Mostly Bitcoin — Daily Digest
Last 24 hours of mainstream crypto coverage
May 18, 2026
Massive Crypto ATM Company Bitcoin Depot Is Shutting Down as the Whole Industry Collapses — gizmodo.com
The company has filed for bankruptcy amid legal scrutiny over allegations its ATMs were used to facilitate fraud.
Iran Doubles Down on Bitcoin for Ships Passing Through the Straight of Hormuz — gizmodo.com
Collecting bitcoin for safe passage while also collecting bitcoin for insurance in case the safe passage doesn't work out.
Harvard sold off its entire $87 million Ethereum stake just one quarter after buying it — fortune.com
Earlier this year, Harvard’s endowment fund shook up its crypto approach by reducing its Bitcoin ETF exposure, and adding Ethereum ETF shares. Only months later, however, the Ivy League school has refined that approach further as its latest disclosures
Trump’s Shipping Insurance Flops As Iran Reportedly Launches Bitcoin-Based Insurance For Hormuz — dailycaller.com
'Not provided a single dollar'
A strip club scandal at a major crypto industry event triggers sponsor backlash — fortune.com
Crypto firms are rushing to distance themselves from a controversial party that capped a major industry event in Miami. The shindig, which took place on May 6 and coincided with the end of the Consensus conference, took place at a well-heeled night club
The battle to ensure Africa’s digital sovereignty — semafor.com
Yinka’s view The debate about who controls Africa’s resources has expanded considerably in recent years, from critical minerals to domestic capital to the terms on which foreign investors operate. But one frontier remains underweighted in that
Kraken wants to be a (legally speaking) bank. Why? — americanbanker.com
Crypto firms are becoming the kinds of trusted third parties bitcoin was created to get around, raising the question of what digital currencies are even for.
Bitcoin Depot Goes Bankrupt, Signaling Demise of Crypto ATMs — bloomberg.com
Bitcoin Depot Inc., once the largest operator of crypto ATMs in North America, filed for bankruptcy on Monday, marking the latest major blow for a niche segment of the digital asset industry that has been in decline for several years.
Iran Starts Bitcoin-Backed Shipping Insurance for Hormuz Strait — bloomberg.com
Iran Starts Bitcoin-Backed Shipping Insurance for Hormuz Strait Bloomberg.com
2 Americans Detained in Japan After Entering Punch the Monkey’s Zoo Enclosure — nytimes.com
The men were charged with obstructing operations at a zoo, apparently as a stunt connected to a cryptocurrency. They denied the charges.
Wallet makers are the quiet backbone of the crypto industry. Now they want to be banks — fortune.com
In the midst of a riveting NBA and NHL playoff season, we’re hearing about unsung heroes—a term to describe players who are not flashy, but who make quiet contributions essential to a team’s success. If there’s such a thing as unsung heroes in the crypto
Who’s Spending in Your Congressional Election? We Tracked the Front Groups Fueling the 2026 Midterms. — theintercept.com
The bitter Michigan Senate primary was heating up earlier this month when a mystery group bought $5 million in TV ads boosting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s preferred candidate in the Democratic race, Haley Stevens. The group had an
Bitcoin Hits Two-Week Low as Liquidations Top Half a Billion — bloomberg.com
Bitcoin weakened to its lowest level in more than two weeks as broad macro risks stemming from the US-Iran war prompted traders to cut back their positions.
Bitcoin (BTC) Hits Two-Week Low as Crypto Liquidations Top Half a Billion — bloomberg.com
Bitcoin (BTC) Hits Two-Week Low as Crypto Liquidations Top Half a Billion Bloomberg.com
You just read issue #1330 of Mostly Bitcoin. You can also browse the full archives of this newsletter.