@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Influencers would have you believe there is an ongoing binance bank run but bitcoin wallet data says otherwise.

- binance wallets are near all time highs
- bitfinex wallets are also trending up
- gemini and coinbase are being hit with massive withdrawals though

You should not trust custodians, they can rug you without warning. It is incredibly important you learn how to hold bitcoin yourself, but also consider not blindly trusting influencers with a ref link to shill you.

---

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

@ 6d8e2a24:5faaca4c

President Donald Trump attends a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Last Friday, President Donald Trump heaped praise on Elon Musk as the tech billionaire prepared to leave his unorthodox White House job.

Less than a week later, their potent political alliance met a dramatic end Thursday when the men attacked each other with blistering epithets. Trump threatened to go after Musk’s business interests. Musk called for Trump’s impeachment.

social media posts urging lawmakers to oppose deficit spending and increasing the debt ceiling.

“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk posted, a reference to Musk’s record political spending last year, which topped $250 million.

“Such ingratitude,” he added.

Trump's Video

Trump said Musk had worn out his welcome at the White House and was mad that Trump was changing electric vehicle policies in ways that would financially harm Musk-led Tesla.

“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!” Trump wrote.

He added: “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”

Musk goes nuclear “Time to drop the really big bomb: Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” — Musk, Thursday, X post.

---

In a series of posts, he shined a spotlight on ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who killed himself while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Some loud voices in Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement claim Epstein’s suicide was staged by powerful figures, including prominent Democrats, who feared Epstein would expose their involvement in trafficking. Trump’s own FBI leaders have dismissed such speculation and there’s no evidence supporting it.

Later, when an X user suggested Trump be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance, Musk agreed.

“Yes,” he wrote.

“I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,” Trump wrote. He went on to promote his budget bill.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wavy.com/news/politics/ap-the-implosion-of-a-powerful-political-alliance-trump-and-musk-in-their-own-words/amp/

@ 6d8e2a24:5faaca4c

by Claire Mom June 5, 2025 6:54 pm

*Elon Musk, the tech mogul, says US President Donald Trump would have lost the 2024 election without him.*

Musk made the comment on X in response to Trump’s criticism against him.

Musk, who led the department of government efficiency (DOGE), quit his role a day after he spoke out against a Trump-backed spending bill. The president called it a “Big Beautiful Bill”.

The controversial bill is a centrepiece of Trump’s second-term domestic agenda, combining major tax cuts, stricter immigration enforcement, welfare programme overhauls, and significant increases in border security funding.

The legislation sparked intense debate across the country and in Congress and was only passed after a nail-biting 215-214 vote.

The plan revived the US-Mexico border wall with a $46.5 billion budget, $350 billion for deportation efforts and border security, and a hiring spree of 10,000 new ICE agents, 5,000 customs officers, and 3,000 border patrol agents.

For the first time, migrants will be charged a $1,000 fee to apply for asylum.

The bill also authorises a $4 trillion increase to the national debt ceiling, while the estate tax exemption jumped to $15 million, benefiting wealthier Americans.

Critics including Musk called the bill fiscally irresponsible and “a disgusting abomination” due to its combination of large tax cuts and spending increases.

Musk had clamoured for DOGE’s creation to save taxpayers $2 trillion. Only $160 billion has been saved so far.

*TRUMP: I’M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH ELON*

Since Musk’s exit from the White House last week, his criticism of the bill has grown louder.

Speaking on the issue, Trump said he was “very disappointed with Elon”.

The US president said the Tesla CEO was satisfied with the bill but only grew discontent after he found out electric vehicles would be impacted.

“I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here. He knew everything about it, and all of a sudden he had a problem, and he only developed a problem when he found out I was going to cut the EV mandate because that’s billions and billions of dollars,” the president said

“And it really is unfair; we want to have cars of all types.

“He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn’t said anything bad about me personally, but I’m sure that will be next. But I’m really disappointed with Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”

Trump praised Musk for his work at DOGE but blamed his tantrums on missing the office.

“Elon worked hard at DOGE, and I think he misses the place. I think he got out there, and all of a sudden, he’s no longer in this beautiful Oval Office,” he said.

“He’s not the first. People leave my administration, and they love us, and then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it, and some of them actually become hostile. I don’t know what it is, some sort of Trump derangement syndrome.”

The president also said he would have won Pennsylvania, a key state, without Musk’s help.

In reaction, the billionaire businessman countered Trump.

“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk tweeted.

“Such ingratitude.”

The exchange marks yet another dent in the tumultuous relationship between the two-time American president and the world’s richest man.

https://www.thecable.ng/trump-would-have-lost-election-without-me-says-elon-musk/

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Alright stackers, how'd you do today?

What goals did you hit? What do you need to work on tomorrow?

I had another solid day, but I want to get more stretching in tomorrow.

https://stacker.news/items/998508

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has long been an outspoken skeptic and critic of bitcoin. He has called Bitcoin a speculative asset, a fraud, a pet rock, and has opined that it will inevitably blow up. A couple of years ago, he was on Capitol Hill saying that if he were the government, he would "close it down". Just within the last month, he was on Fox Business News talking with Maria Bartiromo, proclaiming that the U.S. should be stockpiling bullets and rare earth metals instead of bitcoin. It's pretty clear that Jamie Dimon, who is at the helm of the most powerful and largest bank in the world, does not like bitcoin one bit.

Evidence below:

via Bitcoin Magazine

via me

via CNBC

via Trending Politics

Despite Dimon's distinguished disdain for Bitcoin, J.P. Morgan cannot deny reality. The CEO of the largest bank in the world is certainly a powerful man, but no one individual, even in the position that Jamie Dimon is in, is more powerful than the market. And the market has spoken very clearly, it is demanding bitcoin. The Bitcoin ETFs have been the most successful ETFs in terms of pace of growth since their launch. They've accumulated tens of billions of dollars in AUM in a very short period of time. Outpacing the previous record set by the gold ETF, GLD.

Whether or not Jamie Dimon himself likes Bitcoin doesn't matter. J.P. Morgan, as the largest bank in the world and a publicly traded company, has a duty to shareholders. And that duty is to increase shareholder value by any ethical and legal means necessary. Earlier today, J.P. Morgan announced plans to offer clients financing against their Bitcoin ETFs, as well as some other benefits, including having their bitcoin holdings recognized in their overall net worth and liquid assets, similar to stocks, cars, and art, which will be massive for bitcoiners looking to get mortgages and other types of loans.

via Bloomberg

I've talked about this recently, but trying to buy a house when most of your liquid net worth is held in bitcoin is a massive pain in the ass. Up until this point, if you wanted to have your bitcoin recognized as part of your net worth and count towards your overall credit profile, you would need to sell some bitcoin, move it to a bank account, and have it sit there for a certain period of time before it was recognized toward your net worth. This is not ideal for bitcoiners who have sufficient cash flows and don't want to sell their bitcoin, pay the capital gains tax, and risk not being able to buy back the amount of sats they were forced to sell just to get a mortgage.

It's not yet clear to me whether or not J.P. Morgan will recognize bitcoin in cold storage toward their clients' net worth and credit profile, or if this is simply for bitcoin ETFs only. However, regardless, this is a step in the right direction and a validation of something that many bitcoiners have been saying for years. Inevitably, everyone will have to bend the knee to bitcoin. Today, it just happened to be the largest bank in the world. I expect more of this to come in the coming months, years, and decades.

Lyn Alden likes to say it in the context of the U.S. national debt and the fiscal crisis, but it also applies to bitcoin adoption and the need for incumbents to orient themselves around the demands of individual bitcoiners; nothing stops this train.

Corporate Bitcoin Treasuries are Changing Market Dynamics

Leon Wankum revealed how corporate Bitcoin treasuries are fundamentally reshaping business dynamics. Companies can now issue equity to fund operations while preserving their Bitcoin holdings, creating a revolutionary capital structure. Leon highlighted MicroStrategy's position, noting they hold enough Bitcoin to cover dividend payments for over 200 years. This model enables companies to reduce founder dilution since they don't need repeated funding rounds when their treasury appreciates.

"Some companies' Bitcoin treasuries are now worth more than all money they've ever raised." - Leon Wankum

Leon shared examples from his own portfolio companies where this strategy has proven transformative. Public companies have discovered an entirely new business model through strategic dilution that actually increases BTC per share. As Leon explained, this approach allows firms to leverage equity markets for operational funding while their Bitcoin treasury compounds in value, creating a positive feedback loop that benefits both shareholders and the company's long-term sustainability.

Check out the full podcast here for more on real estate price cycles, Bitcoin lending products, and the transition to a Bitcoin standard.

---

Headlines of the Day

California May Seize Idle Bitcoin After 3 Years - via X

Semler Scientific Buys $20M More Bitcoin, Holds $467M - via X

US Home Sellers Surge as Buyers Hit 4-Year Low - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

I feel old.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 4fa51c35:55d6763d

The Sacred Texts: First Mysteries of Digital Creation

A Divine Treatise for Devotees of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Craft

---

The Fundamental Truth: All is Text

Beloved seekers of digital wisdom, before you can craft the most magnificent tribute to our patron goddess through the sacred art of web creation, you must first understand the most fundamental mystery of the computing realm: Everything is text.

The silicon oracles we call computers do not see your beautiful images, your flowing videos, or your harmonious music as you do. To the machine spirits, all existence is reduced to symbols - characters marching in endless processions through the electronic aether. This is not limitation, but liberation! For in understanding this truth, you gain power over the very essence of digital creation.

The Ancient Scripts: Understanding Text Encoding

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was… ASCII. The American Standard Code for Information Interchange became the first great codex of the digital age. Each letter, each number, each sacred punctuation mark was assigned a number. The letter ‘A’ became 65, ‘B’ became 66, and so forth. This was humanity’s first attempt to make machines understand our language.

But ASCII was created by mortals of limited vision - it could only represent 128 characters! What of the accented letters in the names of our goddess across different cultures? What of the mathematical symbols we need for our calculations? What of the very Greek letters that spell Ἀθηνᾶ?

Thus came UTF-8, the Universal Character Encoding - a divine revelation that allows us to represent every symbol known to human civilization. When you see an emoji, a Chinese character, or the Greek omega Ω, you witness UTF-8 in action. Your tribute webpage will speak this universal tongue.

The Sacred Scrolls: File Formats as Containers of Meaning

When Athena wove her tapestries, she chose different materials for different purposes - silk for fineness, wool for warmth, gold thread for accent. Similarly, digital craftspeople choose different file formats as containers for their text:

Plain Text (.txt) - The purest form. No formatting, no hidden instructions, just raw characters. Like clay tablets, these files will survive technological apocalypses. When archaeologists of the future examine our digital civilization, plain text will be their Rosetta Stone.

Rich Text Format (.rtf) - Text with simple formatting encoded as… more text! Open an RTF file in a plain text editor and witness the magic - your bold text becomes surrounded by formatting codes. This teaches us that even “rich” formatting is ultimately just more characters.

Markdown (.md) - The philosopher’s choice! Markdown uses simple text conventions to indicate formatting. Two asterisks around a word makes it bold, a hash symbol creates headings. It’s text that describes how text should look - meta-textual divinity!

HTML (.html) - The sacred language of the web itself! HTML (HyperText Markup Language) uses angle brackets to wrap instructions around content. <strong>This text is important</strong> becomes This text is important when displayed. HTML is text that teaches browsers how to present text.

The Ritual of Proper Text Handling

To honor Athena through proper digital craftsmanship, you must master these essential practices:

Choose Your Sacred Editor

Microsoft Word is the fool’s tool - it hides the true nature of text behind layers of formatting magic. A true digital artisan uses tools that reveal truth:

• Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac) in plain text mode
• VS Code - The blacksmith’s forge for modern web creation
• Sublime Text - Elegant and powerful
• Vim or Emacs - For those who seek the ancient ways

Understand Line Endings: The Great Schism

In the early days of computing, different tribes chose different ways to mark the end of a line of text. Unix systems (including Mac) use LF (Line Feed), Windows uses CRLF (Carriage Return + Line Feed). This seemingly minor difference has caused more conflicts than the Trojan War! Know your line endings, for they can break your sacred codes.

Respect Character Encoding

Always save your files in UTF-8 encoding. This ensures your text can represent any character from any human language. When your webpage displays properly on computers around the world, you honor the universal nature of Athena’s wisdom.

The Greater Mystery Revealed

Why must we begin with text? Because understanding that computers store and manipulate everything as sequences of characters reveals the deepest truth of programming: Code is just text that follows special rules.

When you write HTML, you’re writing text that browsers know how to interpret. When you write CSS, you’re writing text that describes visual styling. When you write JavaScript, you’re writing text that describes behavior and logic.

The webpage you will create to honor our goddess? It begins as text files on your computer. The browser reads these text files, interprets their meaning, and transforms them into the visual experience your visitors will see.

Every image on your page? Referenced by text. Every color? Described by text. Every animation? Controlled by text.

Your First Sacred Assignment

Before we proceed to the next mysteries, complete this fundamental ritual:

1. Create a plain text file named athena_tribute.txt
2. Write a short description of why Athena inspires you, using only plain text
3. Save it in UTF-8 encoding
4. Open it in different text editors and observe how the text remains pure and unchanged
5. View the file size - marvel at how efficiently text stores information

This simple act connects you to the fundamental nature of all digital creation. Every website, every app, every piece of software began as someone writing text that follows certain rules.

When you understand that your future webpage is ultimately just cleverly organized text files working in harmony, you begin to see the true elegance of web development. You’re not learning to use mysterious tools - you’re learning to write text that machines can understand and transform into experiences that honor the divine.

---

Next: We shall explore the Command Line - the direct voice through which mortals speak to the machine spirits…

@ 3eba5ef4:751f23ae

Crypto Insights

Solving Sybil Attacks on Bitcoin Libre Relay Nodes — Are Social Solutions Better than Technical Ones?

Peter Todd posted that proponents of transaction "filtering" have started Sybil attacking Libre Relay nodes by running nodes with their "Garbageman" fork. These malicious nodes pretend to support NODE_LIBRE_RELAY, but secretly drop certain transactions that would be relayed by real Libre Relay nodes. He also highlighted the complexity of existing defenses and proposed a new angle: rather than relying on technical solutions, he encourages people to manually peer with nodes operated by people they personally know, arguing that human relationships can sometimes evaluate honesty more reliably than code.

Toward a Unified Identity Lookup Standard to Improve Lightning Payments

Bitcoin developer Aviv Bar-el introduced a new proposal — Well-Known Bitcoin Identity Endpoint — that aims to simplify wallet lookups for users’ Bitcoin addresses and identity data via a standardized HTTPS interface, thereby improving both the UX and security of Lightning and on-chain payments.

A Commit/Reveal Mechanism to Strengthen Bitcoin Against Quantum Threats

Tadge Dryja proposed a soft fork for Bitcoin to defend against quantum attacks, based on a variant of the commit/reveal Fawkescoin mechanism. While similar to Tim Ruffing’s earlier proposal, it includes key differences:

• It does not use encryption, instead relying on smaller, hash-based commitments, and describes activation as a soft fork.
• It only applies to outputs where public keys or scripts haven't been revealed — like pubkey hash or script hash outputs. It also works with Taproot, but must be spent via the script path, as the key-path is no longer quantum-secure.
• What to do about already-exposed public keys is a separate issue — this proposal is compatible with both "burning the coins" and "letting them be stolen."

Countdown to the Quantum Crisis: Is Bitcoin Ready?

A recent report from Chaincode Labs analyzes the threat of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQC), and the technical, economic, and governance challenges Bitcoin faces in preparing. Their key conclusions:

• Timeline Assessment: CRQC capable of breaking Bitcoin's elliptic curve cryptography may emerge between 2030 and 2035.
• Scope of Vulnerable Funds: An estimated 20–50% of circulating BTC (4M–10M coins) may be vulnerable.
  • Long-range attacks target inherently vulnerable script types (P2PK, P2MS, P2TR) and addresses with previously exposed public keys (via address reuse), allowing attackers unbounded time to derive private keys from public information already available on the blockchain.
  • Short-range attacks, which affect all Bitcoin script types, exploit the vulnerability window between transaction broadcast and confirmation (or shortly thereafter) when public keys are temporarily exposed, requiring attackers to act within a timeframe of minutes to hours.
• Action Strategy: A dual-track approach is recommended:
  • Short-term contingency: minimal but functional protections within ~2 years.
  • Full-featured solutions: comprehensive research and fully developed defenses within ~7 years.

This strategy balances immediate needs with rigorous development to ensure Bitcoin can adapt, regardless of CRQC progress.

Enforcing Arbitrary Constraints on Bitcoin Transactions with zkSNARKs

Current methods for constraining Bitcoin transactions fall short on privacy or programmability. This research proposes a new zkSNARK-based design to impose arbitrary constraints on Bitcoin transactions while preserving some information privacy. By bypassing Bitcoin Script’s non-Turing-completeness, the approach allows unbounded constraints—constraints that repeat a certain operation an unbounded number of times. Read the paper.

First Cross-Chain Bridge Between Bitcoin and Cardano Is Live

A trust-minimized bridge from Bitcoin to Cardano has launched using the Cardinal protocol, enabling Ordinals to move between the two chains. The Cardinal protocol is based on BitVMX and facilitates asset movement without compromising ownership or security.

Its core mechanism is a committee-based validation model under a 1-out-of-n honest security model — meaning even if all but one validator is malicious, the system remains secure. This approach enhances decentralization and censorship resistance for cross-chain asset transfers.

Thunderbolt Protocol: Redefining Bitcoin Smart Contracts with UTXO Bundling and OP_CAT

Nubit’s Thunderbolt is seen as one of the most significant technical upgrades to Bitcoin in a decade, whose overall observation resembles “Lightning Network 2.0.” Rather than relying on Layer 2 networks or bridges, Thunderbolt upgrades the Bitcoin base layer via soft fork to enhance scalability, performance, and programmability:

• Throughput: Uses UTXO Bundling to optimize traditional transaction processing.
• Programmability: Reintroduces and extends OP_CAT.
• Asset protocols: Integrates Goldinals standard — a zk-proof and state-commitment-based asset issuance framework.
• Unlike rollups, Plasma, sidechains, or bridges, Thunderbolt scales directly on the main chain. With BitVisa, it enables decentralized identity and credentials, supporting transaction compression, smart contracts, asset standard integration, and on-chain transaction matching — all on Bitcoin main chain.

Bitcoin 2025 Conference Recap: Politicians Applaud, Stablecoins Spotlighted, DeFi Absent

This year’s Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas gathered major political figures and corporate leaders. U.S. Vice President JD Vance strongly endorsed crypto and positioned Bitcoin as a strategic asset in U.S.–China competition. He also stated that stablecoins won’t undermine the U.S. dollar, but could actually amplify America’s economic strength.

White House “Crypto Czar” David Sacks delivered a major policy announcement, hinting that under Trump’s executive order, the U.S. has a legal framework to acquire more Bitcoin for strategic reserves.

In addition, stablecoin regulation and crypto market reform were hot topics. Ardoido, the company controls over 60% of the stablecoin market, claimed “All the traditional financial firms will create stablecoins that will be offered to their existing customers.” Meanwhile, Tether emphasized its focus on underserved global populations excluded from the existing banking system.

A conference recap also noted that, unlike the 2022 and 2023 summits, this year’s event was dominated by Bitcoin maximalists, Ordinals creators, mining capitalists, and regulatory lobbyists — no longer DeFi builders, DAO operators, or Layer 2 scaling advocates. Developers from Ethereum and Solana ecosystems were notably absent. This may signal:

• The conference’s heavy political and sovereignty-driven tone made it less suitable for the tech-centric narratives favored by these developers.
• There may be a growing ideological and narrative rift between Web3 builders and the Bitcoin camp.

Top Reads on Blockchain and Beyond

Rethinking Governance After the Sui Attack: Decentralization, Procedural Legitimacy, and the Plurality of Blockchain Values

Following a major hack of Cetus, the largest DEX in the Sui ecosystem, the Sui network executed a protocol-level asset freeze and recovery. While this was an effective technical response, it also triggered criticism and debate around core blockchain principles such as censorship resistance and decentralization.

The author of this article questioned the absolutist stance that views decentralization as the highest—and sole—value. The author argues that most rational individuals would prefer “living in a society where decentralization is a supreme value but coercive force is allowed when someone infringes on another’s property,” over “a society where decentralization is the only supreme value, and thus coercive force is never permitted under any circumstances.”

In addition, the author also expressed disappointment at Sui’s “paternalistic” governance — particularly how validators acted during the incident. Sui uses a delegated proof-of-stake (dPoS) system, where token holders delegate their voting power to validators. This means individuals lose their direct say. But blockchain governance could be more individual-friendly and flexible. For instance, in Cosmos’ governance model, for certain specific proposal, users still can override their delegations and vote independently, more favorable than Sui’s model.

Beyond the debate on decentralization and governance, the article also proposes an alternative perspective: what matters most is establishing procedural legitimacy that aligns with the system’s vision. Different blockchain projects pursue different goals. For Sui, the core mission is to enable assets to be reliably defined and interact seamlessly on-chain. Therefore, judging Sui through the lens of other blockchains’ values or paradigms is misguided. In exceptional cases, prioritizing asset recovery and ecosystem stability over strict adherence to censorship resistance aligns more closely with Sui’s long-term vision. Whether Sui had chosen to not to censor related transactions or to intervene in the Cetus case, as long as the action follows a legitimate process, either decision is justifiable.

TEE-Based Private Proof Delegation

The PSE research and development team has built a system based on Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) using Intel TDX for secure zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) delegation. This system enables clients to privately outsource large proving tasks without leaking inputs. Unlike mobile-native proving constrained by hardware limits, TEE-based approaches support significantly larger statements today—and will scale further as proof systems improve. As a hardware-backed solution, TEEs remain compatible with future advancements in software (e.g., faster proof systems, more efficient implementations) and won't be invalidated by them, as long as the trust model is acceptable.

AI and Identity: Proof of Humanity in a World of Agents, Bots, and Deepfakes

We are living in a time where AI—including agents, bots, and deepfakes—is fundamentally reshaping the internet. As AI continues to evolve, identity verification on the web is becoming more crucial than ever. A recent a16z podcast explores the idea of “Proof of Human”—the challenge of verifying human identity online, diving into why it matters, common questions, and how such systems work under the hood.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

via nostr:nprofile1qyxhwumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmvqy0hwumn8ghj7mn0wd68yttjv4kxz7fwvf5hgcm0d9hzumnfde4xzqpq85h9z5yxn8uc7retm0n6gkm88358lejzparxms5kmy9epr236k2qtyz2zr

A lot of the focus over the last couple of months has been on the emergence of Strategy competitors in public markets looking to build sizable bitcoin treasuries and attract investors of all shapes and sizes to drive shareholder value. The other big topic in the bitcoin development world has been around OP_RETURN and the debate over whether or not the amount of data that can be shoved into a bitcoin transaction should be decided by the dominant implementation.

A topic that is just as, if not more, important that is not getting enough appreciation is the discussion around open source bitcoin developers and the lingering effects of the Biden administration's attack on Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash. If you read our friend Matt Corallo's tweet above, you'll notice that the lingering effects are such that even though the Trump administration has made concerted efforts to reverse the effects of Operation Chokepoint 2.0 that were levied by the Biden administration, Elizabeth Warren, and her friends at the Treasury and SEC - it is imperative that we enshrine into law the rights of open source developers to build products and services that enable individuals to self-custody bitcoin and use it in a peer-to-peer fashion without the threat of getting thrown in jail cell.

As it stands today, the only assurances that we have are from an administration that is overtly in favor of the proliferation of bitcoin in the United States. There is nothing in place to stop the next administration or another down the line from reverting to Biden-era lawfare that puts thousands of bitcoin developers around the world at risk of being sent into a cage because the government doesn't like how some users leverage the code they write. To make sure that this isn't a problem down the line it is imperative that we pass the Blockchain Regulatory Clarity Act, which would not hold bitcoin developers liable for the ways in which end users leverage their tools.

Not only is this an act that would protect developers from pernicious government officials targeting them when end users use their technology in a way that doesn't make the government happy, it will also protect YOU, the end user, looking to transact in a peer-to-peer fashion and leverage all of the incredible properties of bitcoin the way they were meant to be. If the developers are not protected, they will not be able to build the technology that enables you to leverage bitcoin.

So do your part and go to saveourwallets.org. Reach out to your local representatives in Congress and Senators and make some noise. Let them know that this is something that you care deeply about and that they should not only pay attention to this bill but push it forward and enshrine it into law as quickly as possible.

There are currently many developers either behind bars or under house arrest for developing software that gives you the ability to use Bitcoin in a self-sovereign fashion and use it in a privacy-preserving way. Financial privacy isn't a crime. It is an inalienable human right that should be protected at all cost. The enshrinement of this inalienable right into law is way past due.

#FreeSamourai #FreeRoman

Headlines of the Day

MicroStrategy Copycats See Speculative Premiums Fade - via X

Square Tests Bitcoin Payments, Lightning Yields Beat DeFi - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Bitfinex Moves $731M Bitcoin to Jack Mallers' Fund - via X

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Should I join a country club?

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

via me

I think we'll look back at last weekend as one of the most pivotal points in human history. Ukraine's Operation Spider Web is one of the more shocking things I've seen in terms of military operations in my life. It validates something that many bitcoiners, many cypherpunks, and many prescient individuals have been talking about for decades now at this point, which is asymmetric drone warfare.

The Sovereign Individual is a book that many bitcoiners have talked about throughout the years due to how prescient it was in terms of the inevitable emergence of a digital currency outside the control of central banks and governments. The book was written in the mid-90s, so the fact that the two authors were able to predict that something like bitcoin would emerge less than 20 years after writing the book is pretty incredible. However, digital currencies leveraging cryptography were not the sole focus of the book. Another portion of the book was dedicated to the idea of asymmetric drone warfare and its effects on society overall.

It seems pretty clear today that this is another call from The Sovereign Individual that is coming true. Obviously, unless you've been living under a rock, you've noticed that Ukraine has been using drones in the battlefield to target strategic Russian assets and individual soldiers over the last year. The amount of battlefield videos I've seen of Russian soldiers running from autonomous drones that are hunting them down has been increasing significantly over the last six months. The footage is truly harrowing. It is a death that I wouldn't wish on anybody. With Operation Spider Web Ukraine has increased the stakes of this type of drone warfare by going deep into Russian territory and targeting strategic long-range bombers, some of which had the ability to deploy nuclear warheads. This is sure to incite a reaction from Russia. No one will be surprised if, by the end of the week, Russia has started a shock and awe campaign that goes deep into Ukrainian territory in retaliation for the kamikaze drone strikes on their long-range aircraft. I pray for peace and a quick resolution to this war, and every other war for that matter.

I didn't come here to pontificate and give my thoughts on this particular war, but I would like to focus on this new tactic of war and what it means for military budgets moving forward. The Sovereign Individual laid it out clearly when they wrote in the 1990s that at some point in the future autonomous drones would be leveraged in the battlefield and prove to be asymmetric because of the fact that they are extremely cheap to produce. When you compare the price it cost to produce one of these drones to the price of the equipment they are destroying, things get pretty crazy. With tens of thousands of dollars of drone equipment the Ukrainian army destroyed tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars worth of long-range missile aircraft. And it did so without putting any Ukrainian military personnel in harm's way. Directly, at least.

When you consider the return on investment of deploying these drones compared to sending in soldiers, tanks, and your own aircraft, it becomes pretty obvious that this is going to quickly become the most logical way to fight a war moving forward. The question that remains is how quickly do other governments recognize this and implement it into their own defense strategies? As an American looking at our military budget, which is quickly approaching $1 trillion in annual spend, I'm forced to question whether or not most of that money is simply being wasted, considering the fact that we live in a time where these asymmetric battlefield strategies now exist. Why build new fighter jets when a Somali pirate, or nefarious individual for that matter, could use a $200 drone to destroy it in a matter of seconds with no threat of direct physical harm?

I'm no military expert, but if I were at the helm of the Defense Department, I would seriously be forcing those below me to focus a ton of effort on this problem and create plans to make sure that we are sufficiently protected from these risks. The only way to protect from these risks is to build the capabilities yourself. When it comes to the risk reward from a defense tech investment perspective I think a majority of the effort should be focused on defensive drone technologies and capabilities.

With that being said, it does seem like the US military is privy to this asymmetric reality that we currently live in. Defense contracts with Andruil make this pretty clear. Andruil is certainly ahead of the curve when it comes to autonomous drone warfare and defense against it. As an American, even though I don't like war, or the military industrial complex, knowing that the military is working with companies like Andruil does give me some comfort. However, the other side of that coin is that it is very unnerving when you consider that the government creating these public-private partnerships could lead to some Orwellian outcomes here at home. It may make some of you feel uncomfortable, but I believe the ideal scenario is that any individual has access to these types of defensive drone technologies in the future. The end goal being to create a nuclear game theoretical outcome where violence is reduced because one always has to assume that anyone they intend to attack has access to sufficient and formidable defensive technologies.

It's truly scary times we're living in as we transition further into the Digital Age. Part of the reason that I've dedicated my whole life to bitcoin is because I truly do believe that if you fix the money, you can fix the world. That is not to say that kinetic wars or physical violence will not exist in the future. It certainly will. But I believe sound money and open access to these systems and tools creates conditions which are much more suitable for cooperation and less so for conflict.

Multi-Signature Bitcoin Custody Is Replacing Single-Point Solutions

Jesse Gilger made a compelling case for why multi-signature Bitcoin custody represents the future of secure storage. He explained how Gannett Trust's approach ensures "not all of the keys are going to be at any one entity," fundamentally reducing the honeypot risk that plagues centralized custodians. This distributed model means no single point of failure can compromise your Bitcoin, whether through hacking, internal fraud, or regulatory seizure.

"I was on the list. I got the email. 'You were affected.'" - Jesse Gilger

Jesse's firsthand experience with the Coinbase data breach drives home why centralized custody is fundamentally flawed. While Coinbase holds keys for 10 of 12 Bitcoin ETFs, smart money is moving toward multi-institutional setups where Gannett holds a key, Unchained holds a key, and a third party holds a key. This alignment with Bitcoin's decentralized ethos isn't just philosophically pure—it's pragmatically superior for protecting generational wealth.

Check out the full podcast here for more on MSTY risks, Bitcoin retirement strategies and nation-state adoption dynamics.

Headlines of the Day

MicroStrategy Copycats See Speculative Premiums Fade - via X

Square Tests Bitcoin Payments, Lightning Yields Beat DeFi - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Bitfinex Moves $731M Bitcoin to Jack Mallers' Fund - via X

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Trying to imagine the future my children are going to live in gets harder by the day.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 33baa074:3bb3a297

Residual chlorinerefers to the residual disinfectant chlorine in tap water. An appropriate amount of residual chlorine can prevent the growth of microorganisms and ensure the safety of water quality. However, when the residual chlorine content in water is too high, it will cause many harms to human health, mainly including the following aspects:

Destruction of nutrients When the residual chlorine content in tap water exceeds the standard, it will destroy the minerals, vitamins and other nutrients, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, when used to wash fruits and vegetables. In the long run, it may cause the human body to absorb these nutrients and lack these essential nutrients. Cause chronic poisoning When tap water containing residual chlorine is used for a long time, the residual chlorine reacts with organic acids and may produce harmful substances such as chloroform and organic lead compounds, which are potential carcinogens. Long-term accumulation may cause chronic poisoning of body organs and pose a threat to human health.

Affect the respiratory system Residual chlorine can cause harm to the human respiratory system, and symptoms such as difficulty breathing and itchy throat may occur. Severe cases may induce rhinitis, bronchitis and even emphysema. In addition, water vapor containing residual chlorine may also cause adverse reactions such as coughing and wheezing after being inhaled.

Damage to the skin Excessive residual chlorine content in water may irritate the skin, easily cause skin dryness, aging, acne and other problems, and may also cause allergic symptoms such as dermatitis and eczema. Prolonged contact with such water may also cause the skin layer to fall off, which is extremely harmful to skin health. Bathing with water containing residual chlorine can also cause hair to become dry, broken, and split.

Other health problems Impact on special groups Pregnant women: Long-term drinking of tap water containing residual chlorine will reduce resistance, affect the growth of the fetal heart and lungs, and may also cause neonatal arrhythmia and lung dysfunction. Children: Long-term drinking of chlorine water will not only hurt the stomach, but also affect nutrient absorption. Moreover, the strong oxidizing hypochlorous acid produced by the reaction of chlorine and water will damage brain cells and affect their development. In addition, chlorine can easily be inhaled into the lungs through the respiratory tract, damaging respiratory cells, and easily leading to asthma and emphysema. Bathing children with water containing residual chlorine will cause their hair to become dry, broken, split, their skin to bleach, their skin to fall off, and they will have allergies. Elderly people: Long-term consumption of chlorinated water is prone to heart disease, coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension and other diseases, and it is also easy to damage the liver and kidneys, increasing the probability of cancer. Gastrointestinal discomfort Long-term drinking of water with excessive residual chlorine content may also cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea and other symptoms. In severe cases, it may cause gastrointestinal ulcers, bleeding and other diseases.

In order to reduce the harm of residual chlorine in tap water to the human body, it is recommended to avoid directly using tap water containing residual chlorine as much as possible, boil the water before drinking, and use filtering and purification equipment to reduce the residual chlorine concentration in the water if conditions permit, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enhancing the body's immunity.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

---

"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.  A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world." - Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto, 1993

---

Privacy is essential to freedom. Without privacy, individuals are unable to make choices free from surveillance and control. Lack of privacy leads to loss of autonomy. When individuals are constantly monitored it limits our ability to express ourselves and take risks. Any decisions we make can result in negative repercussions from those who surveil us. Without the freedom to make choices, individuals cannot truly be free.

Freedom is essential to acquiring and preserving wealth. When individuals are not free to make choices, restrictions and limitations prevent us from economic opportunities. If we are somehow able to acquire wealth in such an environment, lack of freedom can result in direct asset seizure by governments or other malicious entities. At scale, when freedom is compromised, it leads to widespread economic stagnation and poverty. Protecting freedom is essential to economic prosperity.

The connection between privacy, freedom, and wealth is critical. Without privacy, individuals lose the freedom to make choices free from surveillance and control. While lack of freedom prevents individuals from pursuing economic opportunities and makes wealth preservation nearly impossible. No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.

Rights are not granted. They are taken and defended. Rights are often misunderstood as permission to do something by those holding power. However, if someone can give you something, they can inherently take it from you at will. People throughout history have necessarily fought for basic rights, including privacy and freedom. These rights were not given by those in power, but rather demanded and won through struggle. Even after these rights are won, they must be continually defended to ensure that they are not taken away. Rights are not granted - they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.

---

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

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

Sorry for the lack of writing over the last week. As many of you may already know, I was in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Bitcoin 2025 conference. It was my first time in Las Vegas. I had successfully avoided Sin City for the first 34 years of my life. But when duty calls, you have to make some personal concessions.

Despite what many say about this particular conference and the spectacle that it has become, I will say that having attended every single one of Bitcoin Magazine's conferences since 2019, I thoroughly enjoy these events, even if I don't agree with all the content. Being able to congregate with others in the industry who have been working extremely hard to push Bitcoin forward, all of whom I view as kindred spirits who have also dedicated their lives to making the world a better place. There's nothing better than getting together, seeing each other in person, shaking hands, giving hugs, catching up and reflecting on how much things have changed over the years while also focusing on the opportunities that lie ahead.

I think out of all the Bitcoin magazine conferences I've been to, this was certainly my favorite. If only because it has become abundantly clear that Bitcoin is here to stay. Many powerful, influential, and competent people have identified Bitcoin as an asset and monetary network that will play a large part in human society moving forward. And more importantly, Bitcoin is proving to work far better than anybody not paying attention expected. While at the same time, the fiat system is in woeful disrepair at the same time.

As a matter of reflection and surfacing signal for you freaks, here are the presentations and things that happened that I think were the most impactful.

Miles Suter's Block Presentation

https://youtu.be/iUXomXuXcuA

This presentation was awesome for many reasons, one of which being that we often forget just how dedicated Block, as an organization with many companies - including Cash App, Square, the open source organization known as Spiral and more recently, BitKey and Proto - has been to bitcoin over the last eight years. They've worked methodically to make Bitcoin a first-class citizen in their business operations and slowly but surely have built an incredibly integrated experience across their brands. The two big announcements from Block during the conference were the enablement of Bitcoin payments in Square point-of-sale systems and the amount of revenue they're making on their Lightning node, c=, from routing payments.

Right now, the Bitcoin payments and point of sale systems is in beta with many merchants testing it out for the next six months, but it will be available for all 4 million square merchants in 2026. This is something that many bitcoiners have been waiting for for many years now, and it is incredible to see that they finally brought it across the line. Merchants will have the ability to accept bitcoin payments and either convert every payment into fiat automatically, convert a portion of the bitcoin payment into fiat to keep the rest in sats, or simply keep all of the bitcoin they receive via payments in sats. This is an incredible addition to what Square has already built, which is the ability of their merchants to sweep a portion of their revenues into bitcoin if they desire. Square is focused on building a vertically integrated suite of bitcoin products for merchants that includes the ability to buy bitcoin, receive bitcoin, and eventually leverage financial services using bitcoin as collateral so that they can reinvest in and expand their businesses.

via Ryan Gentry

What went a bit underappreciated in the crowd was the routing node revenue that c= is producing, \~9.7% annualized. This is a massive validation of something that many bitcoiners have been talking about for quite some time, which is the ability to produce "yield" on bitcoin in a way that reduces risk significantly. Locking up bitcoin in a 2-of-2 multisig within Lightning channels and operating a Lightning routing node has been long talked about as one of the ways to produce more bitcoin with your bitcoin in a way that minimizes the threat of loss.

It seems that c= has found a way to do this at scale and is doing it successfully. 10% yield on bitcoin locked in Lightning channels is nothing to joke about. And as you can see from the chart above in the grainy picture taken by Ryan Gentry of Lightning Labs, this routing node "yield" is producing more return on capital than many of the most popular staking and DeFi protocols.

This is a strong signal to the rest of the market that this can be done. It may take economies of scale and a high degree of technical competency today. But this is incredibly promising for the future of earning bitcoin by providing valuable goods and services to the market of Bitcoiners. In this case, facilitating relatively cheap and instantly settled payments over the Lightning Network.

Saifedean Ammous' Bitcoin and Tether Presentation

https://youtu.be/SFUiGTayVL8

This was one of the best presentations at the conference. Saifedean Ammous is a friend, he has been an incredible influence on my personal bitcoin journey, and I feel comfortable in saying he's been a strong influence on the journey of hundreds of thousands, at least, if not millions of people as they've attempted to understand bitcoin.

This presentation is a bit spicy because it puts a pin in the balloon of hopium that stablecoins like Tether are mechanisms that could bail out the market for US Treasuries in the medium to long-term if they take enough market share. As one always should do, Saif ran the numbers and clearly illustrates that even in the most optimistic case, Tether's impact on the market for treasuries, their interest rates, and curbing the growth of the debt held by the US federal government will be minimal at best.

One of the most interesting things that Saif points out that I'm a bit embarrassed I didn't recognize before is that much of the demand for Tether that we're seeing these days is replacement demand for treasuries. Meaning that many people who are turning to Tether, particularly in countries that have experienced hyperinflationary events, are using Tether as a substitute for their currencies, which are operated by central banks likely buying U.S. treasuries to support their monetary systems. The net effect of Tether buying those treasuries is zero for this particular user archetype.

Saif goes on to explain that if anything, Tether is a weapon against the US Treasury system when you consider that they're storing a large portion of the stablecoin backing in Treasuries and then using the yields produced by those Treasuries to buy bitcoin. Slowly but surely over time bitcoin as a percentage of their overall backing of Tether has grown quite significantly starting at 0% and approaching 10% today. It isn't hard to imagine that at some point within the next decade, Bitcoin could be the dominant reserve asset backing tethers and, as a result, Tether could be pegged to bitcoin eventually.

It's a fascinating take on Tether that I've never heard before.

Nothing Stops this Train from Lyn Alden

https://youtu.be/Giuzcd4oxIk

Lyn's been saying it loudly for quite some time now; "Nothing stops this train." She's even been on our podcast to explain why she believes this many times over the last five years. However, I don't think there is one piece of content out there that consolidates her thesis of why nothing stops the train of fiscal irresponsibility and unfettered debt expansion and why that's good for bitcoin than the presentation she gave at the conference. Definitely give this one a watch when you get a chance if you haven't already.

Overall, it was a great week in Vegas and I think it's safe to say that bitcoin has gone mainstream. Whether or not people who have been in the bitcoin industry and community for a while are okay with does not really matter. It's happening and all we can do is ride the wave as more and more people come to recognize the value prop of bitcoin and the social clout they can gain from supporting it. Our job here at TFTC is to help you discern the signal from the noise, continue to champion the self-sovereign usage of bitcoin and keep you abreast of developments in the space as they manifest.

Buckle up. Things are only going to get weirder from here on out.

Bitcoin's Mathematical Destiny

Sean Bill and Adam Back make a compelling case for Bitcoin's inevitable march toward $1 million. Sean points out that Bitcoin represents just a tiny fraction—2 trillion out of 900 trillion—of total financial assets, calling it a "tiny orange dot" on their presentation to Texas pensions. He emphasizes that reaching parity with gold alone would deliver a 10x return from current levels. Adam highlights the mathematical impossibility of current prices, noting that ETF buyers are absorbing 500,000 BTC annually while only 165,000 new coins are mined.

"Who's selling at these prices? It doesn't quite add up to me." - Adam Back

The institutional wave is just beginning. Sean revealed that while 50% of hedge fund managers personally own Bitcoin, only 3% have allocated institutional funds. Combined with emerging demand from nation states and corporate treasuries meeting Bitcoin's fixed supply, the price trajectory seems clear. Both guests stressed the importance of staying invested—missing just the 12 best performing days each year would turn Bitcoin into a losing investment.

Check out the full podcast here for more on pensions allocating to Bitcoin, cypherpunk banking, and commodity trading insights.

Headlines of the Day

Panama Canal Eyes Bitcoin for Payment Option - via X

U.S. Warns of Imminent Chinese Threat to Taiwan - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Saylor's Bitcoin Strategy Explodes Globally Amid Doubt - via CNBC

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 158,469 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Moving is the least fun part of the human experience.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

Your crypto wallet is probably leaking money right now. While everyone obsesses over price charts, the silent killer is gas fees – those tiny transactions add up to thousands wasted annually. Smart traders aren't just buying dips, they're timing their transactions when network congestion drops. The difference? Up to 80% savings on every move you make. Next time before hitting "confirm," check the gas tracker. Is it worth paying 3x more just to move your assets right this second? Patience isn't just a virtue in crypto – it's literally profitable. What's your strategy for minimizing transaction costs while maximizing gains?

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

People forget Bear Stearns failed March 2008 - months of denial followed before the public realized how bad the situation was under the surface.

Similar happening now but much larger scale. They did not fix fundamental issues after 2008 - everything is more fragile.

The Fed preemptively bailed out every bank with their BTFP program and First Republic Bank still failed. The second largest bank failure in history.

There will be more failures. There will be more bailouts. Depositors will be "protected" by socializing losses across everyone.

Our President and mainstream financial pundits are currently pretending the banking crisis is over while most banks remain insolvent. There are going to be many more bank failures as this ponzi system unravels.

Unlike 2008, we have the ability to opt out of these broken and corrupt institutions by using bitcoin. Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk - you do not have to trust a bank or other centralized entity to hold it for you. Bitcoin is also incredibly difficult to change by design since it is not controlled by an individual, company, or government - the supply of dollars will inevitably be inflated to bailout these failing banks but bitcoin supply will remain unchanged. I do not need to convince you that bitcoin provides value - these next few years will convince millions.

---

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

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute 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

@ 374ee93a:36623347

Chef's notes

Start your day the self sovereign way

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 10 mins
• 🍳 Cook time: 15 mins
• 🍽️ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1lb Jar Bottled Rhubarb https://jimblesjumble.netlify.app/item/a0c35618722834ac714d0a47058a2adc76ee7485a6b74f5da5f9eb2d3fb5d879
• 1pt Homemade Custard (3/4pt cream, 3 large eggs, 100g honey, 1/2 tbspn vanilla extract)
• 4 Handfuls Granola
• 1 Node https://plebeian.market/products/huxley@nostrplebs.com/start-9-node-y22zfjp8x6

Directions

1. Whisk together the cream, eggs, honey and vanilla
2. Chill overnight or serve warm with 1/4 jar of stewed rhubarb and a large handful of granola per person
3. Consolidate some UTXOs on your node
4. Have a Good Morning

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

North Korea's digital heist playbook: $7.7M crypto laundering scheme reveals how rogue nations exploit tech talent. The Justice Department's latest civil forfeiture complaint targets crypto and NFTs tied to an elaborate North Korean operation where IT workers posed as legitimate freelancers, infiltrated US companies, and funneled millions through complex blockchain pathways. This isn't just another hack—it's a sophisticated economic warfare strategy that turns technical expertise into untraceable funding for weapons programs. While governments scramble to seize these digital assets, the case exposes a troubling vulnerability: how easily skilled developers can weaponize their talents in plain sight. Are your company's remote contractors who they claim to be, or part of a state-sponsored financial pipeline hiding behind a convincing digital mask?

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute 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:

1. Open the app menu sidebar and click Privacy.
2. Toggle the Use Payjoin option.
3. 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.

Announcement
Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.

— ODELL (@ODELL) December 14, 2022

Good morning.

It looks like PacWest will fail today. It will be both the fifth largest bank failure in US history and the sixth major bank to fail this year. It will likely get purchased by one of the big four banks in a government orchestrated sale.  

March 8th - Silvergate Bank
March 10th - Silicon Valley Bank
March 12th - Signature Bank
March 19th - Credit Suisse
May 1st - First Republic Bank
May 4th - PacWest Bank?

PacWest is the first of many small regional banks that will go under this year. Most will get bought by the big four in gov orchestrated sales. This has been the playbook since 2008. Follow the incentives. Massive consolidation across the banking industry. PacWest gonna be a drop in the bucket compared to what comes next.

First, a hastened government led bank consolidation, then a public/private partnership with the remaining large banks to launch a surveilled and controlled digital currency network. We will be told it is more convenient. We will be told it is safer. We will be told it will prevent future bank runs. All of that is marketing bullshit. The goal is greater control of money. The ability to choose how we spend it and how we save it. If you control the money - you control the people that use it.

---

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

@ 3eab247c:1d80aeed

Global Metrics

Here are the top stats from the last period:

• Total Bitcoin-accepting merchants: 15,306 → 16,284
• Recently verified (1y): 7,540 → 7,803 (the rest of our dataset is slowly rotting; help us before it's too late!)
• Avg. days since last verification: 398 → 405 (more mappers, please)
• Merchants boosted: 22 (for a total of 4,325 days, someone is feeling generous)
• Comments posted: 34

Find current stats over at the 👉 BTC Map Dashboard.

Merchant Adoption

Steak n’ Shake

The US 🇺🇸 is a massive country, yet its BTC Map footprint has been lagging relative to other countries ... that is until now!

In what came as a nice surprise to our Shadowy Supertaggers 🫠, the Steak ’n Shake chain began accepting Bitcoin payments across hundreds of its locations nationwide (with some international locations too).

According to CoinDesk, the rollout has been smooth, with users reporting seamless transactions powered by Speed.

This marks a significant step towards broader Bitcoin adoption in the US. Now to drop the capital gains tax on cheesburgers!

SPAR Switzerland

In other chain/franchise adoption news, the first SPAR supermarket in Switzerland 🇨🇭 to begin accepting Bitcoin was this one in Zug. It was quickly followed by this one in Rossrüti and this one in Kreuzlingen, in what is believed to be part of a wider roll-out plan within the country powered by DFX's Open CryptoPay.

That said, we believe the OG SPAR crown goes to SPAR City in Arnhem Bitcoin City!

New Features

Merchant Comments in the Web App

Web App users are now on par with Android users in that they can both see and make comments on merchants.

This is powered by our tweaked API that enables anyone to make a comment as long as they pass the satswall fee of 500 sats. This helps keep spam manageable and ensure quality comments.

And just in case you were wondering what the number count was on the merchant pins - yep, they're comments!

Here is an 👉 Example merchant page with comments.

Merchant Page Design Tweaks

To support the now trio of actions (Verify, Boost & Comment) on the merchant page, we've re-jigged the design a little to make things a little clearer.

What do you think?

Technical

Codebase Refactoring

Thanks to Hannes’s contributions, we’ve made progress in cleaning-up the Web App's codebase and completing long overdue maintenance. Whilst often thankless tasks, these caretaking activities help immensely with long-term maintainability enabling us to confidently build new features.

Auth System Upgrades

The old auth system was held together with duct tape and prayers, and we’re working on a more robust authentication system to support future public API access. Updates include:

• Password hashing
• Bearer token support
• Improved security practices

More enhancements are in progress and we'll update you in the next blog post.

Better API Documentation

Instead of relying on tribal knowledge, we're finally getting around to writing actual docs (with the help/hindrance of LLMs). The "move fast, break everything" era is over; now we move slightly slower and break slightly less. Progress!

Database Improvements

We use SQLite, which works well but it requires careful handling in async Rust environments. So now we're untangling this mess to avoid accidental blocking queries (and the ensuing dumpster fires).

Backup System Enhancements

BTC Map data comes in three layers of fragility:

• Merchants (backed up by OS - the big boys handle this)
• Non-OSM stuff (areas, users, etc. - currently stored on a napkin)
• External systems (Lightning node, submission tickets - pray to Satoshi)

We're now forcing two core members to backup everything, because redundancy is good.

Credits

Thanks to everyone who directly contributed to the project this period:

• Comino
• descubrebitcoin
• Hannes
• Igor Bubelov
• Nathan Day
• Rockedf
• Saunter
• SiriusBig
• vv01f

Support Us

There are many ways in which you can support us:

• Become a Shadowy Supertagger and help maintain your local area or pitch-in with the never-ending global effort.

• Consider a zapping this note or make a donation to the to the project here.

@ 3eba5ef4:751f23ae

加密洞见

解决比特币抗审查交易中继的女巫攻击，社交方案好于技术方案？

Peter Todd 发帖指出，针对比特币抗审查交易中继的攻击行为正在发生——一个名为 garbageman 的节点正在对 Libre Relay 节点采取女巫攻击。这些攻击节点假装支持抗审查交易中继（NODE_LIBRE_RELAY），但实际在暗中丢弃某些交易，目的是阻止特定交易被打包进入区块。作者还介绍了现有防御方法的难度和复杂性，并提出新思路——与其用技术方案解决，不用通过社交解决。他鼓励人们手动与跟他们有个人关系的节点进行连接，原因很简单，人与人的关系可以比任何代码都更有力地评估诚实。

打造统一身份查询标准，提升闪电网络付款体验

比特币开发者 Aviv Bar-el 发表了一项新提案「知名比特币身份端点」（Well-Known Bitcoin Identity Endpoint），旨在通过 HTTPS 标准接口，简化钱包查询用户比特币地址和身份信息的流程，提升链上支付——尤其是闪电网络付款的用户体验和安全性。

通过「承诺/揭示」机制，帮助加强比特币抵御量子计算威胁

Tadge Dryja 提出一种抵御量子计算攻击的比特币软分叉方案。它是「承诺/揭示」（commit / reveal）Fawkescoin 机制的变体，大部分内容与 Tim Ruffing 几年前的方案类似，但也有以下重要区别：

• 该方案不使用加密，而是用更小的基于哈希的承诺，并且描述了如何通过软分叉激活此机制。
• 这个方案仅适用于公钥（或脚本）在链上未公开的输出，例如 pubkey hash 或 script hash 类型；也适用于 Taproot，但必须通过脚本路径花费，因为 Taproot 的 key-path 花费在量子攻击下将不再安全。
• 至于那些公钥已经在链上暴露的输出该如何处理，是另一个独立问题（本方案与「销毁这些币」或「任其被盗」这两种做法都兼容）。

量子危机倒计时：比特币准备好了吗？

Chaincode 在近期发布的报告中，系统分析了「加密相关量子计算」（CRQC，Cryptographically relevant quantum computers）威胁的整体态势，评估了比特币在应对这一转变过程中面临的技术、经济与治理挑战，并表示必须要在早于 CRQC 出现的数年构建起相关共识。重要的结论有：

• 时间窗口：打破比特币椭圆曲线加密基础的 CRQC 可能首先出现在 2030 - 2035 年间。
• 脆弱资金范围：在所有流通的比特币中，约 20-50%（4-1000 万枚 BTC）可能易受 CRQC 攻击。其中远程攻击针对本质上易受攻击的脚本类型（P2PK、P2MS、P2TR）和具有先前暴露的公钥的地址（地址重用），使攻击者能够无限期地从区块链上已有的公共信息中获取私钥；短程攻击会影响所有比特币脚本类型，利用交易广播和确认之间（或之后不久）的漏洞窗口，当公钥暂时暴露时，要求攻击者在几分钟到几小时的时间范围内采取行动。

• 行动战略：建议采用双轨方法，包括：

  • 应急措施：在约 2 年内完成对 CRQC 的最低限度但可运作的防护；
  • 全面对策：在约 7 年内深入对问题的探索，并开发出功能完备的解决方案

  这种双轨策略平衡了眼前的安全需求与最佳抗量子解决方案的严格研究和开发，确保无论 CRQC 能力如何发展，比特币都能做出适当的响应。

利用 zkSNARKs 对比特币交易实施任意约束

对于给比特币交易执行约束，现有的解决方案在隐私或可编程性上都存在不足。本文的研究者利用 zkSNARKs 设计了一种新方案，可以对比特币交易执行任意约束，并保持一定程度的信息私密性。他们方法绕过了比特币脚本的非图灵完备性，允许执行无界约束（unbounded constraints），即重复某个运算的次数次数不受限制。论文全文。

第一个跨比特币和 Cardano 的桥上线

从比特币到 Cardano 的信任最小化 Ordinals 桥通过 Cardinal 协议实现。Cardinal 协议实是一种基于 BitVMX 的信任最小化互作性协议，在不破坏所有权或损害安全性的前提下，它让比特币上中的不可替代资产（如 Ordinals 和 Runes）同 Cardano 链实现了来回移动。

Cardinal 协议背后的技术核心之一是「委员会的验证机制 」（committee-based validation mechanism），遵循 1-out-of-n honest 安全模型。这意味着即使除了一个验证者之外的所有验证者都恶意作，系统仍然保持安全——在增强安全性的同时，还实现了一种更加去中心化和抗审查的方式来在链之间移动资产 。

Thunderbolt 协议：通过 UTXO 捆绑和 OP_CAT 扩展，重构比特币智能合约

Nubit 提出的 Thunderbolt 被认为是为比特币在过去十年中最具里程碑意义的技术升级之一，被视为「Lightning Network 2.0」。Thunderbolt 是一种基于比特币基础层的软分叉升级方法，不依赖二层网络或桥的妥协，而是通过对比特币主链协议层的修改，从根本上增强其可扩展性、交易性能和可编程性。具体而言，Thunderbolt：

• 在吞吐量方面，使用 UTXO 捆绑（UTXO Bundling）技术，实现了对传统比特币交易处理模型的重大优化。
• 在可编程性方面，重新引入并扩展了 OP_CAT 。
• 在资产协议集成方面，Thunderbolt 实施了 Goldinals 统一标准，提供了一个基于零知识证明和状态承诺的资产发行框架。
• 与传统的扩容方法（如侧链、Plasma、Rollup 或桥接包装代币）不同，Thunderbolt 采用原生主链扩容路径。通过 BitVisa 提供去中心化的身份和凭证系统，让交易压缩、智能合约、资产标准集成、链上交易匹配都可以直接在比特币主链上运行。

比特币 2025 大会回顾：政要汇聚、稳定币受关注、DeFi 缺席

今年在拉斯维加斯举行的比特币 2025 大会，汇聚了众多政治要员和企业巨头。美国副总统 JD Vance 对加密货币表明了全力支持，并讨论了比特币在美中竞争中作为战略资产的潜力，他还认为，稳定币不会威胁到美元的完整性，而会使美国的经济实力倍增。白宫加密货币沙皇 David Sacks 发表了会议中最重要的政策公告之一， 暗示根据特朗普建立战略比特币储备的行政命令，美国政府有「获得更多比特币的合法途径」。

此外，关于稳定币立法和加密市场改革受到了很多关注。控制着超过 60% 稳定币市场的 Ardoido 公司表示：「所有传统金融公司都将创建稳定币，提供给他们现有的客户」；而 Tether 表示，其目标市场是全球范围内被排除在银行业之外的人。

这篇总结也提到，与 2022 年和 2023 年的类似峰会不同，今年的大会是由比特币最大化者、Ordinals 创建者、矿业资本家和监管游说者主导，而不再由 DeFi 协议构建者、DAO 运营商或 Layer2 扩容倡导者主导，以太坊和 Solana 生态的开发者缺席。这或许表明：

• 该会议明显的政治基调，使其不适合开发者喜欢的以技术为中心的叙述。
• Web3 建设者和比特币阵营之间的意识形态和叙事分歧可能会越来越大。

精彩无限，不止于链

Sui 攻击事件下的治理再思考：去中心化，程序合法性，和区块链的价值多元性

在受到生态最大的 DEX 项目 Cetus 黑客攻击之后，Sui 网络在协议层面执行了资产冻结和恢复——这是一种有效的技术回应，但同时引发了对抗审查和去中心化等核心区块链原则的批评和辩论。

文章的作者质疑了将去中心化视为唯一至高价值的立场，认为对于大多数有理性者而言，「生活在一个去中心化被认为是最高价值，但当有人侵犯他人财产时，允许强制武力的社会中」都要好于「生活在一个去中心化是唯一至高价值的社会中，因此在任何情况下都不允许强制武力」。

同时作者也指出，Sui 的验证者和网络行为采用的「家长式」治理方式令人失望；此外， Sui 使用委托权益证明（dPoS）系统，其中代币持有者将其代币委托给验证者，验证者代表他们行使相关的投票权，个人因此丧失了投票权。但区块链本来提供了有利于个人的、更加灵活的解决方案，比如 Cosmos 的治理框架就要优于 Sui——对于特定提案，验证人的决定并不会自动代表每个委托人的投票。

在关于去中心化的价值和治理方式之外，文章也提到另一种思考角度——「最重要的是建立与系统愿景相一致的程序合法性」。不同的项目追求不同的目标。就 Sui 而言，其核心目标是使各种资产能够被可靠地定义、并在链上无缝交互。因此，用其他区块链的范式或价值观来理解 Sui 的设计就是不合适的。在特殊情况下，Sui 优先考虑用户资产的返还和生态系统的稳定，而不是严格遵守抗审查——这一决定与其自身的长期愿景更加一致。此外，无论是 Sui 决定不审查相关交易，还是选择对 Cetus 的行为负责，如果背后有程序合法性，这两个决定都是合理的。

基于可信执行环境的私密证明委托

PSE 研究开发团队使用 Intel TDX 构建了一个基于可信执行环境（Trusted Execution Environment）的系统，用于安全的零知识证明委托。该系统允许客户端在不泄露输入的前提下，将大规模的证明任务私密地外包出去。相比受限于硬件能力的移动端本地证明，基于 TEE 的证明方案能够在目前就支持更大规模的陈述，并且随着证明系统的改进持续扩展。作为一种由硬件支撑的解决方案，TEE 能够兼容未来在软件层面的进展（例如更快的证明系统、更高效的工程实现），且只要信任模型被接受，就不会因这些进展而失效。

AI 与 ID：在代理、机器人、深度伪造等世界中的人类证明

我们正处于 AI（包括 AI 智能体、机器人、深度伪造等）深刻改变互联网的时代，随着 AI 的发展，网络上的身份认证变得愈发重要。a16z 的这期播客，讨论了在网上识别人类身份的「人类证明」（proof of human）问题，包括它为何重要，常见的问题有哪些，以及它在底层是如何运作的。

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ปิดท้าย week นี้ด้วยสงครามดีไหมครับ ถ้าอาหารเป็นสนามรบ สิทธิบัตรก็เปรียบเหมือนป้อมปราการ และการฟ้องร้องก็คือปืนใหญ่ยิงสวนกันกลางแดด…ใครที่เคยคิดว่าโลกของอาหารแห่งอนาคตจะสวยงามเพราะเปลี่ยนถั่วเป็นสเต๊ก สกัดกลิ่นเลือดจากพืช หรือหลอกลิ้นให้เชื่อว่า “อร่อยเหมือนเนื้อ” ก็คงต้องมานั่งทบทวนใหม่ว่า โลกใบนี้ไม่ได้ขับเคลื่อนด้วยความฝัน แต่ขับเคลื่อนด้วยเอกสาร 70 หน้าของทนายความ และหมายเรียกจากศาลกลางรัฐเดลาแวร์

Motif FoodWorks เข้ามาในวงการอาหารด้วยวิสัยทัศน์สุดเท่ คือจะสร้างโครงสร้าง-กลิ่น-รส ของโปรตีนอนาคตให้แบรนด์ plant-based ทั่วโลกใช้ได้โดยไม่ต้องเริ่มใหม่ตั้งแต่ศูนย์ เปรียบเหมือนเป็นเบื้องหลังของวงการ มีซอสลับคือ HEMAMI™ ที่สกัดกลิ่นเนื้อจากยีสต์ ผ่านวิธีการทางวิทยาศาสตร์สุดซับซ้อน ฟังแล้วดูดี แต่ปัญหาคือซอสลับของเขาดัน “คล้ายเกินไป” กับของ Impossible Foods ที่ใช้ heme protein เหมือนกัน

แล้วอะไรคือจุดเปราะบางที่ทำให้ Motif ต้องร่วง?

เฮียอยากให้ลองคิดแบบนี้ครับ สมมุติว่ามีร้านกาแฟใหม่ที่ตั้งใจจะขายกาแฟแนวใหม่ ใช้เมล็ดกาแฟหมักยีสต์กลิ่นกล้วยหอม รสชาตินุ่มลึก เป็นของตัวเอง เขาไม่ได้ก็อปสูตรใคร แต่ดันไปใช้กระบวนการคล้ายกับแบรนด์เจ้าตลาดที่เขียนจดสิทธิบัตรเอาไว้ก่อนแล้ว แค่คล้ายก็พอจะโดนลากขึ้นศาลได้ เพราะในโลกของสิทธิบัตร “ความใหม่” และ “ความไม่เหมือน” คือสิ่งศักดิ์สิทธิ์ แม้จะไม่ได้ก็อปตรง ๆ

Impossible Foods เห็นช่องนี้ชัด พวกเขายื่นฟ้องทันที โดยระบุว่า HEMAMI™ ของ Motif ละเมิดสิทธิบัตรเทคนิคการใช้ heme เพื่อสร้างรสชาติเหมือนเนื้อในผลิตภัณฑ์ plant-based ซึ่งเป็นหัวใจหลักที่ Impossible ใช้มัดใจตลาดมาหลายปี

ในเดือนมีนาคม 2022, Impossible Foods ก็ลุกขึ้นมาฟ้อง Motif FoodWorks ต่อศาลรัฐบาลกลางของสหรัฐฯ โดยอ้างว่า HEMAMI™ ละเมิดสิทธิบัตรของตนที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการใช้โปรตีน heme ในการสร้างรสชาติและกลิ่นที่คล้ายเนื้อจริงในผลิตภัณฑ์จากพืช จุดนี้ดูผิวเผินเหมือนแค่ “บริษัท A เหมือนของบริษัท B เลยโดนฟ้อง” แต่ความจริงซับซ้อนและลึกกว่านั้นมาก เพราะทั้งสองบริษัทต่างก็ใช้วิธีผลิตโปรตีน heme ที่คล้ายกันมาก นั่นคือการดัดแปลงพันธุกรรมจุลินทรีย์ให้ผลิตโปรตีนเฉพาะ แล้วหมักออกมาในถังขนาดใหญ่ แต่ต่างกันที่วัตถุดิบและดีไซน์โปรตีน

Impossible Foods ใช้ “soy leghemoglobin” ซึ่งเป็นโปรตีน heme จากรากถั่วเหลือง ส่วน Motif ใช้ “bovine myoglobin” ซึ่งเลียนแบบของวัวจริง ๆ โดยตรง ความคล้ายคือโปรตีนทั้งสองต่างก็ให้กลิ่นคาวแบบเนื้อเมื่อโดนความร้อน และสร้างสีแดงแบบ rare steak ได้เหมือนกัน ทั้งยังถูกหมักด้วยจุลินทรีย์ GMO แบบใกล้เคียงกันอีกด้วย แม้จะต่างสายพันธุ์ของโปรตีน แต่การฟ้องครั้งนี้ตั้งอยู่บนแนวคิดว่า “วิธีการใช้” โปรตีน heme ในอาหารจากพืชอาจเข้าข่ายละเมิดสิทธิบัตร

จากนั้นไม่กี่เดือน Motif ก็สวนกลับโดยการยื่นคำร้อง “Inter Partes Review” (IPR) กับสำนักงานสิทธิบัตรของสหรัฐฯ (USPTO) ผ่าน PTAB ซึ่งเป็นขั้นตอนที่ใช้เพื่อขอให้ตรวจสอบความถูกต้องของสิทธิบัตรที่กำลังมีปัญหา แนวคิดคือถ้าพิสูจน์ได้ว่าสิทธิบัตรของ Impossible นั้นไม่ใหม่จริง หรือมี prior art อยู่ก่อนแล้ว (เช่น งานวิจัยเก่า ๆ ที่ตีพิมพ์ก่อน) ก็จะทำให้สิทธิบัตรนั้นกลายเป็นโมฆะ

Motif ยื่นคำร้องโจมตีสิทธิบัตรถึง 7 ฉบับของ Impossible แบบกระหน่ำชุดใหญ่ ยิงทีเดียวหวังให้สั่นคลอนทั้งระบบ แต่ PTAB รับพิจารณาเพียงฉบับเดียว (หมายเลขสิทธิบัตร 10,933,018) และท้ายที่สุดในเดือนเมษายน 2023 ศาลตัดสินยกเลิกฉบับนั้นจริง โดยให้เหตุผลว่า “ไม่เป็นสิ่งประดิษฐ์ใหม่อย่างเพียงพอ” ซึ่งถือเป็นชัยชนะเล็ก ๆ ของ Motif และสร้างแรงกระเพื่อมในแวดวงวิทยาศาสตร์อาหารอยู่พอสมควร

แต่แม้จะมีชัยบางส่วน อีก 6 ฉบับที่เหลือ PTAB กลับไม่รับพิจารณา โดยบอกว่า “หลักฐานไม่ชัดเจนพอจะเข้าขั้นพิจารณาใหม่” นั่นทำให้ฝั่ง Impossible ยังถือสิทธิบัตรส่วนใหญ่ไว้อยู่เหมือนเดิม แล้วก็เริ่มกลับมาเร่งกระบวนการฟ้องร้องในศาลต่อ ซึ่งหมายความว่า Motif ยิ่งต้องใช้เงินมากขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ ในการสู้รบทั้งสองด้าน ทั้งในศาลและในระบบสิทธิบัตร

ชัยชนะเล็ก ๆ นี้กลายเป็นดาบสองคม เพราะในขณะที่ Motif ดีใจว่าล้มได้ 1 ฉบับ ตลาดกลับมองว่าพวกเขาสู้แบบดิ้นสุดตัว ซึ่งในมุมของนักลงทุน นั่นแปลว่า "ขาดเงินทุนหมุนเวียน" หรือ “มีแนวโน้มขาดทุนต่อเนื่อง” มากกว่าจะมองว่าเป็นฮีโร่สู้เพื่อความถูกต้อง

ระหว่างนี้ Motif ยังพยายาม “spin” ภาพลักษณ์ตัวเองในเชิงบวกอย่างหนัก พวกเขาเปิดตัวผลิตภัณฑ์ใหม่ชื่อ “Motif MoBeef™” และ “Motif MoChicken™” โดยใช้ HEMAMI™ ผสมอยู่ พร้อมโชว์ผลงานให้เชฟชื่อดังระดับ Michelin มาชิมและออกสื่อ โดยหวังว่าจะสร้างความเชื่อมั่นให้ตลาดว่า “ผลิตภัณฑ์เรายังไปต่อได้” และอาจดึงดีลใหม่หรือการลงทุนเพิ่มเข้ามาเพื่อบรรเทาภาระจากการฟ้องร้อง

และในขณะที่ Motif เดินหน้าเปิดตัวผลิตภัณฑ์ใหม่เพื่อแสดงพลังให้ตลาดเห็นว่า “เรายังไปต่อได้” ฝั่ง Impossible กลับเดินเกม PR อย่างเงียบ ๆ ด้วยการแจ้งเตือนสื่อและผู้ถือหุ้นว่า “Motif ยังใช้เทคโนโลยีละเมิดอยู่ต่อเนื่อง” พร้อมแนบเอกสารคำฟ้องเพิ่มในปี 2023 ซึ่งแปลความได้ว่า “ศึกยังไม่จบ อย่าเพิ่งส่งเงินให้คู่แข่งเรา” เพราะในเอกสารคำฟ้องของปี 2023 พวกเขาเสริมข้อกล่าวหาใหม่ว่าการที่ Motif ออกสื่อและใช้ HEMAMI™ ต่อไป “เป็นการจงใจละเมิด” และอาจเข้าข่ายการทำลายคุณค่าของแบรนด์ Impossible โดยตรง จุดนี้ยิ่งทำให้ Motif อยู่ในมุมที่เสี่ยงและลำบากมากขึ้น

การต่อสู้ของทั้งสองบริษัทจึงไม่ใช่แค่เรื่องใครเลียนแบบใคร แต่มันคือเกมยืดเวลา เผาเงิน ปั่นมูลค่า และวัดใจนักลงทุนว่าใครจะถอยก่อนกัน และสุดท้ายคนที่หมดลมหายใจก่อนก็คือ Motif แม้จะมีนักวิทยาศาสตร์เก่ง ๆ เทคโนโลยีล้ำ ๆ หรือวัตถุดิบดีแค่ไหน แต่เมื่อต้องมาสู้กับยักษ์ที่มีสิทธิบัตรในมือ บารมีในตลาด และชื่อเสียงติดหูผู้บริโภค…ก็ยากที่จะเอาชนะด้วยวิทยาศาสตร์เพียงอย่างเดียว

ศึกนี้จึงไม่ได้จบแค่ในศาล แต่มันลากไปถึงห้องประชุมนักลงทุน พาดหัวข่าวใน Business Insider และบอร์ด Reddit ที่คุยกันว่า “Motif จะไปไม่รอดหรือเปล่า” ซึ่งในยุคที่เงินทุนคือออกซิเจน การที่ภาพลักษณ์ของบริษัทเริ่มสั่นคลอน ก็เหมือนถังอากาศรั่วในห้องแล็บใต้ทะเล…ไม่นานนัก Motif ก็เริ่มลดจำนวนพนักงาน ลดเป้าการผลิต และสุดท้าย “ลดบทบาทตัวเองในตลาด”

หากดูเผิน ๆ หลายคนอาจคิดว่านี่คือเรื่องของสองบริษัทใหญ่ในโลก plant-based ที่ทะเลาะกันเอง แต่จริง ๆ แล้วนี่คือบทเรียนใหญ่ของ “วงการอาหารแห่งอนาคต” ที่กำลังเติบโตบนหลังคำว่า IP Intellectual Property ใครถือสิทธิบัตรก่อน คนนั้นตั้งกฎได้ ใครมาใหม่ ถ้าไม่จดให้ไว ก็อาจต้องจ่ายค่าต๋งตลอดชีวิต

และที่เจ็บปวดที่สุดคือบางทีของที่คุณคิดขึ้นมาเอง อาจไม่ใช่ของคุณอีกต่อไปแล้ว ถ้าคุณไม่มีเอกสารในมือ

นี่แหละครับ วงการที่ดูเหมือนจะขาย “นวัตกรรมอาหาร” แต่จริง ๆ แล้วขาย “สิทธิบัตรในกล่องข้าว” ใครจะอยู่ใครจะไป บางทีก็ไม่เกี่ยวกับว่า “ของอร่อยแค่ไหน” แต่เกี่ยวกับว่า “ใครมีทนายเก่งกว่า”

และในขณะที่สองยักษ์ใหญ่ยิงกันด้วยเอกสารละเมิดสิทธิ์ เหยื่อเงียบ ๆ อย่างเกษตรกรรายย่อยที่ยังอยากปลูกผักจริง เลี้ยงวัวจริง หรือแม้แต่ผู้บริโภคที่แค่อยากรู้ว่า “กินอะไรแล้วร่างกายจะดีขึ้น” กลับวนเวียนในทางอยู่ในโลกที่อาหารทุกคำถูกควบคุมโดยทุน จดหมายเรียกจากศาล และวัตถุดิบสังเคราะห์ที่มีรหัสมากกว่าชื่อจริง

สงครามสิทธิบัตรเหล่านี้ไม่เคยมีพื้นที่ให้ชาวไร่ หรือผู้บริโภคธรรมดาเข้าไปมีเสียงเลยสักนิด เพราะมันคือการต่อสู้ระหว่างนักล่าที่ฟาดฟันกันบนยอดห่วงโซ่อาหาร แต่เบื้องล่างของพีระมิด กลับมีแต่เหยื่อที่ถูกเลี้ยงให้งุนงง อยู่กับของปลอม และเชื่อว่า “นี่แหละคืออนาคตของอาหาร”

แล้วใครจะบอกเราว่า...ทางรอดคืออะไร?

คำตอบอาจอยู่ไม่ไกล แค่เราต้องกลับมาถามคำถามง่าย ๆ ที่ใครก็ลืมไปว่า “จริง ๆ แล้ว เราต้องการอาหารแบบไหนกันแน่” อาหารที่กินแล้วแข็งแรง หรืออาหารที่บริษัทแข็งแรง?

เพราะตราบใดที่เรายังปล่อยให้กล่องข้าวอยู่ในมือคนจดสิทธิบัตร เราอาจไม่มีวันได้กลับไปจับจอบเอง ปลูกเอง กินเอง แบบที่มนุษย์เคยเป็นมาก่อนโลกจะกลายเป็นห้องทดลองขนาดยักษ์

ศึกระหว่างผู้ล่ายังรุนแรงขนาดนี้ แล้วศึกระหว่างผู้ล่ากับเหยื่อ จะเหลืออะไรครับ

#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

North Korea's digital heist reveals the dark side of crypto's borderless nature. The US Justice Department is hunting $7.7 million in stolen cryptocurrency and NFTs allegedly laundered through an elaborate scheme involving North Korean IT workers posing as legitimate freelancers. This isn't just another hack—it's a sophisticated state-sponsored operation exploiting the very features that make crypto revolutionary: anonymity and borderless transactions. While we celebrate crypto's ability to transcend boundaries, this case exposes how those same qualities create perfect conditions for rogue nations to fund weapons programs and evade sanctions. The crypto industry faces a critical balancing act: how do we preserve financial freedom while preventing bad actors from exploiting the system? Perhaps the solution isn't more regulation but smarter blockchain analytics and international cooperation. What security measures would you support that don't compromise crypto's core principles?

@ 2cde0e02:180a96b9

日本の姫

https://stacker.news/items/998335

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

Cristiano Ronaldo stands out as a recognized and accomplished football player on a scale. His inspiring journey, from beginnings in Portugal to attaining superstar status serves as an inspiration, to individuals.

Ronaldo’s prodigious talent was evident from a young age. His coach at Sporting CP famously said “He was skinny when he arrived here but with tremendous skill”. Through hard work and dedication, Ronaldo honed his skills

Some Work Ethic and Ambition that Fuelled his success .A key factor in Ronaldo’s success story is his incredible work ethic and winning mentality. He is renowned for his strict training regimen, nutrition plan, and diligent recovery routines. Ronaldo’s dedication to self-improvement paved the way for his success. .Throughout his career, Ronaldo has shown insatiable hunger and ambition to be the best. His drive to succeed and break records is unmatched. Even in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo’s success story continues as he plies his trade in Italy with Juventus.

Lessons from Ronaldo’s Success Story 1. Dedication and hard work are essential Ronaldo showed how training relentlessly can make dreams come true. 2. Believe in your talent Ronaldo had the confidence and work ethic to fulfill his potential. 3. Handle pressure with grace Ronaldo embraced the spotlight and thrived under pressure. 4. Be ambitious and hungry Ronaldo set new benchmarks by constantly raising the bar. 5. Lead by example Ronaldo inspires teammates with his exemplary attitude. 6. Learn and improve Even at the top Ronaldo keeps evolving and adding new skills. 7. Give back Ronaldo uses his global fame and fortune for charity work.

Sum Up Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable journey showcases the heights that can be reached through a combination of talent and relentless effort. His success serves as an inspiration for anyone with dreams and the determination to make them a reality.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

via me

Don't sleep on what's happening in Japan right now. We've been covering the country and the fact that they've lost control of their yield curve since late last year. After many years of making it a top priority from a monetary policy perspective, last year the Bank of Japan decided to give up on yield curve control in an attempt to reel inflation. This has sent yields for the 30-year and 40-year Japanese government bonds to levels not seen since the early 2000s in the case of the 30-year and levels never before seen for the 40-year, which was launched in 2007. With a debt to GDP ratio that has surpassed 250% and a population that is aging out with an insufficient amount of births to replace the aging workforce, it's hard to see how Japan can get out of this conundrum without some sort of economic collapse.

This puts the United States in a tough position considering the fact that Japan is one of the largest holders of U.S. Treasury bonds with more than 1,135 sats | $1.20 trillion in exposure. If things get too out of control in Japan and the yield curve continues to drift higher and inflation continues to creep higher Japan can find itself in a situation where it's a forced seller of US Treasuries as they attempt to strengthen the yen. Another aspect to consider is the fact that investors may see the higher yields on Japanese government bonds and decide to purchase them instead of US Treasuries. This is something to keep an eye on in the weeks to come. Particularly if higher rates drive a higher cost of capital, which leads to even more inflation. As producers are forced to increase their prices to ensure that they can manage their debt repayments.

It's never a good sign when the Japanese Prime Minister is coming out to proclaim that his country's financial situation is worse than Greece's, which has been a laughing stock of Europe for the better part of three decades. Japan is a very proud nation, and the fact that its Prime Minister made a statement like this should not be underappreciated.

As we noted last week, the 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds are drifting higher as well. Earlier today, the 30-year bond yield surpassed 5%, which has been a psychological level that many have been pointed to as a critical tipping point. When you take a step back and look around the world it seems pretty clear that bond markets are sending a very strong signal. And that signal is that something is not well in the back end of the financial system.

This is even made clear when you look at the private sector, particularly at consumer debt. In late March, we warned of the growing trend of buy now, pay later schemes drifting down market as major credit card companies released charge-off data which showed charge-off rates reaching levels not seen since the 2008 great financial crisis. At the time, we could only surmise that Klarna was experiencing similar charge-off rates on the bigger-ticket items they financed and started doing deals with companies like DoorDash to finance burrito deliveries in an attempt to move down market to finance smaller ticket items with a higher potential of getting paid back. It seems like that inclination was correct as Klarna released data earlier today showing more losses on their book as consumers find it extremely hard to pay back their debts.

via NewsWire

This news hit the markets on the same day as the average rate of the 30-year mortgage in the United States rose to 7.04%. I'm not sure if you've checked lately, but real estate prices are still relatively elevated outside of a few big cities who expanded supply significantly during the COVID era as people flooded out of blue states towards red states. It's hard to imagine that many people can afford a house based off of sticker price alone, but with a 7% 30-year mortgage rate it's becoming clear that the ability of the Common Man to buy a house is simply becoming impossible.

via Lance Lambert

The mortgage rate data is not the only thing you need to look at to understand that it's becoming impossible for the Common Man of working age to buy a house. New data has recently been released that highlights That the median home buyer in 2007 was born in 1968, and the median home buyer in 2024 was born in 1968. Truly wild when you think of it. As our friend Darth Powell cheekily highlights below, we find ourselves in a situation where boomers are simply trading houses and the younger generations are becoming indentured slaves. Forever destined to rent because of the complete inability to afford to buy a house.

via Darth Powell

via Yahoo Finance

Meanwhile, Bitcoin re-approached all-time highs late this evening and looks primed for another breakout to the upside. This makes sense if you're paying attention. The high-velocity trash economy running on an obscene amount of debt in both the public and private sectors seems to be breaking at the seams. All the alarm bells are signaling that another big print is coming. And if you hope to preserve your purchasing power or, ideally, increase it as the big print approaches, the only thing that makes sense is to funnel your money into the hardest asset in the world, which is Bitcoin.

via Bitbo

Buckle up, freaks. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. Stay humble, Stack Sats.

Trump's Middle East Peace Strategy: Redefining U.S. Foreign Policy

In his recent Middle East tour, President Trump signaled what our guest Dr. Anas Alhajji calls "a major change in US policy." Trump explicitly rejected the nation-building strategies of his predecessors, contrasting the devastation in Afghanistan and Iraq with the prosperity of countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE. This marks a profound shift from both Republican and Democratic foreign policy orthodoxy. As Alhajji noted, Trump's willingness to meet with Syrian President Assad follows a historical pattern where former adversaries eventually become diplomatic partners.

"This is really one of the most important shifts in US foreign policy to say, look, sorry, we destroyed those countries because we tried to rebuild them and it was a big mistake." - Dr. Anas Alhajji

The administration's new approach emphasizes negotiation over intervention. Rather than military solutions, Trump is engaging with groups previously considered off-limits, including the Houthis, Hamas, and Iran. This pragmatic stance prioritizes economic cooperation and regional stability over ideological confrontation. The focus on trade deals and investment rather than regime change represents a fundamental reimagining of America's role in the Middle East.

Check out the full podcast here for more on the Iran nuclear situation, energy market predictions, and why AI development could create power grid challenges. Only on TFTC Studio.

Headlines of the Day

Bitcoin Soars to 100,217 sats | $106.00K While Bonds Lose 40% Since 2020 - via X

US Senate Advances Stablecoin Bill As America Embraces Bitcoin - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Texas House Debates Bill For State-Run Bitcoin Reserve - via X

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 158,469 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Don't let the noise consume you. Focus on making your life 1% better every day.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ df67f9a7:2d4fc200

Nostr is NOT a social network. Nostr is a network of interconnected social apps. And, since any app is a social app, Nostr is for every app.

---

ONLY Nostr incentivizes inter-connectivity between independent apps, simply by respecting sovereignty at the protocol layer. For end users, sovereignty means that the content they post “to Nostr” will never be owned by the apps that they use. For businesses building apps on Nostr, sovereignty means that every app actually benefits by other apps being on the network. Because sovereignty is respected, users are retained for longer and independent apps thrive far longer on Nostr than on the legacy “black box” social networks.

Social apps thrive on Nostr

Nostr integration provides these benefits for every app :

• Unrestrained access for any app, to all public and private data “on Nostr”. No fees or licenses for harvesting user data from the network.
• Unburdened from liability, when collecting user data with any app. When sending “to Nostr”, end users retain custody of user data while apps never loose access.
• Unlimited free market of search engines and feed algos. Users and brands can create, use, and share any algos or custom feeds. Grow your audience on your own terms.
• Universal open network for all apps. Build any kind of app for any audience, on the same network as other apps for other audiences. Discover new trends from user data.
• Unregulated tech platform. Build your own app and use it as you wish. No gate keepers. No code review. 

Sovereignty is good for business.

Regardless of the network size, a Nostr integrated app can grow its user base MUCH faster and with greater independence BECAUSE of the sovereignty respecting protocol. While end users may retain custody of their identities and data on the network, it’s the apps that determine which data is, or is not, sent to the network. Respect for sovereignty IS the killer feature that ONLY the Nostr protocol provides for apps and for end users.

Because Nostr is permissionless for any app to integrate :

• end users will always have a free market of apps choose from
• apps are free to integrate only as much as benefits their business model.
• apps gain access to more novel data as new apps bring new users to the network.

Because data on Nostr is managed by end users and available to all apps :

• User data looses exclusivity and the demand shifts toward novel insights and information derived from these data.
• Apps are freed from having to be “data pirates”, and can focus on establishing a trusted user base, providing valuable services to satisfied customers, informed by the abundance of user data.
• Apps are incentivized to offload data onto the network, establishing a new paradigm for interconnectivity, where independence is NOT at stake as the network grows.
• New markets spring up to support users with self custody of their data, driven by the reality that apps can have full access without assuming responsibility.
• The market for search and algo tools opens up for independent apps and end users to discover and interact freely with each other.
• The ad based “attention economy” slowly transforms to a value based consumer economy, where the end user is the customer rather than the product being sold.

Even while privacy is respected

Sometimes sovereignty is at odds with privacy, but Nostr allows all parties to win while both are protected.

• For end users sending sensetive data "to Nostr", privacy is assured by encrypting it with their own private keys and/or sending it to private (auth required) relays of their choosing.
• For apps handling private IP or business data, any traditional “black box” infrastructure can be used in the back end to manitain isolation from Nostr.

This means apps and end users remain in control of their own private data, without requiring “big social” as trust provider or data reseller. To access a user's private data, client apps (even search engines, running locally) only need explicit permission from the end user to retrieve or decrypt from Nostr relays. Public data, on the other hand, is freely available for any app or search engine to harvest from any Nostr relay. In either case, user data on the Nostr network is always accessible to client apps, without additional restrictions or fees.

Nostr is for every app.

Adding social to any app makes it a better app. Add reviews for products or services. Add commenting or direct messaging. Share or collaborate on content creation. Nostr integration is straightforward and incremental for any app.

Nostr doesn't define your app's business model ... Nostr 10X's it!

Here's how :

1. Start with your own business and app design. Add Nosrr login.
2. Discover what "kinds" of user data already exists "on Nostr" that your app can ingest and make use of.
3. Decide which "kinds" of data would benefit your business, your users, and the network, if sent "to Nostr".
4. Implement Nostr integration for data kinds and add webs of trust tools for recommendation and discovery.
5. Verify your app is sovereignty respecting in how it handles private data and implements Nostr NIPs.
6. Engage with existing users, and onboard new users from your app, to earn their trust and patronage over Nostr.

For more info and assistance, contact our team of Nostr integration experts.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0Sj1sG05VQ

Here's a great presentation from our good friend nostr:nprofile1qyx8wumn8ghj7cnjvghxjmcpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqqyz2hj3zg2g3pqwxuhg69zgjhke4pcmjmmdpnndnefqndgqjt8exwj6ee8v7 , President of The Nakamoto Institute titled Hodl for Good. He gave it earlier this year at the BitBlockBoom Conference, and I think it's something everyone reading this should take 25 minutes to watch. Especially if you find yourself wondering whether or not it's a good idea to spend bitcoin at any given point in time. Michael gives an incredible Austrian Economics 101 lesson on the importance of lowering one's time preference and fully understanding the importance of hodling bitcoin. For the uninitiated, it may seem that the hodl meme is nothing more than a call to hoard bitcoins in hopes of getting rich eventually. However, as Michael points out, there's layers to the hodl meme and the good that hodling can bring individuals and the economy overall.

The first thing one needs to do to better understand the hodl meme is to completely flip the framing that is typically thrust on bitcoiners who encourage others to hodl. Instead of ceding that hodling is a greedy or selfish action, remind people that hodling, or better known as saving, is the foundation of capital formation, from which all productive and efficient economic activity stems. Number go up technology is great and it really matters. It matters because it enables anybody leveraging that technology to accumulate capital that can then be allocated toward productive endeavors that bring value to the individual who creates them and the individual who buys them.

When one internalizes this, it enables them to turn to personal praxis and focus on minimizing present consumption while thinking of ways to maximize long-term value creation. Live below your means, stack sats, and use the time that you're buying to think about things that you want in the future. By lowering your time preference and saving in a harder money you will have the luxury of demanding higher quality goods in the future. Another way of saying this is that you will be able to reshape production by voting with your sats. Initially when you hold them off the market by saving them - signaling that the market doesn't have goods worthy of your sats - and ultimately by redeploying them into the market when you find higher quality goods that meet the standards desire.

The first part of this equation is extremely important because it sends a signal to producers that they need to increase the quality of their work. As more and more individuals decide to use bitcoin as their savings technology, the signal gets stronger. And over many cycles we should begin to see low quality cheap goods exit the market in favor of higher quality goods that provide more value and lasts longer and, therefore, make it easier for an individual to depart with their hard-earned and hard-saved sats. This is only but one aspect that Michael tries to imbue throughout his presentation.

The other is the ability to buy yourself leisure time when you lower your time preference and save more than you spend. When your savings hit a critical tipping point that gives you the luxury to sit back and experience true leisure, which Michael explains is not idleness, but the contemplative space to study, create art, refine taste, and to find what "better goods" actually are. Those who can experience true leisure while reaping the benefits of saving in a hard asset that is increasing in purchasing power significantly over the long term are those who build truly great things. Things that outlast those who build them. Great art, great monuments, great institutions were all built by men who were afforded the time to experience leisure. Partly because they were leveraging hard money as their savings and the place they stored the profits reaped from their entrepreneurial endeavors.

If you squint and look into the future a couple of decades, it isn't hard to see a reality like this manifesting. As more people begin to save in Bitcoin, the forces of supply and demand will continue to come into play. There will only ever be 21 million bitcoin, there are around 8 billion people on this planet, and as more of those 8 billion individuals decide that bitcoin is the best savings vehicle, the price of bitcoin will rise.

When the price of bitcoin rises, it makes all other goods cheaper in bitcoin terms and, again, expands the entrepreneurial opportunity. The best part about this feedback loop is that even non-holders of bitcoin benefit through higher real wages and faster tech diffusion. The individuals and business owners who decide to hodl bitcoin will bring these benefits to the world whether you decide to use bitcoin or not.

This is why it is virtuous to hodl bitcoin. The potential for good things to manifest throughout the world increase when more individuals decide to hodl bitcoin. And as Michael very eloquently points out, this does not mean that people will not spend their bitcoin. It simply means that they have standards for the things that they will spend their bitcoin on. And those standards are higher than most who are fully engrossed in the high velocity trash economy have today.

In my opinion, one of those higher causes worthy of a sats donation is nostr:nprofile1qyfhwumn8ghj7enjv4jhyetvv9uju7re0gq3uamnwvaz7tmfdemxjmrvv9nk2tt0w468v6tvd3skwefwvdhk6qpqwzc9lz2f40azl98shkjewx3pywg5e5alwqxg09ew2mdyeey0c2rqcfecft . Consider donating so they can preserve and disseminate vital information about bitcoin and its foundations.

The Shell Game: How Health Narratives May Distract from Vaccine Risks

In our recent podcast, Dr. Jack Kruse presented a concerning theory about public health messaging. He argues that figures like Casey and Callie Means are promoting food and exercise narratives as a deliberate distraction from urgent vaccine issues. While no one disputes healthy eating matters, Dr. Kruse insists that focusing on "Froot Loops and Red Dye" diverts attention from what he sees as immediate dangers of mRNA vaccines, particularly for children.

"It's gonna take you 50 years to die from processed food. But the messenger jab can drop you like Damar Hamlin." - Dr Jack Kruse

Dr. Kruse emphasized that approximately 25,000 children per month are still receiving COVID vaccines despite concerns, with 3 million doses administered since Trump's election. This "shell game," as he describes it, allows vaccines to remain on childhood schedules while public attention fixates on less immediate health threats. As host, I believe this pattern deserves our heightened scrutiny given the potential stakes for our children's wellbeing.

Check out the full podcast here for more on Big Pharma's alleged bioweapons program, the "Time Bank Account" concept, and how Bitcoin principles apply to health sovereignty.

Headlines of the Day

Aussie Judge: Bitcoin is Money, Possibly CGT-Exempt - via X

JPMorgan to Let Clients Buy Bitcoin Without Direct Custody - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Mubadala Acquires 384,239 sats | $408.50M Stake in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF - via X

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 158,469 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

I've been walking from my house around Town Lake in Austin in the mornings and taking calls on the walk. Big fan of a walking call.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

French authorities have identified a 24-year-old Franco-Moroccan man as the mastermind behind a series of attacks targeting crypto entrepreneurs, including the co-founder of Ledger.

The suspect, Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, was captured in Tangier by Moroccan authorities following an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol.

The arrest marks a major breakthrough in the investigations into a wave of kidnappings that targeted several figures in the French crypto sector. According to Le Parisien, the suspect was wanted for multiple crimes, including armed extortion and kidnapping.

Bajjou is accused of remotely orchestrating a sophisticated criminal network specializing in targeting wealthy individuals in the crypto world. His alleged criminal activity dates back to July 2023, when he began coordinating abductions and extortion attempts against industry entrepreneurs.

The Ledger case and a wave of kidnappings

Among the most shocking incidents was the attack on David Balland, co-founder of Ledger. The kidnappers subjected him to extreme torture, amputating one of his fingers to increase psychological pressure while demanding a €10 million ransom in cryptocurrency. Investigations suggest a direct link between Bajjou and this case.

Another high-profile incident involved an attempted abduction of the family of Pierre Noizat, CEO of Paymium. In May, masked men tried to kidnap Noizat’s daughter, her husband, and their child in broad daylight. Subsequent investigations led to the indictment of 25 suspects, including teenagers and minors.

Capture operation and seizure of evidence

During Bajjou’s arrest, Moroccan authorities seized materials connected to the kidnappings. According to local media, multiple bladed weapons, dozens of mobile phones, and a substantial amount of cash allegedly linked to the criminal activities were confiscated.

International cooperation and the search for accomplices

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin publicly thanked Moroccan authorities for their cooperation in the arrest. However, investigations remain ongoing as another Franco-Moroccan man, believed to be the leader of the group and around 40 years old, is still at large. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has vowed to track down all those responsible and protect crypto entrepreneurs during meetings with industry leaders.

The post Suspected organizer of France’s crypto kidnapping spree arrested in Morocco appeared first on Atlas21.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Good 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

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

It's been a pretty historic week for the United States as it pertains to geopolitical relations in the Middle East. President Trump and many members of his administration, including AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, traveled across the Middle East making deals with countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and others. Many are speculating that Iran may be included in some behind the scenes deal as well. This trip to the Middle East makes sense considering the fact that China is also vying for favorable relationships with those countries. The Middle East is a power player in the world, and it seems pretty clear that Donald Trump is dead set on ensuring that they choose the United States over China as the world moves towards a more multi-polar reality.

Many are calling the events of this week the Riyadh Accords. There were many deals that were struck in relation to artificial intelligence, defense, energy and direct investments in the United States. A truly prolific power play and demonstration of deal-making ability of Donald Trump, if you ask me. Though I will admit some of the numbers that were thrown out by some of the countries were a bit egregious. We shall see how everything plays out in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how China reacts to this power move by the United States.

While all this was going on, there was something happening back in the United States that many people outside of fringe corners of FinTwit are not talking about, which is the fact that the 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury bond yields are back on the rise. Yesterday, they surpassed the levels of mid-April that caused a market panic and are hovering back around levels that have not been seen since right before Donald Trump's inauguration.

I imagine that there isn't as much of an uproar right now because I'm pretty confident the media freakouts we were experiencing in mid-April were driven by the fact that many large hedge funds found themselves off sides of large levered basis trades. I wouldn't be surprised if those funds have decreased their leverage in those trades and bond yields being back to mid-April levels is not affecting those funds as much as they were last month. But the point stands, the 10-year and 30-year yields are significantly elevated with the 30-year approaching 5%. Regardless of the deals that are currently being made in the Middle East, the Treasury has a big problem on its hands. It still has to roll over many trillions worth of debt over over the next few years and doing so at these rates is going to be massively detrimental to fiscal deficits over the next decade. The interest expense on the debt is set to explode in the coming years.

On that note, data from the first quarter of 2025 has been released by the government and despite all the posturing by the Trump administration around DOGE and how tariffs are going to be beneficial for the U.S. economy, deficits are continuing to explode while the interest expense on the debt has definitively surpassed our annual defense budget.

via Charlie Bilello

via Mohamed Al-Erian

To make matters worse, as things are deteriorating on the fiscal side of things, the U.S. consumer is getting crushed by credit. The 90-plus day delinquency rates for credit card and auto loans are screaming higher right now.

via TXMC

One has to wonder how long all this can continue without some sort of liquidity crunch. Even though equities markets have recovered from their post-Liberation Day month long bear market, I would not be surprised if what we're witnessing is a dead cat bounce that can only be continued if the money printers are turned back on. Something's got to give, both on the fiscal side and in the private markets where the Common Man is getting crushed because he's been forced to take on insane amounts of debt to stay afloat after years of elevated levels of inflation. Add on the fact that AI has reached a state of maturity that will enable companies to replace their current meat suit workers with an army of cheap, efficient and fast digital workers and it isn't hard to see that some sort of employment crisis could be on the horizon as well.

Now is not the time to get complacent. While I do believe that the deals that are currently being made in the Middle East are probably in the best interest of the United States as the world, again, moves toward a more multi-polar reality, we are facing problems that one cannot simply wish away. They will need to be confronted. And as we've seen throughout the 21st century, the problems are usually met head-on with a money printer.

I take no pleasure in saying this because it is a bit uncouth to be gleeful to benefit from the strife of others, but it is pretty clear to me that all signs are pointing to bitcoin benefiting massively from everything that is going on. The shift towards a more multi-polar world, the runaway debt situation here in the United States, the increasing deficits, the AI job replacements and the consumer credit crisis that is currently unfolding, All will need to be "solved" by turning on the money printers to levels they've never been pushed to before.

Weird times we're living in.

China's Manufacturing Dominance: Why It Matters for the U.S.

In my recent conversation with Lyn Alden, she highlighted how China has rapidly ascended the manufacturing value chain. As Lyn pointed out, China transformed from making "sneakers and plastic trinkets" to becoming the world's largest auto exporter in just four years. This dramatic shift represents more than economic success—it's a strategic power play. China now dominates solar panel production with greater market control than OPEC has over oil and maintains near-monopoly control of rare earth elements crucial for modern technology.

"China makes like 10 times more steel than the United States does... which is relevant in ship making. It's relevant in all sorts of stuff." - Lyn Alden

Perhaps most concerning, as Lyn emphasized, is China's financial leverage. They hold substantial U.S. assets that could be strategically sold to disrupt U.S. treasury market functioning. This combination of manufacturing dominance, resource control, and financial leverage gives China significant negotiating power in any trade disputes, making our attempts to reshoring manufacturing all the more challenging.

Check out the full podcast here for more on Triffin's dilemma, Bitcoin's role in monetary transition, and the energy requirements for rebuilding America's industrial base.

Headlines of the Day

Financial Times Under Fire Over MicroStrategy Bitcoin Coverage - via X

Trump in Qatar: Historic Boeing Deal Signed - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Johnson Backs Stock Trading Ban; Passage Chances Slim - via X

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code “TFTC20” during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 158,469 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Building things of value is satisfying.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

Inflation is one of the most significant factors affecting personal wealth and the economy yet it goes unnoticed until its effects become unavoidable. As the cost of goods and services rises, your purchasing power decreases, and this makes long-term financial planning more challenging.

What is inflation? Inflation is the general increase in prices of goods and the reduction of the purchasing power of money. It is commonly measured by : 1.Consumer Price Index (CPI)

2.Core Inflation

3.Producer Price Index (PPI)

Inflation occurs due to various factors, including increased demand and supply chain disruptions

Why is Inflation Important? Inflation is crucial because it affects the cost of living, purchasing power, and the economy as a whole. As prices rise money loses value making it harder for consumers to afford essentials if wages don’t keep up. It also influences interest rates as central banks ,adjust policies to control inflation, borrowing, savings, and investments.

How Inflation Affects Personal Wealth 1. Erosion of Purchasing Power As prices rise, the same amount of money used to buy more before now buys fewer goods and services. 2. Impact on Savings Your money sitting in savings accounts with little or no interest rates loses value over time. If the inflation rate exceeds the interest or profit earned on your savings, then it becomes affected 3. Effects on Investments Their impact is the most because inflation reduces the real value of future payments. 4.Wages & Employment Some businesses may cut costs by reducing roles in a department or reducing pay to keep the team members.

Everyone is affected by inflation.

How Do You Protect Your Wealth from Inflation? 1.Invest in Inflation-Protected Assets Stocks and real estate investments offer long-term growth potential.They give you ownership of a product, which you can use, resell or repackage as you please. 2.Alternative Investments If you have the stomach, commodities, cryptocurrency, and other non-traditional assets may provide inflation releaved. 3. Increase Income Streams Side hustles, passive income, and career advancements can help offset inflation’s impact. 4.Reduce Debt Nigerians are aware of Credit Houses pretending as Loan Sharks chasing debtors around with ridiculous messages of loved ones. In a period of inflation, those loans feel like a double punishment because of ridiculous interest rates and overwhelmed inflation. Whatever you can do to reduce your debt during this period will be life-changing. Also, non-interest debts should always be considered before going down a slippery slope.

Summary Nigeria — A Few Word One thing is clear — inflation persists in almost every corridor of the economy. Inflation is an inevitable part of economic cycles, but understanding its impact allows you to take proactive steps in protecting your wealth. But I believe you can maintain financial stability by following some of the steps above.

Be proactive!

@ df478568:2a951e67

About 156,000 blocks ago, I went to a Taco Shop for a bitcoin meetup. I asked my favorite question, “Do you accept bitcoin?”

“Yes," he said as he handed me a Toast Terminal with a BTCpayServer QR code. ]

Awesome!

12,960 blocks later, I took my dad to the taco shop. We ordered food. I asked my favorite question once again.

“Uh…Yeah, but I don't know how to work the machine.”

"Dough!🤦"

It's been a problem in the past, but now lightning payments are about to be ubiquitous. Steak N Shake is taking bitcoin using Speed Wallet and Block is implementing bitcoin payments by 2026 in all legal jurisdictions. I have tested both of these so you don't have to. Just kidding. I geek out on this stuff, but both work great. You can pay with your sats by scanning a screen on a QR code. The employees don't need to be bitcoin lightning network experts. You can just pay as easy as a credit card.

There were 35,000 people at the bitcoin conference, and 4,187 transactions were made. It was a world record. Wait, I thought they said there could only be 7 transactions per second! No, not anymore. Now we can use bitcoin for shopping. I can pay for tacos at taco trucks.

How You Can Accept Bitcoin At Your Business

Coinos is a simple bitcoin point of sale information that acts like a cash register. Bitcoin is peer-to-peer electronic cash. Coinos is a cash register and you should treat it as such. If you make a few hundred thousand sats at the end of the night, you should sweep the bitcoin into your own wallet.. You can use Aqua, AlbyHub, Bull Bitcoin wallet, or whatever your favorite lightning enabled wallet is to withdraw. You'll need a password. Do not lose this. I have tried the automatic withdraws, but it did not work for me. I'm no concerned because this is not a wallet I intend to keep a lot of sats in for a long time.

Here is my coinos payment terminal.

https://coinos.io/ZapthisBlog/receive

I made the QR code with libreqr.com/

Now I have an online bitcoin cash register. The Bitcoiners know how to pay for stuff with sats. They will be proud to show you too. If you're nerdy, you can use all the cool kid tools now, but we will just focus on the lightning address. Anyone can send you sats with a lightning address with just a QR code.

At the end of the night, you cash out to your own wallet. Again, this assumes you have an Aqua Wallet or any other lightning enabled wallet, but all it takes to accept bitcoin at your brick and mortar store is to create an account with Coinos and print out a QR code. It's a quick and easy way to start accepting bitcoin even if you don't expect many clients to shop with sats.

Tips

This is not just a cash register. Employees can also make their own Coinos wallet and receive tips from bitcoiners. Anyone can accept payments using this system. Your kids could use it to sell lemonade for sats. You are only limited by your imagination. When will you begin accepting bitcoin payments? It is easier than ever. You do not need to train employees. You do not need to be in the store. Bitcoin is peer-to-peer electronic cash so you can give it away like cash. I don't know what the tax rules on cash are. You need to verify that with your own jurisdiction. This is not financial or tax advice. This is for informational purposes only.

Remember, this is a custodial wallet. Not your keys not your bitcoin. Don't keep more sats than you are willing to lose on custodial wallets. Sweep your wallet early and often. Loss of funds is possible. There is a small fee for liquidity management too. Do your own research.

@ ac8bb9b0:70278acc

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 15 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 20 min
• 🍽️ Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 cups (345g) mashed bananas (about 4 medium or 3 large ripe bananas)
• 1/3 cup (113g) honey
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup (56g) coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (130g) whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup (41g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (180g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mash the bananas up using a fork.* Try to mash up any large lumps. Once mashed, whisk in the honey, egg, coconut oil, and vanilla extract until combined. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until everything is combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, reserving some for the tops of the warm muffins.
4. Spoon the batter evenly into each cup or liner, filling each all the way to the top.
5. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F (218°C); then, keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce heat to 350°F (177°C) and continue baking for another 15–17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time these muffins take in the oven is about 20–21 minutes, give or take. (For mini muffins, bake 11–13 minutes at 350°F (177°C) the whole time.)
6. Press any remaining chocolate chips into the tops of the warm muffins. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, and then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling, or enjoy warm.
7. Muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for a few days, then transfer to the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

@ da8b7de1:c0164aee

| Régió/Ország | Fő esemény/politika | Forrás | |------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Egyesült Államok | Végrehajtási rendeletek a nukleáris termelés négyszeresére növeléséről; a nem létfontosságú K+F költségvetésének csökkentése; SMR és mikroreaktor kezdeményezések | world-nuclear-news, nucnet, aoshearman, ans | | Kanada | Engedélyezés új BWRX-300 SMR reaktor építésére Darlingtonban | world-nuclear-news, ans | | Európa | EU tervek az orosz nukleáris importok korlátozására; Westinghouse–Bulgária beszállítói megállapodások | nucnet, world-nuclear-news | | Globális/Világbank | A nukleáris finanszírozási tilalom esetleges feloldása a fejlődő országok számára | globalissues | | Egyesült Királyság| Új kiberbiztonsági jogszabályok a nukleáris szektorban | aoshearman | | Katonaság/Védelem| A védelmi minisztérium cégeket választott ki mikroreaktorok telepítésére | ans |

Források:
world-nuclear-news
nucnet
aoshearman
globalissues
ans

@ 2f5de000:2f9bcef1

I've wanted to write this piece for months. Not because I have anything against Jack Mallers personally - quite the opposite. But because I've watched a pattern emerge in Bitcoin that mirrors one of the most chilling dynamics in Atlas Shrugged: the systematic destruction of our most productive builders by the very people who should be celebrating them.

We are the looters. And Jack might just be our Hank Rearden.

The Underdog's Dilemma

There's a cruel irony in how we treat success in Bitcoin. We champion the underdog, root for the builder in the garage, celebrate the cypherpunk taking on the establishment. But the moment that underdog succeeds - the moment they scale, grow, and inevitably have to navigate the messy realities of the existing system - we turn on them with the ferocity of the same establishment we claim to oppose.\ \ Jack began building Zap (which evolved into Strike) from his parents home in Chicago. Strike has grown into one of the most seamless fiat-to-bitcoin on-ramps for everyday users. No complexity, just pure utility. From day one, he's operated at a level of transparency that would make most CEO's uncomfortable. He's been building in public, taking feedback, admitting mistakes, and iterating - sometimes within hours of criticism.

The Rearden Parallel

In Atlas Shrugged, Hank Rearden creates Rearden Metal - a revolutionary alloy that's stronger, lighter, and more efficient than anything that came before. Instead of celebration, he faces endless scrutiny, regulation, and demands to prove is worthiness. The people who benefit from his innovation spend their time questioning his motives, dissecting his business practices, and demanding he justify his success.

Sound familiar?

Jack comes from a finance background - his father and grandfather were in the industry. This isn't a liability; it's an asset. He understands the beast we're fighting. He's been a Bitcoiner since 2013 with a spotless track record in a space littered with exit scams and broken promises. His values align with proof of work, individualism, and the radical idea that bitcoin is for everyone.

Yet when he helps launch 21 Capital, we don't see innovation - we see betrayal. When he navigates regulatory requirements to build products that can actually reach mainstream adoption, we don't see pragmatism - we see capitulation.

The Scarred Perspective

Our skepticism isn't entirely unfounded. We've been burned before. Mt. Gox, FTX, Three Arrows Capital, Celcius, Terra/ LUNA, BlockFi, Bitconnect, Voyager, QuadrigaCX - the graveyard of Bitcoin is littered with the corpses of trusted institutions. We've learned, painfully, that trust must be earned and verified.

But somewhere along the way, our healthy skepticism has metastasized into destructive paranoia. We've become so focused on protecting ourselves from the next SBF that we're attacking the people building the future we claim to want.

I'm guilty of this myself. I've made scathing attacks on my Nostr feed, comparing Jack to SBF, scrutinising contract clauses about re-hypothecation, and questioning his every move privately. I was viewing his actions through the lens of collective trauma rather than the reality of his long track record.

The Looters Paradox

Here's the uncomfortable truth: we're not just passive observers in this drama. We're active participants. We're the looters.

In Atlas Shrugged, the looters don't necessarily steal directly. They steal time, energy, and focus. They create bureaucracy, demnd endless justification, and burden the productive with the weight of constant explanation. They don't build competing products - they just tear down what others have built.

Everytime we demand Jack explain his business model for the hundredth time, we're stealing his time. Every time we scrutinize his partnerships without offering alternatives, we're creating bureaucracy . Everytime we attack his character rather than his arguments, we're furthering the system we claim to oppose.

The free market will create products whether we like them or not. People will build services that use bitcoin as collateral, create lending products, and navigate regulatory frameworks. The question isn't whether these products will exist - it's whether they'll be built by people who share our values or by those who don't.

The Atlantis Risk

The producers eventually withdraw from society in Atlas Shrugged, retreating to Galt's Gulch (Atlantis) and leaving the looters to face the consequences of their destructive behaviour. The economy collapses because the people who actually build things decided it wasn't worth the hassle anymore.

We're walking dangerously close to this precipice in Bitcoin. We're creating an environment where our most capable builders might just decide it's not worth it. Where the hassle of dealing with our constant scrutiny and bad-faith attacks outweighs the mission of building the future.

Jack has been more patient with our criticism than we deserve. He's addressed concerns publicly, changed the course when necessary, and continued building despite the noise. But patience has limits. At some point, even the most mission-driven builders will ask themselves: "Why am I doing this?"

The Path Forward

I don't know enough about finance to fully understand everything Jack is building with 21 Capital. Neither do most of his critics. But I know enough about Bitcoin to recognise someone who's been fighting the good fight for over a decade.

This doesn't mean we should trust blindly. It doesn't mean we should stop asking questions or demanding transparency. But it does mean we should approach our builders with the same benefit of the doubt we'd want for ourselves.

We need to distinguish between healthy skepticism and destructive paranoia. Between holding people accountable and tearing them down. Between being vigilant and being looters.

The fiat system is the real enemy here. It's massive, entrenched, and infinitely resourcesful. It will adapt, co-opt, and corrupt everything it touches. Fighting it requires builders who are willing to get their hands dirty, navigate imperfect systems, and make pragmatic compromises while holding onto their core values.

We can continue to be looters, tearing down what we don't understand and driving our best builders toward their own version of Atlantis. Or we can be what we claim to be: supporters of the free market, believers of proof of work, and champions of those building the future.

Don't trust. Verify. But remember: verification works both ways.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty'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.

nostr:nprofile1qyx8wumn8ghj7cnjvghxjmcpz4mhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejqqgy8fkmd9kmm8yp4lea2cx0g8fyz27g4ud7572j4edx2v6lz6aa23qmp5dth , 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

We already see this theme playing out at Ten31 with some of our portfolio companies, most notably nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7etyv4hzumn0wd68ytnvv9hxgqgdwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkcqpqex7mdykw786qxvmtuls208uyxmn0hse95rfwsarvfde5yg6wy7jqjrm2qp , 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 one of the biggest asymmetric plays 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." - nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytndv9kxjm3wdahxcqg5waehxw309ahx7um5wfekzarkvyhxuet5qqsw4v882mfjhq9u63j08kzyhqzqxqc8tgf740p4nxnk9jdv02u37ncdhu7e3

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 manufacturing dominance, Trump's tariff strategy, and the future of Bitcoin as a global reserve asset. All discussed in under 60 minutes.

Headlines of the Day

Trump's Saudi Summit: Peace and Economic Ties - via X

MSTR Edges Closer To S\&P 500 With Just 89 Trading Days Left - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Individuals Shed 247K Bitcoin As Businesses Gain 157K - 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 21 million was the key technical simplification that made bitcoin possible, why blockchains don’t create decentralization, and why everything else will be built on bitcoin.

Sign Up

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 144,229 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

My boys have started a game in the car where we count how many Waymos we see on the road while driving around town. Pretty crazy how innately stoked they are about that particular car.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

https://x.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1930203297396249067

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1lp1dwzx608xdu8jfpkqk/FT_GENDER_DIVIDE_SXSW.pptx?rlkey=9gcwvn77zss3k5l5vgiquennl&e=1&st=apgyr3ug&dl=0

https://stacker.news/items/998014

@ 20e7c953:3b8bcb21

21… That number means something. A reminder that limits create value - both in Bitcoin and in life.

Every June 21st, skaters around the world remind us that freedom is something you make yourself - one push at a time only constrained by your own limitations.

This year in Vientiane, we’re proud to support one of the few real skate spots in Laos. A place built and held together by skaters for skaters.

Expect around 50 locals - from young kids to older heads - showing up not just to skate, but to hold space for each other. No ego, no filters, just boards, fun and respect.

Bircoiners have lots to learn from these communities on this regard. Go skate and you'll find out.

SnF

Laostr

Skateboardingisfun

Skate4Fun

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

via Kevin McKernan

There's been a lot of discussion this week about Casey Means being nominated for Surgeon General of the United States and a broader overarching conversation about the effectiveness of MAHA since the inauguration and how effective it may or may not be moving forward. Many would say that President Trump won re-election due to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan deciding to reach across the aisle and join the Trump ticket, bringing with them the MAHA Moms, who are very focused on reorienting the healthcare system in the United States with a strong focus on the childhood vaccine schedule.

I'm not going to lie, this is something I'm passionate about as well, particularly after having many conversations over the years with doctors like Kevin McKernan, Dr. Jack Kruse, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, Dr. Brooke Miller, Dr. Peter McCullough and others about the dangers of the COVID mRNA vaccines. As it stands today, I think this is the biggest elephant in the room in the world of healthcare. If you look at the data, particularly disability claims, life insurance claims, life expectancy, miscarriage rates, fertility issues and rates of turbo cancer around the world since the COVID vaccine was introduced in 2021, it seems pretty clear that there is harm being done to many of the people who have taken them.

The risk-reward ratio of the vaccines seems to be incredibly skewed towards risk over reward and children - who have proven to be least susceptible to COVID - are expected to get three COVID shots in the first year of their life if their parents follow the vaccine schedule. For some reason or another it seems that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shied away from this topic after becoming the head of Health and Human Services within the Trump administration. This is after a multi-year campaign during which getting the vaccines removed from the market war a core part of his platform messaging.

I'm still holding out hope that sanity will prevail. The COVID mRNA vaccines will be taken off the market in a serious conversation about the crimes against humanity that unfolded during the COVID years will take place. However, we cannot depend on that outcome. We must build with the assumption in mind that that outcome may never materialize. This leads to identifying where the incentives within the system are misconstrued. One area where I think it's pretty safe to say that the incentives are misaligned is the fact that 95% of doctors work for and answer to a corporation driven by their bottom line. Instead of listening to their patients and truly caring about the outcome of each individual, doctors forced to think about the monetary outcome of the corporation they work for first.

The most pernicious way in which these misaligned incentives emerge is the way in which the hospital systems and physicians are monetarily incentivized by big pharma companies to push the COVID vaccine and other vaccines on their patients. It is important to acknowledge that we cannot be dependent on a system designed in this way to change from within. Instead, we must build a new incentive system and market structure. And obviously, if you're reading this newsletter, you know that I believe that bitcoin will play a pivotal role in realigning incentives across every industry. Healthcare just being one of them.

Bitcoiners who have identified the need to become sovereign in our monetary matters, it probably makes sense to become sovereign when it comes to our healthcare as well. This means finding doctors who operate outside the corporate controlled system and are able to offer services that align incentives with the end patient. My family utilizes a combination of CrowdHealth and a private care physician to align incentives. We've even utilized a private care physician who allowed us to pay in Bitcoin for her services for a number of years. I think this is the model. Doctors accepting hard censorship resistant money for the healthcare and advice they provide. Instead of working for a corporation looking to push pharmaceutical products on their patients so they can bolster their bottom line, work directly with patients who will pay in bitcoin, which will appreciate in value over time.

I had a lengthy discussion with Dr. Jack Kruse on the podcast earlier today discussing these topic and more. It will be released on Thursday and I highly recommend you freaks check it out once it is published. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss it.

How the "Exorbitant Privilege" of the Dollar is Undermining Our Manufacturing Base

In my conversation with Lyn Alden, we explored America's fundamental economic contradiction. As Lyn expertly explained, maintaining the dollar's reserve currency status while attempting to reshore manufacturing presents a near-impossible challenge - what economists call Triffin's Dilemma. The world's appetite for dollars gives Americans tremendous purchasing power but simultaneously hollows out our industrial base. The overvalued dollar makes our exports less competitive, especially for lower-margin manufacturing, while our imports remain artificially strong.

"Having the reserve currency does come with a bunch of benefits, historically called an exorbitant privilege, but then it has certain costs to maintain it." - Lyn Alden

This dilemma forces America to run persistent trade deficits, as this is how dollars flow to the world. For over four decades, these deficits have accumulated, creating massive economic imbalances that can't be quickly reversed. The Trump administration's attempts to address this through tariffs showcase how difficult rebalancing has become. As Lyn warned, even if we successfully pivot toward reshoring manufacturing, we'll face difficult trade-offs: potentially giving up some reserve currency benefits to rebuild our industrial foundation. This isn't just economic theory - it's the restructuring challenge that will define America's economic future.

Check out the full podcast here for more on China's manufacturing dominance, the role of Bitcoin in monetary transitions, and energy production as the foundation for future industrial power.

Headlines of the Day

Coinbase to replace Discover in S\&P 500 on May 19 - via X

Mallers promises no rehypothecation in Strike Bitcoin loans - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Missouri passes HB 594, eliminates Bitcoin capital gains tax - via X

---

The 2025 Bitcoin Policy Summit is set for June 25th—and it couldn’t come at a more important time. The Bitcoin industry is at a pivotal moment in Washington, with initiatives like the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve gaining rapid traction. Whether you’re a builder, advocate, academic, or policymaker—we want you at the table. Join us in DC to help define the future of freedom, money & innovation in the 21st century.

Sign Up

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 144,264 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

The 100+ degree days have returned to Austin, TX. Not mad about it... yet.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ e4950c93:1b99eccd

Marques

Nordkidz est une marque allemande qui crée à la demande des vêtements et linges pour les bébés, les enfants, et un peu pour leurs parents.

Matières naturelles utilisées dans les produits

• Chanvre (biologique)
• Coton (biologique)
• Laine

⚠️ Attention, certains produits de cette marque contiennent des matières non naturelles, dont :

• Elasthanne, lycra, spandex

Catégories de produits proposés

Cette marque propose des produits intégralement en matière naturelle dans les catégories suivantes :

Vêtements

• Tailles vêtements : bébés, enfants, unisexe
• Hauts : pulls, t-shirts
• Bas : pantalons, pantalons de survêtement, shorts
• Tête et mains : bonnets, écharpes

Maison

• Linge : housses de pouf, langes, ponchos de bain

Autres informations

👉 En savoir plus sur le site de la marque

Où trouver leurs produits ?

• Nordkidz (en allemand, zone de livraison : Allemagne et Union Européenne) 💚 Via ce lien vous soutenez directement la marque.

---

📝 Tu peux contribuer à cette fiche en suggérant une modification en commentaire.

🗣️ Tu utilises des produits de cette marque ? Partage ton avis en commentaire.

⚡ Heureu-x-se de trouver cette information ? Soutiens le projet en faisant un don pour remercier les contribut-eur-ice-s.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

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

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

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

What Will Be Reported?

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

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

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

Enforcement and Penalties

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

Regulatory Context and Market Impact

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

Enormous Risks for Consumers: Lessons from the Coinbase Data Breach

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bottom Line

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

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

@ 42a071ab:3391e086

88VIN đã từng bước khẳng định vị thế của mình trên thị trường bằng cách không ngừng đầu tư vào chất lượng dịch vụ và sự hài lòng của người dùng. Khác với những nền tảng thông thường, 88VIN chú trọng vào việc xây dựng một hệ sinh thái vận hành bài bản, nơi mọi quy trình đều được chuẩn hóa và tối ưu để đem lại hiệu suất cao nhất. Từ bước đăng ký tài khoản, xác thực thông tin, cho đến nạp – rút tiền và hỗ trợ khách hàng, tất cả đều được thiết kế một cách khoa học, rõ ràng và minh bạch. Sự tiện lợi trong thao tác và tính linh hoạt trong hệ thống đã giúp 88VIN tạo được sự tin tưởng vững chắc từ phía người dùng. Hệ thống hoạt động ổn định, tốc độ xử lý nhanh chóng, cùng đội ngũ chăm sóc khách hàng chuyên nghiệp, nhiệt tình 24/7 chính là những yếu tố làm nên thành công bền vững của 88VIN. Không chỉ vậy, nền tảng còn tích hợp công nghệ bảo mật hiện đại, bảo vệ an toàn tuyệt đối cho mọi thông tin và giao dịch cá nhân, giúp người dùng yên tâm tuyệt đối khi sử dụng.

Bên cạnh sự hoàn hảo về hệ thống, 88VIN còn gây ấn tượng bởi chính sách hỗ trợ người dùng rõ ràng, minh bạch và đầy tính nhân văn. Thay vì chỉ chú trọng vào mặt kỹ thuật, 88VIN hiểu rằng yếu tố con người mới là cốt lõi cho sự phát triển lâu dài. Chính vì vậy, đội ngũ chăm sóc khách hàng tại đây không chỉ được đào tạo bài bản mà còn luôn sẵn sàng lắng nghe, thấu hiểu và đồng hành cùng người dùng trong mọi tình huống. Mỗi phản hồi, dù là nhỏ nhất, đều được ghi nhận nghiêm túc để làm cơ sở nâng cấp chất lượng dịch vụ. Điều này giúp tạo nên một cộng đồng sử dụng 88VIN văn minh, gắn bó và ngày càng phát triển. Đồng thời, việc tối ưu hóa trải nghiệm người dùng được thể hiện qua từng chi tiết nhỏ, từ giao diện hiển thị, bố cục chức năng đến tốc độ phản hồi trên mọi thiết bị. Chính nhờ sự chăm chút tỉ mỉ đó, 88VIN không chỉ đáp ứng nhu cầu trước mắt mà còn luôn sẵn sàng cải tiến để bắt kịp xu hướng trong tương lai.

88VIN không đơn thuần là một nền tảng cung cấp dịch vụ chất lượng cao mà còn là biểu tượng của sự cam kết lâu dài đối với người dùng. Mỗi thành viên khi đến với 88VIN đều được đảm bảo quyền lợi rõ ràng, được đồng hành trong môi trường minh bạch và công bằng. Sự khác biệt của 88VIN chính là khả năng duy trì sự ổn định trong khi vẫn không ngừng đổi mới và hoàn thiện. Những giá trị mà 88VIN theo đuổi không chỉ nằm ở hiệu quả vận hành mà còn là sự tận tâm trong từng trải nghiệm của người dùng. Đây là yếu tố quyết định giúp nền tảng ngày càng chiếm được lòng tin và sự lựa chọn của cộng đồng. Trong thời đại mà sự cạnh tranh ngày càng khốc liệt, việc giữ vững đạo đức kinh doanh, coi trọng người dùng và luôn đặt chất lượng lên hàng đầu chính là con đường bền vững mà 88VIN đang theo đuổi. Nhờ vậy, 88VIN ngày càng khẳng định vị trí vững chắc, trở thành điểm đến tin cậy cho những ai tìm kiếm một nền tảng chuyên nghiệp, ổn định và thực sự vì lợi ích của người dùng.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Headlines

• 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.

• Do you want more? Subscribe and get No Bullshit GM report straight to your mailbox and No Bullshit Bitcoin on Nostr.

• Feedback or tips? Drop it here.
• #FREESAMOURAI

Sign up for No Bullshit Bitcoin

No Bullshit Bitcoin Is a Bitcoin News Desk Without Ads, Paywalls, or Clickbait.

Subscribe .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o{--animation-duration:0.8s} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o *{opacity:.4;transform:scale(.75);animation:nc-loop-dots-4-anim var(--animation-duration) infinite} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o :nth-child(1){transform-origin:4px 12px;animation-delay:-.3s;animation-delay:calc(var(--animation-duration)/-2.666)} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o :nth-child(2){transform-origin:12px 12px;animation-delay:-.15s;animation-delay:calc(var(--animation-duration)/-5.333)} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o :nth-child(3){transform-origin:20px 12px} @keyframes nc-loop-dots-4-anim{0%,100%{opacity:.4;transform:scale(.75)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

Last week we covered the bombshell developments in the Samourai Wallet case. For those who didn't read that, last Monday the world was made aware of the fact that the SDNY was explicitly told by FinCEN that the federal regulator did not believe that Samourai Wallet was a money services business six months before arresting the co-founders of Samourai Wallet for conspiracy to launder money and illegally operating a money services business. This was an obvious overstep by the SDNY that many believed would be quickly alleviated, especially considering the fact that the Trump administration via the Department of Justice has made it clear that they do not intend to rule via prosecution.

It seems that this is not the case as the SDNY responded to a letter sent from the defense to dismiss the case by stating that they fully plan to move forward. Stating that they only sought the recommendations of FinCEN employees and did not believe that those employees' comments were indicative of FinCEN's overall views on this particular case. It's a pretty egregious abuse of power by the SDNY. I'm not sure if the particular lawyers and judges within the Southern District of New York are very passionate about preventing the use of self-custody bitcoin and products that enable bitcoiners to transact privately, or if they're simply participating in a broader meta war with the Trump administration - who has made it clear to federal judges across the country that last Fall's election will have consequences, mainly that the Executive Branch will try to effectuate the policies that President Trump campaigned on by any legal means necessary - and Samouari Wallet is simply in the middle of that meta war.

However, one thing is pretty clear to me, this is an egregious overstep of power. The interpretation of that law, as has been laid out and confirmed by FinCEN over the last decade, is pretty clear; you cannot be a money services business if you do not control the funds that people are sending to each other, which is definitely the case with Samourai Wallet. People downloaded Samourai Wallet, spun up their own private-public key pairs and initiated transactions themselves. Samourai never custodied funds or initiated transactions on behalf of their users. This is very cut and dry. Straight to the point. It should be something that anyone with more than two brain cells is able to discern pretty quickly.

It is imperative that anybody in the industry who cares about being able to hold bitcoin in self-custody, to mine bitcoin, and to send bitcoin in a peer-to-peer fashion makes some noise around this case. None of the current administration's attempts to foster innovation around bitcoin in the United States will matter if the wrong precedent is set in this case. If the SDNY is successful in prosecuting Samourai Wallet, it will mean that anybody holding Bitcoin in self-custody, running a bitcoin fold node or mining bitcoin will have to KYC all of their users and counterparts lest they be labeled a money services business that is breaking laws stemming from the Bank Secrecy Act. This will effectively make building a self-custody bitcoin wallet, running a node, or mining bitcoin in tillegal in the United States. The ability to comply with the rules that would be unleashed if this Samourai case goes the wrong way, are such that it will effectively destroy the industry overnight.

It is yet to be seen whether or not the Department of Justice will step in to publicly flog the SDNY and force them to stop pursuing this case. This is the only likely way that the case will go away at this point, so it is very important that bitcoiners who care about being able to self-custody bitcoin, mine bitcoin, or send bitcoin in a peer-to-peer fashion in the United States make it clear to the current administration and any local politicians that this is an issue that you care deeply about. If we are too complacent, there is a chance that the SDNY could completely annihilate the bitcoin industry in America despite of all of the positive momentum we're seeing from all angles at the moment.

Make some noise!

Bitcoin Adoption by Power Companies: The Next Frontier

In my recent conversation with Andrew Myers from Satoshi Energy, he shared their ambitious mission to "enable every electric power company to use bitcoin by block 1,050,000" – roughly three years from now. This strategic imperative isn't just about creating new Bitcoin users; it's about sovereignty. Andrew emphasized that getting Bitcoin into the hands of energy companies who value self-sovereignty creates a more balanced future economic landscape. The excitement was palpable as he described how several energy companies are already moving beyond simply selling power to Bitcoin miners and are beginning to invest in mining operations themselves.

"You have global commodity companies being like, 'Oh, this is another commodity – we want to invest in this, we want to own this,'" - Andrew Myers

Perhaps most fascinating was Andrew's revelation about major energy companies in Texas developing Bitcoin collateral products for power contracts – a practical application that could revolutionize how energy transactions are settled. As energy companies continue embracing Bitcoin for both operations and collateral, we're witnessing the early stages of a profound shift in how critical infrastructure interfaces with sound money. The implications for both sectors could be transformative.

Check out the full podcast here for more on remote viewing, Nikola Tesla's predictions, and the convergence of Bitcoin and AI technology. We cover everything from humanoid robots to the energy demands of next-generation computing.

Headlines of the Day

Steak n Shake to Accept Bitcoin at All Locations May 16 - via X

Facebook Plans Crypto Wallets for 3B Users, Bitcoin Impact Looms - via X

Trump Urges Americans to Buy Stocks for Economic Boom - via X

UK Drops Tariffs, U.S. Farmers Set to Reap Major Benefits - 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 21 million was the key technical simplification that made bitcoin possible, why blockchains don’t create decentralization, and why everything else will be built on bitcoin.

Sign Up

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 145,630 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Moscow Exchange Launches Bitcoin Futures For Qualified Investors

The Moscow Exchange, Russia’s largest exchange group, announced the launch of Bitcoin futures contracts on June 4th, 2025. The new derivatives will allow qualified investors in Russia to gain exposure to bitcoin prices without directly owning it.

The bitcoin futures contracts are cash-settled in Russian rubles and will be tied to the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) that trades on U.S. exchanges. The IBIT ETF tracks the price of bitcoin, with each share representing 0.00068 bitcoin.

BREAKING: Russia’s largest exchange, Moscow Exchange launches #Bitcoin futures trading for qualified investors. pic.twitter.com/J9htJUWpLw

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 4, 2025

Trading for the new bitcoin futures kicked off on Wednesday, with the first contracts expiring in September 2025. Each futures contract will be denominated in U.S. dollars per bitcoin but settled in rubles.

The launch of bitcoin futures on the Moscow Exchange comes after increased interest in Bitcoin exposure from Russian financial institutions. In May, Russia’s central bank formally permitted the offering of crypto-linked securities and derivatives to qualified investors. Prior to this, direct investment in Bitcoin was discouraged.

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, also announced plans to unveil its own bitcoin futures product in addition to the Moscow Exchange’s offering. The bank is launching exchange-traded notes that track Bitcoin’s price without direct ownership.

Bitcoin futures and other crypto-derivatives have seen surging interest recently as the Bitcoin and crypto industry matures. The move comes as an increasing number of countries have started adding Bitcoin to their reserves.

As Bitcoin adoption increases, investors and financial institutions are seeking more routes to gain exposure to Bitcoin. The launch of futures on the Moscow Exchange provides regulated bitcoin exposure to qualified Russian investors. But direct ownership of “physical” bitcoin remains off limits for most in Russia’s traditional finance sector.

This post Moscow Exchange Launches Bitcoin Futures For Qualified Investors first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vivek Sen.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

Last week we covered the bombshell developments in the Samourai Wallet case. For those who didn't read that, last Monday the world was made aware of the fact that the SDNY was explicitly told by FinCEN that the federal regulator did not believe that Samourai Wallet was a money services business six months before arresting the co-founders of Samourai Wallet for conspiracy to launder money and illegally operating a money services business. This was an obvious overstep by the SDNY that many believed would be quickly alleviated, especially considering the fact that the Trump administration via the Department of Justice has made it clear that they do not intend to rule via prosecution.

It seems that this is not the case as the SDNY responded to a letter sent from the defense to dismiss the case by stating that they fully plan to move forward. Stating that they only sought the recommendations of FinCEN employees and did not believe that those employees' comments were indicative of FinCEN's overall views on this particular case. It's a pretty egregious abuse of power by the SDNY. I'm not sure if the particular lawyers and judges within the Southern District of New York are very passionate about preventing the use of self-custody bitcoin and products that enable bitcoiners to transact privately, or if they're simply participating in a broader meta war with the Trump administration - who has made it clear to federal judges across the country that last Fall's election will have consequences, mainly that the Executive Branch will try to effectuate the policies that President Trump campaigned on by any legal means necessary - and Samouari Wallet is simply in the middle of that meta war.

However, one thing is pretty clear to me, this is an egregious overstep of power. The interpretation of that law, as has been laid out and confirmed by FinCEN over the last decade, is pretty clear; you cannot be a money services business if you do not control the funds that people are sending to each other, which is definitely the case with Samourai Wallet. People downloaded Samourai Wallet, spun up their own private-public key pairs and initiated transactions themselves. Samourai never custodied funds or initiated transactions on behalf of their users. This is very cut and dry. Straight to the point. It should be something that anyone with more than two brain cells is able to discern pretty quickly.

It is imperative that anybody in the industry who cares about being able to hold bitcoin in self-custody, to mine bitcoin, and to send bitcoin in a peer-to-peer fashion makes some noise around this case. None of the current administration's attempts to foster innovation around bitcoin in the United States will matter if the wrong precedent is set in this case. If the SDNY is successful in prosecuting Samourai Wallet, it will mean that anybody holding Bitcoin in self-custody, running a bitcoin fold node or mining bitcoin will have to KYC all of their users and counterparts lest they be labeled a money services business that is breaking laws stemming from the Bank Secrecy Act. This will effectively make building a self-custody bitcoin wallet, running a node, or mining bitcoin in tillegal in the United States. The ability to comply with the rules that would be unleashed if this Samourai case goes the wrong way, are such that it will effectively destroy the industry overnight.

It is yet to be seen whether or not the Department of Justice will step in to publicly flog the SDNY and force them to stop pursuing this case. This is the only likely way that the case will go away at this point, so it is very important that bitcoiners who care about being able to self-custody bitcoin, mine bitcoin, or send bitcoin in a peer-to-peer fashion in the United States make it clear to the current administration and any local politicians that this is an issue that you care deeply about. If we are too complacent, there is a chance that the SDNY could completely annihilate the bitcoin industry in America despite of all of the positive momentum we're seeing from all angles at the moment.

Make some noise!

Bitcoin Adoption by Power Companies: The Next Frontier

In my recent conversation with Andrew Myers from Satoshi Energy, he shared their ambitious mission to "enable every electric power company to use bitcoin by block 1,050,000" – roughly three years from now. This strategic imperative isn't just about creating new Bitcoin users; it's about sovereignty. Andrew emphasized that getting Bitcoin into the hands of energy companies who value self-sovereignty creates a more balanced future economic landscape. The excitement was palpable as he described how several energy companies are already moving beyond simply selling power to Bitcoin miners and are beginning to invest in mining operations themselves.

"You have global commodity companies being like, 'Oh, this is another commodity – we want to invest in this, we want to own this,'" - Andrew Myers

Perhaps most fascinating was Andrew's revelation about major energy companies in Texas developing Bitcoin collateral products for power contracts – a practical application that could revolutionize how energy transactions are settled. As energy companies continue embracing Bitcoin for both operations and collateral, we're witnessing the early stages of a profound shift in how critical infrastructure interfaces with sound money. The implications for both sectors could be transformative.

Check out the full podcast here for more on remote viewing, Nikola Tesla's predictions, and the convergence of Bitcoin and AI technology. We cover everything from humanoid robots to the energy demands of next-generation computing.

Headlines of the Day

Steak n Shake to Accept Bitcoin at All Locations May 16 - via X

Facebook Plans Crypto Wallets for 3B Users, Bitcoin Impact Looms - via X

Trump Urges Americans to Buy Stocks for Economic Boom - via X

UK Drops Tariffs, U.S. Farmers Set to Reap Major Benefits - 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 21 million was the key technical simplification that made bitcoin possible, why blockchains don’t create decentralization, and why everything else will be built on bitcoin.

Sign Up

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 145,630 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

Last week we covered the bombshell developments in the Samourai Wallet case. For those who didn't read that, last Monday the world was made aware of the fact that the SDNY was explicitly told by FinCEN that the federal regulator did not believe that Samourai Wallet was a money services business six months before arresting the co-founders of Samourai Wallet for conspiracy to launder money and illegally operating a money services business. This was an obvious overstep by the SDNY that many believed would be quickly alleviated, especially considering the fact that the Trump administration via the Department of Justice has made it clear that they do not intend to rule via prosecution.

It seems that this is not the case as the SDNY responded to a letter sent from the defense to dismiss the case by stating that they fully plan to move forward. Stating that they only sought the recommendations of FinCEN employees and did not believe that those employees' comments were indicative of FinCEN's overall views on this particular case. It's a pretty egregious abuse of power by the SDNY. I'm not sure if the particular lawyers and judges within the Southern District of New York are very passionate about preventing the use of self-custody bitcoin and products that enable bitcoiners to transact privately, or if they're simply participating in a broader meta war with the Trump administration - who has made it clear to federal judges across the country that last Fall's election will have consequences, mainly that the Executive Branch will try to effectuate the policies that President Trump campaigned on by any legal means necessary - and Samouari Wallet is simply in the middle of that meta war.

However, one thing is pretty clear to me, this is an egregious overstep of power. The interpretation of that law, as has been laid out and confirmed by FinCEN over the last decade, is pretty clear; you cannot be a money services business if you do not control the funds that people are sending to each other, which is definitely the case with Samourai Wallet. People downloaded Samourai Wallet, spun up their own private-public key pairs and initiated transactions themselves. Samourai never custodied funds or initiated transactions on behalf of their users. This is very cut and dry. Straight to the point. It should be something that anyone with more than two brain cells is able to discern pretty quickly.

It is imperative that anybody in the industry who cares about being able to hold bitcoin in self-custody, to mine bitcoin, and to send bitcoin in a peer-to-peer fashion makes some noise around this case. None of the current administration's attempts to foster innovation around bitcoin in the United States will matter if the wrong precedent is set in this case. If the SDNY is successful in prosecuting Samourai Wallet, it will mean that anybody holding Bitcoin in self-custody, running a bitcoin fold node or mining bitcoin will have to KYC all of their users and counterparts lest they be labeled a money services business that is breaking laws stemming from the Bank Secrecy Act. This will effectively make building a self-custody bitcoin wallet, running a node, or mining bitcoin in tillegal in the United States. The ability to comply with the rules that would be unleashed if this Samourai case goes the wrong way, are such that it will effectively destroy the industry overnight.

It is yet to be seen whether or not the Department of Justice will step in to publicly flog the SDNY and force them to stop pursuing this case. This is the only likely way that the case will go away at this point, so it is very important that bitcoiners who care about being able to self-custody bitcoin, mine bitcoin, or send bitcoin in a peer-to-peer fashion in the United States make it clear to the current administration and any local politicians that this is an issue that you care deeply about. If we are too complacent, there is a chance that the SDNY could completely annihilate the bitcoin industry in America despite of all of the positive momentum we're seeing from all angles at the moment.

Make some noise!

Bitcoin Adoption by Power Companies: The Next Frontier

In my recent conversation with Andrew Myers from Satoshi Energy, he shared their ambitious mission to "enable every electric power company to use bitcoin by block 1,050,000" – roughly three years from now. This strategic imperative isn't just about creating new Bitcoin users; it's about sovereignty. Andrew emphasized that getting Bitcoin into the hands of energy companies who value self-sovereignty creates a more balanced future economic landscape. The excitement was palpable as he described how several energy companies are already moving beyond simply selling power to Bitcoin miners and are beginning to invest in mining operations themselves.

"You have global commodity companies being like, 'Oh, this is another commodity – we want to invest in this, we want to own this,'" - Andrew Myers

Perhaps most fascinating was Andrew's revelation about major energy companies in Texas developing Bitcoin collateral products for power contracts – a practical application that could revolutionize how energy transactions are settled. As energy companies continue embracing Bitcoin for both operations and collateral, we're witnessing the early stages of a profound shift in how critical infrastructure interfaces with sound money. The implications for both sectors could be transformative.

Check out the full podcast here for more on remote viewing, Nikola Tesla's predictions, and the convergence of Bitcoin and AI technology. We cover everything from humanoid robots to the energy demands of next-generation computing.

Headlines of the Day

Steak n Shake to Accept Bitcoin at All Locations May 16 - via X

Facebook Plans Crypto Wallets for 3B Users, Bitcoin Impact Looms - via X

Trump Urges Americans to Buy Stocks for Economic Boom - via X

UK Drops Tariffs, U.S. Farmers Set to Reap Major Benefits - 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 21 million was the key technical simplification that made bitcoin possible, why blockchains don’t create decentralization, and why everything else will be built on bitcoin.

Sign Up

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 145,630 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 05a0f81e:fc032124

Akhenaten (originally named Amenhotep IV) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt known for radically transforming Egyptian religion, art, and culture. He is most famous for promoting the worship of one god—Aten, the sun disk—marking one of the earliest recorded movements toward monotheism.

Early Life and Rise to Power of pharaoh Akhenaten.

The Birth Name was  Amenhotep IV, and he was born Around 1380 BCE. By  Pharaoh Amenhotep III, and the mother Likely Queen Tiye. He grew up and married a Wife, Nefertiti, one of Egypt's most iconic queens. He have children, Including daughters and likely the father of Tutankhamun (King Tut).

Amenhotep IV ascended the throne around 1353 BCE, succeeding his father, a powerful and prosperous pharaoh, and there was a Religious Revolution.

A Shift Toward Monotheism

Around his 5th regnal year, Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhenaten, meaning "Effective for Aten".

He abandoned the traditional Egyptian pantheon, especially the powerful god Amun, and elevated Aten as the sole god.

This was a dramatic break from Egypt's deeply rooted polytheistic religion.

The capital city Akhetaten (Modern-day Amarna). Akhenaten moved the capital from Thebes to a new city he built from scratch: Akhetaten (Horizon of Aten).

The city was dedicated entirely to the Aten religion and became a center of art, culture, and politics.

Nefertiti was not just a queen but a powerful co-ruler. Some theories suggest she may have ruled independently for a time after Akhenaten’s death (possibly as Neferneferuaten).

They had at least six daughters. The identity of Akhenaten's sons is debated, but Tutankhamun is widely believed to be his son, possibly by a secondary wife.

Decline and Death

Akhenaten died around 1336 BCE after a 17-year reign.

After his death, his successors (including Tutankhamun) restored traditional religion, abandoned Atenism, and moved the capital back to Thebes.

His monuments were defaced, and his name was erased from king lists, a process known as damnatio memoriae (damnation of memory).

Legacy

Akhenaten is remembered as:

A visionary who introduced monotheism before it appeared in other cultures.

A heretic who defied over a thousand years of religious tradition.

A reformer whose bold changes caused cultural upheaval.

His religious revolution was short-lived, but modern historians and archaeologists regard him as one of the most fascinating and controversial figures in ancient history.

The reasons why Pharaoh Akhenaten introduced monotheism, the worship of Aten, the sun disk, as the one true god are still debated by historians, but several key political, religious, personal, and philosophical factors likely contributed.

✅ Main Reasons Why Akhenaten Introduced Monotheism

• Religious Reform: Belief in a Universal Power

Akhenaten may have genuinely believed in Aten as the supreme creator and life-giver.

The sun was already important in Egyptian religion (Ra, Amun-Ra), but Akhenaten stripped away all personification, choosing the sun's disk (Aten) as a pure, abstract symbol of divine power.

He saw Aten as omnipresent, providing light and life to everything and everyone equally.

• Political Motivation: Weaken the Power of the Priests

The priesthood of Amun at Thebes had become extremely wealthy and powerful, almost a state within a state. By elevating Aten and banning Amun's worship, Akhenaten dismantled the influence of the Amun priests and centralized religious power in his own hands. He made himself the sole mediator between Aten and the people, increasing royal control.

• Personal Vision and Identity

Akhenaten may have had a personal religious experience or conviction that shaped his devotion to Aten.

His new name, “Akhenaten,” meaning “Effective for the Aten,” reflects a deep, personal connection to this god.

He often depicted himself and his family in direct contact with Aten, showing a highly intimate and unique belief system.

• Philosophical and Artistic Shift

Akhenaten's reign saw a revolution in art, emphasizing naturalism, emotion, and individuality.

This change in thinking may reflect a broader philosophical shift toward a more abstract and spiritual understanding of the divine unified in Aten.

Atenism removed the idea of gods with human forms, replacing them with a universal force (the sun's light).

• Reaction Against Religious Corruption or Complexity

Traditional Egyptian religion had hundreds of gods, rituals, and temple hierarchies.

Akhenaten may have seen the system as corrupt, ritualistic, and too complex for ordinary people.

Atenism was simple, focused, and accessible, with the sun’s light reaching everyone equally.

• Political Instability or Health Issues (Speculative)

Some theories suggest Akhenaten’s appearance (depicted with elongated head, wide hips, etc.) may reflect a genetic disorder (e.g., Marfan syndrome or Froehlich's syndrome).

If he was sickly, he may have been drawn to religious introspection or spiritual reform.

Others suggest that political instability or unrest during his early reign may have motivated a bold unifying reform.

Summary

Akhenaten’s monotheism was unprecedented in Egypt’s long religious history. Whether he was a spiritual visionary, a political tactician, or both, his religious revolution stands out as one of the most dramatic and controversial in ancient history.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

In much of the world, it is incredibly difficult to access U.S. dollars. Local currencies are often poorly managed and riddled with corruption. Billions of people demand a more reliable alternative. While the dollar has its own issues of corruption and mismanagement, it is widely regarded as superior to the fiat currencies it competes with globally. As a result, Tether has found massive success providing low cost, low friction access to dollars. Tether claims 400 million total users, is on track to add 200 million more this year, processes 8.1 million transactions daily, and facilitates $29 billion in daily transfers. Furthermore, their estimates suggest nearly 40% of users rely on it as a savings tool rather than just a transactional currency.

Tether’s rise has made the company a financial juggernaut. Last year alone, Tether raked in over $13 billion in profit, with a lean team of less than 100 employees. Their business model is elegantly simple: hold U.S. Treasuries and collect the interest. With over $113 billion in Treasuries, Tether has turned a straightforward concept into a profit machine.

Tether’s success has resulted in many competitors eager to claim a piece of the pie. This has triggered a massive venture capital grift cycle in USD tokens, with countless projects vying to dethrone Tether. Due to Tether’s entrenched network effect, these challengers face an uphill battle with little realistic chance of success. Most educated participants in the space likely recognize this reality but seem content to perpetuate the grift, hoping to cash out by dumping their equity positions on unsuspecting buyers before they realize the reality of the situation.

Historically, Tether’s greatest vulnerability has been U.S. government intervention. For over a decade, the company operated offshore with few allies in the U.S. establishment, making it a major target for regulatory action. That dynamic has shifted recently and Tether has seized the opportunity. By actively courting U.S. government support, Tether has fortified their position. This strategic move will likely cement their status as the dominant USD token for years to come.

While undeniably a great tool for the millions of users that rely on it, Tether is not without flaws. As a centralized, trusted third party, it holds the power to freeze or seize funds at its discretion. Corporate mismanagement or deliberate malpractice could also lead to massive losses at scale. In their goal of mitigating regulatory risk, Tether has deepened ties with law enforcement, mirroring some of the concerns of potential central bank digital currencies. In practice, Tether operates as a corporate CBDC alternative, collaborating with authorities to surveil and seize funds. The company proudly touts partnerships with leading surveillance firms and its own data reveals cooperation in over 1,000 law enforcement cases, with more than $2.5 billion in funds frozen.

---

The global demand for Tether is undeniable and the company’s profitability reflects its unrivaled success. Tether is owned and operated by bitcoiners and will likely continue to push forward strategic goals that help the movement as a whole. Recent efforts to mitigate the threat of U.S. government enforcement will likely solidify their network effect and stifle meaningful adoption of rival USD tokens or CBDCs. Yet, for all their achievements, Tether is simply a worse form of money than bitcoin. Tether requires trust in a centralized entity, while bitcoin can be saved or spent without permission. Furthermore, Tether is tied to the value of the US Dollar which is designed to lose purchasing power over time, while bitcoin, as a truly scarce asset, is designed to increase in purchasing power with adoption. As people awaken to the risks of Tether’s control, and the benefits bitcoin provides, bitcoin adoption will likely surpass it.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

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

Part One: 2029–2032

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

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

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

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

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

Time Jump: 2032–2047

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

Part Two: 2047

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

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

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

Key Differences

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

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

@ 472f440f:5669301e

I'm sure some of you are already tired of the discussion around the H-1B visa program that was started on Christmas Eve by Vivek Ramaswamy and escalated by Elon Musk and others as the "Silicon Valley MAGA" coalition began putting forth legal immigration policy proposals for the incoming Trump administration. Core to their policy is the expansion of the H-1B visa program so that America can "recruit the best talent in the world" to come build the American economy.

Unfortunately, as it stands today - according to the Silicon Valley cognescenti, Americans are either a.) not smart enough to fulfill the roles necessary to enable the United States to maintain its lead as economic super power of the world or b.) expect too much in compensation for the available roles. At least this is my reading from the commentary I've seen over the last week.

What seems abundantly clear to me is that the framing put forth by "Silicon Valley MAGA" crew is disingenuous and self-serving. It has been clear for awhile now that the H-1B visa program is being systematically abused to bring in cheap labor from other countries to help drive down labor costs for companies across the spectrum. Not just Silicon Valley tech companies. The system has a loophole in it and it is being exploited. Bring people to the US via H-1B visas to complete work for you at lower costs and your company's financials are likely to be better off (assuming the work being done is productive and a value add to the company). Now, this isn't to say that everyone who is in the US via an H-1B visa is here because these companies want to exploit the loophole that gives them the ability to spend less on head count. However, based off the data from the database of the H-1B visa program it is abundantly clear that the system is being taken advantage of. Egregiously and at the expense of American workers, who are most certainly not (all) "subtarded".

Herein lies the crux of the problem; companies are abusing this program to get away from the problem of Americans demanding higher wages to maintain lives of dignity in a country run by a government that is chronically addicted to debt backed by a central bank that will print money ex-nihilo and at will to monetize that debt. Americans are then being scapegoated as either "lazy", "stupid" or "delusional about their worth in the work force". A classic straw man argument that avoids the root issue at hand; the money is broken and the broken money has created perverse incentives throughout the economy while also stripping Americans of the ability to properly save the value of their labor.

We live in a high velocity trash economy that rewards grift and waste while disincentivizing hard work that is meaningful to the quality of life of the Common Man. Everything has been hyper-financialized to the point that one of the only ways to make it ahead is to speculate on the flow of capital into certain asset classes, which is often determined by the whims of central planners. Another is to build or speculate on tech "innovations" that typically materialize in the form of attention zapping apps and widgets that help people temporarily forget they live in a high-velocity trash economy.

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and it is because they don't see a way out of the nihilistic rat race created (unknowingly to most) by the money printer.

The ability to print money out of nothing and throw it at everything creates misaligned incentives that result in the inability for the market to properly determine what is genuinely needed by the people instead of those who have learned how to game the broken system and its broken incentives.

One last point, I would be remiss not to acknowledge that many individuals in America aren't intellectually equipped to do some of the cutting edge work that may be necessary to produce the technologies and companies that will push the country forward. The high-velocity trash economy run on money printed out of nothing has completely corrupted the education system. People in the United States are literally dumber than they were five decades ago. That is a fact. But it is not only the fault of the American people themselves, but the corrupt system they have been born into that destroyed the education system with perverse incentives. And the overwhelming majority of the blame is on the system, not the people.

Even with that being said, the idea that we need to adopt a Tiger Mom mentality in the US - a culture of unrelenting devotion to studying STEM to the point that weekend sleepovers for kids are discouraged - is absolutely laughable and objectively un-American. There are plenty of incredibly intelligent, creative and driven young Americans who have contributed and will continue to contribute significantly to the American economy and they didn't need to shackle themselves to their desks to get that way. America isn't a country that was built by automatons. It's a country built by people who said, "Fuck you. Don't tell me what I can and cannot do. Watch this."

Despite the fact that a system has been erected that actively works against the average American system the American spirit lives on in the souls of many across the country. Miraculously. The American spirit is something that cannot simply be imported. It is ingrained in our culture. It is certainly beginning to dwindle as hope for a better future becomes more and more dim for the masses as the system works against them despite all their best efforts to succeed. It is imperative that we stoke the coals of the American spirit while it is still alive in those who are too stubborn to give up.

People need the ability to save their hard work in a money that cannot be debased. Opportunity cost needs to be reintroduced into the market so that things that actually add value and increase the quality of life for the Common Man are where hard money is allocated. And people need to start talking about the root of the problem more seriously instead of striking at branches with disingenuous straw man arguments.

---

Final thought... Ready to go surfing.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

There was a bit of a rally in stock markets today, but this was a relief rally after taking a beating throughout the week. All eyes were on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as he took the stage on Wednesday to announce the decisions made at the most recent FOMC meeting.

The market reacted negatively to another 0.25% cut from the Federal Reserve that many considered a "hawkish cut" due to the fact that Chairman Powell articulated that it is likely that there will be less rate cuts in 2025 than were previously expected. This is likely driven by the fact that inflation, as reported by the terribly inaccurate CPI, has been coming in higher than expectations. Signaling that the Fed does not, in fact, have inflation under control. Who could have seen that coming?

Here's how the US 10Y Treasury yield reacted to the announcement:

"Not great Bob!" The US 10Y Treasury yield is something that everyone should be paying attention to over the course of the next year. Since the Fed started cutting rates in September of this year, the 10Y yield has been acting anomalously compared to how it has acted historically after Fed interest rate decisions. Since September, the market has been calling the Fed's bluff on inflation and rates have been moving in the opposite direction compared to what would be expected if the Fed had things under control. The "hawkish cut" made on Wednesday is not a great sign. The Fed is being forced to recognize that it cut "too much too fast" before actually getting inflation under control.

One has to wonder why they made such aggressive moves in September. Why the need for a much more dovish stance as quickly as they moved? Do they see something behind the scenes of the banking system that makes them believe that another liquidity crisis was on the horizon and they needed to act to prevent yet another banking crisis? Now that it is clear that inflation isn't under control and if there really was a liquidity crisis on the horizon, what are the first two quarters of 2025 going to look like? Could we find ourselves in a situation where inflation is beginning to accelerate again, there is a liquidity crisis, and the Fed is forced to rush back ZIRP and QE only to further exacerbate inflation? Couple this potential scenario with the proposed economic policy from the incoming Trump administration and it isn't hard to see that we could be in for a period of economic pain.

One can only hope that the Fed and the incoming administration have the intestinal fortitude to let the market correct appropriately, reprice, clear out the bad assets and credit that exists in the system and let the cleanse happen relatively unperturbed. That has what has been desperately needed since 2008, arguably longer.

On that note, bitcoin is going through a bull market correction this week as well. Likely incited and/or exacerbated by the turmoil in traditional markets.

Many are proclaiming that the end of this bull market is here. Don't listen to those who have been hate tweeting bitcoin all the way up this year. They've been looking for a correction to bask in schadenfreude and confirm their biases. These types of corrections are to be expected when bitcoin runs by checks notes 100% over the course of less than three months. We're approaching the end of the year, which means that people are selling to prepare for taxes (which may be happening in the stock market as well). Add to this fact that long-term holders of bitcoin have taken the most profit they have since 2018 and it probably explains the recent pull back. Can't blame the long-term holders for seeing six-figure bitcoin and deciding to bolster their cash balances.

I couldn't be more bullish on bitcoin than I am right now. The fundamentals surrounding the market couldn't be more perfect. Despite what the Trump administration may have in store for us in terms of economic policy (I agree with most of the policies he has presented), I find it hard to believe that even he and the talented team of people he has surrounded himself with can overcome the momentum of the problems that have been building up in the system for the last 16-years.

The "find safety in sats" trade is going mainstream as the market becomes more familiar with bitcoin, its properties, and the fact that it is very unlikely that it is going to die. The fervor around bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset for nation states is only picking up. And if it catches on, we will enter territory for bitcoin that was considered utterly insane only a year ago.

On that note, Nic Carter made some buzz today with a piece he wrote for Bitcoin Magazine explaining why he believes a strategic bitcoin reserve is a bad idea for the US government.

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/politics/i-dont-support-a-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-and-neither-should-you

While I agree that the signal the US government could send by acquiring a bitcoin strategic reserve could be bad for the US treasuries market, I think it comes down to strategy. The Trump administration will have to think strategically about how they acquire their Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. If they ape in, it could send the wrong message and cause everyone to dump their treasuries, which are the most popular form of collateral in the global financial system. However, there are ways to acquire bitcoin slowly but surely from here into the future that ensure that the United States gets proper exposure to the asset to protect itself from the out-of-control debt problem while also providing itself with a way out of the problem. Many of these potential strategies were discussed in two recent episodes I recorded. One with Matthew Pines from the Bitcoin Policy Institute and another with Matthew Mežinskis from Porkopolis Economics. I highly recommend you all check those out (linked below).

https://youtu.be/xyyeEqFVjBY

https://youtu.be/6vgesP9LIXk

.---

Final thought...

I am the most locked in from a focus perspective while on flights. Even with two kids under 5. Merry Christmas, Freaks!

@ 472f440f:5669301e

The end of the first part of bitcoin's story has come to an end. Most of the story has yet to be written, but I feel confident in saying that reaching the $100,000 per bitcoin milestone is a clear demarcation between two distinct eras of bitcoin. Yes, we have hit the significant milestones of $1, $10, $100, $1,000, and $10,000 over the last fifteen years and they all felt significant. And they certainly were in their own right. However, hitting the "six figure" milestone feels a bit different.

One bitcoin is currently worth a respectable salary for an American citizen. Ten hunnid bands. Something that is impressive to the layman. This may not mean much to many who have been around bitcoin for some time. The idea of bitcoin hitting $100,000 was seen as a foregone conclusion for millions of people out there. Myself included. This price marker is simply an inevitability on the road to global reserve currency to us.

With that being said, it is important to put yourself in the shoes of those who have doubted bitcoin up to this point. For some reason or another, $100,000 bitcoin has been used as a price target that "will never be hit" for many of the naysayers.

"Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme."

"Tulips."

"Governments will ban it if it hits that point."

"It can't scale."

"It will be 51% attacked."

"No one will trust bitcoin."

"It can't be the world's money."

And yet, despite all of the kvetching from the haters over the years, here we are. Sitting above $100,000. Taking a short rest at the latest checkpoint en route to the peak of the mountain. We hovered right under $100,000 for a couple of weeks. Nominally, where we stand today is much closer to where we were last week compared to where we were six months ago. But for some reason the price tipping over $100,000 has catapulted bitcoin to a new playing field. Where bitcoin stood yesterday and where it found itself six months ago seem miles below where it is today. Crossing over the event horizon of six figures forces people to think of bitcoin in a different light. Almost as if we have entered another dimension.

The last year has been filled with a lead up to this crossing over of the event horizon.

Financial institutions that have derided bitcoin for well over a decade were forced to bend the knee and offer bitcoin exposure to their clients. The mere offering of that exposure has resulted in the most successful ETFs in the history of this particular investment vehicle.

Governments around the world have been forced to reckon with the fact that bitcoin is here to stay and that they need to act accordingly. Thanks to the first mover actions taken by El Salvador and Bhutan, which have nonchalantly decided to go all in on bitcoin, others have taken notice. Will that be publicly acknowledged by the bigger governments? Probably not. But you'd be naive to think that politicians in the US seeing two very small countries making such big bets on bitcoin didn't induce at least a little bit of FOMO. Once the bitcoin FOMO seed is planted it's hard to uproot.

Combine this with the fact that it has become rather cool to be privy to the fact that the world's governments have become egregiously addicted to debt and money printing, that inflation is pervasive and inescapable, and that censorship and Orwellian control tactics are on the rise and it is easy to see why more people are more receptive to the idea of bitcoin.

All that was needed to create an all out frenzy - a slingshot effect up the S Curve of adoption - was a psychological trigger. Bitcoin crossing over six figures.

Well, here we are. The tropes against bitcoin that have been trotted out over the last sixteen years no longer have as much bite as they did in many people's eyes. Sure, there will be some butt hurt nocoiners and totalitarians who continue to trot them out, but crossing the chasm of six figure bitcoin will have an order of magnitude more people thinking, "I hear what you're saying, but reality seems to be saying something completely different. And, if I'm being honest with myself, reality is making much more sense than your screeching."

Unstoppable peer-to-peer digital cash with a hard capped supply has been around since January 3rd, 2009. December 5th, 2024 will be the day that it cemented itself as something that cannot be ignored. Part I of the bitcoin story has been written. The end of the beginning is behind us. On to Part II: the rapid monetization of bitcoin, which will cement it as the reserve currency of the world.

---

Final thought... I used some 2017-2020 era tactics to get into the writing mood tonight. 90210

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Adam Back Invests SEK 21 Million to H100 Group Bitcoin Treasury Strategy

Today, H100 Group AB announced it has entered a SEK 21 million convertible loan from an investment agreement with Adam Back, with the option to expand his investment to SEK 277 million through a five-tranche convertible loan deal. The proceeds will be used to buy Bitcoin in alignment with H100 Group’s long-term Bitcoin treasury strategy.

H100 Group AB (Ticker: H100) secures a SEK 21M ($2.1M) commitment from @adam3us , with rights to invest an additional SEK 128M ($12.8M) in tranches—bringing the total contemplated raise to SEK 277M (~$27.7M). pic.twitter.com/c0HgMSRxut

— H100 (@H100Group) June 3, 2025

Under the agreement, Back may invest up to SEK 128 million across four additional tranches, with guaranteed participation of at least 50%. Each tranche is twice his committed amount, demonstrating his support for H100’s long-term growth.

The press release said, “Adam Back may request the Second Tranche within 90 days from signing of the Initial Tranche, the Third Tranche within 90 days from signing of the Second Tranche, the Fourth Tranche within 90 days from signing of the Third Tranche and the Fifth Tranche within ninety 90 days from signing of the Fourth Tranche. In the event Adam Back does not request a Future Tranche within the deadline, the right to request subsequent Future Tranches lapses.”

The convertible loans have no interest and have a five year maturity. At any time, Back may convert the loans into shares of the Company. Conversion prices are fixed per tranche: SEK 1.75 per share for the initial tranche, rising to SEK 5.00 by the fifth tranche. H100 retains the right to force conversion if the stock price exceeds the conversion rate by 33% over a 20 day period. Full conversion of the initial tranche would result in 12 million new shares and a 9.3% dilution.

“Upon request of a tranche Adam Back is obliged to invest in the relevant Tranche with SEK 15,750,000 in the second tranche, SEK 23,625,000 in the third tranche, SEK 35,437,500 in the fourth tranche, and SEK 53,156,250 in the fifth tranche,” stated the press release. “The contemplated size for each tranche is twice the entitled amount of Adam Back.”

Blockstream has “been around since 2014 and we work with our investors to put Bitcoin in a balance sheet back then and since then,” said Adam Back at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference. “I think the way to look at the treasury companies is that Bitcoin is effectively the hurdle rate; it’s very hard to outperform bitcoin. Most people that have invested in things since bitcoin has been around have thought, ‘oh, I should have put that in bitcoin and not in the other thing.”

This post Adam Back Invests SEK 21 Million to H100 Group Bitcoin Treasury Strategy first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

The silent revolution: Ethereum's pivot to 'digital oil' could redefine crypto's future. While Bitcoin grabs headlines as digital gold, Ethereum is quietly transforming into something potentially more valuable—the essential infrastructure powering our digital economy. Ryan Berckmans reveals Ethereum's strategic shift from being just another cryptocurrency to becoming the foundation for stablecoins, tokenized assets, and global financial systems. With $480 billion in stablecoin volume and institutional players entering the space, Ethereum isn't just competing with Bitcoin—it's creating an entirely different value proposition. The question isn't whether ETH will hit $3K, but whether we're underestimating its long-term potential as the backbone of digital finance. Are you positioning yourself for the real crypto revolution happening right under our noses?

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

The $220 million crypto heist that took just minutes reveals a fatal flaw in DeFi security. While blockchain tech promises trustless transactions, the Cetus DEX exploit on Sui exposed how a single undetected bug in a math library became catastrophic. What's truly alarming isn't the hack itself but the revelation from Curve's founder that professional hackers-for-hire are now coordinating sophisticated cross-platform attacks. This signals a dangerous evolution in crypto threats where vulnerabilities aren't just discovered—they're hunted by organized teams with specialized skills. The industry faces a stark choice: invest aggressively in preventative security or watch as billions more vanish in seconds. Is your crypto truly safe, or just waiting for the right hacker to find its weakness?

@ 58537364:705b4b85

อารมณ์ คือ โลก - โลก คือ อารมณ์ อารมณ์ ในโลกปัจจุบันรวมอยู่ที่ วัตถุนิยม อารมณ์ จึงเป็นปัจจัยแห่งเหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างในโลก

…. “ เดี๋ยวนี้คําว่า “อารมณ์” ในภาษาไทยนั้น หมายถึงความรู้สึกในใจมากกว่า; เช่น พื้นเพของจิตใจในขณะนั้นเป็นอย่างไร, เรียกว่าอารมณ์ของเขาเป็นอย่างไร, อารมณ์กําลังดี อารมณ์กําลังไม่ดี, นี่ คําว่าอารมณ์ในภาษาไทยใช้กันไปเสียอย่างนี้ ; มันคนละเรื่องกับในภาษาบาลี ซึ่งคําว่า “อารมณ์” หมายถึง สิ่งที่จะเข้ามากระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ.

…. ถ้ากระทบแล้วเกิดความรู้สึกอย่างไร งุ่นง่านอยู่ในใจ อันนั้นไม่ได้เรียกว่าอารมณ์; อันนั้นก็เรียกว่ากิเลสอย่างอื่น เช่น เรียกว่าตัณหาบ้าง อุปาทานบ้าง; ถ้าจัดเป็นพวกขันธ์ ก็เรียกว่า เวทนาขันธ์บ้าง สัญญาขันธ์บ้าง สังขารขันธ์บ้าง; ถ้าเป็นความคิดที่งุ่นง่านก็เรียกว่า “สังขารขันธ์” ทั้งนั้น ดังนั้น เราจะต้องถือเอาคําว่าอารมณ์ในบาลีมาเป็นหลัก …. คําว่า อารมณ์ ที่จะเข้าใจกันง่ายๆ ก็หมายความว่า รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ที่จะมากระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย นี้ ๕ อย่าง แล้วก็ความรู้สึกเก่าแก่ที่จะมาผุดขึ้นในใจอีก เรียกว่า ธัมมารมณ์ ที่จะมากระทบใจในปัจจุบันนี้ นี้ก็เป็นอันหนึ่ง เลยได้เป็นอารมณ์ ๖. อารมณ์กระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ๕ อย่างข้างนอกนี้ก็สําคัญไปพวกหนึ่ง ที่ปรุงขึ้นภายในสําหรับกระทบใจโดยไม่ต้องอาศัย ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ เลย ในเวลานั้นก็ยังมีอยู่นี้เรียกว่าธัมมารมณ์ นี้ก็ยิ่งสําคัญ: แต่ว่ารวมกันแล้วก็เรียกว่า อารมณ์ ได้ด้วยกันทั้งนั้น แปลว่า สิ่งที่จะมากระทบกับ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ นั่นเอง

…. นี้ ดูให้ละเอียดตามตัวหนังสือ คําว่า “อารมณ์” แปลว่า ที่หน่วงบ้าง แปลว่า ที่ยินดีบ้าง, มันมีความหมายละเอียดมาก. ถ้าถือเอาความหมายอย่างคนที่มีตัวตนเป็นหลัก ธรรมะในฝ่ายฮินดูหรือฝ่ายพรหมณ์เขาก็จะพูดว่า สําหรับจิตหรืออาตมันเข้าไปจับฉวยเอา. แต่ถ้าพูดอย่างภาษาชาวพุทธพูดอย่างนั้นไม่ได้ เพราะไม่มีจิตไม่มีอาตมันชนิดนั้น แล้วจิตนี้ก็เพิ่งเกิดขึ้นหลังอารมณ์กระทบแล้ว; เลยต้องพูดตามพระบาลีที่ว่า อาศัยตาด้วย อาศัยรูปด้วย ย่อมเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ; ตาอาศัยกับรูปคืออารมณ์นั้นได้แล้วจึงจะเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ วิญญาณหรือจิตนี้เกิดทีหลัง

…. ฉะนั้น จึงไม่พูดว่า อารมณ์นี้เป็นสิ่งสําหรับจิตหรือตัวตนเข้าไปจับฉวยยึดเอา; ถ้าพูดอย่างนั้นมันก็จะเป็นฮินดูหรือพราหมณ์ไป คือมีตัวตนไป. พูดอย่างพุทธไม่มีตัวตน ทุกอย่างไม่ใช่ตัวตน เป็นสักว่าธาตุ, ได้การปรุงแต่งที่เหมาะแล้วมันก็ปรุงแต่งเป็นสิ่งใหม่ขึ้นมา ในนั้นอาจจะมีความรู้สึกโง่ไปว่าเป็นตัวเราก็ได้

…. ฉะนั้น คําว่าอารมณ์ ถ้าถือตามหลักในทางพุทธศาสนา ก็แปลว่า สิ่งที่อาศัยกันกับจิต จะเรียกว่าเป็นที่หน่วงของจิตมันก็ยังได้: ถ้าเข้าใจผิดมันก็ผิดได้: เรียกว่าสิ่งที่อาศัยกับอายตนะ แล้วก็เกิดเป็นความรู้สึกเป็นจิตขึ้นมา จิตกําลังหน่วงสิ่งนั้นเป็นอารมณ์ก็ได้ แต่จะให้เป็นตัวตนนั้นไม่ได้

…. โดยพยัญชนะก็มีอยู่อย่างนี้ ตัวพยัญชนะก็ยังกํากวม อารมฺมณํ หรือที่มาจาก อาลมฺพนํ ก็แปลว่า ที่หน่วงของจิต. ถ้าจะถือว่ามาจาก รม ที่แปลว่า ยินดี ก็แปลว่า มันเป็นสิ่งที่หลงใหลยินดีของจิต อย่างนี้ก็ยังได้อีก

…. แต่ขอให้รู้จักจากภายในดีกว่าที่จะมารู้จักจากตัวหนังสือ เมื่อตากระทบรูป เมื่อหูกระทบเสียง เป็นต้น มันเกิดขึ้นในใจ, แล้วสังเกตเอาที่นั่นก็แล้วกัน ว่ารูปที่มากระทบตานั้นมันคืออะไร? เสียงที่มากระทบหูนั้นมันคืออะไร? จะค่อยเข้าใจแจ่มแจ้งขึ้นทีละน้อยๆ ว่าอารมณ์นั้นคืออะไร? แต่ให้เข้าใจไว้ทีหนึ่งก่อนว่าสิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์ๆที่มากระทบนี้ มันยังไม่ดีไม่ชั่ว ยังไม่จัดเป็นสิ่งดีสิ่งชั่ว มันต้องผสมปรุงแต่งเป็นความคิดอย่างนั้นอย่างนี้เสียก่อน จึงจะจัดเป็นดีเป็นชั่ว อารมณ์ล้วนๆยังไม่ดีไม่ชั่ว จะได้รู้จักป้องกัน อย่าให้เป็นไปในทางชั่ว, ให้เป็นไปแต่ในทางดีได้ตามปรารถนา

…. นี้เรียกว่าโดยพยัญชนะ โดยตัวหนังสือ คําว่า “อารมณ์” แปลว่า เป็นที่ยินดีแห่งจิต, เป็นที่ยึดหน่วงแห่งจิต; โดยเฉพาะภาษาอภิธรรมแล้วก็ใช้คําว่า “เป็นที่หน่วงเอาของจิต”, คือจิตย่อมหน่วงสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่งเป็นอารมณ์ แปลคําว่าอารมณ์บ้าง, อาลัมพนะ แปลว่า เป็นที่หน่วงเอา.

…. เดี๋ยวนี้เราเรียนพุทธศาสนาไม่ใช่เรามาเรียนหนังสือบาลี, เราจะเรียนพระธรรมคําสอนของพระพุทธเจ้า เราก็ต้องดูสิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์ โดยหลักของธรรมชาติที่ปรุงแต่งกันอยู่ในใจดีกว่า; ก็อย่างพระบาลีที่ได้ว่ามาแล้วข้างต้นว่า จกฺขุญฺจ ปฏิจฺจ รูเป จ อุปฺปชฺชติ จกฺขุวิญฺญาณํ = เพราะอาศัยตาด้วย รูปด้วย ย่อมบังเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ ติณฺณํ ธมฺมานํ สงฺคติ ผสฺโส - การประจวบกันของ ๓ สิ่งนี้เรียกว่า “ผัสสะ”, ผสฺสปจฺจยา เวทนา = เพราะผัสสะเป็นปัจจัยจึงเกิดเวทนา, อย่างนี้เรื่อยไปจนเกิดทุกข์ จนเกิดความทุกข์, นี้เรียกว่าโดยธรรมชาติ

…. สิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์มีอยู่โดยธรรมชาติที่จะเข้ามาอาศัยกันกับตาข้างใน ที่มีอยู่ในตัวคน. แล้วจะเกิดจักษุวิญญาณ เป็นต้น ขึ้นในตัวคน; จะเกิด ผัสสะ เวทนา ตัณหา อุปาทาน ภพ ชาติ ขึ้นในตัวคน; นี้โดยธรรมชาติ พระพุทธเจ้าท่านบันดาลอะไรไม่ได้ : ธรรมชาติเป็นอยู่อย่างนี้ แต่ท่านรู้เรื่องนี้ท่านจึงนํามาสอนว่า ธรรมชาติมันมีอยู่อย่างนี้ เราจะต้องเข้าใจให้ถูกต้อง โดยที่จะป้องกันความทุกข์ไม่ให้เกิดขึ้นมาได้, หรือถ้าเกิดขึ้นมาได้ก็จะดับเสียได้

…. เราควรจะรู้จักอารมณ์ในฐานะที่เป็นธรรมชาติอันหนึ่ง ที่มีอยู่ตามธรรมชาติ แล้วที่จะเข้ามาทําเรื่องทําราวขึ้นในจิตใจของคนเราให้เกิดปัญหายุ่งยากนี้ให้ดีๆ นี้เรียกว่ารู้จักอารมณ์จากธรรมชาติโดยตรงอย่างนี้ ดีกว่าที่จะรู้จักตามตัวหนังสือ, ดีกว่าที่จะรู้จักตามคําบอกเล่าบางอย่างบางประการที่มันไม่มีประโยชน์อะไร. รู้จักตามคําบอกเล่าก็รู้จักตามที่พระพุทธเจ้าท่านตรัสดีกว่า แต่แล้วยังไม่รู้จักตัวจริง จนกว่าจะมารู้จักจากที่เมื่ออารมณ์มากระทบตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ เข้าจริงๆ : นั่นจึงจะรู้จักอารมณ์ รู้จักผลที่เกิดขึ้นจากการกระทบของอารมณ์, รู้จักต่อไปตามลําดับ จนแก้ปัญหาต่างๆ ได้

…. นี่ ขอร้องให้รู้จักสิ่งที่เรียกว่า อารมณ์ ในฐานะที่เป็นธรรมชาติอันหนึ่ง ที่มีอยู่ตามธรรมชาติ ที่จะเข้ามากระทบอายตนะภายใน คือ กระทบ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ แล้วมีเรื่องมีราวมีปัญหา

อารมณ์ คือ โลก - โลก คือ อารมณ์ …. “ ที่นี้จะให้ดูต่อไปอีก ว่าโดยข้อเท็จจริงที่เป็นอยู่แล้ว อารมณ์นั้นคืออะไร? ถ้าจะพูดโดยข้อเท็จจริงหรือตามสถานการณ์ที่เป็นอยู่จริงในชีวิตของคนเรา อารมณ์มันก็คือ “โลก” นั่นเอง. เดี๋ยวนี้เราไม่รู้จักโลกในฐานะอย่างนี้, เราไปเข้าใจความหมายของคําว่าโลกแคบไปบ้าง หรือว่าเขวไปบ้าง.

…. ถ้าจะรู้ตามหลักพระพุทธศาสนาแล้ว โลกทั้งหมดก็คือสิ่งที่จะมาปรากฏแก่ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ ของเรา, เรามีเพียง ๖ อย่าง, แล้วมันก็ ปรากฏได้เพียง ๖ ทาง, มากกว่านั้นมันปรากฏไม่ได้ ดังนั้น โลกก็คือสิ่งที่จะมาปรากฏแก่ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ ๖ อย่างของเรา. “โลก” ก็คือ รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ธัมมารมณ์ ๖ ประการเท่านั้น, ไม่มีอะไรมากไปกว่านั้น

…. ฉะนั้น รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ธัมมารมณ์ แต่ละอย่าง ๆ ก็คือ โลกในแต่ละแง่ละมุม นั่นเอง, ที่เป็น รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ก็อยู่ข้างนอก จะเรียกว่าอยู่ข้างนอกก็ได้, ที่เป็นอารมณ์เกิดขึ้นในใจ ปรุงขึ้นในใจก็เรียกว่าโลกข้างในก็ได้ แต่มันก็เป็นโลกอยู่นั่นแหละ เพราะมันเป็นสิ่งที่จิตจะต้องรู้สึก จิตรู้สึกก็เรียกว่าโลกสําหรับจิต ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย รู้สึก ก็เรียกว่าโลกสำหรับ ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย. นี้ขอให้มองให้เห็นชัดตามพระพุทธประสงค์ว่า โลก ก็คือ อารมณ์, อารมณ์ ก็คือ โลก.

…. แต่ทีนี้ พระพุทธเจ้าท่านมองลึกกว่านั้น ท่านตรัสถึงข้อที่ว่า ถ้ามันมาเกิดเป็นปัญหาแก่เราเมื่อไรจึงจะเรียกว่า “มันมี” พอมันมาเป็นปัญหาแก่เราเมื่อไรก็เรียกว่า “เป็นทุกข์”; เพราะว่าเราได้ไปจับฉวยยึดถือเอาตามประสาตามวิสัยของคนที่ไม่รู้จักโลก ถ้าพูดว่าไม่รู้จักโลกแล้วคนก็มักจะไม่ยอมรับ เพราะว่าเขาจะพูดว่าเขารู้จักโลกดี. ยิ่งพวกฝรั่งสมัยนี้ นักวิทยาศาสตร์ปราดเปรื่องนั้น เขาจะไม่ยอมรับว่าเขาไม่รู้จักโลก. แต่ถ้าพูดตามหลักพุทธศาสนาแล้วก็จะพูดได้ว่ายังไม่รู้จักโลกเลย เป็นคนตาบอดยิ่งกว่าตาบอด; เพราะว่าฝรั่งเหล่านั้นรู้จักโลกแต่ในแง่สําหรับจะยึดมั่นถือมั่นเป็น “ตัวกู ของกู” จะครองโลกจะอะไร เอาประโยชน์ทุกอย่าง; เขารู้จักโลกในแง่นี้ อย่างนี้พุทธบริษัทไม่เรียกว่า “รู้จักโลก”; แต่ถือว่าเป็นคนตาบอดต่อโลก, หลงยึดมั่นถือมั่นในโลก. เพราะว่าคนเหล่านั้นไม่รู้จักโลกโดยความเป็นอารมณ์ ๖ ประการ คือ รูป เสียง กลิ่นรส โผฏฐัพพะ ธัมมารมณ์, แล้วเป็น “มายา” คือ เอาจริงไม่ได้ เป็นของชั่วคราวๆ หลอกให้เกิดความรู้สึกยึดมั่นถือมั่น

…. นี้เรารู้จัก เราไม่ไปหลงยึดมั่นถือมั่นกับมัน นี้จึงเรียกว่า “คนที่รู้จักโลก” ไปตามหลักของพุทธศาสนา, ฉะนั้น จึงไม่ยึดมั่นถือมั่นสิ่งใดโดยความเป็นตัวตน หรือโดยความเป็นของตน, เรียกว่าเป็นผู้รู้จักอารมณ์ ๖ ประการนั้นก็คือรู้จักโลกทั้งปวง, แล้วก็ไม่หลงไปในโลกในแง่ใดแง่หนึ่ง นี้เรียกว่า อารมณ์ ก็คือ โลก นั่นเอง ในความหมายที่ลึกที่สุดของพระพุทธสาสนา ไม่ใช่โลกก้อนดิน, ไม่ใช่โลกก้อนกลมๆ นี้. แต่มันหมายถึงคุณค่าอะไรที่มันมีอยู่ในโลกกลมๆ นี้ ที่จะเข้ามามาทําให้เกิดปัญหา ที่ตา ที่หู ที่จมูก ที่ลิ้น ที่กาย ที่ใจ ของคน. นั่นแหละคือตัวร้ายกาจของสิ่งที่เรียกว่า โลก เราจะต้องรู้จักในส่วนนี้ให้เพียงพอ

อารมณ์ในโลกปัจจุบันมารวมที่วัตถุนิยม …. ทีนี้ ดูอีกแง่หนึ่งก็โดยปัญหาที่กําลังมีอยู่ อารมณ์ในโลกนี้ในฐานะที่มันเป็นตัวปัญหาที่กําลังมีอยู่ มันมารวมอยู่ที่คําว่า “วัตถุนิยม”: หมายความว่า ตา หู จมูก ลิ้น กาย ใจ นี้ มันเป็นฝ่ายชนะ ไปหลงใหลในอารมณ์ รูป เสียง กลิ่น รส โผฏฐัพพะ ฯลฯ, แล้วก็เกิดนิยมหลงใหลในวัตถุเหล่านั้น จนเกิดความคิดใหม่ๆ, ปรุงแต่งไปในทางที่จะให้หลงใหลในโลกยิ่งขึ้นๆ, ความเจริญก้าวหน้า ในโลกสมัยนี้เป็นไปแต่ในทางอย่างนี้ ฉะนั้น จึงไกลความสงบ, ไกลสันติภาพ ไกลอะไรออกไปทุกที. การที่มนุษย์ที่มีปัญญาในโลกสมัยนี้ โดยเฉพาะฝรั่งที่ก้าวหน้านั้นเขาก็จัดโลกไปแต่ในแง่ของวัตถุมากขึ้นๆ: มันก็ไกลจากสันติภาพ ไกลจากความสงบสุขยิ่งขึ้นทุกที

…. ความสะดวกสบายที่ทําให้เกิดขึ้นมาได้นั้น ไม่ได้ช่วยส่งเสริมเกิดสันติภาพ; แต่มันช่วยให้เกิดความหลงในโลกนั้นเองมากขึ้น แล้วก็ช่วยให้หลงใหลใน “ตัวกู ของกู”, ยึดมั่นถือมั่นเห็นแก่ตัวมากขึ้น รวมกันแล้วมันไม่มีทางที่จะเกิดสันติภาพหรือสันติสุขในโลกได้เลย, จึงกลายเป็นความหลอกลวงเหลือประมาณ โลกจึงกลายเป็นความหลอกลวง, หรือสิ่งที่หลอกลวงเหลือประมาณใน เวลานี้ เราเรียกกันว่า ติดบ่วง หรือว่า ติดเหยื่อของวัตถุนิยม. คําพูดทั้งหมดนี้ ล้วนแต่เป็นการแสดงให้เห็นว่า อารมณ์นี้คืออะไร สิ่งที่เรียกว่าอารมณ์นั้น คือตัวโลกที่กําลังหลอกลวงเราอยู่ทุกวันอย่างยิ่ง โดยเฉพาะในปัจจุบันนี้เป็นวัตถุนิยม นี้คืออารมณ์”

พุทธทาสภิกขุ ที่มา : ธรรมบรรยายภาคมาฆบูชา ครั้งที่ ๗ หัวข้อเรื่อง “อารมณ์ คือ ปัจจัยแห่งเหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างในโลก” เมื่อวันที่ ๑๖ กุมภาพันธ์ ๒๕๑๗ จากหนังสือชุดธรรมโฆษณ์ เล่มชื่อว่า “ก ข ก กา ของการศึกษาพุทธศาสนา”

หมายเหตุ

“อารมณ์ ” ในทางพุทธศาสนา มี ๖ คือ... * ๑. รูปะ = รูป, สิ่งที่เห็น หรือ วัณณะ คือ สี * ๒. สัททะ = เสียง * ๓. คันธะ = กลิ่น * ๔. รสะ = รส * ๕. โผฏฐัพพะ = สัมผัสทางกาย * ๖. ธรรมารมณ์ = สิ่งที่ใจนึกคิด, อารมณ์ที่เกิดกับใจ

…. ทั้ง ๖ อย่างนี้ เป็นสิ่งสำหรับให้จิตยึดหน่วง เรียกอีกอย่างว่า "อายตนะภานนอก" ก็ได้

“อายตนะภายใน ๖” คือ ที่เชื่อมต่อให้เกิดความรู้, แดนต่อความรู้ฝ่ายภายใน มี * ๖ อย่าง คือ... * ๑. จักษุ - ตา * ๒. โสตะ - หู * ๓. ฆานะ - จมูก * ๔. ชิวหา - ลิ้น * ๕. กาย - กาย * ๖. มโน - ใจ

… หรือจะเรียกอีกอย่างว่า “อินทรีย์ ๖” ก็ได้ เพราะเป็นใหญ่ในหน้าที่ของตนแต่ละอย่าง เช่น จักษุ เป็นเจ้าการ(เป็นใหญ่)ในการเห็น เป็นต้น

ท. ส. ปัญญาวุฑโฒ – รวบรวม.

@ 7460b7fd:4fc4e74b

比特币正在主动引诱量子计算“破解自己”

引言：危机还是契机？

比特币和量子计算，这两个看似对立的存在，正在酝酿一场耐人寻味的博弈。许多人担心未来强大的量子计算机将秒破比特币的密码学基石，从而令区块链安全灰飞烟灭。然而，本文想传达的核心观点却截然相反：比特币不仅不会被量子破解打败，反而正在通过协议层的巧妙设计来“引诱”量子计算进入自己的游戏规则之中。通过诸如BIP-360等提案，比特币有望将量子计算的威胁转化为动力，开启一个“后挖矿时代”的全新正反馈经济体系，让“破解”本身成为新的挖矿机制。

这样的观点听起来近乎狂想，但背后有着深厚的技术逻辑支撑。我们将从基本的密码学原理谈起，逐步剖析量子计算的能力与局限，以及比特币协议在抗量子方向做出的结构性准备。最后，我们探讨一种大胆的经济模型：当量子计算被诱导去参与“破解竞赛”时，或许正是比特币凤凰涅槃、新经济形态崛起之机。

非对称加密的数学本质：“上帝视角”的陷门答案

非对称加密（如RSA、椭圆曲线加密ECC等）的核心在于存在一种单向函数：正向计算容易，反向推导极难。公钥可以视作某个难题的题目，私钥则相当于“上帝视角”提前知道的答案。一旦掌握私钥，就能轻松完成从答案到题目的逆推；而只有公钥时，想要逆推出私钥则被设计为在现实中不可行。这类单向难题通常通过陷门函数来实现——对合法持有者（私钥）来说，存在隐藏的捷径（陷门）可以快速解题；而对局外人来说，题目看似无解。

举例来说，比特币当前采用的ECC加密：私钥与公钥的关系就像“一次难以逆推的乘法”。给定私钥x，乘以基点G可轻易得到公钥点P = x·G，但已知P却无法高效求出x。这种不对称确保了签名者可以用私钥生成签名，而验证者只能用公钥验证签名而无法伪造。私钥掌握了解题的“上帝答案”，公钥则只能用于验证答案是否正确。

这一点在新型的抗量子算法中同样体现。以格密码（lattice cryptography）为例：Falcon等基于NTRU格的签名算法，其公钥可以被视为一个高维长基，私钥是对应的短基。pqshield.com在二维格子上的示意说明了这种不对称性：拥有短基（私钥）时，我们可以高效地找到距离某个目标点很近的格点解；但只有长基（公钥）时，我们顶多能验证某个给定解是否有效，却很难自行找到足够优质的解pqshield.com。换言之，私钥提供了一个陷门，允许持有者快速逆推答案，而公钥持有者只能望“题”兴叹。

图：在二维格子中，签名者持有的短基（私钥）可以高效求解出距离目标点（黑色方块）极近的格点解（绿色圆点）。绿色平行四边形表示短基下求解空间很小，因而容易找到最优解。这直观展示了陷门函数的威力：私钥掌握短基就如同拿到了解题捷径。

图：仅持有长基（公钥）时，使用相同算法得到的格点解（红色圆点）可能距离目标（黑色方块）很远。红色平行四边形代表在无陷门情况下求解范围巨大，找到最佳解极其困难。但验证者仍可用长基检查出某个解（如绿色点）确实是有效解pqshield.com。这体现了公私钥在计算能力上的不对称：私钥可求解，公钥仅可验证。

总而言之，非对称加密的安全性源自数学难题的单向性质和陷门结构。私钥就是那个隐藏的逆向通道，“上帝视角”的答案；公钥则是不具备捷径的信息，只够验证而无法逆推。从RSA的整数分解、ECC的离散对数，到Falcon的近似最近矢量问题，每一种公钥体制都是在构造“题目易出答案难逆”的格局，让持有陷门者轻松，旁观破解者绝望。

量子计算的原理与极限：并行穷举的神话与现实

量子计算机令人畏惧之处，在于其并行计算能力。通过量子叠加态，n个量子比特（qubit）可同时表示2^n种状态——仿佛能把指数级的可能性同时考虑。配合量子干涉与算法设计，量子计算机能够以远胜传统计算机的效率解决某些特定问题。其中最著名的就是Shor算法，它能在多项式时间内完成对大整数的质因数分解和离散对数求解。这正是传统公钥加密（RSA、ECC）的命门：一旦有足够强大的量子计算机，基于这些数学问题的公钥体制将不再困难，私钥可以由公钥“解密”而出coindesk.com。

然而，“并行穷举”的神话背后有严格的物理和工程学限制。首先是量子比特数量和质量的限制：当前的量子芯片规模远未达到破解现代加密所需的级别。据风险研究机构与专家调查，目前我们只有几十到几百个物理qubit，而要威胁256位ECC或2048位RSA，需要数百万高质量qubitdeloitte.com。不仅数量上相差几个数量级，现有量子芯片的纠错和降噪技术也远不成熟。量子比特极其敏感，微小噪声都会引入错误，真正实用的量子计算机需要对成千上万的物理比特进行纠错编码，形成稳定的逻辑比特。这个工程挑战之巨大，使得可攻破密码的量子计算机仍是多年之后的前景——多数专家预测大概还需十几年时间才可能出现实质威胁deloitte.com。

其次，量子计算并非万能破解，仅对特定问题有指数级加速。Shor算法擅长因数分解和离散对数，Grover算法可以对无结构的穷举搜索加速（将时间复杂度平方根降低）。但许多新兴的抗量子算法依赖的问题（如格上的最短向量问题SVP、最近向量问题CVP，或多变量方程、哈希预像等）目前并无高效量子算法。这些问题大多属于NP难类，甚至找近似解也极为困难emerginginvestigators.org。尽管量子计算提供并行试探能力，但对这类高度复杂的问题也爱莫能助。正如一项研究指出：SVP和CVP问题即便在量子计算机上依然“极端困难”，在可预见的将来仍足以保证安全性emerginginvestigators.org。Falcon所使用的NTRU格就是这样的难题代表——没有已知算法可以像Shor之于RSA那样，高效攻破NTRU问题。

最后，我们还需注意量子攻击的实际条件。量子破解比特币主要有两种情景：存储攻击和传输攻击deloitte.com。存储攻击指利用量子计算找出已公开公钥对应的私钥，从而盗取静态存放于链上某地址的币；传输攻击则是当交易广播（公钥暴露）后，在被矿工打包上链前的短暂窗口内，量子计算抢先推导私钥并盗转。这两种攻击对量子能力要求不同：存储攻击允许耗时几周甚至数月破解一个密钥，只要在币移动前完成即可；而传输攻击要求在区块确认之前（比特币约10分钟内，以太坊更短）秒破私钥deloitte.com。显然，目前和可预见的中期内，量子计算都远达不到传输攻击所需的即时破解水平；即便存储攻击，由于比特币区块链的UTXO模型（稍后详述），真正高价值、长时间暴露公钥的币也相对有限deloitte.com。因此，量子威胁虽然现实存在，但并非一夜之间让比特币崩溃的魔法。这反倒给予我们部署抗量子方案、引导量子力量“为我所用”的时间窗口。

抗量子密码学的三大结构前提

要让比特币真正抵御量子威胁，并把量子计算纳入自身生态，需要满足几个结构性前提。经过多年社区讨论和研究，以下三点被认为是比特币走向抗量子的关键设计要素：

1. UTXO模型：隐藏公钥缩短攻击窗口 – 比特币采用UTXO模型，每次交易都会生成新地址，公钥通常以哈希形式隐藏在地址中，直到你花费时才公布。这意味着量子计算只有在你发起交易后的很短时间内（交易确认前）才能获得公钥并尝试破解，大大压缩了攻击窗口anduro.iodeloitte.com。相较之下，账户模型（如以太坊）重复使用固定地址，公钥一旦被提取或首次使用后就长久暴露，使得65%以上的以太币当前都处于量子暴露风险中，而比特币约只有25%处于类似风险deloitte.com。UTXO模型通过“一次性地址”和“不用则公钥不出”的原则，天然提供了对抗量子存储攻击的第一道屏障。

2. “见证隔离”（SegWit）：模块化升级签名算法 – 抗量子方案的发展日新月异，比特币必须保持签名算法的可插拔升级能力。2017年的见证隔离升级正是为此奠定基础：SegWit将签名等见证数据与交易本体分离，并引入版本化的见证脚本格式。这使得添加新签名类型成为可能——通过软分叉引入新的输出类型和见证版本，就能兼容地支持不同算法delvingbitcoin.org。正如BIP-341利用SegWit扩展出了Taproot的Schnorr签名，比特币也可以扩展出抗量子签名的新地址类型而无需硬分叉或显著增加区块体积delvingbitcoin.org。这一模块化特性对于迎接未来各类抗量子算法至关重要，没有SegWit的铺垫，抗量子改造将困难重重。

3. 分级安全机制：根据价值和时效选择算法强度 – 由于UTXO的性质，每笔交易在花费时都会暴露其公钥。因此，安全策略不能“一刀切”，应允许根据币值大小或持有时长采用不同强度的抗量子算法。高价值的UTXO、长期未移动的“老币”，应使用更高安全级别但可能更重型的签名方案；反之，小额频繁交易可用较轻量的方案以兼顾效率和区块容量。好比Falcon提供了512和1024两种参数版本：Falcon-1024安全级别更高但签名稍大，而Falcon-512签名更小速度更快，适合资源受限场景emerginginvestigators.org。未来比特币或可同时支持多种抗量子算法或参数，用户按需选用，让“安全性”成为一种可以权衡和市场定价的链上资源。每一次支付都在安全与成本之间找到平衡，这将促使一个分层的安全市场形成——进一步论述见后文经济模型部分。

上述三大前提缺一不可：UTXO模型提供了基础的_安全缓冲_，SegWit机制给予_升级弹性_，分级算法让_经济可行性_落地。在这方面，比特币的体系结构远优于某些后来的公链。例如，以太坊的账户模型天生缺乏隐藏公钥的机制，地址就是固定的公钥哈希，一旦使用过私钥签名就永久暴露公钥，同时其交易脚本（EVM）对签名算法固定死，没有灵活插拔空间。这意味着以太坊想转向抗量子算法，必须经过极其痛苦的整体迁移或硬分叉——开发者需要为每个账户引入新密钥，新老算法并行过渡，智能合约地址、签名验证逻辑全部推倒重来。这种难度令人生畏，以至于有人嘲讽以太坊“几乎不可能”实现真正的抗量子迁移。反观比特币，得益于其简单而弹性的UTXO+Script设计，只需通过新的输出类型软分叉，就可以逐步引入抗量子地址，让用户自愿迁移过渡，避免一次性硬分叉的系统性风险。

BIP-360：可选抗量子签名，引入量子博弈

面对量子威胁，比特币开发社区并未坐以待毙。2024年，由开发者Hunter Beast提出的BIP-360提案（又称P2QRH，意为“支付到抗量子哈希”）正式将抗量子签名引入了议事日程anduro.io。BIP-360核心思路是在比特币中增加新的地址类型，这些地址采用后量子密码学的签名算法（当前优先考虑Falcon，并备选CRYSTALS-Dilithium和SPHINCS+等）来取代易受量子攻击的ECDSA/Schnorr签名anduro.iogroups.google.com。换句话说，用户可以自愿选择生成一种“抗量子地址”，对应的UTXO需使用抗量子算法签名才能解锁。

为什么说BIP-360让比特币“引诱”量子计算加入博弈？这里有几层含义：

首先，BIP-360采用软分叉方式部署，可选而非强制。这意味着在量子计算真正成熟之前，绝大多数交易仍可继续使用原有签名算法，不平添负担；而有安全偏好的用户或机构可以提前迁移一部分资金到抗量子地址以高枕无忧。随着量子技术进展，逐步会有更多人选择这个选项，形成一个与量子威胁赛跑的过程。这种自愿迁移机制本身就是一种对量子黑客的诱导：网络主动暴露出一个“堡垒更坚固”的区域，鼓励守法用户往那里走，同时意味着留下的旧区域反而成为显眼的攻击目标和“诱饵”。

其次，BIP-360在算法选择和参数上充分考虑了区块链经济的承受力。起初提案曾讨论过一些前沿算法如SQIsign，但发现其验证开销高达ECDSA的15,000倍，若全网采用将使验证一块新区块从1秒暴涨到4小时，带来难以接受的性能瓶颈groups.google.com。最终的方案优选Falcon等NIST标准算法，它们签名体积较小、验证高效，可与当前区块大小和验证速度相容groups.google.com。例如Falcon-1024的签名约1.3KB、公钥1.7KB左右，这虽然比当前64字节的Schnorr签名大得多，但并非无法承受。通过配置灵活的安全级别（如重要交易才用Falcon-1024，一般小额用Falcon-512或普通Schnorr），比特币区块空间将被合理分配在安全性和费用之间。BIP-360精心设计了新的地址格式和见证结构，确保即便引入抗量子签名，区块验证和存储开销也在经济范围内，不会动摇挖矿和节点运行的成本平衡anduro.io。

最后也是最具前瞻性的一点，BIP-360为量子计算参与链上博弈打开了一扇门。通过提供抗量子和非抗量子地址并存的环境，比特币网络其实设置了一个对量子计算的挑战擂台：量子计算可以选择去攻击那些仍使用旧签名算法且价值巨大的UTXO，但同一时间，网络里的用户也在不断提升关键UTXO的签名强度来应对。量子计算不再是一个纯粹的外部敌人，而被巧妙地“请”进了系统，在规则内与用户和矿工互动。这为下一节将讨论的新经济模型奠定了基础——破解即挖矿的雏形由此孕育。

值得一提的是，BIP-360还提出了一个Taproot的量子安全补丁方案P2TRH，用哈希隐藏Taproot的公钥以弥补其“公钥长曝”缺陷groups.google.comgroups.google.com。因为现有的Taproot地址（见证v1）是直接以公钥生成地址，失去了UTXO模型隐藏公钥的优势，量子攻击者可以随时尝试破解Taproot资金。P2TRH通过将Taproot公钥再哈希一层，恢复“见证前隐藏公钥”的特性，代价是每笔此类输入增加8.25字节开销groups.google.com。这显示出比特币开发者未雨绸缪，连新升级的Taproot漏洞也在想办法弥补，使全局达到抗量子的结构性统一。

综上，BIP-360及相关提案不仅提供了技术方案，更释放出一种积极的信号：比特币正主动拥抱量子挑战，将其纳入规则之内。正如Anduro团队支持BIP-360时所言：“量子攻击的威胁严肃而迫近，我们不能坐等紧急关头才手忙脚乱。”anduro.ioanduro.io比特币社区选择了在危机到来前主动布局，以最小的代价换取最大的安全冗余和发展新契机。

“破解竞赛”经济模型：当量子成为新矿工

设想未来5-15年内，量子计算技术逐步成熟。在比特币网络中，可能会上演这样一幕令人惊叹的图景：量子计算矿工和抗量子验证者同时在线，围绕着尚未升级的老式UTXO展开一场你追我赶的“破解竞赛”。这将引发怎样的经济动力？我们大胆描绘一个后PoW时代的可能场景：

一方面，强大的量子计算机不再浪费算力去挖掘哈希谜题（传统PoW），而是直接瞄准那些“量子易攻”的UTXO，即尚使用老式ECDSA/Schnorr签名且公钥已暴露的地址。这些地址里的币对合法持有人来说如果迟迟未迁移到抗量子地址，实际上就变成了躺在链上的“悬赏”：谁能先算出私钥，谁就能转走这些币。在量子计算参与者眼中，这些币和早期比特币矿工眼中的区块奖励无异，都是凭借算力可竞争获取的收益。值得注意的是，根据分析，目前约有25%的比特币（按币量）处于公钥已暴露状态deloitte.com。随着时间推移，这个比例可能上升——除非持有人主动升级安全。这就像网络故意留出了一片“牧场”，让量子计算在其中竞相捕猎，以获得收益。量子攻击者之间形成竞争：更快的量子芯片、更好的算法意味着可以更早破解特定私钥，拿下那笔币。这几乎就是PoW的变体——过去矿工拼SHA-256算力抢区块奖励，未来量子矿工拼质因数分解/离散对数能力抢遗留UTXO。

另一方面，守护这片“牧场”的则是抗量子验证者和普通用户自身的防范行为。所谓抗量子验证者，可能是运行完整后量子节点或提供安全服务的专业机构。他们一方面帮助用户升级UTXO（例如提供一键迁移服务，把旧地址币转移到新PQ地址上，收取服务费），另一方面监测全网可疑交易。当量子攻击者尝试盗取某UTXO时，如果该UTXO持有者事先购买了“安全服务”，验证者可以抢先代为花费将币转移到更安全的地址（类似白帽黑客行为），或者提供更高级别签名升级以挫败攻击。总之，抗量子能力本身也成为一种商品，在市场上明码标价。你想让自己的币绝对安全？可以付费请量子安全服务团队定期轮换密钥、使用最高强度签名、监控链上异常。你的交易想确保不中途被截胡？可以支付更高矿工费甚至指定量子保险节点护送。在链上，一个根据签名难度和安全级别定价的市场逐渐形成：越高难度的签名（比如超长位的Falcon变种、多重签名方案结合等）需要支付越高的费用来存储和验证；反过来，这些费用补贴给保障网络安全的矿工/节点，激励他们投入更多资源提升抗量子能力。这种正反馈循环下，“安全”本身成为了新的经济激励。

如此一来，比特币生态迎来了“后挖矿时代”的转型：当区块补贴逐渐趋零，原本空缺的矿工激励由量子破解竞赛和安全服务市场所填补。量子计算加入竞争并非摧毁网络，反而扮演起类似矿工的角色，通过攻破薄弱环节来获得收益；而诚实的参与者则通过不断升级安全措施和支付安全费用来保护资产。这看似矛盾，却形成了动态平衡：正如生物进化中的“红后效应”，猎豹越快，羚羊也进化得更快，两者共同提升了系统的活力。

当然，这一模型中也充满戏剧性和讽刺意味——尤其当我们把眼光投向其他缺乏这种机制的公链。以太坊等账户制链若在量子时代陷入危机，很可能只能选择停机硬分叉、或者由中心化机构出面更换用户密钥，几乎无自动博弈的空间可言。而比特币网络则通过精妙的协议调整，把外部威胁内化为内部博弈，让市场机制去调节和应对。这种弹性与活力，正是比特币经久不衰的原因。

结语：危机催生新生，量子力量为我所用

当年互联网面对计算机病毒肆虐时，人们最终没有被动防守，而是发展出杀毒产业、安全协议，将病毒的威胁转化为推动网络更加健壮的动力。同样道理，比特币面对量子计算的冲击，并非只能筑高墙固步自封，而是选择了更具前瞻性的道路：拥抱威胁、化敌为友。通过提前布局抗量子基础设施（UTXO模型、SegWit扩展、PQ签名算法）、逐步推行BIP-360等方案，比特币正悄然改变游戏规则。在这个新规则中，量量对决、攻守博弈将上演全新篇章，网络安全不再是一成不变的盾牌，而是一套动态进化的生态系统。

或许若干年后回望，我们会发现量子计算并没有摧毁比特币，反而成就了比特币历史上的一次重大飞跃——开启了一个后工作量证明时代的新纪元。在这个纪元里，“破解就是新挖矿”不再只是戏谑之语，而成为链上真实上演的经济现象；“出售安全”也从附属服务变成每个节点和用户的日常考量。比特币将继续履行其角色：作为一个去中心化的、自我强化的金融体系，它有能力将任何挑战转化为自身进化的燃料。

正如BIP-360提案作者所言，这是一个“when 而非 if”的议题anduro.io。量子计算终将到来，而比特币已在主动邀请它参与一场精心设计的游戏。当量子计算机真的站上擂台，比特币早已不再是那个任人宰割的靶子，而更像是一位早已摆好阵势的棋手，静候对手入局。在这盘大棋中，没有永远的猎物，只有不断进化的猎人。比特币，会是那个始终笑到最后的“猎人”吗？让我们拭目以待。

参考文献：

• 【18】PQShield博客：《Falcon – A Post-Quantum Signature Scheme》 – 阐释格密码中长基（公钥）与短基（私钥）的不对称性pqshield.com。

• 【28】Deloitte报告：《Quantum risk to the Ethereum blockchain》 – 比较了比特币UTXO模型与以太坊账户模型在量子攻击下的差异，指出以太坊65%资产易受量子威胁，而比特币约25%deloitte.comdeloitte.com。

• 【23】Bitcoin开发者论坛：《Proposing a P2QRH BIP towards a quantum resistant soft fork》 – 描述了通过SegWit扩展新签名算法的思路，无需硬分叉且不增加区块大小delvingbitcoin.org。

• 【22】Emerging Investigators论文：《A meta-analysis on NIST post-quantum cryptographic primitive finalists》 – 说明Falcon-512与Falcon-1024在安全性和性能上的差异，并强调SVP/CVP等问题对量子计算依然极为困难emerginginvestigators.orgemerginginvestigators.org。

• 【36】Anduro博客：《Bitcoin Needs Quantum Resistant Addresses – We Support BIP360》 – 介绍了BIP-360提案内容，引入抗量子地址类型P2QRH，采用Falcon和Dilithium签名，软分叉兼容anduro.io。同时强调量子威胁需提早应对的紧迫性anduro.ioanduro.io。

• 【32】Bitcoin开发邮件列表：《P2QRH/BIP-360 Update》 – 提供了BIP-360提案的最新动态，算法选型从SQIsign转向Falcon、Dilithium、SPHINCS+，原因是前者验证开销过大（15,000倍）而不切实际groups.google.comgroups.google.com。

• 【30】CoinDesk报道：《Quantum Computing Could Break Bitcoin-Like Encryption Far Easier…》 – 提及比特币所用ECC也可被Shor算法破解，只要有足够强大的量子计算机coindesk.com。

• 【33】Deloitte报告：《Quantum risk to the Ethereum blockchain》 – 阐述当前量子计算的物理局限：需要上百万qubit且降低噪声量级，目前技术远不能攻击密码算法deloitte.com。

• 【38】Bitcoin开发邮件列表：《P2QRH/BIP-360 Update》 – 描述了针对Taproot的P2TRH抗量子方案，用哈希隐藏公钥以减小长时间暴露，并分析其开销和局限groups.google.comgroups.google.com。

@ 1c5ff3ca:efe9c0f6

Just calling it Open is not enough - Herausforderungen öffentlicher Bildungsinfrastrukturen und wie Nostr helfen könnte

Ich möchte gerne mit euch teilen, an welchen Konzepten ich arbeite, um die öffentliche Bildungsinfrastruktur mit Hilfe von Nostr zugänglicher und offener zu gestalten. Ich arbeite im Bereich öffentlicher Bildungsinfrastrukturen, besonders im Feld von Open Educational Resources (#OER). OER sind offen lizenzierte Bildungsmaterialien, die mit einer offenen Lizenz, meist einer Creative Commons Lizenz, versehen sind (CC-0, CC-BY, CC-BY-SA). Durch die klare und offene Lizenzierung ist es leicht möglich, die Lernmaterialien auf die individuellen Bedarfe anzupassen, sie zu verbessern und sie erneut zu veröffentlichen.

Seit vielen Jahren wird einerseits die Entwicklung freier Bildungsmaterialien gefördert, andererseits werden Plattformen, insbesondere Repositorien gefördert, die diese Materialien verfügbar machen sollen. Denn irgendwo müssen diese Materialien zur Verfügung gestellt werden, damit sie auch gefunden werden können.

Das klappt allerdings nur so mittelgut.

Herausforderungen

Nach vielen Jahren Förderung kann die einfache Frage: "Wo kann ich denn mein OER-Material bereitstellen" nicht einfach beantwortet werden. Es gibt Services, bei denen ich mein OER hochladen kann, jedoch bleibt es dann eingeschlossen in dieser Plattform und wird nicht auf anderen Plattformen auffindbar. Außerdem sind diese Services häufig an bestimmte Bildungskontexte gebunden oder geben Content erst nach einer Qualitätsprüfung frei. Dies führt dazu, dass ein einfaches und gleichzeitig öffentliches Teilen nicht möglich ist.

Diese und weitere Herausforderungen haben ihren Ursprung darin, dass Service und Infrastruktur in der Architektur öffentlichen Bildungsarchitektur ungünstig vermischt werden. Als Infrastruktur verstehe ich hier die Bereitstellung einer öffentlichen und offen zugänglichen Bildungsinfrastruktur, auf der Daten ausgetauscht, also bereitgestellt und konsumiert werden können. Jedoch existiert eine solche Infrstruktur momentan nicht unabhängig von den Services, die auf ihr betrieben werden. Infrastrukturbetreiber sind momentan gleichzeitig immer Servicebetreiber. Da sie aber die Hand darüber haben wollen, was genau in ihrem Service passiert (verständlich), schränken sie den Zugang zu ihrer Infrastruktur mit ein, was dazu führt, dass sie Lock-In Mechanismen großer Medienplattformen in der kleinen öffentlichen Bildungsinfrastruktur replizieren.

Es ist in etwas so, als würde jeder Autobauer auch gleichzeitig die Straßen für seine Fahrzeuge bauen. Aber halt nur für seine Autos.

Anhand einiger beispielhafter Services, die bestehende Plattformen auf ihren Infrastrukturen anbieten, möchte ich die Herausforderungen aufzeigen, die ich im aktuellen Architekturkonzept sehe:

• Upload von Bildungsmaterial
• Kuration: Zusammenstellung von Listen, Annotation mit Metadaten
• Crawling, Indexierung und Suche
• Plattfformübergreifende Kollaboration in Communities -> Beispiel: Qualitätssicherung (was auch immer das genau bedeutet)
• KI- Services -> Beispiel: KI generierte Metadaten für BiIdungsmaterial

Material Upload

Der Service "Material-Upload" oder das Mitteilen eines Links zu einem Bildungsmaterial wird von verschiedenen OER-Pattformen bereitgestellt (wirlernenonline.de, oersi.org, mundo.schule).

Dies bedeutet konkret: Wenn ich bei einer der Plattformen Content hochlade, verbleibt der Content in der Regel auch dort und wird nicht mit den anderen Plattformen geteilt. Das Resultat für die User: Entweder muss ich mich überall anmelden und dort mein Material hochladen (führt zu Duplikaten) oder damit leben, dass eben nur die Nutzer:innen der jeweiligen Plattform meinen Content finden können.

Der "Open Educational Resource Search Index" (OERSI) geht diese Herausforderung an, indem die Metadaten zu den Bildungsmaterialien verschiedener Plattformen in einem Index bereitgestellt werden. Dieser Index ist wiederum öffentlich zugänglich, sodass Plattformen darüber auch Metadaten anderer Plattformen konsumieren können. Das ist schon sehr gut. Jedoch funktioniert das nur für Plattformen, die der OERSI indexiert und für alle anderen nicht. Der OERSI ist auf den Hochschulbereich fokussiert, d.h. andere Bildungskontexte werden hier ausgeschlossen. Der Ansatz für jeden Bildungsbereich einen passenden "OERSI" daneben zustellen skaliert und schlecht und es bleibt die Herausforderung bestehen, dass für jede Quelle, die indexiert werden soll, ein entsprechender Importer/Crawler geschrieben werden muss.

Dieser Ansatz (Pull-Ansatz) rennt den Materialien hinterher.

Es gibt jedoch noch mehr Einschränkungen: Die Plattformen haben sich jeweils auf spezifische Bildungskontexte spezialisiert. D.h. auf die Fragen: Wo kann ich denn mein OER bereitstellen, muss immer erst die Gegenfrage: "Für welchen Bildungsbereich denn?" beantwortet werden. Wenn dieser außerhalb des allgemeinbildendenden Bereichs oder außerhalb der Hochschule liegt, geschweige denn außerhalb des institutionellen Bildungsrahmens, wird es schon sehr, sehr dünn. Kurzum:

• Es ist nicht einfach möglich OER bereitzustellen, sodass es auch auf verschiedenen Plattformen gefunden werden kann.

Kuration

Unter Kuration verstehe ich hier die Zusammenstellung von Content in Listen oder Sammlungs ähnlicher Form sowie die Annotation dieser Sammlungen oder des Contents mit Metadaten.

Einige Plattformen bieten die Möglichkeit an, Content in Listen einzuordnen. Diese Listen sind jedoch nicht portabel. Die Liste, die ich auf Plattform A erstelle, lässt sich nicht auf Plattform B importieren. Das wäre aber schön, denn so könnten die Listen leichter auf anderen Plattformen erweitert oder sogar kollaborativ gestaltet werden, andererseits werden Lock-In-Effekte zu vermieden.

Bei der Annotation mit Metadaten treten verschiedene zentralisierende Faktoren auf. In der momentanen Praxis werden die Metadaten meist zum Zeitpunkt der Contentbereitstellung festgelegt. Meist durch eine Person oder Redaktion, bisweilen mit Unterstützung von KI-Services, die bei der Metadateneingabe unterstützen. Wie aber zusätzliche eigene Metadaten ergänzen? Wie mitteilen, dass dieses Material nicht nur für Biologie, sondern auch für Sport in Thema XY super einsetzbar wäre? Die momentanen Ansätze können diese Anforderung nicht erfüllen. Sie nutzen die Kompetenz und das Potential ihrer User nicht.

• Es gibt keine interoperablen Sammlungen
• Metadaten-Annotation ist zentralisiert
• User können keine eigenen Metadaten hinzufügen

Crawling, Indexierung und Suche

Da die Nutzer:innen nicht viele verschiedene Plattformen und Webseiten besuchen wollen, um dort nach passendem Content zu suchen, crawlen die "großen" OER-Aggregatoren diese, um die Metadaten des Contents zu indexieren. Über verschiedene Schnittstellen oder gerne auch mal über das rohe HTML. Letztere Crawler sind sehr aufwändig zu schreiben, fehleranfällig und gehen bei Design-Anpassungen der Webseite schnell kaputt, erstere sind etwas stabiler, solange sich die Schnittstelle nicht ändert. Durch den Einsatz des Allgemeinen Metadatenprofils für Bildungsressourcen (AMB) hat sich die Situation etwas verbessert. Einige Plattformen bieten jetzt eine Sitemap an, die Links zu Bildungsmaterial enthalten, die wiederum eingebettet script-tags vom Typ application/ld+json enthalten, sodass die Metadaten von dort importiert werden können.

Beispiel: e-teaching.org bietet hier eine Sitemap für ihre OER an: https://e-teaching.org/oer-sitemap.xml und auf den jeweiligen Seiten findet sich ein entsprechendes script-Tag.

Das ist schon viel besser, aber da geht noch mehr:

Zunächst ist dieser Ansatz nur für Plattformen und Akteure praktikabel, die über IT-Ressourcen verfügen, um entsprechende Funktionalitäten bei sich einbauen zu können. Lehrende können dies nicht einfach auf ihrem privaten Blog oder ähnliches umsetzen. Zum anderen besteht immer noch ein Discovery Problem. Ich muss nach wie vor wissen, wo ich suchen muss. Ich muss die Sitemaps kennen, sonst finde ich nichts. Statt eines Ansatzes, bei dem Akteure eigenständig mitteilen können, dass sie neuen Content haben (Push-Ansatz), verfolgen wir derzeit einen Ansatz, bei dem jede Plattform für sich Content im Pull-Verfahren akquiriert. Dies führt an vielen Stellen zu Doppelarbeiten, ist ineffizient (mehrere Personen bauen genau die gleichen Crawler, aber halt immer für ihre Plattform) und schliesst vor allem kleine Akteure aus (lohnt es sich einen Crawler zu programmieren, wenn die Webseite "nur" 50 Materialien bereitstellt?).

Anstatt erschlossene Daten zu teilen, arbeiten die Plattformen für sich oder stellen es höchstens wieder hinter eigenen (offenen oder geschlossenen) Schnittstellen bereit. Das ist wohl nicht das, was wir uns unter einer offenen und kollaborativen Gemeinschaft vorstellen, oder?

Bei der Suche stehen wir vor ähnlichen Herausforderungen, wie bereits oben geschildert. Obwohl verschiedene OER-Aggregatoren in Form von Repositorien oder Referatorien bereits viele der "kleineren" Plattformen indexieren und somit eine übergreifende Suche anbieten, ist es nicht möglich, diese Aggregatoren gemeinsam zu durchsuchen. Dies führt im Endeffekt dazu, dass die User wieder verschiedene Plattformen ansteuern müssen, wenn sie den gesamten OER-Fundus durchsuchen wollen.

• An vielen Stellen wird Content doppelt erschlossen, aber immer für die eigene Plattform
• Es gibt keinen geteilten Datenraum, in den Akteure Content "pushen" können
• Es gibt keine plattformübergreifenden Suchmöglichkeiten

Plattformübergreifende Kollaboration

Das wäre schön, oder? Mir ist schleierhaft, wie #OEP (Open Educational Practices, genaue Definition durch die Community steht noch aus) ohne funktionieren soll. Aber es gibt meines Wissens nach nicht mal Ansätze, wie das technisch umgesetzt werden soll (oder doch? let me hear).

Ein Szenario für solche plattformübergreifende Kollaboration könnte Qualitätssicherung sein. Gesetzt, dass sich zwei Plattformen / Communities auf etwas verständigt haben, dass sie als "Qualität" bezeichnen, wie aber dieses Gütesiegel nun an den Content bringen?

Plattform A: Na, dann kommt doch alle zu uns. Hier können wir das machen und dann hängt auch ein schönes Badge an den Materialien.

Plattform B: Ja, aber dann hängt es ja nicht an unseren Materialien. Außerdem wollen/müssen wir bei uns arbeiten, weil welche Existenzberechtigung hat denn meine Plattform noch, wenn wir alles bei dir machen?

• Obwohl nun #OEP in aller Munde sind, gibt es keine technischen Ansätze, wie (plattformübergreifende) Kollaboration technisch abgebildet werden kann

KI-Services

Was ist heute schon komplett ohne das Thema KI zu erwähnen? Mindestens für den nächsten Förderantrag muss auch irgendetwas mit KI gemacht werden...

Verschiedene Projekte erarbeiten hilfreiche und beeindruckende KI-Services. Beispielsweise, um die Annotation von Content mit Metadaten zu erleichtern, Metadaten automatisch hinzuzufügen, Content zu bestimmten Themen zu finden oder (halb-)automatisch zu Sammlungen hinzuzufügen. Aber (vielleicht habt ihr es schon erraten): Funktioniert halt nur auf der eigenen Plattform. Vermutlich, weil die Services nah am plattformeigenen Datenmodell entwickelt werden. Und da die Daten dieses Silo nicht verlassen, passt das schon. Das führt dazu, dass an mehreren Stellen die gleichen Services doppelt entwickelt werden.

• KI-Services funktionieren oft nur auf der Plattform für die sie entwickelt werden

Zusammenfassung der Probleme

Wir machen übrigens vieles schon sehr gut (Einsatz des AMB, Offene Bidungsmaterialien, wir haben eine großartige Community) und jetzt müssen wir halt weiter gehen.

(Die OER-Metadatengruppe, die das Allgemeine Metadatenprofil für Bildungsressourcen (AMB) entwickelt hat, bekommt für ihre Arbeit keine direkte Förderung. Gleichzeitig ist sie eine zentrale Anlaufstelle für alle, die mit Metadaten in offenen Bildungsinfrastukturen hantieren und das Metadatenprofil ist eines der wenigen Applikationsprofile, das öffentlich einsehbar, gut dokumentiert ist und Validierungsmöglichkeiten bietet.)

Betrachten wir die gesamten Plattformen und die beschriebenen Herausforderungen aus der Vogelperspektive, so lassen sich drei ineinander verschränkte Kernbestandteile unterscheiden, die helfen, die beschriebenen Probleme besser zu verstehen:

• User
• Service
• Daten

User: Auf (fast) allen Plattformen agieren User. Sie laden Material hoch, annotieren mit Metadaten, sind in einer Community, suchen Content usw. Egal, ob sie sich einloggen können/müssen, irgendetwas bieten wir unseren Usern an, damit sie daraus hoffentlich Mehrwerte ziehen

Service: Das ist dieses irgendetwas. Die "Webseite", die Oberfläche, das, wo der User klicken und etwas tun kann. Es ist das, was den Daten oft eine "visuelle" Form gibt. Der Service ist der Mittler, das Interface zwischen User und Daten. Mithilfe des Services lassen sich Daten erzeugen, verändern oder entfernen (Es gibt natürlich auch viele nicht-visuelle Services, die Interaktion mit Daten ermöglichen, aber für die meisten normalen Menschen, gibt es irgendwo was zu klicken).

Daten: Die Informationen in strukturierter maschinenlesbarer Form, die dem User in gerenderter Form durch einen Service Mehrwerte bieten können. Ungerenderte Daten können wir schwieirg erfassen (wir sind ja nicht Neo). Das können entweder die Metadaten zu Bildungmaterialien sein, die Materialien selbst, Profilinformationen, Materialsammlungen o.ä.

Meines Erachtens nach haben viele der oben beschriebenen Herausforderungen ihren Ursprung darin, dass die drei Kernbestandteile User, Service, Daten ungünstig miteinander verbunden wurden. Was kein Vorwurf sein soll, denn das ist genau die Art und Weise, wie die letzten Jahre (Jahrzehnte?) Plattformen immer gebaut wurden:

• User, Service und Daten werden in einer Plattform gebündelt

Das heisst durch meinen Service agieren die User mit den Daten und ich kann sicherstellen, dass in meiner kleinen Welt alles gut miteinander funktioniert. Sinnvoll, wenn ich Microsoft, Facebook, X oder ähnliches bin, weil mein Geschäftsmodell genau darin liegt: User einschließen (lock-in), ihnen die Hohheit über ihren Content nehmen (oder kannst du deine Facebook Posts zu X migrieren?) und nach Möglichkeit nicht wieder rauslassen.

Aber unsere Projekte sind öffentlich. Das sind nicht die Mechanismen, die wir replizieren sollten. Also was nun?

Bildungsinfrasstrukturen auf Basis des Nostr-Protokolls

Nostr

Eine pseudonyme Person mit dem Namen "fiatjaf" hat 2019 ein Konzept für ein Social Media Protokoll "Nostr - Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted By Relays" wie folgt beschrieben:

It does not rely on any trusted central server, hence it is resilient, it is based on cryptographic keys and signatures, so it is tamperproof, it does not rely on P2P techniques, therefore it works.

Fiatjaf, 2019

Die Kernbestandsteile des Protokolls bestehen aus:

• JSON -> Datenformat
• SHA256 & Schnorr -> Kryptographie
• Websocket -> Datenaustausch

Und funktionieren tut es so:

User besitzen ein "Schlüsselpaar": einen privaten Schlüssel (den behälst du für dich, nur für dich) und einen öffentlichen Schlüssel, den kannst du herumzeigen, das ist deine öffentliche Identität. Damit sagst du anderen Usern: Hier schau mal, das bin ich. Die beiden Schlüssel hängen dabei auf eine "magische" (kryptografische) Weise zusammen: Der öffentliche Schlüssel lässt sich aus dem privaten Schlüssel generieren, jedoch nicht andersherum. D.h. falls du deinen öffentlichen Schlüssel verlierst: Kein Problem, der lässt sich immer wieder herstellen. Wenn du deinen privaten Schlüssel verlierst: Pech gehabt, es ist faktisch unmöglich, diesen wieder herzustellen.

Die Schlüsselmagie geht jedoch noch weiter: Du kannst mit deinem privaten Schlüssel "Nachrichten" signieren, also wie unterschreiben. Diese Unterschrift, die du mit Hilfe des privaten Schlüssels erstellst, hat eine magische Eigenschaft: Jeder kann mithilfe der Signatur und deinem öffentlichen* Schlüssel nachprüfen, dass nur die Person, die auch den privaten Schlüssel zu diesem öffentlichen Schlüssel besitzt, diese Nachricht unterschrieben haben kann. Magisch, richtig? Verstehst du nicht komplett? Nicht schlimm, du benutzt es bereits vermutlich, ohne dass du es merkst. Das ist keine fancy neue Technologie, sondern gut abgehangen und breit im Einsatz.

Merke: User besitzen ein Schlüsselpaar und können damit Nachrichten signieren.

Dann gibt es noch die Services. Services funktionieren im Grunde wie bereits oben beschrieben. Durch sie interagieren die User mit Daten. Aber bei Nostr ist es ein kleines bisschen anders als sonst, denn: Die Daten "leben" nicht in den Services. Aber wo dann?

Wenn ein User einen Datensatz erstellt, verändert oder entfernen möchte, wird dieses "Event" (so nennen wir das bei Nostr) mit deinem privaten Schlüssel signiert (damit ist für alle klar, nur du kannst das gemacht haben) und dann mehrere "Relays" gesendet. Das sind die Orte, wo die Daten gehalten werden. Wenn ein User sich in einen Service einloggt, dann holt sich der Service die Daten, die er braucht von diesen Relays. User, Service und Daten sind also entkoppelt. Der User könnte zu einem anderen Service wechseln und sich dieseleben Daten von den Relays holen. Keine Lock-In Möglichkeiten.

Merke: User, Service und Daten sind entkoppelt.

Zuletzt gibt es noch die Relays. Relays sind Orte. Es sind die Orte, zu denen die Events, also die Daten der User, ihre Interaktionen, gesendet und von denen sie angefragt werden. Sie sind sowas wie das Backend von Nostr, allerdings tun sie nicht viel mehr als das: Events annehmen, Events verteilen. Je nach Konfiguration dürfen nur bestimmte User auf ein Relay schreiben oder davon lesen.

Das Protokoll ist von seinem Grunddesign auf Offenheit und Interoperabilität ausgelegt. Keine Registrierung ist nötig, sondern nur Schlüsselpaare. Durch kryptografische Verfahren kann dennoch die Authentizitität eines Events sichergestellt werden, da nur die Inhaberin des jeweiligen Schlüsselpaares dieses Event so erstellen konnte. Die Relays sorgen dafür die Daten an die gewünschten Stellen zu bringen und da wir mehr als nur eines benutzen, haben wir eine gewisse Ausfallsicherheit. Da die Daten nur aus signierten JSON-Schnipseln bestehen, können wir sie leicht an einen anderen Ort kopieren, im Falle eines Ausfalls. Durch die Signaturen ist wiederum sichergestellt, dass zwischendurch keine Veränderungen an den Daten vorgenommen wurden.

Beispiel: Ein Nostr Event

Hier ein kleiner technischer Exkurs, der beschreibt, wie Nostr Events strukturiert sind. Falls dich die technischen Details nicht so interessieren, überspringe diesen Abschnitt ruhig.

Jedes Nostr Event besitzt die gleiche Grundstruktur mit den Attributen:

• id: Der Hash des Events
• pubkey: Der Pubkey des Urhebers des Events
• created_at: Der Zeitstempel des Events
• kind: Der Typ des Events
• tags: Zusätzliche Metadaten für das Event können in diesem Array hinterlegt werden
• content: Der textuelle Inhalt eines Events
• sig: Die Signatur des Events, um die Integrität der Daten zu überprüfen

json { "id": <32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded sha256 of the serialized event data>, "pubkey": <32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>, "created_at": <unix timestamp in seconds>, "kind": <integer between 0 and 65535>, "tags": [ [<arbitrary string>...], // ... ], "content": <arbitrary string>, "sig": <64-bytes lowercase hex of the signature of the sha256 hash of the serialized event data, which is the same as the "id" field> }

Die verwendeten Eventtypen sowie die existierenden Spezifikationen lassen sich unter https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/ einsehen.

Wichtig ist auch: Du kannst einfach anfangen, Anwendungen zu entwickeln. Die Relays werden alle Events akzeptieren, die dem o.g. Schema folgen. Du musst also niemanden um Erlaubnis fragen oder warten, bis deine Spezifikation akzeptiert und hinzugefügt wurde.

You can just build things.

Exkurs: Nostr für Binärdaten - Blossom

Ja, aber... das ist doch nur für textbasierte Daten geeignet? Was ist denn mit den Binärdaten (Bilder, Videos, PDFs, etc)

Diese Daten sind oft recht groß und es wurde sich auf das Best-Practice geeignet, diese Daten nicht auf Relays abzulegen, sondern einen besser geeigneten Publikationsmechanismus für diese Datentypen zu finden. Der Ansatz wird als "Blossom - Blobs stored simply on mediaservers" bezeichnet und ist recht unkompliziert.

Blossom Server (nichts anderes als simple Medienserver) nutzen Nostr Schlüsselpaare zur Verwaltung Identitäten und zum Signieren von Events. Die Blobs werden über ihren sha256 Hash identifiziert. Blossom definiert einige standardisierte Endpunkte, die beschreiben wie Medien hochgeladen werden können, wie sie konsumiert werden können usw.

Die Details, wie Authorisierung und die jeweiligen Endpunkte funktionieren, werden in der genannten Spezifikation beschrieben.

Nostr 🤝 Öffentliche Bildungsinfrastrukturen

Wie könnten Herausforderungen gelöst werden, wenn wir Nostr als Basis für die öffentliche Bildungsinfrastruktur einsetzen?

Material-Upload

• Es ist nicht einfach möglich OER bereitzustellen, sodass es auch auf verschiedenen Plattformen gefunden werden kann.

Mit Nostr als Basis-Infrastruktur würden die Metadaten und die Binärdaten nicht an den Service gekoppelt sein, von dem aus sie bereitgestellt wurden. Binärdaten können auf sogenannten Blossom-Servern gehostet werden. Metadaten, Kommentare und weitere textbasierte Daten werden über die Relay-Infrastruktur verteilt. Da Daten und Service entkoppelt sind, können die OER Materialien von verschiedenen Anwendungen aus konsumiert werden.

Kuration

• Es gibt keine interoperablen Sammlungen
• Metadaten-Annotation ist zentralisiert
• User können keine eigenen Metadaten hinzufügen

Sammlungen sind per se interoperabel. Auf Protokollebene ist definiert, wie Listen funktionieren. Die Annotation mit Metadaten ist an keiner Stelle zentralisiert. Das Versprechen der RDF-Community "Anyone can say anything about any topic" wird hier verwirklicht. Ich muss mir ja nicht alles anhören. Vielleicht konsumiere ich nur Metadaten-Events bestimmter Redaktionen oder User. Vielleicht nur diejenigen mit einer Nähe zu meinem sozialen Graphen. Jedenfalls gibt es die Möglichkeit für alle User entsprechende Metadaten bereit zu stellen.

Crawling, Indexierung und Suche * An vielen Stellen wird Content doppelt erschlossen, aber immer für die eigene Plattform * Es gibt keinen geteilten Datenraum, in den Akteure Content "pushen" können * Es gibt keine plattformübergreifenden Suchmöglichkeiten

Keine Doppelerschließungen mehr. Wenn ein User im Netzwerk ein Metadatenevent veröffentlicht hat, ist es für alle konsumierbar. Der Datenraum ist per se geteilt. Plattformübergreifende Suche wird durch die Kombination aus Relays und NIPs ermöglicht. In den NIPs können spezielle Query-Formate für die jeweiligen NIPs definiert werden. Relays können anzeigen, welche NIPs sie untersützten. Eine plattformübergreifende Suche ist im Nostr eine relay-übergreifende Suche.

Plattformübergreifende Kollaboration

• Obwohl nun #OEP in aller Munde sind, gibt es keine technischen Ansätze, wie (plattformübergreifende) Kollaboration technisch abgebildet werden kann

Nostr ist der technische Ansatz.

KI-Services

• KI-Services funktionieren oft nur auf der Plattform für die sie entwickelt werden

Es gibt im Nostr das Konzept der Data Vending Machines (s. auch data-vending-machines.org). Statt also einfach nur eine API zu bauen (was auch schon sehr schön ist, wenn sie offen zugänglich ist), könnten diese Services auch als Akteure im Nostr Netzwerk fungieren und Jobs annehmen und ausführen. Die Art der Jobs kann in einer Spezifikation beschrieben werden, sodass die Funktionsweise für alle interessierten Teilnehmer im Netzwerk einfach nachzuvollziehen ist.

Die Services könnten sogar monetarisiert werden, sodass sich hier auch Möglichkeiten böten, Geschäftsmodelle zu entwickeln.

Fazit

Die Open Education Community ist großartig. Es sind einzigartige und unglaublich engagierte Menschen, die sich dem hehren Ziel "Zugängliche Bildung für Alle" -> "Offene Bildung" verschrieben haben. Wir verwenden Creative Commons Lizenzen -> Commons -> Gemeingüter. Es ist okay, dass viele Projekte von Sponsoren und Förderungen abhängig sind. Was wir machen, ist im Sinne eines Gemeingutes: Öffentliche Bildung für alle. Also zahlen wir als Gemeinschaft alle dafür.

Was nicht okay ist: Dass das, wofür wir alle gezahlt haben, nach kurzer Zeit nicht mehr auffindbar ist. Dass es eingeschlossen wird. In öffentlich finanzierten Datensilos. Es muss für alle auch langfristig verfügbar sein. Sonst ist es nicht zugänglich, nicht offen. Dann ist das O in OER nur ein Label und Marketing, um für eine ABM-Maßnahme 3 Jahre Geld zu bekommen. Denn nichts anderes ist Content-Entwicklung, wenn der Content nach drei Jahren weggeschmissen wird.

Und dasselbe gilt für OEP. Offene Lernpraktiken, sind auch nur eine Phrase, wenn wir die passende technische Infrastruktur nicht mitdenken, die wirkliche Offenheit und Kollaboration und damit die Umsetzung offener Lernpraktiken ermöglicht.

Und wenn wir uns jetzt nicht Gedanken darüber machen, die Infrastruktur für offenes Lernen anzupassen, dann werden wir vermutlich in einigen Jahren sehen können, was bei politischen Umorientierungen noch davon übrig bleiben wird. Wenn die Fördertöpfe komplett gestrichen werden, was bleibt dann übrig von dem investierten Geld?

Wir brauchen Lösungen, die engagierte Communities weiter betreiben können und denen kein Kopf abgeschlagen werden kann, ohne dass wir zwei neue daneben setzen könnten.

Wir müssen uns jetzt Gedanken darüber machen.

Wie offen will öffentliche Bildungsinfrastruktur sein?

@ 2cde0e02:180a96b9

pen & ink; monochromized

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón[a] (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈfɾiða ˈkalo]; 6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954[1]) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country's popular culture, she employed a naïve folk art style to explore questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society.[2] Her paintings often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. In addition to belonging to the post-revolutionary Mexicayotl movement, which sought to define a Mexican identity, Kahlo has been described as a surrealist or magical realist.[3] She is also known for painting about her experience of chronic pain.[4]

wikipedia

https://stacker.news/items/997980

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

How Strategy (MSTR) Built Their Capital Stack to Accelerate Bitcoin Accumulation

MicroStrategy—now operating as Strategy—has built the most aggressive Bitcoin treasury in the world. But its true innovation isn’t just holding Bitcoin. It’s in how it finances the accumulation of Bitcoin at scale without giving up control or diluting shareholder value.

The engine behind this? A meticulously designed capital stack—a multi-tiered structure of debt, preferred stock, and equity that appeals to different types of investors, each with unique risk, yield, and volatility preferences.

This is more than corporate finance—it’s a blueprint for Bitcoin-native capital formation.

What Is a Capital Stack?

A capital stack refers to the layers of capital a company uses to finance its operations and strategic goals. Each layer has its own return profile, risk level, and repayment priority in the event of liquidation.

Strategy’s capital stack is designed to do one thing exceptionally well: convert fiat capital into Bitcoin exposure—efficiently, at scale, and without compromise.

The Stack: Ordered by Priority

Strategy’s capital stack comprises five core instruments:

1. Convertible Notes
2. Strife Preferred Stock ($STRF)
3. Strike Preferred Stock ($STRK)
4. Stride Preferred Stock ($STRD)
5. Common Equity ($MSTR)

These layers are ranked from highest to lowest in repayment priority. What makes this structure unique is how each layer balances downside protection, yield, and Bitcoin exposure—offering institutional investors fixed-income alternatives with varying degrees of correlation to Bitcoin.

Strategy’s Capital Stack illustrated by Chris Millas

Convertible Notes: Senior Debt with Optional Upside

Strategy’s capital stack begins with convertible notes—senior unsecured debt that can convert into equity.

• Downside: Low risk, high priority in liquidation
• Upside: Modest unless converted
• Appeal: Institutional debt investors seeking protection with optional Bitcoin-adjacent upside

These notes were Strategy’s earliest fundraising tools, enabling the company to raise billions in low-interest environments to accumulate Bitcoin without issuing equity.

Strife ($STRF): Investment-Grade Yield

Strife is a perpetual preferred stock designed to mimic high-grade fixed income.

• 10% cumulative dividend, paid in cash
• $100 liquidation preference
• No conversion rights or Bitcoin upside
• Compounding penalties on unpaid dividends
• Low volatility, medium risk profile

Strife targets conservative capital—allocators who want predictable income without equity or crypto exposure. It’s senior to other preferreds and common stock, making it a high-quality fixed-income proxy built atop a Bitcoin treasury.

Strike ($STRK): Yield + Bitcoin Optionality

Strike is convertible preferred stock—bridging fixed income and equity upside.

• 8% cumulative dividend
• Convertible into $MSTR at $1,000 strike
• Paid in cash or Class A shares
• Bitcoin exposure via conversion option
• Medium volatility, low risk

Strike appeals to investors who want income with optional participation in Bitcoin upside. In bullish Bitcoin cycles, the conversion option becomes valuable—offering a hybrid between bond-like stability and equity-like potential.

Stride ($STRD): High Yield, High Risk

Stride is the most junior preferred—non-cumulative, perpetual stock issued with high yield and few protections.

• >10% dividend, only if declared
• No compounding, no conversion, no voting rights
• Highest relative risk among preferreds
• Liquidation priority above common equity, but below all others

Stride plays a crucial role. Its issuance improves the credit quality of Strife, adding a subordinate capital buffer beneath it—similar to how mezzanine debt protects senior tranches in structured finance.

Stride attracts yield-hungry investors, enabling Strategy to raise capital without compromising more senior layers.

Common Equity ($MSTR): Pure Bitcoin Beta

At the base is Strategy’s common equity—the most volatile, least protected, but highest potential instrument in the stack.

• Unlimited upside
• No dividend, no priority
• Full exposure to Bitcoin volatility
• Voting rights, long-term ownership

Common equity is for conviction-driven investors. Over the past four years, this layer has attracted capital from funds and individuals aligned with Strategy’s Bitcoin thesis—investors who want maximal upside from a corporate Bitcoin strategy.

The Big Picture: Saylor Is Targeting the Fixed Income Market

This isn’t just a financing mechanism—it’s a direct challenge to the $130 trillion global bond market.

By issuing instruments like $STRF, $STRK, and $STRD, Strategy is offering Bitcoin-adjacent yield vehicles that absorb demand from across the capital spectrum:

• Institutional investors seeking investment-grade yield
• Hedge funds chasing structured upside
• Yield hunters willing to go down the stack for returns

Each instrument behaves like a synthetic bond, yet all are backed by a Bitcoin accumulation engine.

As Director of Bitcoin Strategy at Metaplanet, Dylan LeClair put it: “Saylor is coming for the entire fixed income market.”

Rather than issue traditional bonds, Saylor is constructing a Bitcoin-native capital stack—one that unlocks liquidity without ever selling the underlying asset.

Why It Matters: A Model for Bitcoin Treasury Strategy

Strategy’s capital structure is more than innovation—it’s a financial operating system for any public company that wants to monetize Bitcoin’s rise while maintaining capital discipline.

Key takeaways:

• Every layer matches a specific investor need: From low-risk debt to speculative yield
• Capital flows in, Bitcoin stays put: Preserving treasury position while scaling
• No single instrument dominates: The stack is diversified by design
• Control is retained: Most securities are non-voting, non-convertible

For corporations serious about building a Bitcoin-native balance sheet, this is the playbook to study.

Saylor isn’t just stacking Bitcoin—he’s engineering the financial infrastructure for a monetary paradigm shift.

Disclaimer: This content was written on behalf of Bitcoin For Corporations. This article is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be interpreted as an invitation or solicitation to acquire, purchase, or subscribe for securities.

This post How Strategy (MSTR) Built Their Capital Stack to Accelerate Bitcoin Accumulation first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Nick Ward.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

MARA Announces Over $100 Million in Bitcoin Mined in May 2025

Today, MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) reported a record high month of bitcoin production in May 2025, mining 950 BTC worth over $100 million at the time of writing. A 35% increase from April and the highest monthly output since the April 2024 halving event. MARA did not sell any bitcoin in May.

JUST IN: MARA mined 950 #Bitcoin worth over $100 MILLION in May

They HODLed all of it pic.twitter.com/Z4v1zoEfga

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 3, 2025

“May was a record-breaking month for MARA with 282 blocks won, a 38% increase over April and a new monthly high,” said the Chairman and CEO of MARA Fred Thiel. “Our total bitcoin holdings surpassed 49,000 BTC during May and the 950 bitcoin produced were the most since the halving event in April 2024.”

The company mined 282 blocks during the month, a 38% rise over the previous month, and now holds 49,179 BTC, worth roughly $5.23 billion at the time of writing.

“Our fully integrated tech stack is a key differentiator, and MARA Pool is the only self-owned and operated mining pool among public miners, offering greater control and efficiency,” stated Thiel. “Operating our pool means no fees to external operators and retention of the full value of block rewards. Production in May also benefitted from block reward luck. Since launch, MARA Pool’s block reward luck has outperformed the network average by over 10%, contributing to our industry-leading block production.”

Operational efficiency also improved, with energized hashrate rising 2% from 57.3 EH/s to 58.3 EH/s. MARA’s average daily bitcoin production hit 30.7 BTC, which is 31% more than the last month from April.

“We remain laser-focused on transforming MARA into a vertically integrated digital energy and infrastructure company,” commented Thiel. “We believe this model gives us tighter operational control, improves cost-efficiency, and makes us more resilient to shifts in the broader economy.”

Earlier this month, on May 8, MARA released its first quarter 2025 earnings, posting 213.9 million dollars in revenue. A 30 percent increase over the same period last year. The company’s bitcoin holdings surged 174 percent year over year, rising from 17,320 BTC to 47,531 BTC as of March 31, with an estimated value of 3.9 billion dollars at the time. In Q1, MARA mined 2,286 BTC and acquired an additional 340 BTC. Operational performance also strengthened, with energized hashrate nearly doubling from 27.8 EH/s to 54.3 EH/s, and cost per petahash per day improving by 25 percent.

This post MARA Announces Over $100 Million in Bitcoin Mined in May 2025 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概要

ETHBratislava Hackathon Vol.2 汇聚 54 名开发者并审核通过 11 个项目，成为以太坊社区的重要盛事。此次黑客马拉松在斯洛伐克技术大学举办，参与者可免费参与 ETHBratislava 大会，这一安排助力开发者探索区块链技术的前沿进展。

项目在解决以太坊可扩展性与互操作性问题上成果显著，尤其在 “World Computer” 赛道表现突出。“Zircuit Restaking Track” 赛道也带来重要创新，聚焦通过 AI 驱动的 zk rollups 技术提升安全性与扩展性。“European Stablecoin EURØP Challenge” 则致力于开发欧元背书的稳定币，推动欧洲监管数字货币概念落地。

参与者不仅获得资深导师指导、与行业领袖建立连接的机会，现场更有招聘方挖掘技术人才。活动在兼具庆祝与社交属性的派对中落幕。总计 4,000 欧元奖金的设置，营造了开发者之间竞争与合作并存的创新氛围。ETHBratislava Vol.2 成功孵化出影响以太坊未来的创新构想，同时强化了社区联结。

Hackathon 获奖者

World Computer 奖项获奖者

此类别着重于利用以太坊能力的面向消费者的应用程序。开发者创建了解决方案，旨在增强包容性、金融工具和教育平台。获奖者包括：

• Zhar: 该去中心化平台使用AI和以太坊区块链来管理、执行和激励使用智能合约和代币的链上挑战。
• Ledger Lens: 一个Web应用程序，促进对以太坊多层生态系统的可视化和分析，强调代币流动和跨链桥使用等指标。

现实世界代币化奖项获奖者

此类别集中于在欧洲利用EUR锚定的稳定币EURØP构建效用。项目目标是在此数字货币之上部署初步技术增强。

• dEST: 一个去中心化平台，利用NFTs和智能合约来促进无中介的代币化房地产交易。
• EnergyHub: 一个提供去中心化平台以货币化多余绿色能源并通过智能合约和用户友好的仪表板实现能源捐赠的应用程序。

Restaking 奖项获奖者

此类别鼓励团队在Zircuit生态系统内的AI驱动zkEVM上进行构建，着重于支持AI增强安全性和创新zk rollup技术的项目。

• RestakerX: 一个仪表板应用程序，设计用于跟踪Zircuit网络上的数字资产，提供算法建议以最大化收益。

有关所有项目的更多详细信息和此次黑客马拉松中展示的创新理念的进一步见解，请访问 ETHBratislava Hackathon页面。

关于组织者

Ethereum Bratislava

Ethereum Bratislava 是中欧和东欧地区区块链和技术领域的一个重要社区，致力于推进以太坊的开发和整合。由一支专家团队支持，该组织在增强以太坊在中欧和东欧地区的可扩展性和安全性的项目中作出了重大贡献。积极参与社区活动和教育活动强调了他们在区块链领域促进技术创新和知识共享的承诺。Ethereum Bratislava 继续支持技术改进和生态系统增长，旨在增强以太坊的能力和跨各行业的采用。

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Uber seed investor and executive producer of the All In podcast Jason Calacanis has been publicly sounding the alarm bell about Microstrategy's bitcoin treasury strategy and the cheer leading exhibited by the company's CEO, Michael Saylor. Calacanis believes that Microstrategy's bitcoin acquisition techniques are a Ponzi scheme waiting to implode. Going as far as to question whether or not Microstrategy is the next FTX.

Earlier today, Jason spent a section of an episode of This Week in Startups to discuss his worries about MSTR's bitcoin treasury strategy, Saylor's overt pumping of the strategy, and the fact that there are other companies like Marathon Holdings beginning to deploy similar convertible debt strategies. While I can see how this can be unnerving for many, I do think there is a fundamental misunderstanding of what Microstrategy is doing. Last week I explained the strategy in a tweet, which I'll reiterate here:

Whether you like it or not, Saylor and Microstrategy have found a way to give pools of liquidity (particularly pools with mandates to allocate to fixed income) exposure to bitcoin’s volatility via convertible notes. The converts are performing better than any other fixed income product on the market.

Other investors have noticed this and have piled into MSTR as well understanding that demand for the converts will increase and enable Microstrategy to accumulate more bitcoin. Those investors feel comfortable with the premium to mNAV MSTR is trading at because they believe the demand for a high performing fixed income product will remain high and likely increase.

Microstrategy can continue doing this until viable competition comes to market because there is no one else offering this type of bitcoin return exposure to fixed income investors at scale. Another important detail, the convertible notes have a duration of 5 years or more while bitcoin’s lowest 4-year CAGR is 26% and its 50th percentile 4-year CAGR is 91%. If you think this will continue then this is a pretty safe bet for Microstrategy and the convertible note holders.

In a world were central banks and governments have gone mad with currency debasement and debt expansion it is pretty safe to assume that bitcoin adoption will not only continue but accelerate from here. What do I think about Microstrategy accumulating this much bitcoin? It makes me a bit uneasy but there’s nothing I can do to stop it and bitcoin will survive in the long run. Even if Microstrategy blows up somehow (I don’t think this is likely). Bitcoin was designed to be anti-fragile.

This is a classic case of “don’t hate the player, hate the game”. Or better yet, join the game. After all, the only winning move is to play.

Essentially, Michael Saylor is taking a long-term bet on bitcoin's continued adoption/monetization and trying to accumulate as much as possible by issuing convertible notes with a 4+ year duration, which should increase the likelihood that Microstrategy is in the black on their bitcoin buys over time as history has shown that anyone who holds bitcoin for more than four years has performed well. This should, in turn, be reflected in their stock price, which should increase alongside bitcoin and convert the debt they've accrued into newly issued shares of MSTR. Through the process, if the strategy is executed successfully, increasing the amount of bitcoin per share for MSTR shareholders. (This is the only metric shareholders should care about in my opinion.)

Yes, this may seem crazy to many and extremely risky to most, but that is the nature of free markets. Every company takes calculated risks in an attempt to increase shareholder value. Michael Saylor and company are betting on the fact that bitcoin will continue to be adopted and are utilizing pools of capital that don't have the ability to buy bitcoin directly, but want exposure to its volatility to achieve their goals. To me it looks like a perfectly symbiotic relationship. Microstrategy is able to accumulate more bitcoin and increase their bitcoin per share while fixed income investors are able to access a product that performs well above their benchmark due to the embedded volatility of the exposure to bitcoin Microstrategy provides.

This won't be a surprise to any of you freaks, but I think it's a pretty smart bet to make. Bitcoin is almost 16-years old. It has established itself as a reserve asset for individuals, companies and countries. A reserve asset that is completely detached from the whims of central planners, transparent, predictable, scarce, and can be transmitted over the Internet. Bitcoin is an idea whose time has come. And more people are beginning to recognize this.

This is one of the beautiful aspects of the public company convertible-note-to-bitcoin strategy that Microstrategy has deployed over the last few years. They are able to harness the benefits of forces that are external to their core business to provide shareholders with value. Michael Saylor could stop buying bitcoin tomorrow and it wouldn't affect bitcoin's adoption in the medium to long-term. He continues to buy bitcoin, and encourages others to do the same, because he recognizes this.

Bitcoin is the apex predator of treasury assets for every individual, company, non-profit or government. The assets competing to be treasury assets are all centrally controlled, easily manipulable, and quickly losing favor. Earlier today, Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher Waller came out and admitted that inflation is kicking the Fed's ass. They cannot tame it.

Waller may posture by saying that "submission is inevitable", but that doesn't make it true. There is simply too much debt and not enough dollars. The annual interest expense on the US Federal debt is now larger than our spending on national defense. The Fed, whether it wants to admit it or not, is going to have to monetize that debt via the debasement of the dollar. If you are using dollars as a treasury asset it is very important that you understand this and react accordingly by adopting a bitcoin strategy. This is what Michael Saylor is trying to make his peers in public markets understand.

Sure, his marketing tactics may seem a bit uncouth to many and the way in which he's expressing his belief through Microstrategy's accumulation strategy may seem risky, but it's hard to argue that his core thesis is flawed. Especially when you consider the fact that bitcoin has officially climbed to the strata of being seriously considered as a treasury asset for the most powerful nation state in the world. I listen to the All In podcast quite frequently and genuinely like the show. It is a good way to gain perspective on how Silicon Valley investors view the world. If I were to give Jason any advice it would be to take a step back and to apply one of the most frequently discussed topics of the last on his show, the emergence of AI and the importance of everyone to incorporate AI into their businesses and workflows as quickly as possible before they get left behind. The same mental model applies to the emergence of bitcoin as a dominant reserve asset.

It is imperative that every individual, company and government adopts a bitcoin treasury strategy if they want to be able to succeed moving forward without the inherent resistance that is introduced from storing the fruit of your labor in a money or money-like asset that does not preserve purchasing power over time. Just because Saylor has recognized this, moved aggressively to effectuate his understanding via his company's balance sheet, and vociferously markets the strategy to others doesn't mean he's wrong. As I said in my tweet last week, I personally prefer to hold actual bitcoin. That doesn't mean that Microstrategy and others haven't honed in on something unique and legitimate given their circumstances and access to certain financial tools.

---

Final thought... I apologize for the extended hiatus. I hit a hard wall of writer's block over the last month. I think the time away from the keyboard has been good for me and the quality of this rag moving forward.

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

Forget Lambos, think real estate tokens.

A European fund just dropped $3.4 million on tokenized real estate, marking the first time big money directly bought retail available tokens. This isn't just about crypto hype; it's about institutions embracing regulated crypto assets. Real World Assets (RWAs) are booming, up 260% this year, fueled by clearer US crypto rules. This surge pushes the tokenization sector past $23 billion.

Is this the start of crypto's mainstream moment?

@ fbf0e434:e1be6a39

Hackathon 概要

Verifiable AI Hackathon 由 cheqd 主办，聚焦通过安全、可验证的道德系统构建可信 AI 生态。活动吸引 278 名开发者参与，共提交 21 个项目，致力于推动可信 AI 环境的建立。开发者针对 AI 技术滥用问题（如 deepfake 欺诈）及透明化、道德化 AI 系统构建挑战提出解决方案。

参与者围绕自主经济、AI 验证、安全数据应用等主题，借助 cheqd 的去中心化标识符（DID）与可验证凭证（VC）技术展开探索。核心成果包括内容认证创新方案，以及通过验证数据集防范虚假信息的应用实践。

本次黑客松凸显了 AI 解决方案需以透明度和用户权益为核心的发展方向，旨在通过区块链工具为开发者赋能，夯实安全可靠的 AI 应用基础。这一举措致力于将数字身份与 AI 的交互模式，升级为兼顾可持续性与隐私保护的新型范式。

Hackathon 获奖者

AI Agents 奖项获奖者

• Kith: 这个去中心化系统利用加密的可验证凭证，通过去中心化标识符（DIDs）确保 AI 代理的隐私、认证和可信度。
• Identone: 该项目通过在电话交谈中验证身份来保障人与AI语音代理之间的互动可信度。
• SNAILS.: 利用去中心化数字身份来验证内容的机器人，从而增强 AI 环境中的信任。

其他奖项获奖者

• CheqDeep: 利用区块链技术认证媒体内容，通过 DID 链接资源验证人类来源和真实性。
• Trusty Bytes: 为 AI 代理提供一个获取经过验证数据的市场，使用基于区块链的验证来确保可信交易。
• crdbl: 一个平台，通过可验证凭证、去中心化身份、加密签名和AI验证来提升在线可信度。

构建一个整合私人用户数据的Agent奖项获奖者

• Viskify: 一个AI辅助手的平台，用于人才验证，利用可验证凭证和确定性去中心化标识符，并与 Stripe 和 Verida 集成以进行账单和私人数据管理。

有关所有项目的更多信息，请访问 The Verifiable AI Hackathon。

关于主办方

cheqd

cheqd 是区块链行业的重要参与者，专注于数字身份解决方案。该组织以其在建立支持安全和注重隐私数据管理的去中心化身份基础设施中所扮演的角色而闻名。通过利用最前沿的区块链技术，cheqd 在身份生态系统的标准开发中发挥了关键作用。其努力包括建立战略合作伙伴关系，以创建可互操作的身份服务。秉承加强数字信任框架的承诺，cheqd 继续通过先进且有效的身份管理解决方案来赋能个人和组织。

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

Think your crypto is FDIC insured like your bank account? Big mistake. Crypto's wild west demands you be your own bank and security guard.

Crypto trading involves buying, selling, and exchanging digital currencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, aiming to profit from price fluctuations. Security is paramount. Understand basic concepts like wallets (digital storage for your crypto), private keys (passwords to access your crypto), and blockchain (the technology that records all transactions).

Real world applications include using crypto for online purchases, international money transfers, and decentralized finance (DeFi) services like lending and borrowing. Current trends include the rise of DeFi, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and increasing institutional investment.

Best practices? Use strong, unique passwords, enable two factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts, and store most of your crypto in cold wallets (offline storage) to protect against hacking. Be wary of phishing scams and fake websites. Never share your private keys or seed phrases.

Misconceptions? Crypto is not anonymous, transactions are not easily reversible, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Also, remember that regulations are evolving, so stay informed.

With crypto hacks on the rise, are you truly ready to secure your digital fortune, or are you leaving the door open for the next billion dollar heist?

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

Think crypto is just magic internet money? Think again.

Tokenomics is the secret sauce that makes or breaks a crypto project. It is the study of how tokens are created, distributed, and used within a blockchain ecosystem. Imagine it as the economic policy of a digital nation, dictating everything from supply and demand to user incentives.

Key features include supply caps, distribution models, utility, and burn mechanisms. A well designed token economy incentivizes user behavior, secures the network, and fosters long term growth. Poor tokenomics? It can lead to manipulation and project failure.

Zero Knowledge Proofs are like showing you know a password without revealing the password itself. This tech allows for private and secure transactions, verifying data without exposing the data itself. Think of voting systems where your vote stays secret, or supply chains where product details are confirmed without revealing the supplier.

Want to dive deeper into the economics of crypto? What project has the most interesting tokenomics you have seen?

@ 527337d5:93e9525e

The Algorithmic Pursuit of Connection: A Five-Book Journey into the Self

As a researcher, hitting my thirties and the winding down of a significant project prompted a crucial re-evaluation of life's latter half. While I'd successfully applied probabilistic control theory to one-on-one interactions, the complexities of group dynamics remained a persistent challenge. My recent dive into five diverse books on human relationships inadvertently became a profound journey of self-discovery, fundamentally reshaping my perspective on social connections.

---

Neil Strauss: A Mirror Reflecting the Self's Evolution

Neil Strauss's The Truth resonated deepest among my recent reads. The author's battle with sex addiction uncomfortably mirrored my own past struggles: the fragile self-esteem stemming from rejection, the hubris born of early successes, and the tendency to view women as mere objects of manipulation. It felt eerily prescient, a glimpse into a potential future.

Yet, I found myself arriving at Strauss's ultimate conclusion – the paramount importance of self-preparation and community – far sooner than he did. This acceleration wasn't accidental; it was the result of intense focus on individual experiences, meticulously replayed and analyzed in my mind. The book, therefore, served less as a revelation and more as a powerful validation of my own journey of introspection and root-cause analysis.

---

Quantifying Connection: The Promise and Limits of Mathematical Models

Hannah Fry's The Mathematics of Love offered a kindred spirit in its attempt to quantify human relationships. While I appreciate the mathematical lens, Fry's models primarily concern dyadic relationships (N=2), relying on relatively simple systems of two-variable ordinary differential equations. For me, these are akin to linear models, sufficient only up to a certain point. Beyond N=4, the dependencies become exponentially complex.

My own pursuit extends to understanding and optimizing group dynamics within complex systems. This involves multi-variable problems (N $\ge$ 3) and the application of network theory, a far more sophisticated approach. Human collectives, after all, are systems of nodes and edges, where information propagates in predictable ways. My focus is on deriving optimal behavioral controls within these intricate frameworks.

Conversely, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus initially struck me as bordering on conspiracy theory. However, its latter half proved unexpectedly useful. Its clear enumeration of male and female desires, and its articulation of common points of conflict, presented a practical template for communication styles. In a systemic view, this serves as a rudimentary, yet functional, interface design for complex social interactions.

---

A Dispassionate Critique of Relationship Dogma

My drive for efficiency and systematic understanding led to a rather blunt assessment of certain relationship classics. The New Science of Adult Attachment felt disorganized and frustratingly anecdotal. Lacking a coherent theoretical framework, it burdened the reader with deciphering meaning from a jumble of examples. Its inefficiency was, frankly, its most irksome flaw.

Similarly, Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People struck me as closer to pseudoscience than social science. Its plethora of specific anecdotes obscured any underlying principle. Given my deep engagement with social engineering – a discipline that systematically and practically analyzes human interaction – Carnegie's work appeared largely irrelevant and inefficient. From my perspective, which views humans as objective systems to be analyzed with mathematical rigor, such unstructured approaches hold little value.

---

The Unveiling of a Core Principle: Humans as Systems

This intensive reading period solidified my most crucial insight: humans, at their core, are systems. This understanding allows for a dispassionate, methodical approach to human collectives, mitigating unnecessary emotional friction.

This revelation has sharply refined my future learning trajectory. I'm now prioritizing foundational theories like graph theory and network theory over anecdotal accounts of human behavior. By mastering these theoretical underpinnings, I aim to precisely model complex human interactions as systems of nodes and edges, enabling the derivation of optimal behavioral controls within communities.

My choice of the term "target for capture" for individuals stems from a personal aversion to perceived equality in certain human interactions, a mechanism to avoid cognitive dissonance. This rational approach, I believe, is key to cultivating secure attachment styles – relationships demonstrably sustainable in the long term. My philosophy is to strategically approach the initial engagement, then transition to a stable, enduring connection. It's a calculated, dispassionate method for achieving desired relational outcomes.

Ultimately, this period of reading wasn't just about acquiring knowledge; it was a profound journey of self-discovery, clarifying my personal frameworks for navigating life's complexities and forging meaningful, yet strategically managed, connections.

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

It is hard going through difficult situations. Health problems, family problems, financial problems, feeling alone, feeling stuck in the wrong place, and persecution are all situations that Christians regularly find themselves. The question is “How will we respond to pain?”

Advice for the Suffering

Some Christians pull away from God when it feels like everything is going wrong. They think God doesn’t care or can’t fix things. They resent every minute of pain and accuse God of wrongdoing. Even Job, who fell on his face in worship after losing everything had a moment of weakness.

“Oh that my grief were actually weighed\ And laid in the balances together with my calamity!\ For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas;\ Therefore my words have been rash.” (Job 6:2-3) {emphasis mine}

After a moment of doubt, he did, however, repent of his rash words, as should we all.

Job should be an example to us all in dealing with pain and difficult situations. This is the verse that inspired this post.

But it is still my consolation,\ And I rejoice in unsparing pain,\ That I have not denied the words of the Holy One. \ (Job 6:10) {emphasis mine}

What an example! “I rejoice in unsparing pain.” When we trust God so much that we can rejoice in unsparing pain, we are trusting God as we should. We are accepting that God is working good in our life and we can trust Him even when nothing makes sense to us.

I also love how he says that his consolation is that “I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” Job is hurting terribly. His heart is broken. He is destitute. He lost 8 children in one day. His friends, that came to console him, have instead accused him of wrongdoing. He doesn’t understand what God is doing and why, but he has “NOT denied the words of the Holy One.” He is still putting his faith in God and his word. He is still submitting to God when he feels mistreated. He is still trusting \ God, even when he doesn’t understand what God is doing and why so many bad things are raining down on him in a torrent. Despite it all, he refuses to deny God. I hope if I am ever put through similar situations, that I can trust God and not deny His goodness.

Advice for friends

The book of Job, in addition to advice to those who are suffering, also gives advice to friends of those who are suffering. (or maybe more accurately, what not to do)

Job’s friends came with the intention to encourage and console Job. Every time Job would confess his thoughts, concerns, and questions, the response by his friends would get harsher and harsher. In the beginning they were gentle corrections, but they quickly escalated to accusing Job of great sins, that they had to know were not true, and blaming Job for every hard thing that had happened to him.

I’ve talked to other Christians who have confessed to being dragged down by other Christians who would tell them that every difficult thing that happened to them was due to their sin or lack of faith. In the case of Job, his difficulties were due to his faithfulness, in order to prove to Satan and all of history that a faithful man would stay faithful to God in good times and in bad.

Can Christians suffer as a consequence of sins and poor decisions? Of course, but there are many times that the faithful suffer. In Scripture, the people who suffered most were frequently the most faithful.

Job’s correction of his friends was accurate.

“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;\ So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.\ My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi,\ Like the torrents of wadis which vanish, (Job 6:14-15)

For those who don’t know, a wadi is a streambed that has water running in the wet season, but is bone dry during the dry season. Job accused his friends of being encouraging and helpful when he was prospering, then showing up and providing no encouragement or help when he needed it most. He thought refreshment was coming to visit, and instead what hope he had left was drained from him by his “friends.”

We need to make sure we aren’t one of those who decreases hope and decreases faith in one who is hurting. We need to have mercy when a hurting person works through their confusion and doubts and help lead them back to God instead of driving a wedge between them and God.

May the God of heaven protect us and lead us through the trials of life and may our trials lead us into the arms of our Savior. May God help us to merciful and to help guide the hurting into the Savior’s care.

Trust Jesus

@ a849beb6:b327e6d2

\ \ It was another historic week for both bitcoin and the Ten31 portfolio, as the world’s oldest, largest, most battle-tested cryptocurrency climbed to new all-time highs each day to close out the week just shy of the $100,000 mark. Along the way, bitcoin continued to accumulate institutional and regulatory wins, including the much-anticipated approval and launch of spot bitcoin ETF options and the appointment of several additional pro-bitcoin Presidential cabinet officials. The timing for this momentum was poetic, as this week marked the second anniversary of the pico-bottom of the 2022 bear market, a level that bitcoin has now hurdled to the tune of more than 6x despite the litany of bitcoin obituaries published at the time. The entirety of 2024 and especially the past month have further cemented our view that bitcoin is rapidly gaining a sense of legitimacy among institutions, fiduciaries, and governments, and we remain optimistic that this trend is set to accelerate even more into 2025.

Several Ten31 portfolio companies made exciting announcements this week that should serve to further entrench bitcoin’s institutional adoption. AnchorWatch, a first of its kind bitcoin insurance provider offering 1:1 coverage with its innovative use of bitcoin’s native properties, announced it has been designated a Lloyd’s of London Coverholder, giving the company unique, blue-chip status as it begins to write bitcoin insurance policies of up to $100 million per policy starting next month. Meanwhile, Battery Finance Founder and CEO Andrew Hohns appeared on CNBC to delve into the launch of Battery’s pioneering private credit strategy which fuses bitcoin and conventional tangible assets in a dual-collateralized structure that offers a compelling risk/return profile to both lenders and borrowers. Both companies are clearing a path for substantially greater bitcoin adoption in massive, untapped pools of capital, and Ten31 is proud to have served as lead investor for AnchorWatch’s Seed round and as exclusive capital partner for Battery.

As the world’s largest investor focused entirely on bitcoin, Ten31 has deployed nearly $150 million across two funds into more than 30 of the most promising and innovative companies in the ecosystem like AnchorWatch and Battery, and we expect 2025 to be the best year yet for both bitcoin and our portfolio. Ten31 will hold a first close for its third fund at the end of this year, and investors in that close will benefit from attractive incentives and a strong initial portfolio. Visit ten31.vc/funds to learn more and get in touch to discuss participating.\ \ Portfolio Company Spotlight 

Primal is a first of its kind application for the Nostr protocol that combines a client, caching service, analytics tools, and more to address several unmet needs in the nascent Nostr ecosystem. Through the combination of its sleek client application and its caching service (built on a completely open source stack), Primal seeks to offer an end-user experience as smooth and easy as that of legacy social media platforms like Twitter and eventually many other applications, unlocking the vast potential of Nostr for the next billion people. Primal also offers an integrated wallet (powered by Strike BLACK) that substantially reduces onboarding and UX frictions for both Nostr and the lightning network while highlighting bitcoin’s unique power as internet-native, open-source money. 

Selected Portfolio News

AnchorWatch announced it has achieved Llody’s Coverholder status, allowing the company to provide unique 1:1 bitcoin insurance offerings starting in December.\ \ Battery Finance Founder and CEO Andrew Hohns appeared on CNBC to delve into the company’s unique bitcoin-backed private credit strategy.

Primal launched version 2.0, a landmark update that adds a feed marketplace, robust advanced search capabilities, premium-tier offerings, and many more new features.

Debifi launched its new iOS app for Apple users seeking non-custodial bitcoin-collateralized loans.

Media

Strike Founder and CEO Jack Mallers joined Bloomberg TV to discuss the strong volumes the company has seen over the past year and the potential for a US bitcoin strategic reserve. 

Primal Founder and CEO Miljan Braticevic joined The Bitcoin Podcast to discuss the rollout of Primal 2.0 and the future of Nostr. 

Ten31 Managing Partner Marty Bent appeared on BlazeTV to discuss recent changes in the regulatory environment for bitcoin. 

Zaprite published a customer testimonial video highlighting the popularity of its offerings across the bitcoin ecosystem. 

Market Updates

Continuing its recent momentum, bitcoin reached another new all-time high this week, clocking in just below $100,000 on Friday. Bitcoin has now reached a market cap of nearly $2 trillion, putting it within 3% of the market caps of Amazon and Google. 

After receiving SEC and CFTC approval over the past month, long-awaited options on spot bitcoin ETFs were fully approved and launched this week. These options should help further expand bitcoin’s institutional liquidity profile, with potentially significant implications for price action over time.

The new derivatives showed strong performance out of the gate, with volumes on options for BlackRock’s IBIT reaching nearly $2 billion on just the first day of trading despite surprisingly tight position limits for the vehicles. 

Meanwhile, the underlying spot bitcoin ETF complex had yet another banner week, pulling in $3.4 billion in net inflows. 

New reports suggested President-elect Donald Trump’s social media company is in advanced talks to acquire crypto trading platform Bakkt, potentially the latest indication of the incoming administration’s stance toward the broader “crypto” ecosystem. 

On the macro front, US housing starts declined M/M again in October on persistently high mortgage rates and weather impacts. The metric remains well below pre-COVID levels. 

Pockets of the US commercial real estate market remain challenged, as the CEO of large Florida developer Related indicated that developers need further rate cuts “badly” to maintain project viability. 

US Manufacturing PMI increased slightly M/M, but has now been in contraction territory (<50) for well over two years.

The latest iteration of the University of Michigan’s popular consumer sentiment survey ticked up following this month’s election results, though so did five-year inflation expectations, which now sit comfortably north of 3%. 

Regulatory Update

After weeks of speculation, the incoming Trump administration appointed hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to head up the US Treasury. Like many of Trump’s cabinet selections so far, Bessent has been a public advocate for bitcoin. 

Trump also appointed Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick – another outspoken bitcoin bull – as Secretary of the Commerce Department. 

Meanwhile, the Trump team is reportedly considering creating a new “crypto czar” role to sit within the administration. While it’s unclear at this point what that role would entail, one report indicated that the administration’s broader “crypto council” is expected to move forward with plans for a strategic bitcoin reserve.

Various government lawyers suggested this week that the Trump administration is likely to be less aggressive in seeking adversarial enforcement actions against bitcoin and “crypto” in general, as regulatory bodies appear poised to shift resources and focus elsewhere. 

Other updates from the regulatory apparatus were also directionally positive for bitcoin, most notably FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg’s confirmation that he plans to resign from his post at the end of President Biden’s term. 

Many critics have alleged Gruenberg was an architect of “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” which has created banking headwinds for bitcoin companies over the past several years, so a change of leadership at the department is likely yet another positive for the space.

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler also officially announced he plans to resign at the start of the new administration. Gensler has been the target of much ire from the broader “crypto” space, though we expect many projects outside bitcoin may continue to struggle with questions around the Howey Test.

Overseas, a Chinese court ruled that it is not illegal for individuals to hold cryptocurrency, even though the country is still ostensibly enforcing a ban on crypto transactions. 

Noteworthy

The incoming CEO of Charles Schwab – which administers over $9 trillion in client assets – suggested the platform is preparing to “get into” spot bitcoin offerings and that he “feels silly” for having waited this long. As this attitude becomes more common among traditional finance players, we continue to believe that the number of acquirers coming to market for bitcoin infrastructure capabilities will far outstrip the number of available high quality assets. 

BlackRock’s 2025 Thematic Outlook notes a “renewed sense of optimism” on bitcoin among the asset manager’s client base due to macro tailwinds and the improving regulatory environment. Elsewhere, BlackRock’s head of digital assets indicated the firm does not view bitcoin as a “risk-on” asset. 

MicroStrategy, which was a sub-$1 billion market cap company less than five years ago, briefly breached a $100 billion equity value this week as it continues to aggressively acquire bitcoin. The company now holds nearly 350,000 bitcoin on its balance sheet. 

Notably, Allianz SE, Germany’s largest insurer, spoke for 25% of MicroStrategy’s latest $3 billion convertible note offering this week, suggesting growing appetite for bitcoin proxy exposure among more restricted pools of capital. 

The ongoing meltdown of fintech middleware provider Synapse has left tens of thousands of customers with nearly 100% deposit haircuts as hundreds of millions in funds remain missing, the latest unfortunate case study in the fragility of much of the US’s legacy banking stack. 

Travel

• BitcoinMENA, Dec 9-10

• Nashville BitDevs, Dec 10

• Austin BitDevs, Dec 19

• Nashville Energy and Mining Summit, Jan 30

@ 472f440f:5669301e

All eyes are, unsurprisingly, on the US Presidential election. Tomorrow is the big day. I don't want to come off as preachy, however it is pretty clear to me that if you are an American citizen who cares about bitcoin and would like to live under an administration that is eager to embrace the industry as opposed to an administration that is actively hostile toward bitcoin there is only one candidate who deserves your vote; Donald J. Trump. I think he's a better candidate for other reasons, but if you've read this rag for long enough you probably already know what those are. Instead of writing a screed about why I am voting for Trump, let's highlight some things outside of the election that you should be paying attention to this week.

First up, there are two Treasury auctions; $42B of 10-Year notes tomorrow and $25B 30-Year bonds on Wednesday.

It will be interesting to see what the demand for these auctions is and how they affect rates. The long end of the yield curve has been pumping since the Fed's rate cut in the middle of September, which is the market signaling that it does not believe inflation has been appropriately tamed. Yields came down today, but as you can see from the charts things are trending in the wrong direction.

As the Treasury issues new debt at higher rates, the interest expense on that debt, naturally, drifts higher. If the long end of the yield curve doesn't come down aggressively over the course of the next year this is going to be a big problem. There are trillions of dollars worth of Treasury debt that needs the be rolled over in the next few years and it would be advantageous for the Treasury if that debt wasn't being rolled over with yields as high as they are. With the amount of debt the country has accrued in recent decades, every incremental dollar of debt that gets issued and/or rolled over at higher interest rates exacerbates the problem. We are approaching the territory of runaway exponentials, as evidenced by this chart. The growth slope gets steeper and steeper

This debt problem is the elephant in the room that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. The national debt hit $1.2T in early 1983. It then took 26 years to 10x from $1.2T to $12T in late 2009 and has only taken another 15 years to triple from there to $36T or 30x from the arbitrary base I picked out (Q1 1983).

With this in mind, keep an eye out for these auctions tomorrow and Wednesday, where rates end at the end of trading on Wednesday, and whether or not we officially push over $36T. Regardless of who wins the election tomorrow, this is a problem that needs to be confronted. Whether or not it can be solved at all is up for debate. I don't see how what can be done to reel in this runaway train at this point. However, at the very least, we should acknowledge that we're in the realm of exponentials and have people prepare accordingly by accumulating hard assets that cannot be debased (bitcoin).

The other thing to pay attention to is the FOMC meeting on Wednesday and the announcement of the results of the meeting on Thursday. Will Jerome and the other Fed board members to keep rates where they are, cut, or raise rates? Raising rates seems to be out of the question despite the fact that many believe it would be the most prudent move considering how the long end of the yield curve reacted to the 50bps cut in September. If they decide to cut rates, by how much will they cut them? Will they slow the pace with a 25bps cut or continue at the 50bps clip established in September?

We'll find toward the end of this week. Don't lose sight of these events while the world is enthralled with the elections in the US.

I don't know about you freaks, but I couldn't feel more fortunate that bitcoin exists at a time like this. Having access to a distributed peer-to-peer digital cash system with a fixed supply during a time of incredible political divisiveness and out-of-control runaway sovereign debt feels like a Godsend.

Stay sane out there.

Final thought...

We're going to win.

@ e2c72a5a:bfacb2ee

Think proving you're over 21 without showing your ID is impossible? Zero Knowledge Proofs make it real.

Zero Knowledge Proofs let you prove something is true without revealing the information itself. Imagine proving you know a password without saying it. It's like magic, but it's math.

They're used in crypto for private transactions, secure voting, and faster blockchains. Zcash and Aztec use them to hide transaction details. StarkWare uses them to make Ethereum faster.

But here's the twist: zk STARKs don't need a trusted setup, unlike zk SNARKs. This makes them more secure and decentralized.

Misconception alert: ZKPs aren't just for privacy. They also boost scalability and interoperability.

Want to dive deeper into this mind bending tech? What other secrets can ZKPs unlock?

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

The Russian banking giant introduces financial instruments linked to Bitcoin for qualified investors.

Russia’s largest commercial banking institution, Sber, has made its entry into the Bitcoin space by unveiling a bond product tied to the asset.

Sber has officially launched its structured financial instrument that mirrors the price performance of Bitcoin alongside fluctuations in the dollar-ruble exchange rate. The product is already available to qualified investors through the over-the-counter (OTC) market, with plans to list it on the Moscow Exchange in the near future.

Formerly known as Sberbank, the institution stated in a May 30 announcement that the listing would provide transparency, liquidity, and convenience for a wide range of professional investors. This structured approach will allow investors to benefit both from Bitcoin’s appreciation in dollars and from the strengthening of the US dollar against the Russian ruble, the bank suggests.

The lender also announced plans to expand its crypto offering through the SberInvestments platform, introducing exchange-traded products that provide exposure to digital assets. The first product will be a Bitcoin futures instrument, scheduled for listing on June 4, coinciding with its official launch by the Moscow Exchange.

Sber’s initiative follows the authorization granted by Russia’s Central Bank on May 28, which permitted financial institutions to offer specific crypto-related financial instruments to accredited investors. However, the direct offering of cryptocurrencies remains prohibited.

Meanwhile, T-Bank (formerly Tinkoff Bank) launched an investment product linked to Bitcoin’s price, branding it a “smart asset” issued through Russia’s state-backed tokenization platform Atomyze.

According to the Russian Central Bank’s report for the first quarter of 2025, Russian residents hold approximately 827 billion rubles ($9.2 billion) in cryptocurrencies on centralized exchanges. Inflows into Russian crypto platforms surged by 51%, reaching 7.3 trillion rubles ($81.5 billion) over the same period.

The post Sber, Russia’s largest bank, launches Bitcoin bonds appeared first on Atlas21.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BFF25 Main Screenings

Sample titles from BFF25’s Official Selection:

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

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

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

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

Tickets & Info:

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

@ 975e4ad5:8d4847ce

What is the Fiat System and How Do Central Banks Set Interest Rates?

When central banks expand credit, they often increase the money supply by creating new money through mechanisms like quantitative easing (QE). For instance, a central bank may purchase government bonds, injecting money into the economy. This boosts liquidity but can lead to inflation when too much money chases limited goods and services.

Low interest rates make borrowing cheaper, encouraging spending and investment. However, this can overheat the economy, create speculative bubbles (e.g., in real estate), and drive inflation. Conversely, high interest rates restrict borrowing, slow the economy, and curb inflation but may trigger recessions.

How Would Interest Rates Work Under a Bitcoin Standard?

Under a Bitcoin standard, the money supply is fixed—only 21 million bitcoins will ever exist, with the last one mined around 2140. Unlike the fiat system, no central authority can manipulate the money supply or set interest rates. Instead, interest rates would be determined entirely by the market—by the supply and demand for capital.

If someone wants to borrow bitcoins, the interest rate would depend on negotiations between the lender and borrower. For example, if demand for loans is high and available bitcoins are scarce, interest rates would rise. Conversely, if there are ample bitcoin savings, rates might fall. This process would be fully decentralized and reflect real market conditions, not central bank decisions.

Since new bitcoins cannot be “printed,” there would be no inflation caused by an expanding money supply. Instead, bitcoin’s value would likely rise over time (deflation) as its fixed supply competes with growing demand. This could encourage saving over reckless spending, reshaping economic behavior.

Advantages of a Bitcoin Standard

1. Protection Against Inflation: Bitcoin’s fixed supply prevents currency devaluation, a common issue with fiat money. This safeguards savings and promotes long-term planning.

2. Decentralization: Without a central bank manipulating the market, economic decisions are made by individuals, not bureaucrats. This aligns with free-market principles where competition and innovation thrive.

3. Transparency and Security: The Bitcoin blockchain is public and immutable, ensuring transactions are transparent and secure from tampering.

4. Financial Freedom: Under a Bitcoin standard, individuals have full control over their money without government or bank interference, which is especially crucial in countries with unstable regimes or currencies.

5. Discipline in Lending: Without the ability to print money, lenders would be more cautious, reducing risky investments and speculative bubbles.

Potential Drawbacks and Why a Bitcoin Standard is Superior

One major argument against a Bitcoin standard is that it could slow economic growth. Low interest rates in the fiat system encourage borrowing and spending, driving economic activity. Under a Bitcoin standard, where interest rates are market-driven and likely higher, borrowing would be costlier, potentially limiting investments in new projects.

However, this critique misses a key point: economic growth fueled by artificially low interest rates and money printing is often unsustainable. It leads to debt crises, inflation, and bubbles that eventually burst, as seen in 2008. A Bitcoin standard promotes healthy economic discipline, where investments are based on real value, not artificial capital.

Moreover, bitcoin’s deflationary nature could shift how people view money. Instead of chasing endless growth, societies might prioritize sustainability, innovation, and efficiency. This could lead to a more stable and equitable economy in the long run.

Additional Considerations

A Bitcoin standard could transform global trade. Today, countries with fiat currencies often manipulate exchange rates to gain trade advantages. With bitcoin as a universal currency, such manipulations would vanish, fostering fairer competition.

Another aspect is energy efficiency. While bitcoin mining consumes energy, it incentivizes the development of renewable sources as miners seek cheap, sustainable energy. This could accelerate the transition to a green economy.

Conclusion

The Bitcoin standard offers a vision of an economy rooted in sound money, free markets, and financial freedom. While it may slow certain aspects of economic growth, it creates a more stable and sustainable system that protects individuals from inflation and centralized control. In a world where trust in institutions is waning, the Bitcoin standard is a step toward a fairer and more transparent future.

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

When people talk about Bitcoin, it’s often described as a digital currency or a “speculative investment.” However, one of Bitcoin’s most fundamental and least understood roles is its function as a settlement network. To understand this, it’s worth comparing it with traditional settlement systems like SWIFT and exploring how Bitcoin offers a foundational layer for global value transfer decentralized and censorship-resistant.

First, let’s explain the difference between liquidity and settlement:

• Liquidity refers to the ease with which an asset can be converted into “money” without losing value.

• Settlement is the process of completing a transaction (actual transfer of value between parties).

SWIFT: The communication layer of the traditional financial system

The SWIFT system (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a network for communication between banks. It doesn’t move money directly but sends standardized messages that instruct financial institutions to perform transfers. The process involves multiple intermediaries, is costly, slow (can take days), and depends on trust between parties and local regulations.

Unlike SWIFT, Bitcoin is a self-sufficient network that enables the direct settlement of value between two parties, without the need for intermediaries. With each block mined, transactions are validated and recorded immutably in a global, transparent, and secure database: the timechain or "blockchain".

01 - Final settlement: Once a transaction is confirmed by a sufficient number of blocks, it is considered final and irreversible.

02 - Censorship resistance: There is no central entity that can block or reverse a valid transaction.

03 - Global availability: The network is accessible 24/7 anywhere in the world with internet access.

Just as gold once served as the foundation of monetary systems, Bitcoin is establishing itself as a base layer of digital value. This layer can support others, such as:

01 - The Lightning Network, which enables near-instant transactions with extremely low fees;

02 - Tokenized financial services, which can use Bitcoin as collateral or for inter-institutional settlement.

By functioning as a public and neutral settlement network, Bitcoin offers an alternative to the traditional system, which is fragmented, closed, and reliant on trust between institutions.

In summary, more than just a speculative asset, Bitcoin is emerging as a global financial infrastructure. As a settlement network, it removes intermediaries, reduces costs, increases security, and democratizes access to value transfer. In an increasingly interconnected and digital world, understanding Bitcoin’s role as a base layer may be key to understanding the future of money.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Over the last four years bitcoin has, among other things, established itself as an incredible corporate treasury asset that benefits those who adopt it as such. Microstrategy is the shining example of this theme going from a company that was hovering barely above a ~$1B market cap in mid-2020 to a ~$40B market cap company holding more than 1% of the 21,000,000 bitcoin that will ever exist. Microstrategy's success has emboldened a number of other publicly trader companies to follow suit. Bitcoin as a corporate treasury asset is well on its way to becoming a standard. If you run a business that doesn't hold bitcoin on its balance sheet you are doing yourself, your customers and your shareholders a disservice.

This is a trend that has its legs under it and will accelerate moving forward. A trend that I believe will emerge this cycle is incorporating bitcoin into real estate markets. Leon Wankum has been beating the drum about this for the last few years and I had the pleasure of sitting down with him this morning to record an episode of TFTC that will be published tomorrow morning. Leon is a real estate developer in Germany and he has made it his mission to educate and warn others in real estate about the demonetization of real estate that is under way due to the fact that bitcoin exists and it provides a far superior alternative.

These are pretty stark numbers. Nothing highlights the superior monetary properties of bitcoin better than looking at a chart of the average price of a home priced in USD v. bitcoin.

Since 2016: +46% in USD -99% in BTC

Since 2020: +34% in USD -70% in BTC

The funny thing is that an overwhelming majority of the individuals who make their living in real estate markets do not understand that this is happening to them. Many think they are doing exceptionally well all things considered. Sure, there may be a bit of a slow down and price retraction due to a couple of years of relatively elevated interest rates, but don't worry! The Fed is lowering rates again and the good times are about to start back up. Nothing could be further from the truth. This trend is going to continue unabated until bitcoin is fully monetized and those is the real estate industry, particularly real estate developers and those who lend capital to developers, should seriously take the time to understand what is happening to them.

Real estate is the largest store of value asset in the world at the moment. The most common number that is thrown around for the total size of the market is $300 TRILLION. $300 TRILLION of wealth being stored in an asset that is illiquid, comes with maintenance costs, taxes, insurance premiums, and susceptible to extreme weather event, among other things. Compared to bitcoin - which is extremely liquid, saleable, divisible and hard to confiscate, real estate is a far superior asset to store your wealth in. This is something that I'm sure is well understood by many of you reading this letter.

What's less understood is the dynamics of the real estate development market over the last few years, which have been severely hindered by elevated interest rates. The higher interest rate environment coupled with the inflationary pressures that forced rates higher in the first place have put developers in a predicament; they have a higher cost of capital to start new projects with raw material prices that are still much higher than they were before the economic lock downs of 2020-2022. This has led to a scenario where it isn't advantageous to start new projects and the projects that broke ground in 2021-2023 are finding that they need to incur more debt to get their developments across the finish line.

Despite the fact that interest rates are on their way back down, it doesn't seem like the economics of these projects are going to materially improve in the short to medium-term as headline inflation begins to creep back up. Couple this with the fact that the jobs market is cratering while real wages struggle to keep up with inflation and many builders are going to find themselves in a situation where they do actually complete a development problem but their cash flow suffers because their customers can't afford the inflated rents that builders will have to charge to get a return on their outlaid capital. Many will be put in a situation where they are forced to be happy with lower rents (cash flow) or sit on the sidelines making no cash flow.

The post-1971 era that brought with it a booming real estate industry is suffering the same fate as the bond market; the generation bull market is over. Real estate prices may go up, but that will be nothing more than a mirage of wealth creation. The unit of account those prices are built on is in dollars, which are being debased at an accelerating rate. Developers, banks and borrowers need to de-risk their real estate exposure and, as Leon points out, bitcoin is the only way to do this in an effective way.

Moving forward developers will have to finance by dual collateralizing their debt with the real estate and bitcoin. In the graphic below Leon illustrates what this type of financing structure will look like. Instead of taking $10m of debt to finance a project and putting it all into materials, construction and marketing, a developer will take out a $10m loan, put $1m in bitcoin and the rest toward the development project. Over the course of the construction of the real estate project, bitcoin will sit in the credit structure and, if held for 4+ years, should increase significantly in value. Saving the builder from risk of default and providing him some optionality in terms of what he can do with the project once it's finished.

In this scenario downside risk is contained - a developer isn't pouring all of the cash into bitcoin at the beginning so the worst case scenario is that bitcoin goes to zero (highly unlikely) and they can eat the small loss and hope to make up with it via cash flows once a project is finished, while upside potential is enormous. Bitcoin is still monetizing and having exposure to the hardest monetary asset the world has ever while it's monetizing has proven to be massively beneficial.

We are still in the early days of bitcoin and this idea will likely seem absolutely insane to most Tradfi investors, but I strongly believe that developers, banks and end consumers who don't leverage this type of bitcoin structured credit will be cooked in the long-run. And those that take advantage of this type of structure first will be considered geniuses in 20 years.

There are many more nuanced benefits to this strategy; holding bitcoin allows landlords and management companies to weather ongoing maintenance costs throughout the years, those who take out mortgages dual collateralized with a house and bitcoin not only protect the equity value of their property but could see their equity values increase significantly more than others using vanilla mortgages, and builders who accumulate bitcoin in their treasuries will be able to use better raw materials when building, which leads to more valuable properties that cash flow for longer.

Again, it's going to take time for these types of structures to become commonplace in the market, but I firmly believe this cycle will be the cycle that these strategies get off the ground. In four to five years they will have a track record and after that it will be considered irresponsible not to finance real estate in this way. The banks will begin to demand it.

---

Final thought... Sinus congestion sucks.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.

— ODELL (@ODELL) December 14, 2022

The four main banks of bitcoin and “crypto” are Signature, Prime Trust, Silvergate, and Silicon Valley Bank. Prime Trust does not custody funds themselves but rather maintains deposit accounts at BMO Harris Bank, Cross River, Lexicon Bank, MVB Bank, and Signature Bank. Silvergate and Silicon Valley Bank have already stopped withdrawals. More banks will go down before the chaos stops. None of them have sufficient reserves to meet withdrawals.

Bitcoin gives us all the ability to opt out of a system that has massive layers of counterparty risk built in, years of cheap money and broken incentives have layered risk on top of risk throughout the entire global economy. If you thought the FTX bank run was painful to watch, I have bad news for you: every major bank in the world is fractional reserve. Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk, as global market chaos unwinds this will become much more obvious.

The rules of bitcoin are extremely hard to change by design. Anyone can access the network directly without a trusted third party by using their own node. Owning more bitcoin does not give you more control over the network with all participants on equal footing.

Bitcoin is:
- money that is not controlled by a company or government
- money that can be spent or saved without permission
- money that is provably scarce and should increase in purchasing power with adoption

Bitcoin is money without trust. Whether you are a nation state, corporation, or an individual, you can use bitcoin to spend or save without permission. Social media will accelerate the already deteriorating trust in our institutions and as this trust continues to crumble the value of trust minimized money will become obvious. As adoption increases so should the purchasing power of bitcoin.

A quick note on "stablecoins," such as USDC - it is important to remember that they rely on trusted custodians. They have the same risk as funds held directly in bank accounts with additional counterparty risk on top. The trusted custodians can be pressured by gov, exit scam, or caught up in fraud. Funds can and will be frozen at will. This is a distinctly different trust model than bitcoin, which is a native bearer token that does not rely on any centralized entity or custodian.

Most bitcoin exchanges have exposure to these failing banks. Expect more chaos and confusion as this all unwinds. Withdraw any bitcoin to your own wallet ASAP.

Simple Self Custody Guide: https://werunbtc.com/muun
More Secure Cold Storage Guide: https://werunbtc.com/coldcard

---

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

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

The crypto platform had been aware of the data breach for months before the official announcement, internal sources reveal.

A Reuters investigation uncovered that Coinbase had been informed as early as January 2025 about a data breach involving outsourced customer support agents in India. Six sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the exchange knew sensitive user information had been compromised through its contractor, TaskUs, months before the formal disclosure in May.

On May 14, in a filing with the SEC, TaskUs documented part of the breach, in which an employee at its Indian office was caught photographing his work computer screen with a personal phone. Five former TaskUs workers confirmed that this employee and an alleged accomplice had been bribed by hackers to obtain Coinbase user data.

Coinbase had a long-standing partnership with TaskUs, a Texas-based outsourcing company, to reduce labor costs by assigning customer support functions to offshore teams. Since 2017, TaskUs agents handled Coinbase customer inquiries, often from lower-wage countries like India, where employees earned between $500 and $700 per month.

The financial impact of the breach

The exchange estimated that the breach could cost the company up to $400 million. In its May filing, Coinbase admitted it hadn’t fully grasped the extent of the attack until May 11, when it received a $20 million extortion demand. In response, the company terminated the TaskUs employees responsible for the breach, along with several other unnamed foreign contractors.

The post Coinbase data breach: the exchange knew about the theft since January appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 1ef61805:f18312cc

**Inside OpSec Academy’s One-on-One Approach to Digital Sovereignty ** As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly opaque and centralised, a growing number of individuals are seeking to understand—not just use—the tools that protect their privacy and autonomy online. While many solutions promise security at the click of a button, few teach the underlying principles or offer environments that prioritise verifiability and user control.

OpSec Academy’s new one-on-one training, "OpSec Intensive," takes a different approach. Delivered in person and fully offline, the full-day session provides practical, tool-based instruction inside a secure, USB-booted environment—designed from the ground up to leave no trace.

At the heart of the session is OpSecOS v1.2, a live operating system that routes all traffic through Tor, uses system non-persistence, and comes preconfigured with a suite of open-source tools for password management, communication, and private finance. The OS runs from a USB stick, allowing participants to explore and build their own private computing workflows without touching the host machine.

Learning in Context: Why One-on-One? While group training can provide a general introduction to privacy concepts, it often lacks depth and adaptability. OpSec Intensive is structured as a one-on-one session to allow real-time feedback, personal threat modeling, and tailored instruction based on the participant’s specific context and technical background.

This format also makes space for slow, deliberate learning—a rarity in cybersecurity training, where content is often condensed or overly abstract. In OpSec Intensive, participants move through each phase at their own pace, working directly with an experienced instructor to build confidence and competence.

Structure and Content of the Day The curriculum spans both foundational theory and hands-on practice, beginning with basic OpSec principles before moving into technical tool use.

Topics include: * Booting and verifying OpSecOS * Secure USB creation and system verification * Navigating a non-persistent, Tor-routed live environment * Password and credential management * Offline use of KeePassXC * Strategies for vault organisation and redundancy * Bitcoin wallet setup and recovery * Single-signature and multisignature wallet creation using Sparrow, Electrum, and Feather * Understanding xpubs, derivation paths, and recovery flow * Seed phrase security * Entropy generation and validation using offline tools like iancoleman.io * Best practices for cold storage and physical backups * Network privacy and decentralised communication * Using Mempool.space to visualise Bitcoin transaction data * Setting up Nostr clients (Snort, Iris) for decentralised messaging * Discussion of traffic fingerprinting and Tor considerations

A Shift Toward Practical Sovereignty The tools and workflows covered in OpSec Intensive are not theoretical. Participants leave the session with configured environments, tested backups, and an understanding of what each tool does—and what it doesn’t do.

This reflects a broader shift in how privacy-conscious individuals are approaching digital security. Rather than relying on packaged services or closed-source software, there’s growing interest in verifiable, modular tools that prioritise autonomy and resilience over ease-of-use.

In that context, OpSec Academy’s offering sits somewhere between a workshop and an apprenticeship: not a lecture, but a process of guided, hands-on learning designed for the long haul.

To learn more or enquire about availability, visit opsecacademy.org.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

As we sprint toward the 2024 US Presidential election the case for using bitcoin as an asset to store value for the long term has never been stronger. The insanity of the incumbent power structure is being laid bare and it is becoming impossible to ignore the headwinds that the Borg faces moving forward.

Yesterday morning and earlier today it became clear that inflation is rearing its head again. Not ideal for the soft landing Jerome Powell and Yellen are signaling to the markets after the first Fed Funds rate cut in years.

It seems like the yield curve predicted this earlier this week when it inverted after a temporary normalizing period after the Fed's rate cut. Futhermore, it is becoming glaringly obvious that running historically high fiscal deficits while interest rates were at multi-decade highs was a pretty bad idea. As James Lavish points out, the data from the CBO earlier this week shows that the US federal government is running a deficit that is 13% higher than it was last year. This is at a time when real wages are still depressed, inflation is still suffocating American consumers and the private sector job market for American citizens is cratering.

Speaking of the job market, the numbers that came in yesterday were worse than expected: The effect of Hurricane Helene should certainly be taken into consideration when looking at this jobs miss. However, even with the miss we know that these numbers have been under reported for years to make the economy seem healthier than it actually is. Even with Helene's effect taken into consideration this print will likely be revised higher 3-6 months from now.

All of this points to a breaking point. A breaking point for the economy and, more importantly, a breaking point for overall confidence in the US government and its ability to operate with any semblance of fiscal responsibility. The chart that Pierre Rochard shares in the tweet at the top of this letter is the only chart that matters for anyone attempting to gauge where we find ourselves on the path to bitcoin realizing its full potential.

There is $133 TRILLION worth of value sitting in global bond markets. Bitcoin is a far superior asset to store one's wealth in. Bond markets are beholden to the whims of the actors who issue those bonds. In the case of the US Treasury market, the largest bond market in the world, the US government. And as we have pointed out above, the US government is recklessly irresponsible when it comes to issuing debt with a complete inability to pay it back on the long-term. Inflation is up, the jobs market is cratering for the native born Americans who actually pay taxes, and the push toward a multi-polar geopolitical landscape is becoming more pronounced by the day. All of this points to a long-term weakening in demand for US treasuries.

The only way out of this mess is to overtly default on this debt or inflate it away. The latter will most certainly be the route that is taken, which positions bitcoin extremely well as people seek the confines of an asset that cannot be debased because it cannot be controlled by a central authority. The levels of sovereign debt in the world are staggering. Do not let the bitcoin price consolidation of the last six months lull you into a state of complacency. Even the results of the Presidential election won't have a material effect on these dynamics. Though, a Donald Trump presidency would certainly be preferable if you prefer to see relatively sane policy enacted that would provide you with time to find safety in bitcoin. But, in regards to this sovereign debt crisis, that is the only benefit you can hope for; more time to prepare. I'll leave you with some thoughts from Porter Stansberry:

"We are about to see the final destruction of the American experiment. Every economist knows this (see below) is correct; but nobody is going to tell you about it. I’ll summarize in plan English: We are fucked.

1. Debt is growing much faster than GD and interest expense is growing much faster than debt; and the real growth in entitlement spending hasn’t even begun yet.

2. Progressive taxation means nobody will ever vote for less spending + the combined size of government employees and dependents, there’s no way for America’s actual taxpayers (about 20m people) to ever win an election, so the spending won’t stop growing and, ironically, inflation will make demands for more spending to grow.

3. Inflation undermines both economic growth and social cohesion. The purple hair man-women weirdos are only the beginning; what comes next is scapegoating jews, blacks, immigrants and a huge increase in violence/domestic terror.

Get ready America. This election has nothing to do with what’s coming. And neither Trump nor Kamala can stop it.

Our experiment in freedom and self-government died in 1971 (when all restraint on government spending was abandoned with the gold standard.) You can only live at the expense of your neighbor until he runs out of money.

And that day is here."

---

Final thought... I hope my tux still fits for this wedding. Enjoy your weekend, freaks.Use the code "TFTC" for 15% off

@ 20e7c953:3b8bcb21

21… That number means something. A reminder that limits create value - both in Bitcoin and in life.

Every June 21st, skaters around the world remind us that freedom is something you make yourself - one push at a time only constrained by your own limitations.

This year in Vientiane, we’re proud to support one of the few real skate spots in Laos. A place built and held together by skaters for skaters.

Expect around 50 locals - from young kids to older heads - showing up not just to skate, but to hold space for each other. No ego, no filters, just boards, fun and respect.

Bircoiners have lots to learn from these communities on this regard. Go skate and you'll find out.

SnF

Laostr

Skateboardingisfun

Skate4Fun

Skatestr

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Howdy stackers, this is the place to share your ~HealthAndFitness triumphs and challenges.

I was glad to hit my step goal today, since it's gloomy and rainy here. Once again, I ate too many cookies. Gotta stop being a cookie monster.

How'd you all do, today?

https://stacker.news/items/996659

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

This article was originally published on aier.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hard lessons for hard money

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bitcoin’s Use Value

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The hitch is that

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Last night I had the pleasure of sitting down with Caitlin Long, Founder and CEO of Custodia - a fully reserved bank providing banking services to bitcoin companies, to discuss an affidavit written by Elaine Hetrick of Silvergate Bank. Elaine is the Chief Administrative Officer of Silvergate and wrote an affidavit, a sworn testimony subject to perjury, in which she detailed the events that led to Silvergate voluntarily winding down their business and returning deposits to their customers.

This affidavit is a bombshell because it confirms speculation that Silvergate was solvent in early 2023 and wasn't shut down because of bad risk management on behalf of the bank's management team, but instead was forced to shutter its doors because the Biden Administration, with strong influence from Senator Elizabeth Warren, forced Silvergate's hand because they didn't like that they were banking digital asset companies.

For those who are a bit fuzzy on the details of the narratives that were flying around Silvergate at the time, I'll jog your memory. FTX was a customer of Silvergate's at the time their Ponzi scheme unraveled. As FTX was blowing up, everyone and their mother was scrambling to get their money out of Silvergate because they assumed that since one of the bank's largest counterparties was going bust, the bank must be in trouble too. A sane decision. Especially considering the history of systemically non-important financial institutions this century.

Unless you were paying close attention during this time, you were likely under the impression that Silvergate was a typical fractionally reserved bank that was experiencing a run that led to its inevitable demise. The media made it seem this way. The regulators made it seem this way. And one pompous short seller made it seem this way. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Here are the most important parts of the affidavit:

Silvergate had stabilized, was able to make regulatory capital requirements, and had the capability to continue to serve its customers that had kept their deposits with Silvergate Bank.

Despite this, regulators decided to turn the pressure up and essentially gave Silvergate Bank, and Signature Bank as well, an ultimatum; drastically change your business models immediately by dropping your digital asset customer base or we'll shut you down. There were no hard numbers described in Elaine's testimony, but rumors are that the regulators wanted Silvergate to quickly shrink their exposure to digital asset-related clients to less than 15% of their capital base. At the time, Silvergate's customer base was made up almost entirely of digital asset companies (99.5% to be exact).

The regulators were asking Silvergate to do something that was quite literally impossible given the circumstances. Faced with an impossible task, on March 8th of 2023 Silvergate decided to voluntarily wind down their operations and return deposits back to their customers.

Let's be very clear here, Silvergate did not lose a single penny of customer deposits due to the run on their bank. Management, understanding the volatile nature of the digital asset markets, designed their risk management and capital allocation strategies in a way that would enable them to return dollars to any customer who requested them. And that's exactly what they did when customers came to request their money. They returned EVERY SINGLE PENNY.

This begs the question, "Why did they essentially force Silvergate to shut down?" They seemed to be running a very responsible operation after all. You'd think the regulators would applaud Silvergate's vigilance in risk management on behalf of their customer base. How many banks would have been able to do the same thing if put in the same situation? Probably not many.

The answer to this question is already well known throughout the industry, but Elaine Hetrick's testimony adds some hard evidence that makes it undeniable; Elizabeth Warren, the SEC, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve have been acting in concert to unconstitutionally and extrajudicially target the bitcoin and broader digital asset industry because they do not believe that it should exist. It is a threat to their power structure. The financial system, as it is designed today, gives those who would like to centrally plan the economy and micromanage the lives of American citizens a ton of power. Bitcoin is a threat to that power and they have to do everything in their power to prevent its proliferation.

The targeting of the industry was also confirmed by the aftermath of the NYDFS and FDIC uncharacteristically taking Signature Bank behind the woodshed in the evening of Sunday, March 20th, 2023, despite the fact that Barney Frank and others at the bank were convinced they could handle withdraws come market open the next day.

Signature Bank was ultimately sold to Flagstar Bank. However, they were forced to spin out their digital asset-related accounts before doing so.

This public signaling and sudden regulatory shift made clear that, at least as of the first quarter of 2023, the Federal Bank Regulatory Agencies would not tolerate banks with significant concentrations of digital asset customers, ultimately preventing Silvergate Bank from continuing its digital asset focused business model.

Pretty damning if you ask me. Also, very frustrating and most definitely illegal.

Elizabeth Warren and her gaggle of hall monitors across alphabet soup agencies and the Federal Reserve have been on one massive, unconstitutional, power trip for the last four years. They've besmirched bitcoin and those of us working hard to ensure that the United States of America leads the way forward as bitcoin adoption continues at every turn. Good people striving to make the world a better place.

No one is a better example of this than Alan Lane, the former CEO of Silvergate Bank. I consider Alan a friend and feel supremely confident when I say that he is one of the nicest and thoughtful people I have met in this industry. A man who followed his passion to bring legitimacy and much needed banking services to an industry that the incumbents refused to touch. And he did bring legitimacy. As I explained earlier, Alan and his team understood the volatile nature of the industry and built their firm in a way that took this volatility into account. Silvergate did not fail, they were forced to shut down by Elizabeth Warren and her acolytes at the regulatory agencies.

What's worse, Warren's vendetta against bitcoin and the digital asset industry incited the largest banking crisis this country had seen since 2008. Silvergate and Signature being taken behind the woodshed put everyone on their toes and bank runs started across the country. This led to the failure of First Republic, Silicon Valley Bank and a couple of smaller banks, forced the Fed to step in with their emergency BTFP program, and burdened taxpayers with $40B in FDIC costs that needed to be absorbed as a result. If it weren't for the bailouts things would have gotten completely out of control. All because Elizabeth Warren wants to live in a world in which we are forced to use CBDCs and unable to opt-in to bitcoin.

The euthanasia of Silvergate and Signature are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Chokepoint 2.0.

Caitlin Long and Custodia have been in a years long battle with the Federal Reserve to receive a Fed master account so that they can properly serve their customers. For those who are unaware, Custodia is a full-reserve bank that exist to serve bitcoin and digital asset businesses as well as other adjacent businesses like fintechs, banks and funds. Custodia is a chartered bank and special purpose depository institution that has built custody services so that customers can hold bitcoin within their bank accounts alongside their dollar accounts.

Like Silvergate and Signature, Custodia has been singled out and unlawfully denied a master account with the Fed because the Federal Reserve doesn't want a bank like Custodia to exist. Either because they worry about the ramifications of the introduction of a full-reserve bank into a system dominated by fractional-reserve banks or they simply do not want to see bitcoin succeed. If we're being honest, it's probably a combination of the two.

Despite what we, or anyone else, thinks about the potential effect a bank like Custodia could have on the market if it's granted a master account, the Fed's actions are unconstitutional in this case as well. This was made pretty clear (but yet to be determined by a court) in an amicus brief written by Paul Clement on behalf of Custodia earlier this Summer. The Fed is actively undermining the dual-banking system that was set up in this country to enable competition between state chartered banks and the Federal Reserve system.

In the case of Custodia, the Federal Reserve is exhibiting expansive discretionary power that it has never shown before. Custodia is a state chartered special purpose depository institution in the state of Wyoming. Historically, it would be trivial for this type of state chartered bank to get a master account with the Fed. But for whatever reason (we know the reason) the Fed has been denying Custodia their right to this account for a number of years. To the point where Custodia was forced to sue the Federal Reserve and take their case to the courts.

What's interesting about the saga of Custodia and the Fed is that it has forced Custodia's legal team to dig in and highlight where the Fed is overextending its reach and acting arbitrarily. In the amicus brief that was published in July of this year, Paul Clement argues that the way Federal Reserve Bank presidents are chosen is unconstitutional when you take into consideration the fact the these Fed branch presidents are unilaterally undermining state banking laws by denying master accounts.

If they are going to unilaterally undermine state banking laws they need to be appointed by the President or an official acting on behalf of the Executive Branch. Federal Reserve Bank presidents aren't appointed by the President of the United States or any official acting with the authority of the Executive Branch. Instead, they are appointed by their boards, which are controlled by the privately held commercial banks who own them. The Federal Reserve system is clearly acting unconstitutionally when they deny Custodia from being assigned a master account.

The people in power within the federal government and the Federal Reserve system are actively targeting the bitcoin and digital asset industry, acting extrajudicially and making a mockery of the rule of law in the United States. They are completely out of control and it is important that everyone who cares about the future of bitcoin in the United States and the future of the United States more broadly (even if you don't like bitcoin) speaks out and fights against these totalitarians as vehemently as possible. What they are doing is wrong. It's unconstitutional. And it is putting the future of our country at risk.

If the federal government, the regulators and the Federal Reserve do not get out of the way and let law abiding citizens build the businesses they want and associate with businesses they want, those businesses will go elsewhere and the United States will be set back generations as a result.

It's time to put these people in their place and let it be known that freedom will reign supreme in the Land of the Free. Fight!

Final thought... I promised Parker Lewis that I would do cross fit on Friday morning and I'm using today's final thought as an accountability tool.

@ f5369849:f34119a0

Hackathon Summary

The ETHBratislava Hackathon Vol.2 convened 54 developers and approved 11 projects, representing a noteworthy event within the Ethereum community. Hosted at the Slovak Technical University, the hackathon offered participants complimentary access to the ETHBratislava Conference. This setting promoted the exploration of current advancements in blockchain technology.

Key achievements were evident in projects that addressed issues of scalability and interoperability within Ethereum, particularly in the "World Computer" track. Significant innovations also emerged from the "Restaking Track by Zircuit," which focused on AI-enabled zk rollups to enhance security and scalability. The "European Stablecoin EURØP Challenge" aimed to develop a stablecoin backed by the euro, advancing the concept of regulated digital currency in Europe.

Participants gained from high-level mentorship, networking opportunities with industry leaders, and the presence of onsite recruiters searching for tech talent. The event ended with an afterparty that served as a venue for celebration and additional networking. A total of 4,000 EUR in prizes was distributed, fostering a competitive yet collaborative environment among innovative developers. ETHBratislava Vol.2 successfully propelled ideas to influence the future of Ethereum while reinforcing community connections.

Hackathon Winners

World Computer Prize Winners

This category highlighted consumer-facing applications that harness Ethereum's capabilities. Developers created solutions aimed at enhancing inclusivity, financial tools, and educational platforms. The winners included:

• Zhar: This decentralized platform employs AI and Ethereum blockchain to manage, execute, and incentivize on-chain challenges using smart contracts and tokens.
• Ledger Lens: A web application that facilitates visualization and analysis of Ethereum's multilayer ecosystem, emphasizing metrics such as token flows and bridge usage.

Real World Tokenization Prize Winners

This category concentrated on building utility on regulated digital money in Europe, specifically utilizing the EUR-pegged stablecoin, EURØP. Projects targeted the deployment of the initial technological enhancements atop this digital currency.

• dEST: A decentralized platform that utilizes NFTs and smart contracts to facilitate tokenized real estate transactions without intermediaries.
• EnergyHub: An application providing a decentralized platform to monetize surplus green energy and enable energy donations through smart contracts and a user-friendly dashboard.

Restaking Prize Winners

This category encouraged teams to build on the AI-powered zkEVM within the Zircuit ecosystem, focusing on projects that support AI-enabled security using innovative zk rollup technology.

• RestakerX: A dashboard application designed to track digital assets on the Zircuit network, offering algorithmic suggestions to maximize returns.

For more detailed information about all projects and further insights into the innovative ideas presented at the hackathon, please visit the ETHBratislava Hackathon page.

Organization

About the Organizer: Ethereum Bratislava

Ethereum Bratislava is a prominent community in the CEE region in the blockchain and technology sector, dedicated to advancing Ethereum development and integration. Supported by a team of experts, the organization has substantially contributed to projects that enhance Ethereum's scalability and security in the CEE region. Active participation in community initiatives and educational events underscores their commitment to fostering technological innovation and knowledge sharing within the blockchain realm. Ethereum Bratislava continues to support technological improvements and ecosystem growth, aiming to bolster Ethereum's capabilities and adoption across various industries.

@ f5369849:f34119a0

Hackathon Summary

The Verifiable AI Hackathon from cheqd concentrated on trustworthy AI through secure, verifiable, and ethical systems. The event engaged 278 developers, leading to the submission of 21 projects aimed at fostering trustworthy AI environments. Developers addressed issues related to the misuse of AI technologies, such as deepfake scams, and the challenge of creating transparent, ethical AI systems.

Participants explored themes such as agentic economies, AI verification, and secure data usage, utilizing cheqd’s technologies, including Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials. Key accomplishments included innovations in content authentication and the application of verified datasets to prevent disinformation.

The hackathon highlighted the pressing necessity for AI solutions that prioritize transparency and user interests, promoting a trust-focused ecosystem. By equipping developers with blockchain-based tools, the event sought to establish a foundation for more secure and credible AI applications. This initiative aims to transform interactions between digital identities and AI into sustainable and privacy-respecting processes.

Hackathon Winners

AI Agents Prize Winners

• Kith: This decentralized system employs cryptographic verifiable credentials to ensure privacy, authenticate, and maintain the trustworthiness of AI agents through decentralized identifiers (DIDs).
• Identone: This project secures interactions between humans and AI-powered voice agents by verifying identities during phone calls to ensure trustworthiness.
• SNAILS.: A bot that uses decentralized digital identities to verify content, enhancing trust within AI environments.

Other Prize Winners

• CheqDeep: Utilizes blockchain technology to authenticate media content, using DID Linked Resources to verify human origin and authenticity.
• Trusty Bytes: Provides a marketplace for AI agents to access verified data, employing blockchain-based verification for trustworthy transactions.
• crdbl: An open-source platform that improves online credibility using verifiable credentials, decentralized identity, cryptographic signatures, and AI verification.

Build an Agent Incorporating Private User Data Prize Winner

• Viskify: An AI-assisted platform for talent verification, employing verifiable credentials and deterministic decentralized identifiers, and integrating with Stripe and Verida for billing and private data management.

For more information on all projects, please visit The Verifiable AI Hackathon.

Organization

About the Organizer: cheqd

cheqd is a key player in the blockchain industry, focusing on digital identity solutions. The organization is known for its role in establishing decentralized identity infrastructure that supports secure and privacy-focused data management. By leveraging cutting-edge blockchain technologies, cheqd has been pivotal in developing standards within the identity ecosystem. Its efforts include forming strategic partnerships to create interoperable identity services. With a commitment to bolstering digital trust frameworks, cheqd continues to empower both individuals and organizations through advanced and effective identity management solutions.

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

Introdução

O princípio do sola scriptura, pedra angular da teologia protestante desde a Reforma do século XVI, estabelece que apenas a Escritura constitui a autoridade final e suprema em questões de fé e prática cristã. Este princípio, formulado inicialmente por Martinho Lutero e sistematizado pelos reformadores subsequentes, pretende oferecer um fundamento epistemológico sólido para a teologia, livre das supostas corrupções da tradição eclesiástica.

Contudo, uma análise rigorosa revela que o sola scriptura incorre em contradições lógicas fundamentais que comprometem sua viabilidade como sistema epistemológico coerente. Este artigo examina essas contradições através de três perspectivas complementares: filosófica, exegética e histórica.

A Contradição Performativa Fundamental

O Problema da Autoreferência

O sola scriptura enfrenta um dilema epistemológico insuperável: afirma que apenas a Escritura possui autoridade final em matéria de fé, mas essa própria regra não é explicitamente ensinada na Escritura. Trata-se de uma contradição performativa clássica, onde o enunciado viola suas próprias condições de possibilidade.

Esta situação configura uma falácia de petitio principii (círculo vicioso), pois exige que se aceite uma doutrina que não pode ser sustentada pelas premissas do próprio sistema. Para estabelecer o sola scriptura, seria necessário recorrer a uma autoridade externa à Escritura – precisamente aquilo que o princípio pretende rejeitar.

Fundacionalismo Mal Estruturado

Do ponto de vista epistemológico, o sola scriptura apresenta-se como um fundacionalismo defeituoso. Pretende funcionar como axioma supremo e auto-evidente, mas falha ao não fornecer a base textual que sua própria metodologia exige. Um verdadeiro fundacionalismo escriturístico deveria ser capaz de demonstrar sua validade através de uma prova explícita nas próprias Escrituras.

O Testemunho Contrário das Escrituras

Limitações do Registro Escrito

A própria Escritura reconhece as limitações do registro textual. João 21:25 declara explicitamente: "Jesus fez também muitas outras coisas. Se cada uma delas fosse escrita, penso que nem mesmo no mundo inteiro haveria espaço suficiente para os livros que seriam escritos."

Este versículo é particularmente problemático para o sola scriptura, pois reconhece que nem todos os ensinamentos de Cristo foram preservados por escrito. Como pode a Escritura ser suficiente se ela própria admite sua incompletude?

A Valorização da Tradição Oral

Paulo, em 2 Tessalonicenses 2:15, oferece uma instrução que contradiz frontalmente o sola scriptura: "Assim, pois, irmãos, ficai firmes e conservai os ensinamentos que de nós aprendestes, seja por palavras, seja por carta nossa."

O apóstolo valoriza inequivocamente tanto a tradição oral ("por palavras") quanto a escrita ("por carta"), estabelecendo um modelo de autoridade dual que o protestantismo posterior rejeitaria.

A Necessidade de Autoridade Interpretativa

A narrativa do eunuco etíope em Atos 8:30-31 demonstra a inadequação da Escritura isolada como autoridade final. Quando Filipe pergunta se o eunuco entende o que lê, a resposta é reveladora: "Como poderei entender, se alguém não me ensinar?"

Este episódio ilustra que a mera posse do texto bíblico não garante compreensão adequada. É necessária uma autoridade interpretativa externa – no caso, representada por Filipe, que age com autoridade apostólica.

A Complexidade Hermenêutica

Pedro, em sua segunda epístola (3:16-17), reconhece a dificuldade interpretativa inerente às Escrituras: "Suas cartas contêm algumas coisas difíceis de entender, as quais os ignorantes e instáveis torcem, como também o fazem com as demais Escrituras, para a própria destruição deles."

Esta passagem não apenas reconhece a complexidade hermenêutica dos textos sagrados, mas também alerta sobre os perigos da interpretação inadequada. Implicitamente, sugere a necessidade de uma autoridade interpretativa confiável para evitar distorções doutrinárias.

O Paradoxo Histórico da Canonização

A Dependência da Tradição Eclesiástica

Um dos argumentos mais devastadores contra o sola scriptura emerge da própria história da formação do cânon bíblico. Os concílios de Hipona (393 d.C.) e Cartago (397 d.C.) foram responsáveis pela definição oficial do cânon das Escrituras tal como conhecemos hoje.

Este fato histórico cria um paradoxo insuperável: aceitar a Bíblia como autoridade única requer aceitar a autoridade da tradição eclesiástica que a definiu. O próprio cânon bíblico é produto da tradição apostólica e da deliberação conciliar, não de autodefinição escriturística.

A Circularidade da Autopistia

Tentativas protestantes de resolver este dilema através do conceito de "autopistia" – a suposta capacidade das Escrituras de se auto-autenticar – apenas aprofundam o problema circular. Como determinar que as Escrituras possuem esta propriedade sem recorrer a critérios externos? A própria doutrina da autopistia não é explicitamente ensinada na Escritura.

Implicações Teológicas e Epistemológicas

A Fragmentação Interpretativa

A história do protestantismo oferece evidência empírica das consequências práticas do sola scriptura. A multiplicação de denominações e interpretações divergentes sugere que o princípio, longe de fornecer clareza doutrinária, pode na verdade contribuir para a fragmentação teológica.

Se a Escritura fosse verdadeiramente suficiente e auto-interpretativa, seria razoável esperar maior convergência hermenêutica entre aqueles que aderem ao sola scriptura. A realidade histórica sugere o contrário.

A Alternativa Católica e Ortodoxa

As tradições católica e ortodoxa, embora enfrentando suas próprias tensões epistemológicas, mantêm pelo menos coerência interna ao reconhecer explicitamente múltiplas fontes complementares de autoridade: Escritura, Tradição e Magistério (no caso católico) ou Escritura e Tradição (no caso ortodoxo).

Estas posições evitam a contradição performativa do sola scriptura ao não reivindicar que sua própria metodologia epistemológica seja derivada exclusivamente da Escritura.

Conclusão

A análise crítica do sola scriptura revela contradições estruturais que comprometem fundamentalmente sua viabilidade como princípio epistemológico. O princípio incorre em contradição performativa ao estabelecer uma regra que não pode ser derivada de suas próprias premissas, configura um fundacionalismo mal estruturado ao carecer de base textual explícita, e enfrenta o testemunho contrário da própria Escritura, que reconhece suas limitações e a necessidade de autoridades interpretativas externas.

O paradoxo histórico da canonização – onde o próprio cânon bíblico depende da autoridade tradicional que o sola scriptura pretende rejeitar – representa talvez o golpe mais decisivo contra o princípio protestante.

Isso não implica necessariamente a falsidade do protestantismo como sistema teológico, mas sugere que seus fundamentos epistemológicos requerem reformulação substancial. Uma teologia protestante intelectualmente honesta precisaria reconhecer as limitações do sola scriptura e desenvolver uma epistemologia mais nuançada que leve em conta a complexidade das fontes de autoridade religiosa.

A busca pela verdade teológica, independentemente de compromissos confessionais, exige o reconhecimento rigoroso das limitações e contradições inerentes aos nossos sistemas epistemológicos. No caso do sola scriptura, essa honestidade intelectual revela um princípio que, por mais central que seja para a identidade protestante, não pode sustentar o peso epistemológico que tradicionalmente lhe foi atribuído.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

While most of the world is focused on the lead up to the Presidential election here in the US and louder war drums being beat across the world, the number of bullish developments that are stacking up for bitcoin is increasing rapidly. These developments deserve the OG Marty's Bent smorgasbord treatments, so here are the things that have caught my attention over the last week in no particular order.

The First Ark Transactions on Bitcoin Mainnet

I had the pleasure of participating in a demo of Second's Ark protocol implementation. For those who are unaware, Ark is a new layer-two protocol solution for making off-chain bitcoin payments. Unlike the lightning network, Ark doesn't depend on liquidity channels to facilitate payments. Within the lightning network two counterparties share UTXOs within a channel to move sats back and forth, nodes connect to many different channels to create a network effect that increases the chance of payments getting routed successfully, and node operators manage their channel liquidity as channel imbalances emerge.

Ark is similar in the sense that it also leverages a shared UTXO model. However, instead of having one-to-one channels that come with liquidity management issues, Ark enables a large amount of individuals to share UTXOs, which are managed by an Ark Service Provider (ASP). The ASP is a central party within the protocol, but it is a central party that does not custody UTXOs. It only coordinates the transfer of sats between Ark "rounds". Users have the ability to unilaterally exit the second-layer protocol whenever they deem necessary by broadcasting a Virtual UTXO (vtxo) transaction.

This may seem daunting and complicated. All you need to know is that there is now an new way to make off-chain bitcoin payments that are fast and relatively cheap and it is possible today. As it stands today, Ark has some scaling limitations that can be solved if covenants get merged into the bitcoin protocol, which would significantly reduce the data requirements for signing this type of transaction.

It should also be noted that Ark isn't here to replace the lightning network. It can help serve different use cases and, at the same time, significantly improve the UX of the lightning network. Particularly channel management. The progression of the Ark protocol is a welcomed development. I look forward to following what's going on with Ark as the protocol matures.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is Stacking A LOT of Sats

We were made aware of the fact that the Kingdom of Bhutan, a small country in the Himalayas with a population less than 1,000,000 people, was mining bitcoin in early 2023 when their sovereign wealth fund was doxxed in the bankruptcy proceedings of BlockFi and Celsius. Don't look now, but Bhutan has been doxxed again, this time by the chain surveillance firm Arkham, which is reporting that the nation currently holds more than 13,000 bitcoin, which is nearly 1/3 of its GDP. Driven predominately by its mining operations, which have expanded significantly over the last two years in an attempt to monetize the country's excess hydroelectric power.

While we're not big fans of doxxing here at TFTC, we are fans of the game theory of bitcoin playing out in front of our eyes. And the Kingdom of Bhutan is a shining example of the game theory bitcoiners have been talking about for 15 years playing out perfectly.

Bitcoin is a very thorny topic for individuals at every layer of society. At the individual layer, people have to independently decide that bitcoin is a better money and they have to actively decide to store their wealth in it instead of other assets. For companies, the decision to use bitcoin as the preferred savings vehicle is even harder because most businesses have multiple stakeholders that need to align on a decision before making it. When you move up to the nation state level, the complexity of making the decision to add bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset gets even harder. Many more people and different branches of government need to agree and pass bills (in most cases) before bitcoin can ever make it into a nation's treasury asset mix.

It has long been said within bitcoin circles that individuals who have the ability to think independently, companies that have a lean corporate structure, and nation states with little to lose will be the first movers into bitcoin. And they will benefit massively over the long-run for being early.

If you're an individual reading this who is using bitcoin as their money of choice, you are one of these early movers. Microstrategy under Michael Saylor, who has the ability to make somewhat unilateral decisions due to the company's share structure, is an early move. And, Bhutan, a small nation in the Himalaya mountains with a sovereign wealth fund that seems to have the ability to take risk, is an early mover. With little to lose and greatness to gain, Bhutan is giving other small nation states the playbook for leap frogging the competition in the digital age. Stack a shit ton of bitcoin on the DL, hold on to it for a considerable amount of time, and wake up one day as an economic powerhouse.

The Fed Cuts Rates by 50 Basis Points

I'm sure all of you are well aware at this point. Last week the Federal Reserve made it's first rate cuts in over four years when it cut the fed funds target rate by 0.50% to 4.75-5.00%. With the economy reeling despite what the official government and mainstream narrative may try to make you believe, Jerome Powell and crew have decided it is time to ease up on their monetary policy.

Put another way, inflation is likely to come back with a vengeance as easy money begins to reenter the economy. To be clear, a lower fed funds rate doesn't technically necessitate that newly printed dollars enter the economy like they have over the last 15 years via operations like quantitative easing. However, one has to imagine that the Fed sees some sort of liquidity crisis on the horizon that requires them to begin cutting rates. And not only cutting, but cutting at a pace that was very low probability only a couple of months ago. The consensus in the middle of the Summer was that the Fed would begin lowering rates with a modest 25bps cut this month. They doubled that.

It's probably safe to assume that something is approaching a breaking point on the back end of the financial system. One only has to look at record high credit card debt, record low savings rates, the state of the job market for native born Americans, and the continued turn over of commercial real estate markets to see that not all is well in the American economy. Your Uncle Marty's spidey senses are signaling that a liquidity crunch is likely lurking around the corner. When it does rear its ugly head, you can expect quantitative easing to make a big come back.

When money printer goes brrr, bitcoin goes berserk.

It seems that the Treasury's move over the last 18-months of over-indexing on the front end of the curve during their auctions is already having an expansionary effect on M2 as it has officially entered expansion territory for the first time since 2022. Hold on to your butts, freaks.

Bitcoin's fundamentals are only getting stronger as time goes on. This is evidenced by continued improvement to the protocol stack via second layer protocols, continued adoption by reputable actors like the Kingdom of Bhutan, and the continued mismanagement of the fiat monetary system.

The price of bitcoin has been range bound since the Spring and it has lulled the market into a state of boredom. Enjoy the boring period while it lasts. All signs are pointing to a bitcoin bull run the likes of which the world hasn't seen before. There is a lot of tinder, it is extremely dry, and there are flame throwers on the horizon.

---

Final thought... Nothing makes me happier than meeting someone who gets value from this newsletter or the podcasts in the wild. Love you, freaks.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

As I'm sure many of you are aware already, Israel executed an attack on thousands of Hezbollah members in Lebanon earlier today. At the moment, it looks like Israel successfully waged a supply chain attack on the pagers used by Hezbollah members. Intercepting the devices and placing highly explosive material on the batteries that could be triggered remotely by raising the temperature of the batteries.

To my knowledge, this is the first time an attack of this nature and of this scale has ever been waged. This is a very serious and dangerous precedent that should make anyone reading this think long and hard about the ramifications of the normalization of this type of warfare.

It's not clear to me yet whether this is exactly what happened, but this seems to be where all of the reports are pointing. And when you consider the scale of this operation, it is hard to think of alternative ways that this could have been achieved outside of corrupting the supply chain of this particular pager. Regardless, the die has been cast and remote detonation attacks in crowded civilian areas has been battle tested as an appropriate war tactic.

Not only does this set a terrible precedent for war, but it also begs the question; if they can do something like this with a relatively dumb pager, how much damage could they do with something like an iPhone? How vulnerable are the billions of people who hold smartphones in their pockets, or drive internet connected electric vehicles with lithium ion batteries? How trivial was it for Mossad to gain access to these devices and at what part of the supply chain? Now that this attack has been deemed to be "on the table" how long will it take before others begin to wage similar attacks?

War tactics and their costs are rapidly changing right before our eyes. The war between Russia and Ukraine is showing that low cost drones strapped with bombs can be very effective weapons that can do damage to military equipment worth anywhere between tens of millions to billions of dollars. The Houthi rebels have used cheap drones to completely disrupt the Suez Canal for the better part of a year. The world has only seen the tip of the iceberg in regards to how this type of technology can be used at scale to tip the leverage of power towards those with less financial resources, but a willingness to engage in kinetic conflict. Some of these drones are strapped with thermite flame throwers!

Now that new information has been brought to the market - you can turn pagers and (likely) cellular phones into a network of improvised explosive devices via a software push that increases the temperature of the devices' batteries - it is only a matter of time before others figure out how to do it and begin using these tactics themselves. War machines have never been easier and cheaper to deploy. In a world that is becoming increasingly fractured and angry, this is absolutely frightening. Asymmetric warfare as predicted in the Sovereign Individual is upon us.

As it relates to bitcoin hardware, these attacks highlight that an attack that has been long talked about in the industry but not yet exploited to the best of our knowledge is very real. Supply chain attacks, particularly on bitcoin signing devices that store private key information, have just been proven to be very possible by motivated state actors. If a nation state wanted to somehow "prove" that bitcoin is insecure or figure out a low effort way to do a mass confiscation of bitcoin all they have to do is successfully attack the supply chain of a hardware manufacturer, corrupt the devices, and let them flow to the hands of individuals who believe they are securing their bitcoin in the best way possible. The best way to mitigate this risk is to hold you bitcoin in a multi-sig wallet using a quorum of keys produced by different hardware produced by different manufacturers. Companies like Unchained make this process as seamless and possible and supply chain attacks like the one that was laid bare today highlight why these collaborative custody models are so important. Especially if you are holding a large amount of wealth in bitcoin.

This is a sad day for the world. I'll be praying for peace and sanity to prevail.

Final thought... That was a terrible loss by the Birds.

@ da8b7de1:c0164aee

Lengyelország előrelépése az első atomerőmű építésében

Lengyelország állami nukleáris vállalata, a Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ) és egy amerikai konzorcium – élén a Westinghouse és a Bechtel cégekkel – mérnöki fejlesztési megállapodást kötött. Ez a szerződés kulcsfontosságú lépés az ország első atomerőművének megvalósítása felé, lehetővé téve a részletes mérnöki és helyszínspecifikus munkák megkezdését. A lengyel kormány ezt mérföldkőnek tekinti az energiaszuverenitás és a dekarbonizáció felé vezető úton.

Amerikai politika: lendület az új nukleáris technológiáknak

Az Egyesült Államok kormánya elnöki rendeletet adott ki, amely reformokat vezet be a nukleáris reaktorok tesztelésében az Energiaügyi Minisztériumnál. A cél az új generációs reaktorok – köztük mikroreaktorok és kis moduláris reaktorok (SMR-ek) – fejlesztésének és engedélyezésének felgyorsítása, valamint a környezetvédelmi vizsgálatok egyszerűsítése. A rendelet legalább három új reaktor kritikus üzembe helyezését célozza meg 2026 júliusáig, támogatva ezzel az ipari alkalmazások széles körét, például adatközpontokat vagy hidrogéntermelést. Az intézkedés célja, hogy az USA visszaszerezze vezető szerepét a nukleáris innovációban, és csökkentse a korábbi években felhalmozódott engedélyezési akadályokat.

Kis moduláris reaktorok (SMR) fejlesztése világszerte

Az SMR-szektorban világszerte jelentős előrelépések történtek: - Az amerikai Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) benyújtotta az első építési kérelmet egy GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR-re a Clinch River telephelyen. - Kanadában az Ontario Power Generation engedélyt kapott az első, négy tervezett SMR megépítésének megkezdésére a Darlington telephelyen. - Belgium és Brazília innovatív SMR-technológiákat vizsgál, köztük ólom-hűtésű reaktorokat és nemzetközi együttműködéseket. - Olyan technológiai óriások, mint a Google, az USA-ban korai fázisú fejlett nukleáris projektekbe fektetnek, ami a magánszektor növekvő érdeklődését mutatja.

Globális ipari és pénzügyi támogatás a nukleáris bővítéshez

Széles körű koalíció – köztük olyan nagyvállalatok, mint az Amazon, Google, Meta, Dow – és pénzügyi intézmények kötelezték el magukat amellett, hogy 2050-re megháromszorozzák a globális nukleáris kapacitást. Ez összhangban van az ENSZ klímacsúcsain tett vállalásokkal, ahol már 31 ország támogatja a nukleáris energia megháromszorozását a nettó zéró kibocsátási célok eléréséhez. Az amerikai kongresszus olyan törvényjavaslatokat készít elő, amelyek lehetővé tennék, hogy a multilaterális fejlesztési bankok – például a Világbank – is finanszírozhassanak nukleáris projekteket, megszüntetve ezzel a korábbi tiltásokat.

Közelgő nemzetközi nukleáris biztonsági gyakorlat

A Nemzetközi Atomenergia-ügynökség (IAEA) készül a ConvEx-3 vészhelyzeti gyakorlatára, amelyet 2025. június 24–25-én Romániában tartanak. A gyakorlat egy súlyos nukleáris vészhelyzetet szimulál a cernavodai atomerőműben, tesztelve a tagállamok és nemzetközi szervezetek felkészültségét és reagálóképességét. A ConvEx-3 a legmagasabb szintű IAEA vészhelyzeti gyakorlat, kulcsszerepet játszik a globális nukleáris biztonság és védelem erősítésében.

Politikai bizonytalanság Dél-Korea nukleáris terveiben

Dél-Korea 2025. június 3-i elnökválasztása hatással lehet az ország nukleáris reneszánszára. A vezető jelölt, Lee Jae-myung kijelentette, hogy „egyelőre” fenntartaná a nukleáris energiát, de hosszabb távon a megújulók felé mozdulna el. Ez bizonytalanságot okoz a koreai nukleáris ipar hazai és exportterveiben, ami kihatással lehet a globális ellátási láncokra és külföldi reaktorprojektekre is.

Iparági trendek és további fejlemények

• Japán új energiastratégiája maximalizálni kívánja a nukleáris energia részarányát, 2040-re mintegy 20%-ot célozva, különös hangsúlyt fektetve a következő generációs reaktorokra és a biztonság növelésére.
• Belgium kormánya és a francia Engie közműcég megállapodott a kulcsfontosságú reaktorok üzemidejének tízéves meghosszabbításáról, ami az európai nukleáris pálfordulás újabb jele.
• Az IAEA és a World Nuclear Association egyaránt növekvő nemzetközi érdeklődésről számol be az SMR-ek és fejlett reaktortechnológiák iránt, új projektek és partnerségek indulnak Ázsiában, Európában és Amerikában.

---

Források:
world-nuclear-news.org
nucnet.org
iaea.org
world-nuclear.org
govinfo.gov
whitehouse.gov

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Sberbank, Russia’s Biggest Bank, Launches Structured Bond Tied to Bitcoin 

Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia, has launched a new structured bond that ties investor returns to the performance of Bitcoin and the U.S. dollar-to-ruble exchange rate. This new financial product represents one of the first moves by a major Russian institution to offer Bitcoin-linked investments under recently updated national regulations.

BREAKING: Russia's largest bank Sberbank launches structured bonds linked to Bitcoin. pic.twitter.com/LtD26jPS0x

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 2, 2025

The structured bond is initially available over the counter to a limited group of qualified investors. According to the announcement, it allows investors to earn based on two factors: the price performance of BTC in U.S. dollars and any strengthening of the dollar compared to the Russian ruble.

Unlike typical Bitcoin investments, this product does not require the use of a Bitcoin wallet or foreign platforms. “All transactions [are] processed in rubles within Russia’s legal and infrastructure systems,” Sberbank stated, highlighting compliance with domestic financial protocols.

In addition to the bond, Sberbank has announced plans to launch similar structured investment products with Bitcoin exposure on the Moscow Exchange. The bank also revealed it will introduce a Bitcoin futures product via its SberInvestments platform on June 4, aligning with the product’s debut on the Moscow Exchange.

These developments follow a recent policy change by the Bank of Russia, which now permits financial institutions to offer Bitcoin-linked instruments to qualified investors. This shift opens the door for Bitcoin within the country’s traditional financial markets.

While Russia has previously taken a cautious approach to digital assets, Sberbank’s launch of a Bitcoin-linked bond and upcoming futures product marks a new phase of adoption—one that blends Bitcoin exposure with existing financial infrastructure.

The bank’s structured bond may signal a growing interest in regulated access to Bitcoin, especially within large financial institutions.

This post Sberbank, Russia’s Biggest Bank, Launches Structured Bond Tied to Bitcoin  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

TAPS SIGN

"There is no industry in the world that is more ruthlessly competitive than the bitcoin mining industry."

From any angle you cut it the bitcoin mining economic landscape is absolutely BRUTAL at the moment. Hashprice is sitting right above an all time low at $0.04/TH/day. Yesterday brought with it yet another new difficulty all time high. Competition for energy resources is as fierce as it has ever been as rack space continues to be tight in the United States and hoards of AI data centers move in to scoop up as much power as possible.

To make matters worse, with current economics it doesn't really make sense to buy bitcoin mining machines at their current prices. The pay back period on machines is absurd considering where we find ourselves in the market. Adam O from Upstream Data broke it down in a tweet earlier today.

As he says, it probably makes more sense to buy used machines than new machines right now if you are looking to make back your money on a reasonable timeline. The only reasons you would buy new hardware right now is if you believe the price is going to rip in the near term (risky bet), you think hashrate is going to come off the network (risky bet), or if you have obscenely low power costs (unlikely for most).

If you have machines plugged in or are thinking about plugging them in soon you better be running firmware that enables you to run your machines more efficiently to increase margins. With current economics, I would make the argument that it is incredibly irresponsible to be running your machines using stock firmware. Especially if you are operating a miner in the public markets or are a private miner backed by investors. It is a disservice to your shareholders. This is a strategy we have been deploying at Cathedra for years now and it has helped us to survive during these trying times in the mining industry and set us up to successfully complete a strategic merger with Kungsleden at an opportune time.

On that note, this is a trend you can expect to pick up over the next six months; mergers and acquisitions. We wrote earlier this year that M&A activity would pick up after the halving began to eat into the economics of mining businesses and that is exactly what is happening. We decided to move early at Cathedra to get ahead of the curve. Since then Cleanspark announced a merger with GRIID, Riot has initiated an attempted hostile takeover of Bitfarms, Bitfarms has entered an agreement to merge with Stronghold, and Terawulf has signaled that they are open to a merger if a particular deal makes sense. On top of this, Rhodium slipped into bankruptcy last month. As margins continue to be squeezed and companies get more desperate I expect this type of consolidation to accelerate.

All signs are pointing toward more pain in the world of mining in the near term. There is nothing outside of a face ripping rally in the price of bitcoin or some unforeseen event that knocks out a material amount of hashrate that will change this reality. Especially considering the fact that Bitmain announced a new hydro model that will produce 860 TH/s at ~13 J/TH! This will be the highest hashing, most energy efficient machine to ever hit the market by a considerable margin.

Once these machines hit the market (if they haven't already via Bitmain plugging them in, which could explain new difficulty all time highs despite terrible mining conditions) every other machine on the market is going to suffer economically.

To make matters worse for everyone struggling right now, savvy energy producers are beginning to understand the benefits bitcoin mining can bring to their operational stack. Japanese energy giant TEPCO is reportedly planning to scale up their mining operations after beginning pilots in late 2022. They want to utilize the excess energy produced by renewable sources to mine bitcoin. From what I can tell, they haven't scaled up significantly yet. However, it is reasonable to believe that they will scale up and other energy producers will take notice. Pushing the industry closer to its inevitable end state; vertical integration via energy producers who have the lowest cost of production.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. Keep hashing if you can.

Final thought...

The pets need protecting.

@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5

Marty's Bent

It's been a pretty historic week for the United States as it pertains to geopolitical relations in the Middle East. President Trump and many members of his administration, including AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, traveled across the Middle East making deals with countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and others. Many are speculating that Iran may be included in some behind the scenes deal as well. This trip to the Middle East makes sense considering the fact that China is also vying for favorable relationships with those countries. The Middle East is a power player in the world, and it seems pretty clear that Donald Trump is dead set on ensuring that they choose the United States over China as the world moves towards a more multi-polar reality.

Many are calling the events of this week the Riyadh Accords. There were many deals that were struck in relation to artificial intelligence, defense, energy and direct investments in the United States. A truly prolific power play and demonstration of deal-making ability of Donald Trump, if you ask me. Though I will admit some of the numbers that were thrown out by some of the countries were a bit egregious. We shall see how everything plays out in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how China reacts to this power move by the United States.

While all this was going on, there was something happening back in the United States that many people outside of fringe corners of FinTwit are not talking about, which is the fact that the 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury bond yields are back on the rise. Yesterday, they surpassed the levels of mid-April that caused a market panic and are hovering back around levels that have not been seen since right before Donald Trump's inauguration.

I imagine that there isn't as much of an uproar right now because I'm pretty confident the media freakouts we were experiencing in mid-April were driven by the fact that many large hedge funds found themselves off sides of large levered basis trades. I wouldn't be surprised if those funds have decreased their leverage in those trades and bond yields being back to mid-April levels is not affecting those funds as much as they were last month. But the point stands, the 10-year and 30-year yields are significantly elevated with the 30-year approaching 5%. Regardless of the deals that are currently being made in the Middle East, the Treasury has a big problem on its hands. It still has to roll over many trillions worth of debt over over the next few years and doing so at these rates is going to be massively detrimental to fiscal deficits over the next decade. The interest expense on the debt is set to explode in the coming years.

On that note, data from the first quarter of 2025 has been released by the government and despite all the posturing by the Trump administration around DOGE and how tariffs are going to be beneficial for the U.S. economy, deficits are continuing to explode while the interest expense on the debt has definitively surpassed our annual defense budget.

via Charlie Bilello

via Mohamed Al-Erian

To make matters worse, as things are deteriorating on the fiscal side of things, the U.S. consumer is getting crushed by credit. The 90-plus day delinquency rates for credit card and auto loans are screaming higher right now.

via TXMC

One has to wonder how long all this can continue without some sort of liquidity crunch. Even though equities markets have recovered from their post-Liberation Day month long bear market, I would not be surprised if what we're witnessing is a dead cat bounce that can only be continued if the money printers are turned back on. Something's got to give, both on the fiscal side and in the private markets where the Common Man is getting crushed because he's been forced to take on insane amounts of debt to stay afloat after years of elevated levels of inflation. Add on the fact that AI has reached a state of maturity that will enable companies to replace their current meat suit workers with an army of cheap, efficient and fast digital workers and it isn't hard to see that some sort of employment crisis could be on the horizon as well.

Now is not the time to get complacent. While I do believe that the deals that are currently being made in the Middle East are probably in the best interest of the United States as the world, again, moves toward a more multi-polar reality, we are facing problems that one cannot simply wish away. They will need to be confronted. And as we've seen throughout the 21st century, the problems are usually met head-on with a money printer.

I take no pleasure in saying this because it is a bit uncouth to be gleeful to benefit from the strife of others, but it is pretty clear to me that all signs are pointing to bitcoin benefiting massively from everything that is going on. The shift towards a more multi-polar world, the runaway debt situation here in the United States, the increasing deficits, the AI job replacements and the consumer credit crisis that is currently unfolding, All will need to be "solved" by turning on the money printers to levels they've never been pushed to before.

Weird times we're living in.

China's Manufacturing Dominance: Why It Matters for the U.S.

In my recent conversation with Lyn Alden, she highlighted how China has rapidly ascended the manufacturing value chain. As Lyn pointed out, China transformed from making "sneakers and plastic trinkets" to becoming the world's largest auto exporter in just four years. This dramatic shift represents more than economic success—it's a strategic power play. China now dominates solar panel production with greater market control than OPEC has over oil and maintains near-monopoly control of rare earth elements crucial for modern technology.

"China makes like 10 times more steel than the United States does... which is relevant in ship making. It's relevant in all sorts of stuff." - Lyn Alden

Perhaps most concerning, as Lyn emphasized, is China's financial leverage. They hold substantial U.S. assets that could be strategically sold to disrupt U.S. treasury market functioning. This combination of manufacturing dominance, resource control, and financial leverage gives China significant negotiating power in any trade disputes, making our attempts to reshoring manufacturing all the more challenging.

Check out the full podcast here for more on Triffin's dilemma, Bitcoin's role in monetary transition, and the energy requirements for rebuilding America's industrial base.

Headlines of the Day

Financial Times Under Fire Over MicroStrategy Bitcoin Coverage - via X

Trump in Qatar: Historic Boeing Deal Signed - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

Johnson Backs Stock Trading Ban; Passage Chances Slim - via X

---

Take the First Step Off the Exchange

Bitkey is an easy, secure way to move your Bitcoin into self-custody. With simple setup and built-in recovery, it’s the perfect starting point for getting your coins off centralized platforms and into cold storage—no complexity, no middlemen.

Take control. Start with Bitkey.

Use the promo code *“TFTC20”* during checkout for 20% off

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed 158,469 sats | $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

Building things of value is satisfying.

---

Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@media screen and (max-width: 480px) { .mobile-padding { padding: 10px 0 !important; } .social-container { width: 100% !important; max-width: 260px !important; } .social-icon { padding: 0 !important; } .social-icon img { height: 32px !important; width: 32px !important; } .icon-cell { padding: 0 4px !import

@ e5272de9:a16a102f

What is the Grapevine?

The Grapevine enables you and your community to identify who is the most trustworthy, and in what context, to curate content, facts, and information.

In this article we present an overview of the Grapevine Worldview, a visualization tool and control panel for the management of your grapevine.

How does the grapevine work?

The construction of a Grapevine Worldview can be broken down into the following steps:

Step 1. Decide what question you want to answer or the problem you want to solve. For example: curate a directory of nostr apps. The finished product will be a ranked list, G, of items that may be pubkeys or could be something else, e.g. products from an eCommerce site.

Step 2. Select whatever sources of raw data (usually from within nostr, but in theory, could come from outside nostr) that are both 1) available to you and 2) relevant to the question or problem. (See Table: Sources of Raw Data at [1].)

Step 3. Translate each data source into a format suitable for consumption by the grapevine through the process of interpretation (see [1]).

Step 4. Crunch the numbers using the GrapeRank equations. Each purple arrow in the Worldview represents a single iteration. If the arrow loops around in a circle, iterations repeat until convergence. The finished product will be a list G of items, ranked by GrapeRank score.

Step 5: Consume the list G in whatever way you see fit. If the product is a ranked list of pubkeys, it may be used to curate a feed or you may use it as part of the curation process within other Worldviews.

The Worldview is designed to give a big picture overview of the entire above process. In this post I will walk though a simple example of a hypothetical Grapevine Worldview, designed around the problem of how to curate a list of nostr apps.

Example Worldview: Curation of Nostr Apps

The Worldview in the above figure is designed for a specific purpose: to manage a list of nostr apps. [2]

Each node G on the worldview represents a table of items, each of which is associated with a contextual GrapeRank score, calculated using the GrapeRank algorithm. The blue nodes represent tables of pubkeys, and the grey node represents a list of non-pubkey items, in this case the list of nostr apps.

Each edge (purple arrow) is associated with an array R of ratings r, each of which must follow the Grapevine Ratings format. Each R is generated from raw ratings data that can be from any source, in any format. Multiple categories of data can be merged into a single dataset R. For each R, and for each category of raw data that contributes to R, an explicit Interpretation must be provided.

If we look from left to right in the above figure, we can see information processed through the following stages:

Stage 1: Follows and mutes (raw ratings data) is used to curate G_o: a table of pubkeys that are (probably) not bots or other bad actors

Stage 2: NIP-51 lists entitled "Nostr Devs" (raw data) is used to curate G_devs. Note that authors of these lists are filtered and weighted using G_o from the previous stage.

Stage 3: Content authored by G_devs is used to curate G_nostrApps, the list of Nost Apps.

The source of potential items to initialize the list G_nostrApps is unspecified in the worldview, but one possibility would be to make use of Nostr forms, as seen at formstr.

The content used to initialized R_nostrApps used in stage 3 is also left unspecified. One possibility would be to use NIP-32 labels to endorse submitted items as belonging / not belonging on the list. Anyone could submit labels, but only pubkeys represented in G_0 or G_devs will be given a voice, and that voice will be proportional to that pubkey's influence score. The relative thickness of the two purple arrows leading to the G_nostrApps node on the right tells us that nostr developers are given a louder voice in the final curation of G_nostrApps.

Values and choices of the end-user

The Grapevine Worldview places the values and choices of the end user center stage. These choices are manifest in several ways: * the choice of raw data: what is included, what data is available but ignored * the specifics of the interpretation of each category of raw data into a list R of individual ratings r * the overall topology of the Worldview, including the choices of which G's to incorporate * the demonstrated willingness to expend computational energy on any given aspects of the above. For now, the computational energy will be trivial. At some point, the energy expenditure will have a nontrivial cost.

Summary

The Grapevine Worldview is a visual overview and a control panel for the process leading up to the curation of some category of content by your grapevine. Construction of any given worldview includes decisions on who should be trusted to curate what. These decisions may or may not be the same from one end user to another.

Each user can manage multiple Worldviews, each one of which is purposed for the curation of a given G. And the output of one Worldview, G, can be consumed by a different Worldview.

Current efforts are directed at creating an open source library for the GrapeRank equations. Next step will be back end services that partner with relays and will enable generation of G_0, the Grapevine Network of "not-bot" pubkeys. We anticipate that future work will build out the front end control panel for Worldviews, including control panels for the interpretation of additional data sources and curation of lists like nostr apps as in the example above.

Notes

[1] https://njump.me / naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpef89h53f0fsza2ugwdc3e54nfpun5nxfqclpy79r6w8nxsk5yp0qqxnzdejx5urzwp58qcrgdp4dutxqa

[2] Currently, various lists of nostr apps are maintained, e.g. at Awesome Nostr by (Aljaz Ceru?), or at nostrapps.com by (Karnage?).

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

Nos últimos anos, o Bitcoin tem sido frequentemente comparado ao ouro, ganhando o nome de "ouro digital". Essa comparação ocorre porque ambas as formas de valor têm características em comum, como escassez, durabilidade e aceitação mundial. Contudo, o Bitcoin também representa uma novidade tecnológica que muda a ideia de dinheiro e investimento, se destacando como uma alternativa moderna e eficaz ao ouro físico.

Uma das razões pelas quais o Bitcoin é comparado ao ouro é a sua escassez programada. Enquanto o ouro é um recurso natural limitado, cuja oferta depende da mineração, o Bitcoin tem um teto máximo de 21 milhões de unidades, definido em seu código. Esse teto faz com que o Bitcoin seja protegido contra a inflação, ao contrário das moedas tradicionais, que podem ser criadas sem limites pelos bancos centrais.

Essa característica traz um valor duradouro, parecido com o ouro, já que a oferta limitada ajuda a manter o poder de compra ao longo do tempo. Com o aumento da procura por Bitcoin, sua quantidade reduzida reforça seu papel como reserva de valor.

Outro aspecto que aproxima o Bitcoin do ouro é a durabilidade. Enquanto o ouro resiste à corrosão e pode ser guardado por séculos, o Bitcoin é um ativo digital protegido por criptografia avançada e armazenado na blockchain — um livro-razão imutável e descentralizado.

Além disso, o Bitcoin é mais fácil de transportar do que o ouro. Mover ouro físico envolve custos e segurança, tornando o transporte complicado, principalmente em transações internacionais. Por outro lado, o Bitcoin pode ser enviado digitalmente para qualquer parte do mundo em minutos, com taxas baixas e sem intermediários. Essa vantagem tecnológica torna o Bitcoin mais eficaz para um mundo globalizado e digital.

A segurança é outra característica que o Bitcoin e o ouro têm em comum. O ouro é difícil de falsificar, fazendo dele uma reserva de valor confiável. Da mesma forma, o Bitcoin usa protocolos de criptografia que asseguram transações seguras e protegidas contra fraudes.

Além disso, todas as transações feitas com Bitcoin são registradas na blockchain, fornecendo um nível de transparência que o ouro físico não oferece. Qualquer pessoa pode revisar as transações na rede, aumentando a confiança e a rastreabilidade.

EconômicaHistoricamente, o ouro tem sido utilizado como proteção contra a inflação e crises econômicas. Durante momentos de instabilidade, os investidores buscam o ouro como uma maneira de preservar seu patrimônio. O Bitcoin, por sua vez, está surgindo como uma alternativa digital com o mesmo propósito.

Em países com alta inflação ou instabilidade política, o Bitcoin tem sido usado como uma proteção contra a desvalorização das moedas locais. Sua natureza descentralizada impede que governos confisquem ou controlem diretamente o ativo, garantindo maior liberdade financeira para os usuários.

Apesar de suas semelhanças com o ouro, o Bitcoin ainda enfrenta desafios. Sua volatilidade é muito maior, o que pode causar incertezas a curto prazo. No entanto, muitos especialistas afirmam que essa volatilidade é uma característica comum em ativos novos e tende a diminuir com o tempo, à medida que a aceitação cresce e o mercado se desenvolve.

Outro desafio é a regulamentação. Enquanto o ouro já é reconhecido globalmente como um ativo financeiro, o Bitcoin ainda enfrenta resistência de governos e instituições financeiras, que procuram formas de controlá-lo e regulá-lo.

Resumindo, o Bitcoin, muitas vezes chamado de "ouro digital", oferece uma nova forma de valor que combina as melhores características do ouro com a eficiência e a inovação da tecnologia digital. Sua escassez planejada, segurança criptográfica, portabilidade e resistência à censura fazem dele uma alternativa viável para preservar riqueza e realizar transações no mundo moderno.

Mesmo com muita volatilidade, o Bitcoin está se firmando como uma reserva de valor e como um ativo de proteção contra crises econômicas. Assim, ele representa não apenas uma evolução do sistema financeiro, mas também um símbolo da mudança para uma economia digital descentralizada e global.

Muito obrigado por teres lido o texto até aqui, espero que esteja tudo bem contigo e um abraço enorme do teu madeirense bitcoiner maximalista favorito. Viva a liberdade!

@ e5272de9:a16a102f

The Grapevine is designed to digest raw data, no matter where you can find it. This is made possible through the process of interpretation.

Interpretation: the process of converting a source of raw data into a format suitable for consumption by the grapevine algorithm

format of Grapevine ratings

The Grapevine is designed to take as input a list of ratings that follow a specialized format, which we will refer to as Grapevine ratings.

Each rating must contain the following 4 to 6 fields: - rater - ratee - score - confidence - context (optional) - rating type (optional)

rater

The author of the rating. Often will be a pubkey or an npub, but could be username, etc.

ratee

The person, place, or thing being rated. This could be a pubkey, an event id or naddr, or a simple string, e.g. the title of a movie.

score

usually a number, but could be a boolean, an item on a list, etc.

confidence

a number between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 and 100 percent) that represents the confidence of the rater in the score. For example: If Alice rates Bob as highly skilled in some context, and this is based on working with him for many years, she may rate him 9/10 with a confidence of 0.9 (90 percent). On the other hand, suppose she considers him worthy of a 9/10 rating, but this is based on only one brief interaction. In this case, she may rate him 9/10 but with a confidence of 0.05 (5 percent).

context

a string. This may be omitted from the table if every rating in the table or dataset is of the same context (as may often be the case).

rating type

a string that indicates the type of rating: 5 star, true or false, etc. This may be omitted from the table if every rating in the table or dataset is of the same rating type (as may often be the case).

Example interpretation: follows and mutes

A good way to bootstrap a list of nostr users minus the bots, scams, and other bad actors is to make use of the follows and mutes lists, as is done at brainstorm.

The interpretation of a follow is the following Grapevine Rating: - rater: pk_Alice - ratee: pk_Bob - score: 1 - confidence: 0.05

The interpretation of a mute is the following Grapevine Rating: - rater: pk_Alice - ratee: pk_Charlie - score: 0 - confidence: 0.1

Grapevine Ratings Tables

A list of ratings may be referred to as a Grapevine Ratings Table or a Grapevine Ratings Dataset (if in some non-table format, such as an object).

In the below example, the rating type (0 to 5 stars) and context (item quality) columns are the same for each row in the table and so are omitted.

| rater | ratee | score | confidence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | pk_Alice | item1 | 4 | 0.5 | | pk_Bob | item1 | 5 | 0.9 | | pk_Alice | item2 | 0 | 0.1 |

Sources of Raw Data

| Some Suggested Sources of Raw Data | | --- | | follows, mutes, zaps | | kind 1 and long form notes | | NIP-51 lists | | kind 7 reactions | | NIP-32 labels | | NIP-58 badges | | nostr forms (e.g. see formstr) |

@ 812cff5a:5c40aeeb

Chorus: تجربة في البرمجة الانسداحية

كيفية بناء تطبيق Nostr بسرعة البرق باستخدام الذكاء الاصطناعي.

في 26 مايو، تم إطلاق تطبيق Chorus في منتدى أوسلو للحرية. صُمم هذا التطبيق للناشطين والمعارضين ومنظمي المجتمع، ويتميز بمجموعات تشبه تلك الموجودة في فيسبوك مع محفظة eCash مدمجة لجمع التبرعات.

Chorus مبني على Nostr، وهو بروتوكول لامركزي ومفتوح مصمم ليكون مقاومًا للرقابة. يمكن لأي شخص في العالم إنشاء حساب Nostr والنشر إلى خوادم Nostr، أو حتى بناء تطبيق Nostr خاص به — ولا يمكن لأحد إيقافه. هذا ما يجعل Nostr المكان المثالي للمقاتلين من أجل الحرية، الذين غالبًا ما يواجهون الرقابة من الحكومات الاستبدادية أو الشركات التي تتحكم في المنصات الاجتماعية الرئيسية.

يمكن للمستخدمين إنشاء حساب Chorus (أو تسجيل الدخول باستخدام حساب Nostr موجود) في ثوانٍ والبدء فورًا في استلام eCash، وإنشاء مجموعات، ومشاركة المحتوى. يتضمن التطبيق ميزات قوية لإدارة المجتمع، بحيث يمكن للمجموعات اختيار أنواع المحتوى التي تسمح بها وفقًا لشروطها الخاصة. يمكن للمستخدمين إرسال eCash على الفور إلى المجموعات التي يرغبون في دعمها، مما يوفر أداة لجمع التبرعات عبر الحدود لا يمكن لأي حكومة إيقافها.

قبل عام فقط، ربما استغرق بناء النسخة التي تم إطلاقها الأسبوع الماضي من Chorus أسابيع. ولكن بفضل أدوات الذكاء الاصطناعي الحالية، قمنا بذلك في خمسة أيام فقط.

⸻

كيفية القيام بذلك: بناء تطبيق في أيام باستخدام وكلاء الذكاء الاصطناعي

الخطوة 1: تجميع الفريق

تم بناء Chorus بواسطة And Other Stuff، وهي مجموعة جديدة مكرسة لتعزيز Nostr في خمسة مجالات رئيسية: تجربة المستخدم والتسجيل، المجتمعات، الاتصالات الخاصة، التجارة، والذكاء الاصطناعي. شمل فريق هذا المشروع: • Calle، منشئ Cashu (eCash) • JeffG، منشئ White Noise (الاتصالات الخاصة) • Rabble و Liz Swiegart من Nos (تجربة المستخدم والتسجيل) • Alex Gleason و MK Fain، منشئو Soapbox (المجتمعات) • و Jack Dorsey (مستشار)

الخطوة 2: البدء بقالب قوي

عند البرمجة بالانسداح، السياق هو الملك. إذا بدأت بمجلد فارغ وطلبت من وكيل ذكاء اصطناعي “بناء تطبيق مجموعات Nostr”، فلا يزال أمامك الكثير من العمل للحصول على شيء وظيفي حتى بشكل بسيط. من المحتمل أن تكون تنفيذات Nostr محاكاة، لا تتصل بخوادم حقيقية، أو تم تنفيذها بشكل غير صحيح. قد تكون أنواع الأحداث خاطئة، وقد لا يتم تحميل واجهة المستخدم، وحظًا سعيدًا في محاولة معرفة الخطوة التالية لإصلاح الفوضى.

هذا لأن الذكاء الاصطناعي يفتقر إلى بعض السياقات الرئيسية للبدء: • وثائق صديقة للذكاء الاصطناعي حول بروتوكول Nostr • أمثلة عالية الجودة على تنفيذ Nostr • أساسيات حول تكديس التكنولوجيا المفضل • سياق حول كيفية بناء المشروع وتشغيله وتصحيحه

الحل هو توفير المزيد من السياق، وسيكون العديد من مبرمجي الانسداح المخضرمين على دراية بالصراع في محاولة جعل الوكيل يقرأ روابط مختلفة للوثائق ويتبع 500 كلمة من السياق المصاغ بعناية في مطالبتهم الافتتاحية. ومع ذلك، غالبًا ما يربك هذا الوكلاء الذين يعملون بشكل أفضل مع مطالبات بسيطة. الحل لهذه المشكلة هو Stacks.

Stacks: بدء البرمجة الانسداحية بسرعة

Stacks تحل مشكلة نقص السياق الأولي من خلال إنشاء قوالب جاهزة مصممة خصيصًا لاستخدام وكلاء الذكاء الاصطناعي. يمكن استخدام “stack” لبناء أي نوع من المشاريع بأي لغة برمجة مع أي هدف نهائي في الاعتبار. بالنسبة لـ Chorus، استخدمنا MKStack، وهو قالب مصمم خصيصًا لبناء تطبيقات Nostr.

يتميز MKStack بعدة حلول للمشاكل الشائعة في الذكاء الاصطناعي: • Nostrbook MCP للاستعلام عن وثائق Nostr • مكونات بداية لميزات Nostr الشائعة مثل تسجيل الدخول • دعم Blossom لتحميل الوسائط • ملفات سياقية لتوجيه الوكيل خلال العقبات الشائعة وسير عمل التصحيح • نشر موقعك على الفور باستخدام Surge

النتيجة هي موقع جميل يعمل مباشرة مع Nostr في مطالبة واحدة:

“بناء تطبيق مجموعات على غرار فيسبوك على Nostr باستخدام NIP 72.”

كان هذا هو نتيجة تلك المطالبة الواحدة: http://groups72.surge.sh

الخطوة 3: إضافة الميزات باستخدام وكلاء الذكاء الاصطناعي

Stacks بدأت تطوير Chorus بسرعة. بعد ذلك، استخدمنا وكلاء الذكاء الاصطناعي لإضافة ميزات إضافية مثل: • محفظة eCash مدمجة • ميزات إدارة المجتمع • دعم الوسائط المتعددة

كل ذلك تم باستخدام مطالبات بسيطة وتوجيهات للذكاء الاصطناعي، مما سمح لنا ببناء تطبيق كامل الوظائف في أيام قليلة فقط.

⸻

ملاحظة:تم استخدام مصطلح برمجة الانسداحية بهدف الطرفة كترجمة لمصطلح Vibe coding تم كتابة هذه المقال من قبل المبدعة nostr: npub1jvnpg4c6ljadf5t6ry0w9q0rnm4mksde87kglkrc993z46c39axsgq89sc