The environmental burden of the United States’ bitcoin mining boom

Gianluca Guidi, Francesca Dominici (), Nat Steinsultz, Gabriel Dance, Lucas Henneman, Henry Richardson, Edgar Castro, Falco J. Bargagli-Stoffi and Scott Delaney
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Gianluca Guidi: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Francesca Dominici: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Nat Steinsultz: WattTime
Gabriel Dance: The New York Times
Lucas Henneman: George Mason University
Henry Richardson: WattTime
Edgar Castro: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Falco J. Bargagli-Stoffi: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Scott Delaney: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Bitcoin mines—massive computing clusters generating cryptocurrency tokens—consume vast amounts of electricity. The amount of fine particle (PM2.5) air pollution created because of their electricity consumption and its effect on environmental health is pending. In this study, we located the 34 largest mines in the United States in 2022, identified the electricity-generating plants that responded to them, and pinpointed communities most harmed by Bitcoin mine-attributable air pollution. From mid-2022 to mid-2023, the 34 mines consumed 32.3 terawatt-hours of electricity—33% more than Los Angeles—85% of which came from fossil fuels. We estimated that 1.9 million Americans were exposed to ≥0.1 μg/m3 of additional PM2.5 pollution from Bitcoin mines, often hundreds of miles away from the communities they affected. Americans living in four regions—including New York City and near Houston—were exposed to the highest Bitcoin mine-attributable PM2.5 concentrations (≥0.5 μg/m3) with the greatest health risks.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58287-3

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