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1) Ok, so how much CO2 does BTC actually create? How much of a worry is it?
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1) So on energy usage of BTC: The profile will change long-term. Right now the main driver is from block rewards. But as block rewards exponentially decay, those will become less relevant. Long-term, there are really two core drivers.
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3) Ok, so. Let's say you spend $X on BTC/ETH blockchain fees (or any PoW currency). Those $X are going to miners in a bidding war for block slots. In an efficient market, as long as it's profitable to run a BTC/ETH mining rig, more people will open them up.
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5) Something like 1/3 of mining rigs run on renewable electricity, so dirty electricity ~ 2/3 * $ spent on electricity. Electricity that miners use costs ~$0.05 / kWh. Each kWh of dirty electricity produces about 0.0004 tons of CO2.
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7) Ok, so putting it all together.... a) $x in gas b) * 2/3 --> in mining cost c) * 3/4 --> electricity d) * 2/3--> dirty electricity e) / $0.05 --> kWh f) * 0.0004 --> tons of CO2 g) * $1 --> cost to offset 2/3 * 3/4 * 2/3 / 0.05 * 0.0004 * 1 = 0.0026
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8) So this implies, with large error bars: If, for every $1 you spend on gas/blockchain fees, you donate $0.0026 to Cool Earth, you'll be roughly carbon neutral. -- does this seem right? If so, I think the environmental worries about BTC are pretty easily offset!
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