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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Technology
Dani Anguiano in Los Angeles

Energy use from US cryptomining firms is contributing to rising utility bills

A woman carrying a backpack leaves a convenience store that has signs in the window announcing 'Buy bitcoin here!'
An investigation by US lawmakers found cryptomining companies use as much energy as nearly every home in Houston, Texas. Photograph: Stephen Shaver/REX/Shutterstock

The largest US cryptomining companies have the capacity to use as much electricity as nearly every home in Houston, Texas; energy use that is contributing to rising utility bills, according to an investigation by Democratic lawmakers.

Cryptomining is a highly energy intensive process involving the use of specialized computers running constantly to solve complex math problems in order to create new virtual coins.

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