US Court Imposes $209 Million Penalty in Crypto Ponzi Scheme

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered an Oregon resident and his entities to pay over $209 million in penalties for running Ponzi schemes disguised as crypto and carbon investment programs. This includes restitution, disgorgement of illegal profits, and a civil penalty. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has recovered … Read more

IMF Economists Suggest Electricity Tax to Lower Crypto and AI Environmental Impact

International Monetary Fund (IMF) economists have warned of the environmental impact of crypto mining and AI data centers, which are projected to increase global electricity consumption to 3.5% by 2027, leading to higher carbon emissions. Proposing a targeted electricity tax, the authors estimate a potential reduction in emissions by 100 million tons annually, while generating … Read more

New York Governor Signs Law Partially Banning Bitcoin Mining on Fossil Fuels

A moratorium on some crypto mining operations relying on carbon-based energy has been signed into law in New York. Businesses engaged in proof-of-work mining in the state will not be able to expand or renew their permits for the next two years as a result of the ban, which is likely to have consequences for … Read more

Solar-Powered Crypto Farm in Australia to Prove Bitcoin Mining Can Be Green

A crypto mining data center in the state of South Australia will be running mainly on solar-generated electricity, a media report reveals. The coin minting facility has been set up in a region known for its energy-hungry iron ore extraction and steel production. Bitcoin Farm to Mine Cryptocurrency on Solar and Excess Energy in South … Read more

Gas-to-Bitcoin Mining Firm Crusoe Energy Systems Raises $505 Million

On Thursday, the bitcoin mining and flare gas mitigation firm Crusoe Energy Systems Inc. revealed it secured $505 million in new capital from strategic investors. According to the announcement, the Series C equity funding round was led by the climate technology venture capital firm G2 Venture Partners (G2VP). Crusoe Energy Systems Secures $505 Million From … Read more

China Mining Ban Worsened Bitcoin’s Carbon Footprint, Study Claims

Contrary to some expectations, Beijing’s crackdown on the crypto mining industry has increased Bitcoin’s carbon emissions, researchers have alleged. Leaving China, miners also left behind its eco-friendly hydropower and are increasingly relying on energy generated by fossil fuels, they claim. Bitcoin Mining Allegedly Less Green Since Miners’ Exodus From China Cryptocurrency mining has become a … Read more

Wikimedia Foundation Debates Acceptance of Cryptocurrency Donations Over Environmental Concerns

Following Mozilla’s decision to pause crypto donations due to environmental concerns, a number of Wikimedia Foundation community members have submitted a proposal that asks the foundation to stop accepting digital currency donations. The proposal explains that crypto donations “signals [an] endorsement of the cryptocurrency space,” and also says that “Cryptocurrencies may not align with the … Read more

Mozilla ‘Pauses the Ability to Donate Crypto’ After Complaints and ‘Environmental Impact’ Considerations

On December 31, the software community founded in 1998, Mozilla, announced it was accepting crypto-asset donations via Bitpay. However, shortly after the announcement, a number of people complained about the decision the company made. A week later, Mozilla has announced it is backing away from digital currency acceptance for now and has “paused the ability … Read more

Norway Mulls Backing Sweden’s Call for Euro Ban on Crypto Mining

The government in Norway is considering ways to limit the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining and may support Swedish proposals to that end, including a European ban on proof-of-work mining. The European Commission has revealed it is already working to promote a transition to “more sustainable” protocols. Extensive Use of Renewable Energy for Mining Is … Read more