61 Bitcoin Energy Consumption Statistics (2024)

jordan tuwiner, founder of buybitcoinworldwide.com
by Jordan Tuwiner · September 10, 2023

Are you wondering how much energy does bitcoin use?

One Bitcoin transaction can spend up to 1,200 kWh of energy.

Keep reading to learn crypto's energy consumption.

Here you'll find hand-picked statistics and charts related to:

  • Bitcoin mining energy consumption
  • Bitcoin energy consumption per transaction
  • Bitcoin energy consumption vs banking
  • Dogecoin energy consumption vs bitcoin
  • Ethereum energy consumption vs bitcoin
  • How many Bitcoins are mined every day?
  • Much more

Let’s dive into the stats!

Key Bitcoin Energy Consumption Statistics:

  1. Bitcoin mining consumes roughly 0.5% of all energy consumption worldwide.
  2. Bitcoin uses more than 7 times as much electricity as all of Google’s global operations.
  3. One Bitcoin transaction can spend up to 1,200 kWh of energy, which is equivalent to almost 100,000 VISA transactions.
  4. Bitcoin mining uses about the same amount of electricity as the state of Washington does every year.
  5. Bitcoin currently consumes approximately 160 terawatt-hours of electricity annually - more than the entire country of Argentina.
  6. The Bitcoin network uses about 2% of the amount of electricity used by the USA every year.
  7. The process of creating Bitcoin to trade or spend consumes around 91 terawatt-hours of electricity yearly, more than is used by Finland, a country with around 5.5 million people.
  8. Producing Bitcoin generates around 22-23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.
  9. Bitcoin's energy consumption emits some 65 megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. That's comparable to the emissions of Greece, making crypto a large contributor to global air pollution and climate change.
  10. The Bitcoin mining industry generates approximately $56 million on average every day.
Chapter 1

How Much Energy Does Bitcoin Use?

Did you know that one Bitcoin transaction can spend up to 1,200 kWh of energy, which is equivalent to almost 100,000 VISA transactions?

Bitcoin's Energy Consumption

  • One Bitcoin transaction can spend up to 1,200 kWh of energy - that is equivalent to almost 100,000 VISA transactions.
  • Bitcoin currently consumes around 160 terawatt-hours of electricity annually - more than the entire country of Argentina.
  • The Bitcoin network uses about 2% of the amount of electricity used by the U.S. every year.
  • Bitcoin uses more electricity than many countries.
  • Bitcoin is 56 times more energy efficient than the current banking system.
  • The process of creating Bitcoin to trade or spend consumes around 91 terawatt-hours of electricity yearly, more than is used by Finland.
  • The carbon footprint of a single mined Bitcoin is 223 tonnes CO2, much more than the carbon footprint of one Bitcoin's worth of gold mined - 9 tonnes CO2.

Bitcoin uses more renewable energy than most countries.

bitcoin electricity compared to countries chart

Image Source: Blockware Solutions(1)

The Bitcoin network uses about 2% of the amount of electricity used by the USA every year.

bitcoin electricity consumption vs usa

Bitcoin mining uses about the same amount of electricity as the state of Washington does every year.

bitcoin electricity consumption vs washington state

Bitcoin uses more than 7 times as much electricity as all of Google’s global operations.

bitcoin electricity consumption vs google

Every year, Bitcoin mining uses around 160 terawatt-hours of electricity.

Every year, approximately 160 terawatt-hours of electricity is used by Bitcoin mining.

This is equivalent to the output of around 46 coal-fired power plants.

bitcoin electricity used annually

Dogecoin's Energy Consumption

  • Dogecoin's total energy consumption is comparable to the electricity consumption of a country like El Salvador.
  • The average energy consumed per Dogecoin transaction is equivalent to more than 9 fully charged standard Tesla Model 3 batteries.
  • Dogecoin uses 3.43 TWh of electrical energy, which is comparable to the power consumption of Botswana.
  • One Dogecoin transaction uses 172.67 kWh of electrical energy, which is equivalent to the power consumption of an average U.S. household over 5.84 days.

Ethereum's Energy Consumption

  • Ethereum's total energy consumption is ~112 TWh/yr, comparable to that of the Netherlands
  • A single Ethereum transaction uses 182.84 kWh of electrical energy, which is equivalent to the power consumption of an average U.S. household over 6.18 days.
Chapter 2

Bitcoin Mining Statistics

Did you know that not all cryptocurrencies have significant environmental impacts?

Here are a few statistics about the environmental impact that Bitcoin has on the world.

How long does it take to mine one Bitcoin? (2010 to 2021)

Year Time To Mine One Bitcoin
2010 1 second
2011 20 minutes
2012 2 hours
2013 13 hours
2014 23 days
2015 34 days
2016 46 days
2017 102 days
2018 2 years
2019 5 years
2020 5 years
2021 10 years

Source: The New York Times (2)

Today you need a lot of money, highly specialized machines, and a big space to be able to mine Bitcoin.

Bitcoin mining operations have consolidated so much - only seven mining companies own almost 80% of all computing power on the network.

Bitcoin mining costs (2009 vs 2021)

Year Cost
2009 A few second's worth of household electricity
2021 9 years and $12,500 of household electricity

Source: The New York Times(2)

In 2009, you could mine one Bitcoin for a few seconds' worth of household electricity.

In 2021, it will take you 9 years to mine one Bitcoin, and about $12,500 worth of household electricity.

Bitcoin uses more electricity than many countries.

In 2009, you could mine one Bitcoin using your computer, and a few seconds' worth of household electricity.

Today, you’d need a room full of specialized machines, and 9 years' worth of household electricity.

bitcoin uses more electricity than many countries

Annually, total electricity costs for Bitcoin mining are $6,722,288,442. Also, the total value of mining rewards sums up to $7,721,850,090.

Chapter 3

Bitcoin Mining Market Size & Revenue

The Bitcoin mining market has become an increasingly popular industry over the past few years, and it is expected to continue to grow in the years to come. Here are a few statistics that deal with the industry's market size, revenue, and growth rate.

How big is the Bitcoin mining industry?

The Bitcoin mining industry generated $63 million in a single day in 2021.

Cryptocurrency has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Bitcoin was designed as an investment that helps to weigh the cost of hardware and energy against the expected returns.

bitcoin mining revenue in only one day

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in the world every year?

The revenue from Bitcoin mining has been going up consistently the last few years, and in the most recent years, Bitcoin mining has generated approximately $13 billion worldwide, and it is expected to hold steady or increase in the years to come.

bitcoin mining worldwide revenue

This is just an average of what is generated in a year, which means that it could be higher or lower depending on the current market.

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in the world every month?

Back in January 2021, Bitcoin miners averaged a total of $1.1 billion for the month, and this is a general average every month, but since it is an average, this number could be lower or higher based on the number of transactions that each miner is capable of completing every month.

bitcoin miners january 2021 revenue

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in the world every day?

Every Bitcoin miner is expected to pay a mining pool fee of 1.25% every day, which leaves them left with approximately .0055 Bitcoin a day, which is about $216 a day with the current market(3).

The daily electricity uses about $30 a day, which means that a Bitcoin miner will make roughly $186 a day. This is a lot, and if you look at the world average, the Bitcoin mining industry generates approximately $56 million on average every day.

bitcoin mining industry daily revenue

Which country has the most Bitcoin miners?

For the past few years, China has been the leading nation when it comes to Bitcoin production. They make up about 21% of the global mining production in the entire industry. However, more miners are showing up in other countries as time progresses.

china is leading nation in bitcoin mining production

How many bitcoins have been mined?

As of August 2021, 83% (18.78 million) of all Bitcoins have already been mined. This leaves a little more than 2 million Bitcoins left to be mined.

most bitcoins have already been mined

Also, there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoins mined and allowed into circulation.

Chapter 4

U.S. Bitcoin Mining Statistics

The Bitcoin mining industry is one of the largest industries in the world, and the United States plays a big role in the industry. Here are a few statistics that deal specifically with the United States Bitcoin mining industry.

What percent of the world’s Bitcoin is mined in the U.S?

It wasn't until the last six months that the United States has begun showing its strength in the Bitcoin mining industry. Currently, the United States accounts for nearly 17% of the Bitcoins that are mined every day, which is second to China who still has about a 46% of the market share.

usa bitcoin mining market share

How much does the U.S. contribute to the global Bitcoin hash rate?

Over the past year, the United States has increased its global Bitcoin hash rate exponentially. Although they have not surpassed China, the United States now has a hash rate contribution that stands around 16.85% of the global Bitcoin market share.

united states hashrate contribution

How many Bitcoins are mined every day in the U.S?

The United States is responsible for approximately 17% of the Bitcoins that are mined every day, which comes to approximately 153 Bitcoins a day that is mined in the United States. This also means that approximately 25 blocks out of the 144 blocks that are mined every day are mined inside of the United States.

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in the U.S. every year?

According to statistics, the average amount of revenue that is generated in the United States through Bitcoin mining is approximately $2.2 billion a year. The United States is second to China in the Bitcoin mining industry, and it is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years.

bitcoin mining average yearly revenue in usa

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in the U.S. every month?

Over the past year, the United States has taken advantage of China's drop in Bitcoin mining, and due to the efforts of the U.S.'s Bitcoin miners, the average revenue that is generated every month is approximately $187 million, which makes the Bitcoin industry an excellent opportunity for anyone looking for new investment and form of income.

bitcoin mining average monthly revenue in usa

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in the U.S. every day?

This year, the leading dollar amount of Bitcoins made in the United States totaled $63 million. This was the highest day revenue, but the average amount is still approximately $50 million, which is higher than in most other countries, except China, which is big in the Bitcoin industry.

bitcoin mining industry revenue in one day
Chapter 5

China Bitcoin Mining Statistics

Since the start of the Bitcoin mining industry, China has been the number one country in the industry, and although their production has been reduced over the past year, they are still well in the lead of the industry. Here are a few statistics about the industry in China.

What percent of the world’s Bitcoin is mined in China?

Due to the technology supply chains that are already established in China, it currently hosts close to 75% of all the world's bitcoin mining capacity, or in other words, "hashrate". This type of industry requires a substantial amount of energy, which China is capable of producing and providing to their Bitcoin miners.

How much does China contribute to the global Bitcoin hash rate?

Before the mining ban was imposed in China, they were responsible for 75.53% of the global Bitcoin hashrate, but after the mining ban, China is now only responsible for about 46.04% of the current global hashrate, which is a substantial decrease from when Bitcoin mining first became an industry.

china bitcoin hashrate

How many bitcoins are mined every day in China?

Out of the estimated 900 bitcoins that are mined every day in the world, China is responsible for mining between 65% to 75% of that number(4). So, on average, China is responsible for mining approximately 630 out of the daily 900 Bitcoins that are mined every day.

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in China every year?

Due to the number of Bitcoin miners in China, the total revenue that comes from Bitcoin mining in China is approximately $9.1 billion annually(5). This is approximately 70% of the worldwide revenue that is generated through Bitcoin mining.

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in China every month?

When looking at monthly reports for Bitcoin mining, China used to bring in approximately $770 million every month from mining Bitcoins. This amount has decreased over the years, due to mining bans in China, but it is still the highest substantial amount. Currently, they bring in around $506 million.

china monthly revenue from bitcoin mining

How much does Bitcoin mining generate in China every day?

Even though China does not bring in the $32.2 million daily revenue that it used to a year ago, Chinese Bitcoin miners still make approximately $26 million every day(6) on average amongst all of the miners.

Chapter 6

Crypto & Bitcoin Mining Market Size Statistics

Crypto and Bitcoin mining has become increasingly popular throughout the world over the past few years, but it is still dominated by China and a couple of other countries throughout the world.

Here are a few statistics on the size of this market to give you a little more perspective on what to expect in the future of this market.

How big is the cryptocurrency mining industry?

The cryptocurrency mining industry is expected to reach $2.6 billion by 2026. It is expected to increase at a CAGR of 16.8% every year from 2021 to 2026, which is a drastic increase from year to year for a single industry.

cryptocurrency mining industry revenue

However, this industry can be difficult to get started in and it requires a substantial bankroll to get started for the average person.

What is the market size of the Bitcoin mining industry?

As of 2021, the Bitcoin mining industry is worth around $1.6 billion.

The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.8% every year for the next three to four years.

Although the Bitcoin mining industry is a little different than the cryptocurrency industry, it still falls into the same pattern.

bitcoin mining industry size and growth

What is the crypto mining industry growth rate?

The crypto mining industry growth rate is expected to continue to grow from now until 2026 at a CAGR of approximately 16.8%, which is a substantial increase compared to many other industries.

cryptocurrency mining industry growth

This industry also doesn't have a small shelf-life than other similar industries, like Bitcoin, has.

What is the Bitcoin mining industry growth rate?

The Bitcoin mining industry growth rate is expected to grow at 13.8% over the next few years.

bitcoin mining industry growth rate

It's important to note that there is a set amount of Bitcoins that will be brought into circulation, and once that number is hit, this industry will begin to hold at a steady rate without the potential for further growth.

Chapter 7

Bitcoin Mining Hub Statistics

If you are interested in the Bitcoin mining industry, then you should know as much as you can about the hubs where they are run.

Here are a few of the statistics that surround the Bitcoin mining hubs throughout the world that might be of interest to you.

Where is the largest Bitcoin mining hub?

The largest Bitcoin mining hub is located in the United States, based in Rockdale, Texas. It's owned by Riot Blockchain after they acquired Whinestone US. This mining facility can produce approximately 500 Bitcoin per month, which averages around $22 million at the current Bitcoin value.

bitcoin mining hubs bitcoin production

This facility is over 320-acres, and it houses hundreds of machines that are more powerful than the average household computer. It is expected to provide a 24-hour mining operation in the next few months to offset the costs of running the business.

Which company has the most Bitcoin miners?

There are several Bitcoin companies throughout the world, but not all of them are capable of adequately producing the Bitcoins needed to keep the business up and running efficiently.

However, five companies have made it and are considered to be the best companies in the world with the most Bitcoin miners working for them. Currently, these five Bitcoin mining companies are:

  • Elgius
  • BTCC
  • Slush Pool
  • BitMain / Antpool
  • F2Pool
largest companies in bitcoin mining

It is hard to choose which of these companies is the best at what they do, because they all have different methods and mining operations that have helped to put them on top of the industry, and these five companies make up the majority of the revenue currently in the entire Bitcoin mining industry.

Who is the largest Bitcoin miner in the United States?

Core Scientific is the largest Bitcoin mining operation in the United States. Recently, they have announced that they plan on going public - they are expanding their business as the mining ban in China continues.

largest bitcoin miner in the usa

This has opened up a huge void to fill, and Core Scientific feels that they are adequately prepared to take on this endeavor and expand their operation.

Who is the largest Bitcoin miner in China?

Currently, BIT Mining is the largest Bitcoin mining company in China. Even they are considering moving out of China to be able to keep their business operations for the foreseeable future.

largest bitcoin miner in china

Bitcoin mining in China is slowly becoming less popular because of the Chinese government cutting down on Bitcoin mining in their country.

Conclusion

The Bitcoin mining industry provides many people with an exceptional income. However, it is important to note that this industry does have a shelf-life because there are only a certain number of Bitcoins that are allowed to be mined before the industry will halt. You should consider this and the above statistics if you are interested in the Bitcoin mining industry.

Article Sources

BuyBitcoinWorldWide writers are subject-matter experts and base their articles on firsthand information, like interviews with experts, white papers or original studies and experience. We also use trusted research and studies from other well-known sources. You can learn more about our editorial guidelines.

  1. Blockware Solutions via Twitter - Bitcoin is often criticized for running on non-renewable energy, https://twitter.com/BlockwareTeam/status/1467888407678533641#m
  2. New York Times - Bitcoin Uses More Electricity Than Many Countries. How Is That Possible?, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/03/climate/bitcoin-carbon-footprint-electricity.html
  3. Columbia University - Bitcoin’s Impacts on Climate and the Environment, https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/09/20/bitcoins-impacts-on-climate-and-the-environment/
  4. Investopedia - What's the Environmental Impact of Cryptocurrency?, https://www.investopedia.com/tech/whats-environmental-impact-cryptocurrency/
  5. YCharts - Bitcoin Miners Revenue Per Day (I:BMRPD) , https://ycharts.com/indicators/bitcoin_miners_revenue_per_day
  6. Statista - Revenue raised from cryptocurrency mining worldwide from January 2009 to June 27, 2021 (in million U.S. dollars), https://www.statista.com/statistics/731383/bitcoin-mining-revenue/

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