Happy Friday, In A Nutshell this week:

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🚀⏰ Today’s news should be a ~4.54-minute read (727 words).

🧠 Quote Of The Week

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

— Mark Twain

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has labelled Bitcoin a “Ponzi scheme”, saying it has less value than Pokémon cards.

The comments sparked pushback from Bitcoin figures, who argue that a Ponzi requires a central operator promising returns, while Bitcoin has neither.

Whatever you think of Johnson, it shows the gap in public understanding is still huge, and the “Bitcoin equals scam” framing keeps resurfacing whenever the price is weak.

Square plans to auto-enable Bitcoin payments for merchants in the US from 30 March 2026, meaning sellers can accept Bitcoin without having to opt in first.

Payments will run over the Lightning Network for fast, low-cost checkouts, and merchants will still have the option to switch it off or auto-convert to dollars to avoid price risk. No new hardware is needed, as it’s integrated into Square’s existing devices.

If this rolls out smoothly, it’s one of the clearest signs yet that Bitcoin payments can function as a real alternative to mainstream payment rails.

Through its preferred stock STRC, Strategy raised a record $1.18bn last week by issuing new shares and used the proceeds to buy Bitcoin.

It’s a notable shift in how Strategy funds its accumulation, leaning more on preferred shares rather than relying mainly on common stock sales.

Strategy is proving it can keep accumulating Bitcoin even in uncertain times by tapping capital markets that want “reliable” fixed-income style products.

A Federal Reserve proposal to tweak the “Basel III Endgame” rules could make it cheaper and easier for big banks to offer Bitcoin custody and related services.

Right now, Bitcoin is often treated as a high-risk, “toxic” asset under capital rules, especially when it comes to custody and operational risk. The proposal would ease that burden and bring the rules closer to how banks treat traditional custody services.

If banks can custody Bitcoin without being penalised, corporate adoption becomes easier and more mainstream.

Citygate Church has begun accepting Bitcoin at two sites in Bournemouth and Southbourne, a surprising sign of how far Bitcoin payments are spreading.

They’re hosting a launch event on Sunday 19 April at the Bournemouth site, with a talk and Q&A, followed by food and drinks at Chaplin’s Bar, where you can also pay with Bitcoin. All are welcome, whether you’re Christian or not.

Bitcoin is starting to show up in everyday communities, outgrowing the idea that it’s only a store of value.

Most Bitcoin treasury companies buy Bitcoin, park it in custody, and pay fees to store it. But there’s a way to put BTC to work, earning Bitcoin-native yield on the Lightning Network without handing over your keys or taking on counterparty risk.

Dave Lund, co-founder of FlowRate, joins Jordan to unpack one of the most underexplored business models in Bitcoin today, and why treasury companies could help unlock the Lightning Network’s next phase of growth.

The episode is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify

1. US National Debt just broke $39 trillion

2. Andreas Antonopoulos will stop producing educational content due to health issues

3. Saylor Academy has been granted University status

4. Corporate Bitcoin Holdings hit record high as institutions accumulate 2.8x mining supply

5. SEC approves Nasdaq rule change to enable tokenised securities trading

6. JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are now creating financial products that let hedge funds bet against the $1.8 trillion private credit market

7. Ark Labs has raised $5.2 million to expand programmable financial applications on Bitcoin

8. South African solar farm consider offering discount power for Bitcoin miners

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