Bitcoin: Climate Villain Or Solution with Daniel Batten
About this episode
Daniel Batten discusses how Bitcoin mining can serve as a solution to climate challenges rather than being an environmental villain.
Daniel Batten, climate tech investor, ESG analyst, and co-founder of CH4 Capital, challenges the widespread perception that Bitcoin mining is an environmental villain. Instead, he makes the case that Bitcoin mining can become the essential shock absorber for grids managing simultaneous unpredictability: surging renewable energy supply and spiking AI data centre demand. With 80% of operational costs tied to electricity, Bitcoin miners are uniquely incentivised to monetise stranded renewable energy and provide unmatched grid flexibility through demand response. Daniel explores how his firm weaponises Bitcoin mining to mitigate methane emissions from landfills—converting this gas 84 times more warming than CO₂ into carbon-negative electricity. He discusses permaculture approaches to mining, trials for grid operators, and why energy literacy remains the barrier to policymaker adoption of this counterintuitive climate solution.
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