Electric Money
Perspectives on Bitcoin, energy, and the environment

Bitcoin is our chance at a more equitable and sustainable world.

common questions

why does bitcoin exist?

Short answer: The promise of Bitcoin is to provide us with a better, fairer money. Bitcoin was released amidst the Great Financial Crisis, when the chasm between the Top 1% and Bottom 99% grew rapidly and the fragility of our financial system was revealed yet again. Bitcoin promises to help stabilize our economy, reverse decades of neglect of the lower- and middle-economic classes, and provide everyone with a means to save their life’s work in a secure currency.

Longer answer…


why does bitcoin use so much energy?

Short answer: Bitcoin is forged from energy through a process called “Proof of Work.” This ensures bitcoin is and remains sound, fair, and honest, because it forces everyone to play by the same rules—energy cannot be printed by central banks or gamed by politicians. The expenditure of energy is the specific solution to the problem of corruptible money.

Longer answer…


what effect does bitcoin have on the environment?

Short answer: Bitcoin’s energy use is transparent and measurable; currently, almost half is from renewable sources. Importantly, Bitcoin is uniquely positioned to aid in our transition to renewable energy because it can help stabilize the power grid. By bringing Bitcoin to the source of power, we can more efficiently bring the power to us; this is a major technological leap in human history and could help bring energy access to every person in the world.

Longer answer…


References & Further Resources

TitleTypeTimeAuthor
A Progressive View of BitcoinPodcast2h 17mMargot Paez
Bitcoin Energy MarketsPodcast1h 57mShaun Connell
Bitcoin’s Energy Usage Isn’t a Problem. Here’s Why.Paper1h 21mLyn Alden
Acting On Climate Change – Now!Podcast1h 12mDaniel Batten
Bitcoin Net ZeroPaper1h 10mRoss Stevens, Nic Carter
Comments on the White House Report
on the Climate Implications of Crypto Mining
Paper37mNic Carter
Impacts of Large, Flexible Data Center Operations
on the Future of ERCOT
Paper30mJoshua Rhodes, PhD, et al.
Letter to the EPAPaper15mBitcoin Mining Council
Bitcoin Mining & The GridPaper18mBlake King
Bitcoin Does Not Waste EnergyPaper14mParker Lewis
Why Bitcoin Uses EnergyPaper13mPete Rizzo
Bitcoin’s Energy Consumption DebunkedPaper9mEmily Faria
Can Bitcoin Become Carbon Negative?Tweets7mDaniel Batten
Responding to Bitcoin Energy FUDTweets6mDarin Feinstein

who uses bitcoin?

Human Rights Foundation. Elon Musk. Michael Saylor. Ted Cruz. Ritchie Torres. Ukraine. El Salvador.

Bitcoin is free, open-source software.

Download it and see the blockchain in action.