Study Suggests Bitcoin Mining Can Mitigate Methane Emissions

Recent findings from a United Nations report indicate that methane gas is over 80 times more damaging than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period after its release.

Overview of the Research

A new peer-reviewed scientific study, titled An Integrated Landfill Gas-to-Energy and Bitcoin Mining Framework, published on August 29 in the Journal of Cleaner Production, explores how Bitcoin (BTC) mining could potentially decrease methane emissions.

The researchers describe how Bitcoin miners can effectively utilize “Landfill Gas to Energy” (LFGTE) systems, which capture methane gas from landfills and convert it into usable energy. This process sequesters the greenhouse gas and lessens its negative impact on the environment.

The study argues that Bitcoin mining provides a suitable incentive structure for long-term, capital-intensive projects. Many private companies struggle to adopt similar strategies due to insufficient revenue generation and cost-recovery methods.

“Bitcoin’s economic incentives, accessible globally for miners, present a unique opportunity for advancing methane mitigation without needing government support—offering a scalable solution for immediate implementation.”

The authors also emphasized that this incentive model could apply beyond methane emissions, potentially harnessing unused energy from various sources like orphaned oil and gas wells, wastewater treatment facilities, farms, and agricultural processing plants.

Marathon Digital’s Role in LFGTE Systems

In 2023, Marathon Digital (MARA) partnered with Nodal Power to mine Bitcoin using methane gas in Utah. The 280-kilowatt project aimed to leverage LFGTE systems. At the launch of the initiative, MARA’s CEO Fred Thiel stated:

“At Marathon, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to diversify our operations, lower our energy costs, and leverage the unique aspects of Bitcoin mining to better the environments in which we operate.”

In May 2024, the company expanded its efforts by signing a partnership with the Kenyan government to develop renewable energy infrastructure in the region.

Supporting Research

This recent study in the Journal of Cleaner Production aligns with previous research suggesting that Bitcoin miners can diminish emissions by reusing underutilized energy resources.

Notably, a 2023 study conducted by the Institute of Risk Management indicated that Bitcoin mining could potentially reduce global emissions by approximately 8% by 2030.