Environmental Impact of Cryptocurrency

How does it work

Heavy computing power

High energy draw

Large "mining" rigs

More power = more money for miners

Entices even worse practices for the environment

Math problem computers work hard to solve

What makes it "bad"?

Computation = energy

Energy cost for a transaction often more than the transaction itself

Most energy comes from non-sustainable sources

Why do people use crypto then?

Better options?

Discrete

Cannot be traced

EXTREMELY safe

State of the art web platforms can be built on it

$ making opportunity

NFTs - investment opportunities

Different platforms

Regulations on "mining"

Research into reducing cost of storing renewable energy

Make crypto legal tender - increase speed of research in how to make it better

Develop new forms

Adds nothing inherently valuable to the world

Some aspects cut down consumption of physical goods in return for consumption of energy

Annual energy consumption = entire energy usage for the Phillipenes

People think of it as an opportunity for "free money" when they're really just exchanging electricity for money