Bitcoin gets Stoned: How one anonymous prankster tried to crash BTC

This is a segment from the Supply Shock newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

Bitcoin has its enemies.

Environmental alarmists, stubborn central bankers and out-of-touch politicians would surely count, even if their ranks have thinned in the past few years. 

There’s also the odd boomer economist who would still jump at the chance to suggest that bitcoin has no intrinsic value and embodies the greater fool theory, if it meant extra engagement.

All those archetypes are great heels that routinely serve as sounding boards for Bitcoin discourse. 

There are also those who’ve attacked Bitcoin out of boredom, curiosity or just for fun. Which I suppose is…

Read more on Blockworks

Neutron Powers Lightning Network Integration For Cobo, Expanding Bitcoin Infrastructure Across Asia

Lightning Network infrastructure provider, Neutron, is now working with Cobo, a digital asset custody platform, to integrate the Lightning Network into their custody platform, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. This team-up will let Cobo’s clients make quick, cheap Bitcoin payments using Neutron’s Lightning Network API.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Cobo, a trusted leader in custodial services, to further accelerate Bitcoin infrastructure across Asia,” said Albert Buu, CEO of Neutron. “At Neutron, we are committed to providing enterprise businesses with easy and efficient integration into the Lightning Network, enabling next-generation global…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

XRP Price Rockets as $1 Billion Futures Bets Fuel ETF Fever

Ripple’s XRP/USD joint motion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to settle their years‑long lawsuit lit a fire under XRP, sending it up to $2.63. The surge comes amid $1 billion in fresh futures capital, rising wallet activity, growing DeFi utility, and ETF odds climbing.

The filing asks the court to lift the ban on institutional sales and slash Ripple’s penalty from $876 million to $125 million, a legal win that immediately spurred traders into action.

The legal catalyst stirred up the derivatives market. Futures open interest surged by $1 billion this week—up 41% from $2.42 billion to $3.42 billion across major venues, Glassnode reports. While spot…

Read more on Benzinga

LATEST: Bitcoin Price Will Skyrocket To $1 Million By 2028, Says Arthur Hayes

Bitcoin could soar to $1 million within three years as financial tensions rise across the globe says Arthur Hayes former BitMEX CEO. In a bold forecast he points to the declining value of US treasuries and strict capital controls as key reasons investors will turn to Bitcoin as a safe haven. Hayes believes these forces will push BTC to unprecedented highs by 2028.

Europe faces growing financial restrictions pushing citizens to rethink how they store and access wealth. Hayes highlights that even China allows private Bitcoin ownership while European governments clamp down on financial freedom. He warns Europeans to act now before more aggressive policies limit personal fund access.

Hayes has consistently projected Bitcoin’s long-term growth with previous targets at $100,000 and beyond. He says macroeconomic conditions like treasury devaluation and repatriation of foreign capital are accelerating the shift toward digital assets. Bitcoin he claims will become the global solution as trust in traditional systems erodes rapidly.

Blog Post

LATEST: Al Abraaj Restaurants Becomes Bahrain’s First Company with Bitcoin Treasury

Bahrain’s Al Abraaj Restaurants Group has made history by becoming the first publicly listed company in the Middle East to adopt Bitcoin as a corporate treasury asset. The company has partnered with New York-based 10X Capital to follow a Bitcoin Treasury strategy similar to MicroStrategy and Metaplanet.

Al Abraaj purchased 5 Bitcoin and will gradually expand its holdings to boost shareholder value while offering Sharia’a compliant Bitcoin exposure to investors in the Islamic world. This move positions Bahrain as a leader in the region’s crypto adoption supported by progressive financial regulations and a $12.5 million EBITDA in 2024.

Investors across Bahrain Saudi Arabia UAE Kuwait Qatar and Oman can now gain Bitcoin exposure by buying ABRAAJ stock on the Bahrain Bourse. With global access to shares this marks a major shift in digital asset accessibility through public equity and highlights a bold new chapter in Middle East finance.

Source

LATEST: Mastercard Teams With MoonPay to Introduce Stablecoin Cards Worldwide

Mastercard is partnering with MoonPay to introduce stablecoin-enabled payment cards worldwide. This new collaboration allows businesses and individuals to spend and receive stablecoins easily using MoonPay’s recently acquired payment technology from Iron. Payments made with these cards will automatically convert stablecoins into traditional currencies offering users seamless integration between crypto and fiat money.

The global adoption of stablecoins is growing rapidly as they offer stability by being pegged directly to traditional currencies such as the U.S. dollar. Mastercard’s new initiative follows similar partnerships with crypto exchange OKX and payments firm Nuvei aimed at developing a comprehensive crypto payment ecosystem. These moves position Mastercard ahead of competitors like Visa which recently started a stablecoin pilot in Latin America.

Regulatory challenges have not slowed Mastercard’s crypto ambitions as the company bets on stablecoins’ usefulness in international payments remittances and digital commerce. Mastercard’s continued investment signals strong confidence in crypto adoption paving the way for mainstream global acceptance.

LATEST: Ukraine to Build National Bitcoin Reserve Amid Economic Changes

Ukraine is taking a major step toward embracing cryptocurrency by drafting a law to create a national Bitcoin reserve. Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak confirmed the plan which aims to position Bitcoin as a strategic asset for the country. The bill is in its final stages and will soon be submitted for approval.

Crypto exchange Binance is actively backing Ukraine’s initiative offering expertise and support. The company is also assisting other countries with similar plans following global interest sparked by US pro-crypto policies including an executive order by President Trump. Binance CEO Richard Teng confirmed ongoing collaboration with governments worldwide.

Ukraine also plans to legalize crypto in early 2025 as part of a broader digital asset framework. The draft law will include tax regulations and anti–money laundering measures. The move reflects Ukraine’s growing focus on integrating crypto into its financial system and signals rising government-level interest in digital assets across the region.

Report

Standard Chartered Bank Signs Partnership With Digital Asset Broker FalconX

Digital asset broker FalconX has announced a strategic partnership with British multinational bank Standard Chartered to enhance services for institutional clients. 

In the first phase of the partnership, Standard Chartered will offer a range of banking and foreign exchange (FX) services to FalconX, helping to improve the platform’s ability to handle cross-border payments. Over time, this partnership will expand into other offerings and mutual opportunities, the company stated.

By integrating Standard Chartered’s banking infrastructure, FalconX will now have access to more currency pairs, making cross-border transactions faster and more reliable for clients. 

“We are pleased…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

A new look, and the crypto-ization of finance

This is a segment from The Breakdown newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

“Sometimes the best investments are precisely the ones you cannot explain and probably make no sense.” 

— Richard Toh

When I started writing this newsletter nearly four years ago, I kept the subject matter high-level — mostly because I didn’t understand the low level.

That’s not what I expected it to be.

Instead, I expected it to be like the morning notes I sometimes wrote for clients in my previous job as an equities trader — notes that were mostly just a rundown of news taken from a Bloomberg terminal that the clients also had but were too lazy to look at (people used to…

Read more on Blockworks