News linked to both this project and an event.
According to Decrypt, Bitcoin financial services company Fold has launched a “Bitcoin Bonus Program” that allows businesses to distribute recurring bonuses to employees in Bitcoin. Steak ’n Shake is the first partner, offering over 10,000 hourly workers a Bitcoin bonus of $0.21 per hour worked, fully vesting after two years. The program is operated by Fold Business, which handles all custody and compliance requirements—enabling traditional enterprises to offer crypto-based incentives without managing technical infrastructure. Fold plans to expand its enterprise offerings to include payroll disbursement, corporate Bitcoin treasury management, and corporate cards.
According to Decrypt, U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie and Lauren Boebert jointly introduced the AI surveillance bill titled the “Surveillance Accountability Act,” which would require U.S. federal agencies to obtain a judicial warrant before using artificial intelligence for data analysis and surveillance. The bill aims to close a loophole in the “third-party doctrine”—a legal framework originating from 1970s court rulings that permits the U.S. government to access users’ data held by third-party platforms (e.g., banks and telecommunications providers) without a warrant. The bill’s sponsors argue that, in the internet and AI era, this doctrine has been excessively expanded, thereby weakening protections for citizens’ privacy.
According to Decrypt, Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, stated during a hearing before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee that the U.S. government is currently operating a Bitcoin node for cybersecurity-related testing—but is not engaged in mining. Paparo said the U.S. military’s interest in Bitcoin centers primarily on its value as a computer science tool—including cryptography, blockchain, and reusable proof-of-work mechanisms—with the aim of leveraging the Bitcoin protocol to strengthen cybersecurity and enhance military capabilities. This effort remains in the “experimental phase.” He also noted that maintaining the U.S. dollar’s global dominance aligns with U.S. military interests and offered positive remarks about the stablecoin legalization bill—the GENIUS Act—signed by former President Trump last summer, stating that the legislation helps reinforce the dollar’s global standing.
According to Decrypt, Senator Elizabeth Warren, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, formally wrote a letter this week to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, accusing him of deliberately misleading Congress during a February 12 congressional hearing regarding the agency’s declining enforcement actions. The SEC’s latest data shows that it initiated only 456 new enforcement actions in fiscal year 2025—of which just 256 were filed under the Trump administration—far below the past decade’s annual average of 765. Warren stated that the sharp decline in enforcement actions, significant staff reductions, and sudden leadership changes have severely undermined public confidence in the SEC’s willingness and ability to protect investors.
According to Decrypt, U.S. SEC Chair Paul Atkins launched the official podcast “Material Matters” on April 17, with its inaugural episode featuring Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda, who publicly articulated a pro-innovation regulatory stance. Atkins stated that the United States should become the world’s top destination for innovation and characterized the current moment as “a pivotal turning point for U.S. markets.” Uyeda criticized the SEC under former Chair Gary Gensler for straying from its core mission, while Peirce emphasized that regulation should remain open to innovators.
Odaily News U.S. Senator Warren recently expressed concerns about Musk's planned payment platform X Money, set to launch in April, stating it could pose risks to consumer protection, national security, and the stability of the financial system. Warren pointed out that after acquiring and rebranding X, Musk is pushing it to become a "super app" covering "users' entire financial lives," potentially even replacing the traditional banking system. She questioned X's performance in security and content governance, arguing that this undermines its credibility in entering the consumer finance space. Additionally, Warren criticized the current regulatory environment for becoming more lenient, including the Trump administration's push for the "GENIUS Act," which provides a "special pathway" for private companies to issue stablecoins, potentially weakening necessary regulatory constraints. (Decrypt)
According to Decrypt, Bitcoin’s price recently approached $75,000, driven by improved risk sentiment and easing geopolitical tensions. Since the Iran conflict erupted on February 28, Bitcoin has surged approximately 13%, outperforming both the S&P 500 Index and gold. Data shows bearish pressure in the options market has eased, with the 25-Delta Skew rebounding from -10% to -4.5%, indicating reduced investor demand for downside protection. Last week, CoinShares data revealed net inflows of $1.1 billion into crypto investment products—the strongest weekly performance so far this year—with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs accounting for $786 million in net inflows. Analysts note that ETF inflows and strengthening institutional demand have become key drivers behind Bitcoin’s rally. Experts caution that inflation, Federal Reserve policy, and evolving geopolitical developments could influence its future trajectory.
According to Decrypt, Ben Delo, co-founder of BitMEX, revealed that he donated $5.4 million (approximately £4 million) to Reform UK, the political party led by Nigel Farage—prior to the UK’s introduction of a new £100,000 cap on donations from overseas residents. Delo pleaded guilty in the U.S. in 2022 to BitMEX’s violations of anti-money laundering compliance requirements and paid a $10 million fine; he was later pardoned by Donald Trump. Reform UK has previously received a £11.4 million donation from Christopher Harborne, a Thai national and investor in Tether. The party positions itself as the UK’s most crypto-friendly political party, though the UK government has imposed a suspension on cryptocurrency donations to political parties. Delo stated he plans to relocate to the UK, after which he would no longer be subject to the donation cap.
According to Decrypt, Bitcoin ATM operator Bitcoin Depot filed a disclosure with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealing that it suffered a cybersecurity attack on March 23. Hackers infiltrated the company’s IT systems to obtain credentials for its digital asset settlement account and stole approximately 50.9 BTC—valued at roughly $3.665 million—from the company’s wallet. Following the incident, the company activated its incident response protocol, engaged external cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation, and notified law enforcement authorities. Bitcoin Depot stated that its customer platform and user data remained unaffected. The company classified this event as a material matter, which may result in reputational damage and additional legal and regulatory costs.