Work

How Does Electricity Consumption in Blockchain Applications Impact Resource Consumption and Environmental Emissions?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Blockchain technology, known for its decentralized, trustless, and immutable nature, is gaining traction across various industries. As Blockchain 3.0 is expected to see widespread adoption in the sharing economy and energy trading, its associated energy consumption could have significant environmental implications. This study introduces an environmentally extended input–output (EEIO) model to assess the environmental impacts—such as freshwater use, PM2.5 emissions, CO 2 emissions, atmospheric Hg, and solid waste generation—linked to blockchain‐driven electricity demand. By analyzing scenarios based on projected cryptocurrency hash rates and hardware efficiencies, the study evaluates how large‐scale blockchain adoption affects resource consumption and environmental emissions across sectors. The results show that Monero’s design leads to higher resource consumption and environmental impact, with freshwater use being the most affected, followed by greenhouse gas emissions and PM2.5 levels.

Source: International Journal of Energy Research

DOI: 10.1155/er/5772901

Authors: Tian-Tian Feng, Yan Li, Cheng Zhong, Han-Qun Wang, Ning-Qian Zhang

Institutions: China University of Geosciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Language: English

Topic: Blockchain Technology Applications and Security

Subfield: Information Systems

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,700