Is changing crypto code the answer to climate change?

A worker inspects hardware devices as illuminated mining rigs operate inside racks at the CryptoUniverse cryptocurrency mining farm in Nadvoitsy, Russia, on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has prompted the greatest push yet among central banks to develop their own digital currencies. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

Climate groups are calling for Bitcoin to slash its growing greenhouse gas emissions, by changing its coding.

Greenpeace and other environmental groups have launched a new campaign, pushing Bitcoin to drop its energy-hungry code.

The code makes Bitcoin more polluting than most other cryptocurrencies.

Dubbed “Change the code, not the climate,” the goal of the campaign is to switch up the process of verifying transactions and mining new Bitcoins.

Bitcoin miners rely on specialised hardware to solve complex puzzles and the campaign wants to see a greener alternative.

The digital coin uses more electricity annually than global gold mining operations or the entire country of Norway.

The campaign’s organisers are trying to enlist some big names in tech to help turn up the heat on Bitcoin miners to make the change including the likes of Elon Musk.

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