BlackRock, Strategy and Coinbase Launch $15M Bitcoin Security Consortium to Counter Quantum Threats

The CLARITY Act updated draft, a key bill to establish U.S. crypto market structure rules by clarifying SEC and CFTC jurisdictions, was released on July 23, 2026. Senate Majority Leader John Thune signaled on July 24, 2026, that passage before the August 7 recess is unlikely, though floor proceedings may begin sooner. Ethics provisions in the bill, which would bar federal officials including the president from crypto activities, have sparked o…

Nine major institutions including BlackRock, Strategy and Coinbase launched the Bitcoin Security Consortium on July 23, 2026 Members pledged a combined $15 million over three years to support long-term Bitcoin security research Primary focus includes preparations for potential quantum computing threats to Bitcoin cryptography Funds directed independently by each member; consortium takes no role in protocol development or governance…

The number of U.S. merchants accepting Bitcoin has tripled over the past year, driven by businesses seeking alternatives to traditional credit card processing fees through layer-2 settlement rails. U.S. merchant Bitcoin acceptance tripled as retailers look to lower payment processing overhead. Lightning Network transactions allow businesses to bypass standard 2% to 3% credit card interchange fees for costs under a penny. Global retail Bitcoin us…