News > Bitcoin Mining Electronic Waste ‘Growing Threat to Environment’, Says Study

Bitcoin Mining Electronic Waste ‘Growing Threat to Environment’, Says Study

A co-author of the report told AFP on Friday that the average life cycle of the powerful computers used to unearth the units of the world's leading cryptocurrency was only 1.3 years.

Alex de Vries noted that this was "extremely short compared to any" other electronic devices such as iPhones. At 30,700 tonnes, the amount of electronic waste generated by bitcoin mining in the 12 months to May was comparable to the amount of small IT and telecommunication equipment waste produced by a country like the Netherlands.