@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Helsinki, the stylish and compact capital of Finland, sits right on the edge of the Baltic Sea, blending Scandinavian design, sustainable living, and a love for nature. It’s a city of clean lines, calm energy, and a creative spirit—where you can go from a seaside sauna to a sleek design museum in minutes.

🧭 Top Things to Do in Helsinki

⛪ Helsinki Cathedral

• The city’s iconic white-domed landmark, perched on Senate Square
• Climb the steps for sweeping views over the city’s neoclassical heart

🏝️ Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site spread across several islands
• Explore old ramparts, tunnels, museums, and scenic picnic spots
• A short ferry ride from the city center, perfect for a half-day trip

🧊 Löyly Sauna

• One of Helsinki’s most famous public saunas, right on the waterfront
• Relax in the heat, then dip in the Baltic like a local
• Beautiful architecture and a must-do cultural experience

🏛️ Design District & Museums

• Wander the Design District for boutique shops, galleries, and Finnish fashion
• Visit the Design Museum, Kiasma (contemporary art), and Ateneum (classic Finnish art)

🌲 Nature + Nordic Calm

• Walk along the Esplanadi park or relax in Kaivopuisto by the sea
• Take a boat to the nearby archipelago islands for hiking, birdwatching, or quiet cafés
• Even in winter, the city feels clean, serene, and cozy

☕ Food, Coffee & Nordic Flavors

• Try karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies), salmon soup, or reindeer meat if you’re adventurous
• Helsinki has a big coffee culture—Finns drink more coffee per capita than anyone!
• Cozy up in a café with a cinnamon pulla and watch the snow fall (or the summer sun glow at midnight)

🚲 Getting Around

• Easy to explore by foot, tram, or city bikes
• Excellent ferries and boats to nearby islands and Tallinn, Estonia
• Helsinki Airport is well-connected and just 30 mins from downtown

📅 When to Go

• Summer: Endless daylight, festivals, and outdoor dining
• Winter: Snowy streets, cozy interiors, and a shot at the Northern Lights if you head north
• Autumn: Ruska (fall colors) is stunning in the parks and forests

@ 3ad01248:962d8a07

It has almost been a month since the Bitcoin friendly Trump administration has been in power. The Bitcoin price was riding high days before and after the election with Bitcoin reaching a new all time high of 109k. It sure seem like surely once Trump got into office the price would skyrocket and everyone finally would have lambos and girlfriends.

Sadly for the number go up crowd this didn't happen. There are no lambos to be found and no girlfriends. All we get is some sideways price action and a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (BSR).

If you are in Bitcoin for the right reasons and understand what you hold, this is the perfect time to stack sats before the price goes parabolic. I say this because Bitcoin sure seems to be poised to make a massive run. If you look past the current price of Bitcoin you can see a storm of dollars flowing into Bitcoin from the traditional fiat economy. The signs are there if you start looking for them.

US States Creating Bitcoin Strategic Reserves

Guess how many states are considering creating a state level Bitcoin reserve of their own? Lots. Here is a list of states that are thinking about creating a reserve for their state:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Florida
• Kansas
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Each state is at some varying degree of interest in creating a reserve. Texas and Arizona are by far have made the most progress on making a Bitcoin reserve a reality. Texas is currently holding a public hearing on this at the time of this writing. There is strong political will to create a reserve so I definitely can see them being first movers on this and once Texas makes it a reality the other state will move in short order.

Arizona's strategic reserve bill passed the senate finance committee on a 5-2 which is a big deal in itself but still has a long way to go before it becomes policy. If it passes the Senate it still has to pass the Arizona House of Representatives and signed by Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, so the odds of this becoming law is slim. Arizona Democrats seem to be anti-Bitcoin in general and any bills coming from Republicans will likely be shoot down or watered down.

Analysts believe that $23 billion could flow into Bitcoin from government reserves which equates to 247k Bitcoin going into government cold storage. I have reservations about governments creating BSR's but if we are going to have them I much rather them be at the state level where it can benefit citizens the most. Especially state pension funds that so many of our firefighters, police and first responders depend on for retirement.

We will probably see a state level BSR created by the end of the year if not sooner. Time will tell.

SAB 121 Repeal

What is SAB 121? SAB 121 or Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 made it problematic for financial institutions to custody digital assets such as Bitcoin for their customers. SAB 121 required institutions to record their holdings as a liability and not an asset.

Naturally banks and other financial institutions didn't see an upside to custody digital assets if it meant taking on liability and having an administration that was hostile to crypto in general. Why take the chance to piss off the government and give them a reason to go after you is probably the reasoning of most bank executives. SAB 121 achieved the goal the Biden administration set out to accomplish, namely stymie Bitcoin adoption by banks and individuals as long as possible.

President Trump swiftly issued a executive order rescinding SAB 121 and with that ushering a new era in the realm of Bitcoin and digital assets in general. Financial institutions now have the ability to explore Bitcoin custody solutions that fit their customer's need without fear of having to record a liability on their books.

As more and more people and business learn about Bitcoin third party custody options are going to be popular. Think about it from a small business owner perspective for a second. They are in the business of selling their widgets for Bitcoin but they don't want to manage the complexity that comes with accounting, taxes etc.. In steps in their local bank that they have been with for years if not decades and starts providing Bitcoin management services. Small business owners would be all over that idea. In the long run I think the repeal of SAB 121 is going to be a bigger deal than states creating Bitcoin strategic reserves.

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board or FASB for short has applied fair value accounting rules on Bitcoin and other digital assets. This is a huge deal because it will allow business to realize profit and losses of Bitcoin based on market prices. It also makes it easier for investors who evaluate businesses that hold Bitcoin on their balance sheet. Overall it treats Bitcoin like any other asset that a business would hold.

This accounting rule change will pave the way for more businesses to put Bitcoin on their balance sheet further driving demand for Bitcoin.

Lightning Companies Leading The Way

We all know that L1 Bitcoin can not scale to the entire world and that in order to bring more people into Bitcoin that layer two solutions would have to be built. This has largely been done with the creation of the lightning network which enables seamless peer to peer micropayments in the blink of an eye.

Base layer Bitcoin will certain not be used to buy your daily coffees or gym memberships but lightning will be used for that purpose. Businesses small and large will demand one click on demand solutions to help them accept Bitcoin payments for their businesses. There are plenty of Bitcoin business ready to help business adopt a Bitcoin standard.

Businesses such as Opennode, Zaprite, Voltage, Breez make switching over to a Bitcoin standard easy for businesses to do.

So when you take a step back and really look at the Bitcoin ecosystem it is a lot more mature than most give it credit for and will slowly eat away at fiat currency dominance around the world.

The best thing that you can do is be patient, stack as many sats as you can and educate others about Bitcoin. We all know how fiat currencies end. Our time will come.

@ 000002de:c05780a7

When people typically use the analogy of digital gold to describe bitcoin they mean that it is a digital asset that functions in the market in a way very similar to gold. By this they mean it is a store of value, not really a medium of exchange. This framing is not popular with the bitcoin is money crowd because when people use the digital gold framing they typically mean bitcoin isn't money. Its just a store of value. A hedge against inflation. It would never be used as money. It isn't good for buying stuff. Some that say this I'm pretty convinced are simply pushing this idea because of fear of the state. Others seem to really mean it.

The other day I was thinking about this and something occurred to me. I thought I understood gold before I understood bitcoin. I imagine like most people are similar. The truth is reading "The Bitcoin Standard" taught me much more about gold than bitcoin. In fact, I didn't really learn much about bitcoin from the book. I'm not saying its not a great book about bitcoin but rather my ignorance of gold was much greater than I realized. I imagine I'm not alone in that.

I remember thinking about gold after reading it... gold is pretty cool. Its properties are kinda wild. Gold has been used as money far longer than paper money. Its absolutely absurd to compare gold to bitcoin. Bitcoin is so new! But gold has qualities that make it unique among precious metals. These are not all unique properties but these are some of its qualities that make it a good money.

• You cannot create it, you have to find/mine it.
• You cannot destroy it.
• It is fungible.
• Its authenticity can be verified.
• Its supply has a very small increase over time(for now).
• It has been used for thousands of years as both a store of value and medium of exchange.

So why don't we use gold every day to buy goods. A common opinion is that it is because of greedy bankers and central planners but that's not the whole story. The truth is that gold died as a common money largely due to technology. Telecommunications and the speed of communication across great distances is what really supplanted gold as money. Gold was still used to back paper money(notes) but its use as the actual direct medium of exchange is largely dead. Bitcoin was not the first attempt to make digital money nor digital gold, but it has been the most successful by far.

So what am I saying? Bitcoin isn't digital gold but its a good analog. If you could make gold digital is would be great money. Bitcoin is a great store of value for the same reasons gold has been. Bitcoin however can be sent across great distances with ease and at the same time it can be stored for long periods of time at low cost. It is better than gold in both ways. As a store of value and medium of exchange. I can't send an oz of gold across the globe in seconds. I can't validate the authenticity of my gold with a simple computer.

My belief is that people that think bitcoin is only a viable store of value don't really understand bitcoin. Its true that currently under standard economic definitions bitcoin is not a generally accepted medium of exchange but that is only an issue of adoption and understanding. Bitcoin without lightning is still better than any fiat money. The dollar is only digital due to custodial services and trust in third parties. Our biggest problem with bitcoin as a medium of exchange is literally a lack of knowledge. This will be solved over time as people start to hold it to preserve their long term wealth. As fiat money dies and as regimes crack down on humans we will see a rise in desire for a new money. Sadly, I think most people will need to get wrecked before they get it.

My recommendation is to stop fighting over the "digital gold" label but instead agree and focus on the digital aspect. If gold was digital it would not have been supplanted by paper notes.

What do you think?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/951965

@ 9063ef6b:fd1e9a09

Quantum computing is not an emergency today — but it is a slow-moving tsunami. The earlier Bitcoin prepares, the smoother the transition will be.

1. Why Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s current cryptographic security relies on ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm). While this is secure against classical computers, a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could break it using Shor’s algorithm, which would allow attackers to derive private keys from exposed public keys. This poses a serious threat to user funds and the overall trust in the Bitcoin network.

Even though SHA-256, the hash function used for mining and address creation, is more quantum-resistant, it too would be weakened (though not broken) by quantum algorithms.

---

2. The Core Problem

Bitcoin’s vulnerability to quantum computing stems from how it handles public keys and signatures.

🔓 Public Key Exposure

Most Bitcoin addresses today (e.g., P2PKH or P2WPKH) are based on a hash of the public key, which keeps the actual public key hidden — until the user spends from that address.

Once a transaction is made, the public key is published on the blockchain, making it permanently visible and linked to the address.

---

🧠 Why This Matters

If a sufficiently powerful quantum computer becomes available in the future, it could apply Shor’s algorithm to derive the private key from a public key.

This creates a long-term risk:

• Any Bitcoin tied to an address with an exposed public key — even from years ago — could be stolen.
• The threat persists after a transaction, not just while it’s being confirmed.
• The longer those funds sit untouched, the more exposed they become to future quantum threats.

---

⚠️ Systemic Implication

This isn’t just a theoretical risk — it’s a potential threat to long-term trust in Bitcoin’s security model.

If quantum computers reach the necessary scale, they could: - Undermine confidence in the finality of old transactions - Force large-scale migrations of funds - Trigger panic or loss of trust in the ecosystem

---

Bitcoin’s current design protects against today’s threats — but revealed public keys create a quantum attack surface that grows with time.

---

3. Why It’s Hard to Fix

Transitioning Bitcoin to post-quantum cryptography is a complex challenge:

• Consensus required: Changes to signature schemes or address formats require wide agreement across the Bitcoin ecosystem.
• Signature size: Post-quantum signature algorithms could be significantly larger, which affects blockchain size, fees, and performance.
• Wallet migration: Updating wallets and moving funds to new address types must be done securely and at massive scale.
• User experience: Any major cryptographic upgrade must remain simple enough for users to avoid security risks.

---

4. The Path Forward

The cryptographers worldwide are already working on solutions:

• Post-Quantum Cryptographic Algorithms are being standardized by NIST, including CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Kyber, FALCON, and SPHINCS+.
• Prototypes and experiments are ongoing in testnets and research networks.
• Hybrid signature schemes are being explored to allow backward compatibility.

Governments and institutions like NIST, ENISA, and ISO are laying the foundation for cryptographic migration across industries — and Bitcoin will benefit from this ecosystem.

---

5. What You could do in short term

• Keep large holdings in cold storage addresses that have never been spent from.
• Avoid reusing addresses to prevent public key exposure.

---

References & Further Reading

• https://komodoplatform.com/en/academy/p2pkh-pay-to-pubkey-hash
• https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography
• https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/post-quantum-cryptography-current-state-and-quantum-mitigation
• https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Quantum_computing_and_Bitcoin
• https://research.ibm.com/blog/ibm-quantum-condor-1121-qubits
• https://blog.google/technology/research/google-willow-quantum-chip/
• https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/quantum/2025/02/19/microsoft-unveils-majorana-1-the-worlds-first-quantum-processor-powered-by-topological-qubits/
• https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/quantum-computing-aws-ocelot-chip
  ```

@ d34e832d:383f78d0

Such a transformation positions Nostr to compete with established social networking platforms in terms of reach while simultaneously ensuring the preservation of user sovereignty and the integrity of cryptographic trust mechanisms.

The Emergence of Encrypted Relay-to-Relay Federation

In the context of Nostr protocol scalability challenges pertaining to censorship-resistant networking paradigms, Nostr stands as a paradigm-shifting entity, underpinned by robust public-key cryptography and minimal operational assumptions. This feature set has rendered Nostr an emblematic instrument for overcoming systemic censorship, fostering permissionless content dissemination, and upholding user autonomy within digital environments. However, as the demographic footprint of Nostr's user base grows exponentially, coupled with an expanding range of content modalities, the structural integrity of individual relays faces increasing pressure.

Challenges of Isolation and Limited Scalability in Decentralized Networks

The current architecture of Nostr relays is primarily constituted of simple TCP or WebSocket servers that facilitate the publication and reception of events. While aesthetically simple, this design introduces significant performance bottlenecks and discoverability issues. Relays targeting specific regional or topical niches often rely heavily on client-side interactions or third-party directories for information exchange. This operational framework presents inefficiencies when scaled globally, especially in scenarios requiring high throughput and rapid dissemination of information. Furthermore, it does not adequately account for redundancy and availability, especially in low-bandwidth environments or regions facing strict censorship.

Navigating Impediments of Isolation and Constrained Scalability

Current Nostr relay infrastructures mainly involve basic TCP and WebSocket configurations for event publication and reception. While simple, these configurations contribute to performance bottlenecks and a significant discoverability deficit. Relays that serve niche markets often operate under constraints, relying on client-side interactions or third-party directories. These inefficiencies become particularly problematic at a global scale, where high throughput and rapid information distribution are necessary. The absence of mechanisms to enhance redundancy and availability in environments with limited connectivity or under censorship further exacerbates these issues.

Proposal for Encrypted Relay Federation

Encrypted relay federation in decentralized networking can be achieved through a novel Nostr Improvement Proposal (NIP), which introduces a sophisticated gossip-style mesh topology. In this system, relays subscribe to content tags, message types, or public keys from peer nodes, optimizing data flow and relevance.

Central to this architecture is a mutual key handshake protocol using Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) for symmetric encryption over relay keys. This ensures data integrity and confidentiality during transmission. The use of encrypted event bundles, compression, and routing based on relay reputation metrics and content demand analytics enhances throughput and optimizes network resources.

To counter potential abuse and spam, strategies like rate limiting, financially incentivized peering, and token gating are proposed, serving as control mechanisms for network interactions. Additionally, the relay federation model could emulate the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), allowing for dynamic content advertisement and routing updates across the federated mesh, enhancing network resilience.

Advantages of Relay Federation in Data Distribution Architecture

Relay federation introduces a distributed data load management system where relays selectively store pertinent events. This enhances data retrieval efficiency, minimizes congestion, and fosters a censorship-resistant information flow. By decentralizing data storage, relays contribute to a global cache network, ensuring no single relay holds comprehensive access to all network data. This feature helps preserve the integrity of information flow, making it resistant to censorship.

An additional advantage is offline communication capabilities. Even without traditional internet access, events can still be communicated through alternative channels like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, or LoRa. This ensures local and community-based interactions remain uninterrupted during network downtime.

Furthermore, relay federations may introduce monetization strategies where specialized relays offer access to rare or high-quality data streams, promoting competition and interoperability while providing users with diverse data options.

Some Notable Markers To Nostr Becoming the Internet Layer for Censorship Resistance

Stop for a moment in your day and try to understand what Nostr can do for your communications by observing these markers:

1. Protocol Idea (NIP-01 by fiatjaf) │ ▼
2. npub/nsec Keypair Standard │ ▼
3. First Relays Go Online │ ▼
4. Identity & Auth (NIP-05, NIP-07) │ ▼
5. Clients Launch (Damus, Amethyst, Iris, etc.) │ ▼
6. Lightning Zaps + NWC (NIP-57) │ ▼
7. Relay Moderation & Reputation NIPs │ ▼
8. Protocol Bridging (ActivityPub, Matrix, Mastodon) │ ▼
9. Ecash Integration (Cashu, Walletless Zaps) │ ▼
10. Encrypted Relay Federation (Experimental) │ ▼
11. Relay Mesh Networks (WireGuard + libp2p) │ ▼
12. IoT Integration (Meshtastic + ESP32) │ ▼
13. Fully Decentralized, Censorship-Resistant Social Layer

The implementation of encrypted federation represents a pivotal technological advancement, establishing a robust framework that challenges the prevailing architecture of fragmented social networking ecosystems and monopolistic centralized cloud services. This innovative approach posits that Nostr could:

• Facilitate a comprehensive, globally accessible decentralized index of information, driven fundamentally by user interactions and a novel microtransaction system (zaps), enabling efficient content valorization and information dissemination.
• Empower the concept of nomadic digital identities, allowing them to seamlessly traverse various relays, devoid of reliance on centralized identity verification systems, promoting user autonomy and privacy.
• Become the quintessential backend infrastructure for decentralized applications, knowledge graphs, and expansive datasets conducive to DVMs.
• Achieve seamless interoperability with established protocols, such as ActivityPub, Matrix, IPFS, and innovative eCash systems that offer incentive mechanisms, fostering an integrated and collaborative ecosystem.

In alignment with decentralization, encrypted relay-to-relay federation marks a significant evolution for the Nostr protocol, transitioning from isolated personal broadcasting stations to an interoperable, adaptive, trustless mesh network of communication nodes.

By implementing this sophisticated architecture, Nostr is positioned to scale efficiently, addressing global needs while preserving free speech, privacy, and individual autonomy in a world marked by surveillance and compartmentalized digital environments.

Nostr's Countenance Structure: Noteworthy Events

``` Nostr Protocol Concept by fiatjaf:

• First Relays and npub/nsec key pairs appear
• Damus, Amethyst, and other clients emerge
• Launch of Zaps and Lightning Tip Integration
• Mainstream interest post Twitter censorship events
• Ecosystem tools: NWC, NIP-07, NIP-05 adoption
• Nostr devs propose relay scoring and moderation NIPs
• Bridging begins (ActivityPub, Matrix, Mastodon)
• Cashu eCash integration with Nostr zaps (walletless tips)
• Relay-to-relay encrypted federation proposed
• Hackathons exploring libp2p, LNbits, and eCash-backed identities
• Scalable P2P Mesh using WireGuard + Nostr + Gossip
• Web3 & IoT integration with ESP32 + Meshtastic + relays
• A censorship-resistant, decentralized social internet ```

@ c239c0f9:fa4a5015

Block: #893398 - April 2025

The Monthly Thunderbolt Dispatch on Bitcoin layers two innovations, aggregating the Best posts about the ~Lightning Network and others Bitcoin L2 solution- Exclusively on Stacker.News

It's again that time of the month, time to catch up with the latest features and trends that are shaping the future of Bitcoin—the very first and most commented insights from around the SN world. In every issue arrives expert analysis, in-depth interview, and breaking news of the most significant advancements in the Bitcoin layer two solutions.

Subscribe and make sure you don’t miss anything about the ~Lightning Revolution!

Now let's focus on the top five items for each category, an electrifying selection that hope you'll be able to read before next edition.

Happy Zapping!

---

Top ~Lightning posts

Most zapranked posts this month:

1. Use RIZFUL as your BTCPay Server lightning node via NWC by @supratic 10.2k sats \ 2 comments \ 14 Apr

2. c-otto.de routing node history with a bit of data by @C_Otto 6301 sats \ 31 comments \ 23 Mar

3. Phoenix Wallet available again in the US by @Scoresby 4696 sats \ 29 comments \ 8 Apr

4. Short Text Note: Cashu is coming to ZEUS. by @supratic 5270 sats \ 13 comments \ 1 Apr

5. Hydrus - Automating lightning liquidity management by @aftermath 2281 sats \ 9 comments \ 27 Mar

---

Top posts by comments

Excluding the ones already mentioned above, you can see them all here (excluding those already listed above):

1. Liquidity squeezing from your node by @k00b 644 sats \ 20 comments \ 5 Apr

2. ZEUS starting to open up Cashu test builds to community sponsors. by @supratic 499 sats \ 14 comments \ 6 Apr

3. Ask Node Runners: What is the longest lived LN channel you have? by @DarthCoin 276 sats \ 12 comments \ 10 Apr

4. What's the best way to accept lightning payments on Wordpress + WooCommerce? by @Jon_Hodl 1879 sats \ 12 comments \ 10 Apr

5. Lightning node over tor by @BallLightning 219 sats \ 9 comments \ 28 Mar

---

Top ~Lightning Boosts

Check them all here.

1. Missing r/place? LNboard.com is the Lightning Network's Anarchy Art Gallery by @f0e6f4f43b 905 sats \ 40k boost \ 20 comments \ 2 Apr

2. Try out the Ark protocol on signet by @nwoodfine 2083 sats \ 30k boost \ 12 comments \ 19 Mar

3. Amboss CEO On Growth Of The Lightning Network, Tether (USDT) On Lightning by @Jestopher_BTC 577 sats \ 20k boost \ 10 comments \ 19 Feb

4. Building Self Custody Lightning in 2025 by @k00b 2293 sats \ 10k boost \ 8 comments \ 23 Jan

---

Top Lightning posts outside ~Lightning

This month best posts about the Lightning Network outside ~Lightning territory:

1. I made a game with Lightning where you can earn some sats by @stacks 4732 sats \ 46 comments \ 17 Apr on ~bitcoin

2. "Lightning self custody works for 100 million users" "But it needs 10 billion!!" by @standardcrypto 2998 sats \ 22 comments \ 24 Mar on ~bitcoin

3. 24 Hours of Lightning: Watch LNboard.com's First Day Unfold by @f0e6f4f43b 809 sats \ 8 comments \ 2 Apr on ~bitcoin

4. Lightning Payments Tour by Yopaki by @PlebLab 355 sats \ 0 comments \ 11 Apr on ~builders

5. 👀 My Bitcoin Startup Company Portfolio through Lightning Ventures. 👀 by @BlokchainB 965 sats \ 13 comments \ 16 Apr on ~Stacker_Stocks

---

Forever top ~Lightning posts

La crème de la crème... check them all here. Nothing has changed this month!

1. 👨‍🚀 We're releasing 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗬 𝗚𝗢 - the easiest lightning mobile wallet by @Alby 29.2k sats \ 41 comments \ 25 Sep 2024 on ~lightning

2. Building Self Custody Lightning in 2025 by @k00b 2303 sats \ 8 comments \ 22 Jan on ~lightning

3. Lightning Wallets: Self-Custody Despite Poor Network - Apps Tested in Zimbabwe by @anita 72.8k sats \ 39 comments \ 28 Jan 2024 on ~lightning

4. How to Attach Your self-hosted LNbits wallet to SEND/RECEIVE sats to/from SN by @supratic 1765 sats \ 18 comments \ 23 Sep 2024 on ~lightning

5. A Way to Use Stacker News to improve your Zap Receiving by @bzzzt 1652 sats \ 22 comments \ 15 Jul 2024 on ~lightning

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Forever top Lightning posts outside ~Lightning

The rise of Supertestnet at #5, congrats!

1. Rethinking Lightning by @benthecarman with 51.6k sats \ 137 comments \ 6 Jan 2024 on ~bitcoin

2. Lightning Everywhere by @TonyGiorgio with 12k sats \ 27 comments \ 24 Jul 2023 on ~bitcoin

3. Lightning is dead, long live the Lightning! by @supertestnet and zaps forwarded to @anita (50%) @k00b (50%) 6321 sats \ 28 comments \ @tolot 27 Oct 2023 on ~bitcoin

4. Lightning Is Doomed by @Rsync25 2450 sats \ 15 comments \ 27 Nov 2023 on ~bitcoin

5. Bisq2 adds lightning by @supertestnet 3019 sats \ 47 comments \ 19 Aug 2024 on ~bitcoin

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@ d34e832d:383f78d0

This foundational philosophy positioned her as the principal architect of the climactic finale of the Reconquista—a protracted campaign that sought to reclaim territories under Muslim dominion. Her decisive participation in military operations against the Emirate of Granada not only consummated centuries of Christian reclamation endeavors but also heralded the advent of a transformative epoch in both Spanish and European identity, intertwining religious zeal with nationalistic aspirations and setting the stage for the emergence of a unified Spanish state that would exert significant influence on European dynamics for centuries to come.

Image Above Map Of Th Iberias

During the era of governance overseen by Muhammad XII, historically identified as Boabdil, the Kingdom of Granada was characterized by a pronounced trajectory of decline, beset by significant internal dissent and acute dynastic rivalry, factors that fundamentally undermined its structural integrity. The political landscape of the emirate was marked by fragmentation, most notably illustrated by the contentious relationship between Boabdil and his uncle, the militarily adept El Zagal, whose formidable martial capabilities further exacerbated the emirate's geopolitical vulnerabilities, thereby impairing its capacity to effectively mobilize resistance against the encroaching coalition of Christian forces. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge the strategic advantages conferred by Granada’s formidable mountainous terrain, coupled with the robust fortifications of its urban centers. This geographical and structural fortitude, augmented by the fervent determination and resilience of the local populace, collectively contributed to Granada's status as a critical and tenacious stronghold of Islamic governance in the broader Iberian Peninsula during this tumultuous epoch.

The military campaign initiated was precipitated by the audacious territorial annexation of Zahara by the Emirate in the annum 1481—a pivotal juncture that served as a catalytic impetus for the martial engagement orchestrated by the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.

Image Above Monarchs Of Castilles

What subsequently unfolded was an arduous protracted conflict, extending over a decade, characterized by a series of decisive military confrontations—most notably the Battle of Alhama, the skirmishes at Loja and Lucena, the strategic recapture of Zahara, and engagements in Ronda, Málaga, Baza, and Almería. Each of these encounters elucidates the intricate dynamics of military triumph entwined with the perils of adversity. Isabel's role transcended mere symbolic representation; she emerged as an astute logistical architect, meticulously structuring supply chains, provisioning her armies with necessary resources, and advocating for military advancements, including the tactical incorporation of Lombard artillery into the operational theater. Her dual presence—both on the battlefield and within the strategic command—interwove deep-seated piety with formidable power, unifying administrative efficiency with unyielding ambition.

In the face of profound personal adversities, exemplified by the heart-wrenching stillbirth of her progeny amidst the tumultuous electoral campaign, Isabel exhibited a remarkable steadfastness in her quest for triumph. Her strategic leadership catalyzed a transformative evolution in the constructs of monarchical power, ingeniously intertwining the notion of divine right—a historically entrenched justification for sovereign authority—with pragmatic statecraft underpinned by the imperatives of efficacious governance and stringent military discipline. The opposition posed by El Zagal, characterized by his indefatigable efforts and tenacious resistance, elongated the duration of the campaign; however, the indomitable spirit and cohesive resolve of the Catholic Monarchs emerged as an insuperable force, compelling the eventual culmination of their aspirations into a definitive victory.

The capitulation of the Emirate of Granada in the month of January in the year 1492 represents a pivotal moment in the historical continuum of the Iberian Peninsula, transcending the mere conclusion of the protracted series of military engagements known as the Reconquista. This momentous event is emblematic of the intricate process of state-building that led to the establishment of a cohesive Spanish nation-state fundamentally predicated on the precepts of Christian hegemony. Furthermore, it delineates the cusp of an imperial epoch characterized by expansionist ambitions fueled by religious zealotry. The ramifications of this surrender profoundly altered the sociocultural and political framework of the region, precipitating the coerced conversion and expulsion of significant Jewish and Muslim populations—a demographic upheaval that would serve to reinforce the ideological paradigms that underpinned the subsequent institution of the Spanish Inquisition, a systematic apparatus of religious persecution aimed at maintaining ideological conformity and unity under the Catholic Monarchs.

Image Above Surrender At Granada

In a broader historical context, the capitulation of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada transpired concurrently with the inaugural expedition undertaken by the navigator Christopher Columbus, both events being facilitated under the auspices of Queen Isabel I of Castile. This significant temporal nexus serves to underscore the confluence of the termination of Islamic hegemony in the Iberian Peninsula with the commencement of European maritime exploration on a grand scale. Such a juxtaposition of religiously motivated conquest and the zealous pursuit of transoceanic exploration precipitated a paradigm shift in the trajectory of global history. It catalyzed the ascendance of the Spanish Empire, thereby marking the nascent stages of European colonial endeavors throughout the Americas.

Image Above Columbus At The Spanish Court

This epochal transformation not only redefined territorial dominion but also initiated profound socio-economic and cultural repercussions across continents, forever altering the intricate tapestry of human civilization.

Consequently, the cessation of hostilities in Granada should not merely be interpreted as the conclusion of a protracted medieval conflict; rather, it represents a critical juncture that fundamentally reoriented the socio-political landscape of the Old World while concurrently heralding the advent of modernity. The pivotal contributions of Queen Isabel I in this transformative epoch position her as an extraordinarily significant historical figure—an autocrat whose strategic foresight, resilience, and zeal indelibly influenced the trajectory of nations and entire continents across the globe.

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