55. Immutable X deep-dive — Part 4: Carbon Neutrality

In Part 3 you learned how Immutable X rolls up transactions as a layer 2 on the Ethereum blockchain to offer users of Illuvium gas-free transactions. In this part, we’ll show how this also allows Illuvium and Immutable X to offer a carbon-neutral blockchain game

Doesn’t cryptocurrency and NFTs use a lot of energy?

Immutable X’s rollup technology scales Ethereum by taking up less of the network per transaction while still retaining its security. Less network use = less gas and energy. Looking at an example:

Minting 8 million Gods Unchained cards (Immutable X’s NFT trading card game) directly on L1 Ethereum would take around 490 million kWh of energy. However, in 2021 8 million cards were minted on Immutable X (L2 Ethereum) and only used around 1 thousand kWh. That’s a 99.999% reduction of energy and carbon required!

To put this in perspective, 8 million cards minted in 2021 generated around 844kg of CO2. A single one-way flight from LAX to NYC generates 662kg of CO2.

So what about the carbon that is generated?

Immutable X and Illuvium believe that NFTs on Ethereum are a net good for the planet, bringing a new era of ownership and innovation to gaming. We also believe just as strongly that carbon neutrality is non-negotiable for responsible organizations.

Immutable buys carbon credits (one of the expenses that the protocol fee covers) needed to offset the energy footprint of any NFT created or traded on Immutable X to zero. That means:‍

Any NFT including Illuvials that is created or traded on Immutable X is 100% carbon neutral.

Any NFT marketplace including Illuvidex that is built on Immutable X is 100% carbon neutral.

Any NFT game including Illuvium that is built on Immutable X is 100% carbon neutral.‍

Immutable commits to continue covering the ongoing cost of carbon credits into at least 2025, as NFT volume on Immutable X increases through the growing ecosystem of marketplaces and games.