Iran strengthens Russia ties, complicating US-Iran nuclear deal talks

Bitcoin miner MARA Holdings launched the MARA Foundation on Monday to support the health of the Bitcoin network and the communities that rely on it as a tool for financial sovereignty.The MARA Foundation said it plans to implement measures to “harden Bitcoin against security threats,” including quantum computing, while also expanding access to self-custodial Bitcoin (BTC) and offering a range of educational resources, MARA said after announcing the new foundation at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas on Monday.It also plans to support the “development of a robust and healthy fee market for Bitcoin transactions,” it said. “We believe Bitcoin embodies the most powerful tool for financial sovereignty, economic resilience, and human freedom in the world,” the Bitcoin miner said, explaining its commitment to protect the “core properties that make Bitcoin sound, durable money.”Source: MARA HoldingsMARA’s commitment to Bitcoin comes as corporate Bitcoin miners have expanded into AI and high-performance computing in search of higher-revenue opportunities. Bitcoin hashrate, a measure of the computational power employed by miners to secure the Bitcoin network, has fallen 28.8% since September. MARA has a $100,000 contribution to send outThe newly formed MARA Foundation is set to start with a $100,000 contribution fund and is asking the public to vote on which of three Bitcoin companies should receive the funds. The three candidates are the open-source Bitcoin mining platform 256 Foundation, the Latin American Bitcoin education platform Libreria de Satoshi and SafeNet, a Bitcoin-powered, community-operated wireless network serving underprivileged communities.Related: Vitalik Buterin outlines quantum resistance roadmap for EthereumMARA said one of the foundation’s missions is to enable “financial sovereignty worldwide,” particularly in the “Global South” — mostly Africa and Latin America — where “Bitcoin is being used as a tool to escape financial oppression in jurisdictions affected by hyperinflation, confiscatory policy, and restrictions on financial freedom.”“We are committed to supporting communities using Bitcoin to expand access to sound money and strengthen local economies,” it added.MARA also plans to share a range of educational resources with both Bitcoin developers and policymakers.Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum: BIP-360 co-authorCointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.