Bitcoin uses more energy than some countries

Besides emissions, mining the cryptocurrency also generates e-waste

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Cryptocurrencies have emerged as one of the most captivating, yet head-scratching, investments in the world. They soar in value. They crash. They'll change the world, their fans claim, by displacing traditional currencies like the dollar, rupee or ruble.

And in the process of simply existing, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, one of the most popular, use astonishing amounts of electricity.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on September 26, 2021, with the headline Bitcoin uses more energy than some countries. Subscribe