Bitcoin mining has shifted significantly away from coal energy, with its use in mining declining from 63% in 2011 to 20% in 2024, averaging a decrease of approximately 8% per year. This trend toward cleaner energy sources comes alongside a global rise in coal consumption, which reached a record 8.8 billion tonnes in 2024. The report by the MiCA Crypto Alliance highlights a concurrent increase in renewable energy share in Bitcoin mining, averaging 5.8% growth annually. Forecasts indicate that by 2030, renewable energy could make up between 59.3% and 74.3% of Bitcoin's energy consumption depending on various market scenarios. Additionally, Bitcoin's carbon footprint is expected to peak around 2030, though it would still represent only a small fraction of global energy use. This reflects a broader transition in cryptocurrency mining towards sustainability amidst fluctuating global energy demands.

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