Bitcoin News Australia

THE BIG IDEA

Saunas are the new social club

Saunas aren’t a new concept, dating back at least 10k years and holding an important place in cultures around the world. For example, in Finland, saunaing is such a regular activity that it’s part of holiday traditions.

But social saunas — where people gather to sweat together — have become one of the hottest wellness trends in the UK and US.

• Market-research firm Grand View Research estimates the global sauna biz will be worth $1.3B by 2030, compared to $905m in 2024, per The Economist.
• The number of social saunas in the UK has jumped from 45 in 2023 to 147 now, per Fast Company.

What goes on in these saunas?

More like what doesn’t?

At Othership, where a visit to its Manhattan location costs $45+, guests can simmer in a 90-person sauna during guided experiences that may include breathwork, aromatherapy, live music, or group “sharing” sessions, and enjoy what Condé Nast Traveler called “six of the coldest commercial ice baths in North America.”

Other saunas are less bougie, and may be smaller and more intimate to foster conversation. Some even host events for people from specific groups or communities to socialize, per Vogue.

Why the buzz?

Third spaces, like the humble coffee shop, are disappearing, and younger people are consuming less alcohol.

Communal saunas reflect a growing desire for wellness and for socialization opportunities outside of loud clubs: 

• Othership began as a backyard experiment by founders Robert and Emily Bent, a married couple who sought a way to foster community without booze.
• Daybreaker is an early-morning dance party hosted in multiple cities that does not serve alcohol.
• Board game meetups have become popular among Gen Zers and millennials.

TBH, it’s kind of relaxing to think about meeting others in a sauna. No need to do your hair, makeup, or even choose an outfit. Plus, if you’re nervous, well… everyone else is sweating, too. 

🔗

RECOMMENDED READING

• How did Silicon Valley start? Turns out Big Tech’s home began as a suburban office park built by Stanford.

NEWSWORTHY NUMBER

Cans of Zyn, tobacco-free nicotine pouches, that tobacco giant Philip Morris sold in Q1 2025, up 50%+ YoY. This is, as Sherwood News notes, enough to line the entirety of US Route 66 if placed side by side. Good to know?

Philip Morris purchased Zyn creator Swedish Match in 2022. Users place the pouches between their gum and lip, allowing nicotine to absorb in the bloodstream.

Though originally designed to help smokers quit, the brand is now popular with younger customers who want a nicotine buzz without smoking or vaping. There are also “Zynfluencers” on social media who pontificate about the product and its flavors.

HOW YOU HUSTLE

We don’t need to tell you — our readers are amazing. So amazing, in fact, that it was worth dedicating some real estate to. Here’s our weekly spotlight on a Hustler doing something big.

Who: Aaron Zar

What: SLNT

The elevator pitch: “We empower individuals to reclaim their right to disconnect. Our seamlessly integrated gear fits effortlessly into daily life, making modern living safer and healthier. With our Faraday signal-blocking products — backpacks, sleeves, and device cases — you gain true autonomy over your digital world, ensuring privacy and control on your terms.”

Why: “Technology overreach and the vulnerabilities people face with digital privacy, security, and health, such as hacking, tracking, and EMF radiation.”

Origin story: “My father created a novel Faraday pouch in the late ‘90s, sampled it in 2008, and launched a cell phone bag that blocked wireless signals to ‘cut the electronic leash’ called MIAmobi. I rebranded and reworked the product assortment in 2012 and grew what is now SLNT over the last decade.”

Biggest win: “Five SBIR US Air Force R&D contracts for the development of next generation backpacks and carrying equipment.”

Advice to a fellow entrepreneur: “Find a niche and do it well. A race to the bottom with pricing is not the path, copying others isn’t the path. Find distinct benefits to the customer that no one else is looking at.”

Want to be featured here? Tell us how you’re hustling.

AROUND THE WEB

📅  On this day: In 1939, the New York World’s Fair opened in Queens, showcasing a variety of innovative technology, including the FM radio, fluorescent lighting, and an early fax machine.

🛩️  How to: fold a paper airplane.​​

🤝  Don’t forget: We’ll be at the 2025 OOO Summit in NYC — and you should be, too. Use code THEHUSTLE for $100 off your ticket.

🖊️  That’s interesting: An ode to Skype.

👀  Aww: Sneaky.

QUOTE OF NOTE

That guy? Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, who is closing The Primary School, a K-8 for low-income children of marginalized communities in East Palo Alto, California, that he founded with wife Priscilla Chan in 2016.

School officials didn’t provide an explanation for the closure when they abruptly announced it last week, per The New York Times, leaving students, like Emeline Vainikolo’s kindergarten son, offering parents answers they heard from teachers.

One reason you can rule out: It definitely wasn’t a lack of available funds.

SHOWER THOUGHT

Gatorade is consumed mostly during sports and hangovers — one’s physical best and worst. SOURCE

Today’s email was brought to you by Juliet Bennett Rylah and Sara Friedman, with help from Singdhi Sokpo and Kaylee Jenzen.
Editing by: Ben “Hit the sweat spot” Berkley.

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