Susie Violet Ward
London
As seen in:
Forbes,
Flipboard,
Bitcoin Magazine,
City AM,
Forbes Brasil,
NewsBreak,
Forbes Ecuador,
Forbes Uruguay,
Forbes Paraguay
Covers:
Bitcoin, regulation, financial privacy, surveillance, digital ID, CBDCs, civil liberties, financial freedom, censorship, government policy, self-custody, Bitcoin mining and energy.
Doesn't Cover:
Altcoin promotions, token launches, NFTs, meme coins, trading signals, price predictions, sponsored reviews or cryptocurrency marketing.
Susie Violet Ward | CEO & Co-Founder @BitcoinPolicyUK | Bitcoin journalist with bylines @Forbes & @CityAM
Articles by Susie Violet Ward
Britain Scrapped Digital ID. So Why Is It Still Expanding?
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 18: Protesters march against UK Government's plan to introduce a digital identification card in central in London, United Kingdom on October 18, 2025. The government wants to introduce a digital ID system across the UK, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it will ensure the country's 'borders are more secure'. The IDs will not have to be carried day-to-day, but they will be compulsory for anyone wanting to work.
HMRC’s Proposed Crypto Powers Could Increase Physical Security Risks
HM Revenue and Customs on Whitehall in London, England, United Kingdom. HM Revenue & Customs also known as HMRC is in charge of all elelments of tax and taxation as well as administering corporation tax, excise duties, national minimum wage enforcement, recovery of student loans, child benefit etc. Photo by Mike Kemp... More In Pictures via Getty Images HMRC is proposing to extend its information powers to cryptoasset businesses and update the rules around computer records and software.
HMRC's Proposed Crypto Powers Could Increase Physical Security Risks
← ARTICLES ARCHIVE By Susie Violet Ward · Forbes · 8 October 2026 [ TAX REPORTING · UK POLICY · PHYSICAL SECURITY · FINANCIAL PRIVACY ] In 2026, HMRC proposed extending its information powers to cryptoasset businesses, including Financial Institution Notices for cryptoasset service providers and updated rules on computer records and software. The consultation closed on 7 September 2026, and ministers had not decided on the reforms when the article was published.
Who Is Gaining Control Of Britain’s Digital State?
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 7: Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund, holds hundred dollar bills as he speaks during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference at Miami Beach Convention Center on April 7, 2022 in Miami, Florida. The worlds largest bitcoin conference runs from April 6-9, expecting over 30,000 people in attendance and over 7 million live stream viewers worldwide.(Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images Britain wants to become a digital state.
A $38 Million Theft, A Global Manhunt & The Illusion Of Digital Safety
Telegram messaging app CEO and co-founder Pavel Durov. Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images In the space of a week, a flaw in a leading bitcoin hardware wallet left users’ funds vulnerable and Russia moved against the founder of a messenger marketed on privacy. The two events share an uncomfortable lesson about how much of our digital safety is assumed rather than verified.
When The Financial System Can’t Reach People In Crisis, Bitcoin Can
Palestinians carry pots and containers of food during an aid distribution in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on July 5, 2026. Displaced families across the Gaza Strip continue to depend on aid distributions amid shortages of food and other essentials. Photo by Ahmed Al Arini Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images When Sami Jamal Al-Shannat raised more than £55,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to help his family escape the war in Gaza, it felt as though the hard part was over.
FATF’s Fraud Roadmap Expands Data Risks And Global Surveillance
Identity linked financial data collected for compliance can become a target for hackers and criminals. Photo by Jonathan Raa NurPhoto via Getty Images The United Kingdom has assumed the Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force, with UK official Giles Thomson placing fraud at the center of the two year agenda. Thomson has framed fraud as a threat to national security and financial stability.
The Julian Assange Film Streamers Wouldn’t Touch Turns To Bitcoin
US film director Eugene Jarecki and British-French film producer Kathleen Fournier attend the UK film premiere for "The Six Billion Dollar Man: Julian Assange and the Price of Truth" in central London on December 16, 2025. Photo by Henry NICHOLLS AFP via Getty Images Hollywood loves a whistleblower story once the danger has passed. Eugene Jarecki’s The Six Billion Dollar Man arrives while the danger is still attached.
English Court Asked Whether A Debt Can Be Paid In Bitcoin
An exterior view of the Royal Courts of Justice, on 1st April 2026, in London, England. Photo by Richard Baker In Pictures via Getty Images A hearing took place on 18 June 2026 in the County Court in Central London on whether a court can order someone to pay a debt in bitcoin.
UK’s Under 16 Social Media Ban Risks Digital ID Expansion
PORTSMOUTH, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 20: A 12-year-old boy looks at a iPhone screen on October 20, 2024 in Portsmouth, England. Photo by Matt Cardy/ Getty Images The UK government has announced a ban on social media for under-16s, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer framing it as a way to give children their childhood back. While some child protection groups welcomed the move, the method of enforcement raises serious concerns.
How Freedom Tech Is Pushing Back Against Digital Authoritarianism
Photo by Majid Saeedi Getty Images Around the world, governments and corporations are expanding tools of digital control, from facial recognition and biometric surveillance to mandatory digital IDs and debanking. Law and policy are normalizing more of this infrastructure. In the UK, that includes the Online Safety Act and age verification rules.
How Freedom Tech Is Pushing Back Against Digital Authoritarianism
16 hours ago While I’m eagerly awaiting iOS 27’s upgrades for CarPlay, I recently had my first hands-on experience with a new CarPlay setting that arrived in iOS 26, and it’s one that should have existed all along. iOS 26 added new setting to optimize CarPlay for your vehicle’s display iOS 26 gave CarPlay a bunch …
UK Regulator Eases Bitcoin Access - But Is It Really Open?
City of London, financial district on 18th March 2026, in London, England. Photo by Richard Baker In Pictures via Getty Images In January 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot bitcoin ETFs. Millions of retail investors gained regulated, direct exposure to bitcoin for the first time. In that same period, the UK moved in the opposite direction.
The Structural Risks Of Bitcoin Treasury Companies
Bitcoin SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The term “bitcoin treasury company” has become one of this cycle’s defining phenomena, but the label now covers a wide range of very different business models. As of March 2026, public companies collectively hold more than 1.13 million BTC, roughly 5.4% of the total supply, valued at about $84 billion at current prices of around $74,000 per bitcoin. Firms grouped under this term often follow very different financial strategies.
TOPSHOT - A car drives along a street during a nationwide blackout caused by a grid failure in Havana, on October 19, 2024. Technical breakdowns, fuel shortages and high demand have caused the country's thermoelectric power plants to constantly fail, forcing the government to declare an energy emergency and take measures such as closing schools and factories.
How Regulation And Data Collection Are Creating Physical Security Risks
A French police officer. Photo by THOMAS COEX / AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Bitcoin transactions are transparent by design, operating under pseudonymity where activity is visible but identity is not inherently revealed. However, the growing accumulation of identity-linked data around users is increasingly turning that transparency into a personal security risk.
Why Bitcoin Shouldn't Be Regulated Like Crypto
Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images NurPhoto via Getty Images Regulatory frameworks continue to treat bitcoin and other cryptoassets as a single category, a decision that has shaped how digital asset policy is written, enforced, and interpreted across multiple jurisdictions. As regulatory approaches develop, the debate increasingly centers on regulatory design: how well existing frameworks map onto systems that differ fundamentally in structure, governance, and risk.
What Is Bitcoin’s Price Prediction For 2026?
Bitcoin logo is shown on a mobile phone against the illustration of a world map Photo by Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Images NurPhoto via Getty Images As 2026 begins, bitcoin is entering a more mature phase of its market cycle. In 2025, prices reached new highs but ended the year below the peak. Analysts are now focused on how macro conditions, institutional flows, and market structure may shape bitcoin’s price in the year ahead. This cycle looks different from earlier ones.
Saylor’s Plan To Build A Bitcoin Powered Shadow Central Bank
Michael Saylor speaks on stage during Bitcoin Conference 2023 at Miami Beach Convention Center on May 19, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida. Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Bitcoin Magazine Getty Images for Bitcoin Magazine During a keynote at the Bitcoin MENA conference in Abu Dhabi, Michael Saylor described a financial design that moves beyond MicroStrategy’s well known bitcoin strategy.
Africa Turns To Bitcoin For Real Financial Solutions
Illustration, a Bitcoin logo. Photo Illustration by Omar Marques SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The African Bitcoin Conference in Mauritius began with an undeniable truth. For generations Africa has been boxed out, priced out and pushed aside by global financial systems. Cross border payments remain slow and punishingly expensive, made even harder by the dozens of national currencies that complicate trade between neighbouring countries.
Bitcoin And Digital ID Show The UKs Fight Over Freedom
Advert for Bitcoin on a bus in the capital's West End Photo by Barry Lewis In Pictures via Getty Images The UK government is the third largest sovereign holder of bitcoin, with approximately 61,250 coins under its control. Last week Southwark Crown Court confirmed the seizure of bitcoin linked to a Chinese fraud, now worth more than £5 billion, after defendant Zhimin Qian, pleaded guilty to possessing and transferring criminal property.
Institutions Embrace Bitcoin While The UK Falls Behind
The UK has a proud history of excellence and innovation in both financial services and in computer science. But its regulatory approach to bitcoin, which sits at the intersection between these disciplines, is undermining that position. The Financial Conduct Authority has created uncertainty, driven businesses offshore, and is damaging the UK’s competitiveness in digital finance.
UK Financial Conduct Authority Drives Out Business And Hurts Consumers
The UK has long been a global financial leader, built on clear regulations, economic stability, and an open market. But the UK’s approach tells a different story regarding bitcoin and digital assets. Rather than encouraging innovation, regulators have sown uncertainty, which has resulted in driving businesses away, eroding competitiveness, restricting choice, and ultimately harming investors.
How Bitcoin Powers Creativity In Art, Music, And Beyond Original
From Barcelona's bustling streets to France's rich art history and London's music scene, creators are using bitcoin as both a medium and a muse. Here's how art brings its story to life, combining creativity with innovation. Barcelona's Bitcoin Street Artist Barcelona's art culture triggered Street Cyber's transition from private consultancy to street art. "When I moved to Barcelona in 2021, the city's vibrant, creative, and rebellious spirit deeply inspired me.
Is Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve A Threat To Freedom? Original
Donald Trump assumes office with plans to make the United States the world's bitcoin mining capital. Many are celebrating the idea of bitcoin as a Strategic Reserve Asset. Supporters like Michael Saylor, Tether, and other large institutional players argue this is a landmark achievement, reinforcing bitcoin's status as a legitimate store of value.
New EU Rules Could Threaten Your Security
Representation of the Bitcoin is seen with European Union flag in the background in this illustration photo taken in Poland on November 29, 2020. Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki NurPhoto via Getty Images The Financial Action Task Force Travel Rule, designed to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, is central to a debate on balancing regulatory oversight and privacy.
Nations States Turn To Bitcoin As A Strategic Reserve Asset Original
In 2025, bitcoin is no longer just a niche investment but a geopolitical asset. Governments and central banks around the world, from Washington to Zurich, are engaged in discussions about its role in national reserves. Bitcoin is emerging as a challenger to traditional reserve assets like gold and the U.S. dollar, with the potential to reshape the global monetary order. Under the Trump administration, the conversation around bitcoin has changed.
Fake Bitcoin Creator Sentenced For Contempt Original
Craig Wright, an Australian “computer scientist” who claimed to be the creator of bitcoin, has been sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, after being found in contempt of court. The contempt ruling stemmed from Wright filing a £911 billion lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers and Square Up Europe Limited, which was in direct violation of a March 2024 court injunction.
Como o Bitcoin Pode Revolucionar a Agricultura Global?
Cerca de 20 mil pessoas se reuniram em Londres, no Reino Unido, para protestar contra uma legislação de imposto sobre heranças que ameaça prejudicar as fazendas familiares. Pelas novas regras do texto proposto, donos de propriedades rurais avaliadas acima de 1 milhão de libras (aproximadamente R$ 7,3 milhões na cotação atual) terão que pagar 20% de taxa sobre herança a partir de abril de 2026. O anúncio foi feito em outubro pelo governo britânico na apresentação do orçamento no Parlamento.
Bitcoin Privacy At Risk? Could CARF Regulations Signal ChokePoint 3.0? Original
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development recently introduced the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework, a regulatory approach some call CRS 2.0. This could signal the arrival of ChokePoint 3.0, as its extensive reporting requirements will expand government oversight into people’s crypto activity and holdings globally.
Bitcoin Privacy At Risk? How CARF Regulations Could Impact Regulations
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development recently introduced the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework, a regulatory approach some call CRS 2.0. This could signal the arrival of strict regulatory enforcement, as its extensive reporting requirements will expand government oversight into people’s crypto activity and holdings globally.
Bitcoin Offers A Solution To The Global Farming And Economic Crisis
An estimated 16,000 to 20,000 people gathered in London to peacefully protest a proposed inheritance tax that threatens to cripple family farms. Addressing the crowd, television presenter and farmer Jeremy Clarkson warned, "This tax is the final nail in the coffin for British farming. It will force families to sell land they've worked on for generations." Energy, the environment, jobs, tax receipts, and health outcomes are linked to our food.
Bitkey’s Inheritance Feature Simplifies Self-Custody For Bitcoin Users
Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a multi-generational asset, and the need for secure and user-friendly solutions to ensure its legacy is more important than ever. Bitkey, the self-custody wallet built by Block, Inc., has introduced a new inheritance feature designed to address this challenge. Launching widely in January 2025, this feature provides a simple, secure way for customers to pass their bitcoin to loved ones without compromising self-custody.
Experts Challenge ECB’s Claims On Bitcoin And Wealth Inequality Original
Recent actions from central banks and governments have raised questions about whether a coordinated effort exists to suppress bitcoin. The European Central Bank’s recent working paper, The Distributional Consequences of Bitcoin Bitcoin , by Ulrich Bindseil and Jürgen Schaaf, has been met with strong pushback. Dr. Murray A.
Craig Wright Who Is Not Satoshi Launches Bitcoin Core Legal Battle
Craig Wright, discredited in the UK High Court’s ruling against his claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto, has launched another legal action. Once again, he is targeting the Bitcoin Bitcoin Core Core developers. Wright claims that the Bitcoin Core developers have misrepresented BTC as the original bitcoin, while he insists that Bitcoin SV also known as BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF Bitcoin SV is the true version of bitcoin.
U.K. Faces Privacy Challenges Ahead Of 2025 CBDC Pilot
As the UK prepares for a Central Bank Digital Currency pilot in 2025, critics warn that it could introduce unprecedented levels of state surveillance. While CBDCs promise to modernize the financial system, experts from organizations like Big Brother Watch argue that the government may not prioritize privacy.
How This Bitcoin Bull Market Cycle Stands Out
As markets enter Q4 2024, investors keenly observe the current bitcoin market cycle, questioning whether it will reflect historical patterns. Typically, halving events every four years dictate these cycles, each marked by sharp supply cuts. However, today's demand and supply forces, regulatory changes, and external market shocks suggest this cycle could be different.
New Research Shows Bitcoin Mining Cuts Carbon Emissions
Bitcoin mining has long been criticized for its environmental impact, with headlines often painting a grim picture of its energy consumption. However, two recently published studies are shifting this narrative, showing that bitcoin mining can be sustainable and help reduce carbon emissions. The Role Of Bitcoin Mining In Carbon Reduction A recent study from the Bitcoin Policy Institute challenges the belief that bitcoin mining is environmentally harmful.
BBC Bitcoin Coverage Raises Concern Over Its Journalism and Trust
The British Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as the BBC, is renowned globally as a public service broadcaster primarily funded through a mandatory television license fee. Its duty is to inform, educate, and entertain while maintaining high standards of accuracy and impartiality. However, recent events have raised concerns about the quality of its journalism and the accountability mechanisms in place to address errors and misinformation.
Jack Dorsey Backs Bitcoin And Nostr For Censorship Free Speech
With increasing restrictions on digital freedoms worldwide, events like Nostriga and Baltic Honeybadger are becoming important arenas for the future of free speech and privacy. The recent arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov and the enforcement of the EU’s Digital Services Act show the growing global trend towards censorship and control.
Jack Dorsey Backs Bitcoin And Nostr To Cut Censorship With Free Speech
With increasing restrictions on digital freedoms worldwide, events like Nostriga and Baltic Honeybadger are becoming important arenas for the future of free speech and privacy. The recent arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov and the enforcement of the EU’s Digital Services Act show the growing global trend towards censorship and control.
Trump's Pro-Bitcoin Stance Could Transform America Original
History was made at the bitcoin conference in Nashville as former President Donald Trump delivered a keynote speech. A special moment in US history, the event was attended by 10 senators and 2 presidential candidates. Despite surviving a recent assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump showed no signs of being deterred. The Republican's Pro-Bitcoin Stance Trump's speech outlined the Republican Party's commitment to bitcoin.
How Bitcoin Payment Solutions With BTCPay Server And Musqet Boost Sales Original
Bitcoin’s rapid adoption as a means of payment has led to the development of various tools and platforms tailored to specific use cases. This article reviews solutions like BTCPay Server and Musqet, each addressing different needs within the bitcoin payment ecosystem. BTCPay Server: Transforming E-Commerce BTCPay Server is an open-source, self-hosted payment processor that offers a solution for e-commerce platforms.
Trump Survives Assassination Attempt, Bitcoin Prices Rallies Original
While speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt, sustaining only minor injuries. The incident briefly rattled the markets, causing a short-lived dip in the bitcoin price, which quickly rebounded then rallied. Despite this turmoil, the Republican Party's commitment to 'Bitcoin Rights' remains a focal point in their platform.
Major Moves By Block, Core Scientific, Bitfarms, And Bitcoin Policy UK
The bitcoin mining industry saw major developments and a leadership change this week. Just released, key announcements include an agreement between Block, Inc. and Core Scientific, a leadership change at Bitfarms, and a new research release by Bitcoin Policy UK. Block And Core Scientific's Landmark Agreement On July 10, 2024, Block, Inc. and Core Scientific announced an agreement to deploy Block's new 3-nanometer or 3nm ASIC mining chips.
Block And Core Scientific Partnership To Decentralize Bitcoin Mining
The bitcoin mining industry saw major developments and a leadership change this week. Just released, key announcements include an agreement between Block, Inc. and Core Core Scientific, a leadership change at Bitfarms, and a new research release by Bitcoin Bitcoin Policy UK. Block And Core Scientific's Landmark Agreement On July 10, 2024, Block, Inc. and Core Scientific announced an agreement to deploy Block's new 3-nanometer or 3nm ASIC mining chips.
German Lawmaker Demands Strategic Overhaul Amid Bitcoin Sell-Off Chaos Original
The German government recently intensified its bitcoin sell-off by transferring approximately $75 million to exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitstamp. This was part of a larger strategy, with $315 million in bitcoin sold since mid-June, bringing the total sales to over $390 million in less than a month. The German Federal Criminal Police Office continues to sell bitcoin, signaling a potential plan to liquidate portions of its reserves.
DAME Tax On Bitcoin Mining Threatens Energy Prices And Stability Original
The Biden administration's proposed 30% tax on electricity used by bitcoin miners has sparked considerable debate in the industry. Known as the Digital Asset Mining Energy tax, this policy aims to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of cryptocurrency mining by taxing their electricity consumption. Industry experts argue that this tax could have unintended consequences, stifling energy development and distorting market dynamics.
Milei Delivers Key Libertarian Reform Law
In a landmark decision, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved the Law of Foundations and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines, widely known as Ley de Bases. This approval marks a victory for President Javier Milei's administration, aiming to steer the nation towards economic stability and prosperity. Ley de Bases, alongside a comprehensive fiscal reform package, faced fierce opposition but was ultimately passed after more than twelve hours of intense debate.
Louisiana Passes Bill To Defend Bitcoin Rights And Ban CBDCs
Bitcoin rights have become law in a second state as Louisiana passes a landmark pro-bitcoin bill to protect access to bitcoin and curb Central Bank Digital Currencies. Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 488 into law after it received bi-partisan approval from both the House and Senate.
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