At the Bitcoin 2025 Conference, held May 27-29 at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Simple Proof CEO Carlos Toriello and Screven County, Georgia, Elections Supervisor Stacey Scott shared insights into their groundbreaking use of Bitcoin’s blockchain to secure election results. In an exclusive video interview, now released to the public, the duo detailed how Simple Proof’s hash-only timestamping technology is transforming document authentication while balancing transparency and privacy. The interview, conducted amid the conference’s 30,000 attendees, highlights the growing adoption of Bitcoin-based solutions in public recordkeeping.

Simple Proof, a tech startup leveraging…

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Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), has sharply increased its indirect Bitcoin holdings this year, signaling growing institutional acceptance of crypto. Data from K33 Research’s Vetle Lunde shows NBIM’s exposure surged 192% year-on-year, reaching 7,161 BTC—worth around $844 million—up from 3,821 BTC at the end of 2024. The first half of 2025 alone saw an increase of 3,340 BTC.

The spike stems largely from heavier investments in Bitcoin-heavy companies such as Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and Marathon Digital. Strategy accounted for the biggest boost, adding 3,005.5 BTC to NBIM’s indirect holdings, while Marathon contributed 216.4 BTC. Other contributors included Block (85.1 BTC), Coinbase (57.2 BTC), and Japan’s Metaplanet (50.8 BTC), with smaller additions from firms like Tesla, GameStop, and Mercado Libre.

Analysts suggest the trend reflects Bitcoin’s deeper integration into diversified investment portfolios. Exposure often comes as a byproduct of equity stakes in companies holding substantial BTC reserves—making digital assets an increasingly common fixture in institutional strategies.

Bitcoin price maintained its position above $118,000 as two major corporations, Metaplanet and Smarter Web Company, announced significant additions to their Bitcoin treasury holdings, highlighting the growing trend of institutional Bitcoin adoption.

Metaplanet, now the sixth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder, acquired 518 BTC at an average price of $118,519 per coin, representing a total investment of approximately $61.4 million. The Tokyo-based investment company’s latest purchase brings its total holdings to 18,113 BTC, with an average purchase price of $101,911 per Bitcoin.

The company’s Bitcoin-related metrics show impressive growth, with its BTC Yield – a key performance…

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2025 has seen the personal risks to Bitcoin investors reach an all-time high, according to Alena Vranova, founder of hardware wallet maker SatoshiLabs. Speaking at the Baltic Honeybadger 2025 conference in Riga, Latvia, Vranova said:

“Every week, there is a Bitcoiner, at least one in the world, who gets kidnapped, tortured, extorted, and sometimes even worse.”

These attacks, often referred to as the “5-dollar wrench attacks”, are physical assaults, kidnappings and threats of violence to force victims to hand over their private keys – the digital passwords that control access to their bitcoin holdings.

Many assume these attacks only target wealthy early…

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U.S.-listed ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a historic milestone on Monday, pulling in over $1 billion in daily inflows for the first time. The surge came as ETH climbed to $4,358, its highest price since December 2021, fueled by optimism in the broader crypto market. The nine ETFs beat their previous daily record of $726.74 million, set on July 17, according to SoSoValue data.

BlackRock’s ETHA dominated with nearly $640 million in inflows, while Fidelity’s FETH followed with $276.9 million. Total cumulative inflows have now reached $10.83 billion, with combined assets valued at $25.71 billion — representing 4.77% of ether’s market cap. Investors appear increasingly confident as macroeconomic signals point toward favorable conditions for risk assets.

Traders reacted positively to data suggesting an 84% chance of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. The U.S. SEC’s decision to drop its lawsuit against XRP developer Ripple also provided fresh momentum, boosting sentiment across the altcoin market.

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The Smarter Web Company, a London-listed web design and bitcoin treasury firm, has boosted its crypto reserves with the acquisition of 295 BTC for £26.3 million ($35.2 million) at an average price of £89,000 ($119,412) per coin. This move follows a £7.6 million fundraise from the placement of 3.45 million new shares, part of an ongoing 14 million share subscription. With 4.49 million shares still to be placed, the firm plans another subscription agreement once the current tranche closes.

This latest purchase raises the company’s total bitcoin holdings to 2,395 BTC, acquired at an average price of £82,399 ($110,555) for a total spend of £197.3 million ($264.8 million). Valued at $284.8 million with bitcoin trading near $118,917, the firm holds an unrealized gain of about $20 million. It also retains £700,000 ($942,000) in cash earmarked for further bitcoin buys.

Rapid acquisitions in recent months have propelled the company to 23rd place among public bitcoin treasury holders, up from 36th in July. CEO Andrew Webley aims to break into the top 20 within weeks, positioning the firm alongside global crypto giants like MicroStrategy, Tesla, and Coinbase.

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Japanese bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet has strengthened its crypto portfolio with the acquisition of an additional 518 BTC, valued at approximately $61.4 million. The Tokyo-listed company revealed Tuesday that the latest purchase was made at an average price of $118,519 per bitcoin, signaling its continued confidence in the world’s leading cryptocurrency.

CEO Simon Gerovich confirmed that the buy increased Metaplanet’s total bitcoin reserves to 18,113 BTC, acquired at a cumulative cost of $1.85 billion. The company’s average purchase price across all holdings now stands at $101,911 per bitcoin, underscoring its long-term investment approach despite market volatility.

This latest move comes shortly after Metaplanet announced plans to raise up to 555 billion yen ($3.7 billion) through the issuance of perpetual preferred shares. The capital will be used to further expand its bitcoin treasury, aligning with the company’s strategy to cement its position as a major institutional holder in the global cryptocurrency market.

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