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Crypto mining is overheating the Earth — and satellites just proved it.A heat map from space just exposed the energy footprint of U.S. crypto mining.New satellite imagery captured by UK-based company SatVu shows intense heat signatures from one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining operations, located in Rockdale, Texas. The facility — widely believed to be operated by Riot Platforms — draws 700 megawatts of electricity, about as much as 300,000 homes.The thermal images, captured by SatVu’s HotSat-1, use infrared sensors with 11.5-foot (3.5-meter) resolution, making it possible to see which cooling systems, transformers, and substations are under load — and which are not.These satellite tools offer something new: real-time, evidence-based views of energy consumption, cutting through PR statements and delayed reports. For industries like crypto — where power use is massive, and transparency is often lacking — thermal surveillance may become a powerful tool for regulators, researchers, and the public.According to McKinsey, global investment in data centers is expected to exceed $7 billion by 2030, and these centers already account for 0.5% of all global CO₂ emissions. Bitcoin is especially energy-intensive: a single transaction can emit as much CO₂ as driving 1,600 miles (2,500 km) in a gasoline car.The goal, SatVu says, is not just to monitor — but to help decision-makers respond. As more AI, crypto, and cloud computing facilities come online, their thermal signatures may soon be tracked from orbit as easily as weather systems.Learn more:"Satellites reveal heat leaking from largest US cryptocurrency mining center." Space, 2025.📸Credit: SatVu