Hydropower Surpasses Natural Gas as Top Energy Source for Bitcoin Mining
Hydropower has surpassed natural gas to become the largest energy source powering the Bitcoin network. According to data from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, low-carbon energy sources now account for 59.4% of Bitcoin mining's total energy mix, up from 52.4% in April 2025.
The shift is part of a broader trend that has seen electricity consumption for Bitcoin mining surge by an estimated 38% over the 18-month period from June 2024 to December 2025. Annual consumption now sits at approximately 190 terawatt-hours (TWh).
Despite this dramatic rise in power usage, total emissions from Bitcoin mining only increased by about 20% during the same period.
The sustainability improvement has several practical implications for investors. Regulatory risk decreases as the environmental argument weakens, making it easier for institutions to adopt Bitcoin and reducing their exposure to regulatory uncertainty.