How much energy does your crypto portfolio consume?
Bitcoin's annual energy consumption rivals that of entire countries — approximately 150 TWh/year (comparable to Poland). A single Bitcoin transaction uses about 1,449 kWh of electricity, equivalent to the power consumption of an average US household for 50 days, producing roughly 707 kg of CO2. Ethereum's switch to Proof-of-Stake in September 2022 ("The Merge") reduced its energy use by 99.95%, making each transaction roughly equivalent to a Google search. Bitcoin mining hardware (ASICs) generates 30,700+ tonnes of e-waste annually. The environmental debate centers on whether Bitcoin miners incentivize renewable energy development (stranded energy thesis) or simply consume grid power that could serve other needs. Some mining operations now use flared natural gas or geothermal energy, but the majority still relies on grid electricity.