Russia’s new ruble backed stablecoin A7A5 has quietly moved more than $9.3 billion in just four months. It is being used to convert rubles into USDT, bypassing Western sanctions via offshore rails. It’s an expected workaround. In my 2023 article for City A.M., Can BRICS build something with Bitcoin? I discussed whether countries like Russia, China, and Brazil might one day adopt a neutral, open monetary standard rather than trying to replicate fiat in new digital forms. A7A5 shows the BRICS bloc is exploring alternatives to the dollar. But it is not building on openness, neutrality, or long-term resilience. Bitcoin is all of those things. A7A5 is a centralised digital IOU, processed through intermediaries. This is not true de-dollarisation. It is a centralised workaround that functions like a CBDC in disguise, without transparency or trustlessness. So why does it matter? Because Russia has already signalled interest in using Bitcoin for cross-border trade. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov confirmed in December 2024 that Russia is using Bitcoin in foreign transactions. Putin has said crypto has “a right to exist” and could be useful for settlements. A7A5 might not just be a workaround. It could be a stepping stone. By normalising crypto-based trade and softening public resistance, Russia may be laying the groundwork for broader adoption of digital assets - including Bitcoin. The real solution does not require back doors. How long before Russia is using bitcoin? Full article:

City AM

Can BRICS build something with Bitcoin?

Susie Violet Ward asks if BRICS nations will rise to the challenge and launch a revolutionary digi-dollar backed by Bitcoin?

I love ₿itcoin. 🧡

Today, I'm heading into the Roxom studio in London’s Soho to start regular shows on Bitcoin, current affairs, UK policy, and to interview key voices in the space. This is a hugely exciting opportunity and a perfect synergy with my work as CEO of Bitcoin Policy UK and as a journalist. Bitcoin adoption in the UK is happening. ⚡️

Bitcoin is bringing back that fantastic (not yet universal) sense that what we’re doing is right, that we’re winning... This time, the wave won’t break.

X (formerly Twitter)

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (@GonzoVice) on X

There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda. . . . You cou...

The UK is pricing out innovation with bloated compliance and unclear rules. Startups are being squeezed out while only the largest firms can afford to stay. Regulators failed to act on industry advice. Companies are leaving, growth is hindered, and we’ve lost any chance of a second-mover advantage. The real question is whether we’ll ever catch up. How did the UK, once a global leader in financial services and computer science, fall so far behind?

Most people don’t find Bitcoin through marketing. They hear it from a friend, fall down a rabbit hole, or get wrecked on something else first. So, how do you market Bitcoin to the masses? 27 May | 12:30 to 1:00 pm | Genesis Stage I’ll be in Vegas for Bitcoin 2025, hosting this panel. This one’s about community, clarity, and cutting through the noise.

KYC doesn’t just put your data at risk; it puts people at risk. Hackers recently demanded $20 million in Bitcoin from Coinbase, threatening to leak sensitive customer data. While no passwords or private keys were accessed, the attackers obtained full names, addresses, contact details, partial Social Security and bank account numbers, and identity documents. This is the kind of data that can be weaponised for identity theft, fraud, or worse. This is exactly the kind of risk I raised on the compliance panel at the Financial Times Digital Assets Summit last week. While KYC and compliance frameworks are presented as security features, they often do the opposite. They create massive, centralised honeypots of personal data that can and do get breached, sold, or exploited. We’ve seen what can happen when that data gets into the wrong hands. Earlier this year, David Balland, the co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped along with his wife. His captors cut off one of his fingers and sent it to a business associate to demand crypto ransom. He was rescued by French special forces, but the message was clear: real-world consequences are now linked to digital identity exposure. We need better solutions that don’t force users to sacrifice privacy and safety for access. Compliance shouldn’t come at the cost of security.

Bitcoin was born as freedom money. Decentralised, borderless, and immune to state control. But is that ideal being flipped on its head? Are a growing number of institutional players backed by governments inflating Bitcoin’s value not as a currency of the people but as a Strategic Reserve Asset to prop up the very system it was built to escape? Is the goal to create artificial demand for U.S. dollars and treasuries through stablecoins backed by U.S. debt? Stablecoins are lifelines for many, but what is the real cost? Will certain stablecoins become some of the largest holders of U.S. treasuries, indirectly funding U.S. policy while serving as the gateway to Bitcoin? By linking Bitcoin to stablecoins and those stablecoins to U.S. treasuries...has a pipeline been created to inflate Bitcoin, attract capital, prop up dollar demand, and sell more debt? Is it ironic that the asset created to resist fiat is now being used to save it? On the day Trump was inaugurated, I published this article. Centralisation is a threat. Are we paying close enough attention? https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/01/20/is-trumps-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-a-threat-to-freedom/

A rare, well-researched positive article on Bitcoin by the BBC and it’s a good one. It covers: - Real-world impact in rural Africa - Wasted renewable energy put to use - Economic boost via electricity access - Profitable and sustainable model by Gridless - Ambitious plans to expand clean energy powered by Bitcoin More of this, please BBC.

BBC News

Bitcoin in the bush - crypto mining brings power to rural areas

Bitcoin miners will go to remote locations to take advantage of cheap electricity.

UK regulators are driving bitcoin businesses away while other countries capitalise on the opportunity. The FCA’s blanket cryptoasset policy is crushing innovation, stifling growth, pushing companies offshore, and making the UK increasingly hostile to bitcoin businesses. Companies are scaling back or leaving the UK due to restrictive and unclear regulations. Meanwhile, the US, UAE, and Singapore are actively attracting bitcoin investment. Bitcoin is not a meme coin. It is the future of finance. If this continues, the UK will lose its financial edge and risk global irrelevance as investment moves elsewhere. My latest Forbes piece. @npub1musq...v5kr @npub1wl39...znlx https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/03/18/uk-financial-conduct-authority-drives-out-business-and-hurts-consumers/

The BBC’s FOI exemption is deeply troubling, shielding serious scandals from scrutiny. This was the first response I received from the BBC when I tried to hold them accountable for their misinformation and disinformation. I raised concerns about this exception with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and they said the BBC exemption stands; see their response below. The BBC has inflicted notable harm by consistently promoting incorrect and misleading narratives about Bitcoin. This perpetuates negative public perceptions and overshadows its potential as a transformative technology. By framing Bitcoin in a way that often lacks clarity or relies on outdated stereotypes, such as associating it primarily with criminal activity or environmental concerns, the BBC has skewed public understanding and stifled informed discourse. The BBC’s influence as a trusted news outlet amplifies the damage: its narratives have historically shaped opinions that deter adoption, investment, and innovation in a technology that could revolutionise financial inclusion, decentralised systems, and economic sovereignty. This is particularly harmful given Bitcoin’s surged value, reaching a record high of around $109,000, and when global leaders are increasingly recognising its strategic importance, such as the US establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. By obscuring Bitcoin's potential to empower individuals and challenge traditional financial systems, the BBC has delayed societal benefits and reinforced a status quo favouring established institutions over technological progress and freedom. People deserve transparency. The exemption should be scrapped, but then again, so should the BBC.

Orwell’s 1984 warned us about this. Surveillance is everywhere, privacy is being destroyed, and CBDCs are the final boss. The £2 coin quoting ‘Big Brother is Watching You’—is this a tribute, or are they laughing at us?

The Standard

George Orwell celebrated on new £2 coin to mark 75 years since 1984 author's death

The Royal Mint said the commemorative coin is being released to mark the 75th anniversary of the author’s death

🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: The BBC cannot be held accountable for misinformation. No right to appeal, no transparency, and the regulator is just another dead end. For those following the case, here’s an analysis of the BBC’s Stage 2 response, highlighting systemic flaws in how they address inaccuracies: 1/ Conflict of Interest Not Addressed Flaw: BBC failed to disclose Alex de Vries' affiliation with the Dutch Central Bank, which has a vested interest in undermining Bitcoin. Impact: Readers lack full context to assess de Vries' credibility. 2/Reliance on a Discredited Source Flaw: Heavily relied on Alex de Vries' commentary, which has been debunked in peer-reviewed critiques. Impact: Treated de Vries' work as credible research, perpetuating misinformation. 3/ Failure to Independently Fact-Check Flaw: Cited similar reporting from other outlets, neglecting their responsibility as a public broadcaster to verify claims independently. Impact: Undermines the BBC’s editorial standards and trustworthiness. 4/ Freedom of Information Request - Refusal Flaw: Refused to disclose the fact-checking process under the FOI Act. Impact: Lacks transparency, raising concerns about their editorial process. 5/ Inadequate Responses to Evidence Flaw: Avoided addressing detailed rebuttals from the Digital Asset Research Institute (@dari_org). Key Issues Ignored: -Misrepresentation of Bitcoin’s energy metrics. -Failure to consider efficiencies from the Lightning Network. -Overreliance on outdated methodologies. -Exclusion of peer-reviewed studies on Bitcoin’s benefits. Impact: Demonstrates a lack of impartiality. 6/ Breach of Editorial Standards The BBC violated their own guidelines in three areas: Accuracy: Relied on discredited sources without fact-checking. Impartiality: Omitted conflicts of interest and rebuttals, creating bias. Transparency: Refused to disclose their fact-checking process. 7/ Avoidance of Accountability Flaw: Avoided engaging with evidence and arguments presented in Stage 1 & 2 complaints. Impact: Resistance to accountability makes it difficult to challenge inaccuracies. Summary of the Process Challenges The BBC’s reliance on flawed justifications, refusal to address rebuttals, and lack of transparency demonstrate systemic shortcomings: 1. Failed to retract or correct misleading content. 2. Ignored conflicts of interest. 3. Failed to adhere to accuracy, impartiality, and transparency standards. Full Stage 2 response attached. This process began on 5 December 2023, and over a year later, we are here with no resolution. This is a clear institutional failure undermining public trust in a taxpayer-funded organisation. The BBC must be held accountable for inaccuracies in their reporting. The BBC must be defunded. Full X thread and history here:

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Decentra Suze (@DecentraSuze) on X

🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: The BBC cannot be held accountable for misinformation. No right to appeal, no transparency, and the regulator is just anothe...

The FATF Travel Rule, now applied to bitcoin, requires extensive KYC data sharing, causing serious concerns about privacy, financial freedom, and personal safety. My latest Forbes article featuring @L0la L33tz. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/01/07/new-eu-rules-threaten-your-security--what-you-need-to-know/

Honoured to step into the role of CEO at Bitcoin Policy UK. With a refined mission, a vision for 2025, and a focus on advocating for good policies that will benefit both the UK and its citizens, I’m committed to driving positive change. Thank you for your support—we’re building a stronger future together. View quoted note →

Another soul-crushing response from the BBC. After a year, they continue to ignore all the key points raised: - Failed to disclose Alex DeVries' conflict of interest as a Dutch central banker. - Ignored that his research was debunked at the time of publication. - Provided no evidence of their own fact-checking. Instead, they cited other outlets who published the same misinformation. Stage 1 has officially concluded. This is the end of the road with BBC Complaints. I now have 20 days to escalate the complaint to the Executive Complaints Unit—on to Stage 2.

The new Crypto Asset Reporting Framework may signal ChokePoint 3.0, raising concerns over privacy, data security, reporting accuracy, and the potential for wrongful assessments due to incomplete or misinterpreted information. My latest in Forbes. #Bitcoin https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/24/bitcoin-privacy-at-risk-could-carf-regulations-signal-chokepoint-30/

Farmers and bitcoiners are fighting for sovereignty. The recent farmers' protest in London highlights how interconnected systems like farming, energy, and sound money can address these global challenges. My latest piece in Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/20/bitcoin-offers-a-solution-to-the-global-farming-and-economic-crisis/

Bitkey’s inheritance feature enables secure and user-friendly bitcoin transfers to beneficiaries, offering self-custody, ease of use, recovery, and simplicity. Launching January 2025. My latest piece in Forbes. #Bitcoin @jack https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/11/18/bitkeys-inheritance-feature-simplifies-self-custody-for-bitcoin-users/

Craig Wright, discredited as Satoshi in UK courts, launches a £911B legal battle against Bitcoin Core developers. My latest piece in Forbes featuring COPA & @hodlonaut #Bitcoin https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/10/18/craig-wright-who-is-not-satoshi-launches-bitcoin-core-legal-battle/