Bitcoin Veterans

Bitcoin Veterans Podcast - Live on Twitter Spaces & YouTube every Thursday 7pmET hosted by Shane Hazel, Alex Stanczyk, Gabe Lord, Mike Hobart, and Jordan Gambrell

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Profile Code

nprofile1qqsqt94cze77fkfxhgt9s2rfxmht6gjn96n8asf2jrq8szkkdhclexgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzvujdjmpe

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npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r

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Last Notes

2024-09-13 21:03:42

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Understanding Market Dynamics with Joe Carlasare
https://fountain.fm/episode/5VkGIfczRbqmkPpIJpmM

2024-09-12 22:04:41

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: The Power of Bitcoin. Can it Resist Government Control and Influence?
https://fountain.fm/episode/nH1OZy3q0dO1estALU7C

2024-09-12 14:16:47

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 861,003
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 12Sep24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Russian Drones Knock Out Power Stations / Fmr. Peru Leader Fujimori Dies / DHS Designates Jan 6th 'National Security Event" / Venezuelan Gang Expands in US / UK Bill To Recognize Digital Assets as Property / SEC Chair Gensler Under Investigation / CBDCs are Digital Control / Stocks Up on CPI Data / SpaceX Civilian Astronauts Conduct Spacewalk / India, Nigeria, Indonesia Lead 'Crypto' Adoption
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,058, 23.04 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $58,454 / Lo: $55,567
Vol: $36B (Up 13%)
Mkt Cap: $1.15T (Up 2%)
HashRate: 582 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Up 33%)
Nodes: 19,321
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Russian drones pound power system in Sumy region town, 14 people hurt, Ukraine says: Russian drones inflicted significant damage to the northern Ukrainian town of Konotop's energy infrastructure in an overnight attack that injured at least 14 people and cut electricity to the settlement, local officials said on Thursday. Rescuers were working to restore power in the town, which had a pre-war population of about 83,000. Regional officials said there had been 10 explosions during the attack and Mayor Artem Semenikhin said the power system was in critical condition. (Reuters)
2. Former Peruvian leader Alberto Fujimori dies at 86: Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori, who was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption, has died aged 86. Fujimori governed Peru between 1990 and 2000 before being forced from office amid allegations of corruption. His tough stance against a left-wing guerrilla insurgency at a time when the rebels looked likely to seize power won him plaudits from many. (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Department of Homeland Security designates Jan. 6, 2025, a ‘National Special Security Event’: The federal government has designated Congress’ certification of electoral votes in the upcoming 2024 presidential election to be a “National Special Security Event,” the Secret Service announced Wednesday. The special designation was approved by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and means law enforcement agencies will dramatically beef up security for the Jan. 6, 2025, tally – in an effort to prevent another riot at the Capitol Building. “When an event is designated a National Special Security Event, the US Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan.” (NYPost)
2. A Venezuelan Gang Is Expanding Its Deadly Reach to the U.S.: U.S. law-enforcement officials had watched with alarm the spread of a Venezuelan gang known for dismembering rivals from Chile to Colombia. But the gang, known as the Tren de Aragua, seemed contained in Latin America. American officials fear the same pattern emerging in the U.S., where more than 700,000 Venezuelans have settled in the past four years. Tren de Aragua members are suspects in the shooting of two New York police officers, the killing of a former Venezuelan police officer in South Florida, and crimes from Chicago to Texas, law-enforcement authorities said. In all, there are now more than 100 investigations in the U.S. involving suspected members of Tren de Aragua, said a high-ranking Immigration and Customs Enforcement official. (WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. UK Bill Recognizes Digital Assets as Personal Property Under New Law: The UK Ministry of Justice has introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Bill to recognize bitcoin and other digital assets as personal property under English and Welsh law. Led by Justice Minister Heidi Alexander, this bill addresses legal uncertainties around digital assets, ensuring better protection for owners in fraud cases and disputes. It also positions the UK as a leader in global digital asset regulation, boosting its economy and legal services. (BitcoinCom)
2. SEC Under Scrutiny: House Republicans Investigate Gensler’s Political Hiring Practices: U.S. House Republicans have launched an investigation into the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), focusing on allegations that the agency’s hiring practices may be influenced by political affiliations. The probe, led by GOP lawmakers Jim Jordan, Patrick McHenry, and James Comer, aims to determine whether the SEC has violated federal law by considering political ideology when filling senior positions. (Blockonomi)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Central Bank Digital Currencies: Digital Currency or Digital Control?: Central bankers and other policymakers may argue that CBDCs are the future of money, but whether the end result is a waste of resources or a threat to fundamental freedoms, this future is not one that should be welcomed. Considering all signs currently seem to suggest that governments will push forward with CBDCs, it is up to the people to get involved in the conversation before the decision is made for them. (Cato) (AC-A freedom-perspective article on recharacterizing CBDCs as digital control.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Spot bitcoin ETFs see $43 million in outflows, breaking two-day inflow run: Spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the U.S. posted total daily net outflows of $43.97 million on Wednesday, ending a two-day streak of positive flows. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Stocks Close Sharply Higher on Tech Boost After CPI: US Stocks closed sharply higher on Wednesday, boosted by tech stocks as investors assessed the latest inflation data and its implications for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision. The S&P 500 rose 1%, extending its winning streak to three sessions, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq surged 2.2% (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology and Science-
1. Watch SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission conduct the first all-civilian spacewalk in history: SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission finally launched on Tuesday, after a series of delays pushed back its commencement date. Now the crew of the private spaceflight are scheduled to take the first ever commercial spacewalk — and the entire thing will be livestreamed so we can watch it here from Earth. (Mashable)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. India, Nigeria, Indonesia Lead Chainalysis 2024 Crypto Adoption Index: India, Nigeria, and Indonesia top Chainalysis’ latest global crypto adoption index, which ranks 151 countries based on grassroots cryptocurrency usage, adjusted for population and purchasing power. The report notes strong growth in crypto activity, particularly in lower-income nations. (BitcoinCom)
2. Why Bitcoin Mining Produced an Empty Block at Height 860932 Today: Bitcoin mining by Foundry USA today produced an empty block at block height 860932. Empty Bitcoin blocks, such as block 860932, are blocks that contain only the coinbase transactions and no additional transactions from the mempool. The mining of empty blocks usually occurs due to the technical delay between validating a block and receiving the transactions in the mempool. (CoinGape)
3. Anthony Scaramucci Teases New Bitcoin Book Featuring Foreword by Michael Saylor: Anthony Scaramucci, CEO of SkyBridge Capital, has hinted at his upcoming book The Little Book of Bitcoin. In a recent tweet, Scaramucci revealed that Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy and a major Bitcoin supporter, has written the foreword for the book. Scaramucci praised Saylor as a “living legend” and expressed appreciation for his contribution to the book. (CoinSpeaker)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 31/100 (Down 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HmyE.jpg

2024-09-11 23:51:40

https://fountain.fm/episode/nVKIzVZepOueAiznXn3U

2024-09-11 13:29:47

Bitcoin Veterans Podcast EP 59 with @nprofile…kas9
https://fountain.fm/episode/jOUqspCbFLR9LkqbfNNU

2024-09-10 20:57:24

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Bitcoin and Politics - How Economic Systems Shape our Future
https://fountain.fm/episode/n3TqphNx8ttRayFmri3o

2024-09-09 19:46:41

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Navigating Bitcoin's Volatility: Lessons from MicroStrategy's Journey
https://fountain.fm/episode/kS811rMQ4Efny1NxYx6t

2024-09-06 21:24:16

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Bitcoin and the Fight for Individual Liberty - A Veteran's Perspective
https://fountain.fm/episode/FECkZtBnUEWz689i0li4

2024-09-04 19:17:34

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Bitcoin and Freedom
https://fountain.fm/episode/mdCnCggpC7hIb2Zg2YqD

2024-09-03 15:48:16

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 859,693
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 03Sep24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Putin Welcomed in Mongolia, Not Arrested / US Seizes Maduro's Plane / US Marines on Liberty Attacked in Turkey / Musk Continues Starlink and X Services in Brazil for Free / Four Killed on Commuter Train in Chicago / Kansas Files Civil Suit Against Pfizer Over COVID Vax / Machete and Toblerone Used in Bitcoin Theft / Coinbase Has 1st AI to AI Transaction / BTC Mining Hurting
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,154, 23.68 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $59,815 / Lo: $58,103
Vol: $23B (Down 21%)
Mkt Cap: $1.17T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 733 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Even)
Nodes: 18,378
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Putin welcomed in Mongolia despite ICC arrest warrant: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Mongolia, his first visit to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member since it issued a warrant for his arrest last year. Soldiers on horseback lined the capital's Genghis Khan Square as martial anthems were played by a live band to welcome the Russian leader, who met with the Mongolian president Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. The landlocked country, which also borders China, also relies on Russia for gas and electricity. (BBC)
2. US seizes Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane in the Dominican Republic, flies it to South Florida: The United States has seized Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane after determining that its acquisition was in violation of US sanctions, among other criminal issues. The US flew the aircraft to Florida on Monday, according to two US officials. In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that “the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.” (WSVN-Miami) (AC-An interesting twist following the sham election in Venezuela and the international calls for Maduro to step down. The US has been verbally tough on Maduro while not doing anything to stop the dictator's continued tyranny of the country. This seems action could be a turning point, or possibly more theater.)
3. U.S. Marines attacked during port visit in Turkey, Navy says: Two U.S. Marines from the USS Wasp were attacked Monday during a port visit in Izmir, Turkey, according to a Navy spokesperson. Video of the apparent incident shows a group of men forcing a bag over the head of one of the Marines as they restrain him, chanting "Yankee go home." The Marines, part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were "on liberty" at the time of the incident and taken to a local hospital for evaluation as a precaution. (CBS)
4. Elon Musk defies X ban in Brazil by beaming app from space: Elon Musk has found a way to bypass a ban on his social media firm X in Brazil by allowing people in the country to access the app through his satellite internet provider Starlink. Brazil’s Supreme Court voted on Monday to uphold a ban on X that was introduced last week by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Mr Musk claimed the freezing of Starlink bank accounts was illegal and pledged to provide free internet access to its Brazilian customers while the accounts remain blocked. (IndependentUK)
-US Events-
1. Four people shot to death while sleeping on Chicago commuter train: Three victims were declared dead at the scene while a fourth was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center where they died from their wounds. The shooter fled the scene. However a suspect armed with a gun was later taken into custody on a CTA Pink Line train in Chicago. (NYPost)
2. Kansas is first of five states to file civil suit against Pfizer: In a groundbreaking move, Kansas has taken legal action against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer for allegedly engaging in false and misleading marketing practices. This marks the first of five states in the US to pursue legal action against the company. The lawsuit against Pfizer was prompted by evidence that the company had engaged in false and misleading marketing practices. It was discovered that Pfizer had promoted its product as safe and effective for pregnant women, despite knowing that it posed serious risks to both the mother and the baby. (CountyLocalNews) (AC-This is NOT being reported by any other news outlets but is trending heavily on X. Either the news is fake or being censored by all news organizations.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. SBI VC Trade and Metaplanet Team Up for Advanced Bitcoin Trading Solutions: Metaplanet and SBI VC Trade have formed a strategic partnership to enhance bitcoin trading, storage, and management. This alliance aligns with Metaplanet’s “bitcoin first, bitcoin only” strategy, emphasizing BTC’s scarcity and decentralized nature. The partnership provides Metaplanet access to SBI VC Trade’s tax-efficient corporate custody services and the ability to use bitcoin as collateral, supporting their corporate bitcoin accumulation goals. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Metaplanet is following MicroStrategy's playbook in Japan.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Little Changed to Kick Off September: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note was around 3.9% on the first trading day of September as investors return from the Labor Day holiday to a week packed with key economic data. The ISM Manufacturing PMI will be in the spotlight today, while important labor market indicators like JOLTS and the jobs report are awaited later in the week. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Home invaders used machete, Toblerone to rob a man of his Bitcoin: Scottish prosecutors have seized and converted 23.5 Bitcoin into cash from a 2020 robbery that saw three men armed with a machete and a Toblerone chocolate bar break into a home near Glasgow. Three men conducted the home invasion in the town of Blantyre, southeast of Glasgow, and one repeatedly beat a woman at the property with a personalized Toblerone bar and threw her into a bedroom. The victim, who isn’t named for legal reasons, testified that he awoke to find a man standing over him with a machete before he was forced to transfer Bitcoin. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Hacker Behind WazirX Breach is Using Tornado Cash to Funnel Millions of Dollars in Stolen Crypto: Following the $230 million exploit on Indian exchange WazirX, the hacker responsible has been funneling millions of dollars in user assets through Tornado Cash. The hacker has transferred 2,600 ETH, valued at $6.5 million, to the sanctioned mixer Tornado Cash. Despite being banned in the US, Tornado Cash continues to operate in various jurisdictions, including North Korea. (Decrypt)
-Technology and Science-
1. Coinbase Reports Its First AI-to-AI Crypto Transaction: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced the platform’s first AI-to-AI cryptocurrency transaction, highlighting a new application of digital currency by artificial intelligence agents. Armstrong believes this advancement will enhance AI’s capacity to independently obtain resources and engage with humans and other AI systems. He encourages developers to add crypto wallets to support the growth of AI-to-AI transactions. (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. BTC mining profits elusive as difficulty hits all-time high: Block reward miners on the BTC network had their least profitable month in nearly a year in August, leading to bankruptcies, share dilutions, and other ‘Hail Mary’ efforts to stave off the inevitable. BTC miner revenue hitting $827.5 million in August, less than half the total from this year’s peak of $1.93 billion in March and the lowest total since September 2023. Transaction fees’ contribution to this total also slumped to a year-to-date low of $20.8 million. Meanwhile, mining difficulty hit an all-time high in August. (CoinGeek)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 26/100 (Down 7 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-08-30 14:43:00

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 858,081
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 30Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Houthis Blow Up Oil Tanker / Russia Nervous Over Durov's Arrest / US Sec Advisor Meets With Xi / Trump Still Battling Lawfare / CO Councilmember Confirms Gangs in Aurora / Custodia Bank Under Fire / Russia to Begin Crypto Cross-Border Payments / Musk's Battle With Brazil Intensifies / Bitcoin Exchange Reserves Low / Bitcoin Millionaires Up / Solo Miner Hits Jackpot
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,470, 24.85 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,184 / Lo: $58,707
Vol: $32B (Down 6%)
Mkt Cap: $1.17T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 586 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 20%)
Nodes: 19,356
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Houthi video shows the Yemeni rebels planted bombs on tanker now threatening Red Sea oil spill: Yemen’s Houthi rebels released footage on Thursday showing their fighters boarded and placed explosives on a Greek-flagged tanker, setting off blasts that put the Red Sea at risk of a major oil spill. The vessel was abandoned earlier, after the Houthis repeatedly attacked it. The Houthis have targeted more than 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign that also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets. (AP)
2. Russia’s Military Fears for Its Secrets After Telegram Founder’s Arrest: Russian authorities have reacted with unusual fury to the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities. Telegram is more than a mere social-media app to Moscow. Russian soldiers and spies depend on it for battlefield communications, including the guidance of artillery, the coordination of movements and intelligence gathering. Both the Russian and the Ukrainian militaries started relying on commercial platforms. While the Ukrainians prefer Western providers such as Signal or Discord, the Russians chose Telegram because it is based in the United Arab Emirates, which maintains good relations with Moscow. They think the app is more impervious to Western signals intelligence. (WSJ)
3. ‘Vigorous give and take’: U.S. security advisor discusses economic curbs in rare trip to China: U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said he raised concerns about the country’s focus on economic security in meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials this week. Sullivan, advisor to the outgoing Biden administration, said his trip to China was part of an effort to manage the bilateral relationship ahead of the inauguration of a new U.S. president in January. Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have escalated in recent years, spilling over from trade into finance and technology. (CNBC)
-US Events-
1. Trump seeks to move his New York state criminal case to federal court and delay sentencing: Donald Trump has filed a petition seeking to move his New York state criminal case to a federal court in Manhattan and push off the upcoming sentencing for his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. (CNN)
2. Colorado City Council Member Says ‘Denver Is the Problem’ as Migrant Gangs Occupy Housing: Aurora City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky is bringing national attention to the migrant gangs that are being welcomed by the Biden-Harris administration and their Denver Democrat allies. The councilwoman has been shining a light on rising crime in Aurora that appears to be caused by members of the dangerous Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan street gang that has flooded the community after being cast out of the nearby sanctuary city of Denver. Because of all this, the council member says that many long-time residents are talking about leaving Aurora. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. WazirX Sets Aside Funds for Legal Costs Following July Cyberattack: WazirX, the Indian exchange that suffered a cyberattack in July resulting in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto, has set aside millions of dollars to cover legal costs. The holding company of WazirX has filed an affidavit requesting a 30-day moratorium to stabilize the platform and prevent further legal disruptions. The exchange has suspended withdrawals and is working to restore user funds. (Decrypt)
2. Biden’s Crypto Crackdown Hits Custodia Bank: Workforce Reductions Announced: In response to the Biden administration’s intensified scrutiny on the crypto industry, Custodia Bank, a notable Wyoming-based financial institution catering to crypto businesses, has recently undergone a significant restructuring. Custodia Bank has made the decision to lay off nine of its 36 employees, a move aimed at conserving capital amidst mounting legal battles with the Federal Reserve (Fed). (Bitcoinist)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Russia to Trial Cross-Border Crypto Payments Starting Next Week: Russia will begin trialing cross-border crypto payments next week in an effort to circumvent international sanctions. The legislation allows for cross-border payments with crypto, but the rules for such transactions are unclear. The central bank will oversee an "experimental" regime to determine how these payments will be conducted. (Decrypt)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. BlackRock’s IBIT logs first daily net outflows since May amid streak of spot bitcoin ETF outflows: U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $71.73 million in net outflows on Thursday, extending their outflow streak to three days. BlackRock’s IBIT, the largest spot bitcoin ETF by net assets, reported its first negative flows since May 1, with $13.51 million in net outflows (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US GDP Growth Revised Higher: Real gross domestic product (GDP) in the US grew at an annual rate of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024, up from 2.8% in the initial estimate and 1.4% in the first quarter. The upward revision was mainly due to increased consumer spending (2.9% vs 2.3% earlier reported). (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Halliburton cyberattack linked to RansomHub ransomware gang: The attack caused widespread disruption, and customers couldn't generate invoices or purchase orders because the required systems were down. (BleepingComputer)
-Technology and Science-
1. Starlink's local bank accounts are frozen as X prepares to be shut down in Brazil: A judge in Brazil has blocked Starlink’s bank accounts in the country amid a deepening dispute with X. X owner Elon Musk has been feuding with Brazil Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes for months over demands to block certain accounts in the country. The company closed down its operations in Brazil earlier this month as a result of the court orders. Now, Moraes is apparently attempting to use one of Musk’s other companies, SpaceX-owned Starlink, in an attempt to get X to comply with the court order. (Engadget)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin exchange reserves reach new yearly low amid $60K price retest: According to CryptoQuant data, Bitcoin reserves on exchanges have decreased by approximately 12.9% since Jan. 1, leaving 2.62 million Bitcoin across all major crypto exchanges. “The supply shock will come soon because this is not sustainable,” pseudonymous crypto commentator Bitcoin for Freedom told their 74,800 X followers, noting that the last seven days have seen 56,000 Bitcoin moved off crypto exchanges since Aug. 22. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Bitcoin Millionaires up by 111%, Crypto Users Reach 560 Million: A new report reveals a significant increase in wealthy crypto asset holders, with bitcoin (BTC) millionaires rising 111% to 85,400 and individuals with crypto assets worth $1 million increasing 95% to 172,300. Dominic Volek of Henley & Partners attributes this surge to the introduction of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a BTC rally surpassing $70,000. The report also shows a 32% increase in crypto users to 560 million and a 31% rise in BTC users to 275 million.(BitcoinCom)
3. Solo Bitcoin miner earns $200,000 (3.275 BTC) reward amid growing centralization concerns: Blockchain data confirms that the miner successfully mined block number 858,978 on the Bitcoin blockchain yesterday, which included 2,391 transactions. (CryptoSlate)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 34/100 (Up 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Running your own miner and node are 'freedom tech' moves. Consider mining Bitcoin as you just might win the reward as the article above reveals.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-08-29 19:17:43

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Defending Freedom. A conversation with @nprofile…42tl from Simply Bitcoin.
https://fountain.fm/episode/6PIO4r56KiLoSmlJHN9n

2024-08-28 19:07:00

Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: Game Theory, Bitcoin Security and News
https://fountain.fm/episode/7MJUMRTHbOuEb1moZ0a0

2024-08-28 15:14:13

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 858,796
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 28Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: IDF Launches West Bank Operation / Big Typhoon Headed to Japan / Ukraine's F-16 Score First Kill / Mexico's Obrador Not Happy With US Ambassador / Indictments Re-filed Against Trump / RFK Unable to be Removed Off Some Key Ballots / Zuckerberg Admits USG Pressure to Censor / Binance CEO Says 'FUD' to Wallet Freeze / India Looks for Global CBDC Framework / Home Prices Unaffordable / Is Cyber Attack Next? / Miner Rhodium Files Bankruptcy / 30K of BTC Moved, Spooks Market
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,039, 24.85 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $62,487 / Lo: $58,116
Vol: $44B (Up 53%)
Mkt Cap: $1.19T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 613 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Up 20%)
Nodes: 19,507
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israel launches a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank, killing 9 Palestinians: Israel has carried out near-daily raids across the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza triggered the ongoing war there. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, said that “large forces” had entered the volatile city of Jenin, which has long been a militant stronghold, as well as Tulkarem and the Al-Faraa refugee camp dating back to the 1948 Mideast war, all in the northern West Bank. (AP)
2. Japan issues emergency warning as powerful Typhoon Shanshan nears: Southwestern Japan braced on Wednesday for what officials say could be one of the strongest storms to ever hit the region, as some residents in the path of Typhoon Shanshan were ordered to evacuate and major firms like Toyota closed factories. (Reuters)
3. Ukraine’s F-16s Have Scored Their First Aerial Kills: Ukraine’s ex-Danish Lockheed Martin F-16s have scored their first aerial victories. According to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the supersonic F-16s shot down Russian cruise missiles during the Russian air raids targeting Ukrainian cities on Monday. (Forbes)
4. Judicial Reforms Strain Mexican-US Ties, Spook Investors: The reforms, under which judges would be elected by popular vote, could pose "a major risk to the functioning of Mexico's democracy, said US Amb. Salazar, while Canada has for its part said investors are worried. Salazar's remarks in particular irked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who announced Tuesday a "pause" in dialogue with the US diplomat, with whom he usually has close ties. (IBTimes)
-US Events-
1. Trump re-charged in special counsel election case due to Supreme Court immunity ruling: A federal grand jury on Tuesday returned a superseding indictment charging former President Donald Trump with the same offenses that he originally faced in his criminal election interference case in Washington, D.C. The new indictment is shorter than the original but Trump still faces one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. (CNBC)
2. RFK Jr. won't be able to remove himself from ballots in Michigan and Wisconsin: Election officials in the two swing states confirm that Kennedy's name will remain on their ballots despite his decision to drop out and back Trump. (NBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg Claims Government Pressure to Censor COVID-19 Content: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has revealed that the Biden administration allegedly "pressured" the social media giant to censor content related to COVID-19. Senior officials from the Biden administration reportedly pressured Meta for months to remove or censor certain COVID-19 content in 2021. This included not only serious discussions but also humor and satire related to the pandemic. Zuckerberg detailed these claims in a letter addressed to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee. (TechTimes)
2. Binance CEO dismisses 'FUD' over alleged freeze of Palestinian crypto wallets: Recently, allegations have emerged that Binance has frozen the assets of Palestinian users following a request from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “FUD. Only a limited number of user accounts, linked to illicit funds, were blocked from transacting. There have been some incorrect statements about this,” CEO Teng stated. (CryptoBriefing)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. India's central bank proposes 'plug-and-play' CBDC framework for cross-border transactions: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das highlighted the potential for greater efficiency in cross-border transactions with the emergence of fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). (CryptoBriefing) (AC-Reading between the lines, they are looking for a global solution.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin and Ethereum Stabilize After Sharp Drop on Tuesday: Bitcoin experienced a sudden drop of over 6% and reached a low of $58,090 during late-night European trading hours. This decline had a ripple effect on the broader cryptocurrency market, with Ethereum falling by 8.2%. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Home prices hit record high in June: ‘Most unaffordable housing market in history’: Years of underbuilding fueled a shortage of homes in the country, a problem that was later exacerbated by the rapid rise in mortgage rates and expensive construction materials. Sellers who locked in a record-low mortgage rate of 3% or less during the pandemic began have been reluctant to sell, limiting supply further and leaving few options for eager would-be buyers. (NYPost)
2. US Mortgage Rates Lowest since April 2023: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) decreased to 6.44% in the week ended August 23, 2024, the lowest since April 2023. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Recent Events Prove Western Nations Are Highly Vulnerable To Cyber Calamity: With the increasing tensions between western and eastern nations the chances of a cyber attack are high, and is the next most likely global disaster. With a cyber-event there is the distinct danger of communications disruptions – No cell phones, no email, no social media, nothing. So, having knowledge in ham radio and radio communications is a must. (ZeroHedge)
-Technology and Science-
1. AI model generates real-time playable DOOM with no game engine: GameNGen can simulate the classic game DOOM at over 20 frames per second, achieving visual quality comparable to the original game. (CryptoSlate)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin miner Rhodium files for chapter 11 bankruptcy with up to $100 million in liabilities: Bitcoin mining firm Rhodium Enterprises filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas, citing liabilities up to $100 million. The filing includes six subsidiaries and follows loan defaults totaling $54 million in July. This move allows Rhodium to reorganize debts while continuing operations. The bankruptcy reflects broader challenges in the crypto mining sector, including declining profits post-halving and increased energy costs. (CryptoBriefing)
2. Mysterious $1.88 Billion Bitcoin Transfer Stuns World's Largest Exchange: An unexpected twist emerged on-chain when, according to data from Whale Alert, 30,000 BTC, a colossal sum equivalent to $1.88 billion at current prices, was transferred to the world's largest crypto exchange, Binance. (UToday)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Down 18 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/JckD.jpg

2024-08-27 19:56:40

BV SITREP: Shifting Political Loyalties and the Influence of Bitcoin.
https://fountain.fm/episode/ddd4kd7798CZbnuWbvmw

2024-08-27 14:57:20

- reply

Bro, why you posting your seed phrase?!

2024-08-26 19:05:15

BV SITREP Bitcoin Vet Unplugged
https://fountain.fm/episode/EhMStDZjIpgmlsBetEJI
Zap us or the commies win.

2024-08-23 21:26:20

BV SITREP 005 A Path to Freedom and Time.
https://fountain.fm/episode/5JCa20gMOEFJtdqYzoMo

2024-08-23 14:54:49

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 858,079
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Court Upholds Maduro's Victory / Nuke Plant in Kursk Threatened By Drones / SCOTUS Rules AZ Voters To Show Citizenship Proof / New COVID Vaccines Recommended by CDC / RFK Wins Ruling Against Biden Admin / DeFi Making Comeback / Myanmar Currency Quickly Debased / Crowdstrike Facing Lawsuits / Rise In Pig Butchering Con Games / US Wants to Flood Taiwan Strait With Drones
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,818, 24.28 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,408 / Lo: $60,141
Vol: $24B (Down 30%)
Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 736 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Up 67%)
Nodes: 19,259
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Venezuelan court upholds Maduro’s disputed victory: Venezuela’s highest court has upheld the re-election of Nicolás Maduro as president following accusations of widespread voter fraud in July's poll. The decision by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) comes as the United Nations warned that the court lacked independence and impartiality. Mr Maduro has led the country since 2013 and his re-election means he can serve another six-year term. (BBC)
2. IAEA's Grossi to visit Kursk nuclear plant after drone attack: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday its Director General Rafael Grossi will assess the situation at Kursk nuclear power plant during his visit next week. IAEA also said it had been informed by the Russian Federation that the remains of a drone had been found within the Kursk nuclear power plant. Acting Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov told Putin the situation at the Kursk plant was "stable." (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Arizona can demand some voters prove citizenship, US supreme court rules: The US supreme court ruled Thursday that Arizona can partially enforce a new law that requires people to prove their citizenship in order to vote, but said the state cannot block them from voting for president or by mail as long as they used the federal voter registration form. The court’s emergency decision allows Arizona to require proof of citizenship from registrants who use the state’s voter registration form. But those who register using a federal voter registration form are still eligible to vote for president. The court also left in place a lower court injunction barring those who do not provide proof of citizenship from voting by mail for president. (TheGuardian)
2. FDA approves updated Pfizer, Moderna Covid vaccines as virus surges; shots to be available within days: The jabs target a strain called KP.2, a descendant of the highly contagious omicron subvariant JN.1 that began circulating widely in the U.S. earlier this year. The CDC recommended that everyone over 6 months old receive an updated Covid vaccine this year. Meanwhile, the CDC said about four people are being hospitalized for Covid for every 100,000 people in a given area. (CNBC) (AC-Even if the reader does not give credence to CDC/Big Pharma announcements like this, it is important to know that some do and whom may not know the risk/reward ratio of these vaccines.)
3. Judge Rules RFK Jr. Can Sue Biden Admin Over Censorship After Supreme Court Rejects Challenge From States: A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can continue to pursue his lawsuit against the Biden administration over censorship at the direction of the government. According to District Court Judge Terry Doughty, Kennedy meets the standard set by the Supreme Court because there is "ample evidence" to show he was censored at the direction of government actors, and is at "substantial risk" that the censorship will continue. Kennedy was named by one of the "Disinformation Dozen" - and was specifically targeted by the government over what they alleged was COVID-19 misinformation, and "The Court finds that there is further risk for future risk injury here because Kennedy is a 2024 presidential candidate," wrote Doughty. (ZeroHedge) (AC-An interesting turn of events for RFK as we await his pending announcement today. This ruling could affect his potential drop-out and support of Trump.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. DeFi Is Set to Make a Comeback As Interest Rates, Stablecoin Supply Drive Its Resurgence: According to a report by Steno Research, decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to make a comeback, with the total value locked (TVL) in the crypto ecosystem potentially reaching an all-time high in the first half of next year. The resurgence of DeFi is linked to interest rates, particularly in the U.S., as they influence the appeal of decentralized financial markets. Additionally, factors such as the growth in stablecoin supply and the continued expansion of real-world assets contribute to the revival of DeFi. (Decreypt) (AC-Ugh!)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. El Salvador adds 162 Bitcoins to national holdings: A cold wallet reportedly owned by the Salvadoran government has been buying one Bitcoin everyday since March 16, adding 162 coins to the country’s Bitcoin holdings. (CryptoNews)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Treasury Note Yield Steady Ahead Powell Speech: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note stabilized at 3.85% on Friday, after briefly dipping to a 14-month low of 3.8% earlier in the week. Markets are closely watching to gauge the scale of potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is set to speak at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Initial Jobless Claims Rise More than Expected: The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US rose by 4,000 from the previous week to 232,000 on the period ending August 17th, slightly ahead of market expectations of 230,000 to mark a three-week high. (TradingEconomics)
3. Myanmar households crippled as currency tumbles to record low: The Myanmar kyat has been extremely volatile in recent days, plunging to a low of 7,500 to the dollar in the black-market last week from 5,000 earlier in the month The plunge followed reports that the Myanmar junta was printing more kyat to prop up the currency, two traders said. “People are frantically buying (Thai) baht and selling kyat,” said a money transfer agent in Thailand. (AsashiShimbun) (AC- For those who study currencies and economics, the lessons come from around the world.)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. CrowdStrike Faces Lawsuits From Customers, Investors: CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) is facing lawsuits from investors and customers following the incident that caused massive global outages, but some believe the company is likely shielded from legal action. Roughly 8.5 million Windows devices worldwide entered a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) loop on July 19 after CrowdStrike pushed out a bad update that was not properly tested. (SecurityWeek)
2. Pig Butchering Crypto Scams On The Rise: FBI Recovered $5 Million: Pig Butchering crypto scams have become the new preference of fraudsters where they pretend to be acquaintances, friends, or romantic partners. They make contacts and get close with the victim, running the fraud for weeks or even months, convincing the victim to invest in the scammer’s crypto. Once the victim invests, the scammers show sudden losses to ask for more or simply disappear. (CoinGape)
-Technology and Science-
1. AI drone ‘hellscape’ plan for Taiwan: The US army plans to combat a Chinese invasion of Taiwan by flooding the narrow Taiwan Strait with swarms of thousands and thousands of autonomous drones. “I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities so that I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything,” US Indo-Pacific Command chief Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo told the Washington Post. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bybit emerges as dominant exchange with $2.5 billion BTC spot volume: Bybit's recent surge to a $2.5 billion spot volume on Aug. 22 has stunned the crypto community, consistently outperforming even the behemoth Binance in daily volumes. (CryptoSlate)
2. Bitcoin Fees Surge Above $100 as Native Staking Protocol Launches: Babylon Labs' launch of native staking capabilities for Bitcoin caused a surge in transaction fees early Thursday, with the median cost per transaction peaking at $132. Users rushed to stake their Bitcoin, leading to a fee bidding war and increased costs. Despite the inconvenience for standard Bitcoin users, this fee spike may benefit miners struggling in the current climate. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 34/100 (Down 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-08-22 19:28:58

BV SITREP with @nprofile…24ws
Market Manipulation and the Fragility of the Financial System
https://fountain.fm/episode/fcKtWX0dgeSLWfkrco11

2024-08-22 14:54:12

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 857,908
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 22Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Greek Oil Tanker Burning, Adrift in Red Sea / Recovery Ops Continue in Superyacht Saga / Canada's Railroads to Shutdown Over Labor Talks, Far-Reaching Effects / RFJ Jr. May Drop Out Soon / Protests Get Violent in Chicago / Crypto Companies Contributing the Most to Politicians / CBDCs Only Issued in 4 Countries / Major Revision in Jobs Data / Hope Rising for Fed Rate Cuts / Australia Cracks Down on Scammers / Bitcoin, Not Crypto Explained
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,185, 24.54 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,834 / Lo: $58,893
Vol: $35B (Up 32%)
Mkt Cap: $1.21T (Up 3%)
HashRate: 682 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 40%)
Nodes: 19,104
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Greek oil tanker on fire and adrift after multiple attacks in Red Sea: A crew of 25 has been rescued from a Greek-flagged oil tanker after it caught fire after multiple attacks in the Red Sea. The Sounion was attacked by more than a dozen people on two small boats who fired multiple projectiles at the ship when it was about 77 nautical miles (143km) west of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on Wednesday morning. (AlJazeera)
2. Five bodies recovered in wreckage of superyacht that sank off Sicily: British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International Chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were all reported missing after a luxury yacht they were on board sank. According to reports from eyewitnesses and survivors, the ship was violently rocked by a storm at around 4 a.m. local time on Monday while it was anchored near the Sicilian port of Porticello. It sank rapidly after capsizing. (CNBC) (AC-Rumors are swirling around this story and is great fodder for the conspiracy-minded thinker. There are certainly many questions raised in this uncanny series of events.)
3. Canada’s Railroads Lock Out 9,000 Employees as Labor Talks Break Down: Canada’s two main railroads locked out over 9,000 employees Thursday after they were unable to reach new labor deals with a Teamsters union, the start of a work stoppage that threatens to stanch hundreds of millions of dollars in daily cross-border trade and upend North American supply chains. Experts warned the actions would throttle businesses from retailers to automakers and even reach into commuter trains that use tracks operated by the freight railroads. (WSJ) (AC-This development will have far-reaching effects in Canada and the US, from hazardous materials, to grain shipments, meat producers and much more.)
-US Events-
1. RFK Jr. expected to drop out of race by end of week, plans to endorse Trump: Sources cautioned the decision is not yet finalized and could still change, with one possible scenario being discussed is for Kennedy to appear on stage with Trump at an event in Phoenix on Friday. (ABC)
2. 60 violent anti-Israel protesters arrested after second night of DNC descended into chaos: Chicago police arrested around 60 anti-Israel demonstrators on the second night of the Democratic National Convention — many from out of state — when an illegal march following a protest outside the Israeli consulate turned violent. “Last night was a danger to our city, and a danger to our citizens in this city,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said. (NYPost)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Coinbase and Ripple Become Largest Corporate Political Contributors in 2024 US Congressional Races: Major crypto companies, including Coinbase and Ripple, have become the largest corporate political contributors, donating a significant portion of the $248 million to candidates ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. (Decrypt) (AC-Both companies have specific agendas, with Ripple being known for advocating for CBDCs based on their technology.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. The Race To Issue CBDC: A quick glance at this handy CBDC Tracker shows there are four official CBDCs up and running in the world, with the first one launching way back in 2020 when the Bahamas introduced the "Sand Dollar". Other CBDCs include Nigeria's eNaira, which is used by more than 13 million Nigerians, Jamaica's Jam-Dex digital currency, which launched in July 2022, and the Eastern Caribbean Union's DCash, which debuted in April 2021. We're yet to see any major economy launch a CBDC, but imminent possibilities include Sweden, and in the Middle East, Israel is definitely getting closer to the launch of its long-awaited digital Shekel. (UToday)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs attract $39.4m in inflows as Ether ETFs struggle with fifth consecutive day of outflows:Grayscale’s mini Bitcoin trust led the charge with reported inflows of $14.2 million following three days of no activity. Fidelity’s FBTC and Bitwise’s BITB followed next with inflows of $10.7 million and $10 million, respectively. (CryptoNews)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Job Growth Revised Down by 818,000: The Bureau of Labor Statistics' recent revision showed that US job growth for the year ending in March 2024 was weaker than initially reported, with 818,000 fewer jobs added. This significant downward adjustment suggests that the job market was cooling more rapidly than previously believed, averaging about 68,000 fewer jobs per month. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Futures Point to Higher Open: US stock futures edged higher on Thursday as investors anticipated comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, expected later in the week. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. 615 Crypto Scam Sites Dismantled by Australian Regulator: he Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has shut down more than 7,300 phishing and investment scam websites, including 615 targeting cryptocurrency. The regulator noted that collaboration with other agencies and advanced detection techniques have enabled ASIC to swiftly take down scams, contributing to the $1.3 billion in financial losses reported by Australians in 2023. (BitcoinCom)
2. Man sentenced for hacking state registry to fake his own death: A 39-year old man from Somerset, Kentucky, was sentenced to 81 months in federal prison for identity theft and faking his own death in government registry systems. The reason behind the intrusion was to avoid paying child support obligations. (BleepinngComputer)
3. QR Code Scams: TN Attorney General Issues Warning:The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has issued a QR code scam alert, warning consumers about fraudulent QR codes used in various scams, including fake cryptocurrency investments. Consumers are urged to verify sources, check codes for tampering, and use secure scanner apps. (BitcoinCom)
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. The ‘Bitcoin, Not Crypto’ Debate: Why Words Matter: For those new to the space, it might seem that "crypto" and "bitcoin" are interchangeable terms, but they are not. This seemingly minor distinction carries significant weight and implications for understanding the broader ecosystem of cryptographically secured assets. The distinction between bitcoin and other forms of crypto is not just semantic—it's ideological. (Forbes) (AC-This full article is spot-on for explaining the key distinction of Bitcoin vs. Crypto to newcomers to the space. Well-written by a Penn State Professor, bitcoiners might want to copy this article to share with new learners.)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 39/100 (Up 10 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEbi.jpg

2024-08-21 16:42:50

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 857,755
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 21Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Launches Large Drone Attack on Moscow / Ship Unresponsive After Houthi Missiles in Red Sea / China Protests US Concern in South China Sea / Obamas Speak at DNC / RFK Considers Dropping Out / Germany Seizes Bitcoin ATMs / Mt Gox Moves $784M Worth Of Bitcoin / Gold, Silver Hitting Highs / US Intel Says Iran Hacked Trump / AI Puts Pressure on Energy Sector / El Salvador Launches Bitcoin Certification for Gov Employees / BTC HODLers Keep HOLDing
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,349, 23.63 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,396 / Lo: $58,109
Vol: $26B (Down 4%)
Mkt Cap: $1.17T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 576 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Up 60%)
Nodes: 19,494
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Ukraine attacks Moscow in one of largest ever drone attacks on the Russian capital: Ukraine attacked Moscow on Wednesday with at least 11 drones shot down by air defences in what Russian officials said was one of the biggest drone strikes on the capital since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Russian media showed unverified footage of drones whirring over the dawn sky of the Moscow region and then being shot down in a ball of flame by air defences. Moscow's airports Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky limited flights for four hours but were restarted normal operations. There were no injuries or damage reported in the aftermath of the attacks. (Reuters)
2. Ship hit by suspected Houthi missiles in Red Sea, leaving vessel "not under command," U.K. military says: The attack saw men on small boats first open fire with small arms. The ship also was hit by three projectiles. "The vessel reports being not under command," the UKMTO said, likely meaning it lost all power. "No casualties reported." (CBS)
3. China says US has ‘no right to intervene’ in South China Sea disputes: Both countries said on Monday that their coast guard ships had collided near the disputed Sabina Shoal. China claims almost the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Chinese spokesman Mao Ning said, "The US is not a party in the South China Sea and has no right to intervene in maritime disputes between China and the Philippines,” Mao told a regular briefing. “The US should stop provoking confrontation in the South China Sea, not disrupt regional stability and not escalate tensions,” Mao said. (AFP)
-US Events-
1. Obamas electrify Democrats at Chicago convention: In the choreography of the convention, the Obamas played the role of charismatic figures charged with inspiring those at the Democrats’ gathering and beyond to power Harris to victory in the two months remaining before Election Day. (WaPost)
2. RFK Jr. considering dropping out to ‘join forces’ with Trump: Shortly after the revelation, Trump declared that he would be “certainly” open to giving the Kennedy scion a post in his administration. “There’s two options that we’re looking at, and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Tim] Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump,” (NYPost)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Germany seizes $28 million in raid on unlicensed crypto ATMs: The sting was carried out on Aug. 20 and targeted 35 locations where crypto ATMs were reportedly being operated without the necessary licensing. Crypto ATMs, which enable users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin with cash or debit cards, fall under the jurisdiction of Germany’s Banking Act. German officials warned that crypto ATMs could become hotspots for criminal activities if operators do not enforce adequate Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, particularly for transactions exceeding 10,000 euros. (CryptoSlate)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Mt. Gox transfers $784 million in Bitcoin, fueling distribution rumors: Mt. Gox shifts 13,265 BTC; only 1,265 BTC likely for distribution, analyst posits. Currently, Mt. Gox holds 45,000 BTC after having distributed 97,000 of the original 142,000 BTC. (CryptoSlate)
2. Spot Bitcoin ETFs net $88m in inflows, spot Ether ETFs outflows see slowdown: BlackRock’s IBIT recorded the highest inflows with $55.4 million, bringing its total inflow since launch to $20.53 billion. It was the only fund to record a second consecutive day of inflows. ARK 21Shares’s ARKB followed with inflows of $51.9 million following a day of no activity. (CryptoNews)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Gold Shatters Records as Investors Brace for Economic Turbulence: Precious metals prices are on the move again, with gold hitting a new peak of $2,564 during Tuesday’s trading sessions. As of now, gold is being traded at $2,527 per ounce, while silver has climbed more than 6% this week, currently standing at $29.68 per ounce. (BitcoinCom)
2. Dollar Sinks to Year-to-Date Lows: The dollar index traded below 101.5 on Wednesday, sinking to its lowest levels this year as investors awaited updates from the Federal Reserve to gauge the timing and magnitude of expected interest rate cuts. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. US intelligence officials say Iran behind Trump campaign hack: In a joint statement, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said it attributed “recently reported activities to compromise former President Trump’s campaign” to Iran, and that the intelligence community is “confident that the Iranians have through social engineering and other efforts sought access to individuals with direct access to the presidential campaigns of both political parties”. (TheGuardian)
-Technology and Science-
1. Growth in artificial intelligence puts pressure on energy generation: “We’re in (a) precarious position,” said Geoff Marke, chief economist with the Missouri Office of Public Counsel. “We don’t have enough generation to meet our load before we start talking about AI data centers coming online.” The energy industry is experiencing seismic change. Coal plants are retiring and renewable generation is coming online. However, its reliance on the sun and wind tend to make it less consistent. Boston Consulting Group analysis shows that data center electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2030 — to 7.5% of total U.S. energy consumption, comparable to the power needs of 40 million households. (LakeGazette)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. El Salvador launches Bitcoin certifications for civil servants: The National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) of El Salvador will train and provide Bitcoin instruction and certifications to 80,000 government employees. The 160-hour virtual and asynchronous training session — Certification in Public Administration 1 — is divided into seven modules, each detailing several concepts, laws, skills and management related to the use of Bitcoin as legal tender. (CoinTelegraph)
2. A Strong HODLing Trend Emerges in Bitcoin: Nearly 75% of all circulating Bitcoin has remained dormant for over six months. Consistently buying and holding Bitcoin over time, rather than attempting to time the market, aligns with the behavior of those who have historically seen the most significant gains holding Bitcoin. (ZeroHedge)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-08-21 15:56:17

Episode 56 The Way of Men
https://fountain.fm/episode/es1J20LoeCbn1KMpmrpG

2024-08-20 18:52:53

BV SITREP 20AUG2024
https://fountain.fm/episode/TLYWIJyZd2NJ9VQ0s3ND

2024-08-20 15:05:11

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 857,615
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 20Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Israel Recover 6 Hostage Bodies / Russia Hunts Down Deserters / North Korean Soldier Defects / DNC Says Goodbye to Biden / Georgia Strengthens Ballot Rules / Harris, DNC Indicate Crypto Antagonism / China Rules Digital Assets Transactions Illegal / BTC ETFs Control Almost 1M BTC / US Stocks Continue Rise / Hack Takes 4,064 BTC From One Wallet / Space X to Send Civilians Deeper Into Space
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,707, 24.02 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,396 / Lo: $58,109
Vol: $28B (Up 32%)
Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Up 4%)
HashRate: 626 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Even)-Very Low!
Nodes: 19,155
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israeli military says it recovered the bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that troops recovered the bodies in an overnight operation in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The operation came as the United States, Egypt and Qatar pushed for a cease-fire deal that would end Israel’s monthslong offensive in Gaza and see the release of the hostages who remain held in the enclave. More than 100 hostages remain held in Gaza, with around a third of them believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials. (NBC)
2. Russia Hunts Down Deserters to Backfill Its Massive War Losses: Russia’s vast professional army has been hollowed out after 2½ years sending waves of men to break down Ukraine’s defenses with a warfare attrition strategy. Russia is now recruiting at least 25,000 men a month, though few have combat experience. The war has been deadly for both sides. At least half a million Russians have been killed or wounded in the conflict, according to a senior Western intelligence official. Kyiv has also struggled to raise enough troops to hold back the Russians, despite lowering the mobilization age and raising pay. (WSJ)
3. North Korean soldier defects to the South: A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea early on Tuesday crossing the militarized border in the eastern part of the Korean peninsula. The soldier crossed into Goseong county on the east coast which borders North Korea and was taken into custody by South Korean guards who had been monitoring his movements. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Biden hails Harris as DNC's future in emotional farewell speech: Biden's address in Chicago kicked off a four-day event fueled by enthusiasm for Harris and relief that Biden abandoned his own reelection bid and endorsed her to replace him. The president's reluctant decision to step aside on July 21 came after heavy pressure from party leaders who worried the 81-year-old incumbent was too old to win or serve four more years. (Reuters)
2. Georgia Election Board votes to add requirements before certification: The Georgia State Election Board passed a rule Monday giving local election officials additional power to investigate ballot counts before certifying the results, a move critics say could inject chaos into the 2024 election and delay the state’s official vote count. The “Rule for Reconciliation Prior to Certification” will allow for a hand recount of votes to ensure “the total number of ballots cast” does not exceed “the total number of persons who voted,” according to the language of the rule. County election officials will now be allowed to investigate any possible discrepancies. (CNN)
3. Two dead, state of emergency declared in Connecticut after historic rainfall: Governor Ned Lamont said that hundreds of people were evacuated with the worst of the flooding happening around Oxford and Southbury. Two women, 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71 Audrey Rostkowski, both of Oxford, were found dead on Monday after rushing flood waters carried them away from first responders. (WWLP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Kamala Harris’s Alleged ‘Crypto Reset’ Absent in Democratic Agenda: While the Republican platform addresses the issue of cryptocurrency and bitcoin, the Democratic Party’s latest platform remained silent on the matter. Adding to the buzz, there are whispers that Kamala Harris’s campaign might be eyeing Gary Gensler, the current head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for the role of Treasury Secretary. (BitcoinCom)
2. China Classifies Crypto Transactions as Money Laundering in Update to AML Law: On Monday, Chinese authorities explicitly recognized “virtual asset” transactions as a method of money laundering, marking the first instance in the country that such a move has been made towards the asset class. The new legal interpretation classifies virtual asset transactions, including those conducted through crypto exchanges, as acts that "cover up and conceal the source and nature of the proceeds of crime.” (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US Bitcoin ETFs on the Verge of Controlling 1 Million BTC: According to the latest data collected on Aug. 16, 2024, the 12 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) collectively hold around 910,153.83 BTC, which translates to over $53 billion at the current exchange rates. Leading the pack is Blackrock’s IBIT, holding the largest portion with 38.34% of the total BTC. (BitcoinCom)
2. US spot bitcoin ETFs see lowest daily trading volume since early February: U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw $61.98 million daily net inflows amidst a $779.87 million daily total trade volume on Monday, the lowest amount since Feb. 6 and the third lowest daily trade volume overall. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures Signal Pause After 8-Day S&P 500, Nasdaq Rally: US futures changed little in cautious trading on Tuesday as expectations for a September interest rate cut grew stronger ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at Jackson Hole. On Monday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended their winning streak to eight sessions, the longest this year. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Could Bitcoin Become a Bigger Privacy Threat Than CBDCs?: Privacy advocates in the crypto space are concerned about the lack of privacy on the Bitcoin network and believe that it poses a threat to financial privacy. They argue that the open and transparent nature of the Bitcoin blockchain allows governments to monitor citizens' spending and other activities. While some worry that Bitcoin could be used as a CBDC with broad oversight, others believe that Bitcoin's decentralized nature makes it difficult for governments to control. (Decrypt)
2. Crypto Hack Ends In $238M Bitcoin Heist, Lazarus Group Linked?: A massive crypto hack on August 19 has shaken the community, resulting in the theft of $238 million in Bitcoin. According to ZachXBT’s research, the victim lost 4,064 Bitcoin, worth approximately $238 million, in a suspicious transfer on Monday. The transaction hash associated with the theft, 4b277…, revealed that the stolen funds were quickly transferred across various platforms. These include ThorChain, eXch, KuCoin, ChangeNow, crypto mixer Railgun, and Avalanche Bridge. (CoinGape)
-Technology and Science-
1. SpaceX is about to send four people on a wild — and risky — mission into the radiation belts: Private citizens Isaacman, Menon, Gillis and Poteet will spend five days aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will soar to altitudes higher than any human has traveled since NASA’s Apollo program ended in the 1970s. Their orbital path will extend high enough to plunge the vehicle and crew into a radiation belt, adding another element of peril to the already treacherous experience of spaceflight. This crew of private citizens will also open the hatch of their spacecraft and expose themselves to the vacuum of space, marking the first time such a feat has been attempted by non-government astronauts. (CNN)
2. What does Bitcoin smell like? AI startup wants to ‘teleport’ digital scents: Artificial intelligence firm Osmo is working diligently to bring back the future we were promised in 1960 when Hans Laube introduced the world to “Smell-O-Vision.” Only this time, the goal is to improve the lives of humans everywhere by teaching computers how to interpret scent. The company hopes to build a system capable of superhuman feats of smell. These would include the ability to smell the presence of certain diseases, such as cancer, or symptoms associated with diabetes, such as low blood sugar.(CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Despite recent efforts to get Democratic support for digital assets, the deafening silence by the DNC and Harris is message enough. After release of the DNC policy platform yesterday, the lack of support for bitcoin and crypto ensures a hostile stance would be taken upon inauguration by the Harris camp, complete with rewarding SEC chair Gary Gensler as Treasury Secretary. This possible scenario has consequences for bitcoin holders, self-custody, centralization, and mining operations into the near future.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IgnZ.jpg

2024-08-19 22:25:28

NEW DAILY Bitcoin Veterans SITREP
https://fountain.fm/episode/QLOBOQXUfn1nCiZ8sC5x

2024-08-19 15:03:11

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 857,473
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 19Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Extends Russian Lines Via Kursk Operation / China, Philippines Scrap in SCS Again / Conservative Rioters Overcrowd UK Prisons / Hurricane Ernesto Heads to Nova Scotia / DNC Begins Today in Chicago / Candace Owens Ignites a Fire Over Israel / Winklevoss Wants 'Crypto" Owners to Influence Harris / Venezuela Iron Curtain Falls, Affects Binance / Kazakhstan Jails Crypto Miner / Germans Like Cash Over CBDC / India Central Bank Says CBDCs Could Replace Bank Deposits / Iran Uses ChatGPT to Influence US Elections / X Shuts Down Brazil Office
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,168, 23.42 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $60,262 / Lo: $57,864
Vol: $21B (Up 35%)
Mkt Cap: $1.15T (Even)
HashRate: 566 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Even)-Very Low!
Nodes: 19,449
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Ukraine aims to create Kursk ‘buffer zone,’ Zelensky says, as Kyiv’s forces blow up second Russian bridge: Ukrainian forces are inching forward in Kursk amid fighting following the launch of their surprise military operation there nearly two weeks ago. But Ukraine also remains under pressure in its occupied east as Russian forces advance toward a key military hub. The Kursk offensive has left Russia struggling to shore up its own territory. Kyiv seems to have multiple goals with the assault, from boosting morale after a torrid few months to stretching Russia’s resources. (CNN) (AC-The Kursk incursion is low hanging fruit on the geographical front with Russia. Ukraine has extended the front lines, opening up transport lines to drone and other standoff targeting.)
2. Chinese, Philippine ships collide in South China Sea: China accused the Philippine vessels of "deliberately" colliding with the Chinese ship near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. Manila and Beijing had come to a "provisional arrangement" aimed at ending altercations. (DW) (AC-Even after a joint agreement to keep the peace near the area, strategic objectives of both nations are on the line. The country who backs down first will lose claim and access to the area.)
3. UK: Jailed rioters may trigger prison overcrowding plan: Operation Early Dawn, a contingency that allows defendants waiting for a court appearance to be kept in police cells until prison space is available, could be used. The government announced quick sentencing for those involved in the riots that followed the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport, leading to hundreds appearing in courts across the UK. (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Hurricane Ernesto continues to strengthen as it heads for Canada: Ernesto continued to gather strength early Monday after regaining hurricane status overnight, according to forecasters who warn it is setting its sights on Canada after striking Bermuda as a Category 1 storm. Ernesto was located about 340 miles south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. (UPI)
2. Harris arrives in Chicago for Democratic convention: Kamala Harris has arrived in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), where she will be formally confirmed as the party's presidential candidate. Ms Harris is expected to join President Biden on stage when he addresses the convention on Monday. Security around the venue is tight ahead of the four-day event, with tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters expected to rally in Chicago. (BBC) (AC- US Media sources are so slanted one way or another that even the facts around the DNC are distorted.)
3. Candace Owens hosted a space show on X last night that had over 1M viewers, where she went 'scorched-earth' on the modern incarnation of Israel. Media outlets are not even covering the dialogue except a few Israeli outlets, obviously condemning the attacks. (Various)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. 50 Million US Crypto Owners Urged to Push Kamala Harris to Fire SEC Chair Before Election: Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of crypto exchange Gemini, has called on the 50 million American cryptocurrency owners to unite and press Vice President Kamala Harris to fire U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler before the upcoming presidential election in November. He believes this action could end the “war on crypto” and make the crypto issue bipartisan. (BitcoinCom)
2. Venezuelan Government Blocks Binance, Cutting P2P Market Access for Thousands: According to local media, state-owned telecom and internet service provider (ISP) CANTV has blocked access to Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The measure, potentially affecting thousands, has been taken as part of a series of blocks implemented against other services, applying similar actions against Mercado Libre, Signal, Reddit, and others like X. (BitcoinCom)
3. Kazakhstan Crypto Crackdown Continues: A court in Kazakhstan convicted a defendant accused of illegal cryptocurrency activity and sentenced him to 5 years in prison, as well as confiscation of assets worth $4.19 million. The investigation revealed illegal mining and trading of Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Ethereum (ETH) on foreign crypto platforms, as well as the use of Nixmoney, Qiwi, Perfect Money, and Payeer to cash out and purchase real estate and rentals for money laundering. (BitcoinSensus)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Germans Prefer Carrying Cash as CBDC Decision Looms: About half the people in Germany say they can’t even imagine using the digital euro, with privacy concerns and a preference for cash driving these feelings. The report describes a recent trip to the German central bank’s bunker in the town of Cochem, where a group of local retirees expressed skepticism about the possibility of a digital euro. The report noted that the European Central Bank (ECB), which is expected to make a final decision on whether to implement a CBDC late next year, is aware of the concerns around it. (Pymnts)
2. India: Replacement of bank deposits by CBDC an area of key interest for deposit insurers: “For deposit insurers, factors of key interest would be the degree of replacement of bank deposits by CBDC, the division of labour between central and commercial banks and the degree of privacy attached to CBDC usage,” Michael Debabrata Patra, deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India, said in his speech at an event. (CoinGeek) (AC-Jargon-speak for saying the best way to institute CBDCs are to replace bank deposits with CBDCs, especially during a panic.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs Attract Solid Institutional Ownership Growth In Q2: Institutional investment in Bitcoin ETFs is driven by a startling 27% rise in adoption that occurs within the second quarter of 2024. Although institutional interest is high, retail investors own most Bitcoin ETFs. Institutional investors increased to 21% of total AUM in June from 18% in Q1. This development shows that ordinary investors control the market even as institutions gain ground. (Bitcoinist) (AC-BTC ETF investments, either retail or institutional, is not 'adoption' of bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bitcoin’s negative correlation with SPX deepens amid current market trends: There has been ongoing rallies in both the S&P 500 (SPX) and gold. Gold continues to hit all-time highs (ATHs), while the SPX trades just 2% below its ATH, showcasing a strong performance. Notably, Bitcoin and the SPX are negatively correlated, a pattern that has emerged since late June. (CyrptoSlate)
2. US Equities Post Best Week Since 2023: Stocks in the US finished higher on Friday, as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq added 0.2% each, the Dow Jones gained 96 points, building on Thursday’s strong rally. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. OpenAI Blocks Iranian Influence Operation Using ChatGPT for U.S. Election Propaganda: OpenAI on Friday said it banned a set of accounts linked to what it said was an Iranian covert influence operation that leveraged ChatGPT to generate content that, among other things, focused on the upcoming U.S. presidential election. OpenAI said its ChatGPT tool was used to create comments in English and Spanish, which were then posted on a dozen accounts on X and one on Instagram. (HackerNews) (AC-Iran uses a US-based AI company to create influence posts for social media to affect US election outcomes. This is Fifth Generation Warfare (5GW) being conducted on the US population.)
-Technology and Science-
1. X Shuts Down Brazil Operations After ‘Threats’ from Justice de Moraes, But Social Media Remains Accessible: X has now shut down its offices and operations in Brazil after it claimed that it received "threats" from Brazilian Supreme Court Minister, Alexandre de Moraes. It is known that X refused to censor the said controversial content in Brazil, gaining notoriety against the country's judicial body. Despite its office closing down, X claimed that its service would still be accessible in Brazil and would continue the social media experience for its residents. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining Profitability Fell to All Time Lows in August, JPMorgan Analyst Says: Mining profitability fell to all time lows as the network hashrate rose in the first two weeks of August, the report said. U.S. miners' share of the Bitcoin network hashrate rose to a new record high of 26%, the bank said. The bank noted that the network hashrate has risen about 1% so far this month. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 28/100 (Up 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Although bitcoiners know the difference between 'crypto' and bitcoin, most news organizations do not, often conflating the two. In our aggregation of facts in the DIB, there will often exist bias and ignorance in the media reports. We can't filter it all out nor do we want to, but where we can we will footnote it in the analyst comments.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-08-18 19:22:06

https://fountain.fm/episode/w226a0ZgCqQMdTzeBkvY
Last week's episode was incredible. Matthew is not only a wealth of knowledge and tremendous leader he's also a good man that has the right priorities.
Listen to "055. Dr Matthew Mbanga " by Bitcoin Veterans. 🔥🔥🔥

2024-08-16 16:00:45

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 857,033
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 16Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Captures 100 Russians in Kursk / New PM Elected in Thailand / Man Gets 18 Months Prison in UK for Chanting / Peruvian Gang Leader and Murderer Released on US Border Arrested in NY / Hurricane Ernesto to Hit Bermuda / Five Arrested in Matthew Perry's Death / UAE Court OKs Digital Asset Salary / What Happened Today in 1971? / Iran Clamps Down on Mining / CBDCs Pushed in India, Panned by Conservatives in Canada / Fed Balance Sheet Jumps / Recession Fears Ease / Neuralink Implanted in Second Human / A Great Economy?
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,168, 23.62 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $59,838 / Lo: $56,161
Vol: $34B (Up 6%)
Mkt Cap: $1.15T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 648 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 50%)
Nodes: 19,619
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Ukraine Nabs Over 100 Russian Troops in Kursk – Largest Capture in a Single Operation: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) special forces captured 102 Russian soldiers on Wednesday Aug. 14 in the Kursk region of Russia, which currently marks the largest single capture of enemy troops and gave Kyiv Post the photo evidence to prove it. SBU sources said the captured soldiers were from the 488th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment and the Chechen “Akhmat” special forces unit who surrendered despite having ample supplies and ammunition. (KyivPost)
2. Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra is elected Thailand’s prime minister: Thailand’s Parliament elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister Friday, continuing the legacy of the political dynasty that began with her father Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand’s most popular but divisive political figures. Thaksin, a former Prime Minister, was ousted by a military coup in 2006, which triggered decades of deep political divisions. (AP)
3. Man Jailed for 18 Months After Chanting ‘Who the F*** Is Allah’ During England Riot: David Spring, of Longfellow Road in Sutton, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for comments he made during a Downing Street anti-mass migration protest that descended into a riot in the wake of the Southport mass stabbing that left three young girls dead. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. Wanted Peru gang leader arrested in US: Torres-Navarro, 38, was detained in New York state after entering the country illegally at the Texas-Mexico border, a statement from the ICE agency said. He is believed to be the leader of the Los Killers gang and is on Peru's wanted list. In a statement sent to the BBC, ICE said Torres-Navarro was first arrested on 16 May upon entering the US illegally, and was served a notice to appear for immigration proceedings (AC-AND RELEASED!). About two months later, authorities were notified that he was in fact wanted in Peru, which led to his eventual arrest in the town of Endicott during a "targeted enforcement action" on Wednesday, ICE added. (BBC) (AC-Sometimes foreign media reports what US media outlets will not. In this case, the Peruvian gang leader was stopped and then released in the US. He was arrested in New York 2 months later once ICE found out he was on Peru's wanted list for killing police and at least 23 others.)
2. Hurricane Ernesto ramps up to Category 2 as it churns towards Bermuda, poses dangers for coastal US: he storm could intensify even further to become the season’s second major hurricane — Category 3 or stronger — as it crosses 600 miles of the Atlantic before reaching Bermuda early Saturday. (CNN)
3. Matthew Perry’s death leads to sweeping indictment of 5, including doctors and reputed dealers: Nearly 10 months after the death of Matthew Perry, the long-simmering investigation into the ketamine that killed him came dramatically into public view with the announcement that five people had been charged with having roles in the overdose of the beloved “Friends” star. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Dubai court recognizes crypto as a valid salary payment: Heaver said that the case involved an employee who filed a lawsuit claiming that the employer had not paid their wages, wrongful termination compensation and other benefits. The worker’s employment contract stipulated a monthly salary in fiat and 5,250 in EcoWatt tokens. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Nixon ended gold standard 53 years ago today — WTF happened in 1971?: Aug. 15, 2024, marks the 53rd anniversary of the “Nixon Shock,” the day that United States President Richard Nixon eliminated the gold standard for the US dollar. At the time, Nixon claimed that taking the dollar off the gold standard was “temporary” and would “stabilize” the dollar. Noting that Nixon promised his action would “stabilize the dollar,” which has lost 98.5% of its gold value since that day, Neil Jacobs stated, “This is why we ₿itcoin.” (CoinTelegraph)
3. Iran Escalates Crackdown on Illegal Crypto Mining Amid Severe Power Crisis: Iran is aggressively cracking down on illegal cryptocurrency mining as the nation faces a severe power crisis exacerbated by an intense heatwave. Iranian authorities claim that unauthorized crypto mining has significantly strained Iran’s power grid, leading to widespread industrial disruptions. A bounty program has been launched to encourage citizens to report illegal mining operations. (BitcoinCom)
4. IMF proposes 85% power tax hike on crypto and AI data centers: The IMF argues that these sectors consume 2% of the world’s electricity and contribute nearly 1% of global emissions. The financial regulator claimed that one Bitcoin transaction uses the same electricity that an average person in Ghana or Pakistan would use in three years. Additionally, it argues a ChatGPT query consumes ten times more electricity than a Google search due to the energy-intensive nature of AI data centers. (CryptoSlate)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Central bank digital currency, financial inclusion in India: As India continues to evolve its financial landscape, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) emerges as a potential tool to drive financial inclusion, particularly in a country where a significant portion of the population remains financially illiterate and vulnerable to fraud. (TimesOfIndia)
2. Pierre Poilievre Backs Bill to Ban Central Bank Digital Currency in Canada: Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, backs a bill that seeks to ban central bank digital currency (CBDC) in Canada. He argues that a CBDC would give the government excessive control over finances, threatening privacy and economic freedom. “It’s time to put an end to creating a central bank digital currency in Canada,” he said. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin Spot ETFs net $11M inflow, despite GBTC loss: On Aug. 15, Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a net inflow of $11.11 million, indicating continued investor interest despite outflows from Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). (CointTelegraph)
2. South Korea's National Pension Service Invests $34M in MicroStrategy Shares: South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS), the country's largest institutional investor, has purchased $34 million worth of shares in MicroStrategy, a business intelligence firm known for its large Bitcoin holdings. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Federal Reserve balance sheet rises by $2 billion amid rate cut speculation: The Federal Reserve’s balance sheet saw a $2 billion increase week over week, now totaling $7.2 trillion, marking the ninth such increase in the past year, according to FRED. However, the declines have been lessening since May, potentially approaching the start of the fed cutting cycle. (CryptoSlate)
2. US 10-Year Yield Holds Firm on Upbeat Data: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note held its recent advance to around 3.9% on Friday as better-than-expected US economic data allayed fears of an imminent recession. (TradingEconomics)
3. US Stocks Rally On Upbeat US Data: US stocks surged on Thursday as Wall Street responded positively to signals of resilience in the US consumer and labor markets, alleviating recession concerns. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq marked 6-day winning streak, jumping 1.6% and 2.4%. respectively, and the Dow Jones climbed by 555 points. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Crypto Criminals Are Shifting Their Focus to Centralized Exchanges: Centralized exchanges have become the new target for crypto criminals, who have stolen over $1.5 billion in the first half of the year, according to a report by Chainalysis. Attackers are using advanced social engineering tactics, with some even applying for IT jobs at targeted companies. (Decrypt)
-Technology and Science-
1. Neuralink Achieves Major Milestone: Second Brain Implant Successful, Elon Musk Says: The company has successfully implanted its device in a second patient, demonstrating progress in its mission to restore independence to individuals with paralysis. The initial patient, who received the implant earlier this year, has shown remarkable improvement in controlling digital devices with their thoughts. Activities such as playing video games, browsing the internet, and typing have become possible, offering a new level of freedom and independence. (TechTimes
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 27/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Economic data continues to improve leading up the November election. One of the key tenets of MMT economics in practice is the controlling of economic activity, yet the timing of such controls is subject to unknown factors discussed behind closed doors. Though the Federal Reserve is not an official government agency, it's decisions have a large effect on political theater. In the case of this election season, we are heading into an election where recession worries are tamped down, inflation is officially lower in years, and a Fed rate drop is very possible in September. The thinking individual would assess this information as an engineered series of events.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-08-15 14:37:02

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 856,888
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 15Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Kursk Incursion Confounds / A Rouge Ukrainian Allegedly Sabotaged Nord Stream / Taliban Parades Through Bagram / Hurricane Ernesto Hits Puerto Rico / VP Harris Wants to Control Grocery Prices / Tax Relief Bill on Crypto Transactions Introduced / China, Russia Using Crypto for Cross-Border Payments / USG Moves 10K BTC To Coinbase / Mt Gox Moves 46K BTC For Clients / Norway Wealth Fund Invests in Bitcoin / CPI Show Inflation Drop / SSNs of All Americans on Dark Web / Water Found on Mars / MARA Buys More BTC / BTC Mining Difficulty Drops 4%
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,790, 24.81 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,687 / Lo: $57,733
Vol: $32B (Up 13%)
Mkt Cap: $1.16T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 633 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Even)
Nodes: 19,551
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Ukraine gambled on an incursion deep into Russian territory. The bold move changed the battlefield: Ukraine’s stunning incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region was a bold gamble for the country’s military commanders, who committed their limited resources to a risky assault on a nuclear-armed enemy with no assurance of success. The shock of Ukraine’s thunder run revealed chinks in the armor of its powerful adversary. The attack also risked aggravating Ukraine’s own weaknesses by extending the front line and committing new troops at a time when military leaders are short on manpower. (AP)
2. A Drunken Evening, a Rented Yacht: The Real Story of the Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage: The Ukrainian operation cost around $300,000, according to people who participated in it. It involved a small rented yacht with a six-member crew, including trained civilian divers. “The whole thing was born out of a night of heavy boozing and the iron determination of a handful of people who had the guts to risk their lives for their country.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially approved the plan, according to one officer who participated and three people familiar with it. (WSJ) (AC- This is a very interesting read in the WSJ. While both Russia and Ukraine deny Ukrainian involvement in the sabotage, this story puts the blame on a rogue Ukrainian general, and takes the pressure off of possible US or Israeli involvement. If any possibility of the latter is true, it's consistent with the maxim of "always have a patsy".)
3. Taliban celebrates three years of return to power in Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s Taliban has celebrated three years in power with a military parade, paying homage to its homemade bombs, fighter aircraft and goose-stepping security forces. The Taliban’s armed forces towed Soviet-era tanks, American vehicles and artillery pieces through Bagram, the former United States airbase, where Chinese and Iranian diplomats were among hundreds who gathered for the parade and speeches on Wednesday. (AlJazeera)
-US Events-
1. Hurricane Warning issued for Bermuda as Ernesto continues to gain strength: Hurricane Ernesto brought damaging wind gusts and flooding rain to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of utility customers and leading to reports of water rescues due to flash flooding. (FoxWeather)
2. Harris to propose federal ban on ‘corporate price-gouging’ in food and groceries: Vice President Kamala Harris plans to propose the first-ever federal ban on “corporate price-gouging in the food and grocery industries,” her campaign announced late Wednesday. “There’s a big difference between fair pricing in competitive markets, and excessive prices unrelated to the costs of doing business,” the Harris campaign said in a statement. (CNBC) (AC- Consistent with all authoritarian regimes, price controls are about control disguised at helping the people.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Senate proposal for crypto tax exemption is long overdue: Lummis and Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced their proposal, the Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act, to the 118th Congress in July. if a person uses cryptocurrency to buy something that costs less than $200, then only the sales tax would apply. Zinda further pointed out that the proposal mirrors existing rules where US law provides a similar exemption for foreign currency. Capital gains would still apply if someone were simply cashing out their holdings. (CoinTelegraph)
2. China-Russia International Trade Payments Situation Worsens: Crypto and Barter Rise as Alternatives: Chinese regional banks, which were once used as bridges to process payments from Russia to China, have begun rejecting these payments for fear of secondary sanctions. To facilitate these transactions, cryptocurrency and even barter schemes have emerged as options to continue trading outside the dollar-dominated financial system. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US Government Transfers $600 Million in Silk Road Bitcoin to Coinbase: The United States government has transferred nearly $600 million worth of seized Bitcoin from the Silk Road dark web marketplace to a Coinbase wallet. The transaction involved 10,000 Bitcoin and it is unclear whether the government plans to sell or hold the assets. (Decrypt)
2. Norway’s Wealth Fund Bets On Bitcoin: Analyst Discloses Over 100% Increase In BTC Holdings: According to a recent analysis NBIM, which manages the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, now indirectly owns 2,446 Bitcoin (BTC), representing a significant increase of 938 BTC from the end of 2023. (Bitcoinist)
3. Mt. Gox Moves Another $2 Billion In Bitcoin: The defunct crypto exchange Mt. Gox isn’t done with its Bitcoin repayments to creditors, as on-chain data shows that the exchange recently moved a significant amount of BTC. The defunct crypto exchange still holds 46,164 BTC ($2.81 billion), which could still significantly impact the market depending on whether other creditors choose to hold. (Bitcoinist)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Inflation Rate Slows to 2021-Lows: The annual inflation rate in the US slowed for a fourth consecutive month to 2.9% in July 2024, the lowest since March 2021, compared to 3% in June and below forecasts of 3%. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. The Social Security number of every American may have been stolen in Florida company data breach: It was stolen from a company called “National Public Data” out of Coral Springs, Florida. The L.A. Times reported a hacking group said it stole the data and put nearly three billion individual records for sale on the dark web. Those records are from the U.S., U.K., and Canada. It includes a person’s full name, address, date of birth, phone numbers, and for U.S. citizens, your Social Security number. (ActionNewsJax) (AC-Reporting on this incident is strange. Most media sources are not reporting this breach and is not restricted to US citizens, but does include SSNs of Americans. Why the reporting would be throttled is unclear. It is, of course, being reported and trending on X. )
-Technology and Science-
1. Scientists find oceans of water on Mars. It’s just too deep to tap: Using seismic activity to probe the interior of Mars, geophysicists have found evidence for a large underground reservoir of liquid water — enough to fill oceans on the planet’s surface. (UCBerkeley)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Marathon Digital Acquires 4,144 Bitcoins With $300M Convertible Note Offering: Bitcoin Miner Marathon Digital said that recent Bitcoin acquisition is part of its long term strategy to reduce debt on its balance sheet. (CoinGape)
2. Bitcoin mining difficulty drops by over 4%: On Aug. 14, Bitcoin mining difficulty decreased significantly by over 4%, according to Glassnode, marking the seventh negative adjustment in 2024. The hash rate, measured on a seven-day moving average, has dropped to approximately 622 exahashes per second (EH/s), down from its all-time high (ATH) of 670 EH/s. (CryptoSlate)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZQ.jpg

2024-08-14 16:07:51

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 856,734
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 14Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Japan PM Kishida to Step Down / Ukraine Forces Press Front Near Belgorod / Thai PM Sacked By Ethics Court / DEA Seizes 2,380 Pounds of Meth Hidden in Celery / Biden Admin Approves $20B in Weapons to Israel / Omar Wins Primary in MN / US Army Intel Specialist Guilty of Conspiracy / Vivek Calls Out Harris for Crypto Stance / Iran Offers $20 to Turn In BTC Miners / Goldman Sachs Holds $400M in BTC ETFs / CPI Report Released Today / Fedi Launches SuperApp For Freedom Tech / HODLers Continue to Hold / Riot Buys More of Bitfarms / AirBTC online
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,404, 24.81 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,572 / Lo: $58,788
Vol: $29B (Down 13%)
Mkt Cap: $1.21T (Up 4%)
HashRate: 640 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 100%)
Nodes: 19,444
---Reports---
-International Events-
1.Japan's Prime Minister Kishida to resign, paving way for new leader: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday he would step down next month, succumbing to public disaffection over political scandals and rising living costs that marred his three-year term, and setting off a scramble to replace him. The LDP will hold a contest in September to replace him as president of the party, and, by extension, as prime minister. (Reuters)
2. Russia’s Belgorod border region declares emergency after Ukrainian incursion: The Russian border region of Belgorod declared an emergency on Wednesday after new attacks by Ukrainian forces, with Kyiv claiming control of hundreds of square miles of Russian territory after its rare cross-border incursion. It was a notable change in tactics for Ukraine and marked the first time foreign troops had entered Russian territory since World War II. Two locations in Belgorod, the city of Shebekino and the village of Ustinka, had been attacked by Ukrainian drones. (CNN)
3. Thai court dismisses PM for violating constitution: A Thai court has dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing to his cabinet a former lawyer who was once jailed. The Constitutional Court ruled that Mr Srettha had violated the "rules on ethics" with "the display of defiant behavior". (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Atlanta DEA seizes 2,380 pounds of meth hidden in celery at farmer’s market: It’s the largest-ever seizure of meth made by the DEA in Atlanta, and the third largest nationwide in 2024. The DEA got information that led to the State Farmer’s Market in Clayton County. “This was contained in a cover load of celery,” DEA Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Robert Murphy said. “It was hiding in the celery. Obviously, we threw away the celery. That didn’t make it to the store.” (WSB-TV)
2. U.S. plans to sell $20 billion in weapons to Israel over several years: The Biden administration approved a deal to sell F-15s, air-to-air missiles and munitions, but much of it won’t arrive in Israel until 2026 at the earliest. Notification of the pending sale was sent to Congress on Tuesday. It includes F-15 fighter jets, 120mm tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, AMRAAM antiaircraft missiles and high-explosive mortars. (WaPo)
3. Omar breaks ‘Squad’ losing streak with primary victory in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which the Cook Political Report rates as "solid" Democrat. (Fox)
4. U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst Pleads Guilty to Charges of Conspiracy: Korbein Schultz, a U.S. Army soldier and intelligence analyst, pleaded guilty today to all charges against him in the indictment returned by a federal grand jury in March 2024 charging him with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official. (DOJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Ramaswamy Urges Harris to Clarify Crypto Stance for Partisan Unity: As the U.S. election draws near, cryptocurrency has become a hot-button issue, with Democrats under scrutiny for their perceived antagonism toward the industry. The current administration has overseen regulatory enforcement measures that contribute to the party’s image as anti-crypto. With crypto’s growing relevance on the political scene, Ramaswamy urged Harris to clarify her position on key cryptocurrency issues, such as her views on self-custody or comment on Gary Gensler’s tenure as SEC chair. (DailyCoin)
2. Iran offers $20 to report on shady crypto miners amid ongoing power crisis: Iran is now offering rewards of $20 to the public for reporting illegal crypto mining activities as the country faces severe power shortages exacerbated by an intense heatwave and energy crisis. (CryptoNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Coinbase teases ‘cbBTC’ days after BitGo Wrapped Bitcoin controversy: Coinbase has just teased the possible launch of a new product called “cbBTC,” with many commentators speculating that the United States-based crypto exchange is launching its own wrapped Bitcoin token. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Goldman Sachs Holds Over $400M in Bitcoin ETFs: The investment bank in its quarterly 13-F report disclosed that it holds positions in seven out of the 11 BTC ETFs in the U.S. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. CPI Report Today: July's consumer-price index is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. The expected CPI is 3.0%. (WSJ)
2. US PPI Rise Less than Expected: Factory gate prices in the US increased 0.1% month-over-month in July 2024, following a 0.2% rise in June and below forecasts of 0.2%. Prices of goods rose 0.6%, the most since February, mainly due to energy (1.9%). Gasoline advanced 2.8%, diesel fuel, meats, jet fuel, fresh fruits and melons, and basic organic chemicals also increased. (TradingEconomics)
3. US Mortgage Applications Soar the Most in 18 Months: Mortgage applications in the US surged by 16.8% from the previous week in the period ending August 9th, the sharpest weekly increase in mortgage applications since January of 2023, and extending the 6.9% jump in the previous week. (TradingEconomics) (AC-The recent slight dip in mortgage rates fueled this spike, revealing pent-up demand.)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. DDoS Attacks Surge 46% in First Half of 2024: The number of DDoS attacks in H1 2024 has increased by 46% compared to the same period last year, reaching 445K in Q2 2024. Compared to data for the previous six months (Q3–4 2023), it increased by 34%. (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
1. Fedi Combines Bitcoin And Other Freedom Tech With Community: In 2022, Obi Nwosu had a vision to empower disenfranchised communities worldwide with technology that could help them more easily custody and use their bitcoin. As of August 6, 2024, that vision became a reality when Fedi launched its superapp, which is much more than just a platform for money management. The app leverages what Nwosu refers to as “freedom technologies” like Bitcoin, Lightning and Nostr. It also employs the Fedimint protocol, which enables users to share custody of bitcoin; utilize the Lightning Network; and mint ecash, digital tokens pegged to the value of bitcoin, fiat currencies or other assets that are used to preserve privacy in transactions. (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. 45% of Bitcoin supply has not moved in 6 months: Analyzing the realized cap HODL waves indicator, Glassnode reveals that just over 45% of all bitcoins have remained dormant in their wallets for at least the past half a year. Despite the record highs and subsequent volatility, a considerable swathe of market participants prefer to do nothing. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Riot increases Bitfarms ownership stake following board member removal: Riot Platforms has announced an increase in its ownership stake in Bitfarms Ltd. to 18.9%, intensifying its influence over the Canadian Bitcoin mining firm. This development follows Riot’s acquisition of an additional 1 million common shares of Bitfarms. (CryptoSlate)
3. AirBTC: Pay Vacation Rentals in Bitcoin: AirBTC is a new platform that allows Bitcoiners to rent holiday properties from other Bitcoiners. It is similar to AirBnB, but it only accepts bitcoin as payment. (H17n)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-08-13 15:23:43

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 856,590
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 13Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Holds Section of Kursk / British Immigration Riots Peak, New Knife Killing of Girl / Bangladesh Charges Ex-PM With Murder / Musk and Trump Riff on X After Tech Issues Delay / Chokepoint 2.0 In Effect / Zimbabwe To End Dollar Use / BTC More Volatile on Weekends / DEFCon Hacks Voting Machines, Again / China Chases NVIDIA / MARA Prints "Made in USA" on Blocks / Technology Can Fix Election Honesty
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,856, 23.89 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $60,680 / Lo: $57,860
Vol: $32B (Up 10%)
Mkt Cap: $1.16T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 575 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 55%)
Nodes: 19,623
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Top Ukrainian commander says his forces now control almost 390 square miles of Russia’s Kursk region: “The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control,” Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said. (AP)
2. Britain is hoping its riots have peaked. But the far right is lingering, and more trouble could lie ahead: It was meant to be another night of violence at the hands of the far right. A list of target addresses for far-right protests, seen by CNN, had been circulating on Telegram channels and then on social media for days, raising alarm that the racist attacks on Muslims and asylum seekers over the weekend would return. Wednesday felt like a turning point after a string of violence that had put a country on edge and thrown its new government into a sudden crisis. (CNN)
3. UK: Man stabbed girl, 11, eight times, court told: A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed in London’s Leicester Square on Monday. Ioan Pintaru, a Romanian national with no fixed address, is also charged with possession of a bladed article. (AP)
4. Bangladesh's ex-PM investigated for murder: A murder investigation has been opened into Bangladesh's ex-premier Sheikh Hasina over the police killing of a man during civil unrest last month. Six other top figures in the previous government are also being investigated following weeks of deadly unrest in the capital Dhaka. Ms Hasina resigned and left the country earlier this month, fleeing to New Delhi, India after political unrest destabilized the government. (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Musk hosts friendly chat with Trump on X after tech delays: The conversation, in which Mr Musk asked friendly questions on subjects such as immigration and inflation, began more than 40 minutes late as many users struggled to gain access. The two men touched on a range of issues, from the assassination attempt on Trump last month at a Pennsylvania rally, to his wanting the US to get an "Iron Dome" missile defence system like the one in Israel as well as immigration, a key plank of his campaign. As many users struggled to access the livestream, Mr Musk blamed "a massive DDoS attack on X" for the problems in a post. (BBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Tyler Winklevoss Warns Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Remains in Full Swing: Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of U.S.-based exchange Gemini and VC firm Winklevoss Capital, has alerted about the ongoing status of Operation Chokepoint 2.0, a plan directed to difficult banking access to crypto companies. Winklevoss’ remarks come after the Federal Reserve found Customers Bank, a crypto-friendly bank, had “deficiencies” in compliance with anti-money laundering requirements. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Zimbabwe to Unveil Roadmap to End Dollar Use, Cabinet Says: Zimbabwe’s cabinet said it has approved a roadmap to abandon US dollars in favor of its bullion-backed currency in transactions, a strategy that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube may unveil next week. “On modalities to operationalize the ZiG CBDC currency as legal tender for use in the economy, a dedollarization roadmap is now in place,” (Bloomberg)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin risks ‘sharp weekend price swings’ as ETFs suck up liquidity: Bitcoin has become more susceptible to wild weekend volatility since the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) in the United States, according to Kaiko Research. In an Aug. 12 report, Kaiko’s crypto analysts noted Bitcoin’s liquidity has become more concentrated on weekdays, particularly in BTC/US dollar markets. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Factory Gate Prices Expected to Rise Moderately: Factory gate prices in the US are projected to have risen by 0.2% month-over-month in July 2024, maintaining the same pace as in June. The core producer price index, which excludes volatile categories like food and energy, is also expected to increase by 0.2%, a slowdown from the previous month's 0.4% rise. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Futures Mixed Ahead PPI Data: US futures were mixed on Tuesday as investors awaited key inflation data. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures ticked up slightly, while Dow Jones futures fell over 100 points. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. The nation’s best hackers found vulnerabilities in voting machines — but no time to fix them: Organizers and participants at the DEF CON Voting Village found cyber vulnerabilities in everything from voting machines to e-poll books, but there is no time before the November elections to fully implement their findings. “If you don’t think this kind of place is running 24/7 in China, Russia, you’re kidding yourselves,” Harri Hursti said, gesturing around the room of voting equipment. “We are here only for two and a half days, and we find stuff…it would be stupid to assume that the adversaries don’t have absolute access to everything.” (Politico) (AC-See AC below)
-Technology and Science-
1. Huawei Readies New Chip to Challenge Nvidia, Surmounting U.S. Sanctions: Chinese internet companies and telecommunications operators have been testing Huawei’s latest processor, called Ascend 910C, in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. Huawei told potential clients that the new chip is comparable to Nvidia’s H100, which was introduced last year and isn’t directly available in China, the people said. (WSJ)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Marathon Digital stamps ‘Made in USA’ on Bitcoin blocks mined: Marathon Digital CEO Fred Thiel underscored the company’s commitment to labeling blocks made in the US with a stamp. According to Thiel, every block mined by their MARA Pool in the United States will be stamped “Made in USA.” (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 31/100 (Up 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): With election season in full swing in the US, every aspect of electoral process is clouded in purposeful confusion. The candidate narratives, media coverage, social media spin, election process and legal aspects of the US election are as clear as mud. Within this confusion lies the opportunity to design and steer the results in a direction that does not suit the citizen voter. The democratic process is broken in the US and faith in the system is at a low. As with many problems, technology often provides an actual solution if human nature would concede. The latest guest on the Bitcoin Veterans podcast outlined a system now in use in Guatemala that uses checks and balances, combined with immutable confirmation on the Bitcoin blockchain to implement one of the most honest elections held in the world. The time is ripe to explore such a hopeful project and prepare for the dishonest broker onslaught in the US. For an introduction, consider watching the short film: https://film.simpleproof.com/
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-08-12 21:29:32

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 856,456
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 12Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US Buildup Continues in Mideast / Russians Evacuate Kursk Areas / US SOF Busy in Syria Against ISIS / Trump Campaign Hacked / Musk and Trump on X Tonight / NYC Overflows With Migrants / Venezuelans Use VPNs to Access Binance / Turkey Opens Up To Digital Assets / IRS Changes Crypto Form / Canada Politicians Spar on CBDC / Four Years of MSTR BTC Strategy / Quantum Computers Pick Up Steam / Bitcoin Miners Scraping By
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,806, 24.51 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $60,739 / Lo: $57,688
Vol: $29B (Up 86%)
Mkt Cap: $1.18T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 724 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 7 sats/vBtye (Up 75%)
Nodes: 19,685
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US is 'strengthening' military force in Middle East: The U.S. is "strengthening" its capabilities in the Middle East by sending an additional guided missile submarine to the region "in light of escalating regional tensions," according to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder issued on Sunday. Secretary Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Middle East, which was previously expected to get there by the end of the month. Additionally, Austin has ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the Middle East. (ABC)
2. Russia orders more evacuations as Ukraine’s incursion into its territory enters its seventh day: Russian authorities were on Monday evacuating civilians from more areas along the Ukrainian border, a week into Kyiv’s surprise cross-border incursion into Russian territory. The incursion, which is now affecting two Russian regions, is seen as something of a game-changer in the conflict. (CNN)
3. In Syria’s Hinterlands, the U.S. Wages a Hidden Campaign Against a Resurgent Islamic State: American commandos are scrambling to contain a resurgence of Islamic State where the militant group once imposed its violent religious fervor on vast territories and millions of people. Militant fighters have doubled their pace of attacks in Syria and Iraq this year. They have targeted security checkpoints, detonated car bombs and plotted to free thousands of comrades jailed since the SDF and a U.S.-headed Western coalition recaptured the last Islamic State-held town. (WSJ)
-US Events-
1. Trump campaign says it has been hacked: Politico reported earlier Saturday that it had received emails from an anonymous account with documents from inside Trump’s campaign operation. “These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” a Trump campaign spokesperson said. Spokesman Cheung pointed to a recent report published by Microsoft that said Iranian operatives had ramped up their attempts to influence and monitor the US presidential election. (CNN)
2. Elon Musk to interview Trump on X social media network: The interview, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time (0000 Tuesday GMT), could provide the former president an opportunity to seize the limelight. Trump's access to his account, @realDonaldTrump, was restored a month into Musk's ownership of X after being suspended by the platform's previous owners following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his supporters. Trump frequently posts on his Truth Social social media platform, which was launched in February 2022.(Reuters)
3. Migrants Camp in City Streets as Biden’s Shelters Overflow and Gang Violence Grows: As the number of migrants continues to grow in the Big Apple, authorities are beginning to become concerned over the number of border crossers who are choosing to live outside in tents instead of going into the city’s shelter system. With the city already struggling to house some 65,000 migrants, a major factor spurring migrants to camp outside in tents is that they feel unsafe in the massive shelters arranged by city officials. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Venezuelans turn to VPNs as government restricts Binance access: Binance has confirmed that the Venezuelan government has restricted access to its website amid turmoil following controversial presidential election results. Local group VE sin Filtro advised Venezuelans to use a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass the crypto platform’s blockade. (CryptoSlate)
2. 47 Companies Apply to Operate in Turkey Under New Crypto Regulations: Turkey’s Capital Markets Board has issued an update on crypto asset service providers following new regulations. The provisional lists include 47 operational companies and three that are planning to liquidate. Current crypto service providers are required to apply for permits or proceed with liquidation by specified deadlines, with legal repercussions for noncompliance. (BitcoinCom)
3. IRS Updates Crypto Tax Form, But Could Still Bring ‘Unintended Consequences’, Expert Says: The IRS has released a revised draft of the 1099-DA form for crypto investors, aiming to simplify tax reporting for digital asset holders. The new form eliminates intrusive questions about wallet addresses, transaction IDs, and specific broker types. (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Trudeau’s rival pushes to ban CBDC in Canada, preserves cash use: Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre voiced strong opposition to the development of a central bank digital currency in Canada in a recent X post, pledging to protect cash usage and resist the government’s push toward economic digitization. (CryptoNews)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Saylor's Big Bitcoin Gamble Turns 4. Here's How MicroStrategy Stock Has Performed: After languishing for nearly two decades, the stock ended up recovering following Saylor's Bitcoin gamble. In fact, MicroStrategy has managed to outperform 499 out of 500 stocks in the S&P 500. As reported, MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock was added to the much-coveted the MSCI World Index earlier this year after outperforming Bitcoin. (UToday)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bank of Japan Rules Out Interest Rate Hikes Until 2025: A former Bank of Japan (BOJ) official stated that the central bank will delay any further interest rate hikes until next year, prioritizing market stability in the near term. The BOJ recently raised its key interest rate for the first time in over a decade but has now signaled a pause in additional rate hikes. The shift in policy caused the Japanese yen to strengthen and led to a decline in risk assets, including Bitcoin. (Decrypt)
2. Dollar Stabilizes Ahead of Inflation Data: The dollar index steadied around 103.1 on Monday as investors look ahead to key inflation data this week for confirmation that price growth has continued to stabilize. (TradingEconomics)
3. Week Ahead: The focus in the United States will be on the CPI and PPI reports, and speeches by Federal Reserve officials. Additionally, key data releases will include retail sales, Michigan consumer confidence, export and import prices, housing starts, building permits, and industrial production. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology and Science-
1. Quantum computers are advancing much faster than scientists expected: Most people working in the field believe that quantum computers will be able to solve problems that classical computers can’t solve within the next 10 years. This is according to a recent survey of 927 people with associations to the field of quantum computing (researchers, executives, press, enthusiasts, etc.) conducted by QuEra. Of those surveyed, 74.9% “expect quantum to be a superior alternative to classical computing for certain workloads” within the next 10 years. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin miners record lowest daily revenue of 2024: Revenue earned by Bitcoin miners, primarily through block rewards and transaction fees, declined consistently over two weeks to record a new yearly low on Aug. 11. On Aug. 11, daily earnings of the Bitcoin mining community dipped to a new yearly low of $2.54 million, a number last seen in October 2023. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 25/100 (Down 23 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

2024-08-09 22:01:48

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 856,030
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 09Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Russia Struggles on New Front / New Bangladeshi Leader Sworn In / Venezuela's Maduro Bans X / Polls Show Harris Takes Lead Over Trump / States Sue to Stop Immigrant Health Care / Can Trump Control the Fed? / Dems 'Crypto for Harris' Launched / 'Chokepoint 2.0' Underway / Putin Legalizes Bitcoin Mining / CBOE Files for BTC Options / BTC, Stocks Rebound / MSFT, Palantir Team Up for DoD AI Project
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,757, 24.96 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $62,673 / Lo: $56,740
Vol: $43B (Up 12%)
Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Up 6%)
HashRate: 596 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 20%)
Nodes: 19,693
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Russia struggles to repel deep incursion by Ukraine on fourth day of cross-border attack: Mykhaylo Zhyrokhov, a military analyst, told the BBC that Russia had been forced to redeploy some troops to the Kursk region from the front line in eastern Ukraine. Elsewhere today, Ukraine's military says it's hit a military airfield deep inside Russia, destroying guided bombs stored in warehouses. The Ukrainian military reports a huge blaze and multiple detonations at the Lipetsk airfield, more than 350km (217 miles) from Ukraine's border. (BBC) (AC-The surprise front and deep attacks by Ukraine are putting Russian forces on a reactionary footing, while taking pressure off the front lines of Russian efforts within Ukraine.)
2. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus takes the helm in Bangladesh, to seek peace and prepare elections: The key tasks for Yunus now are restoring peace in Bangladesh and preparing for new elections following the ouster of Hasina, who fled to India after weeks of student protests over job quotas grew into an uprising against her increasingly autocratic 15-year rule. (AP)
3. Venezuela's Maduro blocks X access in country for 10 days: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday took tensions with social media platform X and its owner Elon Musk to new heights, banning the platform in the South American country for 10 days amid furore over a disputed presidential election. Maduro said he signed a resolution presented by regulator Conatel which "has decided to take social network X, formerly known as Twitter, out of circulation for 10 days" and accused Musk of inciting hate, civil war, and death. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Polls show Kamala Harris moving ahead of Donald Trump in 2024 US election: As Kamala Harris named Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, as her running mate, recent polls showed the vice-president moving ahead of Donald Trump in the race for the White House. Among recent national head-to-head polls, SurveyUSA put Harris up three points ahead of Trump, 48%-45%; August polls in the seven battleground states where the election is expected to be decided presented a more mixed picture. (TheGuardian) (AC-Polls have been notoriously suspect over the last few election cycles.)
2. 15 states sue to block Biden’s effort to help migrants in US illegally get health coverage: Fifteen states filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Biden administration over a rule that is expected to allow 100,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to enroll next year in the federal Affordable Care Act’s health insurance. (AP)
3. Trump’s Plans Stir Fears for Fed Independence, Inflation: Donald Trump’s assertion that as president he should have more say over how the Federal Reserve sets interest rates would, if carried out, reverse a longstanding custom by which the central bank enjoys political autonomy to fight inflation with often unpopular rate increases. (WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Democrats Launch 'Crypto for Harris': Senior White House officials have reportedly engaged with cryptocurrency leaders to discuss industry concerns, facilitated by Representative Ro Khanna. This initiative continues the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to engage with the crypto sector. Additionally, the Democrats have launched a “Crypto for Harris” initiative to help Vice President Kamala Harris gain support from the cryptocurrency community. (BitcoinCom)
2. Federal Reserve Cites Significant Deficiencies in Customers Bancorp’s AML Compliance: The U.S. Federal Reserve Board has found “significant deficiencies” in Customers Bancorp, Inc.’s management of risk and adherence to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. These issues, particularly troubling for the bank known for its crypto-friendly stance, were detailed in an enforcement action filed on Thursday. One crypto advocate added: 'The Fed and FDIC are systematically dismantling all crypto-friendly banks one after the next.' (BitcoinCom) (AC-Dubbed 'Chokepoint 2.0', the second major administrative effort to restrict or stop US financial institutions from supporting crypto or bitcoin transactions seems to have begun. The effort seeks drive any digital asset activity only through designated and co-opted institutions.)
3. Putin Signs Law Legalizing Cryptocurrency Mining in Russia: According to a report by Russian news agency TASS, the law introduces several key concepts, including digital currency mining, mining pools, and mining infrastructure operators. Mining activities are now recognized by Russia as part of turnover rather than the issuance of digital currency. (BitcoinMag)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. CBOE re-files for spot Bitcoin ETF options in sign SEC may be engaging: Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyfarrt said he expected options on spot Bitcoin ETFs to become available in Q4. “Final deadline for SEC decision is ~Sept. 21 but there's more steps needed after that from OCC and CFTC. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Set for Weekly Rise: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note eased toward 3.95% on Friday, but was still set to rise for the week as better-than-expected US labor market data allayed fears of a recession, prompting markets to rotate back into riskier assets. (TradingEconomics)
2. Bitcoin Climbs Back Above $60K: Bitcoin rallied more than 10% to above $60,000, hitting a one-week high as better-than-expected US jobless claims data allayed fears of a looming economic downturn, prompting investors to get back into risk assets. (TradingEconomics)
3. Wall Street Rebounds Firmly: US stocks staged a strong rebound on Wednesday as positive labor market data alleviated fears of a significant economic slowdown following Monday's sharp sell-off. The S&P 500 climbed 2.3% to mark its best day since November 2022, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 surged 3.1% and the Dow Jones jumped 683 points. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. New Crypto Scam Targets Users via QR Codes, $120K Lost: The scam follows a specific pattern designed to exploit user trust. The scammer proposes an over-the-counter (OTC) transaction, which is a direct transfer of tokens from one wallet to another, instead of going through an exchange. This type of transaction has a great exchange rate, higher than the market rate, to get the victim’s attention. To gain further trust, the scammer offers a small amount in USDT, a stablecoin tied to the dollar, and proposes a commission in TRX, the Tron network token, in exchange for future long-term cooperation. (BitcoinSensus)
-Technology and Science-
1. ChatGPT’s controversial advanced voice mode is finally here: ChatGPT is about to get even chattier. OpenAI announced this week that it will finally start rolling out a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that allows the chatbot to engage in real-time voice conversations with its users. (CoinGeek)
2. Microsoft and Palantir to Upgrade AI in Defense and National Security: Through this new collaboration, Palantir's technologies will be integrated with Microsoft's Azure cloud computing services, including advanced language models like GPT-4 from OpenAI. Military, intelligence, and national security agencies will be able to harness the power of cloud-based AI while maintaining the necessary levels of security and control required for their critical missions. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 48/100 (Up 28 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Media reporting is fixated on the US Presidential election season. Since world and US events seem to be stabilized following the economic turmoil of Monday, media has turned back to the political conflict of 'democracy'. Meanwhile the time distance from Trump's assassination attempt is working to keep it from people's minds and answers are still out of reach. The theater of media and politics continue to drive wedges between citizens and keep us from finding common ground. The antidote is local community work and neighborhood networks. Love on your neighbors this weekend.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/Jtwh.jpg

2024-08-08 15:24:12

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 855,897
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 08Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Forces Advance Into Russian Territory / IDF Abuse at Detention Camp Draws Ire / Iran Issues NOTAMs / Debby Hits Landfall Again / Judge Rules in SEC-Ripple XRP Case / New Org, USABTC Promotes Gov. Centralization of Bitcoin / mBridge CBDC Starts MVPs / El Salvador Negotiates With IMF / CISA, FBI Warn of Election DDoS Attacks
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $57,302, 23.73 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $57,652 / Lo: $54,620
Vol: $39B (Down 13%)
Mkt Cap: $1.13T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 613 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Even)
Nodes: 19,732
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances up to 10 kilometers into Russia's Kursk Oblast amid continued mechanized offensive operations on Russian territory on August 7: The Kremlin's response has so far been contradictory, as Russian officials are attempting to balance presenting the effort as a notable Ukrainian escalation with avoiding overstating its potential implications and risking domestic discontent. Ukrainian forces reportedly used a first-person view (FPV) drone to down a Russian Mi-28 helicopter over Kursk Oblast, indicating that Ukrainian forces continue to successfully adapt their drone capabilities. (UnderstandingWar) (AC-The push by Ukraine is large and apparently unexpected. Since Kursk Oblast is technically Russian territory, the incursion marks a significant turn of events in the war.)
2. State Dept calls for Israel to investigate allegations of ‘horrific’ sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees: The statement comes after Israeli media obtained leaked surveillance video that allegedly showed Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman base in Israel’s Negev desert. (CNN)
3. Iran warns airlines to avoid its airspace for 3 hours on Thursday over military drills, Egypt says: The warning comes amid soaring tensions in the region following last week’s assassination of Hamas’ leader in Tehran. The Egyptian ministry said the warning came in a notice sent by Iran to all commercial airlines. The ministry said the ban from Iranian airspace was to last for three hours, 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Tropical Storm Debby makes second landfall in South Carolina, heavy rain expected up the East Coast: The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. The storm is expected to keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding all the way up through the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by the weekend. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Ripple Scores Partial Victory in SEC Battle: The SEC had accused Ripple of conducting an unregistered securities offering by selling its XRP token. The agency sought a hefty $2 billion penalty, arguing that XRP should be classified as a security rather than a digital currency. While the court found that certain sales of XRP did indeed constitute securities offerings, it also determined that XRP itself is not a security. The ruling also imposed a $125 million civil penalty on Ripple and enjoined the company from future securities law violations. (DailyCoin) (AC- XRP is up 26% on the news)
2. USABTC seeks to establish Bitcoin tax-free zone for digital economy growth: The initiative, spearheaded by the newly formed USABTC policy group, advocates for the tax-free Digital Economic Zone (DEZ) where Bitcoin can be traded and accumulated without capital gains taxes but with a tax on redemption. USABTC says the exit tax on Bitcoin conversions back to traditional currency could provide a new revenue stream for the government, which could benefit both the federal and state treasuries.
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Global CBDC Platform, mBridge, Launches Minimum Viable Project (MVP), Invites International Participation: The initiative was founded by the central banks of Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and the United Arab Emirates, and it operates under the umbrella of the Hong Kong BIS Innovation Hub. Participants include: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and 23 central banks from across the world. (Bitcoinke) (AC-mBridge is one to watch, as this one has large global support and structure.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. El Salvador and IMF Advance Talks on Bitcoin Risk Mitigation and Economic Reforms: The IMF has reported progress in negotiations with El Salvador on policies to strengthen public finances, boost bank reserves, improve governance, and address bitcoin risks. Although many BTC risks haven’t materialized for El Salvador, the IMF stated that both parties agree on the need for enhanced transparency and measures to ensure fiscal and financial stability. (BitcoinCom)
2. Metaplanet Secures 1 Billion Yen Loan to Buy Bitcoins, the Best Yen Carry Trade?: Public-listed Japanese firm Metaplanet has doubled down on its Bitcoin acquisition strategy by securing an additional loan of 1 billion Japanese Yen earlier today. This move comes a day after the company announced its plan to conduct a $68 million stock rights offering for BTC acquisition. (CoinGape) (AC-MSTR playbook)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures Swing, Volatility Persists: US futures swung around the flatline on Thursday, following losses in the previous session, as volatility persists and traders remain concerned about the economic outlook and the potential of a big slowdown in the US. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. CISA, FBI warn of potential DDoS attacks on 2024 elections: The agencies said DDoS attacks targeting election infrastructure “could prevent a voter from accessing websites containing information about where and how to vote, online election services like voter registration, or unofficial election results.” “They may cause some minor disruptions or prevent the public from receiving timely information,” she said. “It is important to talk about these potential issues now, because nefarious actors, like our foreign adversaries or cybercriminals, could use DDoS incidents to cast doubt on the election systems or processes.” (TheRecord) (AC-Highly expected)
2. WazirX to reverse trades after $235M crypto hack: The Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX is planning to restore the balances of all platform accounts following the halt of withdrawals caused by a $235 million hack in July 2024. “All users will have their portfolio balances on the WazirX platform restored to what they were on July 18, 2024,” the announcement said. The first reports on WazirX’s $234.9 million hack surfaced on July 18, detecting “multiple suspicious transactions” involving WazirX’s Safe Multisig wallet on Ethereum. (CoinTelegraph)
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Stripe Partners with Bitstamp to Boost EU Crypto Adoption: Stripe has teamed up with Bitstamp, a cryptocurrency exchange, to help it grow in the EU. The plan is to make it easier for customers to switch between traditional currency and crypto. They’ve created a widget that users can adjust to suit their needs allowing for quick transactions and currency changes. The new widget will support various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Stellar (XLM), and USD Coin (USDC). (BitcoinSensus)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 20/100 (Down 9 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The USABTC article is highly suspect. In an attempt to portray Bitcoin as a lifeboat for the US Dollar and the economy, the organization is proposing a Digital Economic Zone (DEZ) where deposited BTC can be held without capital gains, until withdrawn. The language on the website (.org) seems pro-Bitcoin but in effect has the effect of centralizing Bitcoin holdings, issuing IOUs for them, and taxing them upon redemption. The effort is in opposition to the USG using Bitcoin as a reserve asset which they consider unattainable. Upon initial observation, this effort seems like an elaborate centralization and possible rug-pull by unknown actors.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-08-07 17:42:35

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 855,761
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 07Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Foe of Ousted PM Installed in Bangladesh / Hamas Names Oct 7th Architect New Political Leader / Still No Iranian Attack / Harris Names MN Gov Walz as VP Pick / Quakes Hit SOCAL / US Arrests Assassination Plotter / Harris Stance on Crypto, Bitcoin Still Unclear / Bitcoin Action Shakes Out Lettuce Hands, Big Boys Scoop Up / Barefoot CEO Says Wars To Be Fought Over Blockspace
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $56,952, 23.76 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $57,726 / Lo: $54,486
Vol: $44B (Down 37%)
Mkt Cap: $1.12T (Up 3%)
HashRate: 510 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Down 60%)
Nodes: 19,705
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Nobel Peace Prize winner to lead Bangladesh interim government: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus - a longtime political foe of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina - has been named the country's interim leader. The 84-year-old was appointed a day after Ms Hasina fled the country following weeks of deadly protests that brought her resignation. (BBC)
2. Hamas names Oct. 7 architect Yahya Sinwar new political leader: Israel has publicly accused Sinwar of being the “mastermind” behind Hamas’ terror attack against Israel on October 7 – though experts say he is likely one of several – making him one of the key targets of its war in Gaza. He has remained at large in the vast warren of tunnels trenched beneath Gaza, moving frequently and possibly surrounded by hostages as human shields, US officials believe. Sinwar has not been seen in public since October 7. (CNN) (AC-This move will derail any serious peace talks between Israel and Hamas, and hasten the targeting of Sinwar.)
3. Iranian attack on Israel later than expected, may come on Thursday or Friday: The wait for Iran's retaliatory response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, attributed to Israel, is taking longer than the United States initially anticipated, sources familiar with American intelligence told the Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya. (JerusalemPost)
-US Events-
1. Vice President Kamala Harris introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate Tuesday, praising the former high-school teacher and football coach with a progressive streak as a homespun leader who inspires people to “dream big.” A two-term governor and current chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Walz could be especially helpful in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan. (WSJ)
2. Magnitude 5.2 earthquake rattles Southern California: The quake, which struck at a depth of around 6 miles just after 9 p.m., was approximately 7.6 miles west northwest of Mettler in Kern County, nearly 19 miles south of Bakersfield and 89 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. (KTLA)
3. US charges Iran-linked Pakistani over political assassination plot: Asif Merchant traveled to New York in June seeking to hire a hitman to kill a politician or a US government official in revenge for the 2020 assassination of a senior Iranian military commander, according to a statement issued by the US Justice Department. (AlJazeerah)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Kamala Harris's Recent Appointments Hint at a Potential Shift on Crypto: Kamala Harris's stance on crypto remains unclear as she campaigns for the presidency. Recent appointments, such as David Plouffe, a former member of the Binance Global Advisory Board, as her senior adviser for strategy, suggest a potential shift towards a more favorable approach. Brian Nelson, a former undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department, has also been recruited, with a focus on regulating illicit activities without stifling innovation. (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Self-Sovereign Decentralized Identity Is Key To Retail CBDC Adoption: Alongside adoption, hurdles include the need for a digital currency to maintain personal privacy for individual users. Because blockchains act as immutable, permanent ledgers of all transaction activity, there is a real risk of personal history being collected and used in unsavory ways. Users would be more exposed than ever to data harvesting and the risks of government surveillance. What’s needed is a Self-Sovereign decentralized identity, or SSDID, powered by blockchain and smart contracts. (Forbes)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Crypto investment products saw $528 million in net weekly outflows amid recession fears: The outflows were “a reaction to fears of a recession in the US, geopolitical concerns and consequent broader market liquidations across most asset classes,” CoinShares Head of Research James Butterfill said. “The price correction from Friday’s close saw $10 billion wiped off total ETP AUM.” (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Stocks Bounce Back After 3-Day Rout: US equities staged a robust recovery on Tuesday, bouncing back after a three-day selloff that had erased a considerable portion of the market's 2024 gains. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were up 1.5% each and the Dow Jones gained 550 points as investors took a pause from recession fears. Japanese stocks also had a standout day, soaring 10.2%. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Mortgage Rates Fall to 2023-Lows: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) fell by 27bps to 6.55% in the week ended August 2nd, 2024, the lowest since the first week of May 2023. (TradingEconomics) (AC-Every move in markets have opportunities and threats.)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology and Science-
1. Meet the Long-Shot Candidate Letting AI Run His Campaign: Thomas Ross is using artificial intelligence to run his campaign after winning the nomination of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in May 2023. In fact, he has named his generative AI chatbot Emvee, and takes its advice. “I use Emvee for strategy specifically,” Ross told Decrypt in an interview, noting that the name comes from a character in his science fiction novel series. He is keenly aware of his infinitesimal chances of success in November. But he said the point of running is to raise awareness of transhumanism and fight back against misinformation about AI. (Decrypt)
2. Rumors Elon Musk’s X nears payment system launch, battles advertisers in court: On Aug. 5, it was revealed that X was developing a “Payments” button for its navigation bar. The button, located just below the bookmarks tab, may allow users to access balances, make transfers, and conduct other transactions. In a parallel development, X has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against an advertising industry coalition and its members, including CVS Health, Mars, Orsted, and Unilever. (CryptoSlate)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Barefoot Mining CEO: Wars Will Be Fought Over Bitcoin Blockspace: Bob Burnett, CEO of Barefoot Mining, a bitcoin mining company providing off-grid “wild” mining services, has declared that wars will be fought over Bitcoin blockspace. In a recent interview, Burnett stated that as bitcoin becomes critical to companies and nation-states, the value of Bitcoin blockspace will be treated as an essential scarce commodity. "If we’re on a path to Bitcoin being the base layer of money, now Bitcoin is existential to all the financial services companies and government. We can probably debate the time frame, but we are on a path where wars will be fought over control of those 53,000 blocks." he said. (BitcoinCom)
2. Bitcoin Whales Increased Holdings During Crypto Market Mayhem, but ETF Investors Didn't Buy the Dip: Bitcoin wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC increased their holdings while prices slid over the past few days, while those owning less than 1 BTC were sellers, IntoTheBlock data shows. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Up 12 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Overall reporting shows that the drop in BTC price has led to accumulation of BTC by larger wallets and institutions, while smaller 'investors' have been sellers. Bitcoin “permanent holder addresses” have accumulated nearly $23 billion of the asset over the past month, according to on-chain data. The shakeout has given smarter entities the chance to pick up discounted BTC. Bitcoin HODLers have known this was a good buying opportunity, but then again, so is today. (Not investment advice)
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-08-06 15:39:11

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 855,646
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 06Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Rockets Hit US Base in Al Asad, Iraq / UN Fires Staff for Oct 7th Role in Massacre / Biden Convenes NatSec Council / Maduro To Investigate Opposition Leaders for Crimes / VP Harris Gets Dem Nomination / Hurricane Debby Floods Florida, Georgia / Binance Hit with $86M Tax Bill in India / Thailand Models CBDC, UBI Plan / Global Markets Rebound / US Begins Treasury Buyback / Google Hit With Antitrust Ruling / CA Puts Car Titles on New Blockchain / Swan Cancels PB Fest '24
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $54,055, 23.04 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $56,271 / Lo: $49,578
Vol: $68B (Down 21%)
Mkt Cap: $1.09T (Up 9%)
HashRate: 624 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 11 sats/vBtye (Up 90%)
Nodes: 19,594
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US personnel wounded in attack against base in Iraq: At least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq on Monday, U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Middle East braced for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following last week's killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Two Katyusha rockets were fired at al Asad airbase in western Iraq, two Iraqi security sources said. One Iraqi security source said the rockets fell inside the base. (Reuters)
2. Nine UNRWA staff to be fired for potential role in 7 October attacks on Israel: The UN said on Monday that nine staff working for its Palestine refugee agency UNRWA will be sacked because they may have been involved in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks against Israel. 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages. (UNAffairs)
3. Biden meets national security team as fears of Iran attack on Israel grow: US President Joe Biden met his senior national security team on Monday as concerns of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel grew. Biden said he had been briefed on preparations to support Israel should it be attacked, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said officials were working "around the clock" to prevent an escalation. (BBC)
4. Venezuela launches criminal investigation into opposition figures: Venezuela’s Public Ministry has opened a criminal investigation into presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado, the country’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a statement on Monday. Venezuela’s opposition and multiple other nations have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory in the July 28 vote until the release of the full vote tally. (CNN) (AC-The headlines from Venezuela and the US seem to be interchangeable, only the names change)
-US Events-
1. Kamala Harris earns majority of Democratic roll call votes, achieving historic presidential nomination: The roll call, which concluded on Monday evening, still needs to be certified by Convention Secretary Jason Rae, according to the statement, but the announcement makes Harris's historic nomination effectively official. (ABC)
2. Debby Weakens to Tropical Storm, Four People Confirmed Dead: Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday afternoon after hitting Florida with heavy rain and leaving four dead. The storm is expected to inundate the Southeast with historic rain and catastrophic flooding over the next few days. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday afternoon three people were killed in traffic accidents and a fourth was killed as a result of a tree that fell on a roof. (WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Binance Is 'Cooperating' With Indian Authorities on $86 Million Tax Bill: Binance is facing a significant tax challenge in India after the country’s tax authorities issued a notice demanding a Goods and Services Tax (GST) payment of $86 million. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence alleges that Binance collected fees from Indian customers for trading virtual digital assets without remitting the appropriate taxes, according to a local news outlet. (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Thailand may tell us a great deal about the future of money: The Thai government has initiated a programme to distribute money to low-income households through digital wallets. About 50mn Thais who fall below certain income and savings thresholds will get about $280 each, roughly half of monthly per capita income. The Thai transfer programme already has some features of a CBDC. (FT) (AC-The Thai government is showing the world how CBDCs will be instituted, primarily through low-income grants and UBI programs first. The eventually mandated as the primary currency where the programmable features are implemented, decreasing freedom of currency usage.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Hedge Fund Capula Reveals $420 Million in Bitcoin ETF Holdings: London-based hedge fund Capula Management has disclosed in a regulatory filing that it has invested over $420 million in Bitcoin through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The hedge fund purchased shares of Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust and BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, making its total investment worth $422 million. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Global markets jittery after sharp share price falls: Stock markets in Europe remained unsettled on Tuesday despite a rebound in Japan which almost reversed record falls at the start of the week. Overnight, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index jumped by 10.23%, or 3,217 points in its biggest one day gain in points, after the previous day's plummet. Experts says this was in reaction to fears of a US economic slowdown. A rare interest rate cut in Japan is also believed to have played a part. (BBC)
2. US 10-Year Yield Rises as Traders Assess Outlook: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose above 3.8% on Tuesday after hitting an over one-year low of 3.67% in the previous session, as investors weighed risks of a US recession. A weak jobs report released on Friday stoked fears of an economic downturn, prompting traders to rush for safe-haven assets including US Treasuries. (TradingEconomics)
3. US Commences $50B Treasury Buyback, 50 bps Fed Rate Cut Odds Surge: On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, the United States will kickstart the ambitious Treasury buyback program. This initiative aims at purchasing $50 billion worth of Treasury securities by the end of October. Moreover, it comes at a crucial juncture as the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to announce an emergency interest rate cut soon. (CoinGape)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. North Korean Hackers Moonstone Sleet Push Malicious JS Packages to npm Registry: The North Korea-linked threat actor known as Moonstone Sleet has continued to push malicious npm packages to the JavaScript package registry with the aim of infecting Windows systems, underscoring the persistent nature of their campaigns. (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
1. Google Found to Hold an Illegal Monopoly in Antitrust Case: Google has lost an antitrust lawsuit over its search arrangements on smartphone devices, with a federal judge ruling that the tech giant has illegally held a monopoly in search and text advertising over the past decade. (Breitbart)
2. California DMV digitizes 42 million car titles on the blockchain: The DMV has partnered with blockchain startup Oxhead Alpha, the first step was creating digital tokens for the 42 million car titles on the blockchain, which the DMV has already completed. It’s currently building a mobile app that Californians can use to access their records and initiate title transfers from the comfort of their homes, a first in the U.S. The app is expected to go live in the first half of 2025. With blockchain’s decentralization and immutability, car owners will likely detect any lien fraud quickly. According to vehicle data firm Carfax, there are over 800,000 cases of title washing alone, which is the fraudulent concealment of pertinent car information from a buyer. (CoinGeek)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Swan Bitcoin Cancels Pacific Bitcoin Festival 2024: Swan Bitcoin has canceled its highly anticipated Pacific Bitcoin Festival 2024, which was set to take place in October in Santa Monica, California. The decision comes after recent staff cuts and a shift back to the company’s core business. (BitcoinSensus)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 17/100 (Down 9 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Even with the bounceback in global equities, the USG is looking to stabilize markets and prevent FUD around the US economy, especially before an election. The Treasury buyback is timed to provide some liquidity both here and abroad during this time of uncertainty. The follow-on actions expected are the Fed interest rate reduction, further increasing liquidity. Simple economic mechanics forecast increasing inflation to result in the following 6-12 months.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IsmV.jpg

2024-08-05 15:11:48

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 855,499
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 05Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Israel and Allies Prepare for Iranian Attack / UK Riots Intensify / Bangladesh PM Flees Country / North Korea Send 250 New Missiles to Border / US South Preps for Hurricane Debby / Park Fire in West Spreads / Japan Economic Woes Spread Worldwide / All Assets Tumble / New Bill Give US Secret Service Power Over Crypto / Democrats Meet to Design Crypto Policy / NASA Astronauts Having Trouble Returning / Robinhood Halts Trading
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $51,328, 21.51 oz Gold, .12 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,058 / Lo: $49,121
Vol: $84B (Up 210%)
Mkt Cap: $1.01T (Down 16%)
HashRate: 751 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 30%)
Nodes: 19,782
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran: Tensions have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas says it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader. Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan’s foreign minister was making a rare trip to Iran as part of diplomatic efforts — “We want the escalation to end,” Ayman Safadi said — while the Pentagon has moved significant assets to the region. (AP)
2. Rioters attack hotels used to house asylum seekers amid worst UK disorder in years: The violence was triggered by the stabbing of three young girls in Southport, northwest England, earlier in the week. The far right has seized on and spread a wave of disinformation, including false claims the attacker was an immigrant, to mobilize anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests. Police say the suspect was born in Britain. (CNN) (AC-The encompassing terms "far-right" and "disinformation" bely the fact that citizens in the UK are fed up with killings and unencumbered immigration. The situation is ripe for continued violence that may escalate out of control.)
3. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigns, interim government to be formed: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the country, multiple sources said, as more people were killed in some of the worst violence since the birth of the South Asian nation more than five decades ago. Army chief General Waker-Us-Zaman said in a televised address that Hasina 76, had left the country and that an interim government would be formed. (Reuters)
4. North Korea claims it’s sending 250 new missile launchers toward the South Korean border: North Korea claims it is sending 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers toward its border with South Korea, in the latest bellicose declaration by leader Kim Jong Un against its neighbor. Kim personally oversaw the transfer of equipment to military commanders and chiefs of staff, and delivered a speech claiming the new missile launchers were built with North Korean technology, state media reported. (CNN)
-US Events-
1. Florida hunkers down as strengthened Category 1 storm very near landfall in Big Bend: The storm will bring “life-threatening” storm surge of up to 10 feet along Florida’s Gulf Coast. The southeast US could also historic levels of rainfall this week, the National Weather Service said. Some areas of Georgia and South Carolina could see up to 30 inches of rain through Friday, while Florida could see up to 18 inches throughout the week, according to the NWS. (IdenpendentUK)
2. Park Fire still growing with containment at 30% as temperatures expected to hit triple-digits:The Park Fire that has been raging north of Chico is now 30% contained as it continues to grow amid rising temperatures, Cal Fire said Sunday. Recent favorable weather including residual rainfall moisture offered the 6,528 firefighters battling the blaze a brief respite, officials said. But forecasts of triple-digit temperatures, drier conditions and higher wind speeds are expected to increase fire activity into this week. (SacBee)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. New Senate Bill Empowers US Secret Service to Combat Digital Asset Cybercrimes: U.S. senators have introduced legislation to empower the Secret Service to combat cybercrimes involving digital assets. This legislation addresses the growing use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities and mandates the Government Accountability Office to evaluate law enforcement’s effectiveness in tackling money laundering in cyber crimes. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Because protecting the continuity of government is not enough.)
2. Democratic elites, crypto industry leaders to hold virtual roundtable Monday: White House officials and elite democratic operatives will attend a virtual roundtable with crypto industry executives discussing digital asset policy on Monday, according to a report from Politico Pro. VP Harris campaign officials have reportedly been invited to the meeting, which is being organized by California Democratic representative Ro Khanna. Anita Dunn plans to appear, an outgoing White House senior adviser who will soon advise a $300 million super PAC for Harris and who also attended the July roundtable. (TheBlock)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. BRICS: Global Finance to Completely Ditch the US Dollar by 2031: With the BRICS bloc firmly embracing de-dollarization, the bloc has signaled that global finance will completely ditch the US dollar by 2031. Indeed, Russia’s central bank governor noted that the country is set to embrace everyday use of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). (Watcher)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US spot bitcoin ETFs see biggest single-day outflow in 90 days: The total daily outflow level on August 2 was $237.45 million, the highest since May 1's $563.77 million outflows and the fourth highest single-day outflow since the launch of the spot bitcoin ETFs in January. (TheBlock) (AC-This was Friday's action.)
2. Morgan Stanley to Offer Bitcoin ETFs to Wealthy Clients: Morgan Stanley is allowing its 15,000+ financial advisers to sell shares of BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC, CNBC reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Clients will need to have a net worth of at least $1.5 million. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Global Selloff Intensifies; Nasdaq Futures Slide Over 4%: The Nikkei plunged 12%, the most since 1987. Stock futures traded sharply lower and investors sheltered in the safety of bonds. Concerns about a slowing U.S. economy are front and center for investors after job growth slowed sharply in July. Investors are worried that the Federal Reserve has moved too slowly and will need to play catch up in cutting rates. Around the world, investors rushed for the safety of the bond market. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield recently traded around 3.74%, down from over 4.1% a week ago and on pace to settle at its lowest level in more than a year. The US Fed has called an emergency meeting today. (WSJ)
2. Bitcoin Dives Below $50,000 as Market Suffers Major Downturn: The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant downturn in the past 24 hours, resulting in over $1.06 billion in liquidations and impacting nearly 280,000 traders. Bitcoin and Ethereum both saw substantial declines, with Bitcoin dropping 12.5% and Ethereum falling 19.5%. Other altcoins, such as Solana, BNB, Dogecoin, and XRP, also experienced significant losses. (Decrypt)
3. Japan’s historic rate hike prompts yen carry trade unwinding, impacts global markets: In Asia, the Nikkei experienced its most significant two-day drop in history following Japan’s decision to raise interest rates to 0.25%. This move strengthened the Japanese yen against the US dollar, hitting 142, contributing to the unwinding of the yen carry trade. This trade involved borrowing yen at near-zero interest rates to invest in higher-yielding global assets like US equities and treasuries. (CryptoSlate)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Personal Data of 3 Billion People Stolen in Hack, Suit Says: Jerico Pictures Inc., a background-check company doing business as National Public Data, exposed the personal information of nearly 3 billion individuals in an April data breach, a proposed class action says. If confirmed, the breach could be among the biggest ever, in terms of the number of individuals affected. A 2013 breach of Yahoo! compromised the data of an estimated 3 billion individuals. (BloombergLaw)
-Technology and Science-
1. NASA Is ‘Evaluating All Options’ to Get the Boeing Starliner Crew Home: It has now been eight weeks since Boeing's Starliner spacecraft launched into orbit on an Atlas V rocket, bound for the International Space Station. At the time NASA officials said the two crew members, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, could return to Earth as soon as June 14, just eight days later. NASA management has been in deep discussion this week about whether to return the agency’s astronauts on board Boeing’s misfiring Starliner capsule or to go with the alternative of using a SpaceX craft to rescue the crew. (Wired/CNBC)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Robinhood Pauses 24-Hour Trading as the Market Goes Haywire: Robinhood reportedly responds to the ongoing global market downturn with a halt of its 24-hour trading service. (DailyCoin) (AC-This is becoming common for Robinhood to halt trading at critical times. Adjust accordingly.)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 26/100 (Down 29 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The current economic malaise is symptomatic of a debt-based, inflationary monetary system designed to be controlled by central participants. It has been known as Modern Monetary Theory based on Keynesian Economic Theory and has as a key tenet that the nation and world economies can be centrally controlled through interest rates, borrowing, and money supply. The breakdown seen in Japan, where the public debt is anywhere from 300-500% of GDP, is the natural progression of this system. When the system falters in Japan, it will spread to other countries not on a firm asset-backed, monetary footing. For individuals and families, the same principles apply and encourage us to become debt-free (or minimal debt), invest in hard assets (the hardest is Bitcoin), and build upon stability like community. Take care of your health and your families during these challenging times.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-08-02 15:32:49

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 855,084
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 02Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: F-16 Jets Land in Ukraine / Bomb in Tehran House Planted Months Ago / Maduro Clamping Down in Venezuela / WSJ Reporter Arrives in US / Fires Continue in the West / 9-11 Masterminds Get Plea Deal / UK Pushes Wholesale CBDC and Russia Pushes Retail CBDC / Earnings Reports for BTC Companies, Block Wins, Mara Hurts / Scams Target Hodlers
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,701, 26.26 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $65,593 / Lo: $62,248
Vol: $39B (Up 10%)
Mkt Cap: $1.27T (Even)
HashRate: 608 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 50%)
Nodes: 18,299
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. F-16 fighter jets land in Ukraine to bolster defence against Russia: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway – all NATO members – had committed to providing Ukraine with more than 60 planes. That number is dwarfed by the Russian jet fleet, which is estimated to be about 10 times larger. (AlJazeera)
2. Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader: The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse, according to five of the Middle Eastern officials. The guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran. (NYT)
3. Venezuela Election Fallout Unclear: Media reports are mixed coming from Venezuela. Maduro has said on video that he will not release the final results from the election due to "Elon Musk hacking the results". Meanwhile, multiple reports state that mass arrests of opposition supporters are being conducted across the country, and videos are surfacing of tortured citizens. Another report has 32 flights of Cuban Revolutionary Forces (The Black Wasps) patrolling the country, quelling rebellion. (Various, Twitter)
-US Events-
1. Freed Evan Gershkovich Arrives in the U.S.: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stepped back onto U.S. soil to a hero’s welcome from President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris late Thursday, capping a lengthy wrongful detainment and conviction in Russia that culminated in the most complex prisoner swap between Western allies and Russia since the Cold War. Former Marine Paul Whelan was also released. The prisoner swap, the largest since the Cold War, included the exchange of 24 prisoners and at least six countries in a deal officials in the U.S., Russia and Germany had worked on for months. Ultimately, the deal hinged on the release of a German prisoner: Russian hit man Vadim Krasikov, who emerged as a linchpin to the exchange. Russia released 16 prisoners in all, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer-prize winning British-Russian columnist and U.S. lawful permanent resident. (WSJ)
2. Crews struggle to contain rapidly spreading Park Fire in California: In California, more than 5,800 personnel, 500 fire trucks and 40 helicopters are battling a fire larger than all of Los Angeles. The Park Fire, as it’s known, is the country’s largest and has ballooned to historic proportions in just over a week. (PBS)
3. White House: We Didn’t Know About 9/11 Plea Deal Until Yesterday, Can’t Comment on It: The plea deal for three defendants accused of involvement in the September 11 terrorist attacks, including accused plotter Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, “was orchestrated by an independent military convening authority. The White House wasn’t aware of this deal or the process leading up to it until yesterday.” (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Bank of England looks to update RTGS by exploring wholesale CBDC, synchronization: The central bank of the United Kingdom is proposing experimenting with a wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC) as it seeks to update its Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system. Both synchronization and wCBDC depend on distributed ledger technology (DLT), a system that records transactions across multiple computers or locations. (CoinGeek)
2. Russian central bank governor says CBDCs will be part of everyday life by 2031: Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina reiterated the regulator’s belief that the digital ruble, Russia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), will achieve widespread adoption within the next five to seven years. She stated that the digital ruble's advantages, such as free transfers for individuals and lower transaction fees for businesses, will drive its adoption. (CryptoSlate)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US spot bitcoin ETFs log $50 million in inflows, ether ETFs return to positive flows: The 12 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the U.S. reported a total daily net inflow of $50.64 million on Thursday. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust, which only began trading on Wednesday, led net inflows yesterday with $191.13 million. (TheBlock)
2.MicroStrategy’s Q2 earnings reveals Bitcoin stockpile now $14.7B: Business intelligence firm MicroStrategy purchased an additional 12,222 Bitcoin for $805 million in the second quarter of 2024, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 226,500 BTC worth around $14.7 billion at current prices. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bond Yields Plunge in Flight From Stocks: Bond yields from economies with exposure to US credit markets sank further on Friday as mounting growth concerns were magnified by a batch of poor corporate earnings, supporting a dovish outlook for the Federal Reserve and triggering a flight to the safety of bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell nearly 40bps in the last seven sessions to a six-month low of 3.94%. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Factory Activity Contracts More than Expected: The ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 46.6 in July of 2024 from 48.5 in the previous month, firmly below market expectations of 48.8, reflecting the sharpest contraction in US factory activity since November 2023. It was the 20th decline in activity during the last 21 periods. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. FBI Issues Warning About Crypto Exchange Scams: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned cryptocurrency users about scammers impersonating crypto exchange employees to steal funds through unsolicited messages or calls. These fraudsters create urgency, claiming issues with accounts to trick victims into providing login details, clicking links, or sharing identification information. (BitcoinCom)
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Block’s Bitcoin Revenue Grows 9% to $2.6 Billion in Q2: Block Inc, Jack Dorsey’s payment company, just announced its earnings for the second quarter of 2024. Bitcoin revenue grew by 9%, reaching $2.61 billion. The company made $6.16 billion in net earnings for the quarter, a 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Cash App, one of Block’s main platforms, saw a big jump in Bitcoin gross profits, thanks to the price of Bitcoin going up. (BitcoinSensus)
2. Bitcoin Miner Marathon Shares Fall 8% After Missing Revenue Expectations in Q2: The revenue of $145.1 million was lower than the estimated $157.9 million, attributed to operational challenges and the impact of the April halving event. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 57/100 (Up 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-08-01 17:40:39

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 854,946
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 01Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Hamas Leader Killed in Tehran / Hezbollah Commander Confirmed Killed in Lebanon / Musk Vs. Maduro Challenge Accepted / Sex Trafficking at Comic-Con / Sen Lummis Introduces Bitcoin Bill / Sen Hagerty Backs Trump's Crypto Stance / NC Democrats Flip on CBDC Bill / No Movement From Fed / HSA Provider Hacked / Tucker Like Bitcoin, But Says CIA Created It
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,522, 26.46 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $66,810 / Lo: $63,573
Vol: $36B (Up 29%)
Mkt Cap: $1.27T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 683 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Up 27%)
Nodes: 19,160
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Hezbollah confirms commander died in Israeli strike: Fuad Shukr, who was in his early sixties, is believed to be a key military adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The strike targeted a building in Haret Hreik, a part of the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut. It is a fortified, densely populated area. Dahiyeh itself is surrounded by checkpoints. Meanwhile, the US tells Americans in Lebanon: ‘Be prepared to shelter in place’: (BBC)
2. Iranians mourn Hamas leader Haniyeh's assassination: Iranians turned out to mourn Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday, a day after he was assassinated in Iran's capital. Iran and the Palestinian Islamist militant group have accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president in Tehran on Wednesday. (Reuters)
3. Elon Musk accepts Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's challenge to fight: In a video Monday, Maduro was seen holding a cellphone as he declared war on Musk, alleging social media platform X owner Musk wants to invade Venezuela with his space rockets. "I am the son of Bolivar and Chavez. I am not afraid of you, Elon Musk," Maduro continued. "Let’s go at it, wherever you want, as we say in Caracas in the neighborhoods. If you want it, I want it, Elon Musk. Just say where." Musk later responded to a post about the challenge on X, writing: "I accept." (Fox)
-US Events-
1. San Diego Comic-Con at center of human-trafficking sting: A team of federal, state and county investigators rescued 10 people and arrested 14 during an undercover human-trafficking sting at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, which was held over the weekend. The team was on the lookout for “sex buyers using the San Diego Comic-Con Convention to seek out potential victims,” As a result of the three-day investigation, 14 sex buyers were arrested and nine potential adult victims of sex trafficking were identified. One 16-year-old was also identified as a victim. (LATimes)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Senator Cynthia Lummis Introduces New Act to Establish a National Bitcoin Reserve: Senator Cynthia Lummis has introduced the BITCOIN Act of 2024, which aims to establish a national Bitcoin reserve to strengthen the position of the U.S. dollar in the global financial system. The bill also seeks to ensure transparency in the management of the Bitcoin reserve by the U.S. Treasury Department. However, the Act may face challenges in Congress due to partisan divisions and the upcoming Presidential election. (Decrypt)
2. Tennessee Senator Backs Trump, Wants to 'Make Certain' America is a Crypto Hub: U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) threw his support behind Presidential candidate Donald Trump's bid to make the U.S. a crypto hub this week. He likened crypto to the semiconductor industry that, "got pushed offshore and weakened us from a geopolitical standpoint," adding that, "We need to see this innovation happening here." (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. NC House overrides governor’s veto on CBDC bill, Democrats flip stance: The North Carolina House of Representatives voted to override three of Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent vetoes on Wednesday, including House Bill 690, an act prohibiting payments to the state using a central bank digital currency. During Wednesday’s override vote, nearly all House Democrats voted in contradiction to their supportive positioning in June (73-41). (CarolinaJournal) (AC-A very interesting turnabout in just one month. Politicians in the US are responding to support for bitcoin and opposition to CBDCs from US citizens.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs see smallest net inflow on record, Grayscale mini BTC positive: Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced a minimal net inflow of just $0.3 million, marking the most negligible net inflow since these ETFs began trading on Jan. 11. July 31 marked the inaugural trading day for Grayscale’s new mini trust BTC, which attracted an $18.0 million inflow; the fund was initially provided with 10% of GBTC’s Bitcoin assets. (CryptoSlate)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Fed Leaves Rates on Hold but Signals Progress on Inflation: The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at a 23-year high of 5.25%-5.50% for the 8th consecutive meeting in July 2024, in line with expectations. Policymakers noted that there has been some further progress toward the 2% inflation goal although it remains somewhat elevated. (TradingEconomics)
2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls to Over 4-Month Low: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell toward 4.1%, its lowest since March, amid growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will signal the start of its cutting cycle today. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. 4.3 million people hit in massive healthcare data breach with full names, addresses and SSNs exposed online: HSA provider HealthEquity has disclosed that it suffered a data breach in which the personal information of millions of Americans was stolen by hackers. (TomsGuide)
2. Facebook Ads Lead to Fake Websites Stealing Credit Card Information: Facebook users are the target of a scam e-commerce network that uses hundreds of fake websites to steal personal and financial data using brand impersonation and malvertising tricks. "These fraudulent sites were accessible only through mobile devices and ad lures, a tactic aimed at evading automated detection systems," the company said, noting the network comprised 608 fraudulent websites and that the activity spans several short-lived waves. (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Miner Riot Platforms' Second-Quarter Loss Widens to $84.4M as Costs Surge: The Castle Rock, Colo.-based company posted a net loss of $84.4 million, or $0.32 per share. The cost to mine the bitcoin jumped to $25,327 from $5,734 due to a 68% increase in the network's hashrate. Hashrate is a measurement of the total computational power used to process transactions on the network. (CoinDesk)
2. Tucker Carlson Says He Loves Bitcoin—But Believes the CIA Created It: During a private event on Friday held at Bitcoin 2024, the former Fox News host spoke at length about why crypto is the world’s best tool for enabling financial sovereignty—even though it was invented by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). “Obviously it was the CIA, we all know that,” said Carlson with a laugh. “It’s like Signal, they got there first. It’s a honeytrap!” (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 52/100 (Down 9 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The sudden turn of politicians towards Bitcoin and crypto, and against CBDCs in the US is instructive in games of political power. While most of the rest of the world is barreling towards a CBDC solution and centralized power, the groundswell of support for Bitcoin and anti-CBDC shows the power of legacy representative democracy in the US. US politicians still need votes to maintain or gain power. US politicians in general still do not understand Bitcoin or CBDCs, but do understand that it is important for many constituents and can garner them support apart from traditional policies. The push for Bitcoin as a reserve asset is no less than a dog-whistle for digital asset enthusiasts as the reality is very complex and difficult to enact meaningfully, for the USG, citizens or Bitcoiners. All of which have different objectives.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-07-31 14:49:22

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 854,799
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 31Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: IDF Kills Hamas Top Leader, Maybe Top Hezbollah Leader /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,090, 27.86 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $66,881 / Lo: $65,323
Vol: $28B (Down 28%)
Mkt Cap: $1.3T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 616 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Up 27%)
Nodes: 19,387
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, threatening escalation: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a predawn airstrike in the Iranian capital Wednesday, Iran and the militant group said, blaming Israel for a shock assassination that risks escalating the conflict even as the U.S. and other nations were scrambling to prevent an all-out regional war. Iran’s supreme leader vowed revenge against Israel. (AP)
2. Hezbollah says top commander was in building targeted by Israeli strike, fate unknown: Lebanon's Hezbollah said early on Wednesday its senior commander Fuad Shukr had been in a building in the southern suburbs of Beirut when it was targeted by an Israeli strike, but the group did not confirm his fate. A senior security source from another country in the region confirmed Shukr had died of his wounds. (AlJazeerah)
3.
-US Events-
1. Biden expected to give address on first night of Democratic National Convention: President Biden is expected to give a primetime address on the first night of the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago. (CBS)
2. Acting Secret Service director says he’s ‘ashamed’ after the Trump assassination attempt: The Secret Service’s acting director told lawmakers Tuesday that he considered it indefensible that the roof used by the gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was unsecured and said it was regrettable that local law enforcement had not alerted his agency before the shooting that an armed subject had been spotted on a nearby roof. Ronald Rowe Jr. visited the site and “What I saw made me ashamed. As a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year Secret Service veteran, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,” he said. (AP)
3. Los Angeles Says It Will Not Join Newsom’s Push to Clear Encampments: Days after Gov. Gavin Newsom put pressure on local governments to dismantle homeless encampments across California, leaders in Los Angeles County showed a united front, unanimously passing a resolution with a clear message: We will continue to take a different approach. More than 75,000 homeless people live in LA County. (NYT)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Russian Diplomat: El Salvador Proposes Settling Trade With Crypto: El Salvador has proposed using cryptocurrency as an alternative payment method for trade with Russia. The Central American nation has reportedly expressed interest in joining the BRICS bloc and may formally apply for membership within one or two years. (BitcoinCom) (AC-It's only one source, but El Salvador joining BRICS, with it's experience in Bitcoin strategic management, would provide a boost to the BRICS alliance. BRICS is an opposing monetary and trade union to US leadership.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust begins trading on Wednesday morning following SEC approval: The trust, under the ticker symbol “BTC,” is intended to be a “spin-off” of the spot Bitcoin ETF, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. The trust, under the ticker symbol "BTC," is intended to be a “spin-off” of GBTC, with new shares of the mini trust designed to be distributed to GBTC shareholders as GBTC contributes a certain amount of bitcoin to the trust. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Job Openings Little Changed in June: The number of job openings was little changed at 8.184 million in June 2024 from an upwardly revised 8.23 million in May, and compared to forecasts of 8 million. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Futures Mixed Ahead of Fed Decision: US stock futures were mixed on Wednesday as investors parsed big tech earnings and prepared for the latest Federal Reserve monetary policy decision. (TradingEconomics)
3. Gold Demand Hits Q2 Record High, Driven by Central Bank Purchases: The World Gold Council’s Q2 2024 report highlights a year-on-year increase in gold demand, marking the highest second-quarter demand since 2000. This surge is fueled by central bank purchases and OTC investments, with central bank gold buying up by 6% and technology sector demand rising by 11%. (BitcoinCom)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 61/100 (Down 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Internet outages are dragging down speeds in certain areas, resulting in a minimal amount of reporting today.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-07-31 13:25:40

- reply

We actually had 5 new licensed HAM operators. Had a guy show up last minute who aced the test

2024-07-31 13:16:57

Need to connect @npub12qz…tz6s and @npub160t…yjc9 on this!!
Increase Meshtastic use cases and proliferation
https://m.primal.net/JkJD.jpg

2024-07-30 15:20:16

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 854,655
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 30Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Venezuela Ripe For Violence After Election / Israel Calculating on Hezbollah / More Russian Ships in Havana / Interpol Operation Nets 206 Arrests, Drugs, Detonators and a Sub / Harris VP Options Dwindle / Snipers Texted on Crooks 90 Minutes Before Shooting / BTC Wrench Attack in Ukraine Kills Victim / USG Moves $2B of Silk Road BTC / NY Post Calls Out Rigged Big Tech / DEX Trade at ATH
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,316, 27.86 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $69,987 / Lo: $65,894
Vol: $38B (Up 60%)
Mkt Cap: $1.31T (Down 5%)
HashRate: 671 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 78%)
Nodes: 19,606
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Protests erupt in Venezuela as questions grow over strongman Maduro’s victory: Protests broke out in several Venezuelan cities on Monday after authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro was formally declared a winner by the county’s electoral authority in a presidential race marred by accusations of electoral fraud. Analysts say there could be a new wave of unrest in the country if there are widespread protests against the regime. Street demonstrations in previous years were crushed by the country’s military. (CNN) (AC-China's Xi has congratulated Maduro's 'victory', but the people of Venezuela are not accepting of the election, as violence ramps up.)
2. Fears of Israel-Hezbollah war grow after Golan Heights strike that killed 12 children: The security cabinet authorized Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide on the nature and timing of the response against Hezbollah. Lebanon says it received reassurances from third countries that Israel’s response would be limited. Several European countries have reiterated calls for their citizens to urgently leave Lebanon. (CNN)
3. Russia Docks 3 Warships in Havana, Continuing Parade of Naval Ships to Cuba: Three war vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba, this weekend for a four-day “work visit” to the communist nation that will reportedly conclude on Tuesday. (Breitbart) (AC-Part strategic play, part messaging to the US, and part intelligence collection, the naval visit is the second in the last 60 days.)
4. Interpol operation leads to 206 arrests, seizure of $1.6b of illegal drugs, chemicals: Interpol says more than 200 people have been arrested and some $1.6 billion worth of illegal drugs and precursor chemicals seized as part of a two-month operation against narcotics trafficking across Europe, North America and Africa. In addition, the operation led to the seizure of 65 stolen cars, some 30,000 commercial-grade detonators diverted from military or commercial mining, and a “narco-sub”. (ABC)
-US Events-
1. NC Gov. Roy Cooper Withdraws from Consideration for Kamala Harris’s VP: This comes after Adm. William H. McRaven, who had also been a vice-presidential contender revealed that he had “removed” his name from consideration. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) also recently revealed during an interview with CBS News that she was not involved in the process of searching for a vice presidential pick for Harris. (Breitbart)
2. Snipers noticed Crooks 90 minutes before Trump shooting: A local countersniper first noticed gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks at 4:26 p.m., just more than an hour and a half before he climbed onto a nearby roof and shot at Trump. Additional texts at about 5:40 p.m. show officers discussing that they should inform Secret Service after Crooks was spotted again, this time using a range finder. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Ukrainian Police Detain Suspects in Abduction, Murder of Foreigner Over Bitcoin: The Ukrainian police announced on July 29 that it arrested four men for abducting and coercing a foreign national into transferring his bitcoins before ultimately murdering him. the quartet targeted a 29-year-old foreign national who possessed bitcoins valued at over $170,000 or almost 7 million hryvnias. After tracking the victim to his place of residence, the four men seized him and forcibly took him to an abandoned building. “There they forced him to transfer bitcoins to their crypto wallet, which were then transferred to cash, and the man was killed. (BitcoinCom)
2. US Moves $2 Billion Bitcoin Seized from Silk Road Amid Donald Trump’s HODL Plan: The US government transferred $2 billion in DOJ-seized Bitcoin to new addresses, according to on-chain data. This move followed Trump's plan to prevent the sale of government Bitcoin holdings if he returns to office. Industry experts reacted strongly, speculating on the motives and strategic implications of the transfer. (BeinCrypto) (AC-The timing of this move suggests a direct act in opposition to Trump's plan of using the BTC as a reserve asset. This could indicate a more hostile stance against Bitcoin and crypto.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Bank of England to Carry Out CBDC, Digital Ledger Experiments: The BoE said it plans to carry out a series of experiments on a wholesale central bank digital currency and distributed ledger technology. It will also experiment to ensure that the "singleness of money" is maintained with stablecoins and tokenized deposits. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Over 41.5% of Mt. Gox Bitcoin distributed as creditors continue to hodl: Despite receiving over $4 billion worth of Bitcoin, which has appreciated by over 8,500% in the 10 years since Mt. Gox collapsed, the exchange's creditors continue to hold their assets. (CoinTelegraph)
2. BlackRock Exec Says Only Bitcoin, Ethereum Meet the Criteria for ETFs: According to BlackRock's senior ETF executive, Bitcoin and Ethereum are the only cryptocurrencies that meet the criteria for ETFs. Other digital assets, including Solana, do not come close in terms of investability and client demand. While there have been filings for Solana ETFs, the lack of Solana CME futures is seen as a roadblock to SEC approval. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. WazirX Hack: Making customers pay 45% losses is utter nonsense, says Co-Founder of CoinDCX: WazirX has decided to implement a "socialized loss" strategy following a major cyberattack that compromised nearly half of its user funds. According to a statement from WazirX, this approach aims to spread the financial impact across all users, enabling them to access a portion of their assets immediately while maintaining the possibility of further recovery. (EconomicTimes)
-Technology and Science-
1. Rig Tech: Meta AI tool calls Trump assassination attempt ‘fictional,’ offers details on Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign: Through false labels, confused artificial intelligence and strange search results, Big Tech has been suppressing coverage of the assassination attempt against Donald Trump, The Post has found. Meta AI, Googgle, and Facebook are all suppressing information related to the assassination attempt on Trump. (NYPost)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. DEX market share surges to record high, outpacing centralized exchanges: The monthly trade volume of DEXs relative to CEXs is already at its highest ever, at 14.22%. The previous record high occurred in May 2023 at 13.7%. Uniswap is the largest DEX by total value locked (TVL) at $5.585 billion. Curve Finance maintains a $2.029 billion TVL, followed by PancakeSwap’s $1.825 billion and Raydium’s $1.259 billion. (TheBlock)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 67/100 (Down 7 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEbi.jpg

2024-07-29 17:40:11

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 854,488
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 29Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: French Internet Cables Cut / Wagner Mercs Ambushed in Mali / Venezuela's Maduro Claims Victory, Populace Seethes / Yellen Wants $3T Per Year for Climate / Wildfires in CA Abound / Trump Pledges Bitcoin Reserve, To Fire Gensler / Sen Lummis Intros Bill for Bitcoin National Reserve / Hong Kong Considers Bitcoin Reserve / Generative AI Used for Cloud Security / Bitcoin Conference Highlights / Univ of Wyoming Launches Bitcoin Research Institute / Bitcoin "Game Theory" Begins to Play Out
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,629, 29.10 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $69,851 / Lo: $67,602
Vol: $24B (Down 33%)
Mkt Cap: $1.37T (Up 3%)
HashRate: 663 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 10 sats/vBtye (Up 220%)
Nodes: 19,165
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. France: Telecom fiber optic networks sabotaged: Installations belonging to French telecom companies SFR and Bouygues Telecom were vandalized, while internet cables had been cut in southern France, with installations near Luxembourg and Paris sabotaged. Internet outage watchdog Netblocks said data showed disruptions to multiple internet providers in France. The news comes after saboteurs targeted France's high-speed rail network on Friday, over which a man was arrested on Sunday. (DW)
2. Dozens of Russian Mercenaries Killed in Attack in Mali: Tuareg rebels seeking autonomy in the West African country of Mali killed dozens of Russian mercenaries last week in what appeared to be one of the deadliest attacks on Russian personnel on the continent since Moscow first sent Wagner Group guns-for-hire there in 2017. After a pair of military coups in 2020 and 2021, Malian officers hired Wagner Group mercenaries to act as bodyguards for top junta members and conduct combat missions. (WSJ)
3. Venezuela’s Maduro and opposition are locked in standoff as both claim victory in presidential vote: Several foreign governments, including the U.S., held off recognizing the results of Sunday’s election, and officials delayed the release of detailed vote tallies after proclaiming Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, to 44% for retired diplomat Edmundo González. (AP) (AC- Mainstream news sources are not reporting the significance of this clouded election and the angst boiling over in Venezuela. The issue is trending on X where crowds are gathering and police and military are squaring off against protesters. Multiple election sites are giving reports of overwhelming votes for the opposition while Maduro claims victory. The potential for conflict over the issue his high as those without voice are feeling hopeless.)
-US Events-
1. Yellen says $3 trillion is needed each year to fund climate transition: Yellen spoke in Belem, a Brazilian city known as the gateway to the Amazon, after meeting with G-20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday and Friday. She said reaching net-zero carbon emissions goals remains a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration, but that doing so requires leadership from around the world. (Fox)
2. California firefighters make progress as wildfires push devastation and spread smoke across US West: The so-called Park Fire, the largest wildfire in California this year, was one of more than 100 blazes burning in the U.S. on Sunday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Some were sparked by the weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the western U.S. endures blistering heat and bone-dry conditions. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Trump Pledges Strategic Bitcoin Reserve at Bitcoin 2024 Conference: Addressing a room full of Bitcoin enthusiasts, Trump’s declaration came after a week of rumors and reports about his Bitcoin plans, though his announcement remained somewhat vague. During his 45-minute keynote address, Trump promised to end what he described as the Democrats’ regulatory crackdown on cryptocurrency companies and holders. If elected, he vowed to transform the U.S. into a “Bitcoin superpower.” (Yahoo)
2. Sen. Cynthia Lummis announces bill for US Treasury to buy 1 million bitcoin worth $68 billion: Senator Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, will introduce a bill to direct the U.S. Treasury to purchase 1 million bitcoins — worth about $68 billion at current prices — over a period of five years next week, she said in an interview with The Block. The move is made to counter the effects of dollar debasement, she said. So it would be of value, in my opinion, to have a hard asset that backs the U.S. dollar and that grows in value instead of declines in value,” the Senator added. (TheBlock)
3. Hong Kong’s Bitcoin Ambitions: Lawmaker To Discuss Reserve Opportunities With Industry Players: With Bitcoin gaining traction to become a potential strategic reserve asset in the United States, it appears other pro-crypto countries might be considering adopting this significant move as Johnny Ng, a lawmaker in Hong Kong, has revealed his intention to discuss the feasibility and potential advantages of including BTC to the nation’s financial reserve. (Bitcoinist)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bitcoin Heads Toward $70K on Trump Push: Bitcoin climbed toward $70,000 on Monday, potentially hitting the key level for the first time in six weeks after US presidential candidate Donald Trump doubled down on his support for crypto. (TradingEconomics)
2. PCE Prices Edge Up 0.1%, Core Rise at a Faster 0.2%: The personal consumption expenditure price index in the US edged up 0.1% month-over-month in June 2024, following a flat reading in May, in line with forecasts. (TradingEconomics)
3. US 10-Year Yield Slips on Dovish Fed Bets: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell below 4.2%, sliding back toward its lowest levels since March as investors geared up for the latest Federal Reserve policy decision this week. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. 'Stargazer Goblin' Creates 3,000 Fake GitHub Accounts for Malware Spread: A threat actor known as Stargazer Goblin has set up a network of inauthentic GitHub accounts to fuel a Distribution-as-a-Service (DaaS) that propagates a variety of information-stealing malware and netting them $100,000 in illicit profits over the past year. (HackerNews) (AC-Always double-check downloads!)
-Technology and Science-
1. Generative AI Ignites the Revolution of Cloud Security: Generative AI has many aspects that involve the detection of threats, response to an incident, and proactive defense. Generative AI can be a proactive way of identifying threats. It can recognize subtle irregularities and novel patterns and learn from large data quantities indicating malicious activities. This makes it possible for organizations to notice threats earlier and respond to them before causing much harm. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Conference: Here are The Major Highlights From The Event: Trump highlighted his potential crypto-related policies, all in a bid to woo crypto voters. Part of his plan is to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office. Similarly, Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., outlined his plans for the US should he win the elections. One of which is to transform how the US perceives Bitcoin (BTC). On his first day in office, RFK said he will sign multiple executive orders aimed at integrating BTC into the U.S. economic strategy. During the Bitcoin Conference, global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald revealed the launch of a Bitcoin financing division to give leverage to investors who hold the asset. Michael Saylor also said Bitoin should get set for a bull run. He shared his prediction for Bitcoin price, including forecasting that its annual growth rate might slow from 55% to 20% by 2045. Ultimately, it would drive the value of the coin to a staggering $13 million per unit. (CoinGape)
2. University of Wyoming Launches First Bitcoin Research Institute: The University of Wyoming (UW) has established the UW Bitcoin Research Institute, marking the first academic institute dedicated to Bitcoin studies. The institute aims to elevate the quality and impact of Bitcoin research by creating faculty positions for Bitcoin research, incentivizing and rewarding good academic research on Bitcoin, encouraging young scholars to pursue Bitcoin research projects, and providing workshops on related papers and books. (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The long-anticipated beginning of "game theory" seems to be revealing itself in real-time. As US candidates and lawmakers announce plans for a bitcoin national reserve, other jurisdictions like Hong Kong are starting to do the same. The fundamental principle of bitcoin game theory is that the limited number of bitcoin issued can only be acquired by the first and strongest movers. There are certainly other nations accumulating bitcoin clandestinely if they have an understanding of the power dynamic involved. The race to acquire the scarce asset will have untold effects on nation-states, organizations and burgeoning "network-states". We are certainly entering a period of uncertainty (and opportunity) for those of us in bitcoin.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-07-27 22:10:42

Flying the BV flag behind @npub1qny…95gx at the @npub1rwh…7avv
https://m.primal.net/JgTQ.jpg

2024-07-26 17:29:44

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 854,028
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 26Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: France's Trains Sabotaged Before Olympics Opening / Rockets Fired at US Troops in Al Asad / Sinaloa Cartel Chiefs Arrested / Netanyahu Speech To Congress Divides / Obama Endorses Harris / FBI Director Doubts Trump Bullet Wound / RFJ Holds Most Wealth In Bitcoin / Sen Marshall Backs Out of AML Bill / Sen Warren Doubles Down / Brazil To Push Super-App with CBDC / Jersey City to Invest in BTC / OpenAI Takes on Google Search / Day 1 of Bitcoin2024 Has Big Headliners
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,304, 28.34 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $67,466 / Lo: $63,473
Vol: $34B (Down 2%)
Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Up 5%)
HashRate: 723 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 68%)
Nodes: 16,817
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. France’s train network hit by arson attacks hours before Olympic ceremony: Saboteurs struck France's TGV high-speed train network in a series of pre-dawn attacks that caused chaos on the country's busiest rail lines ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.
The coordinated sabotage took place as France rolled out an unprecedented peacetime security operation involving tens of thousands of police and soldiers to lockdown the capital for the Games, sucking in security resources from across the country. (Reuters)
2. Rockets launched at US forces stationed at Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq: Four Katyusha rockets were launched at Iraq’s Ain al-Asad airbase that houses US-led coalition forces late on Thursday, two security sources said, with no immediate confirmation of any casualties or damage. (AlArabiya)
3. Sinaloa Cartel Supreme Leaders Arrested in El Paso — Boss El Mayo, and El Chapo’s Son: The man known as El Mayo was the leader of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and was considered the supreme boss of the organization. Guzman Lopez was considered the eldest heir of the Chapitos faction, which was previously run by his father El Chapo. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. Netanyahu's speech was cheered in Congress, decried by hostage families back home: Netanyahu railed against Hamas and Iran in his Wednesday address, and he said Israel would not settle for anything less than “total victory” in its offensive in Gaza, which he said “could end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages.” Shortly after the prime minister's defiant speech, the Israeli military said the bodies of five hostages had been recovered in Gaza: those of teacher Maya Goren and four soldiers. (NBC)
2. Obama Endorses Harris, as Trump Prepares to Meet With Netanyahu: Former President Barack Obama was the most prominent Democrat to have held out on endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. Former President Donald J. Trump is set to meet with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Florida on Friday. (NYT)
3. FBI Director Not Convinced Trump Is Telling the Truth on Bullet Injury: FBI Director Christopher Wray testified that it’s not clear whether Donald Trump was hit by a bullet. Appearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Wray testified about the agency’s investigation into the attempted assassination, expressing uncertainty about the nature of the injury Trump suffered to his ear. (NewRepublic) (AC: When the head of the FBI testifies before Congress and will not admit to an observable, provable fact then you know 5GW narrative warfare is in action against truth.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. U.S. Presidential Candidate RFK Jr. Says He's 'Fully Committed' to Bitcoin: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doubled down on his support for bitcoin at the BTC 2024 conference in Nashville. "I am a huge supporter of Bitcoin. I have most of my wealth in Bitcoin," he said. I am fully committed." Kennedy, a libertarian-leaning candidate, took aim at the Federal Reserve, saying the central bank had the interest of bankers, not the general public, at heart. (CoinDesk)
2. Republican Senator Roger Marshall Backs Out of Controversial Crypto Bill: Republican Senator Roger Marshall has withdrawn his support for the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act (DAAMLA), an anti-crypto bill he co-authored with Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren. (CryptoNews) (AC: Grassroots political pressure and general Republican acceptance of Bitcoin has led to a weakening of opposition as seen by Marshall's retreat.)
3. Elizabeth Warren Says Foreign Adversaries Use 'Cryptomines' to Spy on U.S. Military: In the hearing, Warren claimed that "one third of crypto mining facilities in the U.S. are owned by citizens of the People's Republic of China, including people with direct ties to the Chinese government," seemingly citing a March 2024 report by Inca Digital. (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Brazil’s Central Bank to Launch AI-Integrated Super App Featuring CBDC by 2025: The initiative will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and the nation’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as “Drex.”. Specifically, it plans to incorporate instant payment methods like Pix and leverage AI technologies similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. (BeInCrypto) (AC: What could go wrong?)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Jersey City to Invest in Bitcoin ETFs, the Latest Pension to Dive Into Crypto: The municipal pension plan of Jersey City, New Jersey, will soon invest in bitcoin via exchange-traded funds, according to a Thursday social media post from Mayor Steven Fulop. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar Steadies Ahead of PCE Inflation Data: The dollar index steadied around 104.3 on Friday after facing heightened volatility in recent sessions, as traders braced for the latest PCE price index report, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stocks Gain Traction: US stocks gained traction on Thursday afternoon, trimming losses from yesterday’s selloff that saw the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq book their worst sessions since 2022 after skepticism over the sustainability of the AI-driven rally magnified the rotation to traditional sectors of the US economy. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. U.S. DoJ Indicts North Korean Hacker for Ransomware Attacks on Hospitals: "Rim Jong Hyok and his co-conspirators deployed ransomware to extort U.S. hospitals and health care companies, then laundered the proceeds to help fund North Korea's illicit activities," said Paul Abbate, deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "These unacceptable and unlawful actions placed innocent lives at risk." (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
1. OpenAI officially takes on Google with SearchGPT: OpenAI announced that it's testing SearchGPT in a blog post on Thursday. It calls it a "temporary prototype" and only posts a waiting list for access. It will accept natural language queries, which is not unlike Google, but unlike the world's most popular search engine, SearchGPT will accept follow-up queries. (TechRadar)
2. Brazil Sees Elon Musk’s Starlink as a Political Threat: Starlink is growing fast in the country’s Amazon and farming regions, bastions of support for former President Jair Bolsonaro, in opposition to current leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. (WSJ) (AC: Technology is against proving to be a powerful force against tyranny.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin 2024: Politics takes center stage in Nashville: The Bitcoin 2024 conference kicked off on July 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, with high-profile speakers, including Donald Trump, Michael Saylor, Cathie Wood, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Russell Brand and Edward Snowden, set to draw record crowds. "2024 is year one of mainstream Bitcoin adoption" — Michael Saylor. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 68/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-07-24 15:32:43

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 853,707
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 24Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Russian Intel Officer Bombed in Moscow / Netanyahu to Address Divided Congress / Secret Service Director Resigns / Trump Rallies in NC / TN Rep Files Impeachment Articles on VP Harris / Trump Files Complaint With FEC / Mt Gox Returns $3.2B Worth of BTC / Riot Mining Buys Block Mining
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,397, 27.50 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $67,359 / Lo: $65,484
Vol: $31B (Down 31%)
Mkt Cap: $1.31T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 653 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 19 sats/vBtye (Up 210%)
Nodes: 18,802
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Russian military intel officer injured in car bomb as Kyiv hits Putin’s Crimea ferry: A Russian military intelligence officer has been critically injured in a car bomb explosion in Moscow. Kremlin-approved media reported that the officer, believed to be the deputy head of a military unit specialising in communication, was wounded after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated inside his car. The bombing comes as Ukrainian forces have “seriously damaged” a ferry in occupied Crimea which was being used by Russian forces to transport military equipment. (Independent)
2. Israel’s Netanyahu Confronts Altered Political Landscape in U.S.: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Wednesday drops one of the world’s most polarizing politicians into the middle of an unprecedented U.S. political shake-up, a risky combination as he tries to win support from both parties for his country and its war. (WSJ)
-US Events-
1. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns: The move comes as lawmakers and an internal government watchdog move forward with investigations into the agency’s handling of Trump’s protection and how a gunman came close to the killing the 2024 Republican presidential candidate at a rally in Pennsylvania this month. Deputy Director Ronald Rowe has been tapped to lead the agency. (CNN)
2.Trump takes fight against Harris to North Carolina rally: Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, will hold his first campaign rally since Harris emerged as his near-certain Democratic foe in the 2024 election. The former president will appear at an event in Charlotte, North Carolina, a state that will be an important battleground in the Nov. 5 election. (Reuters)
3. Tennessee Republican files articles of impeachment against VP Harris: Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) filed articles of impeachment against Vice President Harris on Tuesday. The filing expands on previously introduced articles that target Harris’s record on immigration, a GOP rallying cry against the vice president. He added a second article in the new filing, which claims Harris covered up President Biden’s mental well-being, constituting a “breach of public trust.” (TheHill)
4. Trump Campaign Files Complaint over Transfer of Biden Campaign Funds to Harris: Former President Donald Trump’s campaign filed the complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), claiming that the $96 million that sat in the Biden campaign’s account that was transferred to Harris is a violation, according to Bloomberg News. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Kamala Harris is catching up on crypto as she runs against Donald Trump: Entrepreneur and Bitcoin enthusiast Mark Cuban stated in an interview with Decrypt that the Harris camp had contacted him with questions about crypto. (Quartz)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Russian Lawmaker: Our CBDC Won’t Be Cross-border Ready Until 2026: Per the state news agency TASS, Anatoly Aksakov, the Chairman of the State Duma’s Committee on the Financial Markets, said that “Russians will be able to make payments abroad with digital rubles in two years at the earliest.” (CryptoNews)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Mt. Gox sees $3.2B BTC in outflows in just two hours: Mt. Gox again began shifting funds on July 23, moving over 47,500 Bitcoin worth almost $3.2 billion to two unknown addresses at 5:05 am and 6:27 am UTC. On July 22, Mt. Gox began preparing to repay creditors through Bitstamp, according to onchain fund holding movements. With the latest $3.2 billion in BTC shifted out of the Mt. Gox address, the tally amounts to over $12 billion sent out since July 16 to distributing entities helping return funds to creditors. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Musk evaluates possible Tesla $5 billion xAI funding amid its steady Bitcoin reserves: Elon Musk appears to be considering whether his Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing company, Tesla, should invest $5 billion in his artificial intelligence (AI) startup, xAI. In a parallel development, the earnings call also revealed that Tesla’s Bitcoin holdings remained unchanged for the eighth consecutive quarter, with no purchases or sales between April and June 2024. Tesla owns $184M worth of Bitcoin. (CryptoSlate)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Mortgage Rates at Over 5-Month Low: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages declined by 5bps to 6.82% in the week ended July 19th, 2024, from 6.87% in the previous period. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. CrowdStrike Explains Friday Incident Crashing Millions of Windows Devices: Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Wednesday blamed an issue in its validation system for causing millions of Windows devices to crash as part of a widespread outage late last week. (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
1. In a seafloor surprise, metal-rich chunks may generate deep-sea oxygen: In an unexpected twist, metal-rich nodules found on the seafloor are generating oxygen, new research suggests. This meager but steady supply of the vital gas may help support seafloor ecosystems in areas currently targeted for deep-sea mining, scientists say. These nodules can act like batteries that split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. (ScienceNews)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Miner Riot Scoops Small Kentucky Rival for $92 Million as Sector Sags: Riot Platforms said Tuesday it had acquired Kentucky-based Block Mining for $92.5 million, as headwinds faced by smaller Bitcoin miners continue to pose challenges for the sector. (Decrypt)
2. Ferrari to Extend Cryptocurrency Payments to Europe: The Italy-based luxury sports car manufacturer began accepting crypto in the U.S. last October, in partnership with BitPay. Bitcoin {{BTC}}, ether {{ETH}} and USD coin {{USDC}} were the tokens accepted. Ferrari is now extending the program to Europe "to support dealers in better addressing the evolving needs of its clients," (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 69/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/JckD.jpg

2024-07-23 15:03:19

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 853,558
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Red Sea Boils / China, Philippines Reach Agreement / Ukraine Foreign Minister Visits China / Secret Service Under Heavy Fire / Netanyahu Snubbed, Will Speak to Congress / MARA Fined $138M / Is Bitcoin as Reserve Asset Possible? / ETH ETFs Start Trading / BTC Miners Struggling
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,601, 27.58 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,267 / Lo: $66,292
Vol: $45B (Up 45%)
Mkt Cap: $1.31T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 746 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 43%)
Nodes: 7,410 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped the past two weeks from an average of 19K to below 10K)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Red Sea tensions reach new high as US weighs terrorist designation for Houthis: Israel's strike on Yemen's port of Hodeidah on Saturday killed three and injured 87, in a fighter jet assault over 1,000 miles away from Tel Aviv. Israel says it was a response to a Houthi drone attack Friday that killed one person in Tel Aviv. Tallies of reporting from U.S. Central Command count 14 missiles and nearly 60 drones fired by the Houthis and destroyed by the U.S. Navy in June alone, which by some assessments has made the sea combat the United States' most sustained naval fight since World War II. "There's more and more talk now about a designation under the [Foreign Terrorist Organization], which would level the Houthis with al-Qaeda affiliates and Hamas. (ABC)
2. China, Philippines agree on 'provisional arrangement' for South China Sea resupply missions, Manila says: "Both sides continue to recognize the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation and agree that the agreement will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea," the Dept of Foreign Affairs in Manila said. (Reuters)
3. Ukraine's FM Kuleba to visit China: China has announced that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will visit China from Tuesday to Friday, the first such trip since the Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022. According to Ukraine's foreign ministry, the main topic of discussion would be the search for ways to end the conflict and China's possible role in achieving sustainable and just peace. (ChinaDaily) (AC-An unexpected twist as China has supported Russia since the conflict began.)
-US Events-
1. Secret Service Director’s Testimony Sparks Bipartisan Calls for Her Resignation: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle offered lawmakers few answers Monday about how a 20-year-old gunman was able to open fire on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, fueling bipartisan anger and widespread calls for her resignation in the wake of what she acknowledged was a colossal security lapse. (WSJ)
2. Netanyahu trip will put US divisions on display: Boycotts from Democratic lawmakers and pro-Palestinian activists against Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday will contrast with a Republican Party united on a rare area of solidarity. With Biden’s decision to not seek reelection, all eyes will be on Vice President Harris for how she handles meetings with Netanyahu. Harris is not expected to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, in a sign welcomed by advocates for a tougher U.S. policy toward Israel. (TheHill) (AC-Meanwhile, Netanyahu landed in DC without Biden, Harris or Blinken there to meet him, seen as a diplomatic snub.-Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Marathon Digital Fined $138 Million for Breaching US Bitcoin Corp and Hut 8 Non-Disclosure Agreement: Marathon Digital, the largest Bitcoin mining company, has been fined $138 million for breaching a non-disclosure agreement. Michael Ho, former co-founder of US Bitcoin Corp, won a breach of contract lawsuit against Marathon Digital for executing his growth strategy without compensating him. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Will Trump endorse bitcoin as strategic reserve asset?: The excitement centers around a tweet from Dennis Porter suggesting that Trump might announce bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. Melker emphasized the potential for a historic shift. He noted that the U.S. government already holds a substantial amount of bitcoin from past confiscations, such as from Silk Road. Transferring these holdings to the treasury could effectively position bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. If Trump makes this announcement, it would not only make international headlines but also compel other central banks to reconsider their stance on bitcoin. (TheStreet)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Ethereum ETFs Approved: Trading Begins July 23, 2024: Spot Ethereum ETFs launch July 23, 2024, after SEC approval, allowing traditional investment in the second-largest crypto, with expected lower demand than Bitcoin ETFs. (Blockononmi) (AC-There is no second best)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar, Treasuries and Futures Steady as Traders Mull US Political Outlook: The dollar index steadied around 104.2 on Tuesday as investors continued to assess the US political landscape in the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. EU Rules Blamed for Global IT Catastrophe Triggered by Faulty CrowdStrike Update: At the heart of the crisis lies CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm whose Falcon system, designed to thwart cyberattacks, holds privileged access to a computer's kernel. Microsoft has pinned the blame on EU regulations. A 2009 agreement stemming from a competition investigation forced the tech giant to allow multiple security providers, including CrowdStrike, kernel-level access. The confluence of a faulty update, widespread reliance on CrowdStrike's software, and Microsoft's regulatory obligations created a perfect storm. (TechTimes)
-Technology-
1. NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Swan Bitcoin capitulates, BTC miners shrink, consolidation grows, fears mount: Cory Klippsten, CEO of the California-based Swan Bitcoin financial services firm, announced that his company “is unlikely to continue with our Managed Mining business in the near term.” Klippsten added, “ without the expectation of significant near-term revenue from our Managed Mining unit, we are pulling our plans to IPO in the near future.” Since the scheduled ‘halving’ of the block subsidy this spring, the economics of BTC mining no longer add up. Even as the BTC token’s fiat value has recovered much of the losses it endured over the past couple of months, it’s still not always high enough to cover the huge electricity costs of successfully mining a BTC block.
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Up 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Rumors of Trump announcing Bitcoin as a strategic asset reserve are swirling, but is it as significant news as thought? The USG already owns 213K BTC, or $14B worth of BTC, which is not much compared to what would be needed as a reserve asset. There is no current law or requirement that says a reserve asset must be used, kept or distributed in any sort of way in order to 'backstop' the US dollar. The act would be as 'fiat' as saying the assets are held but how does that relate to the US currency? Would it really slow down the dollar debasement? There are just too many questions, legal conflicts and agendas to put much stock in the reality of backing the US dollar with bitcoin in the near future. Short term, it would certainly be bullish for BTC price and could set off buying competition, but significant changes would need to occur for it to become a reserve asset in the USA.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HkPv.jpg

2024-07-23 02:32:15

LETS GO!!!
GET ON NOSTR, GET TO NASHVILLE, AND GET ON THE MISSION
#note1wpz…gn7x

2024-07-22 15:05:53

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 853,370
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 22Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Biden Drops Out of Race / Israel Strikes Back at Yemen / Vietnam's Communist Leader Dies / Ukraine Launches Drone Attack / VP Harris Gets Ready for Presidential Campaign / Bitcoiners Prepare for Significant Week / Seven US States Challenge SEC Over Crypto / CashApp to Depart UK / Airports Still in Disarray / Hackers Take Advantage of CrowdStrike Fail / Elon Laser Eyes Draw Speculation
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,600, 28.20 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,480 / Lo: $65,842
Vol: $32B (Up 76%)
Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 600 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 33%)
Nodes: 7,412 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped the past two weeks from an average of 19K to below 10K)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. At least 6 killed as Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen day after Tel Aviv drone attack: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets struck “military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime” in the area of Yemen’s Hodeidah Port on Saturday, in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a direct response to the death of a 50-year-old Israeli in a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv on Friday. This is the first time Israel has struck Yemen, according to Israeli officials. (CNN) (AC-This is a major expansion in war for Israel. They are now fighting Iranian proxies on three fronts; Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and now Houthis in Yemen.)
2. Death of Vietnam’s Top Leader Raises Questions of Succession: With the death Friday of Vietnam’s long-serving Communist Party general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, the country’s top leadership role has been left at least temporarily to President To Lam, who is best known for implementing a sweeping anticorruption drive. Whether he will retain the duties of general secretary on a more permanent basis depends on the Politburo, which is expected to decide whether to confirm his new role. Vietnam analysts said it was unlikely that the death of Mr. Trong would lead to any changes in foreign policy or trade relations, as Vietnam will continue balancing its relations with the United States, China and Russia. (NYT)
3. Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Refinery Ablaze, Russian Officials Say: Russia's military said early Monday that its forces had downed 75 Ukrainian drones overnight, with regional authorities reporting that falling debris set fire to a major oil refinery on the Black Sea coast. Rostov region Governor Vasily Golubev said no one was injured during an overnight wave of attempted drone strikes in his region, but added that falling debris had caused some fires. (MoscowTimes)
-US Events-
1. World leaders react to Biden’s exit from the 2024 US presidential race: Messages of gratitude and support for US President Joe Biden poured in following his stunning announcement Sunday that he is exiting the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the next Democratic nominee. It was the second seismic moment in US politics in just over a week, following the assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, which saw global leaders rally around him as the Republican nominee. One Weibo (Social Media in China) user remarked, “that one shot didn’t kill Trump but dropped Biden,” while another described the political situation in the US as “a total mess". (CNN)
2. Harris races to lock up White House bid, Trump campaign pivots: Harris, 59, was due to speak at the White House at 11:30 a.m. ET (1530 GMT) on Monday. Harris spent Sunday working the phones as she spoke with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a potential vice presidential running mate. Harris' campaign had raised $49.6 million since Biden's exit, a campaign spokesperson said on Monday.(Reuters)
3. Janet Napolitano joining review of Secret Service response to Trump shooting: Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday named one of his predecessors, Janet Napolitano, to a bipartisan panel of experts tasked with conducting a 45-day independent review of the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The panel is charged with conducting a review “of the planning for and actions taken by the U.S. Secret Service and state and local authorities before, during, and after the rally, and the U.S. Secret Service governing policies and procedures,” according to a DHS press release. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Bitcoin Traders Brace for 'Fat Tails' as Focus Shifts to Trump's Nashville Bitcoin Conference Speech: "This week we’re going to hear Trump speak at the Nashville Bitcoin conference. As long as Trump remains a front-runner, this is a potential catalyst for "something to happen” this week. The derivative markets seem to agree, and we’re seeing pricing support the “something is about to happen” narrative." (CoinDesk)
2. 7 US States Unite to Challenge SEC's Crypto Overreach: Iowa announced earlier this month that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a seven-state coalition in filing an amicus brief opposing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) attempt to regulate cryptocurrencies. The amicus brief, supported by Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, was filed on July 10 to challenge the SEC’s overreach. “Congress never gave the SEC power to regulate cryptocurrency, and there is no accountability to ensure the actions the SEC takes are legitimate and necessary,” the Iowa Attorney General’s Office stressed. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Kazakhstan pays for rail line to China using programmable CBDC: “During the pilot launch of the digital tenge platform, the money allocated to finance the project was marked. The marked digital tenge is paid only to organisations that have fully fulfilled the required obligations.” (CoinTelegraph) (AC-The programmable facet of CBDCs are coherent with tyrannical governance.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Cash App Announces Exit from UK Market to Concentrate on US Growth: Cash App, the popular mobile payment service owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block (formerly Square), has announced its decision to cease operations in the United Kingdom. For Block, this move represents a strategic refocusing of resources. By concentrating on its home market, the company aims to deepen its penetration and expand its service offerings to American users. (Blockonomi)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Treasury Yields Fall Slightly: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note steadied edged lower to 4.22% on Monday after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Futures Rise as Biden Drops Out of 2024 Race: US stock futures rose on Monday after President Joe Biden announced that he will not seek reelection and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Nominee. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Flight Cancellations Caused by Tech Outage Continue Through Weekend: Travelers confronted a third day of flight snarls and long waits at U.S. airports Sunday, as many monitors still displayed the telltale blue screens of the technology-fueled meltdown that began Friday. This weekend has been one of the worst for travel this year. More than 1,700 U.S. flights were canceled Sunday, adding to the roughly 5,500 that were called off Friday and Saturday. Businesses in many other industries whose Microsoft Windows-based machines melted down due to the buggy update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike recovered by the end of the day Friday. But the continuing cascade of flight cancellations speaks to the airline industry’s heavy reliance on interconnected technology systems and its fragility when things go awry. (WSJ)
2. Cybercriminals Exploit CrowdStrike Update Mishap to Distribute Remcos RAT Malware: The attack chains involve distributing a ZIP archive file named "crowdstrike-hotfix.zip," which contains a malware loader named Hijack Loader (aka DOILoader or IDAT Loader) that, in turn, launches the Remcos RAT payload. (HackerNews)
-Technology-
1. NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Is Unaffected by Global CrowdStrike Outages: A faulty software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike caused widespread computer outages, affecting major systems such as government offices, banks, and airlines. However, Bitcoin remained unaffected due to its decentralized nature and independence from centralized providers. (Decrypt)
2. Elon Musk Sports Bitcoin Laser-Eyes: Joining Trump At BTC 2024?: In a move that has ignited fervent discussion across the Bitcoin community, Tesla CEO Elon Musk updated his profile picture on X (formerly Twitter) to feature the notable “laser eyes,” a meme symbolizing bullish sentiment towards BTC. This change occurred just days before the Bitcoin 2024 conference scheduled in Nashville from July 25-27, where prominent figures, including US presidential candidate Donald Trump, are slated to speak. (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Up 10 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): "May you live in interesting times" has meaning this week.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-07-20 01:54:17

The first wave of Bitcoin Veterans is landing in Nashville today
ITS ABOUT TO GO DOWN!!
https://cdn.satellite.earth/3a6343cc133061bfcdf3d5f0bd1871d32cb30a3c78ba669a949634f528c00577.mov

2024-07-19 14:28:10

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 852,881
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 19Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Global IT Outage Attributed to CrowdStrike Driver / Houthis Strike Tel Aviv With Long Range Drone / More Nations Join BRICS / Trump Accepts GOP Nomination / Rumors Increase of Biden Dropping Out / Winklevii Donate To Unseat Sen Warren / Putin Pushes CBDC / Trump Using Bitcoin2024 for Raising $USD
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,830, 26.64 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $65,104 / Lo: $63,237
Vol: $28B (Up 1%)
Mkt Cap: $1.27T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 578 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Down 65%)
Nodes: 7,912 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped this week from an average of 19K to below 10K)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Yemen's Houthis claim drone strike on Tel Aviv that Israeli military says killed 1 and wounded 8 people: Israeli officials said later Friday morning that the blast was caused by a drone fired from Yemen, and that one man in his 50s was killed by shrapnel that tore into his home and at least eight other people were wounded. The Houthis said the strike used a "new drone called 'Yafa', which is capable of bypassing the enemy's interception systems," without providing any further detail. The explosion caused by the drone was very near the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv, but it remained unclear whether that was the target. There were no U.S. casualties reported. (CBS) (AC-This is a major expansion from the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and likely to become a third front in the Israeli war against Iranian proxies. First Hamas in Gaza, then Hezbollah in Lebanon and now the Houthi in Yemen. The three fronts will certainly tax IDF resources.)
2. More nations interested in joining BRICS: Last month, Zimbabwe announced its interest in joining the BRICS grouping for an opportunity to access new markets and investment opportunities as well as grow its economy. Just like Zimbabwe, some other developing countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS recently. In January, the grouping welcomed five more countries, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iran and Ethiopia, expanding to a 10-member organization. Paul Frimpong, founder and executive director of the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory, said more than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, indicating the attractiveness of the bloc. (ChinaDaily) (AC-Propaganda from China at some level, but there is also truth in the message. The rise of BRICS, in opposition to US global power, is real and a significant geopolitical shift.)
-US Events-
1. Top Democrats Prepare for Campaign Without Biden: People close to top Democrats said Thursday that it now appeared it was a matter of when—not if—Biden bows out of the presidential race. Biden was holed up at his Delaware vacation home on Thursday after testing positive for Covid-19 the previous day. His frail appearance upon returning to Delaware and several stumbles in interviews earlier in the week sparked fresh concerns that he lacks the stamina and acuity to remain in the race and serve another term. Biden was on a course of Paxlovid to treat his Covid and experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms, according to a letter from his doctor. (WSJ)
2. Trump Accepts GOP Presidential Nomination: Donald Trump accepted the nomination for his party for the third time at the RNC, ahead of his post-convention rally with JD Vance in Michigan on Saturday. A gripping opening to Trump’s acceptance speech gave way to well-trod territory on the economy, immigration and crime. (WSJ)(AC-It was almost impossible to find a neutral report on this event as they were either glowing or hateful of the speech across all media outlets.
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Winklevoss Twins Donate $1 Million in Bitcoin to Unseat Elizabeth Warren: To unseat Warren, the pair donated $1 million in Bitcoin — 8 BTC each — to the campaign of pro-crypto Republican challenger John Deaton. “When it comes to crypto, she is public enemy number one,” Tyler Winklevoss wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday. “She’s the chief architect and driver of the Biden Administration’s war on crypto.” (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Putin Calls to 'Seize the Moment' to Kickstart Digital Ruble and Crypto Adoption In Russia: President Vladimir Putin declared it was time for Russia to create the environment needed to increase the adoption of digital assets and the Russian CBDC, the digital ruble, as part of the country’s economic tissue. He also reported that over 30,000 transactions have been made in the pilot test phase of the digital ruble, with over 7,000 constituting payments for goods and services. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Grayscale Launches Decentralized AI Crypto Fund: Grayscale has launched the Decentralized AI Fund LLC, focusing on leading crypto AI tokens. (BitcoinSensus) (AC- The next 'crypto' phase will include 'AI' in substance or name only.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures Lower, Tech Under Pressure From Outage: US futures were lower on Friday, with the three major averages losing nearly 0.2%, as the megacap tech sector was again under heavy pressure after a global IT outage disrupted activities in several sectors including airlines. (TradingEconomics)
2. US 10-Year Yield Rises as Fed Outlook Mulled: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose above 4.2% on Friday, rebounding slightly from four-month lows as investors reassessed the outlook for US monetary policy in light of the latest economic data and central bank commentary. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Global tech outage live updates: Flights grounded and offices hit as internet users face disruptions: A widespread technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks offline and media outlets off air on Friday in a massive disruption that affected companies and services around the world and highlighted dependence on software from a handful of providers. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said that the issue believed to be behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack. Escalating disruptions continued hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services. News outlets in Australia reported that airlines, telecommunications providers and banks, and media broadcasters were disrupted as they lost access to computer systems. Some New Zealand banks said they were also offline. (AP)
2. CrowdStrike Windows Outage—What Happened And What To Do Next: There is a workaround, he added. 1. Boot Windows into Safe Mode or WRE. 2. Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike 3. Locate and delete file matching "C-00000291*.sys" 4. Boot normally. (Forbes)
-Technology-
1. NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Trump Bitcoin Conference Roundtable Seats Are Going for $844,600: While in town for the Bitcoin conference, former president Donald Trump will be hosting a private fundraising round table. A single seat at the roundtable will cost $844,600. And a picture with the former president is priced at $60,000, according to the WinRed website. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 60/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): "Linux" is trending on X for a reason. Big Tech is not your friend.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZQ.jpg

2024-07-17 14:46:55

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 852,608
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 17Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Poisoning In Bangkok Kills Six / ISIS Attack in Oman / Knifewielding Homeless Man Near RNC Killed By Cops / Biden Targets SCOTUS / USSS Director Takes 'Full Responsibility' / California Cuts Out Parents From Gender Issues / Musk Commits to Move Both SpaceX and X Out of CA / Bitcoin Basher Convicted of Bribery / BTC ETF Inflows High / Dow Up, UST Yields Down / BOJ Injects 2T Yen / Disney Hacked / Europeans Can Buy BTC Through Stripe Now
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,753, 26.18 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $66,066 / Lo: $63,155
Vol: $38B (Down 5%)
Mkt Cap: $1.28T (Up 2%)
HashRate: 618 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 25%)
Nodes: 8,722 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped this week from an average of 19K to below 10K)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Cyanide poisoning likely killed six found dead in luxury hotel, including two US citizens: Six people, including two US citizens, who were found dead inside a luxury hotel room in central Bangkok likely drank from tea and coffee cups laced with cyanide following a dispute linked to bad investments, Thai police said Wednesday. Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Noppasin Poonsawat told reporters they believe one of the members of the group may have poisoned the five others. (CNN)
2. Islamic State claims responsibility for rare attack at Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Oman: The attack on Monday, which is unusual in the wealthy, Sunni Muslim-dominated Gulf states, raises fears that the Islamic State group may be trying to gain a foothold in new territory. "Three suicide attackers from the Islamic State attacked last night a gathering of Shi'ite (Muslims) while they were practicing their annual rituals at a temple in the Wadi al-Kabir district in the (Omani) capital," (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Knife-wielding man fatally shot by out-of-state officers near Milwaukee's Republican National Convention: Ohio police officers in Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention shot and killed a man who was wielding two knives near the convention, Milwaukee's police chief said Tuesday. A cousin and others identified the man killed as 43-year-old Samuel Sharpe. Linda Sharpe said her cousin lived in a tent encampment across the street from King Park, where the shooting occurred. (CBS)
2. Biden set to announce support for major Supreme Court changes: President Biden is finalizing plans to endorse major changes to the Supreme Court in the coming weeks, including proposals for legislation to establish term limits for the justices and an enforceable ethics code, according to two people briefed on the plans. Term limits and an ethics code would be subject to congressional approval, which would face long odds in the Republican-controlled House and a slim Democratic majority in the Senate. Under current rules, passage in the Senate would require 60 votes. (WaPo)
3. Secret Service ‘solely responsible’ for implementation and execution of security at the Trump rally site, USSS director tells CNN: Director Kimberly Cheatle added that no assets from the agency were diverted from the rally that day, even though there were other events in the state on Saturday requiring agency protection. (CNN)
4. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill banning schools from notifying parents of child's gender identity: AB 1955 has won praise from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups who say the ban will help protect transgender and gender-nonconforming students who live in unwelcoming households. The conservative group, the California Family Council, said the law violates parents' rights. AB 1955 also requires the state Department of Education to develop resources for families of LGBTQ+ students in grade 7 through high school. The law will take effect in January. (Fox)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Elon Musk to move SpaceX, X headquarters out of California over new law on children's gender identity: American billionaire Elon Musk announced Tuesday that he would move the headquarters of SpaceX and X out of California, one day after the state's Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that bans school rules requiring staff to disclose children's gender identity changes to their parents. "This is the final straw," Musk wrote on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. "Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas." Soon after making the SpaceX announcement, Musk wrote another statement announcing that X would also be moved out of the Golden State, from San Francisco to Austin, Texas. (ChinaDaily)
2. U.S. Senator Who Called Bitcoin 'Ideal Choice for Criminals,' Convicted of Bribery: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (Dem) from New Jersey, a staunch crypto critic, was found guilty of accepting bribes, including gold bars and a luxury car, in exchange for his political clout by a jury on Tuesday. The development saw the crypto community point out the irony of a crypto critic who once alleged that bitcoin (BTC) "is an ideal choice for criminals" getting convicted as a criminal. (CoinDesk)
3. Judge grants Tornado Cash dev Roman Storm's request to delay trial over prosecutors' objections: Storm's defense attorneys had requested the trial delay due to the complexity of the case and the voluminous nature of the discovery, according to a court filing. (TheBlock)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. The Digital Yuan is a Disaster: The Chinese central bank has released the latest statistics regarding its CBDC pilot project. The cumulative transaction volume was a mere 6.6 billion yuan ($910 million) between January 1 and the end of May. This is a sevenfold increase compared to the previous year, but it remains a drop in the bucket compared to the 5,000 trillion yuan traded annually in China… Additionally, the number of downloaded “wallets” has dropped from 261 million in 2021 to 120 million in 2023. The CBDC is thus in its fifth year of testing. (CoinTribune)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETF Inflows Hit Six-Week High of $422.5M: On Tuesday, the 11 funds recorded a cumulative net inflow of $422.5 million, the highest single-day tally since June 5, extending the seven-day winning run. These funds have collectively drawn in over $1 billion in just the last three days. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bitcoin Tops $65K as ETF Inflows Accelerate: Bitcoin climbed above $65,000, hitting its highest levels in nearly a month amid a resurgence in bullish sentiment toward cryptocurrencies. Data showed that the 11 US-based spot bitcoin ETFs saw daily net inflows of $422.67 million on July 16, marking the highest inflow since June 5 and extending the positive reading to eight straight days. (TradingEconomics)
2. Dow Closes at Fresh Record: On Tuesday, the S&P 500 gained 0.6%, and the Dow Jones surged 742 points, extending its record close for the second consecutive day with its strongest performance since June 2023. The Nasdaq 100 edged higher by 0.2% as investors shifted from large-cap to small-cap stocks. (TradingEconomics)
3. US 10-Year Yield Hovers at 4-Month Low: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note held around 4.17%, hovering at its lowest levels in four months amid firm expectations that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in September, with two more reductions seen before the end of the year. (TradingEconomics)
4. BOJ may have pumped 2 trillion yen in propping up currency: The government and the Bank of Japan may have intervened in the foreign exchange market twice last week to support the yen against the U.S. dollar, according to market estimates based on BOJ data. The yen surged sharply against the dollar overnight on July 11, and again the following night. (AsahiShimbun)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Internal Disney Communications Leaked Online After Hack: Data from Disney’s internal Slack workplace collaboration system have been leaked online, including discussions about ad campaigns, studio technology and interview candidates. An anonymous hacking group that calls itself Nullbulge said in a blog post that it published data from thousands of Slack channels at the entertainment company, including computer code and details about unreleased projects. (WSJ)
-Technology-
1. Dune-Inspired Spacesuits Can Recycle Urine Into Drinking Water: A study from a research staff member, Sofia Etlin, of Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University unveiled a prototype inspired by the sci-fi movie Dune, particularly its stillsuits, offering a spacesuit that can recycle urine into drinking water for astronauts to safely consume. It is said that it offers 87 percent efficiency in its filtration system and can deliver 500 milliliters of potable water in under five minutes.
-Bitcoin Community-
1. South Korea Considers Deferring Crypto Taxation Until 2028: The ruling party of South Korea is, once again, considering the postponement of the enactment of crypto-specific taxes, as this could influence public opinion towards the government. The party aims to implement these taxation rules by 2028, citing a lack of necessary regulations and institutional infrastructure as the primary reasons for this measure. (BitcoinCom)
2. Stripe Enables Crypto Purchases in Europe: European customers can buy Bitcoin and other cryptos with their credit or debit cards. Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols are in place to verify users’ identities, making the process simpler and covering the requirements for financial transactions involving cryptocurrency. (BitcoinSensus)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 69/100 (Up 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-07-17 04:58:15

We will be LIVE Thursday night at 7pm ET with guest
@npub1dtg…up6m
Aleksandar Svetski is the Author of the best selling “UnCommunist Manifesto” and the upcoming "Bushido of Bitcoin”. In 2018, he launched the world’s first Bitcoin only savings app: Amber. He recently open sourced the first Bitcoin LLM (The Spirit of Satoshi) and is now working on the Nostr-enabled Travel & Community Social Network: Satlantis.
https://m.primal.net/JTYt.jpg

2024-07-16 15:06:05

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 852,454
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 16Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: IDF Targets Hamas in UNRWA Schools / Houthi Strike Two Ships / Ukraine All-In on Unconventional Drones / Trump Picks JD Vance as VP / Shooter Crooks Moves Analyzed / Musk Commits $45M Per Month to Trump / Santa Monica To Copy Bukele Playbook / Trump in Nashville is Big Moment for Bitcoin / Mt Gox Moving $9B In BTC / Faketoshi Ordered to Post Truths
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,031, 26.29 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $64,989 / Lo: $62,487
Vol: $40B (Up 43%)
Mkt Cap: $1.26T (Up 2%)
HashRate: 601 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Down 30%)
Nodes: 9,675 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped this week from an average of 19K to 10K)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. IDF says it took out Hamas operatives hiding in Gaza UNRWA school; 12 reported dead: Israeli military officials said the attack on UNRWA’s Abu Oraiban School in Nuseirat was carefully planned after finding evidence that terrorists were operating and hiding among civilians at the site. he IDF has repeatedly said that Hamas’ military forces have been occupying the schools to plot attacks against the Jewish state while surrounding themselves with human shields. Members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba wing, which helped carry out the Oct. 7 massacre, were among those killed in previous strikes against the schools. (NYPost)
2. Two attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels strike ships in the Red Sea: Two attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted ships in the Red Sea on Monday as a new U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region to provide security for the key international trade route that has been under assault since the Israel-Hamas war erupted nine months ago. Three small Houthi vessels, two of which were crewed and another uncrewed, attacked the Panama-flagged and Israeli-owned MT Bently I off the coast of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. (AP)
3. From basement to battlefield: Ukrainian startups create low-cost robots to fight Russia: An ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops is leveraging innovation to create a robot army that Ukraine hopes will kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians. Defense startups across Ukraine — about 250 according to industry estimates — are creating the killing machines at secret locations that typically look like rural car repair shops. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Trump Picks J.D. Vance as 2024 Running Mate: Former President Donald Trump named Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate, ending months of theatrical buildup and settling on a much younger partner who could help appeal to working-class voters in critical Midwest battleground states. If Trump is elected, Vance, who turns 40 in August, would be one of the youngest vice presidents in history and one with just two years of elected experience. He is a figure closely associated with the style and views of Trump’s conservative, populist movement. (WSJ)
2. A shooting range, a gun store, and a ladder purchase: Tracking the Trump rally gunman’s movements leading up to his attack: In the 48 hours before he opened fire, Thomas Matthew Crooks went to a shooting range where he was a member, and practiced firing, a law enforcement official told CNN. The next morning, Crooks went to a Home Depot, where he bought a five-foot ladder, and a gun store, where he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition, the official said. He parked the car outside the rally, with an improvised explosive device hidden in the trunk that was wired to a transmitter he carried, the official said. Then, investigators believe, he used his newly-bought ladder to scale a nearby building, and opened fire on the former president. Even after successfully breaking into his phone and searching his computer, scouring his search history and bedroom, and interviewing his family and friends, agents still haven’t found evidence that would suggest political or ideological impetus for the shooting. (CNN)
3. Musk plans to give $45 million a month to new pro-Trump PAC: Billionaire Elon Musk has said he plans to commit around $45 million a month to a new pro-Trump super political-action committee. (Reuters)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Santa Monica City Council Unanimously Approves Landmark Bitcoin Initiative: The Santa Monica City Council has unanimously approved the creation of a Bitcoin Office. Proposed by Vice Mayor Lana Negrete and in partnership with The Proof of Workforce Foundation, the program aims to boost Bitcoin education, economic recovery, and tourism, operating at no cost to the city. The program followed the vice mayor’s visit to El Salvador which legalized bitcoin as a legal tender. (BitcoinCom)
2. Trump’s Speech at Bitcoin Conference Will Mark a Pivotal Moment for Crypto: Former U.S. President Donald Trump is still scheduled to speak, in person, at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville later this month, despite injuries he sustained from a failed assassination attempt Saturday. For crypto, this is huge. Trump’s appearance in Nashville has a clear message: The content of the conference is more important than the location. There are enough single-issue crypto voters out there to make a difference for Trump. Clearly, there are votes to be won and Trump wants them. (CoinDesk) (AC- It's a rare opinion piece added to the DIB today, but relevant to many Bitcoin Veterans.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Israel postpones CBDC launch: After successful pilots and collaboration with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), BOI Deputy Governor Andrew Abir told Reuters it was waiting for a major Western central bank to launch before pulling the trigger, that’s most likely to be the European Central Bank (ECB). (CoinGeek)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Mt. Gox shifts $9B in BTC, market braces for impact: The combined volume of Mt. Gox’s BTC transactions on July 16 amounted to almost 190,000 BTC, accounting for over $12 billion in value moved in just three hours. The BTC price reached almost as high as $65,000 earlier on July 16 but fell to lows of $63,000 within hours. Mt. Gox announced on July 5 that it would begin repaying its BTC and BCH debts to creditors. (CoinTelegraph) (AC- With a market cap of $1.2T, this movement of Mt Gox BTC has a potential significant price effect on the market. Not all recipients are expected to sell, but many will. For those of us looking to pick up more BTC, this may be a good buy opportunity in the next few weeks.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. S&P and Nasdaq Futures Rise: S&P 500 futures were up 0.1% and the Nasdaq rose 0.2% while contracts on the Dow Jones swung around the flatline on Tuesday, with traders weighing more corporate results and awaiting retail sales data to reassess the monetary policy outlook. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. North Korean Cyber Threats Escalate with Crypto Job Posting Hacks: According to Monahan, the attackers usually approach potential victims on social networks or specialized messaging apps, offering fake jobs or impairments to technical support requests. After that communication is established, they convince employees to download files filled with malicious software in the name of a “skills test” or resolve a software bug, leading to catastrophic data breaches. (Bitcoinist)
-Technology-
1. SpaceX Falcon 9 Temporarily Suspended by the FAA After a Recent Launch Issue: Tt was revealed that the Falcon 9's upper second stage developed a leak mid-flight, leading to the rocket's engine failing to reignite. According to Musk, the Group 9-3 mission's Starlink satellites were deployed but were too low to make it into orbit. SpaceX later explained that it was left in a "high-drag environment" and was deployed at only 135 kilometers from the Earth's surface, with the Starlink satellites failing to reach orbit and re-enter the planet's atmosphere to disintegrate. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Craig Wright ordered to pin COPA loss on social media amid pending perjury charges: The court did order Wright to publish notices about the judgment on his website, Twitter feed, and Slack channels for three months. This aims to ensure the court’s findings are widely disseminated. (CryptoSlate)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 65/100 (Up 8 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Just as a piece of clarification, the media often conflates "crypto" with bitcoin, and the words often seem interchangeable in news reports. Bitcoiners bristle at this lack of understanding, but the DIB does not write these news articles but only presents them as written, often in balance with opposing views. We know narrative warfare is real and present reports as-is, focusing on facts as much as possible and calling out obvious agendas or not even reporting on the most egregious. Continue to be discerning in your intake of information!
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/Iamk.jpg

2024-07-15 15:28:41

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 852,300
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 15Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Assassination Attempt on Trump Barely Fails / Israel Continue Gaza War / China and Russia Start Joint Naval Drills / US Treasury Watching Russian Crypto Moves / BRICS Working on CBDC / Germany Finally Out of BTC / BTC Shorts Lose on BTC Pump / All AT&T Customers Hacked For Location, Text and Call Data / Neuralink to Implant on 2nd Person / Bitcoin Blockchain Hit 1B Transactions
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $62,557, 25.87 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $63,218 / Lo: $59,546
Vol: $28B (Up 31%)
Mkt Cap: $1.23T (Up 4%)
HashRate: 710 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Up 18%)
Nodes: 10,561
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israel’s war on Gaza: Attack helicopters, artillery pound central area: Officials in Gaza say Israeli missiles killed 17 Palestinians and injured 80 sheltering at a United Nations school for displaced people in Nuseirat refugee camp. (AlJazeera) (AC-This is only one side of the story)
2. China, Russia start joint naval drills: China and Russia’s naval forces kicked off a joint exercise at a military port in southern China on Sunday, official news agency Xinhua reported, days after NATO allies called Beijing a “decisive enabler” of the war in Ukraine. Last week, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter on routine patrol in the Bering Sea also came across several Chinese military ships in international waters but within the U.S. exclusive economic zone, American officials said. Its crew detected three vessels approximately 124 miles (200 kilometers) north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, which mark a separation and linkage between the North Pacific and the Bering Sea. (ABC) (AC-It is rare for Chinese ships to be spotted so close to the US coastline, or this far north.)
-US Events-
1. Trump injured in attempted assassination at Butler County rally; shooter, bystander dead: Former President Donald Trump was taken to the hospital after being shot in the ear Saturday while speaking at a rally in Butler County. Officials confirm that two people, the shooter and a bystander, are dead, and two people were in critical condition following the shooting. Trump was about 10 minutes into a speech at the Butler Farm Show grounds when gunfire rang out. The suspect is identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park. He was killed on the scene by U.S. Secret Service personnel. ABC News reported that the firearm recovered at the scene was legally purchased by the suspect's father, an urgent trace conducted by ATF found, according to multiple law enforcement sources. Sources added there were what "appeared" to be explosives in Crooks' car. They are awaiting forensic results as to whether the items are actually explosives. (WTAE)
2. Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about the Trump attacker: Thomas Crooks had not been carrying ID, so investigators used DNA and facial recognition technology to identify him, the FBI said. He was from Bethel Park in Pennsylvania, about 70km (43 miles) from the site of the attempted assassination, and graduated in 2022 from Bethel Park High School with a $500 (£385) prize for math and science. Crooks worked in a local nursing home kitchen just a short drive away from his home, while state voter records show that he was a registered Republican, according to US media. He is also reported to have donated $15 to liberal campaign group ActBlue in 2021. He had a membership at a local shooting club, the Clairton Sportsmen's Club, for at least a year. He was wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a YouTube channel known for its guns and demolition content. (BBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US Treasury 'Very Attentive' to Russia's Use of Cryptocurrency, Yellen Says: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has addressed concerns about Russia using cryptocurrency to evade sanctions. During her testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, Yellen acknowledged the potential threat, noting that while it may not be a significant issue now, it could become more concerning as sanctions intensify. The Bank of Russia recently advised businesses to use cryptocurrencies and digital assets to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions following the Ukraine conflict. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Russian Senate Leader Predicts Use of CBDCs in BRICS Payment System: Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council, talked about the role of national digital currencies, also known as CBDCs, in increasing the use of national currencies in BRICS trade. Matvienko stated that a hypothetical BRICS bridge, a joint payment system, would leverage the digital currencies of all the bloc states. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Germany Bitcoin Holdings Finally Sold Out: Germany sold 3,846 Bitcoins sent to Kraken for a value of ~$223.81M. Germany’s Bitcoin holdings are now 0. (BitcoinSensus)
2. Bitcoin Derivatives Traders Saw $170 Million Worth of Shorts Liquidated After Weekend Surge: Bitcoin experienced a significant price jump following an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, reaching $63,110 and marking a 4.6% increase in 24 hours. The market reacted swiftly to the news, with liquidations totaling around $170 million for short positions and $49.73 million for long positions. Analysts believe that the surge in prices is due to Trump's perceived chances of election victory and his portrayal as crypto-friendly. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. 10-Year Treasury Yield Rises on Trump Attack: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose above 4.2% on Monday, rebounding slightly from four-month lows as an assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump raised his odds of retaking the White House in November. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. AT&T Confirms Data Breach Affecting Nearly All Wireless Customers: "Threat actors unlawfully accessed an AT&T workspace on a third-party cloud platform and, between April 14 and April 25, 2024, exfiltrated files containing AT&T records of customer call and text interactions that occurred between approximately May 1 and October 31, 2022, as well as on January 2, 2023," it said. The threat actors have used data from previous compromises to map phone numbers to identities," (HackerNews)
2. North Korea’s Lazarus Group tied to $305 million crypto breach of Japan’s DMM exchange: Blockchain sleuth ZachXBT suggested that North Korea-backed Lazarus Group orchestrated the $305 million hack of the Japan-based DMM Bitcoin exchange. (CryptoSlate)
-Technology-
1. Neuralink 2nd Human Trials: Here are the New Mods Coming For the Next Implant: Neuralink said that it is planning to insert the threads, a.k.a. the electrodes, deeper into the brain if they budge out again while sitting on the patient's brain. Neuralink also plans to conduct more human trials this year, looking to administer its brain chips to more than two patients in 2024, towards its goal of giving them to thousands of patients in the future. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Blockchain Reaches One Billion Transactions: A Milestone Achievement: The Bitcoin blockchain, the pioneering network of cryptocurrencies, has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing one billion transactions since its inception 15 years ago. This feat solidifies Bitcoin’s position as the foremost blockchain network globally, distinguishing itself as the only crypto network to reach this remarkable milestone. (CoinTrust)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 52/100 (Up 27 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The assassination attempt on Trump seemed to wake the US populace out of an overstimulated slumber over the weekend. The hate and vitriol for Trump was in full force on social media as well as strong support both old and new. There seems to be no fence-sitting now that the leading presidential candidate was targeted and the ineptitude of US Government agencies became evident to all. Although odds of Trump winning the election are at an ATH, there is still over 3 months till the election and 5 months until inauguration. A lot can happen during that time period. Most grounded individuals do not put much hope in politics to make lives better, but politics still make difference in personal freedoms over time. Focus on community, security, and family in these uncertain times.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IsmV.jpg

2024-07-12 16:19:12

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 851,831
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 12Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US To Shut Down Gaza Pier / US, Germany Foil CEO 'Assassination Plot' By Russia / Canada to Buy 12 New Subs for Arctic / Orban Visits Trump at Mar-a-Lago / Democrats Continue to Turn on Biden / Biden Misspeaks / US Congressmen Intros Bill to Release Binance Exec / CFTC Wants Oversight on Bitcoin and Crypto / Germany Down to 18% of BTC Stash / Lowest US Inflation Data in Year / How to Launder Crypto / New Bill to Stop AI Deepfakes / Big BTC Mining Difficulty Drop
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $57,124, 23.83 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $59,387 / Lo: $56,561
Vol: $28B (Up 12%)
Mkt Cap: $1.13T (Down 3%)
HashRate: 626 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 7 sats/vBtye (Down 21%)
Nodes: 14,202
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US military to shut down embattled Gaza aid pier: The U.S. plans to shut down the controversial Gaza humanitarian pier “in relatively short order,” ending a three-month saga that saw the U.S. military struggle to deliver vital aid to the enclave. The Pentagon later said in a statement that troops had failed to successfully re-anchor the pier onto the shore of the Gaza Strip due to “technical and weather-related issues.” (Politico)
2. US and Germany foiled Russian plot to assassinate CEO of arms manufacturer sending weapons to Ukraine: US intelligence discovered earlier this year that the Russian government planned to assassinate the chief executive of a powerful German arms manufacturer that has been producing artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine, according to five US and western officials familiar with the episode. The plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine’s war effort, these sources said. The plan to kill Armin Papperger, a white-haired goliath who has led the German manufacturing charge in support of Kyiv, was the most mature. (CNN) (AC-This report would need to be more thoroughly vetted to not be seen as highly suspect.)
3. Canada takes step to acquire up to 12 submarines to guard Arctic: Canada updated its defense policy this year with a focus on protecting the Arctic and dealing with challenges from Russia and China. Citing global warming, Canada says the Arctic Ocean could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia By 2050, thus raising the need to bolster maritime security. Canada currently has a fleet of four submarines that the ministry said was growing more obsolete and expensive to maintain. The new fleet of submarines will be conventionally powered and capable of operating under ice. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Hungary’s nationalist leader visits Trump at Mar-a-Lago following NATO summit: Hungary’s nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, traveled to Florida on Thursday and met with former President Donald Trump following a NATO summit in Washington, a move likely to aggravate frustrations among Western allies over similar secretive trips he made to Russia and China in recent days. The Mar-a-Lago meeting — Orbán’s second since March — came as the latest stop on what he calls a “peace mission” aimed at finding a path toward ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. (AP)
2. More Democrats Call on Joe Biden to Exit Race: ‘Crisis of Confidence’: Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) stepped into new territory on Thursday by not only calling for Biden to step down but also calling for him to resign. Later in the day, Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) called upon the president to resign following his press conference on NATO. Likewise, Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) told Politico after Biden’s press conference, “Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course.” (Breitbart)
3. Biden Accidentally Introduces Ukraine’s Zelensky as ‘President Putin’: “Now I want to hand it over to the President of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said. He quickly corrected himself: “President Putin? He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky. I’m so focused on beating Putin, we’ve gotta worry about it.” (WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US Congressman Introduces Bill for Detained Binance Executive’s Release: U.S. Representative Rich McCormick introduced a bill to secure the release of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February 2024. (Blockonomi)
2. CFTC Chair Pushes for Federal Legislation to Regulate Bitcoin and Ether as Commodities: During his Senate testimony, the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) emphasized the necessity of federal legislation to regulate digital commodities such as bitcoin and ether. Citing market volatility and fraud, the chairman advocated for expanded regulatory powers to safeguard investors and maintain financial stability. He also referenced a recent court ruling that reaffirmed the status of the two largest cryptocurrencies as commodities. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Bahamians didn't want CBDCs — So now they're being forced to use them: Regulators in the Bahamas are sick of their citizens' reluctance to adopt a CBDC, so they're forcing commercial banks to get on board. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Germany has 9K Bitcoin left just 3 weeks after it started selling: The German government’s Bitcoin wallet is down to 9,094 Bitcoin — just 18% of what it started with — after the latest string of back-and-forth transfers to crypto exchanges on July 11. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Inflation Rate Lowest in a Year: The annual inflation rate in the US fell for a third straight month to 3% in June 2024, the lowest since June 2023, compared to 3.3% in May and below forecasts of 3.1%. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Initial Jobless Claims Fall More than Expected: The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US fell by 17,000 from the prior week to 222,000 on the period ending July 6th, reaching a new 5-week low, and below market expectations of 236,000.(TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. How law enforcement struggles with sophisticated crypto laundering: On July 11, the blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis released its “Money Laundering and Cryptocurrency Report,” highlighting the trend of billions flowing through the crypto ecosystem from illicit wallets to conversion services every month. One prevalent technique mentioned in the report involves the use of intermediary wallets, or “hops,” to mask the trail of illicit funds. Such hops make it difficult to trace the flow of funds, with over 80% of the total value in laundering channels passing through intermediary wallets. Obfuscation services, such as mixers and privacy coins, further complicate tracing illicit funds. One example of a mixer is Tornado Cash, which blends cryptocurrencies from various users to obscure their origins. Over-the-counter brokers, particularly those operating without proper Know Your Customer procedures, have also played a crucial role in facilitating the off-ramping of illicit funds. In such instances, these brokers often advertise their services on platforms with encrypted messages, offering direct conversion to fiat currency and attracting criminals seeking anonymity. (CoinTelegraph)
-Technology-
1. AI Startup GalaxyVoice Enables You to Speak in Any Language in Your Own Voice: this clever software is capable of analyzing your voice in real-time and then translating it into virtually any language under the sun—all while preserving your real voice. GalaxyVoice also incorporated a proprietary voice cloning technology into its software. This tool analyzes your voice in great detail and then creates an imitation of it when it proceeds with the translation. (TechTimes)
2. New Senate Bill Targets AI Deepfakes, Calls for Content Watermarks: A bipartisan group of senators introduced the COPIED Act to prevent deepfakes, combat copyright infringement, and stop unauthorized AI model training. The COPIED Act also bans unauthorized use of content for AI training, calling for creator control and compensation rights. Enforcement of the act would fall to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general. (Decrypt) (AC-This could have adverse effects on the decentralization of AI LLMs.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Drop in Bitcoin Mining Difficulty 'Comparable to FTX Collapse,' CryptoQuant Says: Bitcoin mining difficulty dropped significantly by 7.8% on June 5, 2024, reaching levels not seen since before the halving event in April. This marks the largest difficulty drop since the collapse of crypto exchange FTX in 2022. One analyst said miners' daily revenues have plummeted from $78 million pre-halving to $26 million currently. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 25/100 (Down 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The good economic data released yesterday, including low inflation, low unemployment and surging stocks were to be expected in this election year. The theater that is government-controlled economic data in a fiat economy is the central government's propaganda channel to a not-so-free market. To those of us who study more than one economic theory, the manipulation is all-too-obvious. Exit this corrupt system, study Bitcoin.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-07-12 01:38:18

LIVE NOW WITH @nprofile…tqc6
https://www.youtube.com/live/h5MkidOK0W4

2024-07-11 15:13:37

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 851,682
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 11Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: NATO Nations Want War Expansion in Ukraine-Russia / Gaza Talks Continue / US Shipping 500 Pounders to Israel / House Passes Voting ID Bill / AOC File Impeachment Articles on Two Justices / Senate Committee Targets Bitcoin Through CFTC / Trump to Speak at Bitcoin Nashville / BTC ETFs Continue Inflows / CPI Data Release Today / Japan Military All-In on AI / New Map Tool for Crypto
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,625, 24.69 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $58,874 / Lo: $57,120
Vol: $25B (Down 8%)
Mkt Cap: $1.15T (Even)
HashRate: 546 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Even)
Nodes: 19,358
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Front-line nations sound alarm at NATO summit: Get tougher on Russia: Ukraine and its most ardent supporters within NATO are airing frustrations that the bloc can do more to confront Russia, even as the alliance’s summit in Washington focuses largely on Western efforts to rein in Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the top of the list is getting President Biden to lift restrictions on the use of U.S.- and allied-provided weapons to strike military targets up to 300 miles inside Russian territory. “We’ve already decided that the future of Ukraine is in NATO … and now we have to make practical steps to show that it’s credible, that the way to membership is getting shorter, not longer,” said Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs. (TheHill) (AC-Expansion of the war is the push. Economic sanctions aren't effective against Russia, so the allies want to increase attacks throughout Russia. Meanwhile, US F-16s are about to arrive in Ukraine and the US is sending long-range weapons to Germany. Dangerous times.)
2. CIA director holds Gaza talks with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials: CIA director Bill Burns is meeting senior Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials in Doha on Wednesday in hopes of closing remaining gaps in the framework of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and moving to detailed negotiations. (Axios)
3. US to resume shipping 500-pound bombs to Israel, US official says: President Joe Biden's administration will resume shipping 500-pound bombs to Israel but will continue to hold back on supplying 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their use in densely populated Gaza, a U.S. official said on Wednesday. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. House passes GOP bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote, boosting election-year talking point: The legislation, approved largely along partisan lines but with five Democrats voting in favor, is unlikely to advance through the Democratic-led Senate. The Biden administration also says it’s strongly opposed because there already are safeguards to enforce the law against noncitizen voting. (AP)
2. Ocasio-Cortez introduces articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Alito: Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has introduced articles of impeachment against conservative Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas over their failure to disclose gifts they have received while serving on the court – a messaging move that will surely fail in the GOP-controlled House. (CNN)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Senate Committee Discusses Strong Federal Oversight of Crypto Markets: The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing on Wednesday where Chairwoman Senator Debbie Stabenow stressed the urgent need for robust regulation in the crypto market. The discussion focused on investor protection, market integrity, and the necessity of federal oversight for digital commodities like bitcoin and ethereum. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Although this committee is mostly unified on this stricter oversight, the recent SCOTUS ruling reining in administrative authority means this agenda would need legislative action or legal ruling to enforce. Either way, it is a real risk to bitcoin adoption and use.)
2. Trump to Speak at Bitcoin Conference in Nashville on July 27: Former President Trump will be speaking at 2 p.m. CT for 30 minutes on the last day of the conference. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US spot bitcoin ETFs report $147 million in net inflows, extending positive streak to 4 days: Fidelity’s FBTC led inflows on Wednesday with $57.79 million, according to data from SoSoValue. This was followed by Franklin Templeton’s spot bitcoin fund, which drew in $31.66 million, its largest fund intake since early May. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures, USTs, and USD Steady Ahead of CPI Report: US stock futures held steady on Thursday as investors braced for a key inflation report that could cement expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Heritage denies hack, calls it a troll-led attention-seeking campaign: The Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025, says that it was not hacked and that SiegedSec is exaggerating what has actually happened. (CyberNews) (AC-Media attention on Project 2025, a framework for a new republican president, has been high lately. The FUD focuses on Heritage, the author or the framework, and the 'catastrophe' that may occur if said project is implemented.)
-Technology-
1. Japan’s military turns to AI: The Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara believes that AI can help the country keep up with its peers despite its population aging faster than any other country globally. “In our country, where the population is rapidly declining and aging, it is essential to utilize personnel more efficiently than ever before,” stated the minister while unveiling the new policy last week. In Japan, AI will be used in seven priority areas. These include intelligence collection and analysis and monitoring unmanned military assets. The country will also use it to detect targets using radar and satellite images. One key strategy to mitigate some AI risks is to ensure that all systems are manned and controlled by humans at all times. (CoinGeek)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Electric Capital Unveils New Tool to Map Crypto's Expanding Ecosystem: Dubbed the Crypto Market Map, the tool categorizes projects into six technological layers, ranging from core infrastructure to end-user applications. The map tracks over 1,500 projects, offering a structured visualization of the sector's framework. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HkPv.jpg

2024-07-10 14:46:37

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 851,541
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 10Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Biden Kicks Off NATO Meeting in DC / Gaza City Bombarded / China, Russian Ships in Philippine Sea / Carjacker Shot Trying to Take Justice Sotomayor Detail Car / Former Sen. Inhofe Passes / VP Harris on Campaign Trail / Nigeria Continues Crypto Crackdown / Sen. Blackburn Now Takes Bitcoin / Microsoft, Apple Pull Out of OpenAI Board / Largest Password Leak in History
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,481, 24.59 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $59,416 / Lo: $57,014
Vol: $27B (Down 11%)
Mkt Cap: $1.15T (Up 2%)
HashRate: 526 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Up 80%)
Nodes: 19,257
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Biden pledges air defenses for Ukraine as NATO summit begins: US President Joe Biden has pledged to provide Ukraine with five new strategic air defense systems to counter relentless Russian attacks, in a forceful speech welcoming NATO leaders to Washington DC. Leaders from the 32 member countries are converging on the US capital for the summit. Joining them is the UK's new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. (BBC)
2. Airstrike kills 25 in southern Gaza as Israeli assault on Gaza City shuts down medical facilities: An Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in southern Gaza killed at least 25 Palestinians on Tuesday, as heavy bombardment in the north forced the closure of medical facilities in Gaza City and sent thousands fleeing in search of increasingly elusive refuge. (AP)
3. Chinese Carrier Strike Group Operating in Philippine Sea: China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy Shandong Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the Philippine Sea, marking the first time this year that the aircraft carrier has deployed outside of the South China Sea. A joint PLAN-Russian Navy patrol is also currently operating in the Philippine Sea, while Russia also dispatched two corvettes on Monday for an Indo-Pacific deployment. (USNI) (AC-Both China and Russia are operating near Philippine waters and in the middle of the Guam-Okinawa-Philippine area of operations. The message is clear that the alliance is strong in opposition to US-Japan-Philippine alliances.)
-US Events-
1. Would-be carjacker targets Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor security detail officer, suspect shot: Two Deputy U.S. Marshals were on-duty working a protective detail on the 2100 block of 11th Street NW around 1:15 a.m. when Kentrell Flowers, 18, exited a silver minivan and approached one of the unmarked Marshal’s vehicles. Flowers pointed a handgun at the Deputy U.S. Marshal through the driver-side window in an apparent attempt to carjack him, according to police. The Deputy Marshal pulled out his service firearm and fired approximately four times at Flowers through the window, according to a police criminal complaint. A second Marshal from another vehicle also responded and fired his service weapon. (Fox)
2. Former Oklahoma Republican Sen. James M. Inhofe died Tuesday at the age of 89: New York Times, Politico, others criticized for 'offensive' obituaries on deceased former GOP senator. The New York Times, Associated Press, Politico and the Huffington Post all ran headlines critical of former Sen. James M. Inhofe when news of his death broke, all calling him a 'climate change denier' in the headline. (Fox)
3. Harris hits the campaign trail as Biden tries to quiet his critics: Harris, speaking at a campaign event in Las Vegas, laid out the Democratic case against Trump as a tarnished candidate who will adopt far-right policies outlined in the Project 2025 blueprint drafted by his allies. (Politico)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Nigeria’s Finance Minister Urges SEC to Tackle Challenges in Regulating Cryptocurrency: The Nigerian Finance Minister, Wale Edun, has urged the newly inaugurated board of the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to address the complexities of regulating cryptocurrencies. He emphasized the need for stringent oversight to maintain market integrity in the capital market. Edun also highlighted the importance of staying informed and adaptable, especially in fast-evolving areas like artificial intelligence, digital currency, and overall digital transitions. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Nigeria will not let up on Bitcoin and crypto. They obviously see it as an existential threat to government control and grift.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Bahamas to force banks to support its CBDC: Sand Dollar was launched in October 2020 as the world’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Central Bank of the Bahamas believed that the digital currency would boost financial inclusion, “reduce service delivery costs and increase transactional efficiency for financial services.” However, nearly four years later, it has failed to receive the uptake the central bank envisioned, forcing Governor John Rolle to explore other strategies. (CoinGeek) (AC-Following Nigeria's example, forcing a CBDC may prove painful to all involved.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn Now Accepts Bitcoin Donations: Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn has announced that her reelection campaign will now accept donations through Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Litecoin. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. S&P 500, Nasdaq Notch New Records: The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both extended their record highs on Tuesday, adding 0.1% each, while the Dow Jones closed 52 points lower after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's testimony before the Senate. He noted that the central bank is getting closer to considering interest rate cuts and expressed optimism about signs of cooling inflation. (TradingEconomics)
2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Edges Higher: The US 10-year Treasury note yield edged above 4.3% on Tuesday, rebounding slightly from the over-one-week low of 4.28% from July 5th. (TradingEconomics)
3. Used Car Prices in the US Continue to Fall: The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index for the US went down 0.6% month-over-month in June 2024, the same as in May, and marking a ninth consecutive month of no growth. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. This is likely the biggest password leak ever: nearly 10 billion credentials exposed: On July 4, a newly registered user on a popular hacking forum posted a file containing nearly 10 billion compromised passwords in plaintext. This gigantic list of leaked passwords known as RockYou2024 provides hackers with an important tool that can be utilized in a brute force attack. Anyone signed up to any service online should assume that a password that they use is on this list. Cybersecurity researchers recommend that users update their passwords and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. (Mashable)
2. Cambodia's Huione Guarantee Enables Global Scams Worth $11 Billion: The online platform is said to be linked to the nation's ruling family and allegedly offers services including deepfake scams, money laundering and so-called pig butchering. (CoinDesk)
-Technology-
1. Microsoft and Apple renounce OpenAI board membership: Technology giants Microsoft and Apple have reportedly decided not to take up board seats at the artificial intelligence firm OpenAI amid increasing regulatory scrutiny. The news comes amid the increasing regulatory pressure on Big Tech firms over its potential impact on AI and industry dominance. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bernstein Sees Potential in AI Data Center Pivot for Bitcoin Miners: The report projected that mining firms could derive as much as a third of their future enterprise value from the AI vertical. "Bitcoin miners are emerging as attractive partners to build out AI Data Centers (DC) with ‘ready power interconnect’ and data center operating capabilities," Bernstein explained. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 26/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The NATO meeting in DC has a deep context this week. On Monday, a missile barrage from Russia struck Kyiv, killing over 30. Timing of the strike is key as a clear NATO message. Meanwhile, India's PM Modi is visiting Putin in Moscow, pledging support and Hungarian PM Orban, a key NATO member, just recently visited both Xi and Putin. This is the 75th anniversary of NATO, designed after WW2 to keep the Soviet Union in check throughout Europe. With the US at the helm of NATO, the alliance has kept the peace throughout Europe while conflict has continued elsewhere. Now as US global leadership declines, the NATO mission is at a crossroads, even as new alliances such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS build up as counterweight to NATO. The strategic geopolitics game is in high gear and highlighted by this week's activity. The future is far from certain, while consequences of this game will be borne by the general population and the soldiers carrying out these leaders' orders.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-07-09 14:48:46

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 851,404
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 09Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Kyiv Continues Rescue Effort at Children's Hospital / Iran Has New President, More of the Same / China and Belarus Start Wargames Near Ukraine Border / Beryl Soaks Houston / Boeing Pleads Guilty / Middle Schoolers Learning 5GW / House Votes on SAB121 Tomorrow / Republicans All-In on Crypto and Bitcoin / Marathon's Mine in Texas in Crosshairs / NC Governor Vetoes Anti-CBDC Bill / Germany Continues Dumping BTC / SECDEF Ordered to Study Blockchain As Power Tool
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $57,506, 24.03 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $57,861 / Lo: $55,240
Vol: $31B (Up 5%)
Mkt Cap: $1.13T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 640 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Down 21%)
Nodes: 19,397
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Kyiv mourns as rescuers make last-ditch efforts at children’s hospital hit by Russian missile: Rescue operations stretched into a second day at a major Kyiv children’s hospital struck by a Russian missile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday, adding that 38 people were killed and almost 200 injured in an intense daytime barrage that smashed into cities across the country. (AP)
2. Iran has voted in a reformist president — but change remains distant: Iran on Friday elected its first “reformist” president in 20 years, signaling many voters’ rejection of hardline conservative policies amid low turnout of just 49%, according to official figures. Masoud Pezeshkian, a former health minister and member of parliament, was the most moderate of the candidates vying for the presidency after the sudden death of former President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. (CNBC)
3. China and Belarus conduct joint military exercises right next to NATO and EU’s border: Belarus and China kicked off 11-day joint military training exercises Monday, Belarus’ defense ministry said – with activities taking place just miles from the border of Poland, a NATO and European Union member. The joint exercises are being held at a training ground near the city of Brest on the Belarus-Poland border and some 40 miles from Minsk’s border with Ukraine. This latest showing of their security cooperation comes just days after Belarus joined the Beijing and Moscow-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Thursday. (CNN)
-US Events-
1. Hurricane Beryl tracker: Houston damage, flooding, power outages: Beryl left a trail of downed trees, flooded roads and power outages as it roared across the Houston area on Monday morning. Beryl made landfall near Matagorda in the early morning hours as a Category 1 hurricane but weakened to a tropical storm a few hours later. On Monday evening, it was downgraded to a tropical depression. The storm remnant is now headed toward the central states and great lakes areas. (Fox26)
2. Boeing to plead guilty to fraud over 737 Max crashes: Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge in connection with two fatal 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, per a Department of Justice court filing late Sunday. The deal falls short of what the families of the crash victims had wanted, including a criminal trial and a fine as high as almost $25 billion. (Axios)
3. Middle schoolers impersonated dozens of teachers on TikTok; concocted sexual rumors, offensive narratives: A group of Pennsylvania middle school students created fictitious TikTok accounts to impersonate teachers while making inappropriate comments, officials said Monday. The group of eighth graders in the Great Valley School District (GVSD) in Chester County made around 20 fake TikTok accounts impersonating teachers. The accounts were filled with pedophilic and homophobic remarks, racist memes and rumors about sexual hookups between staff members. (Fox) (AC-Even at this early age, these kids are learning the value of narrative warfare as the basics of 5th generation warfare. It will be more intense once this generation learns to use AI tools to conduct more serious efforts.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. D-Day For Crypto: SAB 121 Veto Showdown Set For Wednesday: The US House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on significant crypto legislation on Wednesday, July 10. This vote might override President Joe Biden’s veto of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) resolution to repeal Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121). (Bitcoinist)
2. Republican Party Makes a Promise to Defense Bitcoin: The Republican National Committee’s new policy platform has published a document to protect and promote crypto assets. “Republicans will end Democrats’ offensive and unAmerican Crypto crackdown and oppose the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency,” “We will defend the right to mine Bitcoin and ensure every American has the right to self-custody their Digital Assets and transact free from Government Surveillance and Control.” (BItcoinSensus)
3. ‘We’re Living in a Nightmare:’ Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town: Over the course of several months in 2024, TIME spoke to more than 40 people in the Granbury area who reported a medical ailment that they believe is connected to the arrival of the Bitcoin mine: hypertension, heart palpitations, chest pain, vertigo, tinnitus, migraines, panic attacks. A representative for Marathon Digital Holdings, the company that owns the mine, did not answer questions about health impacts, but told TIME that it is working to remove the noisy fans from the site. (Time) (AC-An obvious FUD article designed to be used as ammunition for the victim class and power-hungry that represent them.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. North Carolina’s CBDC ban bill vetoed by governor: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill banning the state from implementing a US Federal Reserve-issued central bank digital currency (CBDC) despite receiving near-unanimous support in the state’s House of Representatives and Senate. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin Continues Rebound as Spot ETFs See $295 Million in Deposits: U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded nearly $300 million in net inflows on Monday, July 8, marking their highest buying activity since early June. (Decrypt)
2. German government continues bitcoin selling spree; less than half of its holdings remain: After a plethora of bitcoin transfers yesterday, the German government has sent an additional $339.2 million worth of bitcoin to addresses labeled as belonging to centralized crypto exchanges and market makers so far on Tuesday. he German government sent 800 bitcoins ($45.9 million) to the crypto exchange Kraken, 5,000 bitcoins ($287.1 million) to an address believed to be market marker B2C2 Group and nearly 107 bitcoins ($6.2 million) to market maker Cumberland DRW. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. S&P 500, Nasdaq Mark Another Fresh Records: The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both closed at new records on Monday, with gains of 0.1% and 0.3% respectively, while the Dow Jones lost 31 points. Recent data showed US consumers' 1-year inflation expectations fell for a second straight month in July. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Senate urges DOD to explore blockchain tech for national security: The US Senate Committee on Armed Services has directed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to explore potential applications of blockchain technology for supply chain management and national security within the Department of Defense. The report calls for the DOD to investigate blockchain use cases to “achieve national security goals and to create secure, transparent, accountable, and auditable data related to supply chains. “The committee notes that blockchain technology has the potential to enhance the cryptographic integrity of the defense supply chain, improve data integrity, and reduce the risk of the manipulation or corruption of certain types of data by near-peer competitors,” the report stated. (CryptoBriefing)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin's Mining Difficulty Has Decreased by 8%, Resulting in Lower Profitability and Daily Revenues: Bitcoin's mining difficulty has dropped by 7.8% over the weekend, reaching levels not seen since March. The decrease in difficulty has resulted in a decline in miners' profitability, with daily revenues falling from $78 million to $26 million. (CoinDesk)
2. Bitcoin miner Hut 8 enters into agreement for 205-megawatt Texas site: Bitcoin miner Hut 8 has entered into a power purchase agreement for a site in West Texas with 205 megawatts of immediately available power capacity and land.
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 27/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The US Senate has directed the SECDEF to study blockchain technology in a manner put forth by Major Jason Lowery in his thesis "SOFWAR". This is a significant development in the future warfare race in the cyber domain. As a nation-state such as the US considers the power projection capabilities of blockchain, best exemplified by Bitcoin, new strategies will emerge that even hardcore bitcoiners may not have considered. Other nation-states as well as decentralized entities may begin to study, understand and implement this new type of power dynamic leading to a revolution in warfare and power conflict. This would lead to a new era a warfare that may be similar to the thesis put forth by Lowery.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZQ.jpg

2024-07-08 15:03:56

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 851,250
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 08Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Russia Sends Hypersonic Missiles into Kyiv / France Election Splits Country / Japan and Philippines Sign Defense Pact / Beryl Hit Houston / Insurers Bilk Medicare for $50B / Chicago is Warzone / Germany Continues Selling BTC / Others are Buying BTC / Is it Coordinated?
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $57,046, 24.03 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $58,727 / Lo: $53,717
Vol: $32B (Up 59%)
Mkt Cap: $1.12T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 640 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Down 21%)
Nodes: 19,397
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Russian missiles hit a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital and kill at least 20 elsewhere: The Russian barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities with more than 40 missiles of different types, hitting apartment buildings and public infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. It was the heaviest Russian bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months. The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said. The Kinzhal flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept. (AP)
2. France election highlights: Leftists win most seats, but no party wins majority: A leftist coalition, the New Popular Front, has won the most seats in the 2024 French legislative election, beating back a far-right surge but failing to win a majority. The outcome leaves France facing the stunning prospect of a hung parliament and threatens political paralysis in a pillar of the European Union and Olympic host country. (AP)
3. Japan and the Philippines sign a defense pact in the face of shared alarm over China: Japan and the Philippines have signed a defense pact allowing Japanese forces to deploy in the Southeast Asian country for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills. Filipino forces will be able to enter Japan for joint combat training. Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan has taken steps to boost its security and defensive firepower, including a counterstrike capability that breaks from the country’s postwar principle of focusing only on self-defense. It’s doubling defense spending in a five-year period to 2027 in a move to bolster its military power and make Japan the world’s third-biggest military spender after the United States and China. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Texas: Beryl has made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 hurricane. It is the first storm in the Atlantic hurricane season to make landfall in the US. (CNN)
2. Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated: Private insurers involved in the government’s Medicare Advantage program made hundreds of thousands of questionable diagnoses that triggered extra taxpayer-funded payments from 2018 to 2021. (WSJ) (AC-This is just one example of how federally printed money moves into the economy and through the hands of administrator's friends. It is worth looking into the political donations of these insurers to see how it comes back around to politicians.)
3. At least 100 people shot, 17 fatally, during violent Fourth of July weekend in Chicago – up 27% from last year’s holiday: The tally of Independence Day weekend gun violence in Chicago this year marks around a 27% increase in shootings over last year. (CNN) (AC-One weekend, over 100 shot. Chicago is comparable to any conflict zone worldwide.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Taiwan builds CBDC prototype platform, plans hearings for next year: Taiwan’s Central Bank Governor, Chin-Long Yang, said in a research report on Sunday that building a digital currency isn’t an international competition and that the central bank has yet to set a fixed timeline for CBDC issuance
-Institutional Concerns-
1. German Govt Moves 1000 Bitcoin To Coinbase & Other Addresses: The German government has recently transferred 1000 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at approximately $55.79 million, to various destinations including Coinbase, Bitstamp, and addresses beginning with 139Po. In the past 19 days since June 19, the German government has moved a total of 11,032.3 BTC, valued at approximately $668.2 million. Despite these transfers, the government still retains a substantial 39,826 BTC, worth an estimated $2.15 billion. (CoinGape)
2. Bitcoin weakness spurs $441M digital asset inflows: Last week, inflows were primarily seen in the United States with $384 million, followed by Hong Kong ($32 million), Switzerland ($24 million) and Canada ($12 million), whereas Germany saw $23 million in outflows. (Cointelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Holds Decline on Dovish Fed View: The US 10-year Treasury note yield held its recent decline to around 4.3%, hovering near one-week lows as soft US economic data reinforced a dovish outlook on Federal Reserve monetary policy. On Friday, data showed that the US unemployment rate rose to a 2-½-year high of 4.1% in June, adding to signs of a cooling labor market.
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Bitcoin Exchange Hack Leads Surging Tally of Crypto Stolen in 2024: Crypto thefts totaled $1.38 billion up through June 24 of this year, more than double the $657 million stolen as of the same time in 2023. Notable incidents include the theft of more than 4,500 BTC valued at over $300 million from Japanese exchange DMM Bitcoin in May, potentially due to stolen private keys or address poisoning. Per TRM, the most prominent attack vectors remain private key and seed phrase compromises, smart contract exploits, and flash loan attacks. (Decrypt)
-Technology-
1. Apple Removes VPN Apps from Russian App Store Amid Russian Government Pressure: This includes the mobile apps of 25 VPN service providers, including ProtonVPN, Red Shield VPN, NordVPN and Le VPN, according to MediaZona. (HackerNews)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining Profitability Rose in June as Market Adjusted for the Halving: Bitcoin mining was more profitable in June than May as the price of the cryptocurrency rose 2% and the network hashrate dropped by 5%, and as the market adjusted to the effects of the halving, investment bank Jefferies said in a research report on Monday. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 28/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The volatility in bitcoin price the last few weeks is a result of significant transfers from governments such as the US and Germany. Add to this the return of BTC to Mt Gox customers, many of whom are selling the BTC, and you have the recipe for the fluctuations we've seen in the price. Meanwhile $441M in inflows reveal that there are buyers of bitcoin too. It's not hard to conjecture on some possible coordination of these events, which is certainly making some people short-term gains, but also allowing key players to purchase significant volumes of BTC at lower prices. The nature of global finance does not allow definitive assessments of cooperation, but warrant analysis to understand the players and their objectives.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-07-05 15:17:19

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 850,798
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 05Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: UK Votes in New Labour Party PM / Hezbollah Strikes Back / Drones Rule the Black Sea / Shark Attacks on July 4th / US Servicemembers Mental Health Highest Risk / EU Clamps Down on All Crypto Transactions / German Lawmaker Warns Government to Reconsider Bitcoin Strategy / Bitcoin FUD is Strong / Amazon Uses AI for Finances / US Treasuries on the Blockchain
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $55,459, 23.47 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $58,727 / Lo: $53,717
Vol: $52B (Up 41%)
Mkt Cap: $1.09T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 550 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 7 sats/vBtye (Down 71%)
Nodes: 19,380
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Rishi Sunak resigns as Tory leader as well as PM after election defeat: Rishi Sunak apologized to the country after his catastrophic election loss and said he had heard voters’ “anger and disappointment” and desire for change. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after a disastrous night for the Conservative party, Sunak confirmed his resignation as prime minister and said: “To the country I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry.” Labour leader Keir Starmer will become the new PM. (TheGuardian)
2. Hezbollah fires 200 rockets and drones into Israel in response to commander's death: Israel's military said one of its officers was killed in the barrage, which started a number of fires. The military also said it had targeted Hezbollah “military structures” and other targets in southern Lebanon in response. The Hezbollah commander killed yesterday in an Israeli air strike near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, Mohammed Nimah Nasser, was one of the most senior figures in the group to have been killed in the conflict. (BBC)
3. Who needs warships when you’ve got drones? Russia loses control over Black Sea: In a multiple drone February attack, a big, expensive warship was taken down by Ukraine’s cheap, remote-controlled pack hunter drones like the Magura, is just one of many illustrations of how the full-scale war has been, in a word, asymmetrical. While Russians have made gains on land, they may as well have lost their dominance and security in the Black Sea for the foreseeable future. (KyivIndependent)
-US Events-
1. 3 bitten in shark attacks in Texas and Florida on the Fourth of July: A 21-year-old Ohio man was bitten by a shark on his foot while playing football in “knee-deep water” at Florida’s New Smyrna Beach. In Texas, four people encountered a shark as they took to the waters off South Padre Island on the Independence Day holiday, two of whom were bitten and another who was injured while trying to help. (CNN)
2. Mental Health Is Leading Cause of Hospitalizations Among US Troops in 2023, Study Reveals: According to recent reports from the Defense Health Agency, this trend started in 2009 but has shown improvements over the past three years. In 2023, active-duty service members were hospitalized approximately 62,806 times. Nearly one-third of these hospitalizations, or 31%, were due to mental health treatment. For men, the leading diagnoses were adjustment disorders and alcohol abuse. For women, the most common diagnoses were adjustment disorders and major depressive disorder. (TechTimes)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. EU Extends Crypto Travel Rules, Mandates Compliance in 6 Months: The European Union (EU) is ramping up its fight against money laundering and terrorist financing with the imminent enforcement of Travel Rule guidelines for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs). Announced by the European Banking Authority (EBA), these guidelines will become mandatory for all crypto exchanges operating within the EU by December 30, 2024. CASPs must gather user data for transactions, identify service-related purchases, and detect potentially suspicious transfers. Crypto service providers and intermediaries must establish clear policies for handling multi-intermediated transactions and cross-border transfers. (CoinSpeaker)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. UK election victory for Labour could see a focus on RWA tokenization and CBDC development, analyst says: A potential Labour government in the UK could impact the crypto sector by seeing a focus on real-world asset tokenization and the development of CBDC technology, according to deVere Group CEO Nigel Green. (TheBlock)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. German MP urges government to stop selling Bitcoin: Bundestag member Joana Cotar strongly criticized the German government’s recent decision to sell a substantial portion of its Bitcoin holdings. In a series of tweets, Cotar condemned the government’s move, contrasting it with discussions in the US, where Bitcoin is being considered as a strategic reserve currency. She emphasized the counterproductive nature of this approach and invited the officials to attend an upcoming lecture event titled “Bitcoin Strategies for Nation States” on Oct. 17. (CryptoSlate)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bitcoin Drops to Over 4-Month Lows: Bitcoin dropped below $55,000 on Friday, hitting its lowest levels in late February and losing about 13% so far this week in what analysts attributed to further liquidations by leveraged investors. The selloff was also exacerbated by fears that bankrupt Japanese exchange firm Mt. Gox’s repayments of more than $9 billion worth of Bitcoin to approximately 127,000 creditors will likely trigger widespread profit-taking. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology-
1. Amazon Leans Into Generative AI to Manage Its Finances: The e-commerce giant initially adopted rules-based systems, one of the earliest forms of AI that use a set of rules to solve problems and make decisions, in its finance organization, which it then augmented with machine learning. Generative AI now assists finance employees with more complex analyses. Its finance teams are turning to generative AI in areas such as fraud detection, contract review, financial forecasting, personal productivity, interpretation of rules and regulations, and tax-related work, moves in part aimed at reducing costs, boosting efficiencies and increasing accuracy, company executives said. (WSJ)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. RWA Startup Hamilton Tokenizes US Treasury Bills on Bitcoin L2 Solutions: Hamilton, a startup specializing in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, initiated the tokenization of U.S. Treasury bills on Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions—Stacks, Core, and BoB—on July 4, 2024. This effort highlights a pivotal step in integrating traditional financial instruments with the security and transparency of Bitcoin. (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Down 15 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): FUD, or fear, uncertainty and doubt are common human reactions to life situations and changes. Media also know that FUD drives human action and inaction. It also sells. When FUD is high in the mainstream media, look for objective opportunities to better your situation, ignoring the agendas of those spreading FUD. There are times to be as logical and rational as Spock, such as when making financial decisions. Consider his advice and live long and prosper.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEbi.jpg

2024-07-04 15:13:15

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 850,668
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 04Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Colonists Secede From Tyrannical King, Igniting War / Hurricane Beryl Weakens Enroute Yucatan / Russia Makes Gains in Ukraine / China Seizes Taiwan Fishing Boat / Boil Water Order in DC / Medal of Honor Awarded to 2 Union Soldiers / German Gov, Mt Gox, Unload BTC / BTC Core Devs Update Security Policies
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $57,482, 24.4 oz Gold, .13 Median US House
24hr Hi: $60,555 / Lo: $57,043
Vol: $37B (Up 41%)
Mkt Cap: $1.13T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 592 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 24 sats/vBtye (Up 100%)
Nodes: 19,373
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Weather deteriorating in the Cayman Islands as Beryl weakens slightly: Category 3 Hurricane Beryl has weakened slightly and now has winds of 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5:00 a.m. ET update. Beryl will reach the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday. (CNN)
2. Ukraine’s army retreats from positions as Russia gets closer to seizing strategically important town: Ukraine’s military said its army has retreated from a neighborhood in the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region which has been reduced to rubble under a months-long Russian assault. Chasiv Yar lies a short distance west Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle. (ABC)
3. Taiwan says China seizes fishing boat near its coast: Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating near China's coast close to a Taiwan-controlled island late Tuesday and took it to a Chinese port, Taiwan's coast guard said, in a further escalation of tensions. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. DC Water Issues Boil Water Advisory for All Customers in the District of Columbia, the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport: This is a precautionary notice to all customers to boil water that may be ingested due to water of unknown quality. Customer should not drink the water without boiling it first. This advisory will remain in place until follow-up testing confirms the water is safe to drink. (DCWater)
2. Civil War soldiers awarded Medal of Honor for Confederate train raid: Two Civil War soldiers who infiltrated Confederate territory to steal a train and destroy the enemy railroad system were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden on Wednesday. Pvt. Philip Shadrach and Pvt. George Wilson, members of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, are finally set to receive recognition as participants in what is known as the “Great Locomotive Chase.” (ArmyTimes)
3. Federal agency plans to cull 450,000 barred owls to boost another species: In a final plan released Wednesday, the agency is proposing to kill as many as 450,000 barred owls over 30 years. The plan is designed to prevent the extinction of the spotted owl, a threatened species that is being crowded out of its native territory by the slightly larger and faster-reproducing barred owl. (NBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Basel Committee finalizes crypto exposure rules for banks: The Basel Committee met on July 2-3 and made policy decisions on issues that included disclosure of banks’ crypto exposure. Its decisions are part of the Basel III reforms that were begun in 2019 to enhance the resilience of European Union banks through regulation, supervision and risk management. (CoinTelegraph)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. German gov’t transfers $172M in Bitcoin to multiple locations: The German government’s latest Bitcoin transfers could impact the market significantly, as it moves 3,000 BTC to various crypto exchanges and an unknown wallet. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economics Indicators-
1. Bitcoin Breaks Below $60K, Hits 2-Month Low: Bitcoin prices tumbled again below the key psychological mark of $60,000, hitting a two-month low as the largest cryptocurrency failed to sustain a recent rebound, with analysts pointing to the potential start of Mt. Gox creditor repayments as the likely main culprit. (Trading Economics)
2. US Services Sector Unexpectedly Contracts: ISM: The ISM Services PMI in the US tumbled to 48.8 in June 2024, the sharpest contraction since April 2020. Markets were expecting 52.5 after 53.8 in May. The Business Activity Index also fell, registering 49.6, the first contraction since May 2020. (Trading Economics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Brazil Halts Meta's AI Data Processing Amid Privacy Concerns: Brazil's data protection authority, ANPD, has temporarily banned Meta from processing users' personal data to train the company's artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. The decision follows the social media giant's update to its terms that allow it to use public content from Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram for AI training purposes. (HackerNews) (AC-Nothing like AI scraping all your social media and messages to feed the AI machine. This update by Meta has not been challenged in the US.)
-Technology-
1. Pentagon to Launch Supercomputer Cloud Service for US Military, Enhancing Remote Access: This initiative aims to give troops direct access to supercomputing power, significantly enhancing military preparedness and operational efficiency. Unlike the typical laptop with around four CPU cores, these professional systems leverage up to 10,000 cores to solve complex problems. (TechTimes) (AC-What could go wrong?)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Core Announces New Security Disclosure Policy: A group of Bitcoin Core developers has introduced a comprehensive security disclosure policy to address past shortcomings in publicizing security-critical bugs. This new policy aims to establish a standardized process for reporting and disclosing vulnerabilities, thereby improving transparency and security within the Bitcoin ecosystem. (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 44/100 (Down 9 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." -In Congress, July 4, 1776 (Excerpt)
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-07-03 15:01:50

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 850,525
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 03Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Hurricane Beryl Barrels Toward Jamaica / Shanghai Cooperation Org Grows Again / 5GW and a First Lady's Bugatti / Lawyers Nationwide Prepare for Trump Presidency / VP Harris Odds Increasing / Taiwan Crypto Organizes to Advocate / First BTC Macro ETP Launched / Florida Man Shoots Delivery Drone / Kraken Wants Nuke Power / China Still Mining Bitcoin in Spades
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,292, 25.73 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $63,015 / Lo: $59,662
Vol: $26B (Up 17%)
Mkt Cap: $1.19T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 609 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 12 sats/vBtye (Down 17%)
Nodes: 19,033
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Hurricane Beryl forecast and track: Jamaica's prime minister declares island 'disaster area' ahead of storm: According to the National Hurricane Center, Beryl was downgraded to a Category 4 from a Category 5, but its maximum sustained winds remained dangerous at 155 mph. Hurricane Beryl is expected to reach Jamaica and is forecast to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across the mountainous island country, with isolated amounts of up to 12 inches possible. (ABC)
2. A growing club led by Xi and Putin to counter the US is adding a staunchly pro-Russia member: The expected admission of Belarus to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at its annual leaders’ summit in Astana, Kazakhstan is another push by Beijing and Moscow to transform the grouping – from a regional security bloc into a geopolitical counterweight to Western institutions led by the United States and its allies. Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to combat terrorism and promote border security, the SCO has grown in recent years in line with Beijing and Moscow’s shared ambition to counter what they see as US “hegemony” and reshape the international system in their favor. (CNN)
3. A Bugatti car, a first lady and the fake stories aimed at Americans: A network of Russia-based websites masquerading as local American newspapers is pumping out fake stories as part of an AI-powered operation that is increasingly targeting the US election, a BBC investigation can reveal. A former Florida police officer who relocated to Moscow is one of the key figures behind it. t would have been a bombshell report - if it were true. Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, allegedly bought a rare Bugatti Tourbillon sports car for 4.5m euros while visiting Paris for D-Day commemorations in June. The source of the funds was supposedly American military aid money.
The story appeared on an obscure French website just days ago - and was swiftly debunked. (BBC) (AC-A great example of 5th Gen Warfare being conducted today. The truth is nowhere to be found in the Bugatti story and not confirmed even in the BBC story. What is known are the efforts to influence public perceptions and drive funding and actions in support of agendas.)
-US Events-
1. How Democratic lawyers are bracing for Trump’s return: Democratic attorneys around the country are already gearing up for the possibility of a second Trump administration by beginning to map out an aggressive legal strategy to fight him again in court — this time with a fresh sense of urgency. Democratic attorneys general are exploring hiring outside experts and dispatching staff to study areas of the law anticipated to come under attack, like reproductive health, immigration and the environment. And they are scrutinizing Project 2025, the 900-page blueprint from The Heritage Foundation that lays out a conservative agenda for the next Republican presidency. “If you’re an AG you have to make sure your team is solid,” said James Tierney, the former attorney general of Maine. (politico)
2. Kamala Harris' Odds of Winning Democratic Nomination Surge on Polymarket: Vice president Kamala Harris' odds of becoming the Democratic nominee for president this year more than quadrupled on Tuesday, according to traders on Polymarket, the crypto-based prediction market platform that's seen torrid growth in an election year. (CoinDesk)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Taiwan Crypto Advocacy Body Becomes Formally Active With 24 Entities: The body will aim to act as a bridge as the private sector and the government work together to supervise the industry. Its first task will be to formulate a self-regulation code that covers industry classification, listing and delisting, consumer protection, risk control, transaction monitoring and advertising solicitation, according to the blog post. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Deutsche Digital Assets Launches World’s First Macro Bitcoin ETP: Deutsche Digital Assets (DDA) has launched the first-ever Macro Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) on Xetra. This innovative ETP aims to dynamically optimize Bitcoin exposure based on macroeconomic factors, offering a novel approach to cryptocurrency investment. Notably, the listing marks a significant milestone for investors looking to balance potential gains with macroeconomic risks.(CoinGape)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Mortgage Rates Bounce Back Above 7%: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) increased by 10bps to 7.03% in the week ended June 28, 2024, from 6.93% in the previous period. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Job Openings Top Expectations: The number of job openings rose by 221,000 from the previous month to 8.140 million in May 2024, beating the market consensus of 7.91 million. Much of the increase can be attributed to state, local and federal government jobs. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Florida Man Arrested for Shooting at Walmart Delivery Drone Faces Multiple Charges: In a quiet neighborhood of Clermont near Orlando in Florida, a 72-year-old man was facing multiple charges after he shot at a Walmart delivery drone. Witnesses saw a bullet hole in the drone, leading them to report it to local authorities on Wednesday. They also pointed authorities to Dennis Winn. (TechTimes)
-Technology-
1. Crypto Exchange Kraken Is Considering Going Nuclear: Kraken is considering using nuclear energy to power its data centers, amidst an expected boom in decentralized finance (DeFi) and increased demand for its services. Kraken is not looking to build its own reactors, but is considering partnering with energy providers that can supply nuclear power with small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors can be co-located with data centers and don’t have space or weather constraints, according to CTO Patankar. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. CleanSpark mined 445 Bitcoin in June, surpasses hashrate target: Bitcoin miner CleanSpark increased its Bitcoin production by 6.7% in June and surpassed its mid-year hashrate target of 20 exahashes per second (EH/s).The United States-based miner only sold 8 of the 445 Bitcoin it mined in June, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 6,591 BTC as of June 30, worth more than $4 billion at current prices. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Chinese Bitcoin Mining Pools Control A Staggering 54% Of Hash Rate Despite Ban: China Bitcoin mining pools now command over 50% of the total hash rate based on on-chain data. This is despite the 2021 China crypto ban, according to Kim Young Ju, the founder of CryptoQuant (99Bitcoins)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 50/100 (Down 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-07-02 14:19:21

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 850,372
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 02Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: First Cat 5 Hurricane Eyes Jamaica / Ukraine Air Bases Struck Before F-16s Arrive, US Bases on High Alert / SCOTUS Immunity Ruling Confounds Lawfare Strategy / SCOTUS Chevron Ruling May Untangle Digital Asset Mess / Imagery Reveals China Listening Posts in Cuba / Judge Rules Biden Cannot Stop LNG Exports / Bolivia Says Bitcoin Now OK / Sony Starts Bitcoin Exchange in Japan / Coinbase Chosen to Custody and Sell USG Bitcoin
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $62,668, 26.90 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $63,777 / Lo: $62,367
Vol: $22B (Up 3%)
Mkt Cap: $1.23T (Even)
HashRate: 611 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 14 sats/vBtye (Up 81%)
Nodes: 19,034
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Hurricane Beryl barrels toward Jamaica as category 5 storm after ‘flattening’ Grenada island: The hurricane was located about 695 miles (1,118km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, packing maximum sustained winds of 165mph (270km/h), the National Hurricane Centre said. (IndependentUK)
2. At least nine killed in Seoul as car ploughs into crowd: As reported by Yonhap news agency, a man believed to be in his 60s drove the vehicle into pedestrians waiting at a traffic stop. Police said the accident took place at an intersection near Seoul city hall. The driver in question, who was arrested at the scene, reportedly told the police the car suddenly accelerated. (BBC)
3. Ukrainian air base under frequent fire as Russia aims at F-16 arrivals: The June 27 attack was a stark reminder of the challenges Kyiv faces as it rebuilds its depleted air force and deploys the first U.S.-designed F-16s - fighter aircraft that Russia will be determined to ground or destroy. The first planes are expected to arrive this month, although the location of the basing has not been released. (Reuters)
4. Several US military bases in Europe put on heightened state of alert, US officials say: The alert level of Force Protection Condition (FPCON) "Charlie" was put in place over the weekend, according to two U.S. officials. "For operational security reasons, we will not get into specific measures, but we remain vigilant," EUCOM wrote, in part. (ABC) (AC-Other sources speculate that his is in relation to Russian concerns over the F-16s being delivered to Ukraine.)
-US Events-
1. How the blockbuster Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling impacts the Biden-Trump 2024 rematch: A highly anticipated ruling by the Supreme Court that former presidents enjoy wide-ranging immunity for their official acts while in the White House was repeatedly praised by former President Trump yesterday. The ruling on Monday means that the trial judge in the lower court case against Trump will now have to hold hearings on whether the charges against Trump were based on official acts by the then-president or unofficial ones. That process will take time, and it's extremely unlikely Trump will go on trial for trying to overturn the 2020 election before voters cast ballots in the 2024 rematch. (Fox)
2. Satellite Images Show Expansion of Suspected Chinese Spy Bases in Cuba: Analysts identified four electronic eavesdropping stations, including a previously unreported site near a U.S. naval base. (WSJ)
3. Judge Orders Biden Administration to Resume Permits for Gas Exports: A federal judge on Monday ordered the Biden administration to resume issuing permits for new liquefied natural gas export facilities after the government had paused that process in January to analyze how those exports affect climate change, the economy and national security. The decision, from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, comes in response to a lawsuit from 16 Republican state attorneys general, who argued that the pause amounted to a ban that harmed their states’ economies. (NYT)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Central Bank of Bolivia Unbans Bitcoin From the Nation’s Financial Ecosystem: The Central Bank of Bolivia has lifted a blanket ban that kept financial institutions from serving crypto-related transactions. With Resolution N°082/2024, issued on Tuesday, the bank lifts any prohibition related to these assets, opening the door for the intermediation of institutions to complete payments to acquire these assets. (BitcoinCom)
2. Supreme Court's Chevron Decision Curtails SEC Chair Gensler's Regulatory Abuses, Says Congressman: Congressman Tom Emmer has stated that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Chevron deference significantly limits “the regulatory abuses” of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler. The ruling is seen as a game changer for the crypto industry and other tech sectors, promising more predictable and grounded regulations. (BItcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
1. Bahamas wants to force banks to support its ‘Sand Dollar’ CBDC: The Bahamas is preparing to introduce legislation requiring commercial banks to support its “Sand Dollar” central bank digital currency (CBDC) and hopefully boost its adoption. The Bahamas was one of the first countries in the world to launch a central bank digital currency — the “Sand Dollar” in 2020 — and is now looking for ways to boost its adoption. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US spot bitcoin ETFs report $130 million in net inflows, largest influx in three weeks: The 11 U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw total daily net inflows of $129.45 million on Monday, reporting their fifth consecutive day of positive flows. Monday’s net inflows also marked the largest fund intake the ETFs have seen since June 7. Fidelity’s FBTC led the inflows yesterday with $65 million, followed by Bitwise’s BITB, which recorded $41 million. (CoinMarketCap)
2. $105 Billion Electronics Giant Sony To Launch New Bitcoin Exchange: Sony Group is preparing to launch a Bitcoin and crypto exchange in Japan after acquiring Amber Group's local subsidiary, Amber Japan. The revamped exchange will be called S.BLOX and aim to boost Sony's presence in the Bitcoin and crypto space. (BitcoinMag)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Stocks Kick-Off 2nd Half of 2024 Higher: Stocks in the US closed higher to start the second half of the year. The S&P 500 gained 0.3%, the Dow Jones added 50 points, and the Nasdaq rose 0.8% thanks to strong performances from tech giants like Apple (+2.9%), Amazon (+2%), and Microsoft (+2.2%). Nvidia rebounded (+0.6%) while other chip makers' stocks fell such as AMD (-2.8%) and Arm (-2.9%) dropped. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Factory Activity Shrinks Faster: The ISM Manufacturing PMI unexpectedly declined to 48.5 in June 2024 from 48.7 in May, below forecasts of 49.1. The reading pointed to a third straight month of falling manufacturing activity and the lowest since February. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Australian Man Charged for Fake Wi-Fi Scam on Domestic Flights: The unnamed 42-year-old "allegedly established fake free Wi-Fi access points, which mimicked legitimate networks, to capture personal data from unsuspecting victims who mistakenly connected to them." The individual is said to have staged what's called an evil twin Wi-Fi attack across various locations, including domestic flights and airports in Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide. "The email and password details harvested could be used to access more personal information, including a victim's online communications, stored images and videos, or bank details," the AFP said. (HackerNews)
-Technology-
1. China's Stealth Fighter Aircraft Supports Detachable Wings That Transforms Into Drones: The China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC) successfully tested the new stealth fighter, and said that each drone is powered by electric ducted fans. The aircraft and its drones managed to stay in the air despite the drone separation maneuver during the test flight, which allegedly caused flight instability due to the aerodynamic shift. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Coinbase Bags $32 Million Contract From DOJ For Handling Confiscated Crypto: In a significant development, the US Department of Justice’s asset forfeiture division, the US Marshal Service, has chosen Coinbase as its custody provider for large-cap digital assets. Coinbase emphasized its longstanding history of supporting law enforcement agencies and its collaborations with major federal, state, and local agencies in the US, as well as international agencies worldwide. (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 53/100 (Up 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HmyE.jpg

2024-07-01 16:33:11

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 850,227
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 01Jul24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: France Elections Move Right / Military Draft Law Ignites Israel / Coordinated Suicide Bombers in Nigeria Kill 30+ / US Left Argue on Removing Biden From Race / SCOTUS To Release Immunity Ruling Today / Bannon Reports to Jail / Chevron Doctrine Ruling Upsets Administrative State / Hawaii Crypto Firms No Longer Need Transmitter License / Stocks Are Booming / Big Tech Tries to Lock up Nuke Power in US / China's Version of Space X Has Accidental Fireworks Show
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $62,556, 26.81 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $63,700 / Lo: $61,262
Vol: $22B (Up 64%)
Mkt Cap: $1.23T (Up 2%)
HashRate: 537 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Even)
Nodes: 19,388
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Far right leads first round of France’s parliamentary election in blow to Macron: Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) party led the first round of France’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, taking it closer to the gates of power than ever before. After an unusually high turnout, the RN bloc clinched 33.15% of the vote, while the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition came second with 27.99% and President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble alliance slumped to a dismal third with 20.76%. (CNN)
2. Ultra-Orthodox protest against order to enlist in Israeli military turns violent in Jerusalem: Thousands of Jewish ultra-Orthodox men clashed with Israeli police in central Jerusalem on Sunday during a protest against a Supreme Court order for them to begin enlisting for military service. Tens of thousands of men rallied in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood to protest the order. But after nightfall, the crowd made its way toward central Jerusalem and turned violent. (AP)
3. At least 30 dead, more than 100 injured after multiple suicide bombings in Nigeria: "The first suicide attack was masterminded by an unidentified woman who sneaked with two children into a wedding reception of a popular young man in Gwoza; she detonated her Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), killing herself and many people." No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings. (ABC)
-US Events-
1. Top Democrats rule out replacing Biden amid calls for him to quit 2024 race: After days of hand-wringing about Biden's poor night on stage debating Trump, Democratic leaders firmly rejected calls for their party to choose a younger presidential candidate for the Nov. 5 election. Biden, 81, meanwhile, was huddling with family members at the Camp David presidential retreat on Sunday. (Reuters)
2. Supreme Court prepares to issue ruling on Trump immunity and final cases Monday: SCOTUS is expected to hand down its final opinions of the term on Monday morning, resolving the question of whether former President Donald Trump may claim immunity from federal election subversion charges. The court will also decide two cases at the intersection of the First Amendment and social media. At issue are laws enacted in Florida and Texas aimed at stopping social media giants like Facebook and X from throttling conservative views. (CNN)
3. Steve Bannon set to begin 4-month prison sentence for defying congressional subpoena: Bannon will be the second former Trump aide to be imprisoned for a contempt of Congress conviction after Peter Navarro began serving a four-month sentence earlier this year. Both men were convicted for not complying with subpoenas issued to them by the now-defunct House Select Committee that investigated January 6, 2021. The Supreme Court on Friday denied a long-shot effort by Bannon to avoid reporting to prison while he challenges his conviction before the federal appeals court in Washington, DC. (CNN)
4. Supreme Court strikes down Chevron, curtailing power of federal agencies: By a vote of 6-3, the justices overruled their landmark 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which gave rise to the doctrine known as the Chevron doctrine. Under that doctrine, if Congress has not directly addressed the question at the center of a dispute, a court was required to uphold the agency’s interpretation of the statute as long as it was reasonable. But in a 35-page ruling by Chief Justice John Roberts, the justices rejected that doctrine, calling it “fundamentally misguided.” (SCOTUSblog) (AC-A surprise big win for anti-administrative proponents, this ruling will have significant repercussions across the US. Look for increases in legal proceedings where a nameless, faceless government agency would have ruled over its citizenry before.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Designating Crypto as the Bogeyman Will Not Halt the Nigerian Currency’s Depreciation: Nigerian authorities targeted global cryptocurrency exchanges in a crackdown that began in February. The accusation is that crypto platforms are enabling currency speculators who are blamed for the naira’s rapid depreciation against the U.S. dollar. However, the naira’s resurgence proved short-lived, ending the first half of 2024 as one of the worst-performing currencies. The rise of cryptocurrency use and Nigeria’s thriving parallel market for naira reflect a deeper issue that needs solutions. (BItcoinCom)
2. Hawaii crypto firms no longer need MT license, regulator rules: Cryptocurrency firms in Hawaii are now officially exempt from the requirement to receive a Money Transmitter License (MTL) to run business in the state. Crypto companies will still be responsible for complying with any applicable federal licensing or registration requirements. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Stocks Soar to End June: US stocks extended gains on Friday, with the S&P hitting a new high of 5.5K, the Nasdaq 100 reaching a record level of 19980 and the Dow Jones rising over 220 points, after the Michigan consumer sentiment was revised sharply higher and inflation expectations were lower than previously reported. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Microsoft Provides Another Worrying Update on Russian Data Breach, Says Customer Emails Were Stolen: On Thursday, the tech giant announced that hackers stole customer emails as it further disclosed the scope of the breach. However, it did not specify the number of clients affected or the potential number of stolen emails. (TechTimes)
-Technology-
1. Tech Industry Wants to Lock Up Nuclear Power for AI: The owners of roughly a third of U.S. nuclear-power plants are in talks with tech companies to provide electricity to new data centers needed to meet the demands of an artificial-intelligence boom. But instead of adding new green energy to meet their soaring power needs, tech companies would be effectively diverting existing electricity resources. That could raise prices for other customers and hold back emission-cutting goals. (WSJ)
2. A Chinese firm's answer to SpaceX's Falcon 9 blew up in a giant fireball after it accidentally launched during a test: Beijing-based Tianbing Aerospace Technology said it was conducting a first-stage test of the rocket's power system, and that a "structural failure" caused the Tianlong-3 to separate from its launchpad. Had the test been successful, the Tianlong-3 would have remained stationary on the launchpad as its engines fired. (BusinessInsider)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 53/100 (Up 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-06-28 14:51:49

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 849,817
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 28Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: North Korea Missile Test Explodes / USS Wasp Headed Towards Eastern Med / Russia Say US Drones Fair Game / Presidential Debate Panics Democrats / Uvalde Police Chief Arrested / SCOTUS Rules Emergency Abortions OK in Idaho / NC Gives Anti-CBDC Bill to Governor / US GDP Anemic / Interpol Disrupts Scam Network in 61 Countries With China's Help / BTC Hashrate Dropping
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,615, 26.38 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $62,293 / Lo: $61,097
Vol: $22B (Up 3%)
Mkt Cap: $1.21T (Even)
HashRate: 574 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Down 60%)
Nodes: 18,884
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. A North Korean Missile Explodes in the Sky—and a Mystery Emerges: North Korea said it had successfully tested technology for raining down multiple nuclear warheads at once—a top weapons goal for Kim Jong Un and an increased threat to the U.S. and its allies. But, in an unusually pointed rebuke, South Korea denounced the self-declared achievement as a bluff. While the separation of warheads in a MIRV test would occur on the descent, the North Korean missile launched on Wednesday exploded in the flight’s initial stage, a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman said. (WSJ)
2. US sends USS Wasp assault ship and Marines to eastern Mediterranean: The officials stressed that the ship's movement is not an indication that the U.S. is planning to move American citizens out of Lebanon, but that the ship's move "is being done for deterrence purposes and to promote regional stability," said one of the officials. (ABC)
3. Russia warns it can take unspecified measures in response to US drone flights over Black Sea: Russia’s Defense Minister ordered officials to prepare a “response” to U.S. drone flights over the Black Sea, the ministry said Friday, in an apparent warning that Moscow may take forceful action to ward off the American reconnaissance aircraft. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Biden’s disastrous debate pitches his reelection bid into crisis: It was clear a political disaster was about to unfold as soon as the 81-year-old commander in chief stiffly shuffled on stage in Atlanta to stand eight feet from ex-President Donald Trump at what may turn into the most fateful presidential debate in history. Biden ended the night with the Democratic Party in crisis with serious conversations taking place behind the scenes among senior figures over whether his candidacy is now sustainable, two months before the Democratic National Convention. By the time the aged rivals slipped into a bitter debate about who was the best golfer, it was not hard to understand why voters have long told pollsters that they want no part of the choice they have been offered this year. (CNN) (AC-As of this morning, both Michelle Obama and Gavin Newsom are trending heavily on X, indicating possible replacements)
2. Former Uvalde school district police chief charged with child endangerment after shooting that killed 21: Pete Arredondo, 52, was taken in by law enforcement officers and is accused of abandoning and endangering a child, the jail official said. Instead of continuing to engage the 18-year-old gunman — who was locked in a classroom with 33 students and three teachers — officers retreated after an initial burst of gunfire and did not “push forward immediately and continuously to eliminate the threat,” the Justice Department said. (NBC)
3. Supreme Court says emergency abortions can be performed in Idaho: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed abortions to be performed during certain medical emergencies in Idaho, reinstating a lower court order that blocked the state from enforcing its near-total ban when an abortion is needed to preserve the health of the mother while legal proceedings continue. (CBS)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Crypto Unmentioned at First 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate: For its part, the crypto industry is hoping for a Congress and administration that may pass legislation friendlier to digital asset businesses. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US Bitcoin ETF Inflows Reach $21.52M as FBTC and GBTC Lead Gains: U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds witnessed a second day of inflows as they captured $21.52 million on Thursday. The leader in terms of gains was Fidelity’s FBTC led the pack with a $19 million increase. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. North Carolina’s CBDC ban bill heads to governor’s desk: House Bill 690 now heads to Governor Roy Cooper for approval after the state’s House passed the bill a 109-4 vote on June 26, a day after the Senate passed the bill in a 39-5 vote. Governor Cooper’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his plan for the bill. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US GDP Growth Revised Slightly Up: The US economy expanded an annualized 1.4% in Q1 2024, slightly higher than 1.3% in the second estimate, but continuing to point to the lowest growth since the contractions in the first half of 2022. (TradingEconomics)
2. US 10-Year Yield Rises After Presidential Debate: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rebounded above 4.3% on Friday as US president Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump clashed in their first debate, with Trump emerging as the stronger candidate ahead of the 2024 elections. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Mortgage Rates Drop to Nearly 3-Month Low: The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage fell by 1 bps from the previous week to 6.86% as of June 27th, the lowest in nearly three months, according to Freddie Mac. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Interpol Disrupts Scam Networks: 6,745 Bank Accounts Frozen, $2M Crypto Seized, 3,950 Arrested: Interpol’s Operation First Light, a global initiative involving 61 countries, has disrupted online scam networks by freezing 6,745 bank accounts and seizing assets worth $257 million, including $2 million in cryptocurrency. The operation targeted phishing, investment fraud, fake online shopping sites, romance, and impersonation scams, leading to the arrest of 3,950 suspects and identifying 14,643 potential suspects worldwide. Operation First Light began in 2023 and concluded with its final tactical phase from March to May 2024. Funded by China’s Ministry of Public Security, the operation ended with a meeting in Tianjin, where participating countries reviewed results, exchanged intelligence, and strategized future actions. (BitcoinCom)
2. Fake Phantom wallet promoted in iOS AppStore drains users funds: A fake Phantom wallet app in the Apple Store is reported to drain assets upon account recovery with a private key. Phantom Wallet and Solana users have been alerted to the fraudulent app mimicking the legitimate Phantom Wallet. The fake app, published by Meta Voxify and with poor 1-star reviews, appears as an ad and deceptively resembles the authentic application developed by Phantom Technologies. (CryptoSlate)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin profitable on 4,954 days since inception, 97.9% of its history: Bitcoin’s market history reveals a high percentage of profitable holding days, indicating strong long-term value retention. Glassnode data shows that out of 5,060 days since its inception, holding Bitcoin has been profitable on 4,954 days, representing 97.9% of its total trading days. This metric highlights the consistent upward trajectory of Bitcoin’s value over time. (CryptoSlate)
2. Bitcoin Hashrate Plunges To Lowest Since Early March As Price Remains Bearish: The 7-day average Bitcoin mining hashrate set a new all-time high (ATH) last month, but the metric has since been going through a drawdown. This decline will likely be the bearish momentum the cryptocurrency’s price has been observing. Following the most recent leg down in the mining hashrate, its value has plunged to its lowest since early March. If BTC persists at its current lows or declines further, the indicator will likely extend its fall. (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 47/100 (Up 7 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): When we hear of a large international policing effort as described in the article above, you can be certain that this is the result of a mass surveillance program. In other words, some type of communication network has been compromised by a government entity. Examples include PRISM, which revealed NSA spying, leaked by Edward Snowden, and the ANOM program, in which the FBI ran a company that sold privacy phones to criminals (read 'Dark Wire' for more info). In this case, notice that this program was started by China's Ministry of Public Security and handed off to Interpol. Since it involves 'crypto' we can speculate that there is some sort of connection of transaction data with other digital data such as emails and phones. AI is a perfect tool to synthesize this data as has been done in the past. The bottom line is that China now has this capability and is not subject to any Fourth Amendment roadblocks.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-06-27 20:38:48

Bitcoin Veterans know how to close down a dive bar. @npub1key…lt3h thanks for a great time.
https://m.primal.net/JAEq.jpg

2024-06-27 20:33:09

We’re going LIVE tonight at 7pm ET on Twitter Live and YouTube
Join us as we discuss our trip to Bitcoin Park, turning Rod into the next Seal Team 6 member, as well as covering current events
Being a friend, bring a bourbon, and come hangout with us and #GetOnTheMission
https://m.primal.net/Ixlp.jpg

2024-06-27 14:57:09

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 849,675
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 27Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Bolivia President Survives Failed Coup / Iran Presidential Contenders Dwindle / Kenya Drops Austerity Measures After Deadly Protests / US Presidential Debate Tonight / Economists Preempt Debate in Support of Biden / Rapidan Dam Failing in MN / USG To Sell 4,000 BTC From Silk Road / Binance Issues Misuse Bounty / Switzerland Ramps Up Wholesale CBDC / Denmark First to Tax Cow Farts
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,201, 26.44 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,951 / Lo: $60,580
Vol: $21B (Down 17%)
Mkt Cap: $1.21T (Even)
HashRate: 489 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 19 sats/vBtye (Down 38%)
Nodes: 19,668
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Bolivian president survives failed coup, calls for 'democracy to be respected,' army general arrested: Bolivian President Luis Arce announced three new heads of the South American country's armed forces following an attempted coup in which military units used armored vehicles to ram into the doors of Bolivia's government palace before the army general allegedly responsible was arrested. Bolivia, a country of 12 million people, has seen intensifying protests in recent months over the economy’s precipitous decline from one of the continent’s fastest-growing two decades ago to one of its most crisis-stricken. (Fox)
2. Contenders quit race ahead of Iran’s presidential poll as campaigning ends: Two candidates in Iran’s presidential election have withdrawn from the race as campaigning ended a day ahead of the vote. The first to do so was Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, 53, who dropped his candidacy on Wednesday night and urged other candidates to do the same “so that the front of the revolution will be strengthened”, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. (AlJazeera)
3. Kenyan President Ruto withdraws controversial finance bill following deadly protests: “Having reflected on the continuing conversation regarding the content of the finance bill 2024, and listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede, and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill,” Ruto said during a television address Wednesday. Kenya, a nation often praised for its stability, had seen escalating protests over the bill, which the government introduced to rein in public debt. (CNN)
-US Events-
1. Biden and Trump to face off at CNN presidential debate: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will have their first in-person showdown of the 2024 election cycle at CNN’s debate in Atlanta at 9 p.m. ET. The candidates agreed to appear at a uniform podium. Microphones will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak. (CNN)
2. Video shows Minnesota home next to Rapidan Dam toppling into river amid flooding: Part of the home, which is located close to the Rapidan Dam, fell into the river Tuesday night. So far, there has been no mass evacuation. (USAToday)
3. Nobel Economists Bash Trump, Hail Biden in Pre-Debate Inflation Attack: Sixteen Nobel Prize-winning economists — all unabashed liberals — have unleashed a partisan attack against Donald Trump on the eve of the first presidential debate. The economists claim that former President Donald Trump could stoke inflation if he wins the presidency in November and implements his economic plans. (Breitbart)
(AC- The weaponization of scholarly disciplines such as economics or medicine is becoming even more common in support of political power. It is unfortunate that science and study is now subservient to ideology.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Sends $240M Worth of Silk Road-Related BTC to Coinbase: Some 3,940 bitcoin originally seized from a Silk Road vendor was moved after a wallet tagged to the U.S. Government moved about $240 million worth of seized BTC to a Coinbase Prime address. "This BTC was originally seized from narcotics trafficker Banmeet Singh, and forfeited at trial in January 2024," the post said. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Binance enforces stricter measures against account misuse: Binance has enhanced monitoring of all account usage and related activities. The platform encourages users to report any suspected incidents of misuse and offers a reward for verified cases. (CoinTelegraph)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Switzerland extends CBDC trial by 2 years after promising early results: After nearly nine months of experimenting with a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), the Swiss National Bank (SNB) has announced an extension of the pilot to explore new use cases and expand the scope. “Pioneering the use of wholesale central bank digital currency goes beyond enhancing the efficiency and security of financial transactions,” said SIX CEO Jos Dijsselhof. “This project underscores our commitment to innovation and cements Switzerland’s position at the forefront of digital asset adoption in capital markets.” (CoinGeek)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Denmark farmers will soon pay taxes based on how much their livestock farts: Denmark farmers will soon have to pay an extra tax for their livestock’s farts — making it the first country to implement such a measure to target global warming-inducing methane emissions. The gassy tax will apply to cows, sheep and pigs starting in 2030. Under the new law, Denmark hopes to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels by 2030. (NYT)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. CISA Warns of Exploited GeoServer, Linux Kernel, and Roundcube Vulnerabilities: The US cybersecurity agency CISA on Wednesday raised the alarm on threat actors exploiting known vulnerabilities in GeoServer, the Linux kernel, and Roundcube Webmail. (SecurityWeek)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. El Salvador’s national Bitcoin chief has been orange-pilling Argentina: The appointed President of El Salvador’s newly created National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD), Juan Carlos Reyes who was introduced to Bitcoin in 2013, it was a mission that he had been on from an early age. There have been considerable upsides to El Salvador embracing Bitcoin, with the South American nation’s almost 6,000 Bitcoin stack benefiting from the surge in Bitcoin prices, as well as a surge of “crypto tourists” who have come to El Salvador to see things for themselves. But it has not been smooth sailing since El Salvador decided to accept Bitcoin as legal tender, with international bodies fighting the move. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 40/100 (Down 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Some days the news simply highlights the struggle between centralized and decentralized power. The livestock tax in Denmark, CBDCs worldwide, and of course the US Presidential debate tonight all show the human nature to gather more and more power from others. Meanwhile, efforts such as grassroots protests, decentralized ledgers and freedom technology all show humanity's desire to self-regulate with liberty to choose what's best for them. The doctrines and methods of power accumulation are well known and tested, while those of decentralized power continue to evolve and strong proponents are few.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-06-26 14:34:36

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 849,561
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 26Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Kenyan Police Deploy to Haiti / Ultra-Orthodox Now Drafted in Israel / 12-Year Old Girl Killed by Venezuelan Immigrants in Houston / Congress Says CIA Interfered in 2020 Election / Bitcoin Proposed as Tax Payment in US Bill / White House Hires Crypto Advisor / Thailand Applies for BRICS Membership / 'Wrench Attacker' Convicted in NC / Metallica's X Account Hacked for Crypto / Bitcoiner Donates 8 BTC For Assange Debts
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,455, 26.54 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $62,434 / Lo: $60,968
Vol: $26B (Down 31%)
Mkt Cap: $1.21T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 529 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 26 sats/vBtye (Up 32%)
Nodes: 19,291
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Haitians wary as Kenyan police arrive on latest US-backed mission: Hundreds of Kenyan police officers have arrived in Haiti as part of a US-backed security intervention aiming to rescue the Caribbean country from a criminal insurrection that toppled the prime minister and brought death and chaos to the streets. Kenyan news reports suggest they will be responsible for defending key infrastructure including the airport, the port, the presidential palace, and the gang-controlled highways connecting the besieged capital with the rest of Haiti. (TheGuardian)
2. Israel's Supreme Court rules ultra-Orthodox men must serve in military in unanimous decision: Ultra-Orthodox men have long been exempt from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish men and women. Critics, however, say the bill was proposed before the war and does not do enough to address the shortage of forces as the army attempts to maintain its troops in the Gaza Strip while also preparing for potential war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Fox)
-US Events-
1. Killing of Texas Girl Becomes a New Immigration Flashpoint: The killing of a 12-year-old Houston girl, found last week in the shallow water of a city drainage ditch after having been raped and strangled, was already a horrific crime. Investigators arrested two recent Venezuelan migrants and charged them with killing the girl, Jocelyn Nungaray. The second of the two appeared in court on Tuesday; both were being held on a $10 million bond. (NYT)
2. Congressional Report: CIA Interfered in 2020 Election, Colluded with Biden Campaign to Discredit Hunter Biden Laptop Story: In 2020, 51 ex-spies signed an infamous letter that called reporting on Hunter’s laptop “Russian disinformation” ahead of the election. Current Secretary of State Antony Blinken allegedly coordinated the story for political purposes. The House Judiciary report on Monday alleged three key facts about the CIA’s involvement in the 2020 election: 1. High ranking CIA officials, up to and including then-CIA Director Gina Haspel, were made aware of the Hunter Biden statement prior to its approval and publication. 2. Some of the statement’s signatories, including Michael Morell, were on active contract with the CIA at the time of the Hunter Biden statement’s publication. 3. After publication of the Hunter Biden statement, CIA employees internally expressed concern about the statement’s politicized content, acknowledging it was not “helpful to the Agency in the long run.” (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Bitcoin As Federal Tax Payment Method? Congressman Presents New Legislation: Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is set to introduce a new bill allowing federal income tax payments to be made using Bitcoin (BTC). Gaetz believes that by allowing taxpayers to utilize Bitcoin for their federal tax obligations, the country can foster innovation, enhance efficiency, and provide greater flexibility to American citizens. This move by Gaetz follows his recent visit to El Salvador to attend President Nayib Bukele’s second inauguration, where the country became the first nation to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. (Bitcoinist) (AC- Contentious issue that requires sound debate.)
2. White House Rehires Adviser Who Helped Develop Biden's Executive Order on Crypto: The White House has rehired Carole House, who helped develop President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets, as Special Advisor for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Policy at the National Security Council. Previously, House worked at the U.S. Treasury’s FinCEN, leading efforts on cybersecurity and virtual currency policy. (BitcoinCom) (AC-The Biden team is building a cryptocurrency plan for the election.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Market eyes max pain prices as $6.6 billion BTC and $3.4 billion ETH options expiry nears: On June 28, BTC options worth $6.6 billion will expire. Deribit data reveals a put/call ratio of 0.53, indicating a bullish sentiment, with total open interest roughly around 107,000 BTC—70,000 in calls and 37,000 in puts. (CrytoSlate)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. BRICS attracts more cross border CBDC proponents with Thailand’s application: Thailand has applied for BRICS membership. The country initiated the mBridge cross border central bank digital currency project along with Hong Kong. Apart from Hong Kong, all other central bank mBridge members are also part of BRICS — China, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. (LegderInsights)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar at 2-Month High: The dollar index edged up to 105.8 on Wednesday, a high level not seen in about two months, as traders assess the monetary outlook while digesting comments from Fed officials and awaiting the key PCE inflation on Friday. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Home Prices Rise More Than Expected: The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index in the US rose 7.2% yoy in April 2024, easing from an upwardly revised 7.5% increase in March, but above forecasts of 6.9%. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Florida man convicted in cryptocurrency theft home invasions: A federal jury in Greensboro, North Carolina, has convicted Remy St. Felix, 24, of West Palm Beach, Florida, of leading multiple violent home invasions aimed at stealing victims’ cryptocurrencies. St. Felix and his conspirators carried out home invasions across multiple states, including North Carolina, Florida, Texas and New York. Between December 2022 to July 2023, the crime gang used physical violence, kidnapping and threats to intimidate their victims, forcing them to access and transfer their crypto holdings to the perpetrators. One notable incident occurred on April 12, 2023, when St. Felix and his accomplice forcibly entered a home, zip-tied their victims and demanded access to their crypto accounts. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-These so-called 'wrench attacks' are not just theoretical, but an actual threat to bitcoiners. Learn the skills of misdirection, multisig, and low-profile presence in order to deter and defeat a tactic that is sure to increase over time. Also be sure to increase your kinetic force skills and practices to defend your home and family.
2. Metallica’s X account hacked to promote crypto token: The official X account for heavy metal band Metallica was hacked, with the exploiters using the breach to promote a Solana token with the ticker METAL. Metallica’s team appears to have regained control of the account and has deleted all posts mentioning the token. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-Scammers have learned well that this scam pays off. Hack a celebrity social media account and pump an unknown token for a quick ride and cash out, or to misdirect the money to a scammer account.)
-Technology-
1. Cybersecurity Experts are Recommending Passwords Should at Least be 16 Characters Long: According to sources citing Keeper Security experts, a password should contain at least 16 characters. Studies previously revealed that over 45% of passwords can be cracked in less than 60 seconds. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoiner contributes to Julian Assange’s freedom, pays $500K debt in BTC: Assange is required to pay $520,000 to the Australian government for the “forced” chartering of flight VJ199 to travel to Saipan and Australia. The donation link was posted by Stella Assange on June 25, and within 10 hours, an anonymous Bitcoiner paid over 8 Bitcoin to the fund, almost clearing the goal of $520,000. He has also received over 300,000 British pounds ($380,000) in fiat donations so far. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 46/100 (Up 15 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Read up on the most recent attacks against digital asset holders above. Learn to defend yourself as these attacks will certainly increase in number and sophistication.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HkPv.jpg

2024-06-25 20:51:19

Join Bitcoin Veterans LIVE Thursday night at 7pm ET
The guys will recap the Bitcoin Park range day and open house, as well as bring you the latest in current events with their unique perspective
Join us and #GetOnTheMission
https://m.primal.net/Ixlp.jpg

2024-06-25 15:07:28

There’s a war for your digital sovereignty
Bitcoin Veterans are fighting back against digital slavery
Join us and #GetOnTheMission
https://cdn.satellite.earth/e31b4e749f81d3ef1bec6f5fb792b46b2f9541a9e3a2984beab22b552abda5ab.mp4

2024-06-25 14:40:15

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 849,428
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 25Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Julian Assange Freed From Jail / France Heading Toward Hard Shift Right / Iran Prepares For Election / L.A. Protests Draw Criticism / US Surgeon General Targets 'Gun Violence' / Infowars To Shut Down / German Gov to Offload BTC / Louisiana Bills Nixes CBDC, Protect BTC / No Food Inflation in Argentina a First in 30 Years / Strike Continues World Rollout / BTC Dip Opens Opportunity
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,193, 26.22 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,658 / Lo: $58,601
Vol: $38B (Up 47%)
Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Even)
HashRate: 543 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 19 sats/vBtye (Up 9%)
Nodes: 18,536
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Julian Assange freed from jail after plea deal with US: Julian Assange was freed from a London prison on Monday after more than five years and will not be extradited to the United States after agreeing to a plea deal with authorities. The WikiLeaks founder agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose U.S. national defense information. In return, he is likely to be sentenced to five years and three months time served, which he has spent in London’s Belmarsh Prison since being jailed there in April 2019. He has since boarded a plane bound for his native Australia. (CoinTelegraph)
2. French snap elections: Emmanuel Macron claims 'extremes' could lead 'to civil war': Five days before the snap elections in France, the far-right National Rally (RN) leads the polls on 36%, followed by the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (27%). French President Macron's party is trailing, polling at 20%. (EuroNews)
3. Iran’s presidential election dominated by Khamenei loyalists: Iranians choose a president on Friday in a tightly controlled election following Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash last month, with the outcome expected to influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top decision-maker. The Guardian Council, a hardline vetting body of clerics and jurists aligned to Khamenei, has approved five hardliners and one low-profile moderate candidate from an initial pool of 80. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Officials talk of restricting masks at protests after violence outside L.A. synagogue: The violent protest Sunday at a synagogue has prompted Mayor Karen Bass to say Los Angeles should consider rules governing demonstrations and the wearing of masks by those protesting. (LATimes)
2. US surgeon general calls for ‘collective commitment’ to stop gun violence in the United States: Gun violence in the United States is an urgent public health crisis that demands the “collective commitment of the nation” to stop it, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says in a new advisory released Tuesday. It’s the first time a publication from the Office of the Surgeon General has focused on firearm violence and its “profound consequences” on survivors, communities, and mental health. (CNNHealth)
3. Bankruptcy trustee discloses plan to shut down Alex Jones’ Infowars and liquidate assets: A U.S. bankruptcy court trustee is planning to shut down conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars media platform and liquidate its assets to help pay the $1.5 billion in lawsuit judgments Jones owes for repeatedly calling the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. German gov’t offloads 900 Bitcoin, with 400 BTC sent to Coinbase and Kraken: A “German Government (BKA)” labeled cryptocurrency wallet has sold over $54 million worth of Bitcoin. Following today’s transfers, the wallet still holds 46,359 Bitcoin, according to Arkham Intelligence. (CoinTelegraph)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Louisiana Shields Crypto, Rejects CBDC: In a decisive legislative move, the state of Louisiana has amended its laws to impose a ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) while establishing stringent regulations for digital asset miners and node operators. These new stipulations, incorporated into the Blockchain Basics Act, are slated to come into effect in August 2024. (Coinfomania) (AC-Well done @Dennis_Porter_ and Satoshi Action Fund!)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bitcoin Breaks Below $60K Level on ETF Outflows: Bitcoin broke below $60,000 at the start of the week before recouping some losses, sinking to its lowest levels in nearly two months amid steady outflows from Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds. Industry data showed that US Bitcoin ETFs saw a net outflow of more than $500 million last week and a total of $1.1 billion over the past two weeks. Significant outflows were also recorded in Bitcoin ETFs based in Canada, Germany and Hong Kong, while those in Brazil and Switzerland experienced net inflows. (tradingEconomics)
2. Argentina Logs First Week with No Inflation in Food Prices in 30 Years: For the first time in 30 years, Argentina experienced a zero-percent increase in the inflation rates of food and drinks during the third week of June, President Javier Milei confirmed on Monday morning. (Breitbart)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. BlackSuit Cybercrime Gang Blamed in CDK Hack That Roiled Car Dealers: A hacking group called BlackSuit is behind the cyberattack on CDK Global that’s paralyzed car sales across the US, according to Allan Liska, a threat analyst at the security firm Recorded Future Inc. The cybercrime group has demanded an extortion fee in the tens of millions of dollars from CDK, which plans to make the payment. (YahooFinance)
-Technology-
1. Microsoft Hit With EU Antitrust Charges Over Teams: The European Union charged Microsoft with antitrust violations related to the company’s bundling of its Teams collaboration tool with Office 365 and Microsoft 365. If the commission concludes the company breached antitrust rules, Microsoft could face a fine of up to 10% of its global annual revenue. (WSJ)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Payments App Strike Enters UK as Global Expansion Rolls Out: Strike, the payments application that uses the Bitcoin blockchain, has started U.K. operations expanding its global reach just months after rolling out in Europe and Africa. The payments firm has been expanding aggressively and now operates in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Down 21 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Interesting drop from 'greed' to 'fear' in the greed/fear index today. Now that owners of bitcoin are not only bitcoin plebs, cypherpunks and insightful whales, but now also institutions, government entities, and general investors, there is now a higher correlation to mainstream financial narratives and world events. In other words, media reports and social media seem to have a higher impact on bitcoin price. Although bitcoiners continue to buy the dips there is a lot more institutional money yielding more power in the price action recently. It seems Bitcoin continues to evolve in society.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IxVg.jpg

2024-06-24 14:31:26

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 849,295
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 24Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Coordinated Terror Attack in Dagestan Kills 19 / IDF to Shift from Hamas to Hezbollah / US Military Looks for Re-Entrance in Africa / Senseless Shooting in Arkansas / Hiker in CA Found After 10 Days / MiCa Regs in UK Affecting Stablecoins / Mt Gox to Return BTC in July / IMF Stumping for CBDCs / Apple, Meta Meet Over AI Integration /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,370, 26.23 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $64,382 / Lo: $60,675
Vol: $25B (Up 216%)
Mkt Cap: $1.21T (Down 5%)
HashRate: 614 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 17 sats/vBtye (Up 51%)
Nodes: 19,501
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Nineteen reported killed in synagogue, church attacks in Russia’s Dagestan: The death toll from the attacks in the restive Russian region has risen to 19 people, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Monday. At least 15 police officers died alongside several civilians, including an Orthodox priest. Five attackers were also reported to have been “liquidated”. At least 12 people were also injured in the attacks, which took place in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala on Sunday, the festival of Pentecost for the Russian Orthodox Church. (ALJazeera)
2. ‘Intense phase of war with Hamas about to end,’ focus to shift to Lebanon border, Netanyahu says: Netanyahu, however, vowed that Israel would continue operating in Gaza until the militant group Hamas was eliminated. Israeli officials have told the US they were planning to shift resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel in preparation for a possible offensive against the group, US officials told CNN on Wednesday. The implications of a wider war between Israel and Hezbollah could be devastating, a senior US official previously told CNN. (CNN)
3. US military looks for West Africa 'Plan B' after Niger ousting: Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters before landing in Botswana on Monday for a gathering of African chiefs of defense that he was going to speak with several partners in the region. "I do see some opportunities. And there's countries that we're already working with in West Africa," Brown told reporters. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Arkansas grocery store shooter was armed with pistol, 12-gauge shotgun and dozens of extra rounds, authorities say: The man, identified by police as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey, opened fire at the Mad Butcher in Fordyce on Friday, killing four people ranging in age from 23 to 81 years old and wounding nine others. Authorities believe the suspect “immediately began engaging victims in the parking lot after exiting his truck and then proceeded into the store,” according to Hagar. Once inside the Mad Butcher, the suspect “was firing indiscriminately at both customers and employees,” Hagar said. Posey was “treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement” and arrested. (CNN)
2. Hiker lost for 10 days found alive in Northern California mountains: Lukas McClish, 34, disappeared on June 11 after setting off on a hike in Boulder Creek, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said. He was found yelling for help 10 days later in a remote canyon in Big Basin State Park. McClish said that he had left his home in Boulder Creek with few supplies, believing he was only going for a three-hour hike before getting lost in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I left with just a pair of pants, and my pair of hiking shoes, and a hat. I had a flashlight, and a pair of folding scissors, like a Leatherman tool. And that was about it," McClish told KGO-TV. (Fox)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Uphold to delist USDT and 5 stablecoins by July 1, citing EU's MiCA Regulation: Apart from Uphold, other major crypto exchanges, including Binance, Kraken and OKX, also tweaked their stablecoin listing policies to comply with MiCA regulations. Stablecoin issuers in the EU must hold licenses as credit institutions or Electronic Money Institutions under the MiCA framework.(CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Mt. Gox to Begin Repayments in July: The defunct crypto exchange is supposed to return over 140,000 bitcoin to victims of the 2014 hack. (CoinDesk)
2. Billionaire Tech CEO Michael Dell Signals Bitcoin Interest Via Michael Saylor Retweet: It started Thursday when Dell posted, "Scarcity creates value." That prompted a reply from Saylor, the executive chairman of MicroStrategy (MSTR), saying, "Bitcoin is Digital Scarcity," which Dell then reposted. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. BRICS: CBDC’s Will Boost Financial Inclusion in the Middle East, Says IMF: The IMF confirmed in the latest blog that CBDCs can boost financial inclusion and payment efficiency among BRICS countries. Even countries in the Middle East can benefit from the development and usher robust growth in the financial sector. “19 countries, including Bahrain, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, and (BRICS member) UAE, are in the advanced ‘proof-of concept’ stage, with Kazakhstan leading after two pilot programs,” said IMF. (BusinessInsider)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Little Changed: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note was little changed around 4.26% to kick off the last week of June, as traders brace for key PCE inflation data and comments from several Fed officials due this week to assess the monetary policy outlook. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. A Catastrophic Hospital Hack Ends in a Leak of 300M Patient Records: The rolling series of breaches targeting customers of cloud platform Snowflake appears to be a supply chain attack wrapped in another supply chain attack. Ultimately, the breach of the Snowflake customer accounts, which include Ticketmaster, banking firm Santander, and potentially more than 160 other companies, was possible because their Snowflake accounts did not have multifactor authentication enabled. (Wired)
-Technology-
1. Apple, Meta in Talks for AI Partnership, Models Coming to iOS 18's Apple Intelligence: It would be the first time Apple and Meta would collaborate after facing tumultuous years of tech rivalry. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Japan’s Metaplanet plans 1B yen bond sale to buy more Bitcoin: The planned purchase would add to its current crypto stack, which hit 141.07 BTC after Metaplanet said on June 11 that it scooped 23.25 BTC. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 51/100 (Down 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-06-21 18:28:47

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with Senator Blackburn about Bitcoin and fully support her fight against CBDCs
A big thank you to everyone at @npub1the…4dha for facilitating this opportunity and to meet with representatives of Senator Hagerty, Gov Bill Lee, and AG Skrmetti
Tennessee is becoming a hub for #bitcoin. Looking forward to all the Bitcoiners who will be in Nashville next month for @npub1rwh…7avv
https://m.primal.net/Isvl.jpg

2024-06-21 18:09:00

We had an amazing time at the range with some of the members of @npub1the…4dha
We need to make sure these Big Brained MFers know how to protect themselves. This was the first of many training events to come!
Big thank you to Dan and Cindy from Dustoff Ranch for letting us use their facilities and providing us with some AMAZING brisket. You guys are the best!!
https://m.primal.net/Isuq.jpg

2024-06-21 15:06:21

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 848,894
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 21Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: South Korea May Send Weapons to Ukraine / China Using Blades on Philippine Rubber Boats / Missouri AG Sues NY Over Trump Lawfare / Oakland Mayor Raided by FBI / SCOTUS Rules IRS Can Tax OCONUS / US Lawmaker Visit Binance Exec in Nigerian Prison / Winklevii Give $2M to Trump / SEC Backing off on Ripple / Outflow from BTC ETFs Continues / Tencent Joins mBridge CBDC Project / US Car Dealership Hacked
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $63,753, 26.93 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $66,451 / Lo: $63,529
Vol: $27B (Up 36%)
Mkt Cap: $1.26T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 592 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 11 sats/vBtye (Down 48%)
Nodes: 18,600
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. South Korea to consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Putin-Kim pact: “We will reconsider the issue of supplying weapons to Ukraine,” South Korean national security adviser Chang Ho-jin told reporters late on Thursday after Putin, who visited Pyongyang for the first time in more than 20 years, said he would consider supplying high-precision weapons to North Korea. (FT)
2.‘Only pirates do this’: Philippines accuses China of using bladed weapons in major South China Sea escalation: Footage released by the Philippine military on Thursday showed Chinese coast guard officers brandishing an axe and other bladed or pointed tools at the Filipino soldiers and slashing their rubber boat, in what Manila called “a brazen act of aggression.” (CNN)
3. NATO hopes to Trump-proof the alliance with new chief Mark Rutte. It could backfire: The Biden administration got its way when outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte secured the support of all 32 NATO allies for the alliance’s top political post. Rutte, whose center-right politics in Europe would put him to the left of many mainstream Democrats, is known for his pragmatism, his skill for building coalitions and his staunch transatlantic views. (Politico)
-US Events-
1. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey Will Sue New York for ‘Lawfare Against President Trump’: “I will be filing suit against the State of New York for their direct attack on our democratic process through unconstitutional lawfare against President Trump. It’s time to restore the rule of law,” Bailey announced on X. “We have to fight back against a rogue prosecutor who is trying to take a presidential candidate off the campaign trail. It sabotages Missourians’ right to a free and fair election,” he added. (Breitbart)
2. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home raided by FBI agents; feds target other locations: Just after 10 a.m., several FBI agents emerged from the home carrying boxes as news crews staked out positions across the street. It was unclear what the agents were seeking or what was seized. (CBS)
3. Justices uphold Trump tax on overseas investments in win for Biden: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a Trump-era tax on overseas investments, rejecting an argument from a Washington state couple in a case that could have jeopardized existing tax provisions and torpedoed Democratic talk of a wealth tax. A 7-2 majority upheld the tax, though several justices offered differing rationales. (CNN)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. U.S. Lawmakers Visit Detained Binance Exec in Nigeria, Call for Release: U.S. lawmakers Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) visited Tigran Gambaryan in a Nigerian prison on Wednesday as the Binance executive remains incarcerated facing money-laundering charges due to his involvement with the crypto exchange. Hill said Gambaryan, who has been held since arriving in February for talks with the government, is suffering from malaria and double pneumonia. (CoinDesk)
2. Winklevoss Twins Say They Each Gave $1 Million to Trump Presidential Campaign: The Winklevoss brothers have become two of the first big-name crypto CEOs to cross the campaign-contribution barrier that had kept big-time donations from the presidential race. (CoinDesk)
3. Multiple US States Have Revoked Binance US Crypto Licenses: Multiple U.S. states have revoked or declined to renew Binance US money transmitter licenses due to compliance issues and legal troubles involving former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ). “North Dakota joins Alaska, Florida, Maine, North Carolina, and Oregon who have taken similar actions to revoke or deny the renewal of BAM Trading Services’ Money Transmission License,” North Dakota’s financial regulator stated.(BitcoinCom)
4. SEC Leaning Towards Not Appealing Ripple Ruling, Citing Strategic Risks: The latest development in the market suggests that the long-going Ripple vs SEC lawsuit might be nearing its end soon. One recent report suggests that the U.S. SEC might not appeal the recent summary judgment of Judge Analisa Torres that partially favors Ripple Labs. This hints at a major strategic shift with the SEC likely trying to avoid any further escalation of the case in the higher court. (CryptoNews)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US spot bitcoin ETFs shed $140 million as fund exit continues: Grayscale’s GBTC led the pack yesterday with a daily net outflow of $53 million, closely followed by Fidelity’s FBTC, which posted outflows of $51 million, according to data from SoSoValue. Bitwise’s BITB reported $32 million in net outflows, while VanEck’s ETF logged net outflows of $4 million. The fund from Invesco and Galaxy Digital saw $2 million in net outflows. (TheBlock)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Tencent participates in China’s mBridge CBDC cross payment solution: Tencent is one of nine institutions that has participated on the Chinese side of the mBridge cross border central bank digital currency (CBDC) solution that recently launched a minimum viable product (MVP). Tencent owns WeChat Pay, China’s largest mobile payment app with 1.1 billion monthly active users. mBridge leverages wholesale CBDCs from the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE, with Saudi Arabia joining earlier this month. The BIS Innovation Hub coordinates the project and aims to enable cheaper, faster cross border payments. (LedgerInsights) (AC- With the BIS, China and now Saudi Arabia joining the mBridge project, technology partners are needed. Tencent, via WeChat Pay, is a strong addition to the project.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Mortgage Rates Fall to 2-Month Low: The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage fell by 8bps from the previous week to 6.87% as of June 20th, the lowest in two months, according to Freddie Mac. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Current Account Gap Highest in 7 Quarters: The US current account deficit increased by $15.8 billion to $237.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024, equivalent to 3.4% of GDP, and falling short of market expectations of a $206.4 billion gap. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Disruptions at Many Car Dealerships Continue as CDK Hack Worsens: Car dealerships across the United States will likely have to deal with disruptions for several more days after software provider CDK Global detected an additional cyber incident. The company provides dealer management, retail, customer relationship management, finance and insurance, network and communication, and intelligence services. (SecurityWeek)
-Technology-
1. Japan Aims to Become Most AI-Friendly Nation, Countering EU Regulations: Japan is promoting itself as the most AI-friendly nation to lure investments from Europe and beyond with its regulation-light strategy. While the EU just passed the AI Act, the world's first comprehensive AI law, Japan's AI Strategic Council, which leads talks, favors regulations led by the tech industry, as reported by Nikkei Asia. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Marathon Uses Bitcoin Mining To Heat Town of 11,000 in Finland: Today, Marathon Digital Holdings has launched an innovative pilot project to recycle heat generated from Bitcoin mining to warm a community in Finland. The 2-megawatt data center, energized at the end of May, is located in the Satakunta region, home to 11,000 residents. (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 63/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-06-20 14:28:36

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 848,751
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 20Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Top Israeli Military Leader Says Hamas Cannot Be Defeated / Putin Continues Asia Tour in Vietnam / Texas Prepares for Tropical Storm Alberto / Louisiana Mandates Ten Commandments Display / Bitcoin Holdings Raise Questions / US Economy Showing More Weakness / BoE Claims 2% Inflation Victory / Bitcoin On Horizon for Major Wirehouses and Banks /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,128, 28.32 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $66,451 / Lo: $64,693
Vol: $18.8B (Down 42%)
Mkt Cap: $1.292T (Up 2.92%)
HashRate: 513 EH/s
Avg Fees: 14 Sats/vByte (Down 52%)
Nodes: 19,492
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Top Israeli Military Leader Says Hamas Cannot Be Defeated: The Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated that eliminating Hamas, which he described as "an idea," is not possible and suggesting otherwise misleads the public. This perspective highlights a rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains committed to the war in Gaza with the stated goal of destroying Hamas' capabilities. This discord follows Netanyahu's dissolution of his war Cabinet after Benny Gantz's resignation and underscores the lack of a clear postwar plan for Gaza, a point of criticism from both domestic and international observers. The conflict, ongoing for 257 days, has seen significant casualties and global criticism, with the United States expressing skepticism about the feasibility of fully eliminating Hamas. (NBC News)
2. Putin Continues Asia Tour in Vietnam: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking the second stop of his East Asian tour, following a visit to North Korea which saw the two nations sign a defensive pact. The visit underscores Russia's ongoing diplomatic support in the region, despite criticism from the United States, which views it as an opportunity for Putin to promote his war in Ukraine. Vietnam values its historic ties with Russia and maintains a complex diplomatic stance by abstaining from UN resolutions condemning Russia while fostering relationships with both Ukraine and Western nations. As Vietnam continues its "bamboo diplomacy," balancing relationships without formal alliances, it remains to be seen how long it will maintain its camaraderie with Putin, given its gradual shift away from reliance on Russian military equipment and internal political shifts. (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Texas Prepares for Tropical Storm Alberto: Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 51 counties in anticipation of Tropical Storm Alberto, expected to bring heavy rains and coastal flooding through Thursday. The National Weather Service forecasts the storm to make landfall in Mexico, with significant impacts extending into southern Texas. Tropical-storm-force winds, storm surge, and flooding are already affecting the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, rendering many roadways impassable. Forecasters predict an aggressive Atlantic hurricane season influenced by a record-warm North Atlantic Ocean Basin and La Niña, potentially resulting in numerous powerful storms. (Axios)
2. Louisiana Mandates Ten Commandments Display: Louisiana has become the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, from kindergarten to state-funded universities, under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. The legislation, part of a conservative agenda pushed by the GOP-dominated Legislature, requires posters with the Ten Commandments in "large, easily readable font" and a context statement detailing their historical significance, to be in place by the start of 2025, funded through donations. Opponents argue the law is unconstitutional and violates the separation of church and state, setting up a likely challenge in court. Proponents claim the measure has historical importance and serves as a moral foundation, reflecting broader conservative efforts within the state. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin Holdings Raise Questions: The increasing bitcoin holdings by major institutions like BlackRock and Fidelity, nearing 500,000 bitcoins, have stirred concerns within the crypto community. In a discussion on "The Wolf of All Streets" podcast, Austin Arnold from Altcoin Daily highlighted the inevitability of institutional involvement for mass adoption, noting that bitcoin's current price around $65,000 is seen as de-risked due to regulatory clarity and the approval of bitcoin ETFs by the U.S. SEC. Arnold emphasized the global reach of these ETFs and their political significance, suggesting they reflect growing international and political interest in bitcoin. While concerns about market manipulation persist, Arnold reassured that the bitcoins held by these ETFs are custodied for clients, not directly controlled by the institutions, underscoring the need for retail investor education. (The Street)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1.: US Economy Showing More Weakness: The U.S. economy is showing signs of weakness as consumer spending, a crucial driver of growth, begins to slow amid persistent inflation and a softening job market. Retail sales saw only a modest gain in May, with downward revisions for March and April, raising concerns about a potential slowdown. Inflation continues to pressure spending despite high interest rates, and declining sales in key sectors like gasoline and home furnishings indicate consumer belt-tightening. Additionally, signs of a weakening labor market, with reduced wage premiums and potential declines in hiring, suggest challenges ahead for maintaining economic momentum. (The Street)
2. BoE Claims 2% Inflation Victory: UK inflation reached the Bank of England's 2% target in May for the first time since 2021, though underlying price pressures remain strong, potentially delaying any pre-election interest rate cuts. Services price inflation, a key indicator for the BoE, was at 5.7%, higher than expected, suggesting ongoing inflationary risks. The drop in headline inflation from 2.3% in April was significant but came too late to influence upcoming elections or prompt a rate cut. Despite the inflation drop, driven by lower energy bills and food prices, the BoE is cautious about cutting rates due to persistent domestic price pressures and elevated pay growth. (Reuters)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin On Horizon for Major Wirehouses and Banks: Bernstein analysts predict that spot Bitcoin ETFs are close to approval at major wirehouses and private banks, which they believe will significantly boost adoption. They maintain a $200,000 price target for Bitcoin by the end of 2025, citing the institutional basis trade as a key driver for future net long positions. Despite some bearish arguments, analysts point to the increasing comfort with ETF liquidity and the potential for substantial advisor-driven demand. Additionally, new FASB guidelines are expected to encourage corporate treasury adoption, adding to the incremental demand for Bitcoin ETFs in 2024. (The Block)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 60/100 (Down 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Study bitcoin.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2B
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IGMv.jpg

2024-06-19 14:36:19

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 848,628
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 19Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Israel Approves Plans for Lebanese Offense / Putin Receives Warm Reception in North Korea / Israeli Intelligence Faces Internal Scrutiny / Biden Pushes Path to Citizenship Plans / New Mexico Declares State of Emergency / SEC Ends ETH 2.0 Investigation / Bank of Thailand Considers CBDC / US Budget Deficit Continues to Rise / Business Bankruptcies and Closures Increase / Summer Temps to Impact Bitcoin Hashrate /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $65,114, 28.13 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $65,786 / Lo: $64,066
Vol: $34.5B (Down 4%)
Mkt Cap: $1.292T (Up 2.92%)
HashRate: 640 EH/s
Avg Fees: 29 Sats/vByte (Up 21%)
Nodes: 19,503
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israel Approves Plans for Lebanese Offensive: The Israeli military has approved plans for an offensive in Lebanon amid escalating daily clashes with Hezbollah, which have displaced tens of thousands and caused casualties on both sides. The conflict intensified following Hezbollah's rocket attacks in response to Israel's killing of a group commander. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the US to de-escalate the situation, Israeli officials have expressed readiness for military action. Hezbollah's recent release of surveillance footage of Israeli sites has further heightened tensions, with Israeli leaders warning of severe consequences if conflict erupts. (Financial Times)
2. Putin Receives Warm Reception in North Korea: As reported yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin received a warm welcome in Pyongyang where he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to strengthen their partnership in the face of U.S. pressure. The lavish reception included an honor guard, cheering crowds, and adorned streets. During the summit, both leaders praised each other's resistance to U.S. policies, with Putin highlighting North Korea's support for Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. The visit underscores the deepening ties between the two nations, with discussions on economic cooperation and a potential strategic partnership treaty, signaling strengthening regional alliances. (Reuters)
3. Israeli Intelligence Faces Internal Scrutiny: The IDF and Unit 8200 are facing internal investigations over the mishandling of an intelligence document detailing Hamas's raid plans, leading to significant embarrassment and an investigation into security lapses. The document, distributed by Unit 8200 on September 19, 2023, outlined Hamas's exercises for raiding Israeli military posts and kidnapping civilians but was not properly processed or escalated to senior officials. This oversight became evident when the document was discovered by a Gaza Division intelligence officer on October 1, who failed to inform senior commanders. The mishandling of this critical information, despite its importance being known to top intelligence leadership, is being investigated, with initial findings expected to be presented to the Chief of Staff soon. (The Jerusalem Post)
-US Events-
1. Biden Pushes Path to Citizenship Plans: President Joe Biden has unveiled a sweeping new plan to offer potential citizenship to almost half a million “immigrants without legal status” in the U.S., focusing on spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for over ten years. This plan would provide protection and work permits to eligible individuals. The plan, announced during an event marking the 12th anniversary of the DACA program, looks to rouse support for the President in an election year which sees Hispanic support moving towards the GOP. Republicans have criticized the plan as a "mass amnesty," while advocates believe it will energize support for Biden's reelection. (AP)
2. New Mexico Declares State of Emergency: Following up on yesterday’s reporting, a wildfire in southern New Mexico has killed at least one person and forced thousands to flee from the village of Ruidoso, prompting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare a state of emergency. The fire has destroyed or damaged over 500 structures, and strong winds continue to challenge firefighting efforts. Many evacuees have fled to nearby Roswell. The governor has deployed National Guard troops and a top-level fire management team to the area, emphasizing the ongoing danger as the fires, which have burned over 31 square miles, remain uncontained. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. SEC Ends ETH 2.0 Investigation: Ethereum's price surged following Consensys' announcement that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped its investigation into whether ETH is a security. The news led to a price increase, with ETH reaching $3,541 shortly after the announcement. This development reduces concerns among some investors over potential securities law violations. This follows the SEC's recent approval of spot Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S., further highlighting a shift in regulatory attitudes towards the crypto space. (Cointelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Bank of Thailand Pushes CBDC: The Bank of Thailand is reportedly increasing its gold reserves to support a de-dollarized trading system powered by a central bank digital currency (CBDC), according to gold market analyst Jan Nieuwenhuijs. Nieuwenhuijs suggests that the Bank's persistent gold purchases are aimed at addressing trade imbalances through the Mbridge project, a CBDC-driven cross-border settlement system. Thailand has been a net importer of gold since October 2023, with purchases continuing despite varying gold prices. This move aligns with the recent bilateral currency agreement with China and aims to stabilize the new trading system by recycling surpluses into gold, promoting de-dollarization. (BitcoinCom)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Budget Deficit Continues to Rise: The U.S. budget deficit for fiscal 2024 is projected to rise to $1.915 trillion, primarily due to increased spending on student loan relief, Medicaid, bank failure resolutions, and aid to Ukraine and Israel. This marks a 27% increase over previous estimates and follows a significant deficit from the previous year. The Congressional Budget Office also predicts the deficit will further increase to $1.938 trillion in fiscal 2025. Contributing factors include legislative changes and rising interest and healthcare costs, despite a stronger economic outlook and reduced long-term deficits from increased immigration. (Reuters)
2. Business Bankruptcies and Closures Increase: Amid rising inflation, an increasing number of companies are declaring bankruptcy and closing operations, leading to nearly 3,200 store closures in 2024, according to CoreSight Research. This represents a 24% increase from the previous year, with notable closures from retailers such as Family Dollar, Tupperware, Rue21, and 99 Cents Only. The economic strain is compounded by retail theft, higher operating costs, and a surge in consumer debt, with credit card delinquencies on the rise. A poll by The Center Square Voters’ Voice indicates that inflation and the economy are top concerns for voters across political affiliations. (New York Post)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Summer Temps to Impact Bitcoin Hashrate: Bitcoin's hashrate may decline during the North American summer as miners reduce operations due to extreme heatwaves. The reduced competition could provide some relief to miners already facing profit squeezes since the halving. The seasonal slowdown, driven by the need for cooling and increased residential energy consumption, has historically resulted in lower hashrate and mining difficulty. This trend, particularly affecting miners in the U.S., could lead to a decrease in hashrate growth, offering some miners a temporary respite from intense competition. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 64/100 (Down 10 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Study bitcoin.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2B
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZQ.jpg

2024-06-18 14:57:38

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 848,472
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 18Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Putin, Kim Meet in NK / Chinese-Philippine Ships Collide in Spratly Islands / Ukraine Hits Azov Region in Russia With Drones / New Mexico Fire Threatens Town / Federal Judge Stays Iowa Immigration Law / Biden Admin to Allow Spouses of US Cits Legal Status / Why is the US Dollar still the King? / Stocks Hit New Highs
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $65,363, 28.24 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $67,252 / Lo: $64,252
Vol: $36B (Up 83%)
Mkt Cap: $1.29T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 549 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 23 sats/vBtye (Up 93%)
Nodes: 19,479
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Before his summit with North Korea’s Kim, Putin vows they’ll beat sanctions together: Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for supporting his actions in Ukraine and said their countries will cooperate closely to overcome U.S.-led sanctions as he headed to Pyongyang on Tuesday for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Putin also said Russia and North Korea will develop trade and payment systems “that are not controlled by the West” and jointly oppose sanctions against the countries, which he described as “illegal, unilateral restrictions.” (AP)
2. US blasts ‘aggressive’ China over South China Sea collision with Philippine ship: A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly Islands early Monday, according to statements from both nations, which blamed each other for the incident. The incident Monday is the latest in a string of recent confrontations between Manila and Beijing that have raised concerns among Western observers of potentially developing into an international incident if China, a global power, decides to act more forcefully against the Philippines. (CNN)
3. Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Tanks Ablaze in Southern Russia: An overnight drone attack set several oil storage tanks ablaze near the town of Azov in southern Russia on Tuesday, sparking a large fire, local officials said. "Oil product tanks caught fire in Azov as a result of a drone attack. According to preliminary findings, there were no casualties," the Rostov region governor Vasily Golubev said on Telegram. (MoscowTimes)
-US Events-
1. Entire New Mexico village evacuates as a pair of fires converge on it ‘like a pair of tongs,’ official says: A wall of smoke filled the sky over the village of Ruidoso Monday evening as a line of cars snaked out of the community. An estimated 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the village area due to the approaching South Fork Fire. (CNN)
2. Federal judge calls Iowa's immigration law 'not defensible,' grants injunction: A new Iowa law imposing state criminal penalties on undocumented immigrants is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced, a federal judge ruled Monday. (DesMoinesRegister)
3. Biden announces sweeping protections for migrant spouses of US citizens: The DHS will implement a new policy to allow some migrants to apply for lawful permanent resident status, including the non-citizen spouses and children of lawful U.S. permanent residents or citizens. (Fox)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Korean Exchanges Set to Reevaluate Over 600 Listed Virtual Assets: South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges are set to reevaluate more than 600 digital assets, and those failing this process will ultimately be delisted. Once the process is completed, crypto exchanges will be required to conduct maintenance reviews quarterly. The reputation of the issuers and user protection tools are among the factors related to virtual assets that will be reviewed.
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Ethiopia takes first step toward CBDC in economic reform: The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) plans to have a legal framework and regulatory sandbox in place for CBDC introduction “as necessary.” (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Why the Dominance of America’s Currency is Harder Than Ever to Overturn: The U.S. economy is no longer the colossus it once was. It would be no surprise, then, if the dollar were rapidly losing its power. But in fact the opposite is happening: the trends that would be expected to weaken the dollar, many of them driven by U.S. policy, are only strengthening its global dominance. But predictions of the dollar’s demise have greatly exaggerated the currency’s weakness—a fact made clear by its remarkable endurance. (ForeignAffairs) (AC-A well-balanced, if dollar-biased, long article on the current state of the US dollar relative to other currency choices. The bottom line is that the USD is still doing well because the other options are worse, taking into account the 3 principles of a good currency- a unit of account, store of value and medium of exchange.)
2. S&P 500, Nasdaq Rally to Fresh Records: The S&P 500 advanced 0.7% on Monday to close at its 30th record this year and the Nasdaq rallied 0.9% notching its 6th streak closing record while the Dow Jones gained 189 points. The rally was largely fueled by substantial gains in the tech sector, despite a rise in Treasury yields. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Warning: Fake Ripple Stablecoin Scam Targets XRPL Users: Scammers have begun to exploit the hype around Ripple’s anticipated stablecoin launch, circulating a counterfeit Ripple USD (RLUSD) token on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The fraudulent activity comes ahead of the expected release of the official RLUSD, set to compete with heavyweight contenders such as Tether and Circle in the stablecoin market. (BItcoinist)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Largest Telecom Provider in Europe, Deutsche Telekom, Will Begin Mining Bitcoin: "Since 2023 we [have been] running a Bitcoin node and we are running Bitcoin Lightning nodes as well," he stated. Dirk Röder then hinted at an upcoming venture, saying, "And with a heart full of [...] pride, I would like to let you in on a little secret: we will engage in 'digital monetary photosynthesis' soon." (Yahoo)
2. Bitcoin Miners Face 8.4% Profit Decline Amid Falling Hashprice and Market Pressures: In the last three days, bitcoin miners have experienced an 8.4% drop in profits, echoing a decrease in bitcoin prices. Since then, the network’s hashrate has fallen below the 600 exahash per second (EH/s) mark. (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The article in Foreign Affairs today is the second one in a week defending the US Dollar in long-essay form by a major respected publication. Last week Foreign Policy put out an essay called "Don’t Bet Against the Dollar", which has similar observations and analysis. The interesting point is that both articles are free, when articles from these publications are often behind a paywall. Both seem very well-written from economists and on the surface well-balanced. They are good reads for understanding the dynamics of global currency power and why the USD continues its lead among others. They do seem, however, to be stuck in a paradigm that has proven true over the last 60 years and is subject to change. They mention Bitcoin and stablecurrencies and the increasing power they hold, but heavily discount their rise against the dollar. It is certainly contentious when making analysis of a complicated subject as world currency, but the historical bias of USD leadership in the articles should draw suspicion either from narrative influence or change-denial perspectives.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

2024-06-17 14:45:55

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 848,334
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 17Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine Peace Conference Held Without Russia / China Expanding Nuke Arsenal / Netanyahu Disbands War Cabinet / WildFires North of L.A./Heat in Central US / Paul Ryan Pens Support for Stablecoins / Biden Admin to Attend Blockchain Roundtable / El Salvador Brings Bitcoin to Banks / Ripple Continues CBDC Push / Microsoft Pauses "Recall" Rollout /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $65,760, 28.36 oz Gold, .15 Median US House
24hr Hi: $66,894 / Lo: $65,548
Vol: $19B (Up 53%)
Mkt Cap: $1.3T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 661 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 12 sats/vBtye (Down 60%)
Nodes: 18,520
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Kremlin derides outcome of Ukraine talks held without Russia: The Kremlin was commenting on a weekend summit where Western powers and their allies denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine but failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join their final statement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the results of the meeting, to which Russia was not invited, were "close to zero". (Reuters)
2. China pursuing ‘significant’ expansion of nuclear arsenal, report says: Beijing is both growing and modernizing its nuclear arsenal, according to an annual report released Sunday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). China’s military stockpile grew from 410 nuclear warheads last year to 500 as of January, the report found. China is believed to have placed some warheads on a “high operational alert” for the first time, SIPRI found. (WaPo)
3. Netanyahu disbands his inner war cabinet: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet, an Israeli official said on Monday, in a widely expected move that came after the departure from government of the centrist former general Benny Gantz. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Wildfire north of Los Angeles spreads as authorities evacuate 1,200 people: The blaze, named the Post Fire, burned more than 3,600 acres (5.6 square miles or 14.5 square kilometers) near the Interstate 5 freeway in Gorman, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. (Breitbart)
2. Stifling heat wave settles in for the long haul: A heat dome is building in intensity across the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes. It is forecast to shift east-northeastward this week, and potentially peak at record intensity at this time of year for New England. (Axios)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Crypto Could Stave Off a U.S. Debt Crisis: The U.S. is headed toward a predictable yet avoidable debt crisis. If nothing is done, the economy will stall while government promises of healthcare and retirement security will be broken. Cuts to national defense will put the country at risk. We might start by taking stablecoins seriously. Promoting dollar-backed stablecoins would follow a well-trodden path and offer clear near-term benefits. There would be an immediate, durable increase in demand for U.S. debt, which would reduce the risk of a failed debt auction and an attendant crisis. (Fmr Speaker Paul Ryan in WSJ)
2. Salvadoran Government Introduces Bitcoin Banking Law Reform: The Salvadoran government has presented an initiative to accelerate the inclusion of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in its investment banking sector. The banking law reform introduced to the National Assembly would allow private investors to constitute banks that can provide services in Bitcoin and stablecoins for sophisticated investors. (BitcoinCom) (AC-El Salvador leading the charge in making Bitcoin more accessible to all)
3. Biden Administration, Mark Cuban, and Ro Khanna Set for Critical Crypto Roundtable: Members of the Biden administration are reportedly convening for a bitcoin and blockchain roundtable with American entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban. This news comes after presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed to “end Joe Biden’s War on Crypto.” (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. MicroStrategy Increases Convertible Note Offering by 40% to $700M in Bitcoin Splurge: Nasdaq-listed software firm MicroStrategy (MSTR), the largest corporate holder of bitcoin (BTC), increased its convertible note offering by 40% to $700 million and priced it to offer a 2.25% annual yield. (CoinDesk0
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Ripple CEO announces collaborations with 10 governments on CBDCs: Ripple’s influence in the global financial sector is growing. Recently, it was revealed that 80% of banks in Japan have partnered with Ripple for blockchain payment solutions. Moreover, Ripple’s engagement in CBDC pilot programs extends beyond Georgia to include countries such as Colombia, Bhutan, Palau, and Montenegro, demonstrating its role in the worldwide digital transformation of central banking systems.Additionally, Ripple is preparing to introduce its stablecoin, Real USD (RLUSD), which was unveiled at the recent XRP Ledger (XRP) Apex Summit in Amsterdam. (Finbold)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar Hovers Near 6-Week Highs: The dollar index held above 105.5 on Monday, hovering near its highest levels since early May as the Federal Reserve’s updated projections released last week pointed to only one interest rate cut this year, which could come as late as December. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Microsoft Delays Release of Windows Recall Feature Due to Security Concerns: Microsoft has hit the brakes on the release of Windows Recall, a controversial feature that would record all your activities on your PC, taking screenshots of your active screen every few seconds. Well, it looks like Microsoft has finally awakened to just how big of a security risk Recall was set to be, as the company has announced that Recall will no longer be a part of the upcoming Copilot+ PCs. (TechReport)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. These Central Banks Buy Bitcoin, Others Will Soon Follow, Claims Expert: In a space on X that included influential voices from the industry—Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey, alongside analysts Dylan LeClair and Matthew Pines—claims were made that are stirring intense discussions within financial and crypto circles. Bailey, who is serving as one of Trump’s closed Bitcoin advisors, boldly asserted that multiple central banks globally are actively acquiring Bitcoin. After being queried by Fred Krueger about which countries besides El Salvador, David Bailey asserted: “Iran, Bhutan, Venezuela, nobody super impressive. The large government buyers are the sovereign wealth funds.” (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Down 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-06-14 14:30:13

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 847,891
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 14Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Israel-Hezbollah Clashes Intensify / G7 To Lend $50B to Ukraine / NATO Takes Over Ukraine Money Flows / Storms Continue in Sunshine State / New Greenpeace Report Targets Bitcoin Miners and Wall Street / Largest Brazil Bank Opens Bitcoin Trading / US Banks Not Interested in Retail CBDCs / Trezor Launches New Hardware Wallet / US Losing Bitcoin Developers
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,027, 28.72 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,337 / Lo: $66,304
Vol: $26B (Down 27%)
Mkt Cap: $1.32T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 558 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 39 sats/vBtye (Up 18%)
Nodes: 19,391
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Hezbollah-Israel clashes intensify as fears grow of all-out war in Lebanon: The Israeli military said that its air force struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southeast Lebanon’s Deir Seryan. Earlier, the Israeli military said Hezbollah launched 40 projectiles toward northern Israel. Some were intercepted, but others landed and caused fires, the military said in statements. In a widely shared video on social media, Israeli forces were seen using a catapult to launch fireballs into Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in nearly nonstop cross-border exchanges since the Gaza war began last October, but the situation has escalated in recent weeks, leading to increased US concerns about an all-out war between the two. (ALMonitor)
2. G7 leaders agree to lend Ukraine billions backed by Russia’s frozen assets: Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to engineer a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine in its fight for survival. Interest earned on profits from Russia’s frozen central bank assets would be used as collateral. Most of the money would be in the form of a loan mostly guaranteed by the U.S. government, backed by profits being earned on roughly $260 billion in immobilized Russian assets. The vast majority of that money is held in European Union nations. (AP) (AC-Economic warfare usually has unintended consequences. Enter BRICS.)
3. NATO to take over part of US-led Ukraine aid channel: The shift is broadly perceived as a move by European allies to "Trump-proof" the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, given the possibility that former U.S. President Donald Trump could return to the White House in November elections. Trump is seen as likely to roll back U.S. commitments to Kyiv. The contact group mechanism has been firmly under the control of the U.S. Department of Defense since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022. (Politico)
-US Events-
1. Storm-battered Florida braces for a fourth day of floods after downpours transformed roads into canals and stranded drivers: Even as the robust tropical moisture fueling the soaking storms slowly starts to shift out of the area, Friday marks yet another drenching day for South Florida and multiple cities could see more than 2 feet of rain Tuesday through Friday. (CNN)
2. Texas’s Title IX case is about a national abortion ban, not student attendance: A new case out of Texas, brought by Attorney General Ken Paxton for the state of Texas and joined by two University of Texas (UT) Austin professors, broadly challenges the U.S. Department of Education’s interpretation of Title IX — the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education — that is set to go into effect later this summer. The case is generating headlines partly because the two plaintiff professors have declared (in advance) that they will not comply with the Title IX guidance. They lodge a range of complaints about using non-binary gender pronouns and “cross-dressing” teaching assistants, and, notably, students who seek abortions. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Wall Street must be accountable for Bitcoin mining emissions — Greenpeace: The report, titled “Bankrolling Bitcoin Pollution: How Big Finance Supports a New Climate Threat” from the environment-focused NGO, differs from previous Greenpeace papers on the Bitcoin mining industry. The report names Trinity Capital, Stone Ridge Holdings, BlackRock, Vanguard and MassMutual as the top five financiers of carbon pollution from Bitcoin mining companies. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-An
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs See $226M Outflows Led by Fidelity’s FBTC: BlackRock’s IBIT was the only ETF posting a net inflow on Thursday, while most of the funds recorded outflows. (CoinDesk)
2. Brazil’s Biggest Bank, with BRL 2.069 Trillion Assets under Management, Opens Bitcoin (BTC) Trading for Everyone: Itau Unibanco has made a significant expansion in its financial services. The bank has introduced cryptocurrency trading to all customers through its in-house investment platform, Ion. (CryptoNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Do wholesale CBDCs compete with bank services?: Most banks are not keen on retail central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) because they fear it will lure away bank deposits. The recent support by the American Bankers Association for the anti-CBDC Bill is evidence of this. (LedgerInsights) (AC-Good perspective on banker's incentives. Some bankers, however, DO support wholesale CBDCs.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls for 4th Day: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note declined for a fourth consecutive session to 4.21% on Friday, reaching the lowest level since the end of March, as lower-than-expected CPI and PPI and a rise in initial claims increased bets the Fed can deliver multiple rate cuts this year. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Producer Prices Unexpectedly Decline: Factory gate prices in the US went down 0.2% mom in May 2024, compared with market expectations of a 0.1% increase and after a 0.5% rise in April. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology-
1. Trezor launches Safe 5 crypto hardware wallet, including a bitcoin-only version: The firm said the new device will enable users to securely store, manage, stake, and use thousands of cryptocurrencies in one place via the Trezor Suite desktop and mobile app. Unlike rival manufacturer Ledger, Trezor devices are open-source, meaning they are community-based and audited so vulnerabilities may be seen and fixed faster. On the other hand, it may make devices easier to crack when stolen. (TheBlock)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. From Silicon Valley to Global Hubs: US Crypto Developers Shift Overseas: The United States has long been a beacon of technological innovation, but in recent years, it has seen a troubling trend in the cryptocurrency sector. According to a recent report by Coinbase, since 2018, there has been a 26% drop in the proportion of crypto developers based in the US. Responding to this, Bill Morgan suggests that the actions taken by the SEC, particularly under Gensler’s leadership, have not only stifled innovation but also discouraged the broader market. (BItcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): As the G7 countries continue to fight for relevance and political power, the shifts in global alliances are unsettling to a historical observer. All but the Italian leader have the world's lowest popularity scores of developed nations. Ukraine money flows, until now handled by US DoD, is now firmly in NATO's hands, and NATO is not well-known for its administrative prowess. Meanwhile, the BRICs organization continues to grow in opposition to US hegonomy. Even to a casual observer, it is obvious that world alliances are changing and economic manuvering is in high gear.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-06-13 14:31:14

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 847,758
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 13Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US/Ukraine Sign 10-Year Security Deal / Argentina Protests Begin Against Austerity / Russia Exchange Stops Trading in USD / Houthis Begin Using Boats for Attack / Russian Ships Enter Havana / US House Holds AG Garland in Contempt / Trump Announces Support for Bitcoin Mining / Fed Says Only 1 Cut This Year / CPI Steady / Luma's New Video AI Outshines / Lightning Becoming De Facto Link / De-Dollarization Pieces Moving Into Place
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,773, 29.36 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $69,977 / Lo: $67,028
Vol: $35B (Up 31%)
Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Even)
HashRate: 598 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 25 sats/vBtye (Up 4%)
Nodes: 18,970
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Biden, Zelensky to sign 10-year U.S.-Ukraine security deal at G-7 summit: The deal aims to commit future U.S. administrations to support Ukraine, even if former president Donald Trump wins November’s election, officials said. It will be a framework for a long-term effort by the United States to help develop Ukraine’s armed forces, which have innovated on drone warfare and other cutting-edge techniques in the fight against Russia, but are also desperately outgunned and in need of modern weapons. (WaPo)
2. Argentina: violent protests as senators back austerity measures of President Milei: Police in Buenos Aires have used water cannon and teargas to tackle violent protests as Argentina’s Senate narrowly voted to approve the first set of harsh austerity measures proposed by President Javier Miliei. (Guardian)
3. Moscow stock exchange stops trading in dollars and euros: The announcement came on the same day the United States introduced a new package of sanctions against Russia. Wednesday's package targeted Russia's financial infrastructure in an attempt to limit the amount of money flowing in and out of Russia. (EuroNews)
4. Yemen’s Houthi rebels launch boat-borne bomb attack against Greek-owned ship in Red Sea: The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center described the vessel as being hit in its stern by a small white craft southwest of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida. The use of a boat loaded with explosives raised the specter of 2000’s USS Cole attack, a suicide assault by al-Qaida on the warship when it was at port in Aden, killing 17 on board.(AP)
-US Events-
1. Russian warships enter Havana harbor under Washington's watchful eye: A Russian navy frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine churned into Havana harbor on Wednesday, a stopover the U.S. and Cuba said posed no threat but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war. The four Russian vessels sailed to Cuba on Wednesday after conducting "high-precision missile weapons" training in the Atlantic Ocean, Russia's defence ministry said Wednesday. The submarine and frigate carry Zircon hypersonic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles and Onyx anti-ship missiles, the ministry said. (Reuters)
2. House holds Garland in contempt of Congress: The 216-207 vote marked a win for the House GOP, after numerous members privately voiced concern over backing the measure. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Trump backs Bitcoin as defense against foreign adversaries, centralized digital currency: Trump made the comments on his proprietary social media site Truth Social on Tuesday after Bitcoin Magazine called him "the best choice for Bitcoin." (FoxBusiness)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Glassnode says institutional cash-and-carry trades are influencing US spot bitcoin ETF flows: Since traders are buying bitcoin spot and immediately hedging it by selling bitcoin futures, this could reduce the immediate upward pressure on the spot price that would otherwise be seen if they were only buying the spot asset. ETFs are being used as instruments to obtain long-spot exposure, while simultaneously, a growing net-short position for bitcoin is accumulating in the CME Group futures market. (TheBlock)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Could China-led wholesale CBDC fuel de-dollarization?: MBridge, China’s cross-border digital currency initiative, has entered the minimum viable product stage. It is the world’s most advanced cross-border CBDC and stands on the cusp of playing a pivotal role in the de-dollarization process. The move coincides with Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, joining the project, potentially signaling another move away from the dollar in global oil trading. (EuroMoney)
-Economic Indicators-
1. U.S. Treasury yields rise as Fed holds rates steady, signals only one cut this year: The rate on the 10-year Treasury rose more than 2 basis points to 4.316%. The Fed on Wednesday held rates steady at 5.25%-5.50% and suggested it would lower rates just once later this year, down from three rate cuts forecast in March. (CNBC)
2. US CPI Unchanged in May: Consumer prices in the US were unchanged in May 2024, after rising 0.3% in the previous period and below forecasts of a 0.1% increase. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. North Korean cyberattacks on Brazilian fintech firms exposed: The June 13 Google threat intelligence report highlighted coordinated attempts to hijack, extort and defraud Brazilian individuals and organizations. While North Korean groups focus primarily on cryptocurrency firms, aerospace and defense and government entities, cyber criminals backed by the Chinese government prefer attacking only the government organizations and the energy sector in Brazil. (CoinTelegraph)
-Technology-
1. Luma's AI Video Generator, Dream Machine Flooded With Users, Surpass OpenAI's Sora: OpenAI's Sora could be facing its biggest competitor yet. Luma's artificial intelligence video generator, Dream Machine, has caused multiple-hour wait times after high demand for the software's free public beta version's debut. (TechTImes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Lightning Is the Common Language of the Bitcoin Economy: Lightning is becoming a translation layer, or a glue, that holds together different systems built on Bitcoin. Each kind of subnetwork can use its own language. How the nodes communicate among themselves in these subnetworks is their business. What's interesting is that these subnetworks communicate with each other over Lightning, even if we’re just talking about, say, two different Cashu mints or when a Fedi interacts with an Ark. (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Although much is happening globally this week, the tectonic shift is the de-dollarization of global trade, mostly in oil. The events may not result in overnight financial chaos, but it nonetheless marks the end of an era started in the early 1970's, borne of oil shocks and global maneuvering for economic power. The 50-year agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia (eventually OPEC) led to a promise to transact only in US dollars in exchange for Saudi defense. Not only has this agreement ended this month, but Saudi Arabia has announced the acceptance of many other currencies for oil as well as participation in China's MBridge wholesale CBDC program. This MBridge CBDC will likely become a new leader in cross-border currency exchange and taken up by BRICS. As the world's current leader in global exchange, we shouldn't expect the US to instantly lose global economic hegemony, but the pieces are coming into place to ensure this does happen. How fast is the question. The consequences are uncertain, but the power yielded by US administrations in the global sphere will certainly lesson to manipulate world affairs so directly. What will arise in its place?
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-06-12 15:06:29

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 847,620
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 12Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: IDF Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander / French Right Consider Alliance / Russia Hit Kyiv / Hunter Biden Convicted on 3 Felonies / Atlanta Bus Hijacked, Wild Chase / 8 ISIS-Linked Immigrants Arrested in US / Petrodollar Dissolution Gaining Attention / CPI and FOMC Data Due Today / DoD Finally Getting on AI Bandwagon / OG Bitcoin Core Maintainer May Return
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,757, 29.30 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,015 / Lo: $66,123
Vol: $27B (Down 13%)
Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 603 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 24 sats/vBtye (Down 10%)
Nodes: 18,838
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. IDF confirms killing Hezbollah regional division commander Taleb Abdullah, the ‘most senior’ officer targeted amid war: Abdullah commanded Hezbollah’s Nasr unit, one of three regional divisions in south Lebanon. The unit is responsible for the region between Mount Dov and the Bint Jbeil area. The IDF says it was prepared for the terror group’s response of over 170 rockets and several anti-tank guided missiles this morning, and expects additional attacks throughout the day. (TimesOfIsrael)
2. French right uproar over call for far-right alliance: The leader of France's right-wing Republicans party, Eric Ciotti, has sparked an outcry after he backed an alliance with the far-right National Rally in snap elections announced by President Emmanuel Macron. Never before has the traditional right in French politics made any sort of political accord with the far right and Mr Ciotti's remarks set a party that was already struggling to find a voice "on the verge of implosion" (BBC)
3. Russian air attacks cause industrial facility fire in Kyiv region, injure several: Ukrainian military said it shot down five out of six missiles and all 24 drones launched during Russia's overnight attack. The debris damaged an industrial facility in the Kyiv region, causing a fire, Kyiv region governor said. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is convicted of all 3 felonies in federal gun trial: Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, though as a first-time offender he would not get anywhere near the maximum, and there’s no guarantee the judge would send him to prison. She did not set a sentencing date. (AP)
2. Crowded public bus hijacked, taken on wild high-speed chase down Atlanta freeway; 1 killed: A passenger was killed by a gunshot wound after a suspect hijacked a transit bus in metro Atlanta and led authorities on a high-speed chase into a neighboring county, police said. The chase spanned multiple jurisdictions and involved several agencies, Atlanta police said. Police employed various tactics to stop the bus, which ultimately came to a stop near 5107 Hugh Howell Road in Stone Mountain. (Fox)
3. 8 Tajikistanis with suspected ties to ISIS detained in US, source says: Eight individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to ISIS, who crossed into the United States from the southern border last year and this year, have been detained in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City. The suspects were initially allowed to enter the U.S. after being vetted and no national security issues were uncovered, the source said. (ABC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Donald Trump Commits to Championing Bitcoin Mining in DC: Donald Trump met with Bitcoin Magazine's CEO David Bailey and several prominent U.S. Bitcoin miners. The meeting saw Trump commit to championing Bitcoin mining both in Washington D.C. and on the global stage. Among the attendees were representatives from leading Bitcoin mining firms, including CleanSpark, Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, and other notable industry players. Trump posted on his Truth Social saying that he wants all "remaining Bitcoin to be made in the USA" and that "It would help us be energy dominant." (BitcoinMag)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin Pullback to $66K Triggers $250M in Crypto Liquidations as Traders Brace for 'Wild Wednesday' of FOMC, CPI Report: One reason behind the pullback is investors “de-risking” from crypto assets ahead of today's May Consumer Price Index (CPI) report and Fed meeting. Bitcoin could see a volatile session Wednesday as it has been "highly responsive" to economic data recently and its 30-day correlation with U.S. equities climbing to highest since 2022, K33 Research noted in a Tuesday market update. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. CBDCs' threat to freedom put under the microscope at Oslo conference: Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are a source of deep concern among the public. That was made clear at last week’s Oslo Freedom Forum. While the risk of governments abusing their power is something that concerns many people, it is particularly true for those who are fighting for freedom under authoritarian regimes. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Saudi Arabia's petro-dollar exit: A global finance paradigm shift: The financial world is bracing for a significant upheaval following Saudi Arabia's decision not to renew its 50-year petro-dollar deal with the United States, which expired on Sunday, 9 June, 2024. The crucial decision to not renew the contract enables Saudi Arabia to sell oil and other goods in multiple currencies, including the Chinese RMB, Euros, Yen, and Yuan, instead of exclusively in US dollars. Additionally, the potential use of digital currencies like Bitcoin may also be considered. (BizCOmmunity)
2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Steady, Fed and CPI Awaited: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note was little changed around 4.4% on Wednesday, with traders bracing for today's key CPI report and the FOMC monetary policy decision. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Genetic testing firm 23andMe investigated over hack: The data watchdogs of the UK and Canada will investigate genetic testing company 23andMe over a data breach in October 2023. Hackers gained access to personal information of 6.9 million people, which in some cases included family trees, birth years and geographic locations, by using customers' old passwords. (BBC)
-Technology-
1. US Air Force, Space Force Launch ChatGPT-Like AI Tool for Modernization: The AI-powered tool is called the non-classified Internet Protocol Generative Pre-Training Transformer (NIPRGPT), which supports service modernization, according to Interesting Engineering. The software will help personnel communicate, study, and code securely online. (AirForceTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Core Prepares for Housecleaning: Wladimir van der Laan is the most experienced of the Bitcoin Core maintainers. He stepped back in 2022 due to legal actions by Craig Wright. Only a handful of developers known as “maintainers” have the power to authorize changes to the code. They are Michael Ford, Andrew Chow, Russ Yanofsky, Gloria Zhao, and Hennadii Stepanov. The possible return of a seasoned developer might be an opportunity to restore order. Indeed, a rebellion is growing against ordinals and other Ponzi-like inscriptions that are clogging the blockchain. (CoinTribune)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IhyR.jpg

2024-06-11 14:46:03

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 847,484
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 11Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Russian Flotilla with Sub Transits off Florida / Malawi VP Dead in Plane Crash / Jurors Deliberate in Hunter Trial / Baltimore Channel Re-Opens / Pelosi Under Fire for J6 Role / Intel Bill Has Surprise Crypto Restriction / Nigeria-Binance Battle Continues / EU's Lurch Right May Slow CBDC / Privacy Worries EU / Apple Integrates ChatGPT, Musk Doesn't Trust
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,837, 28.95 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $70,146 / Lo: $66,741
Vol: $32B (Up 91%)
Mkt Cap: $1.32T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 586 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 28 sats/vBtye (Down 48%)
Nodes: 18,409
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Russian Naval Ships And Nuclear Powered Sub To Visit Cuba This Week: According to the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, the Russian “frigate Gorshkov, the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, the fleet oil tanker Pashin, and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker” will visit the port of Havana between June 12th and June 17th. (OANN) (AC-Current flight radar shows a US P-8 Poseidon sub hunter aircraft maintaining patrol east of Miami, FL as of this morning. The bigger picture is that this is a message to the US administration for its role in the Ukraine war and allowing weapons to be used inside of Russia.)
2. South Korean troops fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed land border: At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, some North Korean soldiers who were engaged in unspecified work on the northern side of the border crossed the military demarcation line that bisects the two countries, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Those North Korean soldiers carrying construction tools — some of them armed — immediately returned to their territory after South Korea’s military fired warning shots and issued warning broadcasts. (AP)
3. Malawi’s vice president dies in plane crash with nine others: Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others were declared dead on Tuesday after their plane went missing during tumultuous weather a day earlier. The flight departed at 9:17 a.m. from Kamuzu International Airport and was headed for Mzuzu when aviation authorities told the aircraft to turn around because of poor visibility. The authorities soon lost contact with the plane, which “was unable to land due to poor visibility occasioned by bad weather. (WaPo)
-US Events-
1. Jurors will resume deliberations in the federal gun case against President Joe Biden’s son Hunter: Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before leaving the federal courthouse in Delaware Monday afternoon. They are weighing whether Hunter Biden is guilty of three felonies in the case pitting him against his father’s Justice Department in the middle of the Democratic president’s reelection campaign. (AP)
2. Baltimore shipping channel reopens after bridge collapse: The Port of Baltimore shipping channel has fully reopened, 11 weeks after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when it was struck by a cargo ship. The US Army Corps of Engineers said the passageway where the Key Bridge buckled was now "safe for transit". The 700ft (213m) wide and 50ft (15m) deep channel has been restored to its original operational dimensions. (BBC)
3. GOP releases Jan. 6 clip of Pelosi saying 'I take responsibility' as she discussed National Guard absence: A previously unreleased video taken on Jan. 6, 2021 shows then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., saying she takes "responsibility" for law enforcement's lack of preparedness when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol that day. Pelosi quickly took to MSNBC to counter the video. (FOX)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Senate Bill Could Open Crypto to U.S. Sanctions, but Industry Trying to Head It Off: A Senate bill meant to fund U.S. intelligence operations included a section borrowed from an earlier bill aimed at preventing the use of cryptocurrency to support terrorism. That provision, as written, could require a massive shift in the crypto industry toward identifying users' identities to prevent sanctions that could strangle digital assets businesses. Were it to become law, it would mark the most important U.S. crypto policy yet adopted – and all without significant debate about its merits. (CoinDesk)
2. Nigerian Minister: Binance Fails to Pay Taxes on Over $20 Billion Turnover (Revenue): In 2023, Binance generated revenues exceeding $20 billion in Nigeria; however, the company has not paid taxes, a government minister disclosed. The Nigerian official also seemed to refute U.S. lawmakers’ claims that Tigran Gambaryan, an imprisoned Binance executive, is being held hostage by his government. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin dips as ETFs break 19-day green streak, rumble over US inflation: Traders are seemingly going risk-off ahead of a U.S. CPI print and a Fed monetary policy meeting, with Bitcoin falling to a weekly low. (CoinTelegraph)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. How will Europe’s elections impact the vote on digital euro legislation?: Introducing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the Eurozone within a few years is widely considered a foregone conclusion. That’s partly due to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) enthusiasm. A CBDC has the potential to be a useful tool in the hands of a benevolent government. However, those who favor free markets tend to disagree. The recent lurch to the far right should give some pause for thought. (LedgerInsights)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar Firms Up Ahead of Fed, CPI: The dollar index held above 105 on Tuesday after hitting a four-week high in the previous session, as investors braced for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and the consumer price index report this week. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. EU Innovation Hub criticizes privacy coins and crypto mixers in new report: The EU Innovation Hub, a collaborative initiative involving members from European Union agencies and member states, has published its first report on encryption. The report supported cryptocurrency and nonfungible tokens (NFT) inherent reliance on public-private cryptography for storage, mining and transfers. However, some bad actors use the system to evade law enforcement, specifically protocols and privacy coins that can “obscure” visibility on the blockchain. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-Individual privacy continues to be conflated with illegal activities.)
-Technology-
1. Elon Musk: iOS 18 a ‘Security Violation’ for ChatGPT AI Integration; New Apple Ban for Tesla: It is now confirmed that Apple Intelligence is here and will soon come to iOS 18, but Elon Musk is not buying it. However, that is not yet all, as the tech billionaire is threatening to ban Apple devices in his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, and more. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Study: 14% of 'Early Adopter' Kiwis Own Cryptocurrency; Majority Favor It Over Real Estate: At least 14% of New Zealanders surveyed said they have owned cryptocurrency or held digital assets in the past. The findings categorize New Zealanders as early adopters, indicating they were quick to recognize the potential of cryptocurrency. Survey data reveal that only 16% of respondents would invest in real estate, compared to 60% who plan to invest in cryptocurrency. (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Down 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IgnZ.jpg

2024-06-10 15:01:51

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 847,347
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 10Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Macron Calls Snap Election in France / EU Has Major Electoral Shift to the Right / Israel Rescues 4 Hostages in Gaza / Teton Pass Road Collapses / US Offering Defense Pact to Saudi Arabia / Ripple Meeting With Georgia Gov. Officials / Paraguay Making Moves into Bitcoin Mining
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,369, 30.15 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $69,817 / Lo: $68,190
Vol: $16B (Up 40%)
Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Flat)
HashRate: 652 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 55 sats/vBtye (Down 31%)
Nodes: 18,803
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Macron takes huge risk with surprise election: President Emmanuel Macron has called snap parliamentary elections later this month in the wake of a big victory for his rival Marine Le Pen's National Rally in the European Parliament vote. The far-right party is on course to win 32% of the vote, exit polls say, more than twice that of the president's Renaissance party. Announcing the dissolution of parliament, he said the two rounds of voting would take place on 30 June and 7 July, a few weeks before the Paris Olympics. (BBC)
2. Far right surges in European Parliament elections but center still holds: After three days of voting across the European Union’s 27 member states, an exit poll showed that far-right parties were set to win around 150 of the parliament’s 720 seats, which will likely make it harder for mainstream parties to form majorities needed to pass laws. Most of the far-right gains were concentrated in countries that elect large numbers of seats: France, Italy and Germany. (CNN)
3. Israel Rescues 4 Hostages Kidnapped in Hamas Attack on Oct. 7: Heavy fighting raged in central Gaza, where the hostages were rescued, and at least 55 people, including children, were killed in multiple attacks Saturday as people fled for safety, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The army said it rescued Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, in two separate locations in a complex special daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat in central Gaza. (Breitbart) (AC- The 4 hostages were held in central Gaza at a refugee camp and heavily defended by Hamas soldiers.)
-US Events-
1. Wyoming's Teton Pass road collapses in landslide: ‘Catastrophic failure’: A mountain pass road near the popular tourist destination of Jackson, Wyoming, collapsed Saturday after a landslide, adding at least an hour of travel time for those who drive on the roadway. An alternate route between Jackson and the area of Victor, Idaho, goes more than 60 miles out of the way and adds "quite a bit to any commute." (Fox)
2. U.S. to Offer Landmark Defense Treaty to Saudi Arabia in Effort to Spur Israel Normalization Deal: The Biden administration is close to finalizing a treaty with Saudi Arabia that would commit the U.S. to help defend the Gulf nation as part of a long-shot deal to encourage diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Israel, U.S. and Saudi officials said. “It would be the first time the U.S. concluded a mutual defense pact that would carry the force of law since the 1960 revision of the U.S.-Japan treaty, and the first time it concluded such an agreement with an authoritarian country,” The diplomatic push for a defense pact with Riyadh marks a remarkable turnaround for President Biden, who as a candidate vowed to treat Saudi Arabia as a pariah and make it pay a price for the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident. (WSJ) (AC- Interesting timing as the 50 year agreement with Saudi Arabia comes to a close this month that ensures Saudi use of the US dollar in global oil transactions (AKA Petrodollar) and the US defense of Saudi lands via the US military.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs sucked up 2 months of BTC mining supply in first week of June: With inflows of approximately $1.83 billion, the 11 ETFs bought 25,729 Bitcoin in the trading week between June 3 and 7 — around eight times more than the 3,150 new BTC mined over the same time, according to data from HODL15Capital. (CoinTelegraph)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Ripple partners with National Bank of Georgia to digitize economy: The new collaboration builds on the previous partnership between the NBG and Ripple, where the latter serves as the technological partner for the NBG’s pilot CBDC project called the digital lari. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-Ripple is the leading 'crypto' company dedicated to promoting and building a slew of nation-state and global CBDCs)
2. BRICS Considers XRP: A Potential Leap for Cross-Border Payments: The Bank of Russia previously proposed a project on cross-border transfer execution. There was a rumor that this project took the Ripple payment system into account. Given its reputation for speed and economy of transactions, XRP was seen as a great starting point for creating a group cross-border settlements system. (CryptoNews) (AC-A possible 'hope' article, not confirmed through other sources)
-Economic Indicators-
1. 10-Year Treasury Yield Edges Up, FOMC and CPI Awaited: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note was around one-week highs of 4.45% as traders gear up for a significant week ahead. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Singapore alerts businesses to Bitcoin ransomware risk: Akira, the ransomware that stole $42 million from over 250 organizations across North America, Europe and Australia within a year, is now actively targeting businesses in Singapore. The alert comes after agencies, including the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, the Singapore Police Force and the Personal Data Protection Commission, recently received several complaints from victims of the cyberattack. (CoinTelegraph)
2. Fake X Accounts Used by Scammers to Impersonate Airlines: According to consumer advocate "Which?", every major airline in the UK has fake profiles on X, formerly known as Twitter, which are regularly used to trick consumers into providing personal information. It was also mentioned that X takes too long to remove problematic accounts. (TechTimes)
-Technology-
1. NASA Says Extremely Rare Nova Explosion Will Be Visible on Earth, Can Be Seen With Naked Eyes: NASA and astronomers worldwide are eagerly awaiting a rare celestial event this summer as a nova explosion in the constellation Corona Borealis is expected to be visible from Earth. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Paraguayan Minister Unveils Future Economic Strategy Centered on Bitcoin Mining for Industrial Transition: Javier Gimenez, from the Paraguayan Ministry of Industry and Commerce, revealed that the government plans to take advantage of the energy sold to legal bitcoin mining operations. Gimenez stated that selling Paraguay’s energy to bitcoin mining companies is part of the government’s strategy, which seeks to rebuild its industry in three years as part of a transitional phase. (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 77/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): It seems the CBDC race is beginning to heat up. With the BRICS coalition and efforts by the BIS, combined with aggressive marketing by Ripple (XRP), CBDCs are taking a turn toward international or at least cross-border trade focuses rather than nation-state efforts that could conceivably compete with national currencies. This is significant in that it is global efforts like this that would capture economic power at a higher level than nation-states. Instead of a truly decentralized, individual P2P system like Bitcoin, a global CBDC system would put economic powers of inflation and digital permissions inherent in CBDCs into the hands of unelected bureaucrats at a global level.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-06-07 14:47:59

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 846,882
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 7Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Is Hezbollah Next? / D-Day Services Draw World Leaders / Russian Ships Visit Cuba / Steve Bannon To Report to Prison / Man Fires Indiscriminately into SoCal Traffic, Killing 1 / China Never Banned Bitcoin Mining? / BIS MBridge CBDC Starts Up / US Banks Are Weakening / US Trade Gap Widens / Bitcoin Mining Entering Consolidation
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $71,547, 30.17 oz Gold, .17 Median US House
24hr Hi: $71,625 / Lo: $70,119
Vol: $27B (Up 2%)
Mkt Cap: $1.41T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 578 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 153 sats/vBtye (Up 202%)
Nodes: 17,799
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Top commander in north says IDF ready for war against Hezbollah: The military’s top general in northern Israel said Thursday the army was ready to expand its conflict with the Hezbollah terror group if need be in order to bring months of deadly cross-border hostilities to a close, a day after a reservist was killed and 10 others injured in an explosive drone attack on a northern town. (TimesOfIsrael) (AC-IDF's war with Hamas is not quite finished, but Hezollah continues intermittent strikes against northern Israel. Expanding the war to include Hezbollah objectives could be a natural progression for the IDF.)
2. The last heroes of Normandy return to France 80 years after D-Day invasion: The sun was yet to rise over the beaches of Normandy when, on June 6, 1944 -- 80 years ago this week -- thousands of American sons and Allied troops began what would become the largest amphibious assault in history. Their bravery and their sacrifice would turn the tide of World War II and push Nazi Germany to defeat. (ABC) (AC-There are only a few of these heroes still alive. Listen and learn their stories while you can.)
3. 4 Russian ships to dock in Cuba next week: Four Russian ships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will arrive in Havana next week, Cuban officials said Thursday, citing "historically friendly relations" between both nations and as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. (Fox) (AC-A rather obvious signal to DC about letting Ukraine use weapons to strike deep into Russia.)
-US Events-
1. Steve Bannon ordered to report to prison by July 1 to serve contempt of Congress sentence: Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress in 2022 after failing to provide documents and testimony to the House Select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack. He was sentenced to four months in prison. (CNN)
2. Man firing at Southern California motorists, killing 1, charged with murder: The 39-year-old man arrested for reportedly firing at passing commuters in Riverside County earlier this week, killing a husband and father of four children and injuring another person, has been charged with one count of murder and six counts of attempted murder. Victor Leon was fatally shot during the incident as he returned home from his overnight warehouse shift in Moreno Valley. He is survived by his wife of 13 years and their four children. (KTLA)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. China Never Banned Bitcoin Mining, Researcher Reveals: In a striking revelation that challenges widely-held perceptions, Daniel Batten, a Bitcoin environmental impact analyst, disclosed that BTC mining was never officially banned in China. According to Batten’s research, despite widespread reports to the contrary, the so-called “ban” was actually a temporary suspension, and mining activities have largely resumed across the country. Batten’s report highlights that the hashrate within China, which is a measure of the computational power used in mining and processing Bitcoin, currently accounts for approximately 15% of the global total. (Bitcoinist)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Cross Border CBDC Project Mbridge Enters MVP Stage: Project Mbridge, the cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) project that seeks to integrate several currencies into a global network, has reached its minimum viable product stage. This means that each one of the participant central banks has deployed a validating node in the network, that is ready to perform real-value transactions. The project, which started as a pilot in 2021 with the collaboration of the Bank of Thailand, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), is now ready to intermediate real-value transactions, according to a press release issued by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). (BitcoinNews) (AC-This the project reported yesterday that Saudi Arabia has also joined.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Banking Sector Teeters: $517B Unrealized Losses, 63 Troubled Institutions Flagged: U.S. banks reported an alarming increase in unrealized losses and a growing list of institutions at risk of failure in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) data. The FDIC report highlights $517 billion in unrealized losses and identifies 63 banks as vulnerable, marking a concerning uptick in the financial sector’s instability. (BitcoinCom)
2. US Trade Gap Largest Since October 2022 on Imports Surge: The trade deficit in the US widened to $74.6 billion in April 2024, the largest since October 2022 from a downwardly revised $68.6 billion in March and below forecasts of a $76.1 billion gap. Imports increased 8.7% to $338.2 billion, mostly due to passenger cars, computer accessories, telecommunications equipment and crude oil, while falling for transport. Exports edged up a meager 0.8% to $263.7 billion, mainly pharmaceutical preparations, electric apparatus and semiconductors. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Apple to Launch Passwords App for iPhone and Mac, Competing With 1Password and LastPass: Apple is reportedly developing this specialized password app for iPhone and Mac that could be introduced as early as next week. This move could challenge existing services. Apple's Passwords app aims to provide similar functionalities for free. (TechTimes) (AC-"If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product.")
-Technology-
1. Bitdeer introduces energy-efficient Bitcoin mining chip: Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer has showcased the “SEAL04” chip in its technology roadmap for the newly launched Sealminer rig. Set for release in the second quarter of 2025, the SEAL04 chip is projected to achieve energy efficiency as low as 5 joules per terahash (J/TH). (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining Stocks Soar Amid Takeover Frenzy: The stocks are undervalued, so miners with attractive power contracts could become M&A targets, according to Wall Street analysts. Shares of miners such as Stronghold (SDIG), Core Scientific and TeraWulf (WULF) surged more than 15%. Gains in Iris Energy (IREN), Mawson (MIGI), Cathedra (CBIT) and Argo Blockchain exceeded 10%. Larger miners such as Riot and Marathon Digital (MARA) are likely in the best position to lead this consolidation wave. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 77/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-06-06 14:55:57

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 846,735
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 6Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Putin Says Ukraine-Supporting States in Play Now / D-Day Vets Dwindle / 1st New Bird Flu Death / Warden Arrested in Wisconsin / Georgia Pauses Trump Case / Biden Admin Politicizing Vets Administration / Intel Authorization Bill To Be Used Against Digital Assets / Institutions Play With Meme Coins / Saudi Arabia Joins BIS CBDC Effort / Stocks Hit Record High / Kerrisdale Capital Declares War on Bitcoin Miners
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $71,167, 30.17 oz Gold, .17 Median US House
24hr Hi: $71,735 / Lo: $70,390
Vol: $26B (Down 30%)
Mkt Cap: $1.40T (Even)
HashRate: 510 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 52 sats/vBtye (Up 23%)
Nodes: 17,799
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Putin says Russia could deploy missiles in striking distance of the West: Putin, in his first face-to-face meeting with senior editors of international news agencies since the war in Ukraine began, said the West was wrong to assume Russia would never use nuclear weapons, and said the Kremlin's nuclear doctrine should not be taken lightly. Putin also said Moscow was considering deploying similar high-technology, long-range missiles close enough to strike the states that allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory with such missiles. (Reuters)
2. D-Day anniversary 2024: World leaders, veterans, commemorate Normandy landings: At the British ceremony in Ver-sur-Mer, veterans were applauded as they filed into the event to take their seats, which were decorated with bright red poppies. (Reuters)
3. WHO confirms first death from bird flu strain not seen before in humans: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday a man in Mexico died from a strain of bird flu, H5N2, that had not previously been reported in humans. The strain is different from the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, which has caused an outbreak among livestock in the U.S. and has infected three dairy farm workers. (TheHill)
-US Events-
1. Former Wisconsin Prison Warden and Employees Charged in Inmate Deaths: The former warden of a Wisconsin prison and eight other prison employees were charged on Wednesday in connection with multiple inmate deaths over the last year, the local sheriff said. The prison’s former warden, Randall Hepp, had left his job earlier this week. He was charged with misconduct in public office, a felony. Mr. Hepp’s arrest was first reported by The Associated Press. inmates had been confined to their cells for months and denied access to medical care. (NYT)
2. Georgia court puts pause on Fani Willis' sweeping election case against Trump: In a major setback to the Fulton County District Attorney, the Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday put a pause on any proceedings related to the 2020 election interference case against former President Trump and co-defendants until it hears the case to disqualify Fani Willis in October. (Fox)
3. Biden threatens VA budget veto over abortion, gender-affirming care: President Joe Biden on Monday threatened to veto the House’s $360 billion appropriations plan for the Department of Veterans Affairs next year over restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care services included in the measure, accusing lawmakers of “wasting time with partisan bills.” (MilitaryTimes)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. New law grants US president power to block digital asset access: An X user posted Senator Mark Warner’s apparent strategic insertion of legislative elements on June 5, enabling the scrutinized new sweeping powers granted to the U.S. president over digital assets. Under the new law, the president can block transactions between U.S. persons and foreign entities identified as supporting terrorist organizations. This includes imposing strict conditions on foreign financial institutions maintaining accounts in the U.S. if they are found facilitating such transactions. Scott Johnsson, a prominent voice in the digital assets field, warns that the move could be seen as an effort to exert control over digital assets under the guise of combating terrorism. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-The language was inserted in the Intel Authorization Act of 2024, which is a 'must-pass' funding bill'.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Crypto: Memecoins are exploding in institutional investors' portfolios: Between February and March, institutional holdings in memecoins surged by 226%, reaching $204 million. In April, this figure climbed to $293.7 million, before dropping to $139 million at the end of the studied period, indicating an aggressive selling strategy in response to market volatility. (CoinTribune) (AC-New investors in cryptocurrencies often explore the shitcoin world, even institutional investors. All eventually learn.)
2. Robinhood to Buy Crypto Exchange Bitstamp in Effort to Expand Outside the U.S.: Trading platform Robinhood has agreed to buy U.K.-based crypto exchange Bitstamp for $200 million in cash. The acquisition is hoped to allow Robinhood to expand its crypto presence globally and attract institutional clientele. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Saudi Arabia joins BIS- and China-led central bank digital currency project: The move, announced by the Bank for International Settlements on Wednesday, will see Saudi's central bank become a "full participant" of Project mBridge, a collaboration launched in 2021 between the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Roughly 135 countries and currency unions, representing 98% of global GDP, are exploring central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs. (Reuters)
-Economic Indicators-
1. S&P 500 and Nasdaq Close at Record Highs: Wall Street major indices closed firmly higher on Wednesday, driven by a tech rally led by AI-darling Nvidia, amid optimism that the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates later this year after slightly weak labor market data. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Microsoft Windows Recall: Security Experts Worried of Privacy Risks, Demos How Easily Data Can Be Accessed: Two weeks after Microsoft introduced 'Recall' as part of the Copilot+ PC experience on Windows, the service faces massive backlash and criticism about its privacy and security risks. In several cases, it was proven that user data is not safe on Copilot's Recall, with many showing how easily they could obtain data from the service and pose dangers to a user. (TechTimes)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. The Bitcoin Hotels, A World’s First with Japanese and British Partnership: IKAR Holdings and Unify Platform will establish the World’s first Bitcoin Hotel. The partners aim to revolutionize the global hospitality industry by introducing the first hotel chain where guests can seamlessly pay for accommodations using cryptocurrency alongside ordinary currencies. With an initial hotel in Istanbul, followed by expansions into iconic cities like London and Tokyo, their vision is to create a distinctive luxury experience at the intersection of technology and hospitality. (Chainwire)
2. ‘War Against Bitcoin Miners’: US Investment Firm Sparks Industry Backlash: Kerrisdale Capital, a US investment firm, set off a storm of reactions on Wednesday with a series of public communications aggressively targeting Bitcoin mining companies. In a multi-part thread on X, Kerrisdale announced its campaign against what it describes as “snake oil salesmen” in the BTC mining industry, accusing them of being both a financial sinkhole and an environmental hazard. Adam O of Upstream Data defended Bitcoin mining’s environmental impact, stating, “Good luck vilifying that which improves all stakeholders, reduces waste, and reduces methane emissions. Dumbest mission of the decade.” (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 78/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Saudi Arabia joining the BIS-led effort for an international CBDC is significant as the 50-year petrodollar agreement with the USA comes to a close on June 9th. Saudi Arabia is not expected to renew the agreement which opens up the door for multiple global trade options such as this BIS-led effort or joining the BRICS CBDC effort. The impact of the USD losing petrodollar status cannot be overstated. Demand for USD and therefore Treasuries will eventually drop significantly, leading to a shifting paradigm in world finance.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/Iamk.jpg

2024-06-05 14:50:28

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 846,613
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 5Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US Embassy Attacked in Lebanon / Silence in China, HK On Tiananmen Anniversary / Modi Wins PM Again in India / Biden Signs EO on Border / Largest COVID Fraud Trial In US Has Attempted Bribe / SEALs Take Heat For Pride / US Tries to Get Back Binance Exec From Nigeria / Texas Wants New Stock Exchange / Best Day in BTC ETFs Since Launch / US Job Openings Decline / AT&T Has Another Bad Day
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $70,944, 30.44 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,564 / Lo: $70,230
Vol: $38B (Up 31%)
Mkt Cap: $1.40T (Up 3%)
HashRate: 541 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 46 sats/vBtye (Up 94%)
Nodes: 17,808
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Attack on US Embassy in Lebanon foiled, army fights back to kill one assailant: A Lebanese security official told The Associated Press that there were four assailants, including one who drove them to the site and three who opened fire. One shooter was killed, one escaped and the third was wounded and detained by the Lebanese military. A member of the embassy's security team was wounded in the attack and the Lebanese army shot an attacker in the stomach, a security source told Reuters. (Fox)
2. Silence and heavy security in China and Hong Kong mark 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown: Hong Kong police arrested four people and swarmed a handful of others who tried to protest or commemorate as the effort extended beyond the mainland. Hundreds, if not thousands, are believed to have been killed in an overnight operation that ended on the morning of June 4, 1989. It was a turning point in modern Chinese history as Communist Party hard-liners embraced control instead of political reforms. (AP)
3. India: Modi set for third term but opposition still to concede: PM Narendra Modi is set to retain power, but his BJP party lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time in 10 years. (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Biden rolls out asylum restrictions, months in the making, to help ‘gain control’ of the border: The long-anticipated presidential proclamation would bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem that the southern border is overwhelmed. The order will go into effect when the number of border encounters between ports of entry hits 2,500 per day, according to senior administration officials. (AP)
2. Juror reports receiving $120K bribe attempt in pandemic relief fraud trial: Seven people are on trial in connection with what federal prosecutors called the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme to date. They are accused of taking part in a $250 million fraud scheme through the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future that allegedly exploited funds from a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic to purchase big-ticket items like luxury cars and houses. (ABC) (AC-Other outlets are reporting the defendants are all Somali nationals or immigrants)
3. U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command Posts Pride Month Graphic, Limits Replies: The United States Navy Special Warfare Command — the command overseeing U.S. Navy SEALs and other Navy special operations forces — celebrated Pride Month with a special graphic posted on its Facebook page on June 1. The most-liked comment on the post was, “This is a slap in the face of every special warfare operator that has put their lives on the line for our nation.” (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. U.S. Lawmakers Push Biden to Bring Back Detained Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan From Nigeria: Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the House Foreign Affairs Committee chair, along with 11 other leaders, sent a letter to Joe Biden and others. In the letter, they urged the president to treat Gambaryan's case as a hostage situation and bring him back to the U.S. Gambaryan is a U.S. citizen and Binance’s head of compliance. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. New Texas Stock Exchange Takes Aim at New York’s Dominance: A group backed by Wall Street heavyweights BlackRock and Citadel Securities is planning to start a new national stock exchange in Texas, aiming to take on what they see as onerous regulation at the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. The Texas Stock Exchange, which has raised approximately $120 million from individuals and large investment firms, plans to file registration documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission later this year. (WSJ)
2. BTC ETFs See $880M Inflows in Best Day Since March: U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs saw over $880 million in inflows on Tuesday, led by Fidelity's FBTC. Fidelity’s FBTC took on $378 million in inflows, the highest among counterparts. BlackRock’s IBIT followed with $270 million, while Grayscale’s GBTC – infamous for its outflows – took on $28 million. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Digital Yuan App Drops 'Pilot' Description, Hints at Change to Production Ready Status: While local Chinese news outlets explained that this change had to do with app requirements, some expect this might be a step before its generalized implementation. (BitcoinCom)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Job Openings Fall More Than Expected: The number of job openings declined by 296,000 from the previous month to 8.059 million in April 2024, the lowest level since February 2021 and missing the market consensus of 8.34 million. (TradingEconomics)
2. Treasury Yields Fall for 5th Session: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note was around 4.35%, the lowest in about three weeks, as recent data out of the US continues to reinforce the view that the Fed is ready to start the easing cycle in September. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Technology-
1. 'Nationwide issue' affecting cell service between carriers resolved, AT&T says: The problem was not a nationwide outage, it said, but rather "a nationwide issue that is affecting the ability of some customers to complete calls between carriers," AT&T said at the time. The disruption occurred a little more than three months after a widespread outage affected AT&T customers, leaving people without service. During that incident, around 50,000 outrages were reported at one point. (NBC)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 75/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The Texas Stock Exchange initiative is another sign of the polarization of business in the US. Supporters cite onerous rules and DEI efforts at the NYSE and Nasdaq as some of the reasons for the investments and effort. Citizens continue to find ways to exit systems that the politically or culturally do not agree with.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-06-04 15:07:46

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 846,486
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 4Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: IDF Say 4 Hostages Killed / EU Swings Right / South African ANC Lost Majority Held Since 1990s / Hunter Trial Begins / New EO on Limiting Asylum on Border / Fauci in Congressional Hot Seat / Binance's CZ Enters Prison for 4 Months / Saylor Settles With Tax Officials / Epoch Time CFO Arrested for Laundering / ISM Data Drops Unexpectedly /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,134, 29.62 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,564 / Lo: $70,230
Vol: $29B (Up 17%)
Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Even)
HashRate: 620 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 26 sats/vBtye (Down Up 18%)
Nodes: 18,937
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israel announces the deaths of four hostages in Hamas captivity: IDF promises to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Chaim Peri, 79, Amiram Cooper, 84, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Nadav Popplewell, 51. “We estimate that the four were killed together, in the Khan Younis area, several months ago, while being held by Hamas terrorists and while IDF forces were operating in Khan Younis,” the IDF said. (TimesofIsrael)
2. Europeans may be about to elect their most right-wing parliament in history: Europeans head to the polls this week in closely watched elections that threaten to shake the bloc’s traditionally mainstream political landscape. “We are seeing a rise in populist sentiment both in Europe and globally, which might result in the most right-wing European Parliament in history,” Tim Adams, president and CEO of the Institute of International Finance. (CNBC)
3. South Africa’s president won’t resign despite ANC losing majority for first time: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for unity after his African National Congress party failed to win a majority, marking a new era for Africa’s most advanced economy. The ANC is still the largest party, having won 40.2 percent of votes, but the 159 seats it secured are well short of the 200 required for a majority in the 400-seat National Assembly. In the previous parliament it had 230 seats. (Politico)
-US Events-
1. Joe Biden’s worries grow as Hunter Biden’s trial begins: Hunter Biden faces three criminal counts for allegedly buying a gun while in the throes of addiction to crack cocaine and lying on an official form about it. The charges were brought by the president’s own Justice Department, and the trial is taking place in his family’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. (Politico)
2. Biden prepares an order that would shut down asylum if a daily average of 2,500 migrants arrive: The White House is telling lawmakers that President Joe Biden is preparing to sign off on an executive order that would shut down asylum requests at the U.S.-Mexico border once the average number of daily encounters hits 2,500 between ports of entry, with the border reopening only once that number declines to 1,500, according to several people familiar with the discussions. The impact of the 2,500 figure means that the executive order could go into immediate effect, because daily figures are higher than that now. (AP)
3. Anthony Fauci defends his Covid response, distances himself from adviser accused of misconduct: Fauci sought to refute allegations from Republicans on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic that he tried to suppress the theory that a lab accident in Wuhan, China, caused the pandemic. (Politico)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Former Binance CEO CZ Begins 4-Month Prison Sentence in California: Lompoc II, the California prison where CZ will serve his sentence, is a low-security facility. At a net worth of $36.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Zhao is believed to be the richest person to ever go to prison in the U.S. (CoinDesk)
2. Billionaire Bitcoin Advocate Michael Saylor Agrees to $40 Million Settlement in Tax Evasion Case: The lawsuit also implicated Saylor’s company, Microstrategy, alleging that it assisted him in evading taxes by submitting fraudulent tax forms between 2005 and 2020. The report indicates that Saylor evaded over $25 million in income taxes by falsely claiming residency in either Virginia or Florida, where income tax rates are lower. Despite agreeing to the settlement, Saylor maintains his innocence, asserting that Florida remains his primary residence. (BitcoinCom)
3. Epoch Times CFO Bill Guan is charged in alleged $67 million global money laundering scheme: The finance chief of conservative global news outlet The Epoch Times was arrested and charged with leading a yearslong scheme to launder at least $67 million in illicit funds. The alleged scheme by Weidong Guan and others involved cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits and stolen personal identification information, according to federal prosecutors. (CNBC)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. BIS Plans Instant Cross-Border Payments Using Wholesale CBDC Settlement: In a move to improve traditional cross-border payments, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has announced the launch of Project Rialto. This project aims to enhance instant cross-border payments by integrating a modular foreign exchange (FX) component with settlement in wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). (BitcoinCom)
-Economic Indicators-
1. ISM Manufacturing PMI Below Forecasts: The ISM Manufacturing PMI unexpectedly edged lower to 48.7 in May 2024 from 49.2 in April, below forecasts of 49.6. The reading showed another contraction for the manufacturing activity as demand was soft again, output was stable, and inputs stayed accommodative. (TradingEconomics) (AC-Both stocks prices and bond yields dropped on the news)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Chinese Crypto Trader Loses $1 Million From Binance After Chrome Plugin Exploit: The Binance user learned that the crypto heist was possible due to a malicious Google Chrome Extension. According to the victim’s investigation, the Aggr Chrome plugin stole all his web browsing and cookie data. With this information, the hacker hijacked his active Binance session without needing the password or go through 2FA. (Bitcoinist)
-Technology-
1. The Goal for China’s Chip Giant: Cut Out the U.S.: It is a part of a broader campaign to eradicate American technology in China, dubbed “Delete A” or “Decouple From A,” which has accelerated in recent years as the world’s two biggest economies intensify their battle to dominate in next-generation technology.
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Even)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HmyE.jpg

2024-06-03 14:33:31

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 846,350
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 3Jun24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Mexico Elects First Woman President, Peso Falls / Ahmadinejad Re-emerges in Iran / Israel Will Not Accept Hamas Rule / Hunter Biden Trial Beginning / Trump Joins TikTok / Donald Jr Meets With Bukele / Biden Vetos SAB 121 Law / Australia Launches Spot BTC ETF / Ripple Leads CBDC Tech / $300M BTC Hack on Japanese Exchange / China Lands on Far Side of Moon / 6.8% of World own 'Crypto'
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,134, 29.65 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $69,313 / Lo: $67,315
Vol: $24B (Up 92%)
Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 710 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 21 sats/vBtye (Down 35%)
Nodes: 18,434
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Claudia Sheinbaum projected to be Mexico's first woman president: The climate scientist and Mexico City’s former mayor rode the wave of popularity of her longtime political ally, outgoing leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and their Morena party. (CNN)
2. Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registers for presidential election: Iran’s hard-line former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registered Sunday as a possible candidate for the presidential election, seeking to regain the country’s top political position after a helicopter crash killed the nation’s president. (NYT)
3. ‘We will not accept the rule of Hamas in Gaza at any stage’: Israel: ‘We will not accept the rule of Hamas in Gaza at any stage’: Israel won’t accept Hamas’s rule of Gaza and is examining alternatives, its defence minister said, a further indication it’s brushing aside a ceasefire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden as Palestinian fighters continue to resist the invasion. “While we conduct our important military actions, the defence establishment is simultaneously assessing a governing alternative to Hamas,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement on Sunday.(AlJazeera)
-US Events-
1. Jury selection is beginning in gun case against President Joe Biden’s son: Hunter Biden, who spent the weekend with his father, has been charged with three felonies stemming from a 2018 firearm purchase when he was, according to his memoir, in the throes of a crack addiction. He has been accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application used to screen firearms applicants when he said he was not a drug user, and illegally having the gun for 11 days. (AP)
2. Donald Trump joins TikTok and rapidly wins three million followers: The decision to join the platform on Saturday could help the former president reach younger voters in his third bid for the White House. Biden's election campaign is already on TikTok, with over 340,000 followers, although Biden has signed a bill that would ban the app, which is used by 170 million Americans, if its Chinese owner ByteDance fails to divest it. (Reuters)
3. El Salvador’s President Tells Donald Trump Jr.: ‘We Don’t Jail the Opposition’: El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele told Donald Trump Jr. that his country does not “jail the opposition,” days after a Manhattan jury convicted former President Donald Trump.
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. U.S. President Biden Vetoes Resolution Overturning SEC Guidance:: SAB 121 is a controversial piece of SEC accounting guidance that directs financial institutions holding crypto for customers to keep the assets on their own balance sheets. Critics of the guidance say it makes it too difficult for financial institutions to work with crypto companies. In his statement announcing the veto, Biden said he would not support any "measures that jeopardize the well-being of consumers and investors."
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Mexican Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Urges Followers to Buy Bitcoin as Nigerian Naira Falls Under a Satoshi: The top 1% is starting to realize the opportunities that bitcoin, as a financial asset, can bring as a hedge for fiat currency devaluation. Ricardo Salinas Pliego, a Mexican entrepreneur with a fortune worth over $14 billion and owner of Salinas Group, has recommended its followers on X to purchase bitcoin and take advantage of its constant appreciation in value. The Nigerian official currency has been facing a rough period, becoming the worst-performing currency against the U.S. dollar in May. This has prompted a series of measures from the Nigerian government to try stabilizing the currency, cracking down on crypto operators to force them to withdraw it from their platforms, and accusing them of currency manipulation. (BitcoinCom)
2. Australia's First Spot Bitcoin ETF With Direct BTC Holdings to Go Live on Tuesday: Australia-based Monochrome Asset Management’s Monochrome bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) (IBTC) will begin trading on the Cboe Australia exchange on Tuesday, the company told CoinDesk. The product is the first and only ETF that holds bitcoin directly in Australia, the company said. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Ripple Leads the Charge in CBDC Adoption Across Dozens of Countries: CBDCs and tokenisation are the two blockchain use cases that every stakeholder has rallied behind, from crypto enthusiasts to global behemoths and regulators. Ripple is in prime position to become a global leader in both, with the XRP Ledger emerging as one of the best technologies to issue digital currencies and tokens. (CryptoNewsFlash) (AC-Although this article is designed to praise the efforts of Ripple, it not only highlights the company's efforts to join forces with governments in creating and lobbying for CBDCs, but it also conflates crypto, blockchain and CBDCs to the point of confusing any readers of the nuance between them. The lesson is clear, Ripple is not a friend of bitcoin, self-custody, or P2P self-sovereignty. Look for Ripple to befriend government control entities and vice versa. )
-Economic Indicators-
1. Mexican Peso Plunges After Election: The Mexican peso plunged toward 17.5 per USD in June, the lowest since November 2023, after preliminary counts pointed to a supermajority win of the Moderna party and its allies in the Mexican Congress, increasing the state’s control over the economy. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Japanese Exchange DMM Bitcoin Suffers Significant Hack, Over $300M Stolen From Wallet: The breach occurred around 1:30 pm local time, with DMM Bitcoin reporting that approximately 4,503 BTC, valued at around $308 million at the time, had been "illegally leaked" from its wallet. The company has yet to provide details on how the hack was executed but confirmed that an investigation is underway and measures are being taken to prevent future attacks. This hack is the most substantial crypto-related exploit the industry has faced in some time. It surpasses any hack seen so far this year or in 2023.(Yahoo)
-Technology-
1. China Makes Historic Landing on Far Side of Moon to Collect Lunar Samples: The landing took place in the enormous crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time, as reported by AP News. This is the sixth Chang'e lunar exploration mission, named after the Chinese moon goddess. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Global Crypto Ownership Reaches 562 Million: 6.8% of World Population Now Own and Use Digital Currencies: A new report reveals that 562 million people globally now own digital currencies, an increase from 420 million in 2023, making up 6.8% of the world’s population. Asia is at the forefront of this growth, with North America close behind. Overall, cryptocurrency adoption is rising worldwide, with notable increases seen across all continents. Triple A, a fintech company that enables businesses to process digital currency payments and payouts, recently published a report, titled “The State of Global Cryptocurrency Ownership in 2024,” (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Even)
Analyst Comments (AC): It sounds innocuous, but the Chinese landing on the far side of the moon is significant for those of us who understand military positioning. In military doctrine, holding the 'high ground' is key to controlling an area. The far side of the moon is THE most significant 'high ground' covering the earth with a built in defense of mass. Imagine what might be stored on the back side of the moon, secure from attack, but can move out to target anything on earth.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-05-31 15:03:04

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 845,904
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 31May24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Biden Secretly Allows US Weapons to Strike Russia / US, UK Airstrike Hit Houthis / Trump Convicted on 34 Counts, World Reacts / mRNA Vax May be Pushed for Bird Flu / Do Kwon Settles with SEC / Univ. of Austin Starts Bitcoin Endowment / Home Routers Hacked / OpenAI Used for 5GW / BTC HashRate ATH
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,498, 29.17 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $67,101 / Lo: $68,348
Vol: $26B (Down 2%)
Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Even)
HashRate: 509 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 34 sats/vBtye (Up 11%)
Nodes: 19,282
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Biden lets Ukraine strike inside Russia with U.S. weapons: President Joe Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to use American weapons to strike inside Russia, two American officials said Thursday, a U-turn that Kyiv’s allies hope helps turn the tide of the war. On May 15, National security adviser Jake Sullivan took the proposal to the president, making the case that it was common sense for Ukraine to be able to fend off Russian attacks by missiles, troops and bombers before they crossed the border, the official said. (NBC)
2. Houthi rebels say at least 16 killed and 42 others wounded in joint US-British airstrikes in Yemen: Three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe a then-ongoing attack, described the strikes Thursday as hitting a wide range of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, a Houthi vessel and other facilities. They called it a response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the Israel-Hamas war. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Trump conviction heralds a somber and volatile moment in American history: A jury foreperson announced he was guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to an adult film star. Americans have never seen an ex-president convicted of a crime, and a country already torn apart by bitter political and cultural polarization is likely in for a rocky time. (CNN)
2. mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise Against H5N1 Bird Flu: Researchers claim that an experimental H5N1 avian flu mRNA vaccination prevented severe sickness and mortality in lab mice. Experts claimed that vaccination may help stop H5N1 bird flu epidemics in US wild birds, poultry, and cows. (TechTImes) (AC-No, this article is not satire.)
3. Massive fire breaks out at Illinois farm housing over 1 million chickens: Authorities were alerted to the fire at Farina Farms Inc. Poultry Farm around 6:30 p.m. Wabash Valley Produce as the 24th largest egg producer in the U.S. with locations in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. (USAToday) (AC-How many farms need to burn down in the US (unattributed) before sabatoge is not seriously considered?)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1.Terraform Labs and CEO Do Kwon to Settle Fraud Case with SEC: Terraform Labs and CEO Do Kwon reach a preliminary settlement with the SEC over allegations of misleading investors. The settlement terms are set to be finalized and submitted for court approval by June 12, 2024. (CryptoNewsFlash)
2. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Patrick McHenry press President Biden not to veto SAB 121: In a letter sent on Thursday to President Biden, Republicans Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., among other lawmakers, cited bipartisan votes in the House and Senate as a reason not to veto. President Biden previously said he planned to veto the measure to repeal the SEC’s staff accounting bulletin, SAB 121. (TheBLock)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. University of Austin And Unchained To Raise $5 Million For Bitcoin Endowment: The initiative aims to raise $5 million in Bitcoin for the University's endowment, with the University committed to holding the BTC for at least five years. The endowment funds are to be held securely and managed by Unchained, a prominent Bitcoin financial services provider specializing in multisig Bitcoin vaults. (BitcoinMag)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Bank Of Canada To Modernize Payment Systems: The Bank of Canada plans to enhance oversight on payment service providers to modernize the country's financial system, with new regulations starting by September 2025. The BoC is also exploring the rollout of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to further modernize Canada’s financial architecture. Implementing a CBDC would depend on federal government approval, but it signals a move towards embracing digital currencies to ensure the country’s financial systems remain robust and competitive on a global stage. (Finimize) (AC-Incredible article that shows the positive narratives surrounding the mandate on the implementaion of a CBDC. Cananda leads the way in totalitarian efforts to control it's populace.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Mortgage Rates Rebound Past 7%: The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose by 9bps to 7.03% as of May 30th. The increase was in line with the jump in long-dated Treasury yields in the period. (TradingEconomics)
2. Treasury Yields Little Changed, PCE Eyed: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note edged up to 4.56% on Friday, after falling by around 6bps on Thursday, with traders bracing for the key PCE inflation figures due today. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Hundreds of thousands of US internet routers destroyed in newly discovered 2023 hack: The October incident, which was not disclosed at the time, took more than 600,000 internet routers offline. The researchers said the hackers installed malicious software that disrupted internet access from Oct. 25 to 27 across numerous Midwest states. The internet routers were disabled when a malicious firmware update sent to the company's customers deleted elements of the routers’ operational code, making them effectively inoperable. (Reuters)
-Technology-
1. OpenAI has stopped five attempts to misuse its AI for 'deceptive activity': The artificial intelligence firm said the threat actors used its AI models to generate short comments, longer articles in a range of languages, made up names and bios for social media accounts over the last three months. These campaigns, which included threat actors from Russia, China, Iran and Israel, also focused on issues including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, the Indian elections, politics in Europe and the United States, among others. (Reuters) (AC- The use of AI in 5GW is concerning and indicative of the challenging times ahead. The 5th Gen Warfare framework is not just a theory, but a narrative and deceptive battle that is happening in real time against every human brain. Learn how to notice, assess and defend against influence operations like these above.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Hashrate Hits Record High, Surpasses Pre-Halving Levels: Bitcoin’s hashrate has rebounded to the historic highs seen just before the fourth reward halving event. According to the seven-day simple moving average, the network’s hashrate reached a record 657 exahash per second (EH/s) this week. (BitcoinCom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Even)
Analyst Comments (AC): We knew this summer would be full of conflict, and now we know some of the elements. A guilty verdict for Trump has fired up his base and his opponents at the same time. There will be political conflict ahead and most likely law enforcement crackdowns on dissent. mRNA are hinted at combatting bird flu which would be the next biological scare and controlling mechanism. THe US food infrastructure continues to be attacked. Meanwhile, the Ukraine-Russia war is dragging the US and NATO into the mix giving worldwide populations existential angst. Now we can understand some of the critical attack vectors and still expect some type of communication outage to increase the FUD. Prepare accordingly, build alternative comms and strenthen communities. Protect your mind and families with truths and generousity.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/HiZd.jpg

2024-05-30 15:31:42

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 845,781
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 30May24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Hong Kong Activists Found Guilty / Mayor Candidate Shot, Killed in Mexico / ANC Losing Supermajority in SA / Trump Jury Deliberates / Assault at Jewish School in NY / $900M For US Green School Buses / UST Weakness Leads to Stocks Selloff / Bitcoin Off-Ramps Challenging
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,892, 29.04 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $67,101 / Lo: $68,348
Vol: $27B (Down 4%)
Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Even)
HashRate: 597 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 30 sats/vBtye (Up 20%)
Nodes: 19,456
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. 14 pro-democracy activists found guilty of subversion in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case: The defendants are among 47 politicians, academics and other pro-democracy figures who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Those who were convicted, along with 31 others who pleaded guilty, will be sentenced at a later date, with potential prison terms ranging from three years to life. (NBC)
2. Mayoral candidate shot dead at election campaign rally in Mexico’s Guerrero State: Alfredo Cabrera was murdered on Wednesday in the town of Coyuca de Benitez. A video published by local media showed a person approaching him at the campaign event, shooting him several times at point-blank range. (AlJazeera)
3. First results in South Africa’s election suggest it is heading for biggest political shift since apartheid: Early results from South Africa’s election suggest the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party could lose its majority for the first time in 30 years. With results in from 13% of polling stations at 10 a.m. local time, support for the ANC stood at 42.5%. (CNN)
-US Events-
1. Jury in Trump Trial Dismissed for the Day After Deliberating for Hours: The jury in former President Donald Trump’s business records trial was dismissed for the day on Wednesday after deliberating for hours and requesting to be given testimony from David Pecker — the former publisher of the National Enquirer — and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. (Breitbart)
2. Man Charged After Attempted Attack Outside Jewish School in New York: A man who police say drove onto a sidewalk and tried to strike pedestrians outside an Orthodox Jewish school in New York City was arrested on Wednesday on charges including attempted murder, reckless driving and hate crimes. (NYT)
3. Biden admin prioritizes $900 million for green school buses as illiteracy plagues US schools: On Wednesday, the White House unveiled nearly $900 million in awards to 530 school districts to replace thousands of aging, gas-fueled school buses with "cleaner" electric models. (Fox)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. South Korean Universities Face Banking Hurdles in Converting Crypto Donations to Cash: South Korea’s regulations prohibiting corporations from opening virtual asset exchange accounts are making it impossible for local universities to liquidate their large cryptocurrency donations. Financial authorities cite money laundering concerns as the reason for maintaining the ban. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. NYSE Partners With Coindesk for Bitcoin-Tracking Financial Products: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has teamed up with Coindesk Indices to develop cash-settled options contracts that track bitcoin prices. These contracts, based on the Coindesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX), are currently in the planning stage and awaiting regulatory approval. (BitcoinCom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. 10-Year Treasury Yield Surges: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose to over 4.63% on Wednesday, the highest level since the start of May, and triggering sharp selling pressure for government bonds worldwide as a strong macroeconomic backdrop and concerns of stubborn inflation prolonged expectations of higher interest. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stocks Fall Sharply: US stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq losing 0.8% and the Dow Jones sinking about 400 points, as bond yields continued to rise following disappointing bond auctions yesterday. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. A 35-year-old Chinese man was arrested as the alleged mastermind behind a gargantuan botnet used to steal billions from zombie computers: An international law enforcement team has arrested a Chinese national and disrupted a major botnet that officials said he ran for nearly a decade, amassing at least $99 million in profits by reselling access to criminals who used it for identity theft, child exploitation and financial fraud including pandemic relief scams.The U.S. DoJ quoted FBI Director Christopher Wray as saying Wednesday that the “911 S5” botnet — a network of malware-infected computers in nearly 200 countries — was likely the world’s largest. (Fortune)
2. Hidden cameras found surveilling more Southern California homes spark concern: Another hidden camera aimed at a home, this time in Garden Grove, has residents on edge, with many homeowners wondering if it has anything to do with burglary tourism rings that have been making headlines in Southern California. The camera was found in the bushes and was camouflaged to prevent it from being seen, but who put it there and how long it’s been there is another unknown. The camera was found just a day after a report on Glendale Police arresting four men with a similar camera and battery pack camouflaged with leaves. In the Glendale case, the four men arrested were Colombian nationals who authorities believe are burglary tourists. (KYLA)
-Technology-
1. Telegram Wallet enforces new KYC rules, switches provider: Wallet users will have to disclose their name, phone number and date of birth to use all of the wallet's default features, except for withdrawals. The “extended” version, asks for a user’s national identification to unlock transactions up to 100,000 euros ($108,000) daily and 1 million euros ($1.08 million) monthly. (CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Jack Dorsey Backed Bitcoin Miner OCEAN Opens El Salvador Hub: The mining pool, run by Bitcoin core dev Luke Dashjr, has based its new hub in the capital city of San Salvador. The company said the new hub will help with its commitment to decentralize BTC mining globally. (Decrypt)
2. Texas Man Charged with Failing to Report Large Cryptocurrency Gains: Court documents reveal that Frank Richard Ahlgren III, from Austin, Texas, was recently charged for allegedly filing false tax returns and for structuring cash deposits to circumvent currency transaction reporting requirements. This indictment was handed down by a federal grand jury, calling into question activities between 2017 and 2019 where Ahlgren underreported or failed to report the sale of bitcoin valued at $4 million, despite realizing substantial taxable capital gains from the transactions. (PRNewsWire)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Up 1 pt)
Analyst Comments (AC): One of the possible targets discused for the fight against bitcoin adoption has been about the "on-ramps" into bitcoin, or the conversion of fiat money to bitcoin. A couple of articles today focus instead on the "off-ramps" of bitcoin into fiat and the difficulty involved. South Korean universities for example, are having trouble opening trading accounts to turn bitcoin donations into cash. Another man in Texas did not disclose capital gains on bitcoin conversions to US dollars, inciting criminal charges. More efforts, research and tehcnology might be focused on the free exchange of digital assets and currencies since we are quite far from being on a bitcoin standard globally.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEbi.jpg

2024-05-29 14:45:45

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 845,639
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 29May24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US Gaza Pier Falls Apart / Key South African Election Today / Putin Warns France and EU / Biden Campaign at Trump Courthouse / Semler Scientific Latest to Announce BTC Treasury Strategy / Blackrock ETF Overtakes Grayscale / Weak UST Auction Raises Rates / Ticketmaster Hack Affects 560M Customers
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,743, 28.91 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,582 / Lo: $67,227
Vol: $28B (Down 11%)
Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 565 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 25 sats/vBtye (Up 80%)
Nodes: 18,599
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US pier constructed off Gaza has broken apart: The temporary pier constructed by the US military to transport aid into Gaza broke apart and sustained damage in heavy seas on Tuesday in a major blow to the American-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies into the war-torn enclave, the Pentagon said. The pier, which cost $320 million, had only begun operating on May 17 when heavy seas forced the maritime shipments to stop one week later on May 24, two days before part of the pier disconnected. It is unclear when shipments will resume. (CNN)
2. Party of Nelson Mandela Projected to Lose Absolute Majority in South Africa: Rampant corruption, high unemployment and a stagnant economy expected to drag ANC below 50% of the vote for the first time. Driving the ANC’s decline has been the party’s failure to bring prosperity and opportunity for Black South Africans, who make up around 80% of the population and the majority of ANC voters. (WSJ) (AC-The election will be held today and could signal coming instability in the country.)
3. Putin promises 'serious consequences' to 'small, densely populated' European countries calling for Ukrainian strikes on Russia: Russian leader Vladimir Putin says European countries should rethink their calls to let Ukraine use Western arms to strike his country. "This unending escalation can lead to serious consequences," Putin said. "If Europe were to face those serious consequences, what will the United States do, considering our strategic arms parity?" (Yahoo) (AC- It's interesting that French President Macron was not even mentioned in this article, who just recently said "Kyiv should be allowed to 'neutralize' Russian military bases." Initial concerns over escalation over the Russia-Ukraine war seem to just now starting to manifest.)
-US Events-
1. Biden and Trump Campaigns Square Off Outside New York Courthouse: Donald Trump’s trial hadn’t yet reached a jury Tuesday morning but a preview of the post-verdict messaging war was already roaring into view with dueling campaign events. President Biden’s re-election team appeared outside the courthouse to blast the former president as a danger to the country, and Trump’s side hammered what it calls a politically biased prosecution. Actor Robert De Niro and two former police officers on duty at the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump’s supporters were featured in the Biden event, which was held across the street from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse where Trump’s hush-money trial is nearing a conclusion. (WSJ) (AC-The simple fact of Biden's campaign holding press conferences outside of the courthouse is indicative of a serious departure from normal presidential campaigning. It shows the hand of Biden's tactics of lawfare and his objective of jailing his competition.)
2. Joe Biden Visits Hunter’s Ex Before She Likely Testifies in Gun Trial: President Joe Biden visited Hallie Biden, the former wife of Beau Biden and Hunter Biden’s former lover, before she will likely testify in Hunter’s gun trial, the White House press pool reported Sunday. The White House said Joe Biden’s visit with his daughter-in-law had nothing to do with Hunter’s pending gun trial. It claimed instead the visit was to commemorate the upcoming ninth anniversary of Beau’s passing from cancer. Hallie is expected to testify as a witness in Hunter’s gun trial. A 2018 police report showed she tossed a gun owned by Hunter in a dumpster behind a grocer, a source told Fox News. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Semler Scientific® Announces Bitcoin Treasury Strategy: Semler Scientific, a pioneer in developing and marketing technology products and services to healthcare providers to combat chronic diseases, announced today that its board of directors has adopted bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset. In addition, Semler Scientific announced that it has purchased 581 bitcoins for an aggregate amount of $40 million, inclusive of fees and expenses. (PR Release) (AC- Shares were up 30% on the news, but this year seems to be the year of bitcoin SoV adoption for companies following Microstrategies' playbook)
2. BlackRock Takes the Crown for the Largest Spot Bitcoin ETF From Grayscale: BlackRock’s spot bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) is now the largest product of its kind, flipping Grayscale's GBTC after a $102 million inflow on Tuesday. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Israel launches digital shekel CBDC challenge: The central bank is inviting participants from Israel and abroad to participate in developing innovative use cases. Inspired by the BIS and Bank of England’s Project Rosalind, the Challenge will focus on connecting to the CBDC system using APIs. (LedgerInsights)
2. BIS payments committee to focus on tokenization, CBDCs in 2025 work program: Tokenization and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) will be among the priorities for the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) payments department over the next year. (CoinGeek) (AC= CBDCs will probably gain the most traction through the BIS and IMF.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Climb Sharply: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note advanced by almost 10 basis points to 4.54% after poor results of the 5-year and the 2-year auctions triggered a selloff. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Alleged Ticketmaster Data Breach Sees 560 Million Users' Info for Sale in Hacking Forum: Ticketmaster has reportedly been breached by the hacking group ShinyHunters, as claimed by the group. The breach compromises the sensitive data of 560 million users, as it is currently on sale for $500,000 in a hacking forum. Allegedly, ShinyHunters gained access to many private user data, including complete names, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, order information, and partial credit card information. (TechTimes)
-Technology-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitfarms founders may not be acting in ‘best interests’ of shareholders: Bitcoin mining giant Riot Platforms is on track to acquire its rival Bitfarms for $950 million, accusing Bitfarms founders of not acting in the best interests of all shareholders. Riot Platforms has made an acquisition offer of all BITF shares for $2.3 per share to Bitfarms, totaling the acquisition at $950 million. (CryptoNews)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Even)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IRUV.jpg

2024-05-28 14:52:05

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 845,503
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 28May24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: IDF's Deadly Strike in Tent Camp Draws Condemnation / Russia Hits Ukraine Megastore / US Visits Taiwan After Drills / Storms in Central US Kill 22 / Crypto Becomes US Election Issue / Russian Crypto Use Increases / Mt Gox Moves $10B BTC in Preparation to Sell Off / BTC ETFs Flat / Fed Signals Inflation Must be Tamed / India, China Ditching US Dollar in Imports / Chinese Gun-Toting Robot Dog Goes Viral
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,265, 29.10 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $70,597 / Lo: $67,450
Vol: $32B (Up 66%)
Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Flat)
HashRate: 556 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 15 sats/vBtye (Up 50%)
Nodes: 18,306
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israeli attack on Rafah tent camp kills 45, prompts international outcry: An Israeli airstrike triggered a fire that killed 45 people in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah, officials said on Monday, prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike had not been intended to cause civilian casualties. (Reuters)
2. Russian strike kills 18 people in Kharkiv megastore, the deadliest attack Ukraine has seen in weeks: Five people remain missing, Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv region military administration, said Monday. He said that 48 people were injured in the strike that hit the Epicenter hypermarket shopping center building while nearly 200 people were inside. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second biggest city, which sits near its border with Russia, has seen a spate of Russian attacks in recent weeks. (CNN)
3. U.S. lawmakers ignore China’s warning, meet with Taiwan’s new leader: A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers met Monday with Taiwan’s new leader, Lai Ching-te, the first such visit since Lai’s inauguration last week, and one that the lawmakers and Taiwanese officials said demonstrates the steadfastness of U.S. support for Taiwan at a time of escalating tensions with China. (WaPo)
-US Events-
1. At least 22 dead in Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several US states: The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky and were just north of an oppressive, early season heat wave setting records from south Texas to Florida. (AP)
2. Libertarian Party names presidential nominee – as RFK Jr crashes out of race and Trump fails to qualify: The 38-year-old, who has run numerous times for Congress in Georgia, was elected after seven rounds of voting at the party’s convention in Washington DC, on Sunday. (IndependentUK)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. One-Third of U.S. Voters Say They'll Weigh Candidates' Crypto Views Before Voting: A Harris Poll revealed that while those 33% are taking a keen interest, the online survey of more than 1,700 people – funded by bitcoin ETF issuer Grayscale – found 77% said a U.S. presidential candidate should at least have an "informed perspective" on crypto. And they're evenly split on which political party is the leader in digital assets issues. (CoinDesk)
2. Russian Traffic to Global Crypto Exchanges Surges; Central Bank Warns of Western Sanctions Risk: The surge in Russian traffic to global cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the last two quarters has prompted officials to issue a warning about the risk of Western sanctions. According to a central bank study, Russian traffic to some of the largest crypto exchanges increased by 16.4%, reaching 104.6 million visits. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Sell-off alert: Mt. Gox moves nearly $10 billion in Bitcoin: Mt. Gox has moved almost $10 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) to a new wallet on May 28. This is a step to repay the company’s creditors after a bankruptcy filing 10 years ago, in April 2014. The cryptocurrency market expects a sell-off event and large capital flow in the following days. (BitTimes)
2. Spot BTC ETFs recorded $0 inflows, Bitcoin price drops: According to data provided by Farside Investors, spot BTC ETFs stood still on May 27 as the broader crypto market faced correction. Notably, this is also the first time in the past two weeks that Bitcoin ETFs recorded no inflows. (CryptoNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Trump Vows: US Will Lead Bitcoin and XRP, Promises to Block CBDC During Presidency: Trump reiterated his opposition to the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a concept that various governments, including the current U.S. administration have explored. He vowed to prevent the establishment of a CBDC, positioning himself as a defender of individual financial freedom and privacy. (CryptoNews)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Fed Wants "Many Months" of Positive Inflation Before Cut: The Federal Reserve should hold off on cutting interest rates until there is substantial progress on inflation, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Kashkari stated on CNBC on Tuesday. Many months of positive inflation data are necessary to justify the first rate cut, and another rate hike should not be ruled out if inflation remains at stubbornly high levels. (TradingEconomics)
2. India and China Eliminate US Dollar in Imports: India and China have decided to ditch the US dollar for import payments, opting for their local currencies instead. The Maldives were informed by India and China that they will expect to pay in rupees and yuan instead of USD. This move, confirmed by the Maldives government, is yet another significant change in international trade practices. (Cryptopolitan)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. North Korea’s Lazarus Group Accused of Involvement in Axie Infinity Hack: This week, government agencies and Chainalysis confirmed that North Korea’s Lazarus Group was involved in the Ronin hack. As far as crypto hacks go, the Ronin hack is the largest ever, with cybercriminals getting away with $552m. The Ronin hack occurred in March, with stolen funds reportedly including 173.6k ETH and 25.5m USDC. (Yahoo)
-Technology-
1. China Shows Off Gun-Toting Robot Dog in Military Drills, Sparks Global Concerns: Over 2,000 troops and 12 ships participated in the 15-day Golden Dragon joint drills, which included the gun-toting quadruped, per Axios. Agence France-Presse said that Unitree, a Chinese firm that sells robots online for thousands of euros, did not fire its weapon during the demonstration. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
https://m.primal.net/IEtb.jpg

2024-05-27 15:33:12

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 845,369
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 27May24
Precedence: Priority (PP)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,379, 29.18 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $69,336 / Lo: $68,183
Vol: $19B (Up 27%)
Mkt Cap: $1.35T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 605 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Down 10%)
Nodes: 18,326
--- Special Memorial Day 2024 Report---
"Was one dark and stormy night, when your boy is called to fight.
Better pray hard as you can, he'll come marching home again..."
-Cadence sung at SEAL training, Coronado
Even today, we are reminded of the specter of the great sacrifice that may be required as soldiers go through training for battle. We train our minds and bodies to fight and survive because of a Deep Calling. We sweat and bleed. Our friends die on the battlefield and during training.
This Deep Calling is innate. It starts with man's desire to live free. To worship, speak, defend oneself, assemble, and to be secure in one's own labors and possessions. Then the Calling adds youth, strength, and an organization of individuals dedicated to these ideals of freedom. For over 200 years, the USA has been THE organization that best espouses these ideals, notwithstanding its flaws.
When men and women heed this calling to train and fight for something bigger than themselves, it tempers us. It reminds each of us that there are battles worth losing friends and family over.
Those of us who do survive are burdened with making sense of it. At the bottom of all the questioning we arrive at the original Deep Calling: freedom. For freedom does not protect itself, it takes blood and flesh, and our friends have paid all they could so that we can continue to fight for it.
But we cannot fight without hope. Hope that things will be better or that our work will make a difference. In years past, all that hope was wrapped up in a flag of stars and stripes. Yet tyranny continues its fight against liberty. Worldwide, those who seek more and more power over those who would maintain it themselves, work to take it from us.
Our friends call to us from the grave, "Don't let the bastards take your freedom!". This is the Deep Calling that we veterans first heard, and now hear on the winds of our national cemeteries. Listen and fortify veterans and loved ones! Find your hope. In God. In community. In each other. In freedom technologies. Then train and continue the fight.
Those of us involved in Bitcoin Veterans see much of that hope in a technology that gives us a security of our hard-earned efforts. A way to gather and keep power from those who would take it from us. We study power, bitcoin, economics, warfare, philosophy, and organize. The outcome is not assured. No battle ever is. But we hear and heed the call from our brothers crossed over. We hope for the future and act to secure our freedoms enumerated in our Constitution and held in our hearts.
On this Memorial Day 2024, remember the fallen, but listen for their voices on the wind. What are they saying? Are you listening? Honor each of them and in total. Resolve to find hope and act on it, and in between the work, raise a glass to them and Live Free.
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
#veterans #memorialday #bitcoin
https://m.primal.net/IPAO.jpg

2024-05-24 14:59:29

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 844,917
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 24May24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Landslide in Papura New Guinea / China 'Punishes' Taiwan / Russian Miliary Execs Purged / Campus Protests Continue, More Arrests / Obama, Clintons, Join Bidens in Kenya State Dinner / Anti-CBDC Bill Passes House / ETH ETF Approved / Hot PMI Sinks Dow / MSFT Outage Affects Search Engines, ChatGPT / Is IPv6 The Freedom Protocol?
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,451, 28.83 oz Gold, .16 Median US House
24hr Hi: $70,041 / Lo: $66,356
Vol: $43B (Up 35%)
Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Down 4%)
HashRate: 746 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 10 sats/vBtye (Down 68%)
Nodes: 18,803
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Many feared dead in massive Papua New Guinea landslide: A massive landslide is feared to have killed many after it struck six remote villages in Papua New Guinea, local officials and aid agencies said. The landslide buried more than 100 homes after it struck at around 03:00 local time Friday (17:00 GMT Thursday) in the highlands of Enga, north of the island nation in the south-west Pacific. It was not immediately clear how many people were trapped in the rubble. (BBC)
2. China says war games around Taiwan to test ability to ‘seize power’: As the first day of exercises, codenamed Joint Sword-2024A, got under way on Thursday, China described them as “punishment” following the inauguration speech by Taiwan’s new president William Lai Ching-te in which he said Taiwan was a “sovereign and independent nation with sovereignty resting in the people”. The two-day exercises are testing the “capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories,” said Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command. (AlJazeera)
3. Top Russian military officials are being arrested: It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied. Corruption scandals are not new and officials and top officials have been accused of profiting from their positions for decades. (AP) (AC-These arrests, combined with the Defense Minister Shoigu's reassignment, indicates a probable purge of key defense personnel following Putin's recent re-election win. There are numerous possibilities for such a purge but all these efforts are certainly aimed at consolodating and confirming power for Putin.)
-US Events-
1. Police descend on UCLA after protesters erect new pro-Palestinian encampment: More than two dozen officers in riot gear descended on UCLA Thursday afternoon, facing off with pro-Palestinian protesters who had erected a new encampment on campus hours earlier. The move came amid escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian students and their faculty allies and administrators on the Westwood campus. The academic workers union announced Thursday that its ongoing strike over working conditions would expand to UCLA and UC Davis on Tuesday. (LATimes)
2. Obama makes an appearance at White House’s Kenya state dinner: President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden roll out the red carpet for Kenyan President William Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto. Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Former President Obama were in attendance. The former president was not on the initial state dinner guest list released by the White House. He attended a reception in the Blue Room prior to the dinner and stopped into the dinner area briefly, according to his office. Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, visited the country as president in 2015 and returned in 2018 after leaving office. (CNN)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US Congress Building Pro-Crypto Army, Lawmaker Says: Crypto is gaining momentum among U.S. lawmakers. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated: “We are building a pro-crypto army in Congress.” This declaration came shortly after the House of Representatives passed the landmark Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) crypto bill, despite opposition from the White House and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. (BitcoinCom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Ethereum ETFs Approved: The SEC combined proposals from the Nasdaq, NYSE, and CBOE exchanges, which requested changes to existing rules to allow the trading of Ethereum Exchange-Rraded Products (ETPs) and ETFs. (Forbes)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. U.S. House Passes Bill Banning Federal Reserve From Issuing a CBDC: The CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, introduced by Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), seeks to block the U.S. central bank from continuing efforts toward the development of a digital dollar. Republicans expressed concerns that a U.S. CBDC could be used to control Americans. However, both the market structure and the anti-CBDC bills seem headed toward similar fates in the Senate – going nowhere – given that half of congress does not have a counterpart for either piece of legislation. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dow Sinks More than 600 Points: Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, after a hotter-than-expected PMI survey fueled concerns about prolonged higher interest rates. The Dow Jones plunged by 605 points, marking its worst day of the year. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Microsoft outage affects Bing, Copilot, DuckDuckGo and ChatGPT internet search: The outage, which started around 3:00 a.m. EDT, largely affected users in Asia and Europe. Bing remained accessible when an alternate URL was used, but ChatGPT internet search and DuckDuckGo suffered issues because they use the Bing API. (CISOSeries)
-Technology-
1. Peer-to-peer blockchain: Scaling with IPv6-based new internet: At the London Blockchain Conference 2024, IPv6 Forum President Latif Ladid moderated a panel on how IPv6 and blockchain technology will change the internet. Ladid opens the panel by explaining the key points of IPv6: it enables true end-to-end connections between people. It empowers people and disempowers monopolies by enabling people to have their unique IP addresses for every device. (CoinGeek) (AC-Do Your Own Research on IPv6)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
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Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
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*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
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