Ethiopia has embarked on a significant technological project by launching a $250 million initiative to establish a Bitcoin mining and AI data center, as reported by DecentraSuze in Forbes. This move positions Ethiopia as the first African country to start mining Bitcoin, highlighting a major step in the country's technological and economic advancement. However, this decision has sparked controversy regarding the country's economic priorities, especially in light of the current economic challenges it faces. @steve_hanke, an economist, criticized the Ethiopian government's decision, pointing out the country's high inflation rate of 68% per year, which he attributes to economic mismanagement by PM Abiy Ahmed. Furthermore, the broader issue of energy access in Africa is underscored by GridlessCompute's observation that half of the continent remains without electricity, primarily due to financial unviability, a situation that Bitcoin mining could potentially ameliorate.