Hydropower overtakes natural gas as low carbon share of bitcoin mining energy reaches 59.4 percent

New data from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) puts the low carbon share of bitcoin mining's energy mix at 59.4 percent, up from the 52.4 percent the centre reported in April 2025. On the same data, hydropower has overtaken natural gas to become the industry's largest single energy source. The figures were presented by Alexander Neumueller of the centre at the Energy Investors Forum in Dallas.

Bitcoin network electricity use rose about 38 percent over the 18 months from June 2024 to December 2025, and annual consumption now stands at roughly 190 TWh. Despite that jump, the industry's estimated greenhouse gas emissions rose about 20 percent over the same period, from close to 40 million to about 48 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, meaning emissions grew more slowly than power demand but were not offset by the cleaner mix.

In the crypto market on Monday, 27 July 2026, bitcoin traded at $65,210.33, up 1.09 percent over 24 hours, and ether at $1,943.15, up 3.31 percent. Cambridge is expected to publish the second edition of its Digital Mining Industry Report later in 2026.