The U.S. Congress is planning a hearing to look at the effects of bitcoin mining on the environment and the bitcoin network.
The United States Congress will Evaluate the Environmental Impact of Bitcoin Mining
The Congress hearing’s date and witness list have yet to be published. Still, it could happen as early as the end of January, according to sources familiar with the situation on Wednesday.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations subcommittee is currently compiling a list of witnesses. They’d be quizzed on the energy consumption of proof-of-work mining, which is the method used to mine bitcoin.
When the carbon footprint of bitcoin became public in 2021, U.S. corporations continued to invest millions in bitcoin mining operations.
In order to avoid a government crackdown, Chinese miners moved their money to the United States, which is now the world’s largest bitcoin miner. In the coming year, mining companies plan to expand their capacity.
Concerns about the environmental impact of New York-based miner Greenidge
Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed her concerns about the environmental impact of New York-based miner Greenidge in a letter to the company’s CEO in December.
Following that, a New York Times article expressed concern about the state’s growing mining industry.
“Recent events in New York State” have raised concerns about crypto mining with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to a person who participated in pre-hearing conversations with the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee.