This editorial data project visualizes and compares the energy consumption of major digital transaction systems - Bitcoin, Ethereum (pre-merge), and Visa - to raise awareness about the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies.

The central metric displayed is kilowatt-hour (kWh) per single transaction, based on data from the Bitcoin and Ethereum Energy Consumption Index by Digiconomist, updated as of June 22, 2022.

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The Digiconomist web platform is dedicated to analyzing the economic consequences of emerging digital trends. It is curated by Alex de Vries, a global expert in FinTech and the financial services sector, and a specialist in Bitcoin and blockchain.

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Through a clean, minimalist layout and striking visual contrasts, the report highlights the disproportionate energy demands of Bitcoin’s proof-of-work algorithm and advocates for more sustainable blockchain alternatives.

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To foster more environmentally conscious crypto users, it is essential to raise awareness about the unsustainability of the proof-of-work model. Bitcoin miners consume an enormous amount of energy, most of which is still primarily sourced from fossil fuels.

Resolving this energy expenditure without sacrificing security and decentralization has been a key focus of research for years.

Until then, we must choose more sustainable cryptocurrencies.

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Source: digiconomist.com / statista.com