The Unintended Carbon Consequences of Bitcoin Mining Bans: A Paradox in Environmental Policy
Governments worldwide are implementing Bitcoin mining bans to reduce environmental impact, but these well-intentioned policies may be counterproductive. This research quantifies the environmental effectiveness of mining bans by tracking displaced operations and their carbon emissions.
The findings reveal that Bitcoin mining bans in low-emission countries result in a net increase in global carbon emissions through aggravated carbon leakage, as operations migrate to higher carbon intensity regions. The study provides data-driven evidence for why more nuanced regulatory approaches are required for sustainable cryptocurrency governance.
