First time reading? I’m Jordan, and this is The Bitcoin Minimalist. Every Tuesday & Thursday, we scour 100s of sources to bring you need-to-know Bitcoin insights.

Today we’re covering:

• BlackRock sees Bitcoin as a hedge,

• Bhutan holds 13,029 BTC from mining,

• MicroStrategy buys 18,300 Bitcoin,

• And everything else you need to know.

—Jordan

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

🌍 BlackRock views Bitcoin as a hedge against global instability and a "monetary alternative." Despite its volatility, BlackRock's Jay Jacobs emphasizes Bitcoin's potential to protect against geopolitical and monetary risks.

💼 MicroStrategy purchased 18,300 Bitcoin for $1.1 billion, raising its total holdings to 244,800 BTC, valued at $14 billion. The acquisition, funded by selling over 8 million shares, brings the company's average BTC purchase price to $38,585. Its stock rose slightly following the announcement.

💰 Donald Trump launched a new cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, in collaboration with his sons and crypto enthusiasts. The project, promoting a new cryptocurrency called $WLFI, raises concerns about whether Trump’s interest in Bitcoin was sincere. Bitcoiners have never been a fan of other coins, especially centralized ones.

🌍 Bhutan ranks as the fourth-largest Bitcoin holder among countries, with 13,029 BTC valued at roughly $755 million. Unlike other nations, Bhutan’s Bitcoin stash is linked to its mining operations, managed by Druk Holding & Investments. The country’s mining efforts began in 2021, powered by hydroelectric plants.

📊 Key US economic events could impact the crypto market this week, as Bitcoin trades between $60,000 and $57,000. Retail sales data (Tuesday), FOMC interest rate decision (Wednesday), and unemployment claims (Thursday) are expected to drive market volatility, influencing Bitcoin's price direction.

💰 MicroStrategy is selling up to $700 million in convertible senior notes to buy more Bitcoin and pay down debt. The company holds about $14 billion in Bitcoin, including a $1 billion purchase last week, with proceeds set to redeem $500 million in existing debt. This next purchase would likely bring MicroStrategy’s total bitcoin holdings above 250,000 BTC.

🏦 Singapore's DBS Bank will offer OTC Bitcoin options trading for institutional clients in Q4 2024. This makes DBS the first major Asian bank to provide Bitcoin derivatives, responding to growing demand from professional investors seeking tailored Bitcoin exposure.

IN THE LOOP

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele plans to present a debt-free 2025 budget, aided by Bitcoin's role in boosting the country's independence.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao will be released from prison on September 29.

BlackRock’s IBIT saw its first daily net inflows in three weeks as spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $12.8 million on Monday.

The ETH/BTC ratio has dropped to 0.039, its lowest since April 2021.

Hadsel residents face a 20% electricity price hike after a major Bitcoin mining center shut down due to noise complaints.

Unchained and University Impact launched Bitcoin-native donor-advised funds (DAFs) for tax-efficient Bitcoin donations.

POLL

THURSDAY’S POLL RESULTS

Do you think duress wallets are a reliable way to protect your Bitcoin in a high-risk situation?

Yes - 16.7%

No - 6.7%

Maybe - 20.0%

Never heard of it - 56.7%

Never heard of it - “Self custody scares me...I need help” - Chris

VIDEO

Bitcoin - Is It Really That Simple?

📉 September is usually a down month for Bitcoin, but October often brings strong gains. Even if this October isn't particularly strong, Bitcoin could still end up in a bullish technical position, balancing out the September losses, according to Rekt Capital.

CHARTS & DATA

US Bitcoin ETF Holdings - U.S. Bitcoin ETFs now own over 900,000 BTC.  

Rainbow Chart - Bitcoin’s price is ~59,000, while the estimated price according to our rainbow chart is $61,266. The Rainbow prediction is currently the most accurate projection of the 4 top price prediction models.

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Halving Clock: Track the countdown to the Bitcoin halving with our Bitcoin halving clock.