That was not well phrased, I apologize. The sentence should have been "These absurd scenarios involving Bitcoin are driving people towards more environmental awareness". Pretty much all the mentions of Bitcoin I have heard within my social circle have been about the environmental impact. People think it's absurd that we are literally converting energy into money!

Does it sound more plausible / correct with that phrasing?

> These absurd scenarios involving Bitcoin are driving people towards more environmental awareness

It is better to turn it around:

Those with environmental awareness are shocked by the absurdity of Bitcoin.

And there are a lot of people around which don't "believe" in climate change.

Theres a literal incentive for bitcoin miners to find the cheapest use of energy possible. Literally pushing the technology to find efficiencies

Profit. The cheaper your electricity, the higher your margins.

The greenies won't care to admit it but Bitcoin has finally provided the motivation to pursue cheap, efficient, reliable renewable energy where all they've ever had to offer was financially-punishing "save the planet" vibes.

Depending on the source, 50% (+-20%) of crypto mining is already powered renewably.

> The cheaper your electricity, the higher your margins.

Isn't that true for every user of electricity?

Absolutely. I have solar energy and I mine XMR with it. It's nice and clean.

My country has an obnoxious "incentive" structure where the power companies aren't actually required to pay me for the energy I generate. They give me "kWh credits" which expire if unused for over one year. So I have no reason to generate more energy than I need.

Cryptocurrency changed everything. It allowed me to sink my surplus energy production into proof-of-work. I get paid for it and get to support an amazing project like Monero.