US Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John Fetterman have introduced the Clean Cloud Act of 2025. The bill aims to reduce carbon emissions from energy-intensive crypto-mining operations and artificial intelligence data centers.

This comes at a time when Bitcoin miners are increasingly moving towards renewable energy sources to power their operations.

Clean Cloud Act Links Rising Energy Demand to Bitcoin Mining

According to the bill, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would have the authority to set annual carbon performance standards for facilities with over 100 kilowatts of installed IT power.

These standards would tighten each year, with emissions limits declining by 11% annually.

Companies that exceed the cap will pay a starting fee of $20 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. This fee will rise yearly, adjusting for inflation and an additional $10 per ton. The bill also enforces strict accounting methods to include indirect emissions from the grid.

The lawmakers argue that crypto miners and AI centers are driving up power demand at an unsustainable pace. According to them, the current clean energy sources cannot keep up with the rapid growth of the demand for Bitcoin mining.

They noted that data centers alone use 4% of all electricity in the US and could hit 12% by 2028. They also pointed out that utilities have even restarted old coal plants to meet rising demand, worsening the country’s carbon footprint.

Considering this, Senator Whitehouse noted that this pressure is driving up electricity costs for consumers. He said the bill would push tech firms toward clean energy investments and help ensure the US power grid can reach net-zero emissions within the next decade.

“The good news is that we don’t have to choose between leading the world on AI and leading the world on climate safety: big technology and AI companies have all the money in the world to pay for developing new sources of clean energy, rather than overloading local grids and firing up fossil fuel pollution.  The Clean Cloud Act will drive utilities and the burgeoning crypto and AI industries to invest in new sources of clean energy,” the lawmaker stated.

To protect low-income households, 25% of the revenue generated from emissions penalties will offset energy costs. The rest will fund grants supporting long-duration storage and clean power generation projects.

Meanwhile, this move is coming as the crypto industry steadily transitions to greener energy.

A recent MiCA Crypto Alliance report shows that renewable energy powered 41% of Bitcoin mining by the end of 2024, up from 20% in 2011.

Following this rapid adoption rate, the report forecast that renewables could support over 70% of mining activities by 2030, driven by cost efficiency, evolving policies, and a broader shift toward sustainable practices

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Ki Young Ju, the CEO of blockchain analytics platform CryptoQuant, has declared that the Bitcoin bull cycle is over. Notably, the premier cryptocurrency has struggled to establish a sustained uptrend since hitting a new all-time high of around $109,000 in January, causing doubts about the viability of the current bull run.

Bitcoin’s Unresponsive Price Points To Bear Market Onset

In an X post on April 5, Ki Young Ju shared an interesting theory on why Bitcoin may have concluded its current bull run. The prominent crypto figure has based this postulation on on-chain data concepts around the Realized Cap and the Market Cap. 

Young Ju describes the Realized Cap as the total capital that flows into the BTC market as revealed by actual on-chain activity. The Realized cap reveals a more accurate measurement of the BTC network by summing the price at which each coin last moved.

On the other hand, the Market Cap provides a BTC network valuation based on the latest exchange trading prices. The CryptoQuant CEO explains that market cap/prices do not increase or decrease in proportion to transaction sizes based on common misconceptions but in response to the balance between buying and selling pressure.

Young Ju states that amidst low sell pressure, a small buy can cause a rise in price and market cap. On the other hand, large Bitcoin purchases during high sell pressure can fail to effect a positive price reaction as the market consists of a high number of sellers.

Looking at both concepts, it is understood that Realized Cap measures the capital inflows into the BTC market while Market Cap indicates price reaction to these inflows. Therefore, the CryptoQuant boss explains that a rise in Realized Cap, while Market Cap declines or remains unchanged, presents a classic bearish signal as prices are failing to respond positively despite new investments. 

Alternatively, a stagnant Realized Cap accompanied by an increased Market Cap is a bullish signal that reflects the low level of sellers; thus any small amount of new capital can induce substantial price gains. 

Ki Young Ju states the former situation is currently playing out in the Bitcoin market with prices failing to rise inflow as indicated by on-chain data in exchange transactions, ETF markets, and custodial wallets activity. This development suggests the presence of a bear market. While Young Ju states that the current sell pressure could wane at any time, historical data supports a reversal period of at least six months.

Bitcoin Price Overview

At press time, Bitcoin was trading at $83,700 reflecting a decline of 0.94% in the past day. 

Featured image from TheStreet, chart from Tradingview

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Today is the 50th birthday of Bitcoin’s enigmatic inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto. After all these years, nobody has a clue who he actually is. But his creation, Bitcoin, has revolutionized the world of finance in a huge way.

Since its introduction in 2009, Bitcoin has evolved from a tech test to one of the most popular digital currencies around. Its decentralized nature has raised serious discussions about the future of money and if traditional banking might one day become obsolete.

Satoshi Nakamoto Birthday: Why April 5 Matters

According to his old P2P Foundation profile, Satoshi Nakamoto’s birthday is listed as April 5, 1975—a date that might hold more symbolic weight than actual truth. What makes April 5 stand out? It’s the same day in 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102, compelling Americans to surrender their gold to the government.

That moment marked a major transfer of financial power from individuals to the state—a stark contrast to Bitcoin’s core philosophy. Many believe Nakamoto chose this date on purpose, as a subtle nod to decentralization and a quiet rebellion against monetary control.

Bitcoin appears to be in contrast to that level of control. It’s decentralized, and its own supply is limited to 21 million coins. Many feel that Satoshi chose April 5 as a gesture of a departure from government-controlled money and towards financial freedom.

Big Names Are Now Backing Bitcoin

Bitcoin is no longer only for tech enthusiasts. Large corporations and institutions are now joining the bandwagon. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), for instance, owns more than 500,000 Bitcoin, valued in billions. Michael Saylor, Strategy’s executive chairman and co-founder, has been a strong supporter, frequently referring to Bitcoin as a “safer and more powerful store of value” than the US dollar.

Source: Gemini Imagen

Even BlackRock, the biggest asset manager globally, is interested. CEO Larry Fink just stated that Bitcoin could rival the dollar. He cited the increased US debt and inflation as reasons more individuals may flock to Bitcoin.

A Hedge In Uncertain Times

As inflation concerns grow, increasing numbers of individuals are turning to Bitcoin as a means of safeguarding their funds. In contrast to traditional currencies, which can be printed by governments without limit, Bitcoin is capped. This has prompted some to liken it to gold.

Would Bitcoin Replace The Dollar?

As Bitcoin continues to appreciate in value and popularity — an as the mystery surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto deepens – there is increasingly much being said about its place in the future world economy.

Some even believe it might dethrone the US dollar as the world’s currency of choice. That’s still a huge “maybe,” though. Supporters of Bitcoin, however, claim its decentralized nature and inherent scarcity make it a serious contender to be a long-term player in the financial world.

Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.