[uh-quan]

Energy isn't being wasted, that's the point. What proof of work and the blockchain allows is a monetary network that (a) does not rely on trusted third parties for verification, whose (b) unit of currency does not rely on states or central banks, which cannot be trusted to avoid inflation.

Whatever else you may think of those features, it's a bit weird to call it pure waste when clearly millions of people find this incredibly valuable.