News 
January 24, 2025 
4 min. 
Petrobras, the Brazilian oil giant, has taken the market by surprise this week by unveiling an ambitious Bitcoin mining project that integrates tokenization and sustainability. This initiative is part of the company’s Research and Development (R&D) program and aims to position Petrobras at the forefront of technological innovation while aligning with the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
Sustainable Energy Meets Bitcoin
The project goes beyond traditional mining. Petrobras plans to use excess natural gas from its oil operations to power mining equipment. This approach, successfully piloted by companies like Argentina’s Tecpetrol in 2023, transforms a polluting byproduct that was previously wasted into a source of revenue and emission reductions.
“Beyond resource optimization, we are exploring how blockchain technology can revolutionize our value chain, from smart contracts to asset tokenization,” explained Marcelo Curi, project leader, in a statement to the BlockNews portal.
Partnerships and Project Scope
Petrobras is not venturing into sustainable Bitcoin mining alone. The company has formed strategic partnerships that combine academic, technological, and operational expertise. Its research center, Cenpes, leads technical studies on energy integration, while PUC-Rio, through its Ledger Labs, is developing blockchain-based business models.
The Cardano Foundation also plays a key role, offering employee training that includes issuing educational NFTs—a move that mirrors global trends. For instance, Saudi Aramco has been leveraging blockchain since 2023 to tokenize assets and optimize supply chains.
Additionally, Petrobras plans to create a biomethane marketplace in partnership with GoLedger, using blockchain to track sustainable transactions.
Despite its promising potential, the project faces challenges typical of groundbreaking initiatives. The high infrastructure cost—estimated at R$500 million for the first three years—and regulatory complexities are immediate hurdles. Critics also question the environmental impact, as even with excess gas, Bitcoin mining consumes energy equivalent to entire cities.
Nevertheless, the initiative marks a paradigm shift. Similar to Tecpetrol in Argentina and ExxonMobil in the U.S., which already mine cryptocurrencies using surplus energy, Petrobras is betting on the convergence of traditional industry and disruptive innovation. The key question remains whether the technology can overcome the economic and political challenges inherent to such a strategic—and controversial—sector.
What’s Ahead for 2025?
As Petrobras moves forward with Bitcoin mining, the company’s roadmap hints at even bolder plans. Asset tokenization has emerged as a priority, with studies underway to transform commodities like oil and gas into blockchain-tradable tokens—a move that, if successful, could streamline international contracts and attract institutional investors.
Simultaneously, the company is focusing on expanding peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions, which reached R$94 billion in September 2024. The integration of smart contracts aims to reduce intermediaries in B2B negotiations, replicating the success of platforms like Argentina’s SatoshiTango.
Moreover, corporate education is scaling up: over 40,000 employees have already completed blockchain training through a partnership with the Cardano Academy, including NFT-certified courses. This effort not only prepares the workforce for technological transition but also positions Petrobras as a leader in energy sector training across Latin America.
