News Roundup — Visa Partners with Aquanow to Enable Faster Settlement Using Stablecoins

Major news stories this week;

1. Visa Partners with Aquanow to Enable Faster Settlement Using Stablecoins
2. Michael Saylor’s Strategy Acquires 10,645 Bitcoin for $980M
3. Bhutan Pledges 10,000 Bitcoin Worth $1B to Fund Mindfulness City
4. Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest Buys the Dip on Coinbase, Circle & BitMine
5. Strategy’s Bitcoin Accumulation Reinforces BTC as a Treasury Asset

Story Summaries;

1. Visa Partners with Aquanow to Enable Faster Settlement Using Stablecoins
   Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement capabilities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by integrating Aquanow’s digital asset infrastructure into its payments network. The move allows issuers and acquirers to settle transactions in approved stablecoins such as USDC, reducing settlement times and costs while enabling year-round settlement.
2. Michael Saylor’s Strategy Acquires 10,645 Bitcoin for $980M
   Strategy added 10,645 Bitcoin to its balance sheet, bringing total holdings to over 671,000 BTC and representing more than 3% of Bitcoin’s fixed supply. The purchase further reinforces Bitcoin’s positioning as a long-term treasury reserve asset and may influence other corporates evaluating crypto allocations.
3. Bhutan Pledges 10,000 Bitcoin Worth $1B to Fund Mindfulness City
   Bhutan announced plans to allocate 10,000 Bitcoin to finance the development of a new “Mindfulness City,” marking one of the most notable sovereign Bitcoin commitments to date. The holdings will be managed long-term and leveraged to generate yield, signaling confidence in Bitcoin’s enduring value.
4. Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest Buys the Dip on Coinbase, Circle & BitMine
   ARK Invest increased its exposure to crypto-related equities, including Coinbase, Circle, and BitMine, during a broader market pullback. The move highlights continued institutional conviction in digital asset infrastructure companies, even as crypto markets face near-term pressure.
5. Strategy’s Bitcoin Accumulation Reinforces BTC as a Treasury Asset
   The scale of Strategy’s Bitcoin treasury continues to set a benchmark for corporate adoption, underscoring Bitcoin’s growing role as a balance-sheet asset. Its sustained accumulation strategy strengthens the narrative of BTC as digital gold for institutions seeking long-term exposure.

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