Welcome back to your crypto update from yesterday, the 21st of January 2026. From a tiny kingdom jumping into blockchain validation to a burger chain paying workers in Bitcoin and an ancient whale waking up with millions, yesterday’s crypto update was feature-packed.
Crypto Update: Bhutan Goes Full Validator Mode on Sei Network
The Kingdom of Bhutan is planning to run its Sei Network validator in Q1 2026. This is a partnership between the Sei Development Foundation and Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), Bhutan’s main sovereign wealth fund, through their InnoTech division.
Phuntsho Namgay, head of DHI’s Innovation and Technology department, shared that the project is part of Bhutan’s bigger push into digital transformation. They’re eyeing more collaborations with Sei for things like payments, tokenization, and even digital identity projects.
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Talk about a country leveling up its blockchain game!
The US is leading the pack among countries holding Bitcoin, while Bhutan is fifth. Source: Bitbo
Crypto Update: Steak ‘n Shake Flips the Script with Bitcoin Bonuses
In a super fresh crypto update for the fast-food world, classic burger chain Steak ‘n Shake is giving hourly workers at their 400+ company-owned U.S. spots an extra $0.21 worth of Bitcoin for every hour worked, kicking off March 1.
This bonus stacks on top of regular pay, gets converted to Bitcoin each paycheck, but comes with a two-year vesting period before employees can touch it.
Smart move to fight sky-high turnover (over 70% last year) and keep the team flipping burgers longer. It’s a major shift from traditional restaurant pay, turning part-timers into Bitcoin holders!
Massive 2013 Dormant Wallet Awakens with $84.6 Million in BTC
And here’s the real thriller in this crypto update. A Bitcoin wallet that’s been asleep since 2013 just moved its entire 909.38 BTC stash (now worth about $84.6 million) to a brand-new address.
Back when Bitcoin was under $7, the original investment was only around $6,400. Fast-forward and it’s exploded over 13,900 times. Compare that to the S&P 500’s solid 481% return or gold’s 150% in the same timeframe, and Bitcoin still crushes it for those who held tight.
That wraps up your crypto update today. Stay tuned to Coin Medium for more updates.
