A video showcasing the immense scale of one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining facilities has sparked outrage online, with many labeling the operation as a ‘disgrace’.
The widely shared footage provides a glimpse into a sprawling Bitcoin-mining data center filled with servers from floor to ceiling.
While some viewers were in awe of the facility’s size, most expressed anger over the significant energy consumption necessary for its operation.
Comments on Reddit were particularly harsh.
“It’s a f***ing disgrace this exists,” one user criticized.
Another commenter called it a ‘huge waste of energy,’ while someone else sarcastically noted: “This is why we can’t have nice things.”
One user added humorously: “Meanwhile, I’m turning the lounge light off when I leave the room to have a p**s!”
This backlash comes as large-scale Bitcoin mining, especially in the United States, faces renewed scrutiny.
The Bitcoin-mining facility in Rockdale, Texas, operated by Riot Platforms, is one of the most notable examples.
The facility has previously attracted attention after satellite images, revealing substantial heat emissions from the data center, were made public.
These images were released by SatVu, a UK-based company that uses thermal satellites capable of detecting heat signatures with a resolution of just 11.5 feet.
Although SatVu did not officially verify the facility’s identity, Rockdale is believed to house the largest Bitcoin mine in the nation.
The operation’s energy consumption is staggering, reportedly using around 700 megawatts of power—equivalent to the electricity needed for approximately 300,000 homes.
Professor Benjamin Jones from the University of New Mexico’s economics school has previously discussed the environmental harm caused by Bitcoin mining.
“We find no evidence that Bitcoin mining is becoming more sustainable over time,” he stated.
“Rather, our results suggest the opposite: Bitcoin mining is becoming dirtier and more damaging to the climate over time.
“In short, Bitcoin’s environmental footprint is moving in the wrong direction.”
Professor Jones further argued that the environmental cost sometimes outweighs the actual value of Bitcoin.
He elaborated: “Globally, the mining, or production, of Bitcoin is using tremendous amounts of electricity, mostly from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. This is causing huge amounts of air pollution and carbon emissions, which is negatively impacting our global climate and our health.”
“We find several instances between 2016-2021 where Bitcoin is more damaging to the climate than a single Bitcoin is actually worth.
“Put differently, Bitcoin mining, in some instances, creates climate damages in excess of a coin’s value. This is extremely troubling from a sustainability perspective.”