[cinntaile]

This is not the same situation as your examples though. Here you are basically saying that the resulting pollution from electricity generated to mine bitcoin is worse than other uses of that same electricity. It's a slippery slope if you start to decide what people can use their electricity for. For example. Assume exactly the same energy usage. Why is surfing on HN a better use of that electricity than mining?

[pavlov]

There are many EU directives that are indirectly aimed at limiting how people use energy, for example requiring high thermal insulation windows. Taxing crypto exchange outflows is no different IMO.