Coal is making a comeback on the global stage, and the numbers tell quite a story.

Global annual coal demand has hit an all-time record of 8.85 billion metric tonnes. Since 2020, consumption has jumped by an astounding 1.40 billion tonnes—a surge that's reshaping the entire energy landscape.

The driver? China accounts for roughly 56% of this global coal demand. The country's industrialization push, coupled with infrastructure expansion and power generation needs, has created an unprecedented appetite for coal. This energy trend matters more than most realize—not just for climate discussions, but for understanding production costs across industries, including energy-intensive sectors like cryptocurrency mining. As coal demand climbs, energy prices fluctuate, which directly impacts operational economics for miners worldwide. The geopolitical energy dynamics are shifting faster than expected.