'Green' cryptocurrency uses 18 times more energy than makers claim

image via New Scientist

April 30, 2026, 6:00 PM

• •Chia relies on proof-of-space-and-time, utilizing hard disk space instead of calculations.
• •Researchers found that Chia's emissions are significantly higher than the claimed figures due to hardware production.
• •The analysis estimates Chia's carbon footprint to be between 0.584 and 1.402 million tonnes per year.
• •Chia Network plans to launch Proof of Space 2.0 to reduce emissions.

Chia, a cryptocurrency touted as a green alternative to Bitcoin, is consuming significantly more energy than its makers initially claimed. A recent analysis reveals that Chia's energy consumption is approximately 18 times higher than the original estimates, primarily due to the carbon footprint associated with hardware production. Despite the current environmental impact, the Chia Network acknowledges the discrepancy, with plans to launch an update called Proof of Space 2.0 to dramatically reduce emissions. This update aims to lower the energy burden, but critics point out that it is still not a good as alternatives such as Ethereum.

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