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Re:Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index by hwillis on Saturday August 26, 2017 @05:22PM (#15107534)
According to this it costs almost 21 cents to "make" a dollar of bitcoins. According to the mint's 2015 annual report[1] they made 1,114 million dollars in circulating coins at a cost of .51 cents per dollar in coins.

However bills cost 4.9 cents/dollar for $1 bills and half a cent per dollar for $20 bills. So the vast majority of money is much, much cheaper than a bitcoin.

[1]: https://www.usmint.gov/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/...

Re:Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index by IgorPartola on Saturday August 26, 2017 @05:53PM (#15107685)
That's to make it. What about trucking it around, accounting for it, securing it, etc.?
Re:Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index by rspeer on Sunday August 27, 2017 @02:30AM (#15109432)
So many Bitcoin fans, so many "whatabouts". I would say the burden is on you to show that producing and moving cash requires ludicrous amounts of energy like Bitcoin does. It sounds unlikely.
Re:Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index by rdlecler1 on Saturday August 26, 2017 @07:09PM (#15107973)
Yes, but you have to make new bills to replace old bills.
Re:Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index by acchow on Saturday August 26, 2017 @05:56PM (#15107696)
I don't agree with the comparison to "making" coins or cash.

Coins and cash actually get consumed as they degrade and/or get lost or destroyed. You need to replenish the supply.

But you can circulate bitcoin forever.

You need to compare transactions.

How do I send you cash? You can give me an address to meet you at. We both drive our cars or take public transit there and consume some amount of energy and time to meet up. Then I give you cash.

Or you could just tell me a bitcoin address to send to.

Re:Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index by egypturnash on Saturday August 26, 2017 @06:20PM (#15107798)
I can also put that cash in a sufficiently opaque and uninteresting-looking envelope, put it in the mail, and the Post Office will take over. There is time and energy cost incurred, but it is a cost already being paid. Mostly by advertising, right now, since an assortment of lawmakers have decided in their infinite wisdom that it's not something our tax dollars should be supporting any more.