Bitcoin Net Zero? Bitcoin Mining Rewards vs. Potential Environmental Costs

Our mission at Atlanta Blockchain Center is to be the catalyst for Atlanta’s emergence 
as the premier blockchain innovation hub globally through cultivating entrepreneurship, inclusivity and education. ABC is a place to build community and learn, and so we'll host an event each an every Thursday at our co-working space in Buckhead - Atlanta's first co-working DAO - featuring leading experts on various blockchain content themes.

Join us. It's time to build

This week's theme is:

Blockchain in Our World: Use Cases for Distributed Ledger

Blockchain solutions will transform more than just our financial systems. In fact, the technology has the potential to enhance everything from supply chains to our elections. What are the emerging use cases for distributed ledger technology?

This week's topic is:

Bitcoin Mining & Sustainability? The Future of Energy Abundance

Crypto has a climate problem. Bitcoin miners use specialized computers to verify transactions on the bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin is the reward miners earn for performing this service. Bitcoin mining makes the promise of decentralized currencies, like bitcoin, possible. Without mining, there would be no bitcoin. But mining is extremely energy intensive and has been widely criticized by environmentalists.

CleanSpark, a company that owns and operates two bitcoin mining data centers in the Atlanta area, is a self-described "sustainable bitcoin mining and energy technology company that is solving modern energy challenges." But wait a minute - I thought bitcoin mining was bad for the environment?

CleanSpark is taking a different approach, using a sustainable energy mix that includes nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, and wind. CleanSpark purchases carbon offsets to make up any difference in changing regional energy mixes to achieve our goal of 100% net carbon-neutrality. Further, the company explains that their bitcoin mining operations help change the ROI model for their core clean energy business.

Can bitcoin mining really be done sustainably? For this provocative conversation on crypto and climate, we're pleased to host CleanSpark CEO Zachary Bradford, who will be traveling in from his home in Henderson, Nevada to join us at Atlanta Blockchain Center. To moderate this important discussion, we welcome our friend Maija Ehlinger, Editor in Chief at Hypepotamus.

Fueled by the same entrepreneurial spirit that drives those they cover, Hypepotamus generates awareness about the Southeast’s innovation community. Hypepotamus.com is the go-to source of startup and technology news, interviews, events, job listings, and resources. The digital publication showcases the founders, students, innovators, companies, and investors that are proud to call the Southeast home.