Key takeaways Measuring real Bitcoin payments is difficult because many transactions go through intermediaries, crypto cards or instant conversions. Surveys show that a sizable minority of crypto holders have used crypto to buy goods or services at least once but rarely distinguish Bitcoin from other assets. El Salvador’s experience suggests that making Bitcoin legal tender…
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Key takeaways Polymarket’s federal lawsuit against Massachusetts could determine whether prediction markets are regulated solely by the CFTC or also by states. The dispute centers on whether event contracts qualify as financial derivatives under the Commodity Exchange Act or as gambling under state laws. The lawsuit followed state-level actions against platforms like Kalshi, with Massachusetts…
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Key takeaways South Korea is ending a nine-year ban on corporate crypto trading, allowing listed entities and professional investment companies to reenter the market under a regulated framework. Corporate participation will be tightly controlled, with investments capped at 5% of annual equity capital and limited to the top 20 cryptocurrencies traded on regulated domestic exchanges.…
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Key takeaways A simple data-entry error allowed 620,000 nonexistent BTC to appear in user accounts for 20 minutes because trades update a private database first, with onchain settlement happening later. Around 1,788 BTC worth of trades were executed before the exchange locked everything down. What could have been dismissed as a harmless error turned into…
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Key takeaways Bitcoin now responds more to liquidity than to rate cuts. While rate cuts once drove crypto rallies, Bitcoin’s recent price action reflects actual cash availability and risk capital in the system, not just borrowing costs. Interest rates and liquidity are not the same. Rates measure the price of money, while liquidity reflects the…
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Verifying Satoshi Nakamoto: A matter of math, not media From time to time, individuals claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator. Such announcements generate headlines, spark heated debates and trigger instant skepticism. Yet after years of assertions, lawsuits, leaked files and media interviews, no claim has been backed by definitive proof. The reason is…
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Key takeaways Dubai does not criminalize privacy coins yet has ordered them to be removed from regulated financial channels. This means licensed firms in the DIFC can no longer trade, promote or package them into investment products. From a compliance perspective, privacy-by-default features conflict with AML and sanctions frameworks that require transaction visibility, making certain…
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Key takeaways The CLARITY Act aims to address years of regulatory uncertainty with a structured framework that clearly defines digital assets, intermediary roles and disclosure obligations. It places most spot trading of qualifying tokens under CFTC oversight, while keeping the SEC responsible for primary offerings, disclosures and investor protections. The bill focuses on regulating activities…
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Key takeaways Europe has moved from drafting to enforcing crypto rules under MiCA, giving companies clear timelines, licensing paths and compliance milestones across all EU member states. The US still relies on a multi-agency, enforcement-led framework, with major questions about token classification and market structure waiting on new federal legislation. MiCA’s single-license model allows crypto…
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Key takeaways Bitcoin mining produces large amounts of heat that are typically treated as waste. In cold regions, this thermal output is now being tested as a useful resource. A pilot project in Manitoba is integrating Bitcoin mining with greenhouse farming, reusing server heat as a supplemental source of agricultural heating. Liquid-cooled mining systems are…
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