On a recent episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the popular television host criticized the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining. Maher pointed out a “dirty secret” about crypto: it consumes a staggering amount of electricity, accounting for 8% of the total energy used.
He highlighted the strain crypto mining places on green energy initiatives, saying, “There’s the other big secret about crypto that nobody talks about…All the progress that we’re making with green energy is being sucked away by crypto.”
Source: X
To illustrate his point, Maher compared crypto mining’s energy use to putting 15.7 million gas-powered cars on the road, emphasizing that while efforts are made to switch to electric vehicles, crypto mining continues to increase energy demand.
Bitcoin has long faced criticism from environmental advocates because mining operations use more electricity than some entire countries. Recently, Texas’s Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT) paid miners to reduce their operations to help stabilize the state’s power grid.
While some Bitcoin supporters argue that mining can promote renewable energy by utilizing excess capacity, many people still view cryptocurrency mining as harmful to the environment.
This isn’t the first time Maher has expressed his skepticism about crypto. In 2022, he joked that investing in real cryptocurrencies often led to worse outcomes than buying fake tokens. Maher’s comments reflect a growing concern about the sustainability of cryptocurrency in a world increasingly focused on green energy.
