May 19, 2026

News Roundup — Banking groups escalate fight over stablecoin yield ahead of Senate vote

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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May 11, 2026

News Roundup — BNY to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum custody for UAE institutions

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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May 4, 2026

News Roundup — Western Union to Launch USDPT Stablecoin and Stable Card

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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April 28, 2026

News Roundup — OKX boosts tokenized RWA push with BlackRock BUIDL

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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April 20, 2026

News Roundup — Spot bitcoin ETFs log nearly $1 billion in weekly inflows, highest since mid-January

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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News Roundup
April 13, 2026

News Roundup — Bitcoin payments allowed for Hormuz tanker tolls

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Major news stories this week

  1. Bitcoin payments allowed for Hormuz tanker tolls
  2. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF draws $34M on day one
  3. Bitcoin Treasuries Are Cracking
  4. Bernstein says quantum is a ‘manageable upgrade cycle’ for Bitcoin
  5. NYT investigation suggests Adam Back may be Satoshi Nakamoto
             

Story Summaries;

  1. Iran is reportedly accepting Bitcoin and other digital assets as payment for oil tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with fees reaching up to $2M per ship. This development highlights how crypto can be leveraged in global trade to bypass traditional financial restrictions, marking a notable step toward state-level adoption.
  2. Morgan Stanley’s newly launched Bitcoin ETF attracted $34 million in inflows on its first day of trading, underscoring continued institutional appetite for regulated crypto exposure. The strong debut reinforces the growing role of ETFs in channeling capital into Bitcoin markets.
  3. A growing number of companies are beginning to sell their Bitcoin holdings to manage liquidity pressures, signaling a shift away from the accumulation strategies seen in previous years. This trend reflects broader financial strain and could introduce additional selling pressure into the market.
  4. Bernstein analysts suggest that quantum computing does not pose an immediate existential threat to Bitcoin, estimating a multi-year window for the network to implement necessary cryptographic upgrades. The transition is expected to be gradual, with institutional stakeholders likely playing a key role in driving adoption of new security standards.
  5. A recent investigation has reignited speculation حول the identity of Bitcoin’s creator, suggesting Adam Back as a potential candidate based on historical and stylistic analysis. While Back has denied the claims, the report has sparked renewed discussion across the crypto community.
             

And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!