In a move that could change the role of digital assets in U.S. financial policy, Congress has passed a bill directing the Treasury Department to study the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

The bill, H.R. 5166, was introduced on September 5, 2025 by Representative David Joyce (R-OH) as part of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026.

The bill doesn’t authorize the government to buy bitcoin. Instead it requires the Treasury to deliver a full report within 90 days of enactment on how such a reserve could be built, managed and secured.

The review will also cover a broader U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.

For years, the…

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the country’s banks to widen the use of cryptocurrencies, stressing that digital assets could help offset economic damage caused by Western sanctions. Addressing central and commercial bank leaders, he urged them to act quickly, highlighting that crypto-based payments had already reached $1.7 billion this year and could climb to $3 billion by December.

The president also called for transparent rules for the crypto market, citing rising adoption. Belarus is expected to surpass 855,000 crypto users by 2026, with major exchanges like Binance, OKX, and KuCoin handling a surge in transactions. Lukashenko noted that crypto is playing a growing role in international payments as exports continue to shrink under EU and U.S. restrictions.

Alongside crypto, he pressed for a stronger digital strategy, including QR-code payments, an instant payment system, and broader use of biometric and AI-driven solutions. “Banks must try to make the most of modern technology,” Lukashenko said, stressing that digitalization must deliver real economic results.

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BlackRock is moving quickly to ensure its iShares Bitcoin ETP is ready for UK retail investors as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) eases restrictions next month. From October 8, retail buyers will once again be allowed access to crypto exchange traded notes (ETNs), aligning the UK with major European markets where such products are already available.

The iShares Bitcoin ETP, currently listed across France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, has so far only been open to professional investors in the UK. A London Stock Exchange (LSE) listing combined with FCA approval would mark the first opportunity for retail clients to directly access BlackRock’s product. Competitors such as Fidelity International, Invesco and WisdomTree already offer bitcoin ETFs in London, though retail participation has been restricted until now.

BlackRock’s U.S. iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF has already amassed $84 billion in assets since its January 2024 launch, making it the world’s largest crypto ETF. A UK retail rollout is expected to spark fresh demand in the market.

Bitcoin is a database. 

This is an inescapable technological reality. Money itself is simply a ledger, a record of who has what. Even physical cash is simply distributing that “database” in the real world. You no longer have to check against some central ledger to verify anything because the simple act of handing it to you is that process of verification. The “entries” in that ledger are passed around disconnected from some central record. Bitcoin is simply a digital database attempting to replicate the most important property of that physical one known as cash: not needing a database operator’s permission to spend your money. 

Imagine the futility of trying to stop…

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Metaplanet Inc. (TSE Standard: 3350) has announced the successful pricing and upsizing of its international share offering, raising JPY 205 billion (~USD 1.4 billion) to fuel its ongoing Bitcoin-first treasury strategy.

The company confirmed that 385 million new shares will be issued at JPY 553 per share, generating a total issue price of JPY 212.9 billion. After deducting fees, the total amount paid in will reach JPY 205.3 billion, of which JPY 204.1 billion will be allocated directly to Bitcoin-related initiatives.

In a statement, CEO Simon Gerovich said: “Metaplanet has finalized its international offering, upsized from 180M underwritten to 385M shares. Total raise: JPY…

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