Halfway To Clean: Bitcoin Hits 50% Renewable Mark, Ripple Chairman Reacts

Ripple’s chairman Chris Larsen praised the crypto network’s move toward greener energy this week. He spoke after Ripple handed over the “Skull of Satoshi” artwork at the 2025 Bitcoin conference. Larsen said the gift was a way to recognize progress and to build a better rapport between the two camps.

According to posts on X, Larsen funded the “Change the Code, Not the Climate” campaign entirely on his own back in 2023. He spent six figures to back Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong’s piece, which urged Bitcoin to swap its energy-guzzling proof-of-work system for something kinder to the planet.

The plan didn’t pan out as he had hoped. Still, Larsen seemed upbeat about moving past that setback. He made clear Ripple itself didn’t put any cash into the drive.

In early 2023 when I funded the “Change the Code” campaign, my goal was to see if there was a way to turn Bitcoin into an accelerator for direct air capture. The campaign didn’t work, and that’s ok! Note – Ripple did not fund this campaign.

Bitcoin’s energy transition in the… https://t.co/qIcadDtzDu

— Chris Larsen (@chrislarsensf) May 28, 2025

Based on reports from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, about 50% of Bitcoin’s power now comes from renewable sources. That includes wind, hydropower and even nuclear energy.

Miners have also tapped into waste gas projects, turning flared natural gas into fuel for their rigs. Five years ago, those numbers were far smaller. Today, the shift shows that Bitcoin can clean up its act without rewriting its code.

Special guest at Bitcoin 2025 – the Skull of Satoshi, donated by @Ripple to the Bitcoin community. The Skull will now have a permanent home at the Bitcoin Museum in Nashville. pic.twitter.com/Eo3kNqRvGp

— The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) May 28, 2025

At yesterday’s conference, Ripple formally handed the skull sculpture to the wider Bitcoin community. The gesture was more than a photo-op. It signaled that Ripple wants to ease the tension between XRP supporters and Bitcoin purists.

In the past, the two groups have sparred over fees, speed and now environmental impact. By giving away an artwork meant to spark debate, Ripple is saying, “Let’s talk, not fight.”

Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse joined in the show of goodwill. He called on all crypto players to pull together. He urged regulators to carve out clearer rules, and asked industry insiders to focus on serving the unbanked.

Garlinghouse stressed that XRP and Bitcoin fans have more in common than they might think. He said it’s time to unite against outside pressures, like tightening regulations and market skepticism.

Looking ahead, Ripple’s move could set a tone for how rival networks interact. It proves that even tough critics can find common ground. And it suggests that big art—and big ideas—can help bridge divides.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView