Fellowship Year:
2024
Degree:
PhD
Research Country:
Laos
Research Continent:
Asia
Abstract:
Popular narratives surrounding bitcoin, once marked by intrigue for its financial and technological applications, have transformed into widespread skepticism—many decry its environmental harms due to its high rates of energy consumption. This research project investigates the complexities surrounding bitcoin production in Laos, utilizing its hydropower resources, to challenge the notion that bitcoin requires a transition to clean energy sources. It poses a critical question: In what ways does the moral ecology surrounding hydropower-based bitcoin mining in Laos alter its associated environmental narratives?