Neither Texas nor Kazakhstan: France could become the new Bitcoin mining paradise.

France is preparing a law that will allow surplus nuclear energy to be used for Bitcoin mining.

France is taking an innovative step by exploring how its surplus nuclear power can be converted into a valuable source for Bitcoin mining. Instead of letting that excess electricity go to waste, the country is looking to turn it into an engine for the digital economy and technological innovation.

A bill, sponsored by legislators from the Rassemblement National party, represents a significant shift in the way nuclear energy is understood and utilized within France. The law proposes that, instead of simply wasting unconsumed energy, it be used to mine cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin.

France reinvents nuclear energy for the digital age

France is the largest producer of nuclear energy in the entire European Union, but at the same time, much of that energy ends up wasted. Therefore, by channeling this excess power into Bitcoin mining, the country is not only seeking to generate additional income but also to position itself at the forefront of technology and energy at a time when the pursuit of sustainability and energy efficiency is critical.

Furthermore, the bill calls for installing cryptocurrency mining equipment directly on the premises of EDF, the country's main electricity company, to maximize the surplus electricity, which is currently largely lost as heat. 

Although this legislative project is still in its early stages, it has the potential to transform a previously overlooked energy resource into a valuable digital asset, thus opening a new door for the relationship between energy and technology in Europe.

France's energy future: renewing its nuclear commitment with an innovative vision

France, with 56 nuclear reactors in operationFor decades, the country has maintained a strong commitment to nuclear energy, which contributes approximately 68% of the national energy mix. Despite facing challenges, such as maintaining aging reactors and some production declines, the country continues to consolidate its position as a leader in this low-carbon energy source.

In fact, as mentioned, France has become the largest producer of nuclear energy in the European Union, generating approximately 338.202 gigawatt hours in 2023, which accounts for more than half of the bloc's nuclear electricity. However, more than two-thirds of this energy is wasted, according to official Eurostat data. Faced with this challenge, the country is considering the possibility of using this surplus energy for bitcoin mining, whose value exceeds $116.000 per unit at the time of writing. 

According to the local newspaper Le Monde, Aurélien López-Liguori, a deputy from the National Rally (RN) party and main promoter of the bill, described this measure as a strategy “safe and extremely profitable.” 

The legislator has argued that Bitcoin mining would reduce energy waste without affecting the national energy structure., generating additional economic benefits for the country. 

From cryptocurrency ban to innovation

With the introduction of the bill in question, France's Rassemblement National party has made a remarkable shift in its stance on cryptocurrencies in less than a decade. 

In 2016, under Marine Le Pen's leadership, the RN viewed digital currencies as threats created by financial elites and proposed banning them, believing they alienated ordinary citizens for the benefit of international banks. However, by 2022, Le Pen softened her approach and proposed controlled regulation, recognizing their growing popularity and presence in the French economy.

The most striking change came this year, with the RN actively promoting bitcoin production by taking advantage of France's surplus nuclear energy. According to the newspaper, during a visit to the Flamanville nuclear plant, Marine Le Pen defended the idea of using this surplus energy to mine cryptocurrency.This initiative reflects a strategy to leverage underutilized resources and position the country as an innovator in a modern technological and economic context.

Nuclear energy: more efficient and sustainable crypto mining

Nuclear energy is emerging as a great ally to revolutionize the way Bitcoin is mined, turning a process traditionally criticized for its high energy consumption into an activity much more sustainable and efficientWhat makes this source special is its ability to generate a large amount of clean, consistent energy, allowing surplus electricity from nuclear plants to be harnessed to power mining equipment without the environmental footprint typically associated with this technology.

Unlike fossil fuel-based energy sources, nuclear energy emits minimal carbon emissions, making it one of the cleanest and most responsible options to meet the growing energy demands of the digital world. Therefore, France is leading the way by seeking to directly connect its nuclear plants with specialized digital mining equipment to fuel the creation of cryptocurrencies with a significantly lower environmental impact.

If this project is consolidated, France will help Bitcoin mining move from being seen solely as an environmental challenge to becoming part of the solution, by joining a cleaner and more balanced energy model. The synergy between nuclear energy and the digital economy has the potential to foster both technological development and the protection of the planet, charting a promising course for the future of the crypto industry and global sustainability.