Updated on:12/05/2025 05:18 PM 
In an innovative approach to sustainable energy, a New York bathhouse has implemented Bitcoin mining technology to partially heat its facilities, creating buzz and controversy across social media platforms.
BATHHOUSE, established in 2021, operates as a fashionable Brooklyn wellness destination featuring saunas, steam rooms, and three temperature-controlled pools. Two of these pools maintain temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with the spa's Instagram revealing that their thermal energy partially originates from a proprietary Bitcoin mining operation managed by Bathhouse itself.
The spa introduced its eco-friendly initiative through an Instagram post declaring: "Enjoy a warm pool while contributing to the Bitcoin network's security."
Bitcoin mining operations traditionally consume substantial electrical resources while generating significant thermal byproduct. BATHHOUSE has ingeniously repurposed this waste heat, directing it toward warming their pools before implementing a cooling system to protect the mining hardware.
The Instagram caption provocatively asked, "Did you know our pools are heated with byproduct energy from Bitcoin mining?" Despite the spa's enthusiasm for this green initiative, the post elicited considerable backlash from followers.
One user, @bjjacobs, commented, "In 2023, believing Bitcoin mining provides environmental credibility? This must be a poorly executed joke." Another critic, @goldenhoovez, labeled the post "the most misguided content I've encountered recently."
Nevertheless, the broader cryptocurrency sector has increasingly addressed environmental concerns. The industry witnessed significant transformations in sustainability practices, exemplified by the Ethereum Foundation's successful implementation of The Merge in September 2022, which decreased the network's energy consumption by over 99.99%.
By early 2023, Bitcoin demonstrated similar environmental progress, with more than 50% of its mining operations powered by renewable energy sources, according to industry reports.
Critics, however, remain skeptical about the comprehensive environmental benefits. Some experts challenge the narrative of crypto's improved ecological footprint, highlighting additional concerns such as the annual generation of approximately 59,770 tons of hazardous electronic waste resulting from frequent upgrades to more efficient ASIC mining equipment.
