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    Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Geoforum. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Geoforum, 122, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019

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Uneven Development, Crypto-regionalism, and the (Un-)tethering of Nature in Quebec

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Uneven Development, Crypto-regionalism, and the (Un-)tethering of Nature in Quebec. / Atkins, Ed; Follis, Luca; Neimark, Benjamin et al.
In: Geoforum, Vol. 122, 30.06.2021, p. 63-73.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Atkins E, Follis L, Neimark B, Thomas V. Uneven Development, Crypto-regionalism, and the (Un-)tethering of Nature in Quebec. Geoforum. 2021 Jun 30;122:63-73. Epub 2021 Apr 14. doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019

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Bibtex

@article{0241dbb7b16a43d2974940411d5b46ee,
title = "Uneven Development, Crypto-regionalism, and the (Un-)tethering of Nature in Quebec",
abstract = "Since emerging in 2009, cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, have captured the imaginations of many investors and users in accumulating private wealth detached from government control and oversight. This article examines how the rise of bitcoin has particular geographies and trajectories of uneven development across the globe. The generation (or mining ) of cryptocurrencies is computationally-intensive, requiring computer hardware, cool air and cheap energy. Adopting the case study of Quebec, Canada, we show how these variables interact to produce a relationship between digital currencies, economic imaginaries and space in the regions where cryptomining is clustered. We argue that these new geographies of cryptocurrency mining leave residual marks on the regions where they are located but remain highly mobile moving from location to location in search of the cheap energy that supports private accumulation. Adopting an illustrative case study of Quebec, Canada, we work to render visible the materiality of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. Far from existing both nowhere and everywhere, the generation of bitcoin is foregrounded in local contexts and regional economic imaginaries with both spatial and social implications for the cities and towns where cryptomining takes place. We conclude with a call for further research into this emergent crypto-regionalism and its consequences.",
keywords = "Bitcoin, Uneven development, Political economy, Quebec, Cryptocurrencies, Economic imaginaries, Energy demand",
author = "Ed Atkins and Luca Follis and Benjamin Neimark and Vanessa Thomas",
note = "This is the author{\textquoteright}s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Geoforum. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Geoforum, 122, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019",
year = "2021",
month = jun,
day = "30",
doi = "10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019",
language = "English",
volume = "122",
pages = "63--73",
journal = "Geoforum",
issn = "0016-7185",
publisher = "Elsevier",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Uneven Development, Crypto-regionalism, and the (Un-)tethering of Nature in Quebec

AU - Atkins, Ed

AU - Follis, Luca

AU - Neimark, Benjamin

AU - Thomas, Vanessa

N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Geoforum. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Geoforum, 122, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019

PY - 2021/6/30

Y1 - 2021/6/30

N2 - Since emerging in 2009, cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, have captured the imaginations of many investors and users in accumulating private wealth detached from government control and oversight. This article examines how the rise of bitcoin has particular geographies and trajectories of uneven development across the globe. The generation (or mining ) of cryptocurrencies is computationally-intensive, requiring computer hardware, cool air and cheap energy. Adopting the case study of Quebec, Canada, we show how these variables interact to produce a relationship between digital currencies, economic imaginaries and space in the regions where cryptomining is clustered. We argue that these new geographies of cryptocurrency mining leave residual marks on the regions where they are located but remain highly mobile moving from location to location in search of the cheap energy that supports private accumulation. Adopting an illustrative case study of Quebec, Canada, we work to render visible the materiality of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. Far from existing both nowhere and everywhere, the generation of bitcoin is foregrounded in local contexts and regional economic imaginaries with both spatial and social implications for the cities and towns where cryptomining takes place. We conclude with a call for further research into this emergent crypto-regionalism and its consequences.

AB - Since emerging in 2009, cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, have captured the imaginations of many investors and users in accumulating private wealth detached from government control and oversight. This article examines how the rise of bitcoin has particular geographies and trajectories of uneven development across the globe. The generation (or mining ) of cryptocurrencies is computationally-intensive, requiring computer hardware, cool air and cheap energy. Adopting the case study of Quebec, Canada, we show how these variables interact to produce a relationship between digital currencies, economic imaginaries and space in the regions where cryptomining is clustered. We argue that these new geographies of cryptocurrency mining leave residual marks on the regions where they are located but remain highly mobile moving from location to location in search of the cheap energy that supports private accumulation. Adopting an illustrative case study of Quebec, Canada, we work to render visible the materiality of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. Far from existing both nowhere and everywhere, the generation of bitcoin is foregrounded in local contexts and regional economic imaginaries with both spatial and social implications for the cities and towns where cryptomining takes place. We conclude with a call for further research into this emergent crypto-regionalism and its consequences.

KW - Bitcoin

KW - Uneven development

KW - Political economy

KW - Quebec

KW - Cryptocurrencies

KW - Economic imaginaries

KW - Energy demand

U2 - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019

DO - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.12.019

M3 - Journal article

VL - 122

SP - 63

EP - 73

JO - Geoforum

JF - Geoforum

SN - 0016-7185

ER -