• Bitcoin Mining Council tries to disprove the bad reputation of Bitcoin mining with its quarterly reports.
• Virunga National Park is the first national park to recognize the potential of Bitcoin mining, supporting nature and the local community.
• Virunga has been hard-pressed for money in recent years due to the loss of tourist revenue, the COVID-19 lockdown, and kidnappings by rebels, and Bitcoin mining has provided the funds needed to drive sustainable developments.

The Bitcoin Mining Council has been working hard to disprove the popular notion that the energy consumption of Bitcoin mining makes it unsustainable. Through their quarterly reports, they have revealed that almost 60% of the power used to mine Bitcoin comes from renewable sources. The council’s goal is to make Bitcoin mining greener and more responsible.

This newfound commitment to sustainability has been noticed by Virunga National Park, the first national park in the world to recognize the potential of Bitcoin mining. This park, located in the Congo Basin, is home to an endangered mountain gorilla population, and the funds generated by Bitcoin mining will be used to support nature and the local community.

Virunga has been hard-pressed for money in recent years due to a variety of circumstances. Disease outbreaks such as Ebola, the lockdown due to COVID-19, and kidnappings by rebels have all contributed to a decline in tourist revenue, leaving the park in need of funds. Emmanuel de Merode, the park’s 52-year-old director, decided to bet big on Bitcoin and, in order to mine the cryptocurrency, thousands of powerful computers are housed in 10 shipping containers located in the middle of the jungle. They are powered by a giant hydroelectric plant on the same mountain as the national park.

The funds generated by Bitcoin mining have allowed the park to drive sustainable developments. For example, the park is now able to employ many local people, helping to reduce poverty in the region. It has also been able to purchase equipment and materials to support conservation efforts, such as anti-poaching patrols, reforestation, and the rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems.

The success of this project has been a great example of how Bitcoin mining can be used for good. Not only does it provide a much-needed source of income for the park, but it is also helping to reduce the energy consumption of the mining process. The council hopes that other organizations and governments will take note of this and be inspired to support sustainable Bitcoin mining in their own areas.