The environmental impact of cryptocurrencies has become a topic of increasing concern in recent years. Cryptocurrencies are mined by computers, which means they consume energy. A single Bitcoin transaction can consume as much electricity as it takes to power an average home for one week.
While some cryptocurrencies are less environmentally friendly than others, there are several that do their best to keep their carbon footprint low. Here are six of the most environment-friendly cryptocurrencies out there.
Chia
Chia is a cryptocurrency that is based on the Ethereum blockchain. Chia is a Proof of Stake cryptocurrency, and its development team focuses on environmental and social responsibility, which makes it one of the most sustainable cryptocurrencies in the market today.
Chia’s main goal is to become an environmentally friendly alternative to Bitcoin. It has been designed with sustainability in mind by using a Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithm as well as by making sure there will only ever be 1 billion CHIA coins minted over time. This lowers energy consumption while being kinder to our planet’s resources.
IOTA
The IOTA Foundation is a non-profit organization that is focused on developing and standardizing the future of IoT (Internet of Things). It was founded in 2015 by David Sonstebo, Sergey Ivancheglo and Dominik Schiener.
IOTA’s main aim is to create a system for data integrity, authentication, and confidentiality, as well as to provide security for communication between devices. The main features include:
- No transaction fees
- Scalability (unlimited)
- Decentralization
Cardano
Cardano is a completely open-source, decentralized, and public blockchain and cryptocurrency project. The team aims to develop a smart contract platform that seeks to deliver more advanced features than any protocol previously developed. The development team consists of a large global collective of expert engineers and researchers.
Cardano was created by Charles Hoskinson, former CEO of Ethereum. Cardano’s first-mover advantage in the smart contracts space gives it an early-mover advantage against its competitors, EOS, NEO, and Stellar. However, it also has some disadvantages, like its low transaction speed compared to other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.
It will be interesting to see how this project evolves in the future with respect to these issues as well as others facing similar markets, such as security concerns around smart contracts being hacked or taking control over someone else’s funds without their knowledge (i.e., “51% attacks”).
Nano
Nano is a low-latency payment platform that uses a block-lattice architecture and delegated proof of stake (DPoS) to achieve instant transactions and no fees.
Nano is the only cryptocurrency that utilizes a system known as “block-lattice.” Block Lattice is similar to blockchain, but it differs in that each account has its own blockchain, allowing users to make their own versions of history. In other words, you can send Nano securely without relying on any third parties or middlemen. You can send Nano to anyone with an internet-connected device and know that your funds will reach them within seconds (or minutes at worst).
Solarcoin
It is a cryptocurrency that is used to incentivize the generation of solar electricity. It was designed to reward solar electricity generation, particularly during the daytime when demand for power from the grid is highest, and all over the world where there are no subsidies.
SolarCoin has been created by a non-profit foundation that distributes free coins in order to promote solar energy, thereby reducing CO2 emissions around the world. The SolarCoin blockchain runs on many computers around the world (called miners), who receive new coins as rewards for supporting this network with processing power by solving complex mathematical problems.
The reward system is built up of blocks of 25 coins each; these blocks are generated every hour on average (or every 10 minutes if you want). Anyone can mine SolarCoin but it requires some resources like computing power and Internet access – therefore, only those who have access to these things will be able to produce and trade this coin freely in exchange for goods or services provided by others using their own personal computers as well!
Bitgreen
BitGreen is a cryptocurrency that is designed to be used by people who are environmentally conscious. It is designed to be used as a reward system for people who recycle.
The BitGreen project was launched in 2017 and has since gained popularity among environmentalist communities, especially those in Canada and the United States.
To use this currency, you need to go through an initial coin offering (ICO) which allows you to buy BitGreen coins at a discount price before they hit the market for regular sale prices. The ICO will only last for 30 days, so act fast if you want some of these coins!
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember is that investing in cryptocurrencies is a gamble. The best way to invest responsibly is by selecting sustainable coins that will have a future and are useful and easy to use now.
These are just some of the most environmentally friendly coins out there today. If you’re looking for more options, You may also check this useful article about best cryptocurrency exchange
