Introduction
The discussion around bitcoin and its role in the global zeitgeist as an asset and financial network is rapidly evolving. Even faster is the narrative around bitcoin's impact on the environment. The potential for bitcoin mining to accelerate electrification, deployment of renewables, and mitigate methane emissions is frequently discussed but has not been thoroughly addressed by research. The Digital Assets Research Institute (DARI) aims to fill this gap. Given the rapid growth and significant impact of this technology, robust and accessible research is crucial. DARI (da-ri.org) strives to deliver high-quality research that is rigorous, easily accessible, and understandable, thereby making it useful. Our mission is to communicate the direction and impact of digital assets through insightful and impartial analysis, with a particular focus on the environmental impacts and opportunities associated with bitcoin.
Who Are We?
DARI operates as a neutral think tank, distinctly separate from any industry bodies. This independence allows us to maintain an unbiased perspective, ensuring that our research is both objective and reliable. Our team consists of exceptional thinkers and writers, each dedicated to investigating and developing articles that contribute to a truthful and unbiased narrative around bitcoin and its role in various sectors, especially environmental sustainability. Our collaborative approach is designed to enhance the quality of our work and uphold our commitment to excellence.
Our founding team is comprised of:
Each member of our team brings a unique and experienced perspective, including academic and practical research, policy, and business expertise.
Research Approach
DARI is dedicated to credibly and unbiasedly examining the impact of digital assets on society and the environment. Our research focuses on key areas such as Bitcoin’s role in electrification, the deployment of renewable energy generation, and methane mitigation.
Our research benefits from our industry-leading Bitcoin Energy and Emissions Sustainability Tracker (BEEST) model. This database tracks key measures of the environmental impact of bitcoin mining globally and is currently the largest and most comprehensive database of its kind in the world. It focuses on accurate and up-to-date information, building on and exceeding the quality of pre-existing databases by combining a broader range of verified sources. It also improves upon current databases by implementing thorough, statistically appropriate sampling methods to create a more representative reflection of mining data.
The BEEST model tracks energy use, sources, and emissions against key comparators such as other industries and global averages. This database continues to grow and improve through real-time updates from current sources and augmentation with new data collected by our team from across the sector and around the world. This powerful tool enables us to create robust and insightful findings that we are eager to share. The model and its findings have already made significant impacts by definitively showing that existing measures of energy use by the bitcoin network were significantly overstated by prior models – by as much as 25%.
Influence and Advisory
DARI is dedicated to being a trusted source of useful and informative knowledge for sovereign wealth funds, investors, policymakers, and regulators. By providing these groups with unbiased and accurate information, we enable them to make informed decisions free from bias and misinformation. In turn this will unlock new, ethical, and significant sources of investment in the bitcoin ecosystem, particularly in renewably powered and methane-mitigating mining operations.
Our research serves as a vital tool in strategic decision-making processes, ensuring that investments are both informed and impactful while delivering exceptional results. Additionally, we play a crucial role in discussing the impact of the bitcoin ecosystem on communities and organisations, helping to promote a deeper understanding of its potential benefits.
Engagement with Policy and Regulation
Engaging with policymakers and regulators is a core component of DARI's approach. We recognise the importance of shaping a world that understands the role of bitcoin in our energy, financial, and climate future. Our research provides the foundation for informed policy discussions, helping to create a regulatory environment that supports innovation while protecting stakeholders. By actively participating in policy development, DARI contributes to creating a robust operating framework that underpins the growth and sustainability of the digital asset sector.
At DARI, we are on a journey to seek understanding and communicate our findings clearly. We invite stakeholders, investors, and policymakers to join us in our mission to drive the future of digital assets through insightful and impactful research. With your support, we can understand how to best realize the potential of one of the most significant technologies ever created, and of an idea whose time has come.
What's Next for DARI?
We are analysing our data for useful insights and revisiting our early work to create our first set of insights. Stay tuned for these releases and keep an eye on our website at da-ri.org, our Twitter/X account @dari_org, and our LinkedIn for more information, publications, and news.
In the meantime, we are looking for smart, motivated, and skilled digital asset subject matter experts and researchers to join our team. We are also seeking partner organizations with useful insights and capabilities to collaborate, and funders to help us reach the right audiences with our ground-breaking and insightful research. Get in touch if you think you can help us create a world where bitcoin and the ESG discussion are conducted on even and informed terms!
