LATEST: Swiss Supermarket Giant Spar Now Lets Customers Pay with Bitcoin via Lightning

Spar an international grocery behemoth has begun accepting Bitcoin at a store in Zug Switzerland signaling a potential revolution in retail crypto payments globally. The initiative powered by DFX Swiss utilizes their new OpenCryptoPay tool making Spar one of the first supermarkets in Switzerland to accept Bitcoin directly at checkout through the Lightning Network. This system allows customers to swiftly pay by scanning a QR code further simplifying the transaction process.

Showcasing the ease of crypto transactions Rahim Taghizadegan director of the Bitcoin Association Switzerland shared a video on LinkedIn demonstrating a seamless Bitcoin payment at Spar. This move not only enhances customer convenience but also positions Spar at the forefront of digital payment innovation. The Zug store’s successful pilot could lead to a broader rollout across Spar’s extensive network which spans over 13,900 stores in 48 countries.

Should this pilot prove successful Spar plans to expand Bitcoin payments throughout Switzerland and potentially on a global scale. This marks a significant milestone in cryptocurrency adoption enhancing Spar’s reputation as a leader in innovative retail solutions and offering millions of daily shoppers a new convenient payment option.

Source

How Bitcoin Offers A Speed Advantage For Driving Shareholder Value

Bitcoin is the first instantiation of digitally scarce capital—allowing companies to raise, deploy, and prove value faster than ever before.

In legacy finance, capital formation is a slow, friction-filled process. A company raises funds, deploys them over months or years into infrastructure, products, or real estate—and only then begins the long wait to see whether the capital generated a return.

This lag isn’t a bug. It’s a defining feature of the traditional system, built on physical constraints, regulatory overhead, intermediated trust, and long feedback loops. That system has not changed—until now.

Bitcoin is fundamentally different. For the first time,…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Warren Buffett Dislikes Bitcoin—But Berkshire Hathaway Finds Itself Linked To BTC ETFs Through One Of Its Biggest Holdings – Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)

Warren Buffett’s anti-Bitcoin BTC/USD rhetoric has long been discussed in market circles, with many trying to comprehend why one of the world’s most valuable assets failed to impress the “Oracle of Omaha.”

That being said, his firm, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. BRK BRK, has indirect exposure to the price moves of the apex cryptocurrency through a company that bets on spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

What happened: According to the latest 13F filing, Berkshire Hathaway held 680.23 million shares of banking giant Bank of America Corp. BAC, translating to a stake worth nearly $29.89 billion, at the end of 2024.

Notably, BAC was Berkshire Hathaway’s third-largest holding, cornering…

Read more on Benzinga

LATEST: Slovenia Introduces Law to Impose 25% Tax on Crypto, Derivatives Earnings

Slovenia’s Ministry of Finance has introduced two legislative drafts aimed at streamlining the taxation of digital assets and derivatives which are set to take effect in 2026. The first draft mandates a 25% capital gains tax on crypto profits for residents while the second ensures a uniform tax rate for derivatives irrespective of the holding period. This move is part of Slovenia’s strategy to align with global standards for digital asset regulation and enhance transparency.

Under the new crypto tax law individuals will be taxed on profits from converting cryptocurrencies to fiat currency or when used to pay for goods and services. Notably crypto-to-crypto exchanges and wallet transfers remain tax-exempt. An optional simplified calculation method is also proposed allowing taxpayers to elect a one-time tax payment on a portion of their total crypto holdings from the past five years.

With these proposals Slovenia seeks to reduce administrative burdens and provide tax certainty for investors. The drafts are currently open for public consultation as the government updates its fiscal framework to accommodate modern financial instruments. This strategic approach promises to foster a supportive environment for the growth of digital finance in Slovenia.

Source

Initial jobless claims fall, but continuing claims hit post-pandemic high 

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

Fewer people than expected filed for unemployment benefits last week, data released this morning shows. 

Initial jobless claims fell by 9,000, coming in at 215,000 for the week ended April 12 — a sign that neither federal layoffs nor tariffs are weighing on the labor market. At least for now. 

Continuing claims, however, are on the rise, signaling that while companies may not be engaging in significant layoffs, they also aren’t ramping up hiring. There are now 1.89 million people receiving unemployment benefits, a level not seen since November 2021. 

The report comes a day…

Read more on Blockworks

Chances of a Fed put are low, given the uncertain economic picture

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

In the world of macro, the FOMC roadshow has been sidelined as global markets and pundits are squarely focused on Trump’s trade policies and their impacts on the global economy. 

That creates a state of fragility with a bunch of crosscurrents. Economic activity is grinding to a halt as businesses have trouble making hiring and capital investment decisions without knowing what the outlook will be on tariffs. 

After some initial tariff frontrunning in January and February, the Philly Fed Manufacturing Index cratered to a multi-year low: 

Traditionally — as economic activity…

Read more on Blockworks