Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is preparing a reform to align crypto taxation with that of equities, paving the way for spot ETFs. The post Japan moves toward a 20% flat tax on cryptocurrencies appeared first on Atlas21.

**_Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is preparing a reform to align crypto taxation with that of equities, paving the way for spot ETFs._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The **FSA** is planning a tax reform that could reshape how Japanese investors approach digital assets. [According](https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUB216I60R20C25A8000000/) to the business daily _Nikkei_, the Japanese FSA intends to submit a proposal to revise the tax code for the 2026 fiscal year. The goal is to align the tax treatment of cryptocurrencies with that of listed **stocks**.

The official request for revision is expected to be submitted by the end of August, _Nikkei_ sources report. If approved, the reform would take effect in the 2026 fiscal year.

The reform introduces a **20% flat tax** on gains from cryptocurrency trading. Currently, crypto income is classified as _“miscellaneous income”_ and subject to a progressive rate that can reach **up to 55%,** excluding local taxes.

### **Industry requests**

Crypto companies have submitted specific proposals to make Japan’s tax environment more competitive. Among them is the introduction of a **three-year carry-forward mechanism** for losses, which would allow investors to offset future profits with past losses.

### **Outlook for spot ETFs**

The new framework goes beyond tax revisions. The FSA is also working to facilitate the launch of domestic **crypto ETFs** by Japanese firms, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s digital asset industry.

In parallel with the tax reform, the agency is preparing a bill for 2026 that would bring cryptocurrencies under the supervision of the **Financial Instruments and Exchange Act**, classifying them as _“financial products”_ rather than _“means of payment”_ regulated by the Payment Services Act.

### **First regulated stablecoin**

In a broader context of openness toward digital assets, the FSA is also preparing to approve Japan’s first **yen-denominated regulated stablecoin**. **JPYC**, issued by the Tokyo-based fintech of the same name, plans to release stablecoins worth 1 trillion yen (about $6.78 billion) over three years. The approval, expected in the fall, represents another key step in Japan’s strategy to promote crypto adoption.

The post [Japan moves toward a 20% flat tax on cryptocurrencies](https://atlas21.com/japan-moves-toward-a-20-flat-tax-on-cryptocurrencies/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


The Philippine Congress is moving toward the adoption of Bitcoin as a national strategic asset with a proposed accumulation plan. The post Philippines: proposal for a 10,000 BTC strategic reserve with a 20-year lock-up appeared first on Atlas21.

**_The Philippine Congress is moving toward the adoption of Bitcoin as a national strategic asset with a proposed accumulation plan._**
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The **Philippines** could become one of the first nations to adopt Bitcoin as a national strategic reserve. A new legislative proposal introduced by Congressman **Miguel Luis Villafuerte** outlines a plan for the acquisition and long-term custody of bitcoin.

The [proposed law](https://docs.congress.hrep.online/legisdocs/basic_20/HB00421.pdf), called **House Bill 421**, establishes a detailed framework for creating a strategic reserve. The plan requires the Philippine central bank, **Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas**, to purchase **2,000** bitcoins annually over **five consecutive years**, thereby reaching the final target of **10,000** BTC.

The proposal emphasizes the importance of secure custody. The acquired bitcoins must be held in **cold storage**, an offline method that provides protection against cyberattacks and digital theft.

The bill requires quarterly reserve audits by independent third parties. These reports must be published online to ensure transparency. The proposal also explicitly protects private property rights, affirming that individuals and businesses remain free to buy, hold, and trade bitcoin without government interference.

The 20-year lock-up period established by the bill highlights a long-term vision that reflects confidence in Bitcoin’s future price growth. During this period, Philippine authorities will be prohibited from selling or exchanging the bitcoins, except for the repayment of national public debt.

At the end of the lock-up period, the central bank governor may sell up to **10%** of the bitcoins in any two-year period.

Congressman Villafuerte emphasized that _“the increasing significance of BTC in ensuring financial and economic prowess across continents makes it imperative for the country to take significant legislative measures.”_

According to **Bitbo** [data](https://bitbo.io/treasuries/countries/), world governments collectively hold **517,296** bitcoins, corresponding to **2.46%** of the total supply capped at around 21 million units. However, their reserves mainly come from confiscations and legal seizures.

The post [Philippines: proposal for a 10,000 BTC strategic reserve with a 20-year lock-up](https://atlas21.com/philippines-proposal-for-a-10000-btc-strategic-reserve/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


The company introduces a modular mining system and open source management software. The post Block presents Proto Rig and Proto Fleet: new mining solutions appeared first on Atlas21.

_**The company introduces a modular mining system and open source management software.**_
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Proto**, a division of Block, Inc. led by Jack Dorsey, has announced the launch of two new products for the bitcoin mining sector: **Proto Rig**, a modular mining system, and **Proto Fleet**, free and open source management software. The presentation took place at **Core Scientific**‘s facility in Dalton, Georgia, where some Proto Rig devices are already operational.

Proto Rig differentiates itself from traditional mining hardware through a modular design that focuses on **durability** and **repairability**. Unlike classic miners, this system allows operators to replace individual hashboards without having to change the entire unit, the company stated.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/69.jpg?resize=693%2C473&ssl=1)

According to Block, this feature could extend hardware lifespan from 3-5 years to 10 years, with an estimated cost reduction of **15-20%** for each upgrade cycle. The system is designed to allow on-site repairs without the use of specialized tools, the company declared.

**Thomas Templeton**, Block’s hardware lead, explained:

> > “Machines break often, are hard to repair, expensive and time-consuming to upgrade, and don’t make the most efficient use of power or space. With Proto Rig, we set out to change all of that–and contribute to hardware decentralization in the process.”

From a performance standpoint, Proto Rig offers energy efficiency of **14.1 J/TH** and a hashrate of **819 TH/s**.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/unnamed.jpg?resize=560%2C324&ssl=1)

### **Proto Fleet: management software**

Alongside the hardware, Proto presented **Proto Fleet**, a free software platform for managing mining operations. The software integrates **monitoring**, **diagnostic**, and **maintenance** functions into a single interface. Proto Rig and Proto Fleet will offer **Stratum V2** support from launch.

Proto Fleet is distributed as open source software, making it accessible to operators of any size in the sector.

The post [Block presents Proto Rig and Proto Fleet: new mining solutions](https://atlas21.com/block-presents-proto-rig-and-proto-fleet-new-mining-solutions/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms the “budget-neutral” strategy for the strategic bitcoin reserve. The post USA: no new purchases for the strategic bitcoin reserve appeared first on Atlas21.

**_Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms the “budget-neutral” strategy for the strategic bitcoin reserve._**
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In an [interview](https://x.com/CoinDesk/status/1955985768620454098) on _“Mornings with Maria”_ on _Fox Business_, Treasury Secretary **Scott Bessent** stated that the United States will not proceed with acquiring new bitcoins through direct market purchases.

> ![🇺🇸](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f1fa-1f1f8.png) NEW: Treasury Secretary claims on Fox Business the US "will not be buying" Bitcoin but will use "confiscated assets and continue to build that up" as a Bitcoin reserve. [pic.twitter.com/8A09BmzVYC](https://t.co/8A09BmzVYC)
>
> — CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) [August 14, 2025](https://twitter.com/CoinDesk/status/1955985768620454098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

No taxpayer dollars will be used to increase holdings in digital assets, Bessent confirmed. He clarified that the strategy is based exclusively on a _“budget-neutral”_ approach, using only **bitcoins seized** through legal confiscation operations. The strategic reserve will therefore grow solely through the accumulation of digital assets obtained via legal actions and seizures.

The new policy outlined by Bessent calls for the **immediate halt of bitcoin sales** from the government’s holdings, marking a shift from previous practices, when U.S. authorities tended to liquidate seized digital assets. Currently, the U.S. government’s bitcoin holdings are estimated at between **$15 billion and $20 billion** at today’s prices, Bessent said.

The Treasury Secretary also noted that gold will continue to play its traditional role as a _“store of value”_ for the American people.

The post [USA: no new purchases for the strategic bitcoin reserve](https://atlas21.com/usa-no-new-purchases-for-the-strategic-bitcoin-reserve/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


There is a way to transfer money directly to a bank account by sending a BTC transaction: the Bull Bitcoin service. The post Paying to an IBAN… in Bitcoin appeared first on Atlas21.

[![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Banner-Bull-Bitcoin-ENG.png?resize=976%2C75&ssl=1)](https://app.bullbitcoin.com/registration/atlas21)

**_There is a way to transfer money directly to a bank account by sending a BTC transaction: the Bull Bitcoin service._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Despite it being possible to exchange goods and services in bitcoin since its early years, its adoption as a payment method remains still limited. What Bitcoin is facing, and will have to continue to face in the coming years, is the process of monetary evolution.

Today, in fact, there are still few businesses that directly accept bitcoin payments. In most cases, bitcoiners find themselves forced to convert their funds into fiat currency to be able to make daily payments. However, this barrier is starting to fade thanks to the emergence of new services.

Over the years, the market has witnessed the birth of various services specialized in facilitating bitcoin payments. Among the pioneers in the sector stands out **Bitrefill**, a platform that allows purchasing gift cards and topping up services using bitcoin directly. Over time, similar solutions have developed that allow paying for various goods and services.

Last January, when **Bull Bitcoin** extended its services to the European market, a new possibility was made available. The Canadian broker, known for its Bitcoin-only philosophy and strictly non-custodial approach, offers a solution that **allows paying any service or entity that accepts bank transfers in euros using bitcoin directly**. This means being able to make payments to suppliers, public entities, companies, individuals and even top up debit cards linked to an IBAN, all without ever having to manually convert bitcoin into fiat currency.

### **How it works**

The process for making payments through Bull Bitcoin is simple and intuitive. Here is the step-by-step procedure:

1.  Account creation

The first step consists of [registering](https://app.bullbitcoin.com/registration/atlas21) on Bull Bitcoin. The process is as follows:

*   visit the Bull Bitcoin [website](https://www.bullbitcoin.com/);
*   click on “Sign up”;
*   enter the required data (email and password);
*   confirm the email and complete the account verification.

2\. Access to the “Send fiat payments” function

Once you have logged into your verified account:

*   navigate to the main menu;
*   click on “**Send fiat payments**“;
*   this function will allow you to use your bitcoins for payments in euros to any European IBAN.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/901.jpg?resize=501%2C479&ssl=1)

3\. Entering recipient data

The system will require you to enter the beneficiary’s information:

*   **recipient’s IBAN**: enter the complete IBAN code of the service or person who must receive the payment or select an existing beneficiary;
*   **beneficiary’s name**: specify the exact name as registered with the bank.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/902.jpg?resize=519%2C460&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/903.jpg?resize=517%2C631&ssl=1)

4\. Defining the amount and completing the payment

The last step of the process is as follows:

*   **enter the amount in euros** you wish to send (Bull Bitcoin will detect the exact amount even if you send more satoshis);
*   the system will automatically calculate the bitcoin equivalent at the current exchange rate;
*   **payment reference**: add a payment description (bill, service, invoice, etc.) so that the beneficiary knows it is you paying (avoid mentioning bitcoin in the description);
*   send to the BTC/Liquid address or pay the Lightning Network invoice. The exchange rate will be locked as soon as Bull Bitcoin detects the transaction;
*   as soon as the exchange receives the funds, it will pay your beneficiary through one of its bank accounts.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/5.jpg?resize=451%2C403&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/6.jpg?resize=441%2C622&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/7.jpg?resize=448%2C275&ssl=1)

**The possibility of paying any service that accepts bank transfers in euros using bitcoin** directly eliminates one of the main barriers to adoption as a medium of exchange, simplifying the daily life of bitcoiners and offering the opportunity to live in the Bitcoin Standard without having to continuously resort to conversions into fiat currency. It is a real bridge between the Bitcoin ecosystem and the traditional banking system.

* * *

_Bull Bitcoin is the world’s longest-running Bitcoin-only exchange. Strictly non-custodial. Try it [here](https://app.bullbitcoin.com/registration/atlas21)._

The post [Paying to an IBAN… in Bitcoin](https://atlas21.com/paying-to-an-iban-in-bitcoin/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


Official clarifications follow community concerns: non-custodial wallets remain free from restrictions. The post Google Play excludes non-custodial wallets from the new crypto app rules appeared first on Atlas21.

**_Official clarifications follow community concerns: non-custodial wallets remain free from restrictions._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Google** recently backtracked on what initially seemed to be a significant policy update targeting all crypto wallets: for a moment, it appeared that the Play Store planned to ban unregistered **non-custodial wallets** in several countries, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, starting in October. After sparking a wave of concern in the crypto community, Mountain View officially clarified that **non-custodial wallets will remain exempt** from the new restrictions [introduced](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16329703) on the **Play Store**.

The confusion arose from the publication of the updated **Google Play** [guidelines](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16329703), which will come into effect on October 29. Initially, many users and developers feared that non-custodial wallets might also be affected by the new rules. However, Google later [clarified](https://x.com/newsfromgoogle/status/1955743865144795581) the situation through its **Help Center**, specifying that _“non-custodial wallets are not in scope of Google Play’s Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets Policy.”_

### **The policy change**

The new rules are aimed exclusively at custodial digital asset service providers. **Custodial wallet** applications, such as those provided by exchanges, will now need to obtain specific licenses to operate in over 15 jurisdictions, including the **United States** and the **European Union**.

In the U.S., custodial wallet developers will have to register as a _“money services business”_ or _“money transmitter”_ with local regulators. In Europe, registration as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) will be required. Companies registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will need to implement **Anti-Money Laundering** (AML) and **Know Your Customer** (KYC) programs.

### **Community reactions**

Despite the official clarifications, the community was not entirely reassured. Bitcoin developer **Peter Todd** expressed skepticism in a post on X:

> Google claims this is a mistake. More likely a trial balloon to gauge response.
>
> Notice how this policy will still prohibit Cashu wallets like minibits, Zeus (cashu support), Wallet of Satoshi, and future wallets using cashu to build up funds to open a channel.
>
> Not good at all. [https://t.co/muHtVwSA9m](https://t.co/muHtVwSA9m)
>
> — Peter Todd (@peterktodd) [August 13, 2025](https://twitter.com/peterktodd/status/1955756676692500544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**Jacob Wittman**, legal counsel at the Plasma Foundation, [described](https://x.com/jakewittman/status/1955703181553623211) the controversy as a _“nothing burger,”_ while acknowledging that _“the policy change show that tech giants control distribution and we are still at their whim.”_

The relationship between Google Play and the digital asset sector has historically been turbulent. In 2020, the platform removed the Bitcoin Blast video game and several crypto news apps, including those from **Cointelegraph** and **Coindesk**, without providing any explanation.

The post [Google Play excludes non-custodial wallets from the new crypto app rules](https://atlas21.com/google-play-excludes-non-custodial-wallets-from-the-new-crypto-app-rules/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


Private equity is targeting retirement accounts, Bitcoin mining could unlock 2+ gigawatts of stranded gas value, and AI will create a premium market for human-only film productions.

### Private Equity Will Flow Into 401(k)s Within Days, Creating Exit Liquidity for Billionaires - Rudy Havenstein

![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/terribletrader_massive_industrial_warehouse_interior_filled_w_b04de416-996a-43d3-a5d7-a2b9e598ecec_2.png)

The executive order allowing private equity into retirement accounts represents "the bell being rung" according to Dave Collum and Rudy Havenstein. This move will enable private equity firms to offload their "dog shit that's not worth anything" into 401(k)s, creating what Rudy calls "exit liquidity for the billionaires." The timing is critical - private equity firms are already creating continuation funds to move assets from older funds into new ones, essentially running a Ponzi scheme to maintain the illusion of returns.

This development signals desperation in the private equity space, where firms need fresh capital from retail investors to sustain their model. As Dave notes, "funds of funds" create a situation where investors get hit with "two and twenties squared," crushing returns through layered fees. The prediction is that Ma and Pa Kettle's retirement savings will soon be funding these opaque, illiquid investments that have historically underperformed public markets while enriching fund managers.

### Bitcoin Mining Will Unlock 2+ Gigawatts of Stranded Natural Gas Value in the U.S. - Chris Alfano

Currently, only 0.5% to 1% of U.S. natural gas production is being flared, representing over two gigawatts of potential electrical generation capacity for Bitcoin mining. Chris Alfano predicts this entire market will be captured as oil and gas companies realize they can earn $13.50 per MCF mining Bitcoin versus the $1 or less they receive selling to pipelines in oversupplied markets like West Texas. The addressable market is even larger when including wells that are shut in due to uneconomic gas prices and pipeline-connected gas earning negative returns. 360 Energy is already proving this model works, with top 20 oil producers using Bitcoin mining to unlock millions in additional oil revenue by solving their gas disposal problems.

The prediction extends beyond the U.S. - the Middle East market is "four or five times larger," and South America presents similar opportunities. As more oil and gas companies recognize Bitcoin mining as a solution to their stranded gas problems rather than just a speculative investment, this gigawatt-scale deployment will accelerate over the next 24 months.

### AI-Backed Films Will Create a New "Shooting on Film" Premium for Human-Only Productions - Ali Webb

Within the next few years, entirely human-produced films will command a premium similar to how shooting on actual film is valued today versus digital, predicts Ali Webb of Forager. As AI tools become standard in production workflows, audiences will increasingly seek out and pay more for content created without any AI assistance. This shift is already beginning - major studios are using AI for everything from customer research to visual effects, creating a homogenized product that lacks authentic human creativity.

The prediction is that a new market will emerge for "certified human" productions, funded through innovative models like Forager's Bitcoin-backed bonds that separate artistic creation from investor pressure. Just as some directors today insist on shooting on film for its authentic look despite the extra cost and complexity, future filmmakers will market their work as "AI-free" to differentiate from the flood of AI-generated content. This premium tier will preserve traditional filmmaking crafts while the mainstream industry races toward cheaper, faster AI production methods.

* * *

[![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/04/X-1.png)](https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com/?ref=tftc.io)

Blockspace conducts cutting-edge proprietary research for investors.

Bitcoin Mining Gets Its iPhone Moment: Block's Proto Rig Delivers 15-20% Fleet Upgrade Savings
==============================================================================================

Block's Proto division just shook up the $4-5 billion ASIC manufacturing duopoly with Rig, a 14.1 J/TH miner featuring the industry's first swappable hashboard design. The 800 TH/s unit addresses bitcoin miners' biggest pain point: being forced to buy entirely new machines for each upgrade cycle.

"Legacy hardware is not optimized for a lot of existing infrastructure," explains Proto Hardware Lead Thomas Templeton. The modular 9-hashboard design promises 15-20% savings on fleet refreshes while extending unit lifespans to 10 years—a game-changer for an industry where equipment typically becomes obsolete in 2-3 years.

Industry veterans are taking notice. "Nice to see a supplier actually listen to feedback from industry!" praised Upstream Data Founder Steve Barbour, highlighting the unit's power density and maintainability. JPMorgan analysts called it "compelling" with "near best-in-class efficiency."

Core Scientific is already hashing with their 15 EH/s order at their Dalton, Georgia facility, with bulk shipments expected in H2 2025. Proto also launched Fleet, an open-source management tool, signaling their commitment to miner-friendly innovation. This could finally force Bitmain and MicroBT to abandon their planned obsolescence model.

[_Link to Full Article_](https://blockspace.media/insight/blocks-proto-unveils-rig-a-14-1-j-th-asic-miner-with-swappable-hashboards/?ref=tftc.io)

Subscribe to them here (seriously, you should): [https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com/](https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com/?ref=tftc.io)

* * *

_Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at_ [ten31.vc/invest](https://ten31.vc/invest?ref=tftc.io)_._

* * *

_Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily:_ [_https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/_](https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/)

_STACK SATS hat:_ [https://tftcmerch.io/](https://tftcmerch.io/?ref=tftc.io)

_Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:_

 @media screen and (max-width: 480px) { .mobile-padding { padding: 10px 0 !important; } .social-container { width: 100% !important; max-width: 260px !important; } .social-icon { padding: 0 !important; } .social-icon img { height: 32px !important; width: 32px !important; } .icon-cell { padding: 0 4px !important; } } .mj-column-per-33-333333333333336 { width: 25% !important; max-width: 25%; } .moz-text-html .mj-column-per-33-333333333333336 { width: 25% !important; max-width: 25%; } /\* Helps with rendering in various email clients \*/ body { margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100% !important; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100% !important; } img { -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; } /\* Prevents Gmail from changing the text color in email threads \*/ .im { color: inherit !important; }

[![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/yt.png)](https://youtube.com/@TFTC?feature=shared&ref=tftc.io)

[![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/insta.png)](https://www.instagram.com/tftc.io/?ref=tftc.io)

[![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/TFTC21?ref=tftc.io)

[![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/primall.png)](https://primal.net/tftc?ref=tftc.io)


Bitvocation Report Reveals Strongest Growth of the Year, Signaling Major Industry Expansion Bitcoin’s job market shattered expectations in…

_Bitvocation [Report](https://bitvocation.substack.com/p/bitcoin-job-market-update-july-2025) Reveals Strongest Growth of the Year, Signaling Major Industry Expansion_

Bitcoin’s job market shattered expectations in July 2025, surging to 184 new roles – a 52% year-over-year jump and the highest monthly growth of 2025 – according to a report released by [Bitvocation](https://lightning.news/bitvocation-cure-for-bitcoin-employment-crisis/), a leading bitcoin talent analytics platform. The data signals accelerating confidence in bitcoin’s infrastructure and a pivotal shift in hiring priorities.

![bitcoin jobs](https://lightning.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/bitcoin-jobs-1024x948.png "Bitcoin Job Market Explodes in July 2025 2")

**Key Findings from Bitvocation’s July Report:**
------------------------------------------------

1.  **Historic Hiring Momentum:**
    *   July listings soared to 184 (up from 135 in June), marking the second-strongest hiring month of 2025.
    *   Bitcoin-only companies held 43% market share, driving ecosystem-focused growth.

![bitcoin monthly jobs 1](https://lightning.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/bitcoin-monthly-jobs-1-1024x846.png "Bitcoin Job Market Explodes in July 2025 3")

*   **Developer Demand Roars Back:**
    *   Developer roles surged to 33% of all listings (up from 25% in June), ending a multi-quarter slowdown.
    *   Non-dev roles (marketing, ops, compliance) still dominate (67%), but technical talent is now the fastest-growing segment.

![non dev vs dev](https://lightning.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/non-dev-vs-dev-1024x948.png "Bitcoin Job Market Explodes in July 2025 4")

*   **Remote Work Revolution:**
    *   45% of all roles are remote – Bitcoin-only firms lead with 54% remote offerings (vs. 38% at multi-asset companies).
    *   U.S. (59 roles), Singapore (13), Gibraltar (7), and Czechia (6) emerged as top hiring hubs.

![remote vs on site hybrid category split 1](https://lightning.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/remote-vs-on-site-hybrid-category-split-1-1024x703.png "Bitcoin Job Market Explodes in July 2025 5")

*   **AI’s Quiet Infiltration:**
    *   Roles like _AI Video Creator_ and _AI System Optimization Engineer_ appeared, signaling stealth integration of AI tools into bitcoin workflows.
*   **Experience Over Entry-Level:**
    *   Mid/senior hires prioritized; entry-level roles dropped to 11% of postings as companies focus on execution.

![seniority levels 2](https://lightning.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/seniority-levels-2-1024x482.png "Bitcoin Job Market Explodes in July 2025 6")

*   **Bitcoin-Only vs. Multi-Asset Firms:**
    *   ![🟠](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f7e0.png) **Bitcoin-only:** Focused on ecosystem growth (74% non-dev roles: community, marketing).
    *   **Multi-asset firms:** Driving developer hiring (37% tech roles) to expand infrastructure.
*   **Global Talent Shift:**
    Singapore solidified its position as Asia’s bitcoin hub, while Europe (Gibraltar, Czechia) and LatAm (Brazil) gained traction.

![bitcoin jobs with location 1](https://lightning.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/bitcoin-jobs-with-location-1-1024x614.png "Bitcoin Job Market Explodes in July 2025 7")

#### ![🌟](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f31f.png) **Featured Talent Ready to Build:**

Bitvocation’s POW Lab – bitcoin’s talent pool – includes elite professionals open to roles:

**What’s Next?**
----------------

Q3 2025 is poised to become bitcoin’s strongest hiring quarter yet. Companies seeking data partnerships or custom hiring insights can contact Bitvocation to leverage their real-time job market intelligence.

**Get the Full Report & Talent Access:**

*   ![📱](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f4f1.png) Follow Jobs: [Telegram](https://t.me/bitvocation_jobs)
*   ![✨](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2728.png) Join POW Lab: [For Professionals](https://bitvocation.com/pow-lab)

**About Bitvocation:**
Bitvocation is the definitive source for bitcoin job market intelligence and talent connectivity. We track hiring trends, map global opportunities, and empower bitcoin professionals and companies to build the future of sovereign work.

_Data. Talent. Bitcoin._


The blue check is the first step in Elon's plan to bring the chinese social credit score system to the west. If you cannot resist the temptation of the blue check in its current form you have already lost - what comes next will be much darker.

> Will not live in a pod.
> Will not eat the bugs.
> Will not get the chip.
> Will not get a blue check.
> Will not use CBDCs.
>
> Live Free or Die.

![Blue Check Manifesto](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/06/authenticate-1.png)

Why did Elon buy twitter for $44 Billion? What value does he see in it besides the greater influence that undoubtedly comes with controlling one of the largest social platforms in the world? **We do not need to speculate - he made his intentions incredibly clear in his first meeting with twitter employees after his takeover - WeChat of the West.**

[![Blue Check Manifesto](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/06/wechatofthewest.png)](https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-twitter-could-be-western-wechat-china-superapp-2022-6?ref=discreetlog.com)

To those that do not appreciate freedom, the value prop is clear - WeChat is incredibly powerful and successful in China.

[![Blue Check Manifesto](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/06/wechat2.png)](https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-superapp-wechat-best-feature-walkthrough-2019-12?ref=discreetlog.com)

To those that do appreciate freedom, the concern is clear - WeChat has essentially become required to live in China, has surveillance and censorship integrated at its core, and if you are banned from the app your entire livelihood is at risk. Employment, housing, payments, travel, communication, and more become extremely difficult if WeChat censors determine you have acted out of line.

[![Blue Check Manifesto](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/06/wechat.png)](https://restofworld.org/2022/handwritten-wechat-apology-letters/?ref=discreetlog.com)

![Blue Check Manifesto](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/06/socialcreditscore_.jpg)

The blue check is the first step in Elon's plan to bring the chinese social credit score system to the west. Users who verify their identity are rewarded with more reach and better tools than those that do not. **Verified users are the main product of Elon's twitter - an extensive database of individuals and complete control of the tools he will slowly get them to rely on - it is easier to monetize cattle than free men.**

![Blue Check Manifesto](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/06/bluecheck.png)

If you cannot resist the temptation of the blue check in its current form you have already lost - what comes next will be much darker. If you realize the need to resist - [freedom tech provides us options](https://www.discreetlog.com/nostr/).

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Blue Check Manifesto](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


> ![Nostr: A Revolutionary Communication Protocol](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/04/nostr.webp)
>
> [@matt\_odell](https://twitter.com/MATT_ODELL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com) don't you even dare not ask about nostr!
>
> — Kukks (Andrew Camilleri) (@MrKukks) [May 18, 2021](https://twitter.com/MrKukks/status/1394638825675177986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com)

Nostr first hit my radar spring 2021: created by fellow bitcoiner and friend, [fiatjaf](https://twitter.com/fiatjaf?ref=discreetlog.com), and [released](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr?ref=discreetlog.com) to the world as free open source software. I was fortunate to be able to host a [conversation with him on Citadel Dispatch](https://www.podpage.com/citadeldispatch/cd63-building-nostr-a-censorship-resistant-alternative-to-twitter-with-fiatjaf-jb55-and-mrkukks/?ref=discreetlog.com) in those early days, capturing that moment in history forever. Since then, the protocol has seen explosive viral organic growth as individuals around the world have contributed their time and energy to build out the protocol and the surrounding ecosystem due to the clear need for better communication tools.

_**nostr is to twitter as bitcoin is to paypal**_

As an intro to nostr, let us start with a metaphor:

_**twitter is paypal** - a centralized platform plagued by censorship but has the benefit of established network effects_

_**nostr is bitcoin** - an open protocol that is censorship resistant and robust but requires an organic adoption phase_

**Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.
** - Anyone can run a relay.
 - Anyone can interact with the protocol.
 - Relays can choose which messages they want to relay.
 - Users are identified by a simple public private key pair that they can generate themselves.

Nostr is often compared to twitter since there are nostr clients that emulate twitter functionality and user interface but that is merely one application of the protocol. **Nostr is so much more than a mere twitter competitor.** Nostr clients and relays can transmit a wide variety of data and clients can choose how to display that information to users. The result is a revolution in communication with implications that are difficult for any of us to truly comprehend.

Similar to bitcoin, nostr is an open and permissionless protocol. **No person, company, or government controls it.** Anyone can iterate and build on top of nostr without permission. Together, bitcoin and nostr are incredibly complementary freedom tech tools: censorship resistant, permissionless, robust, and interoperable - money and speech protected by code and incentives, not laws.

As censorship throughout the world continues to escalate, freedom tech provides hope for individuals around the world who refuse to accept the status quo. This movement will succeed on the shoulders of those who choose to stand up and contribute. We will build our own path. A brighter path.

* * *

**My Nostr Public Key:** [npub1qny3tkh0acurzla8x3zy4nhrjz5zd8l9sy9jys09umwng00manysew95gx](https://primal.net/odell?ref=discreetlog.com)

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Nostr: A Revolutionary Communication Protocol](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


Chain data shows that binance bitcoin wallets are near all time highs with roughly 700k bitcoin currently valued at $18.2 Billion USD.

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/ev.webp)

Influencers would have you believe there is an ongoing binance bank run but bitcoin wallet data says otherwise.

\- binance wallets are near all time highs
\- bitfinex wallets are also trending up
\- gemini and coinbase are being hit with massive withdrawals though

**You should not trust custodians, they can rug you without warning.** It is incredibly important you learn how to hold bitcoin yourself, but also consider not blindly trusting influencers with a ref link to shill you.

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5130069278517734406-y-10.jpg)

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5130069278517734407-y.jpg)

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5130069278517734408-y.jpg)

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5127877758570048404-y.jpg)

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


Bitcoin transaction fees limit network abuse by making usage expensive. There is a cost to every transaction, set by a dynamic free market based on demand.

![High Fees? Bitcoin is Working As Designed](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/05/mempoolspace.png)

There must be a limit to how much data is transferred across the bitcoin network in order to keep the ability to run and use your own node accessible. **A node is required to interact with the global bitcoin network - if you do not use your own node then you must trust someone else's node.** If nodes become inaccessible to run then the network will centralize around the remaining entities that operate them - threatening the censorship resistance at the core of bitcoin's value prop. **The bitcoin protocol uses three main mechanisms to keep node operation costs low - a fixed limit on the amount of data in each block, an automatic difficulty adjustment that regulates how many blocks are produced based on current mining hash rate, and a robust dynamic transaction fee market.**

Bitcoin transaction fees limit network abuse by making usage expensive. There is a cost to every transaction, set by a [dynamic free market](https://www.discreetlog.com/utxos/) based on demand for scarce block space. It is an incredibly robust way to prevent spam without relying on centralized entities that can be corrupted or pressured.

After the 2017 bitcoin fee spike we had six years of relative quiet to build tools that would be robust in a sustained high fee market. Fortunately our tools are significantly better now but many still need improvement. Most of the pain points we see today will be mitigated.

**The reality is we were never going to be fully prepared - pressure is needed to show the pain points and provide strong incentives to mitigate them.**

**It will be incredibly interesting to watch how projects adapt under pressure. Optimistic we see great innovation here.**

* * *

_If you are willing to wait for your transaction to confirm you can pay significantly lower fees. Learn best practices for reducing your fee burden [**here**](https://www.discreetlog.com/utxos/).

My guide for running and using your own bitcoin node can be found **[here](https://werunbtc.com/bitcoincore?ref=discreetlog.com)**._

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![High Fees? Bitcoin is Working As Designed](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


How Activist NGOs Have Unintentionally STALLED Progress TOWARDS Ending Gas Flaring

The World Bank set an ambitious goal: eliminate nearly all gas flaring by 2030. Flaring, the burning of excess natural gas during oil extraction, is a major environmental problem, releasing millions of tons of CO2e (CO2 equivalents) in the form of methane and other toxic pollutants into the atmosphere annually. The problem is, flaring only burns 91.1% of the methane, so the other 8.9% goes unburnt directly into the atmosphere. This contributes to climate change significantly because methane is 84 times more warming over a 20 year period than CO2. In regions like the Middle East, flaring has been shown to cause more harm than previously thought, with recent studies revealing higher levels of toxic gases like benzene and sulfur dioxide (source: World Bank Global Gas Flaring Tracker, 2023). Despite the urgency, progress to end flaring has been slow. While there are many factors at play, but one of the most significant barrier is also the most overlooked: environmental NGOs themselves, specifically a small handful of the more ideologically-driven activist environmental NGOs. These organizations, while well-intentioned, have consistently criticized and undermined almost all efforts from outside commercial organizations to collaborate with oil and gas companies to reduce flaring. In this article, we’ll examine how this tendency to label such initiatives as “greenwashing,” their failure to offer viable alternatives, and their creation of an environment of fear have disincentivized other industries from partnering with oil companies to address this critical issue. The result? Flaring continues unabated and the environment, that these NGOs exist to be faithful stewards to, suffers. False positives: The harmful side-effect of calling something “greenwash” that’s not One counter-productive tendency of these NGOs has been their eagerness to label any and all collaboration with oil and gas companies as “greenwashing.” This term, which refers to superficial or misleading environmental claims, has become a catch-all critique for any effort to reduce flaring. These environmental NGO critiques are often reactive rather than analytical. For instance, when General Electric (GE) and Baker Hughes developed technologies to capture and utilize stranded gas, environmental groups like Sierra Club and Greenpeace accused them of “enabling continued fossil fuel extraction” without acknowledging the tangible emissions reductions these technologies achieved (source: Sierra Club Statement, 2020; Greenpeace International, 2020). By focusing on ideological purity rather than measurable outcomes, these NGOs have created a chilling effect, discouraging companies from pursuing innovative solutions to flaring. Incredibly, these criticisms have continued even when direct, measurable, and significant reduction of methane emissions has been the result. For example, when Crusoe Energy, a Bitcoin mining company, partnered with oil producers to convert flared gas into electricity, Jesse Simons, Deputy Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign, dismissed the initiative as “propping up the fossil fuel industry” (source: Sierra Club Press Release, 2022). Similarly, John Noël, Senior Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace USA, criticized ExxonMobil’s pilot project with Crusoe in the Permian Basin, calling it a “distraction from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels entirely” (source: Greenpeace USA Statement, 2021). Criticism Without Solutions Another issue is the tendency of these NGOs to criticize without offering alternatives. For example, when BP partnered with Climeworks, a carbon capture company, to explore using captured methane for industrial purposes, and when Shell worked with Enerflex, a gas processing company to reduce flaring at their oilfields, Carroll Muffett, President of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), accused both companies of using flaring reduction as a “public relations tool” (source: CIEL Press Release, 2021). Similarly, Friends of the Earth criticized waste-to-energy startup Ener-Core for “perpetuating the fossil fuel economy” without proposing a practical alternative for addressing stranded gas (source: Friends of the Earth Report, 2019). While it is an absolutely legitimate function of an environmental NGO to help the public understand when genuine greenwash is at play, the universal tendency across NGOs to label all collaborations with oil companies to end flaring as “greenwash” suggests strongly that there is neither analysis nor discrimination at play here on the part of these environmental NGOs, rather guilty verdict by virtue of the fact one would deign to partner with an oil company. Well, if outside organizations cannot partner with oil companies to deal with methane emissions, oil companies will continue with their own solution: flaring. The environment deserves better service than that. This pattern of criticism without constructive solutions is not only unhelpful but counterproductive. Flaring is a complex problem that requires immediate action. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that oil will still account for 22% of global energy demand in 2050, even in a net-zero scenario (source: IEA Net Zero by 2050 Report, 2021). Given this reality, the choice is not between oil production and no oil production—it is between flaring/venting and utilizing the gas in a way that reduces emissions. By dismissing efforts to address flaring without offering viable alternatives, these NGOs have effectively pushed the industry toward the most environmentally harmful option: continued flaring. How an Environment of Fear Disincentivizes Collaboration Perhaps the most counterproductive consequence of these NGOs’ actions is the environment of fear they have created. Companies that might otherwise partner with oil and gas producers to reduce flaring are often deterred by the risk of reputational damage. For example, renewable energy developers like NextEra Energy and Ørsted have considered using stranded gas for power generation but faced backlash from groups like 350.org and Oil Change International. These organizations accused NextEra of “betraying its renewable energy mission” and Ørsted of “legitimizing the fossil fuel industry” (source: 350.org Press Release, 2021; Oil Change International Report, 2021). This environment of fear has stifled innovation and collaboration. Waste-to-energy startups, renewable energy developers, and even technology giants like GE and Baker Hughes have been reluctant to engage with oil and gas companies, fearing the wrath of activist NGOs. The result is a missed opportunity to reduce emissions and accelerate the transition to a cleaner energy future. Bitcoin Mining: A Pragmatic Exception In this context, Bitcoin mining has emerged as a rare exception. Companies like Crusoe Energy and Upstream Data have been willing to partner with oil producers to convert flared gas into electricity, reducing emissions and generating economic value. These initiatives have been praised by the World Economic Forum for their tangible impact on flaring reduction, even as they face criticism from some NGOs. Crusoe’s projects in North Dakota and Wyoming have reduced flaring by over 90% at partnered sites (source: Crusoe Energy Case Studies, 2023). Similarly, Upstream Data’s operations in Canada have prevented millions of tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually (source: Upstream Data Reports, 2022). Bitcoin mining’s success in addressing flaring highlights the importance of focusing on outcomes over ideology. NGOs like Sierra Club and Greenpeace were highly criticized of these partnerships at their inception, but have not acknowledged the measurable emissions reductions they ended up achieving. Analysis before ideology For us to have any hope of working collaboratively to end flaring, it’s critical for enviromental NGOs to step up and stop crying “greenwash” without analysis, as has been their tendency, to the detriment of the environment and collaborative action. The fight against flaring is too important to be derailed by ideological purity, and there is a phrase in the environmental movement that they would do well to remember “the perfect is the enemy of the good”. While the intentions of activist NGOs are good, good intentions divorsed from nuanced thinking can and has been counterproductive to the very environmental progress they only exist to create. Their reactive criticism, lack of viable alternatives, and creation of an environment of fear have hindered progress on this critical issue. To truly address flaring, we need a new approach—one that prioritizes measurable outcomes and encourages collaboration. These critiques, while well-intentioned, are misguided. By discouraging collaboration with oil companies, these NGOs inadvertently push the industry to deal with methane emissions in the most environmentally harmful way: flaring or venting. Continued inaction is simply not an option. It’s time for environmental organizations to stop criticicing every imperfect effort to move forward, and get their own house in order. In practical terms, this means: Properly evaluating whether collaborations are greenwash, or whether they can make a measurable difference Learning to work alongside commercial operations to better understand their motivations and strategies before simply criticizing them Taking time to do their own research, including engaging with experts in the domain (something that has been conspicuous by its absent in NGOs criticisms of Bitcoin mining and other industries) Take responsibility for the fact that they have the power to aid environmental progress, but equally the power to hinder progress through criticizing they may not fully understand and which may in fact be a solution, or part of the solution. Free themselves from the trap of overzealously declaring “greenwashing” even when it’s a false positive, and focus on what really matters: working collaboratively to reduce emissions and protecting the environment.

The World Bank set an ambitious goal: eliminate nearly [all gas flaring by 2030](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/zero-routine-flaring-by-2030). Flaring, the burning of excess natural gas during oil extraction, is a [major environmental problem](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63051458), releasing millions of tons of CO2e (CO2 equivalents) in the form of methane and other toxic pollutants into the atmosphere annually. The problem is, flaring only burns 91.1% of the methane, so the other 8.9% goes unburnt directly into the atmosphere. This contributes to climate change significantly because methane is [84 times more warming](https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/methane-action-tackling-warming-planet) over a 20 year period than CO2.

![](https://batcoinz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screen-Shot-2025-01-28-at-9.59.33-AM-1024x679.png)

In regions like the Middle East, flaring has been shown to cause more harm than previously thought, with recent studies revealing [higher levels of toxic gases](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67522413) like benzene and sulfur dioxide (source: _World Bank Global Gas Flaring Tracker, 2023_). Despite the urgency, progress to end flaring has been slow. While there are many factors at play, but one of the most significant barrier is also the most overlooked: environmental NGOs themselves, specifically a small handful of the more ideologically-driven activist environmental NGOs.

These organizations, while well-intentioned, have consistently criticized and undermined almost all efforts from outside commercial organizations to collaborate with oil and gas companies to reduce flaring. In this article, we’ll examine how this tendency to label such initiatives as “greenwashing,” their failure to offer viable alternatives, and their creation of an environment of fear have disincentivized other industries from partnering with oil companies to address this critical issue.

The result? Flaring continues unabated and the environment, that these NGOs exist to be faithful stewards to, suffers.

* * *

### False positives: **The harmful side-effect of calling something “greenwash” that’s not**

One counter-productive tendency of these NGOs has been their eagerness to label any and all collaboration with oil and gas companies as “greenwashing.” This term, which refers to superficial or misleading environmental claims, has become a catch-all critique for any effort to reduce flaring.

These environmental NGO critiques are often reactive rather than analytical. For instance, when General Electric (GE) and Baker Hughes developed technologies to capture and utilize stranded gas, environmental groups like Sierra Club and Greenpeace accused them of “enabling continued fossil fuel extraction” without acknowledging the tangible emissions reductions these technologies achieved (source: _Sierra Club Statement, 2020_; _Greenpeace International, 2020_). By focusing on ideological purity rather than measurable outcomes, these NGOs have created a chilling effect, discouraging companies from pursuing innovative solutions to flaring.

Incredibly, these criticisms have continued even when direct, measurable, and significant reduction of methane emissions has been the result. For example, when Crusoe Energy, a Bitcoin mining company, partnered with oil producers to convert flared gas into electricity, Jesse Simons, Deputy Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign, dismissed the initiative as “propping up the fossil fuel industry” (source: _Sierra Club Press Release, 2022_). Similarly, John Noël, Senior Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace USA, criticized ExxonMobil’s pilot project with Crusoe in the Permian Basin, calling it a “distraction from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels entirely” (source: _Greenpeace USA Statement, 2021_).

* * *

### **Criticism Without Solutions**

Another issue is the tendency of these NGOs to criticize without offering alternatives. For example, when BP partnered with Climeworks, a carbon capture company, to explore using captured methane for industrial purposes, and when Shell worked with Enerflex, a gas processing company to reduce flaring at their oilfields, Carroll Muffett, President of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), accused both companies of using flaring reduction as a “public relations tool” (source: _CIEL Press Release, 2021_). Similarly, Friends of the Earth criticized waste-to-energy startup Ener-Core for “perpetuating the fossil fuel economy” without proposing a practical alternative for addressing stranded gas (source: _Friends of the Earth Report, 2019_).

While it is an absolutely legitimate function of an environmental NGO to help the public understand when genuine greenwash is at play, the universal tendency across NGOs to label all collaborations with oil companies to end flaring as “greenwash” suggests strongly that there is neither analysis nor discrimination at play here on the part of these environmental NGOs, rather guilty verdict by virtue of the fact one would deign to partner with an oil company. Well, if outside organizations cannot partner with oil companies to deal with methane emissions, oil companies will continue with their own solution: flaring. The environment deserves better service than that.

This pattern of criticism without constructive solutions is not only unhelpful but counterproductive. Flaring is a complex problem that requires immediate action. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that oil will still account for 22% of global energy demand in 2050, even in a net-zero scenario (source: _IEA Net Zero by 2050 Report, 2021_). Given this reality, the choice is not between oil production and no oil production—it is between flaring/venting and utilizing the gas in a way that reduces emissions. By dismissing efforts to address flaring without offering viable alternatives, these NGOs have effectively pushed the industry toward the most environmentally harmful option: continued flaring.

* * *

### **How an Environment of Fear Disincentivizes Collaboration**

Perhaps the most counterproductive consequence of these NGOs’ actions is the environment of fear they have created. Companies that might otherwise partner with oil and gas producers to reduce flaring are often deterred by the risk of reputational damage. For example, renewable energy developers like NextEra Energy and Ørsted have considered using stranded gas for power generation but faced backlash from groups like 350.org and Oil Change International. These organizations accused NextEra of “betraying its renewable energy mission” and Ørsted of “legitimizing the fossil fuel industry” (source: _350.org Press Release, 2021_; _Oil Change International Report, 2021_).

This environment of fear has stifled innovation and collaboration. Waste-to-energy startups, renewable energy developers, and even technology giants like GE and Baker Hughes have been reluctant to engage with oil and gas companies, fearing the wrath of activist NGOs. The result is a missed opportunity to reduce emissions and accelerate the transition to a cleaner energy future.

* * *

### **Bitcoin Mining: A Pragmatic Exception**

In this context, Bitcoin mining has emerged as a rare exception. Companies like Crusoe Energy and Upstream Data have been willing to partner with oil producers to convert flared gas into electricity, reducing emissions and generating economic value. These initiatives have been [praised by the World Economic Forum](https://www.weforum.org/videos/this-start-up-catches-waste-methane-to-power-data-centres/) for their tangible impact on flaring reduction, even as they face criticism from some NGOs. Crusoe’s projects in North Dakota and Wyoming have reduced flaring by over 90% at partnered sites (source: _Crusoe Energy Case Studies, 2023_). Similarly, Upstream Data’s operations in Canada have prevented millions of tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually (source: _Upstream Data Reports, 2022_).

Bitcoin mining’s success in addressing flaring highlights the importance of focusing on outcomes over ideology. NGOs like Sierra Club and Greenpeace were highly criticized of these partnerships at their inception, but have not acknowledged the measurable emissions reductions they ended up achieving.

* * *

### **Analysis before ideology**

For us to have any hope of working collaboratively to end flaring, it’s critical for enviromental NGOs to step up and stop crying “greenwash” without analysis, as has been their tendency, to the detriment of the environment and collaborative action. The fight against flaring is too important to be derailed by ideological purity, and there is a phrase in the environmental movement that they would do well to remember “the perfect is the enemy of the good”.

While the intentions of activist NGOs are good, good intentions divorsed from nuanced thinking can and has been counterproductive to the very environmental progress they only exist to create. Their reactive criticism, lack of viable alternatives, and creation of an environment of fear have hindered progress on this critical issue. To truly address flaring, we need a new approach—one that prioritizes measurable outcomes and encourages collaboration.

These critiques, while well-intentioned, are misguided. By discouraging collaboration with oil companies, these NGOs inadvertently push the industry to deal with methane emissions in the most environmentally harmful way: flaring or venting.

Continued inaction is simply not an option. It’s time for environmental organizations to stop criticicing every imperfect effort to move forward, and get their own house in order. In practical terms, this means:

1.  Properly evaluating whether collaborations are greenwash, or whether they can make a measurable difference
2.  Learning to work alongside commercial operations to better understand their motivations and strategies before simply criticizing them
3.  Taki