Bitcoin mining in China could soon generate as much carbon emissions as some European countries, study finds

New York (CNN Business) Bitcoin’s soaring popularity could have a long-lasting negative effect on the environment. Cryptocurrency mining requires significant computer power and electricity, and the increase in bitcoin purchases leaves behind a hefty carbon footprint. But just how much is bitcoin mining contributing to global warming? In China alone, bitcoin is projected to generate more than 130 million metric tons of carbon emissions by the time the technology’s energy consumption peaks in 2024, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications . That amount of greenhouse gases would have surpassed the total annual emissions output…