Generating Bitcoin — the famous digital currency or “cryptocurrency” — requires computer processors to calculate very difficult math problems. And that burns up an incredible amount of energy. This is called “mining” Bitcoin. China was the epicenter for Bitcoin mining until a recent ban that sent many miners scrambling to other countries. The World’s Patrick Winn says Laos, a small country in Southeast Asia, is now welcoming cryptocurrency mining operations to its soil. Though this move is not without controversy.