Bitcoin News and Finance: What You Need to Know

Russia’s leading technology company, Rostec, is working on a project to integrate digital assets into cross-border trade. The state-owned corporation says the market is interested in cryptocurrency payments which can reduce sanctions pressure on Russian exporters and importers. Rostec Eyes Russky Island for Trials of Digital Currency Payments The largest Russian industrial and technology conglomerate, Rostec, us preparing to launch a project dedicated to integrating cryptocurrencies into cross-border transactions. The main task will be to limit the negative effects of sanctions on the activities of Russian importers and exporters that are experiencing mounting pressure. The Russian economy, especially foreign trade operations, was hit hard by financial restrictions imposed by the West over Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine. Proposals to legalize the use of digital financial assets in deals with partners, including cryptocurrencies , stablecoins and the upcoming digital rub...

Europe is suffering and struggling to contain an energy crisis according to various reports that say the eurozone might have to deal with a cold winter that could lead to energy rationing and blackouts. A recent survey published by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) shows seven out of ten Greeks purchase less food in order to pay for energy costs and fuel. Moreover, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban explained in a social media post on Saturday that “Europe has run out of energy.” EU Deals With Ongoing Energy Crisis — Hungary’s Premier Blames ‘Fundamentalist Greens and the Bureaucrats’ for Europe’s Issues Rising energy costs have propelled Europe into an economic tailwind and most of the problems stem from the Ukraine-Russia war. Russia has choked off energy supplies to the economic and political union that consists of 27 member countries. Just recently, members of the European Union and G7 finance ministers pledged to enforce price caps on electricity and crude o...

Rap star Jay-Z, otherwise known as Shawn Carter, and Block CEO Jack Dorsey, recently airdropped bitcoin to members of the Bitcoin Academy in Brooklyn. Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter explained in a statement that a myriad of residents from Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant participated, and more than 350 people attended the crypto classes. Hundreds of Brooklyn Residents Attend Bitcoin Academy — Some Attendees Enrolled in a Grant for $1,000 in Bitcoin During the first week of June, Bitcoin.com News reported on Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z teaming up to launch the Bitcoin Academy in Brooklyn for residents of Marcy House. A report from Business Insider details that the academy’s classes saw hundreds of people. “Marcy residents showed up,” Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter told the publication. “The over 350 people who attended The Bitcoin Academy classes let us know that this education is important to them—and that it matters,” she added. The report further discussed the project with a Marcy House ...

Bitcoin mining operations continue to truck on through the crypto winter as a number of miners have revealed expansion plans during the last week. Following the acquisition of 10,000 ASIC Antminers, Cleanspark revealed it acquired a turnkey bitcoin mining facility from Mawson Infrastructure. Reports note that Arsenal Digital Holdings acquired an underground data center outside Houston and some people suspect it’s Westland Oil’s infamous fallout bunker. Additionally, the CEO and founder of Terawulf revealed the company’s Lake Mariner data center is up and running with 1 exahash per second (EH/s) of SHA256 hashrate. Arsenal Digital Holdings Reportedly Acquires the Infamous Westland Oil Bunker Outside of Houston On Friday, it was reported that Arsenal Digital Holdings (OTCMKTS: ADHI ) acquired a “50-acre operational data center campus comprised of a four-story office building.” The facility is said to have a “two-story subterranean campus,” with an additional 100,000 square feet of sp...

Macro markets and geopolitics dominated the news this week, with Russia cutting off Europe’s gas supply, hedge funds betting against Italian debt, and the International Monetary Fund’s bailout for Zambia helping the kwacha overtake the ruble as the world’s best-performing currency. Also in this week’s news, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin discusses the crypto economy crash and Bitcoin’s long-term security. Russia Shuts Off Europe’s Main Gas Pipeline Until the West’s Sanctions Are Lifted, Iran Tempts EU With Similar Deal Russia has seemingly drawn a line in the sand and will not turn on Europe’s main gas pipeline until the “collective West” lifts the financial sanctions against the country. The move follows the Nord Stream 1 pipeline allegedly shutting down for “maintenance,” but reports from Interfax that followed five days later indicate Moscow will not be turning the gas back on until demands are met. Read More IMF Bailout Approval Helps Zambian Kwacha Take the Russian Rub...

After raising $1.65 million via a pre-seed extension, Bitmama, a Nigeria-based blockchain startup, has now closed its pre-seed funding round at $2 million, a report has said. Leading the funding round were two Africa-focused venture capital firms: Unicorn Growth Capital and Launch Africa. New Funding to Help Bitmama Scale Up Crypto Use Cases in Africa A Nigeria-based blockchain startup, Bitmama, recently closed its pre-seed funding round at $2 million after it added $1.65 million to the $350,000 that was raised in October last year. According to a Techcrunch report , the funding round was led by two Africa-focused venture capital (VC) firms, namely, Unicorn Growth Capital and Launch Africa. Also participating in the fundraise were existing and new investors such as Adaverse, Flori Ventures, Tekedia Capital, Greenhouse Capital, ODBA, Five35 Ventures, Chrysalis Capital, Enrich Africa, Thrive Africa, and Angellist Ventures. Angel investors that participated in the round include Rene R...