About CBNSI

Who is maintaining the CBNSI?

The Cambridge Blockchain Network Sustainability Index (CBNSI) is an ongoing project created and maintained by the Cambridge Digital Assets Programme (CDAP) Team at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, an independent research institute based at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. 
 
The original design was developed and implemented by Alexander Neumueller and Anton Dek. The project is being managed by Alexander Neumueller with active support from (in alphabetical order) Alexi Anania, Anton Dek, Suwan Long, and Yue Wu. The CBNSI website is maintained by developers Dmitry Kovalyov and Kyrylo Manakhov. Past contributions were made by Ahmed Elsaid, Leon Ducasse, Lukas Ruppert, Emilio Lanzalaco and Valentin Rousseau. 

Who else has contributed to this project?

The CBNSI would not have been possible without the continued support of many different individuals and organisations. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have kindly reviewed our methodologies for Ethereum (Christian Stoll, Lena Klaaßen, Leonardo Bautista-Gomez, Mikel Cortes-Goicoechea, and Uli Gallersdörfer) and Ethereum 1.0 (Dayong Zhang and Ingolf Anton Gunnar Pernice), and those who provided feedback during their development. 

Additionally, we would like to thank Bryan Zhang, Christopher Jack, Keith Bear, Hunter Sims, Michel Rauchs, and Simon Callaghan for their valuable feedback and suggestions, which were instrumental in the development of CBNSI. We would also like to thank Steven Haft of ConsenSys, Bill Kentrupp of the Ethereum Climate Platform, and Anna Lerner Nesbitt of The Climate Collective for their feedback and for facilitating access to the industry and related stakeholders. Finally, we extend our thanks to all those who have shared their thoughts on our work in countless conversations.

How frequently is the website updated?

The CBNSI automatically updates the power-related data every 24 hours. The data visible in our Network Analytics segment is also updated daily and retrieved at 22:30 GMT. The educational content on the website is also continuously updated but does not follow a formal schedule. 

Please refer to the Change Log to remain informed about the latest changes. 

Can I use content and data from this website?

As a not-for-profit research institute, we strive to broaden access to robust data and insights. Nearly all our research is in the public domain and can be accessed at no cost. Data and other material from the CBNSI website may be freely used for non-commercial purposes by third parties with proper attribution and website linking (a good example of referencing can be found here). CBNSI estimates and network data are available for download as csv files. 

Please contact us here if you have more questions about how to use our material. 

What does the CBNSI roadmap look like?

An initial version of a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions model is currently in development to complete the assessment of Ethereum’s environmental footprint. The model will use both power-related data and data on the global distribution of Beacon nodes from our Network Analytics segment to provide a dynamic estimate of Ethereum’s direct environmental impact. Our models will also be continuously refined as new data and insights become available. 

Further expansion of our research to other blockchain networks is also planned. Additional comparisons that help to contextualise our findings will be added as they become available. Furthermore, the FAQ page will be regularly updated to address emergent themes and issues. 

We are always open to new ideas and suggestions. You can share yours with us here. 

About the Cambridge Digital Assets Programme.

The Cambridge Digital Assets Programme (CDAP) is a multi-year research initiative hosted by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) in collaboration with 14 prominent public and private institutions. The programme seeks to provide the datasets, digital tools and insights necessary to facilitate a balanced public dialogue about the opportunities and risks presented by a growing digital asset ecosystem, with the ultimate objective to help inform evidence-based decision-making and regulation through open-access research. 

The CDAP’s institutional collaborators are (in alphabetical order): Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub, British International Investment (BII), Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC), EY, Fidelity, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Goldman Sachs, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Invesco, Mastercard, MSCI, Visa, and World Bank.