💡 Some blockchains are less green than others

Proof-of-work cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (and previously Ethereum) are considered by some to be harmful to the environment.

That’s because they require large, energy-intensive machines called miners to verify transactions on the network.

While some research suggests that over 50% of the electricity comes from renewable sources, the subject of mining remains a contentious issue in the cryptocurrency industry and beyond. (Source: Cointelegraph)

Many miners declare that they are set up in communities that have excess energy: they only use the electricity that is not needed for household use.

This is a good thing - energy is not wasted but instead used purposefully.

Still, this kind of energy demand is unsustainable and once the world shifts to more renewables, excess energy may not always be available.

This is what the Ethereum Foundation (the non-profit behind Ethereum) aimed to address with their update: The Merge.