Republican Senator Tim Scott, the new chair of the US Senate Banking Committee, has declared cryptocurrency regulation a top priority for the 119th Congress. Scott’s leadership aims to develop a regulatory framework that supports the trading and custody of digital assets, signaling a more crypto-friendly agenda. His commitment includes addressing the lack of clarity from the SEC which, under former Chair Gensler, pushed crypto projects abroad.

The committee’s focus will extend to financial inclusivity and economic security, with an emphasis on fostering opportunities through digital assets. Senator Scott criticized previous leadership for their opaque policies and outlined plans to cultivate an open-minded environment for stablecoins and other digital asset innovations.

This new direction comes as a significant shift from the previous chair, Senator Sherrod Brown, who held a more critical stance on crypto. With Scott at the helm and a Republican majority in the Senate, the crypto industry might see a more favorable regulatory landscape in the coming sessions.

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In the early 2020s, quantum computing hit the public spotlight as a potential threat to Bitcoin. Relying on SHA-256 cryptographic hash function for its proof-of-work network consensus, Bitcoin’s value is predicated on computational power.

If there is a technology that can circumvent the traditional binary system of 0s and 1s for units of information, there is potential to upend cryptography as we know it. But is that danger over exaggerated?

Could quantum computing one day turn Bitcoin into a valueless piece of code? Let’s start by understanding why Bitcoin relies on cryptography.

Bitcoin’s Bits and Hashing

When we say that an image is 1 MB in size, we say that it contains 1,000,000…

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Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Bitwise, has issued a bold prediction: hundreds of companies will buy Bitcoin as a treasury asset over the next 12 to 18 months. The shift, which Hougan describes as an “overlooked megatrend,” has the potential to significantly influence Bitcoin’s market trajectory.

MicroStrategy: The Torchbearer of Corporate Bitcoin Adoption

MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, has become synonymous with corporate Bitcoin adoption. Though ranked only 220th globally by market capitalization, the company’s influence on the Bitcoin market is disproportionate. In 2024 alone, MicroStrategy acquired 257,000 BTC—exceeding the total Bitcoin mined that year…

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Listening to Sébastien Gouspillou share stories from the past eight years of his international life as a Bitcoin miner, it’s difficult to believe he’s telling the truth.

Each of his tales come across as works of fiction in which he, often compelled by little more than blind faith and a desire to utilize cheap energy for Bitcoin mining, comes out on top after struggling through soul-shaking trials and tribulations.

And what’s perhaps most mystifying is that he tells many of these stories while smiling from ear to ear, beaming with a certain radiance that comes from having an indefatigable spirit (except for when he tells parts of the stories where others are hurt, wronged or killed; at…

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Follow Aaron on Nostr or X.

In his Take from yesterday, Frank invited bitcoiners to join Nostr: “The world’s biggest bitcoin circular economy.” I fully endorse this invitation; Nostr aligns much better with Bitcoin’s original values than — specifically — Elon Musk’s X.

In much the same way that the money in your bank account isn’t really yours, your posts on X aren’t either — in contrast, your Nostr posts are connected to your own public…

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia announced plans to advance national policies on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology following productive discussions with Binance co-founder CZ and leaders from Abu Dhabi. The New Straits Times reports that upon returning from a three-day trip to Abu Dhabi, Ibrahim is keen on developing these technologies to ensure Malaysia remains competitive on the global stage.

The prime minister expressed his intent to introduce a policy proposal to the cabinet urgently, emphasizing the need for regulation to protect the public and prevent financial leakages. He highlighted that embracing these innovations, similar to artificial intelligence, could revolutionize the financial sector and that Malaysia must not lag behind international trends.

Ibrahim also noted that collaborations with the United Arab Emirates could enhance Malaysia’s approach to digital asset regulations. He stressed the importance of updating traditional business models and embracing digital finance to maintain pace with other Southeast Asian nations and the proactive stance of the upcoming U.S. administration under President-elect Trump.

Report

On January 15, 2025, the U.S. Bitcoin ETFs experienced a net outflow of 1,013 BTC, contrasting sharply with the 450 new bitcoins mined daily during this period. This scenario indicates that the market activity for these ETFs surpassed the additional supply generated from mining, suggesting strong sell-offs or redistributions among investors.

Breaking down the ETF performances, Grayscale’s GBTC had the most significant net outflow, shedding 960 BTC. This substantial decline could reflect shifts in investor sentiment or portfolio rebalancing within the fund. In contrast, BlackRock’s ARKB ETF showed some resilience with a net inflow of 30 BTC, signaling continued investor interest in specific ETF products.

Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF (Ticker: BITB) experienced a net decrease of 93 BTC, and Invesco Galaxy’s Bitcoin ETF (Ticker: BTCO) saw a minor net inflow of 14 BTC, while Franklin Templeton’s Bitcoin ETF (Ticker: EZBC) had a small loss of 4 BTC. Notably, other major ETFs like BlackRock’s IBIT, Fidelity’s FBTC, and VanEck’s HODL reported no changes in their holdings.

This day’s data illustrates the dynamic interplay between mining output and ETF movements, highlighting the impact of external market conditions and investor behaviors on Bitcoin ETFs relative to the creation of new coins. The overall outflow exceeding the mined amount indicates a possibly bearish sentiment or strategic adjustments in investor holdings.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations and data can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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