Stablecoins have long been considered a faster way to transfer dollars across borders. In Bolivia, they are increasingly becoming primarily a way to access dollars. The country’s recent proposal to recognize dollar-tonne tether (USDT) for payments highlights how economic instability is driving adoption in many emerging markets.
Elsewhere, Bitcoin miners are discovering that switching to AI infrastructure can unlock modern revenue streams, but it doesn’t protect them from investor scrutiny.
Bolivia is considering accepting USDT amid dollar shortage
Bolivia is considering introducing a regulatory framework that would recognize USDT Tether as a payment currency, another step in the country’s push to integrate digital assets into its financial system.
Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said the proposal would allow USDT to flow alongside the boliviano and the US dollar for payment and savings purposes. The framework is still under review and would include anti-money laundering safeguards as Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force’s gray list. This initiative follows the lifting of the cryptocurrency ban in the country in 2024 and the modern administration’s commitment to expand access to digital asset services.
The proposal comes as Bolivia grapples with a prolonged U.S. dollar shortage after pressure on foreign exchange reserves forced the government to abandon its long-standing currency peg earlier this year. The resulting discrepancy between official and parallel exchange rates has increased demand for dollar-denominated alternatives such as USDT, which is becoming an increasingly popular payment tool in the country.
Source: DUTY
Bitcoin miners’ AI axis highlights insider stock sales
Investors are increasingly looking at insider selling in Bitcoin miners pursuing artificial intelligence infrastructure strategies as enthusiasm for the sector cools and governance concerns take center stage.
According to Blocksbridge Consulting, executives at TeraWulf, Cipher Digital, Riot Platforms and Core Scientific have disclosed stock sales in recent months, many of which occurred as part of pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. Strategic investors also trimmed their holdings – including Tether – which reduced its stake in Bitdeer following the company’s AI-powered rally. The change comes as the TEM AI infrastructure growth rate has declined by 16% over the past month.
Blocksbridge said investors are increasingly looking beyond the history of AI development to assess whether the benefits of miners’ strategic pivots will trickle down to public shareholders.
Most shares of the 20-company TEM AI Infrastructure Growth Index have fallen over the past month through July 8. Source: Mining Weekly
CleanSpark Shares Rise as Artificial Intelligence Accelerates on $6.6 Billion Data Center Leasing
CleanSpark shares rose as much as 22% after the Bitcoin miner signed a 20-year data center lease in Georgia that could generate up to $6.6 billion in contracted revenue, underscoring its commitment to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure.
The deal includes a 175-megawatt data center on the company’s campus in Sandersville, Georgia, and was signed with an undisclosed global investment-grade technology company. The tenant will install its computer equipment on site, and phased deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. If the customer exercises two five-year extension options, the total contract value could reach $11.6 billion.
The deal reflects a broader trend among Bitcoin miners seeking modern sources of revenue as the economics of post-halving mining remain under pressure. While many publicly traded miners have reduced their Bitcoin holdings to augment liquidity, CleanSpark has largely remained a net accumulator despite selling some BTC earlier this year to fund operations.
CleanSpark remains a net accumulator of Bitcoin. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NET
Bitmine generated $46 million from Ethereum staking last quarter
Bitmine Immersion Technologies generated $45.7 million in Ethereum staking and validation revenue last quarter, showing the strength of its business even as ETH prices remained under pressure.
Ethereum staking accounted for 98% of the company’s revenue for the three months ended May 31, compared with $624,000 from independent Bitcoin mining and $168,000 from consulting services. The results follow the March launch of MAVAN, Bitmine’s institutional Ethereum staking platform, which was formed through the acquisition of validator operator Pier Two Holdings. The company said it invested about 85% of its stake in Ether, or about 4.9 million ETH.
CEO Tom Lee said Bitmine currently invests more Ether than any other entity and projects annual staking rewards of $284 million once its token holdings are fully staked through MAVAN and its partners.
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