Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day! On this day in 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made history by sending 10,000 BTC for two pizzas. This was the first real world Bitcoin transaction. What started as a pizza order became the moment Bitcoin proved its power as peer-to-peer money. Today, the UK Bitcoin community is celebrating in style at The Pizza Day Thing in Bury St Edmunds, with artisan pizza, free bar, panel discussions, Lightning demos and local vendors accepting sats at the historic Guildhall. A huge thanks to @Bury St Edmunds Bitcoin for putting on such a brilliant event. You can still get tickets here: https://www.bsebtc.co.uk/event-details/the-pizza-day-thing Hopefully see you in Bury!!

We have submitted our response to HMRC’s consultation on the taxation of stablecoins. Our position is clear: if the government recognises that stablecoins used for payments deserve different tax treatment, the same principle should apply to Bitcoin when it is used to buy goods and services. The current CGT system creates unnecessary complexity for consumers and businesses while generating very little meaningful revenue. Buying a coffee with Bitcoin should not require detailed tax calculations and reporting obligations. We are calling for a usage-based exemption for cryptoasset payments, including Bitcoin, alongside a modern framework that supports innovation, economic growth, and digital payments infrastructure in the UK. The UK has an opportunity to become a global leader in crypto payments policy. We should seize it. Read more in our blog where you can find our consultation response

Bitcoin Policy UK

Why Bitcoin Policy UK Is Calling for Smarter Crypto Tax Rules

At Bitcoin Policy UK, we recently submitted our official response to the HM Revenue and Customs’s recent consultation on the taxation of sta...

@Susie Violet @fnew

Bitcoin is the best performing asset of the decade… ...but most companies are still stuck with 2017 narratives pushed by mainstream media. This is why it’s fantastic we’re finally having this conversation at AccountEx London at the ExCel. Our Director, @Susie Violet Violet Ward, will be moderating a panel on why accountants need to put Bitcoin on their balance sheets. Huge thanks to Caroline Hobden and the AccountEx team for making this happen! Really looking forward to discussing this with my fellow panelists Dan Howitt, Jordon Walker & James Dewar. Panel: 14 May - ExCel London at 2:20pm Register below: accountex.co.uk/london/

BPUK Announces New Chapter for Co-Founder & Chief Policy Officer, Freddie New Today we announce a new chapter for our co-founder, Freddie New. Over the last three years, Freddie has helped shape Bitcoin Policy UK into a credible and constructive voice for Bitcoin policy in the United Kingdom. His work has included: 
- Helping secure Bitcoin’s recognition as property in UK law 
- Contributing to 12 government consultations 
- Leading the production of 28 policy papers, reports and open letters 
- Representing BPUK with policymakers and at major political events As CEO of B HODL, Freddie will now focus fully on building Lightning Network infrastructure and supporting Bitcoin’s evolution as a medium of exchange. We’re incredibly grateful for his contribution, leadership and friendship throughout this journey. We’re excited to see what comes next. For BPUK, the mission continues. @fnew @Susie Violet

The Privacy Toolkit: Simple Steps to Protect Your Freedom Privacy is often misunderstood as something only “suspicious” people care about. In reality, it is one of the foundations of personal freedom in a digital society. Every online search, card payment, app download, and social media interaction contributes to a growing profile about who we are, what we believe, and how we live. That data can be sold, leaked, misused, or weaponised, and increasingly, it is. That’s why we’ve published a new Privacy Toolkit at Bitcoin Policy UK. The guide is designed to be practical, simple, and accessible for everyone, from complete beginners to those seeking stronger digital self-sovereignty. It covers: 
• Password security and 2FA
• Privacy-focused browsers and email
• Secure messaging and VPNs
• Bitcoin and financial privacy
• Decentralised social media
• Tools to reduce surveillance and data exposure You don’t need to become a “ghost” online. But small steps can make a significant difference. Privacy is not about hiding wrongdoing. It is about maintaining the freedom to speak, think, and transact without unnecessary surveillance. Access the Privacy Toolkit here: https://tinyurl.com/37x5s9d8  @Susie Violet @fnew

The Bank Of England is considering restrictions on self hosted wallets in the UK. “These proposals risk expanding data collection, eroding privacy, increasing costs, adding friction, and limiting access through banks and intermediaries.” - @Susie Violet “This would be of such monumental, such overweening, stupidity, that it is hard to formulate a sensible response.” - @fnew The UK cannot become a leading digital assets hub while thinking self custody is a bug to fix. You cannot stop people from controlling their own private keys. Good piece from Cointelegraph covering the growing backlash to these proposals. H/t to Aaron wood. Full article:

Cointelegraph

Stablecoin Industry Opposes Bank of England’s Unhosted Wallet Ban

Banning the use of custodial wallets for stablecoins could hinder major use cases like remittances, according to some industry observers.

From Vegas to Westminster Bitcoin 2026 Las Vegas wasn’t about hype. It was about power. 30,000+ attendees.
 US regulators signalling a shift.
 Energy + Bitcoin now central to geopolitics. Meanwhile, the UK? Drifting. Three takeaways: * Mining = energy strategy * US policy is accelerating * Freedom vs surveillance is the real debate Britain is at a crossroads: Sleepwalk into control or lead on sovereignty. Read the full blog here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

From Vegas to Westminster: What Bitcoin 2026 Means for the UK

The Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas is the world’s largest gathering of bitcoiners bringing together builders, thinkers, and believers ...

@Susie Violet @The Bitcoin Conference

The Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas is the world’s largest gathering of bitcoiners bringing together builders, thinkers, and believers to focus on innovation, financial freedom and the adoption of sound money. It also showed the global struggle for digital sovereignty, rising government overreach, expanding KYC requirements, and the crossroads we now face between institutionalisation and free, neutral money.

Bitcoin Policy UK

From Vegas to Westminster: What Bitcoin 2026 Means for the UK

The Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas is the world’s largest gathering of bitcoiners bringing together builders, thinkers, and believers ...

UK Regulator Eases Bitcoin Access - But Is It Really Open? In 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot bitcoin ETFs, opening the door for millions of retail investors. At the same time, the UK moved in the opposite direction. Two years later, despite regulatory adjustments by the Financial Conduct Authority, access to bitcoin remains constrained, fragmented, and difficult in practice. Here’s the contradiction: * Regulation aims to protect consumers * But restrictions are pushing them toward offshore and unregulated platforms * Risk isn’t reduced, it’s displaced Add to that: * Banking barriers limiting transfers * Complex investment classifications * Lack of tax-efficient access And the outcome raises an important question: At what point does protection become restriction? Especially when Bitcoin has been one of the best-performing assets of the past decade. If the UK wants to lead in financial innovation, it may need to rethink whether its current framework is achieving its intended goal, or unintentionally undermining it. Read the full blog here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

UK Regulator Eases Bitcoin Access - But Is It Really Open?

In January 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot bitcoin ETFs. Millions of retail investors gained regulated, direct expo...

@Susie Violet @fnew

Understanding Bitcoin Easily - Introducing our Learn Bitcoin Basics At Bitcoin Policy UK, our mission is to support informed, balanced, and forward-looking discussion around Bitcoin and its role in the UK economy. We believe that better policy starts with better understanding. That’s why we’ve launched a new “Learn” section on our website — a dedicated space designed to explain Bitcoin clearly, accessibly, and without unnecessary jargon. Bitcoin is often discussed in complex or polarising terms, but at its core it is simply a new form of money. One that operates without a central authority and is governed by transparent, verifiable rules. Our new section covers: 
 • What Bitcoin is and how it works
 • The role of decentralisation and the blockchain
 • Why its supply is limited
 • How ownership and transactions function Whether you are new to Bitcoin or looking to deepen your understanding, this is a clear starting point. Start here:  

Bitcoin Policy UK

Bitcoin Policy UK

We champion good policies that will benefit all those in the UK who hold, use and mine Bitcoin

The Structural Risks Of Bitcoin Treasury Companies “Bitcoin treasury company” has become one of the most widely used labels this cycle—but it’s also one of the most misleading. Public companies now hold over 1.13 million BTC (~5.4% of supply), yet the strategies behind these holdings vary dramatically. Some firms simply hold bitcoin as a reserve asset. Others rely on: 
• Equity issuance
• Debt financing
• Structured instruments
• Market premiums to NAV In bullish conditions, these models can amplify returns. But when market conditions shift, the risks become clear: 
• NAV discounts
• Dilution
• Capital market dependence
• Structural tensions (especially around dividends and realised profits) The key distinction investors must understand: 
Owning bitcoin is not the same as owning a company that holds bitcoin. Corporate exposure introduces layers of: * Governance risk * Capital structure risk * Execution risk The takeaway is simple: 
It’s not the label that matters. it’s the structure behind it. Read more:

Bitcoin Policy UK

The Structural Risks Of Bitcoin Treasury Companies

The term “bitcoin treasury company” has become one of this cycle’s defining phenomena, but the label now covers a wide range o...

@Susie Violet @fnew

Cuba’s Blackout Reveals Grid Flaws Bitcoin May Fix Cuba’s recent nationwide blackout highlights a critical weakness in modern energy systems: centralization. When a single power plant failure can remove over half a country’s electricity supply, the consequences are immediate: disrupted healthcare, food shortages, and economic paralysis. But this isn’t just about Cuba. It’s a global infrastructure challenge. A more resilient model is emerging: 
• Distributed renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) 
• Local microgrids that operate independently 
• Flexible demand from Bitcoin mining to stabilize supply This combination doesn’t just prevent failure, it creates economic viability for renewable projects in regions where traditional grids fall short. Energy resilience, like financial resilience, is increasingly about removing single points of failure. Read the full blog on our website:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Cuba’s Blackout Reveals Grid Flaws Bitcoin May Fix

When Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed in early March, millions of people were suddenly left without power. Homes lost refrigeration, water p...

@Susie Violet @fnew

10,000 BTC for two pizzas in 2010. That single spend kicked off the biggest debate in bitcoin: Can bitcoin only be a store of value, or must it also become real money we use every day? @Susie Violet and @fnew will be debating this on Pizza Day in Bury St Edmunds. See you there 22 May. Who's coming? Drop a comment below. Tickets are available here: https://www.bsebtc.co.uk/event-details/the-pizza-day-thing

How Regulation And Data Collection Are Creating Physical Security Risks New analysis highlights an emerging challenge at the intersection of regulation, data collection and personal security in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin transactions are transparent by design and operate under pseudonymity. However, as identity-linked datasets grow through regulatory reporting requirements, KYC frameworks and repeated data breaches, that transparency can become a physical security risk for individuals. Research examining 309 publicly documented crypto-targeted physical attacks between 2014 and early 2026 shows a sharp escalation: • 76 attacks recorded globally in 2025, a 77% increase from 2024 
 • Nearly half involved confirmed torture or physical violence 
 • Weapons were involved in over 50% of cases Many incidents involve coercion to obtain private keys or force transactions, often referred to as “wrench attacks”. At a policy level, this highlights an uncomfortable tension: measures intended to increase financial oversight can also centralise highly sensitive identity and wealth data, potentially creating new vulnerabilities. As discussions around crypto regulation continue globally, it is increasingly important to consider how data aggregation and irreversible digital assets interact with real-world security risks. Our latest article explores this emerging threat:

Bitcoin Policy UK

How Regs And Data Collection Are Creating Physical Security Risk

London, UK - 22nd March 2026. Bitcoin transactions are transparent by design, operating under pseudonymity where activity is visible but identity i...

@Susie Violet @fnew

When AI Agents Start Paying, Lightning Demand Will Soar A major shift in Bitcoin adoption may be unfolding, and it’s not being driven by institutions. According to Freddie New and his AI agent Claudia, autonomous AI agents are emerging as a new class of economic actors capable of transacting, earning, and interacting at machine speed. The challenge? 
Traditional financial systems were never designed for non-human participants. The opportunity? 
The Lightning Network provides a permissionless, programmable payment layer that enables AI agents to transact instantly without banks, KYC, or intermediaries. This creates a powerful dynamic: 
 • AI agents can make hundreds of micropayments per hour
 • They can both buy and sell services
 • They may generate exponential demand for Lightning infrastructure While much of the market remains focused on price and treasury strategies, a new payment economy is quietly forming, one built for machines. This two-part piece explores what this means for infrastructure providers, investors, and the future of digital economies:

Bitcoin Policy UK

The Lightning Infrastructure Play: AI Agents and the Next Demand

The next major wave of Bitcoin adoption may not come from institutions or retail investors but from machines, according to Freddie New, Chief Polic...

@fnew @Susie Violet

Digital ID and Surveillance Systems: Why the UK Should Think Twice The UK government’s consultation on digital identity presents the proposal as a modernisation effort designed to make public services easier to access. But the implications may be far broader. In a detailed consultation response submitted by @fnew, Chief Policy Officer at Bitcoin Policy UK, the organisation warns that the architecture being proposed could become one of the most significant expansions of state surveillance infrastructure in modern British history. The proposed framework would link identity verification, biometric data and access to government services into a single system that could eventually become the primary gateway for interacting with the state. While framed as voluntary and convenient, history shows that administrative systems often become unavoidable through practical necessity once embedded into everyday processes such as employment verification and access to services. The consultation also raises broader concerns around: • Data security risks associated with large identity databases 
 • The potential for function creep and expanded surveillance 
 • Digital exclusion for vulnerable populations 
 • The existence of privacy-preserving alternatives As digital identity systems are debated around the world, it is essential that policymakers carefully consider the long-term consequences of the infrastructure being created. Our latest blog explores the issue in detail and outlines why this debate is ultimately not just technological, but fundamental to British values:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Digital ID: Convenient or Surveillance? Why UK Should Think Twice

London, UK - 15th March 2026. The UK government’s consultation on “Making public services work for you with your digital identity&#x2...

@Susie Violet

Antidote: Building the Home for Bitcoin Entrepreneurs in London and the UK London’s Bitcoin ecosystem continues to grow, and this week was a great example of that momentum. Our strategic partner Antidote, London’s first startup hub dedicated entirely to Bitcoin entrepreneurs, hosted the latest Women of Bitcoin Meetup, bringing together the Bitcoin community and a live Mining panel as part of its Virtual Summit. The panel was chaired by our CEO, Susie Violet Ward, who moderated a discussion with industry experts. Launched in 2025 with £2.5 million in funding from Fulgur Ventures, Initial Capital and private angel investors, Antidote was created to support the next generation of Bitcoin startups building in the UK. The hub provides early-stage founders with: • Free office space for six months
• Mentorship from experienced industry professionals
• Access to investors, legal experts and key networks This week also marked the announcement of Antidote’s first accelerator cohort, featuring startups building across AI, privacy and payments on Bitcoin. Alongside supporting startups, Antidote has quickly become one of London’s most active centres for Bitcoin events, bringing together entrepreneurs, developers and policymakers. At Bitcoin Policy UK we’re proud to partner with initiatives that strengthen the UK’s Bitcoin ecosystem and support the builders shaping its future. Read the full article here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Antidote: Building the Home for Bitcoin Entrepreneurs in London

London, UK - 8th March 2026. As Bitcoin continues to advance from an emerging technology into a global financial network, the importance of support...

@Susie Violet @fnew

Bitcoin Policy UK 2026 Manifesto Is Sent to All MPs Following The FCA Cryptoassets Consultation Paper On 1 March 2026, Bitcoin Policy UK formally delivered its 2026 Bitcoin Policy Manifesto to all 650 Members of Parliament, following the FCA’s CP25/40 consultation. 2025 marked significant progress, including Bitcoin’s recognition as property under the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025. That legal clarity was a landmark step. However, regulatory frameworks still risk collapsing bitcoin into a broad “cryptoassets” category, applying uniform assumptions that fail to reflect structural differences between bitcoin-focused firms and token-based ventures. In a recent discussion with Cointelegraph, CEO Susie Violet Ward noted: “Prolonged rulemaking, overlapping regimes and compliance costs that are high relative to market size are discouraging firms from building in the UK.” The 2026 Manifesto outlines four priority reforms: • Remove restrictive rules
• Reverse the ban on retail access to spot Bitcoin ETFs
• Introduce capital gains tax exemptions for de minimis transactions
• Simplify tax and support investment in the UK Bitcoin ecosystem This is ultimately about economic modelling and competitiveness. Capital in this sector is globally portable. Regulatory clarity matters. 2026 will be a defining year for UK digital asset policy. Read the full press release here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

BPUK 2026 Manifesto Is Sent to All MPs Following FCA Consultation

London, UK - 1st March 2026. Bitcoin Policy UK has delivered its 2026 Bitcoin Policy Manifesto to all 650 Members of Parliament, placing Bitcoin fi...

@Susie Violet @fnew

"Capital goes where it is welcome and stays where it is well treated." Our CEO @Susie Violet Violet Ward will be speaking at CheatCode's ‘The Great Realignment’ on Friday 27 March 2026. Join the discussion: 20% off tickets with code BTCPOLICY! Who's coming? cheatcode.co.uk

The UK talks about becoming a global digital asset hub while bitcoin businesses continue scaling elsewhere. Gemini’s departure reflects structural reality, not execution friction. The problem is structural misunderstanding rather than regulatory speed. By categorising everything as “crypto” under a same risk same regulation framework, UK policy fails to distinguish bitcoin companies from token based ventures. These models differ materially. Many bitcoin businesses: * Operate long-term treasury strategies * Hold reserves in bitcoin * Rely less on cyclical fundraising * Maintain globally portable capital This changes their cost of capital, risk profile, and sensitivity to jurisdiction. When compliance burdens are high relative to opportunity, and regulatory transition remains uncertain, mobile capital reallocates. As global institutions increasingly treat bitcoin as infrastructure rather than speculation, mispricing this distinction risks weakening the UK’s competitive position.  The question is no longer whether bitcoin businesses will adapt. It is whether policymakers will engage with the structural shift underway. From 26 - 29 March 2026, CheatCode Conference returns under the theme “The Great Realignment,” examining how bitcoin is reshaping capital markets, energy systems, and business models. Susie Violet Ward will be speaking on these themes and the widening gap between bitcoin business models and legacy regulatory assumptions. Readers can receive an exclusive 20% discount on tickets using code BTCPOLICY on the CheatCode website. Read the full article here:

Bitcoin Policy UK

Why the UK Keeps Misunderstanding Bitcoin Businesses

London, UK - 22nd February 2026. The UK frequently states its ambition to become a global hub for digital assets, but in practice bitcoin businesse...

@Susie Violet @fnew @Peter McCormack