$19 Trillion Settled in 365 Days: Bitcoin's Unstoppable Momentum

Happy Monday Bitcoiners, it's Bam here with another Bitcoin update!

Each week, our team at Bitcoin News saves you time by curating the most impactful events into a concise, easy-to-read update.

Notable events this week include:

• DOJ approves the sale of over $6 billion in Bitcoin.

• Shareholder submits a Bitcoin Treasury Proposal to Meta.

• Multiple states propose strategic reserve laws, paving the way for Bitcoin stockpiles.

Let’s dive in! ⚡

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LATEST NEWS 📰

🙌 ADOPTION

• The Bitcoin network processed over $19 trillion in transactions in 2024, showcasing its role as both a store of value and a medium of exchange.

• Mexicans can now use Bitcoin to pay at most retail businesses through Swapido, even if the businesses don’t directly accept Bitcoin.

• Visa's latest data reveals that Bitcoin’s blockchain now surpasses PayPal in dollar transaction volume.

⚖️ LEGAL

• A Bitcoin Treasury Shareholder Proposal has been submitted to Meta by an employee of The National Center for Public Policy Research, the same organization that submitted similar proposals to $MSFT and $AMZN.

• The Thai city of Phuket, which draws 9.89 million visitors annually, is set to pilot Bitcoin and crypto payments for tourists.

• North Dakota and New Hampshire both introduce Strategic Reserve Bills, paving the way for state funds to be invested in Bitcoin.

📈 MARKETS

• Heritage Distilling adopts Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset and begins accepting BTC as payment. Thumzup Media Corp adds $1 million in Bitcoin to its balance sheet, while Genius Group acquires an additional $5 million in Bitcoin.

• Exodus, the Bitcoin wallet developer, rings the Opening Bell to celebrate its official listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

• Corporate Bitcoin holdings have more than doubled over the past year, according to Bitwise.

⛏️ MINING

• A Solarbit prototype has been unveiled: a compact solar array that tracks the sun’s path, enabling Bitcoin mining with a Bitaxe, powered entirely by free, renewable energy.

• CleanSpark now holds over 10,000 Bitcoin, all mined domestically—a 236% year-over-year increase in its treasury.

• Phoenix Group, a UAE-based tech company listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange, has launched a 50 MW Bitcoin mining facility in North Dakota.

🗳️ POLITICS

• The DOJ has been authorized to sell 69,370 Bitcoin seized from Silk Road, just weeks before Trump reportedly planned to use it to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

• Chilean lawmakers, led by left-leaning politicians, are considering legislation to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

• Leading Honduran presidential candidate was seen wearing a Bitcoin cap during a TV interview.

BAMS 2 SATS 🧢

We’re often so entrenched in our own biases that we fail to see how out of touch we’ve become. This week, I reflected on the meaning of money from an everyday person’s perspective. What fascinates me is that, even as Bitcoin gains mainstream traction, people still argue it isn’t money because “no one is using it” or “no one accepts it directly.” In truth, many services convert Bitcoin into fiat to settle invoices—hardly a sign of disuse.

Claiming that no one uses Bitcoin suggests a complete lack of interest—clearly not the case. In 2024, the value of wealth transferred via Bitcoin hit $19.7 trillion, doubling from 2023.

Another common critique targets so-called “hoarders” or “hodlers,” accusing them of mere speculation—waiting for the price to rise to sell to a “greater fool.” However, the data tells a different story. Bitcoin has proven to be a powerful savings vehicle. For example, saving $1,000 per month in Bitcoin over four years yields a 160% return, compared to 36% for gold and 39% for the S&P 500.

Bitcoin already functions as a savings technology, storing and moving trillions of dollars annually.

Yet, many still argue that if they can’t buy coffee with it in their locale, it isn’t money.

From this perspective, Bitcoin qualifies as a good form of digital money if it can store value and maintain sufficient demand to be usable. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can pay for coffee in Sweden with Bitcoin—just as you can’t use Mexican, Argentinian, or Venezuelan pesos there either.

The difference is that strong demand for Bitcoin has led to tools that instantly convert it into any slave fiat currency a seller desires—meeting the needs of both parties.

As demand for Bitcoin grows, so does the demand for tools that enable its use, creating a more interoperable world. This allows us to choose the money we prefer without relying on currencies favored by others—especially those that can be printed endlessly.

Ultimately, it’s about keeping an open mind and acknowledging Bitcoin’s growth—not just in price, but in its expanding ecosystem of tools, treasury adoption, and emerging circular economies. It might be worth getting some, just in case it catches on ;)

Stay safe and keep on stacking!
Bam

Is 0.1 Bitcoin Enough to Retire On?

This week, we’re joined by our good friend Brandon from Green Candle Investments.

We’ll explore how much Bitcoin you’ll need to retire in the coming years and how a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve could impact Bitcoin’s price by 2025.