Telecom
Finland Set to Donate Bitcoin Seized from Criminals to Ukraine – Report
Finland’s government will reportedly donate bitcoin (BTC) seized in criminal operations to Ukraine, to support the latter’s war efforts against the Russian invasion.
Per the Finnish media outlet Helsingin Sanomat, the Finnish government has amassed BTC 1,981 (USD 78m). The coins have been seized by Finnish customs officials in “investigations related to” crimes such as “drugs and drug trafficking.”
The country’s courts have since ordered the transfer of the bitcoin in question to the state, which is now looking to trade the coins for cash.
But the sources did not rule out handing its stash of bitcoin “directly to Ukraine.”
The newspaper, one of Finland’s largest, claimed that its sources had stated that a decision on how much of the sale would be donated to Ukraine was still yet to be made. However, according to the same undisclosed sources, the decision to actively use the bitcoin holdings “to help Ukraine has already been taken.”
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Finland has selected two brokers to sell BTC 1,890 during the spring and early summer.
Per Helsingin Sanomat, the matter had been discussed “earlier in the spring within the government,” with “confirmation also been sought” from the nation’s President Sauli Niinistö.
The matter will be discussed in the cabinet with a final and binding decision to be taken in May, the report claimed.
The government, the source added, is currently unsure on how to proceed, and has been concerned that a crypto donation of this size and nature would “look bad to outsiders,” noting:
“Certain sensitivities apply to cryptocurrencies, as they may be linked to crime. Also, it would be difficult for Finland to ensure that the bitcoin it donates does not end up funding criminal activity.”
But the decision to sell the tokens for fiat could also prove problematic. A government source was quoted as saying that the state was concerned that by selling the bitcoin for cash and then donating the fiat, the size of the proposed donation could end up shrinking – due to market price changes.
The Finnish government also has no legal mechanism that would allow it to make donations of this sort – a factor that would actually make a direct crypto donation simpler, the sources indicated. This is due to the fact that converting the tokens to cash and then donating this would involve additional bureaucratic and legal processes, the sources continued.
In the comments submitted by readers of the article, some questioned the government’s strategy, with one highly upvoted commenter suggesting that the state could instead sell the BTC for cash and use the money to buy weaponry from Finnish providers – thus benefiting both the Ukrainian war effort and the Finnish economy.
The move could well be echoed in Canada, where the Globe and Mail reported that Ottawa was set to “give itself the power to sell off assets of foreigners seized under sanctions law, and then turn them over to affected victims or pay for rebuilding war-torn countries” – meaning that it could funnel the money and assets seized from sanctioned Russians to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine following the war.
The move will, crucially, also see Canada’s government “expand the definition of assets that can be seized by sanction to include cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs),” the media outlet added.
Source: Cryptonews
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
Anti Graft Agencies Raise Alarm over Rising Crypto-Linked Financial Crimes
NITDA Takes Over National Digital Architecture System
NDIC Insures 99 Percent of Bank Customers
FG Shifting Focus to “Meaningful Connectivity” to Drive Inclusion – Minister
CBN Bars Chronic Loan Defaulters from Accessing Loans
Kaspersky Discovers New Phishing Campaign Exploiting Google Tasks Notifications to Steal Corporate Credentials
Spotify’s Loud & Clear Report Reveals Over ₦60Bn Revenue for Nigerian Artists in 2025
Madonna University Taps Tech Guru Adote for Strategic Board Role
China Threatens to Shut Nigeria’s Satellite Over $11.44m Unpaid Debt
MTN Nigeria Posts Record N1.70 Trillion Pre‑Tax Profit, Declares N20 Dividend for 2025
Telecom3 days agoUS Jury Finds Meta, Google Liable in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case
News3 days agoEU Pumps €290m into Nigeria’s Digital, Health, Agri Sectors
News3 days agoFirm Shares Tips for Updating Your Digital Habits for an AI-driven World
E-Business3 days ago5 Wealth-Building Strategies for Nigerian Women-led Businesses
Telecom3 days agoMobile Money Transactions Accounted for $2 trillion in 2025
E-Business3 days agoNigeria, Finland Sign Cybersecurity Pact
General News2 days agoNCC to Curb SIM Fraud, Strengthen Digital Security with New Platform
General News2 days agoKidnappers Now Use Banks to Collect Ransoms — Expert