Nordic Crypto #4: Norway's minister says crypto mining in data centres is not widespread, and the Riksbank prepares for a possible e-krona

Hi, and welcome to issue #4 of the Nordic Crypto newsletter, covering 19 to 25 October 2026.

19 Oct–25 Oct 2026

The week’s crypto, bitcoin and blockchain stories from the Nordics that our editor has approved. Each item links to the original source.

Norway

Norwegian minister: crypto mining in data centres is not widespread (original: Krypto-start ikke utbredt)
Norway's digitalisation minister Torgeir Micaelsen told the Storting in a written answer on 20 October 2026 that crypto mining in data centres is not widespread, replying to a question from Lars Haltbrekken (SV). According to the answer, the communications authority Nkom's register shows crypto mining at 8 of 113 registered data centres, and Menon Economics estimates that about 75 MW, or 2 % of total reserved capacity, is reserved for crypto mining. The government is assessing a temporary, limited ban on power-intensive crypto data centres through a state planning provision, subject to EEA law. Sámi newspaper Ságat reported the answer.
Ságat · 22 Oct 2026 · may require a subscription

Five charged over Oslo home robbery in which crypto was demanded (original: Falskt matbud dukket opp med pizzaeske: «Jeg dauer din mamma»)
The trial of five people charged over a home robbery in Oslo began in Oslo District Court on 20 October 2026, TV 2 reports. According to TV 2, a robber posing as a food courier turned up with a pizza box, and the robbers demanded USD 2 million in crypto from a family in Oslo; the account turned out to be empty. The five are charged and have not been convicted.
TV 2 · 20 Oct 2026

Sweden

Netanyahu suggests using crypto to get around possible sanctions; Bank of Israel pushes back (original: Netanyahu får kritik efter utspel om kryptovalutor: ”Ett attentat”)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a TV interview on 23 October 2026 that Israel should prepare for possible international bank sanctions, agreeing when the interviewer suggested crypto and saying he had asked advisers for a plan to use blockchain to get around them, according to the Times of Israel and i24NEWS. The Bank of Israel replied that cryptocurrencies cannot serve as a means of circumventing sanctions, and ministries said they knew of no such plan, Ynetnews reports. Following the criticism, Netanyahu said he would take it into account but would do what he thinks is best. Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reported on the criticism.
Dagens Nyheter · 24 Oct 2026 · may require a subscription

Riksbank deputy governor says Sweden should prepare for a possible e-krona (original: Riksbanken vill förbereda e-kronan – Jansson varnar för att Sverige halkar efter)
Sweden's central bank wants to prepare for a possible e-krona, deputy governor Per Jansson said in an interview with Reuters on 22 October 2026, Swedish site hurbra.se reports. Jansson pointed to the planned digital euro and competition from stablecoins as reasons Sweden should not fall behind. No decision has been taken to introduce an e-krona, a central bank digital currency rather than a cryptocurrency, and it would take several years of work. The Riksbank raised the issue with the Riksdag's finance committee in a letter published on 15 October.
hurbra · 22 Oct 2026

Apple asks court to dismiss lawsuit over fake bitcoin wallet app in App Store (original: Falsk Iphone-app stal 17 miljoner – Apple vill slippa ansvar)
Three investors in the US who say they lost a combined USD 1.8 million after downloading a fake Sparrow Wallet app from Apple's App Store are suing Apple in a federal court in Northern California. According to the lawsuit, the app imitated an established bitcoin wallet that has no iPhone version, and their bitcoin was taken after they entered their seed phrases. Apple has now asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it cannot be held responsible for crimes committed by outside fraudsters, Swedish business magazine Realtid reports, citing Law360. A similar lawsuit against Apple over a fake wallet app was dismissed in 2021.
Realtid · 21 Oct 2026

BlackRock files for Bitcoin ETF designed to limit losses (original: Blackrock vill lansera Bitcoin-ETF som ska begränsa förluster)
BlackRock's iShares Trust filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 19 October 2026 for a proposed iShares Bitcoin Managed Protection ETF, ticker PBIT, Swedish site Kryptovalutaguiden reports and the filing shows. According to the filing, the fund seeks upside exposure to the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) or similar bitcoin exposure up to an approximate limit, while seeking a level of downside protection, mainly by buying and selling bitcoin call options and holding fixed-income investments. The prospectus is incomplete, the fee is not set, and the shares may not be sold until the registration becomes effective.
Kryptovalutaguiden · 20 Oct 2026

Nordic-wide

Tiny Vikings plans to unveil giant figure at Marfa art weekend
The Bitcoin Ordinals art project Tiny Vikings plans to unveil what it calls "the world's largest Tiny Viking" outside Plastic Cactus Gallery in Marfa, Texas, on 22 October 2026 at 17:00 Oslo time, according to an event page hosted by its creator, Lars, and elgin. Tiny Vikings is a collection of 20,000 digital collectibles on the Bitcoin blockchain, according to CoinGecko. The reveal opens three days of "Tiny World" in Marfa.
Nordic Crypto · 20 Oct 2026

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Nordic Crypto is run by Jørgen S. Notland (jQrgen), Oslo. Made with the help of artificial intelligence, with human editors (jQrgen and the Nordic Crypto editor). Not investment advice.

The Nordic Crypto team