Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has publicly championed Bitcoin mining, reframing it as a process of "energy harvesting" rather than wasteful consumption. In a tweet on February 18, 2026, Ardoino stated, "Bitcoin is energy harvested from the universe," emphasizing that the network converts abundant global energy—estimated at 204 TWh annually, or 0.5% of worldwide consumption—into a valuable digital asset secured by proof-of-work and embraced by Wall Street.
This narrative directly counters widespread environmental concerns and is supported by the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources by Bitcoin miners. Ardoino's comments stand in contrast to figures like Elon Musk, who, despite over 50% of mining now using renewables, has not reinstated Bitcoin as a payment option for Tesla after initially supporting it in 2020.
Simultaneously, the Bitcoin market has entered a phase of "extreme fear," according to the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index, which registered a score of 8. This sentiment is attributed to recent crypto market volatility, macroeconomic uncertainty, and poor altcoin performance. At the time of reporting, Bitcoin was trading at $67,981, a significant drop from its all-time high of $126,000 in October 2025.
Despite the fearful climate, some institutional players see an opportunity. Michael Saylor's company, MicroStrategy, announced on February 17 that it had purchased an additional 2,486 BTC for approximately $168.4 million, bringing its total holdings to 717,131 BTC, valued at nearly $48.77 billion.
