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In Economy

Spontaneous Order Created Stablecoins — How Did Regulating Them Become a Strategic Consensus?

August 6, 2025 No Comments

Politics and finance move together: each policy change rearranges markets, and each market shift creates new policy incentives. Donald Trump’s well-known negotiating style — anchoring high, manufacturing urgency, then retreating just far enough to claim a win — offers a useful template for understanding Washington’s 2025 GENIUS Act on stablecoins.

From Trump’s Philosophy to Dollar Digitalization

President Trump opened trade talks with China and India by threatening “reciprocal tariffs,” then settled for narrower concessions on soybeans, pharmaceuticals, and digital services. The pattern mattered more than the particulars: start with maximum leverage, control the narrative, close quickly when the counterparty blinks.

Stablecoins presented a similar opportunity. By 2024, they had become essential plumbing for crypto markets and crossborder payments, yet they sat in a regulatory gray zone. The GENIUS Act pulled them into US jurisdiction, requiring 100 percent backing with cash and Treasurys, and placing issuers under Federal Reserve supervision. The result: fintech firms gained legal clarity, Treasurys gained a new buyer base, and the dollar acquired a programmable form factor for the next phase of global payments.

In this sense, the Act was not a technocratic tweak but a strategic negotiation — one that leverages private innovation to extend the reach of US monetary power.

Stablecoins: From Faster Payments to Digital Dollar Power

Stablecoins do not compete with the dollar; they repackage it for blockchains. USDT, USDC, and their peers function as dollar clearing lines that operate outside traditional correspondent banking, moving value across borders in minutes rather than the two-to-five-business-day window of SWIFT wires. In software terms, they compress both trust (collateral is visible on-chain or attested monthly) and time (settlement is embedded in the transaction itself).

Mainstream adoption confirms the shift. Visa settles merchant payouts in USDC; PayPal and Stripe use it for crossborder remittances; BlackRock parks short-term Treasurys behind Circle’s reserves. Once speculative, these tokens now act as the payment rails for NFT markets, DAO payrolls, and dollar-based remittances in emerging economies.

That reach amounts to a new kind of sovereignty. Control of the protocol — reserve rules, blacklist functions, upgrade paths — confers influence that is less visible than Federal Reserve policy but just as real. By installing a programmable, always-on dollar in decentralized networks, stablecoins extend US monetary power into domains where central banks have never operated.

 The GENIUS Act: Institutionalizing Stablecoins

By July 2025, the market value of dollarpegged stablecoins had climbed to roughly $255 billion, making tokens such as USDT and USDC indispensable for decentralized finance, crossborder payrolls, and on-chain trade credit. Yet the sector’s apparent strength masked structural fragility. When Silicon Valley Bank failed in March 2023, USDC briefly traded at $0.87 — a reminder that even “digital dollars” can wobble if reserves are opaque or inaccessible. Europe’s MiCA rules, which tightened disclosure and capital requirements, and Hong Kong’s new licensing regime for HKD-linked coins signaled that other jurisdictions were racing to shape the rules themselves. Washington did not want to lose the initiative.

Congress responded with the GENIUS Act, a law that folds stablecoin issuance into the existing US financial perimeter while leaving day-to-day innovation to private code. The statute mandates that every circulating token be backed one-for-one by cash or short-term Treasury bills, verified by monthly attestations from registered accountants. Issuers must register with the Federal Reserve and apply full AML and KYC screening to wallet activity. In other words, the Act grafts the supervisory tools of the banking system onto a technology that was born outside it.

Institutionalization has already paid three strategic dividends. First, a programmable dollar now circulates natively inside Web3 marketplaces, DAO payroll systems, and small firm supply chain platforms, extending US monetary reach to territories where correspondent banks never operated. Second, compulsory collateralization has turned stablecoin treasurers into steady buyers of government debt: in 2025 stablecoin treasurers hold approximately $160–200 billion in short-term US Treasurys, an unheralded boost for deficit finance. Third, on-chain transparency gives the Treasury and FinCEN near-real-time visibility into crossborder flows and illicit finance, transforming granular wallet data into regulatory leverage.

The bargain is straightforward: lawmakers obtain surveillance tools and demand for bonds, issuers win legal certainty, and users keep the speed and finality of blockchain settlement. What remains untested is whether the same framework can contain the next liquidity shock — or whether another peg break will force an even tighter grip.

From Spontaneous Order to Legislative Codification: The Hayekian Path of Stablecoins

In the history of financial infrastructure, regulation rarely precedes innovation. This is especially true in the case of digital assets — where code, not committees, led the way. To understand why stablecoins have become a pillar of American digital strategy, we must return to one of the most foundational ideas in economics: spontaneous order.

F.A. Hayek, the Austrian economist and philosopher, argued that many of the most effective institutions in society emerge not by central design but through decentralized trial and error. In his works The Use of Knowledge in Society and Law, Legislation and Liberty, Hayek warned against the arrogance of planning. Markets, he argued, embody a form of dispersed intelligence — aggregating individual preferences, constraints, and insights into dynamic patterns of coordination that no planner could replicate.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the evolution of Bitcoin. Initially dismissed as a Ponzi scheme or digital gimmick, Bitcoin slowly earned credibility — not through government endorsement, but through use. Its first known transaction — a pizza purchased for 10,000 BTC — was not merely trivia; it was the moment value was assigned in a peer-driven economy. As adoption spread, Bitcoin began functioning as a store of value and a transnational asset class, eventually influencing central bank policy debates and sovereignty narratives.

But the true Hayekian revolution arrived with stablecoins. Unlike Bitcoin, these instruments were not deflationary digital gold, but liquid, fiat-referenced settlement tools. USDT, USDC, and others responded to a real-world need: to facilitate trust, accelerate contract completion, and bypass banking intermediaries in a globally fragmented payments landscape. Their growth was not mandated. It was organic — driven by developers, traders, gig workers, and remittance users who found in stablecoins the functionality that legacy systems lacked.

This bottom-up adoption eventually forced the hand of governments. The US GENIUS Act, Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Ordinance, and the EU’s evolving MiCA framework are not acts of regulatory foresight — they are institutional catch-up. Each reflects the recognition that stablecoins have crossed a threshold of legitimacy that can no longer be ignored. The state, in this case, is not the originator of order but its respondent.

In doing so, these legislative moves are expanding the very definition of capital goods. Where once only factories, patents, and real estate occupied the economic imagination, today we must include digital protocols, asset-backed tokens, and settlement systems in the category of productive infrastructure. The passage of law does not replace spontaneous order — it enshrines it. Stablecoin legislation does not conclude innovation — it triggers new iterations: programmable finance, self-custody networks, DAO-linked payments, and real-time international remittance.

This transformation affirms Hayek’s thesis. The most enduring economic orders are those that evolve from below, not those imposed from above. And in the realm of programmable money, the power of institution over innovation is increasingly created after the fact — not at its inception.

Ledger Competition: Dollar Rails vs RMB Networks

Stablecoin dollarization is no longer unchallenged. China’s digital renminbi stack, tested through the mBridge project with Hong Kong, the UAE, and Thailand, has the potential to move millions of US dollars in payments — entirely outside the SWIFT/CHIPS loop. Hong Kong is adding HKD-pegged tokens to the same rails, creating a two-currency channel that could scale.

Washington’s counterstrategy is dual: push dollarpegged coins everywhere while tightening supervision at home to keep them from becoming an unregulated shadow bank. The real prize is not the symbol on the token but control of the ledger — who can audit it, pause it, or upgrade it.

China’s own trajectory underscores the fluidity of ledger politics. After dominating Bitcoin mining in the 2010s, Beijing banned open-network tokens in 2021, driving hash power offshore. Since 2023, it has pivoted again: provincial authorities promote permissioned chains, regulators have folded confiscated crypto into state wallets, and the central bank is active in global technical standards bodies. The contest has moved from raw computing power to protocol governance. Strategic advantage is now not in innovation, but control of regulation.

Conclusion: Sovereignty in Software

Every payment network encodes a hierarchy of trust. Stablecoins shift that hierarchy from correspondent banks to executable code. For the United States, the GENIUS Act ties this new rail to the dollar by anchoring tokens in Treasurys and US compliance rules, turning private innovation into public leverage.

Whether that architecture can outscale China’s state-directed ledger projects will hinge on adoption, not declarations. The network that clears the most transactions with the least friction will write the default standard. In the emerging era of programmable value, monetary primacy will be decided less by whose currency people quote and more by whose settlement ledger they use.

In Investing

Questcorp Mining and Riverside Resources Announce Commencement of Maiden Drilling Program at the La Union Gold & Silver Project in Mexico

August 6, 2025 No Comments

Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced on its La Union Project in northwest Sonora, Mexico. This work is being carried out by property vendor and operator Riverside Resources Inc. (TSXV: RRI).

Highlights

Initial drill program is designed to expand known zones of mineralization, test new targets, and explore areas surrounding multiple historical mine workings within the 25 km² project area.
Drill program will consist of + 1,500m of diamond core drilling across six holes, each averaging 250m in depth.
Drilling to test the carbonate-hosted replacement deposit (CRD) style of mineralization, with gold associated with mantos, chimneys, and along structural zones.
Angled drill holes are aimed at cutting perpendicular to stratigraphic targets and some structural targets which is typical in CRD systems
Structural features may have served as mineralizing conduits and are key targets in the current drill program.

The recent exploration work over the past three months by Riverside has improved the understanding of the structural geology and stratigraphy in the Sierra El Viejo, the mountain range immediately to the west of La Union Project. The La Union district lies along the flanks of this range, where these updated interpretations help guide current exploration efforts. The exploration target focus is for a large potential gold discovery that expands from previous smaller scale mine operations on the property. The drill program will begin to test the new concepts and expand past previous mining.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO states, ‘Questcorp is proud to be working with John-Mark and his whole team at Riverside in what is a historic moment in the development of this property. The La Union Project has had work conducted on it for decades, including the production of 50,000 ounces of gold itself but, it has never had a drill bit pierce the ground until now!’

Earlier this year, Questcorp entered into a definitive option agreement with Riverside’s wholly owned subsidiary, RRM Exploracion, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. to acquire a 100% interest in the La Union Project. As part of the agreement, Questcorp issued shares to Riverside, making Riverside a shareholder and aligning both parties’ interests in the Project’s success. With funding provided by Questcorp, an initial C$1,000,000 exploration program is now underway. This marks the first phase of a larger, C$5,500,000 work commitment, contingent on exploration results and Questcorp’s continued participation.

The Drill Program Targets include more than four different areas, beginning with this early-stage stratigraphic and orientation phase of drilling exploration aimed at evaluating the scale of alteration and indications of a mineralized system. This will be the first drilling ever conducted on most of the targets, despite past mining having occurred in the majority of these areas. The initial program will consist of one to three holes per area, primarily for orientation purposes. Follow-up drilling is planned and can be expanded based on initial results, which will help verify the stratigraphy, lithologies, and structural features allowing for improved modeling and next-stage discovery targeting. The four areas are listed below:

Union Main Mine Area – The program will use angled drill holes to test limestone and other carbonate stratigraphic hosts within the Clemente Formation, with the potential to reach the underlying Caborca Formation. These units are considered the primary hosts for replacement-style mineralization.
North Union Mine Area – The initial focus of the program will be on testing structural interpretations. Additional drilling is anticipated following this first phase, as results will help guide future drill testing of areas with past mining activity and various structural orientations.
Cobre Mine Area – The Clemente Formation is the primary host unit, and structural features combined with areas of past mining provide multiple target zones. Drilling will begin with an initial stratigraphic test hole to help orient around the thickness of the host unit and extend into the lower Caborca Formation, which is also a favorable host for CRD-style mineralization.
Central Union Area – Structural targets, as possible mineralization feeder zones, are a key focus in this past mining manto area. There are extensive additional target zones in the area, and this initial orientation drilling will provide vectoring for the next stage of drilling and further study of the Clemente Formation, and possibly into the Caborca Formation as currently interpreted.

General Overview of La Union Project

The Project is summarized in a recently published NI 43-101 Technical Report available under Questcorp’s SEDAR+ profile (www.sedarplus.ca). Riverside initially acquired the Project and subsequently consolidated additional inlier mineral claims, building a strong land position. Riverside then advanced the Project through surface access agreements and drill permitting, making it a turn-key exploration opportunity for Questcorp.

The Project was originally identified through Riverside’s exploration work in the western Sonora Gold Belt, conducted in collaboration with AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Centerra Gold Inc., and Hochschild Mining Plc. Earlier research by Riverside Founder John-Mark Staude also contributed to recognizing the district’s potential. Initial work by members of the Riverside team, drawing on more than two decades of geological compilation and analysis, further confirmed the region as highly prospective.

At the Project, historical mining by the Penoles Mining Company targeted chimney and manto-style replacement bodies within the upper oxide zones. As a result, the underlying sulfide zones represent immediate and compelling drill targets for further exploration.

The Project features favorable limestone host rocks, an extensive alteration footprint, and multiple small-scale historical workings, with mineralization styles similar to those at the Hermosa Project in southern Arizona. At Hermosa, South32 is advancing mine development following its acquisition of the project from Arizona Mining. On 15 February 2024, South32’s board approved a US $2.16 billion capital investment to develop the Taylor zinc-lead-silver deposit, representing the largest private mining investment in Southern Arizona’s history. The project is now considered one of the most significant undeveloped base-metal assets in the United States.

At the La Union Project, immediate drill targets offer the potential for significant-scale discoveries. La Union is well positioned for near-term exploration success, with targets that include both oxide and deeper sulfide mineralization.

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/261433_a2ed3d4fb471dade_001.jpg

Figure 1. Geologic map with the tenure of the Union internal concession shown in pink. Manto and chimney type CRD targets are shown as red polygons. All mineral tenures on this map comprise the La Union project. The drill program will focus on the Union Mine and areas north of the Union Mine with the initial drill work.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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Figure 2. Cross section looking west with conceptual drill targets and schematic drillhole traces. Assays from Riverside’s sampling of rock dump materials from the two mine areas are labeled in black. Red areas are interpreted as manto and chimney target bodies that are now well defined and drill ready. Assays shown on figures 1 and 2 have been previously released and disclosed as summarized below the geochemical QA/QC and in published NI 43-101 Report that Questcorp published 2025 on Sedar+.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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The La Union Project

The La Union Project is a carbonate replacement deposit (‘CRD’) project hosted by Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks (limestones, dolomites, and siliciclastic sediments) overlying crystalline Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Caborca Terrane. The structural setting features high-angle normal faults and low-to-medium-angle thrust faults that sometimes served as mineralization conduits. Mineralization occurs as polymetallic veins, replacement zones (mantos, chimneys), and shear zones with high-grade metal content, as shown in highlight grades of 59.4 grams per metric tonne (g/t) gold, 833 g/t silver, 11% zinc, 5.5% lead, 2.2% copper, along with significant hematite and manganese oxides, consistent with a CRD model (see the technical report entitled ‘NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Union Project, State of Sonora, Mexico’ dated effective May 6, 2025 available under Questcorp’s SEDAR+ profile). These targets also demonstrate intriguing potential for large gold discoveries potentially above an even larger porphyry Cu district potential as the Company’s target concept at this time.

Questcorp cautions investors that grab samples are selective by nature and not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the property.

The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (BC), a director of the Company and a ‘qualified person’ under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp Mining Inc. is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper Property, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union Project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

Contact Information

Questcorp Mining Corp.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO

Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031

This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking statements’ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to Riverside’s arrangements with geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: the ability of Riverside to secure geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets as contemplated or at all, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the geophysical surveys will be completed as contemplated or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261433

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This post appeared first on investingnews.com

In Investing

Questcorp Mining and Riverside Resources Announce Commencement of Maiden Drilling Program at the La Union Gold & Silver Project in Mexico

August 6, 2025 No Comments

Highlights

Initial drill program is designed to expand known zones of mineralization, test new targets, and explore areas surrounding multiple historical mine workings within the 25 km² project area.
Drill program will consist of + 1,500m of diamond core drilling across six holes, each averaging 250m in depth.
Drilling to test the carbonate-hosted replacement deposit (CRD) style of mineralization, with gold associated with mantos, chimneys, and along structural zones.
Angled drill holes are aimed at cutting perpendicular to stratigraphic targets and some structural targets which is typical in CRD systems
Structural features may have served as mineralizing conduits and are key targets in the current drill program.

Union Main Mine Area – The program will use angled drill holes to test limestone and other carbonate stratigraphic hosts within the Clemente Formation, with the potential to reach the underlying Caborca Formation. These units are considered the primary hosts for replacement-style mineralization.
North Union Mine Area – The initial focus of the program will be on testing structural interpretations. Additional drilling is anticipated following this first phase, as results will help guide future drill testing of areas with past mining activity and various structural orientations.
Cobre Mine Area – The Clemente Formation is the primary host unit, and structural features combined with areas of past mining provide multiple target zones. Drilling will begin with an initial stratigraphic test hole to help orient around the thickness of the host unit and extend into the lower Caborca Formation, which is also a favorable host for CRD-style mineralization.
Central Union Area – Structural targets, as possible mineralization feeder zones, are a key focus in this past mining manto area. There are extensive additional target zones in the area, and this initial orientation drilling will provide vectoring for the next stage of drilling and further study of the Clemente Formation, and possibly into the Caborca Formation as currently interpreted.

General Overview of La Union Project

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/261433_a2ed3d4fb471dade_001.jpg

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/261433_a2ed3d4fb471dade_001full.jpg

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/261433_a2ed3d4fb471dade_002.jpg

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10197/261433_a2ed3d4fb471dade_002full.jpg

The La Union Project

Questcorp cautions investors that grab samples are selective by nature and not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the property.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Contact Information

Questcorp Mining Corp.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO

Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261433

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

In Economy

War on Words: The ‘Free Speech Recession’ Is Not Over

August 6, 2025 No Comments

I recently had the pleasure of reading War On Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech — And Why They Fail, a new book about the dangers of censorship by two eminent defenders of free speech: Greg Lukianoff (CEO of FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) and Nadine Strossen (former president of the American Civil Liberties Union and a senior fellow at FIRE).

The book is marketed towards Americans across the political spectrum, but most of its arguments seem designed to appeal particularly to leftists. Lukianoff, and especially Strossen, document at length how threats of government censorship have been wielded against modern left-wing causes like Black Lives Matter. Both authors point out how civil rights activists in the 1950s and 1960s relied on freedom of speech to make their case — former Congressman John Lewis said, “Without freedom of speech and the right to dissent, the Civil Rights movement would have been a bird without wings.” Both authors point out that free speech has long been the bulwark of the disempowered, by protecting them from censorship and silencing attempts by the powerful whom they were challenging.

In today’s political climate, this is a strategically wise decision. Most of the philosophic arguments against free speech come from the left, from Critical Theorists like Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic (authors of Must We Defend Nazis?: Why the First Amendment Should Not Protect Hate Speech and White Supremacy) and professor Mary Anne Franks (author of Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from The First Amendment). In 2017, a survey by Cato and YouGov found that Democrats were more likely than Republicans to believe that a business executive should be fired for a host of so-called politically incorrect beliefs, including the belief that “psychological differences explain why there are more male engineers” (which a third of Democrats considered to be a fire-worthy offense).

FIRE’s 2025 College Free Speech Rankings report, which surveyed 58,807 students from 257 colleges and universities, found that political ideology correlates strongly with intolerance for supposedly “offensive” speech. That is, the more left-leaning a student is, the more likely they are to support illiberal and even violent measures to shut down speakers with whom they disagree. Eighty-four percent of very liberal students said that “shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus” is at least “rarely” acceptable, and 38 percent of very liberal students said that “using violence to stop a campus speech” was at least “rarely” acceptable. While the Trump administration is shaping up to be no friend of free speech, most of the grassroots support for censorship is coming from the left, and so these are the hearts and minds that Lukianoff and Strossen are wisely focused on trying to persuade.

The book makes dozens of arguments against censorship, but perhaps the most common thread of these arguments is a criticism of what Lukianoff calls “naive statism.” As Lukianoff describes it, naive statism “involves a kind of magical thinking by which the passage of a speech restriction eliminates a problem, without realizing that any law has to be passed and enforced by actual people.” Time after time, Lukianoff and Strossen stress this key point: categories of speech that people might wish to censor (for example, “hate speech”) are vague and nebulous, and lead to lots of edge cases that have to be decided by imperfect human beings.

Such human beings are neither omniscient nor omnibenevolent; they can and do make mistakes. As Christopher Hitchens once put it:

Did you hear any speaker in opposition to this motion, eloquent as one of them was, to whom you would delegate the task of deciding for you what you could read? Do you know anyone? Hands up. Do you know anyone to whom you would give this job? Does anyone have a nominee? You mean there’s no one in Canada good enough to decide what I can read or hear? I had no idea.

And then there’s the potential for abuse of power. It turns out that when we give people the power to censor, they rarely use it in the way that we would like. Throughout history, censors have abused their power to punish dissent. In the Antebellum South, slave-owning politicians censored abolitionist literature under the guise that it could be “incendiary.” In the Middle Ages, the Papacy was obsessed with using its power to crack down on so-called “heretical” texts and pamphlets that described God in a way different from that approved by the Church. Stalin’s Soviet Union lobbied for international hate speech laws that helped legitimize its brutal repression of dissent and protest.

Censorship is a tool that the powerful use to keep the little guy down. And in a republic in which power regularly changes hands, any new censoring tools that we give to our political allies will invariably be wielded by our political opponents. As Lukianoff writes: “A good intellectual exercise before passing a new law is to consider how your worst enemy would use that law — and thinking about that is even more important when imagining restrictions on free speech.”

My favorite argument in the book is one that I’ve rarely heard before. Censorship laws often backfire, creating more of the views that they aim to punish. There are a few reasons for this, one being that censorship-related court cases actually generate a lot of visibility for the opinions of the censored. In 1985, for instance, Canada brought a case against a Holocaust denier, and journalists who wrote about the case had to explain the denier’s views and arguments in order to inform their readers. The attempt to tamp down on Holocaust denial by persecuting it actually led to its proliferation. This phenomenon is known as the Streisand Effect, and it recurs throughout history; whenever a point of view is censored by the powers that be, the censorship seems to generate more interest in (and visibility for) the censored point of view.

But Lukianoff and Strossen point to a deeper truth: this backfiring effect is most powerful when it comes to people with the kinds of truly odious views that many of us least want in the public discourse. As counterterrorism expert Elizabeth Neumann documents in Kingdom of Rage, violent political extremism has its roots in: “shame, humiliation, a lack of belonging and significance, loss of control, uncertainty, and a sense of unaddressed injustice.” When we use the power of the law to demonize and shame people who hold a specific view, and to try to rob them of that most intimate control over what they say, we don’t make them reconsider their view. Instead, we simply feed the psychosocial roots of their extremism.

As Lukianoff and Strossen point out, this is how censorship has always worked. The Weimar Republic, for instance, heavily censored prominent Nazis. It shut down hundreds of Nazi newspapers and even banned Hitler himself from speaking in Germany. Far from diminishing the Nazis’ appeal, this censorship gave National Socialists new recruiting tools.

As one Nazi poster read:

Why is Adolf Hitler not allowed to speak? Because he is ruthless in uncovering the rulers of the German economy, the international bank Jews and their lackeys, the Democrats, Marxists, Jesuits, and Free Masons! Because he wants to free the workers from the domination of big money!

It turns out that if we want to combat conspiratorial views, employing powerful forces to silence the adherents of those views is actually quite counterproductive.

Free speech is in crisis throughout the world. As a 2025 report by the Future of Free Speech documents, “In the past decade, the number of countries experiencing increased repression of free speech has far outnumbered those demonstrating substantial improvements, and the share of countries with strong free speech protections has declined significantly.” Free speech is on the ropes, and experts warn that we are entering a “free speech recession.”

Free speech is in danger in the United States as well. The United States has long been a champion of free speech, but that may be changing. On several measures, the Future of Free Speech reports that we’ve become more censorious than we were a few years ago. In 2024, just 60 percent of Americans agreed that “People should be able to express statements that are offensive to minority groups” and about the same number agreed that “People should be able to express statements that insult the national flag.”

All of which is to say: Lukianoff and Strossen’s book couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. If we want to climb out of our “free speech recession” and rebuild a culture willing to defend free speech as a principle, we need to understand the arguments in favor of censorship and why they’re misguided.

In Investing

Stallion Uranium Announces Flow-Through and Non-Flow Through Private Placements for Gross Proceeds of up to $12M

August 6, 2025 No Comments

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Stallion Uranium Corp. (the ‘ Company ‘ or ‘ Stallion ‘) ( TSX-V: STUD; OTCQB: STLNF; FSE: FE0 ) is pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement (the ‘ Offering ‘) of up to a combined aggregate of 60,000,000 flow-through (‘ FT Units ‘) and non-flow through (‘ NFT Units ‘) units at a price of $0.20 per NFT Unit and FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $12,000,000. The Offering is expected to close in multiple tranches, the first of which is anticipated to close on or before August 15, 2025. The Company anticipates that, upon completion of the Offering, a new Control Person (as defined below), Mr. Matthew Mason (‘ Mr. Mason ‘), will be created though Mr. Mason’s anticipated purchase of 15,000,000 FT Units. Mr. Mason’s subscription is subject to obtaining requisite approval from the disinterested shareholders of the Company (as further described below) and the TSX Venture Exchange (the ‘ TSXV ‘).

Each FT Unit will consist of one flow-through common share of the Company as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (a ‘ FT Share ‘) and one FT Share purchase warrant (each a ‘ FT Warrant ‘). Each FT Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional FT Share in the capital of the Company (a ‘ FT Warrant Share ‘) at a price of $0.26 per FT Warrant Share for a period of 60 months from the closing of the Offering.

Each NFT Unit will consist of one non-flow-through common share in the capital of the Company (a ‘ NFT Share ‘) and one share purchase warrant (a ‘ NFT Warrant ‘). Each NFT Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional non-flow-through common share in the capital of the Company (a ‘ NFT Warrant Share ‘) at a price of $0.26 per NFT Warrant Share for a period of 60 months from the closing of the Offering.

Finder’s fees may be payable in connection with the completion of the Offering in accordance with TSXV policies. In connection with the Offering, the Company has entered into an Advisory Agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the ‘ Advisor ‘), pursuant to which the Advisor shall provide financial advisory, consulting, and support services in connection with the Offering (the ‘ Advisory Services ‘). In consideration for the Advisory Services, subject to the approval of the TSXV, the Company will pay the Advisor a work fee equal to $150,000 (the ‘ Fee ‘). The Fee shall be payable in units at the terms matching those of the NFT Units in the Offering. The Fee Units and the underlying securities issued to the Advisor will be subject to a four month and one day hold period in accordance with Canadian securities laws.

The gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the FT Units will be used by the Company to incur exploration expenditures on the Company’s resource claims in the province of Saskatchewan and will constitute ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada). The net proceeds raised from the issuance of the NFT Units will be used by the Company for exploration and development activities of its Athabasca Basin properties and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Closing of the Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the TSXV. Policy 4.1 of the TSXV Corporate Finance Manual requires disinterested shareholder approval where a transaction creates a shareholder that holds or controls 20% or more of an issuer’s shares (a ‘ Control Person ‘). The Company anticipates that Mr. Mason’s purchase of FT Units under the Offering will create a new Control Person pursuant to Policy 4.1. To fulfil the requirements of Policy 4.1, the Company intends to seek approval of disinterested shareholders holding or controlling more than 50% of its common shares of the Company to approve the creation of the new Control Person by written consent resolution. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

Insiders of the Company will participate in the Offering. Any such participation will be considered a ‘related party transaction’ as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘ MI 61-101 ‘). The Offering is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of any securities issued to such insiders nor the consideration that will be paid by such persons will exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Stallion Uranium Corp.:

Stallion Uranium is working to ‘Fuel the Future with Uranium’ through the exploration of roughly 1,700 sq/km in the Athabasca Basin, home to the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world. The company, with JV partner Atha Energy holds the largest contiguous project in the Western Athabasca Basin adjacent to multiple high-grade discovery zones.

Our leadership and advisory teams are comprised of uranium and precious metals exploration experts with the capital markets experience and the technical talent for acquiring and exploring early-stage properties. For more information visit stallionuranium.com .

On Behalf of the Board of Stallion Uranium Corp.:

Matthew Schwab
CEO and Director

Corporate Office:
700 – 838 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia,
V6C 0A6

T: 604-551-2360
info@stallionuranium.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as ‘will likely result’, ‘are expected to’, ‘expects’, ‘will continue’, ‘is anticipated’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘estimated’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘forecast’, ‘projection’, ‘strategy’, ‘objective’ and ‘outlook’) are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this material change report should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement .

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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5 Best-performing Canadian Uranium Stocks of 2025

August 6, 2025 No Comments

The uranium market stumbled into Q2 2025, after spot prices dipped to an 18 month low of US$63.50 per pound in March amid abundant secondary supply and cautious utility contracting.

By June, however, prices had rebounded into the US$70 range on renewed US policy support and heightened geopolitical tensions. While the spot market remains volatile, long-term prices have held steady at US$80 level.

Yet utility demand still lags. Just 25 million pounds were contracted by mid-year, putting 2025 on track to fall well short of the 160 million pounds booked in 2023.

“It’s a pressure cooker,” said Oceanwall’s Ben Finegold, pointing to a widening disconnect between term prices and utility participation. With global supply still covering only 80 to 90 percent of annual reactor needs and inventories thinning, market watchers warn a sharp contracting surge is inevitable.

Compounding the urgency are ambitious global buildout plans, including 69 reactors under construction and a US proposal to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050.

As the supply-demand gap grows, uranium investors are watching closely for a return of utility buying and a possible inflection point for the sector.

Amid this opaque landscape, several Canadian uranium companies registered significant gains so far in 2025. Below are the best-performing Canadian uranium stocks by share price performance. All data was obtained on July 30, 2025, using TradingView’s stock screener. Companies on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps above C$10 million at the time were considered.

Read on to learn about the top Canadian uranium stocks in 2025, including what factors have been moving their share prices.

1. Purepoint Uranium (TSXV:PTU)

Year-to-date gain: 109 percent
Market cap: C$31.69 million
Share price: C$0.46

Exploration company Purepoint Uranium has an extensive uranium portfolio including six joint ventures and five wholly owned projects, all located in Canada’s Athabasca Basin.

In a January statement, Purepoint announced it had strengthened its relationship with IsoEnergy (TSX:ISO) when the latter exercised its put option under the framework of a previously announced joint-venture agreement, transferring 10 percent of its stake to Purepoint in exchange for 4 million shares.

The now 50/50 joint venture will explore 10 uranium projects across 98,000 hectares in Saskatchewan’s Eastern Athabasca Basin, including the Dorado project.

Purepoint shares jumped from C$0.265 on July 7 to C$0.465 on July 9 after the release of initial drill results from Dorado. According to the July 8 statement, drilling at the Q48 target “confirm(ed) the zone as a significant uranium-bearing structure.”

Continuing to trend higher, shares reached a year-to-date high of C$0.52 on July 23. The move coincided with an additional drill result release from the discovery, now dubbed the Nova Discovery target area.

“PG25-07A has successfully extended the Nova Discovery zone by 70 metres and delivered our strongest intercept to date, both in intensity and thickness based on radioactivity,’ Purepoint President and CEO Chris Frostad said.

2. District Metals (TSXV:DMX)

Year-to-date gains: 104.9 percent
Market cap: C$139.38 million
Share price: C$0.83

District Metals is an energy metals and polymetallic exploration and development company with a portfolio of seven assets in Sweden, including four uranium projects: Viken, Ardnasvarre, Sågtjärn and Nianfors. Currently, District is focused on its Viken uranium-vanadium project, which the company says hosts the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposit.

The company’s share price began trending upwards in mid-May following news of a fully subscribed C$6 million private placement.

Some noteworthy announcements since then include the completion of a helicopter-borne mobile magnetotellurics survey at the Viken property in late June, with results expected later in Q3.

Also in June, the company commended Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and Enterprise for submitting a proposal to lift the country’s longstanding ban on uranium mining. The referral recommends allowing uranium extraction under the Minerals Act and permitting exploration and processing applications under set conditions.

Shares of District Metals rose to a year-to-date high of C$1.01 on July 24, two days after the announcement of a high-resolution drone-based radiometric and magnetic survey across its Ardnasvarre, Sågtjärn and Nianfors projects, which are largely covered by thin glacial overburden and have never been subject to detailed geophysical surveying.

According to the company, the drone will fly low and with tight line spacing, allowing detection of subtle anomalies that traditional surveys may have missed.

3. Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR)

Year-to-date gain: 70.21 percent
Market cap: C$2.83 billion
Share price: C$12.80

US-based uranium producer Energy Fuels has a large portfolio of conventional and in-situ recovery (ISR) projects across the Western United States, including Pinyon Plain in Arizona, a top national producer.

Additionally, Energy Fuels owns and operates the White Mesa mill, the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium mill in the US. The company is progressing heavy rare earth oxide processing at the plant as well.

In line with US efforts to bolster domestic uranium output, Energy Fuels has been ramping up Pinyon Plain. In May, a record of approximately 260,000 pounds of U3O8 was mined at the site, up 71 percent over the prior month.

A subsequent press release tallied Q2 2025 output from Pinyon Plain at 638,700 pounds of uranium, which it said exceeded estimates due to the high uranium grades, which averaged 2.23 percent in Q2 and 3.51 percent in June.

Company shares reached a year-to-date high of C$13.80 on July 27. The stock bump followed the successful commencement of pilot scale heavy rare earth production at its White Mesa mill on July 17.

4. Stallion Uranium (TSXV:STUD)

Year-to-date gain: 56.67 percent
Market cap: C$10.72 million
Share price: C$0.23

Uranium junior Stallion Uranium holds a 2,870 square kilometer land package on the western side of Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin, including a joint venture with Atha Energy (TSXV:SASK,OTCQB:SASKF) for the largest contiguous project in the region. The company’s primary focus is the Coyote target at the project.

Stallion’s share price shot upwards on July 8 after it announced a technology data acquisition agreement for Matchstick TI, an intelligent geological target identification platform with 77 percent accuracy. Stallion plans to use the technology to enhance its exploration efforts.

On July 14, the company reported the results of a 3D inversion of ground gravity data over the Coyote target, part of its joint venture with Atha Energy.

‘The inversion modelling at Coyote has delineated a laterally extensive and coherent gravity low, spatially coincident with a structurally complex corridor exhibiting attributes characteristic of fertile uranium-bearing systems within the Athabasca Basin,” Stallion Uranium CEO Matthew Schwab said.

Three days later, the company announced it settled its outstanding debt with Atha Energy, issuing 802,809 common shares at a deemed price of C$0.135 per share.

Stallion’s shares registered a year-to-date high of C$0.25 on July 18.

Stallion released results from an electromagnetic survey on July 21 that further refined the Coyote target area.

5. Cameco (TSX:CCO)

Year-to-date gain: 45.96 percent
Market cap: C$47.21 billion
Share price: C$108.10

Sector major Cameco is a leading global uranium producer headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The company supplies uranium fuel for nuclear energy generation and holds significant assets across the nuclear fuel cycle, including 49 percent interests in Westinghouse Electric Company (NYSE:BBU) and Global Laser Enrichment.

In the Athabasca Basin, Cameco’s portfolio includes a majority interest in the Cigar Lake mine, the world’s top-producing uranium mine. The company also fully owns the McArthur River mine, another major high-grade deposit in the same region. Additionally, Cameco operates the Key Lake mill, which processes ore from both Cigar Lake and McArthur River.

Globally, Cameco owns the Crow Butte ISR operation in Nebraska and the Smith Ranch-Highland ISR operation in Wyoming. Both are currently in care and maintenance. In Kazakhstan, Cameco holds a 40 percent interest in the Inkai joint venture, a producing ISR uranium operation developed in partnership with state-owned Kazatomprom.

On June 6, Cameco announced an expected US$170 million increase in its 49 percent equity share of Westinghouse Electric Company’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) for Q2 and full year 2025. The projected gain is linked to Westinghouse’s involvement in building two nuclear reactors at the Dukovany power plant in the Czech Republic.

In its Q2 2025 results, released July 31, the company reported net earnings of C$321 million, adjusted net earnings of C$308 million and adjusted EBITDA of C$673 million — all significantly higher year-over-year in part because of the aforementioned share of Westinghouse’s EBITDA.

In its uranium segment, Cameco’s production totaled 4.6 million pounds, down from 7.1 million pounds in Q2 2024, due to planned maintenance at the Key Lake mill. However, its adjusted EBITDA for the segment increased by 43 percent year-over-year to C$352 million.

Cameco’s share price reached a year-to-date high of C$109.10 on July 25.

FAQs for investing in uranium

What is uranium used for?

Uranium is primarily used for the production of nuclear energy, a form of clean energy created in nuclear power plants. In fact, 99 percent of uranium is used for this purpose. As of 2022, there were 439 active nuclear reactors, as per the International Atomic Energy Agency. Last year, 8 percent of US power came from nuclear energy.

The commodity is also used in the defense industry as a component of nuclear weaponry, among other uses. However, there are safeguards in effect to keep this to a minimum. To create weapons-grade uranium, the material has to be enriched significantly — above 90 percent — to the point that to achieve just 5.6 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium, it would require 1 metric ton of uranium pre-enrichment.

Because of this necessity, uranium enrichment facilities are closely monitored under international agreements. Uranium used for nuclear power production only needs to be enriched to 5 percent; nuclear enrichment facilities need special licenses to enrich above that point for uses such as research at 20 percent enrichment.

The metal is also used in the medical field for applications such as transmission electron microscopy. Before uranium was discovered to be radioactive, it was used to impart a yellow color to ceramic glazes and glass.

Where is uranium found?

The country with the greatest uranium reserves by far is Australia — the island nation holds 28 percent of the world’s uranium reserves. Rounding out the top three are Kazakhstan with 15 percent and Canada with 9 percent.

Although Australia has the highest reserves, it holds uranium as a low priority and is only fourth overall for production. All its uranium output is exported, with none used for domestic nuclear energy production.

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of the metal, with production of 21,227 metric tons in 2022. The country’s national uranium company, Kazatomprom, is the world’s largest producer.

Canada’s uranium reserves are found primarily in its Athabasca Basin, and the region is a top producer of the metal as well.

Why should I buy uranium stocks?

Investors should always do their own due diligence when looking at any commodity so that they can decide whether it fits into their investment plans. With that being said, many experts are convinced that uranium has entered into a significant bull market, meaning that uranium stocks could be a good buy.

A slew of factors have led to this bull market. While the uranium industry spent the last decade or so in a downturn following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, discourse has been building around the metal’s use as a source of clean energy, which is important for countries looking to reach climate goals. Nations are now prioritizing a mix of clean energies such as solar and wind energy alongside nuclear. Significantly, in August 2022, Japan announced it is looking into restarting its idled nuclear power plants and commissioning new ones.

Uranium prices are very important to uranium miners, as in recent years levels have not been high enough for production to be economic. However, in 2024, prices spiked from the US$58 in August 2023 to a high of US$106 per pound U3O8 in February 2024. They have since consolidated at around US$70, meaning this could be a buying point for those looking to get into the sector.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Bitcoin: A Price History of the First Cryptocurrency

August 6, 2025 No Comments

Bitcoin, the most well-known cryptocurrency, paved the way for the cryptocurrency asset class.

Now the cryptocurrency of choice, its meteoric rise has been unlike any other commodity, resource or asset. Bitcoin’s price rose more than 1,200 percent from March 2020 to reach US$69,044 on November 10, 2021.

The coin showcased its famous volatility in the following year, falling as low as US$15,787 by November 2022 amid economic uncertainty and a wave of negative media coverage.

Bitcoin started 2024 just below US$45,000 and made substantial gains in remainder of the year. Following Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, Bitcoin soared to US$103,697 on December 4, 2024.

The first quarter of 2025 saw the price of Bitcoin decline by more than 25 percent to a low for the year of US$75,004 in early April. Since then, rising institutional demand and an emerging industry-friendly US regulatory environment have poured rocket fuel into the digital assets value.

Bitcoin reached its new all-time high price of US$123,153.22 before pulling back to close at US$119,839.70 on July 14, 2025.

For frequent updates on the biggest news of the crypto sector, check out our Crypto Market Recap, with updates multiple times per week.

Where did Bitcoin start, and what has spurred its price movements since its launch? Read on to find out.

What is Bitcoin and who invented it?

Created as a response to the 2008 financial crisis, the concept of Bitcoin was first introduced in a nine-page white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” on October 31, 2008, on a platform called Metzdowd.

The manifesto was penned by a notoriously elusive person (or persons) who used the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The author(s) laid out a compelling argument and groundwork for a new type of cyber-currency that would revolutionize the monetary system.

Cryptographically secured, Bitcoin was designed to be transparent and resistant to censorship, using the power of blockchain technology to create an immutable ledger preventing double-spending. The true allure for Bitcoin’s early adopters was in its potential to wrestle power away from banks and financial institutes and give it to the masses.

This was especially enticing as the fallout from the 2008 financial collapse ricocheted internationally. Described as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, US$7.4 billion in value was erased from the US stock market in 11 months, while the global economy shrank by an estimated US$2 trillion.

On January 3, 2009, the Genesis Block was established, marking the beginning of Bitcoin’s blockchain, onto which all additional blocks have been added. The Genesis Block contained the first 50 Bitcoins ever created and a simple message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on the brink of second bailout for banks.”

Many believe the message hints at Bitcoin’s mission, as it references an article in The London Times that criticized the British government’s inadequate response to the financial crisis of 2007 to 2008, particularly the government’s inability to provide effective relief and support to the struggling economy.

What was Bitcoin’s starting price?

When Bitcoin started trading in 2009, its starting price was a minuscule US$0.0009.

On January 12, 2009, Nakamoto made the first Bitcoin transaction when they sent 10 Bitcoins to Hal Finney, a computer scientist and early Bitcoin enthusiast, marking a crucial milestone in the cryptocurrency’s development and adoption.

News of the cryptocurrency continued to spread around the Internet, but its value did not rise above US$0 until October 12, 2009, when a Finnish software developer sent 5,050 Bitcoins to New Liberty Standard for US$5.02 via PayPal Holdings (NASDAQ:PYPL), thereby establishing both the value of Bitcoin and New Liberty Standard as a Bitcoin exchange.

The first time Bitcoin was used to make a purchase was on May 22, 2010, when a programmer in Florida named Laszlo Hanyecz offered anyone who would bring him a pizza 10,000 Bitcoin in exchange. Someone accepted the offer and ordered Hanyecz two Papa John’s pizzas for US$25. The 10,000 Bitcoin pizza order essentially set Bitcoin’s price in 2010 at around US$0.0025.

Bitcoin’s price finally broke through the US$1 mark in 2011, and moved as high as US$29.60 that year. However, in 2012 Bitcoin pulled back and remained relatively muted.

Bitcoin’s price saw its first significant growth in earnest in 2013, the year it broke through both US$100 and US$1,000. It climbed all the way to US$1,242 in December 2013.

From that peak, Bitcoin’s price began to fall, and it spent most of 2015 in the US$200 range, but it turned around in December 2015 and began to climb again, ending the year at around US$430.

Bitcoin price chart from August 2011 to December 31, 2015.

Chart via TradingEconomics.com.

When did the Bitcoin price start to grow?

January 1, 2016, marked the beginning of Bitcoin’s sustained price rise. It started the year at US$433 and ended it at US$989 — a 128 percent value increase in 12 months.

That year, several contributing factors led to Bitcoin’s rise in mainstream popularity. The stock market experienced one of its worst first weeks ever in 2016, and investors began turning to Bitcoin as a “safe-haven” stock amidst economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

2016 also saw the Brexit referendum in the UK in June and the election of Donald Trump to the White House in November, both events that coincided with a bump in Bitcoin’s price.

Bitcoin continued its ascent, while various industries continued to take an interest in blockchain technology, particularly technology and finance. In February, a group of investors that included IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) invested US$60 million in a New York firm developing blockchain technology for financial services, Dig Asset Holdings. Bitcoin was trading at US$368.12 on February 2, down a bit from January, but two months later it was US$418.

In May the price of Bitcoin experienced a significant price increase, rising by 21 percent to US$539 at the end of the month. Its price went higher into June, peaking at US$764 on June 18. After that, it fell sharply and spent the summer in the high US$600 range. It dropped to US$517 on August 1 and started its climb all over again.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Bank of America Merrill Lynch partnered for a finance transacting endeavor in September. Not much price movement was observed, but Bitcoin remained on a steady upward trajectory after that. In October, Ripple partnered with 12 banks in a trial that used its native digital currency token XRP to facilitate cross-border payments. Institutional investment bolstered investor confidence, and Bitcoin went from US$629 to US$736 between October 20 and November 20.

Bitcoin’s popularity continued into 2017, and it rose from US$1,035.24 in January to US$18,940.57 in December. Futures contracts began trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in December 2017, and Bitcoin began to be more widely perceived as a legitimate investment rather than a passing fad. FOMO flooded the market. What ensued was a frenzy of media coverage featuring celebrity endorsements and initial coin offerings (ICOs) that spilled into 2018.

Regulators began to take notice and issued warnings and guidelines meant to protect investors and mitigate risks associated with digital assets, which only seemed to make people want them more.

Through it all, Bitcoin remained the “gold standard” of cryptocurrencies, yet its price was subject to extreme volatility. At the beginning of 2019, it was around US$3,800, it reached nearly US$13,000 in June, but by December 2019 Bitcoin was trading at around US$7,2000.

Bitcoin price chart from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019.

Chart via TradingEconomics.com.

What factors led to Bitcoin’s rise in the early 2020s?

2020 proved a testing ground for the digital coin’s ability to weather financial upheaval. Starting the year at US$6,950.56, a widespread selloff in March triggered by the pandemic brought its value to US$4,841.67 — a 30 percent decline.

The low created a buying opportunity that helped Bitcoin regain its losses by May. The rally continued throughout 2020, and the digital asset ended the year at US$29,402.64, a 323 percent year-over-year increase and a 507 percent rise from its March drop.

By comparison, gold, one of the best-performing commodities of 2020, added 38 percent to its value from the low in March through December, setting what was then an all-time high of US$2,060 per ounce in August.

Bitcoin’s ascent continued in 2021, rallying to an all-time high of US$68,649.05 in November, a 98.82 percent increase from January. Much of the growth in 2021 was attributed to risk-on investor appetite.

Increased money printing in response to the pandemic also benefited Bitcoin, as investors with more capital looked to diversify their portfolios. The success of the world’s first cryptocurrency amid the market ups and downs of 2020 and 2021 led to more interest and investment in other coins and digital assets as well. For example, 2021 saw the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique crypto assets that are stored, sold and traded digitally using blockchain technology.

Almost immediately following its record close above US$69,000 in November 2021, Bitcoin’s value began to fall once again. Market uncertainty weighed especially heavily on Bitcoin in 2022. During the second quarter of that year, values dived below US$20,000 for the first time since December 2020.

On May 7, 2022, Curve Whale Watching posted the first sign that confidence in Terra Luna, a cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar, was waning after 85 million of its stablecoin UST exchanged for less than the 1:1 ratio it was supposed to maintain. This triggered a massive sell-off that brought Luna’s value down 99.7 percent and eventually resulted in the Terra tokens ceasing to be traded on major crypto exchanges.

Terra’s collapse had a domino effect on the industry as investors’ faith in crypto crumbled. In July, the Celsius network, a platform where users could deposit crypto into digital wallets to accrue interest, halted all transfers due to “extreme market conditions”, driving down the price of Bitcoin even further to US$19,047, a 60 percent decline from January 2022. In July, Celsius filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

However, the biggest shake-up to the industry came in November when CoinDesk published findings that cryptocurrency trading firm Alameda Research led by Sam Bankman-Fried had borrowed billions of dollars of customer funds from crypto exchange and sister company FTX. Over a third of Alameda’s assets were tied up in FTT, the native cryptocurrency of FTX.

Once this news broke, investors withdrew their funds en masse, causing a liquidity crunch that collapsed FTX. Bankman-Fried was later arrested and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on counts of money laundering, wire fraud and securities fraud.

Although Bitcoin was never implicated, the fallout of the FTX scandal led to a crisis of confidence across the sector and increased scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement. By the end of 2022, prices for Bitcoin had moved even lower to settle below US$17,000.

Bitcoin price chart from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022.

Chart via TradingEconomics.com.

Bitcoin’s powerful performance cannot be understated as evidenced by its price performance in the later half of 2023 and so far in 2024.

Concerns with the banking system led the price of Bitcoin to rally in March 2023 to US$28,211 by March 21 after the failure of multiple US banks alarmed investors.

In Q2 2023, Bitcoin continued its ascent, stabilizing above US$25,000 even as the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) filed lawsuits against Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN), along with Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao.

Although it looked like bad news for the sector, Bitcoin stayed steady, holding above US$25,000. This was supported by BlackRock (NYSE:BLK), the world’s largest asset manager, filing for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund with the SEC on June 15.

Bitcoin’s price jumped above US$30,000 on June 21, 2023, and on July 3, 2023, the crypto hit its highest price since May 2022 at US$31,500. It held above US$30,000 for nearly a month before dropping just below on July 16, 2023. By September 11, 2023, prices had slid further to US$25,150.

Heading into the final months of the year, the Bitcoin price benefited from increased institutional investment on the prospect of the SEC approving a bevy of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds by early 2024. In mid-November the price for the popular cryptocurrency was trading up at US$37,885, and by the end of the year that figure had risen further to US$42,228 per BTC.

2024 Bitcoin price performance

Bitcoin price chart from January 1, 2024, to November 6, 2024.

Bitcoin price chart from January 1, 2024, to November 6, 2024.

Chart via TradingEconomics.com.

Once the SEC’s approval of 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs hit the wires, the price per coin jumped again to US$46,620 on January 10, 2024. These investment vehicles were a major driving force behind the more than 42 percent rise in value for Bitcoin in February; it reached US$61,113 on the last day of the month.

On March 4, Bitcoin surged almost 8 percent in 24 hours to trade at US$67,758, less than 2 percent away from its previous record, and on March 11 it hit a new milestone, surpassing the US$72,000 mark. Three days later, on March 14, Bitcoin reached its highest-ever recorded price of US$73,737.94, surpassing the market cap of silver.

Bitcoin often surges leading up to the halving events, which is when Bitcoin rewards are halved for miners. The most recent came in April when the reward for completing a block was cut from 6.25 to 3.125 Bitcoin.

Several sources cited the 2024 halving as one of the forces that drove the price of Bitcoin to its newest high.

The halving occurred at around 8:10 p.m. EDT on a Friday, and Bitcoin’s price remained stable within the US$63,000 to US$65,000 range over the ensuing weekend. On April 22, the Monday following the halving, it was slightly above US$66,000.

While Bitcoin’s price stayed relatively stable, the cryptocurrency’s trading volume experienced significant fluctuations through that weekend, with a 45 percent increase from April 19 to April 20 followed by a 68 percent decline on April 21. Between April 30 and May 3, it fell as low as US$56,903 following the Federal Reserve’s April policy meeting, which did not produce a rate cut.

Reports that the SEC was moving to approve spot Ether ETFs in May sent the price of Bitcoin climbing again alongside that of Ether, the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, which serves as the foundation for these ETFs. Bitcoin passed US$71,000 for the second time ever at 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 20, days before the SEC approved spot Ether ETFs on May 23.

Bitcoin hovered between US$67,000 and US$69,000 for the remainder of the month and into the middle of June. It fell back below US$67,000 on June 13 and moved lower the next day when the Federal Reserve opted to delay lowering interest rates once again.

Losses picked up speed through late June and continued in July, with analysts pointing to uncertainty over post-election regulations, Germany’s sell-off of seized Bitcoin assets and concerns about the impact of the defunct trading platform Mt. Gox on the token market. Bitcoin dropped to a two-month low of US$55,880 on July 8, but quickly recovered most of its losses after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony on July 9 that signaled rate cuts may not be far off.

As crypto gains wider acceptance and accessibility, with more traditional financial institutions and products incorporating digital assets, the type of risk that Bitcoin represents has evolved. Bitcoin was primarily seen as a highly speculative alternative investment. Now, with expanding institutional interest, it is increasingly seen as a ”risk-on” asset – meaning its price movements are influenced by market sentiment, investor confidence and broader economic conditions.

A rise in Bitcoin’s price ensued after the July 13 assassination attempt of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been actively endorsing the crypto industry for support. Bitcoin rose from US$57,899 to US$66,690 in the week following the incident as the odds of a Trump victory were seen to improve, highlighting the impact of regulatory uncertainty on the market. However, Bitcoin’s price didn’t experience any significant pullbacks in the week after current US President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 and current Vice President Kamala Harris took over as the new nominee.

Other significant developments affecting Bitcoin during the summer included the underwhelming performance of spot Ether ETFs, fears of a US government Bitcoin sell-off, Trump’s proposed national Bitcoin stockpile and Trump’s declining chances of winning the election as support for Harris snowballs.

Bitcoin experienced a tumultuous August, with its price plummeting alongside other digital assets and the stock market on August 5th. Several factors triggered this sell-off, including weaker-than-expected economic data on August 2 and an unexpected interest rate hike in Japan. These events sparked panic in Asian markets, leading investors to liquidate high-risk assets like Bitcoin.

Despite a brief recovery, Bitcoin continued to fluctuate throughout August, dropping to US$58,430 on the weekend of August 10 and 11, and experiencing further price swings between US$60,700 and US$56,700. While positive inflation data boosted the stock market, Bitcoin struggled to break past a US$60,000 ceiling.

A brief rally on August 23rd, prompted by the Federal Reserve’s signal to begin lowering interest rates, was quickly followed by another price drop. This pattern of rallies and subsequent declines persisted for the remainder of August and most of September. Bitcoin ended the month at just above US$64,540.

During the lead up to the 2024 US presidential election had a notable affect on Bitcoin’s price movements, with the Republican party generally seen as more ‘crypto-friendly’ than the Democrats. On October 28, PolyMarket, bettors favored Trump with a 66.1 percent probability of winning compared to Harris’ 33.8 percent. This translated into a 7 percent gain in a little over 24 hours on October 29 to flirt with the previous all-time high, coming in at US$73,295.

A few days later on November 3, Trump’s lead would seemingly narrow with the gap closing to 55 percent for Trump and 44.3 percent for Harris. The Bitcoin price responded by dropping to US$67,874 on November 4.

Bitcoin set a then high price on November 6, 2024, when it reached US$76,243 per BTC at 4:00 p.m. EST. This price came after the 45th US President Donald Trump made a stunning political comeback to become the 47th US President. His retaking of the presidency was heralded as hugely positive for the cryptocurrency market.

“We have a #Bitcoin President,” Michael Saylor, founder of Bitcoin development company Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), posted on X.

Bitcoin crossed the US$100,000 threshold for the first time on December 4, rising as high as US$103,697.

What was the highest price for Bitcoin?

Bitcoin set a new all-time high price on July 14, 2025, when it reached US$123,153.22 per BTC at 07:38 a.m. GMT. Reuters reported that the Bitcoin price has rallied more than 60 percent since the US election in early November.

This latest record high price came as US lawmakers announced key ‘Crypto Week’ bills, and President Trump signaled support for the GENIUS Act, which is expected to create a clear framework for banks and enterprises to issue digital currencies.

The crypto market has found a friend in the Trump administration thus far. Since it began, US regulators have been more inclined to make policy changes that loosen regulations for crypto investing.

What is Bitcoin at today?

As of August 4, 2025, Bitcoin is trading around the US$115,000 level after spending the prior few weeks holding above US$110,000.

Earlier in 2025, Bitcoin demonstrated its volatile nature when the price of the cryptocurrency fell to as low as US$75,000 per coin by April 9. This represented a key buying opportunity as crypto buffs were anticipating further strength in the market under Trump.

Soon after, the price of Bitcoin was once again on a steady upward path and breached the US$100,000 level on May 8.

FAQs for investing in Bitcoin

What is a blockchain?

A blockchain is a digitized and decentralized public ledger of all cryptocurrency transactions.

Blockchains are constantly growing as completed blocks are recorded and added in chronological order. The mechanism by which digital currencies are mined, blockchain has become a popular investment space as the technology is increasingly being implemented in business processes across a variety of industries. These include banking, cybersecurity, networking, supply chain management, the Internet of Things, online music, healthcare and insurance.

Is Peter Todd Satoshi Nakamoto?

Canadian software developer Peter Todd has denied he is Satoshi Nakamoto, a claim made by the documentary ‘Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,’ which aired on October 8, based on circumstantial evidence such as posts on an early Bitcoin forum and correspondence between Todd and Hal Finney, who received the first Bitcoin from Satoshi.

Aired on HBO, the film by Cullen Hoback features interviews with people involved in Bitcoin’s creation and suggests that Todd could be the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto who wrote the 2008 white paper that led to Bitcoin’s launch. Reddit posts dating back to 2015 have also suggested that Todd could be Satoshi.

Todd has continuously denied the claim, most recently to multiple media outlets, including CoinDesk and Bloomberg.

How to buy Bitcoin?

Bitcoin can be purchased through a variety of crypto exchange platforms and peer-to-peer crypto trading apps, and then held in a digital wallet. These include Coinbase Global, CoinSmart Financial Inc (OTC Pink:CONMF, NEO:SMRT), BlockFi, Binance and Gemini.

What is the Bitcoin halving?

Unlike traditional currencies that can increase circulation through printing, the number of Bitcoins is finite. This limit is a core function of Bitcoin’s algorithm and was designed to offset inflation by maintaining scarcity. There are 21 million in existence, of which 19,787,175 are in circulation as of August 8. This means there are 1,212,825 still unmined.

A new Bitcoin is created when a Bitcoin miner uses highly specialized software to complete a block of transaction verifications on the Bitcoin blockchain. Roughly 900 Bitcoins are currently mined per day; however, after 210,000 blocks are completed, a Bitcoin protocol called a halving automatically reduces the number of new coins issued by half. Halving not only counteracts inflation but also supports the cryptocurrency’s value by ensuring that its price will increase if demand remains the same.

Halvings have occurred every four years since 2012, with the most recent happening on April 19, 2024. The next halving is expected to occur in 2028.

Bitcoin’s halving has significant implications for the cryptocurrency’s mining activity and supply because of how Bitcoin mining works. Currently, miners are paid 3.125 Bitcoin for every block they complete. After the next halving, the pay rate will lower to 1.5625 Bitcoin for every completed block for the next four years.

What is Coinbase?

Coinbase Global is a secure online cryptocurrency exchange that makes it easy for investors to buy, sell, transfer and store cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

How does crypto affect the banking industry?

Cryptocurrencies are an alternative to traditional banking, and tend to attract people interested in assets that are outside mainstream systems. According to data from Statista, 53 percent of crypto owners are between the ages of 18 and 34, showing that the industry is drawing younger generations who may be interested in decentralized digital options.

Privacy is a key draw for cryptocurrency owners, as is the fact that they are separated from third parties such as central banks. Additionally, crypto transactions, including purchases, sales and transfers, are often quick and have fewer associated fees than transactions going through the banking system in the typical manner.

That said, banks are starting to notice how popular cryptocurrencies are. As Bitcoin and its compatriots become increasingly mainstream, many banks have begun to invest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain companies themselves.

Is Bitcoin a good investment anymore?

While Bitcoin has reached new heights in 2025, one of its well-known features is its volatility. Investors who are more accepting of risk could look to the cryptocurrency space as there historically has been money to be made, and Bitcoin is regaining value after plummeting in 2022. However, there is also historically money to be lost, and investors who prefer to take smaller risks should look towards other avenues.

For more information on investing in Bitcoin right now, check out our article Is Now a Good Time to Buy Bitcoin?

Who has the most invested in Bitcoin?

Satoshi Nakomoto, the mysterious founder of Bitcoin, is believed to also be the biggest holder of the coin. Analysis into early Bitcoin wallets has revealed that Nakamoto likely owns over 1 million of the nearly 19.5 million Bitcoins in existence.

Does Elon Musk own Bitcoin?

Tesla and Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s association with both Bitcoin and the meme coin Dogecoin is well known, and both his tweets and Tesla’s actions have influenced the cryptocurrencies’ trajectories over the years.

While it is unknown just how much he owns, Musk has disclosed that he personally has holdings of Bitcoin and Dogecoin, as well as Ether. It was revealed in September 2023 that Musk may be funding Dogecoin on the quiet, according to Forbes.

As for Tesla, the company purchased US$1.5 billion of Bitcoin in 2021, but sold 75 percent of that the next year. As of July 2025, the EV maker’s Bitcoin holdings were estimated at 11,509 Bitcoin, the eigth-largest bitcoin holdings for a publicly traded company. In a January 2024 post on his social media platform X, Musk said “I still own a bunch of Dogecoin, and SpaceX owns a bunch of Bitcoin.’

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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In Investing

Gold Project Acquisition, Placement and MD appointment

August 6, 2025 No Comments

Corazon Mining (CZN:AU) has announced Gold Project Acquisition, Placement and MD appointment

Download the PDF here.

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In Latest News

Marjorie Taylor Greene urges Trump to commute George Santos’ federal prison sentence: ‘Far worse offenses’

August 6, 2025 No Comments

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is urging that President Donald Trump commute former Rep. George Santos’ seven-year sentence, calling the punishment ‘a grave injustice’ and an ‘abusive overreach by the judicial system.’

The former New York congressman was sentenced to 87 months, or just over seven years, after pleading guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos reported to prison on July 25 to begin serving his sentence.

Santos was assessed the maximum sentence in April by U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert. He was also ordered to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and forfeit more than $205,000 in fraud proceeds.

Santos’ guilty plea followed an investigation into campaign finance fraud, donor identity theft and false COVID-era unemployment claims.

On Monday, Greene said in a post on X that she sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging Trump to commute Santos’ sentence.

‘A 7-year prison sentence for campaign-related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse still walk free,’ she wrote in the post. ‘George Santos has taken responsibility. He’s shown remorse. It’s time to correct this injustice. We must demand equal justice under the law!’

Greene addressed her letter to the Honorable Edward R. Martin Jr., pardon attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and she acknowledged the gravity of the actions by her former colleague.

‘As a Member of Congress, I worked with Mr. Santos on many issues and can attest to his willingness and dedication to serve the people of New York who elected him to office,’ she wrote. ‘He is sincerely remorseful and has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, my office has spoken with a pastor of his who discussed the regret and remorse of Mr. Santos, agreeing that the sentence imposed is a grave injustice.

‘While his crimes warrant punishment, many of my colleagues who I serve with have committed far worse offenses than Mr. Santos yet have faced zero criminal charges,’ Greene continued. ‘I strongly believe in accountability for one’s actions, but I believe the sentencing of Mr. Santos is an abusive overreach by the judicial system.’

Prosecutors shared how Santos and his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, doctored donor reports to qualify for national Republican Party funding. They fabricated contributions from Santos’ family and falsely reported a $500,000 loan from Santos, though he had under $8,000 in his accounts.

He also stole credit card information from donors, including ‘victims he knew were elderly persons suffering from cognitive impairment or decline’ and made unauthorized charges to fund both campaign and personal expenses, according to the DOJ. Santos also used a fake political fundraising company to solicit tens of thousands of dollars, which he spent on ‘designer clothing.’

During the pandemic, Santos fraudulently claimed over $24,000 in unemployment benefits while employed at an investment firm. He also submitted false congressional financial disclosures to the House.

Santos was elected in 2022 after flipping New York’s 3rd District for the GOP. His resumé was easily debunked. He falsely claimed academic degrees, Wall Street jobs and family ties to the Holocaust and 9/11.

He was expelled from Congress in December 2023 after a scathing ethics report, becoming just the sixth member ever removed from the People’s House.

Santos has remained publicly active after his sentencing, selling video messages on Cameo and making social media posts.

Unless pardoned, Santos is expected to remain incarcerated until at least early 2032. He has reportedly appealed to President Donald Trump for clemency.

Greene and the White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

In Latest News

Brazil’s ex-president and major Trump ally Bolsonaro placed on house arrest

August 6, 2025 No Comments

On Monday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest amid ongoing legal proceedings over his alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 presidential election results.

The case has gripped the nation since its inception in 2023 and has intensified international scrutiny, especially as it unfolds under the authority of a Supreme Court justice recently sanctioned by the Trump administration in the United States.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, accused Bolsonaro, 70, of violating court-imposed restrictions.

According to the ruling, first reported by the Associated Press, Bolsonaro used a Sunday protest in Rio de Janeiro to publicly address supporters using a cellphone owned by one of his three sons, all of whom are lawmakers.

Bolsonaro’s brief message, ‘Good afternoon, Copacabana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom,’ was deemed a violation of his release conditions.

Bolsonaro’s legal team announced plans to appeal, arguing that the statement was symbolic, not criminal, and did not justify additional restrictions.

Mounting International Fallout

The political stakes have now extended well beyond Brazil. The case triggered backlash from President Trump, a longtime Bolsonaro ally, who tied newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports to what he called an ongoing ‘witch hunt.’ His remarks have further strained the already delicate diplomatic relationship between the two nations.

In a pointed statement on X, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the Brazilian court’s actions, writing: ‘Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro’s ability to defend himself in public is not a public service. Let Bolsonaro speak!’

The bureau also warned that individuals involved in what it described as ‘sanctioned behavior’ would be held accountable.

The statement marked a sharp escalation, particularly as it followed closely on the heels of sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department, under Trump’s administration, against Justice de Moraes. He was designated a ‘U.S.-sanctioned human rights abuser’ and accused of weaponizing the judiciary to silence political opponents.

The Basis for Sanctions

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent accused de Moraes of leading an unlawful crackdown:

‘Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies. He is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions, and politicized prosecutions—including those against former President Jair Bolsonaro,’ Bessent said.

These sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13818, issued during Trump’s first term in 2017. The order declared a national emergency concerning global human rights abuses and corruption and expanded upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act passed in 2016. The law empowers the U.S. government to impose financial and travel sanctions on foreign officials accused of human rights violations.

Despite growing international pressure, the Brazilian government has yet to issue a formal response.

Details of the Case

Brazilian prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro led a coordinated effort to delegitimize, and ultimately overturn, the results of the 2022 election, including planning violent acts and even an alleged assassination plot targeting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Justice de Moraes. Bolsonaro lost the election by a narrow margin.

A panel of Supreme Court justices accepted the charges in March, ultimately ordering Bolsonaro to stand trial. Monday’s house arrest ruling builds on earlier restrictions: an ankle monitor, a nighttime curfew, and a travel ban keeping the former president confined to Brasília despite his deep political roots in Rio de Janeiro.

A former army captain and deeply polarizing figure, Bolsonaro now joins a short but consequential list of former Brazilian presidents arrested since the country’s return to democracy in 1985, a system he has frequently criticized and linked to the military dictatorship he once praised.

Justice de Moraes, defending the court’s decision, wrote: ‘The judiciary will not allow itself to be mocked. Justice applies equally to everyone. A defendant who knowingly violates precautionary measures—especially for the second time—must face legal consequences.’

Fox News’ Alec Schemmel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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From Trump’s Philosophy to Dollar Digitalization

Stablecoins: From Faster Payments to Digital Dollar Power

The GENIUS Act: Institutionalizing Stablecoins

From Spontaneous Order to Legislative Codification: The Hayekian Path of Stablecoins

Ledger Competition: Dollar Rails vs RMB Networks

Conclusion: Sovereignty in Software

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In this article

What is Bitcoin and who invented it?

What was Bitcoin’s starting price?

When did the Bitcoin price start to grow?

What factors led to Bitcoin’s rise in the early 2020s?

2024 Bitcoin price performance

What was the highest price for Bitcoin?

What is Bitcoin at today?

FAQs for investing in Bitcoin

What is a blockchain?

Is Peter Todd Satoshi Nakamoto?

How to buy Bitcoin?

What is the Bitcoin halving?

What is Coinbase?

How does crypto affect the banking industry?

Is Bitcoin a good investment anymore?

Who has the most invested in Bitcoin?

Does Elon Musk own Bitcoin?

2024 Tech Outlook Report

Mounting International Fallout

The Basis for Sanctions

Details of the Case

 The GENIUS Act: Institutionalizing Stablecoins

Ledger Competition: Dollar Rails vs RMB Networks