Bitcoin Forum

According to this report (https://bitcoinist.com/bitcoin-mining-less-energy-gaming-reveals-report/)

It has been discovered that the video gaming industry consumes slightly more energy than bitcoin mining, the graph am gonna share below clearly shows that mining Bitcoin consumes far lesser energy compared to -
-Paper production
-Gold mining
-And slightly lesser energy than video gaming.

https://talkimg.com/images/2023/12/16/Eouo2.png

It is reported that Bitcoin miners are utilizing electricity at a rate of around 100 TWh per year, this figure is said to account for about 0.06% of the world’s total energy demands, which is quite insignificant.

My question is; Why then do people talk about Bitcoin mining power consumption like it is the most and worst energy consumer?

Because bitcoin is a threat to governments and their allies the mass media propagate the message that governments are interested in.

Moreover, in the debate we should not only consider the total consumption, but also what the energy expenditure is for and whether it is worth it. The banking sector also consumes a lot of energy, for example, or city lighting, heating systems and so on.

No one questions the energy expenditure of the banking system or that people can be heated in winter. They are questioning what attacks the established power.

What exactly is the sample size of this particular survey op? It does make sense as to why the video gaming sector consumes more power than Bitcoin mining, but this isn't a proper comparison if you ask me.

Personally, I have an Xbox Series X which adds just a couple more units to my monthly electricity bill while an ASIC miner would add way more units in comparison.

The irrefutable truth is that miners(Including energy saving ones) do consume a lot of power, but the media make it seem like a horrible thing for the sake of their corporate overlords.

The question is.... did these researchers dig a little deeper?

Did they calculate how much "clean" energy are used for both gaming and Bitcoin mining to see what the real impact is. Let's say Bitcoin mining was only done on renewable energy sources, like "Wind" / "Solar" / "Geothermal" energy ....then it will not be harmful.

The real difference is this.... Bitcoin mining use electricity to power a global payment system, where Video gaming use electricity to power systems for entertainment.  ::)

In summary: A lot of people love videogames, but hate Bitcoin(and crypto) due to the rise in price of graphics cards (or with some people, because they think they missed out already). Hence they're biased against Bitcoin despite videogames using more power.

Interesting information, even though I can't be sure about the accuracy of this research.
I didn't know that paper production consumes so much energy. Maybe it's time for the world to dump paper completely. ;D
Actually, the FUD about Bitcoin mining wasting energy and polluting the environment has decreased in the past few months. That's probably because the Bitcoin price is low and the market is bearish. If the BTC market was bullish and the price was close to another ATH, the environmentalist FUDsters would return with their noise.
I couldn't care less about how much energy is being consumed by the video game industry. Nobody is complaining about videogames wasting energy, destroying the environment and polluting the air. I wonder why. ;D

It is not surprising that bitcoin is accused of consumption as the worst consumer of energy. The motive is to denigrate the reputation of bitcoin in order to scare and repel people from using it under various pretexts. Be it high energy consumption or criminal use. This is another bitcoin demonization. The media is spreading this lie and people believe it.

It's because they have to find someone to blame for what is happening to the world, for instance global warming, And it just so happen that bitcoin mining is the latest technology that disrupted everything from financial to environment to green house effect. They can't put everyone on banks for consuming so much energy because it's the bloodline of every government and economy around the world. So the best culprit - Bitcoin Mining.

Answer to your question is obvious, governments around whole world love to control finance and economy through Fiat money. Everything about Bitcoin (from trading to buying/selling) is disruptive against their founded control mechanisms.
Also I am not shocked to see video gamers consume a lot energy, its now the biggest entertainment business and people love to play games. Noone will ever mention it as much as Bitcoin's consumption. Its very hypocrite situation.

I think the answer is simple, most people find games valuable (even though it is a form of entertainment) while Bitcoin or crypto is mostly seen as a 'scam', so any narrative that shows Bitcoin is bad will be popular.

Whether the data is reliable or not, I'm pretty sure most people would choose gaming instead of learning about crypto just because they can and are more familiar with it. So that's that.

Sincerely, I'm surprised by this graph. I never imagined that video gaming would use more energy than mining bitcoin. Never imagined video games would utilize more power than mining, given how expensive it is to purchase the electricity assigned to mining. This demonstrates further clearly the inaccurate perceptions of bitcoin. They blatantly oppose Bitcoin's dominance over other currencies. To prevent the widespread usage of bitcoin, the media and its detractors are disseminating false and erroneous information about it. All problems are now attributed to Bitcoin.

I don't see the point anymore in trying to justify Bitcoin mining with the fact that someone or something consumes more or less energy, because those who persistently advocate that Bitcoin is a danger to the environment will not give up their ideas. If, for example, it is a fact that all devices in the US spend more energy on standby in one year than all devices that mine Bitcoin, will anyone understand how pointless it is to talk about Bitcoin mining in the context of the impact on the environment?

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There are people who live in delusions, those who are paid to tell lies and convince others that it is true, and finally those who believe in all that and spread those lies wherever they go. If someone offered you a salary of $10 000 a month to promote Bitcoin mining as something dangerous, would you be able to resist the offer?

Interesting... Never thought about this. Should spend some more time on research. Gave me some food for thought

They ignore this because the ones pushing the agenda of bitcoin using a lot of energy wants to achieve something. If they have something against the video gaming industry, they would have already pointed out this fact. But no, what they only see in video games is the facet of violence and not much else. They also ignore that the video gaming industry is a billion dollar industry that gives a lot of people jobs. A lot of facts have been ignored, and they single out one thing that they want to stress and that's what's going out on the media.

No matter how many industries you outline that uses more energy than bitcoin mining, the 'advocates' have already made their mind, and that is to tarnish bitcoin as much as possible by using the environmental damage card. This debate will never end; they will always have different angles to attack and different explanations every single time.

It's probably true just due to the number of video games out there. Just about everyone has a Playstation or XBOX or knows someone with a massive PC for gaming.
Also, don't forget you also have a TV or monitor on when gaming so add that in too.

Gold is not a surprise it's always consumes a lot of power as does paper.

How much power do you think is needed to grow / harvest / roast / grind / make coffee? But there is no way in hell you can tell that many people they can't have their caffeine addiction.

-Dave

The reason behind it is mainstream media and those governments that know slowly Bitcoin would eat up their financial system. It is so unreasonable to point fingers only at Bitcoin mining but yet they would without any solid proof. No one can question them as they have control over a country and a propaganda system.

Another reason would be the financial institution that pays these media houses to spread fear and hate against Bitcoin as they know in the future they would not be able to save their hegemony.
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It's extremely hypocritical that most people say Crypto consumes excess energy when your average person has 3 TVs, 2 Refrigerators, computers, tablets, phones with a large portion of electricity being utilized for entertainment purposes only.

At least crypto has a real-world, practical application.

The issue lies in the usefulness of the information in the corresponding cause, without a doubt there is a high energy consumption of bitcoin, but there is energy consumption in various sectors that far exceeds bitcoin.

So bitcoin is a reality of recent energy consumption and it is very real, but "on the red carpet" of consumption it is not alone.

Part of  issue is that governments increasingly feel that the return of what bitcoin consumes in energy is not reflected in taxes, and for the benefit of third parties; direct and indirect jobs, in comparison with other sectors and then, add the ecological discourse that is shoting "green speechs" for bitcoin.

In any case, the source (OP) also serves as an example when prosecuted information is used to obtain an opinion and divert attention from the real focus, which is to seek solutions and not blame.

hahaha very true its because they don't like it and says that bitcoin is very bad for climate change ~ i mean yes it bad for climate change but if we look that graph there is other things that much worse than bitcoin mining.

and this September we all gonna see the merge and the birth of PoS in Eth which mean more cut to energy mining

On the first note, the governments should focus on paperless economy. As things have turned digital, documentation on systems and avoiding paper documentation will lower the massive energy consumption. Whenever there is something connected to energy issue, bitcoin is against green energy is the common note. Now the reality is different and for the production of paper deforestation is done. It looks like paper production costs big to the environmental change.

The bitcoin energy consumption mindset has been bad since the beginning, bitcoin is said to be a contributor to the global warming effect, this will always be an irreversible mindset for some people who really hate bitcoin.

But in reality, there are now more and more video game users and the effects on energy use exceed bitcoin mining consumption. even the energy consumption of paper production becomes the highest as the table you present. But it is likely that the consumption of paper production will decrease as modern people only focus on digital.

This is also the influence of the media that continue to report about the energy consumption of bitcoin which they value is bad, but does not present more energy consumption than bitcoin. people need smart education to be able to find out what is really bad and continue to be used. not only underestimate the use of bitcoin energy.

That’s a pretty dope analysis/report that has been made.
I have also heard hatred against Bitcoin mining and the power consumed through it.
But the sad reality is that gamers and Streamers consumes more electricity than Bitcoins mining.
These rumours all are spread through the government only, as they cannot take control on the Bitcoins. Therefore trying all methods to boycott or declare it as illegal.
Nevertheless let’s just ignore these fake bullshits and move on.

All because they all hate Bitcoin and the many thing it represents so they are using the big excuse they can find to make it unacceptable and it is the use of energy especially for mining it. Now, these people are not really objective because had it been that way they will investigate further and see that many other industries are consuming more power than Bitcoin. And certainly for people who are close-minded and who will only accept what they want to, there is nothing we can do for them but let them exercise their rights to say what they want to say...but of course the crypto industry can correct things and do the push back.

It might also be because for the amount of electricity bitcoin uses, not much people really use bitcoin as a medium of exchange in their lives and not much stores accept it which makes some the negative storylines from mainstream media have an argument. I am not telling everyone they are right or wrong, however, they have an argument.

Bad news about bitcoin will always be presented by the mass media. such as exaggerating about bitcoin mining which wastes electricity. those who are anti bitcoin and feel threatened by the presence of bitcoin will always make bad news about bitcoin. so that people who don't know bitcoin will also blame bitcoin. but sometimes the bad news they present backfires on them. because indirectly the name Bitcoin is becoming increasingly widespread and widely known in every corner of the mass media. so many people are curious about bitcoin and learn about it.

That's why from the start I never agreed that bitcoin mining can consume a lot of energy, when compared to other companies, even bitcoin mining has a much lighter energy consumption level.
The question is why other companies have never been debated?
This graph shows how bitcoin mining actually works.
So when there is a debate that says bitcoin issues like that, then we can make a graph as a strong data reference.

So, Arcane research were the ones to conduct the research. So, I decided to take a look at their research paper, which is locked behind an account. Needless to say, I'm not going to make an account just to read their paper. However, from what I can gather from this regurgitated article, they've basically only estimated what could be true, rather than actually looking at figures, and data. Seriously, how did they manage to determine what people are using their energy bills for?

That data is usually private, and the energy companies to my knowledge only have access to how much electricity you're using, and not specifically what it has been used for. There can be estimates based on the usage, for example a spike in data could suggest a kettle was used etc, and there's definitely correlations that can bring you a educated guess, but you wouldn't be able to accurately predict these to have any degree of confidence.

If they've conducted a survey, they're usually grossly misrepresentative, and drawing conclusions from them isn't the best way to go about things, especially if you want to convince others that it's true, since it's based on guess work, and relying on the surveyors non bias answers, as well as accuracy. 

Of course this makes sense considering how much graphic cards are used when playing games, you would understand that there are a lot of people using those cars for something other than mining at all times. I haven't played any games since last year to be fair, I did opened it up for a few hours here and there to see if I can, but I have so little money and had such a horrible life this past year that I literally miss the covid period, my life has been horrible for the past year.

But, I can 100% guarantee that, back when I had time, I played so many games that once my graphic cards literally got cooked, and I had to get a new one, it can be that much usage.

Friends, bitcoin mining consumes, of course, less than such sectors. Only certain money magnates use these types of arguments to hit bitcoin. Bitcoin is an active, technological and uncontrollable platform that makes money for many people.

The answer is quite simple. They don't like or even hate Bitcoin. Reason would be either they missed the price while it still consider affordable for everyone or just don't understand it.
Obviously, the comparison is not really appropriate considering the number of video gamers than the number of rigs mining Bitcoin.
Why don't we just all agree that everything that consumes energy is not really a waste of energy since it's either a necessity or for leisure (which I also find it necessary for our well being and mental state).

If you see on relative basis it's true that there are many other industries which are using much more energy than bitcoin or even Cryptos as a sector. Even many industries which aren't that useful itself like the tobacco industry etc. It's just an excuse created by so called environmentalist to show case as if bitcoin is the main culprit in polluting the environment. Video gaming industry is a big money maker for many corporates which is why no one will ever question that for sure.

I think I agree with you, when I was pretty new in this space, I some how didn't like bitcoin solely because of how expensive it was,
The fact that I can't even afford 0.5 bitcoin, let alone 1 full bitcoin made me really mad and jealous when I read people write all good things about bitcoin and how it has made them rich.

The above is just a short history of me and bitcoin, which have changed way before now, today, 90 percent of my crypto investments is in bitcoin....

So I believe the most people who say all sort of negative things about bitcoin are only doing so out of hate, because they missed bitcoin while it was still very cheap and affordable to all.

The "idea" is that, even if it is lower than what other places are using, it is still a lot, we shouldn't just make more bitcoin mining energy spending just because there are others, we should aim at lowering all of them together. Do not show other big energy spenders, drop them too. However, it is not just about spending energy, it is also about the fact that we couldn't produce this energy from renewable stuff that could help reduce the problem.

The biggest two we have is sun and wind, if we could produce all worlds energy needs with solar panels and wind turbines then we wouldn't have any problems at all and we would be making sure that it is okay to spend as much as we want, as long as it is renewable.

It's because they only want to blame bitcoin mining for the lack of supply in other countries and regions. I guess that's the other side of being decentralized, there's no central authority to stop those blamers with their talks. Well, the truth is coming out and these people that have misunderstood bitcoin mining will now understand that it's not the culprit these energy problems but they have just romanticized it for them to have someone to blame and they chose bitcoin.

It's not that easy. You did the right thing by putting clean in quotation because it's not really clean. Wind and solar are only partially clean because they have their own issues. For instance, solar puts strains the grid during the day and doesn't produce anything at night. Wind does produce at night but requires a lot of maintenance to make sure the wind breaks work and the turbine doesn't overspin in high winds. It also costs a lot of resources to build. It takes so much steel, concrete and copper to build a wind generator that it's going to take a decade for it to pay for itself, provided that in those 10 years it doesn't break.

Germany invested a lot of money in green energy and has the most expensive power in the EU.
IMO nuclear power is not harmful. They should stop attacking bitcoin and think of ways to make energy cheap and affordable instead of trying to make it green at all cost.

You are making it look like Bitcoin's energy consumption is low, but actually it demonstrates the opposite. Gaming is a large sector of entertainment industry, it already surpassed movies and there are around 3 billion gamers. And how many there are Bitcoiners? 50 or 100 million? And how many of them use it as a payment method rather than investment?

Bitcoin has a bad energy consumption to utility ratio. And there's likely to way to improve that. But this isn't some critical flaw that makes Bitcoin unviable. Not everything in this world can be 100% efficient, that's just the reality.

The answer to this is very simple, people talk more about Bitcoin mining since Bitcoin happens to be an asset that the government or authorities have no control over it, And since they can't control it tend to speak badly about it to discourage others from investing in Bitcoin, unlike gold, bank and paper industry which they have the power to control its price and industrial turn-up,  because looking at the chart below vividly well, you could see that both gold mining and the banking sector uses more energy consumption compared to bitcoin mining

https://i.ibb.co/KFZGxbL/images-15.png (https://ibb.co/nz20M6n)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/bitcoins-energy-use-is-less-than-half-of-banking-gold-sectors-report-175813423.html

@everyone. What is the video gaming sector in this comparison? Does this include Nvidia and AMD graphic cards? I think with electricity shortages and the prices inceasing, the government might begin to enter and regulate proof of work mining. This has been an argument before, however, the validity of the argument is only beginning to become a reality.

If the energy usage of the video gaming sector includes graphic cards and if proof of work mining will be regulated, I reckon it might give a good argument for some cryptocoins to maintain their Asic resistance for as long as possible.

You need to understand that this is just propaganda, governments are trying to find any kind of way they can to attack bitcoin, and they know that the current generation cares a lot about the environment but they also know they can be gullible as well.

So they are doing their best to spread misinformation about the energetic consumption of bitcoin so they can try to prevent people from adopting bitcoin, but even if this strategy can work for the short term it is not a strategy that can work for the long term because people are going to eventually realize the truth, but at least it buys them some time which is what they need right now in order to try to find a way to definitely stop people from adopting bitcoin.

Comparing Bitcoin mining to different sector that use energy doesn’t seem appropriate because there’s a big difference on the purpose for this 2 activities. Government is what you need to convince for justification of Bitcoin mining consumption and not the gaming industry. Besides it’s very hard to justify the power consumption of Bitcoin to the Government that didn’t want it at the first place.

But many media sources have begun to play the issue, that the energy needs for bitcoin mining are too wasteful, whereas in the statistics or charts that we see is not the case.

The two energy that you mean, is a source that can be updated naturally and will never end, because it is always renewable in according to the natural methods.
I don't really understand this problem, but I think both of them will never run out, may be the negative side caused is global warming. (Please fix it if it's not true)

But in contrast to the source of electrical energy, they can be created with as many methods, and the development of time has shown that electricity can be renewed, both from the solar system, rivers and other assistance.
Therefor, it is not appropriate if bitcoin is associated with waste of energy, althouls there are still compans that take greater energy sources.

governments around the world like to control finances and economies through Fiat money. I don't know that paper production consumes so much energy, but no matter how many industries you describe that use more energy than bitcoin mining, but why such Bitcoin mining power consumption is the biggest and worst energy consumer, but maybe that's how they taint bitcoin as much as possible, using environmental damage card