Bitcoin mining is facing a critical challenge as energy consumption skyrockets while fee revenue collapses. In this Bitcoin news today update, we explore the alarming 115% surge in power demand and what it means for the future of blockchain sustainability.
Bitcoin Mining Energy Crisis: What’s Driving the 115% Surge?
According to GoMining Institutional, Bitcoin’s energy usage has more than doubled from 15.6 GW in January 2024 to over 33 GW by mid-2025. This dramatic increase comes despite:
- Improved hardware efficiency
- Slowing on-chain transactions
- Reduced fee revenue
The Fee Revenue Collapse: A Ticking Time Bomb for Bitcoin Miners?
While energy costs soar, Bitcoin mining fee income has plummeted to dangerous levels:
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Transaction Fee | 5-10 sat/byte | 1 sat/byte |
| Daily Transactions | 300,000+ | 256,000 |
| Mempool Clears | Rare | Twice in 2025 |
Blockchain Sustainability at Risk: Can Bitcoin Mining Adapt?
The current imbalance raises serious questions about Bitcoin’s long-term economic model. With block subsidies halving every four years and fee revenue declining, miners face:
- Rising operational costs
- Environmental pressures
- Profitability challenges
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Bitcoin mining energy consumption increased so dramatically?
The surge comes from massive post-halving infrastructure expansion, despite slowing transaction activity and more efficient hardware.
How low have Bitcoin transaction fees fallen?
Fees have dropped to just 1 satoshi per virtual byte, the minimum possible amount, for much of 2025.
What happens when the mempool clears completely?
A cleared mempool indicates extremely low demand for block space, which happened twice in 2025 after nearly two years without such occurrences.
How does this affect Bitcoin’s long-term sustainability?
With block subsidies decreasing every four years and fee revenue collapsing, miners may struggle to remain profitable without significant changes to the economic model.
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