Weekly Brief 2026/13

Zambia's Livingstone has 115+ Bitcoin merchants in a city of 177,000 — verified at restaurants, markets, and the airport. Guatemala completed its first Lightning transactions. In rural Kenya, a savings group bought a goat and a mattress with sats.

https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-13

Drop beats not bombs 🎼

Weekly Brief 2026/12

Square is planning to auto-enable Lightning for more than 4 million eligible merchants on March 30. Bolivia's Bitcoin merchant network hits 86. And in Kenya, Bitcoin is now buying groceries, water, and snacks at 30-shilling ticket sizes.

https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-12

Weekly Brief 2026/11

Bringin just gave any euro bank account its own Lightning address — sats in, euros out via SEPA, no exchange required.

In Kenya, lunch at two Nairobi restaurants: buyer paid in Bitcoin, merchants received shillings, zero fees.

Bitcoin payments advancing through rails that already exist.

https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-11

Ever wondered how a global wallet like Blink scans local, proprietary QR codes at retailers like Pick n Pay? 🇿🇦⚡️

It’s all thanks to a "hacky" yet brilliant Lightning Address-based integration that uses just 3 lines of code. No complex third-party APIs — just open-source permissionless innovation meeting merchants where they’re at.

Get the technical story behind the MoneyBadger bridge:
https://www.blink.sv/blog/lightning-wallet-integration-the-3-line-solution-behind-moneybadger

"How do I withdraw Bitcoin to my bank account?" 🏦🤔

We get this question a lot! While direct bank withdrawals are currently paused due to regulatory hurdles, there are plenty of safe, practical ways to use and convert your sats today.

Our new guide covers it all:
https://www.blink.sv/blog/how-to-buy-sell-and-withdraw-bitcoin-with-blink-wallet

Weekly Brief 2026/10

Uganda hosts a 5-day Lightning Developer Bootcamp. Lugano marks four years of Plan ₿. Indiana passes a "Bitcoin Bill of Rights." And Lille launched France's first community Cashu mint.

https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-10

Financial sovereignty is transforming Kibera 🇰🇪✨

From a waste management program to a thriving Bitcoin circular economy, Ronnie Mdawida and @Afribit Kibera team are proving that sats can build dignity where traditional systems fail.

Read the full story:
https://www.blink.sv/blog/building-bitcoin-from-the-ground-up-how-afribit-kibera-is-turning-a-slum-into-a-bitcoin-circular-economy

Weekly Brief 2026/09

Lightning crosses a reported $1B in monthly volume. Numo launches open-source tap-to-pay for Bitcoin. Bolivia's tracked merchant count hits 77.

And kids in South Africa are earning and spending sats every week.
https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-09

Weekly Brief 2026/08

South Africa just launched a Bitcoin-only online marketplace — no rands accepted. Lightning moved 15,000 BTC in a month. And circular economies from El Salvador to Mozambique are handling everything from coffee tours to cyclone relief.

https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-08

Weekly Brief 2026/07

Cash App drops Lightning fees for millions of users. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic launches its own Bitcoin wallet and Lightning node, and BTC Map adds 1,200 new merchants in a single month.

Full Brief:
https://www.blink.sv/blog/weekly-brief-2026-07

Real Bitcoin circular economies don’t grow like mushrooms. 🍄🚫

In our latest post, Hermann Buhr Vivier shares the "No Mushroom" philosophy: why sustainable adoption is a long game built on 15+ years of trust, not just vanity metrics. 🌍⚡️

Read more:
https://www.blink.sv/blog/building-sustainable-bitcoin-circular-economies