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April 28, 2025

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In Stocks

US, China, Germany drive Bitcoin reserves down to 463,741 BTC

3 Mins Read

Governments are playing a pivotal role in Bitcoin’s evolving market dynamics. As of April 2025, Coingecko data reveals that government-held Bitcoin has dropped to 463,741 BTC, representing 2.3% of total supply.

This is a notable fall from the 529,591 BTC recorded in July 2024, reflecting changing strategies among key state players.

While some nations, like El Salvador and Bhutan, continue to steadily accumulate Bitcoin, others, including the United States, China, and Germany, have reduced their holdings.

These moves have not only reshaped the distribution of Bitcoin among global players but also impacted liquidity, volatility, and pricing across the crypto market.

US holds $18.3B Bitcoin as China, Germany cut reserves

The United States remains the largest government holder of Bitcoin, with 198,012 BTC valued at around $18.3 billion.

Although the US has sold some of its Bitcoin holdings since July 2024, it still controls the largest share among governments.

This partial liquidation reflects an approach to generate revenue while balancing regulatory and fiscal concerns.

China follows closely behind with 194,000 BTC, worth approximately $17.6 billion.

Despite a complete domestic ban on cryptocurrency trading and mining, China retains these assets, mostly sourced from the 2019 PlusToken Ponzi scheme seizure.

These holdings remain largely untouched, reflecting a cautious but significant presence in the Bitcoin market.

Bhutan mines 8,594 BTC as others sell seized assets

Bhutan has chosen a unique route to accumulate Bitcoin.

Rather than obtaining assets through seizure or purchase, the Himalayan kingdom has mined 8,594 BTC using sustainable hydroelectric energy.

This approach sets Bhutan apart as one of the few governments directly generating Bitcoin through renewable sources.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom holds 61,000 BTC seized from criminal activities.

Authorities are currently deciding whether to sell these assets or repurpose them for public financial programmes, marking another example of how different governments are rethinking crypto asset management.

El Salvador builds Bitcoin reserves, Ukraine liquidates donations

El Salvador continues to steadily build its Bitcoin reserves, with a total of 6,135 BTC now worth approximately $567.8 million.

The country maintains its policy of purchasing 1 BTC daily, integrating Bitcoin into its broader national economic framework.

In contrast, Ukraine has liquidated the 256 BTC it received through crypto donations, worth about $21.3 million at the time.

These funds have been deployed for military and humanitarian purposes during ongoing conflict, illustrating a very different use of Bitcoin by a government compared to long-term accumulation strategies.

Germany’s 46,359 BTC sell-off triggers price drop

Germany liquidated its 46,359 BTC reserves in mid-2024, an event that caused a 15.7% decline in Bitcoin prices.

This significant market movement shows the impact that government sales can have on crypto valuations.

Germany’s disposal was part of a broader policy to streamline asset holdings and reduce exposure to market volatility.

Overall, the reduction in government Bitcoin holdings signals a shift in how countries view digital assets in 2025.

As more nations sell or mine Bitcoin for diverse reasons, from revenue generation to sustainable development, state-held crypto reserves continue to influence Bitcoin’s market structure and global adoption.

The post US, China, Germany drive Bitcoin reserves down to 463,741 BTC appeared first on Invezz

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In World news

Binding Commitments Received for A$1.0 Million under Convertible Note Placement

5 Mins Read

Nutritional Growth Solutions Limited (ASX:NGS) (‘NGS’ or ‘the Company’), is pleased to announce that it has received binding commitments for the issue of 1,000,000 convertible notes (Placement CNs), to be issued at $1.00 each (CN Placement).

HIGHLIGHTS

  • NGS has secured commitments of A$1.0 million under a placement of convertible notes.
  • Each investor who is issued with ordinary shares on conversion of the convertible notes will be issued with one option for each fully paid ordinary share that is issued on conversion of the convertible notes, with that issuance of options to take place on the same date as the ordinary share issuance date. This is expected to be within 10 business days of NGS shareholders approving that issuance of options including for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.1. These options will be exercisable on a 1:1 basis into fully paid ordinary shares in NGS at an exercise price of $0.04 per option, and will expire 3 years following their issue date if they have not been exercised during that 3 year period.
  • The placement of convertible notes was supported by Australian sophisticated and professional investors.
  • Funds raised from the placement of convertible notes will be used to purchase inventory for retail expansion in CVS and Wakefern, as well as working capital and corporate expenses.

The offer of the Placement CNs was made to sophisticated and professional investors in Australia and successfully closed, achieving binding commitments of A$1.0 million.

Stephen Turner, NGS CEO and Managing Director, commented on the CN Placement:

“We are very pleased with the strong support shown by investors in this placement, which provides important growth capital to support our retail expansion into leading U.S. retailers, including CVS and Wakefern. We would like to thank our shareholders for their ongoing support as we execute our growth strategy and build on the momentum from our recent distribution achievements.”

The conversion of the convertible notes into fully paid ordinary shares in NGS will take place at a price of between A$0.03 and A$0.025 per ordinary share within 10 business days of NGS shareholders approving their conversion including for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.1. NGS expects to convene a general meeting of its shareholders to consider whether to approve the conversion of the convertible notes into fully paid ordinary shares in NGS and whether to approve the issuance of options within the next few weeks.

Until the convertible notes are converted into ordinary shares or redeemed, they bear interest which is payable quarterly in arrear at either 10% per annum (if the holder of the convertible notes elects not to receive ordinary shares in NGS in lieu of cash interest), or 15% per annum (if the holder of the convertible notes elects to receive ordinary shares in NGS in lieu of cash interest). Issuance of ordinary shares in NGS in lieu of cash interest is subject to NGS being in compliance with the ASX Listing Rules. If the convertible notes have not been converted by the date that is 2 years after their issue date, they will be redeemed by NGS at their issue price.

Each investor who is issued with ordinary shares on conversion of the convertible notes will be issued with one option for each fully paid ordinary share that is issued on conversion of the convertible notes, with that issuance of options to take place on the same date as the ordinary share issuance date. This is expected to be within 10 business days of NGS shareholders approving that issuance of options including for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.1. These options will be exercisable on a 1:1 basis into fully paid ordinary shares in NGS at an exercise price of $0.04 per option, and will expire 3 years following their issue date if they have not been exercised during that 3 year period (the CN Holder Options). Quotation of the CN Holder Options on the ASX will be sought.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from the issue of the convertible notes are planned to be used in the following areas:

LEAD MANAGER OPTIONS

The Company engaged GBA Capital Pty Ltd (AFSL 544680) to act as lead manager for the CN Placement (Lead Manager).

Under the terms of the mandate with the Lead Manager, the Lead Manager will be issued with 30% of the number of CN Holder Options (the Lead Manager Options). The Lead Manager Options will be exercisable on a 1:1 basis into fully paid ordinary shares in NGS at an exercise price of $0.04 per Lead Manager Option. The Lead Manager Options will expire 3 years following their issue date if they have not been exercised during that 3 year period.

The Lead Manager Options will be issued within 10 business days of NGS shareholders approving that issuance including for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 7.1. NGS expects the Lead Manager Options to be issued at the same time as the issuance of the CN Holder Options. Quotation of the Lead Manager Options on the ASX will be sought.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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In Politics

Trump kicks off whirlwind week marking his 100th day back in the Oval Office

7 Mins Read

President Donald Trump’s 15th week in office will include his 100th day back in the White House, which he will celebrate by hosting a rally in Michigan – the last state he campaigned in before polls opened on Election Day of last year. 

‘President Trump is excited to return to the great state of Michigan next Tuesday, where he will rally in Macomb County to celebrate the FIRST 100 DAYS!’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an X post announcing the rally. 

Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2016, 2020 and 2024 all ended with rallies in the battleground state of Michigan. Trump’s visit to Macomb County this week follows his final 2024 campaign rally in Grand Rapids, where he joined the crowds just after midnight in the final hours before his victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The event is billed as a celebration of Trump’s ‘LEGENDARY start to his presidency,’ according to the Republican National Committee’s website. The rally will be held at Macomb Community College in Warren and will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. 

Trump wraps up his 100th day in office with more executive orders signed than any other president over the same period since President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Trump has signed at least 137 executive orders, ranging from dismantling the Department of Education, establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, and stripping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from the fabric of the federal government following the Biden administration. 

‘Very critical week’ for Russia and Ukraine peace talks 

Trump returned from Rome on Saturday after attending Pope Francis’ funeral mass at the Vatican with first lady Melania Trump. Trump met with Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy during the trip as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage and negotiations for peace stall. 

‘There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social, shortly after he met with Zelenskyy at the Vatican on Saturday. 

‘It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!’ he added.

While on the campaign trail, Trump vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a matter of 24 hours, but negotiations have proven difficult. Trump’s Truth Social post on Saturday followed Russia launching a missile strike on Kyiv that injured dozens and killed at least 12. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday during an appearance on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that the coming week will be ‘very critical’ as the White House weighs whether it wants to continue working towards a peace deal. Rubio warned this month that the U.S. might ‘move on’ from trying to secure a deal between Russia and Ukraine if progress was not made. 

‘I think this is going to be a very critical week,’ Rubio said on Sunday. ‘This week is going to be a really important week in which we have to make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in or if it’s time to sort of focus on some other issues that are equally, if not more, important in some cases. But we want to see it happen. There are reasons to be optimistic, but there are reasons to be realistic, of course, as well. We’re close, but we’re not close enough.’

Trade talks expected to advance following reciprocal tariff pause 

Trump put a 90-day pause on reciprocal, customized tariffs he had imposed on dozens of nations this month, sparking a trade deal negotiation blitz as dozens of nations began knocking on the proverbial doors of the White House in the hopes of striking more favorable terms. 

The White House has met and spoken with a handful of nations looking to make deals, including South Korea last week. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said negotiations with the Asian nation have progressed quickly and that the two countries could reach a trade agreement as early as this week. 

‘We had a very successful bilateral meeting with the Republic of South Korea today,’ Bessent said from the White House on Thursday. ‘We may be moving faster than I thought, and we will be talking technical terms as early as next week as we reach an agreement on understanding as soon as next week.’

‘So South Koreans came early. They came with their A game, and we will see if they follow through on that,’ Bessent continued. 

Congress reconvenes with eyes on passing Trump-backed budget

Congress will reconvene on Monday following a spring recess, with Republican lawmakers expected to resume talks on a budget plan to advance Trump’s first-year agenda, including extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and carving out millions in funds for border security.

Democrats on Capitol Hill protested on Sunday ahead of Republicans returning to the table for budget plan talks. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker took to the steps of the Capitol on Sunday morning while flanked by supporters to protest the budget plan. 

‘Republican leaders have made clear their intention to use the coming weeks to advance a reckless budget scheme to President Trump’s desk that seeks to gut Medicaid, food assistance and basic needs programs that help people, all to give tax breaks to billionaires. Given what’s at stake, these could be some of the most consequential weeks for seniors, kids and families in generations,’ the two Democrat lawmakers wrote in a statement of the protests. 

Trump has repeatedly called on Republican lawmakers to pass the ‘big, beautiful’ tax and spending package to advance his first-year agenda. 

Trump to deliver University of Alabama’s commencement speech 

Trump is expected to travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Thursday where he will deliver a commencement speech to graduating students at the University of Alabama. 

‘I have agreed to do the Commencement Address at two really GREAT places, the University of Alabama and, WEST POINT. Stay tuned for times and dates!!!’ Trump posted to Truth Social last week. 

Trump is expected to deliver his speech from the school’s Coleman Coliseum arena on Thursday evening. 

‘The University of Alabama is honored to have been selected as one of the universities President Donald J. Trump will visit to deliver a spring commencement address,’ the university said in a statement this month.

Trump-funded American flags to be installed at White House 

Trump previewed last week that his administration is in the midst of purchasing and installing massive flag poles to feature Ol’ Glory on both the north side lawn and south lawn of the White House. Trump told the media he will personally fund the flags and said they could be ready sometime this week. 

‘We’re putting up a beautiful, almost 100-foot-tall American flag on this side and another one on the other side, two flags, top of the line,’ he told reporters on Wednesday outside the White House, adding they will be ‘paid for by Trump.’

‘They needed flagpoles for 200 years. It was something I’ve often said, you know, they don’t have a flagpole per se. So we’re putting one right where you saw us, and we’re putting another one on the other side, on top of the mounds. It’s going to be two beautiful poles.’

Trump added on Wednesday that the flags will ‘arrive in about a week or so.’ An American flag is currently only flown from the White House roof. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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