Bitcoin Mining Power Use Jumps 38%, Hydropower Takes Lead

Bitcoin mining's electricity demand rose by 38% in just over a year to around 190 terawatt-hours (TWh) as of December 2025, according to preliminary research from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. This significant increase comes despite efforts to reduce emissions and switch to cleaner energy sources.

The research found that hydropower has become Bitcoin mining's largest single energy source, surpassing natural gas. Low-carbon power now accounts for 59.4% of the reported mix, up from 52.4% in the previous study. However, total estimated greenhouse-gas emissions still increased by 20%, from about 40 million to 48 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent.

Miners are also exploring ways to diversify their power usage and reduce costs. Around 10% of respondents have already allocated some power to AI or accelerated computing, while over 40% are actively considering doing so. However, experts caution that 'intent to look into it is not commitment to deploy,' as AI data centers require significant investments in networking, cooling, and reliability systems.