A1 Abraaj Restaurants Group has become the first publicly traded company in the Middle East to adopt bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, signaling a major shift in regional finance. Bahrain’s A1 Abraaj Embraces Bitcoin for Crypto Treasury In a regional first, Bahrain-based A1 Abraaj Restaurants Group (Bahrain Bourse: ABRAAJ) has officially adopted bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset. The move positions A1 Abraaj as the Middle East’s first publicly traded company to integrate BTC into its corporate treasury, joining global pioneers like Strategy and Metaplanet. According to the company’s announcement on X, A1 Abraaj disclosed an initial acquisition of 5 BTC and announced plans to scale its BTC holdings significantly. A1 Abraaj, which reported $12.5 million in EBITDA for 2024, aims to offer countries in the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) access to bitcoin, reflecting growing institutional demand and digital asset adoption. “Our initiative towards becoming a bitcoin treasury company reflects our forward-thinking approach and dedication to maximizing shareholder value,” said Abdulla Isa, Chairman of the bitcoin treasury committee of A1 Abraaj Restaurants Group. Partnering with IOX Capital, a U.S.-based firm known for advising bitcoin treasury companies, A1 Abraaj intends to raise additional capital to expand its BTC portfolio. The company has a dedicated bitcoin committee to manage governance, risk, and custody protocols for its digital holdings. “I’d like to congratulate A1 Abraaj for adopting bitcoin at the corporate treasury level, finally enabling anyone in the GCC with a brokerage account to gain bitcoin exposure,” said Hans Thomas, CEO of IOX Capital. This strategic pivot highlights A1 Abraaj’s commitment to innovation and financial diversification, aligning itself with emerging global trends while contributing to Bahrain’s growing digital economy.

JPMorgan sees bitcoin dominating gold in 2025 as surging ETF inflows, corporate adoption, and state-level crypto reserves ignite a powerful wave of institutional momentum. JPMorgan Spots a Massive Rotation—Bitcoin Gaining, Gold Draining Global investment bank JPMorgan expects bitcoin to significantly outperform gold through the remainder of 2025, driven by a wave of crypto-specific catalysts that are reshaping investment flows. Analysts led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou outlined this bullish view in a note published Wednesday and shared with The Block. “Between mid-February and mid-April, gold was rising at the expense of bitcoin, while of the past three weeks we have been observing the opposite, i.e. bitcoin rising at the expense of gold,” they wrote. Anticipating that this shift will continue, JPMorgan stated: This view is underpinned by recent market dynamics and structural changes that favor BTC. Since April 22, gold has dropped nearly 8%, pressured by waning expectations for aggressive Fed rate cuts and rising equity markets, leading to substantial outflows from gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like SPDR Gold Trust. Meanwhile, bitcoin has surged substantially, topping $100,000 for the first time in months, fueled by significant inflows into spot bitcoin ETFs over three weeks. Futures markets reflect the same trend, with shrinking gold positions and rising bitcoin exposure, signaling a broader investor pivot toward digital assets. JPMorgan attributes bitcoin’s rising momentum to more than just gold’s decline, citing increased adoption by corporations and governments. An expanding group of companies is acquiring bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. Microstrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR), now rebranded as Strategy, continues to grow its bitcoin holdings aggressively. Japan’s Metaplanet has also added bitcoin to its corporate treasury. On the public sector front, U.S. states are taking steps that could institutionalize bitcoin within government financial systems. New Hampshire passed a law allowing up to 5% of state reserves to be held in bitcoin and gold, marking a historic move toward crypto in public finance. Arizona is creating a digital asset reserve using staking rewards and airdrops, avoiding taxpayer funding. These initiatives reflect a growing trend among U.S. states to institutionalize digital assets responsibly. The JPMorgan team highlighted this potential, stating: Institutionalization of crypto markets is accelerating through major acquisitions and regulatory wins aimed at strengthening infrastructure and credibility. In recent developments, Coinbase is buying Deribit for $2.9B to lead in crypto derivatives, while Kraken’s $1.5B acquisition of Ninjatrader deepens its futures exposure. Gemini secured EU-wide derivatives licensing, Robinhood acquired Wonderfi for $179M to expand in Canada, and Ripple is integrating traditional finance with crypto via its $1.25B purchase of credit network Hidden Road. These moves are primed to attract a fresh wave of institutional capital into bitcoin and broader crypto markets.

"Ongoing global economic uncertainty and persistently high interest rates in the U.S. may act as headwinds" for crypto, an analyst told Decrypt. Top cryptocurrencies experienced a pullback on Thursday, amid signs investors are taking profits off the table after a recent rally. Bitcoin touched lows of $101,500 at one point, indicating a return to all-time highs might not be as imminent as some bulls hoped. Sell-offs were more pronounced among major altcoins. Ethereum has fallen by 3% over the past 24 hours—with XRP, Solana and Dogecoin all shedding about 5%. Risk appetite also appears to be cooling in the stock market too, with the Federal Reserve set to cut interest rates less frequently in 2025 than first thought.BRN's lead research analyst Valentin Fournier argues healthy inflows into BTC and ETH ETFs "provides a solid foundation for long-term support." Describing Thursday's declines as a "modest pullback," he wrote: "While this appears to be a healthy correction, altcoins, after leading the rally, are showing more volatility. "We believe Bitcoin's $100k level will serve as a critical support zone for an extended accumulation phase," Fournier wrote. YouHodler's chief of markets Ruslan Lienkha told Decrypt that upward momentum is moderating now that tariff negotiations have concluded, with short-term traders deciding to lock in profits across the equity markets."This shift in sentiment has spilled over into riskier assets, including Bitcoin. As a result, the current pullback appears to be a correction within a broader medium-term uptrend," he added. Going forward, Lienkha believes "ongoing global economic uncertainty and persistently high interest rates in the U.S. may act as headwinds" for crypto, and could limit upside potential. Newhedge measures Bitcoin's correlation with the S&P 500 on a scale of -1 to 1. While -1 indicates there's no connection between these markets, a score closer to 1 suggests they rise and fall in tandem with one another. With a current reading of 0.86, continued strength for BTC may hinge upon how things unfold on Wall Street.

I'm in for the long run, bought and sold a few times when it was around ,22-.23 but holding until at least 2026 now. hodl the line, doge fam! <3 selling only if i have no choice no matter what happens here.

Lawmakers in the US will conduct a cloture vote on the GENIUS Act this coming Monday, setting the stablecoin bill on a crucial path

10 years ago, a meme-based cryptocurrency known as dogecoin was introduced to the world. at the time, many people viewed it as a joke or a fad that wouldn’t last long in the ever-evolving world of digital currencies. fast forward to today, and not only has dogecoin stood the test of time, but it’s also thriving and gaining more traction than ever before. one of the reasons for this enduring popularity is its strong community backing. the dogecoin community has been instrumental in pushing for its adoption across various platforms. from tiktok campaigns to reddit posts urging users to buy into doge shoots its value up 857% from january 2021 until april! recently elon musk made headlines when he specifically requested his employees at tesla pay them their quarterly bonuses with doge instead of fiat cash?! while some say this move was planned all along to increase demand &market cap others are excited transactions on dogechain will be accepted soon bringing prices higher. a major factor driving growth? its lightning-fast processing times compared other cryptos like ethereum which takes forever confirm each block transaction! that means customers can conduct fast premium service payments without getting ripped off by miners’ fees! plus low inflation rate keeps supply decrease rate lower than bitcoin leading more investors flocking towards us remaining steady partners throughout these past nights days…and maybe months between rotting riches altogether!) but hey.. are we done here? makes sense because my fingers too tired typing “just keep buying” over&over 😏💪🏽😂👀 🔥🚀🔋 💎🙌🏽 ⛸️🚢🔥😱

🧾TYO-listed firm just dropped another $3.4M on Bitcoin 🚗It's that same auto & energy player who sold BITPoint to SBI in 2023 💰Snagged 32.83 $BTC at ~¥15.23M ($104.5K) per coin 📈Now holds a fat 648.82 $BTC—worth ~$68M market value 🧠Book value sits at ¥8.19B, but price action already pushed it up ¥1.7B 👀Old school corp with laser eyes? We like that.

🤙💰🚀🌕 **doges are by far the best thing that could ever happen to you. so much better than cocaine!** **we can buy them, sell them and spend them in so many available ways! they come from us for us and they will always be ours! i love doge usefulness!!**  

Europol has announced the arrest of 17 individuals involved in a criminal parallel banking organization that provided money laundering services across Europe, including the exchange of cryptocurrencies for cash. The operation, conducted on January 14, 2025, in Austria, Belgium, and Spain, followed previous successful actions against migrant smugglers. The arrested individuals, primarily of Chinese and Syrian nationality, are suspected of facilitating illegal banking services, including hawala banking and cash courier services, to various criminal networks. Law enforcement seized assets worth over €4.5 million, including €183,000 in cryptocurrency, cash, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and firearms. This dismantling of the criminal network is considered significant, as it was linked to the laundering of over €21 million in illicit proceeds, serving a diverse clientele through social media advertising. Europol’s involvement included deploying experts to assist national investigators in tracking down the network’s operations.

Bitcoin has once again captured headlines, clawing its way back above key resistance levels and reigniting the dreams of a full-fledged bull run. Social media is buzzing, search interest is spiking, and the “Bitcoin to the moon” crowd is getting louder by the day. But beneath the surface of green candles and renewed hype lies a sobering question: Is this rally the real deal, or just another technical bounce before the next leg down? A Familiar Pattern or a New Cycle? Veteran traders recognize this pattern. Bitcoin has a long history of sharp recoveries that mimic bull runs — only to trap latecomers before a steep correction. The current price movement, while promising, shows signs of fragility: low volume on up days, strong resistance at historical levels, and a market still heavily influenced by macroeconomic forces. The Halving Hype – Already Priced In? Many bulls point to the recent Bitcoin halving as a bullish catalyst. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the market is forward-looking. Smart money started positioning months ago. If you’re only reacting now, you’re probably late. The halving may already be “priced in,” and without new capital inflows, we could see stagnation or worse — a retracement. Institutional Money – Support or Smokescreen? Yes, BlackRock and other giants are now in the game. But institutions don’t chase pumps — they accumulate in silence and dump in euphoria. Their presence brings legitimacy but also layers of market manipulation retail investors often underestimate. Don’t let the “institutional adoption” narrative blind you from the possibility of profit-taking at scale. Conclusion: Be Bullish, But Be Smart Bitcoin may very well reclaim its previous all-time high, or even set new records. But not every green candle is a signal to ape in. This could be the beginning of a new cycle — or just a trap wrapped in hopium. Trade what you see, not what you hope.

Money is changing fast. Bitcoin, stablecoins, and CBDCs each offer a different take on what money can be — and each comes with its own set of rules. Bitcoin keeps it simple: the rules never change. No central authority, no sudden shifts — just consistent, transparent money. Stablecoins, acting like digital dollars, step in where traditional money falls short. They’re practical but centralized, meaning someone can always freeze your funds. Meanwhile, some central banks are pushing digital currencies (CBDCs), promising efficiency and control. But that control cuts both ways: more oversight, less privacy. The real question isn’t which digital currency will dominate. It’s whether people will see the value in money with fixed rules, even as other forms of digital currency remain open to manipulation. Bitcoin’s Rising Dominance: Trust in Fixed Rules Bitcoin dominance — its share of the total cryptocurrency market cap — hit 65% in May 2025, the highest in over four years. This rise signals a shift toward assets with fixed, predictable rules in a landscape of volatility and uncertainty. Bitcoin’s appeal isn’t just scarcity; it’s consistency. Unlike many crypto assets that adjust supply schedules or change monetary rules, Bitcoin’s issuance remains fixed. This predictability is what differentiates Bitcoin in a market where other assets can alter their underlying structures. Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake in 2022 illustrates this contrast. The move fundamentally changed Ethereum’s monetary policy, and the asset has since dropped 74% against Bitcoin. Investors may be reconsidering the stability of assets that can adjust supply schedules or consensus rules But the rise in Bitcoin dominance isn’t just about crypto. It also reflects broader economic uncertainty, where investors seek assets with rules that don’t change, even as monetary systems become more programmable and open to manipulation. Adjustability and Uncertainty As Bitcoin’s dominance grows, the broader crypto market takes a different approach — assets that can be adjusted or altered based on market conditions. Projects tweak supply schedules, modify consensus mechanisms, or issue new tokens to attract capital. The ability to pivot is often framed as a feature — more flexibility, faster scalability. But when the rules can change, so can the value. A token’s supply might increase unexpectedly, diluting existing holdings. Governance structures might shift, introducing new risks. The ability to alter the rules introduces uncertainty, especially in a market defined by speculation and hype. Bitcoin doesn’t adjust to fit new narratives. Its rules are fixed — a contrast to assets that can be altered, restructured, or inflated. As investors retreat to predictability, Bitcoin’s rising dominance reflects a preference for assets that don’t change with the market’s whims. Stablecoins: Practical Solutions, Centralized Risks Stablecoins have become a financial lifeline in economies where local currencies are volatile or banking infrastructure is unreliable. In 2024, Tether ( USDT) alone facilitated over $20 trillion in transaction volume, underscoring the demand for stable, fiat-pegged assets in unpredictable markets. For people facing hyperinflation or currency devaluation, holding digital dollars can feel like a safe haven. However, that sense of stability is relative. Stablecoins may hold their peg to the dollar, but the dollar itself continues to lose purchasing power over time. The trade-off is clear: stablecoins may protect against local currency collapses, but they’re still controlled by centralized issuers who can freeze assets, blacklist addresses, or comply with regulatory orders. In 2024, multiple incidents of frozen USDT accounts revealed the vulnerabilities of relying on assets that can be halted or confiscated at will. Stablecoins may be less volatile than Bitcoin in the short term, but their stability comes with conditions: issuer control, regulatory risk, and exposure to fiat’s inflationary drift. While they can provide a temporary hedge against local currency collapse, they remain tied to a monetary system that is prone to losing value over time. CBDCs: Central Bank Innovation or Financial Control As digital payments evolve, central banks are exploring digital currencies to reassert control over monetary systems. The European Central Bank is expected to decide on the digital euro by late 2025, positioning it as a state-backed alternative to private stablecoins. In Nigeria, the eNaira was introduced in 2021 to manage cash shortages and streamline payments, granting the state unprecedented visibility into financial flows. Meanwhile, China’s digital yuan has been aggressively rolled out, combining cashless convenience with comprehensive transaction monitoring. But CBDCs aren’t just about making payments digital. They’re about redefining how state-controlled money functions in a digital economy. We see these concerns every day in conversations with users around the world. In our day-to-day work at Trezor, we keep hearing the same thing — people want to stay in control of their money in a world that’s changing fast. Unlike cash, which offers a degree of anonymity, CBDCs enable governments to monitor transactions in real time, potentially setting conditions on how money is spent, saved, or transferred. China’s digital yuan pilot has already tested features that limit where funds can be spent and how long they remain valid — measures framed as economic tools but viewed by critics as control mechanisms. The potential for overreach hasn’t gone unnoticed. In the UK, a Trezor survey found that 73% of respondents worry about CBDCs giving governments too much power over personal finances, particularly the ability to freeze funds or restrict spending. Whether positioned as financial inclusion tools or mechanisms to combat fraud, the reality remains: CBDCs could fundamentally alter the relationship between citizens and their money. Bitcoin’s Institutional Moment and the Path Forward Bitcoin is becoming a strategic asset as institutions and states look for stability in a financial landscape where digital assets can be adjusted, frozen, or reprogrammed. Public companies continue to add Bitcoin to their reserves, positioning it as a hedge against monetary instability. In the U.S., states like Arizona and New Hampshire are exploring Bitcoin reserves, positioning it as a safeguard against economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, institutional inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs indicate growing recognition of Bitcoin as a reserve asset with predictable rules. As more assets become programmable and open to control, Bitcoin’s rules stay the same. Its supply is capped, its issuance predictable, and its network neutral. While other assets can be adjusted or restricted by issuers, Bitcoin’s framework is fixed — a contrast to a financial landscape increasingly defined by flexibility and control. Conclusion: Navigating a New Monetary Landscape As digital currencies become more entrenched in the global economy, the question isn’t just which type will prevail — it’s whether people will value money with rules that don’t change. Bitcoin’s rise underscores a shift toward assets with predictable frameworks, driven by growing skepticism of programmable assets and centralized control. While stablecoins provide a lifeline in unstable economies and CBDCs promise state-backed efficiency, both come with conditions — issuer control, regulatory risk, and potential for monetary manipulation. Bitcoin, in contrast, stands apart as a monetary system where the rules are set in stone, immune to policy shifts and inflationary drift.

Nebraska passes LB 526 to regulate crypto mining operations using over 1MW. Final call now rests with the Governor.

From a token airdrop set to hit 37 million wallets to iris-scanning devices defending their reputation, Day 1 of Consensus 2025 didn’t disappoint. Crypto heavyweights took the stage in Toronto with big visions, bold claims, and even a few f-bombs. Whether it was Charles Hoskinson rejecting VCs, Worldcoin pushing back on privacy critics, or Anthony Scaramucci pitching Bitcoin’s path to $500K, there was no shortage of heat. Here are the biggest takeaways from the first day of the industry’s flagship event. Charles Hoskinson’s Speaks of ‘Glacier Drop’ at Consensus 2025 The agenda for Consensus 2025 is filled with sessions across DeFi, tokenomics, DAOs, and real-world blockchain use cases. And the start was no less than a blockbuster. Charles Hoskinson opened Day 1 of Consensus 2025 by calling out tribalism in crypto and dropped fresh details on Midnight’s upcoming Glacier Drop. The Cardano founder said 37 million wallets across eight blockchains will receive the Glacier airdrop, excluding all venture capitalists. “You already have it. It’s yours. It’s your property,” he said on stage, emphasizing that retail users, not insiders, deserve access. The airdrop will distribute both NIGHT (governance) and DUST (privacy) tokens. Midnight’s “cooperative economics” model allows developers to pay fees in native tokens like ETH, SOL, or BTC while validators earn rewards across chains. Midnight is still in testnet, with mainnet launch set for late 2025. Hoskinson said the project is his “most fun yet,” built to unite crypto’s fragmented communities. Worldcoin Fires Back: “Orb Data Never Leaves” Worldcoin’s iris-scanning tech has drawn global privacy backlash, but advisor Liam Horne defended the project at the event. Speaking on Wednesday, Horne said critics misunderstand how the orb works. “The data literally never leaves the orb,” he stressed. The device scans a user’s iris, converting it into a privacy-preserving World ID. That data stays local. Still, Worldcoin faces scrutiny in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The team is now expanding Orb access to six U.S. cities, including Miami, Los Angeles, and Austin. Scaramucci: Bitcoin at $500K Would “Seal It” as Asset Class SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci said Bitcoin hitting $500,000 would force institutions to fully accept crypto. “Three trillion is a mag 7 stock. Twenty trillion is an asset class,” he told the panel at Consensus 2025. Other speakers highlighted spot Bitcoin ETFs, infrastructure growth, and regulatory clarity as major enablers of institutional adoption. Still, they warned: education and diversification beyond Bitcoin are key. ETFs may lead the way, but broader blockchain investment is needed for the full asset-class transition. Ripple and Kraken: Stablecoins Are the Future of Payments Ripple and Kraken execs said stablecoins are entering a new phase—beyond crypto, into mainstream finance. Jack McDonald of Ripple said at Consensus 2025 that the firm’s RLUSD is part of a broader push to fix outdated cross-border systems. Mark Greenberg of Kraken called stablecoins a “tipping point” for global money movement.