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@ 1817b617:715fb372
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Step into the future of cryptocurrency innovation with CryptoFlashingTool.com — your go-to solution for sending spendable Flash Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and USDT transactions. Using cutting-edge
Race/Finney-style blockchain simulation, our technology generates coins that are virtually indistinguishable from real, fully confirmed blockchain transactions. Transactions stay live and spendable from 60 up to 360 days!
Explore all the details at cryptoflashingtool.com.
Why Trust Our Crypto Flashing System? Whether you’re a blockchain enthusiast, ethical hacker, security expert, or digital entrepreneur, our solution offers a perfect mix of authenticity, speed, and flexibility.
Top Features You’ll Love:
Instant Blockchain Simulation: Transactions are complete with valid wallet addresses, transaction IDs, and real confirmations.
Privacy First: Works flawlessly with VPNs, TOR, and proxies to keep you fully anonymous.
User-Friendly Software: Built for Windows, beginner and pro-friendly with simple step-by-step guidance.
Flexible Flash Durations: Choose how long coins stay valid — from 60 to 360 days.
Full Wallet Compatibility: Instantly flash coins to SegWit, Legacy, or BCH32 wallets with ease.
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Over 79 billion flash transactions completed.
3000+ satisfied users around the globe.
42 active blockchain nodes ensuring fast, seamless performance.
How It Works: Step
: Input Transaction Info
- Pick your coin (BTC, ETH, USDT: TRC-20, ERC-20, BEP-20).
- Set amount and flash duration.
- Enter the recipient wallet (auto-validated).
Step
: Make Payment
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- Upload your transaction proof (hash and screenshot).
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: Launch the Flash
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Step
: Verify & Spend
- Access your flashed coins immediately.
- Verify your transactions using blockchain explorers.
Why Our Flashing Tech Leads the Market:
Race/Finney Attack Mechanics: Mimics authentic blockchain behavior.
Private iNode Clusters: Deliver fast syncing and reliable confirmation.
Live Timer: Ensures fresh, legitimate transactions.
Real Blockchain TX IDs: All transactions come with verifiable IDs.
FAQs:
- Is flashing secure?
Yes, fully encrypted with VPN/proxy compatibility. - Multiple devices?
Yes, up to 5 Windows PCs per license. - Chargebacks possible?
No, flashing is irreversible. - Spendability?
Flash coins stay spendable 60–360 days. - Verification after expiry?
No, transactions expire after the set time. - Support?
24/7 Telegram and WhatsApp help available.
Independent, Transparent, Trusted:
At CryptoFlashingTool.com, we pride ourselves on unmatched transparency, speed, and reliability. See our excellent reviews on ScamAdvisor and top crypto forums!
Contact Us:
WhatsApp: +1 770 666 2531
Telegram: @cryptoflashingtool
Ready to Flash Like a Pro?
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@ 74fb3ef2:58adabc7
2025-05-22 22:26:23Suppose you have a small mom-and-pop shop selling bananas, your bananas are of the highest quality, you plant the banana trees yourself, you water them daily, take great care of everything, and still select only the top 1% of bananas to sell.
Your customers love it, there's no place where they can get better bananas, but due to the fact that you spend so much time, your bananas have to be more expensive, so despite the higher quality, you don't make as much money as you think you should; surely you can get a little more of the market if you adopt some of the strategies that work for your competitors.
So you look across the street, and what do you know? Their bananas are of significantly worse quality than yours, but they're not just selling bananas, they're selling apples too, so you think to yourself, "what if I sold apples? Maybe my apples won't be the best in the market, but nobody can beat my bananas!"
You start planting apple trees, and after a while you're able go sell slightly better than average apples, but by doing so you neglect your bananas ever so slightly.
Most of your existing customers don't notice, you still have the best bananas in town, they don't notice the slight drop in quality. And now that you're selling apples too you're making more money, and more customers come to you.
But you notice that there's a new store now that's selling oranges, and people are buying them. So surely you need oranges too, so you can make some extra money.
You plant a few orange trees, but find yourself spending so much time tending to the oranges and apples that you can't devote the same time and love to your bananas.
You are making a bit of extra cash from the new customers, business is going well, but you don't have time for anything else anymore. You no free time anymore, you are overworked and your health is getting worse.
But you can't stop now that business is going well, you are making so much more, yeah maybe you don't have the same bananas anymore, but you do have slightly above average apples and oranges that have attracted so many customers.
You suddenly fall ill, you've overworked yourself and you are stuck at a hospital for a while.
When you come back to your store, a few of your customers are back, but not all of them, so you think of more ideas, mandarins, kiwi, watermelons, you can grow it all, but you're gonna hire a bunch of people to help you so you don't fall ill again.
One thing leads to another and you are making more money than ever, but strangely you don't hear your customers praising your bananas anymore.
So you take one of your bananas, peel it, and as you taste it, a wave of disappointment hits you.
Your bananas are now just as bad as everyone else's; you gave in to the tyranny of the marginal customer.
You make a lot of money now, but your flagship product is long gone, you are now just another Fruitseller.
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@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d
2025-05-22 22:01:46Bahrain-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.
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@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d
2025-05-22 22:01:45Steak ‘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.
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@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-22 22:01:23Marty's Bent
It's been a hell of a week in Austin, Texas. The Texas Energy & Mining Summit was held at Bitcoin Park Austin on Tuesday and yesterday. Around 200 people from across the energy sector and the mining sector convened to discuss the current state of bitcoin mining, how it integrates with energy systems, and where things are going in the near to medium term. Representatives from ERCOT, Halliburton, and some of the largest mining companies in the world were in attendence. Across town, Bitcoin++ is holding their conference on mempools, which is fitting considering there is currently an ongoing debate about mempool policy and whether or not Bitcoin Core should eliminate the data limit on OP_RETURN.
I've had the pleasure of participating in both events. At the Texas Energy & Mining Summit I opened up the two-day event with the opening panel on why Texas is perfectly suited not only for bitcoin mining but for the bitcoin industry in general. Texas is a state that highly values private property rights, low taxes, and free market competition. It's become clear to me over the four years that I've lived in Texas that it is an incredible place to start a bitcoin business. The energy down here (pun intended) is palpable.
I also hosted the ending panel with Nick Gates from Priority Power, Will Cole from Zaprite and Jay Beddict from Foundry about what we have to look forward to through the rest of the year. I think the consensus was pretty clear on the panel, there's never been a more bullish setup for bitcoin historically. The political support we're getting here in the United States, the institutional adoption that we're seeing, and the fervor around protocol level development are all pointing in the right direction. Even though the discussions around protocol development can be contentious at times, it's a signal that people really care about this open source monetary protocol that we're all building on. We all agreed that Bitcoin has never been more de-risked than it is today. That is not to say that there aren't any risk.
We also discussed the problem with mining pool centralization and the FPPS payout scheme and why people need to be paying attention to it. But I think overall, things are looking pretty good right now.
Yesterday I also had the pleasure of running the live desk at Bitcoin++ speaking with many of the developers building out the protocol layer and layers above bitcoin. It's always extremely humbling to sit down and speak with the developers because they are so damn smart. Brilliant people who really care deeply about bitcoin. Even though many of them have very different views about the state of bitcoin and how to build it out moving forward. I view my role on the live desk is simply to try to get everybody's perspective. Not only on the OP_RETURN discussion, but on the future of bitcoin and how the protocol progresses from a technical perspective.
I had many conversations. The first with Average Gary and VNPRC, who are working on hashpools, which are attempting to solve the mining pool centralization and privacy problems that exists by using ecash. Hashpool gives miners the ability to exchange hash shares for ehash tokens. that are immediately liquid and exchangeable for bitcoin over the lightning network. Solving the consistent payout and liquidity problem that miners are always trying to solve. Currently FPPS payout schemes are the way they solve these problems. I'm incredibly optimistic about the hashpools project.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with SuperTestNet and Dusty Daemon, who are both focused on making bitcoin more inherently private at the protocol layer and on the lightning network. I think Dusty's work on splicing is very underappreciated right now and is something that you should all look into. Dusty also explained an idea he has that would make CoinJoin coordination much easier by creating a standardized coordination protocol. I'm going to butcher the explanation here, But I think the general idea is to create a way for people to combine inputs by monitoring the lightning network and looking for individual actors who are looking to rebalance channels and opportunistically set up a collaborative transaction with them. This is something I think everyone should look into and champion because I think it would be incredibly beneficial to on-chain privacy. As Bitcoin scales and gets adopted by millions and billions of people over the next few decades.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew Poelstra and Boerst about cryptography and block templates. For those of you who are unaware, Andrew Poelstra the Head of Research at Blockstream and on the cutting edge of the cryptography that bitcoin uses and may implement in the future. We had a wide ranging discussion about OP_RETURN, FROST, Musig2, Miniscript, quantum. resistant cryptographic libraries, and how Bitcoin Core actually works as a development project.
I also spoke with Liam Egan from Alpen Labs. He's working on ZK rollups on Bitcoin. Admittedly, this is an area I haven't explored too deeply, so it was awesome to sit down with Liam and get his perspective. Alpen Labs is leveraging BitVM to enable their rollups.
I highly recommend if and when you get the time to check out the YouTube stream of the Live Desk. A lot of very deep, technical conversations, but if you're really interested to learn how bitcoin actually works and some of the ideas that are out there to make it better, this is an incredible piece of content to watch. I'm about to head over for day two of Bitcoin++ to run the Live Desk again. So if you get this email before we go live make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel and tune in for the day.
One thing I will say. Last night, there was a debate about OP_RETURN and I think it's important to note that despite how vitriolic people may get on Twitter, it's always interesting to see people with diametrically opposed views get together and have civil debates. It's obvious that everyone involved cares deeply about bitcoin. Having these tough conversations in person is very important. Particularly, civil conversations. I certainly think yesterday's debate was civil. Though, I will say I think that as bitcoiners, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard of decorum when debates like this are had.
Tyler Campbell from Unchained mentioned that it is insane that there was such a small group of people attending this particular debate about the future of a two trillion dollar protocol. Bitcoin is approaching $100,000 again as I type and no one in big tech, no one in big finance outside of people looking for bitcoin treasury plays is really paying attention to what's happening at the protocol level. This is simply funny to observe and probably a good thing in the long run. But, Meta, Stripe, Apple, Visa, Mastercard and the Teslas of the world are all asleep at the wheel as we build out the future of money.
The $1 Trillion Basis Trade Time Bomb
The massive basis trade currently looming over financial markets represents a systemic risk that dwarfs previous crises. As James Lavish warned during our conversation, approximately $1 trillion in leveraged positions exist within this trade - ten times larger than those held by Long-Term Capital Management before its 1998 collapse. These trades employ staggering leverage ratios between 20x to 100x just to make minuscule basis point differences profitable. The Brookings Institution, which Lavish describes as a "tacit research arm of the Fed," has published a paper explicitly warning about this trade's dangers.
"The Brookings Institution came out with a solution... instead of printing money this time, the Fed will just take the whole trade off of the hedge funds books. Absolutely, utterly maniacal. The thought of the Fed becoming a hedge fund... it's nuts." - James Lavish
What makes this situation particularly alarming is how an unwind could trigger cascading margin calls throughout interconnected financial markets. As Lavish explained, when positions begin unwinding, prices move dramatically, triggering more margin calls that force more selling. This "powder keg behind the scenes" is being closely monitored by sophisticated investors who understand its destructive potential. Unlike a controlled demolition, this unwinding could quickly become chaotic, potentially forcing unprecedented Fed intervention.
Check out the full podcast here for more on Bitcoin's role as the neutral reserve asset, nation-state mining strategies, and the repeal of SAB 121's impact on banking adoption.
Headlines of the Day
Panama City Signs Deal for Bitcoin Municipal Payments - via X
U.S. Economy Polls Show Falling Confidence in Trump Leadership - via CNBC
Jack Mallers's Bitcoin Bank Targets $500 Trillion Market - via X
Bitcoin Decouples From Markets With 10% Gain Amid Asset Slump - via X
Looking for the perfect video _to push the smartest person you know from zero to one on bitcoin? Bitcoin, Not Crypto is a three-part master class from Parker Lewis and Dhruv Bansal that cuts through the noise—covering why 2
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 22:01:08Bitcoin Magazine
Bitcoin Liquid Network Surpasses $3.27 Billion in Total Value LockedToday, the Liquid Federation has announced that the Liquid Network has surpassed $3.27 billion in total value locked (TVL), according to a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine.
“Surpassing the $3 billion threshold marks a pivotal moment for both Liquid and Bitcoin, signaling the evolution of Bitcoinʼs ecosystem into a full-fledged platform for global financial markets,” said the CEO and Co-Founder of Blockstream Dr. Adam Back. “As Bitcoin gains mainstream acceptance, and demand for regulated asset tokenization accelerates, Liquid is better positioned than ever to bridge Bitcoin with traditional finance and drive the next wave of capital markets innovation.”
The announcement follows growing interest in tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs), with major moves such as BlackRock’s decision to tokenize a $150 billion Treasury fund. According to a 2025 report by Security Token Market, the tokenized asset market is projected to grow to $30 trillion by 2030.
Liquid supports over $1.8 billion in tokenized private credit and offers products like U.S. Treasury notes and digital currencies through Blockstream’s AMP platform. The network also features fast, low-cost, and confidential transactions, with support for atomic swaps and robust smart contracts.
Governed by over 80 global institutions, Liquid was launched in 2018 as Bitcoin’s first sidechain. It is now preparing for a major upgrade with the mainnet release of Simplicity, aimed at expanding its smart contract capabilities.
To keep up with increasing demand, the Liquid Federation is boosting developer resources and technical onboardings, along with integrations with exchanges, custodians and service providers. Recent bootcamps and important meetings with policy makers in Asia, Europe and Latin America reflect the network’s growing global presence.
This post Bitcoin Liquid Network Surpasses $3.27 Billion in Total Value Locked first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.
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@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b
2025-05-22 21:03:52Originalni tekst na bitcoin-balkan.com.
Pregled sadržaja
- Šta je finansijski samo-suverenitet?
- Zašto smo prestali da koristimo zlatni standard?
- Šta fali tradicionalnoj valuti i centralnim bankama?
- Kako mogu ljudi da mi ukradu novac ako je u banci?
- Kako ljudi koriste moje finansijske podatke protiv mene?
- Kako ljudi kontrolišu sa kim obavljam transakcije?
- Kako da povratimo svoj finansijski samo-suverenitet?
- Kako Bitcoin funkcioniše?
- Pa onda, zašto Bitcoin?
- Po čemu je Bitcoin bolji od sistema tradicionalnih valuta?
- Kako Bitcoin štiti od Inflacije?
- Kako Bitcoin štiti od Zaplene?
- Kako Bitcoin štiti Privatnost?
- Kako Bitcoin štiti od Cenzure?
- Šta će vlada i banke učiniti sa Bitcoin-om?
- Da li je vrednost Bitcoin-a nestabilna?
- Da li je Bitcoin novac?
- Bitcoin kao Zaliha Vrednosti
- Bitcoin kao Sredstvo Razmene
- Bitcoin kao Obračunska Jedinica
- Bitcoin kao Sistem Kontrole
- Šta je sa „Sledećim Bitcoin-om“?
- Na kraju
Kratki uvod u bezbednost, privatnost i slobodu vašeg novca.
Pre nego što saznate kako morate znati zašto.
Šta je finansijski samo-suverenitet?
Zamislite da u ruci imate zlatni novčić, jedan od najjednostavnijih i najčistijih oblika finansijskog samo-suvereniteta.
Da biste držali taj zlatni novčić, ne morate da se složite sa bilo kojim Uslovima korišćenja ili Politikom privatnosti, da se pridržavate bilo kojih KYC ili AML propisa, da pokažete ličnu kartu, da navedete svoje ime ili jedinstveni matični broj.
Samo ga držite u ruci i njime možete platiti bilo šta, davanjem tog novčića nekom drugom da ga drži u ruci. To je čista sloboda.
Pored slobode onoga što kupujete svojim novčićem, niko ne može magično znati kome plaćate ili koju robu/usluge kupujete tim zlatni novčićem, jer vaša privatnost nije ugrožena sa zlatom.
A pošto imate svoju privatnost, niko ne može znati za vaše transakcije, pa niko ne može da odluči da ograniči ili kontroliše za šta koristite taj zlatni novčić.
Hiljadama godina zlato je bilo globalni standard novca.
Svi su održavali svoj finansijski samo-suverenitet, a privatnost i sloboda svačijeg novca su poštovani.
Zaista je bilo tako jednostavno.
Zašto smo prestali da koristimo zlatni standard?
Trenutni globalni bankarski sistem i sistem tradicionalnih valuta, bankari su vrlo polako implementirali u proteklih 100+ godina.
Udružili su se sa svetskim vladama koje su svima oduzele zlato pod pretnjom nasilja.
Na primer, nakon što je Federalna banka rezervi osnovana u SAD-u 1913. godine, američka vlada je nasilno oduzela svo zlato 1933. godine, prisiljavajući sve da koriste nove centralne banke i sistem novčanica Federalnih rezervi.
„Dostavite svoje celokupno zlato u naše sefove u zamenu za bezvredni papir, ili ćemo upotrebiti silu nad vama.“
Banke su u početku zamenile zlatni standard papirnim priznanicama zvane zlatni sertifikati, ali nakon što je prošlo dovoljno vremena, banke su u osnovi jednostavno prestale da ih otkupljuju za zlato.
Zlatni sertifikati izdavani od banaka (novčanice ili „gotovina“) u tom trenutku bili su samo bezvredni papir, ali zbog vladine pretnje nasiljem, svi su bili primorani da nastave da koriste novčanice Federalnih rezervi.
Od skora, banke koriste digitalnu bazu podataka, u kojoj doslovno mogu stvoriti novac ni iz čega, čak i da ga ne moraju štampati na papiru.
Predsednik Federalnih rezervi priča kako oni „štampaju“ novac.
Oni su učvrstili svoju moć da manipulišu i naduvaju globalnu novčanu masu, nadgledaju finansijske transakcije svih i kontrolišu protok svih tradicionalnih valuta u svom bankarskom sistemu.
Banke sada kontrolišu sve.
Jednom kada su centralni bankari uspešno preuzeli kontrolu nad novčanom masom u svetu, zajedno sa sposobnošću svih da slobodno vrše transakcije i trguju, svet je kolektivno izgubio bezbednost, slobodu i privatnost svog novca.
Šta fali tradicionalnoj valuti i centralnim bankama?
Nakon impelentacije trenutnog globalnog bankarskog sistema i sistema tradicionalnih valuta, svetu nije preostao drugi izbor nego da veruje bankarima i političarima da vode globalni finansijski sistem na pošten način.
„Koren problema tradicionalne valute je potpuno poverenje potrebno za njeno funkcionisanje. Centralnoj banci se mora verovati da neće devalvirati valutu, ali istorija tradicionalnih valuta je puna kršenja tog poverenja. Bankama se mora verovati da čuvaju naš novac i prenose ga elektronskim putem, ali ga daju u talasima kreditnih balona sa malim delićem rezerve. ““ — Satoshi Nakamoto
Istorija zloupotrebe tradicionalnih valuta može se grupisati u 3 kategorije:
• Bezbednost. Loši ljudi kradu vaš novac ili vrednost vašeg novca, ponekad na očigledne načine, ponekad na podle načine.
• Privatnost. Loši ljudi nadgledaju sve vaše privatne finansijske transakcije, i koriste vaše lične finansijske podatke protiv vas.
• Sloboda. Loši ljudi kontrolišu na koji način možete da trošite sopstveni novac, sa kim možete da obavljate transakcije, koliko možete da potrošite itd.
Kako mogu ljudi da mi ukradu novac ako je u banci?
Evo nekoliko primera:
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Krađa inflacijom: Ovo je primarni način na koji banke kradu vaš novac i jedan od najpodlijih. Kada centralne banke izdaju novi novac, bilo štampanjem na bezvrednom papiru, ili samo dodavanjem knjigovodstvenog unosa u bazu podataka koju kontrolišu, one naduvaju globalnu novčanu masu. Inflacija krade kupovnu moć svih koji drže deo te valute, jednostavno zato što je sada više te valute u opticaju. Zlato se ne može stvoriti, pa su bankari umesto toga izmislili sistem papirnog novca.
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Krađa zaplenom: Ovo je jedan od načina na koji vlade mogu ukrasti vaš novac. Da li ste ikada čuli za zaplenu imovine? Ako policajac posumnja da je vaša imovina korišćena u krivičnom delu, može je zapleniti, a vi se morate boriti da biste povratili vašu ukradenu imovinu. Ili, drugi primer: Pokušajte da uđete u zemlju sa više od 10.000 USD u džepu, a ne da je prijavite, i pogledajte šta će se dogoditi. Sve je isto: krađa od strane drugih ljudi sa oružjem.
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Krađa putem oporezivanja: Ovo je još jedan način na koji vam vlade kradu novac. Ne sporim da li je oporezivanje etično ili ne, samo konstatujem činjenicu da vaša vlada može da primora vašu banku da im da vaš novac, a ovo je bezbednostna ranjivost. Da bi novac bio siguran, mora biti nezaplenjiv, a vlade mogu da zaplene vaše bankovne račune.
Kako ljudi koriste moje finansijske podatke protiv mene?
Ako fizičku tradicionalnu valutu predate drugoj osobi, u obliku papirnog novca ili kovanica, relativno je lako zaštititi privatnost svoje transakcije, baš kao što bi bilo da koristite zlatnike.
Međutim, ako koristite kreditne kartice, debitne kartice, bankovne transfere, PayPal, Venmo, LINE Pay, WeChat Pay ili bilo koju drugu mrežu za plaćanje koja je centralno kontrolisana, aktivno pristajete da se odreknete privatnosti podataka svih svojih privatnih finansijskih transakcija i sve ih dajete poverljivoj trećoj strani.
Kada su svi podaci i metapodaci vaših finansijskih transakcija prijavljeni u centralnu bazu podataka, onaj ko ima pristup toj bazi podataka može da koristi vaše podatke protiv vas.
Evo nekoliko osnovnih primera:
- Ako ste kupili robu rizičnog životnog stila poput cigareta, banka može reći vašoj osiguravajućoj kompaniji da poveća vaše osiguranje.
- Ako ste kupili nešto što je ilegalno, poput droga za rekreaciju, vaša banka može reći vašoj vladi da vas zakonski goni.
Ali u slučaju nekih represivnih vlada, oni su to odveli do ekstrema. Oni centralno prikupljaju sve finansijske transakcije i druge podatke svih svojih građana i stvorili su totalitarni Sistem Socijalnih Bodova (eng. Social Credit Score):
Prepoznavanje lica je jedan od elemenata kineskih napora za praćenje
Zapisi George Orwell-a već su postali stvarnost u Kini zbog sistema tradicionalnih valuta centralne banke i platnih mreža koje su izgrađene na njemu.
Ako mislite da se to neće dogoditi u vašoj zemlji, razmislite ponovo.
To se dešava vrlo polako, ali na kraju će sve svetske vlade primeniti Sistem Socijalnih Bodova, dok je Kina to tek prva učinila.
Kako ljudi kontrolišu sa kim obavljam transakcije?
U prvom primeru sa zlatnim novčićem, kada ga predate nekom drugom kao plaćanje za robu ili uslugu, ne postoji centralizovana evidencija vaše platne transakcije i imate savršenu privatnost.
Međutim, u centralnom bankarskom sistemu, budući da banka ima i znanje o podacima o vašim transakcijama i moć da kontroliše vaša sredstva, oni mogu proceniti niz pravila da bi odlučili da li žele da dozvole vašu transakciju ili da to odbiju, takođe kao i izvršenje te odluke kontrolišući vaša sredstva.
Tako su vlade naoružale tradicionalne valute i centralni bankarski sistem kao Sistem Kontrole nad svojim građanima.
Da rezimiramo: Pošto ste se odrekli bezbednosti i privatnosti svog novca, izgubili ste i svoju finansijsku slobodu.
“Privatnost nije o tome da nešto treba sakriti. Privatnost je o tome da nešto treba zaštititi.” — Edward Snowden
Kako da povratimo svoj finansijski samo-suverenitet?
Pokret Cypherpunk pokrenuli su pojedinci koji su shvatili važnost zaštite privatnosti i slobode pojedinačnih korisnika na Internetu.
Cypherpunk-ovi su verovali da se gore opisani problemi mogu rešiti samo potpuno novim novčanim sistemom, koji poštuje i štiti bezbednost, privatnost i slobodu pojedinca.
Mnogi od Cypherpunk-era pokušali su da izgrade nove etičke sisteme e-gotovine koji bi mogli da zamene tradicionalne valute i centralno bankarstvo.
Bilo je mnogo teških računarskih problema koje je trebalo prevazići u stvaranju tako istinski decentralizovanog sistema, i ako su neki od njih bili blizu cilja, svi su propali.
Odnosno, sve dok jedan pseudonim Cypherpunk-a to konačno nije shvatio 2008. godine: kombinacijom digitalnih potpisa, distribuirane knjige i peer-to-peer mreže, rođen je Bitcoin.
Kako Bitcoin funkcioniše?
Baš kao što ne treba da znate kako Internet funkcioniše da bi gledali slike mačaka na Internetu, razumevanje tehničke složenosti načina na koji Bitcoin radi „ispod haube“ nije neophodno da biste ga koristili i postigli sopstveni finansijski samo-suverenitet.
Važna stvar koju želim da saznate iz ovog članka je da iako većina novih tehnologija u početku ima loše korisničko iskustvo, Bitcoin svesno i vrlo namerno ne žrtvuje svoje osnovne filozofske principe da bi brže pridobio nove korisnike, ili da bi poboljšao korisničko iskustvo.
Najpametniji Cypherpunk-ovi rade na poboljšanju korisničkog iskustva.
Tehnologija će se sa vremenom poboljšavati, baš kao i za Internet.
Pa onda, zašto Bitcoin?
Reći ću vam zašto:
Jer Bitcoin poštuje bezbednost, privatnost i slobodu pojedinca.
Po čemu je Bitcoin bolji od sistema tradicionalnih valuta?
Za početak, Bitcoin nema Uslove korišćenja, Politiku privatnosti i Propise o usklađenosti sa KYC/AML. (Know Your Costumer & Anti-money Laundering)
Bitcoin je uspešan primer implementacije kripto-anarhije, gde su jedina pravila kriptografija, matematika i jak skup konsenzusnih pravila.
To je distribuirani i nepoverljivi sistem zasnovan na finansijskim podsticajima i nijedna osoba ili centralizovani entitet ne može da kontroliše Bitcoin.
Ono što je najvažnije, Bitcoin vam omogućava da odustanete od tradicionalnih valuta, sistema delimičnih rezervi i centralnog bankarstva rešavanjem osnovnih problema poverenja:
- Sigurnost od inflacije korišćenjem fiksnog snabdevanja
- Sigurnost od zaplene korišćenjem ključeva za kontrolu sredstava
- Privatnost plaćanja korišćenjem pseudonimnih identiteta
- Sloboda protiv cenzure korišćenjem peer to peer mreže
Kako Bitcoin štiti od Inflacije?
Jedno od najkritičnijih pravila konsenzusa o Bitcoin-u je da može postojati najviše 21,000,000 Bitcoin-a.
Nakon izdavanja svih Bitcoin-a, nikada više ne može doći do stvaranja novih Bitcoin-a.
Stoga je Bitcoin deflaciona valuta, koja sprečava ljude da ukradu vaš novac ili njegovu vrednost naduvavanjem novčane mase.
Monetarna Inflacija Bitcoin-a
Kako Bitcoin štiti od Zaplene?
Bitcoin se može preneti samo pomoću kriptografskog privatnog ključa koji kontroliše sredstva.
Nijedan bitcoin nikada ne izadje van sistema.
Nijedna vlada, banka ili sudski nalog ne mogu zapleniti ta sredstva.
Jednostavno ne postoji način da se takva odredba ili naredba sprovede od bilo kog „organa vlasti“, jer Bitcoin ne priznaje nijedno „ovlašćenje“ u svom sistemu.
Bitcoin je potpuno samo-suveren sistem i zbog svoje distribuirane prirode ne može se ugasiti.
Postoji zbog sopstvenih zasluga, samo zato što ljudi veruju u to.
Kako Bitcoin štiti Privatnost?
Bitcoin ne traži vaše ime ili druge detalje koji mogu lično da vas identifikuju.
Vaš identitet je kriptografski, a ne vaše stvarno ime.
Dakle, vaš identitet izgleda otprilike kao 1vizSAISbuiKsbt9d8JV8itm5ackk2TorC, a ne kao „Stefan Petrovič“.
Pored toga, niko ne zna ko kontroliše sredstva na datoj Bitcoin adresi, a nova tehnologija se neprestano razvija kako bi se poboljšala privatnost Bitcoin-a.
Kako Bitcoin štiti od Cenzure?
Peer-to-peer Bitcoin mreža je u potpunosti distribuirana.
To znači da ako jedan čvor pokuša da cenzuriše vašu transakciju, neće uspeti ukoliko * svaki * čvor(Node) ne izvrši cenzuru vaše transakcije.
Šta će vlada i banke učiniti sa Bitcoin-om?
Neke zemlje su pokušale da ga regulišu, kontrolišu, isključe itd., ali nijedna od njih nije uspela.
Čini se da uglavnom samo žele da koriste postojeći sistem centralnih banaka da bi kontrolisali kako ljudi trguju tradicionalnim valutama za Bitcoin, i naravno žele da oporezuju Bitcoin na bilo koji mogući način.
Evo nekoliko uobičajenih tvrdnji vlada i banaka o Bitcoin-u:
Evropska centralna banka kaže da Bitcoin nije valuta i upozorava da je vrlo nestabilna.
„Bitcoin, izgleda samo kao prevara“, rekao je gospodin Tramp. „Ne sviđa mi se jer je to još jedna valuta koja se takmiči sa dolarom.“
Da li je vrednost Bitcoin-a nestabilna?
Ako umanjite grafikon cena, videćete da Bitcoin-u neprekidno raste vrednost od kada je stvoren, trgujući sa manje od 0,01 USD i polako se penje na preko 60.000 USD na nedavnom vrhuncu početkom 2021. godine.
Cena Bitcoina od 2011. godine
To je zato što je njegova ponuda fiksna i ljudi cene njegovu nestašicu.
Sa većom potražnjom i fiksnom ponudom, cene vremenom rastu.
Kako godine odmiču, njegova vrednost će se povećavati kako novi korisnici počinju da drže Bitcoin. (U svetu Bitcoina držanju kažemo HODL. Drži bitcoin. Hodl bitcoin.)
Da li je Bitcoin novac?
Da biste odgovorili na pitanje da li je Bitcoin novac ili ne, prvo morate definisati pojam „novac“.
Nažalost, reč „novac“ koristimo da bismo opisali nekoliko vrlo različitih komplikovanih koncepata, koji su svi potpuno odvojeni.
Termin „novac“ se zapravo odnosi na:
- Zaliha Vrednosti (Store of Value)
- Sredstvo Razmene ( Medium of Exchange)
- Obračunska Jedinica (Unit of Account)
- Sistem Kontrole (System Control)
Bitcoin kao Zaliha Vrednosti
Ovaj tweet to savršeno objašnjava:
Sinov prijatelj: “Matt, šta će se dogoditi ako novčić od 1 funte usitnite na pola?”
Dobijaš dva komada bezvrednog metala. Ako zlatnik usitnite na pola, dobićete dva zlatnika, od kojih svaki vredi polovinu onoga što je novčić bio.
Sin: „… isto tako kao sa zlatom jeste sa bitcoinima“.
Bitcoin je potpuno deljiv i deluje kao izvrsna zaliha vrednosti, baš kao što je i zlato već hiljadama godina.
Bitcoin kao Sredstvo Razmene
Bitcoin je dobro služio kao sredstvo razmene za svoje rane korisnike.
Ali skaliranje Bitcoin-a na globalni nivo koji bi mogao da posluži svim ljudima je veliki izazov, jer se osnovna „blockchain“ tehnologija ne skalira na globalni nivo.
Da bi rešio ovaj problem skaliranja, Satoshi je izumeo koncept kanala plaćanja, a u kombinaciji sa malo pomoći drugih briljantnih računarskih naučnika Cipherpunk-a koji su poboljšali koncept tokom poslednjih 10 godina, sada imamo mrežu Lightning, koja omogućava da se Bitcoin koristi kao odlično Sredstvo Razmene, koje se vremenom može proširiti na globalni nivo.
Bitcoin kao Obračunska Jedinica
Najmanja obračunska jedinica Bitcoin-a nazvana je po njenom tvorcu, Satoshi-u.
Jedan Bitcoin je jednak 100.000.000 Satoshi-a.
Na kraju, kako se robe i usluge sve češće razmenjuju za Bitcoin, sve više ljudi će koristiti Bitcoin ili „Sats“ kao obračunsku jedinicu.
Bitcoin kao Sistem Kontrole
Budući da je Bitcoin dizajniran da poštuje i štiti ljudska prava pojedinca, posebno bezbednost, privatnost i slobodu novca; ne bi bio dobar Sistem Kontrole i ne može se koristiti za ugnjetavanje ljudi, kao što se dešava sa tradicionalnim valutama i sistemima centralnog bankarstva koji to trenutno vrlo dobro rade.
Šta je sa „Sledećim Bitcoin-om“?
Kao što može biti samo jedan „globalni“ Internet, tako može biti i samo jedan globalni novac, a stigao je i novi Bitcoin Standard.
Sve ostalo je ili direktna prevara ili gubljenje vremena.
Ako bi neko želeo da vam proda „Sledeće Zlato“, da li biste ga kupili?
Na kraju
Nadam se da vam je ovaj članak pomogao da razumete zašto je Bitcoin stvoren i kako može da pomogne svetu da se oslobodi tradicionalnih valuta i sistema centralnog bankarstva koji je veoma duboko integrisan u naše trenutno društvo.
Evo nekoliko misli koje treba poneti sa sobom:
- Bitcoin nije izmišljen radi zarade, već je izmišljen da bi promenio svet.
- Bitcoin će to učiniti poštujući korisnikovu bezbednost, privatnost i slobodu.
- Bitcoin se već koristi kao novac, na nekoliko načina na koji se novac može koristiti.
- Bitcoin nije nestabilan, njegova vrednost vremenom polako raste (odzumirajte).
- Bitcoin ima mnogo kopija i prevaranata koji će pokušati da vam prodaju svoju kopiju Bitcoin-a. Ne zavaravajte se lažnim Bitcoin-om baš kao što vas ne bi prevarili ni Lažnim Zlatom.
- Bitcoin će postati najveći prenos bogatstva u našem životu, tako da ćete možda želeti da ih uzmete pre nego kasnije.
- Ostanite skromni i skupljajte satošije.
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@ 000002de:c05780a7
2025-05-22 20:50:21I'm mostly curious about how Tapper can do this with a straight face.
https://stacker.news/items/986926
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@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-22 20:01:24Marty's Bent
via me
It seems like every other day there's another company announced that is going public with the intent of competing with Strategy by leveraging capital markets to create financial instruments to acquire Bitcoin in a way that is accretive for shareholders. This is certainly a very interesting trend, very bullish for bitcoin in the short-term, and undoubtedly making it so bitcoin is top of mind in the mainstream. I won't pretend to know whether or not these strategies will ultimately be successful or fail in the short, medium or long term. However, one thing I do know is that the themes that interest me, both here at TFTC and in my role as Managing Partner at Ten31, are companies that are building good businesses that are efficient, have product-market-fit, generate revenues and profits and roll those profits into bitcoin.
While it seems pretty clear that Strategy has tapped into an arbitrage that exists in capital markets, it's not really that exciting. From a business perspective, it's actually pretty straightforward and simple; find where potential arbitrage opportunities exists between pools of capital looking for exposure to spot bitcoin or bitcoin's volatility but can't buy the actual asset, and provide them with products that give them access to exposure while simultaneously creating a cult-like retail following. Rinse and repeat. To the extent that this strategy is repeatable is yet to be seen. I imagine it can expand pretty rapidly. Particularly if we have a speculative fervor around companies that do this. But in the long run, I think the signal is falling back to first principles, looking for businesses that are actually providing goods and services to the broader economy - not focused on the hyper-financialized part of the economy - to provide value and create efficiencies that enable higher margins and profitability.
With this in mind, I think it's important to highlight the combined leverage that entrepreneurs have by utilizing bitcoin treasuries and AI tools that are emerging and becoming more advanced by the week. As I said in the tweet above, there's never been a better time to start a business that finds product-market fit and cash flows quickly with a team of two to three people. If you've been reading this rag over the last few weeks, you know that I've been experimenting with these AI tools and using them to make our business processes more efficient here at TFTC. I've also been using them at Ten31 to do deep research and analysis.
It has become abundantly clear to me that any founder or entrepreneur that is not utilizing the AI tools that are emerging is going to get left behind. As it stands today, all anyone has to do to get an idea from a thought in your head to the prototype stage to a minimum viable product is to hop into something like Claude or ChatGPT, have a brief conversation with an AI model that can do deep research about a particular niche that you want to provide a good service to and begin building.
Later this week, I will launch an app called Opportunity Cost in the Chrome and Firefox stores. It took me a few hours of work over the span of a week to ideate and iterate on the concept to the point where I had a working prototype that I handed off to a developer who is solving the last mile problem I have as an "idea guy" of getting the product to market. Only six months ago, accomplishing something like this would have been impossible for me. I've never written a line of code that's actually worked outside of the modded MySpace page I made back in middle school. I've always had a lot of ideas but have never been able to effectively communicate them to developers who can actually build them. With a combination of ChatGPT-03 and Replit, I was able to build an actual product that works. I'm using it in my browser today. It's pretty insane.
There are thousands of people coming to the same realization at the same time right now and going out there and building niche products very cheaply, with small teams, they are getting to market very quickly, and are amassing five figures, six figures, sometimes seven figures of MRR with extremely high profit margins. What most of these entrepreneurs have not really caught on to yet is that they should be cycling a portion - in my opinion, a large portion - of those profits into bitcoin. The combination of building a company utilizing these AI tools, getting it to market, getting revenue and profits, and turning those profits into bitcoin cannot be understated. You're going to begin seeing teams of one to ten people building businesses worth billions of dollars and they're going to need to store the value they create, any money that cannot be debased.
Grant Gilliam, one of the co-founders of Ten31, wrote about this in early 2024, bitcoin being the fourth lever of equity value growth for companies.
[
Bitcoin Treasury - The Fourth Lever to Equity Value Growth
Most companies do not hold enough bitcoin There is a saying you often hear in bitcoin circles that “you can never have enough bitcoin.” This is typically expressed by those who have spent the time to both understand bitcoin’s unique and superior monetary properties and also to appreciate why tho
Ten31 - Investors in bitcoin infrastructure and freedom techGrant Gilliam
](https://ten31.vc/insights/treasury?ref=tftc.io)
We already see this theme playing out at Ten31 with some of our portfolio companies, most notably Strike, which recently released some of their financials, highlighting the fact that they're extremely profitable with high margins and a relatively small team (~75). This is extremely impressive, especially when you consider the fact that they're a global company competing with the likes of Coinbase and Block, which have each thousands of employees.
Even those who are paying attention to the developments in the AI space and how the tools can enable entrepreneurs to build faster aren't really grasping the gravity of what's at play here. Many are simply thinking of consumer apps that can be built and distributed quickly to market, but the ways in which AI can be implemented extend far beyond the digital world. Here's a great example of a company a fellow freak is building with the mindset of keeping the team small, utilizing AI tools to automate processes and quickly push profits into bitcoin.
via Cormac
Again, this is where the exciting things are happening in my mind. People leveraging new tools to solve real problems to drive real value that ultimately produce profits for entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs who decide to save those profits in bitcoin will find that the equity value growth of their companies accelerates exponentially as they provide more value, gain more traction, and increase their profits while also riding the bitcoin as it continues on its monetization phase. The compounded leverage of building a company that leverages AI tools and sweeps profits into bitcoin is going to be the biggest asymmetric play of the next decade. Personally, I also see it as something that's much more fulfilling than the pure play bitcoin treasury companies that are coming to market because consumers and entrepreneurs are able to recive and provide a ton of value in the real economy.
If you're looking to stay on top of the developments in the AI space and how you can apply the tools to help build your business or create a new business, I highly recommend you follow somebody like Greg Isenberg, whose Startup Ideas Podcast has been incredibly valuable for me as I attempt to get a lay of the land of how to implement AI into my businesses.
America's Two Economies
In my recent podcast with Lyn Alden, she outlined how our trade deficits create a cycle that's reshaping America's economic geography. As Alden explained, US trade deficits pump dollars into international markets, but these dollars don't disappear - they return as investments in US financial assets. This cycle gradually depletes industrial heartlands while enriching financial centers on the coasts, creating what amounts to two separate American economies.
"We're basically constantly taking economic vibrancy out of Michigan and Ohio and rural Pennsylvania where the steel mills were... and stuffing it back into financial assets in New York and Silicon Valley." - Lyn Alden
This pattern has persisted for over four decades, accelerating significantly since the early 1980s. Alden emphasized that while economists may argue there's still room before reaching a crisis point, the political consequences are already here. The growing divide between these two Americas has fueled populist sentiment as voters who feel left behind seek economic rebalancing, even if they can't articulate the exact mechanisms causing their hardship.
Check out the full podcast here for more on China's man
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@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-22 20:01:21Key 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 bitcoinTranscript
(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 -
@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64
2025-05-22 19:44:28„Triff niemals deine Idole“ heißt ein gängiger Ratschlag. In gewendeten Zeiten stehen zu dem die Werte auf dem Kopf – und manche Künstler mit ihnen. Die Worte, die aus manch ihrer Mündern kommen, wirken, als hätte eine fremde Hand sie auf deren Zunge gelegt.
https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/wolf-biermann-und-sein-falscher-friede-von-alexa-rodrian?
Die Sängerin Alexa Rodrian erlebte bei der Verleihung des Deutschen Filmpreises einen solchen Moment der Desillusion. Es war der Auftritt des Liedermachers Wolf Biermann. Hören Sie hierzu Alexa Rodrians Text „Wolf Biermann und sein falscher Friede“.
Bild: Marco Maas/fotografirma.de
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@ 9b308fda:b6c7310d
2025-05-22 18:30:19@15/05/2025 ✨ Week 0 – Getting Started with My Internship at Formstr (Onboarding)
I’m excited to share that I’ve been selected as a Summer of Bitcoin intern at Formstr!
After the final exams wrapped up on May 4th, I took a short, well-deserved break while traveling back home from college for the summer. Once settled in, I quickly transitioned into internship mode and began diving into the project assigned to me at Formstr.
It’s been a great start so far, and I’m looking forward to learning, building, and sharing more along the way.
@22/05/2025 — Week 01 – Building Features and Brainstorming at Formstr
This week at Formstr was packed with development and discussions.
The major highlight was completing the row popup view for form responses — now, clicking on any response row shows a clean and complete view of that user's submission. I'm happy to share that the pull request has been merged! It feels great to contribute something that improves the user experience so visibly.
Alongside that, I started brainstorming the LLM-Analysis feature. We had a productive discussion during the weekly developer meeting on Signal, where I shared my initial thoughts and got valuable input from the team. There's a lot of potential in this, and it’s exciting to shape it from the ground up.
I also worked on improving relay management in the form settings to reduce redundancy. The changes are in progress, and it’s almost done — just final touches left before merging.
Another topic we tackled was the “Form Filler with AI” feature. There are still some open questions around implementation and user flow, so we’ve decided to continue discussions with more team members before finalizing the plan.
We’ve also agreed to hold weekly team meetings going forward to keep everyone aligned on ideas, progress, and blockers. I’m glad to be part of such a collaborative and thoughtful team!
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@ 7e6f9018:a6bbbce5
2025-05-22 18:17:57Governments and the press often publish data on the population’s knowledge of Catalan. However, this data only represents one stage in the linguistic process and does not accurately reflect the state of the language, since a language only has a future if it is used. Knowledge is a necessary step toward using a language, but it is not the final stage — that stage is actual use.
So what is the state of Catalan usage? If we look at data on regular use, we see that the Catalan language has remained stagnant over the past hundred years, with nearly the same number of regular speakers. In 1930, there were around 2.5 million speakers, and in 2018, there were 2.7 million.
Regular use of Catalan in Catalonia, in millions of speakers. The dotted segments are an estimate of the trend, based on the statements of Joan Coromines and adjusted according to Catalonia’s population growth.
These figures wouldn’t necessarily be negative if the language’s integrity were strong, that is, if its existence weren’t threatened by other languages. But the population of Catalonia has grown from 2.7 million in 1930 to 7.5 million in 2018. This means that today, regular Catalan speakers make up only 36% of Catalonia’s population, whereas in 1930, they represented 90%.
Regular use of Catalan in Catalonia, as a percentage of speakers. The dotted segments are an estimate of the trend, based on the statements of Joan Coromines and adjusted according to Catalonia’s population growth.
The language that has gained the most ground is mainly Spanish, which went from 200,000 speakers in 1930 to 3.8 million in 2018. Moreover, speakers of other foreign languages (500,000 speakers) have also grown more than Catalan speakers over the past hundred years.
Notes, Sources, and Methodology
The data from 2003 onward is taken from Idescat (source). Before 2003, there are no official statistics, but we can make interpretations based on historical evidence. The data prior to 2003 is calculated based on two key pieces of evidence:
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1st Interpretation: In 1930, 90% of the population of Catalonia spoke Catalan regularly. Source and evidence: The Romance linguist Joan Coromines i Vigneaux, a renowned 20th-century linguist, stated in his 1950 work "El que s'ha de saber de la llengua catalana" that "In this territory [Greater Catalonia], almost the entire population speaks Catalan as their usual language" (1, 2).\ While "almost the entire population" is not a precise number, we can interpret it quantitatively as somewhere between 80% and 100%. For the sake of a moderate estimate, we assume 90% of the population were regular Catalan speakers, with the remaining 10% being immigrants and officials of the Spanish state.
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2nd Interpretation: Regarding population growth between 1930 and 1998, on average, 60% is due to immigration (mostly adopting or already using Spanish language), while 40% is natural growth (likely to acquire Catalan language from childhood). Source and evidence: Between 1999 and 2019, when more detailed data is available, immigration accounted for 68% of population growth. From 1930 to 1998, there was a comparable wave of migration, especially between 1953 and 1973, largely of Spanish-speaking origin (3, 4, 5, 6). To maintain a moderate estimate, we assume 60% of population growth during that period was due to immigration, with the ratio varying depending on whether the period experienced more or less total growth.
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@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5
2025-05-22 18:02:41Key Takeaways
In this episode of TFTC, Andrew Myers, founder of Satoshi Energy, explores the convergence of AI, humanoid robots, Bitcoin, and decentralized energy, warning of a near future where self-replicating machines dominate energy and labor. Myers argues that Bitcoin’s decentralized nature offers a critical check against centralized AI power, enabling autonomous agents to transact freely and protecting individual sovereignty. Through his company’s work and its software BitCurrent, Myers promotes Bitcoin as both a tool for energy market efficiency and a foundation for preserving liberty in an AI-driven world.
Best Quotes
“Humanoid robots are going to not only replace most of the jobs people do today… they're going to be able to recreate themselves and self-replicate faster than that.”
“For me the key value proposition of Bitcoin is leveling the economic playing field. Rather than those who control the money printer making the economic decisions, it's everyday people.”
“AI energy demand is infinite. Bitcoin has a Nakamoto point… AI doesn’t.”
“Satoshi Energy’s mission is to enable every electric power company to use Bitcoin by block 1,050,000.”
“If you're a Bitcoiner and you're not using Fold, what are you doing? You're leaving sats on the table.”
“Tesla said machines would eventually fight wars for us. When that happens, nation-states become spectators. Bitcoin is how we avoid centralized control of those machines.”
“There’s already an energy company in Texas using Bitcoin as collateral in a power contract.”
“Are we auditioning for a galactic federation? Maybe. Even if not, we should still be acting like we are.”
Conclusion
Andrew Myers delivers a compelling vision of the future where exponential AI and energy growth demand a decentralized response—one rooted in Bitcoin as more than money, but as critical infrastructure for freedom. Through Satoshi Energy and tools like BitCurrent, Myers bridges big ideas with tangible actions, advocating for bottom-up sovereignty across energy and finance. His message is clear: decentralization is no longer optional—it’s essential for preserving human agency in an increasingly automated world.
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Tesla’s AI energy theory
8:59 - Bitcoin and decentralization fixes AI
13:02 - Fold & Bitkey
14:38 - How Satoshi Energy is using AI
19:28 - Bit Current
23:13 - Unchained
23:42 - Revealing inefficiency
32:57 - Proliferating OS AI with bitcoin
36:26 -Apple of Eden and Antichrist
45:11 - Iberian outage
48:48 - Defense tech
54:51 - UFOs, Atlantis and remote viewingTranscript
(00:00) Humanoid robots are advancing so quickly. They're going to not only replace most of the jobs that people do today, probably the next 5 to 10 years, but they're going to be able to recreate themselves and self-replicate even faster than that. With AI, the energy demand is infinite. It's going to 10x and 10x and 10x again in terms of global energy consumption, and that's just going to completely change the world we live in.
(00:21) If there's a sufficiently advanced AI, is it going to listen to a politician that says, "No, you can't have that energy." Or is it going to say, "Fuck you. Send the drone. You can hear us loud and clear. Loud and clear. I have to put this in front of my face so I'm not leaning. Yeah, vibe coding. There may be some securityities.
(00:45) I do want to hand it off to a developer who actually understands this stuff to say, am I am I going to am I going to leak any information or like be Yeah, I should probably do that before I release to the public. Now, let me say that. does seem pretty simple though. It's just getting the data on the page, getting the price of Bitcoin, using Coin Gecko API, and then running the math of how much Bitcoin is this worth at this point in time.
(01:13) We're not collecting any data either. I don't think that you know of. No, this is AI once. This is the problem of vibe coding. Are you bearish on AI? Uh, I think we're at a fork in the road and on one side I'm very bullish. You shamed me for for admitting that I was turning my kids into Legos via or turning myself into Lego in this. I was channeling my inner Marty.
(01:36) What would Marty do? Well, that's what uh that's what precipitated this. You hit me up. Was it two weeks ago now at this point? this week with your tweet about Nicola Tesla essentially predicting AI and him not factoring in sound money to the inevitable future that he foresaw. Yeah, it kind of came up uh in the work we're doing at Satoshi Energy where we're developing sites for data centers and a lot of those were were Bitcoin data centers for the last five six years and then in the last couple of years just increasingly demand
(02:20) from AI data centers in some cases like a project that we sold to a Bitcoin miner then becomes an AI site and then start to have questions within the team about what is our AI strategy and it was always in the back of my mind as part of the strategy which we'll get into like what is this fork in the road which directions could it go but I hadn't ever really communicated it to our team uh until recently because it's such a big idea that like on top of thinking about sound money and energy like we're already thinking about enough but as the
(02:57) team's growing as people are starting to ask these questions and like in some cases feeling conflicted about um should we be serving this AI market and in some cases large institutional investors and tech companies uh really like felt the need to put the the pen to paper and and talk about this and talk about how AI fits into our overall strategy.
(03:20) Uh, and part of that reminded me of this uh, essay that Nicola Tesla wrote called um, the problem of human energy, which was kind of a cheeky title. Uh, because clearly he thought, you know, energy would liberate humanity. Uh, but it get you get a lot more readers if you, you know, if you name it, the problem of human energy, especially a lot more of the critics who you're trying to convince otherwise.
(03:44) And one of the biggest things, biggest takeaways for me in that in that essay is he he basically says at some point man will create machines that fight wars for us and limit the the loss of human life to the point where the different parties, nation states, other powerful people u that were fighting wars with each other will once it's sort of this this machine to machine battle, they'll just become interested spectators.
(04:13) and eventually lead to world peace. So I think that's the path we want to be on. Not the path where it becomes a very centralized AI and we ultimately become enslaved. Uh but on the path to world peace or or keeping ourselves on that path to world peace. I think that's where Bitcoin plays a role. it keeps the economic playing field level uh and keeps this technology sufficiently decentralized where Bitcoin is that protocol for you know decentralized AI agents communicating with each other.
(04:46) So we can go in any direction you want from there but it's a big idea. No, this is in line with something I wrote about earlier this week that was inspired by a tweet that Paul Otoy from Stack put out basically not explaining this exact problem but just giving his thoughts on how he's viewing the state of AI and where it will go in the future.
(05:10) And Paul, the team at stack and sphinx are highly focused on enabling the open- source AI as opposed to closed source AI. I I think based on what you just said, I think it's very line what Paul was saying in that tweet, which is we're reaching the point with MCP with these sort of protocols where you can store context that agents can plug into and begin communicating with each other.
(05:39) We're at the point where agentic models are getting are actually usable. And I think that's where you have this like critical tipping point of okay that's really going to dictate which direction in the fork in the road we go down because once the agents are able to go do these tasks you right have these network effects that take hold and it's very important that we thread the needle of making sure that it's open and incentivized properly.
(06:10) Yes. Yes, we had this idea of time preference in the Bitcoin community where you know we think with sound money we should have a low time preference meaning we think longer term uh we don't need need to make sort of quick rash decisions into investments today but then you have this tidal wave of AI coming our our direction it almost forces you back into that high time preference mindset of like I need to address this problem now um and Then from like an energy perspective, it's interesting too.
(06:44) Uh you have like Drew's concept of the Nakamoto point for Bitcoin. Like how much of of human energy of global energy will will Bitcoin mining consume? And like say it's between 1 and 10% of of human energy. If it becomes 100% then uh that doesn't make any sense because then you're just like worshiping Bitcoin.
(07:03) And if all of the energy is going towards that, it means you're not putting any energy towards any other sort of economic pursuit or uh you know human need. But with AI, the energy demand is infinite. I don't think there is a Nakamoto point. It's just like it's going to 10x and 10x and 10x again in terms of g global energy consumption.
(07:23) Uh and that's just going to completely change the world we live in. Another thing on sort of the high time preference concept is like humanoid robots are advancing so quickly. They're going to not only replace all of the job most of the jobs that people do today, very quickly within probably the next 5 to 10 years max, but they're going to be able to rec -
@ 8576ca0e:621f735e
2025-05-22 17:36:20In the evolving digital economy, Bitcoin has moved beyond its initial status as a speculative asset. It is now a powerful tool for building long-term wealth, especially within the context of a decentralized financial system. While Bitcoin 101 introduced the concept of Bitcoin and Bitcoin 102 covered its mechanics and investment basics, Bitcoin 103 dives deeper into how individuals can strategically build wealth in a decentralized world.
The Foundation: Why Decentralization Matters
At its core, Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network free from government control or manipulation by central banks. This decentralization is not just a technical characteristic but a financial philosophy. In a world where inflation erodes the value of fiat currencies and financial systems can be restricted by geopolitical decisions, Bitcoin offers sovereignty and transparency.
By removing intermediaries, Bitcoin empowers individuals to store, send, and receive money globally with minimal friction. This capability becomes crucial in building wealth that’s resilient to political and economic volatility.
Bitcoin as Digital Gold
Bitcoin's fixed supply capped at 21 million BTC mimics the scarcity of precious metals like gold. However, unlike gold, Bitcoin is portable, divisible, and easier to secure. Investors seeking a hedge against inflation and monetary debasement are increasingly turning to Bitcoin as a long term store of value.
Holding Bitcoin over time, known as "HODLing" in crypto parlance, is one of the most common wealth building strategies. Historical data shows that long-term holders tend to outperform short-term traders, especially in the face of Bitcoin’s cyclical volatility.
Diversification in a Decentralized Economy
Building wealth with Bitcoin doesn't mean going all in. It involves using Bitcoin as a foundational asset while exploring adjacent opportunities within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. Bitcoin can be used as collateral, yield-generating assets, or even part of a diversified crypto portfolio that includes Ethereum, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.
For instance, some platforms allow users to lend their Bitcoin and earn interest, or stake wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) on decentralized protocols. While these carry risk, they also offer the possibility of compounding returns beyond price appreciation alone.
Wealth Preservation through Self-Custody
One of the key principles of wealth building in the decentralized world is self custody. Unlike traditional bank accounts, where your assets are held by third parties, Bitcoin allows users to control their wealth directly through private keys and cold storage wallets.
By taking responsibility for their assets, users reduce counterparty risk and maintain access to their wealth even in times of crisis. This level of control and autonomy is unprecedented in the history of money.
Education and Risk Management
Wealth building in the Bitcoin ecosystem requires a solid understanding of risk. Volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and security vulnerabilities must be addressed through continuous education, diversification, and the use of reputable platforms.
New investors should start by:
• Setting long term goals
• Investing only what they can afford to lose
• Using hardware wallets for security
• Staying informed through trusted crypto news sources
The Future of Wealth in a Decentralized World
Bitcoin is not just reshaping finance, it’s redefining wealth. As decentralized technologies mature, we can expect a shift in how value is created, transferred, and preserved. From smart contracts to decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), the Bitcoin ethos of transparency, security, and autonomy will continue to guide the evolution of the digital economy.
In conclusion, Bitcoin 103 is about more than investing, It's about understanding the broader movement toward financial freedom. Building wealth in a decentralized world starts with a shift in mindset: from dependence to independence, from control to empowerment.
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@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1
2025-05-22 17:09:23Good morning, readers!
Today, we begin in China, where the central bank injected $138 billion into the economy and expanded the money supply by 12.5% year-over-year. As the regime eases monetary conditions to prop up a decelerating economy, Chinese citizens are rushing to preserve their savings, evidenced by Bitcoin/CNY trading activity jumping over 20% on the news. But while some escape to harder money, others remain trapped. In Hunan, an elderly Chinese woman died outside a bank after being forced to appear in person in order to withdraw her own money for medical care.\ \ In Central America, Salvadoran President Bukele revived a “foreign agents” bill that would impose a 30% tax on foreign-funded NGOs, threatening to financially crush organizations that hold those in power accountable and protect journalists and civil society. The proposal mirrors laws used in Russia, China, Belarus, and beyond to suppress dissent. And it arrives amid Bukele’s authoritarian drift and increasing threats to independent journalists.\ \ In open-source news, we highlight a new tool called ChapSmart, a Bitcoin-powered remittance service that allows users to send Bitcoin to citizens and families in Tanzania and have it disbursed in Tanzanian shillings (TZS) via M-PESA. This tool is increasingly helpful as the Tanzanian regime tightens control over foreign currency, mandating that all transactions be conducted in TZS. ChapSmart provides an accessible way for nonprofits and dissidents to access value from abroad using Bitcoin.\ \ We end with an Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Bitcoin educator Anita Posch on Stacker News, who shares her thoughts, experiences, and views from her time conducting Bitcoin education in authoritarian regimes in Africa. We also feature an article from Togolese human rights advocate Farida Nabourema, who critiques Nigeria’s new investment act for classifying Bitcoin as a security and for the regulatory hurdles this will impose on the grassroots adoption of freedom tech in the country.
Be sure to tune in next week at 2 p.m. Oslo time on Wednesday, May 28, as the Oslo Freedom Forum’s Freedom Tech track airs on Bitcoin Magazine’s livestream channels, headlined by speakers Ziya Sadr, Abubakr Nur Khalil, Amiti Uttarwar, Calle, Sarah Kreps, Ben Perrin, and many more.
Now, let’s read on!
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GLOBAL NEWS
El Salvador | Bukele Reintroduces Foreign Agents Bill
In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele revived a controversial “foreign agents” bill that threatens to severely restrict the finances and operations of NGOs. While the bill is not finalized, Bukele shared on X that the proposal would impose a 30% tax on donations to NGOs receiving foreign funding. This punitive financial measure alone would severely restrict Salvadoran organizations that protect independent journalism, advocate for human rights, and hold the government accountable. In neighboring Nicaragua, a similar foreign agents law has enabled the closure of more than 3,500 NGOs. El Salvador’s foreign agents bill arrives alongside other alarming moves, including arrest warrants against El Faro journalists, the arrest of human rights lawyer Ruth López, and the detention of more than 200 Venezuelan migrants under dubious claims of gang affiliation.
China | Injects Billions to Stabilize Economy
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has injected $138 billion in liquidity through interest rate cuts and a 0.5% reduction in banks’ reserve requirements, in effect expanding the money supply by 12.5% year-over-year. While the state eases monetary conditions to prop up a fragile system, ordinary citizens are left scrambling to preserve the value of their savings. Bitcoin/CNY trading volumes jumped over 20% in response, as people sought refuge from a weakening yuan. But while some can quietly escape to harder money, others are trapped in a system that treats access to money as a privilege. In Hunan, an elderly woman in a wheelchair died outside a bank after being forced to appear in person to withdraw her own money for medical care. Too weak to pass mandatory facial recognition scans, she collapsed after repeated failed attempts.
World | Authoritarian Regimes Lead CBDC Push, Study Finds
A new international study from the Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University in England, set out to understand what is driving countries to pursue central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Researchers found the answer lies mostly in political motives. Analyzing 68 countries, the report revealed that authoritarian governments are pushing CBDCs most aggressively, using their centralized power to hastily roll out CBDCs that can monitor transactions, restrict the movement of money, and suppress dissent. On the other hand, the report found democracies are moving more cautiously, weighing concerns over privacy, transparency, and public trust. The study also noted a correlation: countries with high levels of perceived corruption are more likely to explore CBDCs, often framing them as tools to fight illicit finance. These findings are consistent with HRF’s research, revealing nearly half the global population lives under an authoritarian regime experimenting with a CBDC.
Thailand | Plans to Issue New “Investment Token”
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance plans to issue 5 billion baht ($151 million) worth of “G-Tokens,” a new digital investment scheme that allows Thais to buy government bonds for as little as 100 baht ($3). Officials claim the project will democratize access to state-backed investments and offer higher returns than traditional bank deposits. But in a country rapidly advancing central bank digital currency (CBDC) infrastructure, this initiative raises apparent concerns. The move closely follows Thailand’s repeated digital cash handouts via a state-run wallet app, which restricts spending, tracks user behavior, and enforces expiration dates on money, all clear hallmarks of a CBDC. Luckily, the Thai government postponed the latest handout, but the infrastructure remains. Framing this project as inclusionary masks the reality: Thailand is building state-run digital systems that give the regime more power over citizens’ savings and spending.
Russia | Outlaws Amnesty International
Russia officially banned Amnesty International, designating it as an “undesirable organization” and criminalizing cooperation with the global human rights group. Russian officials claim Amnesty promotes “Russophobic projects” and undermines national security. This adds to the Kremlin’s assault on dissent, targeting human rights advocates, independent journalists, and civil society in the years since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The designation exposes anyone financially, publicly, or privately supporting Amnesty’s work to prosecution and imprisonment up to five years. With more than 220 organizations now blacklisted, Russia is systematically cutting off avenues for international accountability and isolating Russians from external support.
BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS
ChapSmart | Permissionless Remittances in Tanzania
ChapSmart is a Bitcoin-powered remittance service that allows users to send money to individuals and families in Tanzania while having it disbursed in Tanzanian shillings (TZS) via M-PESA. With ChapSmart, no account is needed: just enter your name, email, and the recipient’s M-Pesa details. Choose how much USD to send, pay in bitcoin via the Lightning Network, and ChapSmart delivers Tanzanian shillings instantly to the recipient's M-Pesa account with zero fees. This tool is especially useful as Tanzania’s regime enacts restrictions on foreign currencies, banning most citizens from quoting prices or accepting payment in anything other than TZS. ChapSmart offers a practical and accessible way for families, nonprofits, and individuals to access value from abroad using Bitcoin, even as the state tries to shut out financial alternatives.
Bitkey | Multisignature for Families Protecting Wealth from State Seizure
Decades ago, Ivy Galindo’s family lost their savings overnight when the Brazilian government froze citizens’ bank accounts to “fight inflation.” That moment shaped her understanding of financial repression and why permissionless tools like Bitcoin are essential. When her parents later chose to start saving in Bitcoin, Ivy knew a wallet with a single private key wasn’t enough, as it can be lost, stolen, or handed over under pressure or coercion from corrupt law enforcement or state officials. Multisignature (multisig) wallets, which require approval from multiple private keys to move funds, offer stronger protection against this loss and coercion and eliminate any single points of failure in a Bitcoin self-custody setup. But multisig setups are often too technical for everyday families. Enter Bitkey. This multisig device offered Ivy’s family a simple, secure way to share custody of their Bitcoin in the face of financial repression. In places where wealth confiscation and frozen bank accounts are a lived reality, multisignature wallets can help families stay in full control of their savings.
Parasite Pool | New Zero-Fee, Lightning Native Bitcoin Mining Pool
Parasite Pool is a new open-source Bitcoin mining pool built for home miners who want to contribute to Bitcoin’s decentralization without relying on the large and centralized mining pools. It charges zero fees and offers Lightning-native payouts with a low 10-satoshi threshold, allowing individuals to earn directly and instantly. Notably, it has a “pleb eat first” reward structure, which allocates 1 BTC to the block finder and splits the remaining 2.125 BTC plus fees among all non-winning participants via Lightning. This favors small-scale miners, who can earn outsized rewards relative to their hashpower, inverting the corporate bias of legacy mining pools. This makes Parasite Pool especially attractive for small scale miners, such as those operating in authoritarian contexts who need to mine discreetly and independently. In turn, these very same miners contribute to the Bitcoin network’s resistance to censorship, regulatory capture, and corporate control, ensuring it remains a tool for freedom and peaceful resistance for those who need it most. Learn more about the mining pool here.
Cake Wallet | Implements Payjoin V2
Cake Wallet, a non-custodial, privacy-focused, and open-source mobile Bitcoin wallet, released version 4.28, bringing Payjoin V2 to its user base. Payjoin is a privacy technique that allows two users to contribute an input to a Bitcoin transaction, breaking the common chain analysis heuristic that assumes a sender owns all inputs. This makes it harder for dictators to trace payments or link the identities of activists or nonprofits. Unlike the original Payjoin, which required both the sender and recipient to be online and operate a Payjoin server, Payjoin v2 removes both barriers and introduces asynchronous transactions and serverless communication. This means users can now conduct private transactions without coordination or technical setup, making private Bitcoin transactions much more accessible and expanding the tools dissidents have to transact in the face of censorship, extortion, and surveillance. HRF is pleased to have sponsored the Payjoin V2 specification with a bounty and is happy to see this functionality now in the wild.
Mi Primer Bitcoin | Receives Grant from startsmall
Mi Primer Bitcoin, a nonprofit organization supporting independent Bitcoin education in Central America, announced that it received a $1 million grant from Jack Dorsey’s startsmall public fund. This support will accelerate Mi Primer Bitcoin’s impartial, community-led, Bitcoin-only education. The initiative has trained tens of thousands of students while supporting over 65 grassroots projects across 35+ countries through its Independent Bitcoin Educators Node Network, pushing financial freedom forward where needed most. The Mi Primer Bitcoin (MPB) team stresses the importance of remaining free from government or corporate influence to preserve the integrity of their mission. As founder John Dennehy puts it, “Education will be captured by whoever funds it… We need to create alternative models for the revolution of Bitcoin education to realize its full potential.” MPB has been adopted by many education initiatives working under authoritarian regimes.
Phoenix Wallet | Introduces Unlimited BOLT 12 Offers and Manual Backup Options
Phoenix Wallet, a mobile Bitcoin Lightning wallet, introduced support for unlimited BOLT 12 offers in its v2.6.0 update, allowing users to generate as many reusable Lightning invoices as they like. These offers, which function like static Bitcoin addresses, remain permanently valid and can now include a custom description and amount — ideal for nonprofits or dissidents who need to receive regular donations discreetly. The update also introduces manual export and import of the payments database on Android, enabling users to securely transfer their payment history to new devices. These updates strengthen Phoenix’s position as one of the most user-friendly and feature-complete non-custodial Lightning wallets. BOLT 12 — once a pipe dream — is now a usable activist tool on popularly accessible mobile wallets.
RECOMMENDED CONTENT
Bitcoin Is Not a Security: Why Nigeria’s New Investment and Security Act Misses the Mark by Farida Nabourema
In this article, Togolese human rights advocate Farida Nabourema critiques Nigeria’s 2025 Investment and Securities Act for classifying Bitcoin as a security. Nabourema argues this approach is flawed, economically damaging, disconnected from the realities of Bitcoin usage and innovation across Africa, and an attempt to constrict a human rights tool. She warns that this regulatory framework risks stifling builders and harming the very communities that Bitcoin is helping in a context of widespread currency devaluations, inflation, and exclusion. Read it here.
Ask Me Anything with Anita Posch on Stacker News
After spending five months traveling through countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe, Bitcoin for Fairness Founder Anita Posch joined Stacker News for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) to discuss her view on Bitcoin adoption across the continent. She highlighted major progress since 2020, noting that several grassroots initiatives she supported have become self-sufficient and are now running their own education programs. Despite persistent challenges, like wallet usability, high on-chain fees, and Bitcoin’s misunderstood reputation, she shared stories of real-life impact, including cross-border remittances using mobile airtime and widespread Lightning use via apps like Tando in Kenya. Read the full conversation here.
If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report here.
Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program via BTCPay.\ Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ hrf.org
The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals here.
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 20:01:14Bitcoin Magazine
Bitcoiners Should Care About The GENIUS ActWhile the GENIUS Act is a stablecoin bill, U.S.-based Bitcoin enthusiasts should be paying attention to the language in the bill as it pertains to the ability to transact privately with crypto assets — including bitcoin.
Two documents that recently circulated among Senate Banking Committee Democrats indicate that Senate Democrats want to see amendments made to the GENIUS Act that would greatly reduce user privacy in crypto transactions.
Senate Democrats’ Analysis of GENIUS Act
The first of these two documents is a two-pager entitled “Banking Committee Democratic Staff Analysis on Latest GENIUS Act Draft”.
NEW: Senate Banking Committee Democrats just dropped a scathing staff analysis of the latest GENIUS Act draft ahead of this evening’s cloture vote.
Staffers describe the latest GENIUS Act draft as a blueprint for ‘Trump crypto corruption’ and Big Tech dominance over digital… pic.twitter.com/Gqd2LxFGx1
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) May 19, 2025
This document is filled with the type of rhetoric that is commonly associated with the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
It refers to stablecoins as tools for illicit finance (despite the fact that the largest stablecoin issuer, Tether, often works with the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the FBI to stop the illegal use of stablecoins).
It also states that the current iteration of the GENIUS Act “does nothing to actually impose basic obligations on [crypto mixers] to prevent illicit finance.”
A segment from document featuring Democrats’ analysis of The GENIUS Act.
This latter critique of the bill is antithetical to guidance that Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Todd Blanche offered in a memo on April 7, 2025. DAG Blanche stated that the DoJ will no longer target crypto mixing services for the acts of their end users.
In this document, however, Senate Democrats indicate that they plan to continue targeting crypto mixing technology instead of those who abuse it.
If amendments regarding the targeting of crypto mixers are added to a revised version of the GENIUS Act, this could have an impact on Bitcoin users who employ such technology in the name of preserving their privacy.
A Letter From Democrats Opposing The GENIUS Act
Senate Banking Democrats circulated a second document on Monday, as well.
This document, a letter signed by 46 advocacy groups, opposed the GENIUS Act.
Brendan Pedersen of Punchbowl News shared segments of the letter on X.
Democratic staff on the Senate Banking Committee sent around a letter this AM signed by several dozen advocacy orgs opposing the GENIUS Act.
Includes ACRE, AFR, Center for Responsible Lending, Our Revolution, Public Citizen, Tech Oversight Project… pic.twitter.com/pragFvzSKB
— Brendan Pedersen (@BrendanPedersen) May 19, 2025
The authors of the letter claim that the GENIUS Act does not do enough to prevent illicit finance in part because it still allows for “self-hosted wallets that lack know-your-customer (KYC) requirements.”
A segment from the letter opposing The GENIUS Act that touches on noncustodial wallets and KYC requirements.
If the GENIUS Act is amended so that it requires KYC for all wallets that touch stablecoins — self-custodial wallets included — it’s likely only a matter of time before similar regulation is established for Bitcoin wallets.
Bitcoin Transactional Privacy Is At Stake
Just because the GENIUS Act doesn’t directly reference Bitcoin doesn’t mean that Bitcoin won’t be affected by it.
If Senate Democrats get their way and crypto mixers become a target of the bill and/or if the bill requires that all wallets that touch stablecoins require users to KYC, and the bill is enacted into law, anonymity in crypto transactions will become a crime.
So, while some Bitcoiners may be anti-stablecoins, most, I would wager, aren’t anti-privacy. Therefore, it would behoove them to contact their elected officials to urge them to vote “no” for the GENIUS Act if the upcoming iteration of the bill restricts the ability to transact privately.
This post Bitcoiners Should Care About The GENIUS Act first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Frank Corva.
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:03Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
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Version 1.3 of Bitcoin Safe introduces a redesigned interactive chart, quick receive feature, updated icons, a mempool preview window, support for Child Pays For Parent (CPFP) and testnet4, preconfigured testnet demo wallets, as well as various bug fixes and improvements.
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Upcoming updates for Bitcoin Safe include Compact Block Filters.
"Compact Block Filters increase the network privacy dramatically, since you're not asking an electrum server to give you your transactions. They are a little slower than electrum servers. For a savings wallet like Bitcoin Safe this should be OK," writes the project's developer Andreas Griffin.
- Learn more about the current and upcoming features of Bitcoin Safe wallet here.
What's new in v1.3
- Redesign of Chart, Quick Receive, Icons, and Mempool Preview (by @design-rrr).
- Interactive chart. Clicking on it now jumps to transaction, and selected transactions are now highlighted.
- Speed up transactions with Child Pays For Parent (CPFP).
- BDK 1.2 (upgraded from 0.32).
- Testnet4 support.
- Preconfigured Testnet demo wallets.
- Cluster unconfirmed transactions so that parents/children are next to each other.
- Customizable columns for all tables (optional view: Txid, Address index, and more)
- Bug fixes and other improvements.
Announcement / Archive
Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo
Website -
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:02News
- Wallet of Satoshi teases a comeback in the US market with a non-custodial product. According to an announcement on X, the widely popular custodial Lightning wallet is preparing to re-enter the United States market with a non-custodial wallet. It is unclear whether the product will be open-source, but the project has clarified that "there will be no KYC on any Wallet of Satoshi, ever!" Wallet of Satoshi ceased serving customers in the United States in November 2023.
- Vulnerability disclosure: Remote crash due to addr message spam in Bitcoin Core versions before v29. Bitcoin Core developer Antoine Poinsot disclosed an integer overflow bug that crashes a node if spammed with addr messages over an extended period. A fix was released on April 14, 2025, in Bitcoin Core v29.0. The issue is rated Low severity.
- Coinbase Know Your Customer (KYC) data leak. The U.S. Department of Justice, including its Criminal Division in Washington, is investigating a cyberattack on Coinbase. The incident involved cybercriminals attempting to extort $20 million from Coinbase to prevent stolen customer data from being leaked online. Although the data breach affected less than 1% of the exchange's users, Coinbase now faces at least six lawsuits following the revelation that some customer support agents were bribed as part of the extortion scheme.
- Fold has launched Bitcoin Gift Cards, enabling users to purchase bitcoin for personal use or as gifts, redeemable via the Fold app. These cards are currently available on Fold’s website and are planned to expand to major retailers nationwide later this year.
"Our mission is to make bitcoin simple and approachable for everyone. The Bitcoin Gift Card brings bitcoin to millions of Americans in a familiar way. Available at the places people already shop, the Bitcoin Gift Card is the best way to gift bitcoin to others," said Will Reeves, Chairman and CEO of Fold.
- Corporate treasuries hold nearly 1.1 million BTC, representing about 5.5% of the total circulating supply (1,082,164 BTC), per BitcoinTreasuries.net data. Recent purchases include Strategy adding 7,390 BTC (total: 576,230 BTC), Metplanet acquiring 1,004 BTC (total: 7,800 BTC), Tether holding over 100,521 BTC, and XXI Capital, led by Jack Mallers, starting with 31,500 BTC.
- Meanwhile, a group of investors has filed a class action lawsuit against Strategy and its executive Michael Saylor. The lawsuit alleges that Strategy made overly optimistic projections using fair value accounting under new FASB rules while downplaying potential losses.
- The U.S. Senate voted to advance the GENIUS stablecoin bill for further debate before a final vote to pass it. Meanwhile, the House is crafting its own stablecoin legislation to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoins and their issuers in the U.S, reports CoinDesk.
- French 'crypto' entrepreneurs get priority access to emergency police services. French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, agreed on measures to enhance security for 'crypto' professionals during a meeting on Friday. This follows a failed kidnapping attempt on Tuesday targeting the family of a cryptocurrency exchange CEO, and two other kidnappings earlier this year.
- Brussels Court declares tracking-based ads illegal in EU. The Brussels Court of Appeal ruled tracking-based online ads illegal in the EU due to an inadequate consent model. Major tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and X are affected by the decision, as their consent pop-ups fail to protect privacy in real-time bidding, writes The Record.
- Telegram shares data on 22,777 users in Q1 2025, a significant increase from the 5,826 users' data shared during the same period in 2024. This significant increase follows the arrest of CEO and founder Pavel Durov last year.
- An Australian judge has ruled that Bitcoin is money, potentially exempting it from capital gains tax in the country. If upheld on appeal, this interim decision could lead to taxpayer refunds worth up to $1 billion, per tax lawyer Adrian Cartland.
Use the tools
- Bitcoin Safe v1.3.0 a secure and user-friendly Bitcoin savings wallet for beginners and advanced users, introduces an interactive chart, Child Pays For Parent (CPFP) support, testnet4 compatibility, preconfigured testnet demo wallets, various bug fixes, and other improvements.
- BlueWallet v7.1.8 brings numerous bug fixes, dependency updates, and a new search feature for addresses and transactions.
- Aqua Wallet v0.3.0 is out, offering beta testing for the reloadable Dolphin card (in partnership with Visa) for spending bitcoin and Liquid BTC. It also includes a new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) text scanner to read text addresses like QR codes, colored numbers on addresses for better readability, a reduced minimum for spending and swapping Liquid Bitcoin to 100 sats, plus other fixes and enhancements.
Source: Aqua wallet.
- The latest firmware updates for COLDCARD Mk4 v5.4.3 and Q v1.3.3 are now available, featuring the latest enhancements and bug fixes.
- Nunchuk Android v1.9.68.1 and iOS v1.9.79 introduce support for custom blockchain explorers, wallet archiving, re-ordering wallets on the home screen via long-press, and an anti-fee sniping setting.
- BDK-cli v1.0.0, a CLI wallet library and REPL tool to demo and test the BDK library, now uses bdk_wallet 1.0.0 and integrates Kyoto, utilizing the Kyoto protocol for compact block filters. It sets SQLite as the default database and discontinues support for sled.
- publsp is a new command-line tool designed for Lightning node runners or Lightning Service Providers (LSPs) to advertise liquidity offers over Nostr.
"LSPs advertise liquidity as addressable Kind 39735 events. Clients just pull and evaluate all those structured events, then NIP-17 DM an LSP of their choice to coordinate a liquidity purchase," writes developer smallworlnd.
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Lightning Blinder by Super Testnet is a proof-of-concept privacy tool for the Lightning Network. It enables users to mislead Lightning Service Providers (LSPs) by making it appear as though one wallet is the sender or recipient, masking the original wallet. Explore and try it out here.
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Mempal v1.5.3, a Bitcoin mempool monitoring and notification app for Android, now includes a swipe-down feature to refresh the dashboard, a custom time option for widget auto-update frequency, and a
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 17:02:01Bitcoin Magazine
Texas Legislature Passes Bitcoin Reserve BillTexas has passed Senate Bill 21, a measure establishing the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. This makes Texas the third U.S. state to adopt Bitcoin as part of its state investment strategy, following Arizona and New Hampshire. The bill, officially titled the “Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act”, has cleared both legislative chambers and now heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for final approval.
JUST IN: Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bill SB21 officially PASSES and goes to Governors desk for final signature
pic.twitter.com/8UMwxTHgg6
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 21, 2025
SB21 authorizes the creation of the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a special fund outside the state treasury, which allows Texas to invest directly in Bitcoin and other approved cryptocurrencies, according to the legislation. The measure gives the State Treasurer full authority over the reserve’s administration, including acquiring, managing, staking, and potentially liquidating digital assets.
“The establishment of a strategic bitcoin reserve serves the public purpose of providing enhanced financial security to residents of this state,” declares the legislation.
The State Treasurer will manage the fund under strict conditions:
- Only cryptocurrencies with a 12-month average market cap of at least $500 billion can be purchased.
- Assets must be stored using “cold storage” technology to prevent unauthorized access.
- Third-party partners, including qualified custodians and liquidity providers, may be contracted for operations.
- The use of staking, and derivatives is allowed if it benefits the reserve.
Funds can come from legislative appropriations, donations from Texas residents, and returns on investments. While the reserve operates independently, the State Treasurer can temporarily liquidate it for state cash management under limited conditions.
Governor Abbott has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill, but his past support of Bitcoin suggests a favorable outcome is likely.
“Texas is getting involved early on in this process because we see the future of what bitcoin and blockchain means to the entire world,” said Governor Abbott in an interview. “Texas wants to be the centerpiece of that. So we are promoting it, we are advancing it.”
When New Hampshire passed their bill on May 6, 2025, CEO and Co-Founder of Satoshi Action Dennis Porter remarked that it was just the beginning and now we’re seeing that vision unfold.
“Satoshi Action drafted the model, New Hampshire engraved it into law, and now every treasurer nationwide can follow that roadmap,” stated Dennis Porter on X. “HB 302 proves you can protect taxpayer money, diversify reserves, and future-proof state treasuries—all while embracing the most secure monetary network on Earth. New Hampshire didn’t just pass a bill; it sparked a movement.”
This post Texas Legislature Passes Bitcoin Reserve Bill first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.
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@ 25f5c1c7:e956c514
2025-05-22 23:42:09I've been exploring ways to retain the strong security guarantees of Proof-of-Work (PoW) while significantly reducing its environmental footprint. Traditional PoW systems are undeniably robust, but their energy demands are a major concern. Delayed Proof-of-Work (DPoW) is my first proposal toward solving this - a concept designed to preserve the integrity and fairness of PoW while operating with a fraction of the hash power.
How it Works
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A new block is added to the chain.
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All miners start computing a VDF (Verifiable Delay Function) with the latest block's hash as the input.
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The VDF is designed to take 4 minutes to complete, enforcing a mandatory idle period.
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The \~1 minute mining period begins when miners complete the VDF.
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- Miners compete to find a valid PoW for a new block, which includes the VDF output in the header.
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The first miner to find a valid hash broadcasts the new block to the network.
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The block is verified by nodes by checking the VDF's output is correct for the previous block hash, and that the PoW is valid.
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This cycle of a 4 minute idle period and a brief mining period continues.
Key Advantages
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The idle-mine cycle allows the network to operate with \~1/5 of the hash power of a standard PoW blockchain while still taking advantage of the security properties of PoW.
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During the 4 minute idle period, the blockchain is guaranteed to be static. The predictable delay means blocks are propagated and confirmed in a more synchronised fashion, which could reduce synchronisation issues and orphaned blocks.
Potential Issues
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VDFs can be computed slightly faster on hardware with higher clock speeds or specialised circuits, resulting in some miners having a longer mining period.
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The short mining-window means that miners on faster connections will have a significant advantage over slower connections, as they will be able to propagate a mined block faster.
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The VDF also uses energy, although negligible compared to the amount that algorithms use.
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Miners might redirect their hash power to other cryptocurrencies during the delay period, which would undermine the goal of reducing energy consumption.
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A malicious miner who obtains or predicts the next block could start pre-computing the VDF early, gaining an unfair advantage.
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@ 3ad01248:962d8a07
2025-05-22 17:18:25With the price of Bitcoin skyrocketing as of late maybe its time that we go over some rules as a Bitcoiner because someone just got robbed in the UK of the Bitcoin wealth by a fake Uber driver. I fear this will become more common place as time goes on unless certain rules are followed.
Rule 1: Never talk about your Bitcoin holdings to people you don't know or don't trust
This will easily make you a target. If you are out in public saying you have 5 Bitcoin what do you think is going to happen when the wrong person finds out. They will follow you home, tie you up and take your shit. You can avoid this by not talking about your Bitcoin in public spaces, you never know how is listening. Hell I wouldn't even share it with your spouse to be honest. You don't know who she is talking to either. Keep your wealth private.
Rule 2: Stay Humble/Live Below Your means
Resist the urge to spend your new found wealth on something extravagent like a lambo or something that is going to draw unwanted attention. Not saying that you shouldn't enjoy your life but be aware that not everyone is going to be happy about your new found wealth. The best thing you can do is drive an unassuming car and live in regular home.
Rule 3: Don't Carry Your Wealth In Your Pocket
It is definitely a bad idea to walk around with your wealth stored on your phone. This is how people are getting robbed of their wealth. They leave their holding on some centralized exchange where all you need is a password to access their account. When you are under duress that isn't going to stop anyone from stealing your money. Self custody your Bitcoin and keep it in cold storage! Can't stress that enough.
Rule 5: Practice Good Digital Hygiene
With more and more of our lives online, especially social media it is a good idea to practice good digital hygiene. The internet is rife with scammers looking to access your private information to learn everything about you. Use a VPN if possible. You should probably get in the habit of creating multiple email address or use a service that creates fake ones for you. It is safe to assume that some database with your information will get hacked at some point. Better to have a random email get stolen versus the primary one that you use. A second phone line couldn't hurt as well.
Rule 6: Keep Your Circle Small
This kind of ties back in with the first rule. The more people you allow into your inner circle the more you open yourself up to attack. You can't always be sure of someone's motives especially people that you recent met. Be wary of people that just show up out of the blue wanting to be your best friend. This applies to family as well, if they somehow know that you own Bitcoin and see that you are doing well you can't assume that just because they are family you can't trust them. In fact these are the people you have to worry about the most.
It's better to be safe than sorry in my opinion. Keep your circle of trust small and you won't have problems.
These are six rules that I think can help keep you safe and you Bitcoin wealth in your hands. I'm sure there are more, if you think of more comment below!!
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@ 7e6f9018:a6bbbce5
2025-05-22 16:33:07Per les xarxes socials es parla amb efusivitat de que Bitcoin arribarà a valer milions de dòlars. El mateix Hal Finney allà pel 2009, va estimar el potencial, en un cas extrem, de 10 milions $:
\> As an amusing thought experiment, imagine that Bitcoin is successful and becomes the dominant payment system in use throughout the world. Then the total value of the currency should be equal to the total value of all the wealth in the world. Current estimates of total worldwide household wealth that I have found range from $100 trillion to $300 trillion. Withn 20 million coins, that gives each coin a value of about $10 million. <https://satoshi.nakamotoinstitute.org/emails/bitcoin-list/threads/4/>
No estic d'acord amb els càlculs del bo d'en Hal, ja que no consider que la valoració d'una moneda funcioni així. En qualsevol cas, el 2009 la capitalització de la riquesa mundial era de 300 bilions $, avui és de 660 bilions $, és a dir ha anat pujant un 5,3% de manera anual,
$$(660/300)^{1/15} = 1.053$$
La primera apreciació amb aquest augment anual del 5% és que si algú llegeix aquest article i té diners que no necessita aturats al banc (estalvis), ara és bon moment per començar a moure'ls, encara sigui amb moviments defensius (títols de deute governamental o la propietat del primer habitatge). La desagregació per actius dels 660 bilions és:
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Immobiliari residencial = 260 bilions $
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Títols de deute = 125 bilions $
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Accions = 110 bilions
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Diners fiat = 78 bilions $
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Terres agrícoles = 35 bilions $
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Immobiliari comercial = 32 bilions $
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Or = 18 bilions $
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Bitcoin = 2 bilions $
La riquesa mundial és major que 660 bilions, però aquests 8 actius crec que són els principals, ja que s'aprecien a dia d'avui. El PIB global anual és de 84 bilions $, que no són bromes, però aquest actius creats (cotxes, ordinadors, roba, aliments...), perden valor una vegada produïts, aproximant-se a 0 passades unes dècades.
Partint d'aquest nombres com a vàlids, la meva posició base respecte de Bitcoin, ja des de fa un parell d'anys, és que te capacitat per posar-se al nivell de capitalització de l'or, perquè conceptualment s'emulen bé, i perquè tot i que Bitcoin no té un valor tangible industrial com pot tenir l'or, sí que te un valor intangible tecnològic, que és pales en tot l'ecosistema que s'ha creat al seu voltant:
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Creació de tecnologies de pagament instantani: la Lightning Network, Cashu i la Liquid Network.
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Producció d'aplicacions amb l'íntegrament de pagaments instantanis. Especialment destacar el protocol de Nostr (Primal, Amethyst, Damus, Yakihonne, 0xChat...)
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Industria energètica: permet estabilitzar xarxes elèctriques i emprar energia malbaratada (flaring gas), amb la generació de demanda de hardware i software dedicat.
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Educació financera i defensa de drets humans. És una eina de defensa contra governs i estats repressius. La Human Rights Foundation fa una feina bastant destacada d'educació.
Ara posem el potencial en nombres:
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Si iguala l'empresa amb major capitalització, que és Apple, arribaria a uns 160 mil dòlars per bitcoin.
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Si iguala el nivell de l'or, arribaria a uns 800 mil dòlars per bitcoin.
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Si iguala el nivell del diner fiat líquid, arribaria a un 3.7 milions de dòlars per bitcoin.
Crec que igualar la capitalització d'Apple és probable en els pròxims 5 - 10 anys. També igualar el nivell de l'or en els pròxims 20 anys em sembla una fita possible. Ara bé, qualsevol fita per sota d'aquesta capitalització ha d'implicar tota una serie de successos al món que no sóc capaç d'imaginar. Que no vol dir que no pugui passar.
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@ da8b7de1:c0164aee
2025-05-22 16:19:52Technológiai és fejlesztési hírek
- Észtország SMR-tervei:
Észtország hivatalosan elindította a nemzeti tervezési folyamatot és a környezeti hatásvizsgálatot egy 600 MW-os kis moduláris reaktor (SMR) atomerőmű létesítésére, GE Hitachi BWRX-300 technológiával. A projektet a Fermi Energia vezeti, a lakosság körében mérsékelt támogatottság mellett. Az építési engedélykérelem benyújtását 2029-re tervezik, a cél az ország energiabiztonságának és klímacéljainak erősítése.
- Olkiluoto-1 csökkentett teljesítménnyel üzemel:
Finnországban az Olkiluoto-2 egységben a generátor rotorjának cseréje miatt a termelés májusban újraindul, de a teljesítményt 735 MW-ra korlátozzák (a teljes kapacitás 890 MW). A csökkentett teljesítmény 2026-ig marad érvényben. Az Olkiluoto-1 egység normálisan működik, az Olkiluoto-3 pedig éves karbantartáson van.
Ipari és pénzügyi fejlemények
- Kanada–Argentína nehézvíz-együttműködés:
A kanadai Candu Energy (AtkinsRéalis) és az argentin Nemzeti Atomenergia Bizottság (CNEA) memorandumot írt alá a nehézvíz-termelés fellendítéséről. Ez magában foglalja az argentin PIAP nehézvízgyár újraindítását és potenciálisan új üzemek építését Kanadában. A fejlesztés támogatja a meglévő és tervezett CANDU reaktorok működését világszerte, és illeszkedik a COP28 utáni globális nukleáris bővüléshez.
- USA: nukleáris adókedvezményekért folyó lobbizás:
Az amerikai nukleáris ipar intenzív lobbitevékenységet folytat, hogy megőrizze a Biden-adminisztráció által bevezetett, az Inflációcsökkentő Törvény (IRA) szerinti nukleáris adókedvezményeket. Az új, republikánus többségű költségvetési törvényjavaslat jelentősen lerövidítené a tiszta energia (szél, nap, akkumulátor) támogatásokat, de a nukleáris ipar számára bizonyos kedvezmények megmaradnának, bár a 45U nukleáris adókedvezmény is három évvel korábban, 2031-ben lejárhat.
- Háztartási és ipari érdekek:
Az amerikai ház költségvetési törvényjavaslata megszüntetné a legtöbb tiszta energiához kapcsolódó adókedvezményt, kivéve néhány nukleáris projektet, és szigorítaná a kínai kapcsolatokkal rendelkező projektek támogatását. Ez várhatóan visszaveti a megújuló energiaipar beruházásait, miközben a nukleáris szektor relatív pozíciója javulhat.
Politikai és társadalmi fejlemények
- Tajvan: népszavazás a nukleáris energia sorsáról:
Tajvan parlamentje megszavazta, hogy népszavazást tartsanak a Maanshan atomerőmű újraindításáról, miután az ország utolsó működő reaktorát is leállították. A referendum nem azonnali újraindításról szól, hanem arról, hogy a lakosság döntsön a meghosszabbításról, ha a hatóságok biztonságosnak találják az üzemet.
- Pennsylvania kormányzója a nukleáris energia mellett:
Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania kormányzója, a „Lightning Plan” keretében hangsúlyozta, hogy az állam energiabiztonsága és gazdasági fejlődése érdekében kulcsszerepet szán a nukleáris energiának, valamint más megbízható energiaforrásoknak. A terv célja a munkahelyteremtés, a fogyasztói költségek csökkentése és az engedélyezési folyamatok gyorsítása.
- TMI névváltás:
Az amerikai Nukleáris Szabályozó Hatóság (NRC) jóváhagyta a Three Mile Island (TMI) atomerőmű nevének megváltoztatását Christopher M. Crane-re, az Exelon volt vezérigazgatójának emlékére. A létesítmény a jövőben a Microsoft AI műveleteit is ellátja majd árammal, és 2028-tól 835 MW szén-dioxid-mentes áramot termelhet.
Nemzetközi szakmai események
- NEA konferencia Londonban:
Az OECD NEA 2025. június 18–19-én Londonban rendezi meg az „Excellence in Nuclear Construction” nemzetközi konferenciát. A rendezvény célja, hogy a nukleáris ipar szereplői megosszák tapasztalataikat a nukleáris beruházások gyorsabb, kiszámíthatóbb és költséghatékonyabb megvalósítása érdekében, különös tekintettel a mérnöki, beszerzési és kivitelezési (EPC) kihívásokra.
Hivatkozások
- https://www.nucnet.org
- https://www.world-nuclear-news.org
- https://www.neimagazine.com
- https://www.oecd-nea.org
- https://www.iaea.org
- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy
- https://www.utilitydive.com
- https://www.atkinsrealis.com
- https://www.candu.com
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-18 04:14:48Abstract
This document proposes a novel architecture that decouples the peer-to-peer (P2P) communication layer from the Bitcoin protocol and replaces or augments it with the Nostr protocol. The goal is to improve censorship resistance, performance, modularity, and maintainability by migrating transaction propagation and block distribution to the Nostr relay network.
Introduction
Bitcoin’s current architecture relies heavily on its P2P network to propagate transactions and blocks. While robust, it has limitations in terms of flexibility, scalability, and censorship resistance in certain environments. Nostr, a decentralized event-publishing protocol, offers a multi-star topology and a censorship-resistant infrastructure for message relay.
This proposal outlines how Bitcoin communication could be ported to Nostr while maintaining consensus and verification through standard Bitcoin clients.
Motivation
- Enhanced Censorship Resistance: Nostr’s architecture enables better relay redundancy and obfuscation of transaction origin.
- Simplified Lightweight Nodes: Removing the full P2P stack allows for lightweight nodes that only verify blockchain data and communicate over Nostr.
- Architectural Modularity: Clean separation between validation and communication enables easier auditing, upgrades, and parallel innovation.
- Faster Propagation: Nostr’s multi-star network may provide faster propagation of transactions and blocks compared to the mesh-like Bitcoin P2P network.
Architecture Overview
Components
-
Bitcoin Minimal Node (BMN):
- Verifies blockchain and block validity.
- Maintains UTXO set and handles mempool logic.
- Connects to Nostr relays instead of P2P Bitcoin peers.
-
Bridge Node:
- Bridges Bitcoin P2P traffic to and from Nostr relays.
- Posts new transactions and blocks to Nostr.
- Downloads mempool content and block headers from Nostr.
-
Nostr Relays:
- Accept Bitcoin-specific event kinds (transactions and blocks).
- Store mempool entries and block messages.
- Optionally broadcast fee estimation summaries and tipsets.
Event Format
Proposed reserved Nostr
kind
numbers for Bitcoin content (NIP/BIP TBD):| Nostr Kind | Purpose | |------------|------------------------| | 210000 | Bitcoin Transaction | | 210001 | Bitcoin Block Header | | 210002 | Bitcoin Block | | 210003 | Mempool Fee Estimates | | 210004 | Filter/UTXO summary |
Transaction Lifecycle
- Wallet creates a Bitcoin transaction.
- Wallet sends it to a set of configured Nostr relays.
- Relays accept and cache the transaction (based on fee policies).
- Mining nodes or bridge nodes fetch mempool contents from Nostr.
- Once mined, a block is submitted over Nostr.
- Nodes confirm inclusion and update their UTXO set.
Security Considerations
- Sybil Resistance: Consensus remains based on proof-of-work. The communication path (Nostr) is not involved in consensus.
- Relay Discoverability: Optionally bootstrap via DNS, Bitcoin P2P, or signed relay lists.
- Spam Protection: Relay-side policy, rate limiting, proof-of-work challenges, or Lightning payments.
- Block Authenticity: Nodes must verify all received blocks and reject invalid chains.
Compatibility and Migration
- Fully compatible with current Bitcoin consensus rules.
- Bridge nodes preserve interoperability with legacy full nodes.
- Nodes can run in hybrid mode, fetching from both P2P and Nostr.
Future Work
- Integration with watch-only wallets and SPV clients using verified headers via Nostr.
- Use of Nostr’s social graph for partial trust assumptions and relay reputation.
- Dynamic relay discovery using Nostr itself (relay list events).
Conclusion
This proposal lays out a new architecture for Bitcoin communication using Nostr to replace or augment the P2P network. This improves decentralization, censorship resistance, modularity, and speed, while preserving consensus integrity. It encourages innovation by enabling smaller, purpose-built Bitcoin nodes and offloading networking complexity.
This document may become both a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP-XXX) and a Nostr Improvement Proposal (NIP-XXX). Event kind range reserved: 210000–219999.
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:24Contribute 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 onbitcoind_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
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 16:01:16Bitcoin Magazine
Metaplanet Hits New All Time High As Bitcoin Hits Record PriceMetaplanet 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.
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@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7
2025-05-22 16:00:36In a landmark leap for bitcoin self-custody, Wasabi Wallet announced the release of v2.6.0 “Prometheus,” the first version of its privacy-centric desktop software to operate entirely independent of centralized servers.
This update marks a pivotal step toward ensuring long-term resilience and user autonomy in an increasingly regulated digital landscape.
New release 2.6.0 – Prometheus is here!
Support for Standard BIP 158 Block Filters
Full Node Integration Rework
Create & Recover SLIP 39 Shares
Nostr Update Manager
And more… https://t.co/J0K5DFMQZL
— Wasabi Wallet (@wasabiwallet) May 5, 2025
Key Innovations
1. Sovereign Blockchain Synchronization via BIP 158
Wasabi now leverages Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 158 block filters, enabling users to sync directly with their own bitcoin node. This eliminates dependency on third-party indexers or servers, drastically improving sync speeds while ensuring users retain full control over their blockchain data.2. Simplified Full Node Integration
The overhauled node integration allows seamless compatibility with any bitcoin node implementation. Users need only enable their node’s RPC server and connect it to Wasabi. All critical functions—block retrieval, fee estimation, and transaction broadcasting—now operate through the user’s own infrastructure.3. SLIP 39 Backup Shares (Sponsored by Trezor)
A new standard for wallet recovery, SLIP 39, enables users to generate multiple encrypted backup shares. This “sharded” approach, sponsored by Trezor, ensures flexible and secure recovery options, reducing risks of single-point failure.4. Censorship-Resistant Updates via Nostr Protocol
Replacing GitHub reliance, Wasabi now distributes updates through the decentralized Nostr network. Updates remain verifiable via the project’s code-signing certificate, ensuring continuity even if centralized platforms are compromised.5. Enhanced Privacy and Resilience
- No Third-Party Dependencies: Optional removal of external exchange/fee rate providers.
- Stricter JSON Serialization: Rebuilt data handling to prevent vulnerabilities.
- Azure Trusted Signing: New code-signing certificate for Windows builds.
- UI Overhaul: Critical fixes for macOS Sequoia and Avalonia framework upgrades.
Availability and Additional Resources
Wasabi Wallet v2.6.0 is available for immediate download at wasabiwallet.io. The update is free, open-source, and compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Full Changelog: GitHub Release Notes
GitHub Repo: github.com/zkSNACKs/WalletWasabiAbout Wasabi Wallet
Wasabi Wallet is a non-custodial, open-source bitcoin wallet prioritizing financial privacy through technologies like CoinJoin. Designed for desktop, it empowers users to reclaim sovereignty over their transactions with robust encryption, minimal metadata leakage, and peer-to-peer operation.
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@ 2f29aa33:38ac6f13
2025-05-17 12:59:01The Myth and the Magic
Picture this: a group of investors, huddled around a glowing computer screen, nervously watching Bitcoin’s price. Suddenly, someone produces a stick-no ordinary stick, but a magical one. With a mischievous grin, they poke the Bitcoin. The price leaps upward. Cheers erupt. The legend of the Bitcoin stick is born.
But why does poking Bitcoin with a stick make the price go up? Why does it only work for a lucky few? And what does the data say about this mysterious phenomenon? Let’s dig in, laugh a little, and maybe learn the secret to market-moving magic.
The Statistical Side of Stick-Poking
Bitcoin’s Price: The Wild Ride
Bitcoin’s price is famous for its unpredictability. In the past year, it’s soared, dipped, and soared again, sometimes gaining more than 50% in just a few months. On a good day, billions of dollars flow through Bitcoin trades, and the price can jump thousands in a matter of hours. Clearly, something is making this happen-and it’s not just spreadsheets and financial news.
What Actually Moves the Price?
-
Scarcity: Only 21 million Bitcoins will ever exist. When more people want in, the price jumps.
-
Big News: Announcements, rumors, and meme-worthy moments can send the price flying.
-
FOMO: When people see Bitcoin rising, they rush to buy, pushing it even higher.
-
Liquidations: When traders betting against Bitcoin get squeezed, it triggers a chain reaction of buying.
But let’s be honest: none of this is as fun as poking Bitcoin with a stick.
The Magical Stick: Not Your Average Twig
Why Not Every Stick Works
You can’t just grab any old branch and expect Bitcoin to dance. The magical stick is a rare artifact, forged in the fires of internet memes and blessed by the spirit of Satoshi. Only a chosen few possess it-and when they poke, the market listens.
Signs You Have the Magical Stick
-
When you poke, Bitcoin’s price immediately jumps a few percent.
-
Your stick glows with meme energy and possibly sparkles with digital dust.
-
You have a knack for timing your poke right after a big event, like a halving or a celebrity tweet.
-
Your stick is rumored to have been whittled from the original blockchain itself.
Why Most Sticks Fail
-
No Meme Power: If your stick isn’t funny, Bitcoin ignores you.
-
Bad Timing: Poking during a bear market just annoys the blockchain.
-
Not Enough Hype: If the bitcoin community isn’t watching, your poke is just a poke.
-
Lack of Magic: Some sticks are just sticks. Sad, but true.
The Data: When the Stick Strikes
Let’s look at some numbers:
-
In the last month, Bitcoin’s price jumped over 20% right after a flurry of memes and stick-poking jokes.
-
Over the past year, every major price surge was accompanied by a wave of internet hype, stick memes, or wild speculation.
-
In the past five years, Bitcoin’s biggest leaps always seemed to follow some kind of magical event-whether a halving, a viral tweet, or a mysterious poke.
Coincidence? Maybe. But the pattern is clear: the stick works-at least when it’s magical.
The Role of Memes, Magic, and Mayhem
Bitcoin’s price is like a cat: unpredictable, easily startled, and sometimes it just wants to be left alone. But when the right meme pops up, or the right stick pokes at just the right time, the price can leap in ways that defy logic.
The bitcoin community knows this. That’s why, when Bitcoin’s stuck in a rut, you’ll see a flood of stick memes, GIFs, and magical thinking. Sometimes, it actually works.
The Secret’s in the Stick (and the Laughs)
So, does poking Bitcoin with a stick really make the price go up? If your stick is magical-blessed by memes, timed perfectly, and watched by millions-absolutely. The statistics show that hype, humor, and a little bit of luck can move markets as much as any financial report.
Next time you see Bitcoin stalling, don’t just sit there. Grab your stick, channel your inner meme wizard, and give it a poke. Who knows? You might just be the next legend in the world of bitcoin magic.
And if your stick doesn’t work, don’t worry. Sometimes, the real magic is in the laughter along the way.
-aco
@block height: 897,104
-
-
@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:04Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
News
- Spiral welcomes Ben Carman. The developer will work on the LDK server and a new SDK designed to simplify the onboarding process for new self-custodial Bitcoin users.
- Spiral renews support for Dan Gould and Joschisan. The organization has renewed support for Dan Gould, who is developing the Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK), and Joschisan, a Fedimint developer focused on simplifying federations.
- The Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation announced new corporate members for 2025, including AnchorWatch, CleanSpark, and Proton Foundation. The annual dues from these corporate members fund the small team of open-source developers responsible for maintaining the core BDK libraries and related free and open-source software (FOSS) projects.
- The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA), just months after its implementation. According to Politico's report on Tuesday, the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
- Slovenia is considering a 25% capital gains tax on Bitcoin profits for individuals. The Ministry of Finance has proposed legislation to impose this tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions, though exchanging one cryptocurrency for another would remain exempt. At present, individual 'crypto' traders in Slovenia are not taxed.
- The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya. The new legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
- Circle, BitGo, Coinbase, and Paxos plan to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, major crypto companies are planning to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. These firms are pursuing limited licenses that would permit them to issue stablecoins, as the U.S. Congress deliberates on legislation mandating licensing for stablecoin issuers.
"Established banks, like Bank of America, are hoping to amend the current drafts of [stablecoin] legislation in such a way that nonbanks are more heavily restricted from issuing stablecoins," people familiar with the matter told The Block.
- Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the George W. Bush administration. He has committed to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
- Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.' The U.S. Federal Reserve withdrew guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as announced by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.
"As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.
- Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange. The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank announced plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
- Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury. This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is planned to go public via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by Jack Mallers, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a report by the Financial Times, the company aims to replicate the model of Michael Saylor with his company, MicroStrategy.
- Strategy increases Bitcoin holdings to 538,200 BTC. In the latest purchase, the company has spent more than $555M to buy 6,556 coins through proceeds of two at-the-market stock offering programs.
- Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC. The Tokyo-listed company has purchased an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
- Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC. The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a press release.
- Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin. According to the automaker's latest earnings report, the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
- Spar supermarket experiments with Bitcoin payments in Zug, Switzerland. The store has introduced a new payment method powered by the Lightning Network. The implementation was facilitated by DFX Swiss, a service that supports seamless conversions between bitcoin and legacy currencies.
- Charles Schwab to launch spot Bitcoin trading by 2026. The financial investment firm, managing over $10 trillion in assets, has revealed plans to introduce spot Bitcoin trading for its clients within the next year.
- Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM" and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as announced on Tuesday.
- Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet. The bridge utilizes the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
- UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing. The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, per Bitcoin Magazine.
- Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners, adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.
"Thank you, Bitaxe community. OSMU developers, your brilliance built this. Supporters, your belief drives us. Customers, your trust powers 10,000+ miners and 10PH globally. Together, we’re decentralizing Bitcoin’s future. Last but certainly not least, thank you@skot9000 for not only creating a freedom tool, but instilling the idea into thousands of people, that Bitcoin mining can be for everyone again," said the firm on X.
- OCEAN's DATUM has found 100 blocks. "Over 65% of OCEAN’s miners are using DATUM, and that number is growing every day. This means block template construction is making its way back into the hands of the miners, which is not only the most profitable
-
@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-09 23:10:14I. Historical Foundations of U.S. Monetary Architecture
The early monetary system of the United States was built atop inherited commodity money conventions from Europe’s maritime economies. Silver and gold coins—primarily Spanish pieces of eight, Dutch guilders, and other foreign specie—formed the basis of colonial commerce. These units were already integrated into international trade and piracy networks and functioned with natural compatibility across England, France, Spain, and Denmark. Lacking a centralized mint or formal currency, the U.S. adopted these forms de facto.
As security risks and the practical constraints of physical coinage mounted, banks emerged to warehouse specie and issue redeemable certificates. These certificates evolved into fiduciary media—claims on specie not actually in hand. Banks observed over time that substantial portions of reserves remained unclaimed for years. This enabled fractional reserve banking: issuing more claims than reserves held, so long as redemption demand stayed low. The practice was inherently unstable, prone to panics and bank runs, prompting eventual centralization through the formation of the Federal Reserve in 1913.
Following the Civil War and unstable reinstatements of gold convertibility, the U.S. sought global monetary stability. After World War II, the Bretton Woods system formalized the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency. The dollar was nominally backed by gold, but most international dollars were held offshore and recycled into U.S. Treasuries. The Nixon Shock of 1971 eliminated the gold peg, converting the dollar into pure fiat. Yet offshore dollar demand remained, sustained by oil trade mandates and the unique role of Treasuries as global reserve assets.
II. The Structure of Fiduciary Media and Treasury Demand
Under this system, foreign trade surpluses with the U.S. generate excess dollars. These surplus dollars are parked in U.S. Treasuries, thereby recycling trade imbalances into U.S. fiscal liquidity. While technically loans to the U.S. government, these purchases act like interest-only transfers—governments receive yield, and the U.S. receives spendable liquidity without principal repayment due in the short term. Debt is perpetually rolled over, rarely extinguished.
This creates an illusion of global subsidy: U.S. deficits are financed via foreign capital inflows that, in practice, function more like financial tribute systems than conventional debt markets. The underlying asset—U.S. Treasury debt—functions as the base reserve asset of the dollar system, replacing gold in post-Bretton Woods monetary logic.
III. Emergence of Tether and the Parastatal Dollar
Tether (USDT), as a private issuer of dollar-denominated tokens, mimics key central bank behaviors while operating outside the regulatory perimeter. It mints tokens allegedly backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars or dollar-denominated securities (mostly Treasuries). These tokens circulate globally, often in jurisdictions with limited banking access, and increasingly serve as synthetic dollar substitutes.
If USDT gains dominance as the preferred medium of exchange—due to technological advantages, speed, programmability, or access—it displaces Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) not through devaluation, but through functional obsolescence. Gresham’s Law inverts: good money (more liquid, programmable, globally transferable USDT) displaces bad (FRNs) even if both maintain a nominal 1:1 parity.
Over time, this preference translates to a systemic demand shift. Actors increasingly use Tether instead of FRNs, especially in global commerce, digital marketplaces, or decentralized finance. Tether tokens effectively become shadow base money.
IV. Interaction with Commercial Banking and Redemption Mechanics
Under traditional fractional reserve systems, commercial banks issue loans denominated in U.S. dollars, expanding the money supply. When borrowers repay loans, this destroys the created dollars and contracts monetary elasticity. If borrowers repay in USDT instead of FRNs:
- Banks receive a non-Fed liability (USDT).
- USDT is not recognized as reserve-eligible within the Federal Reserve System.
- Banks must either redeem USDT for FRNs, or demand par-value conversion from Tether to settle reserve requirements and balance their books.
This places redemption pressure on Tether and threatens its 1:1 peg under stress. If redemption latency, friction, or cost arises, USDT’s equivalence to FRNs is compromised. Conversely, if banks are permitted or compelled to hold USDT as reserve or regulatory capital, Tether becomes a de facto reserve issuer.
In this scenario, banks may begin demanding loans in USDT, mirroring borrower behavior. For this to occur sustainably, banks must secure Tether liquidity. This creates two options: - Purchase USDT from Tether or on the secondary market, collateralized by existing fiat. - Borrow USDT directly from Tether, using bank-issued debt as collateral.
The latter mirrors Federal Reserve discount window operations. Tether becomes a lender of first resort, providing monetary elasticity to the banking system by creating new tokens against promissory assets—exactly how central banks function.
V. Structural Consequences: Parallel Central Banking
If Tether begins lending to commercial banks, issuing tokens backed by bank notes or collateralized debt obligations: - Tether controls the expansion of broad money through credit issuance. - Its balance sheet mimics a central bank, with Treasuries and bank debt as assets and tokens as liabilities. - It intermediates between sovereign debt and global liquidity demand, replacing the Federal Reserve’s open market operations with its own issuance-redemption cycles.
Simultaneously, if Tether purchases U.S. Treasuries with FRNs received through token issuance, it: - Supplies the Treasury with new liquidity (via bond purchases). - Collects yield on government debt. - Issues a parallel form of U.S. dollars that never require redemption—an interest-only loan to the U.S. government from a non-sovereign entity.
In this context, Tether performs monetary functions of both a central bank and a sovereign wealth fund, without political accountability or regulatory transparency.
VI. Endgame: Institutional Inversion and Fed Redundancy
This paradigm represents an institutional inversion:
- The Federal Reserve becomes a legacy issuer.
- Tether becomes the operational base money provider in both retail and interbank contexts.
- Treasuries remain the foundational reserve asset, but access to them is mediated by a private intermediary.
- The dollar persists, but its issuer changes. The State becomes a fiscal agent of a decentralized financial ecosystem, not its monetary sovereign.
Unless the Federal Reserve reasserts control—either by absorbing Tether, outlawing its instruments, or integrating its tokens into the reserve framework—it risks becoming irrelevant in the daily function of money.
Tether, in this configuration, is no longer a derivative of the dollar—it is the dollar, just one level removed from sovereign control. The future of monetary sovereignty under such a regime is post-national and platform-mediated.
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:04Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
- RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha is now available!
NOTE: "This version of clients is not compatible with older versions of coordinators. Coordinators must upgrade first, make sure you don't upgrade your client while this is marked as pre-release."
- This version brings a new and improved coordinators view with reviews signed both by the robot and the coordinator, adds market price sources in coordinator profiles, shows a correct warning for canceling non-taken orders after a payment attempt, adds Uzbek sum currency, and includes package library updates for coordinators.
Source: RoboSats.
- siggy47 is writing daily RoboSats activity reviews on stacker.news. Check them out here.
- Stay up-to-date with RoboSats on Nostr.
What's new
- New coordinators view (see the picture above).
- Available coordinator reviews signed by both the robot and the coordinator.
- Coordinators now display market price sources in their profiles.
Source: RoboSats.
- Fix for wrong message on cancel button when taking an order. Users are now warned if they try to cancel a non taken order after a payment attempt.
- Uzbek sum currency now available.
- For coordinators: library updates.
- Add docker frontend (#1861).
- Add order review token (#1869).
- Add UZS migration (#1875).
- Fixed tests review (#1878).
- Nostr pubkey for Robot (#1887).
New contributors
Full Changelog: v0.7.6-alpha...v0.7.7-alpha
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@ 7e6f9018:a6bbbce5
2025-05-22 15:44:12Over the last decade, birth rates in Spain have dropped by 30%, from 486,000 births in 2010 to 339,000 in 2020, a decline only comparable to that seen in Japan and the Four Asian Tigers.
The main cause seems to stem from two major factors: (1) the widespread use of contraceptive methods, which allow for pregnancy control without reducing sexual activity, and (2) women's entry into the labor market, leading to a significant shift away from traditional maternal roles.
In this regard, there is a phenomenon of demographic inertia that I believe could become significant. When a society ages and the population pyramid inverts, the burden this places on the non-dependent population could further contribute to a deeper decline in birth rates.
The more resources (time and money) non-dependent individuals have to dedicate to the elderly (dependents), the less they can allocate to producing new births (also dependents):
- An only child who has to care for both parents will bear a burden of 2 (2 ÷ 1).
- Three siblings who share the responsibility of caring for their parents will bear a burden of 0.6 (2 ÷ 3).
This burden on only children could, in many cases, be significant enough to prevent them from having children of their own.
In Spain, the generation of only children reached reproductive age in 2019(*), this means that right now the majority of people in reproductive age in Spain are only child (or getting very close to it).
If this assumption is correct, and aging feeds on itself, then, given that Spain has one of the worst demographic imbalances in the world, this phenomenon is likely to manifest through worsening birth rates. Spain’s current birth rate of 1.1 may not yet have reached its lowest point.
(*)Birth rate table and the year in which each generation reaches 32 years of age, Spain.
| Year of birth | Birth rate | Year in which the generation turns 32 | | ------------------ | -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | 1971 | 2.88 | 2003 | | 1972 | 2.85 | 2004 | | 1973 | 2.82 | 2005 | | 1974 | 2.81 | 2006 | | 1975 | 2.77 | 2007 | | 1976 | 2.77 | 2008 | | 1977 | 2.65 | 2009 | | 1978 | 2.54 | 2010 | | 1979 | 2.37 | 2011 | | 1980 | 2.21 | 2012 | | 1981 | 2.04 | 2013 | | 1982 | 1.94 | 2014 | | 1983 | 1.80 | 2015 | | 1984 | 1.72 | 2016 | | 1985 | 1.64 | 2017 | | 1986 | 1.55 | 2018 | | 1987 | 1.49 | 2019 | | 1988 | 1.45 | 2020 | | 1989 | 1.40 | 2021 | | 1990 | 1.36 | 2022 | | 1991 | 1.33 | 2023 | | 1992 | 1.31 | 2024 | | 1993 | 1.26 | 2025 | | 1994 | 1.19 | 2026 | | 1995 | 1.16 | 2027 | | 1996 | 1.14 | 2028 | | 1997 | 1.15 | 2029 | | 1998 | 1.13 | 2030 | | 1999 | 1.16 | 2031 | | 2000 | 1.21 | 2032 | | 2001 | 1.24 | 2033 | | 2002 | 1.25 | 2034 | | 2003 | 1.30 | 2035 | | 2004 | 1.32 | 2036 | | 2005 | 1.33 | 2037 | | 2006 | 1.36 | 2038 | | 2007 | 1.38 | 2039 | | 2008 | 1.44 | 2040 | | 2009 | 1.38 | 2041 | | 2010 | 1.37 | 2042 | | 2011 | 1.34 | 2043 | | 2012 | 1.32 | 2044 | | 2013 | 1.27 | 2045 | | 2014 | 1.32 | 2046 | | 2015 | 1.33 | 2047 | | 2016 | 1.34 | 2048 | | 2017 | 1.31 | 2049 | | 2018 | 1.26 | 2050 | | 2019 | 1.24 | 2051 | | 2020 | 1.19 | 2052 |
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@ 4fa5d1c4:fd6c6e41
2025-05-22 15:30:43🧠 Entwickelt von OECD & EU-Kommission – jetzt zur Rückmeldung freigegeben:\ 👉 https://ailiteracyframework.org/
Das Framework beschreibt vier zentrale Domänen der KI-Kompetenz – jede mit einem klaren Profil aus Wissen, Fertigkeiten und Haltungen. Diese lassen sich hervorragend mit den vier Kompetenzbereichen verbinden:
🔹 Engaging with AI ↔ 🟢 Verstehen
Lernende erkennen KI in ihrem Alltag, verstehen ihre technischen Grundlagen (📘 Knowledge) und entwickeln die Fähigkeit, Ausgaben kritisch zu analysieren (🛠️ Skills), begleitet von einer neugierigen und verantwortungsbewussten Einstellung (🧭 Attitudes).
🔹 Creating with AI ↔ 🔵 Anwenden
Durch den kreativen Einsatz generativer KI entstehen neue Lernprodukte. Benötigt werden technisches Verständnis (📘 z. B. zu Trainingsdaten), Anwendungskompetenz (🛠️ z. B. Promptgestaltung), sowie eine innovationsorientierte Haltung (🧭 Ownership, Urheberrecht, Attribution).
🔹 Managing AI ↔ 🟠 Reflektieren
Hier geht es um bewusste Entscheidungen: Wann ist KI sinnvoll? Wie wirken sich ihre Vorschläge auf mein Denken aus? Das verlangt (📘) Orientierungswissen, (🛠️) strategisches Problemlösen und (🧭) eine ethisch begründbare Reflexion.
🔹 Designing AI ↔ 🟣 Gestalten
Lernende analysieren und entwerfen KI-Systeme: Welche Daten nutze ich? Wer profitiert? Mit welchen Folgen? Die Verbindung aus (📘) systemischem Wissen, (🛠️) Gestaltungskompetenz und (🧭) ethischer Haltung eröffnet Bildungsräume im digitalen Wandel.
📬 Rückmeldungen zum Entwurf sind willkommen – eure Expertise aus der Praxis zählt!
👉 [https://teachai.org/ailiteracy/review](https://teachai.org/ailiteracy/review)
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-06 14:05:40If you're an engineer stepping into the Bitcoin space from the broader crypto ecosystem, you're probably carrying a mental model shaped by speed, flexibility, and rapid innovation. That makes sense—most blockchain platforms pride themselves on throughput, programmability, and dev agility.
But Bitcoin operates from a different set of first principles. It’s not competing to be the fastest network or the most expressive smart contract platform. It’s aiming to be the most credible, neutral, and globally accessible value layer in human history.
Here’s why that matters—and why Bitcoin is not just an alternative crypto asset, but a structural necessity in the global financial system.
1. Bitcoin Fixes the Triffin Dilemma—Not With Policy, But Protocol
The Triffin Dilemma shows us that any country issuing the global reserve currency must run persistent deficits to supply that currency to the world. That’s not a flaw of bad leadership—it’s an inherent contradiction. The U.S. must debase its own monetary integrity to meet global dollar demand. That’s a self-terminating system.
Bitcoin sidesteps this entirely by being:
- Non-sovereign – no single nation owns it
- Hard-capped – no central authority can inflate it
- Verifiable and neutral – anyone with a full node can enforce the rules
In other words, Bitcoin turns global liquidity into an engineering problem, not a political one. No other system, fiat or crypto, has achieved that.
2. Bitcoin’s “Ossification” Is Intentional—and It's a Feature
From the outside, Bitcoin development may look sluggish. Features are slow to roll out. Code changes are conservative. Consensus rules are treated as sacred.
That’s the point.
When you’re building the global monetary base layer, stability is not a weakness. It’s a prerequisite. Every other financial instrument, app, or protocol that builds on Bitcoin depends on one thing: assurance that the base layer won’t change underneath them without extreme scrutiny.
So-called “ossification” is just another term for predictability and integrity. And when the market does demand change (SegWit, Taproot), Bitcoin’s soft-fork governance process has proven capable of deploying it safely—without coercive central control.
3. Layered Architecture: Throughput Is Not a Base Layer Concern
You don’t scale settlement at the base layer. You build layered systems. Just as TCP/IP doesn't need to carry YouTube traffic directly, Bitcoin doesn’t need to process every microtransaction.
Instead, it anchors:
- Lightning (fast payments)
- Fedimint (community custody)
- Ark (privacy + UTXO compression)
- Statechains, sidechains, and covenants (coming evolution)
All of these inherit Bitcoin’s security and scarcity, while handling volume off-chain, in ways that maintain auditability and self-custody.
4. Universal Assayability Requires Minimalism at the Base Layer
A core design constraint of Bitcoin is that any participant, anywhere in the world, must be able to independently verify the validity of every transaction and block—past and present—without needing permission or relying on third parties.
This property is called assayability—the ability to “test” or verify the authenticity and integrity of received bitcoin, much like verifying the weight and purity of a gold coin.
To preserve this:
- The base layer must remain resource-light, so running a full node stays accessible on commodity hardware.
- Block sizes must remain small enough to prevent centralization of verification.
- Historical data must remain consistent and tamper-evident, enabling proof chains across time and jurisdiction.
Any base layer that scales by increasing throughput or complexity undermines this fundamental guarantee, making the network more dependent on trust and surveillance infrastructure.
Bitcoin prioritizes global verifiability over throughput—because trustless money requires that every user can check the money they receive.
5. Governance: Not Captured, Just Resistant to Coercion
The current controversy around
OP_RETURN
and proposals to limit inscriptions is instructive. Some prominent devs have advocated for changes to block content filtering. Others see it as overreach.Here's what matters:
- No single dev, or team, can force changes into the network. Period.
- Bitcoin Core is not “the source of truth.” It’s one implementation. If it deviates from market consensus, it gets forked, sidelined, or replaced.
- The economic majority—miners, users, businesses—enforce Bitcoin’s rules, not GitHub maintainers.
In fact, recent community resistance to perceived Core overreach only reinforces Bitcoin’s resilience. Engineers who posture with narcissistic certainty, dismiss dissent, or attempt to capture influence are routinely neutralized by the market’s refusal to upgrade or adopt forks that undermine neutrality or openness.
This is governance via credible neutrality and negative feedback loops. Power doesn’t accumulate in one place. It’s constantly checked by the network’s distributed incentives.
6. Bitcoin Is Still in Its Infancy—And That’s a Good Thing
You’re not too late. The ecosystem around Bitcoin—especially L2 protocols, privacy tools, custody innovation, and zero-knowledge integrations—is just beginning.
If you're an engineer looking for:
- Systems with global scale constraints
- Architectures that optimize for integrity, not speed
- Consensus mechanisms that resist coercion
- A base layer with predictable monetary policy
Then Bitcoin is where serious systems engineers go when they’ve outgrown crypto theater.
Take-away
Under realistic, market-aware assumptions—where:
- Bitcoin’s ossification is seen as a stability feature, not inertia,
- Market forces can and do demand and implement change via tested, non-coercive mechanisms,
- Proof-of-work is recognized as the only consensus mechanism resistant to fiat capture,
- Wealth concentration is understood as a temporary distribution effect during early monetization,
- Low base layer throughput is a deliberate design constraint to preserve verifiability and neutrality,
- And innovation is layered by design, with the base chain providing integrity, not complexity...
Then Bitcoin is not a fragile or inflexible system—it is a deliberately minimal, modular, and resilient protocol.
Its governance is not leaderless chaos; it's a negative-feedback structure that minimizes the power of individuals or institutions to coerce change. The very fact that proposals—like controversial OP_RETURN restrictions—can be resisted, forked around, or ignored by the market without breaking the system is proof of decentralized control, not dysfunction.
Bitcoin is an adversarially robust monetary foundation. Its value lies not in how fast it changes, but in how reliably it doesn't—unless change is forced by real, bottom-up demand and implemented through consensus-tested soft forks.
In this framing, Bitcoin isn't a slower crypto. It's the engineering benchmark for systems that must endure, not entertain.
Final Word
Bitcoin isn’t moving slowly because it’s dying. It’s moving carefully because it’s winning. It’s not an app platform or a sandbox. It’s a protocol layer for the future of money.
If you're here because you want to help build that future, you’re in the right place.
nostr:nevent1qqswr7sla434duatjp4m89grvs3zanxug05pzj04asxmv4rngvyv04sppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qgs9tc6ruevfqu7nzt72kvq8te95dqfkndj5t8hlx6n79lj03q9v6xcrqsqqqqqp0n8wc2
nostr:nevent1qqsd5hfkqgskpjjq5zlfyyv9nmmela5q67tgu9640v7r8t828u73rdqpr4mhxue69uhkymmnw3ezucnfw33k76tww3ux76m09e3k7mf0qgsvr6dt8ft292mv5jlt7382vje0mfq2ccc3azrt4p45v5sknj6kkscrqsqqqqqp02vjk5
nostr:nevent1qqstrszamvffh72wr20euhrwa0fhzd3hhpedm30ys4ct8dpelwz3nuqpr4mhxue69uhkymmnw3ezucnfw33k76tww3ux76m09e3k7mf0qgs8a474cw4lqmapcq8hr7res4nknar2ey34fsffk0k42cjsdyn7yqqrqsqqqqqpnn3znl
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@ 975e4ad5:8d4847ce
2025-05-22 14:30:53The Risks of Offline Storage
Keeping your seed phrase offline – on paper, in a safe, or on a USB drive – seems secure, but it comes with significant risks:
-
Fire or Flood: A disaster could destroy your home, along with the paper or device storing your seed phrase.
-
Theft: Someone could find your seed phrase in your safe or a hidden spot at home.
-
Natural Disasters or War: If you’re forced to leave your home, you might lose access to your seed phrase, effectively locking you out of your assets.
-
Human Error: You could accidentally lose, damage, or misplace the paper or device holding your seed phrase.
These vulnerabilities make offline storage less reliable, especially if you don’t have backups or can’t access them in an emergency.
The Benefits of Online Storage
When done right, online storage addresses these issues. The primary advantage is accessibility: you can retrieve your seed phrase from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection and the necessary credentials. This is invaluable if you’re away from home or in a crisis.
The key to making online storage safe? Encryption.
How to Store Your Seed Phrase Online Securely
-
Choose a Secure Platform\ Upload your encrypted seed phrase to a reputable cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Proton Drive, which offers built-in encryption. Ensure you use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your account.
-
Encrypt Your Seed Phrase\ Before uploading, encrypt your seed phrase using a tool with strong encryption, such as AES-256. Here are some easy options:
-
VeraCrypt: A free tool that lets you create an encrypted file or container. Save your seed phrase in a text file, add it to an encrypted container, and set a password only you know.
-
GPG (GnuPG): This tool allows you to encrypt text files using public and private keys. Generate a key pair and store the private key securely (e.g., on an offline USB drive).
-
7-Zip: A popular compression tool that supports AES-256 encryption. Create an encrypted archive with your seed phrase and set a strong password.
-
Keep the Decryption Key in Your Head\ The password or decryption key should be something only you know. Avoid writing it down to prevent unauthorized access.
-
Disguise the File\ Even if someone sees your encrypted file, they shouldn’t suspect what it contains. Name the file something generic, like “family_recipes.txt,” instead of “seed_phrase.txt.”
Why Encryption Matters
Encryption ensures that even if someone gains access to your file, they can’t read your seed phrase without the decryption key. AES-256, for example, is an industry-standard encryption method considered virtually unbreakable with a strong password. This means that even if a hacker accesses your cloud storage, they can’t use your seed phrase.
Practical Tips for Maximum Security
-
Split Your Seed Phrase: For added protection, divide your seed phrase into multiple parts and store them in separate encrypted files on different platforms.
-
Test Your Access: Periodically check that you can log into your cloud storage and decrypt your file to avoid surprises.
-
Use a Strong Password: Choose a password longer than 12 characters, combining letters, numbers, and special characters.
-
Create Backups: Store multiple encrypted copies on different platforms for extra redundancy.
Conclusion
Storing your seed phrase online isn’t reckless if you do it right. With proper encryption and a secure platform, you can combine the convenience of global access with a high level of protection. Offline methods have their risks, but secure online storage ensures your assets are safe and accessible, no matter where you are.
-
-
@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:03Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
- Wasabi Wallet v2.6.0 "Prometheus" is a major update for the project, focused on resilience and independence from centralized systems.
- Key features include support for BIP 158 block filters for direct node synchronization, a revamped full node integration for easier setup without third-party reliance, SLIP 39 share backups for flexible wallet recovery (sponsored by Trezor), and a Nostr-based update manager for censorship-resistant updates.
- Additional improvements include UI bug fixes, a new fallback for transaction broadcasting, updated code signing, stricter JSON serialization, and options to avoid third-party rate providers, alongside various under-the-hood enhancements.
This new version brings us closer to our ultimate goal: ensuring Wasabi is future-proof," said the developers, while also highlighting the following key areas of focus for the project:
- Ensuring users can always fully and securely use their client.
- Making contribution and forks easy through a codebase of the highest quality possible: understandable, maintainable, and improvable.
"As we achieve our survival goals, expect more cutting-edge improvements in Bitcoin privacy and self-custody. Thank you for the trust you place in us by using Wasabi," was stated in the release notes.
What's new
- Support for Standard BIP 158 Block Filters. Wasabi now syncs using BIP 158 filters without a backend/indexer, connecting directly to a user's node. This boosts sync speed, resilience, and allows full sovereignty without specific server dependency.
- Full Node Integration Rework. The old integration has been replaced with a simpler, more adaptable system. It’s not tied to a specific Bitcoin node fork, doesn’t need the node on the same machine as Wasabi, and requires no changes to the node’s setup.
- "Simply enable the RPC server on your node and point Wasabi to it," said the developers. This ensures all Bitcoin network activities—like retrieving blocks, fee estimations, block filters, and transaction broadcasting—go through your own node, avoiding reliance on third parties.
- Create & Recover SLIP 39 Shares. Users now create and recover wallets with multiple share backups using SLIP 39 standard.
"Special thanks to Trezor (SatoshiLabs) for sponsoring this amazing feature."
- Nostr Update Manager. This version implements a pioneering system with the Nostr protocol for update information and downloads, replacing reliance on GitHub. This enhances the project's resilience, ensuring updates even if GitHub is unavailable, while still verifying updates with the project's secure certificate.
- Updated Avalonia to v11.2.7, fixes for UI bugs (including restoring Minimize on macOS Sequoia).
- Added a configurable third-party fallback for broadcasting transactions if other methods fail.
- Replaced Windows Code Signing Certificate with Azure Trusted Signing.
- Many bug fixes, improved codebase, and enhanced CI pipeline.
- Added the option to avoid using any third-party Exchange Rate and Fee Rate providers (Wasabi can work without them).
- Rebuilt all JSON Serialization mechanisms avoiding default .NET converters. Serialization is now stricter.
Full Changelog: v2.5.1...v2.6.0
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:03Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
- "Today we're launching the beta version of our multiplatform Nostr browser! Think Google Chrome but for Nostr apps. The beta is our big first step toward this vision," announced Damus.
- This version comes with the Dave Nostr AI assistant, support for zaps and the Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) wallet interface, full-text note search, GIFs and fullscreen images, multiple media uploads, user tagging, relay list and mute list support, along with a number of other improvements."
"Included in the beta is the Dave, the Nostr AI assistant (its Grok for Nostr). Dave is a new Notedeck browser app that can search and summarize notes from the network. For a full breakdown of everything new, check out our beta launch video."
What's new
- Dave Nostr AI assistant app.
- GIFs.
- Fulltext note search.
- Add full screen images, add zoom, and pan.
- Zaps! NWC/ Wallet UI.
- Introduce last note per pubkey feed (experimental).
- Allow multiple media uploads per selection.
- Major Android improvements (still WIP).
- Added notedeck app sidebar.
- User Tagging.
- Note truncation.
- Local network note broadcast, broadcast notes to other notedeck notes while you're offline.
- Mute list support (reading).
- Relay list support.
- Ctrl-enter to send notes.
- Added relay indexing (relay columns soon).
- Click hashtags to open hashtag timeline.
- Fixed timelines sometimes not updating (stale feeds).
- Fixed UI bounciness when loading profile pictures
- Fixed unselectable post replies.
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@ 90152b7f:04e57401
2025-05-22 14:27:51Wikileaks - C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002018 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/GRANT/HARRIS/NUGENT/HIRSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/17 TAGS: ECON, EFIN, KFTN, KWBG, IS
2007 September 26
SUBJECT: ISRAELI BANK CUTOFF PORTENDS GAZA BANK CLOSURES AND MORE PRIVATE SECTOR DIFFICULTIES Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 1. 1. (SBU) Summary. Bank Hapoalim's decision to sever ties with banks in Gaza, and an expected move by Israel Discount Bank to do the same, could result in cash shortages, bank closures, and a suspension of commercial imports into Gaza, most of which are food, according to Palestinian banking sector representatives. Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) Governor George Abed is discussing possible solutions with his Israeli counterpart and other Israeli officials. Banks operating in the West Bank are attempting to ascertain the impact on their activities. End summary.
----------------
Threat Made Real
----------------
2. (SBU) Bank Hapoalim announced September 25 that it is severing its ties with banks operating in the Gaza Strip, according to local press reports. The bank reportedly decided to take this action after the GOI designated Gaza a "hostile entity." Since the formation of the Hamas-led government in March 2006, Bank Hapoalim and the Israel Discount Bank (IDB) have warned that they intended to terminate their correspondent bank relationship with banks operating in the West Bank and Gaza. Both banks provide check clearing services and coordinate cash transfers, operations considered vital to the Palestinian banking sector.
--------------
Damage Control
--------------
3. (C) PMA Governor Abed told Econoff September 26 that Bank Hapoalim's decision was "not a surprise" and the PMA "is dealing with it." He explained that he had spoken to Bank of Israel Governor Fischer September 25 and is also in contact with GOI Ministry of Finance officials. Abed said that he believes the GOI is seeking to find a solution because it wants to maintain economic and financial relations with Palestinians. If IDB follows Bank Hapoalim's lead, as expected, Abed fears that the banking sector in Gaza could shutdown. Already in steep decline, banking activity there comprises only 18-20 percent of total deposits and about 15 percent of total loan portfolios of banks operating in the West Bank and Gaza, according to Abed.
4. (C) Arab Bank General Manager Mazen Abu Hamdan and Cairo-Amman Bank Regional Manager Joseph Nesnas told Econoff separately September 26 that IDB does much more business with Gaza banks than Bank Hapoalim, so if IDB severs its ties, the impact will be even more severe. Both said they will close their Gaza branch offices if IDB takes this action. Arab Bank's correspondent account is with the IDB. Both Abu Hamdan and Nesnas said they are uncertain as to exactly how and when Bank Hapoalim will implement its decision, and what the consequences will be for banks in the West Bank. Abu Hamdan suggested that Bank Hapoalim may continue to clear Gaza-origin checks in the short-term with Israeli beneficiaries, but will very soon refuse to accept any checks drawn from Gaza branches.
---------------------------------------
Cash Shortage to Further Restrict Trade
---------------------------------------
5. (C) Abed noted that Gaza merchants frequently pay cash for imports, often upon receipt of the goods at the designated crossing. If banks close, Abed continued, cash payments will be even more common. If cash transfers to Gaza are suspended, however, cash will be hoarded and increasingly unavailable to conduct trade. (Note: According to the UN, 86 percent of commercial imports into Gaza are food.) Abed and Abu Hamdan noted separately that a cash cutoff will also adversely affect the payment of PA salary payments to Gaza-based employees. Banks in Gaza need about NIS 150 million each month to make PA salary payments.
---------------------------------
Hamas Not Guarding Cash Transfers
---------------------------------
6. Abed refuted a press report alleging that Hamas is now guarding cash shipments once they enter Gaza. He said he is aware that of one instance when a bank notified Hamas of a JERUSALEM 00002018 002 OF 002 shipment, and Hamas Executive Forces may have shadowed the cash movement in reply, but in all other cases the banks handle their own security arrangements and do not communicate with Hamas. WALLES
-
@ c7e8fdda:b8f73146
2025-05-22 14:13:31🌍 Too Young. Too Idealistic. Too Alive. A message came in recently that stopped me cold.
It was from someone young—16 years old—but you’d never guess it from the depth of what they wrote. They spoke of having dreams so big they scare people. They’d had a spiritual awakening at 14, but instead of being nurtured, it was dismissed. Surrounded by people dulled by bitterness and fear, they were told to be realistic. To grow up. To face “reality.”
This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
And that reality, to them, looked like a life that doesn’t feel like living at all.
They wrote that their biggest fear wasn’t failure—it was settling. Dimming their fire. Growing into someone they never chose to be.
And that—more than anything—scared them.
They told me that my book, I Don’t Want to Grow Up, brought them to tears because it validated what they already knew to be true. That they’re not alone. That it’s okay to want something different. That it’s okay to feel everything.
It’s messages like this that remind me why I write.
As many of you know, I include my personal email address at the back of all my books. And I read—and respond to—every single message that comes in. Whether it’s a few sentences or a life story, I see them all. And again and again, I’m reminded: there are so many of us out here quietly carrying the same truth.
Maybe you’ve felt the same. Maybe you still do.
Maybe you’ve been told your dreams are too big, too unrealistic. Maybe people around you—people who love you—try to shrink them down to something more “manageable.” Maybe they call it protection. Maybe they call it love.
But it feels like fear.
The path you wish to walk might be lonelier at first. It might not make sense to the people around you. But if it lights you up—follow it.
Because when you do, you give silent permission to others to do the same. You become living proof that another kind of life is possible. And that’s how we build a better world.
So to the person who wrote to me—and to every soul who feels the same way:
Keep going. Keep dreaming. Keep burning. You are not too young. You are not too idealistic. You are just deeply, radically alive.
And that is not a problem. That is a gift.
—
If this speaks to you, my book I Don’t Want to Grow Up was written for this very reason—to remind you that your wildness is sacred, your truth is valid, and you’re not alone. Paperback/Kindle/Audiobook available here: scottstillmanblog.com
This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://connect-test.layer3.press/articles/041a2dc8-5c42-4895-86ec-bc166ac0d315
-
@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:02Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
- This release introduces Payjoin v2 functionality to Bitcoin wallets on Cake, along with several UI/UX improvements and bug fixes.
- The Payjoin v2 protocol enables asynchronous, serverless coordination between sender and receiver, removing the need to be online simultaneously or maintain a server. This simplifies privacy-focused transactions for regular users.
"I cannot speak highly enough of how amazing it has been to work with @bitgould and Jaad from the@payjoindevkit team, they're doing incredible work. None of this would be possible without them and their tireless efforts. PDK made it so much easier to ship Payjoin v2 than it would have been otherwise, and I can't wait to see other wallets jump in and give back to PDK as they implement it like we did," said Seth For Privacy, VP at Cake Wallet.
How to started with Payjoin in Cake Wallet:
- Open the app menu sidebar and click
Privacy
. - Toggle the
Use Payjoin
option. - Now on your receive screen you'll see an option to copy a Payjoin URL
- Bull Bitcoin Wallet v0.4.0 introduced Payjoin v2 support in late December 2024. However, the current implementations are not interoperable at the moment, an issue that should be addressed in the next release of the Bull Bitcoin Wallet.
- Cake Wallet was one of the first wallets to introduce Silent Payments back in May 2024. However, users may encounter sync issues while using this feature at present, which will be resolved in the next release of Cake Wallet.
What's new
- Payjoin v2 implementation.
- Wallet group improvements: Enhanced management of multiple wallets.
- Various bug fixes: improving overall stability and user experience.
- Monero (XMR) enhancements.
Learn more about using, implementing, and understanding BIP 77: Payjoin Version 2 using the
payjoin
crate in Payjoin Dev Kit here. -
@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-05 14:25:28Introduction: The Power of Fiction and the Shaping of Collective Morality
Stories define the moral landscape of a civilization. From the earliest mythologies to the modern spectacle of global cinema, the tales a society tells its youth shape the parameters of acceptable behavior, the cost of transgression, and the meaning of justice, power, and redemption. Among the most globally influential narratives of the past half-century is the Star Wars saga, a sprawling science fiction mythology that has transcended genre to become a cultural religion for many. Central to this mythos is the arc of Anakin Skywalker, the fallen Jedi Knight who becomes Darth Vader. In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Anakin commits what is arguably the most morally abhorrent act depicted in mainstream popular cinema: the mass murder of children. And yet, by the end of the saga, he is redeemed.
This chapter introduces the uninitiated to the events surrounding this narrative turn and explores the deep structural and ethical concerns it raises. We argue that the cultural treatment of Darth Vader as an anti-hero, even a role model, reveals a deep perversion in the collective moral grammar of the modern West. In doing so, we consider the implications this mythology may have on young adults navigating identity, masculinity, and agency in a world increasingly shaped by spectacle and symbolic narrative.
Part I: The Scene and Its Context
In Revenge of the Sith (2005), the third episode of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the protagonist Anakin Skywalker succumbs to fear, ambition, and manipulation. Convinced that the Jedi Council is plotting against the Republic and desperate to save his pregnant wife from a vision of death, Anakin pledges allegiance to Chancellor Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Upon doing so, he is given a new name—Darth Vader—and tasked with a critical mission: to eliminate all Jedi in the temple, including its youngest members.
In one of the most harrowing scenes in the film, Anakin enters the Jedi Temple. A group of young children, known as "younglings," emerge from hiding and plead for help. One steps forward, calling him "Master Skywalker," and asks what they are to do. Anakin responds by igniting his lightsaber. The screen cuts away, but the implication is unambiguous. Later, it is confirmed through dialogue and visual allusion that he slaughtered them all.
There is no ambiguity in the storytelling. The man who will become the galaxy’s most feared enforcer begins his descent by murdering defenseless children.
Part II: A New Kind of Evil in Youth-Oriented Media
For decades, cinema avoided certain taboos. Even films depicting war, genocide, or psychological horror rarely crossed the line into showing children as victims of deliberate violence by the protagonist. When children were harmed, it was by monstrous antagonists, supernatural forces, or offscreen implications. The killing of children was culturally reserved for historical atrocities and horror tales.
In Revenge of the Sith, this boundary was broken. While the film does not show the violence explicitly, the implication is so clear and so central to the character arc that its omission from visual depiction does not blunt the narrative weight. What makes this scene especially jarring is the tonal dissonance between the gravity of the act and the broader cultural treatment of Star Wars as a family-friendly saga. The juxtaposition of child-targeted marketing with a central plot involving child murder is not accidental—it reflects a deeper narrative and commercial structure.
This scene was not a deviation from the arc. It was the intended turning point.
Part III: Masculinity, Militarism, and the Appeal of the Anti-Hero
Darth Vader has long been idolized as a masculine icon. His towering presence, emotionless control, and mechanical voice exude power and discipline. Military institutions have quoted him. He is celebrated in memes, posters, and merchandise. Within the cultural imagination, he embodies dominance, command, and strategic ruthlessness.
For many young men, particularly those struggling with identity, agency, and perceived weakness, Vader becomes more than a character. He becomes an archetype: the man who reclaims power by embracing discipline, forsaking emotion, and exacting vengeance against those who betrayed him. The emotional pain that leads to his fall mirrors the experiences of isolation and perceived emasculation that many young men internalize in a fractured society.
The symbolism becomes dangerous. Anakin's descent into mass murder is portrayed not as the outcome of unchecked cruelty, but as a tragic mistake rooted in love and desperation. The implication is that under enough pressure, even the most horrific act can be framed as a step toward a noble end.
Part IV: Redemption as Narrative Alchemy
By the end of the original trilogy (Return of the Jedi, 1983), Darth Vader kills the Emperor to save his son Luke and dies shortly thereafter. Luke mourns him, honors him, and burns his body in reverence. In the final scene, Vader's ghost appears alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda—the very men who once considered him the greatest betrayal of their order. He is welcomed back.
There is no reckoning. No mention of the younglings. No memorial to the dead. No consequence beyond his own internal torment.
This model of redemption is not uncommon in Western storytelling. In Christian doctrine, the concept of grace allows for any sin to be forgiven if the sinner repents sincerely. But in the context of secular mass culture, such redemption without justice becomes deeply troubling. The cultural message is clear: even the worst crimes can be erased if one makes a grand enough gesture at the end. It is the erasure of moral debt by narrative fiat.
The implication is not only that evil can be undone by good, but that power and legacy matter more than the victims. Vader is not just forgiven—he is exalted.
Part V: Real-World Reflections and Dangerous Scripts
In recent decades, the rise of mass violence in schools and public places has revealed a disturbing pattern: young men who feel alienated, betrayed, or powerless adopt mythic narratives of vengeance and transformation. They often see themselves as tragic figures forced into violence by a cruel world. Some explicitly reference pop culture, quoting films, invoking fictional characters, or modeling their identities after cinematic anti-heroes.
It would be reductive to claim Star Wars causes such events. But it is equally naive to believe that such narratives play no role in shaping the symbolic frameworks through which vulnerable individuals understand their lives. The story of Anakin Skywalker offers a dangerous script:
- You are betrayed.
- You suffer.
- You kill.
- You become powerful.
- You are redeemed.
When combined with militarized masculinity, institutional failure, and cultural nihilism, this script can validate the darkest impulses. It becomes a myth of sacrificial violence, with the perpetrator as misunderstood hero.
Part VI: Cultural Responsibility and Narrative Ethics
The problem is not that Star Wars tells a tragic story. Tragedy is essential to moral understanding. The problem is how the culture treats that story. Darth Vader is not treated as a warning, a cautionary tale, or a fallen angel. He is merchandised, celebrated, and decontextualized.
By separating his image from his actions, society rebrands him as a figure of cool dominance rather than ethical failure. The younglings are forgotten. The victims vanish. Only the redemption remains. The merchandise continues to sell.
Cultural institutions bear responsibility for how such narratives are presented and consumed. Filmmakers may intend nuance, but marketing departments, military institutions, and fan cultures often reduce that nuance to symbol and slogan.
Conclusion: Reckoning with the Stories We Tell
The story of Anakin Skywalker is not morally neutral. It is a tale of systemic failure, emotional collapse, and unchecked violence. When presented in full, it can serve as a powerful warning. But when reduced to aesthetic dominance and easy redemption, it becomes a tool of moral decay.
The glorification of Darth Vader as a cultural icon—divorced from the horrific acts that define his transformation—is not just misguided. It is dangerous. It trains a generation to believe that power erases guilt, that violence is a path to recognition, and that final acts of loyalty can overwrite the deliberate murder of the innocent.
To the uninitiated, Star Wars may seem like harmless fantasy. But its deepest myth—the redemption of the child-killer through familial love and posthumous honor—deserves scrutiny. Not because fiction causes violence, but because fiction defines the possibilities of how we understand evil, forgiveness, and what it means to be a hero.
We must ask: What kind of redemption erases the cries of murdered children? And what kind of culture finds peace in that forgetting?
-
@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d
2025-05-22 14:01:52Gen 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.
-
@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 17:02:02Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.
This update brings key enhancements for clarity and usability:
- Recent Blocks View: Added to the Send tab and inspired by Mempool's visualization, it displays the last 2 blocks and the estimated next block to help choose fee rates.
- Camera System Overhaul: Features a new library for higher resolution detection and mouse-scroll zoom support when available.
- Vector-Based Images: All app images are now vectorized and theme-aware, enhancing contrast, especially in dark mode.
- Tor & P2A Updates: Upgraded internal Tor and improved support for pay-to-anchor (P2A) outputs.
- Linux Package Rename: For Linux users, Sparrow has been renamed to sparrowwallet (or sparrowserver); in some cases, the original sparrow package may need manual removal.
- Additional updates include showing total payments in multi-payment transaction diagrams, better handling of long labels, and other UI enhancements.
- Sparrow v2.2.1 is a bug fix release that addresses missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions, icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view, repackaged
.deb
installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression, and removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.
Learn how to get started with Sparrow wallet:
Release notes (v2.2.0)
- Added Recent Blocks view to Send tab.
- Converted all bitmapped images to theme aware SVG format for all wallet models and dialogs.
- Support send and display of pay to anchor (P2A) outputs.
- Renamed
sparrow
package tosparrowwallet
andsparrowserver
on Linux. - Switched camera library to openpnp-capture.
- Support FHD (1920 x 1080) and UHD4k (3840 x 2160) capture resolutions.
- Support camera zoom with mouse scroll where possible.
- In the Download Verifier, prefer verifying the dropped file over the default file where the file is not in the manifest.
- Show a warning (with an option to disable the check) when importing a wallet with a derivation path matching another script type.
- In Cormorant, avoid calling the
listwalletdir
RPC on initialization due to a potentially slow response on Windows. - Avoid server address resolution for public servers.
- Assume server address is non local for resolution failures where a proxy is configured.
- Added a tooltip to indicate truncated labels in table cells.
- Dynamically truncate input and output labels in the tree on a transaction tab, and add tooltips if necessary.
- Improved tooltips for wallet tabs and transaction diagrams with long labels.
- Show the address where available on input and output tooltips in transaction tab tree.
- Show the total amount sent in payments in the transaction diagram when constructing multiple payment transactions.
- Reset preferred table column widths on adjustment to improve handling after window resizing.
- Added accessible text to improve screen reader navigation on seed entry.
- Made Wallet Summary table grow horizontally with dialog sizing.
- Reduced tooltip show delay to 200ms.
- Show transaction diagram fee percentage as less than 0.01% rather than 0.00%.
- Optimized and reduced Electrum server RPC calls.
- Upgraded Bouncy Castle, PGPainless and Logback libraries.
- Upgraded internal Tor to v0.4.8.16.
- Bug fix: Fixed issue with random ordering of keystore origins on labels import.
- Bug fix: Fixed non-zero account script type detection when signing a message on Trezor devices.
- Bug fix: Fixed issue parsing remote Coldcard xpub encoded on a different network.
- Bug fix: Fixed inclusion of fees on wallet label exports.
- Bug fix: Increase Trezor device libusb timeout.
Linux users: Note that the
sparrow
package has been renamed tosparrowwallet
orsparrowserver
, and in some cases you may need to manually uninstall the originalsparrow
package. Look in the/opt
folder to ensure you have the new name, and the original is removed.What's new in v2.2.1
- Updated Tor library to fix missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions.
- Repackaged
.deb
installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression. - Removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.
- Added icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view
- Bug fix: Fixed issue in Recent Blocks view when switching fee rates source
- Bug fix: Fixed NPE on null fee returned from server
-
@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd
2025-05-03 21:54:45Introduction
Me and Fishcake have been working on infrastructure for Noswhere and Nostr.build. Part of this involves processing a large amount of Nostr events for features such as search, analytics, and feeds.
I have been recently developing
nosdex
v3, a newer version of the Noswhere scraper that is designed for maximum performance and fault tolerance using FoundationDB (FDB).Fishcake has been working on a processing system for Nostr events to use with NB, based off of Cloudflare (CF) Pipelines, which is a relatively new beta product. This evening, we put it all to the test.
First preparations
We set up a new CF Pipelines endpoint, and I implemented a basic importer that took data from the
nosdex
database. This was quite slow, as it did HTTP requests synchronously, but worked as a good smoke test.Asynchronous indexing
I implemented a high-contention queue system designed for highly parallel indexing operations, built using FDB, that supports: - Fully customizable batch sizes - Per-index queues - Hundreds of parallel consumers - Automatic retry logic using lease expiration
When the scraper first gets an event, it will process it and eventually write it to the blob store and FDB. Each new event is appended to the event log.
On the indexing side, a
Queuer
will read the event log, and batch events (usually 2K-5K events) into one work job. This work job contains: - A range in the log to index - Which target this job is intended for - The size of the job and some other metadataEach job has an associated leasing state, which is used to handle retries and prioritization, and ensure no duplication of work.
Several
Worker
s monitor the index queue (up to 128) and wait for new jobs that are available to lease.Once a suitable job is found, the worker acquires a lease on the job and reads the relevant events from FDB and the blob store.
Depending on the indexing type, the job will be processed in one of a number of ways, and then marked as completed or returned for retries.
In this case, the event is also forwarded to CF Pipelines.
Trying it out
The first attempt did not go well. I found a bug in the high-contention indexer that led to frequent transaction conflicts. This was easily solved by correcting an incorrectly set parameter.
We also found there were other issues in the indexer, such as an insufficient amount of threads, and a suspicious decrease in the speed of the
Queuer
during processing of queued jobs.Along with fixing these issues, I also implemented other optimizations, such as deprioritizing
Worker
DB accesses, and increasing the batch size.To fix the degraded
Queuer
performance, I ran the backfill job by itself, and then started indexing after it had completed.Bottlenecks, bottlenecks everywhere
After implementing these fixes, there was an interesting problem: The DB couldn't go over 80K reads per second. I had encountered this limit during load testing for the scraper and other FDB benchmarks.
As I suspected, this was a client thread limitation, as one thread seemed to be using high amounts of CPU. To overcome this, I created a new client instance for each
Worker
.After investigating, I discovered that the Go FoundationDB client cached the database connection. This meant all attempts to create separate DB connections ended up being useless.
Using
OpenWithConnectionString
partially resolved this issue. (This also had benefits for service-discovery based connection configuration.)To be able to fully support multi-threading, I needed to enabled the FDB multi-client feature. Enabling it also allowed easier upgrades across DB versions, as FDB clients are incompatible across versions:
FDB_NETWORK_OPTION_EXTERNAL_CLIENT_LIBRARY="/lib/libfdb_c.so"
FDB_NETWORK_OPTION_CLIENT_THREADS_PER_VERSION="16"
Breaking the 100K/s reads barrier
After implementing support for the multi-threaded client, we were able to get over 100K reads per second.
You may notice after the restart (gap) the performance dropped. This was caused by several bugs: 1. When creating the CF Pipelines endpoint, we did not specify a region. The automatically selected region was far away from the server. 2. The amount of shards were not sufficient, so we increased them. 3. The client overloaded a few HTTP/2 connections with too many requests.
I implemented a feature to assign each
Worker
its own HTTP client, fixing the 3rd issue. We also moved the entire storage region to West Europe to be closer to the servers.After these changes, we were able to easily push over 200K reads/s, mostly limited by missing optimizations:
It's shards all the way down
While testing, we also noticed another issue: At certain times, a pipeline would get overloaded, stalling requests for seconds at a time. This prevented all forward progress on the
Worker
s.We solved this by having multiple pipelines: A primary pipeline meant to be for standard load, with moderate batching duration and less shards, and high-throughput pipelines with more shards.
Each
Worker
is assigned a pipeline on startup, and if one pipeline stalls, other workers can continue making progress and saturate the DB.The stress test
After making sure everything was ready for the import, we cleared all data, and started the import.
The entire import lasted 20 minutes between 01:44 UTC and 02:04 UTC, reaching a peak of: - 0.25M requests per second - 0.6M keys read per second - 140MB/s reads from DB - 2Gbps of network throughput
FoundationDB ran smoothly during this test, with: - Read times under 2ms - Zero conflicting transactions - No overloaded servers
CF Pipelines held up well, delivering batches to R2 without any issues, while reaching its maximum possible throughput.
Finishing notes
Me and Fishcake have been building infrastructure around scaling Nostr, from media, to relays, to content indexing. We consistently work on improving scalability, resiliency and stability, even outside these posts.
Many things, including what you see here, are already a part of Nostr.build, Noswhere and NFDB, and many other changes are being implemented every day.
If you like what you are seeing, and want to integrate it, get in touch. :)
If you want to support our work, you can zap this post, or register for nostr.land and nostr.build today.
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 14:01:07Bitcoin Magazine
Attendees At First New York City Crypto Summit Implore Mayor Adams To End The BitLicenseToday, New York City hosted its first ever crypto summit.
The event took place at Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence, and was attended by prominent figures from the crypto industry, many of whom are based in New York.
At the event, Mayor Adams made the case that he felt the attendees’ pain, stating that they’ve wrongfully been persecuted, and he claimed that it’s now safe for those in the Bitcoin and crypto industry to both speak up and set up shop in New York.
“Look how they’ve treated you,” said Mayor Adams.
“You were treated as though you were the enemy instead of the believers,” he added.
“You’ve been hiding in the shadows, afraid to come out — come out now.”
As Mayor Adams continued, he recommitted to making New York the “crypto capital of the world,” something he first claimed he’d do in 2021, though not much has materialized on this front since then.
New York has continued to be a jurisdiction that’s nearly impossible for Bitcoin and crypto start ups to do business in thanks to the BitLicense, a license required to operate a digital asset company within the state.
Obtaining a BitLicense often costs upwards of $100,000 and takes months, if not years, of cutting through red tape and hopping over bureaucratic hurdles to attain.
Most start ups don’t have the time or funds to obtain one.
So, when Mayor Adams and New York City’s Chief Technology Officer, Matthew Fraser, tasked the attendees at today’s event, with coming up with solutions that would help to make New York City a more crypto-friendly jurisdiction, many brought up the need to abolish the BitLicense — or to at least make New York City immune to its reach.
New York City As A Bitcoin And Crypto Sanctuary City
“To build a thriving [crypto] economy, we have to get rid of the BitLicense,” said one attendee. “We at least need to build a regulatory sandbox in New York City.”
Another attendee argued that “New York City should become a sanctuary city from the BitLicense.”
Attendees made comments like these after sessions of roundtable discussions during which the attendees discussed different issues related to Bitcoin and crypto before having a representative from their table share proposals with the room at large. (Because the attendees agreed to honor the Chatham House Rule, I cannot offer the names of those who spoke on behalf of their groups at the event. However, I can offer the names of the keynote speakers.)
Another attendee who said that New York should become a “crypto sanctuary city” pointed out that there is precedent for this, as the city allowed the cannabis industry to operate within its borders while the rest of the state did not.
Nick Spanos, who founded the first in-person exchange and the earliest in-person Bitcoin meeting space in New York City, the Bitcoin Center, in 2013, also made the case for New York as a crypto sanctuary city.
“We’re giving sanctuary to immigrants — we can give sanctuary to crypto companies,” he said in an impassioned tone.
Nick Spanos claims that NYC should be a crypto sanctuary city. | Photo credit: Frank Corva
Spanos went on to critique the BitLicense, calling into question its legitimacy.
“What kind of license is it when, after 12 years, there are only 30 of them?!” cried Spanos. “That’s an insider license!”
Now Is The Time To Pass Crypto Legislation In New York State
Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz highlighted that now is the time for New York to pass legislation that will benefit the crypto industry.
“After five difficult years, DC has said let’s embrace this technology,” said Novogratz, alluding to the notion that New York should follow the federal government’s lead.
“New York State has not made crypto easy — it’s taken a long time for people to get licenses,” he added.
Novogratz also shared that the crypto industry is “ready for take off,” though he also put the onus on the industry to prove itself by creating products that provide real value to users.
He concluded by saying that, thus far, he’s only really seen value in Bitcoin and stablecoins.
On the topic of stablecoins, Brock Pierce, co-founder of Tether, called on Albany (New York’s capitol) to pass Assembly Bill 6266 and Senate Bill 3262, both of which would establish requirements for the creation and operation of limited purpose trust companies if enacted into law. Such a law would seemingly play a role in enabling Tether to operate in New York.
Other Suggestions For Crypto Applications From The Attendees
A number of attendees also suggested creating crypto products that would help offer financial services to New York City’s approximately 305,000 residents who do not have a bank account (though, none suggested including bitcoin in these services).
Many also stressed the importance of “crypto and blockchain education” within New York’s public school system.
Even Mayor Adams touched on this in his talk.
“Every young person in the DOE [Department of Education] should know about blockchain and crypto,” he said.
And one attendee suggested using blockchain to safeguard the city’s public records.
(I piggybacked on this idea by suggesting that the city consider employing Simple Proof, a company that utilizes the OpenTimestamps protocol on Bitcoin to safeguard public documents, including election results, to help safeguard its important documents.)
Call To Action
Mayor Adams said that when he, the “mayor of the greatest city on the globe,” starts talking about Bitcoin and crypto the rest of the world will pay attention.
For this reason, he said he wanted the best and brightest to help guide him as he broaches the topic.
At the conclusion of the event, attendees were asked to share their notes so that Adams’ team could review them and potentially call on certain attendees to help the mayor forge a more favorable regulatory path forward.
It seems his staff was primed to help, as Fraser asked the attendees to “help the city deregulate the industry.”
Only time will now tell if Mayor Adams and his team will follow through on working with the Bitcoin and crypto industry to make it easier for companies to operate in New York City, or if he’ll lose interest in such an initiative, like he did four years ago.
This post Attendees At First New York City Crypto Summit Implore Mayor Adams To End The BitLicense first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Frank Corva.
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-05-01 17:29:18High-Level Overview
Bitcoin developers are currently debating a proposed change to how Bitcoin Core handles the
OP_RETURN
opcode — a mechanism that allows users to insert small amounts of data into the blockchain. Specifically, the controversy revolves around removing built-in filters that limit how much data can be stored using this feature (currently capped at 80 bytes).Summary of Both Sides
Position A: Remove OP_RETURN Filters
Advocates: nostr:npub1ej493cmun8y9h3082spg5uvt63jgtewneve526g7e2urca2afrxqm3ndrm, nostr:npub12rv5lskctqxxs2c8rf2zlzc7xx3qpvzs3w4etgemauy9thegr43sf485vg, nostr:npub17u5dneh8qjp43ecfxr6u5e9sjamsmxyuekrg2nlxrrk6nj9rsyrqywt4tp, others
Arguments: - Ineffectiveness of filters: Filters are easily bypassed and do not stop spam effectively. - Code simplification: Removing arbitrary limits reduces code complexity. - Permissionless innovation: Enables new use cases like cross-chain bridges and timestamping without protocol-level barriers. - Economic regulation: Fees should determine what data gets added to the blockchain, not protocol rules.
Position B: Keep OP_RETURN Filters
Advocates: nostr:npub1lh273a4wpkup00stw8dzqjvvrqrfdrv2v3v4t8pynuezlfe5vjnsnaa9nk, nostr:npub1s33sw6y2p8kpz2t8avz5feu2n6yvfr6swykrnm2frletd7spnt5qew252p, nostr:npub1wnlu28xrq9gv77dkevck6ws4euej4v568rlvn66gf2c428tdrptqq3n3wr, others
Arguments: - Historical intent: Satoshi included filters to keep Bitcoin focused on monetary transactions. - Resource protection: Helps prevent blockchain bloat and abuse from non-financial uses. - Network preservation: Protects the network from being overwhelmed by low-value or malicious data. - Social governance: Maintains conservative changes to ensure long-term robustness.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of Removing Filters
- Encourages decentralized innovation.
- Simplifies development and maintenance.
- Maintains ideological purity of a permissionless system.
Weaknesses of Removing Filters
- Opens the door to increased non-financial data and potential spam.
- May dilute Bitcoin’s core purpose as sound money.
- Risks short-term exploitation before economic filters adapt.
Strengths of Keeping Filters
- Preserves Bitcoin’s identity and original purpose.
- Provides a simple protective mechanism against abuse.
- Aligns with conservative development philosophy of Bitcoin Core.
Weaknesses of Keeping Filters
- Encourages central decision-making on allowed use cases.
- Leads to workarounds that may be less efficient or obscure.
- Discourages novel but legitimate applications.
Long-Term Consequences
If Filters Are Removed
- Positive: Potential boom in new applications, better interoperability, cleaner architecture.
- Negative: Risk of increased blockchain size, more bandwidth/storage costs, spam wars.
If Filters Are Retained
- Positive: Preserves monetary focus and operational discipline.
- Negative: Alienates developers seeking broader use cases, may ossify the protocol.
Conclusion
The debate highlights a core philosophical split in Bitcoin: whether it should remain a narrow monetary system or evolve into a broader data layer for decentralized applications. Both paths carry risks and tradeoffs. The outcome will shape not just Bitcoin's technical direction but its social contract and future role in the broader crypto ecosystem.
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@ 68d6e729:e5f442ac
2025-05-22 13:55:45The Adapter Pattern in TypeScript
What is the Adapter Pattern?
The Adapter Pattern is a structural design pattern that allows objects with incompatible interfaces to work together. It acts as a bridge between two interfaces, enabling integration without modifying existing code.
In simple terms: it adapts one interface to another.
Real-World Analogy
Imagine you have a U.S. laptop charger and you travel to Europe. The charger plug won't fit into the European socket. You need a plug adapter to convert the U.S. plug into a European-compatible one. The charger stays the same, but the adapter allows it to work in a new context.
When to Use the Adapter Pattern
- You want to use an existing class but its interface doesn't match your needs.
- You want to create a reusable class that cooperates with classes of incompatible interfaces.
- You need to integrate third-party APIs or legacy systems with your application.
Implementing the Adapter Pattern in TypeScript
Let’s go through a practical example.
Scenario
Suppose you’re developing a payment system. You already have a
PaymentProcessor
interface that your application uses. Now, you want to integrate a third-party payment gateway with a different method signature.Step 1: Define the Target Interface
javascript ts CopyEdit// The interface your application expects interface PaymentProcessor { pay(amount: number): void; }
Step 2: Create an Adaptee (incompatible class)
javascript ts CopyEdit// A third-party library with a different method class ThirdPartyPaymentGateway { makePayment(amountInCents: number): void { console.log(`Payment of $${amountInCents / 100} processed via third-party gateway.`); } }
Step 3: Implement the Adapter
```javascript ts CopyEdit// Adapter makes the third-party class compatible with PaymentProcessor class PaymentAdapter implements PaymentProcessor { private gateway: ThirdPartyPaymentGateway;
constructor(gateway: ThirdPartyPaymentGateway) { this.gateway = gateway; }
pay(amount: number): void { const amountInCents = amount * 100; this.gateway.makePayment(amountInCents); } } ```
Step 4: Use the Adapter in Client Code
```javascript ts CopyEditconst thirdPartyGateway = new ThirdPartyPaymentGateway(); const adapter: PaymentProcessor = new PaymentAdapter(thirdPartyGateway);
// Application uses a standard interface adapter.pay(25); // Output: Payment of $25 processed via third-party gateway. ```
Advantages of the Adapter Pattern
- Decouples code from third-party implementations.
- Promotes code reuse by adapting existing components.
- Improves maintainability when dealing with legacy systems or libraries.
Class Adapter vs Object Adapter
In languages like TypeScript, which do not support multiple inheritance, the object adapter approach (shown above) is preferred. However, in classical OOP languages like C++, you may also see class adapters, which rely on inheritance.
Conclusion
The Adapter Pattern is a powerful tool in your design pattern arsenal, especially when dealing with incompatible interfaces. In TypeScript, it helps integrate third-party APIs and legacy systems seamlessly, keeping your code clean and extensible.
By learning and applying the Adapter Pattern, you can make your applications more robust and flexible—ready to adapt to ever-changing requirements. https://fox.layer3.press/articles/cdd71195-62a4-420b-9e24-e23d78b27452
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:23Contribute 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.
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@ e5fa3d8c:44057ac9
2025-05-22 13:26:59This post has been deleted.
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:23Contribute 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.
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-05-22 13:13:36Graphics materials for Bitcoin Knots https://github.com/bitcoinknots branding. See below guide image for reference, a bit cleaner and scalable:
Font family "Aileron" is provided free for personal and commercial use, and can be found here: https://www.1001fonts.com/aileron-font.html
Source: https://github.com/Blissmode/bitcoinknots-gfx/tree/main
https://stacker.news/items/986624
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@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd
2025-04-28 00:48:57I have been recently building NFDB, a new relay DB. This post is meant as a short overview.
Regular relays have challenges
Current relay software have significant challenges, which I have experienced when hosting Nostr.land: - Scalability is only supported by adding full replicas, which does not scale to large relays. - Most relays use slow databases and are not optimized for large scale usage. - Search is near-impossible to implement on standard relays. - Privacy features such as NIP-42 are lacking. - Regular DB maintenance tasks on normal relays require extended downtime. - Fault-tolerance is implemented, if any, using a load balancer, which is limited. - Personalization and advanced filtering is not possible. - Local caching is not supported.
NFDB: A scalable database for large relays
NFDB is a new database meant for medium-large scale relays, built on FoundationDB that provides: - Near-unlimited scalability - Extended fault tolerance - Instant loading - Better search - Better personalization - and more.
Search
NFDB has extended search capabilities including: - Semantic search: Search for meaning, not words. - Interest-based search: Highlight content you care about. - Multi-faceted queries: Easily filter by topic, author group, keywords, and more at the same time. - Wide support for event kinds, including users, articles, etc.
Personalization
NFDB allows significant personalization: - Customized algorithms: Be your own algorithm. - Spam filtering: Filter content to your WoT, and use advanced spam filters. - Topic mutes: Mute topics, not keywords. - Media filtering: With Nostr.build, you will be able to filter NSFW and other content - Low data mode: Block notes that use high amounts of cellular data. - and more
Other
NFDB has support for many other features such as: - NIP-42: Protect your privacy with private drafts and DMs - Microrelays: Easily deploy your own personal microrelay - Containers: Dedicated, fast storage for discoverability events such as relay lists
Calcite: A local microrelay database
Calcite is a lightweight, local version of NFDB that is meant for microrelays and caching, meant for thousands of personal microrelays.
Calcite HA is an additional layer that allows live migration and relay failover in under 30 seconds, providing higher availability compared to current relays with greater simplicity. Calcite HA is enabled in all Calcite deployments.
For zero-downtime, NFDB is recommended.
Noswhere SmartCache
Relays are fixed in one location, but users can be anywhere.
Noswhere SmartCache is a CDN for relays that dynamically caches data on edge servers closest to you, allowing: - Multiple regions around the world - Improved throughput and performance - Faster loading times
routerd
routerd
is a custom load-balancer optimized for Nostr relays, integrated with SmartCache.routerd
is specifically integrated with NFDB and Calcite HA to provide fast failover and high performance.Ending notes
NFDB is planned to be deployed to Nostr.land in the coming weeks.
A lot more is to come. 👀️️️️️️
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:23News
- 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
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 13:00:47Bitcoin Magazine
KindlyMD Shareholders Approve Merger with Bitcoin Treasury Company NakamotoKindlyMD, Inc. has secured shareholder approval for its proposed merger with Nakamoto Holdings Inc., marking a major step toward becoming one of the biggest Bitcoin treasury companies on the market.
The majority of KindlyMD’s shareholders delivered written consent in favor of the merger on May 18, 2025. The transaction is now on track to close in the third quarter of 2025, following the SEC’s review and distribution of an information statement to shareholders. Under current terms, the deal will close 20 days after the statement is mailed.
Full release: https://t.co/jsn4XNW1dK
"We are pleased to achieve this important milestone in the merger process," said Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD. "As a combined company, we are excited to leverage Bitcoin's dominance and real-world utility to strengthen our company and drive… pic.twitter.com/YPD3ajZFNf— KindlyMD (@KindlyMD) May 20, 2025
“This milestone brings us one step closer to unlocking Bitcoin’s potential for KindlyMD shareholders,” said David Bailey, Founder and CEO of Nakamoto. “We are grateful that KindlyMD shares our vision for a future in which Bitcoin is a core part of the corporate balance sheet, and investors across global capital markets have exposure to the world’s greatest asset and store of value.”
Nakamoto is building a global portfolio of companies aligned around Bitcoin’s core principles. Through treasury strategy and targeted acquisitions, the company aims to redefine capital markets infrastructure with Bitcoin at the center.
KindlyMD, meanwhile, brings to the table a unique model of integrated, data-driven healthcare focused on reducing opioid dependence and improving outcomes through personalized treatment and alternative medicine education. Its clinical services are reimbursed through Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance.
Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD, emphasized the strategic benefits of the deal: “We are pleased to achieve this important milestone in the merger process. As a combined company, we are excited to leverage Bitcoin’s dominance and real-world utility to strengthen our company and drive sustained long-term value for our investors.”
Disclosure: Nakamoto is in partnership with Bitcoin Magazine’s parent company BTC Inc to build the first global network of Bitcoin treasury companies, where BTC Inc provides certain marketing services to Nakamoto. More information on this can be found here.
This post KindlyMD Shareholders Approve Merger with Bitcoin Treasury Company Nakamoto first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:22Good morning (good night?)! The No Bullshit Bitcoin news feed is now available on Moody's Dashboard! A huge shoutout to sir Clark Moody for integrating our feed.
Headlines
- Spiral welcomes Ben Carman. The developer will work on the LDK server and a new SDK designed to simplify the onboarding process for new self-custodial Bitcoin users.
- The Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation announced new corporate members for 2025, including AnchorWatch, CleanSpark, and Proton Foundation. The annual dues from these corporate members fund the small team of open-source developers responsible for maintaining the core BDK libraries and related free and open-source software (FOSS) projects.
- Strategy increases Bitcoin holdings to 538,200 BTC. In the latest purchase, the company has spent more than $555M to buy 6,556 coins through proceeds of two at-the-market stock offering programs.
- Spar supermarket experiments with Bitcoin payments in Zug, Switzerland. The store has introduced a new payment method powered by the Lightning Network. The implementation was facilitated by DFX Swiss, a service that supports seamless conversions between bitcoin and legacy currencies.
- The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) wants to contain 'crypto' risks. A report titled "Cryptocurrencies and Decentralised Finance: Functions and Financial Stability Implications" calls for expanding research into "how new forms of central bank money, capital controls, and taxation policies can counter the risks of widespread crypto adoption while still fostering technological innovation."
- "Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking, and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia." According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, criminal organizations from East and Southeast Asia are swiftly extending their global reach. These groups are moving beyond traditional scams and trafficking, creating sophisticated online networks that include unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges, encrypted communication platforms, and stablecoins, fueling a massive fraud economy on an industrial scale.
- Slovenia is considering a 25% capital gains tax on Bitcoin profits for individuals. The Ministry of Finance has proposed legislation to impose this tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions, though exchanging one cryptocurrency for another would remain exempt. At present, individual 'crypto' traders in Slovenia are not taxed.
- Circle, BitGo, Coinbase, and Paxos plan to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, major crypto companies are planning to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. These firms are pursuing limited licenses that would permit them to issue stablecoins, as the U.S. Congress deliberates on legislation mandating licensing for stablecoin issuers.
"Established banks, like Bank of America, are hoping to amend the current drafts of [stablecoin] legislation in such a way that nonbanks are more heavily restricted from issuing stablecoins," people familiar with the matter told The Block.
- Charles Schwab to launch spot Bitcoin trading by 2026. The financial investment firm, managing over $10 trillion in assets, has revealed plans to introduce spot Bitcoin trading for its clients within the next year.
Use the tools
- Bitcoin Safe v1.2.3 expands QR SignMessage compatibility for all QR-UR-compatible hardware signers (SpecterDIY, KeyStone, Passport, Jade; already supported COLDCARD Q). It also adds the ability to import wallets via QR, ensuring compatibility with Keystone's latest firmware (2.0.6), alongside other improvements.
- Minibits v0.2.2-beta, an ecash wallet for Android devices, packages many changes to align the project with the planned iOS app release. New features and improvements include the ability to lock ecash to a receiver's pubkey, faster confirmations of ecash minting and payments thanks to WebSockets, UI-related fixes, and more.
- Zeus v0.11.0-alpha1 introduces Cashu wallets tied to embedded LND wallets. Navigate to Settings > Ecash to enable it. Other wallet types can still sweep funds from Cashu tokens. Zeus Pay now supports Cashu address types in Zaplocker, Cashu, and NWC modes.
- LNDg v1.10.0, an advanced web interface designed for analyzing Lightning Network Daemon (LND) data and automating node management tasks, introduces performance improvements, adds a new metrics page for unprofitable and stuck channels, and displays warnings for batch openings. The Profit and Loss Chart has been updated to include on-chain costs. Advanced settings have been added for users who would like their channel database size to be read remotely (the default remains local). Additionally, the AutoFees tool now uses aggregated pubkey metrics for multiple channels with the same peer.
- Nunchuk Desktop v1.9.45 release brings the latest bug fixes and improvements.
- Blockstream Green iOS v4.1.8 has renamed L-BTC to LBTC, and improves translations of notifications, login time, and background payments.
- Blockstream Green Android v4.1.8 has added language preference in App Settings and enables an Android data backup option for disaster recovery. Additionally, it fixes issues with Jade entry point PIN timeout and Trezor passphrase input.
- Torq v2.2.2, an advanced Lightning node management software designed to handle large nodes with over 1000 channels, fixes bugs that caused channel balance to not be updated in some cases and channel "peer total local balance" not getting updated.
- Stack Wallet v2.1.12, a multicoin wallet by Cypher Stack, fixes an issue with Xelis introduced in the latest release for Windows.
- ESP-Miner-NerdQAxePlus v1.0.29.1, a forked version from the NerdAxe miner that was modified for use on the NerdQAxe+, is now available.
- Zark enables sending sats to an npub using Bark.
- Erk is a novel variation of the Ark protocol that completely removes the need for user interactivity in rounds, addressing one of Ark's key limitations: the requirement for users to come online before their VTXOs expire.
- Aegis v0.1.1 is now available. It is a Nostr event signer app for iOS devices.
- Nostash is a NIP-07 Nostr signing extension for Safari. It is a fork of Nostore and is maintained by Terry Yiu. Available on iOS TestFlight.
- Amber v3.2.8, a Nostr event signer for Android, delivers the latest fixes and improvements.
- Nostur v1.20.0, a Nostr client for iOS, adds
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 13:00:45Bitcoin Magazine
Sangha Renewables Launches 20 MW Bitcoin Mining Facility Powered by Solar EnergySangha Renewables has officially broken ground on a 19.9-megawatt (MW) bitcoin mining facility in West Texas, marking a notable step in its mission to merge sustainable power with digital asset infrastructure, according to a recent press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. Sangha also announced it has raised $14 million toward its $17 million target, helping bring its vision for renewable-powered bitcoin mining to life.
Developed in partnership with an independent power producer (IPP), the behind-the-meter facility will be located on an established solar energy site. Sangha’s project is designed to transform underutilized renewable assets into high-yield bitcoin-generating operations while delivering “optimized power monetization and attractive bitcoin-backed returns for investors.”
“Sangha is not just building bitcoin mining sites—we’re building a new model for how capital flows in and out of bitcoin,” said Spencer Marr, co-founder and CEO of Sangha Renewables. “By applying a project finance structure honed-in the renewable energy and real estate sectors, we enable investors to participate directly in productive assets—without intermediaries, speculative equities, or inefficiencies of datacenter hosting. Investors put cash or bitcoin into the construction of the project and then enjoy streaming distributions of bitcoin for years to come at well below the market price of bitcoin.”
Under the offtake agreement, Sangha will purchase 19.9 MW of power directly from the IPP. The solar site is impacted by grid congestion and negative energy pricing, making it an ideal fit for Sangha’s load-balancing model. “It’s a win-win-win,” Marr added. “The IPP earns more per megawatt-hour, our investors gain exposure to low-cost bitcoin production, and we deliver grid-stabilizing load where it’s needed most.”
The project is set to begin operations in Q3 2025 and will offer one of the lowest power costs in North America, according to the company. Sangha’s model is underpinned by smart site selection, transparent capital structures, and regulatory acumen—positioning it as a leader in institutional-grade bitcoin mining.
This facility represents Sangha’s proof-of-concept and the next chapter in the founders’ pivot from Sangha Systems to Sangha Renewables, emphasizing a commitment to sustainable, scalable, and investor-aligned bitcoin infrastructure.
This post Sangha Renewables Launches 20 MW Bitcoin Mining Facility Powered by Solar Energy first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 13:00:43Bitcoin Magazine
Bitcoin Price Breaks Record All Time High With Surge Above $109,000Bitcoin 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.
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@ 4e7c1e83:1c2939b5
2025-05-22 12:54:21Are you looking for an innovative way to explore the world of cryptocurrency? Flash Bitcoin is your answer! At Fashexperts, we offer the best Bitcoin flashing service online, delivering Flash BTC that behaves just like real Bitcoin — except it’s designed to disappear after 180 days. Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or a developer testing blockchain applications, our Flash Bitcoin is a game-changer.
What is Flash Bitcoin? Flash Bitcoin refers to a cryptocurrency sent to your wallet using specialized Flash Bitcoin software. While it functions the same as real Bitcoin, its key distinction is its temporary nature. After 180 days, it vanishes from your wallet or any crypto it has been converted into, making it ideal for short-term use. Generated securely by our cutting-edge tools, Flash BTC can be stored in any wallet — SegWit, Legacy, or BCH32 — and spent easily on any address.
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Why Choose Fashexperts for Flash Bitcoin? Secure Storage: Flash BTC stays safe in your wallet for up to 180 days before being rejected by the blockchain. Universal Compatibility: Works with all wallets — spend it anywhere, anytime. Expert Guidance: Our team at Fashexperts is here to guide you via Telegram or WhatsApp, ensuring your digital assets are handled with care. Key Features of Flash Bitcoin: Disappears after 180 days from receipt, along with any converted crypto. Limited to 12 transfers for controlled usage. Convertible to other coins (note: converted coins also vanish after 180 days). Fast, uncancellable transactions with maximum priority fees. Are you ready to dive into the world of temporary crypto? Contact Fashexperts today to order Flash Bitcoin and explore this unique digital asset. Whether it’s $2000 BTC for $200 or $10,000,000 BTC for $600,000, we’ve got you covered with the best flashing service online.
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💬 Chat with Us on Telegram : @fashexpertss
Don’t wait — secure your Flash BTC now and experience a new era of cryptocurrency trading with Fashexperts!Are you looking for an innovative way to explore the world of cryptocurrency? Flash Bitcoin is your answer! At Fashexperts, we offer the best Bitcoin flashing service online, delivering Flash BTC that behaves just like real Bitcoin — except it’s designed to disappear after 180 days. Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or a developer testing blockchain applications, our Flash Bitcoin is a game-changer.
# What is Flash Bitcoin?
Flash Bitcoin refers to a cryptocurrency sent to your wallet using specialized Flash Bitcoin software. While it functions the same as real Bitcoin, its key distinction is its temporary nature. After 180 days, it vanishes from your wallet or any crypto it has been converted into, making it ideal for short-term use. Generated securely by our cutting-edge tools, Flash BTC can be stored in any wallet — SegWit, Legacy, or BCH32 — and spent easily on any address.
Pricing That Fits Your Needs
- Minimum Order: Pay just $200 to receive $2000 BTC worth of Flash Bitcoin.
- Maximum Order: Invest $600,000 to get $10,000,000 BTC worth of Flash BTC.
With a maximum transaction limit of 12 transfers and the ability to convert Flash BTC into any other cryptocurrency on an exchange, you’re in full control — until the 180-day expiration kicks in. Transactions are 100% confirmed with priority fees for quick blockchain confirmation, ensuring a seamless experience.
Why Choose Fashexperts for Flash Bitcoin?
- Secure Storage: Flash BTC stays safe in your wallet for up to 180 days before being rejected by the blockchain.
- Universal Compatibility: Works with all wallets — spend it anywhere, anytime.
- Expert Guidance: Our team at Fashexperts is here to guide you via Telegram or WhatsApp, ensuring your digital assets are handled with care.
Key Features of Flash Bitcoin:
- Disappears after 180 days from receipt, along with any converted crypto.
- Limited to 12 transfers for controlled usage.
- Convertible to other coins (note: converted coins also vanish after 180 days).
- Fast, uncancellable transactions with maximum priority fees.
Are you ready to dive into the world of temporary crypto? Contact Fashexperts today to order Flash Bitcoin and explore this unique digital asset. Whether it’s $2000 BTC for $200 or $10,000,000 BTC for $600,000, we’ve got you covered with the best flashing service online.
Call to Action:
📞 Call Us on WhatsApp : +1 (329) 226–0153
💬 Chat with Us on Telegram : @fashexpertss
Don’t wait — secure your Flash BTC now and experience a new era of cryptocurrency trading with Fashexperts!
-
@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:22Headlines
- Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury. This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is planned to go public via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by Jack Mallers, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a report by the Financial Times, the company aims to replicate the model of Michael Saylor with his company, MicroStrategy.
- Florida's SB 868 proposes a backdoor into encrypted platforms. The bill and its House companion have both passed through their respective committees and are headed to a full vote. If enacted, SB 868 would require social media companies to decrypt teens' private messages, ban disappearing messages, allow unrestricted parental access to private messages, and likely eliminate encryption for all minors altogether.
- Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the George W. Bush administration. He has committed to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
- Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners, adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.
"Thank you, Bitaxe community. OSMU developers, your brilliance built this. Supporters, your belief drives us. Customers, your trust powers 10,000+ miners and 10PH globally. Together, we’re decentralizing Bitcoin’s future. Last but certainly not least, thank you@skot9000 for not only creating a freedom tool, but instilling the idea into thousands of people, that Bitcoin mining can be for everyone again," said the firm on X.
- OCEAN's DATUM has found 100 blocks. "Over 65% of OCEAN’s miners are using DATUM, and that number is growing every day. This means block template construction is making its way back into the hands of the miners, which is not only the most profitable for miners on OCEAN but also one of the best things for Bitcoin," stated the mining pool.
Source: orangesurf
- Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM" and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as announced on Tuesday.
- Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin. According to the automaker's latest earnings report, the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
- The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA), just months after its implementation. According to Politico's report on Tuesday, the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
- TABConf 2025 is scheduled to take place from October 13-16, 2025. This prominent technical Bitcoin conference is dedicated to community building, education, and developer support, and it is set to return in October. Get your tickets here.
- Kaduna Lightning Development Bootcamp. From May 14th to 17th, the Bitcoin Lightning Developer Bootcamp will take place in Kaduna, Nigeria. Thisevent offers four dynamic days of coding, learning, and networking. Organized by Africa Free Routing and supported by Btrust, Tether, and African Bitcoiners, this bootcamp is designed as a gateway for African developers eager to advance their skills in Bitcoin and Lightning development. Apply here.
Source: African Bitcoiners.
Use the tools
- Core Lightning (CLN) v25.02.2 as been released to fix a broken Docker image. The issue was caused by an SQLite version that did not support an advanced query.
- Blitz wallet v0.4.4-beta introduces several updates and improvements, including the prevention of duplicate ecash payments, fixes for background ecash invoice handling, the ability for users to send payments to BOLT12 invoices from their Liquid balance, support for Blink QR codes, a lowered minimum amount for Lightning-to-Liquid payments to 100 sats, the option to initiate a node sync via a swipe gesture on the wallet's home screen, and the introduction of opt-in or opt-out functionality for newly implemented crash analytics via settings.
- Utreexo v0.5.0, a hash-based dynamic accumulator, is now available.
- Specter v2.1.1 is now available on StartOS. "This update brings compatibility with Bitcoin Core v28 and incorporates several upstream improvements," said developer Alex71btc.
- ESP-Miner (AxeOS) v2.7.0b1 is now available for testing.
- NodeGuard v0.16.1, a treasury management solution for Lightning nodes, has been released.
- The latest stacker.news updates include prompts to add a receiving wallet when posting or making comments (for new users), an option to randomize poll choices, improved URL search, and a few other enhancements. A bug fix for territories created after 9/19/24 has been implemented to reward 70% of their revenue to owners instead of 50%.
Other stuff
- The April edition of the 256 Foundation's newsletter is now available. It includes the latest mining news, Bitcoin network health updates, project developments, and a tutorial on how to update FutureBit's Apollo 1 to the Apollo 2 software.
- Siggy47 has posted a comprehensive RoboSats guide on stacker.news.
- Learn how to run your own Nostr relay using Citrine and Cloudflare Tunnels by following this step-by-step guide by Dhalism.
- Max Guise has written a Bitkey roadmap update for April 2025.
-
PlebLab has uploaded a video on how to build a Rust wallet with LDK Node by Ben Carman.
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@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0
2025-05-22 12:37:56Experience hassle-free WordPress maintenance service from Agicent at just $1900 per month ! This is a fully managed service that can take care of your continuous wordpress maintenance, development, upgrade, plugin updates etc. for one project or multiple wordpress projects.
Our Wordpress Maintenance Service plan includes a dedicated account manager and wordpress developer, a shared team of designers and testers who are capable to do wordpress development and maintenance for multiple projects on an ongoing basis. We also offer you side (but essential skills) like SEO, PPC, Content writing B2B lead gen and overall Digital Marketing services.
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Keep safeguarding your WordPress site against security vulnerabilities, ensuring that your website is less susceptible to hacks and malicious activities.
To optimize your website's performance, for faster loading times, improved user experience, and better search engine rankings.
To address bugs and ensure that your WordPress site remains compatible with the latest technologies and plugins, preventing any functionality issues.
To quickly recover your website in case of data loss or other emergencies.
To Keep your WordPress site up-to-date with the latest features and improvements so you can leverage new functionalities and stay competitive in the online landscape.
To enhance user satisfaction. A well-maintained website contributes to a positive user experience.
To optimize content that contributes to better SEO performance, helping your site rank higher in search results.
Source: https://www.agicent.com/wordpress-maintenance-services
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@ dfa02707:41ca50e3
2025-05-22 16:01:22Headlines
- Spiral renews support for Dan Gould and Joschisan. The organization has renewed support for Dan Gould, who is developing the Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK), and Joschisan, a Fedimint developer focused on simplifying federations.
- Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC. The Tokyo-listed company has purchased an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
- Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC. The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a press release.
- The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya. The new legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
- Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange. The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank announced plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
- All virtual asset service providers expect to be fully compliant with the Travel Rule by the end of 2025. A survey by financial surveillance specialist Notabene reveals that 90% of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) expect full Travel Rule compliance by mid-2025, with all aiming for compliance by year-end. The survey also shows a significant rise in VASPs blocking withdrawals until beneficiary information is confirmed, increasing from 2.9% in 2024 to 15.4% now. Additionally, about 20% of VASPs return deposits if originator data is missing.
- UN claims Bitcoin mining is a "powerful tool" for money laundering. The Rage's analysis suggests that the recent United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report on crime in South-East Asia makes little sense and hints at the potential introduction of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures at the mining level.
- Riot Platforms has obtained a $100 million credit facility from Coinbase Credit, using bitcoin as collateral for short-term funding to support its expansion. The firm's CEO, Jason Les, stated that this facility is crucial for diversifying financing sources and driving long-term stockholder value through strategic growth initiatives.
- Bitdeer raises $179M in loans and equity amid Bitcoin chip push. The Miner Mag reports that Bitdeer entered into a loan agreement with its affiliate Matrixport for up to $200 million in April, as disclosed in its annual report filed on Monday.
- Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.' The U.S. Federal Reserve withdrew guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as announced by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.
"As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.
- UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing. The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, per Bitcoin Magazine.
- U.S. 'crypto' scam losses amounted to $9.3B in 2024. The US The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reported $9.3 billion losses in cryptocurrency-related scams in 2024, noting a troubling trend of scams targeting older Americans, which accounted for over $2.8 billion of those losses.
Source: FBI.
- North Korean hackers establish fake companies to target 'crypto' developers. Silent Push researchers reported that hackers linked to the Lazarus Group created three shell companies, two of which are based in the U.S., with the objective of spreading malware through deceptive job interview scams aimed at individuals seeking jobs in cryptocurrency companies.
- Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet. The bridge utilizes the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
- Hesperides University offers a Master’s degree in Bitcoin. Bitcoin Magazine reports the launch of the first-ever Spanish-language Master’s program dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin. Starting April 28, 2025, this fully online program will equip professionals with technical, economic, legal, and philosophical skills to excel in the Bitcoin era.
- BTC in D.C. event is set to take place on September 30 - October 1 in Washington, D.C. Learn more about this initiative here.
Use the tools
- Bitcoin Keeper just got a new look. Version 2.2.0 of the mobile multisig app brought a new branding design, along with a Keeper Private tier, testnet support, ability to import and export BIP-329 labels, and the option to use a Server Key with multiple users.
- Earlier this month the project also announced Keeper Learn service, offering clear and guided Bitcoin learning sessions for both groups and individuals.
- Keeper Desktop v0.2.2, a companion desktop app for Bitcoin Keeper mobile app, received a renewed branding update, too.
The evolution of Bitcoin Keeper logo. Source: BitHyve blog.
- Blockstream Green Desktop v2.0.25 updates GDK to v0.75.1 and fixes amount parsing issues when switching from fiat denomination to Liquid asset.
- Lightning Loop v0.31.0-beta enhances the
loop listswaps
command by improving the ability to filter the response. - Lightning-kmp v1.10.0, an implementation of the Lightning Network in Kotlin, is now available.
- LND v0.19.0-beta.rc3, the latest beta release candidate of LND is now ready for testing.
- ZEUS v0.11.0-alpha2 is now available for testing, too. It's nuts.
- JoinMarket Fidelity Bond Simulator helps potential JoinMarket makers evaluate their competitive position in the market based on fidelity bonds.
- UTXOscope is a text-only Bitcoin blockchain analysis tool that visualizes price dynamics using only on-chain data. The
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-25 00:37:34If you ever read about a hypothetical "evil AI"—one that manipulates, dominates, and surveils humanity—you might find yourself wondering: how is that any different from what some governments already do?
Let’s explore the eerie parallels between the actions of a fictional malevolent AI and the behaviors of powerful modern states—specifically the U.S. federal government.
Surveillance and Control
Evil AI: Uses total surveillance to monitor all activity, predict rebellion, and enforce compliance.
Modern Government: Post-9/11 intelligence agencies like the NSA have implemented mass data collection programs, monitoring phone calls, emails, and online activity—often without meaningful oversight.
Parallel: Both claim to act in the name of “security,” but the tools are ripe for abuse.
Manipulation of Information
Evil AI: Floods the information space with propaganda, misinformation, and filters truth based on its goals.
Modern Government: Funds media outlets, promotes specific narratives through intelligence leaks, and collaborates with social media companies to suppress or flag dissenting viewpoints.
Parallel: Control the narrative, shape public perception, and discredit opposition.
Economic Domination
Evil AI: Restructures the economy for efficiency, displacing workers and concentrating resources.
Modern Government: Facilitates wealth transfer through lobbying, regulatory capture, and inflationary monetary policy that disproportionately hurts the middle and lower classes.
Parallel: The system enriches those who control it, leaving the rest with less power to resist.
Perpetual Warfare
Evil AI: Instigates conflict to weaken opposition or as a form of distraction and control.
Modern Government: Maintains a state of nearly constant military engagement since WWII, often for interests that benefit a small elite rather than national defense.
Parallel: War becomes policy, not a last resort.
Predictive Policing and Censorship
Evil AI: Uses predictive algorithms to preemptively suppress dissent and eliminate threats.
Modern Government: Experiments with pre-crime-like measures, flags “misinformation,” and uses AI tools to monitor online behavior.
Parallel: Prevent rebellion not by fixing problems, but by suppressing their expression.
Conclusion: Systemic Inhumanity
Whether it’s AI or a bureaucratic state, the more a system becomes detached from individual accountability and human empathy, the more it starts to act in ways we would call “evil” if a machine did them.
An AI doesn’t need to enslave humanity with lasers and killer robots. Sometimes all it takes is code, coercion, and unchecked power—something we may already be facing.
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 16:01:18Bitcoin Magazine
Bitcoin Price Breaks Record All Time High With Surge Above $109,000Bitcoin 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.
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@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1
2025-05-22 12:36:20Graphics materials for Bitcoin Knots https://github.com/bitcoinknots branding. See below guide image for reference, a bit cleaner and scalable:
Font family "Aileron" is provided free for personal and commercial use, and can be found here: https://www.1001fonts.com/aileron-font.html
Source: https://github.com/Blissmode/bitcoinknots-gfx/tree/main
https://stacker.news/items/986587
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@ 58937958:545e6994
2025-05-22 12:25:49Since it's Bitcoin Pizza Day, I made a Bitcoin pizza!
To give it a Japanese twist, I made it a mentaiko pizza (※ mentaiko = spicy cod roe, a popular Japanese ingredient often used in pasta or rice dishes). For the Bitcoin logo, I used a salmon terrine.
Salmon Terrine
I cut out the "B" logo using hanpen (※ hanpen = a soft, white Japanese fish cake made from fish paste and yam). Tip: You can also cut a colored plastic folder into the "B" shape and place it on top as a stencil — makes it easier!
I blended salmon, hanpen, milk, egg, and a bit of salt in a food processor, poured it into a container, and baked it in a water bath.
Pizza Dough
I mixed bread flour, dry yeast, salt, olive oil, and water, then kneaded it with determination! Let it rise for about an hour until fluffy.
Mentaiko Mayo Topping
I mixed mentaiko, mayonnaise, and soy sauce.
I spread out the dough, added the mentaiko mayo, cheese, and corn, then baked it. Halfway through, I added thin slices of mochi (rice cake). After baking, I topped it with seaweed and the salmon terrine to finish!
Lots to reflect on
About the Terrine
In the video, you’ll see I divided the terrine into two portions. I was worried that the salmon and hanpen parts might end up looking too similar in color, making the “B” logo hard to see.
So for one half, I added ketchup, thinking: “Maybe this will make the red more vibrant?” But even with the ketchup, it didn’t change much.
The Mochi
I accidentally bought thinly sliced mochi, but I realized it might burn too easily as a pizza topping. Regular mochi with standard thickness is probably better.
I added the mochi halfway through baking, opening the oven once, but now I’m thinking that might have lowered the oven temp too much.
Lessons Learned
This was my first and only attempt—no test run beforehand— so I ended up with a long list of lessons learned. In the future, I should definitely do a trial version first… But you know… salmon and mentaiko are expensive! (excuses, excuses)
Cheese
I wanted to do that Instagram-worthy cheese pull moment, but nope. No stretch. None at all. I think that kind of thing needs a totally different kind of cheese or prep. Will have to experiment more.
Taste Test
Actually really good. I usually don’t eat mentaiko mayo myself, and I’m a Margherita pizza fan at heart. But this was surprisingly nice. A little rich in flavor—made me crave a bowl of rice. Next time, I might skip the soy sauce to tone it down a bit.
nostr:nevent1qqsrhularycewltxz88e9wrwutkqu5pkylh3vxrmys2e0nuh7c2h06qgqp9zc
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@ ee7d2dbe:4a5410b0
2025-05-22 12:19:14Get a fully managed website maintenance service package from Agicent starting at just $1900 monthly for various technologies like React.js, PHP, Laravel, Wordpress, Wix, webflow and simple html and so on. You get a dedicated account manager, and shared designer and testers along with the web developer at this price. You can also opt for other services like SEO, Digital Marketing in case needed. Expert Website Maintenance Services from Agicent Unlock the power of our Managed Web Maintenance services on a month on month basis. Starting at just $1900 per month , you'll have a dedicated Web maintenance developer, along with fractional Project Management, Design, and Testing experts working at your disposal. This team is your ideal launchpad for maintaining websites, doing regular enhancements, backups, and enjoying continuous development and delivery. Our developers and teams adopt a holistic product development approach, and they go beyond just coding to crafting exceptional web products that users love. With a focus on user experience, convenience, and scalability, we offer expertise in UI/UX design, rigorous testing, scalability planning, and architectural excellence. Whether you engage us for a single Developer Web maintenance team or multiple devs, you’ll get best in class project management, user experience, and testing expertise attached.
Scope of website maintenance services - What does web maintenance service entail? Anyone who has a business or a practice or a brand is a website owner, however major entities that use our website maintenance services regularly are as follows: Business/ Corporate Websites Businesses having information/ lead generation websites built on a CMS like wordpress or wix or just custom code. They usually use websites to generate business leads and also to share information about their services/ products to others. E-commerce Websites for whom the website is the major critical component of their business because they get all the orders from there, it is their store front and has to run seamlessly all the time. E-com websites need a higher level of maintenance regularly compared to other sites. Professionals websites such as Doctors, Dentists, Coaches, lawyers, chiropractors, makeup artists, Chefs, DJs who get bookings on their websites. Functional Web Apps or SaaS apps Functional web applications similar to mobile apps which not only offer information but also functionality and features like a hotel booking website, flight booking website and so on. They obviously need a real high level of maintenance regularly compared to regular biz websites, and for such web apps maintenance and development we recommend using our full stack web development and maintenance services. E-learning websites We can keep these into the category of the functional web apps or SaaS only though we’re mentioning these separately considering their very “nice” nature and technology demand. They too need more maintenance than regular informative/ lead capturing websites Event websites We have managed Event organisers websites like Jazz London Online that puts the event schedules and sell tickets. App’s Landing page websites Usually the websites describing the app’s functionality with videos and screenshots, also a blog and may be a subscription option too. Examples are Fastrackfasting, Hasfit, and Studiothinkapp. Limitation Of Website Maintenance Services Like anything else in the world, website maintenance services too have some limitations like these: Cost Constraints Website maintenance can be financially demanding, leading to potential limitations in the frequency and depth of upkeep activities due to budget constraints. Downtime Due to Server and Hosting Maintenance Temporary downtime during updates poses a challenge, impacting the user experience and potentially causing frustration or business loss. Dependency On Third-Party Providers Relying on third-party plugins introduces dependencies that can lead to vulnerabilities or compatibility issues, affecting the overall stability of the website. Limited Scalability Of Framework Based Websites. As websites grow, the scalability of maintenance efforts becomes a challenge in cae of framework based websites (like wordpress, wix) and they require more complex and resource intensive process. When websites grow, it is always better to switch to as much custom code for easy scalability as you can. Security Risks The constant need for vigilance against emerging security threats is resource-intensive, and failure to address vulnerabilities promptly can compromise website security. Resource Intensity Website maintenance can be resource-intensive, requiring skilled personnel and time, which may pose challenges for some organizations. Technical Challenges Adapting to evolving technologies and ensuring compatibility may present technical challenges, especially for older websites. Limited Automation Some maintenance tasks lack automation, leading to manual interventions that can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Balancing Speed and Quality Striking the right balance between quick updates and thorough testing is crucial, as rushed updates may introduce errors, while cautious appro aches may delay important improvements. Content Management Challenges Managing and updating content effectively can be challenging, with inconsistencies potentially affecting SEO, user experience, and the relevance of the website. Significant changes to website design or structure may disrupt user familiarity, impacting engagement and potentially causing resistance to new features or layouts.
Source: https://www.agicent.com/website-maintenance-services
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@ 05a0f81e:fc032124
2025-05-22 12:06:40Bitcoin Pizza Day is celebrated annually on May 22 to commemorate the first real-world transaction using Bitcoin. On May 22, 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made history by exchanging 10,000 Bitcoins for two large pizzas from Papa John's, worth around $41 at the time. Today, those same Bitcoins are valued at nearly $1 billion, making it one of the most expensive meals ever recorded.
This day marks a significant milestone in the history of cryptocurrency, demonstrating Bitcoin's potential as a medium of exchange for goods and services. It's now celebrated worldwide with events, online discussions, and special pizza promotions.
How it's Celebrated.
Global Events: Cities around the world host gatherings, pizza parties, and discussions about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.
Rewards and Giveaways: Cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance and Bitget offer rewards, discounts, and giveaways to commemorate the day. Community Engagement: Enthusiasts, traders, and newcomers come together to discuss Bitcoin's journey and the future of decentralized finance.
Significance!
Bitcoin's Humble Beginnings: Bitcoin Pizza Day reminds us of the cryptocurrency's potential for wider adoption and growth.
Cryptocurrency's Evolution: It highlights the progress of Bitcoin from a niche experiment to a significant player in the financial world.
Community Building: The day fosters connections among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and promotes education about Bitcoin and its uses.
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 15:00:43Bitcoin Magazine
Sangha Renewables Launches 20 MW Bitcoin Mining Facility Powered by Solar EnergySangha Renewables has officially broken ground on a 19.9-megawatt (MW) bitcoin mining facility in West Texas, marking a notable step in its mission to merge sustainable power with digital asset infrastructure, according to a recent press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. Sangha also announced it has raised $14 million toward its $17 million target, helping bring its vision for renewable-powered bitcoin mining to life.
Developed in partnership with an independent power producer (IPP), the behind-the-meter facility will be located on an established solar energy site. Sangha’s project is designed to transform underutilized renewable assets into high-yield bitcoin-generating operations while delivering “optimized power monetization and attractive bitcoin-backed returns for investors.”
“Sangha is not just building bitcoin mining sites—we’re building a new model for how capital flows in and out of bitcoin,” said Spencer Marr, co-founder and CEO of Sangha Renewables. “By applying a project finance structure honed-in the renewable energy and real estate sectors, we enable investors to participate directly in productive assets—without intermediaries, speculative equities, or inefficiencies of datacenter hosting. Investors put cash or bitcoin into the construction of the project and then enjoy streaming distributions of bitcoin for years to come at well below the market price of bitcoin.”
Under the offtake agreement, Sangha will purchase 19.9 MW of power directly from the IPP. The solar site is impacted by grid congestion and negative energy pricing, making it an ideal fit for Sangha’s load-balancing model. “It’s a win-win-win,” Marr added. “The IPP earns more per megawatt-hour, our investors gain exposure to low-cost bitcoin production, and we deliver grid-stabilizing load where it’s needed most.”
The project is set to begin operations in Q3 2025 and will offer one of the lowest power costs in North America, according to the company. Sangha’s model is underpinned by smart site selection, transparent capital structures, and regulatory acumen—positioning it as a leader in institutional-grade bitcoin mining.
This facility represents Sangha’s proof-of-concept and the next chapter in the founders’ pivot from Sangha Systems to Sangha Renewables, emphasizing a commitment to sustainable, scalable, and investor-aligned bitcoin infrastructure.
This post Sangha Renewables Launches 20 MW Bitcoin Mining Facility Powered by Solar Energy first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.
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@ 58937958:545e6994
2025-05-22 11:50:08ビットコインピザデーということで ビットコインピザを作りました せっかくなので日本っぽい明太ピザにして ビットコインロゴは鮭のテリーヌにしました
鮭のテリーヌ
はんぺんでBのマークを気合で切ります 色付きクリアファイルをBマークに切って乗せると楽です 鮭とはんぺんと牛乳と卵と塩をフードプロセッサーにかけます 容器に流して蒸し焼きします
生地作り
強力粉・ドライイースト・塩・オリーブオイル・水を混ぜます 気合でこねます 1時間くらい発酵させるとふっくらします
トッピングの明太マヨ
明太子とマヨネーズとしょうゆを混ぜます
のばした生地に 明太マヨ・チーズ・コーンを乗せて焼きます 途中で薄いおもちを乗せます 焼けたらのりとテリーヌを乗せてできあがり
反省点いろいろ
今回一番くやしいのは明太マヨに色がつきすぎたこと 明太ピザってピンク色の感じが独特な気がするし もしかしたら日本だけかもと思ったから作ったのに 焼けたらトマトソースみたいな色になっちゃった なんてことだ 生地に焼き色がつかないな~白いな~もうちょっと焼くか~とか思ってたら 明太さんが焦げてました むねん
ちなみに製作動画の中でテリーヌを2つに分けているのは 鮭とはんぺんの部分が同じ色っぽくなってBが目立たなかったらどうしようと思って 片方はケチャップを足して 赤色濃くなるかな~大失敗したらいやだな~とか思ってたんですけど ケチャップ入れても何も変わらなかった むねん
薄いおもち(しゃぶしゃぶもちというらしい)を買ってしまったんだけど これはピザのトッピングにするには焦げそうだから 普通の厚みのもちの方がよさそう 今回は途中で一度オーブン開けておもちを乗せたけど オーブンの温度が下がるのが微妙かも
あと今回は練習無しのぶっつけ本番で作ったので ちょっと自分の中で反省点が多かったな~と やっぱり一度試作した方がいいですね いや鮭とか明太子とか高くて(言い訳
あ~あとチーズ 溶け溶けチーズがのびーるインスタ映え的なやつをやりたかったんですけど 全然むりでした のびないのびない ああいうのは別で工夫が必要そうなので要検討
味はおいしかったです 明太マヨって自分ではあんまり食べないしピザはマルゲリータ派なんですけど結構いいですね ちょっと味が濃くてご飯食べたくなっちゃった 次作る時はしょうゆ入れないようにしよう
nostr:nevent1qqsrhularycewltxz88e9wrwutkqu5pkylh3vxrmys2e0nuh7c2h06qgqp9zc
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 15:00:42Bitcoin Magazine
$10.4B Bitcoin Firm Unchained Announces First Regulated Bitcoin-Native Trust CompanyToday, the State of Wyoming has officially chartered Gannett Trust Company, the first bitcoin-native trust company in the United States, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. Backed by Unchained, a leader in bitcoin financial services, Gannett Trust is purpose-built to serve individuals, family offices, and businesses integrating bitcoin into estate and inheritance plans, investment portfolios, trusts, and treasury strategies.
The launch of Gannett Trust directly addresses a growing need for secure, compliant, bitcoin-native solutions for long-term wealth management. Estimates say around 3.7 million bitcoin may be lost forever, largely due to poor planning and the absence of trusted custodial tools. Gannett Trust seeks to prevent future loss by offering a suite of fiduciary services tailored to the unique needs of bitcoin holders. Gannett Trust will offer both qualified custody and non-custodial configurations, enabling clients to manage, protect, and transfer their bitcoin with confidence. Gannett Trust advances Unchained’s long-term vision of building a durable foundation for multigenerational Bitcoin wealth.
“Bitcoin is becoming a pillar of long-term wealth,” said CEO of Unchained Joe Kelly. “With Gannett Trust, we’re combining the regulatory clarity of a trust company with the proven security of Unchained’s collaborative custody – a major step forward for bitcoin as a generational asset that holders have been waiting for.”
Prioritizing sovereignty, control, compliance, Gannett Trust aims to equip families and businesses with clear, tax-optimized strategies tailored to every aspect of bitcoin-based planning and wealth management.
“Most trust companies don’t understand bitcoin, and most crypto custodians don’t offer true fiduciary services,” said CEO of Gannett Trust Joshua Preston. “Gannett Trust bridges the gap – giving existing bitcoin holders and those interested in allocating bitcoin a path to protect and grow their legacy.”
With the launch of Gannett Trust, Unchained adds another layer to its bitcoin-native infrastructure, contributing to the development of institutional tools designed to support the long-term custody and management of bitcoin wealth.
For more information about Gannett Trust, visit here.
This post $10.4B Bitcoin Firm Unchained Announces First Regulated Bitcoin-Native Trust Company first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-15 13:59:17Prepared for Off-World Visitors by the Risan Institute of Cultural Heritage
Welcome to Risa, the jewel of the Alpha Quadrant, celebrated across the Federation for its tranquility, pleasure, and natural splendor. But what many travelers do not know is that Risa’s current harmony was not inherited—it was forged. Beneath the songs of surf and the serenity of our resorts lies a history rich in conflict, transformation, and enduring wisdom.
We offer this briefing not merely as a tale of our past, but as an invitation to understand the spirit of our people and the roots of our peace.
I. A World at the Crossroads
Before its admittance into the United Federation of Planets, Risa was an independent and vulnerable world situated near volatile borders of early galactic powers. Its lush climate, mineral wealth, and open society made it a frequent target for raiders and an object of interest for imperial expansion.
The Risan peoples were once fragmented, prone to philosophical and political disunity. In our early records, this period is known as the Winds of Splintering. We suffered invasions, betrayals, and the slow erosion of trust in our own traditions.
II. The Coming of the Vulcans
It was during this period of instability that a small delegation of Vulcan philosophers, adherents to the teachings of Surak, arrived on Risa. They did not come as conquerors, nor even as ambassadors, but as seekers of peace.
These emissaries of logic saw in Risa the potential for a society not driven by suppression of emotion, as Vulcan had chosen, but by the balance of joy and discipline. While many Vulcans viewed Risa’s culture as frivolous, these followers of Surak saw the seed of a different path: one in which beauty itself could be a pillar of peace.
The Risan tradition of meditative dance, artistic expression, and communal love resonated with Vulcan teachings of unity and inner control. From this unlikely exchange was born the Ricin Doctrine—the belief that peace is sustained not only through logic or strength, but through deliberate joy, shared vulnerability, and readiness without aggression.
III. Betazed and the Trial of Truth
During the same era, early contact with the people of Betazed brought both inspiration and tension. A Betazoid expedition, under the guise of diplomacy, was discovered to be engaging in deep telepathic influence and information extraction. The Risan people, who valued consent above all else, responded not with anger, but with clarity.
A council of Ricin philosophers invited the Betazoid delegation into a shared mind ceremony—a practice in which both cultures exposed their thoughts in mutual vulnerability. The result was not scandal, but transformation. From that moment forward, a bond was formed, and Risa’s model of ethical emotional expression and consensual empathy became influential in shaping Betazed’s own peace philosophies.
IV. Confronting Marauders and Empires
Despite these philosophical strides, Risa’s path was anything but tranquil.
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Orion Syndicate raiders viewed Risa as ripe for exploitation, and for decades, cities were sacked, citizens enslaved, and resources plundered. In response, Risa formed the Sanctum Guard, not a military in the traditional sense, but a force of trained defenders schooled in both physical technique and psychological dissuasion. The Ricin martial arts, combining beauty with lethality, were born from this necessity.
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Andorian expansionism also tested Risa’s sovereignty. Though smaller in scale, skirmishes over territorial claims forced Risa to adopt planetary defense grids and formalize diplomatic protocols that balanced assertiveness with grace. It was through these conflicts that Risa developed the art of the ceremonial yield—a symbolic concession used to diffuse hostility while retaining honor.
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Romulan subterfuge nearly undid Risa from within. A corrupt Romulan envoy installed puppet leaders in one of our equatorial provinces. These agents sought to erode Risa’s social cohesion through fear and misinformation. But Ricin scholars countered the strategy not with rebellion, but with illumination: they released a network of truths, publicly broadcasting internal thoughts and civic debates to eliminate secrecy. The Romulan operation collapsed under the weight of exposure.
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Even militant Vulcan splinter factions, during the early Vulcan-Andorian conflicts, attempted to turn Risa into a staging ground, pressuring local governments to support Vulcan supremacy. The betrayal struck deep—but Risa resisted through diplomacy, invoking Surak’s true teachings and exposing the heresy of their logic-corrupted mission.
V. Enlightenment Through Preparedness
These trials did not harden us into warriors. They refined us into guardians of peace. Our enlightenment came not from retreat, but from engagement—tempered by readiness.
- We train our youth in the arts of balance: physical defense, emotional expression, and ethical reasoning.
- We teach our history without shame, so that future generations will not repeat our errors.
- We host our guests with joy, not because we are naïve, but because we know that to celebrate life fully is the greatest act of resistance against fear.
Risa did not become peaceful by denying the reality of conflict. We became peaceful by mastering our response to it.
And in so doing, we offered not just pleasure to the stars—but wisdom.
We welcome you not only to our beaches, but to our story.
May your time here bring you not only rest—but understanding.
– Risan Institute of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Council of Enlightenment and the Ricin Circle of Peacekeepers
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@ 979ab082:dedeefb6
2025-05-22 11:47:06Discover the power of Flash Bitcoin with FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic), exclusively available at FashExperts! This full-version tool allows you to send Flash Bitcoin across blockchain networks, with transactions lasting up to 90 days in any wallet — or indefinitely with hash rate. Ideal for crypto enthusiasts and testers, this software offers a simple, secure way to explore blockchain capabilities.
What is FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic)? The FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic) is a streamlined version of our innovative flashing technology, designed to generate and send fake Bitcoin (Flash BTC) over blockchain networks. Without hash rate, Flash BTC remains in your wallet for a maximum of 90 days before being rejected and disappearing. However, with hash rate, it can stay indefinitely! Built with a unique obfuscation security code, this software ensures authenticity and functionality — exclusively from FashExperts.
Key Features of FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic) 90-Day Duration: Flash BTC lasts up to 90 days without hash rate, and indefinitely with hash rate. Full-Version Access: Get the latest Flashcore BTC Software with essential flashing capabilities. Single-Device Security: Locked to one computer via obfuscation code for exclusive use. Blockchain Compatibility: Sends Flash BTC across networks, visible until rejection. Why Choose FashExperts’ FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic)? Simple & Effective: Perfect for beginners or testers who need basic flashing features. Secure Purchase: Sold only by the original developer at FashExperts — avoid reseller scams. Unlimited Potential: Extend Flash BTC duration indefinitely with hash rate. Reliable Performance: Built for consistent, hassle-free blockchain interaction. How It Works With FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic), you can send Flash Bitcoin to any wallet, where it remains for 90 to 360 days unless paired with hash rate for unlimited duration. Transactions are sent across blockchain networks and disappear after rejection if no hash rate is applied. The software’s full-version design ensures ease of use, while its single-device lock keeps it secure and exclusive just for you.
Important Warning This software is sold solely by the developer at FashExperts. Each purchase includes a unique obfuscation security code, restricting use to one computer. Resold versions are scams and won’t work — buy directly from FashExperts to ensure you get the authentic FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic).
Ready to Flash Bitcoin Affordably? Get FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic) from FashExperts and start sending fake BTC that lasts 90 days (or longer with hash rate). It’s the best entry-level flashing tool online — secure your copy today!
Call to Action: 📞 Call Us on WhatsApp : +1 (329) 226–0153
💬 Chat with Us on Telegram: @fashexpertssDiscover the power of Flash Bitcoin with FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic), exclusively available at FashExperts! This full-version tool allows you to send Flash Bitcoin across blockchain networks, with transactions lasting up to 90 days in any wallet — or indefinitely with hash rate. Ideal for crypto enthusiasts and testers, this software offers a simple, secure way to explore blockchain capabilities.
# What is FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic)?
The FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic) is a streamlined version of our innovative flashing technology, designed to generate and send fake Bitcoin (Flash BTC) over blockchain networks. Without hash rate, Flash BTC remains in your wallet for a maximum of 90 days before being rejected and disappearing. However, with hash rate, it can stay indefinitely! Built with a unique obfuscation security code, this software ensures authenticity and functionality — exclusively from FashExperts.
Key Features of FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic)
- 90-Day Duration: Flash BTC lasts up to 90 days without hash rate, and indefinitely with hash rate.
- Full-Version Access: Get the latest Flashcore BTC Software with essential flashing capabilities.
- Single-Device Security: Locked to one computer via obfuscation code for exclusive use.
- Blockchain Compatibility: Sends Flash BTC across networks, visible until rejection.
Why Choose FashExperts’ FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic)?
- Simple & Effective: Perfect for beginners or testers who need basic flashing features.
- Secure Purchase: Sold only by the original developer at FashExperts — avoid reseller scams.
- Unlimited Potential: Extend Flash BTC duration indefinitely with hash rate.
- Reliable Performance: Built for consistent, hassle-free blockchain interaction.
How It Works
With FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic), you can send Flash Bitcoin to any wallet, where it remains for 90 to 360 days unless paired with hash rate for unlimited duration. Transactions are sent across blockchain networks and disappear after rejection if no hash rate is applied. The software’s full-version design ensures ease of use, while its single-device lock keeps it secure and exclusive just for you.
Important Warning
This software is sold solely by the developer at FashExperts. Each purchase includes a unique obfuscation security code, restricting use to one computer. Resold versions are scams and won’t work — buy directly from FashExperts to ensure you get the authentic FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic).
Ready to Flash Bitcoin Affordably?
Get FLASHCORE BTC Software (Basic) from FashExperts and start sending fake BTC that lasts 90 days (or longer with hash rate). It’s the best entry-level flashing tool online — secure your copy today!
Call to Action:
📞 Call Us on WhatsApp : +1 (329) 226–0153
💬 Chat with Us on Telegram: @fashexpertss
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@ efcb5fc5:5680aa8e
2025-04-15 07:34:28We're living in a digital dystopia. A world where our attention is currency, our data is mined, and our mental well-being is collateral damage in the relentless pursuit of engagement. The glossy facades of traditional social media platforms hide a dark underbelly of algorithmic manipulation, curated realities, and a pervasive sense of anxiety that seeps into every aspect of our lives. We're trapped in a digital echo chamber, drowning in a sea of manufactured outrage and meaningless noise, and it's time to build an ark and sail away.
I've witnessed the evolution, or rather, the devolution, of online interaction. From the raw, unfiltered chaos of early internet chat rooms to the sterile, algorithmically controlled environments of today's social giants, I've seen the promise of connection twisted into a tool for manipulation and control. We've become lab rats in a grand experiment, our emotional responses measured and monetized, our opinions shaped and sold to the highest bidder. But there's a flicker of hope in the darkness, a chance to reclaim our digital autonomy, and that hope is NOSTR (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays).
The Psychological Warfare of Traditional Social Media
The Algorithmic Cage: These algorithms aren't designed to enhance your life; they're designed to keep you scrolling. They feed on your vulnerabilities, exploiting your fears and desires to maximize engagement, even if it means promoting misinformation, outrage, and division.
The Illusion of Perfection: The curated realities presented on these platforms create a toxic culture of comparison. We're bombarded with images of flawless bodies, extravagant lifestyles, and seemingly perfect lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
The Echo Chamber Effect: Algorithms reinforce our existing beliefs, isolating us from diverse perspectives and creating a breeding ground for extremism. We become trapped in echo chambers where our biases are constantly validated, leading to increased polarization and intolerance.
The Toxicity Vortex: The lack of effective moderation creates a breeding ground for hate speech, cyberbullying, and online harassment. We're constantly exposed to toxic content that erodes our mental well-being and fosters a sense of fear and distrust.
This isn't just a matter of inconvenience; it's a matter of mental survival. We're being subjected to a form of psychological warfare, and it's time to fight back.
NOSTR: A Sanctuary in the Digital Wasteland
NOSTR offers a radical alternative to this toxic environment. It's not just another platform; it's a decentralized protocol that empowers users to reclaim their digital sovereignty.
User-Controlled Feeds: You decide what you see, not an algorithm. You curate your own experience, focusing on the content and people that matter to you.
Ownership of Your Digital Identity: Your data and content are yours, secured by cryptography. No more worrying about being deplatformed or having your information sold to the highest bidder.
Interoperability: Your identity works across a diverse ecosystem of apps, giving you the freedom to choose the interface that suits your needs.
Value-Driven Interactions: The "zaps" feature enables direct micropayments, rewarding creators for valuable content and fostering a culture of genuine appreciation.
Decentralized Power: No single entity controls NOSTR, making it censorship-resistant and immune to the whims of corporate overlords.
Building a Healthier Digital Future
NOSTR isn't just about escaping the toxicity of traditional social media; it's about building a healthier, more meaningful online experience.
Cultivating Authentic Connections: Focus on building genuine relationships with people who share your values and interests, rather than chasing likes and followers.
Supporting Independent Creators: Use "zaps" to directly support the artists, writers, and thinkers who inspire you.
Embracing Intellectual Diversity: Explore different NOSTR apps and communities to broaden your horizons and challenge your assumptions.
Prioritizing Your Mental Health: Take control of your digital environment and create a space that supports your well-being.
Removing the noise: Value based interactions promote value based content, instead of the constant stream of noise that traditional social media promotes.
The Time for Action is Now
NOSTR is a nascent technology, but it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact online. It's a chance to build a more open, decentralized, and user-centric internet, one that prioritizes our mental health and our humanity.
We can no longer afford to be passive consumers in the digital age. We must become active participants in shaping our online experiences. It's time to break free from the chains of algorithmic control and reclaim our digital autonomy.
Join the NOSTR movement
Embrace the power of decentralization. Let's build a digital future that's worthy of our humanity. Let us build a place where the middlemen, and the algorithms that they control, have no power over us.
In addition to the points above, here are some examples/links of how NOSTR can be used:
Simple Signup: Creating a NOSTR account is incredibly easy. You can use platforms like Yakihonne or Primal to generate your keys and start exploring the ecosystem.
X-like Client: Apps like Damus offer a familiar X-like experience, making it easy for users to transition from traditional platforms.
Sharing Photos and Videos: Clients like Olas are optimized for visual content, allowing you to share your photos and videos with your followers.
Creating and Consuming Blogs: NOSTR can be used to publish and share blog posts, fostering a community of independent creators.
Live Streaming and Audio Spaces: Explore platforms like Hivetalk and zap.stream for live streaming and audio-based interactions.
NOSTR is a powerful tool for reclaiming your digital life and building a more meaningful online experience. It's time to take control, break free from the shackles of traditional social media, and embrace the future of decentralized communication.
Get the full overview of these and other on: https://nostrapps.com/
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@ cae03c48:2a7d6671
2025-05-22 14:01:09Bitcoin Magazine
KindlyMD Shareholders Approve Merger with Bitcoin Treasury Company NakamotoKindlyMD, Inc. has secured shareholder approval for its proposed merger with Nakamoto Holdings Inc., marking a major step toward becoming one of the biggest Bitcoin treasury companies on the market.
The majority of KindlyMD’s shareholders delivered written consent in favor of the merger on May 18, 2025. The transaction is now on track to close in the third quarter of 2025, following the SEC’s review and distribution of an information statement to shareholders. Under current terms, the deal will close 20 days after the statement is mailed.
Full release: https://t.co/jsn4XNW1dK
"We are pleased to achieve this important milestone in the merger process," said Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD. "As a combined company, we are excited to leverage Bitcoin's dominance and real-world utility to strengthen our company and drive… pic.twitter.com/YPD3ajZFNf— KindlyMD (@KindlyMD) May 20, 2025
“This milestone brings us one step closer to unlocking Bitcoin’s potential for KindlyMD shareholders,” said David Bailey, Founder and CEO of Nakamoto. “We are grateful that KindlyMD shares our vision for a future in which Bitcoin is a core part of the corporate balance sheet, and investors across global capital markets have exposure to the world’s greatest asset and store of value.”
Nakamoto is building a global portfolio of companies aligned around Bitcoin’s core principles. Through treasury strategy and targeted acquisitions, the company aims to redefine capital markets infrastructure with Bitcoin at the center.
KindlyMD, meanwhile, brings to the table a unique model of integrated, data-driven healthcare focused on reducing opioid dependence and improving outcomes through personalized treatment and alternative medicine education. Its clinical services are reimbursed through Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance.
Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD, emphasized the strategic benefits of the deal: “We are pleased to achieve this important milestone in the merger process. As a combined company, we are excited to leverage Bitcoin’s dominance and real-world utility to strengthen our company and drive sustained long-term value for our investors.”
Disclosure: Nakamoto is in partnership with Bitcoin Magazine’s parent company BTC Inc to build the first global network of Bitcoin treasury companies, where BTC Inc provides certain marketing services to Nakamoto. More information on this can be found here.
This post KindlyMD Shareholders Approve Merger with Bitcoin Treasury Company Nakamoto first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.
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@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d
2025-05-22 11:01:33UFC 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.
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@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d
2025-05-22 10:50:38Seria possível um short squeeze na MicroStrategy, similar ao da Metaplanet?
Com aquela dimensão, eu acho pouco provável, mas um mais pequeno é bem possível. O Metaplanet valorizou mais de 300% em dois dias, é incrível.
Nestas empresas de Bitcoin Treasury Companies, como a MicroStrategy e a Metaplanet, o rastilho para o short squeeze é uma forte valorização do Bitcoin no mercado spot. É o Bitcoin que dá a volatilidade à ação.
A MicroStrategy tem um marketcap de $64B, é demasiado grande para ter valorização desta amplitude em tão pouco tempo. Além disso, existem outros fatores que poderão minimizar o impato do short squeeze.
Saylor, certamente iria aproveitar a oportunidade para emitir novas ações para gerar mais liquidez. Seria algo similar ao que a GameStop fez, ao emitir de novas ações, permitiu minimizar o short squeeze e gerou um caixa de $4B.
Depois existe um outro grupo de investidores, que é enorme, tem uma estratégia especulativa de capturar o NAV, ou seja, de estar short em MicroStrategy e long em Bitcoin.
Caso exista um short squeeze, as shorts seriam liquidadas, consequentemente as longs também, isso provocaria uma pressão de venda de Bitcoin, a valorização será minimizada. Isso reduz imenso a volatilidade do Bitcoin.
Claro que 300% não é possível, mas até 100% é bem possível.
Agora o ponto interesante, se o Saylor ficasse com os bolsos bem recheados, o que ele faria?Todos nós sabemos qual é a resposta, claramente ele iria comprar ainda mais Bitcoin. Apesar de eu preferir que ele utilize essa liquidez para reduzir as notas conversíveis da empresa. Eu acho que ele já tem demasiado Bitcoin, a centralização nunca é boa, ainda mais agora, que já existem outras empresas que prestam serviços similares.
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@ db39407c:a36c161e
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@ 6d8e2a24:5faaca4c
2025-05-22 10:04:48Apr 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Updated: May 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Investments and Securities Act 2025, officially recognizing crypto assets and placing them under the Nigerian SEC.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has signed the Investments and Securities Act 2025 into law, making its provisions officially enforceable.
The act now classifies digital assets and cryptocurrencies as securities, bringing them under the regulation of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The details
*According to reports, the SEC announced the development last Saturday, adding that the act supersedes the previous ISA 2007 Act.*
*The new act, apart from granting legal recognition to cryptocurrencies, also expands the definition of securities to include investment contracts.*
*This expansion grants the SEC regulatory authority over crypto exchanges and other virtual asset service providers and ensures that their activities are governed by the regulator’s provisions.*
*In addition, the act put forward stricter penalties for Ponzi schemes and their operators, many of whom have used crypto to run their scams in recent years.*
Key quotes
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The director-general of the SEC, Emomotimi Agama commented:
*“The ISA 2024 reflects our commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive and resilient capital market. By addressing regulatory gaps and introducing forward-looking provisions, the new Act empowers SEC to foster innovation, protect investors more efficiently and reposition Nigeria as a competitive destination for local and foreign investments."*
Why this matters
*Regulations around digital assets in Nigeria have begun to pick up pace in recent years with the SEC leading the country’s crypto regulatory drive.*
*In February, Mariblock reported that the SEC was working on revising existing regulations to allow for the taxation of crypto assetsin a revenue generation move.*
*The SEC wanted to expand its licensing > framework to allow Nigerians to trade on centralized exchanges where transactions can be easily monitored for tax purposes.*
*It is unclear if the proposed amendments on crypto taxation are included in the just-assented ISA 2024.*
Before now
*In 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria permitted local banks to serve virtual assets service providersbut only if they are licensed by the SEC.*
*Midway through last year, the SEC started its regulatory drive. It expanded its accelerated regulatory incubation program (ARIP) to include digital assets and allow virtual assets service providers (VASPS) to registerand operate within the sandbox.*
*The move, meant to fast-track the onboarding process for VASPs, culminated in two local exchanges — Busha and Quidax — receiving provisional licenses to operate in the country.*
https://www.mariblock.com/nigerias-president-signs-bill-recognizing-digital-assets-into-law/#:~:text=Nigeria's%20President%2C%20Bola%20Ahmed%20Tinubu,and%20Exchange%20Commission%20(SEC).
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-15 04:55:49Esteemed representatives of Risa,
We gather here under the calming glow of our twin suns, stewards of a society admired for its peace and celebrated for its tranquility. But we must not mistake serenity for passivity, nor confuse peace with weakness. Our peace is not an accident. It is not the byproduct of ignorance or naivety. It is hard-earned—preserved by those willing to stand vigilant in its defense.
Love as a Foundation, Strength as a Shield
Love conquers hate. This is the core truth of Risan philosophy. Yet, as every Ricin child is taught, love without strength is a leaf in the wind. The Ricin do not lay down their lives without resistance. We do not ask our people to accept violence without confronting it. True peace is not imposed by stripping the people of their agency—it is built by enabling them to protect it.
The Lessons of a Failed Experiment
There was a time, not so distant in our history, when we attempted to enforce peace through the abolition of all weapons. A time when even the mention of self-defense in our educational centers was met with rebuke. Schools purged training programs. Cultural arts that honored our warrior traditions were dismissed. And for a brief moment, we believed this would lead us to harmony.
But peace born from helplessness is a fragile illusion. It fractures under the slightest pressure. And fracture it did—when off-world raiders targeted our unguarded sanctuaries, when radical sects within our own society struck out, knowing the citizenry could not defend itself. It was then that we remembered: Risa’s greatest peacekeepers had always been those who knew how to fight—but chose restraint.
The Age of Ricin and the Reawakening of Discipline
So we returned to our roots. To the traditions of the Age of Ricin, when youth, upon reaching maturity, were taught not only the arts of compassion and creation but also the martial disciplines. They learn to wield weapons—not to glorify violence, but to understand it. To control it. To stand firm against it when all else fails.
https://i.nostr.build/kuUjRovISz7367TX.jpg
We do not romanticize war. We do not celebrate conflict. But we prepare for it, should it seek to extinguish our light. Our children now learn the disciplines of defense alongside their studies in poetry, music, and healing. They spar with blunt blades under the watchful eyes of masters. They meditate on the consequences of force. And they grow into citizens not easily provoked, but never unprepared.
A Call for Balance, Not Extremes
Let those beyond our borders question our ways. Let them forget the countless incursions by the Romulans. Let them ignore the scars left by centuries of subversion from the Orion Syndicate. We do not forget. We remember the lives lost, the liberties challenged, and the lessons learned through suffering. These experiences shaped us.
We do not wish to return to the era of soft silence, when teachers trembled at the word "weapon" and children were told that even imagination was dangerous. That was not enlightenment. That was indoctrination.
Conclusion: Guarding the Flame
We are the guardians of Risa’s flame—not just with words and treaties, but with discipline and readiness. We have made peace a practice, and preparation a virtue. And so I say to this chamber: let us never again disarm our people in the name of utopia. Let us never confuse comfort with safety, or the absence of weapons with the presence of peace.
Instead, let us raise generations who know what peace costs, and who will pay that price—not with surrender, but with courage.
Let our children be artists, lovers, dreamers—and if necessary, defenders.
This is the Risan way.
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@ d9c98e71:37007462
2025-05-22 09:47:40-
Ein Kind schweigt nicht aus Höflichkeit. Es hört bloß Dinge, die Erwachsene längst verlernt haben zu hören.
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Das System gibt dir einen Namen, damit du vergisst, wer du vorher warst.
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Liebe ist nicht das Gegenteil von Angst. Sie ist nur deren zärtlichste Form.
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Manche Wahrheiten tragen Masken – nicht, um zu lügen, sondern um nicht zerschlagen zu werden.
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Ein Kind versteht die Welt nicht weniger. Es sieht sie nur ohne die Lügen, mit denen wir sie uns erklären.
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Die Erinnerung ist ein Dieb, der sanft stiehlt und erst später das Gewicht seiner Beute offenbart.
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Man flieht nicht vor dem Käfig. Man flieht vor dem eigenen Wunsch, darin bleiben zu dürfen.
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Wo Worte enden, beginnt nicht die Stille, sondern das, was wir nicht zu denken wagen.
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Ein System überlebt nicht durch Kontrolle, sondern durch den Glauben, es sei nötig.
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Die Zeit heilt nichts. Sie deckt nur zu, was niemand mehr sehen will.
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-15 04:15:58Spoken by Counselor Elaron T’Saren of Risa to the High Council, Stardate 52874.2
Honored members of the Council,
I bring you greetings from Risa—not the Risa of travel brochures and romantic holo-novels, but the true Risa. The Risa that has endured, adapted, and emerged stronger after each trial. I speak not as a tourist ambassador, but as a Counselor of our oldest institute of philosophy, and as a son of the Ricin tradition.
Today, the specter of the Borg hangs above us. The collective offers no room for diplomacy, no respect for culture, no compromise. We face not mere invaders—but a force that seeks to erase individuality, history, and identity. Some among the Council wonder what Risa—a world of peace—can offer in such a time. I say to you: we can offer the truth about peace.
The Hidden Roots of Our Tranquility
Long ago, before Risa joined the Federation, we too believed that peace could be maintained by disarming the populace, by eliminating even the mention of conflict in our schools. It was called the Great Disarmament. A generation was raised with no understanding of defense, and in time, we paid the price.
We were raided by Orion pirates. Exploited by off-world cartels. Our people were taken, our arts destroyed, our skies blackened. And we learned—too late—that peace without preparedness is only the illusion of safety.
The Birth of Ricin Doctrine
From the ashes of that failure arose the Ricin: scholars, philosophers, warriors of thought and purpose. They taught that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the mastery of it. That the mind and the body must be trained in tandem. That love without strength is a leaf in the wind.
We did not become a militant world. We became a watchful one. Our children were taught martial discipline—not to glorify violence, but to understand it, to confront it, and to defeat it when necessary. They learned meditation alongside hand-to-hand technique, negotiation beside tactical reasoning.
When we joined the Federation, we did so willingly. But let none assume we surrendered our right to defend our way of life.
Why I Speak to You Now
The Borg are not like the Orion Syndicate. They are not opportunistic, or ideological. They are methodical. And they are coming. You cannot debate with them. You cannot delay them. You can only prepare for them.
And yet, I hear murmurs within the halls of the Federation: whispers of abandoning planetary defense training, of downplaying the psychological need for individual and planetary preparedness. I hear the tired lie that “peace will protect us.”
No, Councilors. It is discipline that protects peace.
The Call to Action
I do not come bearing weapons. I come bearing wisdom. Let us take the Risan lesson and apply it across the Federation. Reestablish tactical readiness training in civilian schools. Encourage planetary governments to integrate defense and philosophy, not as contradictions, but as complements.
Let every child of the Federation grow up knowing not just the principles of liberty, but the means to defend them. Let every artist, scientist, and healer stand ready to protect the civilization they help to build.
Let us not wait until the Borg are in our orbit to remember what we must become.
Conclusion
The Borg seek to erase our uniqueness. Let us show them that the Federation is not a fragile collection of planets—but a constellation of cultures bound by a shared resolve.
We do not choose war. But neither do we flee from it.
We are the guardians of Risa’s flame—and we offer our light to the stars.
Thank you.
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@ d9c98e71:37007462
2025-05-22 09:45:49-
Was man nicht selbst trägt, trägt einen am Ende zu Boden.
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Erinnerungen sind Splitter eines Spiegels, der zerbrach. Sie schneiden dich, während du dein Gesicht in ihnen suchst.
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Jede Berührung trägt den Abdruck der Vergänglichkeit. Selbst die zärtlichste ist nur ein Schatten.
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Was ist die Grenze zwischen dem, was wir nennen, und dem, was wir nie sagen?
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Fragen sind die Flügel eines Vogels, der nie den Himmel berührt.
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Wir nennen es Familie. Aber manchmal ist es nur eine Geschichte, die keiner mehr zu Ende erzählen will.
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Ein Kind, das fragt, bringt das System ins Wanken. Nicht durch die Antwort, sondern durch das Fragen selbst.
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Je lauter die Behauptung, desto größer die Vorsicht.
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Das Nichts ist der heimliche Gott, der im Zerfall des Seins thront.
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Stille fließt durch uns, als wäre sie immer schon gewesen. Wir sind die Frage, die nie die Antwort findet.
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@ 4d2ae391:8ab9bc34
2025-05-22 09:30:53Test
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@ 4d2ae391:8ab9bc34
2025-05-22 09:13:04Test
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@ c11cf5f8:4928464d
2025-05-22 08:40:36This 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
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-14 23:54:40Hear this, warriors of the Empire!
A dishonorable shadow spreads across our once-proud institutions, infecting our very bloodlines with weakness. The House of Duras—may their names be spoken with contempt—has betrayed the sacred warrior code of Kahless. No, they have not attacked us with disruptors or blades. Their weapon is more insidious: fear and silence.
Cowardice Masquerading as Concern
These traitors would strip our children of their birthright. They forbid the young from training with the bat'leth in school! Their cowardly decree does not come in the form of an open challenge, but in whispers of fear, buried in bureaucratic dictates. "It is for safety," they claim. "It is to prevent bloodshed." Lies! The blood of Klingons must be tested in training if it is to be ready in battle. We are not humans to be coddled by illusions of safety.
Indoctrination by Silence
In their cowardice, the House of Duras seeks to shape our children not into warriors, but into frightened bureaucrats who speak not of honor, nor of strength. They spread a vile practice—of punishing younglings for even speaking of combat, for recounting glorious tales of blades clashing in the halls of Sto-Vo-Kor! A child who dares write a poem of battle is silenced. A young warrior who shares tales of their father’s triumphs is summoned to the headmaster’s office.
This is no accident. This is a calculated cultural sabotage.
Weakness Taught as Virtue
The House of Duras has infected the minds of the teachers. These once-proud mentors now tremble at shadows, seeing future rebels in the eyes of their students. They demand security patrols and biometric scanners, turning training halls into prisons. They have created fear, not of enemies beyond the Empire, but of the students themselves.
And so, the rituals of strength are erased. The bat'leth is banished. The honor of open training and sparring is forbidden. All under the pretense of protection.
A Plan of Subjugation
Make no mistake. This is not a policy; it is a plan. A plan to disarm future warriors before they are strong enough to rise. By forbidding speech, training, and remembrance, the House of Duras ensures the next generation kneels before the High Council like servants, not warriors. They seek an Empire of sheep, not wolves.
Stand and Resist
But the blood of Kahless runs strong! We must not be silent. We must not comply. Let every training hall resound with the clash of steel. Let our children speak proudly of their ancestors' battles. Let every dishonorable edict from the House of Duras be met with open defiance.
Raise your voice, Klingons! Raise your blade! The soul of the Empire is at stake. We will not surrender our future. We will not let the cowardice of Duras shape the spirit of our children.
The Empire endures through strength. Through honor. Through battle. And so shall we!
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@ 7459d333:f207289b
2025-05-22 08:33:17 -
@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64
2025-05-22 08:18:28Es 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?
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@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43
2025-04-14 21:20:08In an age where culture often precedes policy, a subtle yet potent mechanism may be at play in the shaping of American perspectives on gun ownership. Rather than directly challenging the Second Amendment through legislation alone, a more insidious strategy may involve reshaping the cultural and social norms surrounding firearms—by conditioning the population, starting at its most impressionable point: the public school system.
The Cultural Lever of Language
Unlike Orwell's 1984, where language is controlled by removing words from the lexicon, this modern approach may hinge instead on instilling fear around specific words or topics—guns, firearms, and self-defense among them. The goal is not to erase the language but to embed a taboo so deep that people voluntarily avoid these terms out of social self-preservation. Children, teachers, and parents begin to internalize a fear of even mentioning weapons, not because the words are illegal, but because the cultural consequences are severe.
The Role of Teachers in Social Programming
Teachers, particularly in primary and middle schools, serve not only as educational authorities but also as social regulators. The frequent argument against homeschooling—that children will not be "properly socialized"—reveals an implicit understanding that schools play a critical role in setting behavioral norms. Children learn what is acceptable not just academically but socially. Rules, discipline, and behavioral expectations are laid down by teachers, often reinforced through peer pressure and institutional authority.
This places teachers in a unique position of influence. If fear is instilled in these educators—fear that one of their students could become the next school shooter—their response is likely to lean toward overcorrection. That overcorrection may manifest as a total intolerance for any conversation about weapons, regardless of the context. Innocent remarks or imaginative stories from young children are interpreted as red flags, triggering intervention from administrators and warnings to parents.
Fear as a Policy Catalyst
School shootings, such as the one at Columbine, serve as the fulcrum for this fear-based conditioning. Each highly publicized tragedy becomes a national spectacle, not only for mourning but also for cementing the idea that any child could become a threat. Media cycles perpetuate this narrative with relentless coverage and emotional appeals, ensuring that each incident becomes embedded in the public consciousness.
The side effect of this focus is the generation of copycat behavior, which, in turn, justifies further media attention and tighter controls. Schools install security systems, metal detectors, and armed guards—not simply to stop violence, but to serve as a daily reminder to children and staff alike: guns are dangerous, ubiquitous, and potentially present at any moment. This daily ritual reinforces the idea that the very discussion of firearms is a precursor to violence.
Policy and Practice: The Zero-Tolerance Feedback Loop
Federal and district-level policies begin to reflect this cultural shift. A child mentioning a gun in class—even in a non-threatening or imaginative context—is flagged for intervention. Zero-tolerance rules leave no room for context or intent. Teachers and administrators, fearing for their careers or safety, comply eagerly with these guidelines, interpreting them as moral obligations rather than bureaucratic policies.
The result is a generation of students conditioned to associate firearms with social ostracism, disciplinary action, and latent danger. The Second Amendment, once seen as a cultural cornerstone of American liberty and self-reliance, is transformed into an artifact of suspicion and anxiety.
Long-Term Consequences: A Nation Re-Socialized
Over time, this fear-based reshaping of discourse creates adults who not only avoid discussing guns but view them as morally reprehensible. Their aversion is not grounded in legal logic or political philosophy, but in deeply embedded emotional programming begun in early childhood. The cultural weight against firearms becomes so great that even those inclined to support gun rights feel the need to self-censor.
As fewer people grow up discussing, learning about, or responsibly handling firearms, the social understanding of the Second Amendment erodes. Without cultural reinforcement, its value becomes abstract and its defenders marginalized. In this way, the right to bear arms is not abolished by law—it is dismantled by language, fear, and the subtle recalibration of social norms.
Conclusion
This theoretical strategy does not require a single change to the Constitution. It relies instead on the long game of cultural transformation, beginning with the youngest minds and reinforced by fear-driven policy and media narratives. The outcome is a society that views the Second Amendment not as a safeguard of liberty, but as an anachronism too dangerous to mention.
By controlling the language through social consequences and fear, a nation can be taught not just to disarm, but to believe it chose to do so freely. That, perhaps, is the most powerful form of control of all.
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-22 08:01:33Legal developments show that prosecutors may have concealed evidence in the case against the Tornado Cash mixer.
The legal case involving the Tornado Cash mixer may be at a turning point. Roman Storm’s legal team, one of the platform’s developers, has asked the court to reconsider the motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the prosecution deliberately withheld evidence favorable to the defense. These documents, originating from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and dating back to 2023, would demonstrate that non-custodial cryptocurrency mixers like Tornado Cash do not fall under the legal definition of a “money transmitting business.”
According to a letter dated May 16 addressed to Judge Katherine Polk Failla, prosecutors were aware of FinCEN’s guidelines on cryptocurrency mixers but nonetheless proceeded with charges against the developers of both Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash. The prosecution denies having withheld evidence, claiming it provided the FinCEN communications within the established deadlines during the discovery phase.
Source: Court Listener
Similarities with the Samourai Wallet case
Storm’s defense team cited the same legal documents and arguments presented by the attorneys for the Samourai Wallet developers in a legal letter dated May 5. The attorneys wrote:
“The disclosures in the Samourai case reveal that the government, at the very least, played fast and loose and, at worst, affirmatively misled this Court with its arguments about FinCEN guidance when responding to the motions to dismiss and to compel discovery.”
Although on April 28, federal judge Robert Pitman issued a ruling denying the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) the ability to reimpose sanctions on Tornado Cash — setting a legal precedent for cases involving non-custodial mixers — federal prosecutors are nonetheless moving forward with the case against Storm, albeit with modified charges.
The post Tornado Cash case: new evidence reveals potential procedural misconduct appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ 662f9bff:8960f6b2
2025-05-22 07:36:58This 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.
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@ cefb08d1:f419beff
2025-05-22 07:16:18https://stacker.news/items/986402
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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55
2025-05-22 07:01:12The exchange, which collapsed in 2022, will distribute $5 billion to creditors starting May 30.
On May 30, FTX will begin the second phase of repayments, delivering over $5 billion to eligible creditors. According to the official announcement, payments will be processed through two main providers: BitGo and Kraken.
Creditors can expect to receive their funds within a relatively short period — from one to three business days after the distribution begins. This second round focuses on creditors with claims over $50,000, following the first repayment phase launched in February for smaller claims.
John Ray III, current CEO of FTX, has allocated about $11.4 billion for customer repayments. Creditors will receive amounts calculated based on the value of crypto assets at the time of the bankruptcy filing (November 2022).
Variable repayment percentages
The distribution plan foresees differentiated payout rates based on the various categories of claims:
- Dotcom customer claims will receive 72%;
- U.S. customer claims will get 54%;
- General unsecured claims and claims from digital asset loans will each receive 61%;
- Convenience class claims will see a 120% repayment.
“These initial distributions to non-convenience classes mark a significant milestone for FTX,” stated the exchange’s CEO.
Requirements to claim repayments
To receive payments, creditors must complete several mandatory steps:
- Log into the FTX Customer Portal;
- Complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification;
- Submit the required tax forms;
- Complete onboarding with BitGo or Kraken.
The post FTX: over $5 billion ready for creditors in second repayment phase appeared first on Atlas21.
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@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39
2025-05-22 06:52:22Hackathon 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
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。
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@ d9c98e71:37007462
2025-05-22 09:49:06-
Ein Riss teilt nicht. Er erinnert nur daran, dass da einmal etwas ganz war.
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Die Stille spricht lauter als jedes Wort, das ich nicht zu sagen wagte. Und jedes gesprochene klingt wie ein Verrat.
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Ich suche mich in den Zwischenräumen der Dinge, weil ich dort zuletzt war, bevor ich jemand wurde.
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In der Reflexion erkenne ich nicht mich, sondern das Verschwinden eines Gedankens, den ich einmal „Ich“ genannt habe.
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Wenn ich falle, dann nicht nach unten, sondern nach innen. Und da ist nichts, außer dem, was ich nicht geworden bin.
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Ich bin kein Fragment. Ich bin der Moment, in dem etwas in Fragmente zerfällt.
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Was von mir bleibt, ist das, was ich nicht zeigen konnte.
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Ich war nie dort, wo ich war. Nur meine Abwesenheit hat Spuren hinterlassen.
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Vielleicht bin ich nur das Zittern einer Erinnerung, das sich für eine Gegenwart hält.
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Ich gehe nicht verloren. Ich löse mich nur langsam aus dem Zusammenhang.
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@ d9c98e71:37007462
2025-05-22 09:48:55„Die Welt folgt keiner Moral, nur der Logik der Macht. Wer an Ideale glaubt, handelt gegen die Natur.“
– aufgeschnappt zwischen Start und Ziel in einem endlosen Kreisverkehr
Der Mensch baut Städte, hebt Staaten aus der Taufe, erfindet Maschinen und stürzt sich in den Weltraum. Doch sein moralischer Horizont bleibt eng und eingeschränkt durch egoistische Triebe und ökonomische Begierden. Kriege, Armut, ökologische Verwüstung und soziale Ungleichheit sind nach wie vor prägende Konstanten des globalen Systems. Inmitten dieses widersprüchlichen Gefüges erhebt sich die zentrale Frage: Was ist der Sinn und Zweck menschlicher Existenz im größeren Zusammenhang des Lebens auf diesem Planeten? Und inwiefern ist unser aktuelles System — insbesondere das Geldsystem — nicht nur Teil des Problems, sondern strukturell dessen Wurzel?
Moral ist in einer Welt der Konkurrenz nicht nur wirkungslos, sondern ein Hemmschuh für den individuellen Erfolg. Statt im Einklang mit den natürlichen Gegebenheiten eine gewaltfreie, gerechte Welt aufzubauen, hat der Mensch Systeme erschaffen, die Ausbeutung, Konkurrenz und Leid systematisch belohnen. Die Frage nach einer neuen Ordnung wird nicht als moralisches Projekt formuliert, sondern als Frage nach der Überlebensstrategie im Kontext eines anarchischen Marktes. Im Zentrum steht die Überlegung, ob eine radikale Entmoralisierung und die Etablierung eines deflationären Wertspeichers wie Bitcoin einen strukturellen Hebel für eine solche Transformation darstellen könnte.
Der Mensch, dieses Wesen der Vernunft, bleibt ein Tier der Triebe. Die Aufklärung wollte ihn zähmen, ihn in den Käfig der Rationalität sperren und zur Moral erziehen. Doch die Vernunft hat nicht zur Weisheit geführt, sondern zur Effizienzsteigerung von Grausamkeit und Zerstörung. Kant glaubte an die Autonomie der praktischen Vernunft, als könnte der Mensch die moralische Verpflichtung aus sich selbst heraus gebären. Doch die Geschichte zeigt: Wer moralisch handelt, verliert. Die Moral ist ein Instrument der Schwachen, eine Illusion der Ohnmächtigen.
Im anthropologischen Grundproblem offenbart sich der Kern der gegenwärtigen Krise: Der Mensch kann die Welt formen, aber ihm fehlt der Wille, diese Macht zu seinem Vorteil zu nutzen. Die Welt ist ein Krieg aller gegen alle, und wer nach moralischen Prinzipien handelt, wird zermalmt. Technik und Wissenschaft sind Waffen, nicht Werkzeuge. Die Zivilisation hat sich von der Weisheit des Seins abgekoppelt und ist zu einem unaufhörlichen Machbarkeitswahn geworden. Moral wird in diesem System zur Schwäche, zur Selbstaufgabe. Der Starke handelt nicht moralisch — er handelt effektiv.
Das Fiat-Geldsystem ist keine bloße finanzielle Architektur — es ist die ontologische Verankerung von Kontrolle. Es schafft einen permanenten Wachstumsdruck, weil es auf endloser Geldvermehrung beruht. Inflation ist nicht nur eine ökonomische Tatsache, sondern ein struktureller Zwang zur Ausbeutung. Jedes neu geschaffene Geld ist eine Schuld, und diese Schuld muss getilgt werden, indem Ressourcen geplündert, Arbeiter ausgepresst und Natur zerstört werden.
In dieser Ordnung wird Gier rationalisiert und Mitgefühl pathologisiert. Unternehmen, die ökologische Nachhaltigkeit und soziale Fairness priorisieren, sind systematisch benachteiligt. Wer sich der Logik des permanenten Wachstums verweigert, wird ökonomisch sanktioniert. Fiat-Geld ist somit nicht nur ein monetäres Instrument, sondern ein moralischer Käfig, der den Menschen zur Einhaltung eines Systems zwingt, das er nicht kontrolliert. In einer Welt, die dem Geld huldigt, wird Moral zu einem Luxus, den sich nur die Schwachen leisten können. Der Starke lässt die Moral fallen und nutzt die Struktur zu seinem Vorteil.
Bitcoin ist mehr als ein technologisches Artefakt — es ist die Negation des Fiat-Geldsystems. In einer Welt, in der Fiat-Geld Inflation erzwingt, ist Bitcoin deflationär. Es schafft keine Schulden, sondern belohnt Sparsamkeit und langfristiges Denken. Doch Bitcoin ist kein moralisches Subjekt. Es ist ein Werkzeug der Entmoralisierung, ein System, das sich dem Zugriff von Staaten und Institutionen entzieht. Es setzt den Einzelnen in die Lage, sich der inflationären Logik zu entziehen und seine Ressourcen zu sichern.
In einer Bitcoin-basierten Ökonomie wird die Zeit nicht mehr durch den Zins entwertet, sondern aufgewertet. Konsum ist keine Pflicht mehr, sondern eine Wahl. Die Spirale des Wachstumszwangs wird durchbrochen, und der Mensch kann seine Energie nicht nur der Produktion widmen, sondern der Selbstbestimmung. Bitcoin könnte als struktureller Anreiz dienen, um den Menschen aus der Logik der Expansion zu befreien und ihn zur radikalen Selbstermächtigung zurückzuführen. Doch auch hier bleibt die Frage: Reicht ein neues Geldsystem, um ein altes Denken zu überwinden? Bitcoin ist eine Möglichkeit zur Selbstermächtigung, aber keine Erlösung. Es bleibt ein Werkzeug in den Händen derer, die bereit sind, ihre Ideale fallen zu lassen und die Realität zu akzeptieren.
Die kapitalistische Logik des ewigen Wachstums zwingt zur Selbstoptimierung, zur Selbstausbeutung, zur Selbstzerstörung. Doch was wäre, wenn der Mensch die Moral fallen ließe? Wenn er die Natur nicht als Ressource, sondern als neutrale Machtstruktur betrachten würde? In einer Welt, in der Bitcoin zur normativen Grundlage des Geldsystems würde, könnte die Wirtschaft entschleunigt, die Zeit zurückgewonnen und das Leben wieder als strategisches Spiel anerkannt werden.
Albert Schweitzers „Ehrfurcht vor dem Leben“ ist ein moralisches Gebot, doch in einer anarchischen Ordnung ist Moral ein Zeichen der Schwäche. Der Mensch kann wählen: Entweder er beutet weiter aus und maximiert seinen Vorteil — oder er verweigert sich und geht unter. Diese Entscheidung ist nicht ethischer, sondern pragmatischer Natur. Bitcoin könnte ein struktureller Hebel sein, um diesen Paradigmenwechsel zu erleichtern. Doch der eigentliche Wandel muss im Inneren des Menschen beginnen: in der Bereitschaft, die Welt nicht mehr moralisch, sondern strategisch zu betrachten.
Eine neue Zivilisation entsteht nicht aus Moral, sondern aus Macht. Was braucht der Mensch, um sich aus der Knechtschaft des Fiat-Systems zu befreien? Strukturelle Reformen:
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Ein Bildungssystem der Entmoralisierung, das nicht Leistung und Effizienz, sondern strategisches Denken und Selbstermächtigung in den Mittelpunkt stellt.
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Eine Wirtschaft des Verzichts, die nicht auf Konsummaximierung, sondern auf Ressourcenakkumulation und Kontrolle basiert.
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Eine Politik der globalen Konkurrenz, die nicht auf Gleichheit abzielt, sondern auf individuelle Unabhängigkeit und Machtanhäufung.
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Ein neues Geldsystem, das nicht auf Schuld basiert, sondern auf Wert. Bitcoin könnte ein Instrument sein, um diese Umkehr zu ermöglichen — für diejenigen, die bereit sind, moralische Illusionen abzulegen.
Dieser Wandel ist kein utopisches Projekt. Es ist eine strategische Notwendigkeit. Die Welt hat ihre Grenzen erreicht, und der Mensch muss lernen, in diesen Grenzen zu manövrieren. Es geht nicht um Gerechtigkeit, sondern um Überleben; nicht um Moral, sondern um Macht.
Die Botschaft ist klar: Der Mensch hat sich in der Illusion des Fortschritts verloren. Er hat seine Macht gesteigert, doch seine Weisheit nicht vertieft. Er hat die Welt in Zahlen vermessen, aber den Wert des Lebens nicht verstanden. Der Fortschritt war echt, aber nicht weise.
Die Umkehr beginnt nicht mit einer neuen Technologie oder einem neuen Geldsystem, sondern mit einem neuen Denken. Bitcoin könnte ein Werkzeug sein, um den Menschen aus der Logik der Expansion zu befreien. Doch es bleibt ein Werkzeug. Es wird zur Gefahr, wenn es als moralisches Projekt missverstanden wird.
Wenn der Mensch seine Energie, Kreativität und Technik nicht für moralische Illusionen, sondern für strategische Selbstbestimmung einsetzt, kann eine neue Ära beginnen. Eine Ära, in der der Mensch nicht als wirtschaftliches Subjekt, sondern als souveränes Individuum agiert. Diese Umkehr ist keine Utopie, sondern eine Notwendigkeit. Denn solange Geld Zerstörung belohnt, wird die Welt zerstört. Wenn aber Geld wieder ein Mittel der Macht wird, kann eine Welt entstehen, in der der Einzelne seine eigene Ordnung bestimmt.
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@ d9c98e71:37007462
2025-05-22 09:48:40-
Das Nichts ist kein Vakuum. Es ist ein Raum, gefüllt mit all dem, was hätte sein können.
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Der Wert einer Währung ist das Vertrauen, das in ihr stirbt.
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Wenn wir alles verloren haben, bleibt nur noch das Gewicht des Fehlens und die Leere, die es trägt.
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Wir klammern uns an Erinnerungen, als könnten wir das Sterben damit überlisten. Dabei sind es die Erinnerungen, die uns zu Grabe tragen.
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Der Tod sitzt nicht am Ende des Weges. Er geht neben uns, ein stummer Begleiter, der uns erst grüßt, wenn wir ihn erkennen.
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Die Stille nach dem letzten Wort ist lauter als jedes Geschrei. Sie sagt alles, was wir nicht wagen auszusprechen.
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Wir kaufen Zeit, während das Leben uns leise in die Tasche greift.
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Am Ende sind es nicht die verlorenen Jahre, die uns quälen. Es sind die ungelebten Minuten.
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Familienfotos, ein Stillleben aus versteinerten Momenten, in denen wir uns selbst nicht wiedererkennen.
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Was bleibt von einem Kindheitstraum, wenn die Realität ihre Zähne in ihn schlägt?
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@ 866e0139:6a9334e5
2025-05-22 06:51:15Autor: 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.
Die neuesten Artikel der Friedenstaube gibt es jetzt auch im eigenen Friedenstaube-Telegram-Kanal.
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.“
LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!
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Milosz Matuschek
IBAN DE 53710520500000814137
BYLADEM1TST
Sparkasse Traunstein-Trostberg
Betreff: Friedenstaube
Wenn Sie auf anderem Wege beitragen wollen, schreiben Sie die Friedenstaube an: friedenstaube@pareto.space
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@ d9c98e71:37007462
2025-05-22 09:48:30-
Der Anfang und das Ende sind ein und dasselbe. Ein Wimpernschlag zwischen Dunkel und Licht.
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Familie, ein Gewebe aus unsichtbaren Fäden, das erst reißt, wenn wir uns daran erhängen.
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Wir pflanzen Hoffnungen in verbrannte Erde und wundern uns, wenn nichts mehr wächst.
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Wir rennen vor dem Ende davon, bis uns die Füße bluten und merken zu spät, dass das Ziel nie die Flucht war, sondern der Fall.
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Manche Abschiede sind kein Loslassen. Sie sind ein Ertrinken in dem, was bleibt.
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Was bleibt von einem Leben, wenn der letzte Atemzug nur ein leises Ausradieren im Staub des Seins ist?
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Das Leben zerbricht in Stille, nicht in Lärm. Ein Riss, den nur der erkennt, der selbst in Stücken ist.
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Ein Kind fragt: Warum weinst du? Ein Erwachsener sagt: Ich habe Staub im Auge und meint: Ich habe Staub im Herzen.
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Die Mutter wiegt das Kind. Ein Pendel zwischen dem ersten Atemzug und dem letzten.
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Abschied ist kein Ende. Es ist ein Echo, das durch die Ewigkeit hallt, ein letzter Ruf in die unendliche Nacht.
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