Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #51

Abu Dhabi’s Bitcoin Stake, Web3 for Enterprises, & Crypto Gains US Momentum

February 15, 2025

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #51 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes! Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund just disclosed a $437M stake in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, signaling deeper institutional moves. Meanwhile, Web3 is entering enterprise systems faster than expected, and state-level Bitcoin reserve bills are picking up steam across the U.S.

Tech Spotlight: How enterprises are integrating Web3 into real-world operations and what this means for blockchain adoption.
Weekly Highlights: Michigan joins the growing list of U.S. states pushing for Bitcoin reserves, Robinhood’s crypto volume soars 400% in Q4, and Barclays reveals its $131M stake in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF.
Affiliate Spotlight: Looking to level up your blockchain expertise? Get certified as a Blockchain Developer with the Blockchain Council.
Chart of the Week: Bitcoin’s appeal as an investment is rising—Americans are turning to it as an alternative to traditional assets.

🧠 Weekly Trivia

Which major financial institution was among the first to tokenize U.S. Treasury bonds on the blockchain?

A) JPMorgan
B) Goldman Sachs
C) BlackRock
D) HSBC

*Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

🌟 Tech Spotlight – How Enterprises Are Using Web3

For years, blockchain was seen as a niche experiment for crypto startups and tech enthusiasts. That’s no longer the case. Some of the biggest names in finance, retail, and manufacturing are now using Web3 tech in ways beyond speculation.

Where Web3 Is Already Delivering

Siemens issued a €60M ($64M) digital bond on the Polygon blockchain, reducing settlement times and eliminating paperwork bottlenecks.
Nike launched .SWOOSH, a Web3 platform that offers digital sneaker collectibles with real-world benefits, including limited-edition product access.
Goldman Sachs is testing tokenized assets for instant bond settlements, improving traditional finance with blockchain-backed efficiency.

Why This Is Scaling Now

Adoption is coming from companies looking for practical efficiency gains—not speculation. Smart contracts are automating transactions, tokenized assets are cutting through bureaucratic slowdowns, and decentralized identity is reducing the need for third-party verifications.

What’s Next?

The biggest players aren’t waiting. As blockchain tools integrate more seamlessly into enterprise tech stacks, early adopters are gaining the edge. Those watching from the sidelines may soon find themselves catching up.

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

Abu Dhabi Invests $437M in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF: Mubadala Investments, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, has disclosed a major stake in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, signaling further institutional confidence in BTC.

Bitcoin and Gold Gain Ground as Dollar Faces Pressure: With central banks offloading U.S. Treasuries, investors are turning to Bitcoin and gold as alternative stores of value, raising questions about the dollar’s long-term stability.

Midas Introduces ‘Liquid Yield Tokens’—A New Take on Tokenized Hedge Funds: The Midas protocol has launched a new class of on-chain assets designed to bring institutional hedge fund strategies to the blockchain with risk-managed yield tokens.

Barclays Reveals $131M in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Holdings: Barclays has emerged as a major holder of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, reinforcing the trend of traditional financial giants moving deeper into digital assets.

Robinhood’s Crypto Trading Volume Jumps 400% in Q4: After a sluggish 2024, Robinhood’s crypto trading volume surged to $70 billion in Q4, highlighting renewed retail interest in digital assets.

State-Level Bitcoin Reserve Bills Could Trigger $23B in Buying Power: VanEck estimates that recent proposals from U.S. states to allocate public funds into Bitcoin could fuel an influx of $23 billion into the market.

Michigan Joins the Growing List of States Eyeing Bitcoin Investments: Lawmakers in Michigan are pushing a bill that would allow up to 10% of the state’s general and economic stabilization funds to be allocated to Bitcoin and other digital assets.

🔗 Affiliate Spotlight: Become a Certified Blockchain Developer

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The Certified Blockchain Developer program by Blockchain Council provides a structured way to learn, covering everything from the fundamentals to advanced concepts like smart contract security and enterprise use cases.

If you're serious about blockchain, this certification is worth considering.

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😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: Naiive

📊 Chart of the Week: More Americans Holding Bitcoin Than Student Debt?

For the first time, Bitcoin holders in the U.S. outnumber those with student loans.

A Look at the Numbers

2015: Few held Bitcoin, while student loan borrowers dominated.
2020: Adoption picked up, narrowing the gap.
2025: Bitcoin ownership has pulled ahead.

What's Driving This?

More people see Bitcoin as a long-term store of value.
Concerns over inflation and debt have pushed alternative savings choices.
Younger generations are turning to Bitcoin instead of traditional financial systems.

Student loans have long been a major financial weight. Now, more Americans are choosing Bitcoin as part of their financial strategy.

Source: River

This week highlighted some big moves—Abu Dhabi’s Bitcoin stake, Web3 making strides in the corporate world, and U.S. states ramping up Bitcoin adoption. Meanwhile, Bitcoin holders have surpassed student loan borrowers, a shift that speaks volumes about where financial confidence is heading.

Trivia Answer: A) JPMorgan

JPMorgan was among the first major financial institutions to tokenize U.S. Treasury bonds, leveraging blockchain for settlement efficiency and transparency.

That’s it for this edition. More updates coming next week—stay tuned.

Thank you,
Ajay Tomar

Disclaimer:

Content in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Always do your research and consult with a professional before making financial decisions. As a solopreneur, I may earn commissions from affiliate links in this newsletter at no extra cost to you. This support helps me bring you valuable content. I only endorse products I trust and believe could benefit you.