Part 6/14:
Troy describes the transition from command-line mining on laptops to large-scale GPU farms, highlighting how the network's hash rate has increased dramatically. An important insight emerges: Bitcoin miners today operate as "non-rival consumers of energy," actively seeking stranded or surplus energy—like flare gas at oil wells or stranded renewable power—that would otherwise go to waste.
He stresses the role of Bitcoin in supporting renewable energy: by utilizing intermittent, excess power from wind, solar, and hydro sources, Bitcoin mining can catalyze the greening of energy infrastructure. During periods of low demand, miners step in, helping to stabilize grids and making the expansion of renewable capacity economically viable.