Nostr notes by bitcoinpolicyuk

Bitcoin is not a generic cryptoasset. We’ve written to the FCA ...

2026-10-11T07:47:22Z

Bitcoin is not a generic cryptoasset.
We’ve written to the FCA arguing that “same risk, same regulation” should work both ways.

Bitcoin has no issuer, no controlling company and no organisation that can change its supply or allocate tokens to insiders.

It is not asking for special treatment. It is asking to be regulated according to the risks it actually presents.

Read the full article and open letter:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-is-not-a-generic-cryptoasset-our-open-letter-to-the-fca

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

The risk is not the tax bill. It is a home address tied to a ...

2026-10-08T08:05:45Z

The risk is not the tax bill.

It is a home address tied to a history that never disappears.

quoting
nevent1q…gsyg
HMRC wants more power over financial data. The problem is that Bitcoin is not a bank account.

Once names, home addresses and tax IDs are linked to a Bitcoin address, that information can stay connected to a public ledger indefinitely.

Europe is already seeing the consequences when crypto holders’ identities and holdings are exposed.

France saw 19 verified physical attacks on crypto holders in 2025. A French tax official was charged after using government software to look up crypto investors' details and passing data to criminals.

I spoke to HM Revenue & Customs, Recap, BULL BITCOIN and Knightbridge Tax about what the UK and EU rules could mean for privacy, self-custody and physical security.

Tax enforcement should not create a target list.

My latest for Forbes.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2026/10/08/hmrcs-proposed-crypto-powers-could-increase-physical-security-risks/

Labour conference is back in Liverpool. Last year Bitcoin Policy ...

2026-09-30T17:32:16Z

Labour conference is back in Liverpool.

Last year Bitcoin Policy UK turned up with orange umbrellas and a stand in the main exhibition hall.

We:

- Put Bitcoin on the conference floor
- Spoke to the FCA
- Put Bitcoin books into politicians’ hands*
- Took mining into the energy debate
- Asked Peter Kyle about the UK's bitcoin
- Spoke to MPs about UK Bitcoin policy

A year later, Bitcoin is being used on stage as a political punchline.

We’ll keep making sure the people writing the rules understand Bitcoin.

This was a huge team effort. Thank you to everyone who made it what it was.

* Lawrence Lepard's The Big Print and Jason Maier’s A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin . Thank you both.

H/t Russell Rukin for the umbrellas, booth and beautiful leaflets, Alex Glasse for filming and getting our very own “distracted boyfriend” moment and The Bitcoin IFA for spotting us on the news.

Our CEO @nprofile…ktas was on two panels at @nprofile…tyua in ...

2026-09-28T12:01:35Z

Our CEO Susie (nprofile…ktas) was on two panels at BTCHEL (nprofile…tyua) in Helsinki.

- Will Bitcoin break the EU?
- Who’s writing Europe’s Bitcoin policy?

You can have a framework that looks open and still be shut out in practice. In the UK the rulebook is already being written while the strategy is still being debated.

Her recap is below.

quoting
nevent1q…6stj
Bitcoin is being regulated in Europe and the UK before policymakers have really understood what Bitcoin is.

At BTCHEL (nprofile…j84c), the first panel set out three approaches:

- Protect sovereignty and self custody
- Work within MiCA and regulated rails
- Push back when state power goes too far

The second panel asked who is writing Bitcoin policy across Europe.

Brussels, national regulators, courts, governments and parliaments each write a piece, but banks still decide whether you get an account or can send a payment.

You can have a law that looks open but you can still be shut out in practice. Lawful Bitcoin payments are already being blocked, accounts restricted, and customers made to jump through hoops that have nothing to do with the statute.

In the UK the FCA, Treasury and Bank of England are already writing the rulebook, while Parliament is still debating what an overarching digital asset strategy should look like.

By 2030, Europe will have written more law around Bitcoin. If it is still being treated as just another cryptoasset, the rules may never properly account for what makes Bitcoin different.

We still have a long way to go, but thank you to my fellow panellists for all their work.

Bitcoin Policy UK has ended its consolidation phase and is moving ...

2026-09-27T06:42:08Z

Bitcoin Policy UK has ended its consolidation phase and is moving into its next stage with a clearer structure and renewed focus.

Susie (nprofile…yh4k) Violet Ward has resumed the role of CEO, with Cristina Llamas leading operations as COO.

Even while operating at reduced capacity, the work continued. During consolidation BPUK:

- responded to FCA Consultation Paper CP25/40 on cryptoasset regulation
- sent its 2026 Manifesto to all 650 MPs
- responded to the Government’s Digital ID consultation
- published research on the structural risks of Bitcoin treasury companies
- published and updated the BPUK Privacy Toolkit
- responded to HMRC on stablecoin taxation
- submitted evidence on banking access
- responded to HMRC on cryptoasset lending
- responded to the Bank of England on systemic stablecoins

Susie said, “Bitcoin has no CEO, no head office and no central body speaking for it. Bitcoin does not need permission. Our job is to make sure policymakers understand how it works and where rules built around issuers and intermediaries do not fit.”

BPUK remains a small, independent team run by volunteers with limited resources, but consolidation is over and we are excited about what comes next.

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bpuk-ends-consolidation-and-enters-next-phase

Now available to listen to on ‘On the Record' by Bitcoin ...

2026-09-27T06:25:43Z

Now available to listen to on ‘On the Record' by Bitcoin Policy UK.

This episode covers our response to HMRC’s draft rules on Bitcoin lending and liquidity pools, including where the proposed rules work and where they still need fixing.

Listen here:

https://fountain.fm/episode/xE7boMfZ60B470omrB5K

quoting
nevent1q…p5t9
BPUK has submitted its response to HMRC’s consultation on the tax treatment of Bitcoin lending and liquidity pools. The proposed no gain, no loss treatment is sensible. Lending Bitcoin and later receiving it back should not be treated as a taxable disposal.

Two things we pushed back on: the “low risk of loss” test doesn't account for BTC's price volatility, and the drafting still doesn't separate native Bitcoin from wrapped BTC, which carries custodial and bridge risk that self-custodied Bitcoin doesn't.

Full submission on the Bitcoin Policy UK website.

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-lending-tax-consultation-what-we-told-hmrc

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Bitcoin Policy UK has ended its consolidation phase. We remain a ...

2026-09-21T07:16:40Z

Bitcoin Policy UK has ended its consolidation phase.

We remain a small volunteer organisation and would welcome support from anyone who wants this independent Bitcoin policy work to continue.

If you would like to help fund the next phase, please email contact@bitcoinpolicy.uk.

quoting
nevent1q…33jg
Bitcoin Policy UK is coming out of consolidation and I am resuming my role as CEO. Dr Cristina Llamas-Rey is returning as COO.

Getting here has not been easy. I have never taken a salary from BPUK, and the organisation is still run by a small team of volunteers giving their time around jobs, families and other commitments.

In January, I reached the point where I could not justify taking recurring donations when we did not have the resources to operate properly. Scaling back was the responsible thing to do.

The aim was to keep BPUK going while we cut costs and rebuilt around what we could actually sustain. That is what we have done.

Throughout consolidation, the work continued and we sent our 2026 Manifesto to all 650 MPs. We also responded to Government, FCA, HMRC and Bank of England consultations, worked on banking access, Digital ID and privacy, and continued publishing articles and practical resources.

The way we work has been simplified, with a stricter line on what BPUK can realistically take on.

We are still unfunded and our resources remain limited, so coming out of consolidation does not mean we suddenly have the capacity to do everything people would like BPUK to do.

There are a lot of worthwhile projects and great people doing important work, but we have to guard our time carefully and focus on where BPUK can have the most impact.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped keep BPUK going through this period. The people who continued giving their time, expertise and support made it possible for us to keep moving while we worked through everything behind the scenes. I am very grateful.

I would like BPUK to have a paid team and do far more. If you can help with funding, please email contact@bitcoinpolicy.uk.

Press release below.

bitcoinpolicyuk (nprofile…arr8)

How much influence should the Bank of England have over privately ...

2026-09-20T09:57:34Z

How much influence should the Bank of England have over privately issued money?

Bitcoin Policy UK has submitted its response to the Bank’s draft Code of Practice for systemic sterling stablecoins.

We’ve asked the Bank to look closely at:

* the combined cost of the rules

* the 30% Bank of England deposit requirement

* up to 95% of backing assets in government debt for some issuers

* how much personal data is collected during redemption

* how dependent issuers become on Bank of England

Good regulation should reduce risk without closing the door to competition.

Read the full article and our submission:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/our-ask-to-boe-on-stablecoins-regulate-the-risk-not-the-model

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

“There is an instinct in regulation that more information means ...

2026-09-17T10:19:20Z

“There is an instinct in regulation that more information means more control and therefore more safety.”

Our director and co-founder Susie (nprofile…8azl) Violet Ward, quoted in
Cointelegraph on why KYC can end up collecting far more identity data than is necessary and the risks that creates.

quoting
nevent1q…8pek
KYC is framed as protection, but when identity data is required to use a service, the information collected for safety can later be used for extortion.

One of the points I made, quoted in Cointelegraph was:

“We need to stop treating identity verification and surrendering your identity as though they are the same thing.”

Revolut released identity files after requests were sent from a legitimate Italian law enforcement address. The piece looks at:

- what went wrong
- why collecting documents is not the same as proving a fact
- how we can verify without storing so much personal data

Efrat Fenigson of You're The Voice warns: “When regulators keep mandating a model that guarantees this outcome, while the technology to verify without storing already exists, it raises a red flag.”

Lyudmyla Kozlovska of the Open Dialogue Foundation highlights another weakness: “EU AML law imposes no verification duty on the bank and provides no meaningful mechanism to check who is really behind an authenticated state request.”

Evin McMullen of Billions Network sums up the wider problem: “This is a governance and standards problem wearing a technology costume. You cannot lose what you never held.”

This is a really important piece from Christina Comben, bringing together the risks around how identity data is collected, stored and shared and the possible alternatives that already exist.

Read the full article here:

https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/revolut-id-thefts-highlight-kycs-dangers-heres-how-to-fix-it

Efrat Fenigson (nprofile…sqyr) lyuda_kozlovska (nprofile…mps0) bitcoinpolicyuk (nprofile…xzud)

Bitcoin transactions sit on a public ledger, so linking a ...

2026-09-16T13:24:55Z

Bitcoin transactions sit on a public ledger, so linking a verified identity to an address or transaction can expose a previously pseudonymous history.

As digital credentials become easier to reuse across government and private services, policy needs much tighter limits on what can be requested, recorded and linked.

The GOV.UK framework will allow certified verification services to use information held in Wallet.

Identity rules designed for bank accounts cannot be copied unchanged onto an open ledger.

quoting
nevent1q…s6tc
The government said national digital ID was cancelled in July. The work around GOV.UK Wallet, digital driving licences and One Login carried on.

GOV.UK Wallet is still live, the Veteran Card is already digital and the driving licence is next. The government’s own technical documentation was updated again on 1 and 3 September, including work on issuing and revoking test digital driving licences.

One Login is still growing as the gateway into government services, with more than 23 million users. This week, licensed premises in England and Wales can also accept certified digital proof of age for alcohol sales.

What was taken off the table was the politically visible product. The systems for issuing, storing and checking digital credentials kept developing.

Some of the government’s data incidents:

- Electoral Commission: around 40 million people affected by a cyber breach.
- MoD: data linked to more than 18,500 Afghan applicants exposed.
- PSNI: details of 9,483 officers and staff published online.
- HMRC: stolen identity data used to reach about 100,000 online tax accounts.

If more of our official documents and identity credentials are going into reusable digital systems, I want to know:

- who can request them?
- what is recorded?
- when they are used?
- how is it stored?
- who has access?
- how long that information is kept?
- whether people who refuse the digital route will still have an equivalent way to access the service?

The public was told “digital ID cancelled”. The government’s own development record shows the digital identity work carried on.

The technical documents for GOV.UK Wallet, including the September updates on digital driving licences, are here:

https://docs.wallet.service.gov.uk/

The policy response continues to be more KYC, more collection and ...

2026-09-15T08:07:14Z

The policy response continues to be more KYC, more collection and more sharing of personal data.

This continues even as the systems that hold that information keep failing, and it is customers rather than the institutions collecting it who end up carrying the risk.

quoting
nevent1q…ld3s
KYC requirements keep expanding while the systems holding our personal data repeatedly fail to protect it.

A few recent incidents:

- Revolut: ID and account histories sent after fake official requests.
- Swiss Bitcoin Pay: emails, IBANs and transaction data accessed
- Pocket Bitcoin: data on 5,411 people exposed
- SafePal: almost 40,000 customers affected

Global context:

- 43% of UK businesses hit by a cyber breach or attack last year.
- Average data breach cost: $4.44m globally
- FATF effectiveness scores ~28% globally

The policy response remains more KYC, more collection and more sharing.

We are building ever-larger stores of identity and financial data without clear evidence that this level of surveillance is delivering proportionate results, while the systems holding that data continue to fail.

You can check whether your data has been caught up in a breach at Have I Been Pwned:

haveibeenpwned.com

nevent1q…8fjs

Now available to listen to on 'On the Record' by Bitcoin ...

2026-09-13T15:20:55Z

Now available to listen to on 'On the Record' by Bitcoin Policy UK.

This episode examines the barriers Bitcoin users and businesses continue to face when accessing banking services in the UK, drawing on our submission to the Crypto and Digital Assets APPG inquiry.

Listen on fountain_app (nprofile…e2z0):

https://fountain.fm/episode/yRBaCO6YaSGs2Czl7GCM

quoting
nevent1q…mln0
Still Locked Out of Banking

Bitcoin Policy UK has submitted evidence to the Crypto and Digital Assets APPG’s inquiry into banking access. We first raised blanket restrictions with the City Minister in September 2023, and the evidence gathered for this submission suggests the underlying problem has not been resolved.

Recent industry data shows roughly 40% of bank-to-exchange transfers in the UK are currently blocked or delayed, and around half of UK crypto and fintech firms have been rejected for a bank account or had one closed. Much of this restriction is applied at a sector-wide level rather than through individual risk assessment, which means Bitcoin activity is often caught by rules designed for very different, higher-risk products.

Our submission recommends that the government confirm FCA-registered Bitcoin activity shouldn’t be subject to blanket restriction, that banks give specific reasons and a route to appeal when they decline a payment, and that better data be published so progress can actually be tracked. France and Hong Kong both offer useful models for how this could work in practice.

Read the full article and see our submission:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-and-crypto-still-locked-out-of-banking

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

The UK now chairs FATF (Financial Action Task Force, the body ...

2026-09-13T11:53:56Z

The UK now chairs FATF (Financial Action Task Force, the body setting global anti-money laundering standards), with fraud as its two-year priority.

The plan means more data sharing across exchanges, banks and telecoms.

On Bitcoin's public ledger that's not the same trade-off as with hidden bank records: link an identity to an address once and it can be traced for good.

Self-custody helps, but it isn't a full shield once KYC has already tagged a wallet.

Read the full article:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/fatf’s-fraud-roadmap-expands-data-risks-and-global-surveillance

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

BPUK has submitted its response to HMRC’s consultation on the ...

2026-09-06T09:28:31Z

BPUK has submitted its response to HMRC’s consultation on the tax treatment of Bitcoin lending and liquidity pools. The proposed no gain, no loss treatment is sensible. Lending Bitcoin and later receiving it back should not be treated as a taxable disposal.

Two things we pushed back on: the “low risk of loss” test doesn't account for BTC's price volatility, and the drafting still doesn't separate native Bitcoin from wrapped BTC, which carries custodial and bridge risk that self-custodied Bitcoin doesn't.

Full submission on the Bitcoin Policy UK website.

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-lending-tax-consultation-what-we-told-hmrc

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Still Locked Out of Banking Bitcoin Policy UK has submitted ...

2026-08-23T08:56:09Z

Still Locked Out of Banking

Bitcoin Policy UK has submitted evidence to the Crypto and Digital Assets APPG’s inquiry into banking access. We first raised blanket restrictions with the City Minister in September 2023, and the evidence gathered for this submission suggests the underlying problem has not been resolved.

Recent industry data shows roughly 40% of bank-to-exchange transfers in the UK are currently blocked or delayed, and around half of UK crypto and fintech firms have been rejected for a bank account or had one closed. Much of this restriction is applied at a sector-wide level rather than through individual risk assessment, which means Bitcoin activity is often caught by rules designed for very different, higher-risk products.

Our submission recommends that the government confirm FCA-registered Bitcoin activity shouldn’t be subject to blanket restriction, that banks give specific reasons and a route to appeal when they decline a payment, and that better data be published so progress can actually be tracked. France and Hong Kong both offer useful models for how this could work in practice.

Read the full article and see our submission:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-and-crypto-still-locked-out-of-banking

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

This is one of the costs of unsound money. As government debt ...

2026-08-19T10:04:53Z

This is one of the costs of unsound money.

As government debt grows and old borrowing is refinanced at higher rates, more tax revenue is absorbed by interest payments, with a large share going to overseas investors.

Bitcoin offers a different monetary model with a fixed supply and no central authority able to expand it.

quoting
nevent1q…kf0s
Who actually receives the UK’s £109.7 billion debt interest bill?

Roughly:
- 33.4% overseas investors
- 21.1% UK pension funds and insurers
- 18.5% Bank of England APF
- 27% Banks & other holders

As long-term gilt yields hit their highest levels in nearly two decades, the cost of rolling over and adding to the £2.9 trillion debt keeps rising.

British taxpayers are funding this interest bill. That money could be going to defence, the NHS or schools.

Instead a large share goes to overseas investors, pension funds and banks.

Every extra pound spent on rising debt interest is a pound taken from the things people actually want government to fund.

Source: UK Debt Management Report 2026-27, Chart A.9

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/debt-management-report-2026-27

nevent1q…d24j

When debt interest costs more than entire government departments, ...

2026-08-18T07:26:55Z

When debt interest costs more than entire government departments, the problem is bigger than bad budgeting. It is a monetary system built on ever-expanding debt.

Bitcoin offers a very different model:

- fixed supply
- predictable issuance
- reconnecting money to energy
- no central authority able to expand the supply

quoting
nevent1q…d24j
Britain will spend £109 BILLION on debt interest this year.

That is more than:

- The entire Education budget
- The entire Defence budget
- Nearly 4× the Transport budget
- More than 5× the Home Office budget
- Nearly 8× the Justice budget
- Roughly half the Health and Social Care (NHS) budget

That is the equivalent of around £3,220 per working person per year, or £268 a month, just to service the national debt.

The debt is rising by roughly £4,000 to £4,300 every second.

At a time when people are already being squeezed by the cost of living, a huge amount of the tax they pay is being swallowed up by interest on old debt rather than paying for the services they actually use.

After all that, the £2.9 trillion debt is still there.

https://uknationaldebt.com/

Snapshot of the live UK National Debt Clock taken at 7:12 am on 18 Aug 2026.

Centralizatio Delenda Est. “Carthago Delenda Est” was Cato ...

2026-08-16T10:09:48Z

Centralizatio Delenda Est.

“Carthago Delenda Est” was Cato the Elder’s repeated warning that Rome could never be secure while Carthage remained. Today, a different problem is emerging as more of our lives, communication and financial systems become concentrated in the hands of a small number of institutions.

Technology has brought extraordinary opportunities, alongside genuine concerns about manipulation, privacy, concentrated power and the erosion of human autonomy.

Responding to those risks with greater institutional control risks deepening the very concentration of power that created many of these concerns in the first place.

The printing press disrupted centuries of control over knowledge by allowing ideas to travel beyond traditional gatekeepers and giving individuals far greater ability to read, interpret and challenge what they were told.

Bitcoin brings a similar architecture to money, allowing people to verify an open protocol governed by transparent rules without relying entirely on a central institution.

Nostr extends that principle into communication, allowing identity and participation to exist beyond the control of a single platform, and together these technologies raise a much broader question about how many of the institutions we currently depend on could eventually be replaced, or at least challenged, by open protocols.

Institutions can increasingly be replaced by protocols.

Nature offers countless examples of complex systems that organise without a central command centre, from forests and ecosystems to biological networks where millions of interactions take place through distributed processes rather than top-down control.

Perhaps one of the defining questions of the 21st century will be how much centralised power remains necessary once technology gives us credible alternatives.

Bitcoin is an early and important demonstration that global coordination can take place through an open, decentralised protocol, and its significance may ultimately extend far beyond money.

Read the full article on our blog here:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/“centralizatio-delenda-est”---centralization-must-be-destroyed

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Two major events in the same week exposed a common weakness in ...

2026-08-09T10:04:28Z

Two major events in the same week exposed a common weakness in how we think about digital security.

A flaw in a leading bitcoin hardware wallet contributed to the theft of approximately $38 million in bitcoin. Days later, Russia placed Telegram founder Pavel Durov on its wanted list, while renewed scrutiny focused on longstanding concerns over Telegram's privacy architecture and metadata exposure.

Although these stories appear unrelated, they highlight the same principle: users often place their trust in brands and marketing rather than independently verifiable security.

The article explores why transparency, open scrutiny and independent verification matter more than reputation alone. As AI accelerates both security research and the discovery of vulnerabilities, products can no longer be considered secure simply because they are widely trusted.

For policymakers, the lesson is equally important. Weakening encryption or introducing new surveillance capabilities does not create safer systems. Security and privacy are strongest when they can be independently verified, not simply promised.

Read the full article in our blog here:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/a-38m-theft-a-global-manhunt-the-illusion-of-digital-safety

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Humanitarian crowdfunding has transformed the ability to raise ...

2026-08-02T09:25:34Z

Humanitarian crowdfunding has transformed the ability to raise money quickly during war, natural disasters and political crises. Moving those funds to the people they were raised for, however, often remains the greatest challenge.

Our latest article examines how banking restrictions, sanctions and compliance requirements can leave recipients dependent on intermediaries, creating delays, disputes and additional risks at the very moment support is most urgently needed.

It also looks at how Bitcoin based crowdfunding platforms are taking a different approach. Rather than replacing trust, they are redesigning. It combines direct payments with transparent verification models that allow donors to make informed decisions while giving recipients greater control over the funds raised in their name.

Technology alone cannot solve humanitarian fundraising. Verification, accountability and transparency remain essential. Open payment networks may offer a more resilient financial infrastructure for people living through conflict, repression and humanitarian emergencies.

Read the full article in our blog here:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/when-the-financial-system-can’t-reach-people-bitcoin-can

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

The UK Government's proposed ban on social media for ...

2026-07-28T12:20:08Z

The UK Government's proposed ban on social media for under-16s is intended to protect children online, but it also raises significant questions about privacy, digital identity and the future of internet access.

Critics argue that requiring highly effective age verification could expand identity checks far beyond children, creating new surveillance infrastructure while leaving the underlying problems of addictive algorithms, harmful platform design and weak enforcement largely unchanged.

The real question is whether identity verification is the most effective way to protect children online, or whether policymakers should place greater responsibility on platforms to design safer products.

As Parliament considers the legislation, the challenge will be ensuring that efforts to improve child safety do not unintentionally redefine the internet into a space where identity verification becomes the norm for everyone.

Read the full article in our blog here:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/uk%E2%80%99s-under-16-social-media-ban-risks-digital-id-expansion

English courts have recognised bitcoin as property. The next ...

2026-07-19T10:22:40Z

English courts have recognised bitcoin as property. The next question is whether they will enforce contractual obligations by awarding bitcoin itself.

That issue was raised in Hussain v Fix, where the County Court was asked whether an alleged debt arising from a business agreement could be paid in BTC rather than sterling.

The case sits at the intersection of contract law, digital asset law and commercial reality. If parties agree that an obligation is denominated in bitcoin, should the courts enforce that agreement as written, or convert the claim into pounds at judgment?

The answer has significant implications for businesses using bitcoin in cross-border trade, treasury management and commercial settlements. It also raises broader questions about valuation, contractual intent and the practical consequences of recognising bitcoin as a form of property.

Our latest article explores the legal issues raised by the case and why this question is likely to return before the English courts.

Read the full article in our blog here.

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/english-court-asked-whether-a-debt-can-be-paid-in-bitcoin

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Bitcoin and financial freedom were central themes at this ...

2026-07-12T09:06:35Z

Bitcoin and financial freedom were central themes at this year’s Oslo Freedom Forum, where human rights activists, developers and advocates gathered to discuss how technology can protect individual freedoms.

The conference highlighted real-world examples of Bitcoin being used by people facing censorship, financial exclusion and political repression.

From non-profits maintaining access to funds after their bank accounts were frozen to activists using Bitcoin to receive support across borders, the conference showed that financial access is increasingly inseparable from human rights.

The discussions also highlighted privacy, security and education. Bitcoin’s potential depends on people knowing how to use it safely.

As financial restrictions and debanking become more common, including in democratic societies, the ability to access a neutral, open financial network is becoming increasingly important.

Bitcoin is not controlled by any government, company or institution. It is a global tool that can help individuals and organisations preserve financial autonomy when traditional systems fail them.

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/56u5me3e

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Privacy is normal. It is about freedom, control and the right to ...

2026-06-30T13:45:08Z

Privacy is normal.

It is about freedom, control and the right to live without being constantly monitored.

Why does privacy matter if you have 'nothing to hide'?

We’ve updated the Bitcoin Policy UK Privacy Toolkit and released a new podcast episode to support it.

The episode explains why privacy is fundamental to the freedom to speak, transact and live online.

The toolkit sets out practical steps to protect your data, money and freedom online.

Podcast:

https://fountain.fm/episode/SBBQnxsA6HAIWnRgacWB

Updated Toolkit:

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/aea8e937-fd18-400f-afd9-c3513112c757/downloads/6dabfdf5-3f1d-4ff3-b97e-dea9a2fa395a/BPUK%20Privacy%20Toolkit%2020June2026.pdf

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg) fnew (nprofile…g7mq)

Digital authoritarianism is no longer a distant concept. Around ...

2026-06-21T09:30:24Z

Digital authoritarianism is no longer a distant concept.

Around the world, governments and institutions are expanding digital surveillance through biometric systems, digital IDs, financial monitoring, internet shutdowns and increasingly restrictive online regulation. The question is no longer whether these tools exist, but how citizens continue to communicate, organize and transact when those systems can be used to control them.

Our latest Bitcoin Policy UK blog explores the emerging ecosystem of "freedom technology" that is providing practical alternatives.

We examine:
 • How Bitchat enables communication during internet shutdowns.
 • Why Citizen Lab's work exposing spyware has become essential for journalists, activists and dissidents.
 • How Cashu is restoring financial privacy through Chaumian ecash on Bitcoin.
 • Why Agora is building peer-to-peer humanitarian funding that cannot easily be censored.
 • How Bitcoin education helps activists use these tools safely through privacy, self-custody and peer-to-peer transactions.

Freedom technology is not simply about privacy. It is about resilience. It is about ensuring that communication, financial access and civic participation cannot be switched off by governments or institutions.

As more countries expand digital control, these technologies are becoming increasingly relevant - not just for those living under authoritarian regimes, but for anyone concerned about preserving individual liberty in the digital age.

Read the full article in our blog

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/how-freedom-tech-is-pushing-back-against-digital-authoritarianism

Susie (nprofile…7y3y)
HRF (npub17xv…c9as)

The UK says it wants innovation in digital payments, but current ...

2026-06-07T09:59:36Z

The UK says it wants innovation in digital payments, but current tax rules still treat everyday Bitcoin spending as a capital gains event.

Our response to HMRC argues that if stablecoins deserve lighter treatment as payment instruments, Bitcoin should not be excluded from the same logic.

The audio version is now live.

https://fountain.fm/episode/3JBYV0xdBP2msy5BsdCX

fnew (nprofile…zhau) Susie (nprofile…05t6)

Bury St Edmunds is fast becoming the UK Bitcoin hub! Local ...

2026-05-31T07:37:56Z

Bury St Edmunds is fast becoming the UK Bitcoin hub!

Local businesses in Bury accepted Bitcoin payments, and the historic Guildhall hosted debates plus a pop up sats market.

Great to see grassroots adoption actively sponsored by BHODL. Their CEO fnew (nprofile…aey8) shared his thoughts on his first visit to the town with Suffolk News.

“The bsebtc@bsebtc.co.uk (nprofile…eguf) (BSEBTC) event itself ran like clockwork and struck a lovely balance between celebrating the town and discussing wider issues around saving and spending with Bitcoin.”

Bitcoin Policy UK Director Susie (nprofile…ktas) Violet Ward shared her perspective on the social impact:

“People can feel that the world is changing economically, politically and socially, and that’s why interest in Bitcoin and freedom technology is growing. Events like this matter because education, community and open discussion are going to be incredibly important in the years ahead.”

Thank you to the BSEBTC for delivering a fabulous event.

Full coverage from Suffolk News:

https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/news/enthusiasts-and-internationally-renowned-speakers-descend-on-9467912/

Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day! On this day in 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made ...

2026-05-22T09:59:46Z

Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day!

On this day in 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made history by sending 10,000 BTC for two pizzas.

This was the first real world Bitcoin transaction. What started as a pizza order became the moment Bitcoin proved its power as peer-to-peer money.

Today, the UK Bitcoin community is celebrating in style at The Pizza Day Thing in Bury St Edmunds, with artisan pizza, free bar, panel discussions, Lightning demos and local vendors accepting sats at the historic Guildhall.

A huge thanks to bsebtc@bsebtc.co.uk (nprofile…xvtq) for putting on such a brilliant event.

You can still get tickets here:

https://www.bsebtc.co.uk/event-details/the-pizza-day-thing

Hopefully see you in Bury!!

We have submitted our response to HMRC’s consultation on the ...

2026-05-17T10:08:04Z

We have submitted our response to HMRC’s consultation on the taxation of stablecoins.

Our position is clear: if the government recognises that stablecoins used for payments deserve different tax treatment, the same principle should apply to Bitcoin when it is used to buy goods and services.

The current CGT system creates unnecessary complexity for consumers and businesses while generating very little meaningful revenue. Buying a coffee with Bitcoin should not require detailed tax calculations and reporting obligations.

We are calling for a usage-based exemption for cryptoasset payments, including Bitcoin, alongside a modern framework that supports innovation, economic growth, and digital payments infrastructure in the UK.

The UK has an opportunity to become a global leader in crypto payments policy. We should seize it.

Read more in our blog where you can find our consultation response

https://tinyurl.com/hdk6evan

Susie (nprofile…efzp) fnew (npub1wl3…znlx)

The Privacy Toolkit: Simple Steps to Protect Your Freedom Privacy ...

2026-05-10T06:52:06Z

The Privacy Toolkit: Simple Steps to Protect Your Freedom

Privacy is often misunderstood as something only “suspicious” people care about. In reality, it is one of the foundations of personal freedom in a digital society.

Every online search, card payment, app download, and social media interaction contributes to a growing profile about who we are, what we believe, and how we live.

That data can be sold, leaked, misused, or weaponised, and increasingly, it is.

That’s why we’ve published a new Privacy Toolkit at Bitcoin Policy UK.

The guide is designed to be practical, simple, and accessible for everyone, from complete beginners to those seeking stronger digital self-sovereignty. It covers:
 • Password security and 2FA • Privacy-focused browsers and email • Secure messaging and VPNs • Bitcoin and financial privacy • Decentralised social media • Tools to reduce surveillance and data exposure

You don’t need to become a “ghost” online. But small steps can make a significant difference.

Privacy is not about hiding wrongdoing. It is about maintaining the freedom to speak, think, and transact without unnecessary surveillance.

Access the Privacy Toolkit here: https://tinyurl.com/37x5s9d8

Susie (nprofile…yglk)
fnew (npub1wl3…znlx)

The Bank Of England is considering restrictions on self hosted ...

2026-05-08T15:03:09Z

The Bank Of England is considering restrictions on self hosted wallets in the UK.

“These proposals risk expanding data collection, eroding privacy, increasing costs, adding friction, and limiting access through banks and intermediaries.” - Susie (nprofile…ajw0)

“This would be of such monumental, such overweening, stupidity, that it is hard to formulate a sensible response.” - fnew (npub1wl3…znlx)

The UK cannot become a leading digital assets hub while thinking self custody is a bug to fix.

You cannot stop people from controlling their own private keys.

Good piece from Cointelegraph covering the growing backlash to these proposals.

H/t to Aaron wood.

Full article:

https://cointelegraph.com/features/stablecoin-industry-opposes-bank-of-englands-unhosted-wallet-ban

The Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas is the world’s largest ...

2026-05-03T09:11:17Z

The Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas is the world’s largest gathering of bitcoiners bringing together builders, thinkers, and believers to focus on innovation, financial freedom and the adoption of sound money. It also showed the global struggle for digital sovereignty, rising government overreach, expanding KYC requirements, and the crossroads we now face between institutionalisation and free, neutral money.

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/from-vegas-to-westminster-what-bitcoin-2026-means-for-the-uk

Understanding Bitcoin Easily - Introducing our Learn Bitcoin ...

2026-04-19T06:35:42Z

Understanding Bitcoin Easily - Introducing our Learn Bitcoin Basics

At Bitcoin Policy UK, our mission is to support informed, balanced, and forward-looking discussion around Bitcoin and its role in the UK economy.

We believe that better policy starts with better understanding.

That’s why we’ve launched a new “Learn” section on our website — a dedicated space designed to explain Bitcoin clearly, accessibly, and without unnecessary jargon.
Bitcoin is often discussed in complex or polarising terms, but at its core it is simply a new form of money. One that operates without a central authority and is governed by transparent, verifiable rules.

Our new section covers:
  • What Bitcoin is and how it works  • The role of decentralisation and the blockchain  • Why its supply is limited  • How ownership and transactions function

Whether you are new to Bitcoin or looking to deepen your understanding, this is a clear starting point.

Start here: https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/bitcoin-basics-1

Cuba’s Blackout Reveals Grid Flaws Bitcoin May Fix Cuba’s ...

2026-04-05T07:47:50Z

Cuba’s Blackout Reveals Grid Flaws Bitcoin May Fix

Cuba’s recent nationwide blackout highlights a critical weakness in modern energy systems: centralization.

When a single power plant failure can remove over half a country’s electricity supply, the consequences are immediate: disrupted healthcare, food shortages, and economic paralysis.

But this isn’t just about Cuba. It’s a global infrastructure challenge.

A more resilient model is emerging:
 • Distributed renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro)
 • Local microgrids that operate independently
 • Flexible demand from Bitcoin mining to stabilize supply

This combination doesn’t just prevent failure, it creates economic viability for renewable projects in regions where traditional grids fall short.

Energy resilience, like financial resilience, is increasingly about removing single points of failure.

Read the full blog on our website:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/cuba’s-blackout-reveals-grid-flaws-bitcoin-may-fix

Susie (nprofile…hmgp)
fnew (npub1wl3…znlx)

10,000 BTC for two pizzas in 2010. That single spend kicked off ...

2026-04-03T15:28:40Z

10,000 BTC for two pizzas in 2010.

That single spend kicked off the biggest debate in bitcoin:

Can bitcoin only be a store of value, or must it also become real money we use every day?

Susie (nprofile…fd0y) and fnew (nprofile…eln3) will be debating this on Pizza Day in Bury St Edmunds. See you there 22 May.

Who's coming? Drop a comment below.

Tickets are available here:

https://www.bsebtc.co.uk/event-details/the-pizza-day-thing

How Regulation And Data Collection Are Creating Physical Security ...

2026-03-29T07:10:32Z

How Regulation And Data Collection Are Creating Physical Security Risks

New analysis highlights an emerging challenge at the intersection of regulation, data collection and personal security in the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Bitcoin transactions are transparent by design and operate under pseudonymity. However, as identity-linked datasets grow through regulatory reporting requirements, KYC frameworks and repeated data breaches, that transparency can become a physical security risk for individuals.

Research examining 309 publicly documented crypto-targeted physical attacks between 2014 and early 2026 shows a sharp escalation:

• 76 attacks recorded globally in 2025, a 77% increase from 2024
  • Nearly half involved confirmed torture or physical violence
  • Weapons were involved in over 50% of cases

Many incidents involve coercion to obtain private keys or force transactions, often referred to as “wrench attacks”.

At a policy level, this highlights an uncomfortable tension: measures intended to increase financial oversight can also centralise highly sensitive identity and wealth data, potentially creating new vulnerabilities.

As discussions around crypto regulation continue globally, it is increasingly important to consider how data aggregation and irreversible digital assets interact with real-world security risks.

Our latest article explores this emerging threat:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/how-regs-and-data-collection-are-creating-physical-security-risk

Susie (nprofile…3nky)
fnew (npub1wl3…znlx)

Digital ID and Surveillance Systems: Why the UK Should Think ...

2026-03-15T10:23:25Z

Digital ID and Surveillance Systems: Why the UK Should Think Twice

The UK government’s consultation on digital identity presents the proposal as a modernisation effort designed to make public services easier to access.

But the implications may be far broader.

In a detailed consultation response submitted by fnew (nprofile…n3sq), Chief Policy Officer at Bitcoin Policy UK, the organisation warns that the architecture being proposed could become one of the most significant expansions of state surveillance infrastructure in modern British history.

The proposed framework would link identity verification, biometric data and access to government services into a single system that could eventually become the primary gateway for interacting with the state.

While framed as voluntary and convenient, history shows that administrative systems often become unavoidable through practical necessity once embedded into everyday processes such as employment verification and access to services.

The consultation also raises broader concerns around:

• Data security risks associated with large identity databases
  • The potential for function creep and expanded surveillance
  • Digital exclusion for vulnerable populations
  • The existence of privacy-preserving alternatives

As digital identity systems are debated around the world, it is essential that policymakers carefully consider the long-term consequences of the infrastructure being created.

Our latest blog explores the issue in detail and outlines why this debate is ultimately not just technological, but fundamental to British values:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/digital-id-convenient-or-surveillance-why-uk-should-think-twice

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg)

Shaping Bitcoin’s Future in the UK: Our Policy Goals for 2026 ...

2026-01-04T10:00:09Z

Shaping Bitcoin’s Future in the UK: Our Policy Goals for 2026

Bitcoin has reached a turning point in the UK. With formal recognition as property now in place, 2026 will be a defining year for how Bitcoin is treated by policymakers, regulators, and institutions.

At Bitcoin Policy UK, our goals for the year ahead include advancing key policy reforms, launching a Tax Working Group, and demonstrating sustainable mining innovations in the UK.

This work is only possible with community support. If you believe the UK should be a place where Bitcoin can thrive responsibly, we invite you to read our full 2026 goals and consider supporting our mission:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/shaping-bitcoins-future-in-the-uk-our-policy-goals-for-2026

Susie (npub1hwg…03sg) fnew (npub1wl3…znlx)

Have you subscribed to our Substack? Our latest piece is all ...

2025-11-13T20:42:23Z

Have you subscribed to our Substack?

Our latest piece is all about:

Bitfest 2025: A Three-Day Celebration of Bitcoin and Creativity in Manchester.

Follow the link below to read in full.

https://bitcoinpolicyuk.substack.com/p/bitfest-2025-a-three-day-celebration

Read about the @nprofile…yku7 event we hosted in London earlier ...

2025-04-26T06:45:48Z

Read about the HRF (nprofile…yku7) event we hosted in London earlier this month.

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/bitcoin-humanitarian-alliance

“The UK’s financial asset posture looks anachronistic and ...

2025-03-10T18:38:10Z

“The UK’s financial asset posture looks anachronistic and naïve.”

Or so says bitcoms (nprofile…7lv2) is his guest publication:

https://bitcoinpolicy.uk/blog-1/f/czech-your-portfolio