<div class="text-lg">
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    We are proud to announce that The Silicon Project has partnered with
    the e-waste management company, 4THBIN! All our staff at We Care Act
    NYC and 4THBIN recognize the growing problem of e-waste, as well as
    the increasing digitization of our world. In this partnership, both
    missions will be furthered: by re-purposing used technology, our
    organizations are reducing the impact of e-waste and giving back to
    the community by providing for youth in-need.
  </p>
</div>
<div class="mt-6 prose prose-slate prose-lg text-black">
  <h1>Partnership Statement</h1>
  <p>
    <span class="font-bold">
      The Silicon Project and the 4THBIN share a common goal in spreading
      awareness of e-waste and promoting healthy e-recycling habits among
      our communities in the New York area.
    </span>
    Through this partnership, The Silicon Project will receive used
    electronics to refurbish and donate to under-served youth around New
    York City while sending all unused or obsolete equipment back to
    4THBIN to maintain their existing recycling chain.
  </p>
  <h1>About The Silicon Project</h1>
  <p>
    The Silicon Project operates under We Care Act, an affiliate
    organization of We Care Act, a Houston-based 501(c)(3) that focuses on
    trying to provide ample community service opportunities for students.
    Our mission at The Silicon Project is to provide underprivileged and
    under-served youth with technology and the necessary means to achieve
    their full potentials. Our secondary mission revolves around the
    notion of increasing social mobility through educating students on
    programming and digital literacy and using the technology they have to
    their fullest advantage.
  </p>
  <h1>About 4THBIN</h1>
  <p>
    4THBIN is an e-recycling and management organization that hundreds of
    providers and businesses due to their certifications and effectiveness
    in their methods of e-waste disposal and data destruction. When they
    were founded over a decade ago, e-waste recycling was not as prominent
    a field as it is now, so they tackled this issue locally at first and
    eventually built up their reputation to help destroy data for various
    types of equipment and even help relocate technology for offices. They
    are also active in educating people on e-waste through their various
    events around the world, such as 4THBIN 4GOOD in Guatemala and
    Sundance in Africa.
  </p>
</div>

The Silicon Project has partnered with 4THBIN to reduce e-waste by repurposing used technology for under-served youth across New York City.

4THBIN x WCA NYC Partnership Announcement

<div><span>Aishal is a 12-year-old seventh grader from Colombia who attends a dual language middle school. She loves reading, mathematics, and Spanish. But for months, she could not complete assignments the way her classmates did because she had no computer at home. While her parents could access online resources, Aishal was left behind, forced to write assignments on paper and miss deadlines. Her story highlights a growing truth: in 2025, being offline is not simply inconvenient, it is exclusionary.</span><span><br></span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Even in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the digital divide remains wide. <b>One in five U.S. households lack reliable high-speed internet, and the average broadband bill is around seventy five dollars per month, a cost that is out of reach for families already struggling to choose between rent, groceries, and other necessities.</b> At the same time, the price of a new laptop averages more than<i> six hundred dollars</i>, putting basic tools for connection far beyond the reach of many low-income households.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent stalled futures and missed opportunities. For students, parents, and job seekers, being offline means being locked out of the very systems that shape modern life. In 2025, digital access has become as essential as electricity or running water. Without it, children cannot complete homework, families cannot schedule doctor’s appointments, and adults are unable to apply for jobs or participate fully in their communities.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>The consequences of disconnection are severe. Nearly every job application is now online, with resume platforms, gig work opportunities, and training programs hidden behind a screen. For those without access, opportunity ends before it even begins. Healthcare has followed the same path. Telehealth visits are now the standard, with prescriptions, test results, and insurance claims managed digitally. Without access, patients face delays in care or exclusion from essential services. Education and civic engagement are no different. Students fall behind when they cannot complete digital assignments. Adults without internet access are cut off from voter registration and basic government services. In every corner of society, being offline has become a barrier to belonging.<br><br>Yet there is hope, and the stories of those who gain access show the transformative power of connection. Omar, a 31-year-old father from Venezuela, dreams of studying industrial engineering at a university. Before receiving a refurbished computer, he could only help his children with their homework on scraps of paper. He urgently needed a computer to continue his own learning and support his family.</span></div><p dir="ltr"><span><br>For Omar, a single refurbished computer became a gateway to opportunity. It allowed him to help his children succeed in school while preparing himself for future studies and professional growth. Like Aishal’s, Omar’s story proves that access to technology is not about charity but about equity and empowerment.<br><br>At The Silicon Project NYC, we are committed to closing the digital divide by refurbishing donated devices and delivering them directly to students and families who need them most. But we cannot do this work alone. You can help by donating your unused laptops, tablets, or phones, which we will restore and place into the hands of learners and parents.&nbsp;<br><br>The digital divide in 2025 is not only about technology. It is about dignity, equity, and opportunity. Being offline today is not an inconvenience, it is exclusion. By working together, we can make sure every student, parent, and community has the chance to connect, learn, and grow.</span></p>

We see firsthand how our donation program changes lives for students and parents like Aishal and Omar, who received refurbished devices through The Silicon Project NYC. As donees, their stories show how being offline in 2025 isn’t just inconvenient - it’s exclusion from education, healthcare, and work. By providing donated computers and tablets directly to those who need them, we empower learners and families facing major barriers to participation in modern life. Each family we serve is not just a statistic - they are humans whose dignity, equity, and opportunities grow with every device placed in their hands.

The Digital Divide and the Hidden Consequences of Being Offline in 2025

<div class="mt-6 prose prose-slate prose-lg text-black">
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    Sister T King Bey, a homeschooled student from New York City, wants to spend her time drawing and animating. Instead, much of her academic and creative life is constrained by a straightforward problem: she does not have a computer.
  </p><p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">“I don’t do assignments online for the fact that I don’t really have a computer at the moment,” she explains.</p><blockquote>“When we go to the library, we normally print out our assignments… 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your age.”</blockquote>
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    Her experience is not an outlier, but a clear example of what the digital divide looks like in practice. Even outside a traditional school setting, the absence of a personal device limits her ability to complete assignments, build digital literacy, and develop the technical skills that are now baseline expectations in education and the labor market.
  </p>
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    Without a personal computer at home, basic tasks many of us take for granted become complicated: schoolwork depends on library access and strict time slots. Online resources that most students have open access to - learning platforms, research databases, creative tools - are not consistently available. For Sister T King Bey, whose interests lie in drawing and animation, the inability to run specialized software was not merely a minor inconvenience; it directly restricted her ability to explore and refine a potential career path.
  </p><p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8"><b>This is a universal struggle among low-income students that spans all five boroughs</b></p>
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">Seventeen-year-old high school senior Jacob Hwang faces a related, but distinct, set of constraints. His school does not allow students to take laptops home, so he completes assignments on his phone or a school-issued iPad.</p>
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    For Jacob, access to free or low-cost technology can alleviate
    financial stressors for him and his family. With college tuition and
    expenses looming, Jacob is saving money to prepare for his higher
    education. "I have a job, and I've been saving up for college. If I
    get a computer it will significantly help me focus toward saving for
    my college," Jacob says.</p>
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    Jacob is balancing a job, college applications, and a demanding course load, including AP Literature and tech-related classes. He is also trying to save for college.
  </p><p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">“I have a job, and I’ve been saving up for college. If I get a computer it will significantly help me focus toward saving for my college,” he says.</p>
  <p>
    For Jacob, a laptop competes directly with tuition and family expenses. The absence of a personal computer does not just make assignments harder; it forces trade-offs between basic educational infrastructure and long-term financial planning. Borrowed or school-controlled devices are not always available when he needs them, and they are often poorly suited to sustained research, writing, or technical work.
  </p>
  <p>
    When Jacob contacted us, we provided him with a donated, refurbished computer from our friends at Palm Bay International.</p><p><b>A nationwide problem with individual consequences</b></p>
  <p>These individual stories sit within a broader structural context. In New York City, access to technology and connectivity is uneven and strongly correlated with income.</p>
  <p>According to a 2020 report by the Office of the New York City Comptroller, approximately <strong data-start="3221" data-end="3273">29% of households lack broadband internet access</strong>, and <strong data-start="3279" data-end="3317">18% have no internet access at all</strong> (1). For students in these households, the shift toward digital platforms in education did not simply introduce new tools; it created new barriers.</p>
  <p data-start="3467" data-end="3898">During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, these gaps translated directly into missed instruction, incomplete assignments, and weaker preparation for college and employment. Students without stable access to devices or the internet did not participate on equal terms. The notion that submitting work online, joining virtual classes, or developing digital skills is “standard” only holds for those who have the infrastructure to do so.</p><p>
</p><p data-start="3900" data-end="4104">Sister T’s reliance on printed assignments and Jacob’s dependence on borrowed devices are not marginal anecdotes - they are representative of how policy - level statistics manifest in day-to-day student life.</p><p data-start="3900" data-end="4104"><b>Where we came in: We Care Act NYC</b></p>
  <p data-start="4164" data-end="4525">In 2022, in response to what we were seeing among peers and younger students, students from the Bronx High School of Science and other New York City schools created <strong data-start="4329" data-end="4348">We Care Act NYC</strong>, a student-run branch of We Care Act Houston. Over two years, we have focused on a straightforward goal: reduce the device gap for students in a post-pandemic education system.</p><p data-start="4527" data-end="4650">The Silicon Project is our initiative specifically focused on technology access and e-waste. Our model is simple by design:</p><ol data-start="4652" data-end="4856">
<li data-start="4652" data-end="4725">
<p data-start="4655" data-end="4725">Collect used computers from individuals, schools, and organizations.</p></li><li data-start="4652" data-end="4725"><p data-start="4655" data-end="4725"><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">Refurbish them—securely wipe data, repair, and install necessary software.</span></p></li>
<li data-start="4806" data-end="4856">
<p data-start="4809" data-end="4856">Donate them directly to students who need them.</p>
</li>
</ol><p>


</p><p data-start="4858" data-end="5109">This approach targets two problems at once. On the educational side, it responds to the clear need for stable, personal devices for students like Sister T and Jacob. On the environmental side, it reduces the volume of electronics that end up as waste.</p><p data-start="4858" data-end="5109"><b>E-waste and equity were not mutually exclusive to our solution</b></p><p data-start="5164" data-end="5400">Electronic waste is not an abstract issue. In 2018, New York State generated more than <strong data-start="5251" data-end="5278">310,000 tons of e-waste</strong> (2). Much of this material contains hazardous components and often includes devices that could be repaired or repurposed.</p><p data-start="5402" data-end="5639">Discarding usable or repairable hardware in a city where students are printing assignments at public libraries or completing essays on phones reflects a misalignment of resources. The Silicon Project’s refurbishment model addresses this.</p><p data-start="5641" data-end="5691">By extending the lifespan of existing devices, we:</p><ul data-start="5693" data-end="5849">
<li data-start="5693" data-end="5747">
<p data-start="5695" data-end="5747">Decrease the volume of e-waste entering landfills.</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5748" data-end="5800">
<p data-start="5750" data-end="5800">Promote more sustainable technology consumption.</p>
</li>
<li data-start="5801" data-end="5849">
<p data-start="5803" data-end="5849">Redirect resources from disposal to education.</p>
</li>
</ul><p data-start="4858" data-end="5109">



</p><p data-start="5851" data-end="6011">This is not a secondary benefit; it is core to the project. Environmental sustainability and educational equity are linked here through the same set of actions.</p><p data-start="5851" data-end="6011"><b>Beyond just hardware: our efforts in digital literacy and practical barriers</b></p><p data-start="6080" data-end="6171">One lesson that has emerged from our work is that devices are necessary but not sufficient.</p><p data-start="6173" data-end="6227">Students who receive computers from us may still face l<span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">imited or unstable internet access at home, l</span><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">ack of familiarity with basic digital tools and file management, and m</span><span style="font-size: 1.125rem;">inimal guidance on online safety, productivity tools, or college and career platforms.</span></p><p data-start="6439" data-end="6793">For that reason, The Silicon Project’s work extends beyond handing over hardware. We prioritize one-to-one engagement, making sure recipients know how to use their devices for core academic tasks, research, and applications. We also serve as a student-to-student support network, helping peers navigate both technology and the systems built on top of it.</p><p data-start="5851" data-end="6011">



</p><p data-start="6795" data-end="6944">The premise is straightforward: an internet connection and a device only translate into opportunity if students are equipped to use them effectively.</p>
</div>

The Silicon Project operates under We Care Act, a student-run 501(c)(3) non-profit chapter operating in the local New York City area. We serve low-income students and families in the five districts, helping to empower youth with accessible technology and educational resources while protecting the environment. Learn how you can get involved today

Humans Behind the Screen: Students Struggling with Digital Inequity

<div class="text-lg">
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    COVID-19 — the pandemic that hit us all, but devastated marginalized
    and lower-income districts the hardest. From job losses to sold-out
    grocery stores, inequality only increased in a city like New York.
    Yet, with considerably all news outlets covering stories of pandemic
    updates, one issue remains salient on the lips of many New Yorkers:
    access to education.
  </p>
</div>
<div class="mt-6 prose prose-slate prose-lg text-black">
  <p>
    School closures, one of the most prominent consequences of COVID-19,
    resulted in roughly <a href="https://wellcome.org/news/equality-global-poverty-how-covid-19-affecting-societies-and-economies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">1.6 billion students learning from home</a>. 
    The pandemic produced staff shortages and zero alternatives to
    teaching in-school, forcing educational facilities across the world to
    switch to online methods of learning. <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2022/03/03/the-pandemic-has-had-devastating-impacts-on-learning-what-will-it-take-to-help-students-catch-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Analyses of these public schools</a> revealed that this transition has disadvantaged students, from data
    showing pupils <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/covid-19-and-education-the-lingering-effects-of-unfinished-learning" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">falling behind in subjects</a> to collaterals, including compromised chances of attending college in
    the future. The pandemic redefined what it meant to have a quality
    education, affecting not only students whose families have sustainable
    incomes but also heavily on those with lower income backgrounds.
  </p>
  <p>
    Noticing the lack of aid to these families, many non-profit
    organizations sought to minimize the burden of COVID-19 and provide
    households with access to materials for COVID relief. Here's where
    Christopher Knight, co-founder of <a href="https://www.devicesforstudents.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Devices for Students</a>, comes into play.
  </p>
  <p>
    While working as the sales and operations manager at Google, Knight
    manages Devices for Students, a non-profit organization dedicated to
    dissolving the digital divide in public schools.
  </p>
  <p>
    The question is, where, and just how did this project all begin?
  </p>
  <p>
    The switch to virtual learning on Zoom and Google Meets caused
    students to access a device in order to join these applications. For
    many families, this was a major obstacle to their child's learning
    and development. Knight noticed his teacher colleagues having a
    difficult time teaching because so many of their students disappeared
    from their virtual classes. With no access to a device or the
    internet, students physically could not attend these classes, and
    thus, learn.
  </p>
  <p>
    Well-known companies such as Facebook and Google made announcements of
    providing computers to families and households that needed them.
    Unfortunately, COVID-19 closed and delayed shipping lines, forcing a
    shortage of computers and causing devices to become unavailable.
  </p>
  <p>
    Knight and his best friend, Jay Pettigrew, both co-founders of Devices
    for Students, grew up with limited access to electronics and felt that
    they needed to take immediate action. Understanding firsthand the
    impact a lack of access to devices can have on education, the two sat
    down to create what the world now knows as Devices for Students.
  </p>
  <p>"Just kind of wanted to be doing something"</p>
  <p>
    The story of how Devices for Students came to be is both fanatical and
    inspiring — Knight has empowered making change occur, even if it means
    starting with a simple tweet.
  </p>
  <p>
    Starting a non-profit takes time, effort, and money, and not all of it
    comes easy. Knight and Pettigrew started their first few days by
    messaging everyone they knew, whether it was someone they met years
    ago or even last night. The goal was for Devices for Students to gain
    acknowledgment and for people to be aware of the non-profit's
    existence, especially influential individuals. Truth be told, it takes
    great deals for a company to run and take off without money; this is
    where donations and funding became especially important.
  </p>
  <p>
    While reaching out, Knight was asked whether he knew what Stuart
    Butterfield, the CEO of Slack Technologies, was doing on Twitter. With
    their idea in merely infant stages, Knight and Pettigrew broke off
    responsibilities between creating a website and reaching out
    simultaneously. Finishing their website in one night, the two created
    an official Twitter account and email domains for Devices for
    Students, with which they began their process of reaching out.
  </p>
  <p>
    Butterfield made a Twitter post about giving away $25,000 to five
    listed charities and to whomever would match with him. Taking up the
    opportunity, Knight tagged Butterfield in a tweet and asked for his
    team to check out Devices for Students' mission. The single tweet was
    ignored, especially since the non-profit was brand new, but it did not
    stop Knight and his team from trying again. The Devices for Students'
    team expanded to their personal network, which yielded significantly
    more impactful results — every one of their friends made Twitter
    accounts to retweet and tag Knight's tweet so that the non-profit
    would gain traction. Eventually, with over several hundred individuals
    mentioning Devices for Students, Butterfield's social secretary
    noticed the engagement, and direct-messaged Knight to inform him that
    the Slack team would "see what they can do." The secretary messaged
    back and informed Knight that the $25,000 was only available for the
    charities and companies mentioned, but the Slack team could make a
    donation of $1000.
  </p>
  <p>
    Knight took up the opportunity and even got another donor who
    committed a donation. However, Knight made a deal between Devices for
    Students and the two donors where one would donate more if the other
    did not, eventually scaling to where both organizations donated
    $10,000 each. Knight and his team received commitments of $20,000 by
    their third day.
  </p>
  <p>
    Starting strong, Knight and his outreach team worked with SPARK, a
    non-profit partner, that established donation lines which allowed
    Devices for Students to take in donations and reach out to other
    donors, getting as much recognition and support as possible. The money
    took time to transfer, but in the meantime, Knight and Pettigrew
    invested $20,000 of their own money to ship computers in and out, and
    get their non-profit started. They began by contacting the schools of
    Knight's teacher colleagues and donated devices directly to students
    through school lunch lines, simultaneously protecting the students'
    privacy and efficiently sending computers out.
  </p>
  <p>
    Successfully supporting over 30 schools, aiding students all over the
    state, and donating over 2,000 computers, Devices for Students have
    slowly dissolved and turned all authority over to SPARK. Reaching the
    impact that was initially sought, Knight and his team turn over the
    responsibility of their mission to nonprofits and organizations that
    have both more time and resources to provide for students globally.
    Instead, Knight and his team are working towards more long-term
    projects that are just as impactful. The team has already made its
    mark by helping establish a creative agency called D/CAL in Detroit,
    and other businesses to raise 5 million dollars used to fund schools
    with brand-new computers. Knight has also been working with Google to
    establish more robust networks to aid in distributing devices and work
    on projects with similar missions on a larger scale.
  </p>
  <p>
    From a serendipitous tweet to a now dissolving COVID-19 project,
    Devices for Students remains one of the unique and inspirational
    non-profit initiatives to exist.
  </p>
</div>

How Devices for Students grew from a single tweet into a powerful COVID-19 relief effort closing the digital divide for students.

From Twitter Threads to COVID Relief

<div class="text-base">
  <p class="mt-8 text-base text-black leading-7">
    Electronic waste (or simply e-waste) is an issue not mentioned enough
    when discussing major global problems, especially climate change.
    However, it accounts for a sizable chunk of Earth's landfill, and when
    not recycled properly, it can release toxic chemicals into the
    environment. Only about 12% of this waste is collected and properly
    disposed of, and much of it goes overseas to third-world countries or
    to our own landfills rather than being safely recycled. If we don't
    dispose of data-storing electronics securely, they leave their old
    owners' data vulnerable to theft and misuse. To combat these issues,
    the non-profit organization 4THBIN has committed itself over the last
    two decades to the proper disposal of electronics through effective
    eco-friendly and data-secure methods.
  </p>
</div>
<div class="mt-6 prose prose-slate prose-base text-black">
  <h1>What is E-Waste?</h1>
  <p>
    E-waste is any electronic device that is no longer wanted or needed.
    This includes computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, televisions,
    and other electronic devices. The problem with e-waste is that it
    contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and other
    toxic substances that can harm the environment and human health if not
    disposed of properly.
  </p>
  <p>
    According to the United Nations, the world generates about 50 million
    tons of e-waste annually, and this number is expected to grow to 120
    million tons by 2050. The United States alone generates about 6.9
    million tons of e-waste each year, making it the second-largest
    producer of e-waste in the world after China.
  </p>
  <h1>The Problem with E-Waste</h1>
  <p>
    The main problem with e-waste is that it contains hazardous materials
    that can harm the environment and human health. When electronic
    devices are disposed of in landfills, these toxic substances can leach
    into the soil and groundwater, contaminating the environment and
    potentially harming people and wildlife.
  </p>
  <p>
    In addition to environmental concerns, e-waste also poses a security
    risk. Many electronic devices contain sensitive information such as
    personal data, financial information, and business secrets. If these
    devices are not properly disposed of, this information could fall into
    the wrong hands.
  </p>
  <h1>4THBIN's Solution</h1>
  <p>
    4THBIN is a New York-based e-waste management company that has been
    providing secure and environmentally responsible e-waste disposal
    services for over 20 years. The company is certified by the e-Stewards
    program, which ensures that e-waste is handled in an environmentally
    responsible manner.
  </p>
  <p>
    One of the key services that 4THBIN provides is secure data
    destruction. The company uses advanced data destruction techniques to
    ensure that all sensitive information is completely removed from
    electronic devices before they are recycled or disposed of. This
    includes physical destruction of hard drives and other storage
    devices, as well as software-based data wiping.
  </p>
  <p>
    In addition to data destruction, 4THBIN also provides e-waste
    recycling services. The company works with certified recycling
    partners to ensure that electronic devices are properly recycled and
    that hazardous materials are disposed of safely. This helps to reduce
    the environmental impact of e-waste and ensures that valuable
    materials are recovered and reused.
  </p>
  <h1>The Benefits of Proper E-Waste Disposal</h1>
  <p>
    Proper e-waste disposal has several benefits. First, it helps to
    protect the environment by preventing hazardous materials from
    contaminating the soil and groundwater. Second, it helps to protect
    sensitive information by ensuring that data is properly destroyed.
    Third, it helps to recover valuable materials that can be reused in
    the production of new electronic devices.
  </p>
  <p>
    By working with companies like 4THBIN, businesses and individuals can
    ensure that their electronic devices are disposed of in a responsible
    and secure manner. This not only helps to protect the environment and
    sensitive information, but also helps to support the circular economy
    by recovering valuable materials for reuse.
  </p>
  <h1>Conclusion</h1>
  <p>
    E-waste is a growing problem that requires immediate attention. With
    the world generating millions of tons of e-waste each year, it is
    important that we take steps to properly dispose of electronic
    devices. Companies like 4THBIN are leading the way in providing secure
    and environmentally responsible e-waste disposal services. By working
    with these companies, we can help to protect the environment, secure
    sensitive information, and support the circular economy.
  </p>
</div>

An in-depth look at how 4THBIN provides secure and environmentally responsible e-waste disposal and recycling services.

4THBIN: Sustainable E-Recycling

<div class="text-lg">
  <p class="mt-8 text-lg text-black leading-8">
    For centuries, precious metals were crucial in maintaining the
    economy, as gold and silver dominated the world markets for its value
    and international applicability as currencies. While they are still
    valuable, their prices are too unstable to be trusted as insurance for
    financial crises, so attempting to curb inflation or address other
    conflicts is almost impossible. However, in the age of the Internet,
    people have begun to create and use cryptocurrency, or "crypto" for
    short, to make virtual transactions. Like precious metals,
    cryptocurrencies' values fluctuate and the "mining" of
    cryptocurrency has tangible impacts on our planet, but unlike
    traditional currencies, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Tether, and
    Cardano are mostly unregulated and don't rely on banks as the primary
    middle-man for financial security and verification. The term
    "cryptocurrency" derives its name from the process of using
    cryptography to store and transmit transactions, which makes them
    extremely secure and hard to intercept. Despite crypto's privacy
    benefits in an era where privacy, especially digital privacy, is all
    but impossible to ensure, its detriments to the environment cannot be
    ignored.
  </p>
</div>
<div class="mt-6 prose prose-slate prose-lg text-black">
  <h1>What Is Crypto Mining?</h1>
  <p>
    Cryptocurrency works through the use of blockchain technology to track
    one's transactions, which ensures that people can not duplicate their
    coins and spend fake coins. Blockchain technology acts like a personal
    recorder of miners' transactions with the fixed crypto blocks over
    many computers to maintain the security of the network. Professional
    crypto miners typically use powerful computer equipment like GPUs and
    ASICs to boost their computing power and improve their chances of
    attaining the bitcoin block.
  </p>
  <p>
    Acquiring crypto "coins" is like acquiring precious metals. In both
    cases, people have to mine for them, and it requires a lot of energy.
    However, mining crypto coins doesn't involve shovels and helmets;
    rather, it's essentially a competition over who can solve a difficult
    hashing problem (finding a given 64-digit hexadecimal, or base-16,
    number) first, as the reward is a block of bitcoins for the user that
    gets added on to the individual's blockchain. This is inefficient and
    strenuous for investors because of the sophisticated software required
    to even build a sufficient mining rig, let alone solving the problems
    quickly.
  </p>
  <p>
    Mining is necessary for the crypto world because by "winning" bitcoins,
    they are essentially making any future transactions with these
    earnings legitimate by recording their time of existence in the
    blockchain. The difficulty of solving hashing problems owes itself to
    the complicated proof-of-work crypto validation process. Proof-of-work
    is the most common algorithm used to generate the hashes, as the
    longer the chain is, the more work is required to solve the hash. As a
    result, the network can be more certain of its security for the use of
    one's blockchain. This prevents people from spending coins they don't
    have by altering their blockchain to record false holdings. Mining is
    also crucial to the very existence of cryptocurrency, as it's the
    primary way of creating new coins in the first place, like printing
    money to maintain the stability of the crypto-network and the security
    of transactions.
  </p>
  <h1>Crypto's Environmental Impact</h1>
  <p>
    Miners have invested in several types of computer equipment to satisfy
    the substantial requirements of computing power that make solving
    hashing puzzles more efficient. However, these methods of optimization
    are astronomically energy-intensive, creating tons of CO2 emissions in
    return. According to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption
    Index, Bitcoin mining consumes around 130 terawatt-hours per year,
    which is comparable to the energy consumption of Norway. On the other
    hand, it's difficult to accurately quantify the carbon footprint of
    mining coins given the decentralized nature of the process where
    miners use varying methods, which makes it hard to track emissions
    from individual energy usage. Miners also don't often report the
    methodology to the network. Despite that, the estimates for U.S.
    Bitcoin mining alone lands at around 40 billion pounds of CO2, and
    this number includes the fact that every few years, the winning crypto
    block is cut in half, making the carbon footprint of one coin doubled
    each time the halving occurs.
  </p>
  <p>
    Another reason for the high usage of computer power comes from the
    proof-of-work algorithm used to generate the hashes in the first
    place, as many crypto networks, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, rely on it
    for security measures. There are alternative methods of coin
    validation that don't require as much computing power and provide
    comparable amounts of security, such as proof of stake, proof of
    capacity, and proof of elapsed time. However, despite these promising
    options, the fact is that proof-of-work mining is here to stay for
    crypto miners, as Bitcoin consumption only increases. As a result of
    the high demand for computing power and China's ban on crypto mining,
    the U.S. has become a major concentration of these processes.
  </p>
  <h1>Making Crypto Greener</h1>
  <p>
    To make crypto more environmentally friendly, we must first tackle the
    proof-of-work method of coin validation. The downside of proof-of-work
    being extremely energy intensive has led to some blockchain and crypto
    platforms to seek greener algorithms. One company using alternatives
    is Tezos, a blockchain organization that relies on proof-of-stake
    algorithms to ensure the security of one's winning tokens. Instead of
    competing on crypto blocks through stacking up on computing power,
    nodes simply have to hold stakes on a certain number of tokens, and an
    algorithm selects a block writer at random, so more stakes increases
    the chances of receiving the block from the chosen node. This process
    doesn't require tons of computing power to compete, which reduces the
    network demand by over 99% compared to standard proof-of-work methods.
    The stark energy-saving characteristic of proof-of-stake has set a
    shift towards safer algorithms, as Ethereum, the second biggest
    blockchain company, plans to use proof-of-stake as its standard in the
    next few months.
  </p>
  <p>
    Similarly, nations, such as Finland, have attempted to address this
    conflict by proposing certain amendments to further regulate
    cryptocurrencies. For example, when Facebook announced they would
    launch their own cryptocurrency, Diem, the European Commission
    responded to the potential dangers associated with it by proposing
    MiCA, which would have implemented protections for people buying
    digital assets and coins, yet didn't specifically discuss blockchains.
    MiCA, however, set a precedent for addressing crypto and the energy
    consumption associated with its production. Lawmakers of this bill
    have also discussed adding disclosure agreements with blockchain
    companies on their energy usage and even setting certain caps and
    standards on these virtual tokens.
  </p>
  <p>
    Cryptocurrencies have rapidly emerged as a massive field in holding
    financial assets for consumers, and despite the debates over the
    severity of blockchain production on the environment, one thing is
    certain: the computing power used to mine for coins certainly has left
    a significant impact on our environment, and there are safer
    alternatives for miners to use to obtain their winning coins.
  </p>
</div>

Exploring how energy-intensive crypto mining, proof-of-work algorithms, and rapidly growing demand for coins are creating serious environmental impacts.

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