EFU-Kripto Kutatási Keretrendszer v1.0

Abstract The EFU-Crypto Research Framework v1.0 introduces a thermodynamic and metabolic accounting protocol for evaluating the physical and social impacts of Proof-of-Work cryptocurrency mining. Moving beyond conventional carbon-only and financial ESG metrics, the framework applies the Human Equivalent Flux Unit (EFU) to quantify energy, water, material, entropy, and carbon burdens in a unified human-equivalent reference system. The protocol defines a set of experimentally derived indicators — including the Energy Cannibalism Index (EKI), Water Stress Index (WSI), Material Degradation Rate (MDR), and Metabolic Return on Investment (MROI) — enabling comparative analysis between cryptocurrency mining and alternative uses of the same physical resources. By modeling digital infrastructures as metabolic systems, the framework reveals structural imbalances between physical dissipation and local social utility that are not visible in conventional economic or emissions-based assessments. EFU-Crypto is designed as an open, hypothesis-driven research protocol suitable for pilot audits, cross-jurisdictional comparison, and reproducible scientific evaluation. It provides a quantitative foundation for assessing whether digital systems operate as net contributors to, or extractive burdens on, human and ecological systems. This document was structured and linguistically refined with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools; all concepts, analytical models, and quantitative frameworks are the original work of the author.