Algeria energy crisis: How crypto and blockchain are responding to power shortages

When the lights go out in Algiers for hours—sometimes days—people don’t just wait for the grid to come back. They look for alternatives. The Algeria energy crisis, a long-standing issue of outdated infrastructure, fuel subsidies, and unreliable electricity supply. Also known as Algerian power shortages, it affects everything from small businesses to internet access, and has quietly pushed some citizens toward crypto and decentralized tech. With over 40% of the population living in areas with unstable power, and state-run utilities struggling to keep up, people are turning to tools that don’t need the grid to function.

Enter blockchain energy solutions, systems that use distributed ledgers to track and trade energy without central control. In countries like Algeria, where the government controls fuel distribution and electricity pricing, blockchain offers a way to bypass bottlenecks. Some local startups are testing peer-to-peer solar energy trading using crypto tokens, letting households with rooftop panels sell excess power directly to neighbors. It’s not widespread yet, but it’s growing. Meanwhile, crypto in Algeria, largely unregulated but widely used for remittances and savings. Also known as Algerian crypto adoption, it’s becoming a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation—especially when the electricity needed to run a phone or laptop isn’t guaranteed. Mining isn’t common due to high costs and low efficiency, but holding Bitcoin or stablecoins has become a quiet survival tactic for many.

What’s clear is that the Algeria energy crisis isn’t just a power problem—it’s a trust problem. People don’t trust the state to deliver consistent electricity, so they’re building their own systems, digitally. You’ll find posts here on how crypto regulations in North Africa are shifting, how tokenized energy projects are starting up quietly, and why some Algerians are using decentralized exchanges to move value when banks freeze accounts. You’ll also see how crypto scams prey on desperation during blackouts, and what real, usable tech looks like when the grid fails. These aren’t futuristic ideas. They’re today’s workarounds.