Grayscale Investments Launches Bitcoin Miners ETF

Grayscale Investments LLC has officially launched the Grayscale Bitcoin Miners ETF (MNRS), providing investors with a unique opportunity to gain exposure to the Bitcoin mining industry. This ETF is designed for those who want to invest in Bitcoin miners without directly purchasing Bitcoin itself, making it an attractive option for traditional investors looking to diversify their portfolios.

Introducing the Grayscale Bitcoin Miners ETF ($MNRS) ⛏️ , offering investors targeted, pure-play exposure to Bitcoin Miners and the Bitcoin Mining Industry, available directly in your investment account. Learn more below. Brokerage fees and other expenses may still apply.

— Grayscale (@Grayscale)… Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Ethereum holds the line between ‘in it for the tech’ and ‘for the money’

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

Can you still be in crypto “for the tech?”

The idealist in me would like to say yes — but it’s an increasingly tricky question to answer.

Cryptocurrency and blockchain, in the most general sense, are money technologies. That’s quite different from something like media software, where being in it “for the tech” can be more easily expressed by keeping the software free to use.

Jean-Baptiste Kempf, the creator of VLC media player, has over the years refused tens of millions of dollars from advertisers in order to do exactly that. 

In crypto, it’s not so clear. If you’re in…

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The Bitcoin And Cypherpunk Spirit Is Alive And Well In Africa

In the past two months, I’ve attended the Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town conference in South Africa and the African Bitcoin Conference in Kenya. I’ve also visited Bitcoin circular economies in both of these countries including Bitcoin Ekasi, Afribit Kibera and Bitcoin Witsand.

These experiences have opened my eyes to the fact that developers, community leaders and everyday plebs across Africa are harnessing the power of Bitcoin to catalyze change in their lives, and they’re doing so while carrying on the spirit of the early cypherpunks.

An African Bitcoiner’s Manifesto

In “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto,” Eric Hughes wrote:

“Cypherpunks write code. We know that someone has to write…

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Announcement of Bitcoin Treasury and Payment

Nuvve Holdings Corp., a publicly listed green energy company focused on electric vehicle (EV) charging, announced that it will invest up to 30% of its excess cash in bitcoin.

The company’s Board of Directors has approved the move, which marks Nuvve’s entry into the growing trend of public companies adding bitcoin to their balance sheets.

In a January 28 press release, Nuvve explained its Bitcoin strategy, saying it will diversify its treasury and prepare to accept bitcoin as a form of payment. The company says it believes bitcoin is a valuable asset and will improve payment options for customers and suppliers.

Gregory Poilasne, Nuvve’s CEO and founder, said, “BTC…

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LATEST: Illinois Plans to Create Bitcoin Reserve with 5-Year Holding Strategy

Illinois has initiated the Bitcoin Strategic Bill making it the first state in the U.S. to treat Bitcoin as a strategic financial asset. State Representative John Cabello introduced the proposal to establish a Bitcoin reserve fund controlled by the Illinois State Treasurer. The fund will collect Bitcoin donations from residents and government bodies storing the digital currency for at least five years before utilization.

Under the new proposal Illinois sets a precedent for financial innovation by incorporating Bitcoin into its state financial strategy. This move is safeguarded by stringent regulations and mandates regular reporting on the fund’s status. The bill known as the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act will take effect immediately upon passage reflecting the state’s proactive approach towards leveraging cryptocurrency.

With Illinois paving the way experts anticipate other states and institutions will soon follow suit in integrating Bitcoin into their financial strategies. This strategic move is aimed at fortifying financial assets against market fluctuations and economic uncertainties making Bitcoin a more prominent player in economic resilience plans.

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LATEST: El Salvador Adopts New Bitcoin Legislation Following IMF Deal

El Salvador’s Congress has approved a pivotal amendment to the nation’s bitcoin law enhancing its relationship with cryptocurrencies. The bill initiated by President Nayib Bukele now makes the acceptance of bitcoin voluntary aligning with a major $1.4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund. This legislative move is seen as a step toward stabilizing the crypto market in the country which previously mandated bitcoin as legal tender.

Lawmakers from Bukele’s ruling New Ideas Party have been instrumental in the swift passage of the reform which garnered 55 votes in favor and only two against. This revision was deemed essential for ensuring the longevity and practical application of bitcoin as a legal currency within the nation’s financial ecosystem.

With global attention on El Salvador’s innovative embrace of bitcoin the country continues to bolster its cryptocurrency reserves. The adjustments to the law are anticipated to attract more sustainable investment and foster a pro-crypto environment under the current administration.

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LATEST: Tesla Gains $600 Million from Bitcoin After Regulation Shift

Tesla has taken a strategic step forward by utilizing a new accounting rule which allows the marking of digital assets to market each quarter. The adjustment showcased in Tesla’s latest earnings report reveals a significant valuation of its Bitcoin holdings. As of the end of 2024 the holdings are now worth $1.076 billion a substantial increase from the previous $184 million.

The electric car giant recorded a $600 million boost to its GAAP income attributing to its digital assets. This surge played a pivotal role in Tesla achieving a total GAAP income of $2.3 billion for the fourth quarter. Such financial maneuvers highlight the potential benefits of digital assets in enhancing corporate financial profiles.

Introduced by the Financial Accounting Standards Board the new rule mandates corporate holders of digital assets like Bitcoin to adjust their valuations each quarter. Tesla’s proactive adoption of this rule prior to its mandatory implementation in 2025 underscores the company’s forward-thinking approach and its commitment to integrating digital assets into its financial strategy.

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US crypto firms expand offerings as Trump takes over

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

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan last week said that the US banking industry will have to adapt their businesses to allow for crypto payments, should regulations progress. 

“If the rules come in and make it a real thing that you can actually do business with, you’ll find that the banking system will come in hard on the transactional side of it,” Moynihan told CNBC at the World Economic Forum. 

Crypto exchange Kraken today launched a new payments platform — Kraken Pay, which allows customers to transfer assets directly from their exchange accounts. Kraken Pay supports more…

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Bitcoin: What Went Wrong?

Something has fundamentally changed in this ecosystem. A big shift in the core ethos of things. Regardless of what you think about politics in the wider world, Bitcoin itself as a network and protocol was something explicitly designed to function in a hostile environment, in an environment where politics and governments are actively antagonistic towards it.

The core value proposition of Bitcoin itself is that, as a system, it can continue functioning despite…

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