Ethiopia ends flat-rate for bitcoin miners

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Ethiopia’s power utility has scrapped its flat-rate electricity tariff for cryptocurrency mining, ending the country’s status as a low-cost Bitcoin mining hub. Starting December 1, 2025, new tariffs will take effect, raising electricity rates from $0.0314 to as high as $0.06 per kWh, a 91% increase, and more than triple the rate paid by industrial consumers.

• The policy shift follows soaring domestic demand and a government push for financial sustainability. Ethiopia had attracted nearly 30 international crypto-miners, which consumed about 30% of the country's power consumption.

• Ethiopia relied on them to absorb excess power as it expanded grid access, but this model has become unsustainable. With countries like South Africa now exploring Bitcoin mining, Ethiopia’s experience could serve as a lesson.

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