ECB Calls for Urgent Regulation of Stablecoins and Defi, Won’t Rule Out Bitcoin Mining Ban

A new report by the European Central Bank (ECB), presented as a “deep dive into crypto financial risks,” calls for “appropriate” regulation and oversight of stablecoins and decentralized finance (defi). It also addresses the hot topic of Bitcoin’s carbon footprint in Europe, suggesting a ban on proof-of-work mining is probable. Growth of Stablecoins, Defi Warrants … Read more

ESG Study Shows Bitcoin Mining’s Potential to Eliminate 0.15% of Global Warming by 2045, Claims No Other Technology Can Do Better

In recent times, the impact of bitcoin mining on the environment has been a topical discussion as climate change activists believe proof-of-work (PoW) mining is too energy-intensive. However, a recent report written by the ESG analyst Daniel Batten explains that bitcoin mining could eliminate the world’s carbon emissions by 5.32%. Batten’s study notes that if … Read more

US Lawmakers Call for More Oversight of Cryptocurrency’s Environmental Impacts

Twenty-three U.S. lawmakers have called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase oversight of cryptocurrency’s environmental impacts. “We request that the EPA evaluate ‘Proof-of-Work’ mining facilities’ compliance with environmental statutes,” they said. Lawmakers Want More Oversight of Bitcoin Mining Industry U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) and 22 other Congress members jointly sent a … Read more

Bitso to Offset Carbon Emissions From the Trading Platform’s BTC, ETH, ERC20 Transactions

On Friday, the Latin American cryptocurrency platform Bitso announced that the company plans to offset carbon emissions from its bitcoin and ERC20 token transactions carried out on the platform. Bitso is partnering with the carbon offset platform Moss.Earth in order to curb the crypto company’s environmental impact. Bitso to Offset Crypto Transaction Carbon Emissions by … Read more

China’s Hainan Province Ramps Up Crackdown on Crypto Mining Operations

The province of Hainan in South China has taken steps aimed at curbing crypto mining activities. Besides blacklisting the industry, local authorities are also introducing higher electricity rates for the mining enterprises that continue to operate in the region. Hainan to Ensure Crypto Miners Pay More for Power The ongoing crackdown on cryptocurrency mining in … Read more

Swedish Regulators Call for EU Ban on Crypto Mining, Power Company Defends Industry

Alarmed by the rising energy needs of cryptocurrency mining, Sweden’s financial and environmental regulators have recently proposed an EU-wide ban on proof-of-work coin minting. The Swedish officials believe this would encourage a move towards a more energy-efficient extraction of bitcoin while supporting the transition towards climate neutrality in Sweden and Europe. A state-run power company … Read more

Reports of Mining Sector Cleanup Put China’s Yunnan Province in the Spotlight

Authorities in Yunnan are launching an investigation to identify and shut down miners that are illegally using electrical power to mint bitcoin, Chinese media reports. Inspections will also focus on potential safety hazards and will be carried out by various government departments. The mining industry cleanup is expected to continue till the end of June. … Read more