Bitcoin mining usage may consume 0.5% of world's electricity

The transcript discusses the significant energy consumption of the Bitcoin network, which could reach 0.5% of the world's total by the end of 2018 and 5% within a few years. A single Bitcoin transaction uses as much electricity as a Dutch household in a month. The network's energy use is comparable to Ireland's and could rise to 7.8 gigawatts by the end of 2018. Bitcoin mining involves computers competing to solve complex calculations, with winners earning 12.5 bitcoins. As calculations become harder, more computational power is needed, leading to increased energy use. This process incentivizes participants to use more hardware, thus consuming more power.

What is the reward for the winning hardware in the Bitcoin mining process?

What motivates participants in the Bitcoin network to use more hardware?