Ferrari is set to expand its cryptocurrency payment option to European dealerships. The Italian luxury carmaker aims to launch this service by month-end. The company plans to offer crypto payments at more international dealerships by the end of 2024. This expansion will target countries where digital currencies are legal. Ferrari kicked off crypto payments in the US last year. The move proved successful. The decision comes as wealthy clients show growing interest in using digital currencies for big-ticket purchases. "It's a no-brainer for us," a company spokesperson said. Ferrari sees this as a natural next step. They want to help dealers meet changing customer needs. Many blue-chip firms are still wary of crypto due to its volatility. Ferrari, however, is pushing ahead. Most European dealers have already adopted the new payment system. Others are in the process of doing so. Ferrari acknowledges challenges like patchy regulation and high energy use. But they're not letting that stop them. Countries with strict crypto rules, like China, won't be part of this rollout. No surprises there. For its US launch, Ferrari teamed up with BitPay. This crypto payment processor handles Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC transactions. BitPay converts crypto to traditional currency right away. This shields dealers from price swings and saves clients from extra fees. Ferrari hasn't spilled the beans on whether they'll use other payment processors in Europe. As the crypto market bounces back from its 2022 nosedive, more companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Fintech giant Stripe recently got back into crypto payments after a six-year break. They had initially tested Bitcoin back in 2014 but bailed in 2018. Other payment firms are also getting in on the action. Singapore-based Triple-A plans to add PayPal's stablecoin to its supported tokens by June. Meanwhile, Bitcoin payments app Strike has just set up shop in the UK. The crypto payment scene is heating up, and Ferrari's not about to be left in the dust.

Proton, the Swiss tech company behind ProtonMail, is taking a stab at the crypto world. They're rolling out Proton Wallet, a self-custody Bitcoin wallet. It's a bold move. The new product will be baked into ProtonMail. Users can zap bitcoin around as easily as firing off an email. No fuss, no muss. Proton's CEO, Andy Yen, is pumped about it. "Bitcoin's been held back by clunky transactions and security worries," he said. "We're tackling both head-on with Proton Wallet." Yen reckons this could be a game-changer. He claims it'll make Bitcoin transactions "as easy to use as PayPal". But here's the kicker - it'll keep Bitcoin's decentralized, non-custodial nature intact. For Proton, this isn't just business. It's personal. Back in 2014, PayPal froze their crowdfunding campaign. Bitcoin saved their bacon. "That's when we first got the power of Bitcoin," Yen reminisced. Fast forward to 2023. Credit Suisse, Proton's bank, hit the skids. Proton's Bitcoin stash? It was a lifesaver. Talk about a plot twist. Dingchao Lu, Proton Wallet's head honcho, is all in on the Bitcoin dream. "We want to cut the cord with centralized financial institutions," he declared. Lu's not just talking the talk. Proton's been hodling Bitcoin since 2016. It's paid off big time. So, how does this wallet work? Both sender and receiver need Proton Wallet. You just need an email address to send Bitcoin. Easy peasy. Proton's got some tricks up its sleeve to keep things private, too. Here's the rub: it's not using Lightning Network yet. "It's a tough nut to crack for non-custodial wallets," Yen admitted. But they're not ruling it out for the future. Right now, Proton Wallet's in early access mode. Only Proton Visionary users and some Bitcoin bigwigs can use it. But they're planning to roll it out to all Proton users down the line. Buckle up, folks. This could be interesting.

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur, thinks Kamala Harris could be a game-changer for crypto and AI. The current Vice President might take a friendlier stance on these sectors if elected President, he reckons. Politico's latest report dishes the dirt on Cuban's views. The Shark Tank star believes Harris could shake things up in Washington. "She'll be far more open to business, AI, crypto and government as a service," Cuban says. He's quick to add it's not confirmed by the VP herself. "Changing the policies changes the message and lets everyone know she is in charge and open, literally, for business." Harris might face off against Donald Trump in November. The former president is seen as crypto-friendly. Biden threw in the towel on his re-election bid last Sunday. Cuban's been running his mouth about Trump too. He thinks Bitcoin will go through the roof if Trump wins again. Why? Cuban says Trump will make it easier to run crypto businesses in the US. He reckons changes at the SEC are "inevitable and required" under Trump. But that's not all. Cuban sees other factors driving Bitcoin higher under Trump. "What will drive the price of BTC is lower tax rates and tariffs," he says. Cuban thinks this could stoke inflation, based on past experience. He also points to global uncertainty about America's role on the world stage. This could impact the dollar's status as a reserve currency. "You can't align the stars any better for a BTC price acceleration," Cuban declares. It's worth noting Cuban's not psychic. His predictions are just that – predictions. But his views offer a glimpse into how big players see the crypto landscape shaping up under different political scenarios.

Senator Cynthia Lummis has launched a blistering attack on the Biden administration's proposed 30% excise tax on Bitcoin mining energy consumption. According to Lummis, the White House has no idea about how green Bitcoin mining really is. Yes, green, despite all the popular myths. The pro-crypto lawmaker released a report on July 23 titled "Powering Down Progress: Why A Bitcoin Mining Tax Hurts America". The report sheds light on the Bitcoin mining industry's benefits to the US energy grid. Lummis argues the tax would harm America's interests. She cites data suggesting Bitcoin mining is cleaner than commonly believed. "Up to 52.6% of BTC mining might be emissions-free," the report states, referencing the Bitcoin Energy and Emissions Sustainability Tracker. Lummis emphasizes the growing role of mining facilities in grid stabilization. The GOP senator highlights a key example from Texas. In 2022, Bitcoin miners sold 1500 megawatts back to the grid during peak demand. This pattern repeated in 2024 during winter storm Heather. Lummis claims the proposed tax would backfire environmentally. "It would disincentivize miners from seeking sustainable energy sources," she argues. The senator gives examples of innovative energy use in mining. She points to methane sequestration from landfills for Bitcoin mining. Lummis also mentions El Salvador's use of volcanic energy to mine 474 Bitcoin. In Finland, a Marathon Digital facility heats an entire community of 11,000 people. The report notes Marathon Digital's agreement with Kenya to develop renewable energy. Kenya already sources up to 80% of its energy from renewables. Lummis argues these initiatives could be at risk under the new tax. The senator invokes the Laffer Curve to warn of potential consequences. She argues higher taxes will drive miners out of the US, reducing tax revenues. Lummis cites China's 2021 mining ban as a cautionary tale. "Before the ban, Chinese miners controlled a majority of the Bitcoin network's hashrate," the report states. The implication is clear: overtax the industry, and it will simply move elsewhere.

A fresh study has turned heads in the crypto world. It reveals unexpected truths about US Bitcoin owners. The Nakamoto Institute led the charge. They surveyed 3,538 American adults. Their goal? Dig deep into who really owns Bitcoin. Troy Cross and Andrew Perkins spearheaded the research. They wanted more than just surface-level data. "We aimed to understand the roots of our psycho-social identities," Troy shared on X. The results? They're a far cry from common assumptions. Bitcoin owners aren't just right-wing libertarians. They span the political spectrum. This finding shocked even the researchers. "We were dead wrong," Cross admitted on X. "Bitcoin ownership doesn't skew towards the political right or libertarianism." 00000746765.webp Age and gender stood out as key factors. Owners tend to be younger and male. But that's where the stereotypes end. The study found no strong links between Bitcoin ownership and race, ethnicity, religion, or income. Education and financial literacy didn't play a big role either. Political views among owners mirror the broader US population. Most are moderates. Smaller groups lean conservative or liberal. Here's a kicker: Very liberal individuals are more likely to own Bitcoin than moderates. The study also looked at moral values. Both liberal and conservative ethics show up among owners. There's no clear tilt either way. So what sets Bitcoin owners apart? It's not who they are. It's what they know and believe about Bitcoin. Trust, knowledge, and perceived utility are the big differentiators. Owners tend to view Bitcoin as useful and morally sound. Cross summed it up on X: "The 14% of Americans who own Bitcoin are simply those who've studied the tech and like what they see." In short, the typical US Bitcoin owner isn't a stereotype. They're just an American who's done their homework on crypto. This study could shake up how we think about Bitcoin adoption. It's not about political leanings or demographics. It's about understanding and belief in the technology. The crypto world might need to rethink its approach. Targeting specific groups might not be the way to go. Instead, focusing on education and building trust could be the key to wider adoption. As the crypto landscape evolves, so too might our understanding of who's along for the ride. This study is just the beginning. It opens the door for more nuanced research into the minds of Bitcoin owners. One thing's clear: The face of Bitcoin in America is more diverse than we thought. It's a melting pot of ideas, beliefs, and backgrounds. Just like America itself.