Category: Crypto

PARIS & NASHVILLE, Tennessee | Ledger, the world leader in Digital Asset security for consumers and enterprises, today launched for sale Ledger Flex, its second new product launch in 2024. Released during Ledger’s tenth anniversary, Ledger Flex and the previously released Ledger Stax mark the inception of a new generation of Ledger hardware, featuring secure E Ink® touchscreen displays powered by Ledger’s Secure OS. Ledger Flex is available to purchase today on Ledger.com and through our retail partners around the world for $249, shipping immediately.

Ledger Flex marks the new standard for Ledger devices, featuring NFC and a secure E Ink® touchscreen, at an attractive price point. Ledger Flex is an homage to the iconic black and steel motif featured on Ledger devices for a decade, a reminder of Ledger’s heritage of uncompromising security. Its high-resolution, 2.8” display provides clarity when signing transactions or approving logins. E Ink® offers unmatched energy efficiency, so the battery can last for weeks or even months on one charge.

“After a decade of setting the standard for security and self-custody in crypto and digital assets, I’m proud to say we’re raising the bar again,” says Pascal Gauthier, Chairman & CEO of Ledger. “By launching both Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax this year, we’re redefining the experience of self-custody. Ledger devices already secure more than 20% of the world’s digital assets, and our new secure touchscreen category will make self-custody more accessible than ever before for more consumers and enterprises.”

Secure signing devices are key to a future where Proof of You becomes essential — as more of our value becomes digitized, society will need trusted methods to prove identity. The rapid advancement of AI pushes provenance to the forefront of technology’s biggest challenges, and trusting what you see becomes increasingly difficult. Ledger devices are the only products in the world with secure touchscreens, making them essential for protecting both your digital value and your identity. Ledger devices bring security to your inherently insecure devices.

After a decade of building uncompromising secure devices and a robust open-source developer ecosystem, Ledger is ready to secure a world that’s embracing AI. Where AI creates abundance, the blockchain is a natural partner by creating scarcity and authenticity. Ledger secures the blockchain, and will build applications to serve the need for Proof of You.

This begins with a new app for Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex: Ledger Security Key, providing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Passkey capabilities. Passkeys provide a secure and convenient alternative to traditional passwords, and can eliminate phishing from your security risk factors. With Ledger Security Key, you can use your Ledger wallet to login without having to pull up your password or use a less secure 2FA such as a browser extension or SMS. This feature is built on the open FIDO 2 specification, ensuring decentralized access across platforms, and is already compatible with Google, Amazon, Binance, Coinbase, and much more. Simply tap your Ledger Flex or Ledger Stax to your phone to login to supported services, or connect via USB to your laptop or PC.

“Without a secure screen, you are not secure. Period. The easy-to-use secure touchscreens of Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex are the only truly secure touchscreens in the world, battle tested by the Donjon and third parties,” says Ian Rogers, Chief Experience Officer at Ledger. “With growing digital ownership and AI fakes, digital asset security, proof-of-humanity, and proof-of identity is more crucial than ever. Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex are the secure touchscreens to go with the insecure touchscreen in your pocket.”

Ledger Flex is partnered by Ledger Live, the leading omni-chain companion app, which enables users to connect seamlessly with their Ledger device. Ledger Live is the most secure way to buy, sell, swap and earn yield on your crypto, integrated with global providers such as Moonpay, Coinbase, PayPal, and Lido. To date, Ledger supports over 10,000 coins & tokens on more than 70 blockchains in Ledger Live, and approximately 200 dApps have been integrated into the Ledger ecosystem. Developers who want to build on the Ledger ecosystem can check out our updated Developer Portal here.

Embracing a future built on digital value requires secure recovery options, ensuring your digital value or identity is never lost. In 2023 Ledger launched Ledger Recover, provided by Coincover, a service that enables users to encrypt, shard, and backup their secret recovery phrase, which supports Ledger Flex from launch, in addition to the already available Ledger Stax. With Ledger Recover you never have to worry about recovering access to your wallet, even if your physical Secret Recovery Phrase backup is lost or destroyed. With Ledger Live, ™Ledger Security Key, and Ledger Recover, the entire digital ownership experience is present and possible only on the Ledger ecosystem.

Ledger Flex is available today on Ledger.com and in Best Buy all across the US for $249. A special Ledger Flex BTC Edition is also available. Accessories to protect your Ledger Stax and Ledger Flex are shipping now.

With the introduction of Ledger Flex, there is now a Ledger device available at a price point for everyone:

LEDGER NANO S PLUS™: Ledger’s uncompromising security for your Bitcoin and crypto, available for just $79.
LEDGER NANO X™: More connectivity, featuring Bluetooth for on the go transactions at $149.
LEDGER FLEX™: Ledger’s next-generation touch interface and form factor at $249.
LEDGER STAX™: Premium next-gen design featuring the world’s first curved E Ink® display, with Qi charging and stacking magnets. Designed by Tony Fadell. Secured by Ledger, at $399, with a magnet shell in every box.

LEDGER FLEX SPECS:
Dimensions: 78.40 mm × 56.50 mm × 7.70 mm
Security: Ledger EAL 6+ certified secure element (ST33K1M5)
Screen type: E Ink® (up to 16 grays), customizable always-on lock screen, capacitive touch
Screen resolution: 2.8”, 600 x 480 pixels
Weight: 57.5g
Connectivity: USB C, Bluetooth® 5.2, NFC

ABOUT LEDGER

Founded in Paris in 2014, LEDGER is a global platform for digital assets and Web3. Ledger is already the world leader in Critical Digital Asset security and utility. With more than 6M devices sold to consumers in 200 countries and 10+ languages, 100+ financial institutions and brands as customers, 20% of the world’s crypto assets are secured, plus services supporting trading, buying, spending, earning, and NFTs. LEDGER’s products include: Ledger Stax, Nano S Plus, Nano X hardware wallets, LEDGER Live companion app, and Ledger Enterprise. With its ease of use, LEDGER allows a user to begin investing in digital assets and ultimately, achieve financial freedom in a safe and stress-free environment.

LEDGER™, LEDGER LIVE™, LEDGER RECOVER™, LEDGER STAX™, LEDGER FLEX™ and LEDGER FREE FROM COMPROMISE™ are trademarks owned by Ledger SAS

Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Ledger is under license.

E Ink® is a registered trademark of E Ink Corporation.

Casa, a leading provider of Bitcoin self-custody services, has announced an integration with YubiKeys, enabling users to secure their Bitcoin vaults with Yubikeys. 

YubiKeys are small physical devices that provide multi-factor authentication and securely store sensitive data like passwords and keys. By integrating support for YubiKeys, Casa members can now use the devices as one of the keys in their multi-signature Bitcoin vaults.

When setting up a YubiKey with Casa, users generate a Bitcoin seed phrase locally on their computer. This seed is then stored on the YubiKey itself, protected by a passkey. 

The integration uses passkey cryptography to ensure the seed phrase never leaves the YubiKey and can only be accessed when authenticating through Casa’s service.

Casa emphasises this provides superior security over traditional wallet recovery seeds, which can be vulnerable to phishing and theft if written down or stored digitally. With a YubiKey, the seed is cryptographically bound to Casa’s domain, preventing phishing attacks.

By integrating with YubiKeys, Casa provides its members with more flexibility in securing their Bitcoin. YubiKeys offer convenience through their compact size and easy tap-to-use authentication. The company plans to open-source the core integration code in the future.

The launch demonstrates growing development in Bitcoin self-custody approaches as demand grows from both retail and institutional users to make self-custody more secure, better, and easier. 

“I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated cryptoassets can facilitate unlawful behaviour, including drug trade and other illegal activity.”

Thankfully, the official position of the Republican Party has changed dramatically since President Donald J Trump condemned the emerging crypto industry in those uncompromising terms back in 2019.

Earlier this month, the Republican National Committee adopted an ambitious platform to promote innovation in the US’ digital assets industry and protect the rights of bitcoin holders.

For one, the official platform pledges that the Republicans will “defend the right to mine bitcoin.” This represents a much-needed departure from the policies of the incumbent administration.

In February this year, the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued an “emergency” survey to bitcoin mining companies, demanding highly sensitive information such as the specifications of the machines being used, the specific locations of their mining operations, and contractual information relating to their commercial energy partners. The EIA not only demanded all of this information but pledged to publish even the most commercially sensitive bits of it.

This initiative represented an unprecedented intrusion into the activities of Bitcoin miners and a massive assault on the crypto industry. It prompted organizations such as the Texas Blockchain Council to launch legal proceedings to try and protect the rights of the crypto industry against federal outreach. The Republicans’ pledge to “defend the right to mine bitcoin” is therefore very welcome.

There are other encouraging pledges that the Republicans have made. The GOP has said they will “ensure every American has the right to self-custody their digital assets and transact free from government surveillance and control.”

They have also come out strongly against the idea of a CBDC. “Republicans will end Democrats’ unlawful and un-American crypto crackdown and oppose the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency,” the party has said.

Of course, all of this is highly encouraging for digital asset industry advocates. But it still begs the question. What caused President Trump to change his mind and start embracing the massive potential of digital assets and decentralized finance? How has this pro-digital asset agenda vaulted into the limelight of Presidential politics?

If there is one man who has contributed more than anybody else to changing Republicans’ mind on crypto, it is Vivek Ramaswamy. The former Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur is clearly having increasing amounts of influence on the GOP inner circle. At the Republican Convention this month, Donald Trump Jr joked that he would like Ramaswamy to be his running mate in 2036. Indeed, ever since his presidential bid last year, it is clear that he has been one of the leading voices at the upper echelons of the Republicans guiding the party in a more pro-crypto direction.

Ramaswamy made waves in GOP circles when, at the North American Blockchain Summit in Texas last year, he released a detailed and comprehensive plan for the US crypto space.

What did he pledge to do? Perhaps the most eye-catching measure was his promise to fire most of the employees at the bloated Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and order the rest to stop trying to bully the crypto industry. Importantly, Ramaswamy defines many cryptocurrencies like bitcoin as commodities that are therefore not under the jurisdiction of the SEC.

“I think it’s nothing short of embarrassing that Gary Gensler, the current leader of the SEC, in front of Congress could not even say whether Ethereum counted as a regulated security or not,” Ramaswamy said during one of the Republican debates last year. “This is just another example of the administrative state gone too far.”

Ramaswamy has been a vocal advocate for innovation in the crypto space and the use of decentralized digital currencies as a tool for financial freedom. He has argued that the right to code should be a right protected by the First Amendment, protecting developers from the overreaches of federal agencies.

He has also said that consumers should have a right to possess self-hosted digital wallets beyond the grasp of the government. This has now been explicitly adopted by the Republicans for their 2024 election campaign, showing the practical influence Ramaswamy is having on Republican policy.

It is not just Ramaswamy who has been positively influencing Republican policy. Back in May last year, Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, brought into force a law banning any potential CBDC being used in the state. The regulation “prohibits the use of a federally adopted CBDC by excluding it from the definition of money within Florida’s Uniform Commercial Code.”

Efforts like this have been essential in making the Republican leadership aware of the dangers associated with CBDCs and prompting them to pledge action.

But arguably the most important impactful of Ramaswamy’s crypto activism is to persuade the broader Republican Party that supporting crypto innovation is in line with their political philosophy and natural instincts.

He has powerfully argued that the current federal assault on the crypto industry is “an embodiment of our national decline” in the way it represents an attack on innovation and entrepreneurship, two values the Republicans have always claimed to hold dear.

Ramaswamy has similarly noted that Bitcoin mining is “a frontier in American innovation” in the same tradition as American heroes such as Thomas Jefferson – who Ramaswamy thinks “would have been a Bitcoin miner.” This rhetoric seems to have worked in convincing President Trump and Republican leaders that they should indeed be the pro-bitcoin party.

Another key emerging figure in the Republican party who is of a similar mind on digital assets as Vivek is Trump’s recent VP pick, J.D. Vance. Senator Vance is vocal about his support for bitcoin and digital assets and has a background in tech venture capital. He is young and he understands the importance of courting younger votes.

So, what will “four more years” of President Trump mean for the US digital asset industry?

Let’s end as we started, with another quote from the President – one that shows, thanks to the efforts of Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Vance and others, just how much the Republican stance on crypto has changed over the last few years.

“I will end Joe Biden’s war on crypto. We will ensure that the future of crypto and the future of Bitcoin will be made in America.”

This is a guest post by Mark Shut and Lee Bratcher. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

The Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville continues today with a packed schedule of high-profile keynotes and discussions on the future of Bitcoin.

Following yesterday’s industry-focused sessions, the main two-day Bitcoin 2024 conference kicks off this morning. Speakers slated for today include Michael Saylor, Cathie Wood, Edward Snowden, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and more Bitcoin luminaries.

The conference opened with remarks from Tennessee’s Commissioner Stuart McWhorter. MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor will deliver a keynote speech on Bitcoin and MicroStrategy.

ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood will speak on macroeconomic trends and Bitcoin’s role. U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis and Tim Scott will discuss Bitcoin’s growing prominence in American politics.

Other notable sessions include Edward Snowden and U.S. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. 

With over 35,000 attendees, Bitcoin 2024 is poised to be the largest Bitcoin conference ever. The event underscores Bitcoin’s evolution from an obscure digital asset to an integral part of the global financial system.

The speaker lineup attracts financial, political, and cultural leaders. Their presentations will explore Bitcoin’s potential to transform money, business, technology, and society. They will be followed by some huge announcements. 

Bitcoin 2024’s Industry Day will be live-streamed on Bitcoin Magazine YouTube and X today, starting at 9:00 AM EST.

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 approximately 4 cents USD per kWh, saying it would eliminate the primary impediment to the solar power mining industry.

MicroBT’s solar mining technology has seen substantial advancements, including the successful pilot of a 100 kW project. Dr. Yang announced the forthcoming launch of the WhatsMiner solar mining container system and called on industry partners to join in advancing solar-powered mining excellence.

One of the new features of the WhatsMiner hydro-cooling miner is its high outlet water temperature, now capable of reaching up to 80℃ (176℉). This allows for versatile heat utilization, such as agricultural heating, regional heating, and power grid balancing. MicroBT’s hydro-cooling technology aims to offer a reduced cooling source solution for mining but also enhance its competitiveness in the renewable mining sector.

Dr. Yang also introduced the latest models in the WhatsMiner lineup:

WhatsMiner M60S+ (air-cooling): Hashrate of up to 210 TH/s with a power efficiency of 17 J/T.’WhatsMiner M63S+ (hydro-cooling): Hashrate of up to 450 TH/s with a power efficiency of 17 J/T and outlet water temperature reaching 70℃ (158℉).WhatsMiner M64 (hydro-cooling): Hashrate of up to 206 TH/s with a power efficiency of 19.9 J/T and outlet water temperature reaching 80℃ (176℉).WhatsMiner M66S+ (immersion-cooling): Hashrate of up to 318 TH/s with a power efficiency of 17 J/T.

Dr. Yang then promised additional products and solutions set to launch in the spring of 2025.

Following Dr. Yang’s keynote, Wright Wang, Sales & Marketing Director of MicroBT, joined a panel discussion with Ghazaleh Barman from Riot Platforms and Niek Beudeker from Peak Mining (part of Northern Data Group). The panel focused on collaboration from manufacturing to mining, with Wang noting that Riot hosts the world’s largest immersion-cooling deployment and Northern Data is set for a large-scale hydro-cooling deployment. In which these operations are predominantly powered by WhatsMiner products.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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 Corporations leverages the combined strengths of Bitcoin Magazine and MicroStrategy to create a comprehensive resource and networking hub for companies in all walks of their Bitcoin journeys. MicroStrategy has already paved the way for enterprise adoption by integrating a Bitcoin for Corporations track into their broader MicroStrategy World conference series.

This collaboration will expand on that initiative with a co-branded web platform offering curated content, newsletters, and success stories from industry leaders who have implemented corporate Bitcoin strategies. The platform will also provide practical tools and educational materials tailored to C-Level executives, along with a structured outreach program and VIP access to annual in-person conferences.

“We are thrilled to partner with MicroStrategy to launch Bitcoin for Corporations,” said Mike Germano, President of Bitcoin Magazine. “This collaboration seamlessly aligns with our mission to educate and empower Bitcoiners. In expanding this mission to corporations, we couldn’t ask for better partners to join forces with than MicroStrategy.”

Michael Saylor, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, added, “The ‘Bitcoin for Corporations’ initiative is a significant step towards accelerating corporate Bitcoin adoption. By combining our expertise, resources and reach, along with Bitcoin Magazine we aim to create a robust platform that educates and supports corporations in implementing Bitcoin strategies.”

Bitcoin for Corporations offers various membership tiers, including Executive Partner, Premier Member, and Industry Member, each with unique benefits such as exclusive strategic content, master class inclusion, and VIP event access. This comprehensive structure aims to cater to different levels of interest and engagement, ensuring a wide reach and impact.

For more information on Bitcoin for Corporations, please visit b.tc/corporations.

About Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Magazine, the world’s first publication covering Bitcoin, serves its international readership with innovative ideas, breaking news, and global impact at the intersection of finance, technology, and Bitcoin. Operating from Nashville, Tennessee, Bitcoin Magazine is published by BTC Media. For the latest in Bitcoin news, visit BitcoinMagazine.com.

About MicroStrategy

MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) considers itself the world’s first Bitcoin development company. We are a publicly-traded operating company committed to the continued development of the Bitcoin network through our activities in the financial markets, advocacy and technology innovation. As an operating business, we are able to use cashflows as well as proceeds from equity and debt financings to accumulate bitcoin, which serves as our primary treasury reserve asset. We also develop and provide industry-leading AI-powered enterprise analytics software that promotes our vision of Intelligence Everywhere™, and are using our software development capabilities to develop bitcoin applications. We believe that the combination of our operating structure, bitcoin strategy and focus on technology innovation provides a unique opportunity for value creation. For more information about MicroStrategy, visit www.microstrategy.com.

MicroStrategy is a registered trademark of MicroStrategy Incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

—

For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact George Mekhail at George@b.tc.

TOKYO, JAPAN – July 26, 2024 – In a significant move to broaden its international reach, Bitcoin Magazine, in collaboration with Metaplanet (TYO), announced the opening of its new office in Tokyo, Japan, on July 26, 2024, at The Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, TN. This initiative underscores a joint commitment to providing localized, high-quality content tailored to the unique needs and interests of the Japanese Bitcoin community.

As one of the first countries to recognize Bitcoin as a legal form of payment, Japan has fostered a supportive ecosystem for the innovation and use of Bitcoin as a currency. Tokyo, in particular, boasts a dynamic financial sector, a high concentration of tech-savvy consumers, and a robust network of Bitcoin-friendly businesses and services. This makes Tokyo an ideal hub for the continued global expansion efforts of both Bitcoin Magazine and Metaplanet.

Metaplanet, a tech leader focused on facilitating Bitcoin integration into existing and developing corporate frameworks, aligns seamlessly with Bitcoin Magazine’s goal of global hyperbitcoinization. Their commitment to excellence and adherence to Bitcoin-only standards ensures integrity and a shared vision with Bitcoin Magazine’s ethos.

Mike Germano, President of Bitcoin Magazine, stated, “As the oldest and most established Bitcoin brand, Bitcoin Magazine is honored to collaborate with a pioneer like Metaplanet to enter the Japanese market. We are excited to not only integrate our presence but also to culturally enrich our local content, ensuring it truly resonates with the unique and vibrant Japanese community.”

Simon Gerovich, CEO of Metaplanet, added, “This partnership marks a significant milestone for Metaplanet. By collaborating with Bitcoin Magazine, we aim to further Bitcoin adoption in Japan through innovative and engaging content tailored specifically for our community.”

The launch of Bitcoin Magazine Japan is part of a broader strategy to establish a presence in key markets around the world. Following the successful launch of Bitcoin Magazine Switzerland, this move aims to expand reach and impact, ensuring that Bitcoin enthusiasts everywhere have access to the highest quality information and resources.

Metaplanet’s exclusive license to operate Bitcoin Magazine Japan will enable the publication to leverage local expertise and networks to create a platform that resonates deeply with the Japanese audience. This partnership will advance Bitcoin adoption in Japan through dedicated efforts, including exclusive interviews with prominent Japanese Bitcoin figures, special edition publications, and interactive online sessions. Plans to expand the print publication and live events sector are also underway.

Join Us in Pioneering Global Bitcoin Adoption

As the most trusted voice in the Bitcoin community, Bitcoin Magazine is actively seeking professional partners for further international expansions. Our goal is to support additional languages and regions, extending our influence and fostering Bitcoin adoption worldwide. If you share our vision and are interested in learning more about partnership licensing opportunities, we invite you to reach out.

About Bitcoin Magazine:

Bitcoin Magazine, the world’s first publication covering Bitcoin, serves its international readership with innovative ideas, breaking news, and global impact at the intersection of finance, technology, and Bitcoin. Operating from Nashville, Tennessee, Bitcoin Magazine is published by BTC Media. For the latest in Bitcoin news, visit BitcoinMagazine.com.

About Metaplanet:

Metaplanet Inc., a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has strategically reoriented its focus towards Bitcoin, adopting it as the principal treasury reserve asset. With over a decade of diversified business experience in Japan, spanning finance, trading, and real estate, Metaplanet is now committed to Bitcoin accumulation to enhance shareholder value. Through strategic partnerships and a Bitcoin-centric approach, Metaplanet aims to drive global Bitcoin adoption, guiding organizations in incorporating it as a strategic reserve asset. For more information, visit www.metaplanet.jp.

As Americans head to the polls this fall, their decision regarding who will lead our country will also determine the fate of crypto here in the United States, and our security, prosperity, and freedom are at stake.

This week, I will join President Trump and thousands of crypto market participants in Nashville for Bitcoin 2024, the world’s largest Bitcoin conference. This year, the conference is held in my home state at a time that is clearly the tipping point for the future of crypto technology in the U.S. This fall, the future of crypto in America is on the ballot as our nation decides who will lead the Executive and Legislative branches of our nation. The contrast between Democrat and Republican approaches to crypto is stark. The Biden Administration has repeatedly demonstrated its hostility to crypto by refusing to provide a basic regulatory framework for the industry, while simultaneously taking enforcement actions against firms for allegedly violating nonexistent rules. This combination of legal uncertainty and brass-knuckled enforcement has pushed many crypto innovators to the brink, leaving them little choice but to move their businesses overseas.

Meanwhile, Democrats have also taken extreme measures to stifle the adoption of crypto in the traditional financial system. Biden’s regulators have forced crypto-engaged banks like Signature Bank into receivership while imposing crypto-hostile policies like the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 121, which makes it prohibitively expensive for financial institutions to hold customers’ crypto assets. Altogether, the Biden Administration’s record makes clear what another four years of Democrat political control would bring: more political persecution of the industry on a scale reminiscent of Obama’s Operation Chokepoint.

In contrast, Republicans have taken concrete steps to develop constructive crypto policies that exemplify the party’s longstanding commitment to the principles of innovation, free enterprise, and individual liberty. House Republicans have passed promising bills that would provide legislative clarity for crypto market structure and for U.S.-Dollar-denominated private stablecoins. Republicans in both chambers have worked together to try to overturn Biden’s most egregious policies, address concerns about illicit finance, promote private-sector innovation in stablecoins, and prevent the development of a central bank digital currency. Republican control of Congress and the White House would enable the GOP to expand and implement these efforts, finally delivering constructive rules of the road for crypto and ending Biden’s oppressive regime of regulation by enforcement.

If Republicans don’t stop Democrats from trying to crush crypto in America, the consequences could be dire. Four more years of hostility will force even more crypto innovators offshore. Prominent U.S. exchanges have already started opening businesses in other countries, seeking licenses in foreign jurisdictions, and shuttering their U.S. operations. In recent years, lawmakers in Washington have realized how allowing another critical industry—semiconductors—to go offshore has weakened our nation’s competitive edge and geopolitical leverage. We would be foolish to allow crypto—this generation’s new cutting-edge technology—to follow the samCryptoe path. Republicans understand that keeping innovation onshore is essential for our global competitiveness and for the creation of wealth and jobs for Americans.

All too often, voters dismayed with Washington’s dysfunction feel that their vote—and national politics more broadly—does not matter. That’s not true here. No matter how much the status quo may frustrate us, the truth is that elections offer us the best opportunity to change course and get our country’s policies back on track. In the case of crypto, the vote at the ballot box this year could quite literally decide its fate. This November, Americans must make their voices heard and send their elected representatives to Washington with a mandate: secure a future for crypto in America.

This is a guest post by Senator Bill Hagerty. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

The biggest names in Bitcoin are converging in Nashville this week for the Bitcoin 2024 conference, the largest Bitcoin event in the world. Speakers include Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cathie Wood, Michael Saylor, and more.

Kicking off today is Bitcoin 2024’s Industry Day, which will feature presentations and discussions between top business leaders in the Bitcoin space.

Industry Day will focus on building Bitcoin-native financial products, Bitcoin’s role in traditional banking, corporations putting Bitcoin on their balance sheets and more. Sessions on Bitcoin scaling and layer 2 solutions will also be held.

Notable sessions include Dhruv Bansal of Unchained Capital and Allen Farrington, discussing building Bitcoin-native financial products. Caitlin Long of Custodia Bank will present on Bitcoin’s role in traditional finance.

Jimmy Song, Bruce Fenton, and others will explore “Make Bitcoin Great in America”, while executives from MicroStrategy, Metaplanet and others will examine corporate Bitcoin treasuries.

Industry Day represents a major convergence of Bitcoin business leaders and companies. With increasing institutional adoption, this event offers unparalleled networking and knowledge-sharing for enterprises involved in Bitcoin.

Bitcoin 2024’s Industry Day will be live-streamed on Bitcoin Magazine YouTube today, starting at 9:00 AM EST.

MARA (NASDAQ: MARA), a leader in leveraging digital asset compute for energy transformation, has purchased $100 million worth of Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to over 20,000 BTC, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine.

The company also announced a new treasury policy to adopt a full HODL approach, retaining all Bitcoin mined and making periodic strategic purchases.

“Adopting a full HODL strategy reflects our confidence in the long-term value of bitcoin,” stated Fred Thiel, MARA’s chairman and CEO. “We believe bitcoin is the world’s best treasury reserve asset and support the idea of sovereign wealth funds holding it. We encourage governments and corporations to all hold bitcoin as a reserve asset.”   

MARA said it aims to leverage its technological expertise to support Bitcoin and the broader digital asset ecosystem.

“Prior to last year, the company used to hold all of its bitcoin,” said Salman Khan, MARA’s chief financial officer in the press release. “Given Bitcoin’s current tailwinds, including increased institutional support and an improving macro environment, we are once again implementing this strategy and focusing on growing the amount we hold on our balance sheet. Bitcoin’s recent price decline, coupled with the strength of our balance sheet, afforded us an opportunity to add to our holdings. We look forward to continuing to leverage our technological expertise to support Bitcoin and distributed digital asset ecosystems.”  

Just last month, MARA announced that it was using the heat generated from its Bitcoin mining to heat a town of 11,000 in Finland. 

JUST IN: Marathon is now warming a town of over 11,000 in Finland using heat from #Bitcoin mining 🤯 🇫🇮

pic.twitter.com/BUEzj7zqOi

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 20, 2024