#116 Untangling: Why Bitcoin is Green Technology w/ Dr. Owen Vaughan

Bitcoin mining is often portrayed as environmentally harmful, but this episode of Untangling Web3 with guest Dr. Owen Vaughan, founder and CEO of Bitroots, redefines that perception.

With a background in blockchain fundamentals, Owen explains how Bitcoin mining can drive renewable energy adoption, stabilize power grids, and economically benefit local communities.

This conversation reveals how proof-of-work, when understood properly, is not only compatible with green energy but can be a force for accelerating the energy transition.

Key highlights:

• Bitcoin Mining is a Clean Technology with No Emissions at Source: A mining machine only consumes electricity and produces heat, making Bitcoin mining itself emissions-free at the point of operation. The environmental footprint comes solely from the electricity source. Hydropower is currently the most common renewable input, and overall, 41% of Bitcoin mining is powered by renewables, a figure expected to rise to 70% by 2030. This trend is driven by the declining cost of renewable energy and favorable co-location opportunities near dams and wind farms.
• Mining Incentivizes Renewable Energy Expansion in Underserved Regions: In countries like Ethiopia and Uruguay, overproduction from hydropower dams has led to underutilized energy. Bitcoin miners are filling this demand gap by purchasing excess electricity that would otherwise be wasted. In Ethiopia, $200 million in revenue was generated in just six months from selling clean power to Bitcoin miners. This income helps fund grid expansion and provides economic stimulus to the local economy—demonstrating that mining can directly contribute to national infrastructure development.
• Sustainable Bitcoin Mining Extends to Recycling and Future Demand: With 95% of Bitcoin already mined, future mining revenue will increasingly rely on transaction fees. These, too, can be certified based on the energy source used to validate the blocks. Even post-halving and long after new coins stop being issued, the infrastructure and economic mechanisms for clean mining will remain critical. Certified mining also opens up potential for jurisdictional and ethical tracking of coin origins—much like ethically sourced diamonds or gold.

Bitcoin mining offers a pathway to a more sustainable energy future. Certified clean coins, traceable to renewable sources, also provide a means for individuals and institutions to align their investments with ESG values.

Rather than being an environmental threat, Bitcoin may be one of the most powerful green technologies in the Web3 toolkit.

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This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here:

https://vebetterdao.org/

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Learn more about Web3 at:

https://untanglingweb3.com/

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Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at [email protected].

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The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.