Latest news with #Satoshi
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
South Africans spending $1.4m Crypto a year on everyday shopping
To the vast majority of users, cryptocurrency is seen as an investment or trading vehicle. Bitcoin is popular for its potential long-term gains, while smaller coins are commonly used by speculators looking to make sizeable gains from lesser-known cryptocurrencies. However, cryptocurrency wasn't set up as a form of investment. It was designed to operate as a means of transferring value. Its first official use was to buy pizzas, and this was in closer keeping with Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto's vision. Cryptocurrency Popularity Cryptocurrency has become popular as a store of value, as well as an investment. It is also becoming increasingly popular as a method of paying for goods and services, although only really in some restricted jurisdictions. But, it has become popular for online payments and in the iGaming and sports betting world. Cryptocurrency can be used to facilitate fast payout sportsbooks online, thanks to rapid transaction times. According to online gambling expert Brett Curtis, payments can be completed within a matter of minutes, sometimes instantly, rather than several business days, which is how long it takes with some traditional payment methods like credit cards. South African Crypto Usage While it has not become a mainstream form of payment in any country, some areas do find considerable use for cryptocurrency as a payment method. In South Africa, it has been reported that residents have spent an average of $112,000 a month since November 2024 on groceries and other everyday items. Satoshi's Vision Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. In Bitcoin's 2008 whitepaper, Satoshi described Bitcoin as 'a purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash [that] would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.' In the same year as its launch, the first Bitcoin exchange rate was offered, and in 2010, Satoshi saw his dream of a decentralized payment method realized when software developer Laszlo Hanyecz bought two Papa John's pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins. At the time, that equated to around $41. At today's exchange rate, the pizzas cost $600m each. Bitcoin enthusiasts now celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22 to mark the occasion. However, while Satoshi envisioned a world in which users would be able to send Bitcoin easily to one another and spend cryptocurrency in shops and at other businesses, it took some time for organizations to work out how best to deal with incoming Bitcoin. Early Crypto Challenges Cryptocurrency has unique requirements for vendors and businesses, and this was especially true in the technology's early days. Whereas payment gateways exist now that will convert crypto payments to local currencies before depositing them into the business's account, this hasn't always been the case. Originally, retailers needed crypto wallets and would have to accept payments the same as any individual accepting a Bitcoin transfer from another party. In 2014, however, online retailer Overstock started accepting Bitcoin payments. In January of that year, it accepted Bitcoin payments from US customers, and in September, it rolled the service out to its customers around the globe. At the time, Overstock founder and CEO Patrick Byrne said: 'As long as you can get on the internet, you can order and pay in bitcoin. You can order in North Korea if you want – as long as you're having things delivered to, say, Singapore.' NewEgg and TigerDirect also started accepting Bitcoin payments in the same year, and companies around the globe started to follow suit. The Potential To Serve Unbanked Citizens Bitcoin has long been heralded as having the potential to serve the approximately 1.5 billion unbanked citizens of the world. Unbanked citizens are people with no basic banking services, which can make it impossible to even receive a monthly salary, and can make it difficult to pay for anything from groceries to utility bills and rent. It is estimated that around 23.5% of South Africa's population is unbanked, with many more underbanked, meaning they have severely limited banking functionality. This means around 12 million South Africans do not have access to what many people consider basic financial services. This high ratio of unbanked citizens is one possible reason why South Africa has seen a significant uptick in the number of people using cryptocurrency and the total revenue of crypto purchases. Luno Pay In South Africa Crypto payment platform, Luno Pay, launched a retail payment tool in November 2024 and has said that users have spent a combined $1.1m in cryptocurrency since then. Payments have been used to buy flights, furniture, food, and many other items and services. The company also reported last year that 31,000 retailers in the country accepted cryptocurrency, and this figure has likely risen in the 8 months since the announcement. It's worth noting that while Luno Pay is the most significant crypto payment platform in South Africa, other crypto payment options do exist. Therefore, the figure has been estimated at around $1.4m, which will include direct wallet-to-wallet payments as well as the use of other platforms, and even exchanges. When it comes to exchanges, South Africa's most popular has a recognizable look. Binance and Coinbase lead the way, with the likes of eToro, Kraken, and Gemini also featuring high on the list. South Africa's Crypto Usage It is estimated that nearly 10% of South Africans have or hold some cryptocurrency, which is higher than 7% of the global population estimate. These figures continue to increase, especially as BTC prices continue to rise and as countries and banks around the world wrestle with regulatory frameworks. The SARB And CBDCs The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has initiated its own investigation into Central Bank Digital Currencies, for example. CBDCs are digital currencies that bear some similarities to cryptocurrencies. They operate on blockchain networks and are spent, sent, and received similarly to the likes of Bitcoin. But where cryptocurrency is decentralized, CBDCs are digital equivalents to local currencies, and they still have the backing and administrative support of central banks. The SARB has not definitively indicated its intention to launch a CBDC, but it is likely to follow other countries that launch their own digital currencies. The Implications on The Crypto Market As South Africa and the rest of the African market continue to increase their crypto spending, it naturally means an increase in crypto acquisitions. This means more money will flow into the cryptocurrency market, not only causing likely price increases for the likes of Bitcoin but also ensuring greater liquidity and even price stability for the market as a whole.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Bitcoin hits $121,000 - Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki urges newcomers: Reflect before it's too late
Bitcoin achieved a new record high of $121,000. Robert Kiyosaki, the author of 'Rich Dad Poor Dad', shared his insights. He advised new investors to start small with crypto investments. Kiyosaki also mentioned his recent Bitcoin purchase. He is waiting for economic clarity before further investments. He cautioned against greed. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What does Bitcoin's latest price surge mean for investors? Is Robert Kiyosaki still buying Bitcoin? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What advice is Kiyosaki offering new crypto investors? Is this a warning or an opportunity? FAQs Bitcoin broke through $121,000 on July 14, a new all-time high, which led personal finance writer Robert Kiyosaki to highlight that it's great news for Bitcoin investors but also a wake-up call for those who do not own the cryptocurrency yet, as per a author of the best-selling book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad,' took to post on social media X with a message not only for crypto veterans but also for those who are still sitting on the sidelines, his tone was triumphant but also warning, according to The wrote in an X post that, "Great news for those who already have some Bitcoin. Bad news for who… for whatever reason… never 'pulled the trigger'. They own nothing. As warned in previous X…Pigs get fat…. Hogs get slaughtered," as quoted in the READ: Air taxi revolution? Joby Aviation doubles output, investors react fast, stock skyrockets 7% Even though he disclosed he had just bought another Bitcoin, Kiyosaki indicated that he is waiting on more purchases as the direction of the overall economy becomes more apparent, as reported by The cautioned against being greedy but urged newcomers to get into crypto, even with just a small percentage of a coin, according to the report. He warned that, "As tempting as Bitcoin going to $200k to $1 Million is….I do want to be a HOG and get slaughtered….If you have not begun acquiring BITCOIN….I suggest starting very small… starting with a Satoshi," as quoted by The Street in its report. Satoshi refers to the smallest denomination of Bitcoin, as per the also went on to speculate on the actions of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, observing that Buffett's $350 billion pile means that he has been waiting for a crash to pick up some quality assets, as reported by The READ: Nio crashes 21% in 2025 — what's dragging down the EV darling? Here's what you need to know The author ended his social media post with a harsh warning but also with a glimmer of hope, saying, "Millions are about to become poorer," but he also offered hope, saying those who are smart, patient, and alert could emerge much richer, as reported by The even previously, Kiyosaki has warned that if Bitcoin ultimately rises to $1 million per coin, many people will regret never having bought at the current price, and if all they could have purchased was a single satoshi, the feeling would be the same: "You will be saying, 'I wish I had bought more,'" as quoteed in the according to Kiyosaki. He suggests it's not too late, and recommends starting with a very small amount, even just a worried about being greedy during volatile times and is waiting for more clarity in the economy before buying more, as per The Street report.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
These Billionaires Got Richer Thanks To "Crypto Week"
getty B itcoin is soaring to the moon, with the cryptocurrency posting a new all-time high on Monday of $122,838, nearly a 100% increase since July of last year. For a brief time, Bitcoin's market cap was upwards of $2.4 trillion, surpassing Amazon as the fifth most valuable asset in the world. The run-up came at the start of what the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services has called 'Crypto Week,' Three cryptocurrency bills – the CLARITY Act, Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act and the GENIUS Act— were all approved on Thursday by the House of Representatives. Together they help establish a regulatory framework and help integrate cryptocurrencies into traditional finance.. 'These pieces of legislation further the President's pro-growth and pro-business agenda, and provide a clear regulatory framework for digital assets,' according to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. All this anticipation has helped produce outsized returns for BTC holders, with the coin's price far outpacing even the broader market, itself near record highs and up nearly 12% from a year ago. Donald Trump, who will be signing these pieces of legislation into law, stands to personally benefit from their adoption. His World Liberty Financial launched a new stablecoin called USD1 earlier this year that Forbes has valued at more than $100 million. It's probably up at least 30% since then, adding tens of millions to the president's net worth. Trump's involvement with the passage of the three bills was hands-on, personally meeting with republican holdouts who blocked earlier crypto bills. 'I am in the Oval Office with 11 of the 12 Congressmen/women necessary to pass the GENIUS Act and, after a short discussion, they have all agreed to vote tomorrow morning in favor of the Rule,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. Here are a few of the biggest billionaire winners, including the largest holders of Bitcoin based on Forbes billionaire ranks, over the last year according to Forbes ' estimates. One person not among the gainers is Crypto's richest person Changpeng Zhao, whose fortune comes from his cryptocurrency exchange Binance but does not appear to own much Bitcoin. No one would be richer or gain more from Bitcoin's rise than its mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto—if s/he really exists and is really one living person. With estimated holdings of up to 1.1 million Bitcoins, Satoshi's stash could now be worth more than $135 billion thanks to Bitcoin's all-time high. That would be good enough to make Satoshi the 11th-wealthiest person in the world, $10 billion richer than computer billionaire Michael Dell and just $7 billion poorer than Warren Buffett. But the problem is that no one has been able to definitively prove the identity of Satoshi, who authored Bitcoin's white paper in 2008 before handing it off to the community and has never sold a token since. The pseudonymous person or possible team of people behind Satoshi Nakamoto left the stage more than a decade ago. That has not stopped many from trying to reveal the true identity in what has become one of the greatest unsolved mysteries. It's also impossible to determine an exact accounting of Satoshi's bitcoin addresses or total holdings since the network, too, is pseudonymous (Forbes previously reported estimates range between 600,000 and 1.1 million tokens). For those reasons, Forbes has yet to place Satoshi on the billionaires list, even as all those zeroes keep piling up. This story was updated on July 18 to reflect the passage of the three acts and impact on Donald Trump's stable coin holdings. Jamel Toppin for Forbes Michael Saylor | $11.2 bil | +$6.8 bil Few are as bullish about Bitcoin as Saylor, who has made heavy investments in the coins through his publicly traded software firm MicroStrategy and his personal accounts. Microstrategy (market capitalization: $127 billion) owns 601,550 BTC, worth nearly $74 billion on Monday. That includes an additional 4,225 BTC bought at an average price of $111,827 per token from July 7th to July 13th, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In 2020, Saylor divulged that he personally held 17,732 BTC, purchased for some $175 million at an average price of $9,882. That stash would now be worth more than $2 billion. Brian Armstrong | $16.4 bil | + $5.2 bil The CEO of Coinbase, Armstrong has been consistently selling stock through 2025 using an automated trading program, but still owns roughly 19% of the company he cofounded, helping him indirectly profit from the rise in Bitcoin's price like Ehrsam. Michael Prince for Forbes Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss | $4.2 bil each | +$3.7 bil each The Winklevoss twins hold an estimated 28,288 BTC, now worth roughly $3.5 billion. Famous for alleging Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook, the twins donated 15.47 Bitcoin apiece, worth $1 million each at the time, to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, citing issues with the Biden administration's approach toward cryptocurrency in a June 2024 post on X by Tyler Winklevoss. Mike Novogratz | $4.9 bil | +$2.4 bil Novogratz is an early Bitcoin investor and the founder, CEO and majority shareholder of Galaxy Digital Holdings, a crypto investment firm that trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He first bought Bitcoin in 2013, and has invested in a wide variety of startups and tokens within the cryptocurrency industry. Fred Ehrsam | $4.2 bil | +$1.1 bil Cofounder of Coinbase Global, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, Ehrsam left the company in 2017 to found Paradigm, a cryptocurrency investment firm with more than $8 billion in assets. He remains on the board of Coinbase, and owns 4% of the shares, which trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and are up 81% over the past year—buoyed in part by Coinbase's corporate reserves of 51,017.36 BTC, worth $6.3 billion at Monday's all-time high price. Getty Images Tim Draper | $3.6 bil | +$1.6 bil Draper is a founding partner of venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson and an early Bitcoin investor. In 2014, he bought 29,656 bitcoins which were confiscated by U.S. Marshalls from the Silk Road black market; they're now worth over $3.6 billion.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bitcoin hits $121,000 - Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki urges newcomers: Reflect before it's too late
Bitcoin broke through $121,000 on July 14, a new all-time high, which led personal finance writer Robert Kiyosaki to highlight that it's great news for Bitcoin investors but also a wake-up call for those who do not own the cryptocurrency yet, as per a report. What does Bitcoin's latest price surge mean for investors? Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad,' took to post on social media X with a message not only for crypto veterans but also for those who are still sitting on the sidelines, his tone was triumphant but also warning, according to The Street. He wrote in an X post that, "Great news for those who already have some Bitcoin. Bad news for who… for whatever reason… never 'pulled the trigger'. They own nothing. As warned in previous X…Pigs get fat…. Hogs get slaughtered," as quoted in the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Avance em sua carreira jurídica Thomson Reuters Saiba Mais Undo ALSO READ: Air taxi revolution? Joby Aviation doubles output, investors react fast, stock skyrockets 7% Is Robert Kiyosaki still buying Bitcoin? Even though he disclosed he had just bought another Bitcoin, Kiyosaki indicated that he is waiting on more purchases as the direction of the overall economy becomes more apparent, as reported by The Street. Live Events What advice is Kiyosaki offering new crypto investors? Kiyosaki cautioned against being greedy but urged newcomers to get into crypto, even with just a small percentage of a coin, according to the report. He warned that, "As tempting as Bitcoin going to $200k to $1 Million is….I do want to be a HOG and get slaughtered….If you have not begun acquiring BITCOIN….I suggest starting very small… starting with a Satoshi," as quoted by The Street in its report. Satoshi refers to the smallest denomination of Bitcoin, as per the report. He also went on to speculate on the actions of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, observing that Buffett's $350 billion pile means that he has been waiting for a crash to pick up some quality assets, as reported by The Street. ALSO READ: Nio crashes 21% in 2025 — what's dragging down the EV darling? Here's what you need to know Is this a warning or an opportunity? The author ended his social media post with a harsh warning but also with a glimmer of hope, saying, "Millions are about to become poorer," but he also offered hope, saying those who are smart, patient, and alert could emerge much richer, as reported by The Street. While, even previously, Kiyosaki has warned that if Bitcoin ultimately rises to $1 million per coin, many people will regret never having bought at the current price, and if all they could have purchased was a single satoshi, the feeling would be the same: "You will be saying, 'I wish I had bought more,'" as quoteed in the report. FAQs I've never bought Bitcoin. Is it too late now? Not according to Kiyosaki. He suggests it's not too late, and recommends starting with a very small amount, even just a satoshi. Why is Kiyosaki cautious even though he believes Bitcoin will go up? He's worried about being greedy during volatile times and is waiting for more clarity in the economy before buying more, as per The Street report.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Satoshi-Era Whale Sells 9K BTC for Over $1B as Bitcoin Dips Below $117K
A bitcoin (BTC) whale holding more than 80,000 BTC sold a chunk their hoard following bitcoin's ascent to an all-time high around $123,000 on Monday. The user, who mined the cryptocurrency during the earliest days of the industry — a period known as the Satoshi era after the pseudonymous bitcoin creator — sold 9,000 BTC ($1 billion) via Galaxy Digital, Lookonchain posted on X. Users with particularly large amounts of BTC, known as whales, have the ability to move the market when they buy or sell bitcoin because of the substantial number of tokens involved. Satoshi-era bitcoin whales are closely monitored by traders for market signals, particularly when the BTC in their wallets has not moved for a number of years. The Satoshi era refers to a loose period of between 2009 and 2011 when bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, was active in the community and BTC was generally priced in cents. The world's largest cryptocurrency fell from Monday's high, dropping below $117,000. Such a slide is quite common following a surge as many users sell coins to bank some profits. Bitcoin was recently priced just above $117,000, around 4.55% lower than its peak.
