Block 894207: Important News of the Week
News. Updates. Research. Stats. Everything Important You Need to Know.
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News
* **Spiral welcomes _Ben Carman_.** The developer [will work](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1914334079387914435) on the LDK server and a new SDK designed to simplify the onboarding process for new self-custodial Bitcoin users.
* **Spiral renews support for _Dan Gould_ and _Joschisan_.** The organization has renewed support for _Dan Gould_, who is developing the [Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK)](https://payjoindevkit.org/2025/03/18/the-evolution-of-payjoin), and [_Joschisan_](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1914363508126515567), a [Fedimint](https://github.com/fedimint/fedimint) developer focused on simplifying federations.
* **The Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation announced new corporate members for 2025**, including [AnchorWatch](https://www.anchorwatch.com/), [CleanSpark](https://www.cleanspark.com/), and [Proton Foundation](https://proton.me/foundation). The annual dues from [these corporate members](https://bitcoindevkit.org/blog/_2025q1-new-foundation-members/) fund the small team of open-source developers responsible for maintaining the core BDK libraries and related free and open-source software (FOSS) projects.
* **The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA)**, just months after its implementation. According to _Politico_'s [report on Tuesday](https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-livid-ecb-warn-crypto-apocalypse-donald-trump/), the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
* **Slovenia is considering a 25% capital gains tax on Bitcoin profits for individuals.** The Ministry of Finance [has proposed](https://www.gov.si/novice/2025-04-17-v-javni-obravnavi-zakonska-predloga-s-podrocja-kriptosredstev-in-izvedenih-financnih-instrumentov/) legislation to impose this tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions, though exchanging one cryptocurrency for another would remain exempt. At present, individual 'crypto' traders in Slovenia are not taxed.
* **The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya.** The [new legislation](https://bitcoinke.io/2025/04/the-vasp-kenya-license-requirements/) aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
* **Circle, BitGo, Coinbase, and Paxos plan to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses.** According to a [report](https://archive.is/dxbWM) in _The Wall Street Journal_, major crypto companies are planning to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. These firms are pursuing limited licenses that would permit them to issue stablecoins, as the U.S. Congress deliberates on legislation mandating licensing for stablecoin issuers.
> "Established banks, like Bank of America, are hoping to amend the current drafts of \[stablecoin\] legislation in such a way that nonbanks are more heavily restricted from issuing stablecoins," people familiar with the matter [told](https://www.theblock.co/post/351402/circle-bitgo-to-apply-for-bank-charters-coinbase-paxos-may-follow-suit-wsj) The Block.
* **Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).** This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the _George W. Bush_ administration. He has [committed](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/paul-atkins-sworn-us-sec-chair-2025-04-21/) to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
* **Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.'** The U.S. Federal Reserve [withdrew](https://www.theblock.co/post/351943/federal-reserve-retracts-guidance-discouraging-banks-from-engaging-in-crypto) guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as [announced](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20250424a.htm) by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.
> "As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.
* **Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange.** The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank [announced](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/russias-finance-ministry-and-central-bank-to-launch-crypto-exchange-for-super-qualified-investors) plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
* **Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury.** This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is [planned to go public](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250423962305/en/Tether-SoftBank-Group-and-Jack-Mallers-Launch-Twenty-One-a-Bitcoin-native-Company-Through-a-Business-Combination-With-Cantor-Equity-Partners) via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by _Jack Mallers_, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a [report](http://archive.today/3PoYZ) by the _Financial Times_, the company aims to replicate the model of _Michael Saylor_ with his company, MicroStrategy.
* **Strategy increases Bitcoin holdings to 538,200 BTC.** In the [latest purchase](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/04/21/strategy-buys-usd555m-of-bitcoin-increases-total-stash-to-538-200-btc), the company has spent more than $555M to buy 6,556 coins through proceeds of two at-the-market stock offering programs.
* **Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC.** The Tokyo-listed company [has purchased](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/04/24/metaplanet-hits-5-000-btc-mark-amid-strategic-treasury-expansion) an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
* **Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC.** The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a [press release](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/semler-scientific-announces-updated-btc--atm-activity-purchased-additional-111-btc-now-holds-3-303-btc-ytd-btc-yield-of-23-5-302438131.html).
* **Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin.** According to the automaker's [latest earnings report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1318605/000162828025018851/exhbit991.htm), the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
* **Spar supermarket experiments with Bitcoin payments in Zug, Switzerland.** The store [has introduced](https://bitcoinnews.com/adoption/spar-supermarket-switzerland-bitcoin/) a new payment method powered by the Lightning Network. The implementation was facilitated by DFX Swiss, a service that supports seamless conversions between bitcoin and legacy currencies.
[](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7318277304881709057/)
* **Charles Schwab to launch spot Bitcoin trading by 2026.** The financial investment firm, managing over $10 trillion in assets, [has revealed](https://riabiz.com/a/2025/4/19/rick-wurster-puts-harder-date-on-schwab-spot-bitcoin-launch-after-key-hire-and-400-surge-in-visits-to-its-crypto-site-but-isnt-pulling-down-crypto-red-flags-quite-yet) plans to introduce spot Bitcoin trading for its clients within the next year.
* **Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM"** and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as [announced](https://chainwire.org/2025/04/22/arch-labs-announces-13m-funding-round-to-launch-a-native-bitcoin-virtual-machine/) on Tuesday.
* **Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet.** The bridge [utilizes](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2025/04/23/bitcoin-rollup-citrea-deploys-bridge-to-tackle-collateral-bottleneck-of-using-btc-in-defi) the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
* **UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing.** The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, [per](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/ruya-becomes-first-islamic-bank-to-offer-bitcoin-and-virtual-asset-investments) _Bitcoin Magazine._
* **Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners,** adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.
> "Thank you, Bitaxe community. OSMU developers, your brilliance built this. Supporters, your belief drives us. Customers, your trust powers 10,000+ miners and 10PH globally. Together, we’re decentralizing Bitcoin’s future. Last but certainly not least, thank you[@skot9000](https://x.com/skot9000) for not only creating a freedom tool, but instilling the idea into thousands of people, that Bitcoin mining can be for everyone again," [said](https://xcancel.com/SoloSatoshi/status/1912267232006070775) the firm on X.
* **OCEAN's DATUM has found 100 blocks.** "Over 65% of OCEAN’s miners are using DATUM, and that number is growing every day. This means block template construction is making its way back into the hands of the miners, which is not only the most profitable No comments yet.
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