Bitcoin mining's additional environmental impacts

Abstract

This chapter summarizes Bitcoin mining’s other environmental impacts beyond those previously discussed in earlier chapters, which were explicitly tied to mining’s direct energy use. The chapter identifies seven sources of additional environmental impacts, including from (1) the manufacturing of Bitcoin mining hardware, (2) global shipping of mining equipment, (3) the construction of Bitcoin mining facilities, (4) land use changes, (5) cooling and ventilation of mining facilities, (6) the disposal of mining hardware (‘e-waste’), and (7) former mining facilities. Impacts discussed are air and water pollution, carbon emissions, noise pollution, non-mining energy use, landfill crowding and waste disposal, wildlife habitat destruction, and the leaching of toxins into the environment, among others. Unfortunately, few published estimates exist on Bitcoin mining’s direct effects on many of these additional environmental dimensions. However, the small number of estimates that exist is presented and discussed in the chapter. Research and attention on these additional environmental impacts are needed to increase knowledge on Bitcoin mining’s total environmental footprint.