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There is no single, directly comparable figure for “AI power consumption” and “crypto power consumption.” The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that all data centres used 485 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2025, with 950 TWh projected for 2030. That total includes non-AI computing. For Bitcoin mining, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance estimated annualised use at 138.2 TWh on 30 June 2024, then modeled 183 TWh for 31 December 2024. Those figures describe different systems and periods, so they do not establish an exact current AI-versus-crypto ratio.
What does “power consumption” mean in this comparison?
People often say “power” when they mean electricity consumed over time. Electricity consumption is commonly expressed in terawatt-hours (TWh); instantaneous power demand is measured in megawatts (MW) or gigawatts (GW). The figures below are annual consumption estimates or projections, not a snapshot of how much power a system draws at one moment.
The boundaries matter as much as the units. “AI” could mean one model, a service, or the data centres that train and run AI systems. The latest global figures from the IEA cover data centres as a whole, not AI alone. “Crypto” could mean one blockchain or several networks. Bitcoin is a prominent proof-of-work network, but it does not represent every cryptocurrency.
How much electricity does AI use compared with crypto?
The best available headline figures are useful for scale, but they are not a like-for-like measurement:
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- Various Monitoring Parameters: The power meter plug can monitor the power (W), energy (kWh), volts, amps, hertz, power factor, cost, minimum and maximum power (W), cumulative days and time of your appliances. By switching 7 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The home energy monitor can also calculate and display how much power your appliance uses and how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Upgraded LCD Display: With large screen size 2.36 inch x 1.85 inch, clearer monitor backlit, our electrical usage monitor can display the data clearer and more visible no matter day or night. 180°full wide viewing angles is great for reading and recording the data in any angles. No need to stand on the front of the display and bend over to read the numbers
- Adjustable Backlight Time: Our upgraded watt meter has 5 options of backlight time. The default backlight time duration is 10 minutes(bL-0). If you want to change the backlight time, you can press and hold "UP" and "DOWN" button at the same time to enter backlight time setting, then press "UP" and "DOWN" to select the backlight time (bL-0 =10 minutes, bL-1=1 hour, bL-2=4 hours, bL-3=8 hours, bL-4=always on), finally press the "COST" to save the backlight time settings
- Overload protection: When the power of the appliance exceeds the overload power, the LCD will display “OVERLOAD” to warn the user. All the buttons will quit working and can only be workable when you lower or remove the load power. The default overload power is 3680W and is adjustable from 0 to 3680W. In general, you need to set the overload power to 1800W before using. Just press the "function" button for more than 3 seconds to enter the setting
- Data Memory Function: The wattage meter will record your power consumption data when you remove it from socket, or remove appliances from the electricity monitor. You can directly see the last data when you use it next time. This function can also automatically save the data when there is a sudden power failure
| System and figure | What it covers | Period and status |
|---|---|---|
| 485 TWh | All global data centres, including AI and non-AI workloads | IEA estimate for 2025 |
| 950 TWh | All global data centres, including AI and non-AI workloads | IEA projection for 2030, not observed consumption |
| 138.2 TWh annualised | Bitcoin mining | Cambridge estimate as of 30 June 2024; annualised from a survey snapshot |
| 183 TWh | Bitcoin mining | Cambridge model extension for 31 December 2024, not a direct full-year meter reading |
The IEA also reports that AI-focused data-centre electricity consumption grew 50% in 2025 and projects it to triple between 2025 and 2030. This describes AI-focused facilities, while the 485 TWh and 950 TWh totals cover all data centres. The IEA’s 2025 report estimated total data-centre consumption at 415 TWh in 2024, about 1.5% of global electricity use. IEA: Energy demand from AI; IEA: Energy and AI.
On those measures, total data-centre consumption is larger than the cited Bitcoin estimates. But the comparison cannot show how much electricity AI itself used versus Bitcoin: the data-centre total includes many other workloads, and the Bitcoin figures refer to different dates and estimation approaches. The available figures do not support a precise current ratio.
Rank #2
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- ✓ Data Storage: The plug-in electricity meter stores all non-real-time data, ensuring no information is lost in the event of a sudden power outage. If data exceeds the screen’s maximum display range, the screen will flash as a reminder. Pressing and holding the reset button for 3 seconds will reset the cumulative data to zero.
- ✓ Safe to Use: Rated voltage 125VAC, 60Hz, 15A maximum 1875W resistor and tungsten wire, 1/2HP. Clean and tidy interface, very simple to use.
Why Bitcoin and other crypto networks differ
Bitcoin uses proof of work
Bitcoin miners run specialized computers to compete to add blocks to the network. That proof-of-work process consumes electricity. Cambridge estimates network-wide demand using a model of mining hardware rather than direct readings from every miner, because the network is distributed and its total power use cannot be measured at a single meter.
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Cambridge’s estimate of 138.2 TWh annualised on 30 June 2024 drew on survey responses representing 48% of Bitcoin’s network hashrate at that time. Its model estimate for the same date was 137.4 TWh. The 183 TWh estimate for 31 December 2024 was a model extension based on network hashrate and hardware-efficiency assumptions. These are estimates, not comprehensive meter totals. Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance: 2025 Global Cryptoasset Mining Industry Report; Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index methodology and estimates.
Rank #3
- Multi-function power monitor: Our electric usage monitor can monitor the power (W), electricity(kWh), voltage(V), frequency(Hz), current(A), power factor(PF), unit price($/kWh), total cost($) of your appliances. By switching 8 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The “electricity” mode can calculate and display how much power your appliance uses. And the “total cost” mode will show how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Overload protection: When the loading power of the appliance is over the default overload threshold 1800W, the whole display with backlight and the word “OVERLOAD” will keep flashing to warn the users. Please turn off the appliance for safety concern
- Premium Material: The whole body of our energy meter is made of high-quality ABS material. It makes our home electricity usage monitor more long lasting, fireproof and anti-drop. The standard US socket and plug is suitable for all US standard appliances
- Backlight Display: With white backlight and black words, the LCD display of our home power monitor can display the data clearer and help you to read the data easier no matter day or night. The backlight will only lights up when the device is connected to AC power. If no button is pressed, the backlight turns off automatically after 10 minutes. You can also press the "UP" button to turn off the backlight manually, and press any button to turn on backlight again
- Easy to reset: No reset tool needed, our appliance power usage meter is easy to reset. You can press the “M” button for 5 seconds directly to reset the device. After reset, all cumulative data (electricity quantity, cost) will be cleared, and all settings will be restored to factory settings
Proof of stake does not require the same mining competition
Crypto networks using proof of stake do not rely on the same energy-intensive mining process. Ethereum’s consensus change is one example: the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), citing Cambridge data, says Ethereum’s power demand after the change was 0.005% of Bitcoin’s. That comparison concerns Ethereum and Bitcoin, not all proof-of-stake and proof-of-work networks. EIA: Bitcoin’s energy use and the challenges of estimating it; Ethereum: Energy consumption.
How certain are the estimates?
Neither global data-centre use nor Bitcoin’s network electricity consumption is a perfectly simple count of dedicated meters. For Bitcoin, Cambridge’s Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index (CBECI) models a basket of real mining hardware and publishes lower, best-guess, and upper estimates. The range reflects uncertainty about the equipment operating across the network and its efficiency.
Rank #4
- Multi-function Power Monitor: Our electric usage monitor can monitor the power (W), electricity(kWh), voltage(V), frequency(Hz), current(A), power factor(PF), unit price($/kWh), total cost($) of your appliances. By switching 8 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The “electricity” mode can calculate and display how much power your appliance uses. And the “total cost” mode will show how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Overload Protection: When the loading power of the appliance is over the default overload threshold 1800W, the whole display with backlight and the word “OVERLOAD” will keep flashing to warn the users. Please turn off the appliance for safety concern
- Premium Material: The whole body of our energy meter is made of high-quality ABS material. It makes our home electricity usage monitor more long lasting, fireproof and anti-drop. The standard US socket and plug is suitable for all US standard appliances
- Backlight Display: With white backlight and black words, the LCD display of our home power monitor can display the data clearer and help you to read the data easier no matter day or night. The backlight will only lights up when the device is connected to AC power. If no button is pressed, the backlight turns off automatically after 10 minutes. You can also press the "UP" button to turn off the backlight manually, and press any button to turn on backlight again
- Easy to Reset: No reset tool needed, our appliance power usage meter is easy to reset. You can press the “M” button for 5 seconds directly to reset the device. After reset, all cumulative data (electricity quantity, cost) will be cleared, and all settings will be restored to factory settings
That uncertainty is visible in older estimates. The EIA reported a Cambridge range of 67–240 TWh for Bitcoin in 2023, with a 120 TWh point estimate. Treat that as evidence of the uncertainty in the 2023 estimate, not as a current figure. The EIA notes that mining locations can be difficult to identify, miners may relocate to find lower-cost electricity, and operators often do not disclose their power draw or operating details. EIA: Bitcoin’s energy use and the challenges of estimating it.
Data-centre forecasts also depend on assumptions. The IEA’s 950 TWh figure for 2030 is a projection, not a guaranteed outcome; adoption, hardware and software efficiency, construction, and energy infrastructure can all affect demand. The IEA’s 2025 outlook projected 945 TWh for 2030 in its Base Case, while its 2026 update gives a revised central projection of 950 TWh. IEA: Energy demand from AI.
Best Value
- Various Monitoring Parameters: The power meter plug can monitor the power (W), energy (kWh), volts, amps, hertz, power factor, cost,minimum and maximum power (W), cumulative days and time of your appliances. By switching 8 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The wattage meter can also calculate and display how much power your appliance uses and how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Premium Material: The whole body of our power monitor is made of high-quality PC material. It makes our home power consumption monitor more long lasting, heat resistant and fall resistant. The standard US socket and plug is suitable for all US standard appliances
- Overload Protection: When the power of the appliance exceeds the overload power, the word "OVERLOAD" and the LCD display will keep flashing, the buzzer will keep making a bi sound to warn the users. All the buttons will quit working and can only work again when the overload alarm has been cleared by raising the setting value or removing the appliance. The default overload power is 3680W and is adjustable from 0 to 3680W. In general, you need to set the overload power to 1800W before using. Just press the "MODE" button for more than 3 seconds to enter the setting
- KWH Alarm: Our power monitor plug has a upgraded power consumption alarm function. You can set the alarm power consumption for the appliances you monitored. Once the accumulated power consumption reaches the set alarm power consumption, the word "kwh alarm" will be displayed and keep flashing, the LCD will also keep flashing, and the buzzer will keep making a bi sound all the time to warn the users
- Data Memory Function: The watt meter plug in will record your power consumption data when you remove energy meter from socket, or remove appliances from the electricity monitor. All setting data and cumulative data(electricity quantity, cost, unit price, time) will be saved. You can directly see the last data when you use the electric usage meter plug next time(NOT including current, voltage, power, power factors). This function can also automatically save the data when there is a sudden power failure
Electricity consumption is not the same as climate impact
TWh measures electricity consumed, not the emissions associated with producing it. Emissions depend in part on the electricity sources supplying a facility or miner, and on how those sources are accounted for. A larger electricity total does not by itself establish a larger carbon footprint.
Cambridge’s 2025 survey reported a 52.4% sustainable-energy share for surveyed Bitcoin mining: 42.6% renewables and 9.8% nuclear. It also estimated 39.8 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide-equivalent (MtCO₂e) in network-wide emissions. These are survey-based and estimated figures, not a universally metered inventory of every mining operation. Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance: 2025 Global Cryptoasset Mining Industry Report.
What to take from the comparison
- AI has no single global electricity figure in these sources: the broad IEA totals cover all data centres, not AI alone.
- Bitcoin’s proof-of-work mining has a distinct electricity footprint, but its network-wide consumption is estimated using models and surveys.
- The IEA’s 2030 data-centre figure is a projection, while Cambridge’s Bitcoin estimates are tied to 2024 snapshots and modeling.
- Crypto networks should be compared by consensus mechanism and named network, not treated as one uniform category.
- Electricity use alone does not determine emissions; the electricity mix and accounting boundary matter.
The IEA’s 2025 report puts the connection succinctly: “There is no AI without energy – specifically electricity for data centres.” IEA: Energy and AI.
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