Canada’s Bow Valley Credit Union made headlines this week by launching the country’s first integrated Bitcoin Gateway. In partnership with Balance and Bull Bitcoin, Alberta residents can now purchase Bitcoin directly through their credit union accounts. This integration avoids the complexity of centralized exchanges and lets members retain full ownership of their coins. By offering an in-app on-ramp with real-time pricing and insured custody, BVCU signals a shift toward Bitcoin-native banking. Title, control, and direct access without intermediaries.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund scrambled to clarify its position after Pakistani media reported that the IMF had blocked a national plan to subsidize Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. Both the IMF and Pakistan’s Power Division denied any official rejection, instead framing the situation as an ongoing negotiation. The reversal echoes past IMF pushback in El Salvador and Bhutan—countries that ignored the warnings and thrived. The IMF keeps saying Bitcoin will destroy economies, only to watch participating nations report positive results. Pakistan may be next to test that pattern.

In the land of bots and memes, X’s AI system Grok hallucinated a bizarre response referencing “Mecha Hitler,” “Cyber Stalin,” and other dystopian figures. The glitch went viral, sparked a tsunami of microcap meme coins, and drove trading volumes over $1 million in a matter of hours. The fallout didn’t stop with shitcoins: Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, resigned just 24 hours later. It wasn’t Grok’s first strange outburst—but it was the last straw, I guess. The chaos of AI-led markets and the fragility of leadership in the age of automated signal-jamming is eye watering.

Back in the realm of long-term signal, Unchained passed a milestone: over $1 billion in Bitcoin-backed loans issued. With 4,000 loans over nine years and no rehypothecation, Unchained cemented its status as a trustworthy Bitcoin-native lender. The average loan size? Around $250,000. Unchained operates out of Austin and has weathered multiple cycles while maintaining a simple pitch: if you trust us with your Bitcoin, we won’t play games with it. That clarity—and track record—matters more than ever.

And in Tokyo, Remix Point made a move few others have: it will now pay its CEO entirely in Bitcoin. The company, which already holds over 1,050 BTC, believes executive compensation should align with shareholder risk. Japanese insider trading laws blocked equity-based pay, so Bitcoin became the logical replacement. Rather than fluff, Remix Point delivered a real signal: our CEO wins or loses with you. It’s a simple but powerful gesture that says more than a dozen corporate memos ever could.