1 Hatem MABROUK, 2 Logan PAUL and David WILD
1 Tecnológico de Monterrey, School of Business, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey, N.L., 64700, Mexico.
2 Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, 700 N Woodlawn Ave, Bloomington, IN 47408, United States.
Tel.: + 528111660781
E-mail: hatem.mabrouk@tec.mx
Received: 30 June 2024 Revised: 4 March 2025 Accepted: 20 March 2025
Published: 24 March 2025
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Abstract: The rapid growth of blockchain networks has raised concerns about their environmental sustainability, yet existing assessments are fragmented and often rely on problematic metrics or unverifiable self-reported data. This article addresses these gaps by combining quantitative measures of annual energy consumption and carbon emissions with a qualitative assessment of sustainability initiatives. Using data from the Crypto Carbon Ratings Institute (CCRI) and corporate sustainability reports, we evaluate Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Chain, XRP, Cardano, Solana, Dogecoin, Polygon, and Polkadot, and benchmark their operational footprints against those of Visa and Mastercard as representatives of traditional payment systems. Results show wide variation in sustainability performance: Proof-of-Stake networks exhibit substantially lower energy use and carbon intensity than Proof-of-Work systems, while transparency and reporting practices differ significantly across projects. This research contributes to the sustainability discourse by providing one of the first systematic comparisons between blockchain networks and incumbent payment systems, identifying methodological challenges in sustainability accounting, and advancing policy recommendations for standardized reporting, third-party verification, and energy-efficient design.
Keywords: Blockchain sustainability, Eco-friendly cryptocurrencies, Proof of Stake (PoS), Energy consumption, Carbon footprint.
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