Bitcoin’s footprint

CEO of Poder Wealth Advisors and host of the Financial Powerhouse Podcast, Anna N’Jie-Konte is a globally recognized financial planner who specializes in helping women achieve financial independence. In partnership with CoinShares, she debunks four common myths about Bitcoin. Third one: Bitcoin is bad for the environment.

Bitcoin mining consumes significant energy, about 138 terawatt-hours in 2024, or 0.54% of global electricity use, but the environmental profile is changing. Over half (52.4%¹) of the network’s power now comes from sustainable sources such as hydro, wind, solar, and nuclear. Miners are increasingly tapping into stranded or wasted energy, like curtailed hydropower or flared natural gas, which can also reduce harmful methane emissions.For example, companies such as Giga have transformed flared gas from oil drilling into electricity for mining, turning waste into economic value. While no system is environmentally neutral, the shift toward efficiency and sustainability challenges outdated narratives of Bitcoin as inherently destructive. Understanding the source and use of mining energy is essential for a complete environmental impact assessment. 

This segment confronts the controversial topic of Bitcoin’s environmental impact, showing how mining is becoming cleaner, more efficient, and even helpful in stabilizing energy grids.

Key takeaways

• Energy usage: In 2024, Bitcoin used 138 TWh—comparable to Sweden’s annual consumption.¹

• Sustainable sources: Over 52% of mining power now comes from renewables like hydro, wind, solar, and nuclear.¹
  

• Waste to energy: Companies repurpose flared gas (waste energy) for mining, reducing methane emissions.

• Grid efficiency: Bitcoin acts as a flexible energy buyer, potentially supporting the economics of renewable energy.

• Narrative shift: Bitcoin’s energy use is becoming more aligned with sustainability goals and less reliant on fossil fuels.

¹Source: Cambridge Digital Mining Industry report - April 2025