Bolivia’s Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza announced a regulatory proposal that would recognize Tether’s USDT stablecoin as an official payment currency, allowing it to circulate alongside the boliviano and US dollar for payments and savings.
The move reflects Bolivia’s response to a prolonged shortage of US dollars that intensified after the government abandoned its long-standing currency peg earlier in 2026. The widening gap between official and parallel exchange rates has driven demand for dollar-denominated alternatives. Bolivia lifted its crypto ban in 2024, and the current administration has committed to expanding access to digital asset services.
“The proposal would allow USDT to circulate alongside the boliviano and the US dollar for payments and savings,” Espinoza said in a statement. The framework would include anti-money laundering safeguards, as Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force’s gray list.
Bitmine’s Ethereum Staking Dominance
In separate developments affecting the digital asset sector, Bitmine Immersion Technologies has established itself as the largest Ethereum staking entity. The company generated $45.7 million from Ethereum staking in the second quarter of 2026, representing 98 percent of its total revenue during the three-month period ended May 31.
Bitmine launched MAVAN, its institutional Ethereum staking platform, in March 2026 following its acquisition of validator operator Pier Two Holdings. The company now stakes 4.9 million ETH, or 85 percent of its total holdings.
“Bitmine now stakes more Ether than any other entity and projects annualized staking rewards of $284 million once its holdings of the token are fully staked through MAVAN and its partners,” said Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine. The company also generated $624,000 from self-mining Bitcoin and $168,000 from consulting services in Q2 2026.
Bitcoin Miners Pivot to AI Infrastructure
Bitcoin miners are pursuing AI infrastructure strategies as post-halving mining economics remain under pressure. CleanSpark signed a 20-year data center lease valued at up to $6.6 billion, with phased deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. The contract includes two five-year extension options that could bring total value to $11.6 billion if exercised.
The lease covers CleanSpark’s 175-megawatt capacity data center in Sandersville, Georgia. CleanSpark stock rallied 22 percent following the lease announcement. The company has largely remained a net accumulator of Bitcoin despite selling some BTC earlier in 2026 to fund operations.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin miners including TeraWulf, Cipher Digital, Riot Platforms, and Core Scientific have faced investor scrutiny over insider stock sales as they pursue AI infrastructure pivots. The TEM AI Infrastructure Growth Index, which tracks AI infrastructure companies, declined 16 percent over the past month as of July 8, 2026.
