Sustainability of bitcoin and blockchains

• Published in: Current opinion in environmental sustainability Vol. 28; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Author: Vranken, Harald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2017
• Subjects: algorithms; e-commerce; energy; energy use and consumption; tampering

•We estimate the total energy consumption of the bitcoin network to be in the order of 100MW (which has been subject of debate).•We describe factors and developments that influence this energy consumption.•We argue that energy consumption is not of primary concern in many blockchain applications. Bi...