A group of lawmakers in France is advocating for a national review on how Bitcoin mining can help address the country’s persistent surplus in electricity production.
The proposal, submitted to the French National Assembly on June 12, urges the government to examine whether Bitcoin’s energy-intensive mining process could be harnessed to absorb excess power, especially from the nuclear plants that generate the bulk of France’s electricity.
A translated version of their proposal reads:
“At a time when France is seeking to optimize the management of its surplus electricity production—particularly from nuclear or renewable sources—Bitcoin mining offers unique technical characteristics.”
France relies heavily on nuclear energy, which currently supplies over 70% of its power, according to EBSCO data.
While this has positioned the country as a leader in clean energy generation, it also results in frequent overproduction. Raphaël Bloch, co-founder of The Big Whale, recently pointed out that France lost nearly €80 million in 2024 due to wasted electricity.
Considering this, the lawmakers argued that Bitcoin mining could have transformed that surplus into economic value.
France Bitcoin mining proposal
The lawmakers’ amendment request calls for an official report to assess the conditions under which Bitcoin mining can be integrated into the national energy system.
They pointed out that Bitcoin mining facilities could act as flexible energy consumers as their operations can be switched on and off quickly, located near power stations, and scaled without disrupting the grid.
According to the lawmakers, this setup would help stabilize energy markets. It could also reduce the wear and tear on nuclear plants by easing the need for constant power output adjustments.
Moreover, old industrial sites could be revived as mining centers, while excess heat from mining could be recycled for nearby cities or industries.
They also proposed building a regulated, low-carbon Bitcoin mining sector in France. This initiative, they argue, would align with the country’s decarbonization goals and offer a new avenue for innovation and job creation.
Global trends
France’s interest in Bitcoin mining reflects a broader international trend of countries seeing BTC mining as a strategic tool to balance energy supply, reduce waste, and support innovation in the digital economy.
Earlier this year, Belarus’ President directed his government to study Bitcoin mining as a way of consuming surplus power.
More recently, the national crypto council in Pakistan announced plans to allocate 2,000 megawatts of electricity to the country’s BTC mining and AI data centers.
Daniel Batten, a Bitcoin mining researcher, argued that these efforts reflect the critical role of Bitcoin mining’s unique type of energy consumption in ensuring energy affordability and abundance.
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