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Bitcoin’s energy consumption: Is it the Achilles heel to miner’s revenue?

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  • Das, Debojyoti
  • Dutta, Anupam

Abstract

In this paper, we add a new dimension to the cryptocurrency literature by examining the relationship between Bitcoin’s energy consumption and miner’s revenue. By resorting to quantile and Markov regime switching regression, we report a negative association between these variables. Further, the negative impact is strongly significant when the miner’s revenues are low and volatile. Thus, the higher energy consumption in the wake of escalating global energy costs amid bearish market sentiments impedes the miners to break-even. Hence, it would not be viable to sustain the business unless cheap energy sources and efficient mining hardware are relied upon.

Suggested Citation

  • Das, Debojyoti & Dutta, Anupam, 2020. "Bitcoin’s energy consumption: Is it the Achilles heel to miner’s revenue?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:186:y:2020:i:c:s0165176519302526
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2019.108530
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yazıcı, Ali Fırat & Olcay, Ali Bahadır & Arkalı Olcay, Gökçen, 2023. "A framework for maintaining sustainable energy use in Bitcoin mining through switching efficient mining hardware," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
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    7. Hu, Yang & Hou, Yang (Greg) & Oxley, Les & Corbet, Shaen, 2021. "Does blockchain patent-development influence Bitcoin risk?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    8. Yousaf, Imran & Abrar, Afsheen & Yousaf, Umair Bin & Goodell, John W., 2024. "Environmental attention and uncertainties of cryptocurrency market: Examining linkages with crypto-mining stocks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    9. Michael Peneder, 2022. "Digitization and the evolution of money as a social technology of account," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 175-203, January.
    10. Anh Ngoc Quang Huynh & Duy Duong & Tobias Burggraf & Hien Thi Thu Luong & Nam Huu Bui, 2022. "Energy Consumption and Bitcoin Market," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 29(1), pages 79-93, March.
    11. Anatolyy Dzyuba & Irina Solovyeva & Dmitry Konopelko, 2023. "Managing Electricity Costs in Industrial Mining and Cryptocurrency Data Centers," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(4), pages 76-90, July.
    12. Michael L. Polemis & Mike G. Tsionas, 2023. "The environmental consequences of blockchain technology: A Bayesian quantile cointegration analysis for Bitcoin," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 1602-1621, April.
    13. Su, Chi-Wei & Qin, Meng & Tao, Ran & Umar, Muhammad, 2020. "Financial implications of fourth industrial revolution: Can bitcoin improve prospects of energy investment?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    14. Su, Chi-Wei & Qin, Meng & Tao, Ran & Shao, Xue-Feng & Albu, Lucian Liviu & Umar, Muhammad, 2020. "Can Bitcoin hedge the risks of geopolitical events?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    15. David I. Okorie, 2021. "A network analysis of electricity demand and the cryptocurrency markets," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 3093-3108, April.
    16. Kais Tissaoui & Taha Zaghdoudi & Sahbi Boubaker & Besma Hkiri & Mariem Talbi, 2024. "Testing the Nonlinear Long- and Short-Run Distributional Asymmetries Effects of Bitcoin Prices on Bitcoin Energy Consumption: New Insights through the QNARDL Model and XGBoost Machine-Learning Tool," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-19, June.
    17. Ali, Fahad & Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Sensoy, Ahmet & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2024. "Green cryptocurrencies and portfolio diversification in the era of greener paths," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    18. Mustafa Tevfik Kartal & Mustafa Kevser & Fatih Ayhan, 2023. "Asymmetric effects of global factors on return of cryptocurrencies by novel nonlinear quantile approaches," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1515-1535, June.
    19. Mingbo Zheng & Gen-Fu Feng & Xinxin Zhao & Chun-Ping Chang, 2023. "The transaction behavior of cryptocurrency and electricity consumption," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.
    20. Umar, Zaghum & Abrar, Afsheen & Zaremba, Adam & Teplova, Tamara & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "Network connectedness of environmental attention—Green and dirty assets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    21. Wang, Xuetong & Fang, Fang & Ma, Shiqun & Xiang, Lijin & Xiao, Zumian, 2024. "Dynamic volatility spillover among cryptocurrencies and energy markets: An empirical analysis based on a multilevel complex network," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).
    22. Jana, Rabin K. & Ghosh, Indranil & Das, Debojyoti & Dutta, Anupam, 2021. "Determinants of electronic waste generation in Bitcoin network: Evidence from the machine learning approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; Energy; Quantile regression; Markov regime switching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • C3 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables
    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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