Технологічні та економічні аспекти використання сонячних електростанцій у майнінгу криптовалют: переваги та обмеження

English

Technological and economic aspects of using solar power plants in cryptocurrency mining: advantages and limitations

Abstract. Introduction. Cryptocurrencies have become an integral part of the modern economic system, offering new opportunities for financial transactions, investment, and asset preservation. The central component of this industry is the mining process, which ensures the functioning of blockchains, the creation of new coins and the verification of transactions. Mining is a complex phenomenon that combines technological, economic and environmental aspects, and its development largely determines the future of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The growing popularity of mining raises questions about the efficiency of equipment use, the choice of cryptocurrencies, and the impact of technology on energy consumption and the environment. In addition, the transition of many blockchains from the Proof of Work algorithm to Proof of Stake creates new challenges and opportunities for the industry. Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze the technological and economic aspects of cryptocurrency mining in the context of modern technological development, to reveal the advantages and challenges of the Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithm, and to assess the profitability of using various mining equipment. The article aims at highlighting the peculiarities of this activity as a potential source of passive income, taking into account the risks and prospects of integration into the modern economic system. Materials and methods. The research used an analytical approach to study the technological and economic aspects of cryptocurrency mining. The main sources of data were open information platforms (CoinMarketCap, WhatToMine), technical resources dedicated to mining (Hive OS, Ezil), as well as specialized studies and legislation. Results. The study identified key factors that affect the efficiency of cryptocurrency mining. In particular, it was found that the choice of hardware is one of the most important aspects. A comparative analysis showed that ASIC devices provide the highest performance and energy efficiency, while GPU and CPU miners have more flexibility in working with different algorithms, but are inferior in terms of profitability in a highly competitive environment. Discussion. Further research could be aimed at analyzing the impact of regulatory policy on cryptocurrency mining in different countries, studying models of integration of mining systems with renewable energy sources, which will help reduce the carbon footprint. In addition, a promising area is the study of the economic and technical aspects of the transition to PoS, in particular its impact on network participants and the level of blockchain security. An important task is also to develop technical innovations, such as improving cooling systems for mining equipment and introducing new, more efficient mining approaches.

Keywords: cryptocurrency mining; ASIC; GPU; CPU; consensus algorithm; Proof of Work; Proof of Stake; coin selection; technical risks; energy efficiency; solar power plants