Bitcoin: ¿Qué tan dañino es para el medio ambiente y qué alternativas más ecológicas existen?

El aumento de los precios de la energía y el cambio climático están haciendo que el problema de la energía de Bitcoin sea un tema cada vez más candente, incluso si algunos empresarios ingeniosos están encontrando fuentes de electricidad "más limpias". Varios mineros de Bitcoin han estado utilizando energía verde y desechos no renovables para producir el cripto rey.

Timeline of Bitcoin

Top digital currencies slumped, mirroring the wider markets, as rising inflation and the escalating Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in China spooked investors. Bitcoin lost 2.6% to US$45,426, while smaller peer Ethereum fell 4.3% to US$3,368.

Leading cryptos languished for a third consecutive day, mirroring cautious wider markets, as the US Federal Reserve revealed it is willing to continue raising interest rates in a bid to tackle rampant inflation. Bitcoin fell 4.4% to US$43,439 with peer Ethereum 4.5% lower at US$3,216.

After three consecutive days of negativity, the leading cryptos looked keen to buck that trend on Friday, albeit, not by much. Bitcoin edged cautiously higher by 0.3% to US$43,565, while its closest rival by market value, Ethereum, slightly outpaced the top digital coin – advancing 1.34% to US$3,570.

Cryptocurrencies continued to fall on Monday morning following a quiet weekend as all eyes turned to Mexico to see whether the nation will vote in favour of Bitcoin becoming legal tender. Bitcoin eased 1.2% to US$42,276, while its closest rival by market value, Ethereum, slipped 2.2% to US$3,179.

Cryptocurrencies continued to fall, with bitcoin dropping below a key support level, as investors dumped riskier assets ahead of the latest US inflation data.  Bitcoin was down 5.7% to US$39,914, while its closest rival by market value, Ethereum, gave up 5.5% to US$3,008.

Cryptocurrencies continued to languish at three-week lows as rampant inflation in the UK added to ongoing concerns over the health of the global economy.  Bitcoin edged just 0.3% higher to US$40,134, but still held above the key $40,000 support level.

Cryptocurrencies languished, mirroring equity markets, although regulation and fundamentals are “moving in the right direction”. Bitcoin, the largest coin by market cap, fell 1.84% to US$38,979, falling and staying below the key support level of US$40,000.

Bitcoin and Ethereum offset yesterday's gains, tumbling back below key support levels as the tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped to its lowest level in a month. The largest coin by market cap, Bitcoin, fell 4.29% to US$38,740, while Ethereum lost 4% to US$2,874.

Bitcoin and Ethereum recovered some ground, with most other cryptos languishing as the Nasdaq remained flat despite “pretty decent quarterly earnings” from Meta. The largest coin by market cap gained 2.38% to US$39,390 to offset some of yesterday's losses, although it is still trading below its key support level of US$40,000.

Bitcoin and Ethereum both added to gains after their midweek recovery, although it has been a mixed bag for the crypto market with many coins in the red, despite more positive sentiment in stock markets. The largest coin by market cap climbed back above the US$40,000 mark overnight but was unable to trade above its key support level for any sustained period, gaining only 0.32% to US$39,508 over the past 24 hours.