Weekly Brief 2026/12 Square is planning to auto-enable Lightning for more than 4 million eligible merchants on March 30. Bolivia's Bitcoin merchant network hits 86. And in Kenya, Bitcoin is now buying groceries, water, and snacks at 30-shilling ticket sizes.

Weekly Brief 2026/12

Square is planning to auto-enable Lightning payments across more than 4 million eligible merchants on March 30 — while Bolivia's Bitcoin merchant...

Weekly Brief 2026/11 Bringin just gave any euro bank account its own Lightning address — sats in, euros out via SEPA, no exchange required. In Kenya, lunch at two Nairobi restaurants: buyer paid in Bitcoin, merchants received shillings, zero fees. Bitcoin payments advancing through rails that already exist.

Weekly Brief 2026/11

Bringin gave any euro bank account its own Lightning address, settling sats as standard SEPA transfers. Meanwhile in Kenya, a buyer paid for lunch ...

Ever wondered how a global wallet like Blink scans local, proprietary QR codes at retailers like Pick n Pay? 🇿🇦⚡️ It’s all thanks to a "hacky" yet brilliant Lightning Address-based integration that uses just 3 lines of code. No complex third-party APIs — just open-source permissionless innovation meeting merchants where they’re at. Get the technical story behind the MoneyBadger bridge:

Lightning Wallet Integration: The 3-Line Solution Behind MoneyBadger

An interview with MoneyBadger’s CEO, Carel van Wyk, reveals the secrets behind their software.

"How do I withdraw Bitcoin to my bank account?" 🏦🤔 We get this question a lot! While direct bank withdrawals are currently paused due to regulatory hurdles, there are plenty of safe, practical ways to use and convert your sats today. Our new guide covers it all:

How to Buy, Sell, and Withdraw Bitcoin with Blink Wallet

Blink Wallet doesn’t support direct bank withdrawals yet. Learn safe ways to convert Bitcoin using peer-to-peer methods and other off-ramp options.

Weekly Brief 2026/10 Uganda hosts a 5-day Lightning Developer Bootcamp. Lugano marks four years of Plan ₿. Indiana passes a "Bitcoin Bill of Rights." And Lille launched France's first community Cashu mint.

Weekly Brief 2026/10

Uganda hosts a five-day Lightning Developer Bootcamp while Lugano marks four years of Plan ₿ and Indiana codifies the right to self-custody and t...

Financial sovereignty is transforming Kibera 🇰🇪✨ From a waste management program to a thriving Bitcoin circular economy, Ronnie Mdawida and @Afribit Kibera team are proving that sats can build dignity where traditional systems fail. Read the full story:

Building Bitcoin from the Ground Up: How Afribit Kibera Is Turning a Slum Into a Bitcoin Circular Economy

Inside the grassroots Bitcoin circular economy quietly transforming Kibera, one of Africa's largest informal settlements, a conversation with Ronni...

Weekly Brief 2026/09 Lightning crosses a reported $1B in monthly volume. Numo launches open-source tap-to-pay for Bitcoin. Bolivia's tracked merchant count hits 77. And kids in South Africa are earning and spending sats every week.

Weekly Brief 2026/09

Lightning crosses a reported $1 billion in monthly volume as Numo launches open-source tap-to-pay for Bitcoin and Bolivia's tracked merchant count ...

Weekly Brief 2026/08 South Africa just launched a Bitcoin-only online marketplace — no rands accepted. Lightning moved 15,000 BTC in a month. And circular economies from El Salvador to Mozambique are handling everything from coffee tours to cyclone relief.

Weekly Brief 2026/08

South Africa is piloting a Bitcoin-only online marketplace as Lightning moves 15,000 BTC in a month and circular economies from El Salvador to Moza...

Weekly Brief 2026/07 Cash App drops Lightning fees for millions of users. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic launches its own Bitcoin wallet and Lightning node, and BTC Map adds 1,200 new merchants in a single month. Full Brief:

Weekly Brief 2026/07

Cash App drops Lightning fees for millions of users as the Dominican Republic launches sovereign Bitcoin infrastructure and BTC Map crosses 1,200 n...

Real Bitcoin circular economies don’t grow like mushrooms. 🍄🚫 In our latest post, Hermann Buhr Vivier shares the "No Mushroom" philosophy: why sustainable adoption is a long game built on 15+ years of trust, not just vanity metrics. 🌍⚡️ Read more:

Building Sustainable Bitcoin Circular Economies

Hermann Buhr Vivier on the long Game of Bitcoin circular economies - Africa Bitcoin Conference 2025

Weekly Brief 2026/06 From sub-second $1M settlements to township circular economies: We cover the African Bitcoin Circular Economy Summit, 700k new touchpoints in SA, and a record Blink batch payout to 8 countries. Full Brief:

Weekly Brief 2026/06

Lightning proves its institutional power with a $1M sub-second settlement while local communities in Khayelitsha and Kibera standardize daily Bitco...

Weekly Brief 2026/05 Bitcoin adoption is moving from pilot projects to national-scale infrastructure. ⚙️⚡️ This week’s brief tracks 700,000 new merchant touchpoints in South Africa and a reported 18% sales lift for a major restaurant chain. Read the full analysis of this week’s global signals:

Weekly Brief 2026/05

From 18% Sales Growth at Steak 'n Shake to 700,000 Merchant Locations in South Africa: Bitcoin Adoption is Going Vertical.

Ever wondered about those tiny orange devices on every Bitcoiner's desk? 🧡 ​We sat down with the legendary BitMaker to talk about the open-source mining revolution—from the #NerdMiner and #BitAxe to the future of home mining decentralization. ​The lottery is real, and the movement is growing! ⚡️ ​Read the full interview:

BitMaker’s Open Source Mining Special: From NerdMiner To BitAxe

An interview with BitMaker about those little devices you keep seeing on Bitcoiners’ desks: NerdMiner, BitAxe, NerdAxe, and the ones to come.

South Africa is setting the global standard for living on a Bitcoin standard! 🇿🇦 Go deep into the story of how MoneyBadger is bridging the gap between #Bitcoin and the national QR ecosystem. From the first Pick n Pay pilots to 650k+ merchant locations, discover why SA is a hyperbitcoinization leader. ⚡️ Read the interview:

MoneyBadger And Blink Hyperbitcoinize South Africa Through QR Payments

Take a trip to South Africa with MoneyBadger and Blink.

Weekly Brief 2026/04 🌍 Bitcoin isn't just "coming"—it's here. From R1.4M in monthly retail spend in South Africa to Steak 'n Shake's new Bitcoin employee bonuses, the circular economy is scaling fast. 📈 Check out the Weekly Brief:

Weekly Brief 2026/04

Scaling the Circular Economy: 700,000 New Ways to Spend Bitcoin

Featured in this issue: @Afribit Kibera @BitcoinEkasi @Frank Corva Old Account @ndeet @El Flaco (author)

Our third brief of the year, Weekly Brief 2026/03, is live! 🚀 Square is broadening Bitcoin checkout across more experiences, while South Africa's Pick n Pay reports a massive R14m in monthly BTC spend. Plus, a major push for de minimis tax exemptions in the U.S. and Canada! Read more:

Weekly Brief 2026/03

Square broadens Bitcoin checkout as Pick n Pay spend and de minimis pushes sharpen payments momentum

Our second brief of the year, Weekly Brief 2026/02, is live! Integrator-led merchant scaling and new payment-rail metrics are driving practical Bitcoin checkout growth. From enterprise standardization to local re-verifications, the ecosystem is maturing fast. Read more:

Weekly Brief 2026/02

Integrator-led merchant scaling and new payment-rail metrics highlight practical Bitcoin checkout growth

17 years ago today, we started a new chapter with the Genesis block of Bitcoin. Today, transaction volume is very high and bitcoin is used as everyday money by some. At Blink, we'll continue to work towards a world where bitcoin is accessible to all. Happy Genesis Day 🧡⚡️

Happy New Year✨ Our first brief of the year, Weekly Brief 2026/01, is live! Ghana sees new regulatory clarity, Cuba builds out its own payment stack, and merchant counts continue to rise globally. Practical Bitcoin adoption is in full swing. Read more:

Weekly Brief 2026/01

Ghana legal clarity, Cuba’s payment-stack buildout, and rising merchant counts signal practical Bitcoin adoption

Weekly Brief 2025/51 Lightning capacity hits a new ATH, Steak ’n Shake introduces Bitcoin payroll across 400+ locations, and merchant discovery reaches 21k+ places worldwide. Read more:

Weekly Brief 2025/51

Lightning capacity hits 5,637 BTC as Steak ’n Shake adds Bitcoin payroll option across 400+ locations