Crypto Community Debunks New York Times’ Bitcoin Mining Emissions Report

Riot Platforms‘ Vice President Pierre Rochard has called out The New York Times for an article containing misleading information on Bitcoin mining’s environmental impact. Rochard, along with others in the crypto industry, criticized the media outlet’s research methodology and urged them to open-source their data.

The New York Times conducted a market-based simulation and examined 34 large-scale mining operations, using both public and confidential records and commissioned studies. Rochard accused the publication of “fictitious carbon accounting” and “cooking the books to fabricate emissions.”

Riot Platforms’ crypto mining operation in Rockdale, Texas, was mentioned in the article, which claimed it used as much electricity as the nearest 300,000 homes. WattTime, a non-profit tech company, was cited as a source. However, companies objected to the methodology used, arguing that it held them to an unfair standard when calculating emissions.

The criticism comes as the United States increases its presence in the mining industry, particularly in Texas, where state-level legislation is favorable. The crypto community has also criticized The New York Times for a “breathless love letter” to Sam Bankman-Fried, the former FTX CEO, in the past. With the latest backlash on the mining article, the publication may face even more scrutiny from the crypto community.