Reform UK has become the first British political party to accept donations in Bitcoin, party leader Nigel Farage announced during a cryptocurrency conference in Las Vegas. Farage presented a draft ‘Crypto Assets and Digital Finance Bill’ that he pledged to enact if elected prime minister, promising to spearhead a ‘crypto revolution’ in the UK and declaring that digital assets are ‘here to stay.’
The proposed bill includes significant reforms such as slashing the capital gains tax on cryptocurrencies from 24% to 10% and establishing a Bitcoin digital reserve at the Bank of England. Reform UK’s website was updated Thursday evening to begin accepting crypto contributions.
Farage’s stance contrasts with Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who recently outlined plans to regulate crypto firms similarly to traditional finance institutions, aiming to make the UK a ‘world leader’ in the field. However, not all British lawmakers are aligned on the issue.
— The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) May 29, 2025
A Treasury Select Committee earlier recommended regulating crypto like gambling due to its volatility and risks for investors. The Treasury rejected this idea, signalling ongoing debate over how best to manage the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.
Farage’s embrace of crypto echoes moves seen in the US, where former President Donald Trump’s campaign raised millions in digital currency. Reform UK’s leader praised America’s crypto adoption, voicing his ambition to make London a global hub for digital finance, despite ongoing political controversy surrounding crypto-linked campaign contributions in the US.
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The Central African Republic (CAR) will begin tokenising over 1,700 hectares of land using its national meme coin, $CAR, according to President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. The announcement came shortly after a notable price surge in the token, which has risen over 127% in the past week.
From June, land concessions will be accessible online via $CAR on the Solana blockchain. The initiative is part of the country’s broader push to integrate crypto into its national development strategy, with a focus on transparency and accessibility.
The targeted area lies west of Bossongo, roughly 45 kilometres from Bangui.
The land tokenisation follows earlier crypto efforts such as Sango Coin, which has since been scrapped. However, $CAR continues to receive strong backing from the president.
The coin now has more than 18,400 holders and a market cap of over $56 million. Its recent use may also involve mining, as the decree references CAR’s mining laws and history of resource extraction.
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Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino revealed bold plans to make the company the world’s largest Bitcoin miner by the end of 2025. Speaking at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, he highlighted Tether’s $13 billion profit last year and $120 billion held in US Treasuries.
The firm now owns over 100,000 Bitcoin and has invested over $2 billion into energy production and mining operations.
Ardoino reaffirmed the company’s strong belief in Bitcoin, saying ‘Bitcoin is perfect, gold is imperfect.’ He added that Tether was built with Bitcoin and continues to support El Salvador, where it has its headquarters.
The country was the first to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.
Tether is also entering the artificial intelligence space. The firm launched a platform called QVAC, aiming to build AI agents that can operate independently using non-custodial crypto wallets.
In a final announcement, Tether disclosed a partnership with Rumble to create a new ‘Bitcoin-first’ wallet. The wallet will also include limited stablecoin support to broaden its appeal to the general public.
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Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will block access to five major cryptocurrency exchanges on 28 June for operating without a licence. Bybit, 1000X, CoinEx, OKX, and XT.COM offered trading services to Thai users without authorisation, leading to legal action.
The SEC aims to protect investors and prevent money laundering.
New anti-cybercrime laws passed in April give authorities broad powers to shut down suspicious websites quickly. The Royal Decree lets the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society target unlicensed platforms.
Enforcement has since intensified against offshore crypto operators.
Thailand is also adopting blockchain for public finance. The Ministry of Finance launched G-Token, a blockchain-based investment token for government bonds.
G-Tokens cannot be used as currency, maintaining a clear line from volatile cryptocurrencies. Regulators have imposed stricter customer checks and faster suspension of suspicious accounts, while extending liability to banks, telecoms, and social media firms.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is advancing its digital rupee pilots. It is introducing new features such as programmability and offline payment capabilities.
These enhancements aim to make the digital rupee more practical for users in areas with limited internet access. They also enable customised payments, such as government subsidies and corporate spending controls.
Both retail and wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are currently being tested with select banks, customers, and institutional dealers.
The retail CBDC pilot now includes 600,000 users across 17 banks, with participation expanded to certain non-bank entities offering CBDC wallets. The wholesale pilot has also broadened, adding four standalone primary dealers to diversify its use.
Meanwhile, India’s digital payment ecosystem continues to grow rapidly, with a 34.8% rise in payment volumes and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) dominating nearly half of global real-time payment transactions.
Amid these developments, India’s Supreme Court has urged the government to introduce clearer cryptocurrency regulations. Justice Surya Kant expressed concerns over the risks posed by a ‘parallel economy’ linked to crypto assets.
Despite a 30% tax on crypto profits, over 100 million Indians hold digital assets, signalling strong public interest alongside growing regulatory scrutiny.
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In Africa, blockchain is being adopted from the ground up to solve urgent challenges. Young students and freelancers in Kenya and Nigeria use digital currencies to get paid and store value amid weak banking and low trust in institutions.
Beyond finance, blockchain is helping to address energy and internet issues. In Zambia, surplus energy is used to mine Bitcoin, creating revenue and reducing waste.
Decentralised Wi-Fi networks are also emerging, allowing communities to share internet access and earn money without middlemen.
Governments remain cautious, focusing on regulation, but grassroots adoption continues to grow. The need is clear, and many believe the technology is already making a real difference.
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Kazakhstan is pressing ahead with a bold initiative to integrate cryptocurrency into everyday payments by launching a pilot zone known as CryptoCity. President Tokayev announced the project as a sandbox for legal crypto payments at the Astana International Forum 2025.
The city of Alatau is currently the leading candidate to host CryptoCity. Recognised for its scientific research facilities and special economic zones, Alatau offers an existing technological infrastructure that makes it a strong contender.
Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, said the zone would support the legal circulation of cryptocurrencies. It will operate under crypto-friendly legislation.
Officials believe the project could attract developers, programmers, and IT specialists, boosting local economic growth. Kazakhstan has already trialled a central bank digital currency, which helped to speed up VAT refund processes.
With CryptoCity now under development, the country aims to become a regional leader in blockchain innovation.
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Emerging markets use cryptocurrency wallets for everyday payments more than developed regions, a recent Bitget Wallet report shows. A survey of 4,599 users shows Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa mainly use crypto wallets to send funds.
These regions often face limited access to traditional banking, making crypto a practical alternative.
In contrast, users in Europe mainly use crypto wallets for trading, with over 40% citing this as their primary activity. North America and East Asia showed balanced crypto trading and transfers, with East Asia leading in long-term holdings at 43%.
Bitget’s CEO, Gracy Chen, highlighted the significant shift in user behaviour, noting that wallets are evolving beyond trading tools into integral parts of broader financial ecosystems.
Plans are underway to make wallets more accessible for users who are new to cryptocurrencies and not traditional traders.
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Two wallets tied to the controversial Libra meme coin team have been frozen. Nearly $58 million in USDC stablecoins on the Solana blockchain are now locked.
The freeze on Solscan affects accounts holding $44.59 million and $13.06 million in USDC, a stablecoin issued by Circle. Major stablecoin issuers like Circle have the authority to blacklist addresses in cases of fraud or legal disputes.
The freeze follows a temporary restraining order from a US federal court, requested by Burwick Law amid ongoing litigation. Argentina’s justice department has also been linked to the legal action, connected to the Libra token promoted by Argentine President Javier Milei.
The token’s rapid rise and fall earlier this year sparked accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme.
Despite the legal troubles, Circle has recently filed for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, aiming for a $6.7 billion valuation. Meanwhile, Argentina’s task force investigating the scandal was disbanded last week.
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Pakistan is moving ahead with plans to establish a national Bitcoin reserve as part of a broader digital asset strategy. Bilal Bin Saqib, head of the Pakistan Crypto Council, announced the move at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.
He emphasised that the government’s intention is long term and not driven by market speculation. He stated that once acquired, the Bitcoin would never be sold.
The government plans to launch a national Bitcoin wallet and adopt blockchain technologies. The reserve’s size is unclear, but the move follows the US example and shows Pakistan’s growing trust in blockchain.
Officials are also preparing to allocate 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centres. The aim is to boost jobs, modernise the power sector, and attract investment.
In parallel, the country is creating the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate the crypto sector. The agency will regulate exchanges and token platforms and develop frameworks for DeFi and blockchain-based public finance.
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