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Bitcoin Vs. AI — Who’s Draining The Power Grid Faster?

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Energy rivalry between Artificial Intelligence and Bitcoin mining is heating up. As tech firms improve AI, they compete with Bitcoin miners for energy. This competition reshapes US energy consumption, as both sectors have driven unprecedented electrical demand.

AI data centers are leading in the race for energy consumption. These power-thirsty projects have forecasts indicating they will consume anywhere from 85 to 134 TWh of electricity annually by the year 2027. This is roughly equal to the yearly energy consumption of Norway or Sweden and demonstrates how massive an amount of power needs to be utilized in order to execute complex AI models such as ChatGPT.

Each one of these models runs on large farms of servers, and to run ChatGPT for every search conducted by Google, estimates are that the number needed would be over 500,000 servers, with estimated consumption of about 29.2 TWh annually.

According to estimates, Bitcoin mining uses 120 TWh of energy annually. Bitcoin mining consumed 0.4% of global electricity last year, which is a massive figure. Analysts expect AI to outperform Bitcoin miners in energy demand by 2027, shifting 20% of their power capacity to AI.

Competing For Resources

With the growth of both AI and Bitcoin mining, they are increasingly competing for some of the same energy resources. Competition is soaring, with major technology companies such as Amazon and Microsoft aggressively pursuing energy assets that, until recently, had been controlled by crypto miners.

Competition is warming up wherein, for some mining operators, cash is made through leasing and selling power infrastructure while for others, the risk of losing access to the electricity that keeps them in business becomes a reality.

Total crypto market cap currently at $1.97 trillion. Chart: TradingView

This makes for such a mad scramble for energy that data centers are projected to gobble up as much as 9% of all US electricity by the end of the decade, more than doubling their current consumption.

Curiously, while crypto mining relies more on renewable energy sources-as it gets approximately 70% of its energy consumption from green sources-AI data centers mostly depend on fossil fuels.

Image: AsianInvestor

This therefore presents disparities in the views on the sustainability of both technologies. As AI demand continues to see an upward movement, tech companies weigh their carbon footprint against other source alternatives, including nuclear power.

The Road Ahead

The future of energy consumption in the tech industry is highly unpredictable. While AI continues to push the limits, its appetite for energy will see a corresponding increase. And unless efficiency starts to outpace growth radically, the environmental consequence is sure to be dire.

According to the International Energy Agency, the combined energy consumption of AI and Bitcoin mining would surge to 1,050 TWh by 2026-a quantity of electricity needed by an entire country.

But one question will always remain, as with most high-stakes energy races: will AI and Bitcoin mining be able to coexist, as in not sucking up all the earth’s resources?

How that is accomplished depends on how well these industries are able to innovate and adapt to the rising tide of sustainable energy solutions. As they race for power, the future of technology and the environment is hanging in the balance.

Featured image from Ken O./LinkedIn, chart from TradingView



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Crypto Founder Identifies The Best And Worst Time To Be In Bitcoin

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Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto market have been trading sideways for the better part of the year now. However, the tide is starting to turn as there could be a recovery trend for the crypto market very soon. To this end, a crypto founder has identified the best and worst times to be an investor in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Going by his prediction, the worst could be over for Bitcoin, and the market could be for a great time soon.

Best And Worst Time To Be In Bitcoin

Charles Edwards, founder of digital assets-focused hedge fund Capriole Investments, took to X (formerly Twitter), to share when he thinks is the best a worst time to be in Bitcoin. In the post, Edwards attached a screenshot of quarterly returns for Bitcoin, showing the best and worst-performing quarters.

According to the information, the best quarter for Bitcoin is the last quarter of the year, and the worst is the third quarter of the year. Going by this, it means that the Bitcoin price is currently going through its worst-performing quarter. However, this also means that the downtrend could be nearing its end since the month of September is almost over.

The average returns for the third quarter is shown to be +5.39%, the worst of any quarter. The second worst-performing quarter is the second quarter, but even that remains high at +26.89%, while the median returns for the fourth quarter is actually in the negative at -4.64%, an is the only quarter with a negative median return.

In contrast, the fourth quarter has always been bullish, with average returns of +88.84% and median returns of +56.90%. With less than two weeks left to go in the third quarter, Edwards believes that the worst is over. “If you are still here, congratulations. You made it through the worst time to be in Bitcoin. The best lies ahead,” the post read.

BTC Could Jump To New All-Time High In October

Going by the monthly returns for Bitcoin, as depicted on the Coinglass website, Edwards’ forecast that the decline is almost over looks to be correct. The months of October, November, and December have been some of the most bullish months for the coin in history, and this year could be the exact same.

Bitcoin monthly returns
Source: Coinglass

If this trend holds, then the Bitcoin price could be looking at an average increase of around 20% in October. Such a price increase could set the BTC price on a path to a new all-time high. A continuation of the bullish trend would see the Bitcoin price hit a new all-time high by the time the year 2024 is over.

Bitcoin price chart from Tradingview.com
BTC bulls reclaim control of price | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com



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Is Global Liquidity What Bitcoin Needs to Reach $100,000?

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The Federal Reserve instituted a 50-point rate cut, with promising liquidity conditions for a Bitcoin price spike. However, risks abound with cuts this severe, and crypto profits are far from guaranteed.

Global liquidity is very likely to increase, but this might not equal Bitcoin inflows.

Rate Cuts, Liquidity and Bitcoin

The Federal Reserve has decided on a 50-point rate cut, and Bitcoin’s price has been soaring. Given these and broader market trends, many in the community expect a Bitcoin bull market.

However, rate cuts alone cannot guarantee such favorable market conditions; other factors are also crucial. The key to understanding all of this is global liquidity.

At first glance, Bitcoin’s price over the last few weeks has seemed ponderous, sluggish, and indecisive. Upon a closer look, though, it is actually trending closer than ever before. Raoul Pal, CEO and founder of Global Macro Investor, noted that this correlation was “close, very close” throughout 2024.

Compared to previous years’ data on Global Liquidity (L2) and the price of Bitcoin, this year’s proximity is staggering.

Global M2 and Bitcoin 2024
Correlation of Global Liquidity (M2) and Bitcoin. Source: Raoul Pal

In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Adrian Fritz, Head of Research at 21Shares, described the relationship between cuts and liquidity.

“The upcoming Fed rate cut could lead to short-term Bitcoin price volatility. However, the extent of the cut will play a crucial role in shaping market reactions. A more aggressive 50 bps cut could offer short-term liquidity relief,” he added, with obvious importance for Bitcoin,” Fritz said.

The “more aggressive” rate cut has taken place, and Bitcoin has already responded in kind. The dollar is the global reserve currency, and US rate cuts have well-established impacts on liquidity and market risks. Crypto provides an invaluable reservoir of liquidity for international markets, and this dynamic has only increased.

Quinten Francois, co-founder of WeRate, has noted a trend pointing towards a liquidity spike, and Bitcoin will surely benefit from it. Seems simple, right?

Read More: Bitcoin Halving History: Everything You Need To Know

Global Liquidity Spikes and Bitcoin
Trends Pointing to 2024 Liquidity Spike. Source: Quinten Francois

Dangers in a Volatile Market

Rob Viglione, CEO of Horizen Labs, also discussed these dynamics with BeInCrypto. Like Fritz, he also expected a 25-point rate cut:

“Since a 25 basis point cut is largely expected, major price swings are unlikely, but the direction of travel in the short term will likely be positive as investors move to more volatile assets. In the longer term, lower interest rates will continue to favor risk-on assets like Bitcoin, as investors continue to seek higher returns outside of traditional investments,” Viglione claimed.

However, both underestimated the extent of these cuts. Viglione said that major price swings were unlikely in a 25-point scenario, but cuts are much more severe.

In other words, the market could be set up for a major spike. There are hazards, too, though, that may stand between Bitcoin and a big score.

“A 50-point cut may also heighten concerns about deeper economic challenges or the risk of an impending recession, which could trigger a price pullback. This is especially relevant considering Bitcoin’s recent failure to break through the $60,000 mark and September’s historically poor performance for both Bitcoin and broader markets,” Fritz concluded.

Thankfully, Bitcoin has already broken through $60,000. Bitcoin is viewed, perhaps incorrectly, as a risk-on asset, and lowered interest rates do benefit these. For now, all the conitions seem reasonable to expect a price spike, provided that investor confidence remains high. Nobody can know the future, but we may indeed see $100,000 Bitcoin sooner than we think.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Bitcoin Price Jumps Amid FOMC Rate Cut Decision

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Bitcoin (BTC) reacted to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Wednesday, which showed policymakers resorted to a 50 (0.50%) basis points (bps) interest rate cut for September.

This decision marks the beginning of an easing cycle, with more rate cuts to come in 2024.

FOMC Cuts Interest Rates, Bitcoin Jumps Over $60,000

The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by 50 basis points, the first reduction since early 2020. Financial markets, including crypto investors, had been expecting this move as policymakers aim to control inflation while promoting job growth.

This rate cut comes after the August Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation cooling to 2.5%, down from 2.9% in July. A weaker jobs market and easing inflation have pushed the Fed to lower borrowing costs, hoping to keep the economy steady.

“I think those rate cuts are going to happen faster than we predict. Why? The labor markets and economy are getting worse at an accelerated pace,” analyst Michael van de Poppe shared ahead of the release.

Read more: How to Protect Yourself From Inflation Using Cryptocurrency

Despite the rate cut, the Federal Reserve remains cautious about inflation risks and stands ready to adjust its policies as needed to maintain market stability. This decision is significant because it directly impacts the broader economy, influencing both families and businesses across the US

Higher interest rates typically make borrowing more expensive, whereas lower rates ease access to loans, stimulating spending and investment. This increased liquidity can benefit riskier assets like Bitcoin and stocks, which often see gains when borrowing costs drop.

Historically, interest rate cuts have boosted assets like Bitcoin. For example, following the Fed’s March 2020 rate cut, Bitcoin surged as investors sought to capitalize on lower borrowing costs amid the economic uncertainty triggered by the pandemic.

Read more: How To Buy Bitcoin (BTC) and Everything You Need To Know

BeInCrypto data shows BTC is trading for $60,730 as of this writing.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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