Mining Cryptocurrency Uses More Energy Than Actual Mining For Metals

D-brief
By Roni Dengler
Nov 6, 2018 12:26 AMMay 17, 2019 9:26 PM
bitcoin cryptocurrency mining computers
A bitcoin mining operation near Moscow, Russia. (Nikiforaw77/shutterstock)

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Mining cryptocurrency uses more energy than conventional mining of copper or platinum and at least as much as mining gold finds new research published today in the journal Nature Sustainability. The digital currencies aren’t helping climate change either, as they produce millions of tons of CO2 emissions. Market trends for the virtual currency are on the rise suggesting energy requirements for cryptocurrencies will only continue to increase, researchers say.

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