Elliot David — professional headshot

Climatetech · Sustainability · Digital Infrastructure

Elliot David

Creating and scaling solutions for energy poverty, the digital divide, and financial inclusion.

Through Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol and work with the Young African Business Booster, I'm aligning sustainable digital infrastructure with the just transition and supporting communities worldwide. I love learning from and working with others—reach out anytime.

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About me

Sustainable energy and infrastructure

Elliot is the Head of Climate Strategy at Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol, where he is helping unlock Bitcoin's clean energy potential by bridging sustainable miners and climate-conscious investors. In his role at Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol, Elliot educates policymakers and NGOs on Bitcoin's relationship with the energy system.

He is a climatetech operator focused on alleviating energy poverty, bridging the digital divide, and promoting financial inclusion through technologies such as Bitcoin. Elliot was previously a Schwarzman Scholar and has served in the military, US Department of Energy, Clinton Foundation, and more.

The problems I'm passionate about

Three interconnected challenges that, when addressed together, can unlock lasting economic and social progress. I believe renewable energy and Bitcoin are powerful tools in this fight.

Energy poverty

800M+ people lack basic electricity access worldwide

Energy poverty isn't just the absence of light—it constrains health care, education, and economic opportunity. In sub-Saharan Africa, less than half the population has reliable power. Electrification has barely kept pace with population growth.

Renewable energy Bitcoin mining as flexible load

Modular Bitcoin mining can act as a demand anchor for distributed renewable projects, improving capacity factors and making clean energy economically viable in underserved areas.

The digital divide

2B+ people lack internet access globally

Without reliable power and connectivity, communities are cut off from digital services, education, and economic participation. The digital divide perpetuates inequality and makes every other development challenge harder.

Distributed infrastructure Modular compute

Co-locating modular compute with renewable energy brings connectivity and digital services closer to underserved communities while strengthening the economics of local power generation.

Financial exclusion

1.4B adults remain unbanked

Without access to financial services, people can't save safely, access credit, or participate in the digital economy. Financial exclusion is both a cause and consequence of poverty.

Bitcoin & mobile money Permissionless finance

Bitcoin provides a permissionless monetary system that can reach anyone with a phone—no bank branch required. Mobile money and pay-as-you-go models are already transforming financial access in the developing world.

Bitcoin network — live

Real-time data from the Bitcoin network. Block height via mempool.space; energy estimate via Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CBECI).

Block height —
Avg. block time —
Est. daily electricity ~150 GWh Source: CBECI estimate

How has CO₂ changed in your lifetime?

Enter your birth year to see atmospheric CO₂ concentration then vs. now. Data from NOAA / Mauna Loa Observatory.

What powers your country's grid?

Select your country to see the average electricity generation mix. Data from IEA / Ember.

Selected work

Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol

Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol

Climate & Digital Assets · Present

First solution for investors who want to hold bitcoin in a verifiably sustainable way via the SBP token; aligning mining with clean energy and methane mitigation. I lead climate strategy—educating investors, policymakers, and NGOs on Bitcoin's relationship with the energy system.

Visit SBP →
Young African Business Booster — agriculture and youth

Young African Business Booster

Nonprofit · Rwanda

Fighting poverty, youth unemployment, and hunger through microfinancing and training so young people can start sustainable agribusinesses—thousands lifted out of poverty.

Learn more →

Experience & background

Scroll through to explore my background.

  1. Present

    Head of Climate Strategy

    Sustainable Bitcoin Protocol (SBP)

    Aligning the bitcoin mining industry with the just transition; educating climate investors, policymakers, and NGOs on Bitcoin's relationship with the energy system; supporting the first solution for verifiably sustainable bitcoin (the SBP token).

  2. Present

    Advisor / Collaborator

    Young African Business Booster (Rwanda)

    Supporting a nonprofit that fights poverty, youth unemployment, and hunger through microfinancing and training so young people can start sustainable agribusinesses—already lifting thousands out of poverty.

  3. Graduate

    Schwarzman Scholar & BP Fellow

    Tsinghua University, Beijing — Master's in Management Science, Global Affairs

    International clean energy transition and diplomacy; conflict-alleviation through green-tech deployment; graduate thesis on CCUS opportunities in China.

  4. Undergraduate

    Macaulay Honors College Scholar

    Hunter College — B.A. with honors, Political Science & Economics (Hebraic Studies, Environmental Studies minors)

    Foundation in policy, economics, and sustainability.

  5. Background

    U.S. Government, Nonprofits & Military

    U.S. Department of Energy, Clinton Foundation (Islands Energy Program), military service

    Experience across government, nonprofit, and defense in energy and policy.

Speaking & writing

Interviews, articles, and talks on climate, sustainable digital infrastructure, and Bitcoin's role in the energy transition.

Connect with me

Reach out via LinkedIn or X if you'd like to learn more about SBP, the Young African Business Booster, or anything else.

Connect with Elliot X @Elliot_J_David