web3/concepts/mining.md

Mining

The technical process of confirming transactions in a blockchain using the proof of work consensus-algorithm. Mining is typically centralized by companies known as mining pools which pool physical compute resources in order to increase their probability of confirming blocks.

Mining is an energy intensive process with a large environmental footprint.

See also environmental footprint of crypto.

References

1. Dindar, B., and Ö. Gül. ‘The Detection of Illicit Cryptocurrency Mining Farms with Innovative Approaches for the Prevention of Electricity Theft’. Energy & Environment, no. April (2021): 0958305X211045066. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305x211045066.
2. Vries, Alex De. ‘Bitcoin’s Energy Consumption Is Underestimated : A Market Dynamics Approach’. Energy Research & Social Science 70, no. July (2020): 101721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101721.
3. Vries, Alex de. ‘Bitcoin’s Growing Energy Problem’. Joule 2, no. 5 (2018): 801–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2018.04.016.
4. Vries, Alex de, and Christian Stoll. ‘Bitcoin’s Growing e-Waste Problem’. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 175, no. September (2021): 105901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105901.