Today, the fourth pre-trial hearing for the United States’ case against the Samourai Wallet developers took place in the Southern District of New York.

This is the second time that the two developers, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, have appeared together in public since the previous status conference, which occurred on September 17, 2024.

Today’s hearing was the shortest and least substantive of the four pre-trial hearings that have occurred thus far.

Pre-Trial Motion Schedule

At the hearing, the prosecution and the defense established and agreed upon the pre-trial motion schedule schedule, which is as follows:

May 9, 2025 — Opening motion June 6, 2025 — The… Read more on BitcoinMagazine

The Trump administration is doubling down on its Bitcoin strategy, with top officials emphasizing their commitment to growing the U.S. government’s BTC holdings. Speaking at the Digital Assets Summit today in New York, Bo Hines, Executive Director on Digital Assets for President Trump, made it clear that the United States is determined to accumulate Bitcoin at an unprecedented scale.

“I think it’s high time that our President started accumulating assets for the American people, which is what President Trump is doing rather than taking it away,” Hines stated. He went on to reveal that at President Trump’s first-ever digital assets summit at the White House, discussions…

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Nasdaq has taken a significant step towards embracing cryptocurrency by filing with the SEC to list and trade shares of 21Shares’ spot Polkadot ETF. This new fund is set to track the price of the Polkadot coin currently ranking as the 27th largest crypto asset. With no ticker yet assigned this move marks a pivotal moment for potential investors.

21Shares the fund’s sponsor is not new to the crypto scene. Already offering the Polkadot ETP in Europe the firm is expanding its footprint in the US aiming to provide a secure and straightforward investment path into cryptocurrencies like DOT XRP and Solana. Additionally 21Shares is exploring options to let its Ethereum ETF engage in staking to enhance returns.

The pursuit of ETFs by prominent firms such as 21Shares and Grayscale Investments signifies a growing confidence in digital assets. This development coupled with the SEC’s consideration could herald a new era of investment opportunities in the cryptocurrency sector broadening access and increasing mainstream acceptance.

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The European Central Bank (ECB) is laying the groundwork for the probable launch of its wholesale and retail central bank digital currency (CBDC), the Digital Euro. Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, shared this update at their latest press conference. “President Lagarde stressed that the digital euro is ‘more relevant than ever,’” the ECB tweeted.

Lagarde emphasized that the Digital Euro, the EU’s CBDC solution, is set to launch in October 2025—provided it passes the legislative phase involving key stakeholders, including the European Commission, Parliament, and Council. Notably absent from this process is the European public, despite the significant impact this…

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Strategy™ has announced plans to issue 5 million shares of Series A Perpetual Strife Preferred Stock in a public offering under the Securities Act of 1933. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance their investment in bitcoin using the net proceeds aimed at general corporate purposes and increasing working capital.

The preferred stock will carry a 10% annual dividend paid quarterly and is backed by the assurance of cash payments. Dividends are set to accumulate if unpaid compounding quarterly which illustrates the company’s commitment to rewarding investors while aggressively pursuing growth through cryptocurrency.

Investors also have rights under certain conditions to push for repurchase of their shares at the original issue price plus any unpaid dividends showcasing Strategy’s confidence in their fiscal strategy and long-term stability. This strategic maneuver not only strengthens Strategy’s financial footing but also positions it as a pivotal player in the cryptocurrency investment space.

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DMND (“Demand Pool”), the world’s first Stratum V2 Bitcoin mining pool, has officially opened applications for miners to join as launch partners, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. Successful applicants will receive 0% fees for the first two months and a special two-year founding miner agreement.

In addition to the launch announcement, DMND also confirmed the successful closing of its venture capital financing in Q4 2024, led by Trammell Venture Partners (TVP).

“The Bitcoin mining industry has a key problem which I’ve pinpointed over my 10-year career: mining pool centralization,” said Alejandro de la Torre, DMND co-founder and CEO. “This is why it is…

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A new lending product from Xapo Bank allows qualifying members to access USD loans using their bitcoin holdings as collateral. This enables bitcoin holders to tap into the fiat value of their assets without having to sell.

Xapo Bank, a licensed bank focused on bitcoin services, launched bitcoin-backed lending this week. Eligible members can now take out loans up to $1,000,000 secured against their bitcoin.

Once approved, the loan funds are instantly deposited into the member’s bank account. The corresponding bitcoin is held in secure storage by Xapo until repayment. This allows members to retain their bitcoin long-term while borrowing against their current value.

Members can select…

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