Ethereum's Energy Footprint Put into Perspective by Cambridge Study

A new study from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance has shed light on the energy intensity of major proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains. The research found that Ethereum consumes approximately 7.87 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, which is near the lower end of the spectrum when compared to other PoS networks.

When adjusted for market value, Ethereum's energy intensity stands at around 33 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per $1 million, making it the second-lowest among the PoS networks studied. This figure is significantly lower than Solana's, which used a whopping 13.48 GWh of electricity annually and had an energy intensity of roughly 283 kWh per $1 million.

The study suggests that while Ethereum may not be the most energy-efficient network, it still compares favorably to its peers in the PoS space.