[viraptor]

There's a big difference. Even if people using EVs now effectively burn coal to do it, they replaced an ICE and can migrate to greener sources over time. On the other hand, crypto mining exists purely on top of existing energy usage. These are not really comparable situations.

[adh636]

Sorry, I am not sure I completely understand your argument. You expect the energy used for Tesla cars to more easily migrate to greener energy? Bitcoin mining is completely location independent and is able to migrate to cheaper (which as renewable energy tech improves will equal greener) energy much easier than an individual tesla owner can.

[viraptor]

Assuming EV purchases on average replace existing cars not add new ones. (They do in a long run)

Energy usage:

Before buying an EV: X with Y convertible to green. After buying an EV: X with Y+d convertible to green.

Before a new miner starting: X with Y convertible to green. After: X+d with Y+d convertible to green.

It doesn't matter if the new miner is running 100% green, because they still use energy which could instead replace some amount of fossil fuels. We're not really isolated in this context - all of us suffer from not removing the reliance on burning coal.

[ulzeraj]

Not only that but the same logic can also be applied to bitcoin, which aims to replace a financial system based on a petroleum standard.

[ifdefdebug]

More easily than your new combustion engine car, I think was the argument.