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Jaw-Dropping Energy Difference Between PoS Altcoins and Bitcoin

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How green is crypto, really? Activists accuse the industry of environmentally-hazardous side effects, but how true are these claims? What is the environmental impact of crypto?

A new report from UCL, alongside an exclusive interview, addresses these questions and more.

Mining Costs

The alleged environmental costs of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency are an enduring thorn in the industry’s side. Prominent actors frequently debate controversial claims, but crypto enthusiasts are quick to dispute the harshest assertions.

Studies from reputable scientific agencies have repeatedly claimed that mining harms the environment, and this sentiment translates into political anti-crypto sentiment. However, news coverage frequently ignores the community’s best efforts, and exaggerations run rampant.

How can one make sense of all this? What are the charges of crypto’s environmental impact, and how serious are they?

To help answer some of these questions, BeInCrypto conducted an exclusive interview with Wes Geisenberger, VP of Sustainability and ESG at Hedera, a decentralized public ledger and stablecoin issuer. The firm seeks to stand above its Web3 competitors in terms of carbon footprint and sustainability.

Interestingly, Hedera is a partner of the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, whose new reports on crypto’s environmental impact cast doubt on the proof-of-stake model altogether.

PoW or PoS

The heart of UCL’s new report is on the notion that Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains are uniformly more environmentally friendly than Proof-of-Work (PoW) ones.

PoW protocols like Bitcoin are fully trustless and decentralized, and transactions are validated through a competitive network of miners. These equations solved by miners’ collective computing power update the blockchain and generate new coins, but different miners have an inherently adversarial relationship.

For PoS protocols like Ethereum, however, the blockchain processes transactions differently. Using validators instead of miners, new block creators must “stake” their own tokens rather than computational power, allowing for a more collaborative experience. This, allegedly, makes the mining experience more efficient.

Read more: Proof of Work and Proof of Stake Explained

According to PoW advocates, the main drawback of the latter system is that it is much more prone to centralization. Nonetheless, UCL’s new report seeks to interrogate these claims more closely.

Are all PoS blockchains created equal? If these protocols are greener than PoW, how much greener are they? What are the best ways that the industry can face these challenges head on?

As far as Geisenberger is concerned, the entire space “has a responsibility to understand its impact on the world around us and in particular the environment.” He added that “we need to measure our impacts like the rest of the financial and technology world, built on standards and in an easily comparable way. There’s also a need to extend that to better understand the impact of how technologies, treasuries, and users leverage their resources to achieve positive impact.”

If the crypto ecosystem wants to impact our natural ecosystem, attitudes like this are crucial.

Bitcoin’s Waste

Some of the bitterest arguments over crypto’s ecological impact center around Bitcoin, the first and largest cryptocurrency. The debates over Bitcoin often take place on the same well-trodden territory: what percentage of mining electricity is renewable? Do techniques like flared gas mining constitute green energy or not?

Bitcoin’s biggest advocates are quick to point out all the massive green energy use cases that literally power the industry. Hydroelectric operations can sell excess energy in low-demand periods, productively using clean power that would otherwise go to waste. Flared gas mining is similar, with an inevitable waste product of the petrochemical industry getting a new use.

Aren’t Bitcoin’s critics eager to paint its impact in the most damning light possible? That may or may not be true, but UCL asserts that even the rosiest picture is still pretty grim.

Bitcoin vs Altcoins Energy Waste
Bitcoin vs Altcoins Energy Waste. Source: UCL

As the data shows, Bitcoin stands head-and-shoulders above all PoS blockchains surveyed in terms of electrical consumption. The study concluded that “all of the PoS-based DLTs (Distributed Ledger Tokens) analyzed have an energy consumption that is negligible compared to that of major PoW blockchains. To the extent that energy consumption may be considered problematic, this is not an issue in any PoS design.”

The study lists a number of limitations in its methodology and was not able to nail down a primary cause for these discrepancies. Still, as Geisenberger put it, “task forces across the industry [are] created to answer difficult questions in increased regulatory and voluntary disclosures in carbon accounting.”

A wide range of organizations are tackling these and other questions, and their results contribute to a greater scientific consensus.

Looking Forward

Ultimately, environmental impacts in the industry are a very controversial issue, and bad-faith actors exacerbate it. Both pro- and anti-crypto advocates can twist meanings and misinterpret studies, especially for concrete political ends.

PoW supporters have legitimate concerns besides the environmental, too, further complicating the issue. If PoS blockchains are not truly decentralized, does it matter if their energy consumption is lower? If PoW consumes energy that would otherwise be “wasted,” are its higher costs negated?

The crypto community must grapple with these and other questions for years to come. Luckily, with an innovative spirit and dedicated researchers like those at UCL, we’re sure to meet the challenge.

Disclaimer

Following the Trust Project guidelines, this feature article presents opinions and perspectives from industry experts or individuals. BeInCrypto is dedicated to transparent reporting, but the views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of BeInCrypto or its staff. Readers should verify information independently and consult with a professional before making decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Bitcoin Bull Run: Crypto Analyst Publishes Guide On How To Know The Market Top

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As the crypto market gears up for a potential bull run in 2025, analyst IonicXBT has shared his comprehensive guide on how to identify the Bitcoin market top in this cycle. The analysts’ guide is based upon the SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio), one of the lesser-known but highly useful metrics for analyzing Bitcoin.

IonicXBT Detailed SOPR Metric Guide

IonicXBT on X (formerly twitter) told his 125,000 followers that the SOPR metric has consistently accurately predicted the tops of previous crypto market cycles, citing instances of 2018 and 2021. The SOPR is a metric that tells us whether the average investor in the Bitcoin market is selling their coins at a profit or at a loss right now. 

When the indicator has a value greater than 1, it means that the average holder in the sector is selling their coins at some profit right now. On the other hand, a value under this threshold implies that loss-selling is dominant among the participants. According to the chart he dropped, he seemed to think that Bitcoin’s moving average SOPR has fallen below 1.0, indicating that most spent outputs are being sold at a loss.

Bitcoin bull run 1
Source: X

He further highlighted that the current drop in SOPR indicates that the bottom of the correction is near, suggesting that the market is not yet close. 

Interestingly he urged his followers to remain calm as he emphasized on the significance of SOPR spikes, noting that they often signal market tops as long-term holders lock in profits. He further assured them of his commitment to providing accurate signals for identifying the market top which focuses on real strategies backed by data rather than hype or speculation. 

“But don’t worry, I’ll be the first to give you the signal of the top. No hype, no nonsense, Just real strategies backed by data,” the analyst said.

 

Alternative Guide To Know The Bitcoin Market Top Cycle

While IonicXBT has highlighted the SOPR metric as a valuable tool for predicting market tops, other analysts, such as Kaleo, have shared alternative indicators. Kaleo has presented an inverse Bitcoin chart suggesting that BTC could reach the trendline of his logarithmic growth curve by next year, potentially soaring to a massive price target of around $220,000.

In a recent post, Kaleo expressed growing bullishness, stating, “Alright, I’m giving in. Be more bullish.” Analyzing the inverse chart, he suggests that Bitcoin tends to experience steep rallies a few months after its halving event, when BTC miner rewards are slashed in half.

Bitcoin bull run 2
Source: X

Kaleo believes that Bitcoin will consolidate for a few more days before initiating surges that break through multiple resistance levels. Based on the chart, he appears to predict that Bitcoin will reach new all-time highs by early next month. At the time of this writing, Bitcoin is valued at $62,092, up over 3% for the day. 

Bitcoin price chart from Tradingview.com
BTC price makes a run for $63,000 | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com

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



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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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