Bitcoin mining power use rose 38%, according to Cambridge data, with hydropower overtaking natural gas as a larger share of the network’s energy mix. The update reframes the debate over the industry’s footprint, showing higher electricity demand and a shift toward renewable sources happening at the same time.
What the Cambridge data says about Bitcoin mining power use
The figure comes from the University of Cambridge, whose research team maintains the long-running index tracking the network’s electricity consumption. The reported 38% increase in mining power use is presented as a measured change in demand rather than a general estimate. For related coverage, see Oman launches Omanhash Bitcoin mining pool for licensed miners.
This story is about energy consumption, not Bitcoin’s price. The Cambridge electricity consumption index tracks how much power the network draws, a separate question from how the asset trades on any given day. For related coverage, see Top Crypto News for June 13: Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Drop Leads 24H Update.
The scale of that demand has long been the core of the sustainability conversation. Earlier analysis comparing Bitcoin mining’s electricity use to that of Sweden underlined why even incremental changes in consumption draw scrutiny. For related coverage, see NiceHash EasyMining Mined 200 Solo Bitcoin Blocks.
Why hydropower overtaking gas matters
The second finding is a change in ranking within the energy mix: hydropower moved ahead of natural gas. That reordering is presented as a defining part of the story, not a footnote to the consumption number.
A shift toward hydropower speaks directly to the environmental angle. Cambridge’s sustainability index for mining is the framework that tracks how the network’s power sources evolve over time, which is where this change registers.
What the shift means for the mining narrative
The two findings complicate any simple reading of mining’s footprint. Power use increased even as the mix moved toward a cleaner source, meaning higher consumption and a shift away from gas can occur simultaneously.
That nuance matters because the energy debate is often framed as a single direction of travel. The Cambridge update instead points to two developments at once, and neither cancels the other out.
The changing power picture is also playing out alongside policy attention on where mining draws its electricity, including moves such as tighter data center rules in Wyoming as Bitcoin power demand grows. Read together, the Cambridge figures support a more grounded takeaway: mining’s energy story is not only about more consumption, nor only about cleaner sourcing, but both at the same time.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
