CoreWeave Goes Public at $40 Per Share, Raises $1.5 Billion

The Bitaxe miner, a $150–$300 open-source Bitcoin mining device, achieved a rare solo mining success by finding Bitcoin block #887212, earning 3.17 BTC worth $246,501, as reported by Cointelegraph.

Solo mining with such a low hashrate (3.3 terahashes per second) is highly improbable due to Bitcoin’s competitive network, making this event a significant demonstration of luck in the mining process.

The Bitaxe, distributed by solo.skpool.org, supports Bitcoin’s decentralization by enabling individual miners to participate, countering the dominance of large mining pools.

The ongoing debate surrounding Bitcoin’s OP_RETURN feature has intensified, with developers of Bitcoin Core, the most widely used node software, announcing their intention to eliminate OP_RETURN entirely in the upcoming release.

OP_RETURN currently imposes an 80-byte limit on the arbitrary data that can be included in a Bitcoin transaction through a special, unspendable output field. Core contributor and Blockstream engineer Greg Sanders, also known as ‘instagibbs,’ stated on Github that large data inscriptions are already occurring and can be executed in potentially damaging ways, regardless of the cap. Removing the limit, according to Sanders, would lead to a cleaner UTXO set and more consistent default behavior.

The discussion revolves around whether lifting the 80-byte OP_RETURN limit enhances transparency and facilitates data use on the Bitcoin network or if it opens the door to abuse, spam, and a shift away from Bitcoin’s core financial focus. While some, like Sanders, believe that removing the cap aligns with Bitcoin’s ethos of minimal, transparent rules, others, such as Core developer Luke Dashjr, view inscriptions as spam and have criticized the decision as “utter insanity.”

Amid the debate, Bitcoin Knots, an alternative version of Bitcoin Core maintained by Dashjr, has gained traction, capturing around 5% of all nodes. Bitcoin Knots offers users more control over what their nodes relay or store, allowing them to reject non-payment transactions like inscriptions. Influential figures in the industry, such as Samson Mow, are urging node operators not to upgrade their Bitcoin Core version or to switch to Knots instead.

As the community remains divided over the removal of the OP_RETURN cap, with some applauding it as a testament to Bitcoin’s evolving ethos and others warning of a fundamental shift in direction, the controversy persists.

In a strategic move to gain indirect exposure to Bitcoin, Norway’s Central Bank, through Norges Bank Investment Management, has disclosed a $500 million investment in MicroStrategy shares. This investment marks a significant step in the bank’s broader diversification strategy, as it seeks to navigate the evolving landscape of digital assets without directly purchasing Bitcoin.

MicroStrategy, a business intelligence company, has gained global attention for its heavy investments in Bitcoin, which now total approximately 471,100 BTC. The company has positioned itself as one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, making its stock an attractive vehicle for those seeking exposure to the cryptocurrency’s performance.

By investing in MicroStrategy, Norway’s central bank is indirectly tapping into Bitcoin’s potential upside, benefiting from the company’s large holdings in the cryptocurrency while also diversifying its investment portfolio. This move reflects a growing trend among institutional investors exploring ways to integrate cryptocurrency exposure into their traditional asset management strategies without directly owning Bitcoin.

Despite this investment, it’s important to note that besides Bitcoin, Norges Bank is not embracing other cryptocurrencies. Rather, this decision represents a cautious approach to adopting digital assets, acknowledging the potential volatility and long-term uncertainty surrounding Bitcoin’s role in the global financial system.

As more institutions and sovereign wealth funds evaluate their positions in digital assets, this investment by Norway’s central bank could signal a shift in the traditional financial sector’s openness to digital currency exposure. However, the full impact of such investments remains to be seen, and the situation may evolve as global regulations surrounding cryptocurrencies continue to develop.