Crypto became far less damaging to the environment in 2022 after Ethereum, the second biggest blockchain, lowered its carbon emissions by 99%. That puts a bigger spotlight on Bitcoin, which is estimated to have emitted 86.3 million tons of carbon in 2022.

Nuclear power may be able to help. Cumulus Data has completed a data center connected to Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna nuclear power station, with plans to this year begin hosting the space for Bitcoin mining company TeraWulf. The center’s completion, which was announced last week by Cumulus Data, sets it up to be the first nuclear powered bitcoin mine in the US. 

It means that any Bitcoin mined through the center will emit next to no carbon. 

Mining Bitcoin requires enormous amounts of energy. Computers around the world race to solve complicated cryptographic puzzles, with the first to do so being rewarded with new Bitcoin. The more computational power at your disposal, the greater your odds of solving the problem first. To be competitive, Bitcoin miners setup warehouses filled with computer…