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Should nations try to ban bitcoin because of its environmental impact?

Bitcoin miners seem unwilling to take action to curb the cryptocurrency's energy and water use – so some campaigners argue that it is time for governments to intervene

By Matthew Sparkes

8 January 2024

Skull of Satoshi, a sculpture by Benjamin Von Wong highlighting the environmental impact of bitcoin

VonWong/Skull Of Satoshi/Greenpeace blog.vonwong.com/skull/

The amount of electricity used to mine and trade bitcoin climbed to 121 terawatt-hours in 2023, 27 per cent more than the previous year. While other cryptocurrencies in the same position have made bold changes to cut their impact, bitcoin’s decentralised community of developers, miners and investors are showing little interest in changing course. If bitcoin cannot clean up its own house, should governments step in to shut it down?

The latest data from the University…

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