What are the environmental concerns related to Bitcoin mining?

The primary environmental concern related to Bitcoin mining is the high energy consumption required to power the computational processes that secure the network. Bitcoin mining involves solving complex mathematical problems, which demands significant amounts of electricity, often from non-renewable energy sources.

This substantial energy use leads to a large carbon footprint, contributing to climate change. Additionally, the need for continuous, high-performance hardware generates electronic waste as mining equipment becomes obsolete quickly. These environmental impacts have sparked debates about the sustainability of Bitcoin and have led to calls for more energy-efficient mining practices and the use of renewable energy sources.