In a groundbreaking move, Square is testing real-time bitcoin payments at the BTC Inc. pop-up store located within The Venetian during Bitcoin 2025. This initiative allows attendees to use the Lightning Network to quickly purchase merchandise by scanning QR codes. Behind this development lies Block's strategic vision to integrate bitcoin into daily commerce and offer small businesses diverse payment options. By 2026, this feature could potentially be available to all eligible merchants worldwide, subject to regulatory approval. Miles Suter, Block’s Bitcoin Product Lead, describes the pilot as a pivotal step toward making bitcoin more accessible and practical for everyday use.
This week marks a significant milestone for digital currency adoption as Jack Dorsey's Block introduces its latest innovation in Las Vegas. Attendees at Bitcoin 2025 can now experience seamless crypto transactions through the Lightning Network, which facilitates off-chain settlements with lower fees and faster processing times compared to conventional methods. Customers simply scan a QR code at checkout, and Square manages the backend operations, including real-time exchange rate calculations and confirmations. According to Suter, who has been instrumental in shaping Block’s approach since joining in 2017, this advancement represents a natural progression of embedding bitcoin into the company's ecosystem.
Block anticipates rolling out bitcoin payment capabilities to select Square sellers later this year, aiming for full deployment by 2026 if regulations align favorably. This timing coincides with a period when bitcoin values are soaring due to its perception as "digital gold," emphasizing long-term value storage rather than frequent transactional utility. Meanwhile, legislative discussions surrounding stablecoins continue in Congress, while other fintech companies increasingly embrace tokenized currencies. In contrast, Block remains steadfastly committed to advancing decentralized, permissionless systems centered around bitcoin.
Suter highlights that skepticism initially greeted Cash App’s introduction of bitcoin trading features back in 2017 but underscores the importance of pioneering efforts. He explains, “Someone needs to lead the charge,” expressing confidence in Block’s unique position to drive progress within the industry. To support this mission, Block offers tools like the 'Bitcoin Conversions' option introduced last year, enabling merchants to automatically convert portions of their sales into bitcoin. Over 1,000 sellers have adopted this tool, witnessing an approximate 70% increase in their bitcoin holdings over the past year.
Merchants adopting direct bitcoin acceptance gain flexibility; they may choose immediate conversion to dollars or retain holdings using Block’s comprehensive suite of products designed specifically for business use cases. These resources empower merchants to manage conversions, purchases, sales, and withdrawals efficiently while ensuring no missed opportunities arise from lack of payment compatibility. Through these innovations, Block seeks not only to enhance accessibility for smaller enterprises but also to redefine how individuals interact with digital assets across various platforms.
As corporate strategies regarding bitcoin evolve, Block focuses on democratizing access for small and medium-sized businesses. Merchants involved in earlier pilots reportedly benefited financially from participating in bitcoin conversions. Beyond Square, Block continues expanding its influence via projects such as Bitkey wallets, Proto mining solutions, Spiral open-source contributions, and Cash App’s integrated trading capabilities—all aligned under the banner of promoting bitcoin as everyday currency. With such advancements underway, Block solidifies its role as a leader driving forward the future of internet-native finance.
Empowering Brokers and Traders: Why This Integration Matters
The collaboration between Brokeree and Spotware represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of trading platforms, enabling unprecedented flexibility and functionality for financial institutions worldwide.Expanding Horizons: Bridging Platform Limitations
Previously, cTrader users faced constraints when it came to comprehensive portfolio management options compared to competitors like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. However, this new integration dismantles those barriers, allowing brokers utilizing multiple platforms to establish cohesive trading pools that span across cTrader, MT4, and MT5 without encountering technical impediments. This capability transcends retail brokerages, reaching hedge fund managers who now possess robust tools for account oversight and investor performance reporting.The synergy created through this alliance strengthens cTrader’s standing as an all-encompassing platform tailored for multi-asset brokers and investment entities. By incorporating Brokeree’s sophisticated PAMM solution, cTrader becomes more enticing to brokers seeking to diversify income streams, attract fresh client demographics, and elevate trader participation via cutting-edge investment infrastructure.Ilia Iarovitcyn, CEO of Spotware, emphasized the significance of this advancement, stating, “This integration fortifies cTrader’s reputation as a premier choice for financial organizations aiming to expand their service offerings while enhancing operational efficiency.”Precision Control: Tailored Interfaces for Every Role
One of the standout features of this integration is the provision of distinct interfaces meticulously designed for administrators, money managers, and investors. Each role benefits from targeted risk management functionalities that cater to their unique requirements.Investors enjoy unrestricted access to deposit and withdrawal capabilities at any juncture. Furthermore, proportional withdrawal mechanisms ensure partial trade closures safeguard other participants' capital during transactions. Additional safeguards embedded within the system encompass stop-loss thresholds, automated confirmations for withdrawal petitions, and preventive measures against margin calls occurring during fund withdrawals.A notable inclusion is the ratings module, which generates leaderboards illustrating trading statistics and performance indicators attributed to money managers. These insights empower investors to make informed decisions based on verified data reflecting actual trading prowess.Andrey Kamyshanov, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Brokeree Solutions, remarked, “Our PAMM solution marks a groundbreaking achievement for cTrader-based brokers and hedge funds, providing them with unparalleled portfolio management capabilities. This integration signifies the culmination of our flagship product integrations, empowering brokerages to introduce novel services into their portfolios.”Leaderboards can be seamlessly integrated into broker websites as interactive widgets. This feature allows firms to highlight diverse trading strategies and assign merit badges to managers according to their trading attributes and accomplishments.A Legacy of Collaboration: Building on Previous Successes
This initiative builds upon earlier achievements this year involving Brokeree and Spotware, including the introduction of Social Trading and Liquidity Bridge solutions. Such collaborations enable cross-platform signal replication among MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader servers, further expanding the reach and influence of both companies.Kamyshanov highlighted the importance of this milestone, noting, “This integration not only extends our market penetration but also delivers innovative solutions to brokers striving to enhance their competitive edge.”Additionally, in April, Brokeree successfully incorporated its prop trading solution, Prop Pulse, previously exclusive to MetaTrader, into the cTrader environment. This expansion caters to burgeoning demand within the prop trading sector, reinforcing cTrader's appeal as a versatile and adaptable platform.Brokeree Solutions, established over a decade ago, specializes in delivering technological resolutions for brokers operating across various trading platforms, including MetaTrader and DXtrade. Serving a global audience exceeding eight million traders, cTrader boasts an extensive array of over one hundred third-party integrations facilitated by its API architecture, solidifying its position as a leading force in the financial technology landscape.In 2025, the French Open has raised its prize money by six percent, offering €2,550,000 to both the men’s and women’s singles champions. Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek return as defending champions for this year's Roland Garros in Paris, marking the second Grand Slam of the season. The total prize fund for the main draw stands at €56,352,000, with higher payouts correlating to a player's progression through the rounds. Comparatively, last year’s Wimbledon singles champion received £2.7m, the US Open winner earned £2.66m, and the Australian Open victor was awarded £1.76m.
Prize Money Structure in Singles Competitions
The French Open has announced an impressive prize structure for the singles tournaments in 2025. Champions will receive €2,550,000, while runners-up are awarded €1,275,000. Players reaching the semi-finals earn €690,000, and those making it to the quarter-finals take home €440,000. This generous reward system continues down through all rounds, ensuring even first-round participants receive €78,000.
This structured payout aims to motivate players from the start of the competition. As they advance, their earnings significantly increase, culminating in a substantial reward for the ultimate winners. For instance, advancing to the fourth round yields €265,000, whereas reaching the third round secures €168,000. Such a system not only highlights the importance of each match but also reflects the tournament's commitment to rewarding athletic excellence across all stages of play.
Doubles and Wheelchair Events Compensation
Beyond the singles events, the French Open also generously compensates participants in doubles and wheelchair competitions. Winners of the men’s and women’s doubles receive €590,000, with runners-up earning €295,000. Semi-finalists in these categories are awarded €148,000, emphasizing the tournament's dedication to fair compensation across various disciplines.
Mixed doubles competitors enjoy similar benefits, with winners taking home €122,000 and runners-up receiving €61,000. Even in the initial rounds, players in mixed doubles can secure €5,000, showcasing the inclusivity of the prize distribution. Additionally, wheelchair tennis players are well-supported, with singles champions earning €63,900 and doubles winners receiving €21,650. These figures demonstrate the French Open's comprehensive approach to recognizing talent and effort across all forms of competitive tennis.