Transaction URL: https://blockchain.com/btc/tx/5f949857bd93a40b3bacbf389d4b1ba3686b0fd9769016cc4cca9146788a1a0c

Transaction URL: https://blockchain.com/btc/tx/40628796507c57eaaf08907c1524140e95e9e66756ff421b70faeafd4f48ac2e

Transaction URL: https://blockchain.com/btc/tx/5a41e00ba34be2e75999bd77a1efd05604f430270a5cc4379706c28bdebfcae7

Bitcoin mining leader Marathon Digital (MARA) has announced the purchase of 11,774 BTC for $1.1 billion, boosting its total Bitcoin holdings to an impressive 40,435 BTC. This acquisition cements MARA’s position as the second-largest public company by Bitcoin holdings, trailing only MicroStrategy.

The purchase was funded using proceeds from MARA’s zero-coupon convertible notes offerings and acquired at an average price of $96,000 per BTC. The miner reported strong performance metrics, achieving a Bitcoin yield of 12.3% quarter-to-date and 47.6% year-to-date. With Bitcoin currently trading around $97,000, MARA’s holdings are valued at approximately $3.9 billion.

MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor praised MARA’s results, particularly its 47.6% year-to-date BTC yield. Interestingly, MARA’s announcement closely follows MicroStrategy’s acquisition of 21,550 BTC for $2.1 billion, bringing the software firm’s holdings to 423,650 BTC—well ahead of Marathon.

This competition underscores the growing trend of publicly traded companies increasing their Bitcoin reserves, signaling strong institutional confidence in the cryptocurrency’s potential as a strategic asset.

Transaction URL: https://etherscan.io/tx/0x1ad6cf1a7742b3fff784715caceca9aac8372fa4d123ec7f17d14a35ee76ea56

Transaction URL: https://blockchain.com/btc/tx/997948bd231f88f1daae38cb8cb782b7377b0b2c50f7d25cf39e868f5ce223d9

Anton Tkachev, a member of Russia’s State Duma, has proposed the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve to mitigate economic sanctions and enhance financial stability. Tkachev’s proposal, reported on Dec. 9, follows President Vladimir Putin’s recent acknowledgment of Bitcoin as a transformative and unstoppable technology.

Tkachev’s formal appeal to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov suggests structuring a Bitcoin reserve similar to traditional foreign currency reserves. He argued that cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, are critical for facilitating global trade amidst restricted access to international payment systems. Highlighting Bitcoin’s December 2024 price of $100,000, Tkachev described it as a reliable store of value and an effective hedge against inflation and currency volatility.

The proposal aligns with broader efforts by Russia’s central bank to integrate digital assets into international payments. If implemented, it could position Russia as a global leader in using cryptocurrencies for national financial strategies. However, significant policy reforms and collaboration among Russian financial institutions would be required.

Transaction URL: https://etherscan.io/tx/0x6e501feed95ef7e3b9477035f8e15724ba1fd2e537100d834f643d3de810c498