> still be wasting energy for little societal benefit
I don't think you are paying attention to developments in the Global South with it. Use of it is increasing at an insane pace in Latin America (where I'm from) and I don't see it stopping any time soon. Similar trend is happening in Africa. Does it make sense to use it if you live in a developed country? Probably not. You already have all the infrastructure and financial privilege you can have. Plus your organizations are the ones setting the rules for the rest of the world. Good for you. But not all people using it are gambling my friend. As of now, there are 2 countries that have adopted BTC as legal tender. I'm willing to bet that by the next (or around) the next halving, we are going to have more countries in that list, specially from the Global South.