Global S&T Development Trend Analysis Platform of Resources and Environment
DOI | 10.1038/s41893-018-0152-7 |
Quantification of energy and carbon costs for mining cryptocurrencies | |
Krause, Max J.; Tolaymat, Thabet | |
2018-11-01 | |
发表期刊 | NATURE SUSTAINABILITY |
ISSN | 2398-9629 |
出版年 | 2018 |
卷号 | 1期号:11页码:711-718 |
文章类型 | Article |
语种 | 英语 |
国家 | USA |
英文摘要 | There are now hundreds of cryptocurrencies in existence and the technological backbone of many of these currencies is blockchain-a digital ledger of transactions. The competitive process of adding blocks to the chain is computation-intensive and requires large energy input. Here we demonstrate a methodology for calculating the minimum power requirements of several cryptocurrency networks and the energy consumed to produce one US dollar's (US$) worth of digital assets. From 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2018, we estimate that mining Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Monero consumed an average of 17, 7, 7 and 14 MJ to generate one US$, respectively. Comparatively, conventional mining of aluminium, copper, gold, platinum and rare earth oxides consumed 122, 4, 5, 7 and 9 MJ to generate one US$, respectively, indicating that (with the exception of aluminium) cryptomining consumed more energy than mineral mining to produce an equivalent market value. While the market prices of the coins are quite volatile, the network hashrates for three of the four cryptocurrencies have trended consistently upward, suggesting that energy requirements will continue to increase. During this period, we estimate mining for all 4 cryptocurrencies was responsible for 3-15 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. |
领域 | 资源环境 |
收录类别 | SSCI |
WOS记录号 | WOS:000450118100018 |
WOS关键词 | SUSTAINABILITY ; BITCOIN ; ALUMINUM |
WOS类目 | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology ; Environmental Sciences ; Environmental Studies |
WOS研究方向 | Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
引用统计 | |
文献类型 | 期刊论文 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/289705 |
专题 | 资源环境科学 |
作者单位 | Oak Ridge Inst Sci & Educ, Cincinnati, OH 45212 USA |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Krause, Max J.,Tolaymat, Thabet. Quantification of energy and carbon costs for mining cryptocurrencies[J]. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY,2018,1(11):711-718. |
APA | Krause, Max J.,&Tolaymat, Thabet.(2018).Quantification of energy and carbon costs for mining cryptocurrencies.NATURE SUSTAINABILITY,1(11),711-718. |
MLA | Krause, Max J.,et al."Quantification of energy and carbon costs for mining cryptocurrencies".NATURE SUSTAINABILITY 1.11(2018):711-718. |
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