A new University of Cambridge study has found that Ethereum is one of the most energy-efficient major proof-of-stake blockchains considering electricity use to market value. While Ethereum uses overall more electricity than some smaller networks, the study estimates its yearly energy use at just 33 kilowatt-hours per $1 million in market value, which is the second lowest among those studied. These results offer new data on Ethereum’s environmental impact almost four years after it stopped using energy-heavy mining.
According to the estimates by the researchers at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Ethereum uses about 7.87 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year. Solana, by comparison, has the highest annual use at around 13.48 gigawatt-hours and its energy intensity is about 8.5 times higher than Ethereum’s.
Source: jbs.cam.ac.uk
The researchers have examined the electricity sources powering Ethereum’s network. According to their estimates, nuclear and renewable energy sources account for about 56.4% of the electricity needed by Ethereum nodes, with fossil fuels providing the remaining 43.6%.
These results provide new standards for comparing blockchains for investors, legislators, and sustainability academics. As environmental issues influence digital asset adoption, the report supports Ethereum’s reputation as one of the most energy-efficient large blockchains today.
Cambridge research confirms Ethereum’s post-Merge energy use dropped over 99.9% to 7.87 GWh per year, yet the heavy concentration of nodes at a handful of. https://t.co/DXEe0uG8na
— Blockchain Reporter (@blockchainrptr) July 11, 2026
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