>>It generates demand for finite electrical resources that have a net negative externality on the climate. The expansion of any industry does that. Singling ou

>>It generates demand for finite electrical resources that have a net negative externality on the climate. The expansion of any industry does that. Singling out crypto suggests something else motivating the measure. >>The argument "But people would be using the electricity for something else if not for crypto" is unsupported; given the uniquely mobile and speculative nature of proof-of-work crypto, That argument is not necessary. The point is any non-essential activity that uses electricity has this environmental impact, and said impact could be reduced by taxing CO2 emissions from non-essential activity.