Alex de Vries

Sometimes referred to as “the worst enemy of Bitcoin” Alex de Vries is widely known as the founder of the Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, a tool with live data on the environmental impact of the Bitcoin mining network – often cited by journalists and politicians all around the world.

Since late-2016 Alex de Vries has been doing research into the sustainability issues of proof-of-work based blockchains. He has authored several influential articles such as Bitcoin’s Growing Energy Problem, Renewable Energy Will Not Solve Bitcoin’s Sustainability Problem and Bitcoin Boom: What Rising Prices Mean for the Network’s Energy Consumption for high-impact academic journals like Joule. His work has been featured by many of the world’s leading media outlets like the BBC, Associated Press, Financial Times, New York Times, Reuters, Economist, Bloomberg and many others.

De Vries himself regularly has public appearances on the same media platforms to comment on anything relating to the blockchain technology behind the digital currency Bitcoin. He has many years of experience as a speaker, which includes a speech at the world’s largest computer expo – the CeBIT in Hannover. Because of his expertise he also gets requested to provide input on parliamentary hearings by local and supranational committees like those by the Belgian and European Parliament.

Some of Alex’s recent articles include:

• Bitcoin’s Growing Energy Problem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2018.04.016
• Renewable Energy Will Not Solve Bitcoin’s Sustainability Problem: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2019.02.007
• Bitcoin’s energy consumption is underestimated: A market dynamics approach: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101721
• Bitcoin Boom: What Rising Prices Mean for the Network’s Energy Consumption: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2021.02.006
• The true costs of digital currencies: Exploring impact beyond energy use: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.009