Nuclear energy-backed Bitcoin mining plan proposed in France

French lawmakers have proposed legislation allowing the state utility Électricité de France (EDF) to use surplus electricity from its nuclear power plants for Bitcoin mining. The bill aims to install mining hardware directly at nuclear sites to convert otherwise wasted energy into digital assets, leveraging France’s position as the largest nuclear power producer in the European Union. Since over two-thirds of the heat generated by nuclear fission is lost before reaching the grid, proponents argue that Bitcoin mining could capture value from this unused capacity without increasing overall electricity demand. This initiative represents a notable political shift, particularly from the right-wing Rassemblement National party, which previously opposed cryptocurrencies but now actively supports crypto-friendly legislation. The proposal follows similar global trends, such as Pakistan’s plan to use underutilized coal-plant capacity for crypto mining and Tether’s experiments with surplus renewable energy mining in South America. However, environmental concerns persist due to Bitcoin’s high energy consumption—estimated between 138 and 173 terawatt-hours annually—raising debates about the