Bolivia Weighs USDT Recognition as Dollar Crunch Persists; Bitcoin Miners' AI Pivot Faces Fresh Governance Scrutiny

Stablecoins are taking on a more basic role in stressed economies: offering households and businesses a workable proxy for U.S. dollar value when access to dollars tightens. Bolivia is now weighing a framework that would formally recognize Tether's USDT for payments, a move aimed at expanding dollar-denominated options as foreign-exchange pressures linger. At the same time, investors are pressing crypto infrastructure companies on whether new strategies—especially miners' AI and high-performance computing (HPC) plans—are translating into durable cash flow and shareholder value. Key points - Bolivia is reviewing rules that would allow USDT to circulate alongside the boliviano and the U.S. dollar for payments and savings, with anti-money laundering (AML) controls. - The initiative tracks a prolonged dollar shortage and growing strain between official and parallel FX rates, boosting demand for dollar-linked alternatives. - Bitcoin miners touting AI infrastructure are drawing closer scrutiny around governance, including insider sales and whether upside accrues to public shareholders. - CleanSpark's 20-year data center lease in Georgia underscores the sector's push toward contracted, longer-duration infrastructure revenue. - Bitmine reported $45.7 million in revenue from Ethereum staking and validation last quarter, highlighting staking's ability to remain cash-generative amid volatile token prices. Bolivia considers USDT as a formal payment option Bolivia is evaluating a regulatory approach that would recognize Tether's USDT as a payment currency, according to earlier reporting from Cointelegraph (Bolivia weighs USDT payment currency amid dollar shortage). If adopted, the framework would allow USDT to be used in parallel with the boliviano and the U.S. dollar for both payments and savings. Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said the proposal would include AML safeguards. That is particularly relevant because Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) "gray list," a designation that typically raises compliance expectations for products that could connect to cross-border flows. The proposal follows two recent shifts: Bolivia lifted its crypto ban in 2024, and the new administration has pledged to expand access to digital asset services, Cointelegraph previously reported (Bolivia integrate crypto stablecoins financial system). Bolivia's case also illustrates a key driver behind stablecoin adoption that goes beyond faster transfers: domestic dollar scarcity. The country has faced a prolonged shortage of U.S. dollars after pressure on FX reserves prompted the government to abandon a long-standing currency peg earlier this year. Demand for dollar-denominated alternatives has risen, and USDT has become a practical payment channel for those seeking a steadier unit of account than the boliviano. What remains unclear is how quickly the proposal could move into implementation and how AML requirements would be enforced in practice. Miners' AI narrative meets governance and insider-sale questions Elsewhere in crypto markets, the focus is shifting from miners' AI ambitions to execution and accountability. Cointelegraph reported that investors are scrutinizing insider stock sales at Bitcoin miners pursuing AI infrastructure strategies as governance concerns intensify (Bitcoin miners' AI pivot faces investor scrutiny over insider sales). Blocksbridge Consulting said executives at TeraWulf, Cipher Digital, Riot Platforms, and Core Scientific have disclosed stock sales in recent months. Many were reportedly executed under prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. Blocksbridge also said some strategic investors reduced exposure, including Tether, which was reported to have cut its stake in Bitdeer after an AI-related rally. The timing coincides with softer performance in the AI-linked equity theme. Cointelegraph cited the TEM AI Infrastructure Growth Index as down 16% over the past month, signaling that the perceived "AI tailwind" for infrastructure-adjacent stocks has cooled. The underlying investor question is whether miners' strategic pivots are producing tangible value for public shareholders. Markets are looking for clearer visibility on timelines, cash flows, and whether management incentives align with long-term outcomes. CleanSpark's 20-year lease points to contract-based infrastructure revenue Not all AI infrastructure developments are being priced the same way. CleanSpark shares jumped as much as 22% after the company signed a 20-year data center lease in Georgia, Cointelegraph reported (CleanSpark shares jump after Georgia data center lease). The agreement covers a 175-megawatt data center at CleanSpark's Sandersville, Georgia campus. The tenant is described as an undisclosed, investment-grade global technology company expected to install computing equipment on-site. Phased deliveries are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. Cointelegraph said the lease could generate up to $6.6 billion in contracted revenue. If two five-year extension options are exercised, the reported total value could reach $11.6 billion. For miners, deals like this can reduce reliance on mining economics by adding more predictable, longer-duration revenue streams. Cointelegraph also framed the lease as part of a broader trend among public miners seeking new income sources as post-halving conditions keep pressure on the sector. While many peers have sold Bitcoin holdings to bolster liquidity, CleanSpark has largely remained a net accumulator, though it reportedly sold some BTC earlier this year to fund operations. Bitmine posts $45.7 million from Ethereum staking and validation On the staking side, Bitmine Immersion Technologies reported a quarter driven overwhelmingly by Ethereum staking revenue. Cointelegraph said the company generated $45.7 million from Ethereum staking and validation last quarter (Bitmine generated $46m from Ethereum staking last quarter). For the three months ended May 31, Ethereum staking accounted for 98% of revenue. Cointelegraph reported $624,000 in self-mined Bitcoin revenue and $168,000 from consulting services. The results follow Bitmine's rollout of MAVAN in March, an institutional Ethereum staking platform built after acquiring validator operator Pier Two Holdings. Bitmine said it has staked roughly 85% of its Ether holdings—about 4.9 million ETH. Chairman Tom Lee said Bitmine stakes more Ether than any other entity and projects annualized staking rewards of $284 million once its holdings are fully staked through MAVAN and partners. Takeaway Across these developments, crypto infrastructure is adapting to real-world constraints: dollar shortages pushing stablecoin payments into everyday use, miners pursuing contracted compute revenue to stabilize cash flows, and staking firms scaling platform-based income. The near-term test for each theme is whether it delivers durable compliance, predictable earnings, and shareholder-aligned governance—not just short-lived momentum.