of Bitcoin mining’s present and future environmental impact.
Scott Gaylord: Scott is a Group Product Manager at Crusoe, a company that leverages Bitcoin mining to reduce methane emissions from natural gas flaring during oil production.
If this sounds like fanciful thinking to you, then all the more reason to come!
“By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with the organizers of SF Climate Week.”