Pixels (PIXEL) sustainability report

Pixels is present on the following networks: Ethereum, Ronin.

The Ethereum blockchain network, following "The Merge" in 2022, operates on a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, a significant departure from its previous Proof of Work system. This transition replaced energy-intensive mining with validator staking, aiming to enhance energy efficiency, security, and scalability. In this model, participants willing to secure the network act as validators by staking a minimum of 32 units of the network's native asset (Ether). The network organizes its operations around a precise slot and epoch system. Every 12 seconds, a validator is randomly selected to propose a new block. Following this proposal, other validators on the network verify the integrity and validity of the block. Finalization of transactions, meaning they become irreversible, occurs after approximately two epochs, which translates to about 12.8 minutes, utilizing the Casper-FFG (Friendly Finality Gadget) protocol. The Beacon Chain plays a central role in coordinating the activities of these validators, while the LMD-GHOST (Latest Message Driven-Greedy Heaviest Observed SubTree) fork-choice rule is employed to ensure all network participants agree on the canonical chain, following the branch with the heaviest accumulated validator votes. Validators are economically incentivized for their honest participation in proposing and verifying blocks, but they also face severe penalties, known as slashing, for malicious actions or prolonged inactivity. This PoS framework is designed not only to reduce the network's environmental footprint but also to lay the groundwork for future upgrades, such as Proto-Danksharding, which are intended to further improve transaction efficiency and overall network throughput. The core components like validator selection, block production, and transaction finality are intrinsically tied to the amount of Ether staked, ensuring that participants have a vested interest in the network's security and stability.

Ronin operates on a Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, a system designed to ensure network security and validate transactions through a set of community-elected validators. Unlike traditional Proof of Work (PoW) systems that rely on energy-intensive mining, DPoS leverages the collective participation of token holders to maintain network integrity. The core of Ronin's consensus involves RON token holders delegating their tokens to vote for validators. These validators, chosen based on the amount of delegated stake they receive, are then responsible for key network operations, including producing new blocks, validating transactions, and overall network security. The selection process is dynamic, with validators frequently rotating based on ongoing community votes. This periodic rotation is a critical feature, enhancing decentralization by preventing any single validator group from maintaining long-term, unchallenged control over the network. Such a system promotes fairness and distributes network responsibilities more broadly among participants, thereby strengthening security against potential centralization vectors. An incentive-driven voting system is integral to Ronin’s DPoS model, ensuring that validators consistently act in the best interests of the network and its community. Validators are continuously monitored by the delegating community. If a validator's performance falls short or if they engage in activities that are detrimental to the network's health, they risk losing the votes delegated to them. This mechanism allows for underperforming or malicious validators to be replaced by more trustworthy participants, maintaining a high standard of operational integrity. The ongoing alignment of validator actions with community goals is therefore enforced through direct democratic participation, where token holders directly influence who secures the network. This combination of community-elected validators, periodic rotation, and an incentive-driven voting system underpins Ronin's robust and adaptive consensus, fostering a secure, decentralized, and efficient blockchain environment capable of supporting its diverse ecosystem. The DPoS framework significantly contributes to the network's ability to handle high transaction volumes efficiently while minimizing its environmental footprint compared to PoW alternatives.

Pixels is present on the following networks: Ethereum, Ronin.

The Ethereum network's Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system is underpinned by a robust framework of incentive mechanisms and applicable fees, meticulously designed to secure transactions and encourage active, honest participation from validators. Validators, who are essential for the network's operation, commit at least 32 units of the network's native asset (Ether) to secure their role. Their primary incentives include rewards for successfully proposing new blocks, attesting to the validity of other blocks, and participating in sync committees, all of which contribute to the network's integrity and consensus. These rewards are distributed in newly issued Ether, alongside a portion of the transaction fees generated on the network. A key feature of Ethereum's fee structure is the implementation of EIP-1559, which divides transaction fees into two main components. The first is a base fee, which is automatically burned, effectively reducing the overall supply of Ether over time and potentially introducing a deflationary aspect, especially during periods of high network activity. The second is an optional priority fee, also known as a "tip," which users can choose to pay directly to validators to incentivize faster inclusion of their transactions into a block. This dual-fee structure aims to make transaction costs more predictable for users. To enforce honest behavior and prevent malicious activities, the network employs a strict system of economic penalties, including slashing. Validators who engage in dishonest acts or demonstrate extended periods of inactivity risk losing a portion of their staked Ether, providing a powerful deterrent against misconduct and ensuring the long-term security and reliability of the network. This comprehensive system aligns the economic interests of validators with the overall health and security of the Ethereum blockchain.

Ronin's economic model is built upon a comprehensive suite of incentive mechanisms, slashing protocols, and governance features, all designed to foster network security, stability, and active community engagement. At its foundation, the network rewards both validators and delegators for their participation. Validators, who are responsible for the critical tasks of producing blocks and validating transactions, earn RON tokens as staking rewards. These rewards serve as a direct financial incentive, encouraging validators to perform their duties diligently and maintain the operational integrity of the network. Complementing this, delegators, who are RON token holders that stake their tokens with chosen validators, also receive a proportional share of these staking rewards. This shared reward system is crucial for promoting widespread participation from the broader token-holding community, thereby enhancing the network's overall security and decentralization by distributing economic benefits more broadly. To ensure accountability and deter malicious behavior, Ronin incorporates a stringent slashing mechanism. Validators found to be acting dishonestly or failing to meet the network's performance standards face penalties, which involve the forfeiture of a portion of their staked RON tokens. This economic disincentive is a powerful tool against misconduct and ensures that validators remain committed to responsible network participation. Furthermore, delegators are also subject to risk; if they stake their tokens with a misbehaving validator, they too may experience slashing. This inherent risk encourages delegators to carefully research and select trustworthy validators and to actively monitor their performance, strengthening the network's security posture by promoting informed decision-making among participants. Beyond staking and transaction processing, the RON token also serves as a critical governance instrument, empowering token holders to actively participate in the network's strategic direction. This includes the ability to vote on crucial network upgrades, the selection of new validators, and other significant protocol-level decisions. This governance role provides token holders with a direct voice in shaping the future and policies of the Ronin network, fostering a truly community-driven ecosystem. In terms of operational costs, transaction fees on the Ronin network are paid in RON tokens. These fees contribute directly to the rewards earned by validators, essential for sustaining network operations. Designed to be affordable, these transaction fees ensure accessibility for a wide range of users, thereby supporting both user engagement and the continuous, efficient functioning of the validator ecosystem.

Pixels is present on the following networks: Ethereum, Ronin.

The methodology for calculating the Ethereum network's energy consumption primarily employs a "bottom-up" approach, which focuses on the energy demands of individual nodes that are central to the network's operation. These nodes are considered the fundamental factor driving the network's overall energy use. The assumptions underpinning these calculations are derived from empirical data gathered through a variety of sources, including public information sites, open-source crawlers, and proprietary in-house crawlers developed for this purpose. A critical step in this methodology involves determining the hardware used within the network, primarily by assessing the computational and other requirements necessary to run the client software. The energy consumption characteristics of these identified hardware devices are then rigorously measured in certified test laboratories to ensure accuracy. When quantifying the energy consumption for the network, the Functionally Fungible Group Digital Token Identifier (FFG DTI) is utilized, when available, to identify all implementations of the asset in scope, with mappings regularly updated based on data from the Digital Token Identifier Foundation. The information regarding the specific hardware deployed and the total number of participants in the network relies on assumptions that are diligently verified using empirical data whenever possible. Generally, participants are presumed to act in an economically rational manner. Furthermore, adhering to a precautionary principle, if there is any doubt in estimations, conservative assumptions are made, meaning higher estimates are used for potential adverse impacts to ensure a comprehensive and cautious assessment of energy consumption.

The methodology for assessing energy consumption within the Ronin blockchain network, as described in the provided documents, primarily focuses on attributing a fraction of the network's overall energy use to individual crypto-assets operating on it, rather than detailing the specific energy sources or calculation methods for the Ronin network itself. According to this approach, the first step involves calculating the total energy consumption of the underlying network, in this case, Ronin. However, the documents do not explicitly outline the detailed methodologies or the specific data points utilized to determine this foundational "network energy consumption." Instead, they state that the information regarding the hardware deployed and the number of participants supporting the network is based on assumptions. These assumptions are purportedly verified with a "best effort" using empirical data, and a precautionary principle is applied, often leading to higher estimates for potential adverse impacts when there is uncertainty. For instance, while the process indicates that the network's energy consumption is "calculated first," there is an absence of specific information regarding the types of hardware (e.g., servers, data centers, networking equipment) employed by Ronin validators, their operational characteristics, or the specific energy intensity metrics used for these components. Similarly, the exact methodologies for measuring or estimating electricity usage, such as direct metering, power usage effectiveness (PUE) factors, or regional electricity grid mix data, are not detailed for the Ronin network's foundational operations. The documents also mention the use of the Functionally Fungible Group Digital Token Identifier (FFG DTI), where available, to identify all implementations of an asset, with mappings updated regularly by the Digital Token Identifier Foundation. This identifier helps in accurately scoping which assets are considered when attributing energy consumption. In essence, the disclosed methodology serves as a framework for the attribution of energy consumption from the Ronin network to specific tokens. It specifies that once the network's total energy consumption is theoretically established, a fraction of this total is assigned to a token based on its activity within the network. This highlights a gap in the publicly available information regarding the precise energy sources that power the Ronin infrastructure and the transparent, granular methodologies for calculating the network's base energy footprint. Without these specific details, a comprehensive understanding of Ronin's direct energy consumption profile remains partially unaddressed in the provided texts, as the focus is on a top-down attribution model for assets rather than a bottom-up calculation of network infrastructure energy use.

Pixels is present on the following networks: Ethereum.

To ascertain the proportion of renewable energy utilized by the Ethereum network, a specific set of methodologies is applied. The initial step involves pinpointing the geographical locations of the network's nodes. This crucial geo-information is gathered through various means, including publicly available information sites, as well as both open-source and internally developed crawlers designed to scan the network. In instances where comprehensive geographical data for nodes is not directly accessible, the analysis resorts to leveraging "reference networks." These are comparable networks chosen for their similar incentivization structures and consensus mechanisms, providing a proxy for node distribution. Once the geo-information is established, it is then integrated and cross-referenced with public data obtained from "Our World in Data." This comprehensive dataset offers insights into the energy mixes and renewable energy penetration across different regions globally. The final calculation of energy intensity is defined as the marginal energy cost incurred for processing one additional transaction on the network. This approach allows for an estimation of the energy footprint associated with scaling the network's transactional volume. For detailed information and the underlying data sources on the share of electricity generated by renewables, relevant information can be found through sources such as Ember (2025) and the Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2024), with further processing by Our World in Data, accessible via Share of electricity generated by renewables – Ember and Energy Institute.

Pixels is present on the following networks: Ethereum.

The methodology for determining the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of the Ethereum network closely mirrors the approach used for energy consumption, focusing on identifying emission sources and their quantification. The initial and fundamental step involves precisely identifying the geographical locations of the network's operational nodes. This data collection is facilitated through a combination of publicly available information, as well as specialized open-source and proprietary crawlers designed to actively discover and map node distributions across the globe. Should there be an absence of specific geographic information for the nodes, the analysis intelligently defaults to utilizing "reference networks." These are carefully selected networks that exhibit comparable characteristics in terms of their incentivization structures and consensus mechanisms, providing a basis for estimating the geographic spread when direct data is unavailable. This collected geo-information is then meticulously integrated with publicly accessible data from "Our World in Data." This integration allows for the application of regional carbon intensity factors to the estimated energy consumption, thereby enabling the calculation of associated GHG emissions. The overall GHG intensity is quantified as the marginal emission generated per additional transaction processed on the network, offering a metric for the environmental impact of increased network activity. For detailed information and original data regarding the carbon intensity of electricity generation, sources include Ember (2025) and the Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2024), processed by Our World in Data, available at Carbon intensity of electricity generation – Ember and Energy Institute. This resource is licensed under CC BY 4.0.