Bitcoin - Why does crypto mining generate e-waste?

MANHATTAN, N.Y. - Oct. 15, 2021 - PRLog -- The debate about Bitcoin's sustainability is not coming to rest. Proof-of-work mining consumes around 30.7 kilotons of hardware every year. What is left behind is e-waste, consisting of hard drives and chips. What is behind the e-waste that Bitcoin is supposed to be responsible for – is it really that bad?

When it comes to the environment, Bitcoin (BTC) doesn't have it easy. The new blockchain technology functions as a global, decentralized and self-regulating payment network. It is inevitable that the mining required for this consumes electricity. What many don't know: The network also needs the energy to protect itself from so-called 51 percent attacks. A 51 percent attack is an attack vector in proof-of-work-based networks. In this case, an attacker or hacker combines more than half of the computing power (hash power) of the network. Thus, he could alter the blockchain and forge entries.

What is e-waste all about?
Like any technology sector, the Bitcoin network produces e-waste. And that's a constant problem for the environment – not in America or England right on our doorstep, to be sure. But globally through landfills, incineration and waste during recycling

But what exactly is "e-waste"?

E-waste refers to any form of discarded or unusable electrical equipment and its individual parts.The term can include broken graphics cards, batteries, rechargeable batteries, the discarded vacuum cleaner, lamps, smartphones and more.

As electronic devices have become indispensable in our digital age, electronic waste is also steadily increasing. In some cases, the waste or at least individual parts can be recycled. This is also necessary, because the devices contain valuable raw materials. These include copper and, above all, so-called critical metals such as gold, neodymium, indium, cobalt, tantalum or palladium. Some components release pollutants and greenhouse gases, including cadmium, lead or mercury. Furthermore, these components can emit substances that are harmful to health.

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