Last week, I asked Nostr (and Twitter) for the best resources about Bitcoin mining's environmental impact. The goal is to use these resources to help orange-pill an environmentally focused friend. I've reviewed everything, and here are some of the best resources🧵👇
First up: the articles. Articles are a great way to convey a specific piece of information while being both informative and including enough detail to get to the nuance. Here are many of the best articles I found on the topic:
1. LynAlden (npub1a2c…w83a)'s @LynAlden (npub1a2c…w83a) Bitcoin energy piece. This is a comprehensive overview of Bitcoin's energy usage, from Bitcoin's purpose to why proof of work is necessary. Well written and easy to read, this is one of the best articles on the topic.
https://www.lynalden.com/bitcoin-energy/
2. RFI Response: Climate Implications of Digital Assets by Margot Paez and Troy Cross through the Bitcoin Policy Institute.
This paper is a response to common FUD, in this case from the US government. It covers the key points and is full of links for further research.
https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/627aa615676bdd1d47ec97d4/62f41b9ce54e014f9869efa7_OSTP.docx.pdf
3. Bitcoin: Let's Start from Scratch by dsbatten (npub13lk…lpsy) @dsbatten (npub13lk…lpsy)
A ground up orange pill article directly aimed at the environmental side of things. One of many great articles by Daniel, but he recommends to start with this one and I agree. Check everything out on his website regardless!
https://batcoinz.com/bitcoin-lets-start-from-scratch/
4. The Humanitarian and Environmental Case for Bitcoin by Alex Gladstein @gladstein (npub1trr…hdpu)
Alex Gladstein has multiple excellent articles from the humanitarian perspective of Bitcoin, and this one covers the environmental side very well too. I suggest reading all of his major pieces, and he has a book coming out that I'm very much looking forward to!
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-is-humanitarian-and-environmental
5. Bitcoin Mining and the Environment by saylor (npub15dq…lm5m) @saylor (npub15dq…lm5m)
High level thoughts from saylor (npub15dq…lm5m) on the topic of Bitcoin mining and the environment. More compact than the others, and includes references from the Bitcoin Mining Council.
https://www.michael.com/en/resources/bitcoin-mining-and-the-environment
6. Bitcoin is a Pioneer Species by bquittem (npub1jdw…ujzl) @bquittem (npub1jdw…ujzl)
Another comprehensive article built around the analogy relating Bitcoin to a pioneer species in ecology. A different angle to approach the topic that I find quite compelling.
Next up are the podcast episodes, useful for people who prefer to listen to their content. Here are my favorite podcast episodes on Bitcoin's environmental impact 👇
1. Troy Cross on What Bitcoin Did - his appearances are must listen/watch for information about Bitcoin and the environment. Troy's thesis about Bitcoin and energy is well worth listening to!
He's been on the show 4 times, and all are great.
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/troy-cross
2. Shaun Connell on What Bitcoin Did - Shaun appears once alone, and once with Troy Cross - his episodes include valuable information about how #bitcoin energy markets really work.
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/bitcoin-energy-markets
3. Steve Barbour and Nate Harmon on What Bitcoin Did - The two have a spirited but healthy debate about climate change and Bitcoin's role in it. Good points from all sides and well worth listening to.
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/a-climate-change-debate
4. Nate has a great episode on his own covering Bitcoin mining in the ocean using OTEC technology, highlighting an innovative use for Bitcoin mining to promote sustainable energy.
https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/bitcoin-unleashing-an-ocean-of-energy
5. Next, many great articles have been read by TheGuySwann (npub1h8n…rpev) @TheGuySwann (npub1h8n…rpev) on Bitcoin Audible including some already mentioned here, and further articles on the topic are also here.
You can find the articles from the podcast library and filtering for energy:
https://bitcoinaudible.com/library/
I couldn't find LynAlden (npub1a2c…w83a)'s energy piece from the library, but here is the Apple Podcasts link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/read-550-bitcoins-energy-use-isnt-a-problem-heres/id1359544516?i=1000531790906
Finally, I'll end with two upcoming book 📚 recommendations - I can't wait for both to be out, and I know that they both will make a great contribution to the Bitcoin environmental narrative, and addressing the environment specifically. 👇
1. The first book is The Progressive Case for Bitcoin by Jason Maier @Jason Maier (npub1dc8…jwqd)
This book will cover common arguments against #Bitcoin by progressives, including the environmental angle.
You can hear more from Jason's appearance on What Bitcoin Did: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/a-progressives-case-for-bitcoin
2. Finally, Abundance Through Scarcity by Ioni Appelberg
Ioni makes wonderful animated videos, many with TheGuySwann (npub1h8n…rpev) and Knut Svanholm, and he will be coming out with this book soon.
He has discussed the upcoming book on the Freedom Footprint Show: https://youtu.be/RF2AXDreVUg
Bonus: Ioni, Guy, and Knut's video Orange is the New Green is a great video take on the topic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0YBOyI8ptE
That's a wrap! Thanks everyone who answered the original Note and Tweet! There were so many responses, I haven't included everything here, but you can find even more resources in those conversations.
@note1pwyy83ahnh2vkkct9g6yx65szu24zldhgr4l55jwegsrkp34whzs53j4ln
https://twitter.com/BtcPseudoFinn/status/1631496077453975552
Thanks for reading, I hope this has been helpful!