@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are not rushing to stack sats, and Oliver Porter, Founder & CEO of Jippi, understands the challenge better than most. His strategy revolves around adapting Bitcoin education to fit seamlessly into the digital lives of young adults.

“We need to meet them where they are,” Oliver explains. “90% of Gen Z plays games. 70% expect to earn rewards.”

So, what will effectively introduce them to Bitcoin? In Oliver’s mind, the answer is simple: games that don’t feel preachy but still plant the orange pill.

Learn more at Jippi.app

That’s exactly what Jippi is. Based in Austin, Texas, the team has created a mobile augmented reality (AR) game that rewards players in bitcoin and sneakily teaches them why sound money matters.

“It’s Pokémon GO… but for sats,” Oliver puts it succinctly.

Jippi is like Pokemon Go, but for sats

Oliver’s Bitcoin journey, like many in the space, began long before he was ready. A former colleague had tried planting the seed years earlier, handing him a copy of The Bitcoin Standard. But the moment passed.

It wasn’t until the chaos of 2020 when lockdowns hit, printing presses roared, and civil liberties shrank that the message finally landed for him.

“The government got so good at doing reverse Robin Hood,” Oliver explains. “They steal from the working population and reward the rich.”

By 2020, though, the absurdity of the covid hysteria had caused his eyes to be opened and the orange light seemed the best path back to freedom.

He left the UK for Austin “one of the best places for Bitcoiners,” he says, and dove headfirst into the industry, working at Swan for a year before founding Jippi on PlebLab’s accelerator program.

Jippi’s flagship game lets players roam their cities hunting digital creatures, Bitcoin Beasts, tied to real-world locations. Catching them requires answering Bitcoin trivia, and the reward is sats.

No jargon. No hour-long lectures. Just gameplay with sound money principles woven right in.

The model is working. At a recent hackathon in Austin, Jippi beat out 14 other teams to win first place and $15,000 in prize money.

Oliver of Jippi won Top Builder Season 2 — PlebLab on X

“We’re backdooring Bitcoin education,” Oliver admits. “And while we’re at it, encouraging people to get outside and touch grass.”

Not everyone’s been thrilled. When Jippi team members visited one of the more liberal-leaning places in Texas, UT Austin, to test interest in Bitcoin, they found some seriously committed no-coiners on the campus.

“One young woman told me, ‘I would rather die than talk about Bitcoin,'” Oliver recalls, highlighting the cultural resistance that’s built up among younger demographics.

This resistance is backed by hard data. According to Oliver, some of the Bitcoin podcasters they met with in the space to do market research reported that less than 1% of their listeners are from Gen Z and that number is dropping.

“Unless we find a way to capture their interest in a meaningful way, there’s going to be a big problem around trying to sway Gen Z away from the siren call of s***coins and crypto casinos and towards Bitcoin,” Oliver warns.

Jippi’s next big move is Las Vegas, where they’ll launch the Beast Catch experience at the Venetian during a major Bitcoin event. To mark the occasion, they’re opening up six limited sponsorship spots for Bitcoin companies, each one tied to a custom in-game beast.

Jippi looks to launch a special event at Bitcoin 2025

“It’s real estate inside the game,” Oliver explains. “Brands become allies, not intrusions. You get a logo, company name, and call to action, so we can push people to your site or app.”

Bitcoin Well—an automatic self-custody Bitcoin platform—has claimed Beast #1. Only five exclusive spots remain for Bitcoin companies to “beastify their brand” through Jippi’s immersive AR game.

“I love the Jippi mission. I think gamified learning is how we will onboard the next generation and it’s exciting to see what the Jippi team is doing! I love working with bitcoiners towards our common mission – bullish!” said Adam O’Brien, Bitcoin Well CEO.

Jippi’s sponsorship model is simple: align incentives, respect users, and support builders. Instead of throwing ad money at tech giants, Bitcoin companies can connect with new users naturally while they’re having fun and earning sats in the process.

For Bitcoin companies looking to reach a younger demographic, this represents a unique opportunity to showcase their brand to up to 30,000 potential customers at the Vegas event.

Jippi Bitcoin Beast partnership

While Jippi’s current focus is simple, get the game into more cities, Oliver sees a future where AR glasses and AI help personalize Bitcoin education even further.

“The magic is going to really happen when Apple releases the glasses form factor,” he says, describing how augmented reality could enhance real-world connections rather than isolate users.

In the longer term, Jippi aims to evolve from a free-to-play model toward a pay-to-play version with higher stakes. Users would form “tribes” with friends to compete for substantial bitcoin prizes, creating social connections along with financial education.

Unlike VC-backed startups, Jippi is raising funds pleb style via Timestamp, an open investment platform for Bitcoin companies.

“You don’t have to be an accredited investor,” Oliver explains. “You’re directly supporting the parallel Bitcoin economy by investing in Bitcoin companies for equity.”

Anyone can invest as little as $100. Perks include early access, exclusive game content, and even creating your own beast design with your name/pseudonym and unique game lore. Each investment comes with direct ownership of an early-stage Bitcoin company like Jippi.

For Oliver, this is more than just a business. It’s about future-proofing Bitcoin adoption and ensuring Satoshi’s vision lives on, especially as many people are lured by altcoins, NFTs, and social media dopamine.

“We’re on the right side of history,” he says firmly. “I want my grandkids to know that early on in the Bitcoin revolution, games like Jippi helped make it stick.”

In a world increasingly absorbed by screens and short attention spans, Jippi’s combination of outdoor play, sats rewards, and Bitcoin education might be exactly the bridge Gen Z needs.

Interested in sponsoring a Beast or investing in Jippi? Reach out to Jippi directly by heading to their partnerships page on their website or visit their Timestamp page to invest in Jippi today.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Tokyo-listed investment firm Metaplanet has officially surpassed El Salvador in bitcoin holdings after its biggest-ever single purchase of the scarce digital asset.

On May 12, 2025, the company announced it had bought 1,241 Bitcoin (BTC) for approximately $123.8 million, or ¥18.4 billion. The average price per coin was about $102,111, marking the firm’s largest purchase to date.

This latest buy brings Metaplanet’s total bitcoin reserves to 6,796 BTC, worth over $700 million.

Metaplanet on X

That puts Metaplanet ahead of El Salvador, the Central American nation that made headlines in 2021 for adopting bitcoin as legal tender. According to its National Bitcoin Office, El Salvador currently holds 6,174 BTC, worth roughly $642 million.

El Salvador bitcoin holdings — bitcoin.gob.sv

“Metaplanet now holds more bitcoin than El Salvador. From humble beginnings to rivaling nation-states, we’re just getting started,” said CEO Simon Gerovich on X after the company’s announcement.

The Japanese investment company started its bitcoin treasury strategy in April 2024 and has become the largest corporate holder of bitcoin in Asia and 11th globally. It aims to hold 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025.

Metaplanet is now the 11th largest corporate holder of bitcoin — BitcoinTreasuries

To fund these purchases, the firm has turned to bond issuances, including zero-percent bonds. In early May, Metaplanet issued $25 million worth of 0% bonds under its EVO FUND program to finance bitcoin buys without diluting shares or taking on traditional debt.

And Metaplanet’s strategy seems to be working. Its BTC Yield — a proprietary metric that measures bitcoin accumulation per share — is 38% for Q2 2025 so far. In previous quarters, the firm reported 95.6% in Q1 and a whopping 309.8% in Q4 2024.

The stock price has also gone up 1,800% since May 2024 and 51% in 2025 alone, currently trading above 550 JPY.

Metaplanet is often called “Japan’s MicroStrategy”, a reference to the U.S.-based company Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) led by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor. Strategy is the world’s largest corporate bitcoin holder with over 568,840 BTC in its coffers, worth more than $58 billion.

Like Strategy, Metaplanet is using creative financing tools such as convertible bonds and non-dilutive bond issuance to build a big bitcoin treasury. These financial instruments give the company the ability to fund further bitcoin purchases without diluting shareholders’ value.

Metaplanet is buying bitcoin very rapidly. This has become a trend in the corporate world, where private companies are challenging nation-states in the digital asset space.

Unlike governments which face regulatory and political hurdles, corporations like Metaplanet can move quickly and decisively. Since 2020 over 80 publicly traded companies have collectively bought more than 632,000 BTC worth over $65 billion.

This is a fundamental shift in how companies manage their treasuries — moving away from cash or bonds and towards the digital scarcity that bitcoin presents.

This creates a new form of financial power where corporations can hold a significant portion of a finite asset, unlike fiat currencies which governments can print to infinity.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

American Bitcoin, a bitcoin mining company backed by President Donald Trump’s sons, is going public in a new merger deal with Gryphon Digital Mining. Investors and political observers are taking notice as it presents a mixture of Bitcoin, Wall Street and the Trump brand.

This reverse merger allows for American Bitcoin Corporation to become a publicly traded company. This will happen through a stock-for-stock merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, a small-cap bitcoin miner already listed on the Nasdaq.

Once the deal is done, the new company will be called American Bitcoin and will trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ABTC. The merger is expected to close in the 3rd quarter of 2025.

Eric Trump, who will be the Co-Founder and the Chief Strategy Officer, said:

“Our vision for American Bitcoin is to create the most investable Bitcoin accumulation platform in the market.”

The Trump family’s involvement has gotten a lot of attention. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. launched American Bitcoin in March this year with digital asset infrastructure company Hut 8, which owns 80% of American Bitcoin.

American Bitcoin leadership team — Hut 8 presentation

After the merger, American Bitcoin shareholders — including the Trump brothers and Hut 8 — will own about 98% of the new company. Gryphon shareholders will own 2% even though Gryphon is the public company facilitating the merger.

Instead of an IPO (Initial Public Offering), American Bitcoin is going public through what’s called a reverse merger. This means it will take over Gryphon’s public listing.

This is often faster and simpler than a traditional IPO. It allows American Bitcoin to access public capital markets while maintaining operational and strategic control.

Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot said the merger is a big step forward for the company. “By taking American Bitcoin public, we expect to unlock direct access to dedicated growth capital independent of Hut 8’s balance sheet,” Genoot said.

The announcement sent Gryphon’s stock soaring. Shares rose over 280% and Hut 8’s stock went up over 11%. Clearly investors are interested in bitcoin-focused public companies when the asset itself is close to its previous all-time high.

But not everyone is buying. Some investors and analysts are questioning what Gryphon is actually bringing to the table. Gryphon won’t have a seat on the board or any representation in the new management team. Their role seems to be just to provide the public listing.

Many questions remain unanswered because there are no details on mining operations and what Gryphon’s role is beyond the merger.

American Bitcoin’s goal goes far beyond just mining bitcoin. It wants to become a national bitcoin reserve builder and a major player in that space by storing large amounts of bitcoin as a strategic asset.

The company plans to take “capital-light” advantage of Hut 8’s existing infrastructure, so there won’t be any need to build massive new data centers. Hut 8 already manages over 1,000 megawatts of energy capacity, and apparently, they will handle all the mining operations.

This is happening at a tough time for the mining industry in the U.S. and globally.

Profit margins are shrinking, and companies are really feeling the pinch of high operational costs. Hut 8 just reported a 58% drop in revenue and a $134 million net loss for the first quarter of 2025.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Bitcoin-focused investment firm Twenty One Capital has made headlines after buying 4,812 BTC worth $458.7 million, making it the third-largest corporate holder of the scarce digital asset.

The move is a big and public one towards becoming the “ultimate Bitcoin investment vehicle” according to its leadership, and is turning heads in both bitcoin and tradfi world.

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, bought the bitcoin on behalf of Twenty One Capital.

According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 13, Tether acquired the bitcoin on May 9 at an average price of $95,319 per coin.

Twenty One Capital was launched in April 2025 through a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners, a Cayman Islands-based firm affiliated with Wall Street giant Cantor Fitzgerald. The company is backed by Tether, Bitfinex exchange and Japanese investment giant SoftBank.

Related: Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether and SoftBank Launch $3B Bitcoin Venture

The firm is led by Jack Mallers, founder of the bitcoin payments app Strike, who has been vocal about bitcoin business models.

“We want to be the ultimate vehicle for the capital markets to participate in Bitcoin… building on top of Bitcoin,” said Mallers in an interview. “So we are a Bitcoin business at our core.”

At launch, Twenty One Capital had 31,500 bitcoin on the balance sheet with plans to get to at least 42,000 BTC.

The breakdown of that initial allocation was 23,950 BTC from Tether, 10,500 BTC from SoftBank and about 7,000 BTC from Bitfinex—all to be converted into equity at $10 per share.

The company is openly modeling its strategy after what Bitcoiners call “Saylorization”—a term coined after Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, who started large-scale bitcoin accumulation by corporations in 2020.

“Twenty One Capital isn’t just stacking sats,” said Bitcoin advocate Max Keiser, “It’s leading a generational shift in corporate capital allocation … Jack Mallers is taking the Saylor playbook and turning it into an arms race.”

The strategy is simple: use bitcoin per share as a metric instead of earnings per share, prioritize bitcoin accumulation over short-term profits, and use the capital markets to fund purchases. Mallers said:

“We do intend to raise as much capital as we possibly can to acquire bitcoin. We will never have bitcoin per share negative… Our intent is to make sure when you are a shareholder of Twenty One that you are getting wealthier in Bitcoin terms.”

The bitcoin purchase was made at a time of growing market momentum.

On May 14, bitcoin hit $105,000 briefly before settling at around $104,000—a 7.5% gain in the past week. Retail buying has also picked up, with purchases under $10,000 up 3.4% over two weeks, suggesting continued bullishness.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

KYC database of Coinbase, the largest U.S. digital asset exchange, has been breached and up to 1% of monthly active users, or around 100,000 customers, have had their personal info stolen.

Hackers reportedly bribed overseas customer support agents and contractors to leak internal company info and user data. They then demanded $20 million and threatened to release the stolen data if Coinbase didn’t pay.

Instead of paying the ransom, Coinbase said no and is setting up a $20 million reward fund for anyone who can help catch the hackers.

“They then tried to extort Coinbase for $20 million to cover this up. We said no,” the company said in a blog post. “Instead of paying the $20 million ransom, we’re establishing a $20 million reward fund.”

So what’s been stolen? The breach, which was first disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), did not involve any theft of customer funds, login credentials, private keys or wallets.

But the hackers did get:

• Full names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Last 4 digits of Social Security numbers
• Bank account numbers and some bank identifiers
• Government ID images (driver’s licenses, passports, etc.)
• Account balances and transaction history
• Internal corporate documents and training materials

Coinbase says Prime accounts were not affected and no passwords or 2FA codes were stolen.

According to Coinbase, the attackers targeted outsourced support agents in countries like India. They were offering cash bribes in exchange for access to the company’s internal customer support tools.

“What these attackers were doing was finding Coinbase employees and contractors based in India who were associated with our business process outsourcing or support operations, that kind of thing, and bribing them in order to obtain customer data,” said Philip Martin, Coinbase’s Chief Security Officer.

Coinbase said it first saw suspicious activity in January 2025 but didn’t get a direct email from the threat actors until May 11. The email had evidence of stolen data and the ransom demand.

Coinbase quickly launched an investigation, fired all the involved support agents and notified law enforcement. It also started notifying users via email on May 15.

The Coinbase data breach has hit it hard, financially and publicly. The company estimates it will spend $180-$400 million on security upgrades, reimbursements and other remediation.

Coinbase’s stock also took a hit, dropping 6.4% after the news broke, before rebounding.

Analysts say this couldn’t have come at a worse time, as Coinbase is about to be added to the S&P 500 index – a big deal for any publicly traded company.

It’s definitely an unfortunate timing. “This may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, analyst at U.S. Tiger Securities.

Coinbase will reimburse any customers who were tricked into sending their digital assets to the attackers as part of social engineering scams. They’ve also introduced new security measures:

• Extra ID verification for high-risk withdrawals
• Scam-awareness prompts
• A new U.S.-based support center
• Stronger insider threat monitoring
• Simulation testing for internal systems

Affected customers have already been notified and the exchange is working with U.S. and international law enforcement to track down the attackers.

This is part of a larger trend in the digital assets world. Earlier this year, Bybit, another exchange, was hit with a $1.5 billion theft, dubbed the biggest digital asset heist in history.

Research from Chainalysis shows over $2.2 billion was stolen from digital asset platforms in 2024 alone.

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

The other day, I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my favorite living artists. Our conversation was so captivating that I felt compelled to share it. I’m leaving his name out for privacy.

Since our last meeting, I’d watched a documentary about his life, one he’d helped create. I told him how much I admired his openness in it. There’s something strange about knowing intimate details of someone’s life when they know so little about yours—it’s almost like I knew him too well for the kind of relationship we have.

He paused, then said quietly, with a shy grin, that watching the documentary made him realize how “odd and eccentric” he is. I laughed and told him he’s probably the sanest person I know. Because he’s lived fully, chasing love, passion, and purpose with hardly any regrets. He’s truly lived.

Today, I turn 44, and I’ll admit I’m a bit eccentric myself. I think I came into the world this way. I’ve made mistakes along the way, but I carry few regrets. Every misstep taught me something. And as I age, I’m not interested in blending in with the world—I’ll probably just lean further into my own brand of “weird.” I want to live life to the brim. The older I get, the more I see that the “normal” folks often seem less grounded than the eccentric artists who dare to live boldly. Life’s too short to just exist, actually live.

I’m not saying to be strange just for the sake of it. But I’ve seen what the crowd celebrates, and I’m not impressed. Forge your own path, even if it feels lonely or unpopular at times.

It’s easy to scroll through the news and feel discouraged. But actually, this is one of the most incredible times to be alive! I wake up every day grateful to be here, now. The future is bursting with possibility—I can feel it.

So, to my fellow weirdos on nostr: stay bold. Keep dreaming, keep pushing, no matter what’s trending. Stay wild enough to believe in a free internet for all. Freedom is radical—hold it tight. Live with the soul of an artist and the grit of a fighter. Thanks for inspiring me and so many others to keep hoping. Thank you all for making the last year of my life so special.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

You’ve probably seen it before.

You open an agency’s website or a freelancer’s portfolio. At the very top of the homepage, it says:

We design for startups.

You wait 3 seconds. The last word fades out and a new one fades in:

We design for agencies.

Wait 3 more seconds:

We design for founders.

I call this design pattern The Wheel of Nothing: a rotating list of audience segments meant to impress through inclusion and draw attention through motion… for absolutely no reason.

Revered brand studio Pentagram recently launched a new website. To my surprise, the homepage features the Wheel of Nothing front and center, boldly claiming:

We design Everything for Everyone…before cycling through more specific combinations every few seconds.

Dan Mall, a husband, dad, teacher, creative director, designer, founder, and entrepreneur from Philly. I share as much as I can to create better opportunities for those who wouldn’t have them otherwise. Most recently, I ran design system consultancy SuperFriendly for over a decade.

Read more at Dans' website https://danmall.com/posts/the-wheel-of-nothing/

https://stacker.news/items/986392

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

@matt_odell don't you even dare not ask about nostr!

— Kukks (Andrew Camilleri) (@MrKukks) May 18, 2021

Nostr first hit my radar spring 2021: created by fellow bitcoiner and friend, fiatjaf, and released to the world as free open source software. I was fortunate to be able to host a conversation with him on Citadel Dispatch in those early days, capturing that moment in history forever. Since then, the protocol has seen explosive viral organic growth as individuals around the world have contributed their time and energy to build out the protocol and the surrounding ecosystem due to the clear need for better communication tools.

nostr is to twitter as bitcoin is to paypal

As an intro to nostr, let us start with a metaphor:

twitter is paypal - a centralized platform plagued by censorship but has the benefit of established network effects

nostr is bitcoin - an open protocol that is censorship resistant and robust but requires an organic adoption phase

Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.
 - Anyone can run a relay.
 - Anyone can interact with the protocol.
 - Relays can choose which messages they want to relay.
 - Users are identified by a simple public private key pair that they can generate themselves.

Nostr is often compared to twitter since there are nostr clients that emulate twitter functionality and user interface but that is merely one application of the protocol. Nostr is so much more than a mere twitter competitor. Nostr clients and relays can transmit a wide variety of data and clients can choose how to display that information to users. The result is a revolution in communication with implications that are difficult for any of us to truly comprehend.

Similar to bitcoin, nostr is an open and permissionless protocol. No person, company, or government controls it. Anyone can iterate and build on top of nostr without permission. Together, bitcoin and nostr are incredibly complementary freedom tech tools: censorship resistant, permissionless, robust, and interoperable - money and speech protected by code and incentives, not laws.

As censorship throughout the world continues to escalate, freedom tech provides hope for individuals around the world who refuse to accept the status quo. This movement will succeed on the shoulders of those who choose to stand up and contribute. We will build our own path. A brighter path.

---

My Nostr Public Key: npub1qny3tkh0acurzla8x3zy4nhrjz5zd8l9sy9jys09umwng00manysew95gx

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 51bbb15e:b77a2290

Yeah, I’m sure everything in the file is legit. 👍 Let’s review the guard witness testimony…Oh wait, they weren’t at their posts despite 24/7 survellience instructions after another Epstein “suicide” attempt two weeks earlier. Well, at least the video of the suicide is in the file? Oh wait, a techical glitch. Damn those coincidences!

At this point, the Trump administration has zero credibility with me on anything related to the Epstein case and his clients. I still suspect the administration is using the Epstein files as leverage to keep a lot of RINOs in line, whereas they’d be sabotaging his agenda at every turn otherwise. However, I just don’t believe in ends-justify-the-means thinking. It’s led almost all of DC to toss out every bit of the values they might once have had.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概要

AI BUIDL Lab: 基于提示工程（Prompt Engineering）在 Rootstock 上构建真实 Web3 应用的黑客松 近日收官，共有 211 名开发者注册并提交 22 个项目。本次活动旨在鼓励开发者借助 AI 驱动的工作流程，在 Rootstock 平台开发 Web3 应用。参与者聚焦三大领域：去中心化金融（DeFi）与支付、商业与零工经济，以及 Web3 身份与声誉体系，通过 AI 技术加速去中心化应用（dApps）的创新迭代。

活动产出丰硕成果，包括去中心化金融解决方案、AI 增强型身份管理系统等，凸显了 AI 与 Web3 集成的潜力。赛事奖金池包含 1.5 万美元的 RIF 代币，用于奖励在创意性和技术执行力方面表现突出的顶尖项目。

本次黑客松不仅印证了 AI 在简化去中心化应用开发中的价值，也展现了 Web3 生态系统的进阶成果。活动与 thirdweb、Alchemy 及 RootstockLabs 的合作，为开发者高效参与及产出创新项目提供了有力支持。

Hackathon 获奖者

DeFi 和支付奖项得主

• ProtectedPay_Rootstock：一个在 CrossFi 链上的 DeFi 平台，通过先进的区块链功能促进安全转账、群体支付和智能储蓄。
• AIFi: AI-Powered DeFi Hub on Rootstock：利用 AI 提供汇款、信用评分和用户界面改善，提高拉丁美洲的金融可访问性。

商业和零工经济奖项得主

• SwipeGig：一个利用区块链和 AI 连接自由职业者和客户的去中心化人才市场，确保安全交易。
• HireStamp：使用 AI 评分的凭证进行简历验证，将信誉锚定于比特币的安全基础设施。

Web3 中的身份和声誉奖项得主

• AgenticID：提供自我主权身份验证，结合区块链和 AI，使用零知识证明进行安全的用户认证。
• TrustScan：使用 AI 分析 Rootstock 上的钱包活动，生成信誉和身份评分，加强信任。

赏金最佳 AI 提示使用

• AuditFi_Rootstock：提供 AI 驱动的智能合约安全审计，通过链上验证增强透明度和信任。
• RSK Smart Yield Engine：一个 AI 驱动的 DeFi 协议收益优化器，通过智能合约和 AI 管理资金和制定策略。

有关所有项目的更多信息，请访问 DoraHacks。

关于组织者

Rootstock

Rootstock - 比特币 DeFi 层 - 专注于将比特币强大的网络与以太坊的智能合约功能相结合，提升区块链的互操作性。Rootstock 以技术专长著称，已经创建了一个支持去中心化金融应用的平台。该组织致力于通过扩展在金融服务中智能合约的可访问性和功能性来推动区块链领域的创新。

@ c9badfea:610f861a

1. Install Sky Map (it's free and open source)
2. Launch the app and tap Accept, then tap OK
3. When asked to access the device's location, tap While Using The App
4. Tap somewhere on the screen to activate the menu, then tap ⁝ and select Settings
5. Disable Send Usage Statistics
6. Return to the main screen and enjoy stargazing!

ℹ️ Use the 🔍 icon in the upper toolbar to search for a specific celestial body, or tap the 👁️ icon to activate night mode

@ d9c98e71:37007462

1. Melancholie ist die sanfteste Form der Rebellion. Ein Nein, das sich in Schönheit kleidet, um nicht verbrannt zu werden.

2. Die Menschheit sucht nach Erlösung und nennt das Kind dabei „Zukunft“, ohne zu merken, wie schwer diese Krone wiegt.

3. Nähe ohne Ehrlichkeit ist nur ein getarnter Abstand.

4. Jede Zentralisierung ist ein Denkfehler, der Macht als Fürsorge tarnt.

5. Sehnsucht ist ein Fluss, der rückwärts fließt. Du watest hinein, doch das Ufer zieht sich fort, unerreichbar fern.

6. Die letzte Form der Sklaverei ist die freiwillige Abhängigkeit.

7. Ein Kind spielt nicht, um zu vergessen. Es spielt, weil es noch nicht gelernt hat zu verdrängen.

8. Freiheit ist die Fähigkeit, in Ketten zu tanzen.

9. Das Leben ist der Widerhall eines sterbenden Willens. Nur im Nichts finden wir Erlösung.

10. Wer Kinder erzieht, erzieht auch seine Schatten. Sie kommen zurück, wenn das Haus still ist.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

News

• Bitcoin mining centralization in 2025. According to a blog post by b10c, Bitcoin mining was at its most decentralized in May 2017, with another favorable period from 2019 to 2022. However, starting in 2023, mining has become increasingly centralized, particularly due to the influence of large pools like Foundry and the use of proxy pooling by entities such as AntPool.

Source: b10c's blog.

• OpenSats announces the eleventh wave of Nostr grants. The five projects in this wave are the mobile live-streaming app Swae, the Nostr-over-ham-radio project HAMSTR, Vertex—a Web-of-Trust (WOT) service for Nostr developers, Nostr Double Ratchet for end-to-end encrypted messaging, and the Nostr Game Engine for building games and applications integrated with the Nostr ecosystem.
• New Spiral grantee: l0rinc. In February 2024, l0rinc transitioned to full-time work on Bitcoin Core. His efforts focus on performance benchmarking and optimizations, enhancing code quality, conducting code reviews, reducing block download times, optimizing memory usage, and refactoring code.
• Project Eleven offers 1 BTC to break Bitcoin's cryptography with a quantum computer. The quantum computing research organization has introduced the Q-Day Prize, a global challenge that offers 1 BTC to the first team capable of breaking an elliptic curve cryptographic (ECC) key using Shor’s algorithm on a quantum computer. The prize will be awarded to the first team to successfully accomplish this breakthrough by April 5, 2026.
• Unchained has launched the Bitcoin Legacy Project. The initiative seeks to advance the Bitcoin ecosystem through a bitcoin-native donor-advised fund platform (DAF), investments in community hubs, support for education and open-source development, and a commitment to long-term sustainability with transparent annual reporting.
  • In its first year, the program will provide support to Bitcoin hubs in Nashville, Austin, and Denver.
  • Support also includes $50,000 to the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a $150,000 commitment at the University of Austin, and up to $250,000 in research grants through the Bitcoin Scholars program.

"Unchained will match grants 1:1 made to partner organizations who support Bitcoin Core development when made through the Unchained-powered bitcoin DAF, up to 1 BTC," was stated in a blog post.

• Block launched open-source tools for Bitcoin treasury management. These include a dashboard for managing corporate bitcoin holdings and provides a real-time BTC-to-USD price quote API, released as part of the Block Open Source initiative. The company’s own instance of the bitcoin holdings dashboard is available here.

Source: block.xyz

• Bull Bitcoin expands to Mexico, enabling anyone in the country to receive pesos from anywhere in the world straight from a Bitcoin wallet. Additionally, users can now buy Bitcoin with a Mexican bank account.

"Bull Bitcoin strongly believes in Bitcoin’s economic potential in Mexico, not only for international remittances and tourism, but also for Mexican individuals and companies to reclaim their financial sovereignty and protect their wealth from inflation and the fragility of traditional financial markets," said Francis Pouliot, Founder and CEO of Bull Bitcoin.

• Corporate bitcoin holdings hit a record high in Q1 2025. According to Bitwise, public companies' adoption of Bitcoin has hit an all-time high. In Q1 2025, these firms collectively hold over 688,000 BTC, marking a 16.11% increase from the previous quarter. This amount represents 3.28% of Bitcoin's fixed 21 million supply.

Source: Bitwise.

• The Bitcoin Bond Company for institutions has launched with the aim of acquiring $1 trillion in Bitcoin over 21 years. It utilizes secure, transparent, and compliant bond-like products backed by Bitcoin.
• The U.S. Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). At his confirmation hearing, Atkins emphasized the need for a clear framework for digital assets. He aims to collaborate with the CFTC and Congress to address jurisdiction and rulemaking gaps, aligning with the Trump administration's goal to position the U.S. as a leader in Bitcoin and blockchain finance.
• Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith has been released from custody. Griffith, whose sentence was reduced to 56 months, is now seeking a pardon. He was initially sentenced to 63 months for allegedly violating international sanctions laws by providing technical advice on using cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to evade sanctions during a presentation titled 'Blockchains for Peace' in North Korea.
• No-KYC exchange eXch to close down under money laundering scrutiny. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency trading platform said it will cease operations on May 1. This decision follows allegations that the platform was used by North Korea's Lazarus Group for money laundering. eXch revealed it is the subject of an active "transatlantic operation" aimed at shutting down the platform and prosecuting its team for "money laundering and terrorism."
• Blockstream combats ESP32 FUD concerning Jade signers. The company stated that after reviewing the vulnerability disclosed in early March, Jade was found to be secure. Espressif Systems, the designer of the ESP32, has since clarified that the "undocumented commands" do not constitute a "backdoor."

• Bank of America is lobbying for regulations that favor banks over tech firms in stablecoin issuance. The bank's CEO Brian Moynihan is working with groups such as the American Bankers Association to advance the issuance of a fully reserved, 1:1 backed "Bank of America coin." If successful, this could limit stablecoin efforts by non-banks like Tether, Circle, and others, reports The Block.
• Tether to back OCEAN Pool with its hashrate. "As a company committed to financial freedom and open access, we see supporting decentralization in Bitcoin mining as essential to the network’s long-term integrity," said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino.
• Bitdeer to expand its self-mining operations to navigate tariffs. The Singapore-based mining company is advancing plans to produce machines in the U.S. while reducing its mining hardware sales. This response is in light of increasing uncertainties related to U.S. trade policy, as reported by Bloomberg.
• Tether acquires $32M in Bitdeer shares. The firm has boosted its investment in Bitdeer during a wider market sell-off, with purchases in early to mid-April amounting to about $32 million, regulatory filings reveal.
• US Bitcoin miner manufacturer Auradine has raised $153 million in a Series C funding round as it expands into AI infrastructure. The round was led by StepStone Group and included participation from Maverick Silicon, Premji Invest, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Qualcomm Ventures, Mayfield, MARA Holdings, GSBackers, and other existing investors. The firm raised to over $300 million since its inception in 2022.
• Voltage has partnered with BitGo to [enable](https://www.voltage.cloud/blog/bitgo-and-voltage-team-up-to-deliver-instant-bitcoin-and-stabl

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future.

---

Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community.

A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights

Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place.

Abundant Access to Fresh Water

Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact.

Grow Your Own Food

A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming.

Guns

The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice.

A Strong Community You Can Depend On

No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security.

---

Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

I’ve written about MSTR twice already, https://www.chrisliss.com/p/mstr and https://www.chrisliss.com/p/mstr-part-2, but I want to focus on legendary short seller James Chanos’ current trade wherein he buys bitcoin (via ETF) and shorts MSTR, in essence to “be like Mike” Saylor who sells MSTR shares at the market and uses them to add bitcoin to the company’s balance sheet. After all, if it’s good enough for Saylor, why shouldn’t everyone be doing it — shorting a company whose stock price is more than 2x its bitcoin holdings and using the proceeds to buy the bitcoin itself?

Saylor himself has said selling shares at 2x NAV (net asset value) to buy bitcoin is like selling dollars for two dollars each, and Chanos has apparently decided to get in while the getting (market cap more than 2x net asset value) is good. If the price of bitcoin moons, sending MSTR’s shares up, you are more than hedged in that event, too. At least that’s the theory.

The problem with this bet against MSTR’s mNAV, i.e., you are betting MSTR’s market cap will converge 1:1 toward its NAV in the short and medium term is this trade does not exist in a vacuum. Saylor has described how his ATM’s (at the market) sales of shares are accretive in BTC per share because of this very premium they carry. Yes, we’ll dilute your shares of the company, but because we’re getting you 2x the bitcoin per share, you are getting an ever smaller slice of an ever bigger overall pie, and the pie is growing 2x faster than your slice is reducing. (I https://www.chrisliss.com/p/mstr how this works in my first post.)

But for this accretion to continue, there must be a constant supply of “greater fools” to pony up for the infinitely printable shares which contain only half their value in underlying bitcoin. Yes, those shares will continue to accrete more BTC per share, but only if there are more fools willing to make this trade in the future. So will there be a constant supply of such “fools” to keep fueling MSTR’s mNAV multiple indefinitely?

Yes, there will be in my opinion because you have to look at the trade from the prospective fools’ perspective. Those “fools” are not trading bitcoin for MSTR, they are trading their dollars, selling other equities to raise them maybe, but in the end it’s a dollars for shares trade. They are not selling bitcoin for them.

You might object that those same dollars could buy bitcoin instead, so they are surely trading the opportunity cost of buying bitcoin for them, but if only 5-10 percent of the market (or less) is buying bitcoin itself, the bucket in which which those “fools” reside is the entire non-bitcoin-buying equity market. (And this is not considering the even larger debt market which Saylor has yet to tap in earnest.)

So for those 90-95 percent who do not and are not presently planning to own bitcoin itself, is buying MSTR a fool’s errand, so to speak? Not remotely. If MSTR shares are infinitely printable ATM, they are still less so than the dollar and other fiat currencies. And MSTR shares are backed 2:1 by bitcoin itself, while the fiat currencies are backed by absolutely nothing. So if you hold dollars or euros, trading them for MSTR shares is an errand more sage than foolish.

That’s why this trade (buying BTC and shorting MSTR) is so dangerous. Not only are there many people who won’t buy BTC buying MSTR, there are many funds and other investment entities who are only able to buy MSTR.

Do you want to get BTC at 1:1 with the 5-10 percent or MSTR backed 2:1 with the 90-95 percent. This is a bit like medical tests that have a 95 percent accuracy rate for an asymptomatic disease that only one percent of the population has. If someone tests positive, it’s more likely to be a false one than an indication he has the disease*. The accuracy rate, even at 19:1, is subservient to the size of the respective populations.

At some point this will no longer be the case, but so long as the understanding of bitcoin is not widespread, so long as the dollar is still the unit of account, the “greater fools” buying MSTR are still miles ahead of the greatest fools buying neither, and the stock price and mNAV should only increase.

. . .

One other thought: it’s more work to play defense than offense because the person on offense knows where he’s going, and the defender can only react to him once he moves. Similarly, Saylor by virtue of being the issuer of the shares knows when more will come online while Chanos and other short sellers are borrowing them to sell in reaction to Saylor’s strategy. At any given moment, Saylor can pause anytime, choosing to issue convertible debt or preferred shares with which to buy more bitcoin, and the shorts will not be given advance notice.

If the price runs, and there is no ATM that week because Saylor has stopped on a dime, so to speak, the shorts will be left having to scramble to change directions and buy the shares back to cover. Their momentum might be in the wrong direction, though, and like Allen Iverson breaking ankles with a crossover, Saylor might trigger a massive short squeeze, rocketing the share price ever higher. That’s why he actually welcomes Chanos et al trying this copycat strategy — it becomes the fuel for outsized gains.

For that reason, news that Chanos is shorting MSTR has not shaken my conviction, though there are other more pertinent https://www.chrisliss.com/p/mstr-part-2 with MSTR, of which one should be aware. And as always, do your own due diligence before investing in anything.

* To understand this, consider a population of 100,000, with one percent having a disease. That means 1,000 have it, 99,000 do not. If the test is 95 percent accurate, and everyone is tested, 950 of the 1,000 will test positive (true positives), 50 who have it will test negative (false negatives.) Of the positives, 95 percent of 99,000 (94,050) will test negative (true negatives) and five percent (4,950) will test positive (false positives). That means 4,950 out of 5,900 positives (84%) will be false.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Custodial Lightning wallets allow users to transact without managing private keys or channel liquidity. The provider handles technical complexities, but this convenience comes with critical trade-offs:

• You don’t control your keys: The custodian holds your bitcoin.
• Centralized points of failure: Servers can be hacked or shut down.
• Surveillance risks: Providers track transaction metadata.

Key Risks of Custodial Lightning Wallets

*1. Hacks and Exit Scams*

Custodians centralize large amounts of bitcoin, attracting hackers:

• Nearly $2.2 billion worth of funds were stolen from hacks in 2024.
• Lightning custodians suffered breaches, losing user funds.

Unlike non-custodial wallets, victims have no recourse since they don’t hold keys.

*2. Censorship and Account Freezes*

Custodians comply with regulators, risking fund seizures:

• Strike (a custodial Lightning app) froze accounts of users in sanctioned regions.
• A U.K. court in 2020 ordered Bitfinex to freeze bitcoin worth $860,000 after the exchange and blockchain sleuthing firm Chainalysis traced the funds to a ransomware payment.

*3. Privacy Erosion*

Custodians log user activity, exposing sensitive data:

• Transaction amounts, receiver addresses, and IPs are recorded.

*4. Service Downtime*

Centralized infrastructure risks outages.

*5. Inflation of Lightning Network Centralization*

Custodians dominate liquidity, weakening network resilience:

• At the moment, 10% of the nodes on Lightning control 80% of the liquidity.
• This centralization contradicts bitcoin’s decentralized ethos.

How to Switch to Self-Custodial Lightning Wallets

Migrating from custodial services is straightforward:

*1. Choose a Non-Custodial Wallet*

Opt for wallets that let you control keys and channels:

• Flash: The self-custodial tool that lets you own your keys, control your coins, and transact instantly.
• Breez Wallet : Non-custodial, POS integrations.
• Core Lightning : Advanced, for self-hosted node operators.

*2. Transfer Funds Securely*

• Withdraw funds from your custodial wallet to a bitcoin on-chain address.
• Send bitcoin to your non-custodial Lightning wallet.

*3. Set Up Channel Backups*

Use tools like Static Channel Backups (SCB) to recover channels if needed.

*4. Best Practices*

• Enable Tor: Mask your IP (e.g., Breez’s built-in Tor support).
• Verify Receiving Addresses: Avoid phishing scams.
• Regularly Rebalance Channels: Use tools like Lightning Pool for liquidity.

Why Self-Custodial Lightning Matters

• Self-custody: Control your keys and funds.
• Censorship resistance: No third party can block transactions.
• Network health: Decentralized liquidity strengthens Lightning.

Self-custodial wallets now rival custodial ease.

Custodial Lightning wallets sacrifice security for convenience, putting users at risk of hacks, surveillance, and frozen funds. As bitcoin adoption grows, so does the urgency to embrace self-custodial solutions.

Take action today:

1. Withdraw custodial funds to a hardware wallet.
2. Migrate to a self-custodial Lightning wallet.
3. Educate others on the risks of custodial control.

The Lightning Network’s potential hinges on decentralization—don’t let custodians become its Achilles’ heel.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概要

JAMHacks 9 于 2025 年 5 月 16 日至 18 日在滑铁卢大学举办。作为 JAMHacks 系列的第九届黑客松，该活动汇聚了 170 名高中黑客爱好者，最终评审通过 49 个项目，充分彰显了年轻开发者的技术实力。此次黑客松旨在为高中生打造培育成长的平台，搭配工作坊与互动活动，助力提升技术能力并拓展社交网络。

参与者带来了丰富的项目成果：基于 Pico-8 的创意开发、运用 MongoDB Atlas 的创新应用，以及展示新兴技术应用的生成式 AI 模型项目。活动设置多个奖项类别，包括最佳新手项目、最佳开发者工具、生成式 AI 最佳应用等。奖品涵盖智能手表、无人机、QuillBot 连帽衫，以及其他黑客松的参赛资格。

除技术成果外，JAMHacks 9 同样注重营造趣味互动体验，特别举办扑克之夜、社交派对等活动。此次黑客松成功为年轻开发者搭建了技能提升、创意孵化与专业联结的平台，切实践行其推动科技行业包容性与可及性的愿景。

Hackathon 获奖者

总奖项获奖者

• Mr. Goose：一个有趣的VS Code扩展，为初学者提供提示和鼓励，促进学习而不直接解决问题。
• Guideline：一个基于AR的工具，通过增强现实引导初学电子爱好者进行面包板组装。
• ARmatica：将2D硬件示意图转换为3D AR模型，通过改进可视化增强工程和原型设计过程。

初学者赛道奖项获奖者

• Duedle：一个任务管理应用，利用AI将大型任务分解为可管理的小任务，并提供进度跟踪以提高生产力。

单人赛道奖项获奖者

• Lofied：一个Python应用程序，将Spotify播放列表变为lo-fi版本，具有音乐分离和乐谱生成功能。

女性赛道奖项获奖者

• Doomlings：结合游戏化和教育任务，通过战斗游戏界面提高学生的学习和参与。

Warp 赛道奖项获奖者

• Mr. Goose

Hack Canada 赛道奖项获奖者

• Dionysus：一个用于组织协作活动和参与的平台，提供实时活动管理的统一界面。

MLH 赛道奖项获奖者

• Karma：一个记录和分享积极行动的社交平台，促进自我提升和环境保护，以鼓励社区参与。
• helpidontknowhowtonetworkin.tech：一个使用面部识别和LinkedIn数据的AI驱动网络助手，帮助在活动中建立专业联系。
• SnapCAD：从图像或图纸生成可定制的3D模型，简化工程项目的集成。

PEX Labs 奖项获奖者

• Arctic Explorer：一个Pico-8开放世界游戏，通过探索北极环境促进可持续实践，可以扩展附加小游戏和地图。

查看所有项目 JAMHacks 9。

关于组织者

JAMHacks

JAMHacks 在科技和区块链领域因促进技术爱好者之间的创新与合作而备受认可。该组织擅长举办Hackathon，为开发现实世界挑战的实际解决方案提供了一个平台。JAMHacks 聚焦于技术赋权，已组织多场活动，吸引了来自不同背景的参与者。他们的倡议强调技术技能发展和网络拓展，充分体现了他们致力于推进技术教育和培养一个包容的社区，为有抱负的技术人员和开发者服务。

@ 2a7cc007:ce0cc497

A era digital transformou completamente a forma como as pessoas se divertem, e a plataforma 5542 é um exemplo claro dessa evolução. Com uma proposta inovadora, acessível e repleta de possibilidades, a 5542 vem conquistando milhares de usuários brasileiros que buscam entretenimento seguro, moderno e de alta qualidade.

Desde o primeiro acesso, a 5542 impressiona pela interface intuitiva e pelo seu desempenho fluido tanto em computadores quanto em dispositivos móveis. Isso garante uma experiência agradável para todos os perfis de usuários, desde os mais experientes até os iniciantes no mundo dos jogos online.

Variedade que Encanta Um dos grandes destaques da 5542 é sua ampla gama de opções de jogos. A plataforma oferece títulos que agradam a diferentes gostos e estilos, desde clássicos consagrados até novidades empolgantes. Todos os jogos são desenvolvidos por fornecedores reconhecidos internacionalmente, garantindo gráficos de alta qualidade, trilhas sonoras envolventes e mecânicas de jogo equilibradas.

Jogos de cartas, roletas, slots e modalidades ao vivo com interação em tempo real são apenas alguns dos destaques que fazem parte do portfólio da 5542. Essa diversidade é um dos motivos pelos quais a plataforma se mantém em constante crescimento e atrai cada vez mais usuários em todo o Brasil.

Segurança e Confiabilidade A segurança é um fator primordial na escolha de uma plataforma de entretenimento online, e a 5542 leva isso muito a sério. O site utiliza tecnologia de criptografia de ponta para proteger os dados pessoais e financeiros dos usuários, além de contar com um sistema rigoroso de verificação de identidade, garantindo um ambiente confiável e livre de fraudes.

Além disso, a 5542 é comprometida com o jogo responsável, oferecendo ferramentas para que os usuários possam definir limites de tempo e de gastos. Essa abordagem mostra o compromisso da plataforma com o bem-estar dos seus participantes.

Promoções e Bônus Atrativos Outro diferencial da 5542 são suas promoções constantes e bônus generosos. Desde o momento do cadastro, os usuários já são recebidos com vantagens especiais, como bônus de boas-vindas e giros grátis em jogos selecionados. A plataforma também realiza campanhas temáticas e sorteios com prêmios reais, tornando a experiência ainda mais envolvente e recompensadora.

Essas promoções são atualizadas com frequência e muitas vezes incluem eventos sazonais, o que incentiva os jogadores a retornarem sempre e aproveitarem novas oportunidades.

Suporte de Qualidade e Atendimento em Português Um ponto que merece destaque é o suporte ao cliente da 5542. Disponível em português e com atendimento 24 horas por dia, a equipe está sempre pronta para ajudar os usuários com dúvidas, problemas técnicos ou qualquer necessidade. Esse suporte eficiente e humanizado faz toda a diferença, especialmente para quem está começando.

Conclusão A plataforma 5542 se estabelece como uma das líderes no mercado de entretenimento digital no Brasil. Sua combinação de tecnologia de ponta, variedade de jogos, promoções generosas e compromisso com a segurança oferece uma experiência completa para quem busca diversão online com praticidade e confiabilidade.

Se você está em busca de uma plataforma moderna, segura e cheia de opções envolventes, a 5542 é a escolha certa. Explore, jogue e aproveite uma nova forma de se divertir, tudo isso sem sair de casa.

@ 8aa70f44:3073d1a6

Earlier this year I launched the asknostr.site project which has been a great journey and learning experience. I had wanted to write down my goals and ideas with the project but didn't get to it yet. Primal launching the article editor was a trigger for me to go for it.

Ever since I joined Nostr i was looking for ways to apply my skillset solve a problem and help with adoption. Around Christmas I figured that a Quora/Stackoverflow alternative is something that needs to exist on Nostr.

Before I knew it I had a pretty decent prototype. And because the network already had so much awesome content, contributors and authors I was never discouraged by the challenge that kills so many good ideas -> "Where do I get the first users?".

Since the initial announcement I have received so much encouragement through zaps, likes, DM's, and maybe most of all seeing the increase in usage of the site and #asknostr content kept me going.

Current State

The current version of the site is stable and most bugs are hashed out. After logging in (remote signer, extension or nsec) you can engage with content through votes, comments and replies. Or simply ask a new question.

All content is stored in the site's own private relay and preprocessed/computed into a single data store (postgres) so the site is fast, accessible and crawl-able.

The site supports browsing hashtags, voting/commenting on answers, asking new questions and every contributor get their own profile (example). At the time of writing the site has 41k questions, almost 200k replies/comments and upwards of 5 million sats purely for #asknostr content.

What to expect/On my list

There are plenty of things and UI bugs that need love and between writing the draft of this post and hitting publish I shipped 3 minor bug fixes. Little by little, bit by bit...

In addition to all those small details here is an overview of the things on my own wish list:

• Inline Zaps: Ability to zap from the asknostr.site interface. Click the zap button, specify or pick the number of sats zap away.

• Contributor Rank: A leaderboard to add some gamification. More recognition to those nostriches that spend their time helping other people out

• Search by Keyword: Search all content by keywords. Experiment with the index to show related questions or answers

• Better User Profiles: Improve the user profile so it shows all the profile questions and answers. Quick buttons to follow or zap that person. Better insights in the topics (hashtags) the profile contributes to

• Bookmarks: Ability to bookmark questions and answers. Increase bookmark weight as a signal to rank answers.

• Smarter Scoring: Tune how answers are scored (winning answer formula). Perhaps give more weight to the question author or use WoT. Not sure yet.

All of this is happening at some point so follow me if you want to stay up to date.

Goals

To manage expectations and keep me focussed I write down the mid and long term goals of the project.

Long term

Call me cheesy but I believe that humanity will flourish through an open web and sound money. My own journey started from with bitcoin but if you asked me today if it's BTC or nostr that is going to have the most impact I wouldn't know what to answer. Chicken or egg?

The goal of the project is to offer an open platform that empowers individuals to ask questions, share expertise and access high-quality information across different topics. The project empowers anyone to monetize their experience creating a sustainable ecosystem that values and rewards knowledge sharing. This will ultimately democratize access to knowledge for all.

Mid term

The project can help a lot with onboarding new users onto the network. Once we start to rank on certain topics we can get a piece of the search traffic pie (StackOverflows 12 million, and Quora 150 million visitors per month) which is a great way to expose people to the power of the network.

First time visitors do not need to know about nostr or zaps to receive value. They can browse around, discover interesting content and perhaps even create a profile without even knowing they are on Nostr now.

Gradually those users will understand the value of the network through better rankings (zaps beats likes), a cross-client experience and a profile that can be used on any nostr site or app.

In order for the site to do that we need to make sure content is browsable by language, (sub)topics and and we double down on 'the human touch' with real contributors and not LLMs.

Short Term Goal

The first goal is to make the site really good and an important resource for existing Nostr users. Enable visitors to search and discover what they are interested in. Integrate within the existing nostr eco system with 'open in' functionality and quick links to interesting projects (followerpacks?)

One of things i want to get right is to improve user retention by making the whole Q\&A experience more sticky. I want to run some experiments (bots, award, summaries) to get more people to use asknostr.site more often and come back.

What about the name?

Finally the big question: What about the asknostr.site name? I don't like the name that much but it's what people know. I think there is a high chance that people will discover Nostr apps like Olas, Primal or Damus without needing to know what NOSTR is or means.

Therefore I think there is a good chance that the project won't be called asknostr.site forever. I guess it all depends on where we all take this.

Onwards!

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

The upcoming Bitcoin 2025 conference, scheduled from May 27–29 at the Venetian Conference Center in Las Vegas, is set to make history with an official attempt to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the most Bitcoin point-of-sale transactions in an eight-hour period.

Organized by BTC Inc, the event will showcase Bitcoin’s evolution from a digital capital asset to a practical medium of exchange, leveraging the latest advancements in payment technology.

Tap-to-Pay with Lightning-Ready Bolt Cards

To facilitate this record-setting attempt, 4,000 Lightning-ready Bolt Cards will be distributed to conference attendees.

pic.twitter.com/Iy7P361u6u

— Uncle Rockstar Developer (@r0ckstardev) May 15, 2025

These NFC-enabled cards allow users to make instant, contactless Bitcoin payments at vendor booths throughout the expo-no apps or QR codes required, just a simple tap. 

The cards are available in four collectible designs, each featuring a prominent figure in Bitcoin’s history: Senator Cynthia Lummis, Michael Saylor, Satoshi Nakamoto, and Jack Dorsey. 

Each attendee will receive a randomly assigned card, making them both functional and collectible souvenirs.

Senator Lummis: A Playful Provocation

Notably, one of the card designs features Senator Cynthia Lummis with laser eyes-a playful nod to her reputation as a leading Bitcoin advocate in US politics. 

While Lummis is known for her legislative efforts to promote Bitcoin integration, she has publicly stated she prefers to “spend dollars and save Bitcoin,” viewing BTC as a long-term store of value rather than a daily currency. 

The choice to feature her on the Bolt Card, could be suggested by Rockstar Dev of the BTC Pay Server Foundation, perhaps a lighthearted way to highlight the ongoing debate about Bitcoin’s role in everyday payments.

Nothing cracks me up quite like a senator that wants the US to buy millions of Bitcoin use dollars to buy a beer at a Bitcoin bar.

This is how unserious some of you are. pic.twitter.com/jftIEggmip

— Magoo PhD (@HodlMagoo) April 4, 2025

How Bolt Cards and the Lightning Network Work

Bolt Cards are physical cards equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, similar to contactless credit or debit cards. When linked to a compatible Lightning wallet, they enable users to make Bitcoin payments over the Lightning Network by simply tapping the card at a point-of-sale terminal. 

The Lightning Network is a second-layer protocol built on top of Bitcoin, designed to facilitate instant, low-cost transactions ideal for everyday purchases. 

This integration aims to make Bitcoin as easy to use as traditional payment methods, eliminating the need for QR code scanning or mobile apps.

A Showcase for Bitcoin’s Real-World Usability

With over 30,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors, and 500 speakers expected, the Bitcoin 2025 conference is poised to be the largest Bitcoin event of the year-and potentially the most transactional. 

The event will feature on-site activations such as the Official Bitcoin Magazine Store, where all merchandise will be available at a 21% discount for those paying with Bitcoin via the Lightning Network-a nod to Bitcoin’s 21 million coin supply limit.

By deeply integrating Lightning payments into the conference experience, organizers hope to demonstrate Bitcoin’s readiness for mainstream commerce and set a new benchmark for its practical use as a currency.

Conclusion

The Guinness World Record attempt at Bitcoin 2025 is more than a publicity stunt-it’s a bold demonstration of Bitcoin’s technological maturity and its potential to function as a modern, everyday payment method.

Whether or not the record is set, the event will serve as a milestone in the ongoing journey to make Bitcoin a truly global, user-friendly currency

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

As a product builder over too many years to mention, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen promising ideas go from zero to hero in a few weeks, only to fizzle out within months.

The problem with most finance apps, however, is that they often become a reflection of the internal politics of the business rather than an experience solely designed around the customer. This means that the focus is on delivering as many features and functionalities as possible to satisfy the needs and desires of competing internal departments, rather than providing a clear value proposition that is focused on what the people out there in the real world want. As a result, these products can very easily bloat to become a mixed bag of confusing, unrelated and ultimately unlovable customer experiences—a feature salad, you might say.

Financial products, which is the field I work in, are no exception. With people’s real hard-earned money on the line, user expectations running high, and a crowded market, it’s tempting to throw as many features at the wall as possible and hope something sticks. But this approach is a recipe for disaster.

Here’s why: https://alistapart.com/article/from-beta-to-bedrock-build-products-that-stick/

https://stacker.news/items/985285

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

UFC legend Conor McGregor has entered the Bitcoin space, calling on his home country of Ireland to create a national Bitcoin reserve. The proposal has sparked a frenzy online and across Ireland.

McGregor, famous globally for his UFC achievements, is now pushing for a financial revolution in Ireland. In a recent post on X, the 36-year-old fighter said Bitcoin can give power back to the people.

Conor McGregor on X

“Crypto in its origin was founded to give power back to the people,” McGregor wrote. “An Irish Bitcoin strategic reserve will give power to the people’s money.”

The post went viral with over 735,000 views in under 12 hours. McGregor announced he will be co-hosting a Twitter Space to discuss his vision and invited Bitcoin experts and public figures to join.

McGregor’s call for a bitcoin reserve is not an isolated event. It comes at a time when several other countries are exploring or have already added bitcoin to their national strategies.

The U.S. recently made headlines when President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Arizona and New Hampshire have also done it at the state level.

El Salvador and Bhutan have also taken the same step. There have been reports of Russia planning to add bitcoin to its reserves by 2028 and the Polish government has proposals to do the same.

McGregor says Ireland shouldn’t be left behind. He believes bitcoin’s fixed supply, neutrality and decentralization make it the perfect hedge against inflation and a modern alternative to gold.

“Now it’s time to change the crypto game,” McGregor posted, signaling he will bring digital assets into the national conversation.

Many of McGregor’s fans and Bitcoin enthusiasts are on board with the idea, but some experts and commenters are urging caution. There are comments on his social media posts telling him to focus on Bitcoin only and not include other cryptos in the reserve.

They warned him to choose his words more carefully, not to mix “crypto” with Bitcoin. Daniel Sempere Pico commented:

“Crypto is mostly hot air and scams. Bitcoin is not crypto. Focus on bitcoin, Conor. Focus on bitcoin.”

McGregor’s call for a reserve comes as he launches his political career. In March 2025 he announced he will run as an independent candidate for the Irish presidency. His campaign is focused on crime reduction, stricter immigration and now financial reform through Bitcoin.

If elected, McGregor says he will bring change to Ireland, starting with how the country handles its national reserves. He wants bitcoin to be the cornerstone of a modern decentralized financial strategy.

But it might be a big ask. Ireland has not commented on McGregor’s proposal and experts say it’s got major regulatory and political hurdles.

As an independent candidate with no party backing, McGregor will need to build public and political support to make it happen.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Flash, an all-in-one Bitcoin payment platform, has announced the launch of Flash 2.0, the most intuitive and powerful Bitcoin payment solution to date.

With a completely redesigned interface, expanded e-commerce integrations, and a frictionless onboarding process, Flash 2.0 makes accepting Bitcoin easier than ever for businesses worldwide.

We did the unthinkable!

Website monetization used to be super complicated.

"Buy me a coffee" — But only if we both have a bank account.

WHAT IF WE DON'T?

Thanks to @paywflash and bitcoin, it's just 5 CLICKS – and no banks!

Start accepting donations on your website… pic.twitter.com/uwZUrvmEZ1

— Flash • The Bitcoin Payment Gateway (@paywflash) May 13, 2025

Accept Bitcoin in Three Minutes

Setting up Bitcoin payments has long been a challenge for merchants, requiring technical expertise, third-party processors, and lengthy verification procedures. Flash 2.0 eliminates these barriers, allowing any business to start accepting Bitcoin in just three minutes, with no technical set-up and full control over their funds.

The Bitcoin Payment Revolution

The world is witnessing a seismic shift in finance. Governments are backing Bitcoin funds, major companies are adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, and political figures are embracing it as the future of money. Just as Stripe revolutionized internet payments, Flash is now doing the same for Bitcoin. Businesses that adapt today will gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

With Bitcoin adoption accelerating, consumers are looking for places to spend it. Flash 2.0 ensures businesses of all sizes can seamlessly accept Bitcoin and position themselves at the forefront of this financial revolution.

All-in-One Monetization Platform

More than just a payment gateway, Flash 2.0 is a complete Bitcoin monetization suite, providing multiple ways for businesses to integrate Bitcoin into their operations. Merchants can accept payments online and in-store, content creators can monetize with donations and paywalls, and freelancers can send instant invoices via payment links.

For example, a jewelry designer selling products on WooCommerce can now integrate Flash for online payments, use Flash’s Point-of-Sale system at trade shows, enable Bitcoin donations for her digital artwork, and lock premium content behind Flash Paywalls. The possibilities are endless.

E-Commerce for Everyone

With built-in integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, and soon Wix and OpenCart, Flash 2.0 enables Bitcoin payments on 95% of e-commerce stores worldwide. Businesses can now add Bitcoin as a payment option in just a few clicks—without needing developers or external payment processors.

And for those looking to start selling, Flash’s built-in e-commerce features allow users to create online stores, showcase products, and manage payments seamlessly.

No Middlemen, No Chargebacks, No Limits

Unlike traditional payment platforms, Flash does not hold or process funds. Businesses receive Bitcoin directly, instantly, and securely. There are no chargebacks, giving merchants full control over refunds and eliminating fraud. Flash also remains KYC-free, ensuring a seamless experience for businesses and customers alike.

A Completely Redesigned Experience

“The world is waking up to Bitcoin. Just like the internet revolutionized commerce, Bitcoin is reshaping finance. Businesses need solutions that are simple, efficient, and truly decentralized. Flash 2.0 is more than just a payment processor—it’s a gateway to the future of digital transactions, putting financial power back into the hands of businesses.”

— Pierre Corbin, CEO at Flash.

Flash 2.0 introduces a brand-new user interface, making it easier than ever to navigate, set up payments, and manage transactions. With an intuitive dashboard, streamlined checkout, and enhanced mobile compatibility, the platform is built for both new and experienced Bitcoin users.

About Flash

Flash is an all-in-one Bitcoin payment platform that empowers businesses, creators, and freelancers to accept, manage, and grow with Bitcoin. With a mission to make Bitcoin payments accessible to everyone, Flash eliminates complexity and gives users full control over their funds.

To learn more or get started, visit www.paywithflash.com.

Press Contact:

Julien Bouvier
Head of Marketing
+3360941039

@ 2a7cc007:ce0cc497

Nos últimos anos, o entretenimento online cresceu exponencialmente no Brasil, e plataformas como a 755bet vêm se destacando por oferecer uma experiência completa, segura e repleta de diversão. Com um catálogo variado de jogos, bônus atrativos e suporte eficiente, a 755bet vem conquistando a preferência de jogadores iniciantes e experientes em todo o país.

Interface Moderna e Navegação Intuitiva Uma das grandes vantagens da 755bet é sua interface moderna e amigável. Desde o primeiro acesso, é fácil perceber o cuidado com o design da plataforma. Os menus são bem organizados, facilitando a navegação mesmo para quem não tem muita familiaridade com esse tipo de ambiente. Tudo está a poucos cliques de distância: jogos ao vivo, apostas esportivas, promoções e muito mais.

Variedade de Jogos para Todos os Gostos A diversidade de jogos é um dos pontos fortes da 755bet. Os usuários encontram uma enorme gama de opções que vão desde jogos de cartas clássicos até modalidades mais modernas e dinâmicas, com gráficos de alta qualidade e mecânicas envolventes. A plataforma trabalha com desenvolvedores renomados do setor, garantindo sempre a melhor experiência visual e sonora.

Além disso, há também uma seção dedicada às apostas esportivas, onde os usuários podem apostar em eventos nacionais e internacionais, incluindo futebol, basquete, tênis, e-sports e muito mais. Essa variedade agrada tanto os fãs de esportes quanto aqueles que procuram uma alternativa de diversão com um toque estratégico.

Bônus e Promoções Exclusivas Outro grande atrativo da 755bet são os bônus oferecidos para novos e antigos usuários. Logo ao se cadastrar, o jogador já pode aproveitar ofertas de boas-vindas bastante competitivas. Mas o diferencial está nas promoções constantes para quem já é cliente, incluindo bônus de recarga, cashback, giros grátis e desafios especiais que tornam a experiência ainda mais empolgante.

Esses incentivos são uma forma eficaz de manter os usuários engajados e motivados, oferecendo mais oportunidades de explorar os jogos e, quem sabe, conseguir boas recompensas.

Segurança e Suporte ao Usuário A 755bet preza muito pela segurança de seus usuários. A plataforma utiliza criptografia de dados e outros protocolos de proteção para garantir que todas as informações estejam sempre seguras. Além disso, os métodos de pagamento são variados e confiáveis, incluindo opções populares no Brasil como Pix, boleto bancário, transferência e carteiras digitais.

Outro ponto que merece destaque é o suporte ao cliente. A equipe de atendimento está disponível 24 horas por dia, sete dias por semana, por meio de chat ao vivo e e-mail. O suporte é eficiente, cordial e preparado para resolver qualquer dúvida ou dificuldade rapidamente.

Acesso Fácil em Qualquer Dispositivo Com o avanço da tecnologia móvel, é essencial que uma plataforma esteja otimizada para smartphones e tablets. A 755bet entende isso e oferece uma experiência fluida tanto na versão desktop quanto no mobile. Seja no Android ou iOS, os usuários podem acessar a plataforma de qualquer lugar, a qualquer hora, com a mesma qualidade.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Bitcoin FilmFest (BFF25) returns to Warsaw for its third edition, blending independent cinema—from feature films and commercials to AI-driven experimental visuals—with education and entertainment.

Hundreds of attendees from around the world will gather for three days of screenings, discussions, workshops, and networking at the iconic Kinoteka Cinema (PKiN), the same venue that hosted the festival’s first two editions in March 2023 and April 2024.

This year’s festival, themed “Beyond the Frame,” introduces new dimensions to its program, including an extra day on May 22 to celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day, the first real-world bitcoin transaction, with what promises to be one of Europe’s largest commemorations of this milestone.

BFF25 bridges independent film, culture, and technology, with a bold focus on decentralized storytelling and creative expression. As a community-driven cultural experience with a slightly rebellious spirit, Bitcoin FilmFest goes beyond movies, yet cinema remains at its heart.

Here’s a sneak peek at the lineup, specially curated for movie buffs:

Generative Cinema –  A special slot with exclusive shorts and a thematic debate on the intersection of AI and filmmaking. Featured titles include, for example: BREAK FREE, SATOSHI: THE CREATION OF BITCOIN, STRANGE CURRENCIES, and BITCOIN IS THE MYCELIUM OF MONEY,  exploring financial independence, traps of the fiat system, and a better future built on sound money.

Upcoming Productions Preview – A bit over an hour-long block of unreleased pilots and works-in-progress. Attendees will get exclusive first looks at projects like FINDING HOME (a travel-meets-personal-journey series), PARALLEL SPACES (a story about alternative communities), and THE LEGEND OF LANDI (a mysterious narrative).

Freedom-Focused Ads & Campaigns – Unique screenings of video commercials, animations, and visual projects, culminating in “The PoWies” (Proof of Work-ies)—the first ever awards show honoring the best Bitcoin-only awareness campaigns.

To get an idea of what might come up at the event, here, you can preview 6 selected ads combined into two 2 videos:

• Unique Bitcoin-Video Ads: Part One
• Unique Bitcoin-Video Ads: Part Two

Open Pitch Competition – A chance for filmmakers to present fresh ideas and unfinished projects to an audience of a dedicated jury, movie fans and potential collaborators. This competitive block isn’t just entertaining—it’s a real opportunity for creators to secure funding and partnerships.

Golden Rabbit Awards: A lively gala honoring films from the festival’s Official Selection, with awards in categories like Best Feature, Best Story, Best Short, and Audience Choice.

BFF25 Main Screenings

Sample titles from BFF25’s Official Selection:

REVOLUCIÓN BITCOIN – A documentary by Juan Pablo, making its first screening outside the Spanish-speaking world in Warsaw this May. Three years of important work, 80 powerful minutes to experience. The film explores Bitcoin’s impact across Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, and Spain through around 40 diverse perspectives. Screening in Spanish with English subtitles, followed by a Q&A with the director.

UNBANKABLE – Luke Willms’ directorial debut, drawing from his multicultural roots and his father’s pioneering HIV/AIDS research. An investigative documentary based on Luke’s journeys through seven African countries, diving into financial experiments and innovations—from mobile money and digital lending to Bitcoin—raising smart questions and offering potential lessons for the West. Its May appearance at BFF25 marks its largest European event to date, following festival screenings and nominations across multiple continents over the past year.

HOTEL BITCOIN – A Spanish comedy directed by Manuel Sanabria and Carlos “Pocho” Villaverde. Four friends, 4,000 bitcoins , and one laptop spark a chaotic adventure of parties, love, crime, and a dash of madness. Exploring sound money, value, and relationships through a twisting plot. The film premiered at the Tarazona and Moncayo Comedy Film Festival in August 2024. Its Warsaw screening at BFF25 (in Spanish with English subtitles) marks its first public showing outside the Spanish-speaking world.

Check out trailers for this year’s BFF25 and past editions on YouTube.

Tickets & Info:

• Detailed program and tickets are available at bitcoinfilmfest.com/bff25.
• Stay updated via the festival’s official channels (links provided on the website).
• Use ‘LN-NEWS’ to get 10% of tickets

@ 58537364:705b4b85

คนเรามักจะเห็นคุณค่าของสิ่งใด ส่วนใหญ่ก็ใน ๒ สถานการณ์คือ หนึ่ง ตอนที่ยังไม่ได้มา หรือ สอง ตอนที่เสียไปแล้ว

อันนี้มันเป็นโศกนาฏกรรม ที่เกิดขึ้นกับผู้คนจำนวนมาก การที่คนเรามีสิ่งดีๆ แต่ว่าเราไม่เห็นคุณค่า เพราะว่าเรามองออกไปนอกตัว ไปเห็นแต่สิ่งที่ตัวเองไม่มี อยากจะได้มา

คล้ายๆ กับเรื่อง หมาคาบเนื้อในนิทานอีสป ตอนเด็กๆ เราคงจำได้ มีหมาตัวหนึ่งคาบเนื้อมา เนื้อชิ้นใหญ่เลย มันดีใจมากแล้วมันก็วิ่งไปยังที่ที่ มันจะได้กินเนื้ออย่างมีความสุข มีช่วงหนึ่งก็ต้องเดินข้ามสะพาน มันก็ชะโงกหน้าไปมองที่ลำธารหรือลำคลอง

ก็เห็นเงาตัวเอง เงานั่นมันก็ใหญ่ แล้วมันก็พบว่าในเงานั้น เนื้อในเงามันใหญ่กว่าเนื้อที่ตัวเองคาบ มันอยากได้เนื้อก้อนนั้นมากเลย เพราะว่ามันเป็นก้อนที่ใหญ่กว่า

มันก็เลยอ้าปาก เพื่อที่จะไปงับเนื้อในเงานั้น พอมันอ้าปาก ก็ปรากฏว่าเนื้อในปาก ก็หลุดตกลงแม่น้ำ แล้วเนื้อในเงานั้นก็หายไป เป็นอันว่าหมดเลย อดทั้ง 2 อย่าง .

ฉะนั้น คนเราถ้าหากเรา กลับมาเห็นคุณค่าของสิ่งที่เรามีอยู่ เราจะมีความสุขได้ง่าย อาจจะไม่ใช่สิ่งของ อาจจะไม่ใช่ผู้คน แต่อาจจะเป็นสุขภาพของเรา

อาจจะได้แก่ ลมหายใจของเรา ที่ยังหายใจได้ปกติ รวมถึงการที่ เรายังเดินเหินไปไหนมาไหนได้ การที่เรายังมองเห็น การที่เรายังได้ยิน

หลายคนมีสิ่งนี้อยู่ในตัว แต่กลับไม่เห็นค่า และไม่รู้สึกว่าตัวเองโชคดี กลับไปมองว่า ฉันยังไม่มีโน่นยังไม่มีนี่ ไม่มีบ้าน ไม่มีรถ ไม่มีเงิน

รู้สึกว่าทุกข์ระทมเหลือเกิน

ทำไมฉันจึงลำบากแบบนี้ ทั้งที่ตัวเองก็มีสิ่งดีๆ ในตัว สุขภาพ ความปกติสุข อิสรภาพที่เดินไปไหนมาไหนได้

แต่กลับไม่เห็นค่า เพราะว่ามัวแต่ไปสนใจสิ่งที่ตัวเองยังไม่มี

ซึ่งเป็นอนาคต

ถ้าเราหันกลับมาเห็นคุณค่าของสิ่งที่เรามีอยู่ แล้วก็ไม่ไปพะวงหรือให้ความสนใจกับสิ่งที่ยังไม่มี เราจะมีความสุขได้ง่าย อันนี้คือ ความหมายหนึ่งของการทำปัจจุบันให้ดีที่สุด

…

การทำปัจจุบันให้ดีที่สุด พระอาจารย์ไพศาล วิสาโล

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Here’s a revised timeline of macro-level events from The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 by Lionel Shriver, reimagined in a world where Bitcoin is adopted as a widely accepted form of money, altering the original narrative’s assumptions about currency collapse and economic control. In Shriver’s original story, the failure of Bitcoin is assumed amid the dominance of the bancor and the dollar’s collapse. Here, Bitcoin’s success reshapes the economic and societal trajectory, decentralizing power and challenging state-driven outcomes.

Part One: 2029–2032

• 2029 (Early Year)\ The United States faces economic strain as the dollar weakens against global shifts. However, Bitcoin, having gained traction emerges as a viable alternative. Unlike the original timeline, the bancor—a supranational currency backed by a coalition of nations—struggles to gain footing as Bitcoin’s decentralized adoption grows among individuals and businesses worldwide, undermining both the dollar and the bancor.

• 2029 (Mid-Year: The Great Renunciation)\ Treasury bonds lose value, and the government bans Bitcoin, labeling it a threat to sovereignty (mirroring the original bancor ban). However, a Bitcoin ban proves unenforceable—its decentralized nature thwarts confiscation efforts, unlike gold in the original story. Hyperinflation hits the dollar as the U.S. prints money, but Bitcoin’s fixed supply shields adopters from currency devaluation, creating a dual-economy split: dollar users suffer, while Bitcoin users thrive.

• 2029 (Late Year)\ Dollar-based inflation soars, emptying stores of goods priced in fiat currency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin transactions flourish in underground and online markets, stabilizing trade for those plugged into the bitcoin ecosystem. Traditional supply chains falter, but peer-to-peer Bitcoin networks enable local and international exchange, reducing scarcity for early adopters. The government’s gold confiscation fails to bolster the dollar, as Bitcoin’s rise renders gold less relevant.

• 2030–2031\ Crime spikes in dollar-dependent urban areas, but Bitcoin-friendly regions see less chaos, as digital wallets and smart contracts facilitate secure trade. The U.S. government doubles down on surveillance to crack down on bitcoin use. A cultural divide deepens: centralized authority weakens in Bitcoin-adopting communities, while dollar zones descend into lawlessness.

• 2032\ By this point, Bitcoin is de facto legal tender in parts of the U.S. and globally, especially in tech-savvy or libertarian-leaning regions. The federal government’s grip slips as tax collection in dollars plummets—Bitcoin’s traceability is low, and citizens evade fiat-based levies. Rural and urban Bitcoin hubs emerge, while the dollar economy remains fractured.

Time Jump: 2032–2047

• Over 15 years, Bitcoin solidifies as a global reserve currency, eroding centralized control. The U.S. government adapts, grudgingly integrating bitcoin into policy, though regional autonomy grows as Bitcoin empowers local economies.

Part Two: 2047

• 2047 (Early Year)\ The U.S. is a hybrid state: Bitcoin is legal tender alongside a diminished dollar. Taxes are lower, collected in BTC, reducing federal overreach. Bitcoin’s adoption has decentralized power nationwide. The bancor has faded, unable to compete with Bitcoin’s grassroots momentum.

• 2047 (Mid-Year)\ Travel and trade flow freely in Bitcoin zones, with no restrictive checkpoints. The dollar economy lingers in poorer areas, marked by decay, but Bitcoin’s dominance lifts overall prosperity, as its deflationary nature incentivizes saving and investment over consumption. Global supply chains rebound, powered by bitcoin enabled efficiency.

• 2047 (Late Year)\ The U.S. is a patchwork of semi-autonomous zones, united by Bitcoin’s universal acceptance rather than federal control. Resource scarcity persists due to past disruptions, but economic stability is higher than in Shriver’s original dystopia—Bitcoin’s success prevents the authoritarian slide, fostering a freer, if imperfect, society.

Key Differences

• Currency Dynamics: Bitcoin’s triumph prevents the bancor’s dominance and mitigates hyperinflation’s worst effects, offering a lifeline outside state control.
• Government Power: Centralized authority weakens as Bitcoin evades bans and taxation, shifting power to individuals and communities.
• Societal Outcome: Instead of a surveillance state, 2047 sees a decentralized, bitcoin driven world—less oppressive, though still stratified between Bitcoin haves and have-nots.

This reimagining assumes Bitcoin overcomes Shriver’s implied skepticism to become a robust, adopted currency by 2029, fundamentally altering the novel’s bleak trajectory.

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

“It’s over… isn’t it?” Sandra asked gently, her eyes scanning James’s expression as they stood on the balcony overlooking the city skyline. The cold breeze tousled her hair, but James remained still, his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored suit.

“No,” James replied calmly, his gaze fixated on the horizon. “This is just the eye of the storm. The calm before the reckoning.”

Sandra stepped closer, concern etched into her features. “Mark and Helen are finished in the eyes of the public and everyone round us. The evidence is damning. The authorities have issued warrants. What more could you possibly be planning?”

James turned to face her, a half-smile playing at the edge of his lips one not born of triumph, but of determination.

“Reputation is one thing,” he said, his voice measured and resolute, “but accountability is another. I won’t stop until every lie they told, every trap they laid, and every person they corrupted is exposed. I won’t just silence them, I'll dismantle everything they built with deceit.”

Inside the boardroom, Charles, Rita, and several executives were reviewing the latest media analytics. The company’s reputation had not only recovered but skyrocketed. Investors who once hesitated were now eager, flooding JP Enterprises with new partnerships and proposals.

Rita looked up from the screen. “We’ve just surpassed our projected valuation for the quarter. The crisis gave us more publicity than a million-dollar campaign would.”

Charles chuckled under his breath. “They handed us a scandal, and we turned it into a spotlight.”

Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the city, Mark and Helen sat huddled in a private lawyer’s office. Their appearance had changed drastically; both looked worn, disheveled, stripped of the pride and arrogance they once were like a crown.

“I told you,” Mark muttered bitterly, “we shouldn’t have gone after him like that. We were greedy. And now look ruined.”

Helen clenched her fists. Her pride was still fighting, even though her kingdom had collapsed. “It’s not over. We still have connections. The law can be manipulated. If we go down, we don’t go alone.”

“And say what?” Mark snapped. “That we were outsmarted? That the man we called a street dog now owns eighty-five percent of our legacy? That he single handedly turned the world against us?”

Helen’s jaw tightened. “If there’s one thing I know about James, it’s that he never lets go of the past. And that might just be his weakness.”

But even as they plotted, they didn’t know James had already anticipated their final desperation. Back at JP Enterprises, in a high-security conference room, investigators were filing reports, financial audits, bribery trails, hacked communications all linked directly to the duo. James had ensured that every illegal move they made was documented, cross-referenced, and legally binding.

Later that evening, James stood alone in his office, the city bathed in golden twilight. He took a slow breath and whispered to himself:

“They mistook my silence for surrender. My fall for failure. But every exile sharpens a man’s edge. And now they’ll witness the blade.”

Just then, a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” he said.

It was Mrs. JP, her expression soft but proud.

“You handled yourself like a true heir,” she said, walking toward him.

James turned, emotion flickering in his eyes.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

She reached out, holding his hand. “Your father and I… we made mistakes. We let our fear and our pride cloud your judgment. But seeing you today, the man you’ve become, I see now that everything we hoped for in a successor lives in you.”

He smiled faintly. “I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for dignity. For every time I was humiliated, overlooked, and discarded. I wanted to prove that worth isn’t given, it's earned.”

As they stood in silence, the city lights below gleamed like stars scattered on the earth.

The evening had settled quietly over the city, and the soft hum of the wind outside was the only sound that broke the stillness of the room. James stood at the window of his office, watching the neon lights flicker to life across the skyline, each glow a reminder of his success. His gaze, however, wasn’t on the bright lights of victory, but on the darker shadows of those who had tried to ruin him.

He turned around as the door clicked open, revealing Rita, who walked in with a folder in her hands. There was something different in her posturean air of finality in the way she carried herself.

"I’ve been reviewing the report from the legal team," she began, laying the folder on his desk. "The evidence against Mark and Helen is irrefutable. Their assets are frozen, and their personal accounts are being audited. They’re on the brink of losing everything."

James nodded, his face unreadable, but inside, the weight of the moment settled over him. This was the culmination of years of effort, the battle for his honor, his family's name, and the very future of JP Enterprises. But the victory, as sweet as it was, felt hollow.

"Is that all?" he asked, his voice low.

Rita hesitated for a moment. "There’s something else. Something you need to see."

She opened the folder, revealing a series of photographs and documents of Mark and Helen in compromising positions, shaking hands with notorious figures, and receiving bribes from external business associates. The weight of their corruption was staggering. The photos captured the desperation in their eyes, the deceit in their every smile.

James glanced at the images, but there was no anger in his expression. Only an eerie calm.

"I don’t need to see this," he said quietly. "I already know everything."

Rita frowned, confused. "Then why keep going? Why dig into their past when you already have what you need?"

James leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Because it's not about them anymore." He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to settle. "It’s about ensuring that no one else dares to make the same mistakes they did. No one else will ever underestimate me again."

Rita studied him carefully. There was a resolute determination in his eyes a fierce will that had carried him from the streets to the heights of power. She couldn’t help but admire his unwavering focus.

"You’ve become something entirely different," she murmured. "The man we see now... is nothing like the one who started this journey."

James met her gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Starting January 1, 2026, the United Kingdom will impose some of the world’s most stringent reporting requirements on cryptocurrency firms.

All platforms operating in or serving UK customers-domestic and foreign alike-must collect and disclose extensive personal and transactional data for every user, including individuals, companies, trusts, and charities. 

This regulatory drive marks the UK’s formal adoption of the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), a global initiative designed to bring crypto oversight in line with traditional banking and to curb tax evasion in the rapidly expanding digital asset sector.

What Will Be Reported?

Crypto firms must gather and submit the following for each transaction:

• User’s full legal name, home address, and taxpayer identification number
• Detailed data on every trade or transfer: type of cryptocurrency, amount, and nature of the transaction
• Identifying information for corporate, trust, and charitable clients

The obligation extends to all digital asset activities, including crypto-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat trades, and applies to both UK residents and non-residents using UK-based platforms. The first annual reports covering 2026 activity are due by May 31, 2027.

Enforcement and Penalties

Non-compliance will carry stiff financial penalties, with fines of up to £300 per user account for inaccurate or missing data-a potentially enormous liability for large exchanges. The UK government has urged crypto firms to begin collecting this information immediately to ensure operational readiness.

Regulatory Context and Market Impact

This move is part of a broader UK strategy to position itself as a global fintech hub while clamping down on fraud and illicit finance. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has championed these measures, stating, “Britain is open for business – but closed to fraud, abuse, and instability”. The regulatory expansion comes amid a surge in crypto adoption: the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority reported that 12% of UK adults owned crypto in 2024, up from just 4% in 2021.

Enormous Risks for Consumers: Lessons from the Coinbase Data Breach

While the new framework aims to enhance transparency and protect consumers, it also dramatically increases the volume of sensitive personal data held by crypto firms-raising the stakes for cybersecurity.

The risks are underscored by the recent high-profile breach at Coinbase, one of the world’s largest exchanges.

In May 2025, Coinbase disclosed that cybercriminals, aided by bribed offshore contractors, accessed and exfiltrated customer data including names, addresses, government IDs, and partial bank details. 

The attackers then used this information for sophisticated phishing campaigns, successfully deceiving some customers into surrendering account credentials and funds.

“While private encryption keys remained secure, sufficient customer information was exposed to enable sophisticated phishing attacks by criminals posing as Coinbase personnel.”

Coinbase now faces up to $400 million in compensation costs and has pledged to reimburse affected users, but the incident highlights the systemic vulnerability created when large troves of personal data are centralized-even if passwords and private keys are not directly compromised. The breach also triggered a notable drop in Coinbase’s share price and prompted a $20 million bounty for information leading to the attackers’ capture.

The Bottom Line

The UK’s forthcoming crypto reporting regime represents a landmark in financial regulation, promising greater transparency and tax compliance. However, as the Coinbase episode demonstrates, the aggregation of sensitive user data at scale poses a significant cybersecurity risk.

As regulators push for more oversight, the challenge will be ensuring that consumer protection does not become a double-edged sword-exposing users to new threats even as it seeks to shield them from old ones.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

This article was originally published on aier.org

Even after eleven years experience, and a per Bitcoin price of nearly $20,000, the incredulous are still with us. I understand why. Bitcoin is not like other traditional financial assets.

Even describing it as an asset is misleading. It is not the same as a stock, as a payment system, or a money. It has features of all these but it is not identical to them.

What Bitcoin is depends on its use as a means of storing and porting value, which in turn rests of secure titles to ownership of a scarce good. Those without experience in the sector look at all of this and get frustrated that understanding why it is valuable is not so easy to grasp. 

In this article, I’m updating an analysis I wrote six years ago. It still holds up. For those who don’t want to slog through the entire article, my thesis is that Bitcoin’s value obtains from its underlying technology, which is an open-source ledger that keeps track of ownership rights and permits the transfer of these rights. Bitcoin managed to bundle its unit of account with a payment system that lives on the ledger. That’s its innovation and why it obtained a value and that value continues to rise. 

Consider the criticism offered by traditional gold advocates, who have, for decades, pushed the idea that sound money must be backed by something real, hard, and independently valuable. Bitcoin doesn’t qualify, right? Maybe it does. 

Bitcoin first emerged as a possible competitor to national, government-managed money in 2009. Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper was released October 31, 2008. The structure and language of this paper sent the message: This currency is for computer technicians, not economists nor political pundits. The paper’s circulation was limited; novices who read it were mystified. 

But the lack of interest didn’t stop history from moving forward. Two months later, those who were paying attention saw the emergence of the “Genesis Block,” the first group of bitcoins generated through Nakamoto’s concept of a distributed ledger that lived on any computer node in the world that wanted to host it.

Here we are all these years later and a single bitcoin trades at $18,500. The currency is held and accepted by many thousands of institutions, both online and offline. Its payment system is very popular in poor countries without vast banking infrastructures but also in developed countries. And major institutions—including the Federal Reserve, the OECD, the World Bank, and major investment houses—are paying respectful attention and weaving blockchain technology into their operations.

Enthusiasts, who are found in every country, say that its exchange value will soar even more in the future because its supply is strictly limited and it provides a system vastly superior to government money. Bitcoin is transferred between individuals without a third party. It is relatively low-cost to exchange. It has a predictable supply. It is durable, fungible, and divisible: all crucial features of money. It creates a monetary system that doesn’t depend on trust and identity, much less on central banks and government. It is a new system for the digital age.

Hard lessons for hard money

To those educated in the “hard money” tradition, the whole idea has been a serious challenge. Speaking for myself, I had been reading about bitcoin for two years before I came anywhere close to understanding it. There was just something about the whole idea that bugged me. You can’t make money out of nothing, much less out of computer code. Why does it have value then? There must be something amiss. This is not how we expected money to be reformed.

There’s the problem: our expectations. We should have been paying closer attention to Ludwig von Mises’ theory of money’s origins—not to what we think he wrote, but to what he actually did write. 

In 1912, Mises released The Theory of Money and Credit. It was a huge hit in Europe when it came out in German, and it was translated into English. While covering every aspect of money, his core contribution was in tracing the value and price of money—and not just money itself—to its origins. That is, he explained how money gets its price in terms of the goods and services it obtains. He later called this process the “regression theorem,” and as it turns out, bitcoin satisfies the conditions of the theorem.

Mises’ teacher, Carl Menger, demonstrated that money itself originates from the market—not from the State and not from social contract. It emerges gradually as monetary entrepreneurs seek out an ideal form of commodity for indirect exchange. Instead of merely bartering with each other, people acquire a good not to consume, but to trade. That good becomes money, the most marketable commodity.

But Mises added that the value of money traces backward in time to its value as a bartered commodity. Mises said that this is the only way money can have value.

The theory of the value of money as such can trace back the objective exchange value of money only to that point where it ceases to be the value of money and becomes merely the value of a commodity…. If in this way we continually go farther and farther back we must eventually arrive at a point where we no longer find any component in the objective exchange value of money that arises from valuations based on the function of money as a common medium of exchange; where the value of money is nothing other than the value of an object that is useful in some other way than as money…. Before it was usual to acquire goods in the market, not for personal consumption, but simply in order to exchange them again for the goods that were really wanted, each individual commodity was only accredited with that value given by the subjective valuations based on its direct utility.

Mises’ explanation solved a major problem that had long mystified economists. It is a narrative of conjectural history, and yet it makes perfect sense. Would salt have become money had it otherwise been completely useless? Would beaver pelts have obtained monetary value had they not been useful for clothing? Would silver or gold have had money value if they had no value as commodities first? The answer in all cases of monetary history is clearly no. The initial value of money, before it becomes widely traded as money, originates in its direct utility. It’s an explanation that is demonstrated through historical reconstruction. That’s Mises’ regression theorem.

Bitcoin’s Use Value

At first glance, bitcoin would seem to be an exception. You can’t use a bitcoin for anything other than money. It can’t be worn as jewelry. You can’t make a machine out of it. You can’t eat it or even decorate with it. Its value is only realized as a unit that facilitates indirect exchange. And yet, bitcoin already is money. It’s used every day. You can see the exchanges in real time. It’s not a myth. It’s the real deal.

It might seem like we have to choose. Is Mises wrong? Maybe we have to toss out his whole theory. Or maybe his point was purely historical and doesn’t apply in the future of a digital age. Or maybe his regression theorem is proof that bitcoin is just an empty mania with no staying power, because it can’t be reduced to its value as a useful commodity.

And yet, you don’t have to resort to complicated monetary theory in order to understand the sense of alarm surrounding bitcoin. Many people, as I did, just have a feeling of uneasiness about a money that has no basis in anything physical. Sure, you can print out a bitcoin on a piece of paper, but having a paper with a QR code or a public key is not enough to relieve that sense of unease.

How can we resolve this problem? In my own mind, I toyed with the issue for more than a year. It puzzled me. I wondered if Mises’ insight applied only in a pre-digital age. I followed the speculations online that the value of bitcoin would be zero but for the national currencies into which it is converted. Perhaps the demand for bitcoin overcame the demands of Mises’ scenario because of a desperate need for something other than the dollar.

As time passed—and I read the work of Konrad Graf, Peter Surda, and Daniel Krawisz—finally the resolution came. Bitcoin is both a payment system and a money. The payment system is the source of value, while the accounting unit merely expresses that value in terms of price. The unity of money and payment is its most unusual feature, and the one that most commentators have had trouble wrapping their heads around.

We are all used to thinking of currency as separate from payment systems. This thinking is a reflection of the technological limitations of history. There is the dollar and there are credit cards. There is the euro and there is PayPal. There is the yen and there are wire services. In each case, money transfer relies on third-party service providers. In order to use them, you need to establish what is called a “trust relationship” with them, which is to say that the institution arranging the deal has to believe that you are going to pay.

This wedge between money and payment has always been with us, except for the case of physical proximity.

If I give you a dollar for your pizza slice, there is no third party. But payment systems, third parties, and trust relationships become necessary once you leave geographic proximity. That’s when companies like Visa and institutions like banks become indispensable. They are the application that makes the monetary software do what you want it to do.

The hitch is that

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ถ้าพูดถึง "เกาหลีใต้" หลายคนอาจนึกถึงซีรีส์ น้ำจิ้มเผ็ด หรือไอดอลหน้าผ่อง ๆ แต่เบื้องหลังวัฒนธรรมที่ลื่นไหลไปทั่วโลกนี้ ยังมีอาณาจักรธุรกิจขนาดมหึมาที่เป็นเหมือนเครื่องยนต์หลักผลักดันทั้งอาหาร เพลง หนัง และนวัตกรรมระดับโลก หนึ่งในนั้นคือ CJ Group ที่เริ่มต้นจากบริษัทน้ำตาลเล็ก ๆ ในปี 1953 แต่เติบโตจนกลายเป็นหนึ่งใน conglomerate หรือ "กลุ่มธุรกิจผูกเครือ" ที่ทรงอิทธิพลที่สุดของแดนโสม

คำว่า CJ ย่อมาจาก CheilJedang (แปลว่า “หมายเลขหนึ่งแห่งโลก” ในภาษาจีน-เกาหลี) ก่อตั้งโดย อี บยองชอล ผู้ก่อตั้ง Samsung Group ในช่วงเวลานั้น เกาหลีใต้กำลังฟื้นตัวจากสงครามเกาหลี และรัฐบาลส่งเสริมการพัฒนาอุตสาหกรรมภายในประเทศ เดิมเป็นหน่วยธุรกิจอาหารของกลุ่ม Samsung ในปี 1993 Cheil Jedang แยกตัวออกจาก Samsung Group และกลายเป็นบริษัทอิสระภายใต้การบริหารของ อี แจฮยอน หลานชายของอี บยองชอล แล้วขยายขอบเขตธุรกิจอย่างไม่หยุดยั้ง จากความเชี่ยวชาญใน "การหมัก" แบบดั้งเดิม พวกเขากลับกลายเป็นผู้เล่นรายใหญ่ระดับโลกในวงการ เทคโนโลยีชีวภาพ การผลิตอาหารไปจนถึงธุรกิจ บันเทิงระดับฮอลลีวูด และ โลจิสติกส์ข้ามทวีป

พูดง่าย ๆ ว่า CJ ไม่ได้แค่ส่งออกกิมจิหรือบิบิมบับ แต่พวกเขากำลังวางรากฐานของ "อนาคตแห่งอาหาร" และ "ความบันเทิงแบบไร้พรมแดน" ในเวลาเดียวกัน จนใครหลายคนถึงกับบอกว่า ถ้าอยากเข้าใจเกาหลีใต้ ก็ต้องเริ่มจากเข้าใจ CJ Group เสียก่อน

แล้วในเครือข่ายของ CJ Group มีธุรกิจอะไรบ้างที่น่าสนใจ และแบรนด์ไหนที่เราคุ้นเคยแบบไม่รู้ตัว ไปดูกันเลย

1. ธุรกิจอาหารและบริการอาหาร (Food & Food Services)
2. CJ CheilJedang บริษัทอาหารชั้นนำของเกาหลีใต้ มีผลิตภัณฑ์เด่น ได้แก่ Bibigo แบรนด์อาหารเกาหลีพร้อมรับประทาน เช่น เกี๊ยว ซอส และกิมจิ Hetbahn ข้าวสวยพร้อมรับประทานที่ได้รับความนิยมในเกาหลี

3. CJ Foodville ดำเนินธุรกิจร้านอาหารและเบเกอรี่ เช่น: Tous Les Jours ร้านเบเกอรี่สไตล์ฝรั่งเศส VIPS ร้านสเต็กและสลัดบุฟเฟ่ต์

4. ธุรกิจเทคโนโลยีชีวภาพ (Bio) ความเชี่ยวชาญนี้เป็นรากฐานสำคัญในการขยายธุรกิจด้านเทคโนโลยีชีวภาพของ CJ เลยครับ

5. CJ BIO ผู้นำด้านการผลิตกรดอะมิโนและผลิตภัณฑ์ชีวภาพผ่านเทคโนโลยีการหมักจุลินทรีย์ เช่น Lysine, Tryptophan, Valine กรดอะมิโนที่ใช้ในอุตสาหกรรมอาหารสัตว์และอาหารเสริม

6. CJ Bioscience มุ่งเน้นการวิจัยและพัฒนาไมโครไบโอมเพื่อสุขภาพ

7. ธุรกิจโลจิสติกส์และค้าปลีก (Logistics & Retail)

8. CJ Logistics ให้บริการโลจิสติกส์ครบวงจร ทั้งการขนส่งทางบก ทางทะเล และทางอากาศ รวมถึงบริการคลังสินค้าและการจัดการซัพพลายเชน

9. CJ Olive Young: ร้านค้าปลีกด้านสุขภาพและความงามอันดับหนึ่งของเกาหลี มีผลิตภัณฑ์ยอดนิยม เช่น Anua PDRN Set ชุดบำรุงผิวที่ได้รับความนิยม MILKTOUCH ผลิตภัณฑ์เมคอัพที่ได้รับความนิยม

10. ธุรกิจบันเทิงและสื่อ (Entertainment & Media) อันนี้ยิ่งใหญ่ระดับโลกมากๆ หลายคนคงจำได้กับ ภาพยนตร์เอเชียแรกกับรางวัลออสการ์ Parasite

11. CJ ENM บริษัทผลิตและจัดจำหน่ายเนื้อหาบันเทิงที่มีชื่อเสียงระดับโลก มีผลงานเด่น ได้แก่ Crash Landing on You ซีรีส์ที่ได้รับความนิยมอย่างสูง Parasite ภาพยนตร์ที่ได้รับรางวัลออสการ์
12. CJ CGV เครือโรงภาพยนตร์มัลติเพล็กซ์ที่มีสาขาทั่วโลก

CJ Group ขยายธุรกิจไปยังต่างประเทศ เช่น การเข้าซื้อกิจการ Schwan's Company ในสหรัฐอเมริกา และการเปิดสาขา CGV ในหลายประเทศ นอกจากนี้ CJ ยังมีบทบาทสำคัญในการเผยแพร่วัฒนธรรมเกาหลีสู่ระดับโลกผ่าน KCON และการผลิตเนื้อหาบันเทิงที่ได้รับความนิยมในต่างประเทศด้วยครับ

จะเห็นได้ว่า เครือข่ายของ CJ นั้นยิ่งใหญ่มากๆเลย ทีนี้มีเรื่องน่าสนใจตรงนี้ครับ

ในช่วงปี 2013–2016 CJ Group โดยเฉพาะฝ่ายสื่อบันเทิงอย่าง CJ ENM ต้องเผชิญกับแรงกดดันจากรัฐบาลของประธานาธิบดี พัค กึนฮเย เหตุการณ์สำคัญคือการที่ อี มีคยอง (Miky Lee) รองประธาน CJ และผู้มีบทบาทสำคัญในการขับเคลื่อนธุรกิจบันเทิงระดับโลก ถูกกดดันให้ลาออกจากตำแหน่ง รายงานระบุว่า ทำเนียบประธานาธิบดีไม่พอใจเนื้อหาสื่อบางรายการของ CJ ที่มีลักษณะเสียดสีหรือวิพากษ์วิจารณ์รัฐบาล เช่น รายการ SNL Korea ที่ล้อเลียนพัค กึนฮเย ผ่านตัวละคร Teletubbies

ภายใต้แรงกดดันนี้ CJ มีการปรับเปลี่ยนเนื้อหาสื่อ โดยลดการนำเสนอเนื้อหาที่อาจขัดแย้งกับรัฐบาล และหันไปผลิตภาพยนตร์ที่สอดคล้องกับนโยบายของรัฐ เช่น ภาพยนตร์เรื่อง Ode to My Father (2014) ที่สะท้อนความรักชาติและการพัฒนาเศรษฐกิจในยุคของพัค ชุงฮี บิดาของพัค กึนฮเย ภาพยนตร์เรื่องนี้ได้รับการสนับสนุนจากรัฐบาลและถูกมองว่าเป็น "ภาพยนตร์เพื่อสุขภาพ" ที่ส่งเสริมความภาคภูมิใจในชาติ แน่นอนว่าแค้นฝังหุ่นมันยังไม่หายไปไหนครับ

เมื่อเกิดการเปิดโปง "บัญชีดำ" (Blacklist) ของรัฐบาลพัค กึนฮเย ที่มีการจำกัดสิทธิเสรีภาพของศิลปินและผู้ผลิตสื่อที่วิพากษ์วิจารณ์รัฐบาล ทำให้เกิดกระแสต่อต้านอย่างรุนแรงในสังคมเกาหลี. ในปี 2016 ซน กยองชิก ประธาน CJ ได้ให้การต่อศาลว่า มีแรงกดดันจากรัฐบาลให้ อี มีคยอง หลีกเลี่ยงการมีบทบาทในบริษัท เหตุการณ์นี้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของการเปิดโปงคดีทุจริตของพัค กึนฮเย ซึ่งนำไปสู่การประท้วงครั้งใหญ่และการถอดถอนประธานาธิบดีในปี 2017

หลังจากการเปลี่ยนแปลงทางการเมือง CJ Group ได้กลับมามีบทบาทอย่างเต็มที่ในวงการบันเทิงอีกครั้ง อี มีคยอง กลับมาดำรงตำแหน่งและมีบทบาทสำคัญในการผลักดันภาพยนตร์เรื่อง Parasite (2019) ซึ่งได้รับรางวัลออสการ์และยกระดับภาพลักษณ์ของ CJ ในระดับโลก ซึ่งถ้าใครได้ดูหนังเรื่องนั้นแล้วรู้เรื่องราวเบื้องหลังนี้จะเข้าใจเนื้อหาได้อย่างลึกซึ้งขึ้นไปอีกเลยครับ การนำเสนอเรื่องราวนี้ถือเป็นการวิพากษ์วิจารณ์สังคมและระบบทุนนิยมอย่างชัดเจน ซึ่งแตกต่างจากแนวทางที่ CJ เคยถูกกดดันให้ปฏิบัติตามในยุคของพัค กึนฮเย อย่างสิ้นเชิง

อย่าเพิ่งไปสะใจกับเนื้อหา ให้มองว่า "เขาทำอะไรได้บ้าง" นี่คือประเด็นสำคัญครับ #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Deliberate (?) trade-offs we make for the sake of output speed.

... By sacrificing depth in my learning, I can produce substantially more work. I’m unsure if I’m at the correct balance between output quantity and depth of learning. This uncertainty is mainly fueled by a sense of urgency due to rapidly improving AI models. I don’t have time to learn everything deeply. I love learning, but given current trends, I want to maximize immediate output. I’m sacrificing some learning in classes for more time doing outside work. From a teacher’s perspective, this is obviously bad, but from my subjective standpoint, it’s unclear.

Finding the balance between learning and productivity. By trade, one cannot be productive in specific areas without first acquire the knowledge to define the processes needed to deliver. Designing the process often come on a try and fail dynamic that force us to learn from previous mistakes.

I found this little journal story fun but also little sad. Vincent's realization, one of us trading his learnings to be more productive, asking what is productivity without quality assurance?

Inevitably, parts of my brain will degenerate and fade away, so I need to consciously decide what I want to preserve or my entire brain will be gone. What skills am I NOT okay with offloading? What do I want to do myself?

Read Vincent's journal https://vvvincent.me/llms-are-making-me-dumber/

https://stacker.news/items/984361

@ 05a0f81e:fc032124

Phobia and temperament are two distinct concepts in psychology:

Phobia 1. Specific fear or anxiety: Phobias involve intense, irrational fears or anxieties towards specific objects, situations, or activities. 2. Avoidance behavior: People with phobias often exhibit avoidance behaviors to escape the feared stimulus. 3. Impact on daily life: Phobias can significantly impact an individual's daily life, causing distress and impairment.

Temperament 1. Personality traits: Temperament refers to an individual's inherent personality traits, including emotional reactivity, mood, and behavioral tendencies. 2. Stable patterns: Temperament is relatively stable across situations and over time. 3. Influence on behavior: Temperament influences an individual's behavior, interactions, and responses to various situations.

Key differences 1. Specificity: Phobias are specific to certain objects or situations, while temperament is a broader personality trait. 2. Focus: Phobias focus on fear or anxiety, whereas temperament encompasses a range of personality characteristics. 3. Impact: Phobias can have a significant impact on daily life, while temperament can shape an individual's overall behavior and interactions.

Comparison 1. Both influence behavior: Both phobias and temperament can influence an individual's behavior and responses to situations. 2. Both can be shaped: Both phobias and temperament can be shaped by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Understanding the differences and similarities between phobias and temperament can provide valuable insights into human behavior and psychological processes.

@ c11cf5f8:4928464d

This post may sound like a rant, hope not! Just want you to take a minute and think about our shameless collective behaviors.

In the past few weeks have been framing a simple idea, proposed to @AGORA for adding a V4V tag to be used in the ~AGORA marketplace here on SN. A new way to incentivize this Value 4 Value thing that many keep talking about, and just few actually have the bullish balls to adopts and embrace at 360 degrees. Oh yep, that's cool, it has been implemented in Podcasting 2.0, Nice! So we don't need to think about it anymore, the platform takes care, we trust the Fountain... The worse is that this approach has been taken like an invitation for people to create contentless podcasts, AI music is booming... Why? Because they know is profitable and effortless (kind of...) but if you are lucky with your phone camera repeatedly streaming on YT, you can maybe be able to entertain enough fans and start to be paid for it. Our values are misleading us, we don't do stuff because we aim to create some kind valuable, we do it mostly because it is easily profitable.

But what about adopting it in our daily life? Making it a way to live by, instead just a platform implementation? How we can change the currently widespread disease of fiat mentality? How can we find ways to create a circular economy that has its fundamentals on other values? Does need profit always be in the first place or can we define value in non-monetary terms? Does this hourly rate really reflect the value you provide? Can we really place a value in the seconds of this precious lifespan we have? Time is money? Money is Time? really?

Would we live one day in a word where there is so much abundance that it will be meaningless to associate numbers with stuff we do? A time when resources will be equally available to all, energy endlessly provided following Tesla standards—Nikola Tesla, not Elon's Tesla—like the air we are now breading? Are we ready to drop and unlearn all the behaviors we have been indoctrinated with since birth, with something that can benefit the entire world population instead of just ourselves or the few around us?

These are the questions that have been bothering me since a long time. I'd like some responses. It's this Value for Value thing, then, just a new fancy word to define voluntarism? A way to give without expecting nothing back? a bunch of people, ones can profit from? Or is Value4Value just a marketing strategy to access bitcoiners and nostriches zaps? Because that what it looks to me when most of us approach this idea. Let's join nostr, people give you zaps... Come to SN, you can earn sats! 💡sats=money, fiat money, I can pay bills with... sure lets' do it! If someone can gimme gimme money just for a comment and GMs... obviously I'll do it and spam everyone in the network with dummy, unfollowed unread two-letters acronym and get my daily satstash to grow. What about quality content? What about creating and spreading Value?

Honor

Trust

Credibility

Faith

Morality

Compassion

Would be a one simple, beautiful and bright smile enough to compensate all the efforts you invested for years or decades in that alpha, even if it is not yet profitable? Do we really need to go into the NGO compliance hell of asking permission, registering with the local gov to be let alone and do what we love, allowing surveillance and eyesight from entities we don't really care, but we do because is the way that allow us to do what we love), is the way we know.

Buddhism have been embracing something similar for long time, has been thought for millennia uninterruptedly. We still ignoring it, at least in the west. Defined as karma as a unit of measurement to define the good and the bad seeds one accumulate along the multi-life journey. Does karma need to be count? Who keeps the karmaccounting books in order? Only you can, but when your values are misaligned with the community and centered in your selfish ego, then you are probably keeping the books in dis-order then. So, how one can evaluate if we are doing right or wrong... considering there's no right or wrong, how one then can know if what has been done, what is doing and what will be done as consequence of today decision will be aligned with good values? What are good values?

Natural Law provides us an inalienable framework where objective moral truths, rooted in human nature and discerned through reason, guide ethical behavior and honest governance. It defines simple values anyone already knows and rules that we take so granted, that we ignore. Or maybe we just don't think about them when acting, privately and publicly.

These few simple value and rules, that if considered when taking action ensure us good outcomes will be, not guaranteed, but at least scheduled to be delivered. We just don't know when thought, can be in this life or in another one... who knows!

https://stacker.news/items/986449

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

May 13, 2025 – We are proud to announce that My First Bitcoin has received a $1 million grant from #startsmall. With this financial support from Jack Dorsey’s philanthropic initiative, we will continue to serve grassroots Bitcoin education initiatives worldwide.

This grant accelerates our work in the creation and distribution of free and open-source Bitcoin education materials and infrastructure.

It will not only help us improve existing resources, such as the Bitcoin Diploma, Bitcoin Intro Course, and teacher training workshops, but also to scale our digital platforms like our Online School and Community Hub. 

As a non-profit, founded in 2021, we have grown from a local project into a global movement. Besides creating curricula and frameworks, our team has directly taught tens of thousands of in-person students, as we workshop and refine our materials based on real world feedback.

In 2023, we launched the Independent Bitcoin Educators Node Network, providing a space for others to join us on our mission. The network spans 65+ projects from 35+ countries, including circular economies, meetup organizers and other grassroots projects.

All commit to the same six pillars: that their education is independent, impartial, community-led, Bitcoin-only, quality, and focused on empowerment over profit.

While we support that network, it is now self-governing. We always seek to give power-to, rather than have power-over.

John Dennehy, founder and Executive Director of My First Bitcoin, explains:

“The revolution of Bitcoin education is that it teaches students HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Funding from sources with their own incentives is the greatest vulnerability that threatens that. Education will be captured by whoever funds it.

“We will never take any government money and frequently turn down funding from corporations and companies. The subtle influence of funding has ruined fiat education and we need to create alternative models for the revolution of Bitcoin education to realize its full potential.”

Funding for Bitcoin education must be transparent.

This grant is a huge win for all of us. For Bitcoin itself, but even more for Independent Bitcoin Education as a whole. It enables us to serve the global community better than ever before. It shows everyone what can be achieved if you stay close to your values.

“My First Bitcoin is a proof-of-concept for all independent Bitcoin educators that if you stay on the mission, even when it’s challenging, then you will come out the other side even stronger,” added Dennehy.

Arnold Hubach, Director of Communications of My First Bitcoin, continued:

“Open source money deserves open source education. Over the past few years, we’ve seen growing demand for our resources around the world, and we remain committed to serving everyone in the Bitcoin space who needs support.

“This funding enables us to plan further into the future and continue being the first-stop provider of free educational tools.”

We’re grateful to #startsmall for believing in our mission and for understanding that Bitcoin education should always be free from external influence. We’re also grateful to the community for helping us arrive at this point where we are ready to receive such a grant.

You lead us to where we are today. You have been our primary funding source. You will continue to lead us forward.

We will always serve the community.

We’re also grateful for our amazing team and their proof of work. The grant will accelerate the work that they are already doing, such as curricula development, teacher training programs, the expansion of the global network, building online platforms, and providing in-person classes.

We will continue to lead by example, we will continue to push the limits, and we will continue to reimagine what’s possible.

We do not seek to please power in this world, we seek to create a proof-of-concept for a better one where the individual is empowered and able to think critically.

If you are an educator in need of tools or infrastructure; please contact us.

If you can help us continue to build out these tools and maintain this growing global movement; please contact us.

If you are aligned with our mission and are a supporter of independent Bitcoin education, please donate.

We work for the public. In public.

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Digital Psychology ↗

Wall of impact website showcase a collection of success metrics and micro case studies to create a clear, impactful visual of your brand's achievements. It also displays a Wall of love with an abundance of testimonials in one place, letting the sheer volume highlight your brand's popularity and customer satisfaction.

And like these, many others collections like Testimonial mashup that combine multiple testimonials into a fast-paced, engaging reel that highlights key moments of impact in an attention-grabbing format.

Awards and certifications of websites highlighting third-party ratings and verification to signal trust and quality through industry-recognized achievements and standards.

View them all at https://socialproofexamples.com/

https://stacker.news/items/984357

@ 7459d333:f207289b

CC: Martti Malmi

https://stacker.news/items/986445

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Es ist pure Freiheit, Geschwindigkeit durch die eigene Kraft oder Bergab-Beschleunigung zu spüren. Kein störendes Motorengeräusch, das auch noch das ökologische Gewissen aufruft. Einfach nur Sein, an der Luft, im Wind. Wenn da doch nur … keine Ampel wäre.

Hören Sie den Beitrag „Ja oder ja – Begegnung mit der Staatsmacht, von Isa Mitza.

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/ja-oder-ja-begegnung-mit-der-staatsmacht-von-isa-mitza?

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Donald Trump’s recent four-day visit took the President to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This visit has intertwined diplomatic relations with business interests, while simultaneously influencing the bitcoin market.

In Qatar, the President met with Emir Tanim bin Hamad Al Thani, resulting in over $243 billion in deals including major defense agreements, according to Bloomberg.

On May 15, the President made his visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi alongside Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan. This occurs as the Trump family expands its business presence in the Middle East.

The Trump Organization is developing luxury properties across the region, including Trump Tower Dubai, real estate projects in Riyadh, and development in Jeddah and Oman.

Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman in King Khalid International Airport — NBCNews

Eric Trump publicly announced construction plans for Trump Tower Dubai just last month, highlighting the family’s ongoing commercial footprint in the region.

These business connections extend into the digital asset ecosystem as UAE-backed investment firm MGX recently announced it would use USD1, World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin to support a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange, according to APNews.

This connection between Trump-aligned interests and major digital asset investments creates a potential avenue for market influence. 

Historically, stability in the Middle East, especially among oil-rich nations, reduces global market volatility. This encourages risk appetite among investors, often leading to increased allocations to digital assets like bitcoin.

Middle East diplomacy directly affects global oil prices. Stable oil prices can lower inflation expectations and lead to interest rate cuts by the Fed. Lower rates lead to an increase in liquidity, having positive effects on bitcoin, an asset that benefits from money printing.

Related: Fed Rate Cuts Could Lead to Major Price Swings for Bitcoin

On the investment front, Abu Dhabi’s Wealth Fund, Mubadala Investment Company, has been focused on increasing their shares in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).

According to a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Mubdala held 8.7 million IBIT shares, totaling $408.5 million as of March 31, 2025. 

The Abu Dhabi Wealth Fund increased its shares by 500,000 since its last filing in December of 2024.

Back in March, the United States created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The executive order states that the U.S. will not sell the bitcoin they already hold, and will create budget-neutral ways to increase their holdings.

The time has come where governments and wealth funds alike are jumping on board the Bitcoin train.

Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East illustrates how financial, diplomatic, and personal interests are becoming increasingly intertwined with Bitcoin and digital assets, serving as a new axis of influence in the U.S.-Middle East relations.

The combination of diplomatic progress and business expansion has heightened short-term volatility and trading volumes in the bitcoin market.

Trump’s business and digital asset ties in the region may further boost institutional interest and create an opportunity for more players to enter the market.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Bahrain-based Al Abraaj Restaurants Group has made history by becoming the first publicly-traded company in the Middle East to add bitcoin to its corporate treasury. This is a major step forward for regional bitcoin adoption.

On May 15, 2025, Al Abraaj Restaurants Group, a well-known restaurant chain listed on the Bahrain Bourse, announced it had bought 5 bitcoin (BTC) as part of a new treasury strategy. This makes the company the first in Bahrain, the GCC and the Middle East to officially hold bitcoin as a reserve asset.

Al Abraaj adds bitcoin to its treasury — Zawya

This is a growing trend globally where companies are treating bitcoin not just as an investment but as a long-term store of value. Major companies like Strategy, Tesla and Metaplanet have already done this — and now Al Abraaj is following suit.

Metaplanet recently added 1,241 BTC to its treasury, boosting the company’s holdings above El Salvador’s.

Related: Metaplanet Overtakes El Salvador in Bitcoin Holdings After $126M Purchase

“Our initiative towards becoming a Bitcoin Treasury Company reflects our forward-thinking approach and dedication to maximizing shareholder value,” said Abdulla Isa, Chairman of the Bitcoin Treasury Committee at Al Abraaj.

Al Abraaj’s move is largely inspired by Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin. Saylor’s strategy of allocating billions to bitcoin has set a model that other companies — now including Al Abraaj — are following.

A photo shared by the company even showed a meeting between an Al Abraaj representative and Saylor, with the company calling itself the “MicroStrategy of the Middle East”.

“We believe that Bitcoin will play a pivotal role in the future of finance, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Isa added.

To support its bitcoin initiative, Al Abraaj has partnered with 10X Capital, a New York-based investment firm that specializes in digital assets.

10X Capital has a strong track record in bitcoin treasury strategies, and recently advised Nakamoto Holdings on a $710 million deal — the largest of its kind.

With 10X’s help, Al Abraaj looks to raise more capital and increase its bitcoin holdings over time to maximize bitcoin-per-share for its investors. The company will also develop Sharia-compliant financial instruments so Islamic investors can get exposure to bitcoin in a halal way.

“Bahrain continues to be a leader in the Middle East in Bitcoin adoption,” said Hans Thomas, CEO of 10X Capital. He noted, with a combined GDP of $2.2 trillion and over $6 trillion in sovereign wealth, the GCC now has its first publicly listed bitcoin treasury company.

This is not just a first for Al Abraaj — it’s a first for the region. Bahrain has been positioning itself as a fintech hub and Al Abraaj’s move will encourage more non-fintech companies in the region to look into bitcoin.

The company said the decision was made after thorough due diligence and is in line with the regulations set by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). Al Abraaj will be fully compliant with all digital asset transaction rules, including transparency, security and governance.

A special Bitcoin Committee has been formed to oversee the treasury strategy. It includes experienced bitcoin investors, financial experts and portfolio managers who will manage risk, monitor market conditions and ensure best practices in custody and disclosure.

The initial purchase was 5 BTC, but Al Abraaj sees this as just the beginning. The company stated that there are plans in motion to allocate a significant portion of their treasury into bitcoin over time.

According to the company’s reports, Al Abraaj is financially sound with $12.5 million in EBITDA in 2024. This strong financial foundation gives the company the confidence to explore new strategies like bitcoin investment.

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

HUNT or be HUNTED in the human food chain.

That's the raw truth of life, not just in the wild but in the intricate web of human society, where we're all part of a relentless food chain. At the core, life is a survival game, where every individual, knowingly or not, plays their part either as hunter or prey. But in human society, the stakes aren't just about physical survival; they're about financial, social, and psychological dominance. Here, the food chain isn't just about who eats whom but who can leverage, influence, or sometimes exploit others for their own gain.

Leaders, those at the top of this human hierarchy, often have a knack for exploitation, albeit wrapped in the guise of opportunity or progress. They understand the game: to maintain their position, they must keep feeding on the resources, be they intellectual, financial, or labor from those below. Think about how big corporations might use their power to influence legislation, control markets, or keep wages low to maximize profit. The poor, in this scenario, are often the hunted, their energy and labor harvested to sustain the comfort and luxury of those at the top. But here's the twist in this human food chain: everyone, from the top to the bottom, engages in some form of selfishness. It's not just about the rich exploiting the poor; even within the same strata, we see people clawing for their spot, their advantage. We're all, in some way, looking out for number one, whether it's through office politics, personal branding, or simply ensuring our survival in an increasingly competitive world. We justify our actions, our small betrayals or manipulations, as necessary for survival or success, mirroring the natural world where every creature fights to live another day. This doesn't mean we're all villains or victims; it's just the reality of the game we're all playing. The key is recognizing this dynamic and deciding how you'll play your part. Will you be the prey, always on the run or hiding, or will you become the predator, learning to hunt, to strategize, to thrive? Here’s what I’ve learned through my journey up this chain: it’s not about the ruthlessness of taking but the resilience to grow. The most dangerous predators in our world are those who not only know how to hunt but also how to adapt, learn, and sometimes, protect or help others as part of their strategy (I think I might be part of them). It’s about understanding that today’s prey could be tomorrow’s ally or competitor.

So, to those reading this, don't give up. The climb to the top is steep, fraught with challenges, but it's not impossible. Keep learning, keep evolving. Use your experiences, your setbacks as lessons rather than defeats. In this human food chain, there's always room at the top for those willing to work for it, to adapt, to survive, and to thrive. I hope to see you at the top of the food chain, not just surviving, but truly living.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Steak ‘n Shake recently made headlines by officially accepting bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network across all its U.S. locations. The integration of Bitcoin payments at over 500 locations is a monumental moment for both the fast food industry and the broader retail sector.

This is not just something that Steak ‘n Shake is testing in a handful of locations, they are doing a full-scale rollout, fully embracing Bitcoin. 

With more than 100 million customers a year, Steak ‘n Shake’s integration of Lightning—Bitcoin’s fast, low-fee payment layer—makes it easier than ever to use Bitcoin in day-to-day life. Buying a burger and a shake with sats? That’s now a real option.

The process is straightforward. Customers simply scan a Lightning QR code at the register, completing their payment in seconds, while Steak ‘n Shake receives instant USD conversion, ensuring price stability and ease of use.

So what does this mean for Bitcoin and E-commerce?

For starters, Steak ‘n Shake becomes the first of eventually many to fully embrace a digital world. As Bitcoin continues to grow, consumers will continue to realize the benefits of saving in a currency that is truly scarce and decentralized.

This is a huge step forward for Bitcoin as it shows it is not just for holding, it’s for spending, too. And by using the Lightning Network, Steak n’ Shake is helping prove that Bitcoin can scale for everyday transactions. 

This now creates a seamless checkout experience, making bitcoin a viable alternative to credit cards and cash.

More importantly, it signals a significant shift in mainstream attitudes towards Bitcoin. As a well-known brand across America, this move serves as a powerful endorsement, likely to influence other chains and retailers to consider similar integrations.

Related: Spar Supermarket in Switzerland Now Accepts Bitcoin Via Lightning

What can this mean for your business? 

Accepting bitcoin as payment can open the door to a new demographic of tech-savvy, financially engaged consumers who prefer digital assets.

As we know, companies that adopt Bitcoin receive a fascinating amount of love from the Bitcoin community and I would assume Steak n’ Shake will be receiving the same amount of attention.

From a business perspective, accepting bitcoin has become more than just a payment method—it’s a marketing tool. It sets your business apart and gets people talking. And in a crowded market, that kind of edge matters.

Steak ‘n Shake’s embrace of Bitcoin is likely to accelerate the adoption of digital assets in both physical retail and e-commerce.

As more businesses witness the operational and marketing benefits, industry experts anticipate a ripple effect that will increase interaction between consumers and digital currencies, further regulatory clarity, and bring continued innovation in payment technology.

Steak ‘n Shake’s nationwide Bitcoin payments rollout is more than a novelty. It’s a pivotal development for digital payments, setting a precedent for other retailers and signaling the growing integration of digital assets into everyday commerce.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Singapore, May 14, 2025 — NEUTRON, the leading Lightning Network infrastructure provider in Asia, is announcing a new partnership with Cobo, a globally trusted digital asset custody platform.

Through this collaboration, Cobo will integrate Neutron’s Lightning Network API, enabling real-time, cost-effective Bitcoin transactions across its services.

Neutron’s mission is to make the Lightning Network the financial backbone for modern Bitcoin use, bridging traditional finance with Bitcoin’s borderless, decentralized economy.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Cobo, a trusted leader in custodial services, to further accelerate Bitcoin infrastructure across Asia,” said Albert Buu, CEO of Neutron. 

“At Neutron, we are committed to providing enterprise businesses with easy and efficient integration into the Lightning Network, enabling next-generation global real-time settlement solutions.

“This partnership will not only drive innovation but also empower businesses across Asia with the fast, secure, and cost-effective benefits of Bitcoin payments.”

Neutron: The Lightning Engine for Bitcoin Adoption

Neutron provides a comprehensive API suite that allows businesses to instantly access the power of the Lightning Network, Bitcoin’s second-layer protocol designed for high-speed, scalable, and low-fee payments.

The integration is part of Neutron’s broader vision to equip forward-thinking institutions with the tools needed to participate in the next generation of Bitcoin utility.

Lightning-Powered Custody for the Next Era of Finance

Cobo’s integration of Neutron’s API gives institutional clients an additional option for BTC settlement, making Lightning Network access more programmable and easier to integrate within their existing systems.

“At Cobo, we’ve built our custody platform to combine uncompromising security with the scalability institutions need to grow,” said Dr. Changhao Jiang, CTO and Co-Founder of Cobo.

“Integrating Neutron’s Lightning Network API allows us to offer real-time, low-cost Bitcoin settlement at scale without compromising on trust or performance. Together, we’re laying the groundwork for faster, more efficient Bitcoin infrastructure across Asia.”

About Neutron

Neutron is Asia’s leading Bitcoin infrastructure company, helping businesses and individuals unlock the power of the Lightning Network, specializing in Lightning-as-a-Service.

nThrough its scalable API platform, mobile app, and lending product, Neutron empowers businesses and individuals to send, receive, save, and build with Bitcoin.
Want to bring Lightning into your product or platform? Reach out to our team at sales@neutron.me or visit us at www.neutron.me

About Cobo

Cobo is a trusted leader in digital asset custody and wallet infrastructure, providing an all-in-one platform for organizations and developers to easily build, automate, and scale their digital asset businesses securely.

Founded in 2017 by blockchain pioneers and headquartered in Singapore, Cobo is trusted by more than 500 leading digital asset businesses globally, safeguarding billions of dollars in assets.

Today, Cobo offers the industry’s only unified wallet platform that integrates all four digital asset wallet technologies – Custodial Wallets, MPC Wallets, Smart Contract Wallets, and Exchange Wallets.

Committed to the highest security standards and regulatory compliance, Cobo has a zero-incident track record and holds ISO 27001, SOC2 (Type 1 and Type 2) certifications, as well as licenses in multiple jurisdictions.

Recognized for its industry-leading innovations, Cobo has received accolades from prestigious entities such as Hedgeweek and Global Custodian. For more information, please visit www.cobo.com

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

A Crypto Wallet is a container for digital assets (Cryptocurrencies & NFT). It’s like a tool that helps us manage our assets in one place and allows us to do transactions. It is a gateway to blockchain. Cryptocurrencies never leave the native blockchain, they are just transferred from one wallet to another.

A Wallet has two components : 1. Public Key 2. Private Key

Public Key The address that you use to send or receive the assets is the public key. For different tokens on a same chain, there is one public key. Whereas for multi chain wallets there are multiple public keys for each chain. That’s why you have same wallet address for DAI and ETH in Metamask, whereas different addresses for Solana and Eth.

Private Key The private key is a 12, 18 or 24 long phrase that we are asked to save when we create a new wallet. This phrase is needed to verify the ownership of the assets in the wallet, if you loose your phrase you lose the assets in the wallet.

There are 2 types of wallets: 1.Hot wallet 2.Cold wallet Hot wallet The wallet that is connected to the internet is called a hot wallet. Like Metamask Phantom or Trust Wallet. It’s also called Software Wallet that can be either web based/extension, desktop wallet or mobile app wallet. Cold wallet It’s a hardware device that stores the assets along with private and the public keys but is never connected to the internet. It’s like a store of value, people who hold for long term prefer using a ledger as it’s safe from hackers

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Ukraine is reportedly about to make history by becoming the first country in Europe to have a national bitcoin reserve, a move aimed at strengthening its economy during the war with Russia.

The plan is still in its early stages and Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange, is involved.

According to Incrypted, a Ukrainian digital asset news outlet, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, First Deputy Chairman of the Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Committee, confirmed that the draft law is almost ready and will be submitted to the parliament soon.

“We will soon submit a draft law from the industry allowing the creation of crypto reserves,” Zheleznyak told Incrypted.

Earlier discussions mentioned a broader “crypto reserve” but the current plan is focused on bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. If approved, the law will allow the National Bank of Ukraine to hold bitcoin as part of the country’s official reserves.

Since the war with Russia started, Ukraine has become one of the most bitcoin-friendly countries in the world.

In 2022 and 2023 Ukraine raised over $100 million in digital asset donations for defense and humanitarian purposes. A report from Chainalysis ranked the country among the top 10 countries for bitcoin adoption globally.

A rather vague and unconfirmed report by BitcoinTreasuries.net states that “holdings of public officials” currently stand at 46,351 BTC.

Ukraine bitcoin holdings as reported by BitcoinTreasuries

Supporters of the bitcoin reserve say it will help Ukraine protect its economy from war-related instability, inflation and currency depreciation.

By going digital, the government is looking for modern tools to strengthen its financial system in uncertain times. This is not just about storing bitcoin, it’s about establishing clear laws for digital assets ownership, management and use.

Binance is playing an advisory role in the project. The company has worked with Ukraine on digital asset education and regulations in the past and is now helping to shape the legal framework for the bitcoin reserve.

Kirill Khomyakov, Binance’s regional head for Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa, confirmed the company’s support, but warned it won’t be fast or easy.

“The creation of such a reserve will require significant changes in legislation,” Khomyakov said. “Another positive aspect is that this initiative will likely lead to greater clarity in the regulation of crypto assets in Ukraine.”

Despite the support from some officials, there are legal hurdles. Ukrainian laws don’t allow bitcoin to be in the official reserves. So the government needs to pass new laws for it to happen.

Efforts to legalize bitcoin in general have been going on for years. In 2021, a draft law on virtual assets was approved by Finance Committee but was withdrawn after the President’s Office and financial regulators objected.

Up to now, over 80 amendments have been proposed, showing how complicated the process is.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation is leading a larger reform that could introduce rules for digital asset exchanges, tax laws and anti-money laundering standards in the country.

Ukraine isn’t alone in considering bitcoin as a national reserve asset. In March 2025, the U.S. announced its own Strategic Bitcoin Reserve using BTC seized in criminal cases.

@ 3fa9f42b:00d5e778

S689 đang ngày càng khẳng định vị thế của mình như một nền tảng kỹ thuật số uy tín và thân thiện với người dùng tại thị trường Việt Nam. Với giao diện hiện đại, tinh gọn và dễ sử dụng, S689 tạo cảm giác thoải mái ngay từ lần đầu truy cập. Tất cả các yếu tố từ thiết kế, bố cục, màu sắc đến cách bố trí các chức năng đều được tối ưu để phục vụ nhu cầu truy cập nhanh chóng và thuận tiện. Người dùng có thể sử dụng S689 trên nhiều thiết bị khác nhau như điện thoại thông minh, máy tính bảng hay laptop mà không gặp khó khăn về tương thích hay tốc độ tải trang. Hệ thống tìm kiếm nhanh, điều hướng mượt mà và khả năng cá nhân hóa nội dung theo sở thích giúp S689 trở thành một lựa chọn lý tưởng cho những ai tìm kiếm sự linh hoạt và hiệu quả trong trải nghiệm số hằng ngày. Không chỉ đơn thuần là một nền tảng trực tuyến, S689 còn là cầu nối mang đến sự tiện nghi, kết nối người dùng với các nội dung chất lượng và phù hợp với nhu cầu cá nhân.

Một trong những điểm mạnh nổi bật của S689 chính là khả năng vận hành ổn định và độ bảo mật cao. Nền tảng được xây dựng trên nền tảng công nghệ tiên tiến, luôn cập nhật các tiêu chuẩn kỹ thuật mới để đảm bảo hiệu suất hoạt động mượt mà và ổn định nhất. Người dùng không phải lo lắng về gián đoạn dịch vụ hay những lỗi kỹ thuật gây ảnh hưởng đến trải nghiệm. Sự an toàn thông tin cá nhân luôn được đặt lên hàng đầu, với các biện pháp bảo mật đa lớp, mã hóa dữ liệu và kiểm soát truy cập chặt chẽ. Chính sách bảo mật minh bạch và hệ thống giám sát tự động giúp người dùng yên tâm khi sử dụng S689 trong thời gian dài. Bên cạnh đó, đội ngũ chăm sóc khách hàng chuyên nghiệp của S689 hoạt động liên tục 24/7 để hỗ trợ người dùng giải quyết mọi vấn đề một cách nhanh chóng, từ các thắc mắc kỹ thuật cho đến hỗ trợ về thông tin tài khoản. Nhờ đó, S689 không chỉ đảm bảo chất lượng dịch vụ mà còn tạo được sự tin tưởng tuyệt đối từ cộng đồng người dùng.

Không dừng lại ở việc xây dựng một nền tảng kỹ thuật số chất lượng, S689 còn chú trọng phát triển một cộng đồng tương tác tích cực và sôi động. Các hoạt động sự kiện, ưu đãi định kỳ và chương trình tặng thưởng cho người dùng thân thiết giúp tạo ra sự gắn bó lâu dài giữa người dùng và nền tảng. Sự tương tác không chỉ đơn thuần mang tính cá nhân mà còn mở rộng ra thành các kết nối cộng đồng, nơi người dùng có thể chia sẻ kinh nghiệm, hỗ trợ nhau và cùng nhau trải nghiệm tiện ích trên nền tảng. Điều này giúp S689 không chỉ là một công cụ sử dụng đơn lẻ, mà còn là một phần của cuộc sống kỹ thuật số hiện đại, nơi mà mỗi người dùng đều cảm nhận được giá trị và sự quan tâm. Với định hướng phát triển bền vững, lấy người dùng làm trung tâm, S689 tiếp tục mở rộng quy mô, cải tiến chất lượng và ứng dụng công nghệ tiên tiến để phục vụ tốt hơn nhu cầu ngày càng đa dạng của người sử dụng. Đây chính là lý do S689 đang ngày càng được yêu thích và tin dùng rộng rãi trên thị trường hiện nay.

@ f6488c62:c929299d

ปี 2568 ตลาดคริปโตยังคงเต็มไปด้วยความร้อนแรงและโอกาส Bitcoin พุ่งแตะ 106,595.5 ดอลลาร์ (ณ วันที่ 21 พ.ค. 2568) ขณะที่เหรียญมีมอย่าง KPEPE ก็กลายเป็นที่จับตามองของเหล่านักลงทุนรายใหญ่ แต่ท่ามกลางกระแสความร้อนแรง คำถามสำคัญยังคงอยู่: ตลาดคริปโตอยู่ช่วงไหนของวัฏจักร? และโอกาสใหญ่กำลังมาหรือใกล้จบลงแล้ว?

หนึ่งในเสียงที่ดังที่สุดในชุมชนคริปโตตอนนี้คือชื่อที่หลายคนอาจยังไม่รู้จักแน่ชัด – James Wynn เขาโพสต์ข้อความเมื่อวันที่ 31 มีนาคม 2568 ว่า

“The best is yet to come.” หรือ “สิ่งที่ดีที่สุดยังมาไม่ถึง” – คำพูดที่จุดประกายความหวังในชุมชนนักเทรดทั่วโลก

แม้เขาจะถูกยกย่องว่าเป็น “วาฬคริปโต” จากการถือครองมูลค่ามหาศาล แต่ในความเป็นจริง เรายังไม่รู้ว่าเขาคือใคร – ชื่อ James Wynn อาจเป็นเพียงนามแฝง หรือ persona บนโลกออนไลน์ก็เป็นได้

ในบทความนี้ เราจะวิเคราะห์มุมมองของเขาอย่างมีวิจารณญาณ พร้อมแนะแนวทางที่นักเทรดควรเตรียมตัวเพื่อคว้าโอกาสในช่วงขาขึ้นนี้

ภาพรวมตลาดคริปโตในปี 2568 ปีนี้ถือเป็นช่วงขาขึ้นที่เกิดจากหลายปัจจัยสำคัญ:

การอนุมัติ Bitcoin Spot ETFs ในสหรัฐฯ

การเข้ารับตำแหน่งของ Donald Trump พร้อมนโยบายที่เป็นมิตรต่อคริปโต เช่น การผลักดันให้ Bitcoin เป็นสินทรัพย์สำรองของชาติ

ปัจจัยเหล่านี้ได้ดึงดูดทั้งนักลงทุนรายย่อยและสถาบันเข้าสู่ตลาด ส่งผลให้ราคาของ BTC และเหรียญมีมอย่าง KPEPE พุ่งสูงขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว สะท้อนถึงโมเมนตัมที่ยังคงแข็งแกร่ง

มุมมองจาก ‘James Wynn’: ปลายวัฏจักร? หรือแค่เริ่มต้น? แม้จะไม่มีใครรู้แน่ชัดว่า James Wynn คือใคร แต่เขากลายเป็นบุคคลที่มีอิทธิพลในชุมชนคริปโตจากการเปิดเผยมุมมองที่เฉียบคมและพอร์ตการลงทุนขนาดใหญ่

เขาโพสต์ไว้ว่า

“ถ้าใครคิดว่าเราอยู่ท้ายวัฏจักรแล้ว คุณคิดผิด”

โดยให้เหตุผลหลัก 3 ข้อ:

การพุ่งขึ้นของราคาส่วนใหญ่เกิดจาก ข่าวดีภายนอก เช่น ETF ยังไม่ใช่ "กระแสล้นตลาด"

นโยบายรัฐบาล Trump ส่งผลเชิงจิตวิทยาเชิงบวกต่อทั้งนักลงทุนและตลาด

ยังไม่เกิด Altcoin Season หรืออารมณ์ตลาดช่วง “Euphoria” ตามแผนภาพ Psychology of a Market Cycle

เขาประเมินว่าตลาดน่าจะอยู่ช่วง “Optimism → Thrill” ซึ่งเป็นช่วงกลางของวัฏจักรที่นักลงทุนเริ่มตื่นเต้น แต่ยังไม่ถึงจุดสูงสุด

เขาเป็นใคร? วาฬตัวจริงหรือบุคคลลึกลับ? แม้ James Wynn จะได้รับความสนใจอย่างมาก แต่ตัวตนของเขายังคลุมเครือ:

ไม่มีข้อมูลยืนยันตัวตนชัดเจน

ไม่รู้ว่าเขาเป็นบุคคล กลุ่ม หรือองค์กร

ใช้นามแฝงออนไลน์ และบัญชีเทรดที่ระบุไว้ไม่ผูกกับตัวตนจริง

ถึงอย่างนั้น พฤติกรรมการลงทุนของเขาก็ไม่ธรรมดา:

Long BTC-USD ด้วยเลเวอเรจ 40x กว่า 5,200 BTC (มูลค่ากว่า 546 ล้านดอลลาร์)

Long KPEPE-USD ด้วยเลเวอเรจ 10x มูลค่ากว่า 32.8 ล้านดอลลาร์

รวมกำไรจากการเทรดกว่า 20.2 ล้านดอลลาร์ (ราว 687 ล้านบาท)

ใช้แพลตฟอร์ม Hyperliquid และแสดงจุดยืนต่อต้าน CEX บางแห่งอย่าง Bybit ที่เขาเคยกล่าวหาว่ามีการ manipulate ตลาด

สิ่งที่น่าสนใจคือ Wynn มักจะลดตำแหน่งและล็อกกำไรอย่างเป็นระบบ เช่น วันที่ 20 พ.ค. 2568 เขาลดตำแหน่ง BTC ลง 1,142 BTC และถอน USDC กลับวอลเล็ตส่วนตัว – สะท้อนถึงการบริหารความเสี่ยงที่รอบคอบ

แนวทางสำหรับนักเทรด: ถ้า "สิ่งที่ดีที่สุด" ยังมาไม่ถึง... หากมุมมองของ Wynn ถูกต้อง และตลาดยังไม่ถึงจุดสูงสุด ต่อไปนี้คือตัวอย่างแนวทางที่นักเทรดควรพิจารณา:

🔹 วางแผนรับ pullback: หากอยู่ในช่วง "Thrill" ตลาดอาจมีการพักตัวชั่วคราว – เป็นโอกาสในการ “ซื้อซ้ำ” ก่อนเข้าสู่จุดพีค

🔹 จับตา altcoin season: การที่เหรียญมีมอย่าง KPEPE พุ่งขึ้น อาจเป็นสัญญาณล่วงหน้าของ Altcoin Season ที่กำลังจะเริ่ม – เตรียมลิสต์เหรียญที่มีศักยภาพ

🔹 เน้นการบริหารความเสี่ยง: ใช้ stop-loss และเลเวอเรจอย่างระมัดระวัง อย่าลืมว่าวัฏจักรคริปโตสามารถเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างรวดเร็ว

🔹 ติดตามความเคลื่อนไหวของวาฬ (แม้จะไม่รู้ว่าเขาคือใคร): เช่น ที่อยู่กระเป๋า 0x5078C2FbeA2B2aD61bcB40BC0233E5Ce56EDb6 ซึ่งเชื่อว่าเป็นของ Wynn – การเคลื่อนไหวของกระเป๋านี้อาจบ่งชี้แนวโน้มตลาดล่วงหน้า

สรุป แม้เราจะยังไม่รู้แน่ชัดว่า James Wynn คือใคร หรือแม้กระทั่งเขามีอยู่จริงหรือไม่ แต่คำพูดของเขาก็สอดคล้องกับทิศทางตลาดในปัจจุบันที่ยังคงอยู่ในขาขึ้น

“The best is yet to come.” – ถ้าเขาพูดถูก โอกาสที่ดีที่สุดในตลาดคริปโตปี 2568 ก็ยังไม่มาถึง

นักเทรดควร:

ติดตามสัญญาณตลาดอย่างรอบคอบ

จัดพอร์ตให้พร้อมสำหรับการเปลี่ยนแปลง

และที่สำคัญ — อย่าหลงกระแส โดยไม่มีแผนรองรับ

วาฬที่แท้จริงอาจไม่มีชื่อเสียง… และนั่นแหละคือสิ่งที่ทำให้พวกเขาน่าจับตายิ่งกว่าใคร

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Panama City may be the next Latin American city to adopt bitcoin, after El Salvador.

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has got the bitcoin world excited after hinting that the city might have a bitcoin reserve. The speculation started on May 16 when Mizrachi posted a simple but powerful message on X:

Two words. That’s it. What makes it special is that it came after a high-profile meeting with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, two key figures behind El Salvador’s bitcoin strategy.

Keiser is an advisor to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Herbert leads the country’s Bitcoin Office.

El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender back in 2021. Since then, it has been building a national bitcoin reserve, currently holding 6,179 BTC worth around $640 million. It’s also using geothermal energy to power bitcoin mining in an eco-friendly way.

El Salvador’s bitcoin treasury — Bitcoin.gob.sv

Mizrachi’s meeting with Keiser and Herbert was about how Panama could do the same. While the details of the conversation are private, Keiser shared on social media that the two countries will play a big role in the future of Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin is transforming Central America,” Keiser wrote. “El Salvador’s geothermal & Panama’s hydro-electric will power the Bitcoin revolution.”

Max Keiser on X

Panama with its hydroelectric power could be a hub for green bitcoin mining.

Mizrachi has not announced a bitcoin reserve plan nor submitted a proposal to the National Assembly. But his post and public appearances suggest it’s being considered.

He will be speaking at the upcoming Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas just days after his social media post. Many expect he will share more about Panama City’s bitcoin plans during his talk.

If Mizrachi pushes for a bitcoin reserve, he will need to work with national lawmakers to pass new legislation. So far, there is no evidence of that.

Even without a bitcoin reserve, Panama City is already going big on digital assets.

In April 2025, the city council approved a measure to allow residents to pay taxes, fees, fines and permits with digital currencies. Supported tokens are bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT).

To comply with financial laws, the city has partnered with a bank that instantly converts these digital assets into U.S. dollars. According to Mizrachi, this way it’s easier for residents to use digital assets and the city’s financial operations will be transparent and legal.

Another part of the meeting with El Salvador’s advisors was education.

Stacy Herbert confirmed that Panama City will be integrating El Salvador’s financial literacy book, “What is Money?” into their digital library system. The goal is to help students, teachers and the general public understand bitcoin and digital currencies in modern finance.

This is a trend in Latin America where countries are looking for alternatives to traditional banking systems. Inflation, economic instability and the rise of decentralized finance are forcing governments to look into new financial tools.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Donald Trump’s recent four-day visit took the President to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This visit has intertwined diplomatic relations with business interests, while simultaneously influencing the bitcoin market.

In Qatar, the President met with Emir Tanim bin Hamad Al Thani, resulting in over $243 billion in deals including major defense agreements, according to Bloomberg.

On May 15, the President made his visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi alongside Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan. This occurs as the Trump family expands its business presence in the Middle East.

The Trump Organization is developing luxury properties across the region, including Trump Tower Dubai, real estate projects in Riyadh, and development in Jeddah and Oman.

Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman in King Khalid International Airport — NBCNews

Eric Trump publicly announced construction plans for Trump Tower Dubai just last month, highlighting the family’s ongoing commercial footprint in the region.

These business connections extend into the digital asset ecosystem as UAE-backed investment firm MGX recently announced it would use USD1, World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin to support a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange, according to APNews.

This connection between Trump-aligned interests and major digital asset investments creates a potential avenue for market influence. 

Historically, stability in the Middle East, especially among oil-rich nations, reduces global market volatility. This encourages risk appetite among investors, often leading to increased allocations to digital assets like bitcoin.

Middle East diplomacy directly affects global oil prices. Stable oil prices can lower inflation expectations and lead to interest rate cuts by the Fed. Lower rates lead to an increase in liquidity, having positive effects on bitcoin, an asset that benefits from money printing.

Related: Fed Rate Cuts Could Lead to Major Price Swings for Bitcoin

On the investment front, Abu Dhabi’s Wealth Fund, Mubadala Investment Company, has been focused on increasing their shares in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).

According to a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Mubdala held 8.7 million IBIT shares, totaling $408.5 million as of March 31, 2025. 

The Abu Dhabi Wealth Fund increased its shares by 500,000 since its last filing in December of 2024.

Back in March, the United States created a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The executive order states that the U.S. will not sell the bitcoin they already hold, and will create budget-neutral ways to increase their holdings.

The time has come where governments and wealth funds alike are jumping on board the Bitcoin train.

Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East illustrates how financial, diplomatic, and personal interests are becoming increasingly intertwined with Bitcoin and digital assets, serving as a new axis of influence in the U.S.-Middle East relations.

The combination of diplomatic progress and business expansion has heightened short-term volatility and trading volumes in the bitcoin market.

Trump’s business and digital asset ties in the region may further boost institutional interest and create an opportunity for more players to enter the market.

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

หลายคนอาจแปลกใจว่า ทำไมน้ำมันจากผลไม้แบบอโวคาโดถึงกล้าขึ้นชั้น “ไขมันดี” ไปเทียบกับน้ำมันมะกอกได้ ทั้งที่ฟังดูไม่หรูเท่า แต่ความจริงแล้ว น้ำมันอโวคาโดคือหนึ่งในไม่กี่ชนิดของน้ำมันพืชที่สกัดจาก “เนื้อผล” ไม่ใช่เมล็ด ทำให้มีโครงสร้างไขมันที่ต่างจาก seed oils ทั่วไป ทั้งในแง่กรดไขมัน สารต้านอนุมูลอิสระ และวิธีที่มันตอบสนองต่อความร้อน

น้ำมันอโวคาโดมีกรดไขมันไม่อิ่มตัวตำแหน่งเดียว (MUFA) เป็นหลัก โดยเฉพาะ กรดโอเลอิก (Oleic acid) ซึ่งคิดเป็นประมาณ 65–70% ของไขมันทั้งหมด ใกล้เคียงน้ำมันมะกอกเลย แต่เหนือกว่าเล็กน้อยในแง่ของ ค่าควัน (smoke point) ที่สูงถึง 250°C (แบบ refined) และราว 190–200°C (แบบ cold-pressed) ทำให้เหมาะกับการผัดหรือทอดแบบเบา ๆ โดยไม่ทำให้เกิดสารพิษจากไขมันไหม้เร็วเท่าน้ำมันที่ค่าควันต่ำ

นอกจาก MUFA แล้ว น้ำมันอโวคาโดยังมี PUFA อยู่เล็กน้อย ประมาณ 10–14% ส่วนใหญ่คือ โอเมก้า-6 (linoleic acid) ซึ่งก็มีปริมาณไม่มากจนถึงขั้นต้องห่วงเรื่องการอักเสบ เหมือนที่เจอกับพวกน้ำมันรำข้าวหรือถั่วเหลืองที่ PUFA พุ่งสูงเกิน 50% ขึ้นไป และที่สำคัญ...โอเมก้า-3 ในอโวคาโดก็มีอยู่บ้างในรูปของ ALA แม้ไม่เยอะ แต่ก็บอกได้ว่าโครงสร้างโดยรวมของมันสมดุลพอควร ถ้ามองในรูปแบบพลังงานไขมัน ก็ถือว่าใช้ได้เลย

อโวคาโดออยล์แบบไม่ผ่านกระบวนการ (unrefined) ยังมีพวก วิตามินอี (tocopherols) ในระดับประมาณ 13–20 มก. ต่อ 100 กรัม และสารโพลีฟีนอลบางชนิดราวๆ 30–50 mg GAE/100 กรัม เช่น catechins และ procyanidins อยู่บ้าง ซึ่งช่วยลดการเกิดอนุมูลอิสระตอนเจอความร้อน และยังดีต่อผิวหนังในมิติของ skincare ด้วยนะ

ถ้าใช้แบบ cold-pressed, unrefined กลิ่นมันจะออกคล้ายอะโวคาโดสุก ๆ หน่อย มีความเขียวอ่อน ๆ และครีมมี่เล็ก ๆ ซึ่งเหมาะกับการคลุกหรือปรุงแบบ low heat มากกว่าการทอดแรง ส่วนถ้าจะใช้ทำอาหารจริงจัง น้ำมันอโวคาโดแบบ refined ก็จะกลิ่นอ่อนลง สีใสขึ้น และทนไฟได้ดีขึ้นมาก เหมาะจะเอาไปทำ steak หรือผัดไฟกลางได้แบบไม่กังวล อันนี้ก็แล้วแต่จะเลือกนะครับ

ถ้าจะพูดให้ตรง… น้ำมันอโวคาโดคือ “ไขมันผลไม้สายกลาง” ที่ทั้งทนไฟพอใช้ ทำครัวได้หลากหลาย และไม่บิดเบือนสัดส่วนไขมันในร่างกายเราจนเกินไป และถ้าเลือกแบบที่ผลิตดี ไม่โดนสารเคมี ไม่โดนไฮโดรเจนเสริม ก็ถือว่าเป็นน้ำมันดีอีกตัวที่วางใจได้ในครัวจริง ๆ

ใครอยากลองทำเองที่บ้านก็ได้นะ แบบง่ายๆแค่มีผ้าขาวบาง https://youtu.be/gwHGgoMuRnI?si=ehcQceabdbMGfkwG

นอกจากนี้บางคนอาจเคยเห็นโฆษณาสินค้าที่มีน้ำมันจากเมล็ดและเปลือกด้วยใช่ไหมครับ

เมล็ดอโวคาโดนั้นอุดมไปด้วย ไขมันน้อยกว่ามาก เมื่อเทียบกับเนื้อผล แต่มีสารพฤกษเคมีบางชนิดที่นักวิจัยสนใจ เช่น ฟีนอลิกส์ (phenolics), ฟลาโวนอยด์, สารต้านจุลชีพ และ ไฟเบอร์ละลายน้ำสูง การสกัดน้ำมันจากเมล็ดมักจะใช้ ตัวทำละลาย (solvent extraction) หรือ วิธี supercritical CO₂ ไม่ค่อยทำแบบ cold-pressed เพราะน้ำมันน้อยเกิน ปริมาณน้ำมันจากเมล็ดนั้นต่ำมาก คือไม่ถึง 5% ของน้ำหนักแห้ง ทำให้ไม่ค่อยนิยมในเชิงพาณิชย์ น้ำมันจากเมล็ดมักไม่ได้เอาไว้ปรุงอาหาร แต่เอาไปใช้ ด้านเวชสำอาง หรือ functional food มากกว่า เช่น ครีมทาผิว แชมพู หรือผลิตภัณฑ์ชะลอวัย

เปลือกอโวคาโดมี สารต้านจุลชีพและสารต้านออกซิเดชัน บางชนิดเช่นกัน แต่มีไขมันน้อยมากแทบจะไม่มีเลย บางงานวิจัยพยายามสกัดพวก polyphenols หรือสารสีธรรมชาติจากเปลือก เพื่อใช้ในอาหารเสริม หรือผลิตภัณฑ์สุขภาพ ไม่ได้สกัดน้ำมันโดยตรง แบบเนื้อผล แต่ใช้เปลือกเป็นวัตถุดิบเสริมมากกว่า เช่น ผสมในน้ำมันหลักเพื่อเพิ่มคุณสมบัติด้านสุขภาพ

ส่วนตัวคิดว่าไม่ต้องทำเองหรอกครับ ซื้อกินเหอะ 555 เจ้านี้ดีนะ อยู่คู่วงการสุขภาพมาแต่แรกๆเลย https://s.shopee.co.th/8zsnEsLrvh

#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Bahrain-based Al Abraaj Restaurants Group has made history by becoming the first publicly-traded company in the Middle East to add bitcoin to its corporate treasury. This is a major step forward for regional bitcoin adoption.

On May 15, 2025, Al Abraaj Restaurants Group, a well-known restaurant chain listed on the Bahrain Bourse, announced it had bought 5 bitcoin (BTC) as part of a new treasury strategy. This makes the company the first in Bahrain, the GCC and the Middle East to officially hold bitcoin as a reserve asset.

Al Abraaj adds bitcoin to its treasury — Zawya

This is a growing trend globally where companies are treating bitcoin not just as an investment but as a long-term store of value. Major companies like Strategy, Tesla and Metaplanet have already done this — and now Al Abraaj is following suit.

Metaplanet recently added 1,241 BTC to its treasury, boosting the company’s holdings above El Salvador’s.

Related: Metaplanet Overtakes El Salvador in Bitcoin Holdings After $126M Purchase

“Our initiative towards becoming a Bitcoin Treasury Company reflects our forward-thinking approach and dedication to maximizing shareholder value,” said Abdulla Isa, Chairman of the Bitcoin Treasury Committee at Al Abraaj.

Al Abraaj’s move is largely inspired by Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin. Saylor’s strategy of allocating billions to bitcoin has set a model that other companies — now including Al Abraaj — are following.

A photo shared by the company even showed a meeting between an Al Abraaj representative and Saylor, with the company calling itself the “MicroStrategy of the Middle East”.

“We believe that Bitcoin will play a pivotal role in the future of finance, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Isa added.

To support its bitcoin initiative, Al Abraaj has partnered with 10X Capital, a New York-based investment firm that specializes in digital assets.

10X Capital has a strong track record in bitcoin treasury strategies, and recently advised Nakamoto Holdings on a $710 million deal — the largest of its kind.

With 10X’s help, Al Abraaj looks to raise more capital and increase its bitcoin holdings over time to maximize bitcoin-per-share for its investors. The company will also develop Sharia-compliant financial instruments so Islamic investors can get exposure to bitcoin in a halal way.

“Bahrain continues to be a leader in the Middle East in Bitcoin adoption,” said Hans Thomas, CEO of 10X Capital. He noted, with a combined GDP of $2.2 trillion and over $6 trillion in sovereign wealth, the GCC now has its first publicly listed bitcoin treasury company.

This is not just a first for Al Abraaj — it’s a first for the region. Bahrain has been positioning itself as a fintech hub and Al Abraaj’s move will encourage more non-fintech companies in the region to look into bitcoin.

The company said the decision was made after thorough due diligence and is in line with the regulations set by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). Al Abraaj will be fully compliant with all digital asset transaction rules, including transparency, security and governance.

A special Bitcoin Committee has been formed to oversee the treasury strategy. It includes experienced bitcoin investors, financial experts and portfolio managers who will manage risk, monitor market conditions and ensure best practices in custody and disclosure.

The initial purchase was 5 BTC, but Al Abraaj sees this as just the beginning. The company stated that there are plans in motion to allocate a significant portion of their treasury into bitcoin over time.

According to the company’s reports, Al Abraaj is financially sound with $12.5 million in EBITDA in 2024. This strong financial foundation gives the company the confidence to explore new strategies like bitcoin investment.

@ 15f9e159:ca9a5ac4

A plataforma 755Bet é uma das principais opções para quem busca uma experiência única no universo dos jogos online. Com uma interface intuitiva, jogos de alta qualidade e uma experiência de usuário focada na diversão e no prazer do jogador, o 755Bet se destaca como um dos destinos preferidos para quem deseja aproveitar ao máximo o entretenimento digital. Vamos explorar o que torna o 755Bet uma plataforma tão especial e por que ele deve ser a sua próxima escolha para diversão online.

Plataforma 755Bet: Um Espaço Inovador e Completo O 755Bet oferece aos jogadores uma plataforma moderna e fácil de navegar, permitindo que se conectem ao mundo do entretenimento online com apenas alguns cliques. A plataforma é projetada para ser acessível tanto para novatos quanto para jogadores experientes, com recursos que atendem a diferentes gostos e preferências.

Com um design que prioriza a simplicidade, o 755Bet garante que seus usuários possam encontrar rapidamente o que procuram. Seja para jogar ou simplesmente explorar as opções oferecidas, a experiência do usuário é fluida e sem complicações. Além disso, o site é otimizado para dispositivos móveis, permitindo que você aproveite a diversão a qualquer hora e em qualquer lugar.

A plataforma oferece diversos métodos de pagamento seguros, garantindo que os jogadores possam realizar transações de maneira rápida e sem preocupações. O 755bet também investe constantemente em melhorar a segurança dos dados de seus usuários, com protocolos avançados de criptografia para proteger as informações pessoais e financeiras.

Jogos no 755Bet: Variedade para Todos os Gostos Uma das principais atrações do 755Bet é a ampla seleção de jogos oferecidos. Se você é fã de jogos de mesa, como blackjack e roleta, ou prefere jogos de habilidade e estratégia, o 755Bet tem algo para todos. A variedade de opções garante que cada jogador possa encontrar o jogo que mais lhe agrada, com gráficos de alta qualidade e jogabilidade envolvente.

O site conta com uma vasta gama de opções, que incluem títulos populares de diferentes categorias. Além disso, novos jogos estão sempre sendo adicionados ao portfólio, garantindo que os jogadores nunca fiquem sem novidades. A plataforma oferece jogos com diferentes níveis de dificuldade, o que significa que tanto iniciantes quanto veteranos podem aproveitar as opções disponíveis, sempre encontrando o jogo que se adapta ao seu estilo.

Experiência do Jogador: Diversão e Comodidade No 755Bet, a experiência do jogador é uma prioridade. A plataforma não apenas oferece jogos de alta qualidade, mas também foca em criar um ambiente acolhedor e acessível. O atendimento ao cliente é uma parte fundamental da experiência do usuário, com uma equipe dedicada pronta para responder a qualquer dúvida ou ajudar com problemas de forma rápida e eficaz.

Além disso, o 755Bet oferece promoções e bônus que tornam a experiência ainda mais interessante para seus jogadores. Isso inclui recompensas para novos membros, bem como ofertas especiais para usuários regulares. Esses incentivos ajudam a manter a motivação dos jogadores e garantem que a experiência seja sempre divertida e recompensadora.

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Conclusão O 755Bet se destaca como uma plataforma completa para quem busca uma experiência online rica e envolvente. Com uma interface intuitiva, uma ampla variedade de jogos e um foco constante na satisfação do jogador, ele é um destino obrigatório para aqueles que querem explorar o universo dos jogos online de forma segura, divertida e acessível. Seja você um novato ou um jogador experiente, o 755Bet tem tudo o que você precisa para uma experiência inesquecível.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Steak ‘n Shake recently made headlines by officially accepting bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network across all its U.S. locations. The integration of Bitcoin payments at over 500 locations is a monumental moment for both the fast food industry and the broader retail sector.

This is not just something that Steak ‘n Shake is testing in a handful of locations, they are doing a full-scale rollout, fully embracing Bitcoin. 

With more than 100 million customers a year, Steak ‘n Shake’s integration of Lightning—Bitcoin’s fast, low-fee payment layer—makes it easier than ever to use Bitcoin in day-to-day life. Buying a burger and a shake with sats? That’s now a real option.

The process is straightforward. Customers simply scan a Lightning QR code at the register, completing their payment in seconds, while Steak ‘n Shake receives instant USD conversion, ensuring price stability and ease of use.

So what does this mean for Bitcoin and E-commerce?

For starters, Steak ‘n Shake becomes the first of eventually many to fully embrace a digital world. As Bitcoin continues to grow, consumers will continue to realize the benefits of saving in a currency that is truly scarce and decentralized.

This is a huge step forward for Bitcoin as it shows it is not just for holding, it’s for spending, too. And by using the Lightning Network, Steak n’ Shake is helping prove that Bitcoin can scale for everyday transactions. 

This now creates a seamless checkout experience, making bitcoin a viable alternative to credit cards and cash.

More importantly, it signals a significant shift in mainstream attitudes towards Bitcoin. As a well-known brand across America, this move serves as a powerful endorsement, likely to influence other chains and retailers to consider similar integrations.

Related: Spar Supermarket in Switzerland Now Accepts Bitcoin Via Lightning

What can this mean for your business? 

Accepting bitcoin as payment can open the door to a new demographic of tech-savvy, financially engaged consumers who prefer digital assets.

As we know, companies that adopt Bitcoin receive a fascinating amount of love from the Bitcoin community and I would assume Steak n’ Shake will be receiving the same amount of attention.

From a business perspective, accepting bitcoin has become more than just a payment method—it’s a marketing tool. It sets your business apart and gets people talking. And in a crowded market, that kind of edge matters.

Steak ‘n Shake’s embrace of Bitcoin is likely to accelerate the adoption of digital assets in both physical retail and e-commerce.

As more businesses witness the operational and marketing benefits, industry experts anticipate a ripple effect that will increase interaction between consumers and digital currencies, further regulatory clarity, and bring continued innovation in payment technology.

Steak ‘n Shake’s nationwide Bitcoin payments rollout is more than a novelty. It’s a pivotal development for digital payments, setting a precedent for other retailers and signaling the growing integration of digital assets into everyday commerce.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Ed Suman, a 67-year-old retired artist who helped create large sculptures like Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog, reportedly lost his entire life savings — over $2M in digital assets — in a sophisticated scam.

The incident is believed to be tied to the major data breach at Coinbase, one of the world’s largest digital asset exchanges.

Suman’s story is part of a bigger wave of attacks on digital asset holders using stolen personal info, and has triggered lawsuits, regulatory concerns and questions about digital security in the Bitcoin space.

In March 2025, Suman got a text message about suspicious activity on his Coinbase account. After Suman reported he was unaware of any unauthorized activity regarding his account, he got a call from a man who introduced himself as Brett Miller from Coinbase Security.

The guy sounded legit — he knew Suman’s setup, including that he used a Trezor Model One hardware wallet, a device meant to keep bitcoin and other digital assets offline and safe.

Suman told Bloomberg the guy knew everything, including the exact amount of digital assets he had.

The attacker persuaded Suman that his Trezor One hardware wallet and its funds were at risk and walked him through a “security procedure” that involved entering his seed phrase into a website that looked exactly like Coinbase, in order to “link his wallet to Coinbase”.

Nine days later, another guy called and repeated the process, saying the first one didn’t work.

And then, all of Suman’s digital assets — 17.5 bitcoin and 225 ether — were gone. At the time, bitcoin was around $103,000 and ether around $2,500, so the stolen stash was worth over $2 million.

Suman turned to digital assets after retiring from a decades-long art career. He stored his assets in cold storage to avoid the risks of online exchanges. He thought he did everything right.

Suman’s attackers didn’t pick his name out of a hat.

It looks like his personal info may have been leaked in the major breach at Coinbase. The company confirmed on May 15 that some of its customer service reps in India were bribed to access internal systems and steal customer data.

The stolen data included names, phone numbers, email addresses, balances and partial Social Security numbers.

According to Coinbase’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the breach may have started as early as January and affected nearly 1% of the company’s active monthly users — tens of thousands of people.

Hackers demanded $20M from Coinbase to keep the breach quiet but the company refused to pay. Coinbase says it fired the compromised agents and is setting aside $180M to $400M to reimburse affected users.

But so far, Suman hasn’t been told if he’ll be reimbursed.

Since the breach was disclosed, Coinbase has been hit with at least six lawsuits.

The lawsuits claim the company failed to protect user data and handled the aftermath poorly. One lawsuit filed in New York federal court on May 16 says Coinbase’s response was “inadequate, fragmented, and delayed.”

“Users were not promptly or fully informed of the compromise,” the complaint states, “and Coinbase did not immediately take meaningful steps to mitigate further harm.”

Some lawsuits are seeking damages, others are asking Coinbase to purge user data and improve its security. Coinbase has not commented on the lawsuits but pointed reporters to a blog post about its response.

Suman’s case is a cautionary tale across the Bitcoin world. He used a hardware wallet (considered the gold standard of Bitcoin security) and was still tricked through social engineering. Even the strongest security is useless if you don’t understand how Bitcoin works.

It’s never too early for Bitcoiners to start learning more about Bitcoin, especially on how to keep their stash safe. And the first lesson is “never ever share your seed phrase with anyone”.

Related: Bitcoin Hardware Wallet Hacks: What You Need to Know

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

JPMorgan Chase, the biggest bank in the U.S., is now allowing its clients to buy bitcoin — a big change of heart for an institution whose CEO, Jamie Dimon, has been a long-time critic of the scarce digital asset.

Dimon made the announcement on the bank’s investor day, which came as a shift in JPMorgan’s approach to digital assets. “We are going to allow you to buy it,” he said. “We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients.”

That means clients can buy BTC through JPMorgan but the bank won’t hold or store the digital asset. Instead it will provide access and include the BTC purchases in client statements.

According to multiple reports and posts, JPMorgan has been blocking transactions from digital asset exchanges, with several people complaining about their experience on social media.

Source

Source

There is even an official notice on the company’s UK website that explicitly says customers cannot use their funds to purchase digital assets.

JPMorgan Chase UK website — Source

It’s a big change because Dimon has been one of Bitcoin’s biggest critics. Over the years he’s called it “worthless”, a “fraud” and even compared it to a “pet rock”.

He’s repeatedly expressed concern over digital assets’ use in illegal activities such as money laundering, terrorism, sex trafficking and tax evasion. A role that his critics say the U.S. dollar is playing on a much larger scale.

Related: Jamie Dimon Would “Close Down” Bitcoin If He Had Government Role

“The only true use case for it is criminals, drug traffickers … money laundering, tax avoidance,” he told lawmakers during a Senate hearing in 2023. At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, he doubled down, “Bitcoin does nothing. I call it the pet rock.”

Despite his personal views, Dimon says the bank is responding to client demand. “I don’t think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke,” he said. “I defend your right to buy bitcoin.”

It’s worth noting JPMorgan isn’t fully embracing digital assets. The bank won’t be offering direct custody services or launching its own exchange.

Instead, it’s offering access to digital asset exchanges. There are even reports that the bank also plans to facilitate access to bitcoin ETFs and possibly other investment vehicles. Until recently, JPMorgan had limited its bitcoin exposure to futures-based products.

Other big financial firms have already taken similar steps.

Morgan Stanley, for example, has been offering some clients access to bitcoin ETFs since August 2024. Its CEO, Ted Pick, said earlier this year that the firm is working closely with regulators to explore ways to get into the digital assets space.

Dimon does like blockchain, though — the technology that underpins it. JPMorgan has its own blockchain projects including JPM Coin and recently ran a test transaction on a public blockchain of tokenized U.S. Treasuries.

Many criticize this view, saying that the most powerful aspect of Bitcoin is its decentralization. So, a centralized blockchain is just useless. This might be the reason Dimon has grown weary of all JPMorgan’s blockchain initiatives, because they offered nothing of value.

He said he might have given blockchain too much credit during his investor day comments: “We have been talking about blockchain for 12 to 15 years,” he said. “We spend too much on it. It doesn’t matter as much as you all think.”

@ 15f9e159:ca9a5ac4

O mundo dos jogos online está sempre em evolução, e novas plataformas surgem constantemente para oferecer experiências únicas aos jogadores. O 0e0e é uma dessas plataformas, que vem conquistando o público com uma proposta inovadora, repleta de jogos envolventes e uma interface amigável. Se você está em busca de uma nova forma de diversão e desafios, o 0e0e oferece tudo isso e muito mais.

Introdução à Plataforma 0e0e O 0e0e é uma plataforma online que tem como principal objetivo proporcionar uma experiência de entretenimento de qualidade. Com um design moderno e acessível, a plataforma é fácil de navegar, permitindo que os jogadores se sintam à vontade ao explorar suas diversas funcionalidades. O 0e0e está disponível para todos os tipos de dispositivos, garantindo que os usuários possam jogar a qualquer hora e em qualquer lugar, seja no desktop ou no celular.

Ao acessar a plataforma, os jogadores têm acesso a uma ampla variedade de jogos, além de recursos que tornam a experiência ainda mais agradável, como bônus atrativos, promoções e um atendimento ao cliente de excelência. O 0e0efoca em criar um ambiente dinâmico, que agrada tanto aos iniciantes quanto aos jogadores mais experientes.

Jogos no 0e0e: Diversão Sem Limites Uma das maiores vantagens do 0e0e é sua vasta seleção de jogos, que atende aos mais diversos gostos e preferências. Seja você fã de jogos de habilidade, estratégia ou entretenimento de alta ação, a plataforma tem opções para todos. Entre os jogos mais populares, encontramos desde clássicos da cultura de jogos até títulos exclusivos que você não encontra facilmente em outras plataformas.

Os jogos disponíveis são desenvolvidos por fornecedores renomados da indústria, garantindo gráficos impressionantes, jogabilidade fluida e uma experiência imersiva. Cada jogo foi cuidadosamente selecionado para proporcionar momentos de diversão, com desafios que mantêm os jogadores engajados e motivados a explorar cada vez mais as opções da plataforma.

Uma das atrações mais procuradas pelos usuários do 0e0e são os jogos de mesa, que oferecem uma experiência tradicional de jogo com um toque moderno. Os jogadores podem escolher entre várias modalidades, cada uma com regras fáceis de aprender, mas desafiadoras o suficiente para manter o interesse.

Além disso, a plataforma oferece jogos com temas variados, desde aventuras épicas a opções mais leves e descontraídas. Seja você um jogador casual ou alguém em busca de competição, há sempre algo para experimentar no 0e0e.

Experiência do Jogador: Conforto e Inovação O 0e0e entende que a experiência do jogador vai além da simples escolha de jogos. A plataforma investe em diversos aspectos para garantir que a navegação seja intuitiva e sem complicações. O processo de registro e acesso aos jogos é simples, permitindo que qualquer pessoa, independentemente da sua familiaridade com plataformas digitais, possa começar a jogar rapidamente.

Além disso, o 0e0e conta com um suporte ao cliente eficiente, pronto para ajudar em qualquer questão que possa surgir durante a jornada do jogador. A equipe de suporte está disponível 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, oferecendo um atendimento rápido e amigável.

Para tornar a experiência ainda mais imersiva, o 0e0e disponibiliza uma série de promoções e bônus especiais para seus usuários. Estes benefícios são pensados para aumentar a diversão e proporcionar mais oportunidades de ganhar, criando um ambiente onde os jogadores podem aproveitar ao máximo cada momento.

A plataforma também oferece métodos de pagamento rápidos e seguros, garantindo que os depósitos e retiradas sejam realizados de maneira tranquila, sem qualquer complicação. A segurança dos dados do usuário é uma prioridade para o 0e0e, que utiliza tecnologia de ponta para proteger todas as informações pessoais e financeiras.

Conclusão: O 0e0e Como a Escolha Certa para os Jogadores O 0e0e é muito mais do que uma plataforma de jogos; é um espaço onde diversão, emoção e segurança se encontram. Com uma interface amigável, uma vasta seleção de jogos e um suporte ao cliente dedicado, o 0e0e oferece tudo o que um jogador precisa para se divertir e viver novas experiências. Seja você um iniciante ou um veterano, o 0e0e tem tudo para tornar sua jornada ainda mais emocionante e recompensadora. Não perca a chance de explorar tudo o que essa plataforma incrível tem a oferecer!

@ 15f9e159:ca9a5ac4

A 55kd é uma plataforma inovadora no cenário de jogos online, criada para oferecer aos jogadores uma experiência única e envolvente. Se você está procurando por uma maneira divertida de passar o tempo, explorar novos jogos e viver grandes emoções, a 55kd pode ser o lugar ideal. Neste artigo, vamos explorar como a 55kd se destaca, desde sua introdução até a experiência dos jogadores e a vasta gama de jogos disponíveis.

Introdução à Plataforma 55kd A 55kd surgiu com a missão de revolucionar o mundo dos jogos online, oferecendo uma plataforma fácil de navegar, segura e repleta de opções de entretenimento. Com um design moderno e uma interface amigável, a plataforma foi desenvolvida para atender tanto jogadores iniciantes quanto veteranos, garantindo que todos se sintam confortáveis e imersos na experiência.

A 55kd prioriza a acessibilidade e a praticidade, permitindo que os jogadores acessem os jogos de forma rápida e sem complicações. Com um sistema eficiente de registro e uma plataforma intuitiva, novos usuários podem se cadastrar e começar a jogar rapidamente, sem a necessidade de processos complexos.

Variedade de Jogos na 55kd A plataforma 55kdse destaca pela grande variedade de jogos que oferece aos seus usuários. Desde opções de estratégia até os jogos mais emocionantes de sorte e habilidade, há algo para todos os gostos. A cada visita, os jogadores podem esperar novas e emocionantes opções para explorar.

Entre os jogos mais populares, destacam-se as opções de jogos de mesa, slots de vídeo e jogos de habilidade. Cada jogo foi cuidadosamente selecionado e desenvolvido para garantir uma experiência de alta qualidade, com gráficos impressionantes, jogabilidade fluida e recursos inovadores.

Os jogos de mesa, por exemplo, oferecem desafios para aqueles que preferem jogos de raciocínio e estratégia. Já os slots de vídeo são ideais para quem busca emoção e diversão instantânea, com uma ampla gama de temas e bônus que aumentam a adrenalina.

Além disso, a 55kd também oferece jogos de habilidade, permitindo que os jogadores mostrem sua destreza e competência. Esses jogos são perfeitos para aqueles que gostam de testar suas habilidades e estratégias, competindo com outros jogadores por grandes prêmios.

A Experiência do Jogador na 55kd Uma das maiores preocupações da 55kd é garantir que seus jogadores tenham uma experiência de jogo impecável. A plataforma investe constantemente em melhorias para proporcionar um ambiente seguro, rápido e transparente. A segurança é uma prioridade, e a plataforma utiliza tecnologias de ponta para proteger as informações dos usuários, além de garantir transações rápidas e seguras.

A 55kd também se destaca pelo seu suporte ao cliente. Se os jogadores tiverem dúvidas ou enfrentarem problemas durante o jogo, uma equipe de suporte altamente treinada está disponível para oferecer assistência imediata. O suporte é acessível por vários canais, como chat ao vivo e e-mail, garantindo que os jogadores se sintam sempre amparados.

Além disso, a plataforma oferece um sistema de bônus e promoções que torna a experiência ainda mais emocionante. Oferecendo prêmios, ofertas exclusivas e recompensas constantes, a 55kd mantém os jogadores motivados e engajados, proporcionando uma sensação contínua de novidade e prazer.

Conclusão A 55kd se destaca como uma plataforma completa e de alta qualidade, que oferece não apenas uma ampla gama de jogos, mas também uma experiência personalizada para cada jogador. Com uma interface intuitiva, jogos diversificados e um suporte excepcional, a 55kd é a escolha ideal para quem busca diversão e entretenimento de qualidade.

Se você ainda não experimentou a 55kd, está na hora de se juntar a essa comunidade vibrante e explorar tudo o que ela tem a oferecer. Prepare-se para uma jornada inesquecível de diversão, desafios e grandes vitórias.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Panama City may be the next Latin American city to adopt bitcoin, after El Salvador.

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has got the bitcoin world excited after hinting that the city might have a bitcoin reserve. The speculation started on May 16 when Mizrachi posted a simple but powerful message on X:

Two words. That’s it. What makes it special is that it came after a high-profile meeting with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, two key figures behind El Salvador’s bitcoin strategy.

Keiser is an advisor to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Herbert leads the country’s Bitcoin Office.

El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender back in 2021. Since then, it has been building a national bitcoin reserve, currently holding 6,179 BTC worth around $640 million. It’s also using geothermal energy to power bitcoin mining in an eco-friendly way.

El Salvador’s bitcoin treasury — Bitcoin.gob.sv

Mizrachi’s meeting with Keiser and Herbert was about how Panama could do the same. While the details of the conversation are private, Keiser shared on social media that the two countries will play a big role in the future of Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin is transforming Central America,” Keiser wrote. “El Salvador’s geothermal & Panama’s hydro-electric will power the Bitcoin revolution.”

Max Keiser on X

Panama with its hydroelectric power could be a hub for green bitcoin mining.

Mizrachi has not announced a bitcoin reserve plan nor submitted a proposal to the National Assembly. But his post and public appearances suggest it’s being considered.

He will be speaking at the upcoming Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas just days after his social media post. Many expect he will share more about Panama City’s bitcoin plans during his talk.

If Mizrachi pushes for a bitcoin reserve, he will need to work with national lawmakers to pass new legislation. So far, there is no evidence of that.

Even without a bitcoin reserve, Panama City is already going big on digital assets.

In April 2025, the city council approved a measure to allow residents to pay taxes, fees, fines and permits with digital currencies. Supported tokens are bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT).

To comply with financial laws, the city has partnered with a bank that instantly converts these digital assets into U.S. dollars. According to Mizrachi, this way it’s easier for residents to use digital assets and the city’s financial operations will be transparent and legal.

Another part of the meeting with El Salvador’s advisors was education.

Stacy Herbert confirmed that Panama City will be integrating El Salvador’s financial literacy book, “What is Money?” into their digital library system. The goal is to help students, teachers and the general public understand bitcoin and digital currencies in modern finance.

This is a trend in Latin America where countries are looking for alternatives to traditional banking systems. Inflation, economic instability and the rise of decentralized finance are forcing governments to look into new financial tools.

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Back at JP Towers, James had already anticipated the move. He had cameras and witness accounts from the anniversary event, stored securely in multiple locations. He knew the public had a short memory but a long hunger for drama. One misstep could tilt public sentiment.

But James was no longer playing to survive.

He was playing to reign.

Later that night, he stood before a mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. In his reflection, he saw more than his own face; he saw the faces of those who had mocked, betrayed, and underestimated him. And he saw the legacy he was building not just for himself, but for those who once believed justice was a myth.

He whispered to the reflection, “Let them come. Let them burn what’s left of their dignity. I’ll rise through the smoke again. Because I always do.”

Outside, the wind howled like a prophecy through the high-rises.

The days that followed carried a subtle tension that coiled around the city's heartbeat. JP Enterprises thrived outwardly, stock prices climbed, investor confidence surged, and the company continued to solidify its dominion over the corporate landscape. But beneath the facade of calm and progress, a tempest brewed in silence.

James, the man once ridiculed and ostracized, now sat at the summit of power, yet his enemies, battered but unbroken, plotted from the shadows.

In an undisclosed meeting room within the Executive Wing, James convened with his most trusted circle Charles, Rita, and Sandra. The room was dimly lit, the atmosphere sober, with every eye locked onto the digital presentation being displayed.

On the screen were surveillance stills, financial records, and intercepted messages.

Rita, ever composed, began, “We’ve confirmed that Helen and Mark are using a shell media outlet in a nearby province to rewrite the narrative surrounding the anniversary incident. They’re laundering stories through third-party publications to make it appear as if you orchestrated the bribery and the public drama.”

Sandra added, her voice laced with concern, “The young woman from the event she’s set to appear in a televised interview in two days. The preview clips suggest she’ll claim coercion, manipulation… that you paid her to falsely accuse Mark and Helen.”

Charles sat back in his chair, folding his arms. “It’s a desperate move,” he muttered, “but one that could sway public opinion if left unchecked.”

James didn’t flinch. His gaze was cold and calculated. “Let them speak,” he said. “Let her appear on screen, let the nation watch but when the time is right, we’ll release the real footage. Every confession, every whispered transaction, every threat they issued. And when we do, it won’t just be public opinion they lose, it'll be their freedom.”

The room fell silent. The weight of the plan was immense. James wasn’t simply fighting a smear campaign he was orchestrating the downfall of those who had haunted his past and jeopardized his future.

Across town, in a luxurious yet shadowy apartment, Helen paced furiously. Mark sat slouched on the couch, phone in hand, monitoring the latest headlines.

“She hasn’t confirmed the script yet,” Mark grumbled, referring to the woman they’d bribed. “She’s stalling. You think she’s flipping again?”

“She better not,” Helen spat. “We gave her a second chance, more money, more protection. If she dares cross us again...”

“Then we make her disappear,” Mark said coldly.

Helen paused. “Or we pin everything on her. Let her take the fall.”

Their desperation bled into their decisions. The empire they tried to build with lies and manipulation was already on unstable ground. They didn’t realize James wasn’t just steps ahead. Two days later, as the nation sat glued to their screens, the controversial interview aired. The woman, visibly tense, spoke her lines.

“Yes… he promised to protect me… he told me to say Mark and Helen bribed me… I was scared of what he might do if I didn’t cooperate…”

The hosts gasped, commentators argued, and the news cycle erupted.

For an hour, James’s name trended for all the wrong reasons.

And then the storm came.

JP Enterprises’ official communication channels released a statement followed by a seven-minute clip, unedited, raw, and crystal clear. It captured everything: the lady kneeling, pointing to Mark and Helen, the whispered confessions, the crowd’s reaction, Helen’s furious outburst. And, most damning of all, a covert recording of Helen threatening the woman in a private meeting.

The tide turned instantly.

Social media exploded not with outrage toward James, but with condemnation of the real culprits. Hashtags flipped. Influencers, journalists, and even rival corporations came to James’s defense. The woman fled the city within hours. Mark and Helen, now disgraced, faced not just the wrath of public judgment, but the immediate interest of law enforcement.

Back at the JP tower, James watched it all unfold. The screen reflected in his eyes as headlines changed: “President Vindicated,” “Corporate Sabotage Exposed,” “Justice Prevails in High-Stakes Feud.”

Charles walked in slowly, a faint smile on his lips. “It’s done.”

James nodded, his voice a calm murmur. “No. It’s only the beginning. I haven’t just protected my name, I've carved a legacy.”

He stood up, walking toward the window where the city stretched out beneath him, unaware of how close it had come to being ruled by lies.

Behind him, the quiet echo of Charles’s voice lingered: “Your enemies are falling, one by one.”

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

What is KYC/AML?

• The acronym stands for Know Your Customer / Anti Money Laundering.
• In practice it stands for the surveillance measures companies are often compelled to take against their customers by financial regulators.
• Methods differ but often include: Passport Scans, Driver License Uploads, Social Security Numbers, Home Address, Phone Number, Face Scans.
• Bitcoin companies will also store all withdrawal and deposit addresses which can then be used to track bitcoin transactions on the bitcoin block chain.
• This data is then stored and shared. Regulations often require companies to hold this information for a set number of years but in practice users should assume this data will be held indefinitely. Data is often stored insecurely, which results in frequent hacks and leaks.  
• KYC/AML data collection puts all honest users at risk of theft, extortion, and persecution while being ineffective at stopping crime. Criminals often use counterfeit, bought, or stolen credentials to get around the requirements. Criminals can buy "verified" accounts for as little as $200. Furthermore, billions of people are excluded from financial services as a result of KYC/AML requirements.

During the early days of bitcoin most services did not require this sensitive user data, but as adoption increased so did the surveillance measures. At this point, most large bitcoin companies are collecting and storing massive lists of bitcoiners, our sensitive personal information, and our transaction history.

Lists of Bitcoiners

KYC/AML policies are a direct attack on bitcoiners. Lists of bitcoiners and our transaction history will inevitably be used against us.

Once you are on a list with your bitcoin transaction history that record will always exist. Generally speaking, tracking bitcoin is based on probability analysis of ownership change. Surveillance firms use various heuristics to determine if you are sending bitcoin to yourself or if ownership is actually changing hands.  You can obtain better privacy going forward by using collaborative transactions such as coinjoin to break this probability analysis.

Fortunately, you can buy bitcoin without providing intimate personal information. Tools such as peach, hodlhodl, robosats, azteco and bisq help; mining is also a solid option: anyone can plug a miner into power and internet and earn bitcoin by mining privately.

You can also earn bitcoin by providing goods and/or services that can be purchased with bitcoin. Long term, circular economies will mitigate this threat: most people will not buy bitcoin - they will earn bitcoin - most people will not sell bitcoin - they will spend bitcoin.

There is no such thing as KYC or No KYC bitcoin, there are bitcoiners on lists and those that are not on lists.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

The former seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.

The latter's future remains to be seen. Dependence on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

— ODELL (@ODELL) October 27, 2022

The Basics

• Lightning is a protocol that enables cheap and fast native bitcoin transactions.
• At the core of the protocol is the ability for bitcoin users to create a payment channel with another user.
• These payment channels enable users to make many bitcoin transactions between each other with only two on-chain bitcoin transactions: the channel open transaction and the channel close transaction.
• Essentially lightning is a protocol for interoperable batched bitcoin transactions.
• It is expected that on chain bitcoin transaction fees will increase with adoption and the ability to easily batch transactions will save users significant money.
• As these lightning transactions are processed, liquidity flows from one side of a channel to the other side, on chain transactions are signed by both parties but not broadcasted to update this balance.
• Lightning is designed to be trust minimized, either party in a payment channel can close the channel at any time and their bitcoin will be settled on chain without trusting the other party.

There is no 'Lightning Network'

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise.
• There are many lightning channels between many different users and funds can flow across interconnected channels as long as there is a route through peers.
• If a lightning transaction requires multiple hops it will flow through multiple interconnected channels, adjusting the balance of all channels along the route, and paying lightning transaction fees that are set by each node on the route.

Example: You have a channel with Bob. Bob has a channel with Charlie. You can pay Charlie through your channel with Bob and Bob's channel with User C.

• As a result, it is not guaranteed that every lightning user can pay every other lightning user, they must have a route of interconnected channels between sender and receiver.

Lightning in Practice

• Lightning has already found product market fit and usage as an interconnected payment protocol between large professional custodians.
• They are able to easily manage channels and liquidity between each other without trust using this interoperable protocol.
• Lightning payments between large custodians are fast and easy. End users do not have to run their own node or manage their channels and liquidity. These payments rarely fail due to professional management of custodial nodes.
• The tradeoff is one inherent to custodians and other trusted third parties. Custodial wallets can steal funds and compromise user privacy.

Sovereign Lightning

• Trusted third parties are security holes.
• Users must run their own node and manage their own channels in order to use lightning without trusting a third party. This remains the single largest friction point for sovereign lightning usage: the mental burden of actively running a lightning node and associated liquidity management.
• Bitcoin development prioritizes node accessibility so cost to self host your own node is low but if a node is run at home or office, Tor or a VPN is recommended to mask your IP address: otherwise it is visible to the entire network and represents a privacy risk.
• This privacy risk is heightened due to the potential for certain governments to go after sovereign lightning users and compel them to shutdown their nodes. If their IP Address is exposed they are easier to target.
• Fortunately the tools to run and manage nodes continue to get easier but it is important to understand that this will always be a friction point when compared to custodial services.

The Potential Fracture of Lightning

• Any lightning user can choose which users are allowed to open channels with them.
• One potential is that professional custodians only peer with other professional custodians.
• We already see nodes like those run by CashApp only have channels open with other regulated counterparties. This could be due to performance goals, liability reduction, or regulatory pressure.

• Fortunately some of their peers are connected to non-regulated parties so payments to and from sovereign lightning users are still successfully processed by CashApp but this may not always be the case going forward.

Summary

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise. There is no singular 'Lightning Network' but rather many payment channels between distinct peers, some connected with each other and some not.
• Lightning as an interoperable payment protocol between professional custodians seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
• Lightning as a robust sovereign payment protocol has yet to be battle tested. Heavy reliance on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, the friction of active liquidity management, significant on chain fee burden for small amounts, interactivity constraints on mobile, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

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If you have never used lightning before, use this guide to get started on your phone.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Ed Suman, a 67-year-old retired artist who helped create large sculptures like Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog, reportedly lost his entire life savings — over $2M in digital assets — in a sophisticated scam.

The incident is believed to be tied to the major data breach at Coinbase, one of the world’s largest digital asset exchanges.

Suman’s story is part of a bigger wave of attacks on digital asset holders using stolen personal info, and has triggered lawsuits, regulatory concerns and questions about digital security in the Bitcoin space.

In March 2025, Suman got a text message about suspicious activity on his Coinbase account. After Suman reported he was unaware of any unauthorized activity regarding his account, he got a call from a man who introduced himself as Brett Miller from Coinbase Security.

The guy sounded legit — he knew Suman’s setup, including that he used a Trezor Model One hardware wallet, a device meant to keep bitcoin and other digital assets offline and safe.

Suman told Bloomberg the guy knew everything, including the exact amount of digital assets he had.

The attacker persuaded Suman that his Trezor One hardware wallet and its funds were at risk and walked him through a “security procedure” that involved entering his seed phrase into a website that looked exactly like Coinbase, in order to “link his wallet to Coinbase”.

Nine days later, another guy called and repeated the process, saying the first one didn’t work.

And then, all of Suman’s digital assets — 17.5 bitcoin and 225 ether — were gone. At the time, bitcoin was around $103,000 and ether around $2,500, so the stolen stash was worth over $2 million.

Suman turned to digital assets after retiring from a decades-long art career. He stored his assets in cold storage to avoid the risks of online exchanges. He thought he did everything right.

Suman’s attackers didn’t pick his name out of a hat.

It looks like his personal info may have been leaked in the major breach at Coinbase. The company confirmed on May 15 that some of its customer service reps in India were bribed to access internal systems and steal customer data.

The stolen data included names, phone numbers, email addresses, balances and partial Social Security numbers.

According to Coinbase’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the breach may have started as early as January and affected nearly 1% of the company’s active monthly users — tens of thousands of people.

Hackers demanded $20M from Coinbase to keep the breach quiet but the company refused to pay. Coinbase says it fired the compromised agents and is setting aside $180M to $400M to reimburse affected users.

But so far, Suman hasn’t been told if he’ll be reimbursed.

Since the breach was disclosed, Coinbase has been hit with at least six lawsuits.

The lawsuits claim the company failed to protect user data and handled the aftermath poorly. One lawsuit filed in New York federal court on May 16 says Coinbase’s response was “inadequate, fragmented, and delayed.”

“Users were not promptly or fully informed of the compromise,” the complaint states, “and Coinbase did not immediately take meaningful steps to mitigate further harm.”

Some lawsuits are seeking damages, others are asking Coinbase to purge user data and improve its security. Coinbase has not commented on the lawsuits but pointed reporters to a blog post about its response.

Suman’s case is a cautionary tale across the Bitcoin world. He used a hardware wallet (considered the gold standard of Bitcoin security) and was still tricked through social engineering. Even the strongest security is useless if you don’t understand how Bitcoin works.

It’s never too early for Bitcoiners to start learning more about Bitcoin, especially on how to keep their stash safe. And the first lesson is “never ever share your seed phrase with anyone”.

Related: Bitcoin Hardware Wallet Hacks: What You Need to Know

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ถ้าเอ่ยถึง CJ หลายคนอาจนึกถึงซอสเกาหลีรสจัดจ้าน หรือบะหมี่กึ่งสำเร็จรูปแบรนด์ดังที่ขายทั่วโลก แต่เบื้องหลังความสำเร็จของแบรนด์เหล่านั้น มีบริษัทแม่อย่าง CJ CheilJedang ที่ไม่ได้แค่ผลิตอาหารแปรรูป แต่เป็นหนึ่งในผู้เล่นใหญ่ของอุตสาหกรรมอาหารระดับโลก ด้วยฐานความรู้ลึกซึ้งในเทคโนโลยีชีวภาพ หนึ่งในแขนงที่โดดเด่นคือ CJ BIO ธุรกิจไบโอเทคโนโลยีที่เน้นการใช้ Microbial Fermentation หรือการหมักจุลินทรีย์เพื่อผลิตสารอาหารและวัตถุดิบอาหารคุณภาพสูงในระดับอุตสาหกรรม

ประวัติของ CJ BIO เริ่มจากจุดเล็ก ๆ แต่ทรงพลัง คือการผลิต โมโนโซเดียมกลูตาเมต (MSG) ซึ่งเป็นกรดอะมิโนชนิดหนึ่งที่มีบทบาทสำคัญในการเพิ่มรสชาติ “อูมามิ” ให้กับอาหารทั่วโลก จุดนี้เองที่ทำให้ CJ BIO ได้สะสมเทคโนโลยีหมักจุลินทรีย์ในระดับอุตสาหกรรมมายาวนานกว่า 60 ปี ด้วยโรงงานหมักขนาดใหญ่ที่ตั้งอยู่ในหลายประเทศ เช่น เกาหลีใต้ จีน บราซิล อินโดนีเซีย และสหรัฐอเมริกา ทำให้ CJ BIO กลายเป็นหนึ่งในผู้ผลิตกรดอะมิโนและวัตถุดิบอาหารหมักจุลินทรีย์รายใหญ่ของโลก

แต่ถ้าให้พูดแบบง่าย ๆ การหมักจุลินทรีย์ของ CJ BIO นั้น ไม่ใช่แค่ “การทำอาหาร” ธรรมดา ๆ แต่เป็นการ “สร้างอาหารในระดับโมเลกุล” ตั้งแต่พื้นฐาน ซึ่งถือเป็นเทคโนโลยีที่สำคัญสำหรับอนาคตของอาหาร เพราะมันช่วยให้เราสามารถผลิตโปรตีน กรดอะมิโน และสารอาหารต่าง ๆ ที่มีคุณภาพสูงและควบคุมได้ในโรงงานขนาดใหญ่ โดยไม่ต้องพึ่งพาการเกษตรแบบดั้งเดิมที่ต้องใช้พื้นที่มากและมีผลกระทบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อม

เมื่อเทรนด์โลกกำลังเปลี่ยนไปในทางที่ผู้บริโภคหันมาใส่ใจสุขภาพและสิ่งแวดล้อมมากขึ้น เรื่อง “อาหารจากห้องแล็บ” หรือ “อาหารเทคโนโลยีชีวภาพ” จึงกลายเป็นสิ่งที่ได้รับความสนใจอย่างมาก และนี่เองที่ทำให้ CJ BIO ไม่ได้หยุดอยู่แค่ Microbial Fermentation แบบดั้งเดิม แต่เริ่มขยับเข้าสู่โลกใหม่ของ Precision Fermentation การใช้จุลินทรีย์ที่ผ่านการดัดแปลงพันธุกรรมอย่างแม่นยำ เพื่อผลิตโปรตีนหรือสารอาหารเฉพาะอย่างที่ต้องการ

ความเคลื่อนไหวที่สำคัญเกิดขึ้นในปี 2022 เมื่อ CJ CheilJedang ประกาศลงทุนใน New Culture สตาร์ทอัพสัญชาติอเมริกันที่กำลังพัฒนา “ชีสไร้วัว” ด้วยเทคโนโลยี Precision Fermentation ซึ่ง New Culture ใช้จุลินทรีย์ที่ถูกออกแบบมาเพื่อผลิตโปรตีนเคซีน โปรตีนหลักในน้ำนมวัว โดยไม่ต้องมีวัวจริงเลย นั่นหมายความว่าชีสที่ผลิตออกมาจะไม่มีส่วนผสมจากสัตว์จริง ๆ แต่ยังคงรสชาติและเนื้อสัมผัสเหมือนชีสธรรมชาติทุกประการ

การลงทุนครั้งนี้ของ CJ CheilJedang บริษัทแม่ของ CJ BIO จึงถือเป็นการผนึกกำลังระหว่างเทคโนโลยีดั้งเดิมที่ผ่านการพิสูจน์แล้วในระดับอุตสาหกรรม กับนวัตกรรมที่พร้อมเปลี่ยนแปลงวงการอาหารครั้งใหญ่

ถ้าให้เปรียบเทียบง่าย ๆ CJ BIO เหมือนกับ “โรงงานปั้นโมเลกุลอาหาร” ที่มีความเชี่ยวชาญสูงในการจัดการกับจุลินทรีย์และการผลิตกรดอะมิโนหลากหลายชนิด โดยเฉพาะ MSG ซึ่งถือเป็น “พี่ใหญ่” ในกลุ่มกรดอะมิโนที่ช่วยเพิ่มรสชาติและถูกใช้ในอุตสาหกรรมอาหารทั่วโลก

ความเชี่ยวชาญในการผลิต MSG นี้เอง คือฐานกำลังสำคัญที่ทำให้ CJ BIO สามารถขยายขอบเขตไปสู่การผลิตโปรตีนด้วย Precision Fermentation ได้อย่างมั่นใจ เพราะกระบวนการหมักจุลินทรีย์เพื่อผลิตกรดอะมิโนและโปรตีนนั้นมีความคล้ายคลึงกันในเชิงเทคนิคและการควบคุมคุณภาพ

CJ BIO มีโรงงานหมักจุลินทรีย์ที่ทันสมัยและขนาดใหญ่กระจายอยู่ทั่วโลก สามารถผลิตวัตถุดิบในปริมาณมหาศาลเพื่อตอบสนองตลาดอาหารที่เติบโตอย่างรวดเร็ว และการมีเครือข่ายโรงงานแบบนี้ทำให้ CJ BIO มีความได้เปรียบในการลดต้นทุนและควบคุมคุณภาพอย่างเข้มงวด

อนาคตที่ CJ BIO กำลังเดินไปนั้น ไม่ใช่แค่การผลิตวัตถุดิบอาหารธรรมดา ๆ แต่คือการสร้างนวัตกรรมที่จะเปลี่ยนแปลงวิธีการผลิตและการบริโภคอาหารของโลก

เมื่อผลิตภัณฑ์จากเทคโนโลยี Precision Fermentation อย่างชีสไร้วัว ไข่ไร่ไก่ หรือโปรตีนทางเลือกต่าง ๆ เริ่มเข้ามาในตลาดมากขึ้น เราอาจจะได้เห็น CJ BIO ทำหน้าที่เหมือน “Intel Inside” ของวงการอาหารอนาคต ที่อยู่เบื้องหลังผลิตภัณฑ์สำคัญ ๆ ที่ผู้บริโภคชื่นชอบโดยไม่รู้ตัว

นี่คือเหตุผลที่ทำให้การมองแค่แบรนด์อาหารหรือการตลาดที่พูดถึง “ความยั่งยืน” หรือ “อาหารปลอดสัตว์” ยังไม่พอ เราต้องมองให้ลึกไปถึงระบบนิเวศของเทคโนโลยีและทุนที่อยู่เบื้องหลัง เพราะนั่นคือเกมกระดานใหญ่ที่กำลังขยับเปลี่ยนแปลงวงการอาหารโลกอย่างแท้จริง

#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

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"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.  A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world." - Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto, 1993

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Privacy is essential to freedom. Without privacy, individuals are unable to make choices free from surveillance and control. Lack of privacy leads to loss of autonomy. When individuals are constantly monitored it limits our ability to express ourselves and take risks. Any decisions we make can result in negative repercussions from those who surveil us. Without the freedom to make choices, individuals cannot truly be free.

Freedom is essential to acquiring and preserving wealth. When individuals are not free to make choices, restrictions and limitations prevent us from economic opportunities. If we are somehow able to acquire wealth in such an environment, lack of freedom can result in direct asset seizure by governments or other malicious entities. At scale, when freedom is compromised, it leads to widespread economic stagnation and poverty. Protecting freedom is essential to economic prosperity.

The connection between privacy, freedom, and wealth is critical. Without privacy, individuals lose the freedom to make choices free from surveillance and control. While lack of freedom prevents individuals from pursuing economic opportunities and makes wealth preservation nearly impossible. No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.

Rights are not granted. They are taken and defended. Rights are often misunderstood as permission to do something by those holding power. However, if someone can give you something, they can inherently take it from you at will. People throughout history have necessarily fought for basic rights, including privacy and freedom. These rights were not given by those in power, but rather demanded and won through struggle. Even after these rights are won, they must be continually defended to ensure that they are not taken away. Rights are not granted - they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

JPMorgan Chase, the biggest bank in the U.S., is now allowing its clients to buy bitcoin — a big change of heart for an institution whose CEO, Jamie Dimon, has been a long-time critic of the scarce digital asset.

Dimon made the announcement on the bank’s investor day, which came as a shift in JPMorgan’s approach to digital assets. “We are going to allow you to buy it,” he said. “We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients.”

That means clients can buy BTC through JPMorgan but the bank won’t hold or store the digital asset. Instead it will provide access and include the BTC purchases in client statements.

According to multiple reports and posts, JPMorgan has been blocking transactions from digital asset exchanges, with several people complaining about their experience on social media.

Source

Source

There is even an official notice on the company’s UK website that explicitly says customers cannot use their funds to purchase digital assets.

JPMorgan Chase UK website — Source

It’s a big change because Dimon has been one of Bitcoin’s biggest critics. Over the years he’s called it “worthless”, a “fraud” and even compared it to a “pet rock”.

He’s repeatedly expressed concern over digital assets’ use in illegal activities such as money laundering, terrorism, sex trafficking and tax evasion. A role that his critics say the U.S. dollar is playing on a much larger scale.

Related: Jamie Dimon Would “Close Down” Bitcoin If He Had Government Role

“The only true use case for it is criminals, drug traffickers … money laundering, tax avoidance,” he told lawmakers during a Senate hearing in 2023. At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, he doubled down, “Bitcoin does nothing. I call it the pet rock.”

Despite his personal views, Dimon says the bank is responding to client demand. “I don’t think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke,” he said. “I defend your right to buy bitcoin.”

It’s worth noting JPMorgan isn’t fully embracing digital assets. The bank won’t be offering direct custody services or launching its own exchange.

Instead, it’s offering access to digital asset exchanges. There are even reports that the bank also plans to facilitate access to bitcoin ETFs and possibly other investment vehicles. Until recently, JPMorgan had limited its bitcoin exposure to futures-based products.

Other big financial firms have already taken similar steps.

Morgan Stanley, for example, has been offering some clients access to bitcoin ETFs since August 2024. Its CEO, Ted Pick, said earlier this year that the firm is working closely with regulators to explore ways to get into the digital assets space.

Dimon does like blockchain, though — the technology that underpins it. JPMorgan has its own blockchain projects including JPM Coin and recently ran a test transaction on a public blockchain of tokenized U.S. Treasuries.

Many criticize this view, saying that the most powerful aspect of Bitcoin is its decentralization. So, a centralized blockchain is just useless. This might be the reason Dimon has grown weary of all JPMorgan’s blockchain initiatives, because they offered nothing of value.

He said he might have given blockchain too much credit during his investor day comments: “We have been talking about blockchain for 12 to 15 years,” he said. “We spend too much on it. It doesn’t matter as much as you all think.”

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

A Chinese printer company inadvertently distributed malware that steals Bitcoin through its official drivers, resulting in the theft of over $950,000.

According to local media outlet Landian News, a Chinese printer manufacturer was found to have unknowingly distributed malware designed to steal Bitcoin through its official device drivers.

Procolored, a Shenzhen-based printer company, distributed malware capable of stealing Bitcoin alongside the official drivers for its devices. The company reportedly used USB devices to spread infected drivers and uploaded the compromised software to globally accessible cloud storage services.

Crypto security and compliance firm SlowMist explained how the malware works in a post on X:

The official driver provided by this printer carries a backdoor program. It will hijack the wallet address in the user's clipboard and replace it with the attacker's address: 1BQZKqdp2CV3QV5nUEsqSg1ygegLmqRygj

According to @MistTrack_io, the attacker has stolen 9.3086… https://t.co/DHCkEpHhuH pic.twitter.com/W1AnUpswLU

— MistTrack (@MistTrack_io) May 19, 2025

The consequences of the breach have been significant, with a total of 9.3 BTC stolen — equivalent to over $950,000.

The issue was first flagged by YouTuber Cameron Coward, whose antivirus software detected malware in the drivers during a test of a Procolored UV printer. The software identified both a worm and a trojan virus named Foxif.

When contacted, Procolored denied the accusations, dismissing the antivirus warning as a false positive. Coward then turned to Reddit, where he shared the issue with cybersecurity professionals, drawing the attention of security firm G Data.

G Data’s investigation revealed that most of Procolored’s drivers were hosted on the MEGA file-sharing platform, with uploads dating back to October 2023. Their analysis confirmed the presence of two separate malware strains: the Win32.Backdoor.XRedRAT.A backdoor and a crypto-stealer designed to replace clipboard wallet addresses with those controlled by the attacker.

G Data reached out to Procolored, which stated that it had removed the infected drivers from its storage as of May 8 and had re-scanned all files. The company attributed the malware to a supply chain compromise, saying the malicious files were introduced via infected USB devices before being uploaded online.

Landian News recommended that users who downloaded Procolored drivers in the past six months “immediately run a full system scan using antivirus software.” However, given that antivirus tools are not always reliable, the Chinese media outlet suggested that a full system reset is the safest option when in doubt.

The post Bitcoin malware discovered: Chinese printer manufacturer involved appeared first on Atlas21.

@ bc6ccd13:f53098e4

The global population has been rising rapidly for the past two centuries when compared to historical trends. Fifty years ago, that trend seemed set to continue, and there was a lot of concern around the issue of overpopulation. But if you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ll know that while the population is still rising, that trend now seems set to reverse this century, and there’s every indication population could decline precipitously over the next two centuries.

Demographics is a field where predictions about the future are much more reliable than in most scientific fields. That’s because future population trends are “baked in” decades in advance. If you want to know how many fifty-year-olds there will be in forty years, all you have to do is count the ten-year-olds today and allow for mortality rates. That maximum was already determined by the number of births ten years ago, and absolutely nothing can change that now. The average person doesn’t think that through when they look at population trends. You hear a lot of “oh we just need to do more of x to help the declining birthrate” without an acknowledgement that future populations in a given cohort are already fixed by the number of births that already occurred.

As you can see, global birthrates have already declined close to the 2.3 replacement level, with some regions ahead of others, but all on the same trajectory with no region moving against the trend. I’m not going to speculate on the reasons for this, or even whether it’s a good or bad thing. Instead I’m going to make some observations about outcomes this trend could cause economically, and why. Like most macro issues, an individual can’t do anything to change the global landscape personally, but knowing what that landscape might look like is essential to avoiding fallout from trends outside your control.

The Resource Pie

Thomas Malthus popularized the concern about overpopulation with his 1798 book An Essay on the Principle of Population. The basic premise of the book was that population could grow and consume all the available resources, leading to mass poverty, starvation, disease, and population collapse. We can say in hindsight that this was incorrect, given that the global population has increased from less than a billion to over eight billion since then, and the apocalypse Malthus predicted hasn’t materialized. Exactly the opposite, in fact. The global standard of living has risen to levels Malthus couldn’t have imagined, much less predicted.

So where did Malthus go wrong? His hypothesis seems reasonable enough, and we do see a similar trend in certain animal populations. The base assumption Malthus got wrong was to assume resources are a finite, limiting factor to the human population. That at some point certain resources would be totally consumed, and that would be it. He treated it like a pie with a lot of slices, but still a finite number, and assumed that if the population kept rising, eventually every slice would be consumed and there would be no pie left for future generations. That turns out to be completely wrong.

Of course, the earth is finite at some abstract level. The number of atoms could theoretically be counted and quantified. But on a practical level, do humans exhaust the earth’s resources? I’d point to an article from Yale Scientific titled Has the Earth Run out of any Natural Resources? To quote,

> However, despite what doomsday predictions may suggest, the Earth has not run out of any resources nor is it likely that it will run out of any in the near future. > > In fact, resources are becoming more abundant. Though this may seem puzzling, it does not mean that the actual quantity of resources in the Earth’s crust is increasing but rather that the amount available for our use is constantly growing due to technological innovations. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the only resource we have exhausted is cryolite, a mineral used in pesticides and aluminum processing. However, that is not to say every bit of it has been mined away; rather, producing it synthetically is much more cost efficient than mining the existing reserves at its current value.

As it happens, we don’t run out of resources. Instead, we become better at finding, extracting, and efficiently utilizing resources, which means that in practical terms resources become more abundant, not less. In other words, the pie grows faster than we can eat it.

So is there any resource that actually limits human potential? I think there is, and history would suggest that resource is human ingenuity and effort. The more people are thinking about and working on a problem, the more solutions we find and build to solve it. That means not only does the pie grow faster than we can eat it, but the more people there are, the faster the pie grows. Of course that assumes everyone eating pie is also working to grow the pie, but that’s a separate issue for now.

Productivity and Division of Labor

Why does having more people lead to more productivity? A big part of it comes down to division of labor and specialization. The best way to get really good at something is to do more of it. In a small community, doing just one thing simply isn’t possible. Everyone has to be somewhat of a generalist in order to survive. But with a larger population, being a specialist becomes possible. In fact, that’s the purpose of money, as I explained here.

<https://primal.net/f0xr/_-MfVPUpEA4G_6ulVi_HB>

The more specialized an economy becomes, the more efficient it can be. There are big economies of scale in almost every task or process. So for example, if a single person tried to build a car from scratch, it would be extremely difficult and take a very long time. However, if you have a thousand people building a car, each doing a specific job, they can become very good at doing that specific job and do it much faster. And then you can move that process to a factory, and build machines to do specific jobs, and add even more efficiency.

But that only works if you’re building more than one car. It doesn’t make sense to build a huge factory full of specialized equipment that takes lots of time and effort to design and manufacture, and then only build one car. You need to sell thousands of cars, maybe even millions of cars, to pay off that initial investment. So division of labor and specialization relies on large populations in two different ways. First, you need a large population to have enough people to specialize in each task. But second and just as importantly, you need a large population of buyers for the finished product. You need a big market in order to make mass production economical.

Think of a computer or smartphone. It takes thousands of specialized processes, thousands of complex parts, and millions of people doing specialized jobs to extract the raw materials, process them, and assemble them into a piece of electronic hardware. And electronics are relatively expensive anyway. Imagine how impossible it would be to manufacture electronics economically, if the market demand wasn’t literally in the billions of units.

Stairs Up, Elevator Down

We’ve seen exponential increases in productivity over the past few centuries, resulting in higher living standards even as population exploded. Now, facing the prospect of a drastic trend reversal, what will happen to productivity and living standards? The typical sentiment seems to be “well, there are a lot of people already competing for resources, so if population does decline, that will just reduce the competition and leave a bigger slice of pie for each person, so we’ll all be getting wealthier as a result of population decline.”

This seems reasonable at first glance. Surely dividing the economic pie into fewer slices means a bigger slice for everyone, right? But remember, more specialization and division of labor is what made the pie as big as it is to begin with. And specialization depends on large populations for both the supply of specialized labor, and the demand for finished goods. Can complex supply chains and mass production withstand population reduction intact? I don’t think the answer is clear.

The idea that it will all be okay, and we’ll get wealthier as population falls, is based on some faulty assumptions. It assumes that wealth is basically some fixed inventory of “things” that exist, and it’s all a matter of distribution. That’s typical Marxist thinking, similar to the reasoning behind “tax the rich” and other utopian wealth transfer schemes.

The reality is, wealth is a dynamic concept with strong network effects. For example, a grocery store in a large city can be a valuable asset with a large potential income stream. The same store in a small village with a declining population can be an unprofitable and effectively worthless liability.

Even something as permanent as a house is very susceptible to network effects. If you currently live in an area where housing is scarce and expensive, you might think a declining population would be the perfect solution to high housing costs. However, if you look at a place that’s already facing the beginnings of a population decline, you’ll see it’s not actually that simple. Japan, for example, is already facing an aging and declining population. And sure enough, you can get a house in Japan for free, or basically free. Sounds amazing, right? Not really.

If you check out the reason houses are given away in Japan, you’ll find a depressing reality. Most of the free houses are in rural areas or villages where the population is declining, often to the point that the village becomes uninhabited and abandoned. It’s so bad that in 2018, 13.6% of houses in Japan were vacant. Why do villages become uninhabited? Well, it turns out that a certain population level is necessary to support the services and businesses people need. When the population falls too low, specialized businesses can no longer operated profitably. It’s the exact issue we discussed with division of labor and the need for a high population to provide a market for the specialist to survive. As the local stores, entertainment venues, and businesses close, and skilled tradesmen move away to larger population centers with more customers, living in the village becomes difficult and depressing, if not impossible. So at a certain critical level, a village that’s too isolated will reach a tipping point where everyone leaves as fast as possible. And it turns out that an abandoned house in a remote village or rural area without any nearby services and businesses is worth… nothing. Nobody wants to live there, nobody wants to spend the money to maintain the house, nobody wants to pay the taxes needed to maintain the utilities the town relied on. So they try to give the houses away to anyone who agrees to live there, often without much success.

So on a local level, population might rise gradually over time, but when that process reverses and population declines to a certain level, it can collapse rather quickly from there.

I expect the same incentives to play out on a larger scale as well. Complex supply chains and extreme specialization lead to massive productivity. But there’s also a downside, which is the fragility of the system. Specialization might mean one shop can make all the widgets needed for a specific application, for the whole globe. That’s great while it lasts, but what happens when the owner of that shop retires with his lifetime of knowledge and experience? Will there be someone equally capable ready to fill his shoes? Hopefully… But spread that problem out across the global economy, and cracks start to appear. A specialized part is unavailable. So a machine that relies on that part breaks down and can’t be repaired. So a new machine needs to be built, which is a big expense that drives up costs and prices. And with a falling population, demand goes down. Now businesses are spending more to make fewer items, so they have to raise prices to stay profitable. Now fewer people can afford the item, so demand falls even further. Eventually the business is forced to close, and other industries that relied on the items they produced are crippled. Things become more expensive, or unavailable at any price. Living standards fall. What was a stairway up becomes an elevator down.

Hope, From the Parasite Class?

All that being said, I’m not completely pessimistic about the future. I think the potential for an acceptable outcome exists.

I see two broad groups of people in the economy; producers, and parasites. One thing the increasing productivity has done is made it easier than ever to survive. Food is plentiful globally, the only issues are with distribution. Medical advances save countless lives. Everything is more abundant than ever before. All that has led to a very “soft” economic reality. There’s a lot of non-essential production, which means a lot of wealth can be redistributed to people who contribute nothing, and if it’s done carefully, most people won’t even notice. And that is exactly what has happened, in spades.

There are welfare programs of every type and description, and handouts to people for every reason imaginable. It’s never been easier to survive without lifting a finger. So millions of able-bodied men choose to do just that.

Besides the voluntarily idle, the economy is full of “bullshit jobs.” Shoutout to David Graeber’s book with that title. (It’s an excellent book and one I would highly recommend, even though the author was a Marxist and his conclusions are completely wrong.) A 2015 British poll asked people, “Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world?” Only 50% said yes, while 37% said no and 13% were uncertain.

This won’t be a surprise to anyone who’s operated a business, or even worked in the private sector in general. There are three types of jobs; jobs that accomplish something productive, jobs that accomplish nothing of value, and jobs that actually hinder people trying to accomplish something productive. The number of jobs in the last two categories has grown massively over the years. This would include a lot of unnecessary administrative jobs, burdensome regulatory jobs, useless DEI and HR jobs, a large percentage of public sector jobs, most of the military-industrial complex, and the list is endless. All these jobs accomplish nothing worthwhile at best, and actively discourage those who are trying to accomplish something at worst.

Even among jobs that do accomplish some useful purpose, the amount of time spent actually doing the job continues to decline. According to a 2016 poll, American office workers spent only 39% of their workday actually doing their primary task. The other 61% was largely wasted on unproductive administrative tasks and meetings, answering emails, and just simply wasting time.

I could go on, but the point is, there’s a lot of slack in the economy. We’ve become so productive that the number of people actually doing the work to keep everyone fed, clothed, and cared for is only a small percentage of the population. In one sense, that’s a cause for optimism. The population could decline a lot, and we’d still have enough bodies to man the economic engine, as it were.

Aging

The thing with population decline, though, is nobody gets to choose who goes first. Not unless you’re a psychopathic dictator. So populations get old, then they get small. This means that the number of dependents in the economy rises naturally. Once people retire, they still need someone to grow the food, keep the lights on, and provide the medical care. And it doesn’t matter how much money the retirees have saved, either. Money is just a claim on wealth. The goods and services actually have to be provided by someone, and if that someone was never born, all the money in the world won’t change anything.

And the aging occurs on top of all the people already taking from the economy without contributing anything of value. So that seems like a big problem.

Currently, wealth redistribution happens through a combination of direct taxes, indirect taxation through deficit spending, and the whole gamut of games that happen when banks create credit/debt money by making loans. In a lot of cases, it’s very indirect and difficult to pin down. For example, someone has a “job” in a government office, enforcing pointless regulations that actually hinder someone in the private sector from producing something useful. Their paycheck comes from the government, so a combination of taxes on productive people, and deficit spending, which is also a tax on productive people. But they “have a job,” so who’s going to question their contribution to society? On the other hand, it could be a banker or hedge fund manager. They might be pulling in a massive salary, but at the core all they’re really doing is finding creative financial ways to transfer wealth from productive people to themselves, without contributing anything of value.

You’ll notice a common theme if you think about this problem deeply. Most of the wealth transfer that supports the unproductive, whether that’s welfare recipients, retirees, bureaucrats, corporate middle managers, or weapons manufacturers, is only possible through expanding the money supply. There’s a limit to how much direct taxation the productive will bear while the option to collect welfare exists. At a certain point, people conclude that working hard every day isn’t worth it, when taxes take so much of their wages that they could make almost as much without working at all. So the balance of what it takes to support the dependent class has to come indirectly, through new money creation.

As long as the declining population happens under the existing monetary system, the future looks bleak. There’s no limit to how much money creation and inflation the parasite class will use in an attempt to avoid work. They’ll continue to suck the productive class dry until the workers give up in disgust, and the currency collapses into hyperinflation. And you can’t run a complex economy without functional money, so productivity inevitably collapses with the currency.

The optimistic view is that we don’t have to continue supporting the failed credit/debt monetary system. It’s hurting productivity, messing up incentives, and contributing to increasing wealth inequality and lower living standards for the middle class. If we walk away from that system and adopt a hard money standard, the possibility of inflationary wealth redistribution vanishes. The welfare and warfare programs have to be slashed. The parasite class is forced to get busy, or starve. In that scenario, the declining population of workers can be offset by a massive shift away from “bullshit jobs” and into actual productive work.

While that might not be a permanent solution to declining population, it would at least give us time to find a real solution, without having our complex economy collapse and send our living standards back to the 17th century.

It’s a complex issue with many possible outcomes, but I think a close look at the effects of the monetary system on productivity shows one obvious problem that will make the situation worse than necessary. Moving to a better monetary system and creating incentives for productivity would do a lot to reduce the economic impacts of a declining population.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

What is KYC/AML?

• The acronym stands for Know Your Customer / Anti Money Laundering.
• In practice it stands for the surveillance measures companies are often compelled to take against their customers by financial regulators.
• Methods differ but often include: Passport Scans, Driver License Uploads, Social Security Numbers, Home Address, Phone Number, Face Scans.
• Bitcoin companies will also store all withdrawal and deposit addresses which can then be used to track bitcoin transactions on the bitcoin block chain.
• This data is then stored and shared. Regulations often require companies to hold this information for a set number of years but in practice users should assume this data will be held indefinitely. Data is often stored insecurely, which results in frequent hacks and leaks.  
• KYC/AML data collection puts all honest users at risk of theft, extortion, and persecution while being ineffective at stopping crime. Criminals often use counterfeit, bought, or stolen credentials to get around the requirements. Criminals can buy "verified" accounts for as little as $200. Furthermore, billions of people are excluded from financial services as a result of KYC/AML requirements.

During the early days of bitcoin most services did not require this sensitive user data, but as adoption increased so did the surveillance measures. At this point, most large bitcoin companies are collecting and storing massive lists of bitcoiners, our sensitive personal information, and our transaction history.

Lists of Bitcoiners

KYC/AML policies are a direct attack on bitcoiners. Lists of bitcoiners and our transaction history will inevitably be used against us.

Once you are on a list with your bitcoin transaction history that record will always exist. Generally speaking, tracking bitcoin is based on probability analysis of ownership change. Surveillance firms use various heuristics to determine if you are sending bitcoin to yourself or if ownership is actually changing hands.  You can obtain better privacy going forward by using collaborative transactions such as coinjoin to break this probability analysis.

Fortunately, you can buy bitcoin without providing intimate personal information. Tools such as peach, hodlhodl, robosats, azteco and bisq help; mining is also a solid option: anyone can plug a miner into power and internet and earn bitcoin by mining privately.

You can also earn bitcoin by providing goods and/or services that can be purchased with bitcoin. Long term, circular economies will mitigate this threat: most people will not buy bitcoin - they will earn bitcoin - most people will not sell bitcoin - they will spend bitcoin.

There is no such thing as KYC or No KYC bitcoin, there are bitcoiners on lists and those that are not on lists.

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@ 05a0f81e:fc032124

The term "Ponzi scheme" is named after Charles Ponzi, who famously perpetrated a large-scale fraudulent investment scheme in the 1920s. While earlier instances of similar schemes existed, Ponzi's notoriety and scale cemented the name in popular usage.

There are some detailed of ponzi history: Pre-Ponzi; Adele Spitzeder (1869-1872): In Germany, Spitzeder used a Ponzi-like scheme to defraud investors.

Sarah Howe (1880s): In the United States, Howe used a scheme called "Ladies Deposit" to attract female investors with high interest rates, ultimately stealing their money.

Literary Precedents: Charles Dickens novels "Martin Chuzzlewit" (1844) and "Little Dorrit" (1857) included characters and storylines that featured similar fraudulent investment schemes.

The Charles Ponzi Scheme (1920s): Ponzi's scheme involved claiming to buy international postal reply coupons in Europe, redeem them for more expensive US postage stamps, and generate high profits.

The Reality: In reality, he diverted money from new investors to pay off earlier investors, rather than using it for legitimate business.

The Rise and Fall: Ponzi amassed significant wealth, drawing in around 30,000 investors and collecting over $8 million in just seven months. However, the scheme collapsed due to its unsustainable nature, and Ponzi was eventually convicted and served time in prison.

Impact and Legacy: Ponzi's scheme gained widespread publicity, both during its operation and after its collapse. This notoriety led to the scheme being named after him, and the term "Ponzi scheme" became synonymous with this type of fraudulent investment scam.

Ponzi scheme have cause more harm than good in world at large and it is a fraudulent investment scheme. Say no to ponzi scheme! Say no to ponzi scheme!!

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

The former seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.

The latter's future remains to be seen. Dependence on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

— ODELL (@ODELL) October 27, 2022

The Basics

• Lightning is a protocol that enables cheap and fast native bitcoin transactions.
• At the core of the protocol is the ability for bitcoin users to create a payment channel with another user.
• These payment channels enable users to make many bitcoin transactions between each other with only two on-chain bitcoin transactions: the channel open transaction and the channel close transaction.
• Essentially lightning is a protocol for interoperable batched bitcoin transactions.
• It is expected that on chain bitcoin transaction fees will increase with adoption and the ability to easily batch transactions will save users significant money.
• As these lightning transactions are processed, liquidity flows from one side of a channel to the other side, on chain transactions are signed by both parties but not broadcasted to update this balance.
• Lightning is designed to be trust minimized, either party in a payment channel can close the channel at any time and their bitcoin will be settled on chain without trusting the other party.

There is no 'Lightning Network'

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise.
• There are many lightning channels between many different users and funds can flow across interconnected channels as long as there is a route through peers.
• If a lightning transaction requires multiple hops it will flow through multiple interconnected channels, adjusting the balance of all channels along the route, and paying lightning transaction fees that are set by each node on the route.

Example: You have a channel with Bob. Bob has a channel with Charlie. You can pay Charlie through your channel with Bob and Bob's channel with User C.

• As a result, it is not guaranteed that every lightning user can pay every other lightning user, they must have a route of interconnected channels between sender and receiver.

Lightning in Practice

• Lightning has already found product market fit and usage as an interconnected payment protocol between large professional custodians.
• They are able to easily manage channels and liquidity between each other without trust using this interoperable protocol.
• Lightning payments between large custodians are fast and easy. End users do not have to run their own node or manage their channels and liquidity. These payments rarely fail due to professional management of custodial nodes.
• The tradeoff is one inherent to custodians and other trusted third parties. Custodial wallets can steal funds and compromise user privacy.

Sovereign Lightning

• Trusted third parties are security holes.
• Users must run their own node and manage their own channels in order to use lightning without trusting a third party. This remains the single largest friction point for sovereign lightning usage: the mental burden of actively running a lightning node and associated liquidity management.
• Bitcoin development prioritizes node accessibility so cost to self host your own node is low but if a node is run at home or office, Tor or a VPN is recommended to mask your IP address: otherwise it is visible to the entire network and represents a privacy risk.
• This privacy risk is heightened due to the potential for certain governments to go after sovereign lightning users and compel them to shutdown their nodes. If their IP Address is exposed they are easier to target.
• Fortunately the tools to run and manage nodes continue to get easier but it is important to understand that this will always be a friction point when compared to custodial services.

The Potential Fracture of Lightning

• Any lightning user can choose which users are allowed to open channels with them.
• One potential is that professional custodians only peer with other professional custodians.
• We already see nodes like those run by CashApp only have channels open with other regulated counterparties. This could be due to performance goals, liability reduction, or regulatory pressure.

• Fortunately some of their peers are connected to non-regulated parties so payments to and from sovereign lightning users are still successfully processed by CashApp but this may not always be the case going forward.

Summary

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise. There is no singular 'Lightning Network' but rather many payment channels between distinct peers, some connected with each other and some not.
• Lightning as an interoperable payment protocol between professional custodians seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
• Lightning as a robust sovereign payment protocol has yet to be battle tested. Heavy reliance on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, the friction of active liquidity management, significant on chain fee burden for small amounts, interactivity constraints on mobile, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

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If you have never used lightning before, use this guide to get started on your phone.

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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

According to the ECB Executive Board member, the launch of the digital euro depends on the timing of the EU regulation.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is making progress in preparing for the digital euro. According to Piero Cipollone, ECB Executive Board member and coordinator of the project, the technical phase “is proceeding quickly and on schedule,” but moving to operational implementation still requires political approval of the regulation at the European level.

Speaking at the ‘Voices on the Future’ event organized by Ansa and Asvis, Cipollone outlined a possible timeline:

“If the regulation is approved at the start of 2026 — in the best-case scenario for the European legislative process — we could see the first transactions with the digital euro by mid-2028.”

Cipollone also highlighted Europe’s current dependence on electronic payment systems managed by non-European companies:

“Today in Europe, whenever we don’t use cash, any transaction online or at the supermarket has to go through credit cards, with their fees. The payment system relies on companies that aren’t based in Europe. You can see why it would make sense to have a system fully under our control.”

For the ECB board member, the digital euro would act as a direct alternative to cash in the digital world, working like “a banknote you can spend anywhere in Europe for any purpose.”

The digital euro project is part of the ECB’s broader strategy to strengthen the independence of Europe’s financial system. According to Cipollone and the Central Bank, Europe’s digital currency would be a key step toward greater autonomy in electronic payments, reducing reliance on infrastructure and services outside the European Union.

The post ECB: digital euro by mid-2028, says Cipollone appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5

Key Takeaways

In this episode of TFTC, energy economist Anas Alhajji outlines a profound shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump—away from military intervention and toward transactional diplomacy focused on trade, reconstruction, and curbing Chinese and Russian influence in the Middle East. He highlights Trump’s quiet outreach to Syria as emblematic of the U.S.'s strategic flexibility in legitimizing former adversaries when economically beneficial. Alhajji dismisses BRICS as a fractured bloc incapable of rivaling the U.S.-led order and insists the dollar and petrodollar remain dominant. On energy, he warns that despite favorable fundamentals, prices are suppressed by political confusion, underinvestment, and an aging power grid ill-prepared for the AI and urbanization boom. He also contends that Iran is stalling negotiations to buy time for nuclear advancement and that any deal will be superficial. Finally, Alhajji debunks the myth of Trump being pro-oil, noting his long-standing hostility toward the industry and explaining why a repeat of his past energy boom is implausible given today’s financial and structural constraints.

Best Quotes

• “BRICS is a paper tiger. Everything about BRICS is what China does—and that’s it.”
• “The dollar is here to stay. The petrodollar is here to stay. End of story.”
• “Trump hates the oil industry. He always classified it as an enemy.”
• “Energy projects are 30- to 40-year investments, but politicians think in 4-year cycles. That’s where the disconnect lies.”
• “People think shale will boom again. It won’t. The model changed from ‘drill baby drill’ to ‘control baby control.’”
• “The real story of Trump’s trip wasn’t about politics—it was investment, investment, investment.”
• “Without massive investment in the grid and gas turbines, blackouts will become the norm—even in rich countries like Kuwait.”
• “Iran and China have perfected the game of oil exports. Sanctions are just theater at this point.”

Conclusion

Anas Alhajji’s conclusion challenges conventional narratives, arguing that global power is shifting from military dominance to economic leverage, infrastructure investment, and energy control. He presents a nuanced view of U.S. foreign policy under Trump, emphasizing the strategic importance of trade and reconstruction over regime change. As energy demand soars and geopolitical risks mount, Alhajji warns that the real dangers lie not in foreign adversaries, but in policy confusion, infrastructural lag, and complacency—making this episode a crucial listen for anyone seeking to understand the high-stakes intersection of energy, economics, and diplomacy.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro
0:48 - Syria and US diplomacy in Middle East
12:50 - Trump in the Middle East
18:12 - Fold & Bitkey
19:48 - Iran - Nuclear program and PR
33:53 - Unchained
34:22 - Crude markets, trade war and US debt
54:28 - Trump's energy stance
1:05:46 - Energy sector challanges
1:14:44 - Policy recommendations
1:21:18 - AI and bitcoin

Transcript

(00:00) oil prices market fundamentals support higher price than where we are today. But because of this confusion, everyone is scared of low economic growth and that is a serious problem. The US media ignored part of Trump's speech when he said we are not about nation building and they refer to Afghanistan and Iraq.
(00:15) Look at them. This is a criticism of George W. Bush. We have groups that are talking about the demise of the dollar, the rise of bricks. Bricks is a paper tiger. Everything about bricks is what China does and that's it. The dollar is here to stay and the petro dollar is here to stay.
(00:31) The perception is that the Trump administration is cold but the reality Trump hates the oil [Music] indust. How are you? Very good. Very good. Thank you. As you were telling me, you've been a bit sleepd deprived this week trying to keep up with what's going on. Oh, absolutely. I mean, Trump keeps us on our toes uh all the time.
(01:06) In fact, I plan certain things for the weekend and Trump will say something or he will do something and all of a sudden we get busy again. Uh so clients are not going to wait for you until you finish your work. Basically, they want to know what's going on. So what is going on? What what how profound were the events in the Middle East? These are very uh very profound changes basically because it is very clear that if you look at the last 15 years uh and you look at the growth uh in the Middle East, you look at the growth of Saudi Arabia and uh the
(01:41) role of Turkey for example in the region uh it just just amazing be beyond any uh any thoughts. Uh in fact both of them Turkey and Saudi Arabia are part of the G20. Uh so they have economic influence and they have political influence. And of course the icing on the cake for those who are familiar with the region is to recognize the Syrian government and meet with the Syrian uh president.
(02:11) Uh this is a major a major change in economics and politics uh of the Middle East. Let's touch on that Syria uh topic for a while because I think a lot of people here in the United States were a bit shocked at how sort of welcoming President Trump was towards the new Syrian president considering the fact that uh he was considered an enemy not too long ago here in the United States.
(02:42) What first of all it's a fact of life for those who would like to check the history of politics. There were many people around the world who were classified or they were on the terrorism list and then they became friends of the United States or they were became heroes. I mean Nelson Mandela is one of them. You look at Latin America, there are presidents in Latin America who were uh the enemy of the United States and then they became uh uh cooperative with the United States and the United States recognized their governments and the result of their uh elections. Uh so
(03:15) we've seen this historically uh several uh several times around the world and as they say freedom fighters for some basically are the enemies and the terrorists for for others etc. So uh what we've seen that's why the the visit is very important that the recognition of this government is very important. uh the fact on the ground that uh the president of Syria had the power on the ground uh he had the the the people on the ground and he had the control on the ground and whatever he's been he's been doing since he came into power until now
(03:52) he done all the right steps u and people loved him I mean everyone who went to Syria whether the Syrians who left Syria 40 years ago or uh the visitors who are coming to Syria, they will tell you, "We have never seen the Syrian people as happy as we've seen them today, despite the fact that they they live in misery.
(04:17) They don't have um 8 million people without housing. Uh there is barely any electricity in most of the country. There is no internet. There is barely any food. The uh inflation is rampant, etc. But people are happy because they lived in fear for a very long time. And uh the steps they have taken. For example, the uh ministers in the previous government uh are still there and they are still in the housing of the government.
(04:49) They still have the drivers. They still have the cars from the previous government. They still have it until today. So uh they they were classified as enemies before. But all of a sudden now you have a new government that is uh accepting them. Uh so we we see some changes on the ground that are positive and we'll see how these things will go given that the area around them basically has been unstable for a very long time.
(05:17) how because I don't the the news when I was actually it was surreal for me because my first trip to the Middle East was last December when it was literally f flying over Syria to Abu Dhabi when uh um Assad was getting thrown out and it was pretty surreal to be in that region of the world.
(05:43) How as it pertains to like religious minorities within Syria moving forward is there protractions protections there? Um well let me just uh I want to emphasize one point that is very important. What did the interest of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States in Syria if remember Syria was controlled by Iran and was controlled by the Russians.
(06:09) So in a sense it becomes uh kind of an imperative that taking it away from Iran and Russia and not bringing Iran or Russia back is extremely important. Now the Russians are still there and they have their own base but at least they are not bombing the Syrians and not killing them anymore. But the idea here is taking Syria out of Iran and Russia and probably later on if they kick the Russians out, Russians will not have access to the Mediterranean.
(06:37) Uh so there is an interest uh of all parties basically to take Russia out of Iran and um out of uh Syria regardless the country is uh devastated and it creates massive opportunities for US companies on all levels and uh we've seen a contract uh done recently with you mentioned Abu Dhabi uh uh a contract uh uh with the UA a basically to revamp all the Syrian ports and work on the Syrian ports.
(07:13) Uh so such contracts basically uh when you have a country that has nothing and it's completely devastated the whole infrastructure is devastated. Who is going to build it? If the uh what the Chinese, the Russians, so who who are going to build it? So, uh I think there is a a big room for US companies and others basically to come in and uh literally help on one side and make money on the other.
(07:38) Yeah, I think that that's what I'm trying to discern. What was this convoy from the United States to the Middle East this week signali

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.

— ODELL (@ODELL) December 14, 2022

The four main banks of bitcoin and “crypto” are Signature, Prime Trust, Silvergate, and Silicon Valley Bank. Prime Trust does not custody funds themselves but rather maintains deposit accounts at BMO Harris Bank, Cross River, Lexicon Bank, MVB Bank, and Signature Bank. Silvergate and Silicon Valley Bank have already stopped withdrawals. More banks will go down before the chaos stops. None of them have sufficient reserves to meet withdrawals.

Bitcoin gives us all the ability to opt out of a system that has massive layers of counterparty risk built in, years of cheap money and broken incentives have layered risk on top of risk throughout the entire global economy. If you thought the FTX bank run was painful to watch, I have bad news for you: every major bank in the world is fractional reserve. Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk, as global market chaos unwinds this will become much more obvious.

The rules of bitcoin are extremely hard to change by design. Anyone can access the network directly without a trusted third party by using their own node. Owning more bitcoin does not give you more control over the network with all participants on equal footing.

Bitcoin is:
- money that is not controlled by a company or government
- money that can be spent or saved without permission
- money that is provably scarce and should increase in purchasing power with adoption

Bitcoin is money without trust. Whether you are a nation state, corporation, or an individual, you can use bitcoin to spend or save without permission. Social media will accelerate the already deteriorating trust in our institutions and as this trust continues to crumble the value of trust minimized money will become obvious. As adoption increases so should the purchasing power of bitcoin.

A quick note on "stablecoins," such as USDC - it is important to remember that they rely on trusted custodians. They have the same risk as funds held directly in bank accounts with additional counterparty risk on top. The trusted custodians can be pressured by gov, exit scam, or caught up in fraud. Funds can and will be frozen at will. This is a distinctly different trust model than bitcoin, which is a native bearer token that does not rely on any centralized entity or custodian.

Most bitcoin exchanges have exposure to these failing banks. Expect more chaos and confusion as this all unwinds. Withdraw any bitcoin to your own wallet ASAP.

Simple Self Custody Guide: https://werunbtc.com/muun
More Secure Cold Storage Guide: https://werunbtc.com/coldcard

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@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

The newly proposed RESTRICT ACT - is being advertised as a TikTok Ban, but is much broader than that, carries a $1M Fine and up to 20 years in prison️! It is unconstitutional and would create massive legal restrictions on the open source movement and free speech throughout the internet.

The Bill was proposed by: Senator Warner, Senator Thune, Senator Baldwin, Senator Fischer, Senator Manchin, Senator Moran, Senator Bennet, Senator Sullivan, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Collins, Senator Heinrich, and Senator Romney. It has broad support across Senators of both parties.

Corrupt politicians will not protect us. They are part of the problem. We must build, support, and learn how to use censorship resistant tools in order to defend our natural rights.

The RESTRICT Act, introduced by Senators Warner and Thune, aims to block or disrupt transactions and financial holdings involving foreign adversaries that pose risks to national security. Although the primary targets of this legislation are companies like Tik-Tok, the language of the bill could potentially be used to block or disrupt cryptocurrency transactions and, in extreme cases, block Americans’ access to open source tools or protocols like Bitcoin.

The Act creates a redundant regime paralleling OFAC without clear justification, it significantly limits the ability for injured parties to challenge actions raising due process concerns, and unlike OFAC it lacks any carve-out for protected speech. COINCENTER ON THE RESTRICT ACT

Full Text of Bill

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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

Headlines

• OpenSats announces the eleventh wave of Nostr grants. The five projects in this wave are the mobile live-streaming app Swae, the Nostr-over-ham-radio project HAMSTR, Vertex—a Web-of-Trust (WOT) service for Nostr developers, Nostr Double Ratchet for end-to-end encrypted messaging, and the Nostr Game Engine for building games and applications integrated with the Nostr ecosystem.
• Project Eleven offers 1 BTC to break Bitcoin's cryptography with a quantum computer. The quantum computing research organization has introduced the Q-Day Prize, a global challenge that offers 1 BTC to the first team capable of breaking an elliptic curve cryptographic (ECC) key using Shor’s algorithm on a quantum computer. The prize will be awarded to the first team to successfully accomplish this breakthrough by April 5, 2026.
• Bull Bitcoin expands to Mexico, enabling anyone in the country to receive pesos from anywhere in the world straight from a Bitcoin wallet. Additionally, users can now buy Bitcoin with a Mexican bank account.

"Bull Bitcoin strongly believes in Bitcoin’s economic potential in Mexico, not only for international remittances and tourism, but also for Mexican individuals and companies to reclaim their financial sovereignty and protect their wealth from inflation and the fragility of traditional financial markets," said Francis Pouliot, Founder and CEO of Bull Bitcoin.

• Panama City votes to accept bitcoin for municipal services. The Panama City Council has voted to accept Bitcoin and other digital currencies for municipal services, becoming the first public institution in the country to do so. They will partner with an authorized bank responsible for converting the digital currency proceeds into dollars, reports Bitcoin Magazine.
• US Bitcoin miner manufacturer Auradine has raised $153 million in a Series C funding round as it expands into AI infrastructure. The round was led by StepStone Group and included participation from Maverick Silicon, Premji Invest, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Qualcomm Ventures, Mayfield, MARA Holdings, GSBackers, and other existing investors. The firm raised to over $300 million since its inception in 2022.
• Designathon 2025: The Bitcoin Design Community is organizing a Bitcoin design hackathon, scheduled to take place from May 4 to 18, 2025. Sign up and learn more about the event, prizes, and ideas.

Use the tools

• Core Lightning v25.02.1 and v24.11.2 address several issues, including returned outputs on mutual closes if peer didn't support option_shutdown_anysegwit, properly handling duplicate HTLCs on closing, calculating fees with the correct HTLC timeout, occasional crash on bitcoind_getrawblockbyheight callback, fixes tracepoint crashes in autoclean/chanbackup, and more.
• LND v0.19.0-beta.rc2 is available for testing. New features include support for archiving channel backup, RBF cooperative closes, the Quiescence protocol, the chainio subsystem, lnwire messages for the Gossip 1.75 protocol, testnet4, and much more.
• Hydrus v0.2.0, a Lightning liquidity management agent, is now available. This version adjusts routing policies, new CLI commands, built-in task scheduling, and a new open heuristic, channels.block_height.
• Alby Hub v1.16.0 introduces Alby Pro, a paid subscription plan for self-hosted Alby Hub runners that offers real-time backups, unlimited sub-wallets, customizable Lightning addresses, priority support, and more. The sidebar and settings page have received a UI update for a smoother experience, along with various other improvements and bug fixes.
• Alby Go v1.12.0 introduces a wallet switcher for swapping wallets during payments, withdrawals, and connections. It also improves number formatting for locales using decimal commas.
• Blitz Wallet v0.4.3-beta allows users to customize their maximum receive and balance amounts for ecash transactions. Besides, users can now pay for items in supported stores using ecash, and manual swap options have been expanded. The update also includes payment experience enhancements, performance optimizations, and bug fixes.
• Phoenix wallet v2.5.3 is a bug fix release that corrects UI problems on iOS and improves the handling of some Bolt12 failures.
• BitBanana v0.9.4 is a maintenance release that adds a link to new documentation, delivers bug fixes, and updated translations.
  • BitBanana v0.9.3 was a notable release that introduced Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) support, significantly enhanced the channel rebalancing interface, and added channel and UTXO sorting, among other features.
• Boltz Web App v1.7.3 has improved the UX for copying addresses and invoices, added fixes for hardware wallet integration, and backup files now include the rescue key, enabling backup imports to pick up pending swaps.
• Stratum v2 Reference Implementation (SRI) v1.3.0 comes with a new integration test framework and tests, enhanced APIs for role development, and core low-level crates now support no_std.
• ESP-Miner v2.6.6b1 is now available for testing.
• CTV Playground Android is a native Android implementation and demonstration of Bitcoin's proposed OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY (CTV) soft fork, including a CTV Vault implementation.
• Nstart, an onboarding wizard for new Nostr users, is now multilingual. Available languages include English, Español, Italiano, Français, Deutsch, and 日本語. You can contribute with a new language here.

Source: daniele

• GM Swap is a proof-of-concept implementation of the Atomic Signature Swaps NIP. It enables users to "swap GM notes, ensuring that both parties' signatures are exchanged simultaneously or not at all."
• Arti v1.4.2, a next-generation Tor client in Rust, is now available. Arti's RPC interface is now officially stable, and ready for testing.
• Tor Browser v14.5 has been released, introducing Connection Assist to Android, which helps mobile users facing strict censorship to easily unblock Tor with a single button press. Additionally, Belarusian, Bulgarian, and Portuguese languages are now available across all platforms, along with other improvements.

[](https://njump.me/nevent1qqsqp3seup9kqz8xawavqd2jff6v627s63l4xwut9hjcphdnr5r3h5gpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgqgdwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkcqfpwaehxw309akh2mr5d9cxcetcv4ezu6r4wdax7mn9vaujuam0wfkxgq3qpzzrdngrnlufqazx3lfj07k0vfuya6ehfy8q5yv2h8c5e8fxgmxqd

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• Coinswap is a decentralized protocol for private, trustless cryptocurrency swaps. It allows participants to securely swap digital assets without intermediaries, using advanced cryptographic techniques and atomic swaps to ensure privacy and security.
• This release introduces major improvements to the protocol's efficiency, security, and usability, including custom in-memory UTXO indexes, more advanced coin-selection algorithms, fidelity bond management and more.
• The update also improves user experience with full Mac support, faster Tor connections, enhanced UI/UX, a unified API, and improved protocol documentation.

"The Project is under active beta development and open for contributions and beta testing. The Coinswap market place is live in testnet4. Bug fixes and feature requests are very much welcome."

• Manuals and demo docs are available here.

What's new

• Core protocol and performance improvements:
  • Custom in-memory UTXO indexes. Frequent Core RPC calls, which caused significant delays, have been eliminated by implementing custom in-memory UTXO indexes. These indexes are also saved to disk, leading to faster wallet synchronization.
  • Coin selection. Advanced coin-selection algorithms, like those in Bitcoin Core, have been incorporated, enhancing the efficiency of creating different types of transactions.
  • Fidelity management. Maker servers now automate tasks such as checking bond expiries, redemption, and recreation for Fidelity Bonds, reducing the user's management responsibilities.
  • Taker liveness. The WaitingFundingConfirmation message has been added to keep swap connections between Takers and Makers, assisting with variable block confirmation delays.

• User experience and compatibility:

  • Mac compatibility. The crate and apps now fully support Mac.
  • Tor operations are streamlined for faster, more resilient connections. Tor addresses are now consistently linked to the wallet seed, maintaining the same onion address through system reboots.
  • The UI/UX improvements enhance the display of balances, UTXOs, offer data, fidelity bonds, and system logs. These updates make the apps more enjoyable and provide clearer coin swap logs during the swap process.

• API design improvements. Transaction creation routines have been streamlined to use a single common API, which reduces technical debt and eliminates redundant code.

• Protocol spec documentation now details how Coinswap breaks the transaction graph and improves privacy through routed swaps and amount splitting, and includes diagrams for clarity.

Source: Coinswap Protocol specification.

Announcement
GitHub Repo
Protocol Spec

@ 554ab6fe:c6cbc27e

Introduction

It is becoming increasingly evident that sunlight is an essential nutrient for the body. To be more precise, the various wavelengths coming from the sun provide different benefits to the body, and each play a vital role in human health. Even more so, they work in concert with one another, as one wavelength may help reduce the potentially harmful effects of another. Benefits are maximized and harm reduced when we are exposed to the full breadth of this rainbow. This article will attempt to shed light on these various benefits and synergies.

To put this discussion into context, it is important to consider the overall health benefits of sunlight exposure. In a Swedish study that followed 29,000 women over 20 years, it was found that the mortality rate was doubled in those who avoided sun exposure when compared to those that didn’t (Lindqvist et al. 2016). Women who avoided the sun were twice as likely to die, primarily from cardiovascular disease, and there was no difference between death from malignant melanoma between the two groups (Lindqvist et al. 2016).

To understand why sunlight is so beneficial to health, it is important to make clear the diverse range of wavelengths that come from the sun. We typically think of the sun as a provider of both visible light and warmth. However, the spectrum of light visible to the human eye is a narrow band of the wavelengths actually emitted by the sun.

As wavelengths become shorter, visible light becomes more blue. Beyond the visible spectrum on the blue end, we arrive at ultraviolet (UV) light. On the other end of the spectrum are the longer red wavelengths. Outside of the visible window on the red side is infrared (IR) light, which provides heat. For helpful context, consider how shorter wavelengths have a harder time penetrating our atmosphere. So, the skies of dawn and dusk are predominately filled with red and near-infrared (NIR) light, while the middle of the day contains more blue and UV light. The bulk of wavelengths from the sun throughout the day are on the NIR end. The entire spectrum of visible and non-visible light between UV and IR plays critical roles in human health, especially towards mitochondrial health and metabolism. To summarize these benefits and provide a general overview for the following article, the benefits are as follows:

• UV – aids in the production of vitamin D and melanin, but also causes DNA damage
  • Vitamin D improves immune system function and can repair DNA damage
  • Melanin stores electrons for use within mitochondria
• Blue – involved in our circadian rhythm as the absence of blue light triggers the production of melatonin, an important antioxidant.
• Near-infrared (NIR) – improves mitochondria function and energy production while also protecting us from the harms of blue and UV light.

Ultraviolet Light

Let’s begin with a discussion around the widely misunderstood light of UV. UV is often viewed as a dangerous form of light, given that it can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer. While true, this myopic point of view ignores the crucial benefits of UV light. UV light produces vitamin D, which counteracts the DNA damage caused by UV while providing many other benefits. Additionally, UV light triggers the production of melanin, which aids in mitochondrial function. Like all physiological processes in the body that are vital to survival, there is a release of POMC-derived endorphins when skin comes into contact with UV light (Fell et al. 2014). Any person likely reading this article can agree that sitting under the sun simply feels amazing. We are drawn to it in a deeply meaningful sense.

Vitamin D is one of the most important chemicals regarding health, and it is poorly named. The term ‘vitamin’ refers to a compound that is important for health but cannot be adequately made within the body and must be retrieved externally. Peoples of the Northern and Southern hemisphere who are exposed to less UV light during winter would, for example, historically retrieve their vitamin D from foods such as oily fish, seal blubber, whale blubber, and polar bear liver (Wacker and Holick 2013). In a similar way, vitamin D was given its name 100 years ago when it was found that cod-liver oil was capable of curing rickets, when it was found that the so-called vitamin could promote calcium deposition in bones (McCollum et al. 1922). It was only until much later, in 1981, when scientists discovered that human skin could also synthesize vitamin D (M. F. Holick 1981). A majority of human vitamin D is produced by the skin when exposed to UVB (280 – 315 nm), while a minor amount is gained through food (Prietl et al. 2013; Wacker and Holick 2013). Most cells and organs in the human body have vitamin D receptors and many organs also have the ability to produce it, this speaks to the incredibly important nature of this compound towards our health (Prietl et al. 2013; Wacker and Holick 2013). Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with various types of cancer, autoimmune disorders, type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis (MS), cardiovascular disease, and even schizophrenia (Michael F. Holick 2007; Wacker and Holick 2013). Multiple studies have also found that vitamin D deficiency increases all-cause mortality (Garland et al. 2014; Yang et al. 2011; Chowdhury et al. 2014).

Though the historical benefits to vitamin D were attributed mainly to bone health, it is far more important. Vitamin D plays a critical role in protecting against invasive pathogens, reducing autoimmunity, and maintaining overall health (Wimalawansa 2023). Regarding immunity, one way it does this is by causing a shift away from proinflammatory responses to one more centered around T cell activation (Prietl et al. 2013). Vitamin D has therefore been shown to benefit other disorders that are related to immunity, such as a study that found vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy reduced asthmatic symptoms in children (Litonjua et al. 2016). That being said, it is important to highlight how there is no substitution for natural sunlight as a means of getting vitamin D. Naturally produced vitamin D from the skin lasts 2-3 times longer in the body (Wacker and Holick 2013). This is one of many likely reasons why the natural avenue should always be preferred over the supplemental. A similar line of reasoning follows in methods of getting UV light, as natural sun exposure leads to a decrease of all-cause mortality while the use of artificial tanning beds has been shown to increase all-cause and cancer mortality (Yang et al. 2011). More on why this likely occurs later.

Beyond vitamin D’s benefits to the immune system, it is important to focus on the compound’s role in mitochondrial health. In a previous article I wrote titled “Sunlight and Health”, I delve deeper into the importance of mitochondria and the science of how they work. In simplicity, imagine how all life on earth centers around energy. The sun provides energy to the earth, and the plethora of life on earth harness and facilitate the flow of that energy. Plants and animals share a symbiotic relationship within this system. Plants, through photosynthesis, take in sunlight, CO2, and water and create a glucose precursor and oxygen. This occurs within the chloroplast of plant cells. Within human cells, we have mitochondria. Our mitochondria, in turn, take in oxygen and glucose and produce CO2, water, and energy for our bodies in the form of ATP. What the plant breathes out, we breathe in, and vice versa. Mitochondria are central to all animal life on earth, and the ATP produced is central to all physiologic function. If your mitochondria are unhealthy, you are unhealthy and will experience disease.

Vitamin D plays a role in mitochondrial health at a DNA level. Our cells have DNA, which we inherited from our mother and father. On top of that, the mitochondria within our cells have their own set of DNA (mtDNA). Our mitochondria come from our mother’s egg, and therefore our mtDNA always is inherited from our mother. UV light can cause damage to both our DNA and mtDNA (Birch-Machin, Russell, and Latimer 2013). This is what gives UV light the ability to cause cancer. Additionally, damage to the mtDNA within our mitochondria can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. The more poorly our mitochondria function, the less energy we produce for our cells, and the less healthy our cells become. There is research being developed that suggests the role of vitamin D is to counterbalance this danger by regulating gene transcription and reducing mtDNA damage. A mouse study conducted in 2011, for example, found that different shapes of vitamin D reduce the development of tumors in mice following UV exposure (Dixon et al. 2011). It is not unlike nature to create a system of checks and balances, to ensure that the damaging effects of UV light are counterbalanced by a compound produced by the body when exposure to that same light.

While vitamin D may be important for mitochondrial health by protecting against mtDNA damage, melanin potentially plays a much larger role. Melanin is the pigment in our skin that make us darker. Not only is the diversity in skin tones across humans due to variations in melanin content, but a tan is also the creation of more melanin. To be more specific, the skin’s exposure to UVA (315-400nm) leads to the creation of melanin (Wicks et al. 2011). The most obvious benefit to the production of melanin, which most people could appreciate, is that the darker or tanner our skin is, the less damage we will receive from UV light. In this way, melanin shares a similar responsibility to vitamin D, where both are protecting the body against the very thing that forms them. Even more crucially however, melanin acts as a battery for the mitochondria.

During cellular respiration, where mitochondria turn oxygen and glucose into energy, electrons are stripped from the glucose for use. In other words, what our mitochondria really need are oxygen and electrons, and the glucose is simply a means to an end. If the mitochondria are the engine, then the electrons are the fuel (assuming you are still breathing). Due to its chemical structure, melanin is a natural reversible oxidation-reduction system (Figge 1939). In other words, it can both store and release electrons. Melanin is therefore a kind of battery, retrieving electrons from various sources, and storing them for future use in our mitochondria as a substitute for food. When stated this way, and considering how food is important because both fats and carbohydrates fuel the body by providing electrons to our mitochondria, one can imagine how vitally important melanin is. Melanin is central towards the availability of electrons for use in our body to produce the energy to live. Without adequate melanin, your mitochondria will starve for fuel and not provide your body with the energy it needs to thrive.

Blue Light

To contextualize the role blue light plays in human health, it is important to revisit an important byproduct of cellular respiration within mitochondria. When mitochondria turn electrons and oxygen into energy, there is a byproduct formed known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS play important roles in the body, but in excess they can cause DNA damage and disrupt various cellular processes. For example, UV light causes cancer due to the ROS generated, and studies have found that blue light does the same in both the skin and eyes (Nakashima, Ohta, and Wolf 2017; Abdouh et al. 2024). This research suggests that excess blue light or blue light in isolation can damage the eyes and cause harm like UV light.

Blue and UV light are predominant during the middle of the day. Though both may cause oxidative stress on the body, the body simultaneously counteracts this damage through melatonin. Think of melatonin as the junk remover for mitochondria. Throughout the day mitochondria produce energy, and ROS is formed. During our nighttime sleep, melatonin plays an important role as an antioxidant and removes the excess ROS (Leon et al. 2004).

The relationship between blue light and melatonin is important. During the day, when blue light is present, our body suppresses the production of melatonin (West et al. 2011). When the sun sets and there is no longer a heavy presence of blue light, our body begins to produce melatonin for sleep. This is a central function for how our body gets tired at night and gets ready for sleep. This is also why artificial light at night, from our modern technology, is harmful to human health because it tricks the body into the continual suppression of melatonin production. Without proper melatonin production, our cells buildup too much ROS and this can cause mitochondrial dysfunction and other sleep related issues.

Beyond the importance of getting good sleep and producing melatonin to remove excess ROS from our cells, the existence of artificial light and excess blue light is problematic during the day as well. As stated previously, blue light causes ROS buildup in both the skin and eyes (Nakashima, Ohta, and Wolf 2017; Abdouh et al. 2024). As with most harms from sunlight, our body has adapted with a backup plan. During the day, when blue and UV light is present, there is simultaneous exposure to NIR light (650-1200nm). Recent research suggests that NIR also counterbalances the harm of blue light by increasing melatonin synthesis in the mitochondria (Tan et al. 2023). This highlights the importance of receiving the full spectrum of light from the sun, as one wavelength counterbalances the damages of the other.

Near-Infrared Light

While indoor living has been commonplace for humans across generations, and modern technology has over saturated our bodies with blue light, some recent changes to our technology have made things worse. Incandescent light bulbs emit NIR light, this is why they got warm. However, LED lights do not emit NIR light. Therefore, where people of past generations were potentially exposed to a lot of artificial light at night, this was counterbalanced by the NIR emitted by those same lightbulbs. Now, modern humans use LEDs and spend 93% of our time indoors with zero exposure to NIR, which is 90% of the light emitted by the sun (Tan et al. 2023).

Not only does NIR light protect our bodies from the damaging consequences of blue light, but it similarly protects us against UV light. As stated previously, NIR may result in the production of melatonin within mitochondria during the day, helping protect against the ROS buildup and mtDNA damage. Additionally, research has also found that NIR light protects from UV light in other ways. For example, a study in 2008 found that pretreating skin with NIR light (660nm) prevented sunburns (Barolet and Boucher 2008). Another study found that red and NIR light (620-690nm) altered gene expression and upregulated DNA repair (Kim et al. 2019). Again, this highlights the theme that the body has produced the means to protect itself from the harms of the sun via other rays emitted. However, the protection from harmful rays is best achieved when exposed to the full spectrum of light wavelengths as they change throughout the day. The light of dawn and dusk is predominately red and NIR. Therefore, this research suggests that being exposed to morning light will protect the body from the potentially cancer-causing effects of the UV light later in the day. A human being who lived outside would naturally be exposed to this spectrum of light every day. However, modern humans may be inside in the morning, go to the beach during the middle of the day, and get sunburned because they do not properly receive the full spectrum of light as nature intended every day.

Lastly, it is important to explore the ways NIR improves mitochondrial function. If electrons are the fuel source for this engine, and melatonin is the junk removal, then NIR is the lubricant. NIR improves the energy output of mitochondria, and there are various hypotheses for how this occurs. One hypothesis is that NIR boosts the functionality of cytochrome c oxidase, one of the chromophores used in the electron transport chain (ETC) of cellular respiration within mitochondria (De Freitas and Hamblin 2016). Another involves NIR light’s ability to modify the viscosity of water which increases the efficiency of the final step in the ETC, the ATP synthase (Sommer, Haddad, and Fecht 2015). ATP synthase can be thought of as a kind of pump that produces ATP, in this way NIR can be thought of almost literally as a lubricant for this pump.

Summary

In summary, the research involving how sunlight affects mitochondrial health highlights the importance of the full spectrum of wavelengths, each of which plays a vital role in human health throughout the day. Having exposure to one, without the other, can lead to imbalances and mitochondrial disease. The red and NIR light in the morning helps our mitochondria produce more energy throughout the day, while also preparing our bodies for the beneficial yet dangerous wavelengths to come. In the middle of the day, we receive much more UV and blue light, which help us produce vitamin D and melanin, both central to health and wellness. Once the sun sets, and blue light is absent, we produce melatonin for sleep. During our sleep, the melatonin removes the dangerous byproducts of our energy-producing day, protecting us from disease and preparing us for the following day. Mitochondria are central to human health and life on earth, and the rays from the sun are central to mitochondrial health.

Respecting nature and its cycles is vital for us humans who are increasingly immersing ourselves in a world dominated by technology. Our ancestors did not have to reconcile with these ideas, because life forced these exposures upon them. If we wish to maintain health in our modern world, we must be able to find balance. Even though some might think they can escape into the virtual world, our bodies will always and forever be connected and reliant upon the natural one.

References

Abdouh, Mohamed, Yunxi Chen, Alicia Goyeneche, and Miguel N. Burnier. 2024. “Blue Light-Induced Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage Underlay Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Apoptosis.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25 (23): 12619.

Barolet, Daniel, and Annie Boucher. 2008. “LED Photoprevention: Reduced MED Response Following Multiple LED Exposures.” Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 40 (2): 106–12.

Birch-Machin, M. A., E. V. Russell, and J. A. Latimer. 2013. “Mitochondrial DNA Damage as a Biomarker for Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Oxidative Stress.” The British Journal of Dermatology 169 (s2): 9–14.

Chowdhury, Rajiv, Setor Kunutsor, Anna Vitezova, Clare Oliver-Williams, Susmita Chowdhury, Jessica C. Kiefte-de-Jong, Hassan Khan, et al. 2014. “Vitamin D and Risk of Cause Specific Death: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Cohort and Randomised Intervention Studies.” BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) 348 (apr01 2): g1903.

De Freitas, Lucas Freitas, and Michael R. Hamblin. 2016. “Proposed Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Light Therapy.” IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics: A Publication of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society 22 (3): 348–64.

Dixon, Katie M., Anthony W. Norman, Vanessa B. Sequeira, Ritu Mohan, Mark S. Rybchyn, Vivienne E. Reeve, Gary M. Halliday, and Rebecca S. Mason. 2011. “1α,25(OH)₂-Vitamin D and a Nongenomic Vitamin D Analogue Inhibit Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis.” Cancer Prevention Research (Philadelphia, Pa.) 4 (9): 1485–94.

Fell, Gillian L., Kathleen C. Robinson, Jianren Mao, Clifford J. Woolf, and David E. Fisher. 2014. “Skin β-Endorphin Mediates Addiction to UV Light.” Cell 157 (7): 1527–34.

Figge, Frank H. J. 1939. “Melanin: A Natural Reversible Oxidation-Reduction System and Indicator.” Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood, N.J.) 41 (1): 127.

Garland, Cedric F., June Jiwon Kim, Sharif Burgette Mohr, Edward Doerr Gorham, William B. Grant, Edward L. Giovannucci, Leo Baggerly, et al. 2014. “Meta-Analysis of All-Cause Mortality According to Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D.” American Journal of Public Health 104 (8): e43-50.

Holick, M. F. 1981. “The Cutaneous Photosynthesis of Previtamin D3: A Unique Photoendocrine System.” The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 77 (1): 51–58.

Holick, Michael F. 2007. “Vitamin D Deficiency.” The New England Journal of Medicine 357 (3): 266–81.

Kim, Hyun Soo, Yeo Jin Kim, Su Ji Kim, Doo Seok Kang, Tae Ryong Lee, Dong Wook Shin, Hyoung-June Kim, and Young Rok Seo. 2019. “Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Dermal Fibroblast Cells Reveals Potential Mechanisms Underlying the Protective Effects of Visible Red Light against Damage from Ultraviolet B Light.” Journal of Dermatological Science 94 (2): 276–83.

Leon, Josefa, Dario Acuña-Castroviejo, Rosa M. Sainz, Juan C. Mayo, Dun Xian Tan, and Russel J. Reiter. 2004. “Melatonin and Mitochondrial Function.” Life Sciences. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2004.03.003.

Lindqvist, P. G., E. Epstein, K. Nielsen, M. Landin-Olsson, C. Ingvar, and H. Olsson. 2016. “Avoidance of Sun Exposure as a Risk Factor for Major Causes of Death: A Competing Risk Analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden Cohort.” Journal of Internal Medicine 280 (4): 375–87.

Litonjua, Augusto A., Vincent J. Carey, Nancy Laranjo, Benjamin J. Harshfield, Thomas F. McElrath, George T. O’Connor, Megan Sandel, et al. 2016. “Effect of Prenatal Supplementation with Vitamin D on Asthma or Recurrent Wheezing in Offspring by Age 3 Years: The VDAART Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 315 (4): 362–70.

McCollum, E. V., Nina Simmonds, J. Ernestine Becker, and P. G. Shipley. 1922. “Studies on Experimental Rickets.” The Journal of Biological Chemistry 53 (2): 293–312.

Nakashima, Yuya, Shigeo Ohta, and Alexander M. Wolf. 2017. “Blue Light-Induced Oxidative Stress in Live Skin.” Free Radical Biology & Medicine 108 (July): 300–310.

Prietl, Barbara, Gerlies Treiber, Thomas R. Pieber, and Karin Amrein. 2013. “Vitamin D and Immune Function.” Nutrients 5 (7): 2502–21.

Sommer, Andrei P., Mike Kh Haddad, and Hans Jörg Fecht. 2015. “Light Effect on Water Viscosity: Implication for ATP Biosynthesis.” Scientific Reports 5 (July). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep12029.

Tan, Dun-Xian, Russel J. Reiter, Scott Zimmerman, and Ruediger Hardeland. 2023. “Melatonin: Both a Messenger of Darkness and a Participant in the Cellular Actions of Non-Visible Solar Radiation of near Infrared Light.” Biology 12 (1): 89.

Wacker, Matthias, and Michael F. Holick. 2013. “Sunlight and Vitamin D: A Global Perspective for Health: A Global Perspective for Health.” Dermato-Endocrinology 5 (1): 51–108.

West, Kathleen E., Michael R. Jablonski, Benjamin Warfield, Kate S. Cecil, Mary James, Melissa A. Ayers, James Maida, et al. 2011. “Blue Light from Light-Emitting Diodes Elicits a Dose-Dependent Suppression of Melatonin in Humans.” Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md.: 1985) 110 (3): 619–26.

Wicks, Nadine L., Jason W. Chan, Julia A. Najera, Jonathan M. Ciriello, and Elena Oancea. 2011. “UVA Phototransduction Drives Early Melanin Synthesis in Human Melanocytes.” Current Biology: CB 21 (22): 1906.

Wimalawansa, Sunil J. 2023. “Infections and Autoimmunity-the Immune System and Vitamin D: A Systematic Review.” Nutrients 15 (17): 3842.

Yang, Ling, Marie Lof, Marit Bragelien Veierød, Sven Sandin, Hans-Olov Adami, and Elisabete Weiderpass. 2011. “Ultraviolet Exposure and Mortality among Women in Sweden.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention: A Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology 20 (4): 683–90.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

For years American bitcoin miners have argued for more efficient and free energy markets. It benefits everyone if our energy infrastructure is as efficient and robust as possible. Unfortunately, broken incentives have led to increased regulation throughout the sector, incentivizing less efficient energy sources such as solar and wind at the detriment of more efficient alternatives.

The result has been less reliable energy infrastructure for all Americans and increased energy costs across the board. This naturally has a direct impact on bitcoin miners: increased energy costs make them less competitive globally.

Bitcoin mining represents a global energy market that does not require permission to participate. Anyone can plug a mining computer into power and internet to get paid the current dynamic market price for their work in bitcoin. Using cellphone or satellite internet, these mines can be located anywhere in the world, sourcing the cheapest power available.

Absent of regulation, bitcoin mining naturally incentivizes the build out of highly efficient and robust energy infrastructure. Unfortunately that world does not exist and burdensome regulations remain the biggest threat for US based mining businesses. Jurisdictional arbitrage gives miners the option of moving to a friendlier country but that naturally comes with its own costs.

Enter AI. With the rapid development and release of AI tools comes the requirement of running massive datacenters for their models. Major tech companies are scrambling to secure machines, rack space, and cheap energy to run full suites of AI enabled tools and services. The most valuable and powerful tech companies in America have stumbled into an accidental alliance with bitcoin miners: THE NEED FOR CHEAP AND RELIABLE ENERGY.

Our government is corrupt. Money talks. These companies will push for energy freedom and it will greatly benefit us all.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

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"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.  A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world." - Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto, 1993

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Privacy is essential to freedom. Without privacy, individuals are unable to make choices free from surveillance and control. Lack of privacy leads to loss of autonomy. When individuals are constantly monitored it limits our ability to express ourselves and take risks. Any decisions we make can result in negative repercussions from those who surveil us. Without the freedom to make choices, individuals cannot truly be free.

Freedom is essential to acquiring and preserving wealth. When individuals are not free to make choices, restrictions and limitations prevent us from economic opportunities. If we are somehow able to acquire wealth in such an environment, lack of freedom can result in direct asset seizure by governments or other malicious entities. At scale, when freedom is compromised, it leads to widespread economic stagnation and poverty. Protecting freedom is essential to economic prosperity.

The connection between privacy, freedom, and wealth is critical. Without privacy, individuals lose the freedom to make choices free from surveillance and control. While lack of freedom prevents individuals from pursuing economic opportunities and makes wealth preservation nearly impossible. No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.

Rights are not granted. They are taken and defended. Rights are often misunderstood as permission to do something by those holding power. However, if someone can give you something, they can inherently take it from you at will. People throughout history have necessarily fought for basic rights, including privacy and freedom. These rights were not given by those in power, but rather demanded and won through struggle. Even after these rights are won, they must be continually defended to ensure that they are not taken away. Rights are not granted - they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• The latest firmware updates for COLDCARD devices introduce two major features: COLDCARD Co-sign (CCC) and Key Teleport between two COLDCARD Q devices using QR codes and/or NFC with a website.

What's new

• COLDCARD Co-Sign: When CCC is enabled, a second seed called the Spending Policy Key (Key C) is added to the device. This seed works with the device's Main Seed and one or more additional XPUBs (Backup Keys) to form 2-of-N multisig wallets.
  • The spending policy functions like a hardware security module (HSM), enforcing rules such as magnitude and velocity limits, address whitelisting, and 2FA authentication to protect funds while maintaining flexibility and control, and is enforced each time the Spending Policy Key is used for signing.
  • When spending conditions are met, the COLDCARD signs the partially signed bitcoin transaction (PSBT) with the Main Seed and Spending Policy Key for fund access. Once configured, the Spending Policy Key is required to view or change the policy, and violations are denied without explanation.

"You can override the spending policy at any time by signing with either a Backup Key and the Main Seed or two Backup Keys, depending on the number of keys (N) in the multisig."

• A step-by-step guide for setting up CCC is available here.

• Key Teleport for Q devices allows users to securely transfer sensitive data such as seed phrases (words, xprv), secure notes and passwords, and PSBTs for multisig. It uses QR codes or NFC, along with a helper website, to ensure reliable transmission, keeping your sensitive data protected throughout the process.

  • For more technical details, see the protocol spec.

"After you sign a multisig PSBT, you have option to “Key Teleport” the PSBT file to any one of the other signers in the wallet. We already have a shared pubkey with them, so the process is simple and does not require any action on their part in advance. Plus, starting in this firmware release, COLDCARD can finalize multisig transactions, so the last signer can publish the signed transaction via PushTX (NFC tap) to get it on the blockchain directly."

• Multisig transactions are finalized when sufficiently signed. It streamlines the use of PushTX with multisig wallets.
• Signing artifacts re-export to various media. Users are now provided with the capability to export signing products, like transactions or PSBTs, to alternative media rather than the original source. For example, if a PSBT is received through a QR code, it can be signed and saved onto an SD card if needed.
• Multisig export files are signed now. Public keys are encoded as P2PKH address for all multisg signature exports. Learn more about it here.
• NFC export usability upgrade: NFC keeps exporting until CANCEL/X is pressed.
• Added Bitcoin Safe option to Export Wallet.
• 10% performance improvement in USB upload speed for large files.
• Q: Always choose the biggest possible display size for QR.

Fixes

• Do not allow change Main PIN to same value already used as Trick PIN, even if Trick PIN is hidden.
• Fix stuck progress bar under Receiving... after a USB communications failure.
• Showing derivation path in Address Explorer for root key (m) showed double slash (//).
• Can restore developer backup with custom password other than 12 words format.
• Virtual Disk auto mode ignores already signed PSBTs (with “-signed” in file name).
• Virtual Disk auto mode stuck on “Reading…” screen sometimes.
• Finalization of foreign inputs from partial signatures. Thanks Christian Uebber!
• Temporary seed from COLDCARD backup failed to load stored multisig wallets.
• Destroy Seed also removes all Trick PINs from SE2.
• Lock Down Seed requires pressing confirm key (4) to execute.
• Q only: Only BBQr is allowed to export Coldcard, Core, and pretty descriptor.

Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo
CCC Guide
Key Teleport site

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

People forget Bear Stearns failed March 2008 - months of denial followed before the public realized how bad the situation was under the surface.

Similar happening now but much larger scale. They did not fix fundamental issues after 2008 - everything is more fragile.

The Fed preemptively bailed out every bank with their BTFP program and First Republic Bank still failed. The second largest bank failure in history.

There will be more failures. There will be more bailouts. Depositors will be "protected" by socializing losses across everyone.

Our President and mainstream financial pundits are currently pretending the banking crisis is over while most banks remain insolvent. There are going to be many more bank failures as this ponzi system unravels.

Unlike 2008, we have the ability to opt out of these broken and corrupt institutions by using bitcoin. Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk - you do not have to trust a bank or other centralized entity to hold it for you. Bitcoin is also incredibly difficult to change by design since it is not controlled by an individual, company, or government - the supply of dollars will inevitably be inflated to bailout these failing banks but bitcoin supply will remain unchanged. I do not need to convince you that bitcoin provides value - these next few years will convince millions.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Breaks Record All Time High With Surge Above $109,000

Bitcoin soared to a new all-time high today, crossing $109,000 and peaking at $109,800 before settling at $109,378 on Coinbase. The historic price milestone comes as institutional inflows and favorable policy developments fuel growing confidence in the world’s leading digital asset. 

BREAKING: #BITCOIN HAS HIT A NEW ALL TIME HIGH pic.twitter.com/3TeTlF6bIS

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 21, 2025

Bitcoin’s ascent reflects a surge in momentum across traditional finance and political circles. Nearly $1 billion in inflows poured into Bitcoin ETFs over just two trading days this week, according to data from Farside Investors—underscoring the deepening demand from institutional investors. 

“Bitcoin is pushing toward new highs with strong tailwinds behind it—from steady ETF inflows to a broader shift in political tone,” said Joe DiPasquale, CEO of BitBull Capital. “This doesn’t feel like a short-term squeeze—it’s a more sustained bid that reflects a structural shift in how investors are viewing Bitcoin. It’s moving from a speculative trade to a strategic allocation.” 

Bitcoin’s consistent performance and growing adoption among institutional players have increasingly positioned it as more than just a speculative asset. As traditional financial institutions—including JPMorgan—open channels for client access to Bitcoin, and as industry leaders like Coinbase are added to major indexes, Bitcoin’s role as a cornerstone of the modern financial system continues to solidify.

Investor enthusiasm has also been supported by legislative progress in Washington. The U.S. Senate this week advanced bipartisan legislation to create a federal framework for stablecoins—a major win for the digital asset industry and a sign of increasing government engagement with crypto infrastructure. 

JUST IN: Legislation to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins The GENIUS Act passes motion to proceed to the consideration of the bill

The bill now goes to the amendment process. pic.twitter.com/KjDAAofZSj

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 21, 2025

“Stablecoin legislation is about to pass the Senate, and Bitcoin just hit a new all time high,” President Donald Trump’s AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks posted today on X

Additionally, President Donald Trump has embraced the sector with vocal support and direct policy action. Earlier this year, his administration established an official “strategic bitcoin reserve” for the U.S. government and eased several regulatory pressures on major crypto firms, reinforcing Bitcoin’s standing as a legitimate financial instrument. 

With market dynamics aligning and global interest accelerating, Bitcoin’s breakout above $109,800 marks not just a record high but may be a sign of what’s next to come. 

“If you’re not buying bitcoin at the all-time high, you’re leaving money on the table,” posted Strategy Executive Chairman Michae Saylor. 

This post Bitcoin Price Breaks Record All Time High With Surge Above $109,000 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 57c631a3:07529a8e

The Video: The World's Biggest Toddler

https://connect-test.layer3.press/articles/3f9d28a4-0876-4ee8-bdac-d1a56fa9cd02

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Metaplanet Hits New All Time High As Bitcoin Hits Record Price

Metaplanet Inc., Japan’s leading Bitcoin treasury company, surged to a new all time high in market capitalization this week, propelled by Bitcoin’s own historic ATH. The firm’s aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, innovative financing, and rising investor confidence have driven its valuation to ¥470.3 billion, up 554.5% year-to-date, closely tracking Bitcoin’s surge past its new ATH of $109,500 today.

In just over a year, Metaplanet has expanded its holdings from 98 BTC to 7,800 BTC (as of May 19, 2025), acquired at an average price of $103,873 per coin. That stash is now worth over $800 million, as Bitcoin’s record-breaking run this year.

The latest rise followed the company’s announcement of completing the full exercise of its 13th to 17th series of stock acquisition rights under its innovative “21 Million Plan.” This equity financing campaign raised ¥93.3 billion in just 60 trading days, fueling additional Bitcoin purchases, without diluting shareholder value. In a rare move, these MS Warrants were issued at a 6.8% premium over the share price at the time. 

Since announcing its listing on the OTCQX Market, Metaplanet’s growth has been relentless. “We are thrilled to begin trading on the OTCQX Market, enabling greater access for U.S. investors to participate in Metaplanet’s journey,” said the President of Metaplanet Simon Gerovich. “As Asia’s only dedicated Bitcoin Treasury Company, this step reflects our commitment to advancing Bitcoin adoption globally while enhancing shareholder value.”

Metaplanet’s growth is more than just a case of good timing; it reflects a strong, deliberate alignment with Bitcoin’s price action. Since shifting to a Bitcoin-focused strategy in 2024, the company has posted impressive quarterly BTC yields of 41.7%, 309.8%, 95.6%, and 47.8%. These returns have helped drive its net asset value up by 103.1 times and its market capitalization by 138.1 times, following Bitcoin’s rapid climb.

In Q1 FY2025, Metaplanet reported its strongest financial results yet. Revenue increased 8% quarter-over-quarter to ¥877 million, while operating profit rose 11% to ¥593 million. Net income surged to ¥5.0 billion, complemented by unrealized gains of ¥13.5 billion from its Bitcoin holdings, further strengthening the company’s balance sheet.

Although Bitcoin prices dipped briefly at the end of March, causing a ¥7.4 billion valuation loss, Metaplanet swiftly recovered as BTC surged to new record levels. This strong connection with Bitcoin’s performance has led many investors to use Metaplanet as an investment vehicle to get Bitcoin exposure on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Apparently Metaplanet is the most shorted stock in Japan. Do they really think betting against Bitcoin is a winning strategy? pic.twitter.com/SAKsOMO4MX

— Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) May 21, 2025

This post Metaplanet Hits New All Time High As Bitcoin Hits Record Price first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.

— ODELL (@ODELL) December 14, 2022

Good morning.

It looks like PacWest will fail today. It will be both the fifth largest bank failure in US history and the sixth major bank to fail this year. It will likely get purchased by one of the big four banks in a government orchestrated sale.  

March 8th - Silvergate Bank
March 10th - Silicon Valley Bank
March 12th - Signature Bank
March 19th - Credit Suisse
May 1st - First Republic Bank
May 4th - PacWest Bank?

PacWest is the first of many small regional banks that will go under this year. Most will get bought by the big four in gov orchestrated sales. This has been the playbook since 2008. Follow the incentives. Massive consolidation across the banking industry. PacWest gonna be a drop in the bucket compared to what comes next.

First, a hastened government led bank consolidation, then a public/private partnership with the remaining large banks to launch a surveilled and controlled digital currency network. We will be told it is more convenient. We will be told it is safer. We will be told it will prevent future bank runs. All of that is marketing bullshit. The goal is greater control of money. The ability to choose how we spend it and how we save it. If you control the money - you control the people that use it.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

There must be a limit to how much data is transferred across the bitcoin network in order to keep the ability to run and use your own node accessible. A node is required to interact with the global bitcoin network - if you do not use your own node then you must trust someone else's node. If nodes become inaccessible to run then the network will centralize around the remaining entities that operate them - threatening the censorship resistance at the core of bitcoin's value prop. The bitcoin protocol uses three main mechanisms to keep node operation costs low - a fixed limit on the amount of data in each block, an automatic difficulty adjustment that regulates how many blocks are produced based on current mining hash rate, and a robust dynamic transaction fee market.

Bitcoin transaction fees limit network abuse by making usage expensive. There is a cost to every transaction, set by a dynamic free market based on demand for scarce block space. It is an incredibly robust way to prevent spam without relying on centralized entities that can be corrupted or pressured.

After the 2017 bitcoin fee spike we had six years of relative quiet to build tools that would be robust in a sustained high fee market. Fortunately our tools are significantly better now but many still need improvement. Most of the pain points we see today will be mitigated.

The reality is we were never going to be fully prepared - pressure is needed to show the pain points and provide strong incentives to mitigate them.

It will be incredibly interesting to watch how projects adapt under pressure. Optimistic we see great innovation here.

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_If you are willing to wait for your transaction to confirm you can pay significantly lower fees. Learn best practices for reducing your fee burden here.

My guide for running and using your own bitcoin node can be found here._

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 58537364:705b4b85

Ikigai means "the meaning of life" or "the reason for being." Why were we born? What are we living for? When work is not seen as something separate from life.

The Japanese believe that everyone has their own ikigai. Those who discover it find meaning and value in life, leading to greater happiness, better moods, and a more fulfilling world.

Today, there are many books about ikigai, but the first one written by a Japanese author is:

“The Little Book of Ikigai: The Secret Japanese Way to Live a Happy and Long Life” by Ken Mogi (Thai translation by Wuttichai Krisanaprakankit)

Come explore the true world of ikigai through this Japanese neuroscientist’s insights, conveyed through conversations that challenge the idea of ikigai as something grand—showing instead that it starts with small personal joys.

Ken Mogi says that Jiro Ono, a 94-year-old sushi chef who still makes sushi today, was his inspiration for writing the book.

This sushi chef did not start the job out of passion or talent—but he dedicated every piece of sushi to bring happiness to his customers. That, Ken says, is the essence of ikigai.

Strangely, the word “ikigai” is not often used in daily conversations in Japan.

Because it’s something so natural that it doesn’t need to be said. In today’s world, we often talk about how to succeed, how to get promoted, how to become a CEO. But for the Japanese, success isn’t everything.

For example, many Japanese people are deeply passionate about hobbies or have kodawari. Others might not care what those hobbies are—as long as the person seems happy, that’s enough. Some are obsessed with trains, manga, or anime. These people don’t need fame or recognition from society. If they’re happy in their own way, that’s perfectly okay.

Kodawari means a deep dedication or meticulous attention to something. For example, someone obsessed with stationery might spend a lot of time selecting the perfect pens, notebooks, or pencils. They’ll research, analyze, and experiment to find the tools they love most.

Everyone’s ikigai can be different, because people value different things and live differently.

Ikigai is about diversity. Japanese society encourages children to discover their own ikigai. They don’t tell kids to pursue jobs only because they pay well. If you ask students what jobs they want, they rarely say it’s about money first.

Ikigai is not the same as "success." The Japanese know that life isn’t just about being successful. Ikigai matters more. You could be successful but lack ikigai. Conversely, you might not be “successful” but still have ikigai—and you might be happier.

Ken Mogi defines success as something society acknowledges and rewards. But ikigai comes from your own heart and personal happiness. Others may not recognize it as success, but that doesn’t matter.

Ikigai is personal. We can be happy in our own way. We don’t judge others’ happiness—let them find joy in their own path.

The key to ikigai is finding small moments of happiness, even from little things. For example, when Ken was a child, he loved studying butterflies. Now, when he’s out jogging and sees a beautiful butterfly, he feels ikigai. Or sometimes, it comes from small amusing moments—like hearing a child tell his dad, “Dad, you have to do it this way!”

So, if we want to find our own ikigai, where do we start? Start with noticing small pleasures in daily life. That’s the easiest place to begin.

In the brain, there's a chemical called dopamine. When we achieve even small things, dopamine is released, creating happiness. That’s why enjoying small things is so important.

For some, ikigai might seem hard to grasp—especially if life is difficult, if they feel hopeless or lack self-worth. So begin with tiny moments of joy.

Is it the same as positive thinking? Ikigai is a part of that. But when we talk about “positive thinking,” it can feel like pressure to some people. So instead, just notice small joys: making your morning coffee, running in the rain.

---

Lessons from Ken Mogi:

1. Ikigai is not about chasing success or wealth, but about feeling happiness in your own life, which gives your life personal meaning.

2. Ikigai is not defined by society. Everyone’s ikigai is different. Each person can be happy in their own way.

3. **Don’t judge or force others—**children, partners—to live how you think is right. Respect diversity.

4. Smile at people who are enjoying their ikigai, and support them if they struggle.

5. Ikigai exists on two levels:

6. Big ikigai: life purpose or work values.

7. Small ikigai: tiny joys in everyday life.

8. Ikigai starts with noticing small pleasures today.

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Source: From the Cloud of Thoughts column An interview by Ajarn Katewadi from Marumura with Ken Mogi, author of the first Japanese book on ikigai.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

Passou alguns dias, após as eleições legislativas, a cabeça está mais fria, é um bom momento para um rescaldo e para um pouco de futurologia. Esta análise vai ser limitada apenas aos grandes partidos.

Podemos resumir esta eleição, numa única palavra: Terramoto.

A AD ganhou, mas o grande destaque foi a queda do PS e a subida do Chega. Se a governação do país estava difícil, agora com este novo desenho da assembleia, será quase impossível, piorou bastante. Neste momento, ainda falta contabilizar os votos da emigração, mas o mais provável é o Chega ultrapassar o PS.

A queda do PS foi tremenda, ninguém esperava tal coisa, o partido está em estado de choque. O partido vai necessitar de tempo para estabilizar e para se reconstruir.

Devido a motivos constitucionais (6 meses antes e 6 meses depois da eleição do presidente da República) só poderá existir eleições no final do próximo ano, isso garante que o novo governo da AD vai estar no poder pelo menos um ano. Isso vai obrigar a aprovação do próximo orçamento de estado, como o PS necessita de tirar os holofotes sobre si, vai facilitar o governo. Provavelmente vai existir um acordo de cavalheiro, um pacto de não agressão entre o governo e o PS, o PS vai se abster na votação do orçamento de estado e a governo não fará mudanças na constituição sem o consentimento do PS e também não mudará leis ou políticas que sejam contra os princípios básicos do partido socialista. Em suma, não haverá grandes reformas, será um governo de gestão com ligeiramente mais poderes.

Não será um governo de bloco central, nem um governo da AD com apoio PS, será apenas um governo da AD com uma falsa oposição do PS. Um governo de bloco central, é uma bomba nuclear, ainda seria demasiado cedo para utilizá-la.

O Partido Socialista sabe que, para ter algumas hipóteses de vencer a próxima eleição, necessita de estar bem e o governo da AD tem que demonstrar algum desgaste, uma queda na popularidade. Eu não acredito que um ano seja suficiente, talvez, seja necessário 2 anos. Isto significa que o país poderá ficar estagnado 1 ou 2 anos, se o governo não conseguir fazer grandes reformas, se os cidadãos não virem/sentirem sinais de mudança, vai dar ainda mais força ao Chega.

Eu acredito que o ponto chave, é a imigração, o governo terá que demonstrar muito trabalho e minimizar o problema, para “esvaziar” um pouco o Chega, caso não faça será um problema.

XXVI Governo

Assim, nessa próxima eleição, talvez em 2027, acredito que as percentagens ficarão mais ou menos como esta eleição, com um partido ligeiramente à frente e os outros dois mais equilibrados. Só que o vencedor seria o Chega, ficando a AD(provavelmente o PSD) e o PS a disputa pelo 2º lugar.

Seria um novo terramoto, mas aqui seria necessário utilizar a bomba nuclear, iria surgir uma nova geringonça. Apesar da vitória do Ventura, iria surgir o governo bloco central, com o PSD e PS, não haveria outra alternativa.

O governo de bloco central, teria que ser muito competente, porque se não o for, iria para novas eleições. Se o governo for um fiasco, PS corre o risco de ser esvaziado, cairá ainda mais, correrá um risco de existência, poderá tornar-se num partido insignificante na nossa política.

XXVII Governo

Agora o terramoto ainda maior, nessa futura eleição, o Chega venceria com maioria absoluta, aí sim, seria um verdadeiro terramoto, ao nível de 1755.

O Chega tem o tempo a seu fazer, tem uma forte penetração nos jovens. Cada jovem que faça 18 anos, existe uma forte possibilidade de ser eleitor do Chega, o seu oposto, acontece com o PCP e o PS, os mais velhos vão morrendo, não existe renovação geracional. Mas o ponto fulcral é a ausência de competência generalizada nos partidos e políticos que têm governado o nosso país nos últimos anos, o descontentamento da população é completo. Esses políticos vivem na sua bolha, não tem noção do mundo real, nem compreendem quais são os problemas das pessoas simples, do cidadão comum.

Ventura

Na minha opinião só existirá três situações, que poderão travar as ascensão do André Ventura a primeiro-ministro:

• Ou existe um óptimo governo, que crie um bom crescimento na qualidade de vida das pessoas e que resolva os 3 problemas que mais anseiam actualmente os portugueses: Habitação, Saúde e Imigração. A probabilidade de isso acontecer é quase nula.
• Ou se o André Ventura desistir, a batalha será muito longa e ele poderá ficar cansado. Pouco provável.
• Ou então, um Argumentum ad hominem, terá que surgir algo, factos concretos que manche a imagem do André Ventura, que destrua por completo a sua reputação.

---

É a minha a linha leitura da bola de cristal, poderão dizer é uma visão pessimista, eu acho que é realista e pragmática, não vejo qualquer competência na classe política para resolver os problemas do país. Esta é a opinião de um recorrente crítico do Chega.

@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2

This past week I have been very busy in Holywood - just outside Belfast, Northern Ireland with a lot to do on top of my day-job! It was an unplanned trip but mission accomplished and we are off on the road again. I am writing this on my 3h30 Ryanair flight - so even in weeks like this you can find time to reflect quietly and think clearly if you look for it and seize the opportunity.

You might have noticed that I have "rebranded" the website and newsletter as "Letter From ...around the world". This reflects the reality that Hong Kong is not currently the "Asia World City" and I am not there. Whether it will ever reclaim that title again and when, or even if I can return remains to be seen. I am deeply saddened that after living 10 fabulous years in HK we had to abandon everything that Saturday night at the end of February.

This is the third time in my life that I have chosen Exit from "Loyalty, Voice or Exit" - (recall issue 09 - On Location).... Expect both Voice and Exit to become increasingly difficult or even unavailable in many jurisdictions. It is time to wake up. Talk to me if you are awake or curious!

One thing I learned back in 2004 on my first businss trip to New York is that "The way you react to a situation determines how you feel about it". This is one of so many insights that I learned from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Steven Covey. I found the book at 4pm in the afternoon walking around outside my hotel trying to stay up to overcome jet-lag. I got back to the hotel and proceeded to devour the entire book overnight. I had never done that with any book before and I do not think I have done it since. Look out for a full review in an upcoming newsletter.

Thanks to Ali Abdaal for his passionate and insightful review of "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon - clearly this is something that he has internalised and he does practice what he preaches. Indeed this is a short and easy read with many pictures and simple suggestions - recommended! I did read it on my Kindle and I am enjoying how the highlights automagically sync into Obsidian (see last week's find).

I was also inspired by Ali's How to Start a Youtube Channel explainer. I have been following Ali for about 5 years since he was a student doing these videos in his student room on his iPhone while studying Medicine in Cambridge. His passion for sharing his insights on how to study effectively as well as facilitating the learning that medical students needed to do enabled him to set up his own businesss. This set him on the road to his current 3 million subscribers and a business employing over a dozen people inspiring and helping others to acquire skills that are increasingly valuable in the the world today and going forward.

Over the coming months I will be experimenting with different channels and different media not only to discover new insights for myself but also to share things that I distill and find interesting. Also somewhat loosely inspired by "How to Get What you want and Want What You Have" by Jon Gray, I do recognize that I am now in the latter of the "Ten Time Periods" - if I had to pick one, I would say number 8 - at least that is how I feel!

So do subscribe to the newsletter and do follow along on Youtube. I'm obviously still in stage 1 of Ali's 3-stage process - so be patient and do give feedback, questions and suggestions!

Another day - another Airport...

That's it!

No one can be told what The Matrix is.\ You have to see it for yourself.**

Do share this newsletter with any of your friends and family who might be interested.

You can also email me at: LetterFrom@rogerprice.me

💡Enjoy the newsletters in your own language : Dutch, French, German, Serbian, Chinese Traditional & Simplified, Thai and Burmese.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

I often hear "bitcoin doesn't interest me, I'm not a finance person."

Ironically, the beauty of sound money is you don't have to be. In the current system you're expected to manage a diversified investment portfolio or pay someone to do it. Bitcoin will make that optional.

— ODELL (@ODELL) September 16, 2018

At first glance bitcoin often appears overwhelming to newcomers. It is incredibly easy to get bogged down in the details of how it works or different ways to use it. Enthusiasts, such as myself, often enjoy going down the deep rabbit hole of the potential of bitcoin, possible pitfalls and theoretical scenarios, power user techniques, and the developer ecosystem. If your first touch point with bitcoin is that type of content then it is only natural to be overwhelmed. While it is important that we have a thriving community of bitcoiners dedicated to these complicated tasks - the true beauty of bitcoin lies in its simplicity. Bitcoin is simply better money. It is the best money we have ever had.

Life is complicated. Life is hard. Life is full of responsibility and surprises. Bitcoin allows us to focus on our lives while relying on a money that is simple. A money that is not controlled by any individual, company, or government. A money that cannot be easily seized or blocked. A money that cannot be devalued at will by a handful of corrupt bureaucrat who live hundreds of miles from us. A money that can be easily saved and should increase in purchasing power over time without having to learn how to "build a diversified stock portfolio" or hire someone to do it for us.

Bitcoin enables all of us to focus on our lives - our friends and family - doing what we love with the short time we have on this earth. Time is scarce. Life is complicated. Bitcoin is the most simple aspect of our complicated lives. If we spend our scarce time working then we should be able to easily save that accrued value for future generations without watching the news or understanding complicated financial markets. Bitcoin makes this possible for anyone.

Yesterday was Mother's Day. Raising a human is complicated. It is hard, it requires immense personal responsibility, it requires critical thinking, but mothers figure it out, because it is worth it. Using and saving bitcoin is simple -  simply install an app on your phone. Every mother can do it. Every person can do it.

Life is complicated. Life is beautiful. Bitcoin is simple.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ cefb08d1:f419beff

https://stacker.news/items/986402

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

I https://www.chrisliss.com/p/mstr a few months ago with the subtitle “The Only Stock,” and I’m starting to regret it. Now, it was trading at 396 on January 20 when I posted it and 404 now (even if it dipped 40 percent to 230 or so in between), but that’s not why I regret it. I pointed out it was not investable unless you’re willing to stomach large drawdowns, and anyone who bought then could exit with a small profit now had they not panic-sold along the way.

The reason I regret it is I don’t want to make public stock predictions because it adds stress to my life. I have not sold any of my shares yet, but something I’ve noticed recently has got me thinking about it, and stock tips are like a game of telephone wherein whoever is last in the chain might find out the wrong information and too late. And while every adult has agency and is responsible for his own financial decisions, I don’t want my readers losing money on account of anything I write.

My base case is still that MSTR becomes a trillion-dollar company, destroys the performance of the S&P, the Mag-7 and virtually any other equity portfolio most people would assemble. Michael Saylor is trading an infinitely-printable asset (his shares) for humanity’s best-ever, finite-supply digital gold, and that trade should be profitable for him and his shareholders in perpetuity.

I don’t know exactly what he plans to do when that trade is no longer available to him — either because no one takes fiat currency for bitcoin anymore or because his mNAV (market-cap-to-bitcoin-holding ratio) goes below one — but that’s not my main concern, either. At that point he’ll have so much bitcoin, he’ll probably become the world’s first and largest bitcoin bank and profit by making his pristine collateral available to individuals and institutions. Even at five percent interest, half a trillion in bitcoin would yield $25B in profits every year. Even at a modest 10x valuation, the stock would more than double from here.

I am also not overly concerned with Saylor’s present amount of convertible debt which is at low or zero rates and is only https://www.strategy.com/. He’s been conservative on that front and only issuing on favorable terms. I don’t doubt Saylor’s prescience, intelligence or business sense one bit.

What got me thinking were some Twitter posts by a former Salomon Brothers trader/prophet Josh Mandell https://x.com/JoshMandell6/status/1921597739458339193 recently. In November when bitcoin was mooning after the election, he predicted that on March 14th it would close at $84,000, and if it did it would then go on an epic run up to $444,000 this cycle.

A lot of people make predictions, a few of them come true, but rarely do they come true on the dot (it closed at exactly $84K according to some exchanges) and on such a specific timeframe. Now, maybe he just got lucky, or maybe he is a skilled trader who made one good prediction, but the reason he gave for his prediction, insofar as he gave one, was not some technical chart or quantitative analysis, but a memory he had from 30 years ago that got into his mind that he couldn’t shake. He didn’t get much more specific than that, other than that he was tuned into something that if he explained fully would make too many people think he had gone insane. And then the prediction came true on the dot months later.

Now I believe in the paranormal more than the average person. I do not think things are random, and insofar as they appear that way it’s only because we have incomplete information — even a coin toss is predictable if you knew the exact force and spin that was put on the coin. I think for whatever reason, this guy is plugged into something, and while I would never invest a substantial amount of money on that belief — not only are earnestly-made prophecies often delusions or even if correct wrongly interpreted — that he sold makes me think.

He gave more substantive reasons for selling than prophecy, by the way — he seems to think Saylor’s perpetual issuance of shares ATM (at the market) to buy more bitcoin is putting too much downward pressure on the stock. Obviously, selling shares — even if to buy the world’s most pristine collateral at a 2x-plus mNAV — reduces the short-term appreciation of those shares.

His thesis seems to be that Saylor is doing this even if he would be better off letting the price appreciate more, attracting more investors, squeezing more shorts, etc because he needs to improve his credit rating to tap into the convertible debt market to the extent he has promised ($42 billion more over the next few years) at favorable terms. But in doing this, he is souring common stock investors because they are not seeing the near-term appreciation they should on their holdings.

Now this is a trivial concern if over the long haul MSTR does what it has the last couple years which is to outperform by a wide margin not only every large cap stock and the S&P but bitcoin itself. And the bigger his stack of bitcoin, the more his stock should appreciate as bitcoin goes up. But markets do not operate linearly and rationally. Should he sour prospective buyers to a great enough extent, should he attract shorts (and supply them with available shares to borrow) to a great enough extent, perhaps there might be an mNAV-crushing cascade that drives people into other bitcoin treasury companies, ETFs or bitcoin itself.

Now Saylor as first mover and by far the largest publicly-traded treasury company has a significant advantage. Institutions are far less likely to invest in size in smaller treasury companies with shorter track records, and many of them are not allowed to invest in ETFs or bitcoin at all. And even if a lot of money did go into any of those vehicles, it would only drive the value of his assets up and hence his stock price, no matter the mNAV. But Josh Mandell sold his shares prior to a weekend where bitcoin went from 102K to 104K, the US announced a deal with China, the mag-7 had a big spike (AAPL was up 6.3 percent) and then MSTR’s stock went down from 416 to 404. As I said, he is on to something.

So what’s the real long-term risk? I don’t know. Maybe there’s something about the nature of bitcoin that long-term is not really amenable to third-party custody and administration. It’s a bearer asset (“not your keys, not your coins”), and introducing counterparty risk is antithetical to its core purpose, the separation of money and state, or in this case money and bank.

With the bitcoin network you can literally “be your own bank.” To transact in digital dollars you need a bank account — or at least a stable coin one mediated by a centralized entity like Tether. You can’t hold digital dollars in your mind via some memorized seed words like you can bitcoin, accessible anywhere in the world, the ledger of which is maintained by tens of thousands of individually-run nodes. This property which democratizes value storage in the way gold did, except now you can wield your purchasing power globally, might be so antithetical to communal storage via corporation or bank that doing so is doomed to catastrophe.

We’ve already seen this happen with exchanges via FTX and Mt. Gox. Counterparty risk is one of the problems bitcoin was created to solve, so moving that risk from a fractionally reserved international banking system to corporate balance sheets still very much a part of that system is probably not the seismic advancement integral to the technology’s promise.

But this is more of a philosophical concern rather than a concrete one. To get more specific, it’s easy to imagine Coinbase, if indeed that’s where MSTR custodies its coins, gets hacked or https://www.chrisliss.com/p/soft-landing, i.e., seized by an increasingly desperate and insolvent government. Or maybe Coinbase simply doesn’t have the coins it purports like FTX, or a rogue band of employees, working on behalf of some powerful faction for “https://www.chrisliss.com/national-security-and-public-healt” executes the rug pull. Even if you deem these scenarios unlikely, they are not unfathomable.

Beyond outright counterparty malfeasance, there are other risks — what if owning common stock in an enterprise that simply holds bitcoin falls out of favor? Imagine if some new individual custody solution emerges wherein you have direct access to the coins themselves in an “even a boomer can do this” kind of way wherein there’s no compelling reason to own common stock with its junior claims to the capital stack in the event of insolvency? Why stand in line behind debt holders and preferred shares when you can invest in something that’s directly withdrawable and accessible if world events spike volatility to a systemic breaking point?

Things need not even get that rocky for this to be a concern — just the perception that they might could spook people into realizing common stock of a corporate balance sheet might be less than ideal as your custody solution.

Moreover, Saylor himself presents some risk. He could be compromised or blackmailed, he could lose his cool or get into an accident. These are low-probability scenarios, but also not unfathomable as any single point of failure is a target, especially for those factions who stand to lose unimaginable wealth and power should his speculative attack on the system succeed at scale.

Finally, even if Saylor remains free to operate as he sees fit, there is what I’d call the Icarus risk — he might be too ambitious, too hell-bent on acquiring bitcoin at all costs, too much of a maniac in service of his vision. Remember, he initially bought bitcoin during the covid crash and concomitant massive money print upon his prescient realization that businesses providing goods and services couldn’t possibly keep pace with inflation over the long haul. He was merely playing defense to preserve his capital, and now, despite his sizable lead and secured position is still throwing forward passes in the fourth quarter rather than running out the clock and securing the W.

Saylor is now arguably less a bitcoin maximalist and advocate, articulately making the case for superior money and individual sovereignty, but a corporate titan hell-bent on world domination via apex-predator-status balance sheet. When is enough enough? Many of the greatest conquerors in history pushed their empires too far until they fractured. In fact, 25 years ago MSTR was a big winner before the dot-com crash during which its stock price and most of Saylor’s fortune were wiped out when he was sued by the SEC for accounting fraud (he subsequently settled).

Now it’s possible, he learned from that experience, got up off the mat and figured out how to avoid his youthful mistakes. But it’s also possible his character is such that he will repeat it again, only this time at scale.

But as I said, my base case is MSTR is a trillion-dollar market cap, and the stock runs in parallel with bitcoin’s ascendance over the next decade. Saylor has been https://www.strategy.com/, prescient, bold and responsible so far over this iteration. I view Mandell’s concerns as valid, but similar to Wall St’s ones about AMZN’s Jeff Bezos who relentlessly ignored their insistence on profitability for a decade as he plowed every dollar into building out productive capacity and turned the company into the $2T world-dominating retail giant it is now.

Again, I haven’t (yet) sold any of my shares or even call options. But because I posted about this in January I felt I should at least follow-up with a more detailed rundown of what I take to be the risks. As always, do your own due diligence with any prospective investment.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

Will not live in a pod.
Will not eat the bugs.
Will not get the chip.
Will not get a blue check.
Will not use CBDCs.

Live Free or Die.

Why did Elon buy twitter for $44 Billion? What value does he see in it besides the greater influence that undoubtedly comes with controlling one of the largest social platforms in the world? We do not need to speculate - he made his intentions incredibly clear in his first meeting with twitter employees after his takeover - WeChat of the West.

To those that do not appreciate freedom, the value prop is clear - WeChat is incredibly powerful and successful in China.

To those that do appreciate freedom, the concern is clear - WeChat has essentially become required to live in China, has surveillance and censorship integrated at its core, and if you are banned from the app your entire livelihood is at risk. Employment, housing, payments, travel, communication, and more become extremely difficult if WeChat censors determine you have acted out of line.

The blue check is the first step in Elon's plan to bring the chinese social credit score system to the west. Users who verify their identity are rewarded with more reach and better tools than those that do not. Verified users are the main product of Elon's twitter - an extensive database of individuals and complete control of the tools he will slowly get them to rely on - it is easier to monetize cattle than free men.

If you cannot resist the temptation of the blue check in its current form you have already lost - what comes next will be much darker. If you realize the need to resist - freedom tech provides us options.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.

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If you missed my nostr introduction post you can find it here. My nostr account can be found here.

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We are nearly at the point that if something interesting is posted on a centralized social platform it will usually be posted by someone to nostr.

We are nearly at the point that if something interesting is posted exclusively to nostr it is cross posted by someone to various centralized social platforms.

We are nearly at the point that you can recommend a cross platform app that users can install and easily onboard without additional guides or resources.

As companies continue to build walls around their centralized platforms nostr posts will be the easiest to cross reference and verify - as companies continue to censor their users nostr is the best censorship resistant alternative - gradually then suddenly nostr will become the standard. 🫡

Current Nostr Stats

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

When I was a kid, I wanted to be rich, but found the prospect of hard work tedious, pointless and soul-crushing. Instead of studying for exams, getting some job and clawing your way up the ladder, I wondered why we couldn’t just build a device that measured your brain capacity and awarded you the money you would have made had you applied yourself. Eliminate the middleman, so to speak, the useless paper pushing evoked by the word “career.”

But when you think about it, it’s not really money you’re after, as money is but purchasing power, and so it’s the things money can provide like a nice lifestyle and the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about it. And it’s not really the lifestyle or financial independence, per se, since moment to moment what’s in your bank account isn’t determining your mental state, but the feeling those things give you — a sense of expansiveness and freedom.

But if you did have such a machine, and it awarded you the money, you probably wouldn’t have that kind of expansiveness and freedom, especially if you did nothing to achieve those things. You would still feel bored, distracted and unsatisfied despite unrestricted means to travel or dine out as you saw fit. People who win the lottery, for example, tend to revert to their prior level of satisfaction in short order.

The feeling you really want then is the sense of rising to a challenge, negotiating and adapting to your environment, persevering in a state of uncertainty, tapping into your resourcefulness and creativity. It’s only while operating at the edge of your capacity you could ever be so fulfilled. In fact, in such a state the question of your satisfaction level would never come up. You wouldn’t even think to wonder about it you’d be so engrossed.

So what you really crave is a mind device that encourages you to adapt to your environment using your full creative capabilities in the present moment, so much so you realize if you do not do this, you have the sense of squandering your life in a tedious, pointless and soul-crushing way. You need to be totally stuck, without the option of turning back. In sum, you need to face reality exactly as it is, without any escape therefrom.

The measure of your mind in that case is your reality itself. The device is already with you — it’s the world you are presently creating with the consciousness you have, providing you avenues to escape, none of which are satisfactory, none that can lead to the state you truly desire. You have a choice to pursue them fruitlessly and wind up at square one, or to abandon them and attain your freedom. No matter how many times you go down a false road, you wind up at the same place until you give up on the Sisyphean task and proceed in earnest.

My childhood fantasy was real, it turns out, only I had misunderstood its meaning.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

Influencers would have you believe there is an ongoing binance bank run but bitcoin wallet data says otherwise.

- binance wallets are near all time highs
- bitfinex wallets are also trending up
- gemini and coinbase are being hit with massive withdrawals though

You should not trust custodians, they can rug you without warning. It is incredibly important you learn how to hold bitcoin yourself, but also consider not blindly trusting influencers with a ref link to shill you.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

Autor: Milosz Matuschek. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier. Die neuesten Pareto-Artikel finden Sie auch in unserem Telegram-Kanal.

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Die neuesten Artikel der Friedenstaube gibt es jetzt auch im eigenen Friedenstaube-Telegram-Kanal.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjndTXyk3mw

Im Jahr 1954, als Frankreich gerade dabei war, seine kolonialen Kriege in Indochina und Algerien zu verschärfen, schrieb Boris Vian ein Lied – oder vielmehr: einen poetischen Faustschlag. Le Déserteur ist keine Ballade, sondern ein Manifest. Keine Hymne auf den Frieden, sondern eine Anklage gegen den Krieg. Adressiert an den Präsidenten, beginnt das Chanson wie ein höflicher Brief – und endet als flammender Akt des zivilen Ungehorsams.

„Herr Präsident,\ ich schreibe Ihnen einen Brief,\ den Sie vielleicht lesen werden,\ wenn Sie Zeit haben.“

Was folgt, ist ein klassischer Kriegsdienstverweigerungsbrief, aber eben kein bürokratischer. Vian spricht nicht in Paragraphen, sondern in Herzschlägen. Der Erzähler, ein einfacher Mann, will nicht kämpfen. Nicht für irgendein Vaterland, nicht für irgendeine Fahne, nicht für irgendeinen ideologischen Zweck.

„Ich soll zur Welt gekommen sein,\ um zu leben, nicht um zu sterben.“

70 Jahre später klingt diese Zeile wie ein Skandal. In einer Zeit, in der die Ukraine junge Männer für Kopfgeld auf der Straße zwangsrekrutiert und in Stahlgewitter schickt, in der palästinensische Jugendliche im Gazastreifen unter Trümmern begraben werden, während israelische Reservisten mit Dauerbefehl marschieren – ist Le Déserteur ein sakraler Text geworden. Fast ein Gebet.

„Wenn man mich verfolgt,\ werde ich den Gehorsam verweigern.\ Ich werde keine Waffe in die Hand nehmen,\ ich werde fliehen, bis ich Frieden finde.“

Wie viele „Deserteure“ gibt es heute, die wir gar nicht kennen? Menschen, die sich nicht auf die Seite der Bomben stellen wollen – egal, wer sie wirft? Die sich nicht mehr einspannen lassen zwischen Propaganda und Patriotismus? Die ihre Menschlichkeit über jeden nationalen Befehl stellen?

Der Krieg, sagt Vian, macht aus freien Menschen Befehlsempfänger und aus Söhnen Leichen. Und wer heute sagt, es gebe „gerechte Kriege“, sollte eine Frage beantworten: Ist es auch ein gerechter Tod?

Darum: Verweigert.

Verweigert den Befehl, zu hassen.\ Verweigert den Reflex, Partei zu ergreifen.\ Verweigert den Dienst an der Waffe.

Denn wie Vian singt:

„Sagen Sie's den Leuten:\ Ich werde nicht kommen.“

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LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!

Hier können Sie die Friedenstaube abonnieren und bekommen die Artikel zugesandt.

Schon jetzt können Sie uns unterstützen:

• Für 50 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo der Friedenstaube.
• Für 120 CHF/EURO bekommen Sie ein Jahresabo und ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
• Für 500 CHF/EURO werden Sie Förderer und bekommen ein lebenslanges Abo sowie ein T-Shirt/Hoodie mit der Friedenstaube.
• Ab 1000 CHF werden Sie Genossenschafter der Friedenstaube mit Stimmrecht (und bekommen lebenslanges Abo, T-Shirt/Hoodie).

Für Einzahlungen in CHF (Betreff: Friedenstaube):

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Milosz Matuschek

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Betreff: Friedenstaube

Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: friedenstaube@pareto.space

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Sie sind noch nicht auf Nostr and wollen die volle Erfahrung machen (liken, kommentieren etc.)? Zappen können Sie den Autor auch ohne Nostr-Profil! Erstellen Sie sich einen Account auf Start. Weitere Onboarding-Leitfäden gibt es im Pareto-Wiki.

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

Sometimes I feel like reversing time. I miss my childhood. Honestly, who wouldn’t? Back then, life was so simple, so carefree. I had no bills to pay, no deadlines to chase, and no worries about what tomorrow might bring. All I had to do was wake up, play, eat, and maybe dodge a beating or two from Mum when I got a little too adventurous😂. Sometimes I feel like reversing time, just to relive those golden days when my biggest problem was figuring out how to sneak a piece of meat from the pot without getting caught.

I remember those moments vividly. When I was little, I’d tiptoe into the kitchen, the aroma of Mum’s stew pulling me like a magnet. I’d wait for her to turn her back, then—bam!—my tiny hand would dive into the pot, snagging a juicy piece of meat. Of course, I wasn’t exactly a master thief. Mum always seemed to know. She’d catch me red-handed, and let’s just say her wooden spoon wasn’t just for cooking! I was kinda stubborn back then, so those beatings happened a lot. But I don’t steal meat anymore—grown-up me knows better. Life was different then. My only “job” was to have fun—climbing trees, chasing friends, or making up wild stories in my head. Now, adulthood feels like a never-ending to-do list. I miss the freedom, the laughter, the way problems seemed to vanish with a nap or a hug. If I could, I’d turn back the clock, even just for a day, to feel that lightness again. Childhood wasn’t perfect, but it sure felt like it.

@ f5369849:f34119a0

Hackathon Summary

The AI BUIDL Lab: Use Prompt Engineering to Build Real Web3 Apps on Rootstock recently wrapped up, with registration from 211 developers and the presentation of 22 projects. This hackathon focused on encouraging the development of Web3 applications using AI-driven workflows on Rootstock. Participants engaged in three primary tracks: DeFi and Payments, Commerce and Gig Economy, and Identity and Reputation in Web3. AI was utilized to enhance innovation and speed in the creation of decentralized applications (dApps).

The event yielded notable outcomes such as decentralized finance solutions and AI-enhanced identity management systems, highlighting the integration of AI in Web3. A prize pool of $15,000 USD in RIF Tokens was distributed to top projects, rewarding their creativity and technical execution.

The hackathon underscored AI's potential in streamlining decentralized application development, demonstrating advancements in the Web3 ecosystem. Collaboration with thirdweb, Alchemy, and RootstockLabs supported impactful participation and innovative project outcomes.

Hackathon Winners

DeFi & Payments Prize Winners

• ProtectedPay_Rootstock: A DeFi platform on the CrossFi chain, facilitating secure transfers, group payments, and smart savings via advanced blockchain features.
• AIFi: AI-Powered DeFi Hub on Rootstock: Enhances financial accessibility in Latin America, utilizing AI for remittances, credit scoring, and UI improvements.

Commerce & Gig Economy Prize Winners

• SwipeGig: A decentralized talent marketplace that leverages blockchain and AI to connect freelancers and clients, ensuring secure transactions.
• HireStamp: Uses AI-graded credentials for resume verification, anchoring credibility to Bitcoin's security infrastructure.

Identity & Reputation in Web3 Prize Winners

• AgenticID: Provides self-sovereign identity verification with blockchain and AI, employing zero-knowledge proofs for secure user authentication.
• TrustScan: Analyzes wallet activities on Rootstock using AI to generate reputation and identity scores, enhancing trust.

Bounty Best Use of AI Prompt

• AuditFi_Rootstock: Delivers AI-driven security audits for smart contracts, enhancing transparency and trust through on-chain verification.
• RSK Smart Yield Engine: An AI-powered yield optimizer for DeFi protocols, managing funds and formulating strategies with smart contracts and AI.

For more information on all projects, visit DoraHacks.

Organization

About the Organizer: Rootstock

Rootstock - the Bitcoin DeFi layer - specializes in integrating Bitcoin's robust network with Ethereum's smart contract capabilities, enhancing blockchain interoperability. Known for technical expertise, Rootstock has created a platform supporting decentralized finance applications. The organization is committed to advancing innovation in the blockchain space by expanding the accessibility and functionality of smart contracts within financial services.

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

Solana (SOL) is acquiring popularity in the crypto world for its speed and flexibility.It's rapidly gaining ground on established blockchains, grabbing investor interest.

History Of Solana Anatoly Yakovenko, once a Qualcomm executive, formulated the concept for Solana in 2017. A town on the Southern California coast inspired the name. Yakovenko wanted a swifter, more reliable blockchain network to address the limitations of existing onesat that time. Solana is based in San Francisco, California, at the headquarters of Solana Labs. Solana was launched in March 2020, making a major step in the advancement of blockchain technology.

What Is Solana? Solana is a blockchain network built for speed and affordability.This versatility makes it useful for DeFi, NFTs, and more. Solana operates on its own independent blockchain network with SOL as its native token and infrastructure to power its operations. It functions as a self-sufficient ecosystem, independent of any other existing blockchain network.

How Does Solana Work? Unlike normal blockchains that usually rely on the Proof-of-Work mechanism, Solana uses another approach. It combines two mechanisms: 1.Proof-of-Stake: It lets operators secure the network by putting SOL tokens at stake. These operators are entrusted with adding new blocks to the blockchain and are rewarded for their contribution.

2.Proof-of-History: It helps eliminates the need for communications between operators and boosts transaction processing speed.

Conclusion The mix of these mechanisms is a key factor behind Solana’s reputation for superior speed. Of course, it uses other technical aspects that contribute to its efficiency, but PoS and PoH play a critical role.

@ f5369849:f34119a0

Hackathon Summary

JAMHacks 9 was held from May 16-18, 2025, at the University of Waterloo. As the 9th hackathon in the JAMHacks series, the event brought together 170 high school hackers and resulted in the approval of 49 projects, highlighting the abilities of young developers. The hackathon's objective is to offer a nurturing atmosphere for high school students, supplemented by workshops and activities designed to boost technical skills and networking opportunities.

Participants engaged in projects with creative uses of Pico-8, innovative applications utilizing MongoDB Atlas, and generative AI models illustrating the effects of emerging technologies. The hackathon recognized achievements in categories like Best Beginner Hack, Best Developer Tool, and Best Use of Gen AI. Prizes included smartwatches, drones, QuillBot hoodies, and entries to other hackathons.

Beyond the technical accomplishments, JAMHacks 9 stressed the importance of creating a fun and engaging experience, hosting events like poker nights and social meetups. The hackathon successfully provided a platform for young developers to cultivate skills, generate ideas, and establish professional connections, supporting its vision of inclusivity and accessibility in the tech industry.

Hackathon Winners

Overall Prize Winners

• Mr. Goose: A playful VS Code extension supporting beginners with hints and encouragement, fostering learning without directly solving problems.
• Guideline: An AR-based tool that assists novice electronics enthusiasts with breadboarding by guiding them through assembly using augmented reality.
• ARmatica: Converts 2D hardware schematics into 3D AR models, enhancing engineering and prototyping processes through improved visualization.

Beginner Track Prize Winners

• Duedle: A task management app utilizing AI to break down large tasks into manageable sub-tasks, with progress tracking to boost productivity.

Solo Track Prize Winners

• Lofied: A Python app that transforms Spotify playlists into lo-fi versions, featuring music separation and sheet music generation capabilities.

Female Track Prize Winners

• Doomlings: Combines gamification with educational tasks, motivating students through a battle game interface to enhance learning and engagement.

Warp Track Prize Winners

• Mr. Goose

Hack Canada Track Prize Winners

• Dionysus: A platform for organizing collaborative events and participation, offering a unified interface for real-time event management.

MLH Track Prize Winners

• Karma: A social platform documenting and sharing positive actions, promoting self-improvement and environmental conservation to encourage community engagement.
• helpidontknowhowtonetworkin.tech: An AI-powered networking assistant using face recognition and LinkedIn data to assist in making professional connections at events.
• SnapCAD: Generates customizable 3D models from images or drawings, simplifying integration into engineering projects.

PEX Labs Prize Winners

• Arctic Explorer: A Pico-8 open-world game designed to promote sustainable practices by exploring Arctic environments, scalable with additional mini-games and maps.

View all projects at JAMHacks 9.

Organization Details

About JAMHacks

JAMHacks is recognized in the technology and blockchain sector for promoting innovation and collaboration among tech enthusiasts. The organization is skilled in hosting hackathons that provide a platform for developing practical solutions to real-world challenges. With a focus on technological empowerment, JAMHacks has organized multiple events attracting participants from various backgrounds. Their initiatives emphasize technical skill development and networking, underscoring their dedication to advancing technology education and fostering an inclusive community for aspiring technologists and developers.

@ 0e9491aa:ef2adadf

For years American bitcoin miners have argued for more efficient and free energy markets. It benefits everyone if our energy infrastructure is as efficient and robust as possible. Unfortunately, broken incentives have led to increased regulation throughout the sector, incentivizing less efficient energy sources such as solar and wind at the detriment of more efficient alternatives.

The result has been less reliable energy infrastructure for all Americans and increased energy costs across the board. This naturally has a direct impact on bitcoin miners: increased energy costs make them less competitive globally.

Bitcoin mining represents a global energy market that does not require permission to participate. Anyone can plug a mining computer into power and internet to get paid the current dynamic market price for their work in bitcoin. Using cellphone or satellite internet, these mines can be located anywhere in the world, sourcing the cheapest power available.

Absent of regulation, bitcoin mining naturally incentivizes the build out of highly efficient and robust energy infrastructure. Unfortunately that world does not exist and burdensome regulations remain the biggest threat for US based mining businesses. Jurisdictional arbitrage gives miners the option of moving to a friendlier country but that naturally comes with its own costs.

Enter AI. With the rapid development and release of AI tools comes the requirement of running massive datacenters for their models. Major tech companies are scrambling to secure machines, rack space, and cheap energy to run full suites of AI enabled tools and services. The most valuable and powerful tech companies in America have stumbled into an accidental alliance with bitcoin miners: THE NEED FOR CHEAP AND RELIABLE ENERGY.

Our government is corrupt. Money talks. These companies will push for energy freedom and it will greatly benefit us all.

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Microsoft Cloud hiring to "implement global small modular reactor and microreactor" strategy to power data centers: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-cloud-hiring-to-implement-global-small-modular-reactor-and-microreactor-strategy-to-power-data-centers/

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