The Czech National Bank (CNB) has bought bitcoin for the first time in its history. The $1 million purchase marks a cautious but symbolic step by a European central bank into the world of digital assets.

The Czech National Bank said the small portfolio, made outside of its international reserves, is part of an experiment to gain hands-on experience with blockchain-based assets. 

Alongside bitcoin, the portfolio includes a U.S. dollar-based stablecoin and a tokenised deposit. Governor Aleš Michl said the goal isn’t to speculate or diversify reserves, but to learn. 

“The aim was to test decentralised bitcoin from the central bank’s perspective and to evaluate its…

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Cash App has unveiled a major update allowing users to pay with Bitcoin instantly — even if they don’t own any. The app now automatically converts USD from a user’s balance into Bitcoin at checkout, letting all 58 million monthly users make BTC payments without affecting their holdings or creating taxable events. Merchants benefit too, with zero fees, no chargebacks, and borderless transactions powered by the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
The rollout is part of “Cash Releases,” the company’s first bundled feature launch, which also includes stablecoin support and a new Bitcoin Map showing nearby BTC-accepting merchants. Users can send or receive stablecoins globally, which are instantly converted to USD for convenience, bridging traditional finance and crypto payments.
Block’s Bitcoin Product Lead, Miles Suter, called Bitcoin “Money 2.0” and said Cash App is building tools to make it truly usable — fast, open, and borderless. With Square merchants already accepting Bitcoin, Block Inc. continues positioning itself as a leader in real-world crypto adoption.

Cash App is making bitcoin more usable for everyday payments. Starting today, the app will let you pay with Bitcoin instantly — even if you don’t hold any — by automatically converting your USD balance on the app into bitcoin for the merchant.

In a series of app features announced today, the app will now spend bitcoin locally, pay in USD over the Lightning Network, and send or receive stablecoins. All these updates are part of Cash Releases, the platform’s first bundled launch of new features, the company shared with Bitcoin Magazine.

With the new ‘Bitcoin Payments with USD’ feature, users can make instant bitcoin payments even if they don’t hold BTC. Cash App will…

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Hesperides University today announced the launch of the Master in Bitcoin, the world’s first English-language higher education program dedicated solely to Bitcoin studies, according to a note shared with Bitcoin Magazine. 

The program marks a milestone in the academic recognition of Bitcoin as a serious field of study.

Unlike most universities, which group Bitcoin under broader “crypto” or “blockchain” programs, Hesperides has created a curriculum focused entirely on just Bitcoin — its technology, economics, and societal impact. The program is aimed at professionals, entrepreneurs, and researchers seeking a deeper understanding of Bitcoin and its global… Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Global payments leader Visa has launched a new pilot enabling direct stablecoin payouts using Circle’s USDC, marking a major step toward faster and borderless digital payments. The program, designed for creators, freelancers, and gig workers, allows U.S. businesses using Visa Direct to send funds in fiat while recipients can instantly receive payments in USDC stablecoins.

Visa says this innovation gives workers “universal access to money in minutes,” offering a lifeline for those in regions with unstable currencies or limited banking access. The pilot follows Visa’s earlier stablecoin pre-funding test in September but now extends directly to end users, putting digital dollars straight into wallets that meet Visa’s KYC and AML standards.

Currently launching with select partners, the program will expand globally by late 2026. Visa has already processed over $140 billion in crypto and stablecoin transactions, and CEO Ryan McInerney confirmed that stablecoin-linked Visa card spending quadrupled over the past year.

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has officially listed Bitwise’s proposed spot Chainlink ETF (CLNK) under its “active and pre-launch” section, sparking optimism across the crypto community. The DTCC, a key U.S. institution handling trade settlement and custody services, often signals market readiness when adding ETFs to this stage of listing.

Bitwise’s ETF, first filed in August through an S-1 submission to the SEC, marks the first-ever proposal for a Chainlink-based ETF. Although listing on the DTCC does not guarantee regulatory approval, it is widely seen as a positive step toward potential launch. Grayscale followed with its own Chainlink ETF proposal in September, which may include LINK staking — unlike Bitwise’s version.

Chainlink, powered by its native token LINK, serves as a decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts with real-world data. The development underscores growing institutional interest in blockchain infrastructure assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

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