Latest news with #Satoshi
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Crypto group with Trump ties finds friends in California
SACRAMENTO, California — A nonprofit with ties to Donald Trump is sponsoring state legislation from a Democrat in deep-blue California on an issue the president has embraced in his Oval Office comeback: cryptocurrency. The group, co-founded by Mandy Gunasekara, former chief of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency during Trump's first term, is backing a bill from Democratic California Assemblymember Avelino Valencia that could make it easier to pay with cryptocurrency in the Golden State. It comes as Trump's crypto ties are again in the spotlight this week at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas where members of his inner circle like JD Vance headlined, and after the industry spent millions to elect pro-crypto congressional candidates in the 2024 election. Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington remain divided on regulating crypto as they look to block the president's agenda without angering the powerful industry. Valencia's bill presents a crucial test for the nonprofit Satoshi Action Fund's state-first strategy, given it deviates from the wider industry's Washington-focused approach. 'The industry was playing a lot of defense,' Satoshi CEO Dennis Porter, a crypto advocate and former podcaster who hosted his own show about Bitcoin, told POLITICO's California Decoded newsletter. '[If] you're on defense 100 percent of the time, you'll never win a single match.' Valencia, a Southern California Democrat, said he wasn't previously aware of Satoshi's Trump connection and hasn't worked directly with Gunasekara. He added he drew up the measure independently from Satoshi, though he said the group 'proactively provided' feedback that informed his approach. 'My understanding is that the organization is nonpartisan and is made up of individuals from all political ideologies, which is one of the reasons the organization stood out,' Valencia added. Porter said he sees untapped opportunity beyond Washington. To him, statehouses like California's present a cheaper and faster option for passing pro-crypto legislation that can pave the way for the industry to advance its priorities in Congress. '[The] Civil Rights Movement or women's right to vote, or the cannabis movement — all of these things grew their momentum at the state level,' said Porter, who said he co-founded Satoshi with Gunasekara as a 501(c)(4) group in 2022. 'We set the policy blueprint for the country at the state level.' Satoshi has been a driving force behind recent pro-crypto efforts in other, mostly Republican-controlled state legislatures, backing protections for bitcoin mining and crypto payments that passed in Montana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The group also proposed model legislation that would allow states to invest public pension funds in cryptocurrencies, an idea Wisconsin and Michigan investors have embraced but has been slow to gain traction in other states. California poses a tougher challenge. The state's deep-blue legislature has proven to be more crypto-skeptical: Lawmakers in 2023 passed a slate of new requirements and fees for digital asset traders. Trump's entanglements in the crypto industry are complicating the issue for Democrats. The president held a private dinner with buyers of his memecoin, $TRUMP, earlier this month. His business empire, Trump Media & Technology Group, recently announced it was raising $2.5 billion to buy bitcoin. Some Democrats are wary of supporting pro-crypto policies, as doing so could hand Trump a legislative win amid questions about potential conflicts of interest. Porter said he sees Satoshi's work and the pro-crypto policies it supports as bipartisan. He declined to disclose information about Satoshi's donors, citing privacy concerns. 'Clearly, Republicans have sort of taken a lead on this stuff, but there are a lot of Democrats who for a long time have been very supportive of the technology,' Porter said. Valencia is one of those Democrats. The Anaheim lawmaker said he's been interested in digital currency since his time as a San Jose State University student and began drawing up crypto legislation after taking over as Assembly Banking and Finance chair in late 2024. One of those ideas became the bill he's pushing with Satoshi, which would authorize California businesses to accept cryptocurrency as a valid form of payment. Local governments and other public entities wouldn't be allowed to charge extra fees for goods and services purchased with cryptocurrency. Valencia said the bill ensures 'fair treatment' for consumers paying with digital currencies without forcing businesses to accept cryptocurrencies. 'I have no doubt this is the currency and technology of the future,' he said. 'The lack of clear legal treatment leaves consumers unprotected.' A version of this story first appeared in California Decoded, POLITICO's morning newsletter for Pros about how the Golden State is shaping tech policy within its borders and beyond. Like this content? POLITICO Pro subscribers receive it daily. Learn more at
Politico
4 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Crypto group with Trump ties finds friends in California
SACRAMENTO, California — A nonprofit with ties to Donald Trump is sponsoring state legislation from a Democrat in deep-blue California on an issue the president has embraced in his Oval Office comeback: cryptocurrency. The group, co-founded by Mandy Gunasekara, former chief of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency during Trump's first term, is backing a bill from Democratic California Assemblymember Avelino Valencia that could make it easier to pay with cryptocurrency in the Golden State. It comes as Trump's crypto ties are again in the spotlight this week at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas where members of his inner circle like JD Vance headlined, and after the industry spent millions to elect pro-crypto congressional candidates in the 2024 election. Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington remain divided on regulating crypto as they look to block the president's agenda without angering the powerful industry. Valencia's bill presents a crucial test for the nonprofit Satoshi Action Fund's state-first strategy, given it deviates from the wider industry's Washington-focused approach. 'The industry was playing a lot of defense,' Satoshi CEO Dennis Porter, a crypto advocate and former podcaster who hosted his own show about Bitcoin, told POLITICO's California Decoded newsletter. '[If] you're on defense 100 percent of the time, you'll never win a single match.' Valencia, a Southern California Democrat, said he wasn't previously aware of Satoshi's Trump connection and hasn't worked directly with Gunasekara. He added he drew up the measure independently from Satoshi, though he said the group 'proactively provided' feedback that informed his approach. 'My understanding is that the organization is nonpartisan and is made up of individuals from all political ideologies, which is one of the reasons the organization stood out,' Valencia added. Porter said he sees untapped opportunity beyond Washington. To him, statehouses like California's present a cheaper and faster option for passing pro-crypto legislation that can pave the way for the industry to advance its priorities in Congress. '[The] Civil Rights Movement or women's right to vote, or the cannabis movement — all of these things grew their momentum at the state level,' said Porter, who said he co-founded Satoshi with Gunasekara as a 501(c)(4) group in 2022. 'We set the policy blueprint for the country at the state level.' Satoshi has been a driving force behind recent pro-crypto efforts in other, mostly Republican-controlled state legislatures, backing protections for bitcoin mining and crypto payments that passed in Montana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The group also proposed model legislation that would allow states to invest public pension funds in cryptocurrencies, an idea Wisconsin and Michigan investors have embraced but has been slow to gain traction in other states. California poses a tougher challenge. The state's deep-blue legislature has proven to be more crypto-skeptical: Lawmakers in 2023 passed a slate of new requirements and fees for digital asset traders. Trump's entanglements in the crypto industry are complicating the issue for Democrats. The president held a private dinner with buyers of his memecoin, $TRUMP, earlier this month. His business empire, Trump Media & Technology Group, recently announced it was raising $2.5 billion to buy bitcoin. Some Democrats are wary of supporting pro-crypto policies, as doing so could hand Trump a legislative win amid questions about potential conflicts of interest. Porter said he sees Satoshi's work and the pro-crypto policies it supports as bipartisan. He declined to disclose information about Satoshi's donors, citing privacy concerns. 'Clearly, Republicans have sort of taken a lead on this stuff, but there are a lot of Democrats who for a long time have been very supportive of the technology,' Porter said. Valencia is one of those Democrats. The Anaheim lawmaker said he's been interested in digital currency since his time as a San Jose State University student and began drawing up crypto legislation after taking over as Assembly Banking and Finance chair in late 2024. One of those ideas became the bill he's pushing with Satoshi, which would authorize California businesses to accept cryptocurrency as a valid form of payment. Local governments and other public entities wouldn't be allowed to charge extra fees for goods and services purchased with cryptocurrency. Valencia said the bill ensures 'fair treatment' for consumers paying with digital currencies without forcing businesses to accept cryptocurrencies. 'I have no doubt this is the currency and technology of the future,' he said. 'The lack of clear legal treatment leaves consumers unprotected.' A version of this story first appeared in California Decoded, POLITICO's morning newsletter for Pros about how the Golden State is shaping tech policy within its borders and beyond. Like this content? POLITICO Pro subscribers receive it daily. Learn more at
Hypebeast
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Satoshi Nakamoto Presents "The Big Tourist" for Spring/Summer 2025
Summary Satoshi Nakamotohas lifted the curtain on another impressive in-line release for Spring/Summer 2025. Entitled 'The Big Tourist,' the captivating new collection once again leans into themes of vintage Americana and athletic aesthetics across a layerable lineup of graphics, outerwear and denim. Standing out in the lookbook is a new colorway ofSatoshi Nakamoto x OTW By Vans Old Skoolsneakers, featuring a light blue canvas upper and the same pearled accenting. Motorsport remains a heavy point of influence for the label, appearing in the form of an oversized long-sleeve 'SN Racing' graphic tee and a patched 'Movie Star Satoshi' leather jacket; the jacket's design is emulated on a 'Movie Star' patchwork hoodie. The label also continues to lock in on its own lettering, stamping different branded hits on a diverse delivery of graphics. One tank comes emblazoned with silver stars throughout the silhouette and a bright blue 'Satoshi Nakamoto' logo across the middle. Stars also surface (surrounded by silver jewels) on a gray sweat set, which comes hit with subtle cursive branded signatures on both the crewneck and the pants. Another graphic tee features a trippy two-handed graphic in the middle with 'Satoshi' written underneath in studs; the sleeves and waistline are similarly outlined in gold studs while the back of the shirt reads 'WELCOME TO THE MACHINE' with the same 'Satoshi' lettering underneath. As for bottoms, the brand brings back some more camouflage cargos, alongside some textured light-wash denim shorts and pants. Take a closer look at Satoshi Nakamoto's The Big Tourist Spring/Summer 2025 collection in the lookbook above. The collection is set to drop at some point today, Sunday, May 25, at the brand's officialwebsite, though a time hasn't been announced at the time of writing.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
1.5 Billion Reasons for Crypto in Africa - Quidax Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Consensus 2025
In a powerful speech at Consensus 2025, crypto's most influential event, Buchi Okoro, CEO and Co-founder of Quidax ( delivered a message for global collaboration to unlock Africa's potential. Sharing his personal journey and highlighting the transformative power of crypto on the continent, Okoro called on the global community to join Quidax in building the future of Africa. Okoro began by recounting his own challenging entry into the crypto space in 2016, where he fell victim trying to buy Bitcoin ( "It wasn't a lot but it was all I had," he said. "So my question becomes how do we make sure that my story is not the story of every African trying to get into crypto? How do we make sure that what is possibly the largest innovation in finance in 100 years doesn't leave 1.5 billion people behind?" He stated that in the West crypto is often viewed through the lens of accumulation, speculation, or novel applications, in Africa, "Crypto is Hope." Okoro painted a vivid picture of a continent with an average inflation rate of 19%, inefficient and costly remittance processes despite over $150 billion in annual flows, plus a young population eager for opportunities. "In Africa crypto is not hype, It is hope, crypto is an opportunity, crypto is freedom," Okoro declared. "I personally believe that crypto in Africa is one of the greatest expressions of Satoshi's vision for Bitcoin. I believe Africa is an opportunity." His invitation at Consensus 2025 was simple: "Join us to build the future of Africa, not the future of crypto in Africa but the future of Africa." He suggested several ways to get involved, including partnering with Quidax, investing in African opportunities, or learning about the continent to contribute value and create opportunities. "As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child," Okoro concluded. "I believe it will take a village to connect Africa to the rest of the world and that process can start with everyone of us here and together we can build Africa's future." Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Quidax. About Quidax: Quidax is an African-founded cryptocurrency exchange ( that makes it easy for anyone to buy, sell, store and transfer cryptocurrencies. Quidax additionally enables OTC trading ( and gives fintechs the tools to offer cryptocurrency services to customers through a dedicated crypto API. Quidax was officially launched in 2018 and has customers in over 70 countries.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill Gates Left Behind By Satoshi Nakamoto: Bitcoin Creator's Wealth Now Eclipses That Of Microsoft Co-Founder Amid Crypto's Sharp Rebound
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: BTC) pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto's estimated fortune has surged sharply, surpassing that of tech billionaire Bill Gates. What happened: As of this writing, the wallet linked to Satoshi owned about $113.8 billion in Bitcoin, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham. Notably, the wealth of Microsoft co-founder Gates was estimated at $112.9 billion, according to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list. Had Satoshi been ranked here, they would be the 12th-wealthiest person in the world. Don't Miss: Trade crypto futures on Plus500 with up to $200 in bonuses — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – unlock the power of alternative investments including a Crypto IRA within your retirement account. It is collectively believed that Satoshi owns roughly 1.1 million Bitcoin, making up 5% of the coin's circulating supply. Currently, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is ranked first on this super-rich list, with an eye-popping fortune of $395.6 billion. Theoretically, for Satoshi to become the world's wealthiest, Bitcoin's price has to hit $360,000 or above, which is currently an unrealistic expectation. Why It Matters: Nakamoto's true identity is yet to be revealed and is a subject of intense speculation since the inception of Bitcoin in 2009. Various figures, including Bitcoin Core developers Peter Todd, Len Sassaman, and Nick Szabo have been linked to the mysterious personality over the years. A documentary titled 'Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery" aired last year, claiming that Todd was Satoshi. Todd was quick to deny the claim. The surge in Satoshi's wealth coincided with Bitcoin's sharp recovery induced by U.S.-China trade deal optimism. Photo Courtesy: Szabolcs Magyar On Read Next: New to crypto? Get up to $400 in rewards for successfully completing short educational courses and making your first qualifying trade on Coinbase. A must-have for all crypto enthusiasts: Sign up for the Gemini Credit Card today and earn rewards on Bitcoin Ether, or 60+ other tokens, with every purchase. Send To MSN: Send to MSN This article Bill Gates Left Behind By Satoshi Nakamoto: Bitcoin Creator's Wealth Now Eclipses That Of Microsoft Co-Founder Amid Crypto's Sharp Rebound originally appeared on
