[dvt]

> How many pounds of coal did this game consume?

I don't know, how many kids helped put your iPhone together? How many women did your tax dollars widow? How many "Made in China" widgets do you own? I am so sick of this holier-than-thou narrative on HN. I am 100% a crypto critic, but the idea that crypto is the primary existential threat we face today is not only absolutely absurd, it's also highly hypocritical, considering how routinely mega-corps eschew human rights reform and eco-responsibility.

[Dylan16807]

> the idea that crypto is the primary existential threat

The problem is the ratio of entertainment:cost is extremely bad for PoW blockchain art, and the cost is substantial and growing. It doesn't matter at all that it's not the "primary" threat, and you should realize that's a strawman.

Looking at that ratio also explains why it's not hypocritical, or at least it's only slightly hypocritical and still a valid and important criticism of a waste.

[tromp]

The energy cost is born for two purposes, neither of which is entertainment:

1) reach consensus on tx history (without being hampered by notions of weak subjectivity like PoS is)

2) provide a somewhat fair distribution mechanism for new coins (something PoS fails at completely)

[johnsolo1701]

OP asked a simple question and did not say "crypto is the primary existential threat we face". Crypto's environmental impact is a valid concern.

[antihero]

There is no ethical consumption under capitalism but we can’t just cuff ourselves to being unable to criticise absurd things simply because our own existence risks some level of hypocrisy