Today in crypto: Germany bans stablecoin, miner hits jackpot
BlackRock’s crypto-backed fund reaches $10 billion as crypto critic Peter Schiff's satirical Bitcoin reserve gains attention
Real-world assets in crypto hit $10 billion milestone
Crypto projects that link real-world investments to blockchain have just hit a huge milestone – they’re now holding over $10 billion worth of assets. This shows that more people are using crypto to invest in things like property, gold, and even government bonds.
The three biggest projects in this space are Maker RWA, BlackRock’s BUIDL protocol, and Ethena’s USDtb. They make up more than a third of the market and are growing fast. Investment experts at VanEck think the total amount of money locked up in these projects could hit $50 billion by 2025.
What does this mean for crypto investors? Real-world asset projects give a way to balance out risky investments, helping to make portfolios more stable. It’s becoming more popular as a safer option within the crypto world.
Germany bans a major stablecoin
Germany has banned a popular crypto token called USDe, created by Ethena Labs. This stablecoin, meant to stay at a steady value, has been blocked from being offered or sold by Ethena’s German branch.
The country’s financial regulator, BaFin, said the project didn’t follow the proper licensing process. They’ve also taken measures to protect customers by freezing the company’s assets and blocking its website in Germany.
The company said that users’ money is safe and that the ban only affects their German operations – people can still trade the token through other branches. Still, the news sent the value of Ethena’s native token (ENA) down by over 6% in just 24 hours.
Solo Bitcoin miner wins big with rare jackpot
In a surprising win, a solo Bitcoin miner managed to strike it rich by processing a new block on the Bitcoin network. This rare success earned the lucky miner more than $266,000 worth of Bitcoin.
Mining Bitcoin usually takes a lot of expensive equipment and electricity, making it almost impossible for individual miners to compete with big operations. But this time, luck was on their side.
Experts think the miner might have been using a FutureBit Apollo machine – a small device designed for home mining. Even so, the odds of hitting a block on your own are extremely low, making this win feel like hitting the crypto jackpot.
Peter Schiff trolls crypto with satirical ‘Bitcoin reserve’
Known for his fierce opposition to Bitcoin, Peter Schiff has pulled off a surprise move by asking for Bitcoin donations on his 62nd birthday. He’s calling it a satirical "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve" and has raised about $4,500 so far.
Despite his long history of criticizing crypto, Schiff said he transferred his existing Bitcoin to a secure wallet as part of his sarcastic plan. He’s openly mocking the U.S. government’s push to hold Bitcoin in reserves, calling it a terrible financial decision.
His satirical project comes right after former President Trump announced plans to build a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Schiff’s comments about the crypto world remain harsh, but his unexpected move has left the community both puzzled and entertained.
Crypto is moving fast – from record-breaking real-world asset projects to unexpected mining wins and even sarcastic crypto reserves. As regulation continues to tighten in places like Germany, it’s clear that governments and institutions are shaping how crypto will evolve.
But for those willing to take risks, even solo miners can sometimes strike it big. And whether you’re a believer or a skeptic like Peter Schiff, crypto keeps finding new ways to surprise us.
