Brazil’s solar energy company, Thopen, exploring Bitcoin mining

  • Thopen plans to use surplus solar energy for Bitcoin mining.
  • The move could cut curtailment losses and boost grid stability.
  • Brazil may emerge as a leader in sustainable crypto mining.

Brazilian solar energy firm Thopen is considering a bold new move to address one of the country’s most pressing renewable energy challenges of excess electricity generation.

The company plans to explore Bitcoin mining as a way to convert surplus solar energy into a profitable and sustainable business model.

Turning surplus energy into digital gold

Brazil’s rapid expansion of solar and wind power has brought both opportunities and challenges.

While the country now generates abundant clean energy, transmission bottlenecks and limited local demand have resulted in an oversupply in several regions.

This surplus often leads to energy curtailment, where producers are forced to reduce output, causing financial losses.

Thopen’s CEO, Gustavo Ribeiro, has acknowledged this growing concern and revealed that the company is studying ways to transform the problem into an advantage.

During an interview with BN Americas, Ribeiro explained that Thopen is considering setting up Bitcoin mining operations and data centers near its energy generation sites.

The goal, Ribeiro said, is to “convert energy into capital” — a strategy that could help absorb excess electricity, stabilize local supply, and ensure that renewable power is not wasted.

A breakthrough for Brazil’s renewable energy sector

The proposal comes at a time when Brazil’s renewable energy industry is facing limits on the amount of solar power it can feed into the grid.

By channeling surplus electricity into Bitcoin mining, Thopen aims to reduce curtailment losses and create a steady revenue stream.

Analysts note that this integration of renewable energy and digital mining could offer a flexible, scalable solution for the nation’s energy sector.

Similar models are emerging across the globe.

In the United Kingdom, Union Jack Oil has begun converting excess natural gas into electricity to power Bitcoin mining operations.

In Canada, AgriFORCE Growing Systems announced plans to use stranded gas to run mining rigs.

Thopen’s venture could position Brazil as the next country to merge clean energy with crypto mining on a large scale, showcasing an innovative way to monetize renewable resources.

Sustainable Bitcoin mining and grid stability

One of the most promising aspects of Thopen’s strategy is its potential to improve both environmental and economic outcomes.

Using surplus renewable power for Bitcoin mining eliminates the need for fossil fuel-based energy, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the process.

It also provides solar farms with a new income source, turning what would otherwise be wasted electricity into a productive asset.

Experts say this model can also enhance grid stability.

When power generation exceeds demand, mining operations can consume the surplus, balancing the system and preventing instability.

During low-output periods, operations can scale down, allowing electricity to flow back to the grid when it is needed most.

This flexibility makes Bitcoin mining an ideal companion to variable renewable sources like solar and wind.

The challenges and opportunities ahead

Despite its potential, Thopen’s plan is not without obstacles.

Brazil’s regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and energy integration remains under development.

Companies venturing into this space must navigate evolving policies, infrastructure demands, and the volatility of the crypto market.

However, industry observers believe that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Ribeiro’s vision aligns with Brazil’s broader renewable energy goals — promoting efficiency, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

If successful, Thopen’s approach could reshape how nations handle renewable energy surpluses, offering a model that is both profitable and environmentally sound.

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Germany’s AfD party proposes Bitcoin as strategic asset

  • The AfD party is urging Germany to treat Bitcoin as a strategic national asset.
  • The AfD Bitcoin reserve motion seeks MiCA exemption and clear, favorable tax rules.
  • AfD is pushing Bitcoin as “state-free money” to boost sovereignty.

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has put forward a parliamentary motion urging the government to recognize Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

The short, forceful proposal argues Bitcoin deserves distinct treatment from other crypto-assets and calls for tax and regulatory relief to bolster innovation and national sovereignty.

The Bitcoin strategic reserve motion by AfD

The AfD motion urges lawmakers to treat Bitcoin differently from tokens and stablecoins covered by the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

It argues Bitcoin’s decentralised design and fixed supply make it a unique form of digital value that should not be shoehorned into rules intended for centrally issued crypto instruments.

The party explicitly proposes that the government consider accumulating Bitcoin within national reserves as a hedge against inflation and currency volatility.

A central demand in the motion is tax certainty.

AfD lawmakers want to preserve the existing 12-month holding exemption for private capital gains and maintain Bitcoin’s exemption from VAT.

They also call for private mining and running Lightning Network nodes to be clearly classified as non-commercial activities, reducing administrative burdens for individual participants.

The motion stresses the right to self-custody and warns that legal uncertainty deters long-term private investment.

AfD frames the proposal as part of a broader defence of digital sovereignty.

The party opposes a European digital euro and portrays Bitcoin as “state-free money” that can protect liberties and reduce dependence on centrally issued currency instruments.

The motion arrives amid debate over Germany’s decision in mid-2024 to sell nearly 50,000 BTC seized from criminal proceedings — an action AfD and others now characterise as a policy mistake given subsequent price movements.

The proposal argues that heavy-handed national implementation of MiCA risks capital flight and diminishes Germany’s standing in blockchain innovation.

AfD lawmakers say excessive rules will push firms and talent to friendlier jurisdictions, eroding competitiveness in a field with rapidly evolving technology and commercial models.

AfD also highlights potential synergies between Bitcoin and energy policy.

The motion suggests that productive uses of excess renewable supply — including mining — could create a technological and economic fit between Germany’s energy transition and the Bitcoin network.

The party frames state accumulation of Bitcoin as a prudent diversification of reserve assets, drawing parallels to moves and proposals in other European countries that have discussed or adopted similar approaches.

Beyond urging a strategic statement from the federal government, the motion seeks concrete commitments: keep tax advantages intact, exempt certain private operations from commercial classification, enshrine self-custody rights, and open study of Bitcoin’s role in reserves and energy integration.

AfD wants the Bundestag to formally recognise Bitcoin’s distinct status and to restrain national rule-making that would extend MiCA beyond its intended scope.

The reaction from the public

Supporters in crypto circles welcomed the proposal as a sign that mainstream political debate is shifting away from dismissive tropes about digital currencies.

Critics, however, worry the plan could politicise reserve policy or clash with EU regulatory intent.

Observers note that Germany occupies an outsized spot in Europe’s economy, so any move to treat Bitcoin strategically would reverberate across markets and policy debates.

As Bundestag review AfD’s motions and the larger question of how national policy should sit alongside EU rules, whether the proposal gains traction depends on cross-party calculation about economic benefits, sovereign risk, and regulatory coherence.

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Bitcoin, altcoins slip as the Fed lowers interest rates by 25 basis points

  • The US Fed has cut rates by 25 bps, signaling a softer monetary stance.
  • Bitcoin price is down 3% to $111,400 as traders digest the policy move.
  • Fed to end the quantitative tightening on December 1.

The cryptocurrency market has seen renewed volatility after the US Federal Reserve announced a widely expected 25-basis-point interest rate cut.

Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other altcoins have reacted with mild declines as traders digested the central bank’s decision and its implications for the broader economy and digital asset markets.

Fed delivers another cut amid economic uncertainty

The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point, bringing it down to a target range of 3.75%-4%.

This marks the second consecutive rate cut as policymakers move to support a cooling economy.

The decision, anticipated by nearly all market participants, came amid ongoing concerns over a weakening labor market, a persistent government shutdown, and the scarcity of fresh economic data.

At the post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that while some key federal data releases have been delayed by the government shutdown, the available public and private sector information suggests that the outlook for employment and inflation has changed little since the September meeting.

Powell also cautioned that another rate cut in December is “not a foregone conclusion.”

While projections released in September had indicated potential reductions in both October and December, Powell emphasized that the December move is not assured, signaling a more data-dependent approach by the central bank.

The Fed also announced it would end its quantitative tightening program on December 1, signaling a gradual shift toward a less restrictive policy stance.

However, not all members of the Federal Open Market Committee agree on how quickly to ease policy.

Some, like Stephen Miran, have argued for a steeper 50-basis-point reduction to accelerate growth, while others — including Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan — advocated caution.

This internal split underscores growing uncertainty over how the Fed will navigate the coming months.

Crypto markets unimpressed as Bitcoin price slips

In the hours following the Fed announcement, Bitcoin price slipped roughly 3% to trade near $111,400, while Ethereum hovered around $4,000, down a similar margin.

The broader crypto market cap stood at $3.86 trillion, after a modest 2.4% drop, with many top assets in the red.

Liquidations across derivatives platforms totaled approximately $560 million, reflecting a brief wave of volatility.

The muted reaction suggests the rate cut had been largely priced in, with traders anticipating the move weeks in advance.

Bitcoin’s weakness, in particular, follows a broader retreat from the all-time high it reached earlier this month.

Despite optimism surrounding lower rates and renewed liquidity, the market remains cautious.

Ethereum and other leading altcoins, including Solana (SOL), XRP, and Binance Coin (BNB), have also registered small daily losses.

Economic backdrop weighs on investor sentiment

Recent data from the Chicago Fed shows unemployment holding near 4.3%, its highest level in four years, while inflation continues to hover around 3%, above the central bank’s 2% target.

The Conference Board’s Expectations Index also remains below levels typically associated with economic optimism, fueling fears of a potential recession.

These signals paint a picture of an economy losing momentum.

With inflation still elevated and job growth softening, the Fed faces a delicate balancing act — supporting growth without reigniting price pressures.

Analysts suggest that if the economy slows further, additional rate cuts could follow before the end of the year.

Markets now await Powell’s next move

Traders will closely watch Powell’s comments for hints about how long the current easing cycle might continue.

Many expect the Fed to maintain a cautious tone while emphasizing flexibility, given the lack of up-to-date economic data due to the government shutdown.

Crypto analysts believe that a sustained move toward lower rates and an eventual halt to balance-sheet tightening could support digital assets in the medium term.

Easier financial conditions tend to encourage risk-taking, and historically, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have benefited when liquidity expands.

Still, near-term volatility is likely.

The Bitcoin price remains sensitive to macroeconomic shifts, and with uncertainty over both monetary policy and the global economic outlook, traders may see further swings before the market finds its next direction.

In the short term, crypto investors are bracing for Powell’s remarks and any signals of further easing.

While lower interest rates can provide relief for risk assets, the path forward remains uncertain — and for now, Bitcoin and altcoins appear content to wait for clearer signs from the Fed’s next move.

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Injective (INJ) completes its first community buyback worth $32 million

  • The L1 project burns over 6.7M tokens in its first community buyback.
  • The initiative aims to reward active network participants.
  • Another buyback is slated for November, strengthening Injective’s deflationary mechanism.
Injective has taken it to X to confirm the completion of its first community-led token buyback, which started on October 23, marking a key step in the L1’s deflationary model.

The team revealed that the event burned 6.78 million INJ coins, worth roughly $32.28 million.

The strategic initiative sets Injective apart from most blockchain projects, making asset buybacks a community-driven event.

Rather than the foundation or team repurchasing tokens and burning them privately, Injective prioritizes user participation.

The layer 1 network creates a system that merges deflation with community incentives.

Such an approach ensures that active network participants benefit from Injective’s ecosystem expansion, aligning rewards between INJ holders, traders, and developers.

The announcement read:

Injective is the only chain where token buybacks directly reward the community.

Notably, Injective opened the first community buyback event for the public on October 23, with the actual repurchase and token burn occurring after a week, on October 27.

Injective’s unique buyback strategy

Injective’s community buyback mechanism adopts two powerful yet simple ways.

First and foremost, the platform permanently burns native tokens to reduce the overall supply.

Secondly, it distributes some of the value to reward users who contribute to the INJ’s ecosystem.

According to the official blog:

The Community BuyBack is a monthly on-chain event that allows anyone to take part in Injective’s deflationary mechanism. Participants commit INJ, and in return receive a pro rata share of the revenue generated across the Injective ecosystem. The INJ exchanged is then permanently burned, reducing the total supply of INJ.

Notably, the Community BuyBack basket comprises various tokens, including USDT and INJ, valued at 10,000 Injective tokens.

That design introduces a robust deflationary model, while incentivizing loyal users.

Injective maintains transparency, with all buyback information available on the dashboard.

Adopting a deflationary economy with a twist

Injective’s latest announcement is part of its broader mission to build a community-centered, sustainable token economy.

By burning native tokens every month, the project aims to reduce INJ inflation while encouraging long-term holding.

Most projects across the decentralized finance sector are embracing such mechanisms.

However, Injective has added a significant twist, involving its users in the process.

Besides strengthening trust, such an approach keeps INJ holders engaged in the ecosystem’s growth.

Also, holders will benefit from scarcity as every buyback reduces the circulating asset supply permanently.

The next burn will happen next month, in November.

INJ price outlook

The native token remained relatively muted over the past 24 hours, as bears moved the broader market.

INJ is trading at $8.66. It has consolidated between $9 and $8 over the previous week, gaining over 3% in that timeframe.

Its daily trading volume has increased by 17%, signaling renewed optimism, likely following the buyback announcement.

Nevertheless, broad market sentiments will influence the altcoin’s price trajectory in the coming sessions.

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Ondo Global Markets expands to BNB Chain

  • Ondo Global Markets launches on BNB Chain, enabling 24/7 access to over 100 tokenized US stocks and ETFs.
  • Integration of BNB Chain is part of Ondo’s expansion and boosts tokenized equities.
  • The platform is live on Ethereum and will expand to other chains.

Decentralized finance platform and tokenized real-world asset issuer Ondo Finance is expanding its tokenized securities platform to BNB Chain.

According to the press release, the move is a key milestone for both Ondo Finance and BNB Chain.

For the latter, an increasingly huge player in the decentralized finance and real-world assets tokenization space, it means growth into a sector currently seeing great traction. 

Integration comes as top asset managers and other financial markets providers tap into the blockchain for fresh traction of their products, including tokenized stocks, private credit and US Treasuries.

What Ondo Global Markets’ launch on BNB Chain means

Ondo Finance announced its expansion on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

The move sees the RWA market platform bring its institutional-grade tokenized equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to millions of users worldwide via BNB Chain. 

Nathan Allman, founder and CEO of Ondo Finance, commented:

“BNB Chain is home to one of the largest and most engaged global user bases in Web3. Expanding Ondo Global Markets to BNB Chain allows us to bring tokenized US stocks and ETFs to millions of users across Asia, Latin America, and other geographies, in an environment that is fast, cost-efficient, and highly interoperable. This is a major step toward making US markets globally accessible through blockchain technology.”

In particular, Ondo is helping to unlock 24/7 access to over 100 tokenized US stocks and ETFs for over 3.4 million daily active users, with BNB Chain having a notably strong presence in Asia and Latin America.  

“The integration provides BNB Chain — with its 3.4 million daily active users and expansive DeFi ecosystem — access to over 100 tokenized US stocks and ETFs, supported by leading ecosystem projects such as PancakeSwap,” Ondo wrote in its blog post.

Launched on Ethereum in September 2025, Ondo Global Markets has rapidly scaled to $350 million in total value locked (TVL).

The platform has so far generated over $669 million in onchain volume.

The platform enables non-US investors to gain seamless exposure to blue-chip assets like Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, and S&P 500 ETFs, backed by securities held at US-registered broker-dealers.

For BNB Chain users

Key features include blockchain-based settlement, fractional ownership for affordability, and deep liquidity sourced directly from traditional exchanges.

Users can redeem tokens up to $1 million per transaction with near-real-time pricing via Chainlink oracles.

Integration with BNB Chain ecosystem projects like PancakeSwap enhances accessibility, allowing seamless trading via familiar wallets without KYC hurdles for many users.

BNB Chain’s head of business development, Sarah Song, also commented on the deployment. 

“Real-world assets are one of the fastest-growing segments on BNB Chain, and having Ondo Finance join our ecosystem is another strong validation of that momentum,” Song noted. “Together, we’re expanding access to high-quality financial assets and driving the next wave of adoption that connects traditional markets with blockchain technology.”

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