What cryptocurrencies use less energy?

Cryptocurrencies have been under scrutiny for their energy consumption, with some estimates suggesting that they consume more energy than entire countries. However, there are also cryptocurrencies that aim to reduce their energy footprint. So, what cryptocurrencies use less energy? One example is Proof-of-Stake (PoS) based cryptocurrencies. In contrast to Proof-of-Work (PoW) based systems, like Bitcoin, which require miners to solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions, PoS systems use validators who stake their own coins as collateral to participate in the consensus process. This means that validators have an economic incentive to behave honestly, as they risk losing their staked coins if they act maliciously. Another example is IOTA, a decentralized ledger that uses a different consensus mechanism called the Tangle. Instead of miners, IOTA uses users to validate transactions. As a result, it doesn't require the same level of energy consumption as PoW-based systems. In summary, cryptocurrencies that use Proof-of-Stake or other alternative consensus mechanisms, such as IOTA's Tangle, tend to have a lower energy footprint than those that use Proof-of-Work. As the industry continues to evolve, it's likely that we'll see more and more cryptocurrencies emerging that prioritize energy efficiency.