New FMF report out January 28 2026: more South Africans using Bitcoin to state-proof their wealth from rand debasement, inflation, SARB capture risks, surveillance creep. User base hit 5.8 to 6.3 million, about 9 to 10% of the population, with R25 billion in custody. Lightning Network flips the script, fast cheap payments rolling out at 40% of small businesses for groceries, fuel, everyday stuff. Bitcoin shifts from speculative hold to actual medium of exchange and sovereign hedge. Ansara calls it freedom money, decentralised, immutable, perfect against state meddling. Ahead of Adopting Bitcoin Conference in Cape Town January 30. Real adoption momentum building where it hurts most. Thoughts?

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says they’re joining Trump Accounts, matching the $1,000 federal seed for every eligible child of Coinbase employees. And he wants to pay that match in Bitcoin, not fiat or stocks. Trump Accounts kick in for U.S. babies born 2025 through 2028, $1k auto-deposited into tax-advantaged accounts invested in low-fee index funds, locked till 18 for education, home or startup cash. Employers, family, charities can pile on. Coinbase follows BofA and JPMorgan in matching, but Bitcoin twist makes it real money education from day one. Normalises BTC as the superior long-term store of value for kids. Generational adoption incoming.

Strive smashed it January 28 2026. Raised $225 million in oversubscribed SATA preferred stock after demand blew past $600 million. Paid down $110 million Semler debt quick, wiped out $20 million Coinbase loan entirely, all Bitcoin holdings unencumbered. Snapped up 333.89 BTC at $89,851 average, total now 13,131.82 BTC, tenth biggest public corporate holder. Amplification at 37.2% mostly from preferred equity, quarter-to-date yield 21.17%. Scaled from zero to top tier in four months. Proof investor appetite for Bitcoin treasuries is red hot, preferred equity fits the long-duration play perfectly.