Hydropower overtakes natural gas as Bitcoin mining's top energy source

Bitcoin mining has reached a notable sustainability milestone: hydropower has overtaken natural gas as the largest single energy source powering the network, according to Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance data. Low-carbon energy now accounts for 59.4% of Bitcoin mining’s energy mix, up from 52.4% in April 2025. Over the June 2024 to December 2025 period, mining electricity use rose 38% to about 190 TWh, while emissions increased only 20%, suggesting a weaker environmental case against Bitcoin despite higher power consumption. Marketly, this could reduce regulatory pressure, improve ESG acceptance, and support sentiment toward Bitcoin and mining stocks by making operating costs more predictable. The article also notes that more stable hydropower pricing may benefit miners such as Marathon Digital, Riot Platforms, and CleanSpark, although no direct financial results are provided.