thecryptobasic.com
Fresh data shared by prominent XRPL validator Vet has reignited the energy debate between $XRP and Bitcoin.
According to Vet, the $XRP Ledger (XRPL) used just $73,000 worth of electricity to run the entire network over the past year. In contrast, he estimates that Bitcoin consumed between $8 billion and $12 billion in electricity during the same period, calculated using industrial power rates rather than residential costs.
Key Points
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$XRP used $73K in yearly power, while Bitcoin spent $8B–$12B on electricity.
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$XRP Ledger consumed 405,938 kWh yearly, about $0.0000028 per transaction.
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The University of Cambridge Judge Business School Centre for Alternative Finance estimates $BTC at 98.19 TWh per year.
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The gap reflects XRPL’s validator model versus Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work mining system.
Breaking Down the Energy Numbers
Vet shared updated network metrics showing that as of February 15, 2026, XRPL’s total annual electricity consumption stood at:
- 405,938 kWh per year
- 0.0155644388 Wh per transaction
- Around $0.0000028 per $XRP transaction
In comparison, data from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School Centre for Alternative Finance estimates Bitcoin’s theoretical lower bound power demand at 11.20 GW, translating to roughly 98.19 TWh annually.
When converted into dollar terms at industrial electricity rates, that level of consumption implies:
- $8B–$12B per year in electricity costs
- Approximately $50–$80 per $BTC transaction
The contrast highlights the structural difference between XRPL’s consensus model and Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work mining system.
XRPL Developers Weigh In
Wietse Wind, founder of XRPL Labs, added that if hardware investments are excluded and the focus remains strictly on kilowatt-hour usage, XRPL’s cost efficiency could be even more pronounced. He noted that roughly 80% of XRPL Labs’ infrastructure runs on solar energy, including stored solar power used at night.
I bet if we leave the initial investments out (as the mining rigs aren't part of the Bitcoin comparison) and focus just on kWh consumption, the XRPL runs even cheaper, considering 80% of what @XRPLLabs runs, runs on solar and stored solar at night 😎 pic.twitter.com/1GJ61VI8SD
— Wietse Wind – 🪝🛠 Xaman® + XRPL + Xahau (@WietseWind) February 15, 2026
Meanwhile, XRPL developer Bird argued that $XRP transactions are approximately 99.999994% to 99.999997% cheaper than Bitcoin transactions. This translates into $8–$12 billion in energy-related savings over the last year alone, according to his estimate.
Beyond cost, Bird stressed that the difference represents electricity that never needed to be generated or consumed in the first place.
$XRP Maintains Lead in Energy Efficiency
The $XRP Ledger has long positioned itself as one of the most energy-efficient networks among major cryptocurrencies. Unlike Bitcoin’s mining-based validation, XRPL relies on a validator consensus mechanism that does not require competitive computational work.
Previous reports citing data from the University of Cambridge have shown that Bitcoin accounts for close to 0.3% of global energy usage. By comparison, $XRP’s annual network consumption has historically remained in the hundreds of megawatt-hours range.
The updated 2026 figures continue that trend, reinforcing $XRP’s status as one of the lowest-energy networks among top digital assets.
Where Does the Spent $8B–$12B Come From?
Vet also addressed the question of who ultimately pays for Bitcoin’s massive electricity bill. He pointed fingers to miners.
Bitcoin miners fund electricity costs upfront and typically sell a portion of their $BTC rewards to cover operational expenses. This creates what some call persistent sell pressure, especially during periods when Bitcoin’s price weakens, and mining margins tighten.
Ultimately, the numbers reinforce the argument that XRPL can deliver global payments infrastructure at near-zero energy cost. For Bitcoin advocates, the high energy usage remains central to its security model.