The post Expert Debunks Nine Bitcoin Mining Environmental Myths appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Bitcoin’s environmental impact remains contested as critics question its energy use, while ESG researcher Daniel Batten disputes several of those claims. In a Saturday X thread, ESG researcher Daniel Batten said nine common criticisms of Bitcoin mining’s energy use are contradicted by peer-reviewed studies and grid-level data. “Every nascent disruptive technology is accompanied by claims that are based on lack of understanding, lack of data, and a fear of something unknown,” said Batten. In November, the Dow Jones lambasted Harvard University for investing some of its endowment in BTC, labelling it as a “fake currency and money-laundering tool that is also an environmental catastrophe.“ In July, Bloomberg claimed that Bitcoin “devours the electricity meant for the world’s poor.” Some environmental researchers dispute these conclusions, arguing that indirect emissions and opportunity costs linked to mining remain difficult to quantify. Myth: Bitcoin is resource-intensive, destabilizes power grids The premise that Bitcoin consumes a lot of energy, water, and e-waste per transaction is simply “not true,” he said.  Batten argues this has already been debunked by four peer-reviewed studies concluding that resource use is independent of transaction volume. Batten cited peer-reviewed research summarized in the University of Cambridge’s 2025 Digital Mining Industry Report, which found Bitcoin’s energy use is largely independent of transaction volume. “This means that Bitcoin transaction volume can scale without increasing resource use.” Second, the claim that Bitcoin mining destabilizes power grids is also a myth, as it actually does the opposite — stabilizing grids through flexible load management, especially on renewable-heavy grids like those in Texas. Bitcoin mining does not increase power costs There is also no data to support the claim that everyday consumers pay more for electricity because of Bitcoin miners, he said.  “Neither in the data, nor in a peer-reviewed study is there evidence to support…

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Filed under: News - @ January 5, 2026 8:18 am