From AI energy hypocrisy to predicting future Fed movement and serious risks to Bitcoin from quantum computing, Web3 minds had plenty to share over the past few weeks.
Those burning more energy on AI once panned crypto miners
“Big tech can’t keep up with the cost and environmental impact of AI, so it’s unsurprising to hear it will consume half of global data center electricity by next year, leaving Bitcoin mining emissions in the shade.
“This is also, at best, a conservative estimate, as hyperscalers like Microsoft and Google can hide how much energy AI is guzzling in total emissions reports. The fact is, AI run through the mega data center model is an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
“But where are all those corporate critics who slammed Bitcoin for its mining emissions just a few years ago? In answer, they’re invested in Nvidia, which is already devouring nearly half of the energy used for global chip manufacturing.
“This blatant hypocrisy reveals what was truly behind past corporate criticism of Bitcoin: fear of decentralized systems that can’t be controlled or monopolized. And this is why open, transparent, and decentralized cloud systems are being dismissed today.
“With these open systems, anyone can see how much energy is being used and who’s using it, all tracked transparently and immutably, while increased network efficiency supports decreased energy usage.
“Corporate criticism of Bitcoin was never about ESG policies, and neither is this. Perhaps once BlackRock runs a decentralized cloud, though, we’ll see that change.”
– Sebastian Pfeiffer, managing director of Impossible Cloud Network
Inflation hasn’t been tamed just yet
“Although Powell noted that uncertainty has diminished and that the Federal Reserve expects inflation to move toward its target in the coming months, the broader macroeconomic landscape suggests that geopolitical tensions and tariff policies could still exert upward pressure on U.S. inflation.
“While Powell aimed to reinforce confidence in the disinflationary trend, he also emphasized the overall strength of the U.S. economy, which provides the Fed with the flexibility to maintain elevated interest rates for an extended period. Markets interpreted these remarks as somewhat mixed, with a potentially hawkish undertone.
“As a result, equity indices may enter a period of consolidation in the coming month, a dynamic that could also be reflected in Bitcoin’s price behavior.”
– Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets, YouHodler
Quantum more of a threat than Saylor claims
“Michael Saylor’s attempt to dismiss the quantum threats to Bitcoin as simply, ‘yo-yo token marketing’, seriously underestimates the stakes. Quantum computing isn’t just a marketing gimmick – it’s an inevitable technological evolution, and the world’s superpowers are investing billions to be the first. Whichever one achieves quantum supremacy gains access to encrypted systems across finance, defense, and communications, and that could change the entire global power dynamic.
“Bitcoin isn’t uniquely at risk from quantum, but it is especially exposed. Its security model relies entirely on cryptographic assumptions that quantum computers are explicitly designed to break. Proof-of-Work offers no protection in a post-quantum world.
“Governments are certainly taking this threat seriously. The UK has already warned about ‘harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. The US, China, and others are racing to develop post-quantum defences. But still, much of the Web3 space remains complacent.
“Saylor is correct that Bitcoin can upgrade, but there is no point upgrading after “Q-Day” comes, because quantum is retroactive, so past transactions will also be at risk. And if Saylor thinks we’ll see a warning on Twitter before a quantum attack, he’s sadly mistaken. The moment one nation is capable of a full-scale quantum attack, it will act.
“If Bitcoin isn’t post-quantum ready when that happens, the damage will be irreversible. Which is why now is the time to prepare, not simply dismiss the threat as fear-mongering and hype.”
– David Carvalho, founder and CEO of decentralized post-quantum infrastructure Naoris Protocol