Bitcoin & Mining Weekly Roundup: 2026 Bitcoin Highs Forecast, Swiss City Expands BTC Payments

Bitcoin Quote of the Week

“Essentially, what Bitcoin is doing is taking excess energy, storing it into a new form. It's called currency. And you take that currency wherever you like. So you took energy from one place and now you've transported it everywhere,” said Nvidia Founder and CEO Jensen Huang at a panel in September 2024.

Weekly News Roundup

In this weekly roundup, we compiled the most significant Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining news stories from the past week (December 6, 2025, to December 12, 2025), covering major institutional moves, market shifts, and other notable developments.

Grayscale Says Bitcoin Likely to Hit New Highs in 2026, Downplays Classic 4-Year Cycle

Crypto asset manager Grayscale argues that Bitcoin is still on track to set fresh all-time highs in 2026, even as on-chain data and ETF flows suggest the old “four-year halving cycle” narrative is breaking down. The firm points to structural demand from spot ETFs, macro conditions, and growing institutional participation as bigger drivers of the next leg higher than any simple post-halving pattern.

Source: Yahoo Finance

MicroBT Unveils WhatsMiner M70 Series in Abu Dhabi With Efficiency Push

MicroBT launched its next-generation WhatsMiner M70 series at Bitcoin MENA in Abu Dhabi, positioning the lineup as a major step forward in energy efficiency with models ranging roughly from 12.5–14.5 J/TH and hash rates above 200 TH/s. Framed under the theme “Green-Driven, Ecosystem Redefined,” the company emphasized off-grid solar, hybrid energy solutions, and partnerships around cooling and energy management to help miners stay profitable as hashprice compresses.

Source: Bitcoin Magazine

Swiss City Lets Residents Pay for “Most Things” With Bitcoin

A new BBC feature spotlights the Swiss city of Lugano, where a city-backed “Plan ₿” initiative has rolled out Bitcoin payments across everyday life—from some shops and restaurants to selected public services and taxes—alongside USDT stablecoin acceptance. The piece frames Lugano as a live test of Bitcoin as a working payments rail rather than just a speculative asset, while also probing how many residents actually choose BTC over francs at the point of sale.

Source: BBC News

Tajikistan Criminalizes Bitcoin Mining With Stolen Electricity

Tajikistan’s parliament has amended the criminal code to make using stolen electricity for crypto mining a specific crime, with penalties ranging from hefty fines to two–eight years in prison depending on scale and whether it’s done by organized groups. Lawmakers say illegal mining has worsened winter power shortages and cost the state an estimated 32 million somoni, prompting a broader crackdown in line with tougher policies across Central Asia.

Source: FinanceFeeds

Twenty One Capital’s NYSE Debut Underscores Frosty Mood Toward Bitcoin Treasury Plays

Bitcoin treasury firm Twenty One Capital, backed by Tether and Bitfinex and holding over 43,500 BTC, fell around 20% in its first day of trading on the NYSE after a SPAC merger, underperforming broader SPAC and crypto benchmarks.

Source: Yahoo Finance

IREN Raises $2.3 Billion via Convertible Notes to Refinance Debt and Fund Growth

AI-and-bitcoin mining firm IREN closed a $2.3 billion offering of convertible senior notes split between 2032 and 2033 maturities, alongside a registered direct equity placement of about 39.7 million shares. The company is using proceeds to repurchase roughly $544 million of higher-coupon convertible notes, fund capped-call hedges to limit dilution, and support general corporate purposes—leaving it with more flexible, longer-dated capital to pursue data-center and AI growth.

Source: Investing.com

Disclaimer: The information in this roundup is sourced from reputable third-party media outlets and publicly available reports. It does not represent or reflect the official views, positions, or guidance of BitFuFu Inc., its subsidiaries, or any of its executives.