Swedish Authorities Mull Crypto Restrictions To Meet Paris Agreement Commitments

Table of Contents

• Risk Of Running Out Of Energy 
• Significant Power Consumption And CO2 
• Possible Ban?
• Bitcoin’s Massive Carbon Footprint 
• Bitcoin Regulation In Sweden 

Swedish authorities have shared their opinion on cryptocurrency mining that has been taking place in the country. They also talked about steps that can be taken regarding them and the mining activities in the country. 

Risk Of Running Out Of Energy 

Director Generals from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency published an article that concluded that if Sweden permits cryptocurrency mining through Proof-of-Work, the country could run out of renewable energy and jeopardize its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement. 

The officials stated in the article, 

“If we were to allow extensive mining of crypto-assets in Sweden, there is a risk that the renewable energy available to us will be insufficient to cover the required climate transition that we need to make.”

Significant Power Consumption And CO2 

Cryptocurrency mining takes up a significant amount of power through the Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism, which is used to mine cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This process also produces an exorbitant amount of CO2. As a result, crypto miners and producers are keen to utilize renewable energy, leading to a growth in crypto mining in Sweden and other Nordic countries. 

“Based on estimates from Cambridge University, it is currently possible to drive a mid-size electric car 1.8 million kilometers using the same energy it takes to mine one single bitcoin. This is the equivalent of forty-four laps around the globe. 900 Bitcoins are mined every day, and this is not a reasonable use of our renewable energy.”

Possible Ban?

The growing presence of the crypto-mining industry in Sweden could result in Sweden missing its targets set in the Paris Agreement. Sweden needs renewable energy to transition key services to a low-carbon future. The mining industry using the same renewable energy could jeopardize Sweden’s efforts to meet the Paris Agreement. The authorities concluded that cryptocurrency mining that uses the Proof-of-Work method should be banned because of high energy consumption. 

“A ban on the proof of work mining method within the EU could be an important first step in a global move towards greater use of more energy-efficient crypto mining methods. It would also mean that our renewable energy is used as efficiently as possible in order to support the transition towards climate neutrality.”

Bitcoin’s Massive Carbon Footprint 

Environmentalists across the globe have taken exception to Bitcoin mining’s carbon footprint. After BTC had surged earlier this year, conversations around the energy used by BTC gained momentum, resulting in a decline in value. A Bitcoin Mining Council report stated that Bitcoin consumed only 0.38% of the world’s wasted energy. 

Bitcoin Regulation In Sweden 

The Governor of Sweden’s central bank has also suggested that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will be subject to regulation in the country, thanks to their surging popularity. The governor also cited money laundering as one of the key reasons why cryptocurrencies cannot escape regulation. At present, there is no regulation pertaining to cryptocurrencies in Sweden. However, the cryptocurrency is subject to mandatory reporting requirements. 

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.