Umweltbewertung und regulatorische Herausforderungen von DLT-Lösungen – Schlussbericht

Summary

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), especially blockchain, is considered promising but entails significant energy and resource consumption depending on its implementation. This study by the German Environment Agency assessed the environmental impacts of blockchain applications using life cycle assessments for four use cases, compared them with alternatives, and discussed regulatory frameworks. The findings indicate that Proof-of-Work (POW) systems cause significantly higher environmental burdens than Proof-of-Stake (POS) alternatives. Regulatory interventions are deemed necessary, and a detailed cost-benefit analysis of potential measures is recommended for future action.

Key Facts

Source Document

https://example-government.gov/policy-document-link