Stablecoins, Regulation, Mining And 2026 Outlook

The Bitcoin Brainstorm podcast reviews Bitcoin's 2025 performance and forecasts trends for 2026, considering factors beyond price, such as regulatory developments like the Genius Act and Clarity Act, which are attracting long-term players into the crypto space. Panelists highlight Bitcoin's increasing utility as a medium of exchange, particularly within circular economies in regions like Africa and El Salvador, where it offers financial inclusion to disenfranchised communities. They also address the potential impact of Square enabling Bitcoin acceptance for millions of merchants in the U.S. and the importance of a de minimis exemption on Bitcoin spending to encourage its use as a currency. The discussion further explores Bitcoin's role as pristine collateral and the decentralization of hash rate through renewable energy sources.