Bitcoin Mining Could Reduce Methane Emissions, Study Finds

According to Cointelegraph, a new peer-reviewed scientific paper titled 'An Integrated Landfill Gas-to-Energy and Bitcoin Mining Framework,' published in the Aug. 29 edition of the Journal of Cleaner Production, has demonstrated how Bitcoin (BTC) mining could play a significant role in reducing methane emissions. The research highlights how Bitcoin miners can leverage 'Landfill Gas to Energy' (LFGTE) systems to capture and convert methane gas from landfills into usable energy, thereby sequestering the greenhouse gas and mitigating its harmful effects on the atmosphere. The paper argues that Bitcoin mining offers the proper incentive structure for such capital-intensive, long-term projects, which other private enterprises often lack due to the absence of sustainable revenue generation and cost recovery strategies. The researchers stated, 'Bitcoin’s economic incentives, available globally for miners in any location, may offer an innovative solution for encouraging methane mitigation without the need for government incentives—presenting a scalable and novel solution for rapid deployment.' They also noted that this incentive structure could be applied to other underutilized energy sources, such as orphaned oil and gas wells, wastewater treatment plants, farms, and agricultural processing operations. In 2023, Marathon Digital, formerly known as MARA, partnered with Nodal Power to mine Bitcoin using methane gas in Utah. At the time of the 280-kilowatt initiative's announcement, MARA Chairman and CEO Fred Thiel stated, 'At Marathon, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to diversify our operations, lower our energy costs, and leverage the unique aspects of Bitcoin mining to better the environments in which we operate.' In May 2024, the company furthered this mission by signing a deal with the Kenyan government to develop renewable energy infrastructure within the country. The findings of the recent paper are corroborated by other research. In 2023, a study published by the Institute of Risk Management found that Bitcoin mining operations could reduce global emissions by around 8% by 2030.