老挝能源部副部长Chanthaboun Soukaloun告诉路透社，老挝可能会在2026年初切断加密货币矿工的电力，将电力转向对经济影响更大的行业，如人工智能数据中心、金属精炼和电动汽车。2021年政策转变后，加密货币公司涌入老挝，获得了廉价的非化石能源，导致了采矿业的繁荣。然而，政府已经开始缩减规模，矿工现在使用约150兆瓦的电力，比2021-2022年500兆瓦的峰值下降了70%。Soukaloun指出，淘汰计划最初计划在今年进行，但由于大雨增加了水电产量，并允许增加对泰国和越南的电力出口，因此推迟了。
Laos may cut off electricity to cryptocurrency miners by early 2026 to redirect power toward industries with greater economic impact, such as AI data centers, metals refining, and electric vehicles, Deputy Energy Minister Chanthaboun Soukaloun told Reuters. Crypto firms had surged into Laos after a 2021 policy shift and access to cheap, non-fossil energy, leading to a mining boom. However, the government has already begun scaling back, with miners now using about 150 megawatts—down 70% from a 2021–2022 peak of 500 MW. Soukaloun noted the phase-out was initially planned for this year but was delayed due to heavy rainfall that boosted hydropower output and allowed for increased electricity exports to Thailand and Vietnam.
