WAO ART #457

El Salvador is using geothermal energy from the Tecapa volcano to mine Bitcoin. The country has mined about 474 BTC, bringing its total Bitcoin portfolio to $354 million. Public access to real-time Bitcoin data increases transparency and sets a benchmark for other nations.

Stablecoin issuer Circle is reportedly planning to shift its legal base from Ireland to the United States. The company has filed paperwork for the move. Circle had earlier filed for an IPO with the SEC and planned to go public in 2022 through a $9 billion SPAC merger.

North Korean hackers used Tornado Cash to launder $150 million in stolen crypto assets in March 2024. The Lazarus Group, infamous cyberattackers, moved the stolen funds back to North Korea. The funds were originally stolen from HTX, a crypto exchange owned by Justin Sun.

Robinhood Europe now offers Solana (SOL) staking for European customers. Users can stake SOL tokens directly through the Robinhood app and earn up to 5% APY. The company is expanding its platform across Europe and will launch in Italy, Poland, and Lithuania first.

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board has invested $160 million in Bitcoin ETFs. The pension fund purchased Bitcoin ETFs from Grayscale and BlackRock.This move indicates a growing acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies by institutional investors.

Indigenous villages in Indonesian receive funding from New Zealand government. Funding aims to improve livelihoods while protecting ancestral forests. Villagers grow oil palms but also rely on forests for medicinal herbs. Initiative aims to boost incomes and preserve forests in the region.

Rivers State Executive Council approves N222.1bn contract for Trans-Kalabari Road project. Funding for the project will come from the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). 30% mobilization fee has already been paid, and the project is expected to be completed in 32 months.