Celebrating The Life Of Patricia Trompeter

One of the perks of my old post was having access to a yacht in FiDi during the summer—yes, for some, that’s called business development. The first time I met Patti, she elbowed her way onto the boat. I had no idea who she was, but she insisted that I didn’t like her, which, of course, made me instantly curious. At the time, I was a bit skeptical of Sphere 3D, especially after the NUMiner announcement. But Patti? She squashed any doubts I had. She was a force—radiating energy, always perfectly dressed, armed with a razor-sharp wit, and unapologetically unfiltered in the best possible way.

From that day on, we were friends. At the end of that summer, I had another business…

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Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Passes The Senate

Today, the Texas Senate has passed SB 21, a bill aimed at creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve for the state, by a vote of 25-5. The bill will now advance to the Texas House for further consideration.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick identified SB 21 as a priority bill for the 2025 legislative session this past January. The bill aims to position Texas as a leader in Bitcoin adoption by establishing a reserve of BTC, which proponents argue will serve as a hedge against economic instability and inflation.

Support for the bill was evident during a February 18 hearing held by Texas’ Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. The hearing drew numerous Bitcoin advocates,…

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LATEST: U.S. Misses $17 Billion Opportunity with Early Bitcoin Sales, Says David Sacks

David Sacks the White House Crypto Czar today criticized the United States for its past mismanagement of Bitcoin assets which he claims has cost taxpayers approximately $17 billion. Speaking on X he highlighted the drastic financial loss due to the premature sale of 195,000 BTC over the last decade fetching only $366 million at the time. Sacks emphasized the need for a national crypto reserve to prevent future fiscal blunders.

The U.S. government’s hasty sales included significant Bitcoin amounts at low prices such as the sale of 29,657 BTC in June 2014 for just $632 per coin. This loss of potential revenue accentuates the importance of retaining and effectively managing seized crypto assets which could have significantly appreciated in value. With Bitcoin’s price surge from a few hundred dollars to a peak in the six figures the losses are stark.

Sacks’ push for a strategic approach to cryptocurrency is gaining traction as the White House prepares to host a crypto summit with a national crypto reserve on the agenda. This initiative aims to consolidate and potentially expand the U.S. government’s existing crypto assets which currently include 198,109 BTC and other cryptocurrencies totaling over $18 billion according to Arkham data.

LATEST: Dubai’s Major Bank NBD Now Offering Bitcoin and Crypto Services

Emirates NBD a major bank owned by the Dubai government has unveiled a groundbreaking move in the financial technology sector with the launch of Liv X its new mobile banking app dedicated to cryptocurrency trading. This innovative platform is leveraging the technical prowess of Aquanow a digital asset platform licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).

Dubai has been strategically positioning itself as a global center for cryptocurrency aligning with its vision to pioneer economic innovation. The region’s clear regulatory frameworks have attracted major exchanges like Binance Crypto.com and OKX which have all secured approvals to operate within this vibrant crypto hub.

In a significant collaboration Liv will utilize the infrastructure of Aquanow for its cryptocurrency transactions while Zodia a venture backed by Standard Chartered will provide crucial custody services. This move underscores Dubai’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology within its banking sector setting a robust example for global financial systems.

Bloomberg

Brazilian Publicly Traded Méliuz Adopts Bitcoin Treasury Strategy

Brazilian fintech company Méliuz announced Thursday it had allocated 10% of its cash reserves into bitcoin, becoming the first publicly traded firm in the country to adopt a bitcoin treasury strategy.

Méliuz invested $4.1 million to acquire 45.72 bitcoins at an average price of $90,926 per coin. The purchase represents roughly 10% of the company’s total cash holdings based on a new policy approved by its board of directors.

In a statement, Méliuz said the bitcoin allocation seeks “long-term returns” on the investment as part of its treasury management. The company also created a Bitcoin Strategic Committee to study expanding its strategy and making bitcoin a primary…

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Exclusive: Seismic raises $7M in round led by a16z Crypto

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

Here’s a fun exclusive for you this morning: Seismic, an encrypted blockchain, raised $7 million in a round led by a16z Crypto, with participation from Polychain, Alliance and 1kx, among others. 

This was the first fundraising effort for founder Lyron Co Ting Keh, given that Seismic was his first startup. The idea, he said, came from wanting to start his own company. 

As he spoke to various app developers, it became clear that “you need encryption to be in the foundation of the chain and not just built onto it. And so we tried for many months to build on it, on the chain, but we couldn’t…

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LATEST: Charles Hoskinson Clueless About ADA’s Selection for US Reserve

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has not been invited to the upcoming White House Crypto Summit set for March 7 even though ADA token is included in President Trump’s crypto reserve proposal. His exclusion has raised eyebrows across the cryptocurrency community. Hoskinson revealed his non-invite status in a recent broadcast stressing that real policy impact does not hinge on such events but rather through sustained legislative efforts.

Despite his absence notable crypto figures like Michael Saylor Brian Armstrong Arjun Sethi and Vlad Tenev are confirmed attendees. Hoskinson continues to advocate for regulatory clarity engaging with lawmakers to influence legislation related to stablecoins and market structures.

Shockingly ADA’s inclusion in the proposed crypto reserve was unknown to Hoskinson until recently. He was bombarded with congratulatory messages last Sunday morning oblivious to ADA’s selection which underscores the surprising and significant role Cardano is poised to play in shaping U.S. cryptocurrency strategy.

Broadcast