Alex de Vries

Alex de Vries is a PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam with the Institute for Environmental Studies. With an idea to explore new perspectives in the cryptocurrency ecosystem and beyond, De Vries founded Digiconomist, a platform for research dedicated to exposing the unintended consequences of digital trends. The platform is best known for its Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, a widely referenced tool that estimates the energy usage of the Bitcoin network. It has played a major role in the global discussion regarding the sustainability of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

De Vries has been doing research into the sustainability challenges of proof-of-work mining-based blockchains and AI since late-2016. He has authored several influential scientific articles for high-impact academic journals such as Joule. His publications are frequently cited in international media such as the New York Times, BBC, and CNN. In addition, his work is used by public institutions and governments, including the International Energy Agency, the European Parliament, and the White House.

De Vries previously worked at the Experience Center (EC) of PwC, one of the Big Four management consultancy firms. The purpose of the EC is to help clients lay the foundation for digital transformation through agility, the lean-start-up method, and design thinking. The end user experience is always kept at the heart of this process. As part of the Emerging Technologies team, De Vries focused on researching and experimenting with digital developments such as AI and incorporating these into the transformation processes of various clients. Although De Vries is enthusiastic about the possibilities that new technologies can offer, he also promotes the philosophy that you should always start with the customer experience and work backward to the technology.

De Vries’ background in data science and financial economics has positioned him as a notable voice in discussions on emerging technologies and their societal impact. He regularly speaks at international conferences and events such as CeBIT, VivaTech, and GITEX. For example, he explains what the ecological footprint of digital applications entails, how to calculate it, and how an organisation can responsibly handle new technology. De Vries provides realistic expectations regarding these technologies and inspires his audience to innovate in a sustainable manner.