32 votes against – 24 votes for… It was a close call for the “proof of work” cryptocurrency miningsuch as bitcoin, theethereum and Litecoin, finds itself banned from European soil.
I’so-called “MiCA” amendment (Markets in Crypto-Assets) was backed by an assortment of environmental groups from the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic Affairs:
- the group the Greens / European Free Alliance;
- the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D);
- and the European United Left/Nordic Green Left group.
It aimed to restrict mining activity, under the pretext of a carbon footprint very negative, despite many signs of improvement in this activity and even the prospect ofa green bitcoin at a relatively near horizon.
The MiCA amendment was rejected by a coalition formed by the European People’s Party, the Renew Europe group and the Identity and Democracy group.
The opponents have not said their last word
If the proposal had been adopted, it would have represented a serious setback for the companies practicing the mining of bitcoins or ethereums in Europe, which would have been forced in the more or less long term to move their installations under more favorable skies such as America, which has become the No. 1 in miningfollowing the measures adopted in China against this activity in the spring of 2021.
In the USA, as in Russia and Europe, a mining offensive originated at the end of last year. On our continent, he is one of the vice-presidents of theFinancial Markets Authoritythe Swede Erik Thédeen, who was at the origin of this crusade.
Is the victory final? Not really. The ecological parties intend to return to the charge soon during the vote in the European Parliament which will involve the 705 deputies of this assembly.
Interested in what you just read?