Assuming all the underlying assumptions are correct, isn’t this still comparing apples to oranges? Bitcoin does around 250k transactions per day [1] compared to credit cards doing ~1 billion [2]. And Bitcoin will only get less efficient.<p>[1]. <a href="https://ycharts.com/indicators/bitcoin_transactions_per_day" rel="nofollow">https://ycharts.com/indicators/bitcoin_transactions_per_day</a>
[2]. <a href="https://www.cardrates.com/advice/number-of-credit-card-transactions-per-day-year/" rel="nofollow">https://www.cardrates.com/advice/number-of-credit-card-trans...</a>
This is really comparing apples to apple carts.<p>The "research" narrowly defines Bitcoin energy consumption to include mining and node operation, but broadly defines banking industry energy usage to include even things like branch offices and ATMs.<p>A surprised Pikachu gif should really accompany their conclusion that the global financial industry consumes more energy the bitcoin mining and nodes.