Cryptocurrencies = pollution? Why?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFor starting, not every cryptocurrency can produce pollution. The real issue comes from Proof-of-Work (PoW) mining<\/a>. This one is an algorithm, and by \u201calgorithm\u201d we mean a set of steps and methods that are built (with math) to achieve a specific result or solve a problem. That\u2019s exactly what the PoW does: developing a difficult math problem or riddle that the miners must solve in order to verify virtual transactions and \u201cextract\u201d some coins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"bitcoin-coins-handful-wallet\"](\"https:\/\/alfacash.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/hands-4348717_1280-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe miners compete with the others to \u201cfind\u201d the coins first, and their total computational power helps to secure the network. Still, it doesn\u2019t sound very contaminating, right? Well, the problem is that riddle. Nobody can really solve it at the speed required to compete. Only the computers and some specialized devices (ASIC miners<\/a>) can do it. And not alone: they require a lot of electricity to try again and again until hitting the solution. Hence the \u201cwork\u201d in the proof.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo, in case you didn\u2019t know, a lot of electricity is usually equal to more pollution, <\/strong>depending on where that energy came from. Coal and other fossil fuels are common sources of electrical power worldwide. Therefore, if the energy to mine cryptocurrencies comes from coal, that\u2019d mean more damaging emissions to the planet. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the other hand, we have ASIC machines. They were specifically designed to mine cryptocurrencies and nothing else. However, they won\u2019t last a lot of time, because the difficulty of mining cryptos is always increasing with the number of miners that join the network (for security reasons). Once the useful period ends (around 1.5 years), they can become e-waste<\/a> and, basically, adding more cryptocurrencies\u2019 garbage to the pile of pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, this only happens with PoW cryptocurrencies. Other systems, like Proof-of-Stake (PoS), don\u2019t have this mining problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What cryptos produce pollution and which ones don\u2019t?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s a complicated answer. Even in the case of PoW cryptocurrencies, everything depends on the energy source and the alternative uses for ASICs.<\/strong> Most miners choose locations where the dominant energy source is renewable, and some of them are already using their ASICs for additional functions, like heating<\/a> or growing tomatoes (really<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe miners compete with the others to \u201cfind\u201d the coins first, and their total computational power helps to secure the network. Still, it doesn\u2019t sound very contaminating, right? Well, the problem is that riddle. Nobody can really solve it at the speed required to compete. Only the computers and some specialized devices (ASIC miners<\/a>) can do it. And not alone: they require a lot of electricity to try again and again until hitting the solution. Hence the \u201cwork\u201d in the proof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, in case you didn\u2019t know, a lot of electricity is usually equal to more pollution, <\/strong>depending on where that energy came from. Coal and other fossil fuels are common sources of electrical power worldwide. Therefore, if the energy to mine cryptocurrencies comes from coal, that\u2019d mean more damaging emissions to the planet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, we have ASIC machines. They were specifically designed to mine cryptocurrencies and nothing else. However, they won\u2019t last a lot of time, because the difficulty of mining cryptos is always increasing with the number of miners that join the network (for security reasons). Once the useful period ends (around 1.5 years), they can become e-waste<\/a> and, basically, adding more cryptocurrencies\u2019 garbage to the pile of pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, this only happens with PoW cryptocurrencies. Other systems, like Proof-of-Stake (PoS), don\u2019t have this mining problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s a complicated answer. Even in the case of PoW cryptocurrencies, everything depends on the energy source and the alternative uses for ASICs.<\/strong> Most miners choose locations where the dominant energy source is renewable, and some of them are already using their ASICs for additional functions, like heating<\/a> or growing tomatoes (really<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat cryptos produce pollution and which ones don\u2019t?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n