Crypto mining's high energy consumption is a plus, not a flaw. Mining for Bitcoin or any proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrency is meant to take a lot of energy, just like mining for physical gold. The need for both expensive hardware and sufficient of electricity to power it creates entrance barriers, making it exceedingly difficult (but not impossible) for a small group of miners to gain control of an entire crypto network. Cryptocurrency supporters claim that the decentralized structure has several advantages over centralized currency systems because cryptocurrency networks can function without the need for a trusted intermediary such as a central bank. Miners employ vast quantities of computational power to operate and maintain the security of a cryptocurrency network in place of any centralized authority.