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11/30/2017 / By Ethan Huff

Bitcoin is powered by COAL: Massive electricity usage to mine Bitcoins runs mostly on coal and pollutes the world with mercury and smog

Because they exist fictitiously somewhere out there in cyberspace, digital cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin might seem like more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cash. But the latest data shows that not only does “mining” Bitcoin consume unprecedented amounts of energy, but the bulk of this energy comes from coal: A highly-polluting substance that, when burned, releases mercury […]

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