Enterprises reevaluate blockchain needs as energy and cost pressures persist

Enterprise blockchain adoption faces hurdles as networks strain performance and Bitcoin’s energy use raises ESG concerns.

Growing enterprise interest in blockchain has brought renewed attention to an ongoing problem: many public networks still require significant resources or face performance limits that make corporate adoption difficult. Energy consumption remains a clear example. Bitcoin is estimated to use 150–210 TWh of electricity per year, comparable to countries like South Africa or Thailand. This continues to raise concerns for organizations that must meet ESG targets.

Scalability and cost remain key barriers

Proof-of-stake networks such as Ethereum have lowered energy use by replacing mining, but they still encounter congestion during peak activity. For companies exploring web3 for payments, supply-chain applications or identity systems, predictable performance and manageable costs often matter more than the ideological commitments behind different consensus models.

In this context, Electroneum’s updated architecture, known as Electroneum 2.0, has entered more analyst discussions. The network uses a consensus method called Proof of Responsibility (PoR), where a fixed group of 32 validators maintains the chain. This controlled setup reduces energy consumption and keeps transaction finality around five seconds. Transaction fees average about $0.0001 in ETN.

Electroneum is also EVM-compatible, which allows web2 platforms to adopt tokenization or microtransaction features without major redevelopment work. For instance, AnyTask.com, a freelance marketplace with over one million users, has already integrated ETN payments into its system.

Adoption metrics show steady growth

Electroneum is being used in environmental and transparency projects as well. A partnership with One Ocean Foundation introduced on-chain donation verification and helped the initiative receive a nomination for the Areté Award, which recognizes responsible technology.

Network usage has increased steadily following the 2024 upgrade. The chain now processes more than 300,000 transactions per day, and the total number of active on-chain addresses is moving toward the one-million mark. Developers have also been deploying smart contracts at a growing pace, with close to 2,000 already live. Among the ecosystem initiatives is Blue Forest, an NFT effort aimed at funding seagrass restoration in the Mediterranean region.

Another area of expansion is payments. A partnership with Zypto will allow ETN holders to spend funds using Visa or Mastercard-linked cards, connecting the token with traditional financial rails.

A different reading of Electroneum’s progress is that it reflects a broader shift in what enterprises now expect from blockchain infrastructure. Projects that can demonstrate predictable fees, modest energy requirements and compatibility with existing Ethereum tools appear to be moving higher on evaluation lists, even if they rely on more controlled validator models. If these priorities continue to shape procurement decisions, Electroneum is likely to remain part of the discussion for companies assessing practical, compliance-aligned web3 solutions.