The Effect Crypto Mining Has on the Environment in the US
According to a recent survey, the US has become a major spot of more than 15% of all global crypto miners. For comparison, half a year ago, the number of miners located there was significantly lower. Although these statistics sound somehow impressive, things are not really bright for the environment. As you know, crypto mining is not a process approved by eco-activists. That’s completely understandable, considering how much energy is consumed. The bad news is that this energy is often generated with fossil fuels.
Does Crypto Mining Really Pollute the Environment in the US
Despite the fact that crypto mining is not that bad for the environment anymore, environmentalists are absolutely positive that the whole process is incredibly bad for the atmosphere. One of the reasons for this, as stated by an expert, is that Bitcoin mining requires tons of electricity.
A research that was conducted years ago showed that a single Bitcoin transaction requires as much power as used in an American household for almost two entire months. Another survey carried out by Nature Climate Change showed that the emissions from crypto mining can increase global warming by 2 degrees Celsius. Additionally, mining is associated with e-waste, as well.
The reason being is that people who take crypto mining seriously buy a number of computers and incredibly powerful CPUs. However, they don’t last forever, and at some point, they become obsolete. Fortunately, there are several cryptocurrencies that are considered eco-friendly, and a great number of people choose to invest in them. The most popular ones are as follows:
- Cardano
- Nano
- Bitgreen
- Chia
- Iota
Crypto Mining in the US
Apart from the miners and investors, there are some generating plants that also benefit from crypto mining. For instance, back in 2017, the Scrubgrass generating plant in Pennsylvania was in a very bad state. The reason being is that most consumers have chosen to rely on cheaper natural gas. The moment before its complete demise, Scrubgrass was bought by a company called Stronghold Digital Mining.
At present time, the generating plant is working in full mode, and it can supply more than 1,500 crypto mining computers with power. What makes Scrubgrass in Pennsylvania so special is the fact that the company uses coal waste. This peculiar term refers to something like debris that remained from mining in the respective area.
The generating plant in the American state gives Stronghold Digital Mining to operate hundreds of miners. According to the latest information, the company plans to have more than 50,000 miners by the end of the upcoming year. It can be said that this is achievable, considering how popular crypto mining has become and how many crypto rivals appear on the market.
Needless to say, crypto mining in the US does not end with Scrubgrass. There are many other companies and generating plants focused mainly on digging more and more Bitcoins. Additionally, several US states have taken things to the next level with mining after the announcement that China will now forbid crypto transactions.
Montana, Kentucky, and Texas are three of the American states where crypto mining is a process that operates continuously and effectively. According to experts, fossil fuel sources are the best for such purposes, however, they are also the ones that have a negative impact on the environment. Additionally, the machines work throughout the whole day and night, which further contributes to contamination in the US.
The Long-Term Effects Crypto Mining Will Have on the Environment in the US
As we have already mentioned, more than 15 percent of the global crypto miners are located in the United States. This fact sounds quite alarming, considering the impact crypto mining has on the environment not only in the US, but in the whole world, as well. Although some companies say they work differently in an attempt to keep the environment clean, experts are positive that crypto mining cannot be eco-friendly.
Bitcoin mining started in 2009, and specialists are certain that all those operations have certainly impacted the environment’s state in an extremely negative way. Research showed that the mining of cryptocurrencies may produce up to 15 million tons of world carbon emissions. At present, after China prohibited crypto transactions, the US is one of the major hotspots for crypto mining. With the rise of the price of Bitcoin, numerous companies started looking for places where they can store their machines that operate 24/7 and use cheap sources of electricity.
Alternatives
Although Bitcoin is the most expensive cryptocurrency on the market at the moment, there are several alternatives that are not detrimental to the environment. All of them are better options than Bitcoin, according to environmentalists. For instance, mining IOTA, Cardano, and Chia does not require expensive and super powerful CPUs and computers.
In fact, all of them can be obtained directly through your laptop, and you won’t have to spend thousands of dollars on mining hardware. You won’t need to rely on tons of electricity to get one token. Solarcoin is another alternative, which, as its name suggests, is oriented towards the promotion of solar energy. All in all, investors can surely contribute to a cleaner environment by buying some of these currencies. Sadly, however, Bitcoin still remains the most expensive currency, and companies will most likely continue to invest in machines and generators to mine these exact tokens.