The term "bitcoin mining" has become a popular headline topic with debates about the associated environmental impacts.  The term refers to the process by which Bitcoin transactions are verified and recorded on the blockchain.  It requires powerful processing capabilities and a lot of electricity on demand to run that capacity.  

Hence the criticism - if so much energy is necessary, surely bitcoin mining must be environmentally "bad."  Following China's ban on cryptocurrency mining last year, a new study suggests that bitcoin mining has contributed to additional CO2 emissions.  

However, some miners have located themselves in an attempt to be environmentally beneficial, utilizing what would otherwise be wasted energy sources such as natural gas that would be flared or waste coal.  One such operation stated that it made $ 4 million dollars last year and reduced the emissions that would have occurred from flaring by more than 60 percent.  Other miners are looking for renewable energy resources.