Ethereum is using almost as much electricity as Ecuador, according to a new analysis, and a long-awaited upgrade to slash its energy use has been delayed once again
Technology
15 December 2021
A coal-fired power plant in Germany Hans Blossey/Alamy
A long-awaited upgrade to the Ethereum network which developers promise will slash energy consumption by 99 per cent has been delayed once more, as a new report reveals that it currently uses 23 terawatt hours of electricity annually – only slightly less than the electricity used each year in Ecuador.
Kyle McDonald, an artist who incorporates technology into his work, has published perhaps the most in-depth research on the energy use of the network. The cryptocurrency has used a total of 39 terawatt hours since …