Texas Becomes First U.S. State to Buy $5M of BlackRock’s Spot Bitcoin ETF

Russia is advancing a bill to grant everyday investors limited access to cryptocurrency, aiming to normalize its use while capping retail participation at approximately $3,800. This legislative move reflects a significant shift in the country's approach to digital assets, as it seeks to integrate cryptocurrencies into the financial mainstream.

Bitcoin (BTC) has surged past the $96,000 mark this week, driven by significant inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a favorable U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which alleviated inflation concerns. This price movement marks the end of a prolonged consolidation phase, leading to a wave of bearish liquidations as short sellers exited their positions.

Senate Republicans have released fact sheets for the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act as the Banking Committee prepares for markups, indicating a significant step towards establishing U.S. cryptocurrency regulations. This development comes at a crucial time as lawmakers seek to clarify the regulatory landscape for digital assets.

Bitcoin miner CleanSpark has expanded its operations into artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) by acquiring facilities in Texas, a strategic move reflecting a broader trend of companies repurposing their infrastructure away from traditional cryptocurrency mining.

Casa, a multisig security provider, is positioning itself as a key player in Bitcoin self-custody as of 2026, with CEO Nick Neuman advocating for practical sovereignty for high-value Bitcoin holders amidst increasing institutional adoption and security threats.

Bitcoin's price surged to an eight-week high, reaching $97,700, as traders set their sights on the psychological milestone of $100,000. This significant increase reflects a bullish sentiment in the cryptocurrency market, driven by various factors including macroeconomic conditions.

DZ Bank, Germany's second-largest lender, has received authorization under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), enabling the launch of a retail crypto trading platform across the cooperative banking sector. This approval was granted by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) at the end of December 2025.

Strategy (MSTR) stock surged by 10% to over $189 as Bitcoin approaches the $100,000 mark, driven by renewed strength in the cryptocurrency and increased corporate purchases. This rise reflects a growing demand for Bitcoin as a key asset among institutional investors.