Franklin Templeton and SBI Holdings are teaming up to introduce a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Japan. According to a recent report by Nikkei, the two firms will create a new digital asset management company to prepare for the launch of cryptocurrency ETFs in the country, starting with Bitcoin ETFs.

SBI Holdings will retain a 51% stake in the new joint venture, while Franklin Templeton, recognized as the seventh-largest asset manager globally, will hold the remaining 49%. The initiative is set to move forward once Japan’s Financial Services Agency grants the necessary approvals.

In addition to Bitcoin ETFs, the new company will offer digital asset securities through blockchain technology, focusing on tokenizing various assets such as real estate and government bonds.

The report also highlighted SBI’s ongoing collaborations with international firms to expand its portfolio of alternative asset investment products, indicating a strategic move to diversify offerings in the evolving financial landscape.

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MicroBT, a leading innovator in the Bitcoin mining industry, unveiled its latest WhatsMiner M6XS+ series during the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, TN. The new series, featuring air-cooling, hydro-cooling, and immersion-cooling models, represents a leap forward in renewable mining technology.

Dr. Zuoxing Yang, founder and CEO of MicroBT, highlighted these advancements in his keynote address, emphasizing the company’s commitment to sustainable and efficient mining practices. Renewable mining, according to Dr. Yang, is the future of the industry, with solar mining poised to be at the forefront. He predicted that by 2026, the electricity cost for solar power mining could drop to…

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Former President Donald Trump, now the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, has raised over $4 million through various digital tokens, a campaign aide confirmed to CNBC. The donations include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple’s XRP, the USDC stablecoin, and a range of meme coins, as detailed in a Federal Election Commission filing.

According to the filing, at least 19 donors contributed more than 2.15 million Bitcoin to Trump’s campaign. These contributors come from 12 states, including several key battlegrounds. Their professions are diverse, spanning homemakers, U.S. military officers, missionaries, painters, pizza sales representatives, and even a security technician with the State Department.

The major contributions came from crypto billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who each donated 15.57 Bitcoin, totaling just over $1 million at the time. Due to the contributions exceeding the $844,600 limit, part of their donations were refunded. Additionally, Mike Belshe, CEO of digital asset security firm BitGo, contributed $50,000 in Bitcoin.

CNBC

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has become one of the first local government officials to openly announce an investment in Bitcoin. In a series of recent social media posts, the mayor celebrated Bitcoin’s permanence, announcing his city’s plans to incorporate Bitcoin ETFs into their pension fund. This, indeed, is a bold step following suit from others showing that crypto investments are gaining ground. Fulop celebrated blockchain technology for its revolutionary aspect, just like the internet. In this way, Jersey City potentially becomes, for the US, the first in adopting cryptocurrencies at a municipal level by making sure that pension fund allocations are updated to include digital assets before the end of summer—part of fulfilling his vision of using bleeding-edge technologies in increasing economic resilience. Even though a portion of the population is calling cryptocurrency too volatile, the drive has mostly sparked excitement and cautious optimism in equal measure from both the common man and financial experts. In fact, Fulop’s support does not only give more power to the crypto community but also brings Jersey City into focus as one of the towns that take the lead in this movement toward welcoming technological advancements for future financial planning.

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MicroStrategy and Bitcoin Magazine Launch “Bitcoin for Corporations” at The Bitcoin Conference

Nashville, Tennessee – July 25, 2024 – In a significant move to further drive corporate Bitcoin adoption, Bitcoin Magazine and MicroStrategy have announced the launch of Bitcoin for Corporations. This strategic partnership aims to provide comprehensive resources and educational content to corporate leaders, underscoring a joint commitment to fostering Bitcoin adoption and education on a global scale. The announcement was made live by Michael Saylor, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, on the live desk during the 2024 Bitcoin Conference.

Bitcoin for…

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Marathon Digital, the world’s largest Bitcoin mining firm, announced on Thursday that it has purchased $100 million worth of BTC for its balance sheet. This acquisition brings the mining giant’s total Bitcoin holdings to 20,000 BTC, valued at approximately $1.28 billion at current market prices.

In a strategic shift, Marathon Digital has declared that it will adopt a full HODL strategy, meaning the company plans to retain all Bitcoin mined and periodically make strategic purchases on the open market. This approach indicates that Marathon does not intend to sell any of its Bitcoin holdings, no matter how small the unit.

“Effective immediately, the company will adopt a full HODL strategy again,” Marathon stated. “The company plans to retain all Bitcoin mined and periodically make strategic purchases on the open market.”

Marathon’s decision aligns with the actions of several other public companies that have adopted Bitcoin as a primary treasury reserve asset this year, including Semler Scientific, Japan’s MetaPlanet, and Canada’s DeFi Technologies.

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Former U.S. Marine, prominent attorney John E. Deaton running for U.S. Senate, the state of Massachusetts. Deaton, who has about 80% of his wealth in Bitcoin (BTC), is seeking to oust Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of the more vocal critics of the cryptocurrency industry, after her pledge to organize an anti-crypto army has inspired Deaton’s run to become a proponent of digital assets.

Apart from BTC, Deaton has invested in large cap cryptos such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Ripple (XRP). As a matter of fact, the lawyer had been an active player in the world of digital money since he represented 76,000 XRP holders in court in a high-profile lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This earned him the nickname of a “crypto-lawyer.”

Deaton’s legal career was focused almost entirely on asbestos litigation, making his move into crypto advocacy a dramatic pivot. If successful, his run for the Senate could be yet another indication of how the power of cryptocurrency is affecting politics and potentially changing the digital currency legislative game.