Key Takeaways
- Tether revealed it holds over 100,000 Bitcoin and is investing $2 billion into mining infrastructure.
- Pakistan and UK political figures promoted national Bitcoin reserves and tax reforms.
- Protocol development received limited attention as political and corporate narratives dominated.
At the Venetian in Las Vegas, Bitcoin 2025 gathered over 30,000 attendees, but the conference’s tone revealed a shift from cypherpunk ideals to political and corporate spectacle.
Tether’s ambitious plans
Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino declared:
Tether will be the biggest Bitcoin miner in the world.
He even noted Tether’s $13 billion in profit and over 100,000 Bitcoin held by the company.
He announced a $2 billion investment into energy projects, signaling the company’s transition into infrastructure.
Government involvement
Governments also took the stage.
Pakistan’s Bilal bin Saqib unveiled a national Bitcoin reserve, stating the country “will never sell them,” and linked it to 2 GW of surplus-power mining.
In the UK, Nigel Farage promoted a bill cutting capital gains tax on Bitcoin to 10%, while announcing the first British political party to accept Bitcoin donations.
U.S. bitcoin strategy
In the U.S., JD Vance framed a Bitcoin strategic reserve as essential to national strength, although the government’s stance remains largely symbolic—promising not to sell seized Bitcoin, but offering no plan to purchase.
Technological innovations
On the tech side, Ark Labs introduced “Arkade,” a system virtualizing Bitcoin’s transaction layer for instant financial operations, with a Q3 launch expected.
Concerns & criticisms
Amid record-breaking transaction attempts and meme-like fanfare, concerns emerged over the lack of focus on decentralization, privacy, and protocol development—raising questions about whether today’s Bitcoin ecosystem still honors its foundational values.
