This graphic publication highlights the ecological impact of the Bitcoin blockchain, specifically focusing on the mining of this cryptocurrency within Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Still in development, this publication aims to raise questions about the presence of this activity in the jungle, which exploits the park's hydroelectric resources, and to examine the narrative that presents Bitcoin as a catalyst for the energy transition. Between a crypto-colonial atmosphere and greenwashing, discover the stark contrast between Virunga National Park, the world's second lung after the Amazon, and the energy-consuming mining containers of a French company in a country where only 3% of the rural population has access to electricity.
By scanning the QR code visible on its cover, the reader is transported into the soundscape surrounding the mining containers located in Virunga National Park. The sound composition includes recordings sourced from the X account of the ASIC mining owners, as well as recordings from the Xeno-canto site featuring endemic bird species from the Virunga region.
Below is a link to the guided tour of the container installation site, by BigBlock Green Services, video published on YouTube on August 3, 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR18ausn-hM
