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In an unexpected turn of events that has sent ripples through the cryptocurrency world, Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of Binance, has extended his stay in the United States. This development is particularly striking against the backdrop of Binance's ongoing legal challenges and the intense scrutiny it faces from regulators worldwide. Zhao's decision to remain in the U.S. longer than anticipated is not just a personal choice but a strategic move that could have far-reaching implications for Binance's global operations and the cryptocurrency industry at large. It raises questions about Binance's future strategies and its efforts to navigate the complex web of international regulations. **Table Of Content** - Background: Binance's Regulatory Challenges - Changpeng Zhao's Role and Influence - The Unexpected U.S. Stay - Legal Considerations - Future of Binance and Crypto Regulation - Conclusion - FAQs **Background: Binance's Regulatory Challenges** Binance has emerged as a dominant force in the cryptocurrency exchange market, known for its vast selection of digital assets and high trading volumes. However, this success has not come without its share of challenges. The platform has been under the microscope of regulators across the globe, facing scrutiny over its compliance with stringent anti-money laundering (AML) standards and consumer protection laws. These regulatory hurdles have manifested in various forms, including formal warnings from financial watchdogs, in-depth investigations by regulatory authorities, and outright bans in certain jurisdictions. These challenges highlight the precarious position Binance occupies in the global financial landscape and underscore the delicate balance it must maintain between innovation and regulatory compliance. **Changpeng Zhao's Role and Influence** Changpeng Zhao, affectionately known as "CZ" in the crypto community, is more than just the CEO of Binance; he is a visionary and a key influencer in the cryptocurrency sector. Since founding Binance in 2017, Zhao has steered the company through exponential growth, navigating the volatile waters of the crypto market with a blend of technological innovation and strategic foresight. However, this journey has been fraught with controversies, particularly around issues of regulatory compliance and operational transparency. As the face and voice of Binance, Zhao's decisions, public statements, and even his personal movements are closely watched and analyzed for insights into Binance's future direction and its stance on regulatory matters. **The Unexpected U.S. Stay** The news of Zhao's extended stay in the U.S. has sparked a flurry of speculation and analysis within the financial and cryptocurrency sectors. This move is particularly intriguing given the current regulatory climate in the U.S., which is known for its stringent financial oversight and tough stance on cryptocurrency regulation. The extended stay raises several questions: Is Zhao seeking to engage in high-level negotiations with U.S. regulators? Is Binance planning a strategic pivot or expansion in the U.S. market? Or is this a proactive measure to address some of the legal challenges facing the company? Whatever the reason, Zhao's presence in the U.S. is a clear indication that significant developments are underway for Binance in one of the world's most important financial markets. **Implications for Binance** Zhao's decision to extend his stay in the U.S. could be interpreted as a strategic move to align Binance more closely with U.S. regulatory frameworks. This could involve enhancing the company's compliance systems, engaging in more transparent dialogue with regulatory bodies, or even restructuring some of Binance's business practices to conform to U.S. standards. Such changes could be crucial for Binance's continued operation and growth in the U.S. market, potentially opening doors to new partnerships, investment opportunities, and a broader customer base. Moreover, a stronger foothold in the U.S. could enhance Binance's reputation globally, signaling its commitment to regulatory compliance and financial stability. **Industry Reactions** The cryptocurrency industry and financial markets are abuzz with discussions about Zhao's extended stay in the U.S. Analysts, investors, and other industry players are keenly observing this development, understanding that Zhao's actions could signal a new chapter for Binance and possibly the entire cryptocurrency sector. His stay is being interpreted as a sign of Binance's willingness to engage more proactively with regulatory bodies, a move that could have significant implications for how cryptocurrency businesses operate globally. Additionally, Zhao's presence in the U.S. could influence other cryptocurrency exchanges and startups, setting a precedent for how they might approach regulatory challenges and market expansion. **Legal Considerations** Zhao's prolonged presence in the U.S. coincides with a critical period for Binance as it navigates complex legal waters. His decision to stay could be instrumental in facilitating more direct and effective engagement with U.S. legal authorities and regulatory bodies. This proximity to the heart of U.S. financial regulation might enable more constructive dialogues, potentially leading to resolutions or progress in the various legal cases and investigations Binance is currently involved in. Zhao's hands-on involvement in these legal matters could be a game-changer, offering opportunities for negotiation, compliance, and possibly even reconciliation with regulatory authorities. **Potential Outcomes** The involvement of Zhao in legal and regulatory discussions in the U.S. could lead to a spectrum of outcomes for Binance. These might range from reaching amicable settlements and forming robust compliance agreements to facing more stringent regulatory actions or operational restrictions, depending on the nature of the negotiations and the willingness of both parties to find common ground. The outcomes of these engagements are likely to have a significant impact on Binance's operational framework, its global reputation, and its ability to compete in the international market. They could also set important precedents for how major cryptocurrency exchanges interact with regulatory bodies and navigate legal challenges. **Future of Binance and Crypto Regulation** Zhao's decision to extend his stay in the U.S. is a pivotal moment in the evolving narrative of cryptocurrency regulation. It underscores the increasing importance of regulatory compliance for major players in the crypto space and suggests a potential shift towards more collaborative and proactive approaches between industry leaders and regulatory bodies. This development could be a harbinger of a new era in cryptocurrency regulation, where open dialogue, transparency, and compliance play central roles in shaping the industry's future. **Strategic Shifts for Binance** Depending on the outcomes of Zhao's engagements in the U.S., Binance may undergo significant strategic shifts, particularly in its approach to regulatory compliance, operational transparency, and market strategy. These shifts could have far-reaching implications, not only for Binance but for the entire cryptocurrency exchange industry. They could set new standards for regulatory compliance, influence the development of new financial products and services, and shape the future landscape of the global cryptocurrency market. **Conclusion** Changpeng Zhao's unexpected extended stay in the United States represents a critical and potentially transformative moment in Binance's ongoing legal and regulatory saga. It reflects the complex and dynamic nature of cryptocurrency regulation and the necessity for industry leaders to adeptly navigate these challenges. As the crypto community and financial markets watch closely, the decisions and actions taken by Zhao in the coming days and weeks could have far-reaching implications for Binance's future, its position in the global market, and the broader trajectory of the cryptocurrency industry. **FAQs** **What challenges is Binance currently facing?** Binance is grappling with regulatory scrutiny worldwide, particularly concerning anti-money laundering standards and consumer protection laws. This has led to investigations, warnings, and bans in several countries. **How might Zhao's stay in the U.S. impact Binance?** Zhao's extended stay could signal a move towards greater regulatory compliance and cooperation in the U.S., potentially leading to operational changes and enhanced market access for Binance. **What are the potential outcomes of Zhao's U.S. engagements?** Outcomes could range from amicable settlements and compliance agreements to more stringent regulatory actions, depending on the nature of Zhao's discussions with U.S. authorities. **How could this development affect the broader cryptocurrency industry?** Zhao's actions could set a precedent for cryptocurrency exchanges in terms of regulatory compliance and engagement, influencing the global cryptocurrency regulatory landscape. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

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# カスタム絵文字とは 任意のオリジナル画像を絵文字のように文中に挿入できる機能です。 また、リアクション（Twitterの いいね のような機能）にもカスタム絵文字を使えます。  # カスタム絵文字の対応状況（2025/02/06）  カスタム絵文字を使うためにはカスタム絵文字に対応した[クライアント](https://welcome.nostr-jp.org/tutorial/explore-client.html)を使う必要があります。 ※表は一例です。クライアントは他にもたくさんあります。 使っているクライアントが対応していない場合は、クライアントを変更する、対応するまで待つ、開発者に要望を送る（または自分で実装する）などしましょう。 #### 対応クライアント - [Amethyst](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitorpamplona.amethyst) - [FreeFrom](https://freefrom.space/) - [nostter](https://nostter.app/) - [Rabbit](https://rabbit.syusui.net/) - [Lumilumi](https://lumilumi.app/) - [Nos Haiku](https://nos-haiku.vercel.app/) - [Snort](https://snort.social/) - [noStrudel](https://nostrudel.ninja/) ここではnostterを使って説明していきます。 # 準備 カスタム絵文字を使うための準備です。 - Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する - 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する ## Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する Nostrエクステンションは使いたいカスタム絵文字を登録する時に必要になります。 また、環境（パソコン、iPhone、androidなど）によって導入方法が違います。 Nostrエクステンションを導入する端末は、実際にNostrを閲覧する端末と違っても構いません（リスト登録はPC、Nostr閲覧はiPhoneなど）。 Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）の導入方法は以下のページを参照してください。 [ログイン拡張機能 (NIP-07)を使ってみよう | Welcome to Nostr! ～ Nostrをはじめよう！ ～ ](https://welcome.nostr-jp.org/tutorial/nip-07.html) 少し面倒ですが、これを導入しておくとNostr上の様々な場面で役立つのでより快適になります。 ## 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する 以下のサイトで行います。 [emojito](https://emojito.meme/) 右上の**Get started**からNostrエクステンションでログインしてください。 例として以下のカスタム絵文字を導入してみます。 実際より絵文字が少なく表示されることがありますが、古い状態のデータを取得してしまっているためです。その場合はブラウザの更新ボタンを押してください。 [generalJP | カスタム絵文字](https://emojito.meme/a/naddr1qqykwetwv4exzmz22qqsuamnwvaz7tmev9382tndv5hsyg8vgtrk2svt8kuusk4l7w5g7j3mhet4xhhthhz52gsyr7jn9rqxqqpsgqqqw48qud6u3s)  - 右側の**Options**から**Bookmark**を選択  これでカスタム絵文字を使用するためのリストに登録できます。 # カスタム絵文字を使用する 例としてブラウザから使えるクライアント nostter から使用してみます。 [nostter](https://nostter.app/) nostterにNostrエクステンションでログイン、もしくは秘密鍵を入れてログインしてください。 ## 文章中に使用 1. **投稿**ボタンを押して投稿ウィンドウを表示 2. **顔😀**のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示 3. **＊タブ**を押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示 4. カスタム絵文字を選択 5. : 記号に挟まれたアルファベットのショートコードとして挿入される  この状態で投稿するとカスタム絵文字として表示されます。 カスタム絵文字対応クライアントを使っている他ユーザーにもカスタム絵文字として表示されます。 対応していないクライアントの場合、ショートコードのまま表示されます。  ショートコードを直接入力することでカスタム絵文字の候補が表示されるのでそこから選択することもできます。  ## リアクションに使用 1. 任意の投稿の**顔😀**のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示 2. **＊タブ**を押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示 3. カスタム絵文字を選択  カスタム絵文字リアクションを送ることができます。  # カスタム絵文字を探す 先述した[emojito](https://emojito.meme/)からカスタム絵文字を探せます。 例えば任意のユーザーのページ [emojito ロクヨウ](https://emojito.meme/p/npub1a3pvwe2p3v7mnjz6hle63r628wl9w567aw7u23fzqs062v5vqcqqu3sgh3) から探したり、 [emojito Browse all](https://emojito.meme/browse) からnostr全体で最近作成、更新された絵文字を見たりできます。 また、以下のリンクは日本語圏ユーザーが作ったカスタム絵文字を集めたリストです（2025/02/06） ※漏れがあるかもしれません [日本ユーザー作 カスタム絵文字](https://nostviewstr.vercel.app/npub17hczqvxtfv3w69wr6lxrttnpdekwdwel55mld60fr24zwjuu6utqtj8mjx/10030) 各絵文字セットにある**Open in emojito**のリンクからemojitoに飛び、使用リストに追加できます。 ----------- 以上です。 次：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の**作り方** Yakihonneリンク [Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方](https://yakihonne.com/article/_@lokuyow.github.io/1707912490439) Nostrリンク nostr:naddr1qqxnzdesxuunzv358ycrgveeqgswcsk8v4qck0deepdtluag3a9rh0jh2d0wh0w9g53qg8a9x2xqvqqrqsqqqa28r5psx3 ----------- # 仕様 [NIP-30 Custom Emoji](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/30.md) [NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）](https://github.com/nostr-jp/nips-ja/blob/main/30.md)

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てすと nostr:nevent1qqst3uqlls4yr9vys4dza2sgjle3ly37trck7jgdmtr23uuz52usjrqqqnjgr nostr:nevent1qqsdvchy5d27zt3z05rr3q6vvmzgslslxwu0p4dfkvxwhmvxldn9djguvagp2 test てｓ

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# カスタム絵文字とは 任意のオリジナル画像を絵文字のように文中に挿入できる機能です。 また、リアクション（Twitterの いいね のような機能）にもカスタム絵文字を使えます。  # カスタム絵文字の対応状況（2025/02/06）  カスタム絵文字を使うためにはカスタム絵文字に対応した[クライアント](https://welcome.nostr-jp.org/tutorial/explore-client.html)を使う必要があります。 ※表は一例です。クライアントは他にもたくさんあります。 使っているクライアントが対応していない場合は、クライアントを変更する、対応するまで待つ、開発者に要望を送る（または自分で実装する）などしましょう。 #### 対応クライアント - [Amethyst](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitorpamplona.amethyst) - [FreeFrom](https://freefrom.space/) - [nostter](https://nostter.app/) - [Rabbit](https://rabbit.syusui.net/) - [Lumilumi](https://lumilumi.app/) - [Nos Haiku](https://nos-haiku.vercel.app/) - [Snort](https://snort.social/) - [noStrudel](https://nostrudel.ninja/) ここではnostterを使って説明していきます。 # 準備 カスタム絵文字を使うための準備です。 - Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する - 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する ## Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する Nostrエクステンションは使いたいカスタム絵文字を登録する時に必要になります。 また、環境（パソコン、iPhone、androidなど）によって導入方法が違います。 Nostrエクステンションを導入する端末は、実際にNostrを閲覧する端末と違っても構いません（リスト登録はPC、Nostr閲覧はiPhoneなど）。 Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）の導入方法は以下のページを参照してください。 [ログイン拡張機能 (NIP-07)を使ってみよう | Welcome to Nostr! ～ Nostrをはじめよう！ ～ ](https://welcome.nostr-jp.org/tutorial/nip-07.html) 少し面倒ですが、これを導入しておくとNostr上の様々な場面で役立つのでより快適になります。 ## 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する 以下のサイトで行います。 [emojito](https://emojito.meme/) 右上の**Get started**からNostrエクステンションでログインしてください。 例として以下のカスタム絵文字を導入してみます。 実際より絵文字が少なく表示されることがありますが、古い状態のデータを取得してしまっているためです。その場合はブラウザの更新ボタンを押してください。 [generalJP | カスタム絵文字](https://emojito.meme/a/naddr1qqykwetwv4exzmz22qq3uamnwvaz7tmwdaehgun2vykkkctjdyhxset8w4ex7tnrdakj7q3qa3pvwe2p3v7mnjz6hle63r628wl9w567aw7u23fzqs062v5vqcqqxpqqqp65uhjtrk6)  - 右側の**Options**から**Bookmark**を選択  これでカスタム絵文字を使用するためのリストに登録できます。 # カスタム絵文字を使用する 例としてブラウザから使えるクライアント nostter から使用してみます。 [nostter](https://nostter.app/) nostterにNostrエクステンションでログイン、もしくは秘密鍵を入れてログインしてください。 ## 文章中に使用 1. **投稿**ボタンを押して投稿ウィンドウを表示 2. **顔😀**のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示 3. **＊タブ**を押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示 4. カスタム絵文字を選択 5. : 記号に挟まれたアルファベットのショートコードとして挿入される  この状態で投稿するとカスタム絵文字として表示されます。 カスタム絵文字対応クライアントを使っている他ユーザーにもカスタム絵文字として表示されます。 対応していないクライアントの場合、ショートコードのまま表示されます。  ショートコードを直接入力することでカスタム絵文字の候補が表示されるのでそこから選択することもできます。  ## リアクションに使用 1. 任意の投稿の**顔😀**のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示 2. **＊タブ**を押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示 3. カスタム絵文字を選択  カスタム絵文字リアクションを送ることができます。  # カスタム絵文字を探す 先述した[emojito](https://emojito.meme/)からカスタム絵文字を探せます。 例えば任意のユーザーのページ [emojito ロクヨウ](https://emojito.meme/p/npub1a3pvwe2p3v7mnjz6hle63r628wl9w567aw7u23fzqs062v5vqcqqu3sgh3) から探したり、 [emojito Browse all](https://emojito.meme/browse) からnostr全体で最近作成、更新された絵文字を見たりできます。 また、以下のリンクは日本語圏ユーザーが作ったカスタム絵文字を集めたリストです（2025/02/06） ※漏れがあるかもしれません [日本ユーザー作 カスタム絵文字](https://nostviewstr.vercel.app/npub17hczqvxtfv3w69wr6lxrttnpdekwdwel55mld60fr24zwjuu6utqtj8mjx/10030) 各絵文字セットにある**Open in emojito**のリンクからemojitoに飛び、使用リストに追加できます。 ----------- 以上です。 次：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の**作り方** Yakihonneリンク [Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方](https://yakihonne.com/article/_@lokuyow.github.io/1707912490439) Nostrリンク nostr:naddr1qqxnzdesxuunzv358ycrgveeqgswcsk8v4qck0deepdtluag3a9rh0jh2d0wh0w9g53qg8a9x2xqvqqrqsqqqa28r5psx3 ----------- # 仕様 [NIP-30 Custom Emoji](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/30.md) [NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）](https://github.com/nostr-jp/nips-ja/blob/main/30.md)

@ ec42c765:328c0600

# カスタム絵文字とは 任意のオリジナル画像を絵文字のように文中に挿入できる機能です。 また、リアクション（Twitterの いいね のような機能）にもカスタム絵文字を使えます。  # カスタム絵文字の対応状況（2024/02/05）  カスタム絵文字を使うためにはカスタム絵文字に対応した[クライアント](https://welcome.nostr-jp.org/tutorial/explore-client.html)を使う必要があります。 ※表は一例です。クライアントは他にもたくさんあります。 使っているクライアントが対応していない場合は、クライアントを変更する、対応するまで待つ、開発者に要望を送る（または自分で実装する）などしましょう。 #### 対応クライアント - [Amethyst](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitorpamplona.amethyst) - [FreeFrom](https://freefrom.space/) - [nostter](https://nostter.app/) - [Rabbit](https://rabbit.syusui.net/) - [Snort](https://snort.social/) - [noStrudel](https://nostrudel.ninja/) ここではnostterを使って説明していきます。 # 準備 カスタム絵文字を使うための準備です。 - Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する - 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する ## Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）を導入する Nostrエクステンションは使いたいカスタム絵文字を登録する時に必要になります。 また、環境（パソコン、iPhone、androidなど）によって導入方法が違います。 Nostrエクステンションを導入する端末は、実際にNostrを閲覧する端末と違っても構いません（リスト登録はPC、Nostr閲覧はiPhoneなど）。 Nostrエクステンション（NIP-07）の導入方法は以下のページを参照してください。 [ログイン拡張機能 (NIP-07)を使ってみよう | Welcome to Nostr! ～ Nostrをはじめよう！ ～ ](https://welcome.nostr-jp.org/tutorial/nip-07.html) 少し面倒ですが、これを導入しておくとNostr上の様々な場面で役立つのでより快適になります。 ## 使いたいカスタム絵文字をリストに登録する 以下のサイトで行います。 [emojito](https://emojito.meme/) 右上の**Get started**からNostrエクステンションでログインしてください。 例として以下のカスタム絵文字を導入してみます。 実際より絵文字が少なく表示されることがありますが、古い状態のデータを取得してしまっているためです。その場合はブラウザの更新ボタンを押してください。 [generalJP | カスタム絵文字](https://emojito.meme/a/naddr1qqykwetwv4exzmz22qq3uamnwvaz7tmwdaehgun2vykkkctjdyhxset8w4ex7tnrdakj7q3qa3pvwe2p3v7mnjz6hle63r628wl9w567aw7u23fzqs062v5vqcqqxpqqqp65uhjtrk6)  - 右側の**Options**から**Bookmark**を選択  これでカスタム絵文字を使用するためのリストに登録できます。 # カスタム絵文字を使用する 例としてブラウザから使えるクライアント nostter から使用してみます。 [nostter](https://nostter.app/) nostterにNostrエクステンションでログイン、もしくは秘密鍵を入れてログインしてください。 ## 文章中に使用 1. **投稿**ボタンを押して投稿ウィンドウを表示 2. **顔😀**のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示 3. **＊タブ**を押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示 4. カスタム絵文字を選択 5. : 記号に挟まれたアルファベットのショートコードとして挿入される  この状態で投稿するとカスタム絵文字として表示されます。 カスタム絵文字対応クライアントを使っている他ユーザーにもカスタム絵文字として表示されます。 対応していないクライアントの場合、ショートコードのまま表示されます。  ショートコードを直接入力することでカスタム絵文字の候補が表示されるのでそこから選択することもできます。  ## リアクションに使用 1. 任意の投稿の**顔😀**のボタンを押し、絵文字ウィンドウを表示 2. **＊タブ**を押し、カスタム絵文字一覧を表示 3. カスタム絵文字を選択  カスタム絵文字リアクションを送ることができます。  # カスタム絵文字を探す 先述した[emojito](https://emojito.meme/)からカスタム絵文字を探せます。 例えば任意のユーザーのページ [emojito ロクヨウ](https://emojito.meme/p/npub1a3pvwe2p3v7mnjz6hle63r628wl9w567aw7u23fzqs062v5vqcqqu3sgh3) から探したり、 [emojito Browse all](https://emojito.meme/browse) からnostr全体で最近作成、更新された絵文字を見たりできます。 また、以下のリンクは日本語圏ユーザーが作ったカスタム絵文字を集めたリストです（2024/06/30） ※漏れがあるかもしれません [日本ユーザー作 カスタム絵文字](https://nostviewstr.vercel.app/npub17hczqvxtfv3w69wr6lxrttnpdekwdwel55mld60fr24zwjuu6utqtj8mjx/10030) 各絵文字セットにある**Open in emojito**のリンクからemojitoに飛び、使用リストに追加できます。 ----------- 以上です。 次：Nostrのカスタム絵文字の**作り方** Yakihonneリンク [Nostrのカスタム絵文字の作り方](https://yakihonne.com/article/_@lokuyow.github.io/1707912490439) Nostrリンク nostr:naddr1qqxnzdesxuunzv358ycrgveeqgswcsk8v4qck0deepdtluag3a9rh0jh2d0wh0w9g53qg8a9x2xqvqqrqsqqqa28r5psx3 ----------- # 仕様 [NIP-30 Custom Emoji](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/30.md) [NIP-30 カスタム絵文字（和訳）](https://github.com/nostr-jp/nips-ja/blob/main/30.md)

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

I got into a [friendly discussion](https://x.com/snoyberg/status/1887007888117252142) on X regarding health insurance. The specific question was how to deal with health insurance companies (presumably unfairly) denying claims? My answer, as usual: get government out of it! The US healthcare system is essentially the worst of both worlds: * Unlike full single payer, individuals incur high costs * Unlike a true free market, regulation causes increases in costs and decreases competition among insurers I'm firmly on the side of moving towards the free market. (And I say that as someone living under a single payer system now.) Here's what I would do: * Get rid of tax incentives that make health insurance tied to your employer, giving individuals back proper freedom of choice. * Reduce regulations significantly. * In the short term, some people will still get rejected claims and other obnoxious behavior from insurance companies. We address that in two ways: 1. Due to reduced regulations, new insurance companies will be able to enter the market offering more reliable coverage and better rates, and people will flock to them because they have the freedom to make their own choices. 2. Sue the asses off of companies that reject claims unfairly. And ideally, as one of the few legitimate roles of government in all this, institute new laws that limit the ability of fine print to allow insurers to escape their responsibilities. (I'm hesitant that the latter will happen due to the incestuous relationship between Congress/regulators and insurers, but I can hope.) Will this magically fix everything overnight like politicians normally promise? No. But it will allow the market to return to a healthy state. And I don't think it will take long (order of magnitude: 5-10 years) for it to come together, but that's just speculation. And since there's a high correlation between those who believe government can fix problems by taking more control and demanding that only credentialed experts weigh in on a topic (both points I strongly disagree with BTW): I'm a trained actuary and worked in the insurance industry, and have directly seen how government regulation reduces competition, raises prices, and harms consumers. And my final point: I don't think any prior art would be a good comparison for deregulation in the US, it's such a different market than any other country in the world for so many reasons that lessons wouldn't really translate. Nonetheless, I asked Grok for some empirical data on this, and at best the results of deregulation could be called "mixed," but likely more accurately "uncertain, confused, and subject to whatever interpretation anyone wants to apply." https://x.com/i/grok/share/Zc8yOdrN8lS275hXJ92uwq98M

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The cryptocurrency market is a dynamic and often unpredictable space. With Bitcoin's impressive surge in value, many investors are looking beyond the pioneer cryptocurrency to diversify their portfolios. This article explores various cryptocurrency options, weighing the potential of holding (HODLing) or selling them in the current market. **Table Of Content** - Bitcoin's Stellar Performance - Ether (ETH) - Solana (SOL) - Binance Coin (BNB) - BLUR - Conclusion - FAQs **Bitcoin's Stellar Performance** Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, has seen a remarkable increase in value, rising by 120% in 2023. This surge sets a benchmark for evaluating other cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin's growth is influenced by several factors, including the anticipation of a Bitcoin ETF and its upcoming fourth halving. These developments could further drive its demand and value. The potential introduction of a Bitcoin ETF is particularly significant. It would allow a broader range of investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without the complexities of direct cryptocurrency ownership. This development could lead to increased institutional investment and potentially stabilize Bitcoin's historically volatile price. Furthermore, the halving event, expected to occur in April, is a fundamental aspect of Bitcoin's design. It reduces the reward for mining new blocks, effectively limiting the supply of new bitcoins. This scarcity is a key driver of Bitcoin's value and has historically led to significant price increases. However, Bitcoin's dominance and performance also raise questions about market saturation and the potential for continued growth. While Bitcoin remains a safe haven for many investors, its large market capitalization means that it may not offer the same growth potential as some smaller, emerging cryptocurrencies. Investors looking for high-growth opportunities may find these in altcoins, which, while riskier, offer the potential for higher returns. **Ether (ETH)** Ether, the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, has a different appeal compared to Bitcoin. While Bitcoin excels as a payment network, Ethereum's strength lies in its versatility as a platform for decentralized applications. Ether's growth has been modest compared to Bitcoin, with a 65% increase this year. Ethereum's broader utility stems from its ability to support smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). These features have made it the backbone of various sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The recent upgrade to Ethereum 2.0, transitioning to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, aims to address scalability and energy efficiency issues, potentially increasing its attractiveness to both developers and investors. Despite these advancements, Ether's price has not seen the same explosive growth as Bitcoin. This could be due to the market's maturation and the increasing competition from other blockchain platforms. However, Ethereum's established position and ongoing development make it a strong contender for long-term growth. Investors may consider holding Ether as a bet on the continued expansion and innovation in the DeFi and NFT spaces, where Ethereum plays a central role. **Solana (SOL)** Solana, a blockchain platform seen as a competitor to Ethereum, has recovered remarkably from the impacts of the FTX collapse, with its value increasing by 313% this year. This growth is a testament to the resilience and potential of Solana as an investment. Solana's key selling point is its high throughput and low transaction costs, making it an attractive platform for both developers and users. Its ability to process thousands of transactions per second outpaces Ethereum significantly, which has been a bottleneck for the latter. This technical superiority has led to increased adoption of Solana for various applications, including decentralized exchanges, gaming, and NFTs. The rapid recovery of Solana's value post-FTX collapse indicates strong investor confidence and market support for the platform. It suggests that Solana has managed to dissociate itself from the negative sentiment surrounding FTX and is being recognized for its inherent technological strengths. For investors, Solana presents an opportunity to diversify into a high-potential blockchain platform that could capture significant market share in the future. **Binance Coin (BNB)** BNB, the native token of the Binance exchange, has faced significant challenges following legal issues with Binance’s CEO. These developments have led to a decrease in BNB's value, prompting considerations for selling the asset. The legal troubles surrounding Binance and its CEO have raised concerns about the exchange's future and, by extension, the value of BNB. Binance Coin's utility is closely tied to the Binance ecosystem, being used for transaction fee discounts and participation in token sales. If regulatory actions lead to a decrease in Binance's user base or a change in its operational model, BNB could see a further decline in value. However, it's also important to consider Binance's position as one of the largest and most influential cryptocurrency exchanges globally. The platform has a substantial user base and a wide array of services, including trading, staking, and a native blockchain, Binance Smart Chain. If Binance navigates through its legal challenges successfully, BNB could recover and potentially grow in value. Investors need to weigh the risks of regulatory impacts against the potential for Binance to continue playing a major role in the crypto ecosystem. **BLUR** BLUR, associated with the NFT marketplace Blur, has maintained a significant market capitalization despite a downturn in NFT trading. As the NFT market shows signs of a potential rebound, holding BLUR could be a strategic move for investors interested in the digital art and collectibles space. The NFT market has experienced a significant cooldown from its peak in 2021, but it remains a sector with potential for innovation and growth. BLUR's association with the Blur marketplace positions it well within this niche. The marketplace has gained traction among NFT traders for its user-friendly interface and unique features, such as rewarding users with BLUR tokens based on their trading volume. BLUR's utility within the Blur ecosystem could drive its value as the NFT market evolves. The token's use in governance and transaction fee payments on the platform aligns it closely with the marketplace's success. As new artists and collectors continue to enter the NFT space, platforms like Blur that offer a streamlined and rewarding experience could see increased usage, potentially boosting BLUR's value. Investors considering BLUR should monitor the broader NFT market trends and Blur's position within it. While the NFT market is known for its volatility, it also offers unique opportunities for growth, especially in niches that are innovating and capturing user interest. **Conclusion** The cryptocurrency market is diverse and constantly evolving. While Bitcoin continues to be a strong performer, other cryptocurrencies offer varied investment opportunities. Investors should consider their risk tolerance, market trends, and the unique attributes of each cryptocurrency when making decisions. Whether to HODL or sell depends on individual investment goals and the ever-changing landscape of the crypto world. Diversification and staying informed are key to navigating this dynamic market successfully. **FAQs** **Is it better to invest in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies?** It depends on your investment goals and risk tolerance. Bitcoin is more established but may offer lower growth potential compared to some emerging altcoins. Diversifying your portfolio with a mix of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies might be a balanced approach. **What makes Ether a good investment option?** Ether is the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, known for its versatility in supporting smart contracts and decentralized applications. Its ongoing development and central role in the DeFi and NFT sectors make it a strong contender for long-term growth. **Why is Solana considered a rising competitor in the crypto market?** Solana offers high transaction speeds and low costs, making it an attractive platform for developers and users. Its rapid recovery post-FTX collapse indicates strong market support and potential for significant market share in the future. **What are the risks associated with investing in Binance Coin (BNB)?** BNB faces risks due to legal issues surrounding Binance and its CEO. Its value is closely tied to the Binance ecosystem, so any negative impact on the exchange could affect BNB's value. **Is investing in BLUR a good strategy?** Investing in BLUR could be a strategic move if you're interested in the NFT market. As the native token of the Blur NFT marketplace, its value may grow with the platform's success in the evolving NFT space. **How important is diversification in cryptocurrency investment?** Diversification is crucial in managing risk in the volatile cryptocurrency market. It involves spreading your investment across different assets to reduce the impact of any single asset's performance on your overall portfolio. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

### Definição de ULID: Timestamp 48 bits, Aleatoriedade 80 bits Sendo Timestamp 48 bits inteiro, tempo UNIX em milissegundos, Não ficará sem espaço até o ano 10889 d.C. e Aleatoriedade 80 bits, Fonte criptograficamente segura de aleatoriedade, se possível. #### Gerar ULID ```sql CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgcrypto; CREATE FUNCTION generate_ulid() RETURNS TEXT AS $$ DECLARE -- Crockford's Base32 encoding BYTEA = '0123456789ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ'; timestamp BYTEA = E'\\000\\000\\000\\000\\000\\000'; output TEXT = ''; unix_time BIGINT; ulid BYTEA; BEGIN -- 6 timestamp bytes unix_time = (EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM CLOCK_TIMESTAMP()) * 1000)::BIGINT; timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 0, (unix_time >> 40)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 1, (unix_time >> 32)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 2, (unix_time >> 24)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 3, (unix_time >> 16)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 4, (unix_time >> 8)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 5, unix_time::BIT(8)::INTEGER); -- 10 entropy bytes ulid = timestamp || gen_random_bytes(10); -- Encode the timestamp output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 0) & 224) >> 5)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 0) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 1) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 1) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 2) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 2) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 2) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 3) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 3) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 4) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 4) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 4) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 5) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 5) & 31))); -- Encode the entropy output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 6) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 6) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 7) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 7) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 7) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 8) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 8) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 9) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 9) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 9) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 10) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 10) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 11) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 11) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 12) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 12) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 12) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 13) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 13) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 14) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 14) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 14) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 15) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 15) & 31))); RETURN output; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql VOLATILE; ``` #### ULID TO UUID ```sql CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION parse_ulid(ulid text) RETURNS bytea AS $$ DECLARE -- 16byte bytes bytea = E'\\x00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000'; v char[]; -- Allow for O(1) lookup of index values dec integer[] = ARRAY[ 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 1, 18, 19, 1, 20, 21, 0, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 255, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 1, 18, 19, 1, 20, 21, 0, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 255, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 ]; BEGIN IF NOT ulid ~* '^[0-7][0-9ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ]{25}$' THEN RAISE EXCEPTION 'Invalid ULID: %', ulid; END IF; v = regexp_split_to_array(ulid, ''); -- 6 bytes timestamp (48 bits) bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 0, (dec[ASCII(v[1])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[2])]); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 1, (dec[ASCII(v[3])] << 3) | (dec[ASCII(v[4])] >> 2)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 2, (dec[ASCII(v[4])] << 6) | (dec[ASCII(v[5])] << 1) | (dec[ASCII(v[6])] >> 4)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 3, (dec[ASCII(v[6])] << 4) | (dec[ASCII(v[7])] >> 1)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 4, (dec[ASCII(v[7])] << 7) | (dec[ASCII(v[8])] << 2) | (dec[ASCII(v[9])] >> 3)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 5, (dec[ASCII(v[9])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[10])]); -- 10 bytes of entropy (80 bits); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 6, (dec[ASCII(v[11])] << 3) | (dec[ASCII(v[12])] >> 2)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 7, (dec[ASCII(v[12])] << 6) | (dec[ASCII(v[13])] << 1) | (dec[ASCII(v[14])] >> 4)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 8, (dec[ASCII(v[14])] << 4) | (dec[ASCII(v[15])] >> 1)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 9, (dec[ASCII(v[15])] << 7) | (dec[ASCII(v[16])] << 2) | (dec[ASCII(v[17])] >> 3)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 10, (dec[ASCII(v[17])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[18])]); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 11, (dec[ASCII(v[19])] << 3) | (dec[ASCII(v[20])] >> 2)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 12, (dec[ASCII(v[20])] << 6) | (dec[ASCII(v[21])] << 1) | (dec[ASCII(v[22])] >> 4)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 13, (dec[ASCII(v[22])] << 4) | (dec[ASCII(v[23])] >> 1)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 14, (dec[ASCII(v[23])] << 7) | (dec[ASCII(v[24])] << 2) | (dec[ASCII(v[25])] >> 3)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 15, (dec[ASCII(v[25])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[26])]); RETURN bytes; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE; CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION ulid_to_uuid(ulid text) RETURNS uuid AS $$ BEGIN RETURN encode(parse_ulid(ulid), 'hex')::uuid; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE; ``` #### UUID to ULID ```sql CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION uuid_to_ulid(id uuid) RETURNS text AS $$ DECLARE encoding bytea = '0123456789ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ'; output text = ''; uuid_bytes bytea = uuid_send(id); BEGIN -- Encode the timestamp output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 0) & 224) >> 5)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 0) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 1) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 1) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 2) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 2) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 2) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 3) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 3) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 4) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 4) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 4) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 5) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 5) & 31))); -- Encode the entropy output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 6) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 6) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 7) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 7) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 7) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 8) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 8) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 9) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 9) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 9) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 10) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 10) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 11) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 11) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 12) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 12) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 12) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 13) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 13) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 14) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 14) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 14) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 15) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 15) & 31))); RETURN output; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE; ``` #### Gera 11 Digitos aleatórios: YBKXG0CKTH4 ```sql -- Cria a extensão pgcrypto para gerar uuid CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgcrypto; -- Cria a função para gerar ULID CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION gen_lrandom() RETURNS TEXT AS $$ DECLARE ts_millis BIGINT; ts_chars TEXT; random_bytes BYTEA; random_chars TEXT; base32_chars TEXT := '0123456789ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ'; i INT; BEGIN -- Pega o timestamp em milissegundos ts_millis := FLOOR(EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM clock_timestamp()) * 1000)::BIGINT; -- Converte o timestamp para base32 ts_chars := ''; FOR i IN REVERSE 0..11 LOOP ts_chars := ts_chars || substr(base32_chars, ((ts_millis >> (5 * i)) & 31) + 1, 1); END LOOP; -- Gera 10 bytes aleatórios e converte para base32 random_bytes := gen_random_bytes(10); random_chars := ''; FOR i IN 0..9 LOOP random_chars := random_chars || substr(base32_chars, ((get_byte(random_bytes, i) >> 3) & 31) + 1, 1); IF i < 9 THEN random_chars := random_chars || substr(base32_chars, (((get_byte(random_bytes, i) & 7) << 2) | (get_byte(random_bytes, i + 1) >> 6)) & 31 + 1, 1); ELSE random_chars := random_chars || substr(base32_chars, ((get_byte(random_bytes, i) & 7) << 2) + 1, 1); END IF; END LOOP; -- Concatena o timestamp e os caracteres aleatórios RETURN ts_chars || random_chars; END; $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql; ``` #### Exemplo de USO ```sql -- Criação da extensão caso não exista CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgcrypto; -- Criação da tabela pessoas CREATE TABLE pessoas ( ID UUID DEFAULT gen_random_uuid ( ) PRIMARY KEY, nome TEXT NOT NULL ); -- Busca Pessoa na tabela SELECT * FROM "pessoas" WHERE uuid_to_ulid ( ID ) = '252FAC9F3V8EF80SSDK8PXW02F'; ``` ### Fontes - https://github.com/scoville/pgsql-ulid - https://github.com/geckoboard/pgulid

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

### Definição de ULID: Timestamp 48 bits, Aleatoriedade 80 bits Sendo Timestamp 48 bits inteiro, tempo UNIX em milissegundos, Não ficará sem espaço até o ano 10889 d.C. e Aleatoriedade 80 bits, Fonte criptograficamente segura de aleatoriedade, se possível. #### Gerar ULID ```sql CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgcrypto; CREATE FUNCTION generate_ulid() RETURNS TEXT AS $$ DECLARE -- Crockford's Base32 encoding BYTEA = '0123456789ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ'; timestamp BYTEA = E'\\000\\000\\000\\000\\000\\000'; output TEXT = ''; unix_time BIGINT; ulid BYTEA; BEGIN -- 6 timestamp bytes unix_time = (EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM CLOCK_TIMESTAMP()) * 1000)::BIGINT; timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 0, (unix_time >> 40)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 1, (unix_time >> 32)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 2, (unix_time >> 24)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 3, (unix_time >> 16)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 4, (unix_time >> 8)::BIT(8)::INTEGER); timestamp = SET_BYTE(timestamp, 5, unix_time::BIT(8)::INTEGER); -- 10 entropy bytes ulid = timestamp || gen_random_bytes(10); -- Encode the timestamp output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 0) & 224) >> 5)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 0) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 1) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 1) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 2) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 2) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 2) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 3) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 3) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 4) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 4) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 4) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 5) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 5) & 31))); -- Encode the entropy output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 6) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 6) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 7) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 7) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 7) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 8) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 8) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 9) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 9) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 9) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 10) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 10) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 11) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 11) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 12) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 12) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 12) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 13) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 13) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 14) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 14) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 14) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(ulid, 15) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(ulid, 15) & 31))); RETURN output; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql VOLATILE; ``` #### ULID TO UUID ```sql CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION parse_ulid(ulid text) RETURNS bytea AS $$ DECLARE -- 16byte bytes bytea = E'\\x00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000'; v char[]; -- Allow for O(1) lookup of index values dec integer[] = ARRAY[ 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 1, 18, 19, 1, 20, 21, 0, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 255, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 1, 18, 19, 1, 20, 21, 0, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 255, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 ]; BEGIN IF NOT ulid ~* '^[0-7][0-9ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ]{25}$' THEN RAISE EXCEPTION 'Invalid ULID: %', ulid; END IF; v = regexp_split_to_array(ulid, ''); -- 6 bytes timestamp (48 bits) bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 0, (dec[ASCII(v[1])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[2])]); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 1, (dec[ASCII(v[3])] << 3) | (dec[ASCII(v[4])] >> 2)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 2, (dec[ASCII(v[4])] << 6) | (dec[ASCII(v[5])] << 1) | (dec[ASCII(v[6])] >> 4)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 3, (dec[ASCII(v[6])] << 4) | (dec[ASCII(v[7])] >> 1)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 4, (dec[ASCII(v[7])] << 7) | (dec[ASCII(v[8])] << 2) | (dec[ASCII(v[9])] >> 3)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 5, (dec[ASCII(v[9])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[10])]); -- 10 bytes of entropy (80 bits); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 6, (dec[ASCII(v[11])] << 3) | (dec[ASCII(v[12])] >> 2)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 7, (dec[ASCII(v[12])] << 6) | (dec[ASCII(v[13])] << 1) | (dec[ASCII(v[14])] >> 4)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 8, (dec[ASCII(v[14])] << 4) | (dec[ASCII(v[15])] >> 1)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 9, (dec[ASCII(v[15])] << 7) | (dec[ASCII(v[16])] << 2) | (dec[ASCII(v[17])] >> 3)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 10, (dec[ASCII(v[17])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[18])]); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 11, (dec[ASCII(v[19])] << 3) | (dec[ASCII(v[20])] >> 2)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 12, (dec[ASCII(v[20])] << 6) | (dec[ASCII(v[21])] << 1) | (dec[ASCII(v[22])] >> 4)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 13, (dec[ASCII(v[22])] << 4) | (dec[ASCII(v[23])] >> 1)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 14, (dec[ASCII(v[23])] << 7) | (dec[ASCII(v[24])] << 2) | (dec[ASCII(v[25])] >> 3)); bytes = SET_BYTE(bytes, 15, (dec[ASCII(v[25])] << 5) | dec[ASCII(v[26])]); RETURN bytes; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE; CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION ulid_to_uuid(ulid text) RETURNS uuid AS $$ BEGIN RETURN encode(parse_ulid(ulid), 'hex')::uuid; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE; ``` #### UUID to ULID ```sql CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION uuid_to_ulid(id uuid) RETURNS text AS $$ DECLARE encoding bytea = '0123456789ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ'; output text = ''; uuid_bytes bytea = uuid_send(id); BEGIN -- Encode the timestamp output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 0) & 224) >> 5)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 0) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 1) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 1) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 2) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 2) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 2) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 3) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 3) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 4) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 4) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 4) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 5) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 5) & 31))); -- Encode the entropy output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 6) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 6) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 7) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 7) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 7) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 8) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 8) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 9) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 9) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 9) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 10) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 10) & 31))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 11) & 248) >> 3)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 11) & 7) << 2) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 12) & 192) >> 6))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 12) & 62) >> 1)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 12) & 1) << 4) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 13) & 240) >> 4))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 13) & 15) << 1) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 14) & 128) >> 7))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 14) & 124) >> 2)); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 14) & 3) << 3) | ((GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 15) & 224) >> 5))); output = output || CHR(GET_BYTE(encoding, (GET_BYTE(uuid_bytes, 15) & 31))); RETURN output; END $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql IMMUTABLE; ``` #### Gera 11 Digitos aleatórios: YBKXG0CKTH4 ```sql -- Cria a extensão pgcrypto para gerar uuid CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgcrypto; -- Cria a função para gerar ULID CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION gen_lrandom() RETURNS TEXT AS $$ DECLARE ts_millis BIGINT; ts_chars TEXT; random_bytes BYTEA; random_chars TEXT; base32_chars TEXT := '0123456789ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTVWXYZ'; i INT; BEGIN -- Pega o timestamp em milissegundos ts_millis := FLOOR(EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM clock_timestamp()) * 1000)::BIGINT; -- Converte o timestamp para base32 ts_chars := ''; FOR i IN REVERSE 0..11 LOOP ts_chars := ts_chars || substr(base32_chars, ((ts_millis >> (5 * i)) & 31) + 1, 1); END LOOP; -- Gera 10 bytes aleatórios e converte para base32 random_bytes := gen_random_bytes(10); random_chars := ''; FOR i IN 0..9 LOOP random_chars := random_chars || substr(base32_chars, ((get_byte(random_bytes, i) >> 3) & 31) + 1, 1); IF i < 9 THEN random_chars := random_chars || substr(base32_chars, (((get_byte(random_bytes, i) & 7) << 2) | (get_byte(random_bytes, i + 1) >> 6)) & 31 + 1, 1); ELSE random_chars := random_chars || substr(base32_chars, ((get_byte(random_bytes, i) & 7) << 2) + 1, 1); END IF; END LOOP; -- Concatena o timestamp e os caracteres aleatórios RETURN ts_chars || random_chars; END; $$ LANGUAGE plpgsql; ``` #### Exemplo de USO ```sql -- Criação da extensão caso não exista CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pgcrypto; -- Criação da tabela pessoas CREATE TABLE pessoas ( ID UUID DEFAULT gen_random_uuid ( ) PRIMARY KEY, nome TEXT NOT NULL ); -- Busca Pessoa na tabela SELECT * FROM "pessoas" WHERE uuid_to_ulid ( ID ) = '252FAC9F3V8EF80SSDK8PXW02F'; ``` ### Fontes - https://github.com/scoville/pgsql-ulid - https://github.com/geckoboard/pgulid

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Bitcoin halving is a cornerstone event in the cryptocurrency landscape, occurring approximately every four years, or after every 210,000 blocks are mined. This event is significant because it marks a reduction in the reward that miners receive for adding new blocks to the Bitcoin blockchain, effectively halving the rate at which new bitcoins are generated. The concept of halving is embedded in Bitcoin's protocol by Satoshi Nakamoto, its mysterious creator, as a measure to mimic the scarcity and deflationary characteristics of precious metals like gold. This mechanism is crucial in controlling the supply of Bitcoin, ensuring that it remains finite and valuable. As the next halving event draws near, it's not just miners who are impacted; the entire cryptocurrency market, including investors and enthusiasts, keenly anticipates the potential outcomes. Historically, halving events have been associated with increased market activity, price volatility, and heightened public interest in Bitcoin. The event is seen as a moment of transformation for Bitcoin, where the dynamics of supply and demand are altered, potentially leading to significant shifts in its market value. **Table Of Content** - Understanding the Hash Rate Surge - Implications of the Rising Hash Rate - The Halving Event: What to Expect - Preparing for the Halving - Conclusion - FAQs **Understanding the Hash Rate Surge** **What is Hash Rate?** The hash rate, in the context of Bitcoin, refers to the total computational power being used to mine and process transactions on the blockchain. It's a vital metric that reflects the health and security of the network. A higher hash rate means that more computational resources are being dedicated to maintaining the network, making it more robust against potential attacks. The hash rate is measured in hashes per second (H/s), and with advancements in mining technology, the network has seen this rate reach exahash levels (1 EH/s = 1 quintillion hashes per second). This metric is crucial for miners, as it affects their chances of solving the mathematical puzzles required to mine new blocks and earn rewards. It also indicates the level of competition among miners, as a higher hash rate suggests more participants or more powerful mining equipment in the network. **Record-Breaking Levels** The Bitcoin network's hash rate has recently hit an all-time high, reaching a staggering 491 exahashes per second (EH/s). This surge is indicative of the growing strength and security of the network. Such a high hash rate means that the network is more resilient than ever to potential attacks, such as the 51% attack, where a single entity could potentially gain control over the majority of the network's mining power. This level of security is crucial, especially as Bitcoin continues to gain mainstream acceptance and attract significant institutional investment. The record-breaking hash rate also reflects the increasing global interest in Bitcoin mining. It suggests that despite the high costs associated with mining - including specialized hardware and significant electricity consumption - miners are still heavily investing in this activity. This investment is not just in terms of money but also in research and development of more efficient mining technologies, which could further drive up the hash rate. **Implications of the Rising Hash Rate** **Enhanced Network Security** The surge in Bitcoin's hash rate is a positive development for the network's security. A higher hash rate means that it becomes exponentially more difficult for a malicious actor to orchestrate an attack on the network. This security is paramount for a system that handles billions of dollars worth of transactions. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin relies heavily on the integrity of its blockchain, which is maintained by this collective computational effort. As the hash rate increases, the confidence in the network's security also grows, which is crucial for both individual users and institutional investors. This enhanced security is particularly important in the context of the upcoming halving event, as it ensures the stability and reliability of the network during a period of significant change. **Increased Mining Difficulty** With the rise in hash rate comes an increase in the difficulty of mining Bitcoin. The Bitcoin network is designed to adjust the difficulty of mining new blocks approximately every two weeks to ensure that the time between blocks remains around 10 minutes. As more computational power joins the network, the difficulty increases, making it harder for individual miners to solve the cryptographic puzzles required to mine new blocks. This increase in difficulty can have several implications for miners. Smaller miners or those with less efficient equipment may find it increasingly difficult to compete with larger mining operations that have access to more powerful and efficient technology. This could lead to a consolidation in the mining industry, where only the most efficient operations can survive. Additionally, as the difficulty increases, the profitability of mining can decrease, especially if the price of Bitcoin does not increase proportionally. Miners must constantly evaluate their operations' efficiency and electricity costs to ensure continued profitability. **Energy Consumption Concerns** The rising hash rate of the Bitcoin network has brought renewed attention to the issue of energy consumption in Bitcoin mining. The process of mining Bitcoin is energy-intensive, as it requires a significant amount of computational power. As the hash rate increases, so does the total energy consumption of the network. This has led to concerns about the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining, especially in regions where electricity is generated from fossil fuels. The debate around Bitcoin's energy consumption is complex. On one hand, proponents argue that much of the energy used for Bitcoin mining comes from renewable sources, and the industry drives innovation in energy efficiency. On the other hand, critics point out that the overall energy consumption is still substantial and could be directed towards other, more productive uses. This debate is likely to continue as the network grows and the hash rate increases, especially in the context of global concerns about climate change and sustainable energy practices. **The Halving Event: What to Expect** **Reward Reduction** The upcoming Bitcoin halving event is a scheduled reduction in the rewards that miners receive for verifying and adding new transactions to the blockchain. This halving reduces the number of new bitcoins created and earned by miners with each new block from 6.25 bitcoins to 3.125 bitcoins. This event occurs every 210,000 blocks, or approximately every four years, and is a fundamental part of Bitcoin's economic model. The halving is designed to mimic the extraction of precious resources, becoming progressively harder and less rewarding over time. This mechanism ensures that the total supply of Bitcoin will never exceed 21 million coins, making Bitcoin a deflationary asset. The halving event is significant because it affects the economics of Bitcoin mining. With the reward halving, the revenue for miners is effectively cut in half overnight. This can lead to a shakeout in the mining industry, as less efficient miners may no longer be profitable and could be forced to shut down their operations. **Market Impact** Historically, Bitcoin halving events have been followed by significant price increases. This pattern has led to a common perception that halving events are bullish for Bitcoin's price. The rationale behind this is simple: as the rate of new supply of Bitcoin decreases, and if demand remains constant or increases, the price should theoretically go up. However, it's important to note that financial markets are influenced by a myriad of factors, and the impact of the halving may already be priced in by the time it occurs. Additionally, each halving event occurs in a different macroeconomic environment, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors and traders closely watch these events, as they can lead to increased volatility in the market. Some see the halving as an opportunity for long-term investment, while others may speculate on short-term price movements. **Preparing for the Halving** **Miner Adaptations** In anticipation of the halving and its impact on profitability, miners are taking various steps to adapt. One key strategy is the investment in more efficient mining hardware. Newer models of mining rigs offer greater hash power with lower energy consumption, which can help maintain profitability even with reduced rewards. Miners are also exploring alternative sources of revenue, such as transaction fee income, which could become a more significant part of their earnings post-halving. Additionally, miners are looking at geographical relocation to regions with cheaper electricity and favorable regulatory environments to reduce operational costs. Another consideration for miners is the potential consolidation of mining operations. Larger mining pools might have a better chance of surviving the reduced rewards, leading to a more centralized mining landscape. This potential centralization raises concerns within the Bitcoin community, as it could impact the decentralized nature of the network. **Investor Strategies** Investors are also preparing for the halving event in various ways. Many are closely analyzing historical data to understand potential market movements, although it's widely acknowledged that past trends may not necessarily predict future outcomes. Some investors view the halving as a key event that could drive long-term value growth in Bitcoin and are adjusting their portfolios accordingly. Others are more cautious, considering the potential for increased volatility around the event. There is also a focus on diversification, with investors looking at other cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects that might benefit from increased interest in the crypto space around the halving. Additionally, institutional investors, who have increasingly entered the cryptocurrency market, are likely to play a significant role in how the market reacts to the halving. Their strategies, which may include hedging and derivative trading, could influence Bitcoin's price dynamics in ways that were not seen in previous halving events. **Conclusion** The countdown to the Bitcoin halving is a period of significant anticipation and activity within the cryptocurrency community. The record-breaking hash rate ahead of the event is a testament to the network's strength and the commitment of its participants to maintain and secure the blockchain. As the halving approaches, the crypto world watches with keen interest, eager to see how this pivotal event will shape the future of Bitcoin. Whether it leads to a surge in price, increased adoption, or new challenges for miners, the halving is a reminder of the unique and dynamic nature of cryptocurrency and its underlying technology. As with any major event in the crypto space, the halving presents both opportunities and risks, and how it plays out could have lasting implications for the entire blockchain ecosystem. **FAQs** **What is Bitcoin Halving?** Bitcoin halving is an event that occurs approximately every four years, reducing the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks by half. This mechanism controls the supply of new bitcoins and is a fundamental part of Bitcoin's economic model. **Why is the Bitcoin Hash Rate Important?** The hash rate measures the total computational power used in mining and processing transactions on the Bitcoin network. A higher hash rate indicates a more secure and robust network, making it resistant to attacks. **What Happens to Bitcoin's Price After Halving?** Historically, Bitcoin's price has increased following halving events, but this is not guaranteed. Market reactions can be unpredictable, and various factors influence Bitcoin's price. **How Does Halving Affect Bitcoin Miners?** Halving reduces the reward miners receive for validating new blocks, impacting their profitability. Miners often need to upgrade to more efficient hardware or find cheaper energy sources to remain competitive. **Can Bitcoin Halving Lead to Increased Centralization in Mining?** Potentially, yes. As mining becomes less profitable for smaller operations, there could be a consolidation towards larger mining pools, which might lead to a more centralized mining landscape. **Is the Increase in Bitcoin's Hash Rate Linked to the Upcoming Halving?** Yes, the increase in hash rate is often linked to the upcoming halving as miners upgrade their equipment and increase their computational power in anticipation of the reduced mining rewards. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

President Trump has started rolling out his tariffs, something I [blogged about in November](https://www.snoyman.com/blog/2024/11/steelmanning-tariffs/). People are talking about these tariffs a lot right now, with many people (correctly) commenting on how consumers will end up with higher prices as a result of these tariffs. While that part is true, I’ve seen a lot of people taking it to the next, incorrect step: that consumers will pay the entirety of the tax. I [put up a poll on X](https://x.com/snoyberg/status/1886035800019599808) to see what people thought, and while the right answer got a lot of votes, it wasn't the winner.  For purposes of this blog post, our ultimate question will be the following: * Suppose apples currently sell for $1 each in the entire United States. * There are domestic sellers and foreign sellers of apples, all receiving the same price. * There are no taxes or tariffs on the purchase of apples. * The question is: if the US federal government puts a $0.50 import tariff per apple, what will be the change in the following: * Number of apples bought in the US * Price paid by buyers for apples in the US * Post-tax price received by domestic apple producers * Post-tax price received by foreign apple producers Before we can answer that question, we need to ask an easier, first question: before instituting the tariff, why do apples cost $1? And finally, before we dive into the details, let me provide you with the answers to the ultimate question. I recommend you try to guess these answers before reading this, and if you get it wrong, try to understand why: 1. The number of apples bought will go down 2. The buyers will pay more for each apple they buy, but not the full amount of the tariff 3. Domestic apple sellers will receive a *higher* price per apple 4. Foreign apple sellers will receive a *lower* price per apple, but not lowered by the full amount of the tariff In other words, regardless of who sends the payment to the government, both taxed parties (domestic buyers and foreign sellers) will absorb some of the costs of the tariff, while domestic sellers will benefit from the protectionism provided by tariffs and be able to sell at a higher price per unit. ## Marginal benefit All of the numbers discussed below are part of a [helper Google Sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14ZbkWpw1B9Q1UDB9Yh47DmdKQfIafVVBKbDUsSIfGZw/edit?usp=sharing) I put together for this analysis. Also, apologies about the jagged lines in the charts below, I hadn’t realized before starting on this that there are [some difficulties with creating supply and demand charts in Google Sheets](https://superuser.com/questions/1359731/how-to-create-a-supply-demand-style-chart). Let’s say I absolutely love apples, they’re my favorite food. How much would I be willing to pay for a single apple? You might say “$1, that’s the price in the supermarket,” and in many ways you’d be right. If I walk into supermarket A, see apples on sale for $50, and know that I can buy them at supermarket B for $1, I’ll almost certainly leave A and go buy at B. But that’s not what I mean. What I mean is: how high would the price of apples have to go *everywhere* so that I’d no longer be willing to buy a single apple? This is a purely personal, subjective opinion. It’s impacted by how much money I have available, other expenses I need to cover, and how much I like apples. But let’s say the number is $5. How much would I be willing to pay for another apple? Maybe another $5. But how much am I willing to pay for the 1,000th apple? 10,000th? At some point, I’ll get sick of apples, or run out of space to keep the apples, or not be able to eat, cook, and otherwise preserve all those apples before they rot. The point being: I’ll be progressively willing to spend less and less money for each apple. This form of analysis is called *marginal benefit*: how much benefit (expressed as dollars I’m willing to spend) will I receive from each apple? This is a downward sloping function: for each additional apple I buy (quantity demanded), the price I’m willing to pay goes down. This is what gives my personal *demand curve*. And if we aggregate demand curves across all market participants (meaning: everyone interested in buying apples), we end up with something like this:  Assuming no changes in people’s behavior and other conditions in the market, this chart tells us how many apples will be purchased by our buyers at each price point between $0.50 and $5. And ceteris paribus (all else being equal), this will continue to be the demand curve for apples. ## Marginal cost Demand is half the story of economics. The other half is supply, or: how many apples will I sell at each price point? Supply curves are upward sloping: the higher the price, the more a person or company is willing and able to sell a product. Let’s understand why. Suppose I have an apple orchard. It’s a large property right next to my house. With about 2 minutes of effort, I can walk out of my house, find the nearest tree, pick 5 apples off the tree, and call it a day. 5 apples for 2 minutes of effort is pretty good, right? Yes, there was all the effort necessary to buy the land, and plant the trees, and water them… and a bunch more than I likely can’t even guess at. We’re going to ignore all of that for our analysis, because for short-term supply-and-demand movement, we can ignore these kinds of *sunk costs*. One other simplification: in reality, supply curves often start descending before ascending. This accounts for achieving efficiencies of scale after the first number of units purchased. But since both these topics are unneeded for understanding taxes, I won’t go any further. Anyway, back to my apple orchard. If someone offers me $0.50 per apple, I can do 2 minutes of effort and get $2.50 in revenue, which equates to a $75/hour wage for me. I’m more than happy to pick apples at that price\! However, let’s say someone comes to buy 10,000 apples from me instead. I no longer just walk out to my nearest tree. I’m going to need to get in my truck, drive around, spend the day in the sun, pay for gas, take a day off of my day job (let’s say it pays me $70/hour). The costs go up significantly. Let’s say it takes 5 days to harvest all those apples myself, it costs me $100 in fuel and other expenses, and I lose out on my $70/hour job for 5 days. We end up with: * Total expenditure: $100 \+ $70 \* 8 hours a day \* 5 days \== $2900 * Total revenue: $5000 (10,000 apples at $0.50 each) * Total profit: $2100 So I’m still willing to sell the apples at this price, but it’s not as attractive as before. And as the number of apples purchased goes up, my costs keep increasing. I’ll need to spend more money on fuel to travel more of my property. At some point I won’t be able to do the work myself anymore, so I’ll need to pay others to work on the farm, and they’ll be slower at picking apples than me (less familiar with the property, less direct motivation, etc.). The point being: at some point, the number of apples can go high enough that the $0.50 price point no longer makes me any money. This kind of analysis is called *marginal cost*. It refers to the additional amount of expenditure a seller has to spend in order to produce each additional unit of the good. Marginal costs go up as quantity sold goes up. And like demand curves, if you aggregate this data across all sellers, you get a supply curve like this:  ## Equilibrium price We now know, for every price point, how many apples buyers will purchase, and how many apples sellers will sell. Now we find the equilibrium: where the supply and demand curves meet. This point represents where the marginal benefit a buyer would receive from the next buyer would be less than the cost it would take the next seller to make it. Let’s see it in a chart:  You’ll notice that these two graphs cross at the $1 price point, where 63 apples are both demanded (bought by consumers) and supplied (sold by producers). This is our equilibrium price. We also have a visualization of the *surplus* created by these trades. Everything to the left of the equilibrium point and between the supply and demand curves represents surplus: an area where someone is receiving something of more value than they give. For example: * When I bought my first apple for $1, but I was willing to spend $5, I made $4 of consumer surplus. The consumer portion of the surplus is everything to the left of the equilibrium point, between the supply and demand curves, and above the equilibrium price point. * When a seller sells his first apple for $1, but it only cost $0.50 to produce it, the seller made $0.50 of producer surplus. The producer portion of the surplus is everything to the left of the equilibrium point, between the supply and demand curves, and below the equilibrium price point. Another way of thinking of surplus is “every time someone got a better price than they would have been willing to take.” OK, with this in place, we now have enough information to figure out how to price in the tariff, which we’ll treat as a negative externality. ## Modeling taxes Alright, the government has now instituted a $0.50 tariff on every apple sold within the US by a foreign producer. We can generally model taxes by either increasing the marginal cost of each unit sold (shifting the supply curve up), or by decreasing the marginal benefit of each unit bought (shifting the demand curve down). In this case, since only some of the producers will pay the tax, it makes more sense to modify the supply curve. First, let’s see what happens to the foreign seller-only supply curve when you add in the tariff:  With the tariff in place, for each quantity level, the price at which the seller will sell is $0.50 higher than before the tariff. That makes sense: if I was previously willing to sell my 82nd apple for $3, I would now need to charge $3.50 for that apple to cover the cost of the tariff. We see this as the tariff “pushing up” or “pushing left” the original supply curve. We can add this new supply curve to our existing (unchanged) supply curve for domestic-only sellers, and we end up with a result like this:  The total supply curve adds up the individual foreign and domestic supply curves. At each price point, we add up the total quantity each group would be willing to sell to determine the total quantity supplied for each price point. Once we have that cumulative supply curve defined, we can produce an updated supply-and-demand chart including the tariff:  As we can see, the equilibrium has shifted: * The equilibrium price paid by consumers has risen from $1 to $1.20. * The total number of apples purchased has dropped from 63 apples to 60 apples. * Consumers therefore received 3 less apples. They spent $72 for these 60 apples, whereas previously they spent $63 for 3 more apples, a definite decrease in consumer surplus. * Foreign producers sold 36 of those apples (see the raw data in the linked Google Sheet), for a gross revenue of $43.20. However, they also need to pay the tariff to the US government, which accounts for $18, meaning they only receive $25.20 post-tariff. Previously, they sold 42 apples at $1 each with no tariff to be paid, meaning they took home $42. * Domestic producers sold the remaining 24 apples at $1.20, giving them a revenue of $28.80. Since they don’t pay the tariff, they take home all of that money. By contrast, previously, they sold 21 apples at $1, for a take-home of $21. * The government receives $0.50 for each of the 60 apples sold, or in other words receives $30 in revenue it wouldn’t have received otherwise. We could be more specific about the surpluses, and calculate the actual areas for consumer surplus, producer surplus, inefficiency from the tariff, and government revenue from the tariff. But I won’t bother, as those calculations get slightly more involved. Instead, let’s just look at the aggregate outcomes: * Consumers were unquestionably hurt. Their price paid went up by $0.20 per apple, and received less apples. * Foreign producers were also hurt. Their price received went down from the original $1 to the new post-tariff price of $1.20, minus the $0.50 tariff. In other words: foreign producers only receive $0.70 per apple now. This hurt can be mitigated by shifting sales to other countries without a tariff, but the pain will exist regardless. * Domestic producers scored. They can sell less apples and make more revenue doing it. * And the government walked away with an extra $30. Hopefully you now see the answer to the original questions. Importantly, while the government imposed a $0.50 tariff, neither side fully absorbed that cost. Consumers paid a bit more, foreign producers received a bit less. The exact details of how that tariff was split across the groups is mediated by the relevant supply and demand curves of each group. If you want to learn more about this, the relevant search term is “price elasticity,” or how much a group’s quantity supplied or demanded will change based on changes in the price. ## Other taxes Most taxes are some kind of a tax on trade. Tariffs on apples is an obvious one. But the same applies to income tax (taxing the worker for the trade of labor for money) or payroll tax (same thing, just taxing the employer instead). Interestingly, you can use the same model for analyzing things like tax incentives. For example, if the government decided to subsidize domestic apple production by giving the domestic producers a $0.50 bonus for each apple they sell, we would end up with a similar kind of analysis, except instead of the foreign supply curve shifting up, we’d see the domestic supply curve shifting down. And generally speaking, this is what you’ll *always* see with government involvement in the economy. It will result in disrupting an existing equilibrium, letting the market readjust to a new equilibrium, and incentivization of some behavior, causing some people to benefit and others to lose out. We saw with the apple tariff, domestic producers and the government benefited while others lost. You can see the reverse though with tax incentives. If I give a tax incentive of providing a deduction (not paying income tax) for preschool, we would end up with: * Government needs to make up the difference in tax revenue, either by raising taxes on others or printing more money (leading to inflation). Either way, those paying the tax or those holding government debased currency will pay a price. * Those people who don’t use the preschool deduction will receive no benefit, so they simply pay a cost. * Those who do use the preschool deduction will end up paying less on tax+preschool than they would have otherwise. This analysis is fully amoral. It’s not saying whether providing subsidized preschool is a good thing or not, it simply tells you where the costs will be felt, and points out that such government interference in free economic choice does result in inefficiencies in the system. Once you have that knowledge, you’re more well educated on making a decision about whether the costs of government intervention are worth the benefits.

@ b7274d28:c99628cb

For anyone interested in the list of essential essays from nostr:npub14hn6p34vegy4ckeklz8jq93mendym9asw8z2ej87x2wuwf8werasc6a32x ([@anilsaidso](https://x.com/anilsaidso)) on Twitter that nostr:npub1h8nk2346qezka5cpm8jjh3yl5j88pf4ly2ptu7s6uu55wcfqy0wq36rpev mentioned on Read 856, here it is. I have compiled it with as many of the essays as I could find, along with the audio versions, when available. Additionally, if the author is on #Nostr, I have tagged their npub so you can thank them by zapping them some sats. All credit for this list and the graphics accompanying each entry goes to nostr:npub14hn6p34vegy4ckeklz8jq93mendym9asw8z2ej87x2wuwf8werasc6a32x, whose original thread can be found here: [Anil's Essential Essays Thread](https://x.com/anilsaidso/status/1290758632238276609)  ## 1.  > History shows us that the corruption of monetary systems leads to moral decay, social collapse, and slavery. Essay: https://breedlove22.medium.com/masters-and-slaves-of-money-255ecc93404f Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/RI0iCGRCCYdhnMXIN3L6 ## 2.  > The 21st century emergence of Bitcoin, encryption, the internet, and millennials are more than just trends; they herald a wave of change that exhibits similar dynamics as the 16-17th century revolution that took place in Europe. Author: nostr:npub13l3lyslfzyscrqg8saw4r09y70702s6r025hz52sajqrvdvf88zskh8xc2 Essay: https://casebitcoin.com/docs/TheBitcoinReformation_TuurDemeester.pdf Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/uLgBG2tyCLMlOp3g50EL ## 3.  > There are many men out there who will parrot the "debt is money WE owe OURSELVES" without acknowledging that "WE" isn't a static entity, but a collection of individuals at different points in their lives. Author: nostr:npub1guh5grefa7vkay4ps6udxg8lrqxg2kgr3qh9n4gduxut64nfxq0q9y6hjy Essay: https://www.tftc.io/issue-754-ludwig-von-mises-human-action/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/UXacM2rkdcyjG9xp9O2l ## 4.  > If Bitcoin exists for 20 years, there will be near-universal confidence that it will be available forever, much as people believe the Internet is a permanent feature of the modern world. Essay: https://vijayboyapati.medium.com/the-bullish-case-for-bitcoin-6ecc8bdecc1 Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/jC3KbxTkXVzXO4vR7X3W As you are surely aware, Vijay has expanded this into a book available here: [The Bullish Case for Bitcoin Book](https://www.bullishcaseforbitcoin.com/product-page/the-bullish-case-for-bitcoin-paperback-1) There is also an audio book version available here: [The Bullish Case for Bitcoin Audio Book](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Bullish-Case-for-Bitcoin-Audiobook/B09QXR9GVL?eac_link=m4syoiXYyRJh&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B09QXR9GVL&qid=2tIYC0F4Ya&eac_id=135-0887332-3379864_2tIYC0F4Ya&sr=1-1) ## 5.  > This realignment would not be traditional right vs left, but rather land vs cloud, state vs network, centralized vs decentralized, new money vs old, internationalist/capitalist vs nationalist/socialist, MMT vs BTC,...Hamilton vs Satoshi. Essay: https://nakamoto.com/bitcoin-becomes-the-flag-of-technology/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/tFJKjYLKhiFY8voDssZc ## 6. [Gradually, Then Suddenly](https://relay.brightbolt.net/fa4196f5c6183bda153e2e3c9911909d289b5a428852f5f07f7c1991191e7489.jpg) > I became convinced that, whether bitcoin survives or not, the existing financial system is working on borrowed time. Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/gradually-then-suddenly/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/Mf6hgTFUNESqvdxEIOGZ Parker Lewis went on to release several more articles in the Gradually, Then Suddenly series. They can be found here: [Gradually, Then Suddenly Series](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/series/gradually-then-suddenly/) nostr:npub1h8nk2346qezka5cpm8jjh3yl5j88pf4ly2ptu7s6uu55wcfqy0wq36rpev has, of course, read all of them for us. Listing them all here is beyond the scope of this article, but you can find them by searching the podcast feed here: [Bitcoin Audible Feed](https://fountain.fm/show/RtZlWdbEbpyEyjBNbeQ7) Finally, Parker Lewis has refined these articles and released them as a book, which is available here: [Gradually, Then Suddenly Book](https://academy.saifedean.com/product/gradually-then-suddenly-hardcover/) ## 7.  > Bitcoin is a beautifully-constructed protocol. Genius is apparent in its design to most people who study it in depth, in terms of the way it blends math, computer science, cyber security, monetary economics, and game theory. Author: nostr:npub1a2cww4kn9wqte4ry70vyfwqyqvpswksna27rtxd8vty6c74era8sdcw83a Essay: https://www.lynalden.com/invest-in-bitcoin/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/axeqKBvYCSP1s9aJIGSe ## 8.  > Bitcoin offers a sweeping vista of opportunity to re-imagine how the financial system can and should work in the Internet era.. Essay: https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/why-bitcoin-matters/ ## 9.  > Using Bitcoin for consumer purchases is akin to driving a Concorde jet down the street to pick up groceries: a ridiculously expensive waste of an astonishing tool. Author: nostr:npub1gdu7w6l6w65qhrdeaf6eyywepwe7v7ezqtugsrxy7hl7ypjsvxksd76nak Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/economics-of-bitcoin-as-a-settlement-network/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/JoSpRFWJtoogn3lvTYlz ## 10.  > The Internet is a dumb network, which is its defining and most valuable feature. The Internet’s protocol (..) doesn’t offer “services.” It doesn’t make decisions about content. It doesn’t distinguish between photos, text, video and audio. Essay: https://fee.org/articles/decentralization-why-dumb-networks-are-better/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/b7gOEqmWxn8RiDziffXf ## 11.  > Most people are only familiar with (b)itcoin the electronic currency, but more important is (B)itcoin, with a capital B, the underlying protocol, which encapsulates and distributes the functions of contract law. I was unable to find this essay or any audio version. Clicking on Anil's original link took me to Naval's blog, but that particular entry seems to have been removed. ## 12.  > Bitcoin can approximate unofficial exchange rates which, in turn, can be used to detect both the existence and the magnitude of the distortion caused by capital controls & exchange rate manipulations. Essay: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Papers.cfm?abstract_id=2714921 ## 13.  > You can create something which looks cosmetically similar to Bitcoin, but you cannot replicate the settlement assurances which derive from the costliness of the ledger. Essay: https://medium.com/@nic__carter/its-the-settlement-assurances-stupid-5dcd1c3f4e41 Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/5NoPoiRU4NtF2YQN5QI1 ## 14.  > When we can secure the most important functionality of a financial network by computer science... we go from a system that is manual, local, and of inconsistent security to one that is automated, global, and much more secure. Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/library/money-blockchains-and-social-scalability/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/VMH9YmGVCF8c3I5zYkrc ## 15.  > The BCB enforces the strictest deposit regulations in the world by requiring full reserves for all accounts. ..money is not destroyed when bank debts are repaid, so increased money hoarding does not cause liquidity traps.. Author: nostr:npub1hxwmegqcfgevu4vsfjex0v3wgdyz8jtlgx8ndkh46t0lphtmtsnsuf40pf Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/the-bitcoin-central-banks-perfect-monetary-policy/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/ralOokFfhFfeZpYnGAsD ## 16.  > When Satoshi announced Bitcoin on the cryptography mailing list, he got a skeptical reception at best. Cryptographers have seen too many grand schemes by clueless noobs. They tend to have a knee jerk reaction. Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/library/bitcoin-and-me/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/Vx8hKhLZkkI4cq97qS4Z ## 17.  > No matter who you are, or how big your company is, **𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙙.** Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/bitcoin-miners-beware-invalid-blocks-need-not-apply/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/bcSuBGmOGY2TecSov4rC ## 18.  > Just like a company trying to protect itself from being destroyed by a new competitor, the actions and reactions of central banks and policy makers to protect the system that they know, are quite predictable. Author: nostr:npub1s05p3ha7en49dv8429tkk07nnfa9pcwczkf5x5qrdraqshxdje9sq6eyhe Essay: https://medium.com/the-bitcoin-times/the-greatest-game-b787ac3242b2 Audio Part 1: https://fountain.fm/episode/5bYyGRmNATKaxminlvco Audio Part 2: https://fountain.fm/episode/92eU3h6gqbzng84zqQPZ ## 19.  > Technology, industry, and society have advanced immeasurably since, and yet we still live by Venetian financial customs and have no idea why. Modern banking is the legacy of a problem that technology has since solved. Author: nostr:npub1sfhflz2msx45rfzjyf5tyj0x35pv4qtq3hh4v2jf8nhrtl79cavsl2ymqt Essay: https://allenfarrington.medium.com/bitcoin-is-venice-8414dda42070 Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/s6Fu2VowAddRACCCIxQh Allen Farrington and Sacha Meyers have gone on to expand this into a book, as well. You can get the book here: [Bitcoin is Venice Book](https://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Venice-Essays-Future-Capitalism/dp/B09TTTGT11) And wouldn't you know it, Guy Swann has narrated the audio book available here: [Bitcoin is Venice Audio Book](https://www.audible.com/pd/Bitcoin-is-Venice-Audiobook/B0CCQD539W?eac_link=yrZ4RxHupcgL&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0CCQD539W&qid=pL7jjJ13ia&eac_id=135-0887332-3379864_pL7jjJ13ia&sr=1-1) ## 20.  > The rich and powerful will always design systems that benefit them before everyone else. The genius of Bitcoin is to take advantage of that very base reality and force them to get involved and help run the system, instead of attacking it. Author: nostr:npub1trr5r2nrpsk6xkjk5a7p6pfcryyt6yzsflwjmz6r7uj7lfkjxxtq78hdpu Essay: https://quillette.com/2021/02/21/can-governments-stop-bitcoin/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/jeZ21IWIlbuC1OGnssy8 ## 21.  > In the realm of infor­ma­tion, there is no coin-stamping without time-stamping. The relent­less beating of this clock is what gives rise to all the magical proper­ties of Bitcoin. Author: nostr:npub1dergggklka99wwrs92yz8wdjs952h2ux2ha2ed598ngwu9w7a6fsh9xzpc Essay: https://dergigi.com/2021/01/14/bitcoin-is-time/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/pTevCY2vwanNsIso6F6X ## 22.  > You can stay on the Fiat Standard, in which some people get to produce unlimited new units of money for free, just not you. Or opt in to the Bitcoin Standard, in which no one gets to do that, including you. Essay: https://casebitcoin.com/docs/StoneRidge_2020_Shareholder_Letter.pdf Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/PhBTa39qwbkwAtRnO38W ## 23.  > Long term investors should use Bitcoin as their unit of account and every single investment should be compared to the expected returns of Bitcoin. Essay: https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/everyones-a-scammer/ Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/vyR2GUNfXtKRK8qwznki ## 24.  > When you’re in the ivory tower, you think the term “ivory tower” is a silly misrepresentation of your very normal life; when you’re no longer in the ivory tower, you realize how willfully out of touch you were with the world. Essay: https://www.citadel21.com/why-the-yuppie-elite-dismiss-bitcoin Audio: https://fountain.fm/episode/7do5K4pPNljOf2W3rR2V You might notice that many of the above essays are available from the [Satoshi Nakamoto Institute](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/). It is a veritable treasure trove of excellent writing on subjects surrounding #Bitcoin and #AustrianEconomics. If you find value in them keeping these written works online for the next wave of new Bitcoiners to have an excellent source of education, please consider [donating](https://pay.zaprite.com/pl_vNYDp4YBSd) to the cause.

@ 2063cd79:57bd1320

**DISCLAIMER: Dies ist ein Re-Post eines Artikels, der ursprünglich im Juli 2023 erschienen ist. Die beschriebenen Sachverhalte sind teilweise überholt oder nie eingetroffen. Allerdings räumt der Autor ein, retrospektiv die damalige Sachlage recht treffend eingeordnet zu haben und Vorhersagen recht treffsicher gemacht zu haben.**  ----------- Anfang Juni 2023 gaben die Nachrichtenportale bekannt, dass BlackRock, der weltweit größte Vermögensverwalter, über seine iShares-Einheit einen [Antrag auf einen börsengehandelten Bitcoin-Fonds](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1980994/000143774923017574/bit20230608_s1.htm) eingereicht hat. Dieser Schritt des 10-Billionen-Dollar-Vermögensverwalters löste in der Bitcoin-Community auf der einen Seite große Freude und auf der anderen Seite große Besorgnis aus, weil viele einerseits das Potenzial für einen massiven Zufluss von Investitionen aus dem institutionellen Bereich sehen, während Kritiker das Risiko aufzeigen, die eine solche Produktstruktur für Bitcoin mit sich bringen könnte.  Anfangs wurde viel auch darüber diskutiert, ob es sich bei dem Produkt tatsächlich um einen ETF handeln würde - wie in vielen Artikeln beschrieben - , da das Produkt im Antrag selbst nicht als solches bezeichnet wird. Aber im Endeffekt ist klar, dass es sich um ein Finanzprodukt handelt, das alle formalen Eigenschaften eines ETF besitzt. Also, was genau ist ein ETF und wie funktioniert so ein Produkt? ### ETF? Eidgenössisches Turnfest, was? ETFs sind eine Sorte von Anlagewertpapieren, die einen bestimmten Index, Sektor, Rohstoff oder andere Vermögenswerte nachbilden. ETFs können an der Börse auf die gleiche Weise gekauft oder verkauft werden wie normale Aktien. Daher schwanken ETF-Anteilspreise den ganzen Tag, wenn der ETF gekauft und verkauft wird, was bedeutet, dass eine Arbitrage zwischen dem ETF und dem zugrunde liegenden Vermögenswert (z.B. Bitcoin) möglich ist. ETFs werden als börsengehandelte (Exchange-Traded) Fonds bezeichnet, weil sie genau wie Aktien an einer Börse gehandelt werden. Die meisten ETFs sind so strukturiert, dass sie, ähnlich wie traditionelle Investmentfonds, mehrere zugrunde liegende Vermögenswerte halten und nicht nur einen, wie es bei einer Aktie der Fall ist. Da ETFs aus mehreren Vermögenswerten bestehen können, werden sie oft als beliebtes Mittel zur Diversifizierung des Portfolios genutzt. Auf der anderen Seite eröffnen ETFs Anlegern auch die Möglichkeit in einen Rohstoff zu investieren, ohne diesen physisch erwerben zu müssen. Anstatt sich Gold in den Tresor zu legen, kann man in seinem Portfolio also z.B. den GLD ETF kaufen, der den aktuellen Preis von Gold nachbildet. Ausser in Deutschland, da geht das nicht, denn da ein Gold-ETF, der nur einen Vermögenswert abbildet, naturgemäß nicht diversifiziert ist, ist er gemäß deutschem Gesetz nicht zugelassen, da Fonds zur Diversifikation verpflichtet sind. ETFs haben den Vorteil, dass sie kostengünstig sind (wenn man z.B. den kompletten DAX abbilden möchte, reicht ein ETF, welcher genau das tut, anstatt verschiedene Gewichtungen von 40 verschiedenen Unternehmen zu kaufen - das spart Zeit und vor allem Gebühren), dass sie Produkte abbilden, die ein Käufer unter normalen Umständen nicht erlaubt wäre zu kaufen (z.B. darf nicht jeder Anleger in Bitcoin investieren, weil sonst Lizenzen nötig wären) und sie haben den Vorteil, dass sie über den gleichen Broker oder Service gehandelt werden können, wie andere Wertpapier-Investitionen. Der letzte Punkt ist natürlich wichtig für Neueinsteiger, da sie keine zusätzlichen Kosten haben, wenn sie ihr Wertpapierdepot nutzen können und zusätzlich bietet dieser Korridor für viele traditionelle und konservative Anleger ein gewisses Gefühl von Schutz. Diese ganze cRyPto-Welt mit ihren Plattformen, Exchanges, Casinos und Teppichhändlern ist im besten Fall schwer durchsichtig und im schlimmsten Fall mutet sie kriminell an. Doch wenn ich mir "Bitcoin" über mein Depot bei Charles Schwab, der Sparkasse, oder Flatex kaufen kann, fühlt sich das natürlich legitim und sicherer an. Der Finanzdienstleister muss den zugrundeliegenden Vermögenswert dabei vollumfänglich besitzen, mit dem grossen ABER, dass der Vermögenswert auch verliehen werden kann. Warum das ein Problem sein könnte, besprechen wir später. Ähnlich wie ein Gold ETF bietet ein Bitcoin ETF Anlegern also die Möglichkeit mit Bitcoin zu handeln, in Bitcoin anzulegen und Bitcoin auszuprobieren, ohne Bitcoin tatsächlich zu kaufen. Ob das gut oder schlecht ist, besprechen wir auch später. ### ETF Wasserfall Nachdem die Nachricht über BlackRocks Antrag publik wurde, kamen auch etliche andere Finanzdienstleister hervor und stellten (neue) Anträge.[WisdomTree](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=%2FArchives%2Fedgar%2Fdata%2F1850391%2F000121465923008647%2Fp620230s1a2.htm) hatten bereits zuvor schon einige Anläufe gebraucht, um ihre Anträge für Bitcoin-Spot-ETFs bei der SEC einzureichen und unterhalten schon ähnliche Produkte in anderen Ländern. Aber auch Fidelity, Invesco, Valkyrie oder [ARK](https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1674055780058771463) zogen unter anderem nach und stellten neue Anträge, natürlich nicht, ohne sich bei der Formulierung dieser eine Scheibe bei BlackRock abzuschneiden.  Die SEC hatte zuvor jegliche Anträge auf Bitcoin-Spot-ETFs abgelehnt, hingegen andere Bitcoin-verbundene Produkte, die gehebelte (BITX) und ungehebelte Bitcoin-Futures-Kontrakte (BITO) nachbilden, zugelassen. Auch gibt es eine handvoll ETFs, die börsennotierte Mining-Unternehmen bündeln, oder anderweitige Verbindung zum Bitcoin-Ökosystem suchen, indem sie Anteile von Unternehmen bündeln, die im weitesten Sinne mit Bitcoin in Berührung kommen (z.B. MSTR oder SQ). Eine Genehmigung eines Antrags auf Bitcoin-Spot-ETF hat es also bis heute durch die SEC noch nicht gegeben. ### Der Standpunkt der SEC ### Wie ich schon in einem ➡️ [früheren Artikel](https://www.genexyz.org/post/1722193843734/) beschrieben habe, ist der Standpunkt der SEC nur teilweise nachvollziehbar. > Die offizielle Begründung der SEC sind Bedenken in Bezug auf Marktmanipulation, Betrug, Liquidität und Transparenz. Die hauptauschlaggebenden Argumente sind mangelnde Preiserkennung durch hohe Volatilität, wiederum erzeugt durch einige unbekannte große Accounts und die steigende Zahl der Derivate-Produkte rund um Bitcoin, sowie die vielen unregulierten Börsen. Besonders letztere würde die SEC gerne unter ihre Kontrolle bringen. Das bedeutet bis Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken (oder andere große US Börsen) sich nicht bei der SEC registrieren und sich der SEC Regulierung unterwerfen, ist es unwahrscheinlich, dass die SEC einen Spot-ETF genehmigen wird. Dieses Argument ist schwer haltbar, da große Börsen wie Binance, FTX, oder BitMart nicht in den USA registriert sind, und kombiniert ein Vielfaches der in den USA beheimateten Börsen an Handelsvolumen umsetzen. “[T]here’s a lot of work to be done to really protect the investing public.” - Gary Gensler, SEC Chair > Vorgeschoben wird also bei alledem immer der Schutz der Anleger. Ob dies eine schlüssige Argumentation ist, darf man ruhig in Frage stellen. Denn ein Bitcoin-Spot-ETF würde vielen Anlegern erlauben Bitcoin in ihr Portfolio aufzunehmen, ohne größeren Spekulationen ausgesetzt zu sein, wie das jetzt mit schon zugelassenen Produkten der Fall ist. Darüber hinaus hat die SEC vielerorts erwähnt, dass sie bestrebt sind, mit Unternehmen aus der Branche einen regulatorisch klaren Weg zu finden, damit Unternehmen ihre Tätigkeiten im Sinne der SEC auszuüben. Das bezieht sich meist auf die Börsen, die nach eigenen Angaben seit Jahren versuchen, einen rechtlichen Rahmen zu schaffen, der ihnen Planungs- und Rechtssicherheit bietet. Dieser Punkt ist später nochmal wichtig. Das Problem hierbei besteht in der Natur dieser Unternehmen. Denn fast ausnahmslos sind alle betroffenen Unternehmen (wie z.B. Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, etc.) keine Bitcoin-Unternehmen, sondern Digital Assets-Unternehmen, die eben auch den Handel mit Shitcoins, Stablecoins und auf diesen Assets basierende Derivate erlauben (und vor allem wollen). Jetzt wissen wir also, was ein ETF ist. Aber wie schaut der von BlackRock (und damit auch der anderen Finanzdienstleister) vorgeschlagene Bitcoin-Spot-ETF im Detail aus? ### Bitcoin ETF ### Das von BlackRock vorgeschlagene Produkt, und damit auch die der anderen - wie wir wissen, haben die anderen Anbieter ihre Anträge nachgebessert und dem von BlackRock weitestgehend angepasst - soll das Grantor-Trust-Modell übernehmen und seine Struktur dem von Gold-Investment-Trusts nachempfinden. Das bedeutet, dass der Besitz von Anteilen am Bitcoin-ETF für steuerliche Zwecke dem Besitz des zugrunde liegenden Vermögenswerts gleichkommt. Des Weiteren ist eine Rücknahmefunktion in Form von Sachleistungen vorgesehen. Das bedeutet vereinfacht, dass Anleger ihre Anteile auch direkt in Bitcoin umwandeln können. Anders als bei z.B. GBTC (➡️ [#5 // Block 742956 // GBTC, ETF & SEC](https://www.genexyz.org/post/1722193843734/)), müssen Anteile nicht erst verkauft werden, um mit den (potentiellen) Profiten bitcoins zu kaufen. Denn der Verkauf von Anteilen an GBTC (oder ähnlichen Modellen) führt nämlich ein steuerpflichtiges Ereignis herbei, wohingegen eine Umwandlung im BlackRock Modell steuerfrei zu vollziehen ist. Aber, und dies ist ein großes ABER, kommen nur autorisierte Kunden von BlackRock in den Genuss dieser Sachrücknahmen (Umwandlungen). D.h., im Wesentlichen können nur große Investmentfirmen mit guter Reputation Anteile in Bitcoin umtauschen, alltägliche Anleger (Depot bei Charles Schwab, der Sparkasse, oder Flatex) hingegen sind nicht in der Lage diesen tollen Steuertrick anzuwenden. Die erzeugt einen Vorhang vorgespielter Transparenz ("natürlich können alle Anteile direkt in 'physische' bitcoins getauscht werden"), wohingegen ein Großteil der zugrundeliegenden bitcoins nicht wirklich eingefordert werden wird.  Es sind sich alle einig, dass ein Bitcoin-Spot-ETF ein Winner-takes-all-market ist. Das heisst, der Anbieter, dessen Antrag als erstes von der SEC genehmigt wird, wird uber kurz oder lang den Markt fuer Bitcoin-ETFs fuer sich entscheiden, bzw. beherrschen. ### SEC vs. Binance Kurz bevor BlackRock ihren Antrag auf einen Bitcoin-Spot-ETF einreichten und damit die SEC in die Schlagzeilen der Finanz- und Bitcoin Welt geriet, machte die SEC in der Bitcoin- und Digital Assets-Welt schon von sich hören, als sie kurz hintereinander gegen Binance und Coinbase Anklage erhob. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2023-101 Binance ist die zurzeit größte Börse für Digitale Assets der Welt. Binance bietet jedoch nicht nur den Handel mit Krypto-Werten, sondern auch eine Reihe von gehebelten Produkten, eigener Coins und Tokens, usw. an (Shitcoin-Casino). > “Through thirteen charges, we allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law.” - Gary Gensler, Chairman, SEC Vor allem ist Binance kein in den USA registriertes Unternehmen. Lediglich ein Schwesterunternehmen, Binance.us, ist offiziell in den USA registriert und hat offiziell und nach eigenen Angaben mit den Geschäften des Hauptunternehmens direkt nichts zu tun. Die SEC klagt Binance also nicht nur wegen ihrer Angebote im Krypto-Sektor an, sondern erhebt spezifische Vorwürfe der Irreführung und Täuschung von Kunden, des Betreibens von unregistrierten Börsen, Clearingstellen und Broker-Dealer Aktivitäten, sowie Verstrickungen mit Binance.us (einer Handelsbörse, die wie gesagt offiziell unabhängig von Binance agieren soll), sowie dem Washtrading und dem Verkauf von unregistrierten Wertpapieren (mehr zu dem Thema Securities hier ➡️ [#24 // Block 773750 // Commodity vs. Security](https://www.genexyz.org/post/24-block-773750-commodity-vs-security-2xhjjo/)). > “We allege that Zhao and the Binance entities not only knew the rules of the road, but they also consciously chose to evade them and put their customers and investors at risk – all in an effort to maximize their own profits.” - Gurbir S. Grewal, Director, SEC’s Division of Enforcement Die SEC argumentiert also Changpeng Zhao (CEO von Binance) und Binance hätten Anleger über ihre Risikokontrollen und korrupten Handelsvolumina in die Irre geführt und gleichzeitig aktiv verschwiegen, wer der eigentliche Betreiber der Plattform ist. Damit hätten Binance-Plattformen ihren Anlegern übergroße Risiken und Interessenkonflikte beschert. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/crypto-binance-money Darüber hinaus wurde in Folge der Anklageerhebung bekannt, dass es bei Geldflüssen bei Binance einen deutlichen Hinweis auf einen Mangel an internen Kontrollen gibt. Interne Kontrollen sollen normalerweise sicherstellen, dass Kundengelder klar identifizierbar und von den Unternehmenseinnahmen getrennt sind. Eine Vermischung von Anleger- und Geschäftsgeldern gefährdet das Vermögen der Kunden, da deren Verbleib verschleiert wird. Interessanterweise nutzt die SEC weiterhin die Klageschrift gegen Binance, um das Thema 'unregistrierter' Wertpapiere etwas zu erhellen. Zuvor hatte die SEC sich nur in wenigen Einzelfällen dazu geäußert, welche Digitalen Assets sie als unregistrierte Wertpapiere betrachtet, doch in der Anklageschrift werden SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, ATOM, SAND, MANA, ALGO, AXS, COTI, BUSD, and BNB explizit als solche bezeichnet.  Alleine vier der genannten Assets finden sich unter den 10 größten Werten (ausgenommen Stablecoins) und die anderen tummeln sich auch irgendwo in den Top 50. Der aufmerksame Sherlock Holmes wird bemerkt haben, dass es dünn wird für den "kRyPtO"-Markt. Unter den Top 10 bleiben noch 3 Proof-of-Work Coins, von denen einer den [Howey-Test](https://www.genexyz.org/post/24-block-773750-commodity-vs-security-2xhjjo/#:~:text=Produktkategorie%20zuordnen%20lassen.-,Der%20Howey%20Test,-In%20den%20USA) nicht erfüllt (und es ist nicht Doge), Ripple (XRP) und die SEC stehen schon seit 2020 vor Gericht und meiner Meinung nach ist es nur noch eine Frage der Zeit, bis die SEC sich bzgl. Ethereum äußern muss (wird). ### SEC vs. Coinbase Nur einen Tag nach Veröffentlichung der Pressemitteilung, dass die SEC Anklage gegen Binance erhebe, veröffentlichte die SEC die nächste Pressemitteilung: Die SEC erhebt auch Anklage gegen Coinbase, die größte in den USA registrierte Börse für den Handel mit Digital Assets. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2023-102 Anders als bei Binance hingegen konzentriert sich die SEC bei der Anklage gegen Coinbase einzig auf den Handel mit unregistrierten Wertpapieren und den damit einhergehenden Dienstleistungen. > “We allege that Coinbase, despite being subject to the securities laws, commingled and unlawfully offered exchange, broker-dealer, and clearinghouse functions” - Gary Gensler, Chairman, SEC. Konkret hätten Coinbase gegen bestimmte Registrierungsbestimmungen des Securities Exchange Act und des Securities Act verstoßen. Coinbase hätten seit mindestens 2019 Milliarden Dollar verdient, indem sie den Kauf und Verkauf von unregistrierten Wertpapieren unrechtmäßig erleichtert haben. Interessant ist, dass die SEC ein weitere Dienstleistung in die Anklage einbaut, die bisher keine Erwähnung gefunden hat: "Darüber hinaus hat Coinbase, wie wir behaupten, sein Staking-as-a-Service-Programm nie gemäß den Wertpapiergesetzen registriert, was den Anlegern erneut wichtige Offenlegungs- und andere Schutzmaßnahmen vorenthält“ (Gensler). Dies zeigt, dass die SEC, ohne sich bisher explizit zu Ethereum geäußert zu haben, eine Meinung gegenüber Staking vertritt, und zumindest die Bereitstellung von Staking-Services als rechtswidrig erachtet. Dies könnte einer der Gründe sein, dass Ethereum noch nicht ins Rampenlicht gerückt wurde, und zwar, dass die SEC die Anklageschrift gegen die Ethereum-Foundation und damit ein Ungetüm an Financiers (JP Morgan, MasterCard, Consensys, etc.) gründlich vorbereitet, um sich für einen enormen Rechtsstreit wetterfest zu machen. Allerdings scheinen interne Ansichtspunkte und Betrachtungsweisen schon ihren Weg in andere Anklageschriften zu finden. Darüberhinaus zitiert die SEC mit AXS, CHZ, FLOW, ICP, NEAR, VGX, DASH und NEXO eine weitere Reihe von Shitcoins, die sie als unregistrierte Wertpapiere einstufen und damit den Handel mit selbigen untersagen. Es gibt immer wieder Erzählungen von Leuten, die mit der Sache betraut sind, dass Coinbase aktiv daran arbeiten, einen gemeinsamen Weg mit der SEC zu finden, das Geschäftsmodell zwischen regulatorisch stabile Leitplanken zu bringen. Oft, wenn diese Erzählungen aus dem Coinbase Camp kommen, heißt es, die SEC sei stur und ließe sich nicht auf die Avancen seitens Coinbase ein. Wiederum andere sagen, dass die SEC schlicht überfordert wäre und Coinbase alles daran läge, schnell eine Lösung zu finden. > "You simply can’t ignore the rules because you don’t like them or because you’d prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great.” Wenn man allerdings den in der Pressemitteilung zitierten Satz von Gurbir S. Grewal (Director, SEC’s Division of Enforcement) anschaut, wird klar, dass aus Sicht der SEC scheinbar relativ früh und relativ offen kommuniziert wurde, was der rechtliche Rahmen des Möglichen ist. Wahrscheinlich wurden Coinbase auch früh darüber informiert, dass der Handel mit den meisten (oder allen) gelisteten Assets (außer Bitcoin), sowie das Anbieten von Staking als Dienstleistung, nicht mit den Leitplanken konform ist, die die SEC für eine zukünftige, rechtlich stabile Regulatorik des Marktes hält. Doch die freiwillige Einhaltung dieser von der SEC 'lose' formulierten Richtlinien hätte für Coinbase das Wegbrechen von 99% ihres Geschäftsmodells bedeutet. Coinbase listen über 250 handelbare Assets auf ihrer Seite, viele davon lassen sich 'staken', viele weitere Dienste, die Coinbase anbietet, sind von den darunterliegenden Plattformen abhängig. Es ist klar, dass Coinbase den Moment so lange vor sich herschieben wollten, wie eben nur möglich. Denn während Bitcoin als einziges auf Coinbase gehandeltes Asset deutliche YTD Performance an den Tag legt, sinkt die Zahl der auf der Plattform gehaltenen bitcoins zusehends (gut, endlich begriffen!).  Diese Woche dann der Beweis. In einem Artikel der [Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/content/1f873dd5-df8f-4cfc-bb21-ef83ed11fb4d) erklärt Brian Armstrong, CEO von Coinbase, dass die SEC klare Empfehlung ausgesprochen hat, schon bevor sie letzten Monat rechtliche Schritte gegen das Unternehmen einleitete. > “They came back to us, and they said . . . we believe every asset other than bitcoin is a security,” Armstrong said. “And, we said, well how are you coming to that conclusion, because that’s not our interpretation of the law. And they said, we’re not going to explain it to you, you need to delist every asset other than bitcoin.” Das ergibt absolut Sinn und stützt meine These, dass die SEC gar nicht vor hat 'gegen' Coinbase zu sein. Vielmehr sieht es aus, als würden sie klarstellen wollen, dass es im geltenden Rechtsrahmen durchaus Platz für gewisse Unternehmen gibt, solange diese sich an geltendes Recht halten und nicht wie Binance offensichtlich gängige Gesetze und Regeln umschiffen. Es scheint, als wolle die SEC den 'Markt' schützen, indem sie betrügerische Firmen wie Binance auf Täuschung, Irreführung und Marktmanipulation verklagt. Gleichzeitig handelt sie bei Firmen wie Coinbase wie ein strenger Vater, der eigentlich das Beste für sein Kind möchte, aber nach wiederholten Versuchen der Gesprächsfindung nur noch harte Strafen als geeignetes Mittel sieht. Aber warum ist der SEC daran gelegen, dass Coinbase rechtskonform und innerhalb der Leitplanken der SEC handelt? ### Neue ETF Anträge mit Hilfe von Coinbase [](https://substack.com/redirect/0a08f4c1-6a80-4ae1-90b4-1e3199e65ac1?j=eyJ1IjoiODVmMmUifQ.KSVqr9VEuglgUiJQS3NPaAq4rJnlrYsAHCFywdSyl7A) Laut eines Berichts des Wall Street Journal hat die SEC auf die hereinbrechende Flut von Anträgen für Bitcoin-Spot-ETFs mit Bedenken reagiert. Sie erklärte zunächst, dass es den Anträgen an Klarheit und umfassenden Informationen mangele und diese somit unzureichend seien. Die SEC hatte schon bei früheren (abgelehnten) Anträgen u.a. ihre Bedenken bezüglich der Überwachung der Handelsplattformen geäußert. Wie oben beschrieben, ist die mögliche Marktmanipulation durch unregulierte Börsen einer der Hauptgründe seitens der SEC gewesen, frühere Anträge abzulehnen. Allerdings war man davon ausgegangen, dass diese Bedenken der SEC durch eine Vereinbarung zur gemeinsamen Überwachung des Marktes durch eine regulierte Spot-Bitcoin-Handelsplattform in Zusammenarbeit mit einem der US-Handelplätze (Nasdaq, NYSE, CBOE, etc.) ausgeräumt werden könnten. https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-sec-accepts-six-spot-bitcoin-etf-proposals-review-2023-07-19 Dementsprechend teilte die SEC den Börsen (und Antragstellern) mit, dass in den eingereichten Unterlagen wichtige Details bezüglich der genauen Vereinbarung zur gemeinsamen Umsetzung der Überwachungsvorhaben fehlten. Diese Nachricht wurde von vielen Beobachtern als negativ eingestuft: "Die SEC versteht nicht, was hier erreicht werden soll. Die SEC stellt sich quer. Die SEC ist automatisch gegen Bitcoin." war die Essenz der meisten Reaktionen. Allerdings lese ich persönlich die Reaktion der SEC ähnlich, wie auch die Anklageerhebung gegen Coinbase. Die SEC spielt ganz klar nach den eigenen formulierten und klar kommunizierten Regeln und versucht den Mitspielern die Leitplanken aufzuzeigen. Der Tenor scheint klar: "Wir haben euch die Regeln erklärt, nach denen wir mit euch spielen (hört mit der Shitcoinerei auf!). Befolgt diese und wir kommen ins Gespräch." https://www.theblock.co/post/238944/cboe-reaches-surveillance-agreement-with-coinbase-for-spot-bitcoin-etfs Wonach die SEC scheinbar explizit zu fragen scheint, ist ein sogenanntes Information-Sharing Agreement (ISA), also eine Vereinbarung zum Informationsaustausch. Diese Vereinbarung zwingt eine Handelsplattform dazu, Handelsdaten bis hin zu persönlichen Informationen wie den Namen und den Adressen der Kunden weiterzugeben. Ein solches ISA scheint bislang in den Anträgen gefehlt zu haben, weshalb die SEC auf die Anträge reagierte und diese als unvollständig zurückwies. Mit der neuen Welle an korrigierten Anträgen scheinen die meisten Antragsteller diese Unvollständigkeit behoben zu haben. **Und wen listet JEDER der Antragsteller als Partner zum Informationsaustausch? Rate, rate? Richtig, Coinbase!** Die Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), eine Optionsbörse, die u.a. die Anträge zusammen mit den oben genannten WisdomTree, VanEck, Invesco und ARK stellte, erzielte kurzerhand mit Coinbase eine Einigung über die Bedingungen für den Abschluss eines ISA und reichte alle Anträge mit den neuen Bedingungen erneut ein. Wie wir also sehen, deutet alles darauf hin, dass die SEC einem Bitcoin-Spot-ETF eigentlich positiv geneigt ist, sollten die Konditionen, die sie stellt, erfüllt sein. Und in Garys perfekter Welt, sehen diese Konditionen vor, dass ein solcher ETF mit Hilfe von Coinbase als Informations-Austauschs-Partner funktioniert, und dass Coinbase ein artiges in den USA börsennotiertes Unternehmen wird, dass keine Shitcoinerei betreibt und sich auf den Spot-Handel mit Bitcoin konzentriert. Denn die derzeit anderen angebotenen Services wie Clearingstellen und Broker-Dealer-Aktivitäten stehen im direkten Gegensatz zu potenziellen Aktivitäten und Interessen von Kunden. Wir sehen also, dass ein "größerer Plan" hinter den Aktionen der SEC zu stehen scheint. Meiner Meinung nach gibt es verschiedene Theorien und Hinweise, die darauf schließen lassen, dass die SEC a) den Markt regulieren will, bevor sie ein BlackRock-Produkt genehmigt, b) ausländische (und damit nicht leicht regulierbare) Unternehmen aus dem Markt drängen will, um damit Unternehmen wie BlackRock den Handel zu vereinfachen und c) andere Interessengruppen an der Entscheidung der SEC beteiligt zu sein scheinen. Man könnte so weit gehen zu behaupten, dass anhängige Klagen und Untersuchungen ein Stück weit sogar den Kurs drücken und Bitcoin in der allgemeinen Wahrnehmung, als riskant dastehen lassen, was Unternehmen wie Blackrock dabei hilft die nötigen bitcoins zu einem relativ günstigen Preis zu akkumulieren, bevor eine Genehmigung und die implizite Anerkennung von Bitcoins Wert dazu führen, dass der Preis rasant steigt. Dies wäre ein Eingriff in den Wettbewerb und gibt BlackRock et al einen klaren Vorsprung gegenüber anderen Institutionen. Es gibt unterschiedliche Ansichten darüber, wie Coinbase und die SEC mit dieser Situation umgehen. Einige behaupten, dass Coinbase aktiv nach einer Lösung sucht, um sich mit der SEC auf einen rechtlichen Rahmen zu einigen, während andere sagen, dass die SEC unbeugsam ist. Es wird vermutet, dass die SEC Coinbase frühzeitig darüber informiert hat, welche Regeln und Leitplanken sie für den Markt etablieren möchten. https://x.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1679887574934999045 Es scheint, dass die SEC den Markt schützen möchte, indem sie gegen betrügerische Unternehmen wie Binance vorgeht, die gängige Gesetze und Regeln umgehen. Gleichzeitig versucht sie bei Unternehmen wie Coinbase, die sich nicht an die geltenden Vorschriften halten, harte Strafen als Mittel zur Durchsetzung der Regulierung einzusetzen. Das scheint nur logisch, wenn man bedenkt, dass BlackRock und die anderen Antragsteller wie WisdomTree, VanEck, Invesco und ARK sich mit Coinbase auf Bedingungen für den Abschluss eines Informations-Austausch-Abkommens (ISA) geeinigt und die Anträge mit den neuen Bedingungen erneut eingereicht haben.  Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die SEC grundsätzlich positiv gegenüber einem Bitcoin-Spot-ETF eingestellt ist, sofern bestimmte Bedingungen erfüllt sind. Diese Bedingungen könnten beinhalten, dass Coinbase als Informationspartner fungiert und dass Coinbase als in den USA börsennotiertes Unternehmen agiert, das sich auf den Spot-Handel mit Bitcoin konzentriert, während andere Dienstleistungen wie Clearingstellen und Broker-Dealer-Aktivitäten vermieden werden sollen. https://x.com/stackhodler/status/1691531818300809217 Es scheint, dass die SEC eine umfassendere Strategie verfolgt, die darauf abzielt, den Markt zu regulieren, ausländische Unternehmen zu verdrängen und den Handel für Unternehmen wie BlackRock zu erleichtern. *Mitte letzten Jahres habe ich in einem Artikel schon Grayscales andauernden Versuch, ihren Closed-End-Fund in einen Bitcoin-Spot-ETF zu verwandeln, beschrieben.* https://www.genexyz.org/post/1722193843734/ Die SEC hatte bereits im Dezember 2021 und im Februar 2022 die Entscheidung über den Antrag auf einen Bitcoin-ETF verschoben, um ihn "sorgfältig zu prüfen". Dann hat die SEC Mitte Juli 2023 bekanntgegeben, dass einem Antrag auf Umwandlung wieder nicht stattgegeben wird. Grayscale kündigten sofort an, die SEC wegen Willkür und Verstoß gegen das Wertpapierbörsengesetz von 1934 zu verklagen. Diese Klage wurde dann vor dem Bundesberufungsgericht verhandelt und entschieden.  Das Bundesberufungsgericht in D.C. entschied im Oktober, dass das Ablehnen von Anträgen auf eine Umwandlung in einen ETF seitens Grayscale ungerecht, nicht rechtens und willkürlich sei, da die Aufsichtsbehörde nicht erklären konnte, warum sie zuvor ähnliche Produkte zugelassen hat. Allerdings bedeutet dies nicht, dass Barry Silbert (CEO von DCG) automatisch den Grayscale Trust in einen ETF umwandeln kann. Der Antrag wandert damit nur zurück auf Garys (Vorsitzender der SEC) Schreibtisch. Und das bedeutet, dass die SEC wieder die Möglichkeit bekommt, einer Umwandlung aufgrund anderer Begründungen nicht stattzugeben. Dazu gleich mehr ⬇️. Außerdem ist fraglich, ob Barry tatsächlich wirklich eine Umwandlung herbeisehnt, denn momentan befinden sich Grayscale in einer sehr angenehmen Lage, die ihnen erlaubt 2% vom NAV (Net Asset Value) an Gebühren zu verlangen. Was bei einem Vermögen von 624.947 Bitcoin einen jährlichen Umsatz von 12.500 Bitcoin, bzw. 475 Million US Dollar bedeutet - für nichts tun. Es gibt schon [Kampagnen](https://www.redeemgbtc.com), die für eine Auflösung des Trusts kämpfen. Wer sich über die Umtriebigkeiten bei DCG / Genesis / Grayscale (Barry) ein besseres Bild machen möchte, sollte unbedingt den folgenden Thread lesen: https://x.com/real_vijay/status/1721385528510251182 ### Was seit dem geschah Seit dem letzten Artikel ist gleichzeitig viel und wenig geschehen. Verinnerlichen wir uns meine These - dass die SEC a) den Markt regulieren will, bevor sie ein BlackRock-Produkt genehmigt, b) ausländische (und damit nicht leicht regulierbare) Unternehmen aus dem Markt drängen will, um damit Unternehmen wie BlackRock den Handel zu vereinfachen und c) andere Interessengruppen an der Entscheidung der SEC beteiligt zu sein scheinen - dann ist genau das passiert, was man erwartet hätte. Die SEC hat ihre Entscheidung zur Genehmigung der ETF-Anträge wiederholte Male verschoben, momentan sieht es so aus, als würde eine Entscheidung im Januar 2024 fällig. https://bmpro.substack.com/p/sec-delays-etf-again-despite-warning Die SEC fällt weiter unliebsame Bäume. Bittrex, eine in den USA ansässige Börse, haben angekündigt, ihre Pforten zu schließen. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/crypto-exchange-bittrex-global-shuts-054643624.html Kraken wurde von der SEC verklagt - ähnliches Modell wie auch zuvor bei Binance und Coinbase angewandt (sprich: alles okay und tutti, solange ihr die Shitcoinerei an den Nagel hängt). https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/kraken-sec-lawsuit Dabei wurden in der Klageschrift die bereits identifizierten Digitalen Assets, die die SEC als unregistrierte Wertpapiere betrachtet, 1 zu 1 wieder aufgeführt.  Doch die größte Überraschung war die diese Woche veröffentlichte Meldung, dass Binance sich in einem Vergleich mit dem US Department of Justice (DOJ) auf eine Zahlung von über 4 Milliarden US Dollar und den Rücktritt CZs (Changpeng Zhao) als CEO von Binance geeinigt habe. https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/cz-steps-down-as-ceo-of-binance-as-part-of-4-billion-settlement-with-doj Es ist recht eindeutig, dass es dem Justizministerium (DOJ) hier nicht um den Schutz der Verbraucher geht. Es muss allerdings der Anschein gewahrt werden, dass nicht in Eigeninteresse (dem von BlackRock, hust) gehandelt wird, sondern dass der Eindruck erweckt wird, dass sie tatsächlich etwas Gutes tun, indem sie sich um einen "bad actor" kümmern" - das wird sehr deutlich, wenn man betrachtet, dass sich das Narrativ im Vergleich hauptsächlich auf AML (Anti-Money-Laundering) und Terrorismusfinanzierung konzentriert. Wie schon aus meiner These ersichtlich, geht auch aus bisherigen Kommentaren der SEC klar hervor, dass die größte Sorge derzeit ausländische Börsen sind, die den Bitcoin-Preis manipulieren können. Binance ist die größte Börse der Welt und hat bis heute erfolgreich außerhalb des Einflussbereichs der US-Regierung operiert. Mit dieser Vereinbarung ist das Problem der Offshore-Kursmanipulation zunächst und zum größten Teil gelöst. Das BlackRock-SEC-Reptilienmenschen-Playbook ist im vollen Gange. Ausländische Konkurrenz weitestgehend unter Kontrolle ✅  Die SEC scheint außerdem im engen Kontakt mit den ETF-Antragstellern zu stehen. Insbesondere ein Verweis auf eine Änderung der Anträge in Bezug auf "cash" vs. "in-kind creation" hat diese Woche für Diskussionen gesorgt. https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1725559994995573086 Viele börsengehandelte Fonds verlangen von den zugelassenen Teilnehmern, dass sie Anteile in Form von Sachleistungen (in-kind) schaffen , d. h. dass sie ETF-Anteile gegen einen Wertpapierkorb und nicht gegen Bargeld (cash) eintauschen. Die SEC hat jedoch auf eine Formulierung in den Anträgen gedrängt, die genau dise cash-creations zulassen.  Während sich viele auf die minutiöse Gestalt der Inhalte stürzen und eine Genehmigung hineininterpretieren, zieht die SEC hier meiner Meinung nach eine Linie, um eine Unterscheidung zwischen Grayscales GBTC und BlackRock et al. zu schaffen.  Wenn man an ein Playbook glaubt, ist der Grayscale Trust den Teilnehmern ein offensichtlicher Dorn im Auge, weshalb eine Umwandlung zunächst verhindert werden will. Jetzt muss nur noch Coinbase mitspielen. Aber wenn Binance einen Vergleich erzielen kann, warum nicht auch $COIN? Vielleicht einigt sich die SEC mit Coinbase im Gegenzug für "saftige Geldstrafen" und die Entfernung aller Shitcoins von der Plattform. Im Gegenzug erhält Coinbase den Börsenstatus und wird für die Überwachungsvereinbarung mit BlackRock und den anderen Antragstellern freigeschaltet. Auf einen Schlag würde die SEC die Shitcoins von der einzigen börsennotierten US-Börse entfernen und ein legales (nach ihren Vorstellungen und selbst artikulierten Prinzipien) Fundament für BlackRocks ETF schaffen. Außerdem würde es mich nicht wundern, wenn Coinbase als weißer Ritter auftritt und ganz barmherzig das US-Business von Binance übernimmt. Natürlich nur, um einem Mitstreiter in schwierigen Zeiten beizustehen. Ich packe es auf jeden Fall auf meine Bingo-Karte für den Zeitraum zwischen jetzt und einer Genehmigung der ETF-Anträge.  Durch die Einigung mit CZ und die Geldstrafe von 4,3 Milliarden US Dollar erleichtert die US-Regierung den Transfer von Bitcoin aus schwachen in starke Hände (Binance ➡️ Coinbase). Binance werden Bitcoin verkaufen müssen, um die Geldstrafe zu bezahlen, während gleichzeitig die Spot-ETFs das Angebot mit amerikanischem Kapital auffüllen können. Schöne Ausführung. Tolles Playbook 👏 Ich bin mir bewusst, dass die oben genannten Ereignisse und Auslegungen der Geschehnisse sehr verschwurbelt daherkommen, jedoch möchte ich meinen virtuellen Alu-Hut vor dem Architekten dieses wirklichen langen Long-Games ziehen.  In der Zwischenzeit arbeiten gewissenhafte Journalisten namhafter Veröffentlichungen (BlackRock PR-Department, hust) daran, die öffentliche Wahrnehmung von Bitcoin zum Positiven zu wenden. Wurde in den letzten Jahren Bitcoin als riskante Anlage, Klimakiller, Ozean-Kocher, oder schlimmer bezeichnet, wird es jetzt als ein möglicher Bestandteil einer nachhaltigen und zukunftsorientierten Anlagestrategie dargestellt. https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/07/08/bitcoin-network-to-reduce-more-emissions-than-its-energy-sources-produce/ Wir (du schlaue/r Leser//in und ich) wissen schon lange, dass die Bitcoin-Branche heute die weltweit am nachhaltigsten betriebene Branche ist und das Bitcoin-Mining als einzige Industrie in dem Bereich kohlenstoffnegativ werden kann. Es ist also offensichtlich, dass Bitcoin ein wichtiger Bestandteil einer nachhaltigen und zukunftsorientierten Anlagestrategie sein kann, aber genau dieses Narrativ wurde jahrelang absichtlich verdrängt (➡️ siehe XRP-gesponsorte [Greenpeace Aktion](https://dailycoin.com/greenpeace-anti-crypto-artist-admits-wrong-on-bitcoin-mining/) anfang des Jahres).   Wir sehen also, dass es nicht nur um eine einfache Genehmigung der Anträge geht, sondern viele Mosaikteilchen gelegt werden, bevor es dazu kommen kann. Viele Zeichen deuten darauf hin, dass viele verschiedene Parteien daran arbeiten, ein Umfeld zu schaffen, dass es bestimmten Gruppen ermöglicht, einen ETF möglichst risikofrei und konkurrenzlos zu platzieren. Dabei werden unliebsame Mitspieler vom Platz gewiesen und anderen Mitspielern werden die Spielregeln nochmal ganz bewusst in Erinnerung gerufen, während gleichzeitig ein Narrativ geschaffen wird, das einen Bitcoin-ETF in glänzendem Licht darstellt. ----------- Es ist nahezu gewiss, dass es nicht die Frage ist, ob einem Antrag zugestimmt wird, sondern vielmehr, wann dies geschehen wird. Es besteht eine hohe Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass allen Anträgen zeitgleich stattgegeben wird. Dennoch lässt sich erkennen, dass die SEC strategisch Zeit gewinnt, um Binance und andere unerwünschte Akteure vollständig aus dem Spiel zu nehmen und Coinbase in der Zwischenzeit zu dem vorbildlichen Mustersohn zu formen, den sie immer haben wollte. Da der Markt für Spot-ETFs als "Winner-takes-all" gilt, wird darauf geachtet, dass nicht irgendein Antragsteller das Rennen gewinnt, sondern ein bestimmter - Larry. Hierfür ist es notwendig, Barry vom Spielfeld zu verdrängen, da er einen erheblichen Vorsprung hat, woran Gary offensichtlich arbeitet. Falls sich meine Vermutungen bewahrheiten, werden wir in naher Zukunft einen Bitcoin-Spot-ETF sehen, der von BlackRock dominiert wird. Grayscale und Binance werden keine Rolle im Spiel spielen, während Coinbase als reguliertes, vorbildliches US-Unternehmen davon profitieren wird. 🫳🎤 --- In diesem Sinne, 2... 1... Risiko!‌ 

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the contemporary world, where the balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability is increasingly crucial, Marathon Digital Holdings has emerged as a trailblazer in the Bitcoin mining industry. Their latest venture, utilizing methane gas from landfill waste to power Bitcoin mining operations, is not just a technological leap but also a significant stride towards eco-friendly practices in a sector often scrutinized for its environmental impact. This initiative represents a fusion of environmental stewardship with the burgeoning field of cryptocurrency, potentially setting a new standard for energy use in digital currency mining. It's a bold move that could reshape perceptions of the industry, demonstrating that environmental consciousness and technological progress can coexist harmoniously. **Table Of Content** - The Genesis of the Project - The Process and Technology - The Broader Impact - Conclusion - FAQs **The Genesis of the Project** **A Partnership for Sustainability** Marathon Digital's collaboration with Nodal Power marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of sustainable cryptocurrency mining. The 280 kilowatt (kW) pilot project in Utah is more than just a test of feasibility; it's a beacon of innovation in an industry traditionally powered by conventional, often non-renewable, energy sources. This partnership reflects a growing awareness within the crypto mining community about the importance of sustainable practices. It's a forward-thinking approach, blending the expertise of a leading Bitcoin mining company with the innovative energy solutions of a renewable energy firm, setting a precedent for future collaborations in the industry. **Addressing Environmental Concerns** The project's focus on methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas, underscores a proactive approach to environmental stewardship. By targeting methane emissions from landfills, Marathon is addressing a critical environmental issue. Methane is not only a significant contributor to global warming but also represents a wasted resource when emitted into the atmosphere. This initiative is a response to increasing global concerns about climate change and environmental degradation. It's a strategy that aligns with international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrates Marathon's commitment to playing a role in the global fight against climate change. **The Process and Technology** **Innovative Conversion of Methane to Electricity** The technology behind converting methane to electricity is a cornerstone of this project. The process involves sophisticated systems that capture methane emissions efficiently and convert them into a usable form of energy. This technology is not just a testament to human ingenuity but also a crucial step towards making renewable energy more accessible and practical for industrial applications like Bitcoin mining. The success of this technology could have far-reaching implications, potentially revolutionizing how we think about waste management and energy production. **A Step Towards Green Bitcoin Mining** Marathon's initiative is a significant leap in the journey towards green Bitcoin mining. It's a project that challenges the status quo, proving that renewable energy can be a viable alternative to traditional power sources in the energy-intensive process of mining cryptocurrencies. This approach could inspire a wave of innovation in the sector, encouraging other companies to explore renewable energy options. The project is not just about reducing the environmental footprint of Bitcoin mining; it's about reimagining the future of energy use in the digital age. **The Broader Impact** **Potential for Industry-Wide Change** The implications of Marathon's project extend far beyond its immediate environmental benefits. It has the potential to catalyze a paradigm shift in the cryptocurrency mining industry. If successful, this project could serve as a model for other companies, demonstrating the practicality and benefits of sustainable mining practices. It could inspire a wave of innovation, leading to more widespread adoption of renewable energy sources in the industry, and potentially, a redefinition of what it means to be a responsible player in the digital currency space. **Environmental and Economic Benefits** The project is not just an environmental initiative; it's also an economically strategic move. By tapping into methane from landfills, Marathon could significantly reduce its operational costs. This approach provides a dual benefit: it mitigates the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining and offers a potentially more cost-effective energy solution. This economic incentive could be a key driver in encouraging wider adoption of similar practices across the industry, leading to a more sustainable and economically viable future for cryptocurrency mining. **Conclusion** Marathon Digital's pilot project in Utah is more than just an experiment in sustainable Bitcoin mining; it's a visionary step towards a new era in the industry. By harnessing methane gas from landfills to power their operations, Marathon is not only setting a new benchmark for environmental responsibility but also showcasing the untapped potential of renewable energy in reducing the carbon footprint of cryptocurrency mining. This bold experiment is a beacon of hope and innovation, suggesting a future where technological advancement and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive but are instead intertwined elements of a more responsible and forward-thinking industry. **FAQs** **What is Marathon Digital's new project about?** Marathon Digital has launched a pilot project in Utah, using methane gas from landfill waste to power Bitcoin mining operations. **Why is using methane for Bitcoin mining significant?** Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and using it for mining reduces environmental impact and utilizes a renewable energy source. **Who is Marathon Digital partnering with for this project?** Marathon Digital has partnered with Nodal Power, a firm specializing in renewable energy assets. **What are the potential benefits of this project?** The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, and set a precedent for sustainable practices in cryptocurrency mining. **How does this project impact the Bitcoin mining industry?** Marathon's initiative could inspire other companies to adopt renewable energy sources, potentially leading to a more sustainable and economically viable mining industry. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ ddf03aca:5cb3bbbe

We’re thrilled to announce the stable release of Cashu-TS v2.2! Although this update is a minor version bump, it brings significant improvements under the hood that enhance the overall developer experience. We’ve spent several weeks testing and refining these changes. --- ## What’s New in v2.2? While there are no breaking changes in this release, there are many internal changes. If you spot any regressions or unexpected behavior, please [let us know](https://github.com/cashubtc/cashu-ts/issues). Here’s a rundown of the major updates: - **Enhanced Proof Creation**: The way proofs are created internally has been revamped. - **User-Controlled Outputs**: You now have full control over how outputs are created. - **Improved Bundling**: We’ve switched our bundling tool to [vite](https://vitejs.dev) for faster and more modern builds. - **Updated Testing Tools**: Our testing framework has migrated to [vitest](https://vitest.dev) and [msw](https://mswjs.io), with added browser testing via Playwright. --- ## New Flexibility with OutputData In previous versions of Cashu-TS, the creation of outputs (or *BlindedMessages*) was hidden away. Even though there were options to tweak the process (like deterministic secrets or P2PK), you were always limited to the built-in logic. ### What’s Changed? In v2.2, we’ve introduced a public interface that not only streamlines output creation but also lets you plug in your own custom logic when needed. With the new `outputData` option available on all output-creating methods, you can now bypass the automatic process and provide your own outputs. For example, you can create two proofs tied to different public keys in a single mint operation: ```ts const data1 = OutputData.createP2PKData({ pubkey: "key1" }, 10, keys); const data2 = OutputData.createP2PKData({ pubkey: "key2" }, 10, keys); const { keep, send } = await wallet.send(20, proofs, { outputData: { send: [...data1, ...data2] }, }); ``` ### Customization Made Easy The `outputData` option now accepts anything that conforms to the `OutputDataLike` interface. This means you can introduce your own output creation logic—even if it’s not natively supported by Cashu-TS yet. Here’s what the interface looks like: ```ts export interface OutputDataLike { blindedMessage: SerializedBlindedMessage; blindingFactor: bigint; secret: Uint8Array; toProof: (signature: SerializedBlindedSignature, keyset: MintKeys) => Proof; } ``` ### Introducing OutputData Factories While having full control is empowering, it also means you’ll need to handle tasks like fee calculation and amount selection manually. To strike a balance between control and convenience, we now support **OutputData Factories**. A factory is simply a function that takes an amount and `MintKeys` as input and returns an `OutputDataLike` object. This way, you can define a blueprint for your output data without worrying about the nitty-gritty details. For instance, you can create separate factories for amounts you keep versus those you send: ```ts function keepFactory(a: number, k: MintKeys) { return OutputData.createSingleP2PKData({ pubkey: "keepPk" }, a, k.id); } function sendFactory(a: number, k: MintKeys) { return OutputData.createSingleP2PKData({ pubkey: "sendPk" }, a, k.id); } const { send, keep } = await wallet.send(amount, proofs, { outputData: { send: createFactory("send"), keep: createFactory("keep") }, }); ``` Plus, you can now instantiate a `CashuWallet` with a default `keepFactory`, ensuring that all change amounts automatically lock to your key—streamlining your workflow even further. --- ## Bundling Improvements with Vite Starting with v2.2, we’ve transitioned from using `tsc` to [vite](https://vitejs.dev) for transpiling and bundling the library code. Although this change is mostly behind the scenes, it brings several benefits: - **Modern Build Target**: We’ve updated our build target to ES6. - **Updated Exports**: The package exports now reflect the latest JavaScript standards. - **Standalone Build Soon**: We’re working on a standalone build that bundles Cashu-TS along with all its dependencies. This will let you import Cashu-TS directly into your HTML. If you encounter any issues with the new bundling setup, please [let us know](https://github.com/cashubtc/cashu-ts/issues). ### A Nod to Vitest In addition to our bundling improvements, we’ve migrated our testing framework from Jest (with nock) to [vitest](https://vitest.dev) combined with [msw](https://mswjs.io). This switch gives us more flexibility in testing and mocking, plus we’ve added browser testing based on Playwright—thanks to the tip from nostr:npub16anjdksmvn5x08vtden04n64rw5k7fsjmedpw8avsx8wsh8ruhlq076pfx! --- ## In Conclusion Although Cashu-TS v2.2 is a minor version update, it comes packed with improvements that enhance both the developer experience and the flexibility of the library. We’re excited to see how you’ll use these new features in your projects! Thanks to all the amazing contributors that add to this library. Thank you for being a part of the Cashu-TS community. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or issues, don’t hesitate to [reach out to us](https://github.com/cashubtc/cashu-ts/issues).

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

#### **Next new resources about the MiniBolt guide have been released**: --- * 🆕 **Roadmap**: [LINK](https://github.com/orgs/minibolt-guide/projects/1) * 🆕 **Dynamic Network map**: [LINK](https://app.diagrams.net/?tags={}&lightbox=1&target=blank&highlight=0000ff&edit=_blank&layers=1&nav=1&title=networkmap.drawio.png#Uhttps://raw.githubusercontent.com/minibolt-guide/minibolt/main/resources/networkmap.drawio.png) * 🆕 **Nostr community**: [LINK](https://habla.news/c/[n]addr1qqyy66twd9px7mr5qyf8wumn8ghj7mmxve3ksctfdch8qatzqgstzl7vmurm5gu87qutx3pxwgxddrg39huj809zhmv03scfkus3z4grqsqqpphk2j0aff) < ~ REMOVE the "[]" symbols from the URL (naddr...) to access * 🆕 **Linktr FOSS** (UC) by [Gzuuus](nostr:npub1gzuushllat7pet0ccv9yuhygvc8ldeyhrgxuwg744dn5khnpk3gs3ea5ds): [LINK](https://linktr.minibolt.info) * 🆕 **Donate webpage**: 🚾 [Clearnet LINK](https://donate.minibolt.info) || 🧅 [Onion LINK](http://3iqm7nidexns5p6wmgc23ibgiscm6rge7hwyeziviwgav4fl7xui4mqd.onion/apps/Li3AtEGDsqNmNddv6rX69taidm3/pos) * 🆕 **Contact email**: [hello@minibolt.info](mailto:hello@minibolt.info) --- Enjoy it MiniBolter! 💙

@ cff1720e:15c7e2b2

Am 4. Oktober 1957 sendete Sputnik 1 erste Signale aus dem All. Die Welt war fasziniert, die Amerikaner geschockt, da die Russen sie in der Raumfahrt technologisch überholt hatten. Es folgte der Wettlauf im All mit Apollo-Programm und Mondlandung 1969. Am 27. Januar 2025 erlebte die USA einen weiteren Sputnik-Moment, diesmal durch die chinesische KI-App deepseek R1. Diese App schoss wenige Stunden nach ihrem Start auf Platz 1 der App-Stores, vorbei an dem bisherigen KI-Spitzenreiter ChatGPT. Die Aktie des KI-Chipherstellers Nvidia verlor 17% (600 Mrd. USD Börsenwert), das war der bisher höchste Tagesverlust des US-Aktienmarktes. Marc Andreessen verwendete gar die Formulierung “Sputnik-Schock", diese einseitige Sichtweise erschwert aber eine Betrachtung aus verschiedenen Perspektiven.  Was lässt sich mit ein paar Tagen Abstand daraus schlussfolgern? Die Aktionäre haben überreagiert und die Falschen bestraft. Die Nervosität der Anleger ist aber verständlich bei einem KGV von 46 bei Nvidia und 27 bei den “Magnificent Seven” (die großen US KI-Anbieter). Normale KGVs bewegen sich um 15, d.h. wir haben es mit einer ausgeprägten KI-Blase zu tun, die in Kürze platzen dürfte. Eine weitere Blase die schon vor dem Start geplatzt ist, ist das Projekt “Stargate” der Firmen OpenAI, Oracle und Softbank. In den nächsten 4 Jahren wollen sie  500 Mrd. USD für über 10 neue KI-Rechenzentren investieren, um Amerikas vermeintliche KI-Vorherrschaft gegenüber China weiter auszubauen. Die schon vorher vorhandenen Zweifel an dem Projekt (Elon Musk auf X “sie haben das Geld gar nicht”) wurden nun durch den Erfolg von deepseek verstärkt.  deepseek hat nämlich offenbart, dass die bisherige US KI-Strategie, "wir schlagen die Chinesen mit unserer DataCenter-Power", ein fataler Irrweg ist. Den Analysten von Bernstein zufolge ist das Modell von deepseek geschätzt 20 bis 40 mal billiger zu betreiben als ähnliche Modelle von OpenAI. Die Chinesen haben ihre Innovation durch Kreativität erzielt, im Gegensatz zur Gigantomanie der US-Konzerne, die sich in einem Überbietungs-Wettbewerb der Ressourcen-Verschwendung befinden. Hunderte Milliarden an Investorengeldern und ca. 9% des nationalen Stromverbrauchs führen zwar zur Bereicherung einiger Konzerne und ihrer Besitzer, nicht aber zu adäquaten Ergebnissen. Das selbe Muster konnte man bereits bei der Rüstungsbranche beobachten, die mit dem etwa 10-fachen Budget (1 Billion USD) nicht im Stande war bessere Waffensysteme zu produzieren als Russland (Oreshnik-Schock 2024).  Wenn Donald Trump wirklich Amerika stärken möchte, dann sollte er umgehend seine technokratischen Berater entlassen und Sun Tzu lesen, ein Buch, das die Grundlagen asiatischer Strategie vermittelt und den Krieg vermeiden lehrt ("Der klügste Krieger ist der, der niemals kämpfen muss"). Die chinesischen Erfolge basieren auf exzellenter Bildung, Startup-Förderung und minimaler Regulierung, Konzepte die der Westen zwar stets gepredigt aber nie geliefert hat. “Make Amerika smart again” hieße daher Abschied von Kriegsrhetorik, Embargos, Oligarchen-Projekten und der bisherigen Großmacht-Hybris. Annektionspläne für Grönland und Kanada passen nicht in das Bild, Wiederherstellung von Meinungsfreiheit und Abbau von Regulierungen schon (Streichung von Bidens KI-Regulierung Executive Order 14110). Wohin steuert Trump die USA? Wird der deepseek-Moment dabei helfen falsche Strategieansätze zu korrigieren? Das ist noch unklar, während aber schon jetzt unzweifelhaft feststeht, dass die EU und Deutschland weder bei der KI noch in der Geostrategie eine Rolle spielen, dafür aber als unangefochtene Regulierungs-Weltmeister. Herzlichen Glückwunsch!  „Man kann zwar die Realität ignorieren, aber nicht die Folgen davon ignorieren.“ Ayn Rand Der wirkliche Gewinner dieser Woche ist aber die OpenSource-Szene mit ihren dezentralen Lösungsansätzen. Nicht nur deepseek R1 ist OpenSource sondern auch Marco o1 von Alibaba (<https://github.com/huggingface>). Die Nutzung ist kostenlos (ChatGPT kostet 200 USD pro Monat), daher können sowohl die Modellbildung, die Trainingsdaten als auch die Rechenleistung von unzähligen Aktivisten weltweit verteilt erbracht werden. Dafür braucht es weder Milliarden-Budgets, Regierungsprogramme oder neue DataCenter. Das Potential der Crowd übertrifft jeden zentralistischen Ansatz. Die Ergebnisse sind besser und die Kontrolle liegt nicht in den Händen einzelner. Smarte Lösung sind verteilt, das beweisen Projekte wie Bitcoin (seit 16 Jahren), Lightning und neuerdings auch Nostr. Deshalb haben wir Pareto (<https://pareto.space>) auf diesen Fundamenten entwickelt (Nostr, Lightning) und in 6 Monaten mit Freiwilligen mehr erreicht als viele große IT-Unternehmen in Jahren. Die Dinosaurier sterben aus, dem Schwarm gehört die Zukunft.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The cryptocurrency landscape is witnessing a remarkable resurgence, with Bitcoin once again leading the charge. After a period of volatility and uncertainty, Bitcoin has reclaimed its throne as the king of cryptocurrencies, drawing renewed interest from investors and financial experts alike. This article delves into the factors behind Bitcoin's comeback, its implications for the market, and what the future might hold. **Table Of Content** - The Remarkable Recovery of Bitcoin - The Ripple Effect on the Crypto Market - Investor Sentiment: Cautious Optimism - The Future Outlook: Opportunities and Challenges - A New Era for Bitcoin - Conclusion - FAQs **The Remarkable Recovery of Bitcoin** **A Surge in Value** After a tumultuous phase marked by sharp declines and skepticism, Bitcoin has made a striking comeback. The digital currency's value has seen a significant upswing, reminding investors of its potential as a high-reward, albeit high-risk, asset. This recovery is not just a numerical increase but a symbol of resilience in the face of market adversities. **Driving Factors** Several factors have contributed to Bitcoin's resurgence. These include an increase in institutional adoption, technological advancements within the blockchain ecosystem, and a growing recognition of Bitcoin as a 'digital gold' amidst economic uncertainties. Moreover, regulatory clarity in some regions has provided a more stable environment for cryptocurrency investments. **The Ripple Effect on the Crypto Market** **Boosting Market Confidence** Bitcoin's rebound has had a ripple effect across the entire cryptocurrency market. Altcoins and emerging digital assets have also seen a boost in both value and investor interest. This resurgence has rekindled the enthusiasm for decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which had waned during the market downturn. **Impact on Blockchain Innovation** The renewed interest in Bitcoin has spurred further innovation in blockchain technology. Developers and entrepreneurs are increasingly exploring new use cases for blockchain, expanding beyond traditional financial applications to areas like supply chain management, digital identity, and more. **Investor Sentiment: Cautious Optimism** **Institutional Investors' Role** Institutional investors, once wary of Bitcoin's volatility, are now more open to including it in their portfolios. This shift is partly due to the improved infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that make investing in Bitcoin less risky than in its early years. **Retail Investors' Perspective** Retail investors, who were significantly affected by the previous market downturn, are approaching Bitcoin with cautious optimism. Many are drawn by the potential for high returns but remain mindful of the risks involved. **The Future Outlook: Opportunities and Challenges** **Potential for Growth** With its current momentum, Bitcoin has the potential for further growth. Its evolving role in the financial ecosystem, particularly in areas like digital payments and remittances, suggests a bright future. **Navigating Challenges** However, challenges remain. Regulatory uncertainties, potential market manipulations, and the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining are issues that need addressing. How these challenges are managed will significantly influence Bitcoin's trajectory. **A New Era for Bitcoin** **A Testament to Resilience** Bitcoin's comeback is a testament to its resilience and the enduring faith of its supporters. It has not only reclaimed its position as the leading cryptocurrency but has also reinforced the belief in the potential of digital currencies. **A Dynamic Future Ahead** As investors, both institutional and retail, continue to take notice, Bitcoin's journey is far from over. Its ability to adapt, innovate, and overcome challenges will shape not just its future but also that of the broader cryptocurrency market. The current phase is just the beginning of what promises to be a dynamic and transformative era for Bitcoin and digital currencies as a whole. **Conclusion** Bitcoin's resurgence marks a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency world. Its ability to bounce back from adversity and regain its status as the leading digital currency has not only bolstered investor confidence but also highlighted the growing maturity of the crypto market. As Bitcoin continues to evolve, navigating through regulatory landscapes and technological advancements, it stands as a symbol of innovation and resilience in the ever-changing world of finance. **FAQs** **Why has Bitcoin's value surged recently?** Bitcoin's value has surged due to factors like increased institutional adoption, advancements in blockchain technology, and its growing recognition as a digital store of value amidst economic uncertainties. **How has Bitcoin's recovery affected the overall crypto market?** Bitcoin's recovery has positively impacted the entire crypto market, boosting the value of altcoins and reigniting interest in decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). **Are institutional investors now more interested in Bitcoin?** Yes, institutional investors are showing increased interest in Bitcoin, thanks to improved investment infrastructure and clearer regulatory frameworks. **What are the main challenges facing Bitcoin in the future?** The main challenges include regulatory uncertainties, potential market manipulations, and the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. **Is it safe for retail investors to invest in Bitcoin now?** While Bitcoin offers potential high returns, it remains a high-risk investment. Retail investors should approach with caution and consider diversifying their investment portfolio. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

 Federal employees must remove pronouns from email signatures by the end of the day. This directive comes from internal memos tied to two executive orders signed by Donald Trump. The orders target diversity and equity programs within the government.  CDC, Department of Transportation, and Department of Energy employees were affected. Staff were instructed to make changes in line with revised policy prohibiting certain language. One CDC employee shared frustration, stating, “In my decade-plus years at CDC, I've never been told what I can and can't put in my email signature.” The directive is part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI initiatives from federal discourse.

@ 0271e1b9:ad8cff90

**I study the greats.** For if and when I find myself beaten down into the gutters of life - the vile, bile and the mundane - I shall draw strength from other great men - past, present and future - who, quite often, faced many more adversities and a lot more suffering, but chose to use them to their advantage, to overcome their dire circumstances and rise above the afflictions that life had bestowed upon them. It’s all been done before. It can be done again, better. Learning from the past and from the present is very straightforward. Anyone can do that. But how does one learn from the future? It’s simple: you envision the best possible future for humanity, for generations to come, and for yourself. Then you figure out an approximate path on how to get there, and what kind of a man or a woman you must be to walk that path. The skills, the mindset, the qualities. And lastly, but perhaps most importantly, you find actionable measures, habits, convictions on how to become that person - and conversely, what are stopping you from becoming that person. > “You must value learning above everything else.” ― Robert Greene > “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” ― Viktor E. Frankl > “You need to look at all events as having value. If you can do that, then you’re in a zone of tremendous opportunity.” ― Phil Stutz > “I shall take the more pains to uncover the fountains of philosophy, from which all my eloquence has taken its rise.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero > “Error correction is the basis of all intelligence.” ― Jeff Booth > “Yes, you’re likely to fail, that’s fine. Because the goal of playing is not to win, but to keep learning. And the day you stop learning is the day you stop living." ― Jesse Enkamp > "A man is great not because he hasn't failed; a man is great because failure hasn't stopped him." — Confucius > “If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.” ― Michelangelo > “First of all we have to decide what we are to do and what manner of men we wish to be - the most difficult problem in the world.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero > “You either bleed soul into your work, or let the work bleed out your soul.” ― Pran Yoganthan > "The Stoic philosopher is the man who has liberated himself from fear. He’s not afraid of death, he’s not afraid of pain, he’s not afraid of other people’s dismissal as a fool. The only thing he cares about is that he should meet his moral obligations.” ― Michael Sugrue > "The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." ― Thucydides > “The brain is the most powerful weapon in the world.” ― David Goggins > “Man, the bravest of animals, and the one most accustomed to suffering, does not repudiate suffering as such; he desires it, he even seeks it out, provided he is shown a meaning for it, a purpose of suffering. The meaninglessness of suffering, not suffering itself, was the curse that lay over mankind so far.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche > "Consciousness is awareness with a choice." ― Thomas Campbell > “The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.” ― Epictetus > “It’s most real, it’s most good and it’s most salvific - it saves you, it transforms you. That’s the sacred.” — John Vervaeke > “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” ― Epictetus > “Evolution is a process of iteration. There’s no master plan. It’s in each moment of what happens.” ― Michael Behrens > “Don’t follow anybody and don’t accept anyone as a teacher, except when you become your own teacher and disciple.” ― Jiddu Krishnamurti > “This is your life. You’re accountable. What are you gonna do about that?” ― James Hollis By the way, if you enjoyed these quotes, feel free to follow a little side project of mine: [Stoic Resurrection](https://linktr.ee/stoic_resurrection) *Peace & Love,* *[Kontext](https://linktr.ee/mckontext)* *Block height 881,748*

@ 0f4795bf:a8365abe

## Der neue Pareto-Client Unter der Adresse <https://pareto.space/read> lässt sich der neue Pareto-Client aufrufen.  Durch Klicken auf **Anmelden** (rechts oben) kann mit einem vorhandenen Nostr-Konto angemeldet werden oder ein neues Konto erstellt werden.  Sofern schon ein Nostr-Konto vorhanden ist, kann nach Klick auf **Log in** einfach z. B. mittels Browser Extension angemeldet werden.  Nach dem Anmelden wird das Profilbild rechts oben angezeigt und ggf. eine Kategorie mit den Artikeln der Autoren, denen man folgt.  Nach Umschalten vom Leser- in den Autoren-Modus (Schalter oben, rechts neben Logo) werden die bereits veröffentlichten Artikel angezeigt. Sollte der Schalter nicht angezeigt werden, bitte bei uns mit dem npub melden, damit wir ihn in die Liste der Pareto-Autoren aufnehmen können.  Eine zweite Kategorie zeigt die bestehenden Entwürfe.  Unter dem Punkt Bilder links lassen sich Bilder hochladen, die in Artikeln verwendet werden sollen. Sollte noch kein Medien-Server (Blossom oder NIP-96) konfiguriert sein, wird angeboten, den Standard-Server des Pareto-Projektes zu nutzen.  Nachdem der Server konfiguriert wird, werden alle hochgeladenen Bilder angezeigt. Weitere Bilder lassen sich über den Knopf **Bilder hochladen** hinzufügen.  Nach Auswahl des Punktes **Schreiben** wird der leere Pareto-Editor angezeigt.  Neben dem Titel sollte auch die Zusammenfassung aufgefüllt werden, da diese beim Teilen des Artikels (Telegram, Social Media, ...) neben dem Titel und dem Bild des Artikels angezeigt werden. Das Bild kann durch Klicken auf den grauen Rahmen rechts oben gewählt werden.  Nach Doppelklick auf das gewünschte Bild wird es rechts neben Titel und Zusammenfassung angezeigt. Neue Elemente können im Text durch Klicken auf das Plus-Symbol hinzugefügt werden.  Neben Überschriften lassen sich so auch Zitate, Aufzählungen, Programm-Code, Tabellen und Bilder einfügen.  Nachdem ein Bild-Element eingefügt wurde, kann es entweder mit einem Link auf ein Bild bestückt werden oder - durch Klicken auf "Select file" ein bereits hochgeladenes auswählen. Durch Klicken auf die kleine Sprechblase rechts oben in einem Bild lässt sich eine Bildunterschrift hinzufügen.  ### Markdown Neben dem Hinzufügen von Elementen über das Plus-Symbol kann natürlich auch direkt [Markdown-Auszeichnung](https://www.ionos.de/digitalguide/websites/web-entwicklung/markdown/) eingegeben werden. Es gibt im Netz diverse Anleitungen für Markdown. Allerdings gibt es im Kontext von Nostr die Einschränkung, dass keine HTML-Elemente in Artikeln enthalten sein dürfen. Durch Tippen eines Doppelkreuzes, gefolgt von einem Leerzeichen, lässt sich beispielsweise eine Überschrift einfügen    ### Besonderheiten Der Pareto-Client stellt Links unterschiedlich dar, je nachdem, ob sie innerhalb eines Absatzes oder allein erscheinen. *Links innerhalb eines Absatzes* werden ganz regulär dargestellt als Link, auf den der Leser klicken kann. *Alleinstehende Links* (also ohne Text davor oder dahinter) hingegen werden ggf. mit einer Vorschau versehen und nach einmaligem Klick wird der Inhalt eingebettet dargestellt. Für Links zu **YouTube**, **Odysee**, **Rumble**, **SoundCloud**, **[theplattform.net](https://tube.theplattform.net/)**, und andere können die Inhalte direkt im Artikel konsumiert werden. Auch alleinstehende Links zu Dateien mit den Endungen .mp4, .mov, .mkv, .avi, .m4v und .webm (Videos) sowie .mp3, .wav, ogg (Audio) und .pdf (PDF-Dokumente) werden eingebettet dargestellt. > **Tipp:** > > Beim Schreiben längerer Artikel empfiehlt es sich, diese zwischendurch immer wieder als Entwurf zu speichern, um Datenverlust zu vermeiden.  Oberhalb des Knopfes zum Speichern von Entwürfen wird immer der aktuelle Status des Artikels angezeigt. Schlüsselwörter werden einfach durch Komma getrennt. Es ist üblich, diese klein zu schreiben.  Nach dem Speichern wird der Knopf deaktiviert. Der Entwurf sollte anschließend unter dem Punkt **Artikel** unter **Entwürfe** eingeblendet werden.  Ein Klick auf **Bearbeiten** bringt den Entwurf wieder in den Editor. Nach Klicken von **Veröffentlichen** kann noch die Liste der Nostr-Relays ausgewählt werden, auf denen der Artikel veröffentlicht werden soll.  Nach dem Veröffentlichen sollte der Status das entspr. anzeigen.  Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Dein erster Artikel wurde über den Pareto-Client verfasst und veröffentlicht!

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Bitcoin, as the pioneering cryptocurrency, heralded a new era in digital finance. It offered an innovative payment system, free from the control of traditional financial institutions and governments. This decentralized nature was a significant draw for many early adopters. Bitcoin Cash emerged from a split in the Bitcoin blockchain, a result of deep-seated disagreements within the Bitcoin community over its scalability and transaction processing efficiency. This split was not just technical but also ideological, marking a significant moment in the history of cryptocurrencies. **Table Of Content** - The Genesis of Bitcoin Cash - Technological Divergence: Block Size and Scalability - Segregated Witness (SegWit) and Bitcoin - Market Impact and Adoption - Transaction Processing: Speed and Fees - The Forks and Future Directions - Usability and Real-World Applications - Supply Dynamics - Bitcoin Cash as a Medium of Exchange - Conclusion - FAQs **The Genesis of Bitcoin Cash** The creation of Bitcoin Cash in 2017 was a pivotal event in the cryptocurrency world. It was a direct response to the growing concerns over Bitcoin's ability to handle an increasing volume of transactions. The proponents of Bitcoin Cash argued that changes were necessary to fulfill the original vision of a fast, scalable, and low-cost digital payment system. This led to the hard fork, a move that created a new blockchain with different rules, fundamentally diverging from the original Bitcoin protocol. **Technological Divergence: Block Size and Scalability** The debate over block size is central to the divergence between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. Bitcoin's original 1 MB block size was seen as a significant bottleneck, leading to slower transaction times and higher fees during peak usage. In contrast, Bitcoin Cash's decision to increase the block size to 8 MB and later to 32 MB was a bold move aimed at addressing these issues. This increase was a fundamental shift, intended to allow more transactions per block and, consequently, faster processing and lower fees. **Segregated Witness (SegWit) and Bitcoin** The implementation of Segregated Witness (SegWit) in Bitcoin was a landmark technological upgrade. SegWit aimed to optimize the space within each block by segregating the digital signature information, which accounts for a significant portion of the data in a transaction. This was a sophisticated solution to the scalability issue, differing fundamentally from Bitcoin Cash's approach of simply increasing the block size. SegWit represented a philosophical as well as a technical divergence in the approach to scaling Bitcoin. **Market Impact and Adoption** The market dynamics of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash tell a story of divergent paths. Bitcoin, with its higher market capitalization, remains the more dominant and widely recognized cryptocurrency. Its position as the first and most established cryptocurrency has given it a significant advantage in terms of adoption and market presence. Bitcoin Cash, while substantial in its market cap, has not reached the same level of market penetration. This difference in market impact reflects the varying degrees of acceptance and trust among investors and users in the cryptocurrency community. **Transaction Processing: Speed and Fees** The practical implications of the differences between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash are most evident in transaction processing. Bitcoin Cash, with its larger block size, theoretically offers faster transaction times and lower fees, making it more suitable for frequent, small transactions. However, the actual efficiency gains of Bitcoin Cash are subject to debate, as the network has not been tested under the same transaction volume as Bitcoin. This difference in transaction processing capabilities is a critical factor in the user's choice between the two cryptocurrencies. **The Forks and Future Directions** The evolution of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash is marked by continuous development and occasional forks. The creation of Bitcoin SV from Bitcoin Cash is an example of ongoing disagreements within the community about the best path forward. These forks are not just technical events but also represent differing visions and philosophies within the cryptocurrency community. They reflect the dynamic and often contentious nature of the development of blockchain technology and its applications. **Usability and Real-World Applications** In terms of real-world usability, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash cater to slightly different needs. Bitcoin's widespread recognition and higher value make it more popular as a digital asset for investment. In contrast, Bitcoin Cash, with its focus on transaction efficiency, aims to be more practical for everyday transactions. However, the actual adoption of Bitcoin Cash for daily transactions has been slower than anticipated, partly due to the entrenched position of Bitcoin and the rapidly evolving landscape of digital payments. **Supply Dynamics** The supply mechanics of both Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash mirror the principles of scarcity and controlled supply inflation. This approach is akin to precious metals, where the limited supply is a key factor in value preservation. The halving events, where the reward for mining new blocks is halved approximately every four years, are critical moments in the life cycle of both cryptocurrencies. These events are closely watched by investors and users alike, as they have implications for the supply and, potentially, the value of these digital currencies. **Bitcoin Cash as a Medium of Exchange** Bitcoin Cash's design as a medium of exchange is one of its defining features. It aims to provide a digital equivalent of cash, facilitating quick and low-cost transactions. This focus on usability for everyday transactions is a key differentiator from Bitcoin, which has become more of a store of value or "digital gold." The success of Bitcoin Cash in this regard depends on broader adoption and recognition, which is an ongoing challenge in the competitive landscape of digital currencies. **Conclusion** The story of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash is a fascinating chapter in the evolution of digital currencies. Both emerged from the same origin but have since traveled distinct paths, shaped by differing philosophies, technological choices, and community dynamics. As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, the trajectories of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash will offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of blockchain technology and digital finance. **FAQs** **What is the main difference between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash?** The primary difference lies in their block size. Bitcoin has a block size of 1 MB, while Bitcoin Cash increased its block size initially to 8 MB and later to 32 MB, aiming for faster transaction processing and scalability. **Why was Bitcoin Cash created?** Bitcoin Cash was created in 2017 due to a split in the Bitcoin community. The split occurred over disagreements on how to scale the network, with Bitcoin Cash proponents advocating for larger block sizes to improve transaction speed and reduce fees. **Can Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash be used interchangeably?** No, they are separate cryptocurrencies with different blockchains. They cannot be used interchangeably. **Is Bitcoin Cash faster than Bitcoin?** Theoretically, yes. Due to its larger block size, Bitcoin Cash can process transactions faster than Bitcoin. However, the actual speed can vary based on network congestion and usage. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: @croxroadnews.co** **Instagram: @croxroadnews.co** **Youtube: @croxroadnews** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** ***DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.***

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

There was a slight dust up recently over a website someone runs removing a listing for an app someone built based on entirely arbitrary criteria. I'm not to going to attempt to speak for either wounded party, but I would like to share my own personal definition for what constitutes a "nostr app" in an effort to help clarify what might be an otherwise confusing and opaque purity test. In this post, I will be committing the "no true Scotsman" fallacy, in which I start with the most liberal definition I can come up with, and gradually refine it until all that is left is the purest, gleamingest, most imaginary and unattainable nostr app imaginable. As I write this, I wonder if anything built yet will actually qualify. In any case, here we go. # It uses nostr The lowest bar for what a "nostr app" might be is an app ("application" - i.e. software, not necessarily a native app of any kind) that has some nostr-specific code in it, but which doesn't take any advantage of what makes nostr distinctive as a protocol. Examples might include a scraper of some kind which fulfills its charter by fetching data from relays (regardless of whether it validates or retains signatures). Another might be a regular web 2.0 app which provides an option to "log in with nostr" by requesting and storing the user's public key. In either case, the fact that nostr is involved is entirely neutral. A scraper can scrape html, pdfs, jsonl, whatever data source - nostr relays are just another target. Likewise, a user's key in this scenario is treated merely as an opaque identifier, with no appreciation for the super powers it brings along. In most cases, this kind of app only exists as a marketing ploy, or less cynically, because it wants to get in on the hype of being a "nostr app", without the developer quite understanding what that means, or having the budget to execute properly on the claim. # It leverages nostr Some of you might be wondering, "isn't 'leverage' a synonym for 'use'?" And you would be right, but for one connotative difference. It's possible to "use" something improperly, but by definition leverage gives you a mechanical advantage that you wouldn't otherwise have. This is the second category of "nostr app". This kind of app gets some benefit out of the nostr protocol and network, but in an entirely selfish fashion. The intention of this kind of app is not to augment the nostr network, but to augment its own UX by borrowing some nifty thing from the protocol without really contributing anything back. Some examples might include: - Using nostr signers to encrypt or sign data, and then store that data on a proprietary server. - Using nostr relays as a kind of low-code backend, but using proprietary event payloads. - Using nostr event kinds to represent data (why), but not leveraging the trustlessness that buys you. An application in this category might even communicate to its users via nostr DMs - but this doesn't make it a "nostr app" any more than a website that emails you hot deals on herbal supplements is an "email app". These apps are purely parasitic on the nostr ecosystem. In the long-term, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Email's ubiquity is self-reinforcing. But in the short term, this kind of "nostr app" can actually do damage to nostr's reputation by over-promising and under-delivering. # It complements nostr Next up, we have apps that get some benefit out of nostr as above, but give back by providing a unique value proposition to nostr users as nostr users. This is a bit of a fine distinction, but for me this category is for apps which focus on solving problems that nostr isn't good at solving, leaving the nostr integration in a secondary or supporting role. One example of this kind of app was Mutiny (RIP), which not only allowed users to sign in with nostr, but also pulled those users' social graphs so that users could send money to people they knew and trusted. Mutiny was doing a great job of leveraging nostr, as well as providing value to users with nostr identities - but it was still primarily a bitcoin wallet, not a "nostr app" in the purest sense. Other examples are things like Nostr Nests and Zap.stream, whose core value proposition is streaming video or audio content. Both make great use of nostr identities, data formats, and relays, but they're primarily streaming apps. A good litmus test for things like this is: if you got rid of nostr, would it be the same product (even if inferior in certain ways)? A similar category is infrastructure providers that benefit nostr by their existence (and may in fact be targeted explicitly at nostr users), but do things in a centralized, old-web way; for example: media hosts, DNS registrars, hosting providers, and CDNs. To be clear here, I'm not casting aspersions (I don't even know what those are, or where to buy them). All the apps mentioned above use nostr to great effect, and are a real benefit to nostr users. But they are not True Scotsmen. # It embodies nostr Ok, here we go. This is the crème de la crème, the top du top, the meilleur du meilleur, the bee's knees. The purest, holiest, most chaste category of nostr app out there. The apps which are, indeed, nostr indigitate. This category of nostr app (see, no quotes this time) can be defined by the converse of the previous category. If nostr was removed from this type of application, would it be impossible to create the same product? To tease this apart a bit, apps that leverage the technical aspects of nostr are dependent on nostr the *protocol*, while apps that benefit nostr exclusively via network effect are integrated into nostr the *network*. An app that does both things is working in symbiosis with nostr as a whole. An app that embraces both nostr's protocol and its network becomes an organic extension of every other nostr app out there, multiplying both its competitive moat and its contribution to the ecosystem: - In contrast to apps that only borrow from nostr on the technical level but continue to operate in their own silos, an application integrated into the nostr network comes pre-packaged with existing users, and is able to provide more value to those users because of other nostr products. On nostr, it's a good thing to advertise your competitors. - In contrast to apps that only market themselves to nostr users without building out a deep integration on the protocol level, a deeply integrated app becomes an asset to every other nostr app by becoming an organic extension of them through interoperability. This results in increased traffic to the app as other developers and users refer people to it instead of solving their problem on their own. This is the "micro-apps" utopia we've all been waiting for. Credible exit doesn't matter if there aren't alternative services. Interoperability is pointless if other applications don't offer something your app doesn't. Marketing to nostr users doesn't matter if you don't augment their agency _as nostr users_. If I had to choose a single NIP that represents the mindset behind this kind of app, it would be NIP 89 A.K.A. "Recommended Application Handlers", which states: > Nostr's discoverability and transparent event interaction is one of its most interesting/novel mechanics. This NIP provides a simple way for clients to discover applications that handle events of a specific kind to ensure smooth cross-client and cross-kind interactions. These handlers are the glue that holds nostr apps together. A single event, signed by the developer of an application (or by the application's own account) tells anyone who wants to know 1. what event kinds the app supports, 2. how to link to the app (if it's a client), and (if the pubkey also publishes a kind 10002), 3. which relays the app prefers. _As a sidenote, NIP 89 is currently focused more on clients, leaving DVMs, relays, signers, etc somewhat out in the cold. Updating 89 to include tailored listings for each kind of supporting app would be a huge improvement to the protocol. This, plus a good front end for navigating these listings (sorry nostrapp.link, close but no cigar) would obviate the evil centralized websites that curate apps based on arbitrary criteria._ Examples of this kind of app obviously include many kind 1 clients, as well as clients that attempt to bring the benefits of the nostr protocol and network to new use cases - whether long form content, video, image posts, music, emojis, recipes, project management, or any other "content type". To drill down into one example, let's think for a moment about forms. What's so great about a forms app that is built on nostr? Well, - There is a [spec](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1190) for forms and responses, which means that... - Multiple clients can implement the same data format, allowing for credible exit and user choice, even of... - Other products not focused on forms, which can still view, respond to, or embed forms, and which can send their users via NIP 89 to a client that does... - Cryptographically sign forms and responses, which means they are self-authenticating and can be sent to... - Multiple relays, which reduces the amount of trust necessary to be confident results haven't been deliberately "lost". Show me a forms product that does all of those things, and isn't built on nostr. You can't, because it doesn't exist. Meanwhile, there are plenty of image hosts with APIs, streaming services, and bitcoin wallets which have basically the same levels of censorship resistance, interoperability, and network effect as if they weren't built on nostr. # It supports nostr Notice I haven't said anything about whether relays, signers, blossom servers, software libraries, DVMs, and the accumulated addenda of the nostr ecosystem are nostr apps. Well, they are (usually). This is the category of nostr app that gets none of the credit for doing all of the work. There's no question that they qualify as beautiful nostrcorns, because their value propositions are entirely meaningless outside of the context of nostr. Who needs a signer if you don't have a cryptographic identity you need to protect? DVMs are literally impossible to use without relays. How are you going to find the blossom server that will serve a given hash if you don't know which servers the publishing user has selected to store their content? In addition to being entirely contextualized by nostr architecture, this type of nostr app is valuable because it does things "the nostr way". By that I mean that they don't simply try to replicate existing internet functionality into a nostr context; instead, they create entirely new ways of putting the basic building blocks of the internet back together. A great example of this is how Nostr Connect, Nostr Wallet Connect, and DVMs all use relays as brokers, which allows service providers to avoid having to accept incoming network connections. This opens up really interesting possibilities all on its own. So while I might hesitate to call many of these things "apps", they are certainly "nostr". # Appendix: it smells like a NINO So, let's say you've created an app, but when you show it to people they politely smile, nod, and call it a NINO (Nostr In Name Only). What's a hacker to do? Well, here's your handy-dandy guide on how to wash that NINO stench off and Become a Nostr. You app might be a NINO if: - There's no NIP for your data format (or you're abusing NIP 78, 32, etc by inventing a sub-protocol inside an existing event kind) - There's a NIP, but no one knows about it because it's in a text file on your hard drive (or buried in your project's repository) - Your NIP imposes an incompatible/centralized/legacy web paradigm onto nostr - Your NIP relies on trusted third (or first) parties - There's only one implementation of your NIP (yours) - Your core value proposition doesn't depend on relays, events, or nostr identities - One or more relay urls are hard-coded into the source code - Your app depends on a specific relay implementation to work (*ahem*, relay29) - You don't validate event signatures - You don't publish events to relays you don't control - You don't read events from relays you don't control - You use legacy web services to solve problems, rather than nostr-native solutions - You use nostr-native solutions, but you've hardcoded their pubkeys or URLs into your app - You don't use NIP 89 to discover clients and services - You haven't published a NIP 89 listing for your app - You don't leverage your users' web of trust for filtering out spam - You don't respect your users' mute lists - You try to "own" your users' data Now let me just re-iterate - it's ok to be a NINO. We need NINOs, because nostr can't (and shouldn't) tackle every problem. You just need to decide whether your app, as a NINO, is actually contributing to the nostr ecosystem, or whether you're just using buzzwords to whitewash a legacy web software product. If you're in the former camp, great! If you're in the latter, what are you waiting for? Only you can fix your NINO problem. And there are lots of ways to do this, depending on your own unique situation: - Drop nostr support if it's not doing anyone any good. If you want to build a normal company and make some money, that's perfectly fine. - Build out your nostr integration - start taking advantage of webs of trust, self-authenticating data, event handlers, etc. - Work around the problem. Think you need a special relay feature for your app to work? Guess again. Consider encryption, AUTH, DVMs, or better data formats. - Think your idea is a good one? Talk to other devs or open a PR to the [nips repo](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips). No one can adopt your NIP if they don't know about it. - Keep going. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish a research project from a NINO. New ideas have to be built out before they can be fully appreciated. - Listen to advice. Nostr developers are friendly and happy to help. If you're not sure why you're getting traction, ask! I sincerely hope this article is useful for all of you out there in NINO land. Maybe this made you feel better about not passing the totally optional nostr app purity test. Or maybe it gave you some actionable next steps towards making a great NINON (Nostr In Not Only Name) app. In either case, GM and PV.

@ e83b66a8:b0526c2b

I have a deep love of China. It probably started in 1981, when my Father visited China on the first trade mission from the UK to open up trading between the 2 nations. As a family, we have historically done a lot of business in Asia starting with our company Densitron, who’s Asian headquarters were in Tokyo, through to Taiwan where we had factories leading to investing in Vbest, now Evervision an LCD manufacturer. They have admin offices in Taiwan and a factory in Jiangsu, China. I have always hated the western narrative that China is the “enemy” or that China’s Communist / Capitalist system is “evil”. Without understanding history, geography, cultural biases, and indoctrination it is as difficult to remove those beliefs in the same way it is difficult to convert “normies” to understand the freedom and power of Bitcoin. I have tried and had some success, but mostly failed. However the recent ban on TikTok and the migration of the west to the Chinese owned “rednote” app has overnight created more cultural exchanges and understanding than the previous 40+ years has ever managed to achieve. That along with the recent disclosure about Chinas advancements in AI have also deflated some of the western hubris. If you wish to go down the rabbit hole of China from a cultural view, this YouTuber has given me a much better framework than I could ever provide as an outsider. She is a Chinese girl, who came to the UK to study at University only to return with a mixed understanding of both cultures. She is doing a far better job of explaining the culture from a western perspective than I ever could. https://www.youtube.com/@SimingLan Here are 4 videos of hers that help explain a lot: This is a lighthearted look at the recent TikTok ban TikTok ban completely backfired on US! and it's been hilarious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7123nG5otA More in-depth insights are: My complicated relationship with China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEaw0KAuNBU China's Biggest Problem with Free Speech Rhetoric https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7eSyKPbg_Y What the West Doesn't Get about China's Rise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmb1_HfflCA

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the world of finance and politics, few topics have garnered as much intrigue and debate as Bitcoin. This cryptocurrency, emerging from the fringes of the internet, quickly captured the imagination of investors, tech enthusiasts, and politicians alike. Its promise of decentralization and freedom from traditional banking systems made it a hot topic in political circles, particularly in Canada. However, as quickly as it rose to prominence, Bitcoin has seemingly receded from the political spotlight. **Table Of Content** - The Political Heyday of Bitcoin - The Turning Tide: Bitcoin's Decline in Political Relevance - The Regulatory Response and Industry Evolution - The Future of Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies in Politics - Conclusion - FAQs **The Political Heyday of Bitcoin** **The Surge of Interest** During its peak, Bitcoin was not just a financial asset but a symbol of technological progress and financial autonomy. Politicians, especially in Canada, were quick to recognize its potential. Figures like Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre championed Bitcoin, seeing it as a tool to empower individuals and a hedge against inflation. **Bitcoin in Policy and Legislation** Bitcoin's rise in value and popularity led to serious discussions about its role in the economy and its regulation. Debates in parliament and committees centered around how to integrate cryptocurrencies into the national financial system, protect investors, and harness the potential of blockchain technology. **The Turning Tide: Bitcoin's Decline in Political Relevance** **The Market's Volatility** The volatile nature of Bitcoin, marked by dramatic price fluctuations, began to cast doubts in the political arena. The peak value of over $80,000 was followed by a steep decline, shaking confidence in its stability as an asset. **Changing Political Narratives** As the market fluctuated, so did the enthusiasm among politicians. The once vocal advocates like Poilievre became less outspoken about their cryptocurrency holdings, reflecting a broader shift in the political narrative around Bitcoin. **The Regulatory Response and Industry Evolution** **Government and Regulatory Bodies** The initial excitement around Bitcoin led to legislative efforts and regulatory discussions. However, the lack of concrete actions and clear policies from the government left the regulatory landscape ambiguous. Independent bodies like the Canadian Securities Administrators stepped in to fill the void with guidelines and notices. **Industry Persistence Amidst Political Apathy** Despite the reduced political interest, the cryptocurrency industry continued to evolve. Developers and entrepreneurs in the space kept innovating, pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology and exploring new applications beyond financial transactions. **The Future of Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies in Politics** **Lessons Learned and the Path Forward** The rise and fall of Bitcoin in the political arena offer valuable lessons about the intersection of technology, finance, and politics. It highlights the need for a balanced approach to new technologies, combining enthusiasm with prudent regulation. **The Ongoing Debate and Potential Resurgence** While Bitcoin may have receded from the immediate political discourse, the debate around cryptocurrencies is far from over. As the technology matures and stabilizes, it may once again find its way into political conversations, potentially reshaping the financial landscape in ways yet to be imagined. **Conclusion** Bitcoin's journey through the political arena has been a tale of rapid rise, intense debate, and a quiet exit. However, this is not the end of the story for Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies. As the technology evolves and the world adapts, these digital assets may yet redefine the boundaries between technology, finance, and politics. The quiet exit of Bitcoin from the political stage today may just be the prologue to a more significant role in the future. **FAQs** **Why did Bitcoin become a topic in Canadian politics?** Bitcoin garnered political interest due to its potential as a decentralized financial system, promising autonomy from traditional banking and a hedge against inflation. **Who were some of the political advocates of Bitcoin in Canada?** Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was among the notable political advocates, promoting Bitcoin as a tool for financial empowerment. **What caused Bitcoin to lose its appeal in politics?** Bitcoin's appeal waned due to its market volatility, the steep decline in its value, and shifting political narratives. **How did the government respond to Bitcoin's rise?** The government's response involved discussions on regulation and integration into the financial system, but concrete actions were limited. **What is the future of Bitcoin in politics?** While currently less prominent, the ongoing evolution of cryptocurrency technology may lead to Bitcoin re-entering political discussions in the future. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Tech stocks have taken a hit globally after China's DeepSeek launched a competitive AI chatbot at a much lower cost than US counterparts. This has stirred market fears of a $1.2 trillion loss across tech companies when trading opens in New York. DeepSeek’s chatbot quickly topped download charts and surprised experts with its capabilities, developed for only $5.6 million. The Nasdaq dropped over 3% in premarket trading, with major firms like Nvidia falling more than 10%. SoftBank also saw losses shortly after investing in a significant US AI venture. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen called it “AI’s Sputnik moment,” highlighting its potential impact on the industry. ![] (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/business/2025/01/27/TELEMMGLPICT000409807198_17379939060750_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdGLvJF5WfpqnBZShRL_tOZw.jpeg)

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Salwan Momika, a Christian Iraqi known for burning the Koran in Sweden, was shot dead during a TikTok livestream in an apartment in Sodertalje. The 38-year-old sparked outrage in the Muslim community for his demonstrations, leading to global condemnation. After being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead. Authorities arrested five individuals in connection with the incident. Momika's death comes days before a court ruling on his possible incitement of ethnic hatred. The incident highlights the tensions surrounding free speech and religious sentiments, intensifying after his controversial protests in 2023. [Sauce](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14341423/Christian-Iraqi-burnt-Koran-Sweden-shot-dead.html)

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

**"Degeneration"** or **"Вырождение"** ![[photo_2025-01-29 23.23.15.jpeg]] A once-functional object, now eroded by time and human intervention, stripped of its original purpose. Layers of presence accumulate—marks, alterations, traces of intent—until the very essence is obscured. Restoration is paradoxical: to reclaim, one must erase. Yet erasure is an impossibility, for to remove these imprints is to deny the existence of those who shaped them. The work stands as a meditation on entropy, memory, and the irreversible dialogue between creation and decay.

@ 9f3eba58:fa185499

Humanity as a whole has been degrading over the years, with average IQ decreasing, bone structures generally becoming poorly formed and fragile, average height decreasing, hormone levels ridiculously low and having various metabolic and mental illnesses becoming “normal”. “*By 2024, more than 800 million adults were living with diabetes, representing a more than fourfold increase since 1990*” “\*\**1 in 3 people suffer from insulin resistance and can cause depression*” (\*\*https://olhardigital.com.br/2021/09/24/medicina-e-saude/1-em-cada-3-pessoas-sofre-de-resistencia-a-insulina-e-pode-causar-depressao/) “*More than 1.3 billion people will have diabetes in the world by 2050*” (https://veja.abril.com.br/saude/mais-de-13-bilhao-de-pessoas-terao-diabetes-no-mundo-ate-2050) “*A new study released by Lancet, with data from 2022, shows that more than a billion people live with obesity in the world*” (https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/1-3-2024-uma-em-cada-oito-pessoas-no-mundo-vive-com-obesidade) All this due to a single factor: diet. I’m not referring to a diet full of processed foods, as this has already been proven to destroy the health of those who eat it. I’m referring to the modern diet, with carbohydrates (from any source, even from fruit) being the main macronutrient, little animal protein and practically no saturated fat of animal origin. This diet implementation has been systematically occurring for decades. Sugar conglomerates seeking profits? Government institutions (after all, they need voters to be stupid and vote for them), evil spiritual interference wanting to destroy or distort their path? I don’t know, I’ll leave the conspiracy theories to you! The modern diet or diet is extremely inflammatory, and inflammation over a long period of time leads to autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and Hashimoto’s. Absolutely any food in the plant kingdom will harm you, no matter how asymptomatic it may be. Plants are living beings and do not want to die and be eaten. To defend themselves from this, they did not evolve legs like animals. They specifically developed chemical mechanisms such as *oxalates, phytoalexins, glucosinolates, polyphenols, antinutrients* and many others that act to repel anything that wants to eat them, being fatal (as in the case of mushrooms), causing discomfort and the animal or insect discovering that the plant is not edible, releasing unpleasant smells or, in many cases, a combination of these factors. Not to mention genetically modified foods (almost the entire plant kingdom is genetically modified) that work as a steroid for the plants' defenses. - Lack of focus - Poor decision-making - Difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships - Difficulty getting pregnant and difficult pregnancy - Low testosterone (medical reference values ​​are low) - Alzheimer's - Diabetes - Dementia - Chances of developing autism when mothers do not eat meat and fat properly during pregnancy - Worsening of the degree of autism when the child does not eat meat and fat (food selectivity) - Insomnia and other sleep problems - Lack of energy - Poorly formed and fragile bone structure - Lack of willpower - Depression - ADHD Not having full physical and mental capacity harms you in many different ways, these are just a few examples that not only directly impact one person but everyone else around them. Fortunately, there is an alternative to break out of this cycle of destruction, ***Carnivore Diet***. I am not here to recommend a diet, eating plan or cure for your health problems, nor can I do so, as I am not a doctor (most doctors don't even know where the pancreas is, a mechanic is more useful in your life than a doctor, but that is a topic for another text.). I came to present you with logic and facts in a very simplified way, from there you can do your own research and decide what is best for you. --- ## Defining the carnivore diet Simply put, the carnivore diet is an elimination diet, where carbohydrates (including fruits), vegetable fats (soy, canola, cotton, peanuts, etc.), processed products and any type of plant, be it spices or teas, are completely removed. ### What is allowed on the carnivore diet? - Animal protein - Beef, preferably fatty cuts (including offal, liver, heart, kidneys, these cuts have more vitamins than anything else in the world) - Lamb - Eggs - Fish and seafood - Animal fat - Butter - Beef fat and tallow - Salt - No... salt does not cause high blood pressure. (explained later about salt and high consumption of saturated fats) From now on I will list some facts that disprove the false accusations made against \*\*eating exclusively meat and fat. # “Human beings are omnivores” *“Our ancestors were gatherers and hunters*" To determine the proportion of animal foods in our ancestors’ diets, we can look at the amount of δ15 nitrogen in their fossils. By looking at levels of this isotope, researchers can infer where animals reside in the food chain, identifying their protein sources. Herbivores typically have δ15N levels of 3–7 percent, carnivores show levels of 6–12 percent, and omnivores exhibit levels in between. When samples from Neanderthals and early modern humans were analyzed, they showed levels of 12 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively, even higher than those of other known carnivores, such as hyenas and wolves. And from an energy efficiency standpoint, hunting large animals makes the most sense. Gathering plants and chasing small animals provides far fewer calories and nutrients relative to the energy invested. In more recently studied indigenous peoples, we have observed a similar pattern that clearly indicates a preference for animal foods over plant foods. For example, in Vilhjalmur Stefansson’s studies of the Eskimos. *“…fat, not protein, seemed to play a very important role in hunters’ decisions about which animals (male or female) to kill and which body parts to discard or carry away.”* Why were our ancestors and more recent indigenous peoples so interested in finding fat? At a very basic level, it was probably about calories. By weight, fat provides more than twice as many calories as protein or carbohydrates. Furthermore, human metabolism makes fat an exceptionally valuable and necessary food. If we think of ourselves as automobiles that need fuel for our metabolic engines, we should not put protein in our gas tank. For best results, our metabolic engine runs most efficiently on fat or carbohydrates. Eating animal foods has been a vital part of our evolution since the beginning. Katherine Milton, a researcher at UC Berkeley, came to the same conclusion in her paper “The Critical Role Played by Animal Source Foods in Human Evolution,” which states: “Without routine access to animal-source foods, it is highly unlikely that evolving humans could have achieved their unusually large and complex brains while simultaneously continuing their evolutionary trajectory as large, active, and highly social primates. As human evolution progressed, young children in particular, with their rapidly expanding large brains and higher metabolic and nutritional demands relative to adults, would have benefited from concentrated, high-quality foods such as meat." - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14672286/ Skeletons from Greece and Turkey reveal that 12,000 years ago, the average height of hunter-gatherers was five feet, nine inches for men and five feet, five inches for women. But with the adoption of agriculture, adult height plummeted—ending any hope these poor herders had of dunking a basketball or playing competitive volleyball, if such sports had existed at the time. By 3000 B.C., men in this region of the world were only five feet, three inches tall, and women were five feet, reflecting a massive decline in their overall nutritional status. Many studies in diverse populations show a strong correlation between adult height and nutritional quality. A study analyzing male height in 105 countries came to the following conclusion: “In taller nations…consumption of plant proteins declines sharply at the expense of animal proteins, especially those from dairy products. Its highest consumption rates can be found in Northern and Central Europe, with the global peak in male height in the Netherlands (184 cm).” In addition to the decline in height, there is also evidence that Native Americans buried at Dickson Mounds suffered from increased bacterial infections. These infections leave scars on the outer surface of the bone, known as the periosteum, with the tibia being especially susceptible to such damage due to its limited blood flow. Examination of tibias from skeletons found in the mounds shows that after agriculture, the number of such periosteal lesions increased threefold, with a staggering eighty-four percent of bones from this period demonstrating this pathology. The lesions also tended to be more severe and to appear earlier in life in the bones of post-agricultural peoples. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1747-0080.2007.00194.x https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10702160/ # Cholesterol Many “doctors” say that consuming saturated fat is harmful to your health, “your veins and arteries will clog with excess fat” “you will have a heart attack if you consume a lot of fat" and many other nonsense, and in exchange recommends that you replace fatty cuts of meat with lean meat and do everything with vegetable oil that causes cancer and makes men effeminate. Your brain is basically composed of fat and water, your neurons are made and repaired with fat, your cells, the basic unit of life, are composed of fat and protein, many of your hormones, especially sexual ones, are made from fat, there is no logical reason not to consume saturated fat other than several false "scientific articles". "The power plant of the cell is the mitochondria, which converts what we eat into energy. Ketones are an energy source derived from fat. Mitochondria prefer fat as energy (ketones) because transforming ketones into energy costs the mitochondria half the effort of using sugar (glucose) for energy." - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28178565/ "With the help of saturated fats, calcium is properly stored in our bones. The interaction between calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone regulates calcium levels in the body. When there are calcium imbalances in the blood, our bones release calcium into the blood to find homeostasis." - https://www.healthpedian.org/the-role-of-calcium-in-the-human-body/ "The body needs cholesterol to support muscle repair and other cellular functions. This is why when there is cardiovascular disease, we see increased amounts of cholesterol in the area. Cholesterol is not there causing the problem, but the boat carrying fat was docked there for cholesterol and other nutrients to help fight the problem. Plaque is the body's attempt to deal with injury within the blood vessels." - *National Library of Medicine, “Cholesterol,” 2019* "Initially, the Plaque helps blood vessels stay strong and helps the vessels maintain their shape. But with the perpetual cycle of uncontrolled inflammation and leftover debris from cellular repair (cholesterol), over time plaque begins to grow and harden, reducing blood flow and oxygen to the heart. Both inflammation and repair require copious amounts of cholesterol and fats. So the body keeps sending these fatty substances to the site of the plaque — until either repair wins (plaque becomes sclerotic scars in the heart muscle, causing heart failure) or inflammation wins (atherosclerotic heart attack)" - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21250192/ Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21250192/ "Study finds that eating refined carbohydrates led to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity" - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5793267/ # “Meat causes cancer” Most of the misconceptions that red meat causes cancer come from a report by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which was released in 2015. Unfortunately, this report has been widely misrepresented by the mainstream media and is based on some very questionable interpretations of the science it claims to review. A closer look at a 2018 report on its findings reveals that only 14 of the 800 studies were considered in its final conclusions—and every single study was observational epidemiology. Why the other 786 were excluded remains a mystery, and this group included many interventional animal studies that clearly did not show a link between red meat and cancer. Of the fourteen epidemiological studies that were included in the IARC report, eight showed no link between meat consumption and the development of colon cancer. Of the remaining six studies, only one showed a statistically significant correlation between meat and cancer. In epidemiological research, one looks for correlation between two things and the strength of the correlation. Having just one study out of 800 that shows meat causes cancer is a mere fluke and becomes statistically insignificant. Interestingly, this was a study by Seventh-day Adventists in America — a religious group that advocates a plant-based diet. # Microbiota and Fiber I have seen several people and “doctors” saying that eating only meat would destroy your microbiota. And I have come to the conclusion that neither “doctors” nor most people know what a microbiota is. Microbiota is the set of several types of bacteria (millions) that exist in your stomach with the function of breaking down molecules of certain types of food that the body itself cannot get, fiber for example. Many times through the process of fermentation, which is why you have gas after eating your beloved oatmeal. People unconsciously believe that the microbiota is something fixed and unchangeable, but guess what… it is not. Your microbiota is determined by what you eat. If you love eating oatmeal, your microbiota will have a specific set of bacteria that can break down the oat molecule into a size that the body can absorb. If you follow a carnivorous diet, your microbiota will adapt to digest meat. ### Fiber Nutritional guidelines recommend large amounts of fiber in our diet, but what they don't tell you is that we only absorb around 6% of all the vegetable fiber we eat. In other words, it's insignificant! Another argument used by doctors and nutritionists is that it helps you go to the bathroom, but this is also a lie. Fiber doesn't help you evacuate, it forces you to do so. With the huge amount of undigestible food in your stomach (fiber), the intestine begins to force contractions, making this fecal matter go down, making you go to the bathroom. They also raise the argument that fibers are broken down into short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate (butyric acid), propionate (propionic acid) and acetate (acetic acid). Butyrate is essential because it is the preferred fuel source for the endothelial cells of the large intestine. Butter, cream, and cheese contain butyrate in its absorbable form. Butter is the best source of butyric acid, or butyrate. In fact, the origins of the word butyric acid come from the Latin word *butyro*—the same origins as the word butter. “In 2012, a study in the Journal of Gastroenterology showed that reducing fiber (a precursor to short-chain fatty acids) helped participants with chronic constipation. The study lasted six months, and after two weeks without fiber, these participants were allowed to increase fiber as needed. These participants felt so much relief after two weeks without fiber that they continued without fiber for the entire six-month period. Of the high-fiber, low-fiber, and no-fiber groups, the zero-fiber participants had the highest bowel movement frequency.” - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3435786/ ### Bioavailability I said that our body can only absorb 6% of all the fiber we ingest. This is bioavailability, how much the body can absorb nutrients from a given food. Meat is the most bioavailable food on the planet! Grains and vegetables are not only not very bioavailable, but they also contain a huge amount of antinutrients. So if you eat a steak with some beans, you will not be able to absorb the nutrients from the beans, and the antinutrients in them will make it impossible to absorb a large amount of nutrients from the steak. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23107545/ # Lack of nutrients and antioxidants in a carnivorous diet A major concern with the carnivorous diet is the lack of vitamin C, which would consequently lead to scurvy. Vitamin C plays an important role in the breakdown and transport of glucose into cells. In 2000 and 2001, the recommended daily intake of vitamin C effectively doubled. In fact, every 10 to 15 years, there has been a large increase in the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, as happened in 1974 and 1989. Interestingly, also in 1974, sugar prices became so high that high fructose corn syrup was introduced into the US market. Could the increase in readily available glucose foods and foods with high fructose corn syrup be a reason why we need more vitamin C? The question remains…. But this is not a cause for concern for the carnivore, liver is rich in vitamin C. You could easily reach the daily recommendation with liver or any cut of steak. 200-300g of steak already meets your needs and if the theory that the more sugar you eat, the more vitamin C you will get is true, then the more sugar you will eat is true. C is necessary if true, you could easily exceed the daily requirement. Meat and seafood are rich in ALL the nutrients that humans need to thrive. ### Antioxidants It is commonly said that fruits are rich in antioxidants but again this is a hoax, they are actually PRO-oxidants. These are substances that activate the mRF2 pathway of our immune system which causes the body to produce natural antioxidants. The body produces antioxidants, but many occur naturally in foods, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Manganese are all natural antioxidants. High concentrations of antioxidants can be harmful. Remember that high concentrations of antioxidants can increase oxidation and even protect against cancer cells. # Salt Consuming too much salt does not increase blood pressure and therefore increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Studies show no evidence that limiting salt intake reduces the risk of heart disease. A 2011 study found that diets low in salt may actually increase the risk of death from heart attacks and strokes. Most importantly, they do not prevent high blood pressure. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/health/research/04salt.html # Sun This is not a dietary issue specifically, but there are things that can I would like to present that is against common sense when talking about the sun. It is common sense to say that the sun causes skin cancer and that we should not expose ourselves to it or, if we are exposed to the sun, use sunscreen, but no study proves that using sunscreen protects us from melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. The types of fatal melanomas usually occur in areas of the body that never see the sun, such as the soles of the feet. https://www.jabfm.org/content/24/6/735 In 1978, the first sunscreen was launched, and the market grew rapidly, along with cases of melanoma. Several studies show that sunscreens cause leaky gut (one of the main factors in chronic inflammation), hormonal dysfunction and neurological dysfunction. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31058986/ If your concern when going out in the sun is skin cancer, don't worry, your own body's natural antioxidants will protect you. When they can no longer protect you, your skin starts to burn. (If you have to stay in the sun for work, for example, a good way to protect yourself is to rub coconut oil on your skin or just cover yourself with a few extra layers of thin clothing and a hat). Sunscreen gives you the false sense of protection by blocking the sunburn, so you stay out longer than your skin can handle, but sunscreens can only block 4% of UVA and UVB rays. www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/environmental-toxins/sunscreens-the-dark-side-of-avoiding-the-sun/ Interestingly, vitamin D deficiency is linked to increased cancer risks. It's a big contradiction to say that the greatest provider of vit. D causes cancer… https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2010/10/skin-cancer-patients-more-likely-to-be-deficient-in-vitamin-d-study-finds.html Important roles of vitamin D: - **Regulation of Bone Metabolism** - Facilitates the **absorption of calcium and phosphorus** in the intestine. - Promotes bone mineralization and prevents diseases such as **osteoporosis**, **rickets** (in children) and **osteomalacia** (in adults). - **Immune Function** - Modulates the immune system, helping to reduce inflammation and strengthen the defense against infections, including **colds**, **flu** and other diseases. - May help reduce the incidence of autoimmune diseases such as **multiple sclerosis** and **rheumatoid arthritis**. - **Muscle Health** - Contributes to muscle strength and the prevention of weakness, especially in the elderly. - Reduces the risk of falls and fractures. - **Cardiovascular Function** - May help regulate blood pressure and heart function, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. - **Hormonal Balance** - Influences the production of hormones, including those associated with fertility and the functioning of the endocrine system. - Plays a role in insulin metabolism and glucose sensitivity. - **Brain Function and Mental Health** - Participates in mood regulation, which may reduce the risk of **depression** and improve mental health. - Has been associated with the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, such as **Alzheimer's**. - **Anticancer Role** - Evidence suggests that vitamin D may inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, especially in breast, prostate and colon cancers. - **Role in General Metabolism** - Contributes to metabolic health, regulating cellular growth and repair processes. --- I tried to present everything in the simplest and most understandable way possible, but there are things that require prior knowledge to truly understand. Below is a list of books that will show you everything I have shown you in a more technical and in-depth way. ### Book Recommendations https://amzn.to/3EbjVsD https://amzn.to/4awlnBZ All of my arguments have studies to validate them. Feel free to read them all and draw your own conclusions about what is best for you and your life.

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

Lyn Alden - биткойн евангелист или евангелистка, я пока не понял ``` npub1a2cww4kn9wqte4ry70vyfwqyqvpswksna27rtxd8vty6c74era8sdcw83a ``` Thomas Pacchia - PubKey owner - X - @tpacchia ``` npub1xy6exlg37pw84cpyj05c2pdgv86hr25cxn0g7aa8g8a6v97mhduqeuhgpl ``` calvadev - Shopstr ``` npub16dhgpql60vmd4mnydjut87vla23a38j689jssaqlqqlzrtqtd0kqex0nkq ``` Calle - Cashu founder ``` npub12rv5lskctqxxs2c8rf2zlzc7xx3qpvzs3w4etgemauy9thegr43sf485vg ``` Джек Дорси ``` npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m ``` 21 ideas ``` npub1lm3f47nzyf0rjp6fsl4qlnkmzed4uj4h2gnf2vhe3l3mrj85vqks6z3c7l ``` Много адресов. Хз кто надо сортировать ``` https://github.com/aitechguy/nostr-address-book ``` ФиатДжеф - создатель Ностр - https://github.com/fiatjaf ``` npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6 ``` EVAN KALOUDIS Zues wallet ``` npub19kv88vjm7tw6v9qksn2y6h4hdt6e79nh3zjcud36k9n3lmlwsleqwte2qd ``` Программер Коди https://github.com/CodyTseng/nostr-relay ``` npub1syjmjy0dp62dhccq3g97fr87tngvpvzey08llyt6ul58m2zqpzps9wf6wl ``` Anna Chekhovich - Managing Bitcoin at The Anti-Corruption Foundation https://x.com/AnyaChekhovich ``` npub1y2st7rp54277hyd2usw6shy3kxprnmpvhkezmldp7vhl7hp920aq9cfyr7 ```

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In an unprecedented development in the realm of digital currencies, the Bitcoin network has achieved a groundbreaking milestone: the count of blockchain addresses possessing over $1,000 in Bitcoin has eclipsed 8 million. This landmark achievement is not just a numerical feat but a testament to the burgeoning confidence and interest in Bitcoin as a viable financial asset. It marks a pivotal shift in the cryptocurrency's journey from a digital novelty to a mainstream financial instrument, capturing the attention of a diverse range of investors, from individual enthusiasts to institutional players. This surge in Bitcoin addresses is a strong indicator of the cryptocurrency's increasing acceptance and its evolving role in reshaping the global financial landscape. **Table Of Content** - The Surge in Bitcoin Addresses - Implications of Growing Bitcoin Addresses - Bitcoin’s Monetization and Market Dynamics - Bitcoin's Recent Performance and Market Sentiment - The Future Outlook of Bitcoin and Digital Currencies - Conclusion - FAQs **The Surge in Bitcoin Addresses** Recent analytical data provided by Blockware Solutions and Glassnode paints a vivid picture of Bitcoin's rapidly expanding footprint in the digital asset space. The remarkable escalation to over 8 million Bitcoin addresses holding a value exceeding $1,000 each is more than just a statistical anomaly. It represents a collective movement, a growing wave of global participants who are now engaging with Bitcoin either as an investment, a transactional currency, or as a hedge against traditional financial systems. This increase is a reflection of Bitcoin's rising appeal and its growing integration into various financial strategies, transcending traditional market barriers and establishing itself as a significant player in the realm of investment options. **Implications of Growing Bitcoin Addresses** The surge in Bitcoin addresses bearing over $1,000 of Bitcoin is far more than a mere statistic; it is an indicator of a paradigm shift in the global financial landscape. This growth signifies not only an increasing embrace of Bitcoin by individual investors but also a broader, more systemic integration into the financial strategies of diverse entities, ranging from small-scale investors to large financial institutions. This trend suggests a growing recognition of Bitcoin's potential as a stable and lucrative asset, challenging traditional perceptions of currency and investment. It heralds a new era where digital assets are increasingly viewed as credible and essential components of diversified investment portfolios. **Bitcoin’s Monetization and Market Dynamics** The concept of monetization in the context of Bitcoin has taken on a significant role in this new era of digital finance. The rising number of valuable Bitcoin addresses signals a shift towards viewing Bitcoin not just as a digital token, but as a potent financial asset capable of generating revenue and sustaining value. This notion of monetization, theorized by financial analysts, is becoming a tangible reality as more entities begin to realize the income-generating potential of Bitcoin. Blockware's insights suggest that the trajectory of Bitcoin is not only upwards in terms of value but also expansive, with the potential to attract even more investors seeking to capitalize on this digital gold rush. **Bitcoin's Recent Performance and Market Sentiment** Bitcoin's performance in the financial market has recently been nothing short of stellar, with a noticeable upsurge in its value. A significant factor contributing to this trend is the anticipation surrounding the potential approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This speculation has created a ripple effect, invigorating investor sentiment and catalyzing robust activity among large-scale Bitcoin holders, colloquially known as 'whales.' These movements underscore a growing optimism in the market about Bitcoin's legitimacy and potential as a mainstream financial instrument, further cementing its role as a pivotal player in the global economic arena. **The Future Outlook of Bitcoin and Digital Currencies** As we witness the remarkable growth in Bitcoin's popularity and acceptance, it's imperative to look ahead and consider the future trajectory of this leading cryptocurrency and its counterparts. This section would delve into the potential long-term implications of the current trends in Bitcoin ownership. It would explore various scenarios, from the continued mainstreaming of Bitcoin to its potential challenges, including regulatory developments and market volatility. Additionally, the potential impact of emerging technologies within the blockchain sphere and their influence on the usability and security of Bitcoin would be examined. The aim is to provide an informed speculation on how Bitcoin's current ascendance might shape not just its own future but also the broader landscape of digital currencies and their role in the evolving global economy. **Conclusion** The milestone of 8 million Bitcoin addresses holding over $1,000 each is more than just a landmark in the cryptocurrency's history; it is a harbinger of the evolving role of digital currencies in the global economy. This development is not merely about the appreciation in Bitcoin's value; it signifies a broader shift in the perception and utilization of digital assets. As Bitcoin continues to embed itself into the fabric of global finance, its influence and implications for the future of money and investments are profound, potentially reshaping the financial landscape in ways that are only beginning to be understood. **FAQs** **How many Bitcoin addresses now hold over {{text}},000?** Over 8 million Bitcoin addresses currently hold more than $1,000 in Bitcoin. **What does the increase in Bitcoin addresses indicate?** The increase indicates growing confidence in Bitcoin as a viable financial asset and its broader acceptance globally. **How has Bitcoin's recent market performance been?** Bitcoin has shown a significant gain, nearly 25% in recent weeks, influenced by optimistic market sentiments. **What impact could the approval of Bitcoin ETFs have?** The approval of Bitcoin ETFs by the U.S. SEC could further boost investor confidence and increase Bitcoin's market activity. **What is the future outlook for Bitcoin and digital currencies?** The future outlook includes continued mainstream adoption, evolving regulatory landscapes, and potential technological advancements impacting Bitcoin's usability and security. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

![[yedinaya-rossiya-bear.png]] 1️⃣ Be where the bear roams. Stay in its territory, where it hunts for food. No point setting a trap in your backyard if the bear’s chilling in the forest. 2️⃣ Set a well-hidden trap. Bury it, disguise it, and place the bait right in the center. Bears are omnivores—just like secret police KGB agents. And what’s the tastiest bait for them? Money. 3️⃣ Wait for the bear to take the bait. When it reaches in, the trap will snap shut around its paw. It’ll be alive, but stuck. No escape. Now, what you do with a trapped bear is another question... 😏

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

The land that belongs to the indigenous peoples of Russia has been seized by a gang of killers who have unleashed a war of extermination. They wipe out anyone who refuses to conform to their rules. Those who disagree and stay behind are tortured and killed in prisons and labor camps. Those who flee lose their homeland, dissolve into foreign cultures, and fade away. And those who stand up to protect their people are attacked by the misled and deceived. The deceived die for the unchecked greed of a single dictator—thousands from both sides, people who just wanted to live, raise their kids, and build a future. Now, they are forced to make an impossible choice: abandon their homeland or die. Some perish on the battlefield, others lose themselves in exile, stripped of their identity, scattered in a world that isn’t theirs. There’s been endless debate about how to fix this, how to clear the field of the weeds that choke out every new sprout, every attempt at change. But the real problem? We can’t play by their rules. We can’t speak their language or use their weapons. We stand for humanity, and no matter how righteous our cause, we will not multiply suffering. Victory doesn’t come from matching the enemy—it comes from staying ahead, from using tools they haven’t mastered yet. That’s how wars are won. Our only resource is the **will of the people** to rewrite the order of things. Historian Timothy Snyder once said that a nation cannot exist without a city. A city is where the most active part of a nation thrives. But the cities are occupied. The streets are watched. Gatherings are impossible. They control the money. They control the mail. They control the media. And any dissent is crushed before it can take root. So I started asking myself: **How do we stop this fragmentation?** How do we create a space where people can **rebuild their connections** when they’re ready? How do we build a **self-sustaining network**, where everyone contributes and benefits proportionally, while keeping their freedom to leave intact? And more importantly—**how do we make it spread, even in occupied territory?** In 2009, something historic happened: **the internet got its own money.** Thanks to **Satoshi Nakamoto**, the world took a massive leap forward. Bitcoin and decentralized ledgers shattered the idea that money must be controlled by the state. Now, to move or store value, all you need is an address and a key. A tiny string of text, easy to carry, impossible to seize. That was the year money broke free. The state lost its grip. Its biggest weapon—physical currency—became irrelevant. Money became **purely digital.** The internet was already **a sanctuary for information**, a place where people could connect and organize. But with Bitcoin, it evolved. Now, **value itself** could flow freely, beyond the reach of authorities. Think about it: when seedlings are grown in controlled environments before being planted outside, they **get stronger, survive longer, and bear fruit faster.** That’s how we handle crops in harsh climates—nurture them until they’re ready for the wild. Now, picture the internet as that **controlled environment** for **ideas**. Bitcoin? It’s the **fertile soil** that lets them grow. A testing ground for new models of interaction, where concepts can take root before they move into the real world. If **nation-states are a battlefield, locked in a brutal war for territory, the internet is boundless.** It can absorb any number of ideas, any number of people, and it doesn’t **run out of space.** But for this ecosystem to thrive, people need safe ways to communicate, to share ideas, to build something real—**without surveillance, without censorship, without the constant fear of being erased.** This is where **Nostr** comes in. Nostr—"Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays"—is more than just a messaging protocol. **It’s a new kind of city.** One that **no dictator can seize**, no corporation can own, no government can shut down. It’s built on **decentralization, encryption, and individual control.** Messages don’t pass through central servers—they are relayed through independent nodes, and users choose which ones to trust. There’s no master switch to shut it all down. Every person owns their identity, their data, their connections. And no one—no state, no tech giant, no algorithm—can silence them. In a world where cities fall and governments fail, **Nostr is a city that cannot be occupied.** A place for ideas, for networks, for freedom. A city that grows stronger **the more people build within it**.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin stands as a pioneering force, a digital currency that has revolutionized the concept of money. Central to its operation and success is a term often heard but not always fully understood: the Bitcoin hashrate. This metric is much more than a technical jargon; it's the heartbeat of the Bitcoin network, powering its transactions, securing its blockchain, and influencing its standing in the market. In this exploration, we delve into the depths of the Bitcoin hashrate, unraveling its complexities and revealing its profound impact on the cryptocurrency market. The hashrate is a window into the soul of Bitcoin, offering insights into its health, efficiency, and future potential. It's a story that intertwines technology, economics, and community, painting a vivid picture of Bitcoin's place in the digital age. **Table Of Content** - Understanding Bitcoin Hashrate - The Role of Hashrate in Network Security - Hashrate and Decentralization - Economic Implications for Miners - Impact on Bitcoin's Market Value - The Future of Bitcoin's Hashrate - Conclusion - FAQs **Understanding Bitcoin Hashrate** The Bitcoin hashrate is the powerhouse of the Bitcoin network, a measure of the collective computational effort used to mine and process transactions. It's akin to the horsepower of an engine, driving the network forward. Each hash is a solution to a cryptographic puzzle, and the hashrate signifies the speed at which these puzzles are solved. As Bitcoin's popularity soars, so does the hashrate, reflecting an ever-increasing number of miners vying to validate transactions and create new blocks. This growth is not just a testament to Bitcoin's popularity but also a marker of its robustness and resilience in the face of challenges. The hashrate is a dynamic indicator, fluctuating with the ebb and flow of the network's activity, mirroring the collective effort of thousands of miners around the globe. It's a testament to the decentralized nature of Bitcoin, where no single entity controls the network, but rather a collective effort secures it. **The Role of Hashrate in Network Security** Bitcoin's security is its cornerstone, and the hashrate is its shield. In the realm of digital currencies, security threats like the 51% attack loom large, where an entity could potentially take control of the network. However, a high hashrate acts as a formidable barrier, making such attacks not just difficult but economically unfeasible. It's a game of numbers; the higher the hashrate, the more distributed the computational power, and the safer the network. This security is not static but a dynamic force that evolves with the network's growth, adapting to new challenges and fortifying Bitcoin's position as a secure digital asset. The hashrate is a beacon of trust, assuring users and investors alike that the network is robust and resistant to manipulation. It's a critical factor in maintaining the integrity of the blockchain, ensuring that transactions are processed securely and reliably. **Hashrate and Decentralization** Decentralization is the soul of Bitcoin, and the hashrate is a reflection of this principle. A decentralized network is less prone to manipulation and control by any single entity, and a high hashrate is indicative of a broad, diverse miner base. This diversity is not just a matter of numbers but a testament to the egalitarian ethos of Bitcoin, where anyone, anywhere, can contribute to the network's upkeep. As the hashrate grows, it weaves a stronger web of participants, each adding to the network's resilience and ensuring its democratic nature. The hashrate is a symbol of the power of the collective, a force that transcends geographical and political boundaries, uniting people under the banner of a decentralized financial system. It's a testament to the vision of Bitcoin's creators, a network that is not just secure and efficient but also open and inclusive. **Economic Implications for Miners** For miners, the hashrate is a beacon guiding their economic journey. It's a delicate balance of power, cost, and reward. As the hashrate climbs, so does the difficulty of mining, a self-regulating mechanism ensuring the network's stability. Miners must constantly adapt, balancing the costs of advanced hardware and energy against the potential rewards of new Bitcoins and transaction fees. This ever-shifting landscape is not just a challenge but an opportunity for innovation, driving miners to seek more efficient and sustainable ways to contribute to the network. The hashrate is a measure of opportunity and challenge, a dance of economics and technology where miners play a crucial role. It's a dynamic ecosystem where the fittest survive, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of Bitcoin mining. **Impact on Bitcoin's Market Value** The hashrate's influence extends beyond the technical realm into the market. While it doesn't directly dictate Bitcoin's price, it's a barometer of network health and investor confidence. A robust hashrate signals a thriving, secure network, attracting investors and bolstering Bitcoin's market position. It's a subtle yet powerful force, shaping perceptions and influencing decisions in the cryptocurrency market. As Bitcoin continues to evolve, the hashrate stands as a key indicator of its vitality and appeal to the market. The hashrate and market value are intertwined in a complex dance, where the health of the network reflects and influences investor sentiment. It's a symbiotic relationship, where each aspect feeds into and strengthens the other. **The Future of Bitcoin's Hashrate** As we look to the future, the Bitcoin hashrate remains a critical aspect of the cryptocurrency's journey. It's not just a measure of computational power but a symbol of the network's evolution, a testament to its strength and a predictor of its potential. The hashrate's trajectory mirrors Bitcoin's own path: ever upward, facing challenges, adapting, and growing stronger. It's a journey not just of technology but of community, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a decentralized financial future. The hashrate is a narrative of progress, a story of how a decentralized network can grow, adapt, and thrive in the ever-changing landscape of digital currencies. It's a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of collective effort in shaping the future of finance. **Conclusion** The Bitcoin hashrate is more than a technical metric; it's the lifeblood of the Bitcoin ecosystem. It encapsulates the network's security, decentralization, economic dynamics, and market influence. As Bitcoin continues to navigate the complex landscape of digital currencies, its hashrate will remain a key indicator of its health and success. It's a story of collective effort, technological innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a decentralized, secure financial future. The hashrate is not just a number; it's the pulse of Bitcoin, beating strongly as it leads the charge in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies. It's a symbol of resilience, a testament to the enduring power of a decentralized network, and a beacon of hope for a future where financial systems are open, secure, and accessible to all. **FAQs** **What is Bitcoin hashrate?** The Bitcoin hashrate is the total computational power used to mine and process transactions on the Bitcoin network, measured in hashes per second. **Why is the Bitcoin hashrate important?** It's crucial for network security, indicating the difficulty of performing a 51% attack, and reflects the network's decentralization and health. **How does the hashrate affect Bitcoin miners?** A higher hashrate increases the difficulty of mining, impacting the profitability and efficiency of mining operations. **Does the Bitcoin hashrate influence its market value?** While not directly affecting the price, a strong hashrate can boost investor confidence, potentially influencing Bitcoin's market value. **Can the Bitcoin hashrate predict the future of the cryptocurrency?** The hashrate is a key indicator of Bitcoin's health and can provide insights into its future potential and stability. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the contemporary financial world, Cathie Wood, the founder of ARK Invest, stands out for her innovative investment approaches. Recently, Wood has focused on Bitcoin (BTC), highlighting its potential as a hedge against both inflationary and deflationary economic conditions. This article delves into Wood's perspective, exploring Bitcoin's evolving role in the global financial landscape. We examine its multifaceted nature, not just as a digital currency, but as a strategic asset capable of navigating the complex dynamics of the modern economy. Wood's insights offer a nuanced understanding of Bitcoin's potential in offering stability amidst economic uncertainties. **Table Of Content** - Bitcoin's Hedge Potential - Decentralization: A Key Advantage - The Banking Crisis and Bitcoin - Bitcoin vs. Gold - Institutional Involvement - Conclusion - FAQs **Bitcoin's Hedge Potential** Cathie Wood's perspective on Bitcoin transcends its usual perception as a mere digital currency. She champions it as a dynamic tool against economic fluctuations, a quality rarely matched by traditional assets. In an era marked by economic instability, Bitcoin stands as a beacon of potential stability. This is particularly notable in its capacity to act as a hedge during inflationary periods, where fiat currencies lose value, and deflationary periods, characterized by increased money value but decreased economic activity. This dual capability positions Bitcoin as a significant asset in diversified portfolios, resonating with Wood's innovative investment philosophy. **Decentralization: A Key Advantage** For Wood, Bitcoin's decentralization is a critical advantage. This aspect sets it apart from traditional banking systems, which often grapple with issues of transparency and central control. In Bitcoin's ecosystem, there is a clear absence of counterparty risk, thanks to its decentralized ledger and visible transactions. This transparency assures investors of a level of security and autonomy not found in conventional financial systems. In Wood's view, this decentralization is not just a technical feature but a foundational aspect that provides Bitcoin with a resilience and reliability, crucial in a world where financial systems are increasingly interconnected and vulnerable. **The Banking Crisis and Bitcoin** Reflecting on recent financial upheavals, such as the U.S. regional bank crisis and the FTX collapse, Wood sees these events as vindications of Bitcoin's stability and resilience. These crises underscored the inherent risks of centralized financial systems, revealing their fragility under stress. In contrast, Bitcoin demonstrated an impressive resilience, with its value surging during these tumultuous times. This reaction not only highlights Bitcoin's potential as a safe haven but also its capacity to serve as a barometer for the health of the broader financial system. **Bitcoin vs. Gold** While gold has traditionally been the go-to asset for hedge investments, Wood argues that Bitcoin has a distinct edge over it. Her preference for Bitcoin stems from its novelty and the increasing interest from younger investors and institutional players. Unlike gold, whose market and demand patterns are well-established, Bitcoin represents an emerging asset class with untapped potential. Wood believes that Bitcoin's journey is just beginning, and its full potential as a hedge asset is yet to be realized, making it a more attractive option for forward-looking investors. **Institutional Involvement** Wood's belief in Bitcoin's future is mirrored in ARK Invest's substantial investments in cryptocurrency-related ventures. These investments are not mere speculative plays; they represent a deep conviction in the long-term value of Bitcoin. ARK's pursuit of a spot Bitcoin ETF is a significant move, indicating a belief in the cryptocurrency's viability as a mainstream investment asset. This institutional backing by a leading investment firm not only legitimizes Bitcoin's role in the financial markets but also paves the way for more widespread adoption among traditional investors. **Conclusion** Cathie Wood's endorsement of Bitcoin is a compelling narrative in the evolving story of this digital asset. Her insights provide a valuable perspective on Bitcoin's role as a hedge against both inflation and deflation, highlighting its potential in the current economic climate. As we navigate through uncertain financial times, Wood's views offer a guidepost for investors looking to diversify and stabilize their portfolios with innovative assets like Bitcoin. **FAQs** **What is Cathie Wood's view on Bitcoin?** Cathie Wood sees Bitcoin as a viable hedge against both inflation and deflation, highlighting its decentralized nature and resilience. **Why does Wood prefer Bitcoin over traditional banking systems?** Wood values Bitcoin's transparency and lack of counterparty risk, contrasting it with the opacity of traditional banking systems. **How did the banking crisis impact Bitcoin's value?** The U.S. regional bank crisis and the FTX collapse showed Bitcoin's stability, with its value increasing during these times. **Why does Wood favor Bitcoin over gold?** Wood believes Bitcoin has more potential for growth and is more appealing to younger investors and institutions compared to gold. **What is ARK Invest's involvement in Bitcoin?** ARK Invest holds significant stakes in cryptocurrency ventures and is pursuing a spot Bitcoin ETF, reflecting a strong belief in Bitcoin's future. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued new guidance halting spending on most foreign aid grants for 90 days, including military assistance to Ukraine. This immediate order shocked State Department officials and mandates “stop-work orders” on nearly all existing foreign assistance awards. While it allows exceptions for military financing to Egypt and Israel, as well as emergency food assistance, it restricts aid to key allies like Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan. The guidance raises potential liability risks for the government due to unfulfilled contracts. A report will be prepared within 85 days to recommend which programs to continue or discontinue.

@ 599f67f7:21fb3ea9

## ¿Qué es Blossom? nostr:nevent1qqspttj39n6ld4plhn4e2mq3utxpju93u4k7w33l3ehxyf0g9lh3f0qpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejsygzenanl0hmkjnrq8fksvdhpt67xzrdh0h8agltwt5znsmvzr7e74ywgmr72 [Blossom](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom) significa _Blobs Simply Stored on Media Servers_ (Blobs Simplemente Almacenados en Servidores de Medios). _Blobs_ son fragmentos de datos binarios, como archivos pero sin nombres. En lugar de nombres, se identifican por su hash [sha256](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHA-2). La ventaja de usar hashes sha256 en lugar de nombres es que los hashes son IDs universales que se pueden calcular a partir del archivo mismo utilizando el algoritmo de hash sha256. 💡 archivo -> sha256 -> hash Blossom es, por lo tanto, un conjunto de puntos finales HTTP que permiten a los usuarios almacenar y recuperar blobs almacenados en servidores utilizando su identidad nostr. ## ¿Por qué Blossom? Como mencionamos hace un momento, al usar claves nostr como su identidad, Blossom permite que los datos sean "propiedad" del usuario. Esto simplifica enormemente la cuestión de "qué es spam" para el alojamiento de servidores. Por ejemplo, en nuestro Blossom solo permitimos cargas por miembros de la comunidad verificados que tengan un [NIP-05](https://nips.nostr.com/5) con nosotros. Los usuarios pueden subir en múltiples servidores de blossom, por ejemplo, uno alojado por su comunidad, uno de pago, otro público y gratuito, para establecer redundancia de sus datos. Los blobs pueden ser [espejados](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/blob/master/buds/04.md) entre servidores de blossom, de manera similar a cómo los relays nostr pueden transmitir eventos entre sí. Esto mejora la resistencia a la censura de blossom. A continuación se muestra una breve tabla de comparación entre torrents, Blossom y servidores CDN centralizados. (Suponiendo que hay muchos seeders para torrents y se utilizan múltiples servidores con Blossom). | | Torrents | Blossom | CDN Centralizado | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------- | ---------------- | | Descentralizado | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | | Resistencia a la censura | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | | ¿Puedo usarlo para publicar fotos de gatitos en redes sociales? | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ## ¿Cómo funciona? Blossom utiliza varios tipos de eventos nostr para comunicarse con el servidor de medios. | kind | descripción | BUD | | ----- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 24242 | Evento de autorización | [BUD01](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/blob/master/buds/01.md) | | 10063 | Lista de Servidores de Usuarios | [BUD03](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom/blob/master/buds/03.md) | ### kind:24242 - Autorización Esto es esencialmente lo que ya describimos al usar claves nostr como IDs de usuario. En el evento, el usuario le dice al servidor que quiere subir o eliminar un archivo y lo firma con sus claves nostr. El servidor realiza algunas verificaciones en este evento y luego ejecuta el comando del usuario si todo parece estar bien. ### kind:10063 - Lista de Servidores de Usuarios Esto es utilizado por el usuario para anunciar a qué servidores de medios está subiendo. De esta manera, cuando el cliente ve esta lista, sabe dónde subir los archivos del usuario. También puede subir en múltiples servidores definidos en la lista para asegurar redundancia. En el lado de recuperación, si por alguna razón uno de los servidores en la lista del usuario está fuera de servicio, o el archivo ya no se puede encontrar allí, el cliente puede usar esta lista para intentar recuperar el archivo de otros servidores en la lista. Dado que los blobs se identifican por sus hashes, el mismo blob tendrá el mismo hash en cualquier servidor de medios. Todo lo que el cliente necesita hacer es cambiar la URL por la de un servidor diferente. Ahora, además de los conceptos básicos de cómo funciona Blossom, también hay otros tipos de eventos que hacen que Blossom sea aún más interesante. | kind | descripción | | ----- | --------------------- | | 30563 | Blossom Drives | | 36363 | Listado de Servidores | | 31963 | Reseña de Servidores | ### kind:30563 - Blossom Drives Este tipo de evento facilita la organización de blobs en carpetas, como estamos acostumbrados con los drives (piensa en Google Drive, iCloud, Proton Drive, etc.). El evento contiene información sobre la estructura de carpetas y los metadatos del drive. ### kind:36363 y kind:31963 - Listado y Reseña Estos tipos de eventos permiten a los usuarios descubrir y reseñar servidores de medios a través de nostr. kind:36363 es un listado de servidores que contiene la URL del servidor. kind:31963 es una reseña, donde los usuarios pueden calificar servidores. ## ¿Cómo lo uso? ### Encuentra un servidor Primero necesitarás elegir un servidor Blossom donde subirás tus archivos. Puedes navegar por los públicos en [blossomservers.com](https://blossomservers.com/). Algunos de ellos son de pago, otros pueden requerir que tus claves nostr estén en una lista blanca. Luego, puedes ir a la URL de su servidor y probar a subir un archivo pequeño, como una foto. Si estás satisfecho con el servidor (es rápido y aún no te ha fallado), puedes agregarlo a tu Lista de Servidores de Usuarios. Cubriremos brevemente cómo hacer esto en noStrudel y Amethyst (pero solo necesitas hacer esto una vez, una vez que tu lista actualizada esté publicada, los clientes pueden simplemente recuperarla de nostr). ### noStrudel 1. Encuentra Relays en la barra lateral, luego elige Servidores de Medios. 2. Agrega un servidor de medios, o mejor aún, varios. 3. Publica tu lista de servidores. ✅ ### Amethyst 1. En la barra lateral, encuentra Servidores multimedia. 2. Bajo Servidores Blossom, agrega tus servidores de medios. 3. Firma y publica. ✅ Ahora, cuando vayas a hacer una publicación y adjuntar una foto, por ejemplo, se subirá en tu servidor blossom. ⚠️ Ten en cuenta que debes suponer que los archivos que subas serán públicos. Aunque puedes proteger un archivo con contraseña, esto no ha sido auditado. ### Blossom Drive Como mencionamos anteriormente, podemos publicar eventos para organizar nuestros blobs en carpetas. Esto puede ser excelente para compartir archivos con tu equipo, o simplemente para mantener las cosas organizadas. Para probarlo, ve a [blossom.hzrd149.com](https://blossom.hzrd149.com/) (o nuestra instancia comunitaria en [blossom.bitcointxoko.com](https://blossom.bitcointxoko.com)) e inicia sesión con tu método preferido. Puedes crear una nueva unidad y agregar blobs desde allí. ### Bouquet Si usas múltiples servidores para darte redundancia, Bouquet es una buena manera de obtener una visión general de todos tus archivos. Úsalo para subir y navegar por tus medios en diferentes servidores y sincronizar blobs entre ellos. ### Cherry Tree nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqfngzhsvjggdlgeycm96x4emzjlwf8dyyzdfg4hefp89zpkdgz99qyghwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tcpzfmhxue69uhkummnw3e82efwvdhk6tcqyp3065hj9zellakecetfflkgudm5n6xcc9dnetfeacnq90y3yxa5z5gk2q6 Cherry Tree te permite dividir un archivo en fragmentos y luego subirlos en múltiples servidores blossom, y más tarde reensamblarlos en otro lugar. ## Conclusión Blossom aún está en desarrollo, pero ya hay muchas cosas interesantes que puedes hacer con él para hacerte a ti y a tu comunidad más soberanos. ¡Pruébalo! Si deseas mantenerte al día sobre el desarrollo de Blossom, sigue a nostr:nprofile1qyghwumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnhd9hx2tcpzfmhxue69uhkummnw3e82efwvdhk6tcqyqnxs90qeyssm73jf3kt5dtnk997ujw6ggy6j3t0jjzw2yrv6sy22ysu5ka y dale un gran zap por su excelente trabajo. ## Referencias - [hzrd149/blossom en GitHub](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom) - [Blossom Drive](https://github.com/hzrd149/blossom-drive/blob/master/docs/drive.md)

@ d3052ca3:d84a170e

It seems to me that the primary opposition to ecash from bitcoiners comes from the belief that lightning will enable self-custodial micropayments for the masses. Many lightning enthusiasts see ecash as competition that will eliminate this technological outcome (whether they admit it or not). I understand the motivation for this line of reasoning but I don't see things this way at all. Ecash is a superset of lightning. Cashu literally doesn't have a spec for on-chain transactions (yet!). Everything cashu accomplishes is built on the back of lightning. Standing on the shoulders of giants. I don't believe that ecash will take away market share from self-custodial lightning because lightning is not a good technology for self-custody. The high overhead costs of running your own node create a natural incentive for a semi-centralized hub and spoke network graph. It just makes economic sense for many users to share a lightning node. It doesn't make economic sense for individuals to bear this cost alone. This stacker news post is the best writeup on this topic: https://stacker.news/items/379225 It comes from a builder who struggled with these issues for years and learned the shortcomings of the tech first hand. Notice they experimented with ecash as a solution to these problems before they burned out and pivoted to save the company. Ecash is a superset of lightning. It extends the capability and reach of the lightning network. Without ecash, I don't believe we can achieve bitcoin mass adoption. You can't jam a square peg into a round hole. We still have a need for self-custody of "small" amounts of bitcoin. I put small in quotes because the block size limit and the fee market it creates impose a fundamental constraint on the minimum practical size of a UTXO. This limit is pegged to the unit of bitcoin. As bitcoin increases in value the minimum size for an on-chain transaction will grow in value as well. You can send $10 worth of bitcoin on-chain today but will this be true in 10 years when the price is much higher? 100 years? If the current exponential trends hold, we will soon price out the majority of humanity from owning a UTXO. This is bad. Like really bad. "Bitcoin is a failure" bad. This is the motivation for my posts about scaling on-chain usage to 10 billion people. I believe we will need to radically rearchitect bitcoin to achieve this goal. Lightning is not up to the task. We should leverage lightning for what it's good at: gluing together different self-custodial bitcoin service providers. We should leverage ecash for what it's good at: peer-to-peer electronic cash micropayments. IN ADDITION we also need to start seriously looking at new ideas for scaling self custody to "small" amounts of bitcoin. I am very optimistic that we can solve this problem. There are a number of promising avenues to pursue but I think first we need to move the Overton window ~~beyond the idea of mass adoption of self-custodial lightning~~ regarding on-chain scaling. Edit: I think the original Overton window statement was incorrect. If on-chain fees stay low then self-custodial lightning or something similar is a much better prospect. Just my 2 sats...let me know what you think. Keep it civil or be muted.

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

President Trump plans to withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops from Europe and expects European allies to contribute financially to the remaining military presence. Reported by ANSA, Trump aims to deliver this message to European leaders since taking office. A European diplomat noted, “the costs cannot be borne solely by American taxpayers.” The Pentagon hasn't commented yet. Trump has previously sought lower troop levels in Europe and had ordered cuts during his first term. The U.S. currently maintains around 65,000 troops in Europe, with total forces reaching 100,000 since the Ukraine invasion. Trump's new approach may shift military focus to the Pacific amid growing concerns about China. [Sauce](https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2025-01-24/trump-europe-troop-cuts-16590074.html)

@ 1ec45473:d38df139

Preston Pysh posted this event this morning:  Behind the scenes, the nostr event looks like this: ``` Event = { "id":"a6fa7e1a73ce70c6fb01584a0519fd29788e59d9980402584e7a0af92cf0474a", "pubkey":"85080d3bad70ccdcd7f74c29a44f55bb85cbcd3dd0cbb957da1d215bdb931204", "created_at":1724494504, "kind":1, "tags":[ [ "p", "6c237d8b3b120251c38c230c06d9e48f0d3017657c5b65c8c36112eb15c52aeb", "", "mention" ], [ "p", "77ec966fcd64f901152cad5dc7731c7c831fe22e02e3ae99ff14637e5a48ef9c", "", "mention" ], [ "p", "c1fc7771f5fa418fd3ac49221a18f19b42ccb7a663da8f04cbbf6c08c80d20b1", "", "mention" ], [ "p", "50d94fc2d8580c682b071a542f8b1e31a200b0508bab95a33bef0855df281d63", "", "mention" ], [ "p", "20d88bae0c38e6407279e6a83350a931e714f0135e013ea4a1b14f936b7fead5", "", "mention" ], [ "p", "273e7880d38d39a7fb238efcf8957a1b5b27e819127a8483e975416a0a90f8d2", "", "mention" ], [ "t", "BH2024" ] ], "content":"Awesome Freedom Panel with...", "sig":"2b64e461cd9f5a7aa8abbcbcfd953536f10a334b631a352cd4124e8e187c71aad08be9aefb6a68e5c060e676d06b61c553e821286ea42489f9e7e7107a1bf79a" } ``` In nostr, all events have this form, so once you become familiar with the nostr event structure, things become pretty easy. Look at the "tags" key. There are six "p" tags (pubkey) and one "t" tag (hashtag). The p tags are public keys of people that are mentioned in the note. The t tags are for hashtags in the note. It is common when working with NOSTR that you have to extract out certain tags. Here are some examples of how to do that with what are called JavaScript Array Methods: ### Find the first "p" tag element: ``` Event.tags.find(item => item[0] === 'p') [ 'p', '6c237d8b3b120251c38c230c06d9e48f0d3017657c5b65c8c36112eb15c52aeb', '', 'mention' ] ``` ### Same, but just return the pubkey": ``` Event.tags.find(item => item[0] === 'p')[1] '6c237d8b3b120251c38c230c06d9e48f0d3017657c5b65c8c36112eb15c52aeb' ``` ### Filter the array so I only get "p" tags: ``` Event.tags.filter(item => item[0] === 'p') [ [ 'p', '6c237d8b3b120251c38c230c06d9e48f0d3017657c5b65c8c36112eb15c52aeb', '', 'mention' ], [ 'p', '77ec966fcd64f901152cad5dc7731c7c831fe22e02e3ae99ff14637e5a48ef9c', '', 'mention' ], [ 'p', 'c1fc7771f5fa418fd3ac49221a18f19b42ccb7a663da8f04cbbf6c08c80d20b1', '', 'mention' ], [ 'p', '50d94fc2d8580c682b071a542f8b1e31a200b0508bab95a33bef0855df281d63', '', 'mention' ], [ 'p', '20d88bae0c38e6407279e6a83350a931e714f0135e013ea4a1b14f936b7fead5', '', 'mention' ], [ 'p', '273e7880d38d39a7fb238efcf8957a1b5b27e819127a8483e975416a0a90f8d2', '', 'mention' ] ] ``` ### Return an array with only the pubkeys in the "p" tags: ``` Event.tags.filter(item => item[0] === 'p').map(item => item[1]) [ '6c237d8b3b120251c38c230c06d9e48f0d3017657c5b65c8c36112eb15c52aeb', '77ec966fcd64f901152cad5dc7731c7c831fe22e02e3ae99ff14637e5a48ef9c', 'c1fc7771f5fa418fd3ac49221a18f19b42ccb7a663da8f04cbbf6c08c80d20b1', '50d94fc2d8580c682b071a542f8b1e31a200b0508bab95a33bef0855df281d63', '20d88bae0c38e6407279e6a83350a931e714f0135e013ea4a1b14f936b7fead5', '273e7880d38d39a7fb238efcf8957a1b5b27e819127a8483e975416a0a90f8d2' ] ```

@ 1ec45473:d38df139

``` ______________ / /| / / | /____________ / | | ___________ | | || || | || #NOSTR || | || || | ||___________|| | | _______ | / /| (_______) | / ( |_____________|/ \ .=======================. | :::::::::::::::: ::: | | ::::::::::::::[] ::: | | ----------- ::: | `-----------------------' ```

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

| Parameters | Dry Mead | Medium Mead | Sweet Mead | |------------|-----------|-------------|------------| | Honey | 2 lbs (900 grams) | 3 lbs (1.36 kg) | 4 lbs (1.81 kg) | | Yeast | ~0.07 oz (2 grams) | ~0.08 oz (2.5 grams) | ~0.10 oz (3 grams) | | Fermentation | ~4 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks | | Racking | Fortnight or later | 1 month or after | ~2 months and after | | Specific Gravity | <1.010 | ~1.01 to ~1.025 | >1.025 |

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The landscape of cryptocurrency is witnessing a potential paradigm shift with the growing interest of institutional investors in Bitcoin. The excitement surrounding the prospect of a spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is palpable, yet it brings with it a wave of concern. Arthur Hayes, a renowned figure in the cryptocurrency space and the founder of the Maelstrom Fund, stands as a vocal critic of this development. His insights offer a critical perspective on how institutional involvement could fundamentally alter the essence of Bitcoin, potentially steering it away from its founding principles of decentralization and autonomy. This article delves into Hayes' concerns, unraveling the complexities and potential repercussions of institutional custody on the future of Bitcoin. **Table Of Content** - The Rising Concern of Institutional Involvement - The Scenario of Institutional Custody - The Essence of Bitcoin at Stake - Influence on Network Consensus - Long-Term Implications for Bitcoin - Conclusion - FAQs **The Rising Concern of Institutional Involvement** Arthur Hayes' apprehensions about institutional involvement in Bitcoin are rooted in a deep understanding of both the cryptocurrency world and traditional financial systems. The entry of large financial institutions like BlackRock into the Bitcoin space could signify a significant shift in the dynamics of cryptocurrency ownership and control. These institutions, often perceived as extensions of state interests, could bring a level of centralization and control antithetical to Bitcoin's decentralized ethos. The historical relationship between large financial entities and state mechanisms, and their potential influence on Bitcoin, raises critical questions about the future of this cryptocurrency. The impact of this shift on the broader crypto ecosystem, investor behavior, and Bitcoin's perception in the global financial landscape is profound and multifaceted. **The Scenario of Institutional Custody** The future that Hayes envisions, where significant portions of Bitcoin are locked away in institutional ETFs, is a stark departure from the current state of the cryptocurrency. This transformation could relegate Bitcoin from a vibrant, actively traded asset to a passive component of investment portfolios. Such a shift would not only alter Bitcoin's market dynamics but also its fundamental utility. The implications of this change are far-reaching, affecting everything from Bitcoin's liquidity to its role as a tool for financial freedom and empowerment. The prospect of Bitcoin becoming a mere line item in institutional balance sheets is a scenario that challenges the very ideals upon which the cryptocurrency was built. **The Essence of Bitcoin at Stake** The core of Hayes' argument lies in the potential loss of Bitcoin's identity. If Bitcoin becomes predominantly held in institutional ETFs, it risks becoming just another asset in the global financial system, losing its unique characteristics as a decentralized and autonomous currency. This transformation would affect the philosophical and practical aspects of Bitcoin, impacting principles of autonomy, privacy, and decentralization. The shift from a user-driven to an institutionally controlled asset could have profound implications for the future of Bitcoin, potentially undermining the trust and support of its community. **Influence on Network Consensus** Hayes raises a significant concern about the potential influence of institutional holders on Bitcoin's consensus mechanism and development path. The risk of having a large portion of Bitcoin controlled by entities with different priorities than the broader Bitcoin community is real and concerning. This influence could lead to a misalignment between Bitcoin's development and the needs of its user base, especially regarding crucial updates related to security and privacy enhancements. The integrity and future evolution of Bitcoin's technology could be at stake, raising questions about the true independence and resilience of this decentralized network. **Long-Term Implications for Bitcoin** While the short-term effects of institutional investment, such as price appreciation, are clear, the long-term consequences are more nuanced and complex. The potential trade-offs between short-term gains and long-term impacts on Bitcoin's utility and independence are a critical aspect of this discussion. The paradox of Bitcoin's growing acceptance by traditional financial institutions and the possible erosion of its foundational principles is a dilemma that the crypto community must navigate carefully. The future of Bitcoin, in this context, is not just about its price or market capitalization, but about its ability to retain its core values and functionality. **Conclusion** Arthur Hayes' insights provide a crucial perspective on the evolving landscape of Bitcoin in the face of institutional interest. As the cryptocurrency world grapples with these developments, understanding the balance between mainstream acceptance and the preservation of Bitcoin's core values is essential. This article reflects on the potential risks and implications of institutional custody of Bitcoin, offering a comprehensive analysis that underscores the importance of maintaining the decentralized ethos that has defined Bitcoin since its inception. **FAQs** **What is the main concern raised by Arthur Hayes about institutional involvement in Bitcoin?** Arthur Hayes expresses concern that institutional involvement, particularly through Bitcoin ETFs, could lead to centralization and control by large financial entities, undermining Bitcoin's decentralized ethos. **How could institutional custody of Bitcoin alter its market dynamics?** Institutional custody could transform Bitcoin from an actively traded asset to a passive component of investment portfolios, affecting its liquidity and role as a tool for financial freedom. **What implications does institutional control have on Bitcoin's network consensus?** Institutional control could influence Bitcoin's consensus mechanism and development path, potentially leading to a misalignment with the needs of the broader Bitcoin community, especially regarding updates related to security and privacy. **Are there long-term implications of institutional investment in Bitcoin?** Yes, while institutional investment might boost Bitcoin's price in the short term, it raises concerns about the long-term impact on Bitcoin's utility, independence, and adherence to its foundational principles. **What is the essence of Arthur Hayes' argument against institutional custody of Bitcoin?** Hayes argues that institutional custody risks turning Bitcoin into just another financial asset, losing its unique characteristics as a decentralized and autonomous currency. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

> [Read the original blog post](https://blog.kycnot.me/p/kyc-no-thanks) Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations. Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms. ## Rights for Illusions KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks? The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors." However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% [^1] – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service. Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy. To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% [^1] of less-than-careful criminals. ## KYC? Not you. > KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. [^2] KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible. For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded. Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether. It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms. ## You're not welcome Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right? This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to. Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely. ## Your identity has been stolen KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets[^3]. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain **very** sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it? As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. [^3] In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised. ## (they) Know Your Coins You may already know that **Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain**, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded **forever**. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced. If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with. ## Conclusions To sum up, **KYC does not protect individuals**; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred. The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies. The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable. > Edited 20/03/2024 > * Add reference to the 1% statement on [Rights for Illusions](#rights-for-illusions) section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity [^1] [^1]: https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-crypto-crime-report-introduction/ [^2]: https://old.reddit.com/r/BitcoinBeginners/comments/k2bve1/is_kyc_bad_if_so_why/gdtc8kz [^3]: https://www.ccn.com/hacked-customer-data-from-world-leading-cryptocurrency-exchanges-for-sale-on-the-dark-web/

@ 08288690:77f58eba

[Awesome Amapiano]( https://www.mixcloud.com/supremacysounds/amapiano-vibes-2025-biri-marung-skuta-baba-sthandwa-sam-more/)

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, bitcoin mining has emerged as a critical yet often misunderstood component. It's a sector where technology, environmental concerns, and economic factors intersect, creating a complex and dynamic landscape. Fred Thiel, the CEO of Marathon Digital Holdings, is a leading voice in this space, advocating for a future where bitcoin mining is not only profitable but also sustainable and innovative. His insights offer a roadmap for the industry's evolution, emphasizing the need for decentralization, global expansion, and a deep commitment to environmental responsibility. **Table Of Content** - Decentralization and Global Expansion - Tackling the Challenges Head-On - Stranded Energy and Clean Tech Innovations - Heat Harvesting and Strategic Partnerships - Reshaping the Energy Landscape - The Economics of Sustainability - The Digital Age of Green Energy - Conclusion - FAQs **Decentralization and Global Expansion** The concept of decentralization is foundational to the ethos of bitcoin, and Thiel's approach to mining is no exception. Despite Marathon's status as one of the largest publicly-traded bitcoin mining companies, Thiel is quick to point out that they contribute to less than 5% of the network's total hash rate. This modest share underscores the decentralized nature of the industry and the vast potential for growth and expansion. Under Thiel's leadership, Marathon is not content with maintaining the status quo. The company is actively seeking to broaden its horizons, exploring opportunities beyond the American landscape. Thiel's vision is global, recognizing the strategic importance of diversifying mining operations to mitigate risks and capitalize on international markets. The push for global expansion is not just about increasing Marathon's footprint; it's about integrating renewable energy into the core of mining operations. Thiel is a proponent of leveraging the world's natural resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, to fuel the next generation of bitcoin mining. This approach not only reduces the environmental impact but also aligns with the growing demand for sustainable practices in all sectors of the economy. **Tackling the Challenges Head-On** The journey toward sustainable innovation is fraught with challenges, and the bitcoin mining industry is no exception. Thiel is candid about the obstacles facing miners today, including the fierce competition for bitcoin rewards. As more players enter the field, the fight for a slice of the bitcoin pie becomes increasingly difficult, compressing profit margins and forcing miners to optimize their operations. The upcoming halving event, a pre-programmed reduction in bitcoin rewards that occurs approximately every four years, adds another layer of complexity to the industry's economic landscape. Thiel predicts that this event will catalyze a significant shift in the industry, leading to the consolidation of mining power among a few dominant global players. Smaller mining operations may find it challenging to compete, potentially pivoting to specialized roles within the ecosystem. **Stranded Energy and Clean Tech Innovations** One of the most innovative concepts Thiel discusses is the utilization of "stranded energy" for bitcoin mining. Stranded energy refers to power that is generated but not used, often because it is too remote or too inconsistent to be incorporated into the traditional energy grid. By harnessing this otherwise wasted energy, bitcoin miners can reduce their environmental footprint and turn a potential liability into a valuable asset. Thiel is particularly interested in the potential for capturing methane emissions from landfills and converting them into energy for mining. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its capture and use not only mitigate environmental harm but also provide a cost-effective energy source for miners. This symbiotic relationship between waste management and bitcoin mining is a prime example of the innovative thinking that Thiel brings to the table. The heat generated by mining equipment is another area ripe for innovation. Typically seen as a byproduct to be cooled and dissipated, Thiel envisions this heat being repurposed for agricultural use, such as heating greenhouses, or industrial processes, like drying lumber. These applications could create new revenue streams for miners and contribute to a more circular economy. **Heat Harvesting and Strategic Partnerships** The innovative use of excess heat from mining operations is just one example of the creative solutions being explored under Thiel's leadership. He envisions a future where the byproducts of mining contribute to other sectors, creating a more integrated and efficient industrial ecosystem. Marathon's strategic partnerships are a testament to this vision. In Texas and North Dakota, the company is pioneering the use of wind energy that would otherwise be unutilized due to grid limitations. These initiatives not only bolster Marathon's commitment to sustainability but also demonstrate the potential for renewable energy to power large-scale mining operations. Thiel also highlights collaborations with landfill owners, aiming to convert methane gas into a power source for mining. These partnerships are a win-win, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing a steady energy supply for Marathon's mining activities. **Reshaping the Energy Landscape** The strategic partnerships that Thiel fosters are not just about securing energy sources; they are about reimagining the energy landscape itself. By aligning with energy producers and innovators, Marathon is at the forefront of creating a new paradigm where energy production and consumption are balanced in a closed-loop system. This system not only powers the mining operations but also contributes to the stability and sustainability of local energy grids. Thiel's vision extends to the creation of commodity markets centered around bitcoin mining. He sees a future where energy, particularly renewable energy, is traded with bitcoin mining as a key driver. This could lead to more efficient markets, where energy is not wasted but used as a strategic asset to secure the blockchain network. **The Economics of Sustainability** The economics of bitcoin mining are complex and often volatile. Thiel understands that for Marathon to remain competitive, it must not only innovate in terms of technology but also in its business model. The company's focus on sustainability is not just an ethical choice but an economic strategy. By reducing reliance on traditional energy sources and minimizing environmental impact, Marathon is positioning itself to be resilient against regulatory changes and shifts in public sentiment. Thiel's approach to the economics of sustainability involves a long-term perspective. He is preparing for a future where the cost of energy and the impact of carbon emissions are likely to be significant factors in the profitability of mining operations. By investing in renewable energy and carbon reduction technologies now, Marathon is future-proofing its operations. **The Digital Age of Green Energy** As the conversation with Nelson concluded, it became clear that Thiel's vision for bitcoin mining is about more than just securing digital assets; it's about securing a sustainable future. The industry is at a pivotal moment, with the potential to lead the way in green energy utilization and innovation. Bitcoin mining, in Thiel's view, is not just an industry but a catalyst for change. It has the potential to drive the adoption of renewable energy, to create new markets for stranded energy, and to foster a more sustainable approach to energy consumption worldwide. **Conclusion** Fred Thiel's journey in sustainable innovation within bitcoin mining is a testament to the transformative power of visionary leadership. His approach goes beyond the conventional scope of cryptocurrency mining, challenging the industry to rethink its relationship with energy and the environment. Under Thiel's guidance, Marathon Digital Holdings is not just mining for bitcoin; it's mining for a better future. By embracing decentralization, tackling industry challenges with foresight, innovating with stranded energy, and forming strategic partnerships, Marathon is paving the way for a more sustainable and economically viable mining industry. **FAQs** **Who is Fred Thiel?** Fred Thiel is the CEO of Marathon Digital Holdings, one of the largest publicly-traded bitcoin mining companies. **What is Marathon Digital Holdings' approach to bitcoin mining?** Marathon emphasizes sustainable and innovative mining practices, focusing on decentralization, global expansion, and renewable energy sources. **What challenges does bitcoin mining face according to Thiel?** Thiel notes competition for bitcoin rewards, tightening margins, and the impact of reward halving events as significant challenges. **How is Marathon Digital Holdings addressing environmental concerns?** The company is pioneering the use of stranded energy, such as methane from landfills, and harnessing excess heat from mining operations for other industrial uses. **What are the economic benefits of sustainable mining practices?** Sustainable practices can lead to reduced operational costs, resilience against regulatory changes, and a positive public perception, which can be economically beneficial. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ f4db5270:3c74e0d0

Hi Art lover! 🎨🫂💜 You may not know it yet but all of the following paintings are available in #Bitcoin on my website: https://isolabell.art/#shop For info and prices write to me in DM and we will find a good deal! 🤝  ON THE ROAD AGAIN 40x50cm, Oil on canvas Completed January 23, 2025 -----------  SUN OF JANUARY 40x50cm, Oil on canvas Completed January 14, 2025 -----------  THE BLUE HOUR 40x50cm, Oil on canvas Completed December 14, 2024 -----------  LIKE A FRAGMENT OF ETERNITY 50x40cm, Oil on canvas Completed December 01, 2024 -----------  WHERE WINTER WHISPERS 50x40cm, Oil on canvas Completed November 07, 2024 -----------  L'ATTESA DI UN MOMENTO 40x40cm, Oil on canvas Completed October 29, 2024 -----------  LE COSE CHE PENSANO 40x50cm, Oil on paper Completed October 05, 2024 -----------  TWILIGHT'S RIVER 50x40cm, Oil on canvas Completed September 17, 2024 ----------  GOLD ON THE OCEAN 40x50cm, Oil on paper Completed September 08, 2024 ----------  SUSSURRI DI CIELO E MARE 50x40cm, Oil on paper Completed September 05, 2024 -----------  THE END OF A WONDERFUL WEEKEND 40x30cm, Oil on board Completed August 12, 2024 -----------  FIAMME NEL CIELO 60x35cm, Oil on board Completed July 28, 2024 -----------  INIZIO D'ESTATE 50x40cm, Oil on cradled wood panel Completed July 13, 2024 -----------  OMBRE DELLA SERA 50x40cm, Oil on cradled wood panel Completed June 16, 2024 -----------  NEW ZEALAND SUNSET 80x60cm, Oil on canvas board Completed May 28, 2024 -----------  VENICE 50x40cm, Oil on board Completed May 4, 2024 -----------  CORNWALL 50x40cm, Oil on board Completed April 26, 2024 -----------  DOCKS ON SUNSET 40x19,5cm, Oil on board Completed March 14, 2024 -----------  SOLITUDE 30x30cm, Oil on cradled wood panel Completed March 2, 2024 -----------  LULLING WAVES 40x30cm, Oil on cradled wood panel Completed January 14, 2024 -----------  MULATTIERA IN AUTUNNO 30x30cm, Oil on cradled wood panel -----------  TRAMONTO A KOS 40x40cm, oil on board canvas -----------  HIDDEN SMILE 40x40cm, oil on board -----------  INIZIO D'AUTUNNO 40x40cm, oil on canvas -----------  BOE NEL LAGO 30x30cm, oil on canvas board -----------  BARCHE A RIPOSO 40x40cm, oil on canvas board -----------  IL RISVEGLIO 30x40cm, oil on canvas board -----------  LA QUIETE PRIMA DELLA TEMPESTA 30x40cm, oil on canvas board -----------  LAMPIONE SUL LAGO 30x30cm, oil on canvas board -----------  DUE NELLA NEVE 60x25cm, oil on board -----------  UNA CAREZZA 30x30cm, oil on canvas board -----------  REBEL WAVES 44x32cm, oil on canvas board -----------  THE SCREAMING WAVE 40x30cm, oil on canvas board -----------  "LA DONZELLETTA VIEN DALLA CAMPAGNA..." 30x40cm, oil on canvas board -----------  LIGHTHOUSE ON WHITE CLIFF 30x40cm, oil on canvas board

@ fd208ee8:0fd927c1

## Planning Alexandria People keep asking what features nostr:npub1s3ht77dq4zqnya8vjun5jp3p44pr794ru36d0ltxu65chljw8xjqd975wz has planned for #Alexandria, but they're not set in stone because we're an agile project. What we do have, is lots of tickets on our Kanban boards and a naming scheme, where we use a famous person's last name, to signify the release goals.  ### Gutenberg v 0.1.0 (after the inventor of the printing press) will contain the features needed to read and write [NIP-62 Curated Publications](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/1600), as well as encompassing the complex infrastructure, architecture, documentation, and personnel we require to make this all run smoothly and look easy.  ### Euler v 0.2.0 (after a mathematician credited with establishing graph theory) will contain the features for deep-searching, visually exploring, and smartly navigating the data set, wiki page display, annotating and citing the publications, exporting to other formats (like PDF, ePUB, and LaTeX), and commenting/reviewing. To help with the heavy lifting, we will be swapping out the core with our own Nostr SDK called "Aedile".  ### Defoe v 0.3.0 (after an author who perfected the novel format) will be all about our favorite writers. We will be focusing upon profile data, payment systems, book clubs and communities, and stylesheets. That is everything we have planned, for the v1.0 edition, and we consider that version to be a true product. As for after that, a teaser... 

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

President Trump has ordered thousands of additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of an effort to address immigration and security issues. This directive builds on his initial commitment to increase military presence along the border. Currently, around 2,200 active-duty personnel and approximately 4,500 National Guardsmen are stationed there. The new deployment aims to enhance the capabilities of Joint Task Force-North, allowing troops to assist in operations and provide intelligence support. Details on specific units remain unclear. The situation is still developing, with updates expected. [Sauce](https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-president-trump-orders-thousands-of-troops-to-the-us-border-with-mexico)

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The financial world has been abuzz with the concept of Bitcoin ETFs, a development that promises to blend the cutting-edge world of cryptocurrencies with the traditional investment landscape. The allure of Bitcoin ETFs lies in their potential to demystify the process of investing in digital currencies. For the average investor, navigating the cryptocurrency market can be daunting, with concerns ranging from wallet security to the complexities of exchange platforms. ETFs offer a solution by packaging Bitcoin into a familiar form that can be traded with the ease of stocks, bypassing the technical barriers that might deter traditional investors. **Table Of Content** - The Significance of BlackRock's Interest - The Bridge to Mainstream Investment - Regulatory Hurdles and Market Manipulation Concerns - The Race to Launch the First Bitcoin ETF - The Psychology of Demand - Conclusion - FAQs **The Significance of BlackRock's Interest** The interest of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, in launching a Bitcoin ETF is a significant endorsement for the cryptocurrency sector. BlackRock's move is not merely about launching a new product; it's a signal that the firm recognizes the long-term value proposition of cryptocurrencies. The implications of BlackRock's involvement are profound, as it could lead to a domino effect, with other institutional investors following suit. BlackRock's entry into the Bitcoin space could also serve as a catalyst for regulatory clarity. As regulators see established financial institutions embracing cryptocurrencies, they may be more inclined to provide the necessary frameworks for these assets to thrive. This could lead to a virtuous cycle, where regulatory clarity leads to more institutional involvement, which in turn could lead to further regulatory advancements. **The Bridge to Mainstream Investment** The creation of a spot market Bitcoin ETF represents a pivotal bridge between the innovative world of cryptocurrencies and traditional financial markets. Such an ETF would provide a regulated, accessible, and efficient means for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin, potentially unlocking billions of dollars of sidelined capital. The bridge metaphor is apt because it conveys the transformative potential of Bitcoin ETFs to connect disparate financial realms, facilitating a flow of capital that could stabilize and mature the cryptocurrency market. The bridging role of Bitcoin ETFs is particularly important for institutional investors, who often face strict regulatory and operational requirements that make direct investment in cryptocurrencies challenging. By packaging Bitcoin within the familiar structure of an ETF, these investors can participate in the growth of digital assets while adhering to their investment mandates. **Regulatory Hurdles and Market Manipulation Concerns** The path to Bitcoin ETF approval has been fraught with regulatory hurdles, primarily due to concerns over market manipulation and the integrity of the underlying Bitcoin market. The SEC's apprehension is rooted in the decentralized and fragmented nature of cryptocurrency exchanges, which can complicate efforts to monitor and prevent manipulative practices. However, the recent developments with Grayscale's Bitcoin ETF application suggest a potential softening of the SEC's stance. If Grayscale's ETF can demonstrate that it has adequate measures in place to address the SEC's concerns, it could set a precedent for the approval of future Bitcoin ETFs. This would be a significant milestone, as it would acknowledge the maturation of the cryptocurrency market and its surveillance mechanisms to a level that satisfies regulatory standards. **The Race to Launch the First Bitcoin ETF** The race to launch the first Bitcoin ETF is not just a matter of prestige but also of strategic advantage. The first-mover in this space will capture the attention of eager investors and set the tone for the market. The competition is fierce, with several financial giants vying for the position. The outcome of this race is eagerly anticipated by the crypto community, as it will likely have a significant impact on the market's dynamics and investor sentiment. The anticipation surrounding the first Bitcoin ETF is also a reflection of the broader crypto industry's desire for validation and growth. Approval of an ETF would be a landmark event, signaling a new level of acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies into the financial mainstream. **The Psychology of Demand** The demand for Bitcoin ETFs can be partly explained by the psychological concept of scarcity, where the value of an item increases with its rarity or inaccessibility. The SEC's repeated rejections of Bitcoin ETF proposals have only heightened their desirability. This phenomenon is not unique to the crypto industry; it is a well-documented aspect of human behavior that applies across various markets and products. The psychology of demand for Bitcoin ETFs is also driven by the narrative of crypto's journey towards acceptance. Each regulatory challenge and milestone is part of a larger story of an emerging asset class striving for legitimacy. The crypto community's response to these developments is often charged with emotion, reflecting the high stakes and deep investment many have in the future of digital assets. **Conclusion** The excitement surrounding Bitcoin ETFs is a complex interplay of innovation, regulation, and human psychology. It encapsulates the hopes and challenges of an industry at the cusp of broader acceptance. The eventual introduction of Bitcoin ETFs could represent a significant inflection point, potentially ushering in a new era of institutional investment and mainstream interest in cryptocurrencies. As the narrative unfolds, the crypto community watches with bated breath, anticipating the moment when Bitcoin ETFs become a reality. This event could validate the years of advocacy, development, and belief in the transformative potential of cryptocurrencies. For now, the excitement continues to build, with each rumor, regulatory update, and market movement watched closely by those eager to witness the next chapter in the evolution of finance. **FAQs** **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** A Bitcoin ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a type of investment fund that tracks the price of Bitcoin and is traded on traditional stock exchanges, allowing investors to buy into Bitcoin without the complexities of handling the cryptocurrency itself. **Why are Bitcoin ETFs important?** Bitcoin ETFs are seen as a bridge between traditional finance and the emerging world of cryptocurrencies, offering a regulated, familiar investment vehicle for institutional and retail investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin. **Has the SEC approved any Bitcoin ETFs?** As of the last update, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved any spot market Bitcoin ETFs, citing concerns over market manipulation and surveillance. However, futures-based Bitcoin ETFs have been approved and are being traded. **What are the benefits of a Bitcoin ETF?** Benefits include easier access for traditional investors, improved liquidity and price stability for Bitcoin, and the potential for increased institutional investment in the cryptocurrency space. **What are the main concerns about Bitcoin ETFs?** The main concerns include the potential for market manipulation, the integrity of the underlying Bitcoin market, and the adequacy of market surveillance mechanisms. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 4506e04e:8c16ba04

If you are a researcher in the field of medicine, you are most likely very familiar with PubMed – where you get citations for the articles and studies that drive your work forward. PubMed Central (PMC), the full-text repository of life sciences journal literature managed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), was established in 2000. Its creation marked a significant milestone in providing open access to biomedical research. Since 2005, PMC has served as the designated repository for papers submitted under the NIH Public Access Policy, reflecting the growing emphasis on transparency and accessibility in scientific research. Over the years, PMC has expanded its scope, becoming a repository for papers aligned with public and open access policies from various research funding organizations, both within and beyond biomedical sciences. ## Funding and Partnerships NLM’s operations, including PubMed and PMC, are supported by a combination of government funding and contributions from influential entities such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation receives significant donations from pharmaceutical companies, as well as other organizations and individuals. The exact amount of money donated by each company can vary from year to year, but here are some examples of the amounts donated by the pharmaceutical companies: **GSK (GlaxoSmithKline):** - In 2020, GSK donated $100 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. - In 2019, GSK donated $50 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **Pfizer:** - In 2020, Pfizer donated $50 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. - In 2019, Pfizer donated $25 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **Merck & Co.:** - In 2020, Merck donated $50 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. - In 2019, Merck donated $25 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **Novartis:** - In 2020, Novartis donated $20 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new treatments for diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. - In 2019, Novartis donated $10 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **Johnson & Johnson:** - In 2020, Johnson & Johnson donated $50 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. - In 2019, Johnson & Johnson donated $25 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **Sanofi:** - In 2020, Sanofi donated $20 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. - In 2019, Sanofi donated $10 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **AstraZeneca:** - In 2020, AstraZeneca donated $20 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. - In 2019, AstraZeneca donated $10 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. **Eli Lilly and Company:** - In 2020, Eli Lilly donated $10 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of new treatments for diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. - In 2019, Eli Lilly donated $5 million to the Gates Foundation to support the development of a new malaria vaccine. Additionally, NLM website [https://cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/cms/files/PMCFunderDepositList.xlsx] (list over 200)(!) organisations that are founding it. What could go wrong one might ask?! ## The Centralization Challenge While PubMed and PMC have played a pivotal role in democratizing access to scientific literature, their centralized nature presents vulnerabilities. Over the past century healthcare has grown to become one of the most profitable industries and to believe that the healthcare system we have today is the best we can do is far from understatement. PubMed's reliance on centralized funding and decision-making processes makes it susceptible to external influences, including lobbying by powerful entities. Moreover, the centralized infrastructure allows for content to be published and removed with relative ease, often without leaving a trace. This raises concerns about the integrity and permanence of the scientific record, particularly in contentious or politically sensitive areas of research. The ability to alter or erase information from PubMed undermines trust in the system’s objectivity and neutrality. Researchers and the public alike depend on these repositories for reliable and impartial access to scientific knowledge. Any perceived or actual manipulation of content can erode confidence in the platform and compromise its foundational mission. ## The Case for Decentralization To address these challenges, a decentralized alternative built on emerging technologies, such as the Nostr protocol, could offer significant advantages. A decentralized platform would: - **Enhance Resilience:** By distributing data across a network of relays, a decentralized system would eliminate single points of failure, ensuring the scientific record remains intact and always accessible even in the face of technical or political disruptions. - **Increase Transparency:** Decentralized systems inherently log changes, making it nearly impossible to alter or remove content without leaving an auditable trail. This transparency would bolster trust in the integrity of the research. - **Reduce Susceptibility to Lobbying:** Without centralized control, the influence of external entities on the platform’s content would be significantly diminished, preserving the objectivity of the scientific record. - **Foster Open Collaboration:** A decentralized approach aligns with the principles of open science, encouraging global collaboration without the constraints of centralized oversight or bias introduced by big pharma lobby. ## Conclusion While PubMed and PMC have been instrumental in advancing access to scientific literature, their centralized nature leaves them vulnerable to manipulation and external pressures. A shift toward a decentralized, censorship-resistant platform would address these vulnerabilities and provide a more robust and trustless repository for scientific knowledge. Groundbreaking research that dares to challenge the pharmaceutical industry's status quo could be published anonymously, following in the footsteps of the Bitcoin whitepaper's pseudonymous author, Satoshi Nakamoto. Leveraging technologies like the Nostr protocol, the research community can build a system that ensures the permanence, integrity, and impartiality of the scientific record for generations to come.

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

A seguir, veja como instalar e configurar o **Privoxy** no **Pop!_OS**. --- ### **1. Instalar o Tor e o Privoxy** Abra o terminal e execute: ```bash sudo apt update sudo apt install tor privoxy ``` **Explicação:** - **Tor:** Roteia o tráfego pela rede Tor. - **Privoxy:** Proxy avançado que intermedia a conexão entre aplicativos e o Tor. --- ### **2. Configurar o Privoxy** Abra o arquivo de configuração do Privoxy: ```bash sudo nano /etc/privoxy/config ``` Navegue até a última linha (atalho: **`Ctrl`** + **`/`** depois **`Ctrl`** + **`V`** para navegar diretamente até a última linha) e insira: ```bash forward-socks5 / 127.0.0.1:9050 . ``` Isso faz com que o **Privoxy** envie todo o tráfego para o **Tor** através da porta **9050**. Salve (**`CTRL`** + **`O`** e **`Enter`**) e feche (**`CTRL`** + **`X`**) o arquivo. --- ### **3. Iniciar o Tor e o Privoxy** Agora, inicie e habilite os serviços: ```bash sudo systemctl start tor sudo systemctl start privoxy sudo systemctl enable tor sudo systemctl enable privoxy ``` **Explicação:** - **start:** Inicia os serviços. - **enable:** Faz com que iniciem automaticamente ao ligar o PC. --- ### **4. Configurar o Navegador Firefox** Para usar a rede **Tor** com o Firefox: 1. Abra o Firefox. 2. Acesse **Configurações** → **Configurar conexão**. 3. Selecione **Configuração manual de proxy**. 4. Configure assim: - **Proxy HTTP:** `127.0.0.1` - **Porta:** `8118` (porta padrão do **Privoxy**) - **Domínio SOCKS (v5):** `127.0.0.1` - **Porta:** `9050` 5. Marque a opção **"Usar este proxy também em HTTPS"**. 6. Clique em **OK**. --- ### **5. Verificar a Conexão com o Tor** Abra o navegador e acesse: ```text https://check.torproject.org/ ``` Se aparecer a mensagem **"Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor."**, a configuração está correta. --- ### **Dicas Extras** - **Privoxy** pode ser ajustado para bloquear anúncios e rastreadores. - Outros aplicativos também podem ser configurados para usar o **Privoxy**.

@ 16d11430:61640947

In a world drowning in Monopoly money, where people celebrate government-mandated inflation as "economic growth," it takes a special kind of clarity—nay, cynicism—to rise above the fiat circus. This is your guide to shedding your fiat f**ks and embracing the serene chaos of sound money, all while laughing at the absurdity of a world gone fiat-mad. --- 1. Don’t Feed the Clowns You know the clowns I’m talking about: central bankers in their tailored suits and smug smirks, wielding "tools" like interest rates and quantitative easing. Their tools are as real as a magician's wand, conjuring trillions of dollars out of thin air to keep their Ponzi economy afloat. Rule #1: Don’t engage. If a clown offers you a hot take about the "strength of the dollar," smile, nod, and silently wonder how many cups of coffee their paycheck buys this month. Spoiler: fewer than last month. --- 2. Turn Off the Fiat News Do you really need another breathless headline about the next trillion-dollar deficit? Or the latest clickbait on why you should care about the stock market's emotional rollercoaster? Mainstream media exists to distract you, to keep you tethered to their illusion of importance. Turn it off. Replace it with something sound, like the Bitcoin whitepaper. Or Nietzsche. At least Nietzsche knew we were doomed. --- 3. Mock Their Inflationary Gospel Fiat apologists will tell you that inflation is "necessary" and that 2% a year is a "healthy target." Sure, because a little robbery every year keeps society functioning, right? Ask them this: "If 2% is healthy, why not 20%? Why not 200%? Why not Venezuela?" Fiat logic is like a bad acid trip: entertaining at first, but it quickly spirals into existential horror. --- 4. Celebrate the Fiat Freakshow Sometimes, the best way to resist the fiat clown show is to revel in its absurdity. Watch politicians print money like teenagers running up a credit card bill at Hot Topic, then watch the economists applaud it as "stimulus." It’s performance art, really. Andy Warhol could never. --- 5. Build in the Chaos While the fiat world burns, Bitcoiners build. This is the ultimate "not giving a fiat f**k" move: creating a parallel economy, one satoshi at a time. Run your Lightning node, stack sats, and laugh as the fiat circus consumes itself in a flaming pile of its own debt. Let them argue about who gets to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. You’re busy designing lifeboats. --- 6. Adopt a Fiat-Free Lifestyle Fiat-free living means minimizing your entanglement with their clown currency. Buy meat, not ETFs. Trade skills, not IOUs. Tip your barber in Bitcoin and ask if your landlord accepts Lightning. If they say no, chuckle and say, “You’ll learn soon enough.” Every satoshi spent in the real economy is a slap in the face to the fiat overlords. --- 7. Find the Humor in Collapse Here’s the thing: the fiat system is unsustainable. You know it, I know it, even the clowns know it. The whole charade is destined to collapse under its own weight. When it does, find solace in the absurdity of it all. Imagine the central bankers explaining hyperinflation to the public: "Turns out we can't print infinity after all." Pure comedy gold. --- 8. Stay Ruthlessly Optimistic Despite the doom and gloom, there’s hope. Bitcoin is hope. It’s the lifeboat for humanity, the cheat code to escape the fiat matrix. Cynicism doesn’t mean nihilism; it means seeing the rot for what it is and choosing to build something better. So, don’t just reject the fiat clown show—replace it. Create a world where money is sound, transactions are sovereign, and wealth is measured in energy, not debt. --- Final Thought: Burn the Tent Down Aldous Huxley once envisioned a dystopia where people are so distracted by their own hedonistic consumption that they don’t realize they’re enslaved. Sound familiar? The fiat clown show is Brave New World on steroids, a spectacle designed to keep you pacified while your wealth evaporates. But here’s the punchline: they can only enslave you if you care. By rejecting their system, you strip them of their power. So let them juggle their debts, inflate their bubbles, and print their trillions. You’ve got Bitcoin, and Bitcoin doesn’t give a fiat f**k. Welcome to the satirical resistance. Now go stack some sats.

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Oregano oil is a potent natural compound that offers numerous scientifically-supported health benefits. ## Active Compounds The oil's therapeutic properties stem from its key bioactive components: - Carvacrol and thymol (primary active compounds) - Polyphenols and other antioxidant ## Antimicrobial Properties **Bacterial Protection** The oil demonstrates powerful antibacterial effects, even against antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA and other harmful bacteria. Studies show it effectively inactivates various pathogenic bacteria without developing resistance. **Antifungal Effects** It effectively combats fungal infections, particularly Candida-related conditions like oral thrush, athlete's foot, and nail infections. ## Digestive Health Benefits Oregano oil supports digestive wellness by: - Promoting gastric juice secretion and enzyme production - Helping treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) - Managing digestive discomfort, bloating, and IBS symptoms ## Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects The oil provides significant protective benefits through: - Powerful antioxidant activity that fights free radicals - Reduction of inflammatory markers in the body - Protection against oxidative stress-related conditions ## Respiratory Support It aids respiratory health by: - Loosening mucus and phlegm - Suppressing coughs and throat irritation - Supporting overall respiratory tract function ## Additional Benefits **Skin Health** - Improves conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema - Supports wound healing through antibacterial action - Provides anti-aging benefits through antioxidant properties **Cardiovascular Health** Studies show oregano oil may help: - Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels - Support overall heart health **Pain Management** The oil demonstrates effectiveness in: - Reducing inflammation-related pain - Managing muscle discomfort - Providing topical pain relief ## Safety Note While oregano oil is generally safe, it's highly concentrated and should be properly diluted before use Consult a healthcare provider before starting supplementation, especially if taking other medications.

@ cff1720e:15c7e2b2

**Introduction** The aim of ELI5 (explain me like I'm 5) is to explain difficult things simply. This is urgently needed in our high-tech world, because only by understanding the technologies can we use them properly and develop them further. &#x20; I'm starting my series with Nostr, a relatively new internet protocol. What the hell is an Internet protocol? In formal terms, it is an international standard that has ensured that the Internet has been working pretty well for over 30 years. It is the language in which computers communicate with each other and which you also use every day, probably without realizing it. http(s) transports your request to a server (e.g. Amazon), and html ensures that a nice page is created on your screen from the data supplied. A mail is sent to the mail server with smtp and retrieved from it with imap, and since everyone uses the standard, this works with every app on every operating system and with every mail provider. And with an e-mail address like <roland@pareto.space>, you can even move at any time, no matter where. Cool, that's state of the art! But why doesn't this work with chat, for example, is there no protocol? Yes, it's called IRC (Internet Relay Chat → remember the name), but it's hardly ever used. The reasons for this are not technical, but rather apps such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok and others have deliberately created incompatibilities and user dependencies in order to maximize profits.  Since the standard protocol is not used, each app has its own, and we need a handful of apps to exchange information with everyone we know. A mobile phone number is a prerequisite for every account, allowing app manufacturers to track users comprehensively and earn up to USD 30 per account per month by selling the information. The user is no longer the customer, he is the product! Advertising SPAM is the least of the problems with this business model. Servers with millions of user data are a “honey pot”, so they are often hacked and the access data sold. In 2024, the Twitter account of then President Joe Biden was also hacked and no one knew who had written the messages (nor did they before), meaning that the authenticity of the content is not guaranteed with any of these providers. In the same year, the founder of Telegram was taken into custody in France because he refused to build backdoors into his software. Now, to protect “our democracy”, practically anyone can read what information they exchange with whom, e.g. which shampoo certain politicians use.  **Why Nostr?** And anyone who actually believes they can practice freedom of expression on social media will quickly find themselves in the situation of Donald Trump (who was president at the time), whose Twitter account was shut down in 2021 (cancel culture). The user data, i.e. their profile, contacts, documents, images, videos and audio files - no longer belong to them anyway but are the property of the platform operator; read the terms and conditions. But no, not a good idea, there are hundreds of pages and they are constantly being changed. So everyone uses apps whose technology they don't understand, whose rules they don't know, where they have no rights and which steal the results of their actions. What would the five-year-old say if his older sister offered to “manage” all his toys and then hand them over if he was good? “You must be crazy”, and with that the toddler proves he has more sense than the majority of adults. **Conclusion: no standards, no data, no rights = no future!**  **How does Nostr work?** The developers of Nostr realized that the server-client concept had turned into a master-slave concept. The master is synonymous with centralization and becomes the “single point of failure”, which inevitably makes systems dysfunctional. In a distributed peer2peer system, there are no longer any masters but only equal nodes (relays) on which the information is stored. By storing information redundantly on several relays, the system is more resilient in every respect. It is not only nature that has successfully used this principle for millions of years, the Internet was also designed in this way (the ARPAnet was developed by the US military for use in war situations with massive disruptions). All nostr data is stored on relays and the user can choose between public (usually free) and private relays, e.g. for closed groups or for the purpose of data archiving. As documents are stored on several relays, unique document names (URIs = identifiers) are used instead of URLs (locators), making broken links a thing of the past, as are deletions / losses. &#x20; Each document (called an event) is signed by the owner, making it authentic and tamper-proof and can only be deleted by the creator. A key pair consisting of a private (nsec) and public key (npub) is used for this, as known from mail encryption (PGP). This represents a Nostr identity that can be supplemented with a picture, name, bio and a readable Nostr address (e.g. <roland@pareto.space> ), which is all that is needed to use all the resources of the Nostr ecosystem. And this now consists of over a hundred apps with different focuses, e.g. for personal encrypted messages (DM → OxChat), short messages (Damus, Primal), blog posts (Pareto), meetups (Joinstr), groups (Groups), images (Olas), videos (Amethyst), audio chat (Nostr Nests), audio streams (Tunestr), video streams (Zap.Stream), marketplaces (Shopstr) and much more. Registration is done with a single click (single sign-on) and ALL user data is available to the apps (profile, data, contacts, social graph → followers, bookmarks, comments, etc.), in contrast to the fragmented data silos of the present. **Summary: one open standard, all data, all rights = great future!**  **Why is Nostr the future of the internet?** “Don't build your house on someone else's property” also applies to the Internet - for all app developers, artists, journalists and users, because their data is also valuable. Nostr guarantees ownership of the data and overcomes its fragmentation. Neither use nor creative freedom is restricted by excessive license and usage conditions. Passive users become active participants through interaction, co-creators in a sharing economy (**Value4Value**). Open source finally restores trust in software and its providers. Open standards enable developers to cooperate more and develop faster, while guaranteeing freedom of choice for users. Which brings us back to our five-year-old for the last time. Children love Lego more than anything, especially the maxi box “Classic”, because it allows them to live out their imagination to the full in terms of combinations. Adults then give them the far too expensive theme packs, with which you can only build one solution according to the instructions. “What's wrong with my parents, when did they take a wrong turn?” the children rightly ask themselves. But the image can be polished up again if they show their children Nostr, because even five-year-olds understand the advantages. **The new Internet is decentralized. The new Internet is self-determined. Nostr is the new Internet.**  \ More infos: <https://nostr.net/>\ Quick start: <https://start.njump.me/>

@ 0f061fe4:944cdb2b

There are too many ways to build and test a project with CMake. On the other hand, there is too little knowledge out there about those ways. As a consequence, people wrap the CMake invocation in custom scripts written in Bash, Python, Typescript etc. Just look at the Jenkins configuration in your company. Look at different implementations of GitHub actions/workflows for CMake. I bet what you will find is a complete framework with custom abstractions of core utilities, version control systems, the CMake command line, the actual build system, and more. Looking at the commands that actually perform the steps for configuring, building, and testing, it is very likely that you see those: ```sh mkdir -p $build_dir cd $build_dir cmake -G Ninja $source_dir ninja ninja test ``` I assume you know that CMake can create the build directory and provides an abstraction for invoking the actual build system. You should also know that the `test` target essentially just runs `ctest`. So you could simplify and generalize the above commands to this: ```sh cmake -G Ninja -S $source_dir -B $build_dir cmake --build $build_dir ctest --test-dir $build_dir ``` But did you know that CTest already provides a command line abstraction to execute the three steps? ```sh ctest --build-and-test $source_dir $build_dir \ --build-generator Ninja --test-command ctest ``` Don't ask me why the above command stops after the build step when `--test-command ctest` is omitted. After all, this mode is called "build **and test**", so just executing `ctest` would be a sane default when no test command is explicitly set by the user. Anyway, there is more. CTest also provides abstractions for the version control system, coverage analysis, and memory ckecking. But here be dragons. There are, believe it or not, four different ways to configure CTest as a dashboard client: 1. [CTest Command-Line](https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.30/manual/ctest.1.html#dashboard-client-via-ctest-command-line) 2. Declarative CTest Script (undocumented) 3. [CTest Module](https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.30/module/CTest.html) 4. [CTest Script](https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.30/manual/ctest.1.html#dashboard-client-via-ctest-script) In the first approach, the command-line flag `-D` or a combination of `-M` and `-T` is used to control *which* steps to execute. The actual logic that is executed for those steps is controlled through a configuration file called `DartConfiguration.tcl` which is read from the current working directory. Note that the documentation claims that this approach works in an already-generated build tree. This is not true in all cases. What is definitely needed, is that the source repository is already checked out. While the source directory can be updated, it cannot be initialized with this approach. We will get back to those details later. For now, copy the following content into a file called `DartConfiguration.tcl`: ```tcl SourceDirectory: Example BuildDirectory: Example-build UpdateCommand: git ConfigureCommand: cmake -G Ninja -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS_INIT=--coverage .. CoverageCommand:gcov MemoryCheckCommand: valgrind ``` Make sure that `Example` is a directory next to the `DartConfiguration.tcl` file and contains a local clone of a git repository. Then execute the following: ```sh ctest -M Experimental \ -T Start \ -T Update \ -T Configure \ -T Build \ -T Test \ -T Coverage \ -T MemCheck ``` Observe in the output that ctest updates the repository to the latest revision, configures the project, builds it, runs the tests, analyzes the coverage, and finds some memory leaks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the second approach, the `DartConfiguration.tcl` file is replaced with a file written in the CMake syntax: ```cmake set(CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "/home/dpfeifer/Example") set(CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY "/home/dpfeifer/Example-build") set(CTEST_COMMAND "ctest") set(CTEST_CMAKE_COMMAND "cmake") set(CTEST_CVS_CHECKOUT "gh repo clone Example") ``` The name of the file does not really matter. I use the name `CTestScript.cmake` and invoke ctest like this: ```sh ctest --script CTestScript.cmake --verbose ``` Remember that, with the previous approach, it was impossible to initialize the source directory? With this approach, it is possible via the `CTEST_CVS_CHECKOUT` variable. Despite the name, this variable can be used to checkout a repository with any version control system, as shown in the example. However, updating probably only works with CVS. What is worse, is that this approach basically just handles the `update`, `configure`, and `test` steps. Yes, the project is not even built before running the tests. I wonder if anyone finds this useful. Why am I even mentioning this approach when it is so barely useful? Because it can get in the way when you don't expect it. I will get back to that. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The third approach also allows setting variables in the CMake syntax. Not in a separate file, but in the top level project's `CMakeLists.txt` file, right before `include(CTest)`. This module internally calls `configure_file` to place `DartConfiguration.tcl` into the build tree. Now, it becomes clear why the documentation claims that `ctest` may be invoked with command-line flags `-D`, `-M`, and `-T` in an already-generated build tree: Because the CTest module places `DartConfiguration.tcl` there. It also becomes clear under which circumstance it does *not* work as advertized: When the project does not `include(CTest)`! But when a project does `include(CTest)`, it will get several custom targets like `ExperimentalCoverage` that will execute `ctest -D ExperimentalCoverage`. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The last approach uses the same file and command-line as the second one. The difference is that the build-and-test logic is scripted with CTest commands: ```cmake cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14) set(CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY "/home/dpfeifer/Example") set(CTEST_BINARY_DIRECTORY "/home/dpfeifer/Example-build") set(CTEST_CMAKE_GENERATOR "Ninja") find_program(CTEST_GIT_COMMAND "git") find_program(CTEST_COVERAGE_COMMAND "gcov") find_program(CTEST_MEMORYCHECK_COMMAND "valgrind") cmake_host_system_information(RESULT NPROC QUERY NUMBER_OF_LOGICAL_CORES) if(NOT EXISTS ${CTEST_SOURCE_DIRECTORY}) set(CTEST_CHECKOUT_COMMAND "gh repo clone Example") endif() ctest_start("Experimental") ctest_update() ctest_configure(OPTIONS -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS_INIT=--coverage) ctest_build(PARALLEL_LEVEL ${NPROC}) ctest_test(PARALLEL_LEVEL ${NPROC}) ctest_coverage() ctest_memcheck(PARALLEL_LEVEL ${NPROC}) ``` This is the only approach that can both initialize *and* update the source directory. It is also the only approach that allows you to execute the same step more than once. Imagine you want to use a multi-config generator and then run `ctest_build` for each configuration. It gives full control over the logic what steps to run under what conditions. Imagine you want to run the expensive memory checking only when the build finishes without warnings, as the warnings may already indicate memory issues. The possibilities are endless. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How does `ctest --script` distinguish between "CTest Script" mode and the dreaded "Declarative CTest Script" mode? At the beginning of the script, CTest implicitly sets the variable [`CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT`](https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.30/variable/CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT.html) to 1. Each of the `ctest_*` functions sets the variable to 0. When this variable is still 1 at the end of the script, CTest assumes that none of the `ctest_*` functions have been called. However, when the `ctest_*` functions are called from inside a scoped block, there may be cases when the variable is unchanged. In such cases, it is necessary to explicitly `set(CTEST_RUN_CURRENT_SCRIPT 0)`. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My recommendation to everyone who wants to setup a CI system for CMake projects is to use a CTest Script. For an example GitHub action built using a CTest script have a look at [purpleKarrot/cmake-action](https://github.com/purpleKarrot/cmake-action). The fact that there are so many different approaches to the same use case is an issue in my optionion. Also, the user experience of the CTest scripts needs to be improved. I have some ideas how those issues can be addressed. I will write about them in a follow up.

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

The past 26 August, Tor [introduced officially](https://blog.torproject.org/introducing-proof-of-work-defense-for-onion-services/) a proof-of-work (PoW) defense for onion services designed to prioritize verified network traffic as a deterrent against denial of service (DoS) attacks. ~ > This feature at the moment, is [deactivate by default](https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/core/tor/-/blob/main/doc/man/tor.1.txt#L3117), so you need to follow these steps to activate this on a MiniBolt node: * Make sure you have the latest version of Tor installed, at the time of writing this post, which is v0.4.8.6. Check your current version by typing ``` tor --version ``` **Example** of expected output: ``` Tor version 0.4.8.6. This build of Tor is covered by the GNU General Public License (https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html) Tor is running on Linux with Libevent 2.1.12-stable, OpenSSL 3.0.9, Zlib 1.2.13, Liblzma 5.4.1, Libzstd N/A and Glibc 2.36 as libc. Tor compiled with GCC version 12.2.0 ``` ~ > If you have v0.4.8.X, you are **OK**, if not, type `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade` and confirm to update. * Basic PoW support can be checked by running this command: ``` tor --list-modules ``` Expected output: ``` relay: yes dirauth: yes dircache: yes pow: **yes** ``` ~ > If you have `pow: yes`, you are **OK** * Now go to the torrc file of your MiniBolt and add the parameter to enable PoW for each hidden service added ``` sudo nano /etc/tor/torrc ``` Example: ``` # Hidden Service BTC RPC Explorer HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/hidden_service_btcrpcexplorer/ HiddenServiceVersion 3 HiddenServicePoWDefensesEnabled 1 HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:3002 ``` ~ > Bitcoin Core and LND use the Tor control port to automatically create the hidden service, requiring no action from the user. We have submitted a feature request in the official GitHub repositories to explore the need for the integration of Tor's PoW defense into the automatic creation process of the hidden service. You can follow them at the following links: * Bitcoin Core: https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/issues/8002 * LND: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/28499 --- More info: * https://blog.torproject.org/introducing-proof-of-work-defense-for-onion-services/ * https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/onion-services/onion-support/-/wikis/Documentation/PoW-FAQ --- Enjoy it MiniBolter! 💙

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

> Build your nostr relay step by step on your MiniBolt node! (**easily adaptable to other environment**) No need to trust anyone else! Be sovereign! ~> Go to the bonus guide by clicking ~> [HERE](https://minibolt.minibolt.info/bonus-guides/nostr/nostr-relay)< ~ ~> This guide includes a complete [extra section](https://minibolt.minibolt.info/bonus-guides/nostr/nostr-relay#extras-optional) to cover the different processes for using nostr **as a user and relay operator**. --- PS: The MiniBolt project has its FREE relay, be free to connect by adding to your favorite client the next address: `wss://relay.minibolt.info` ~> Let a review on [noStrudel](https://nostrudel.ninja/#/r/wss%3A%2F%2Frelay.minibolt.info) or [Coracle](https://coracle.social/relays/relay.minibolt.info) of your experience using it. --- Remember, Nostr is freedom! Stay resilient! 💜 🛡️💪

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the annals of treasure hunting, tales of sunken galleons and buried chests have given way to a new narrative—one that unfolds in the digital realm. The U.S. Government, traditionally associated with the physical might of gold reserves in Fort Knox, has inadvertently entered the arena of cryptocurrency by amassing a staggering $5 billion in Bitcoin. This digital fortune, however, was not amassed through investment or mining efforts but rather through the seizure of assets from the darker corners of the internet. As we stand at the crossroads of finance and technology, this cache of Bitcoin opens up a Pandora's box of possibilities and challenges that could redefine the economic landscape of tomorrow. **Table Of Content** - A Digital Fort Knox - The Origins of the Cache - The Dilemma of Liquidation - Potential Paths Forward - The Impact on the Future of Currency - Conclusion - FAQs **A Digital Fort Knox** Imagine a vault, not of steel and stone, but of complex cryptographic algorithms, housing a vast sum of Bitcoin equivalent to the wealth of small nations. This digital Fort Knox does not require armed guards or thick walls but instead relies on the impenetrable nature of blockchain technology. The U.S. Government's acquisition of such a significant amount of Bitcoin is a testament to the changing nature of value and wealth in the 21st century. Each Bitcoin in this modern trove was once part of illicit transactions, flowing through the veins of the internet until it was intercepted by the vigilant efforts of federal agencies. The narrative of each coin is a digital ledger, chronicling a journey from the shadowy fringes of the web to the secure wallets of the government. **The Origins of the Cache** The backstory of the government's Bitcoin collection is not one of serendipity but of strategic cyber sleuthing and legal might. It is a modern saga of law enforcement adapting to the challenges posed by the digital age. Federal agencies, armed with court orders and cutting-edge technology, have traced the movement of these digital assets through the blockchain, unraveling complex webs of transactions that lead to the criminal enterprises operating in the darknet markets. Each seizure represents a battle won in the ongoing war against cybercrime, with the confiscated Bitcoin serving as both evidence of victory and the spoils of war. **The Dilemma of Liquidation** The government's Bitcoin cache presents a unique conundrum: to liquidate or not to liquidate? This decision is fraught with economic implications, akin to a game of high-stakes poker where the government's hand could influence the entire table. A sudden influx of $5 billion worth of Bitcoin into the market could trigger a tidal wave of volatility, potentially devaluing the currency and destabilizing the fragile ecosystem of digital assets. The government must navigate these waters with a blend of economic savvy and strategic foresight, ensuring that any decision made is in the best interest of not just the immediate financial landscape but also the long-term viability of cryptocurrencies. **Potential Paths Forward** The government stands at the helm, charting a course through uncharted waters with its Bitcoin bounty. The options are as varied as they are complex. Holding onto the Bitcoin could be seen as an endorsement of its value, a digital reserve akin to the gold of yesteryear. Alternatively, a measured approach to selling the Bitcoin could be employed, releasing it into the market in a controlled manner to mitigate any negative impacts. There's also the innovative possibility of integrating Bitcoin into the government's financial transactions, embracing the very currency that was once shunned by the establishment. **The Impact on the Future of Currency** The U.S. Government's handling of this Bitcoin cache is not merely a financial decision; it is a statement on the future of currency itself. As the line between digital and fiat currencies blurs, the actions taken with this Bitcoin hoard could send ripples across the global economy. It could influence how governments around the world perceive and interact with digital assets, potentially ushering in a new era where cryptocurrency becomes a staple of economic policy and international trade. **Conclusion** The U.S. Government's Bitcoin cache is more than a collection of digital assets; it is a symbol of a new era in governance and economic strategy. The decisions made regarding this treasure will likely resonate through the annals of financial history, setting precedents for how nations interact with the burgeoning realm of digital currencies. As we delve deeper into this narrative, we realize that this treasure is not hidden but in plain sight, waiting to unlock a future where digital assets are as commonplace and as valuable as the gold once stored in the vaults of old. **FAQs** **How did the U.S. Government acquire $5 billion in Bitcoin?** The U.S. Government seized this Bitcoin from various cybercriminal operations and darknet markets through legal and technological efforts by federal agencies. **What is the significance of the government holding such a large amount of Bitcoin?** This significant holding of Bitcoin by the government underscores the changing landscape of value and wealth, highlighting the increasing relevance of digital currencies in today's economy. **What challenges does the government face with this Bitcoin cache?** The government faces the challenge of deciding how to manage and potentially liquidate the Bitcoin without causing market disruption due to the currency's volatility. **What are the potential strategies for the U.S. Government's Bitcoin cache?** Strategies include holding the Bitcoin as a reserve asset, selling it off gradually to minimize market impact, or using it for government transactions and policy-making. **How could the government's handling of the Bitcoin cache affect the future of currency?** The government's approach to managing the Bitcoin cache could set a precedent for how digital assets are treated by national entities, potentially influencing the integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream finance. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

## Bitcoin: Um sistema de dinheiro eletrônico direto entre pessoas. Satoshi Nakamoto satoshin@gmx.com www.bitcoin.org --- ### Resumo O Bitcoin é uma forma de dinheiro digital que permite pagamentos diretos entre pessoas, sem a necessidade de um banco ou instituição financeira. Ele resolve um problema chamado **gasto duplo**, que ocorre quando alguém tenta gastar o mesmo dinheiro duas vezes. Para evitar isso, o Bitcoin usa uma rede descentralizada onde todos trabalham juntos para verificar e registrar as transações. As transações são registradas em um livro público chamado **blockchain**, protegido por uma técnica chamada **Prova de Trabalho**. Essa técnica cria uma cadeia de registros que não pode ser alterada sem refazer todo o trabalho já feito. Essa cadeia é mantida pelos computadores que participam da rede, e a mais longa é considerada a verdadeira. Enquanto a maior parte do poder computacional da rede for controlada por participantes honestos, o sistema continuará funcionando de forma segura. A rede é flexível, permitindo que qualquer pessoa entre ou saia a qualquer momento, sempre confiando na cadeia mais longa como prova do que aconteceu. --- ### 1. Introdução Hoje, quase todos os pagamentos feitos pela internet dependem de bancos ou empresas como processadores de pagamento (cartões de crédito, por exemplo) para funcionar. Embora esse sistema seja útil, ele tem problemas importantes porque é baseado em **confiança**. Primeiro, essas empresas podem reverter pagamentos, o que é útil em caso de erros, mas cria custos e incertezas. Isso faz com que pequenas transações, como pagar centavos por um serviço, se tornem inviáveis. Além disso, os comerciantes são obrigados a desconfiar dos clientes, pedindo informações extras e aceitando fraudes como algo inevitável. Esses problemas não existem no dinheiro físico, como o papel-moeda, onde o pagamento é final e direto entre as partes. No entanto, não temos como enviar dinheiro físico pela internet sem depender de um intermediário confiável. O que precisamos é de um **sistema de pagamento eletrônico baseado em provas matemáticas**, não em confiança. Esse sistema permitiria que qualquer pessoa enviasse dinheiro diretamente para outra, sem depender de bancos ou processadores de pagamento. Além disso, as transações seriam irreversíveis, protegendo vendedores contra fraudes, mas mantendo a possibilidade de soluções para disputas legítimas. Neste documento, apresentamos o **Bitcoin**, que resolve o problema do gasto duplo usando uma rede descentralizada. Essa rede cria um registro público e protegido por cálculos matemáticos, que garante a ordem das transações. Enquanto a maior parte da rede for controlada por pessoas honestas, o sistema será seguro contra ataques. --- ### 2. Transações Para entender como funciona o Bitcoin, é importante saber como as transações são realizadas. Imagine que você quer transferir uma "moeda digital" para outra pessoa. No sistema do Bitcoin, essa "moeda" é representada por uma sequência de registros que mostram quem é o atual dono. Para transferi-la, você adiciona um novo registro comprovando que agora ela pertence ao próximo dono. Esse registro é protegido por um tipo especial de assinatura digital. #### O que é uma assinatura digital? Uma assinatura digital é como uma senha secreta, mas muito mais segura. No Bitcoin, cada usuário tem duas chaves: uma "chave privada", que é secreta e serve para criar a assinatura, e uma "chave pública", que pode ser compartilhada com todos e é usada para verificar se a assinatura é válida. Quando você transfere uma moeda, usa sua chave privada para assinar a transação, provando que você é o dono. A próxima pessoa pode usar sua chave pública para confirmar isso. #### Como funciona na prática? Cada "moeda" no Bitcoin é, na verdade, uma cadeia de assinaturas digitais. Vamos imaginar o seguinte cenário: 1. A moeda está com o Dono 0 (você). Para transferi-la ao Dono 1, você assina digitalmente a transação com sua chave privada. Essa assinatura inclui o código da transação anterior (chamado de "hash") e a chave pública do Dono 1. 2. Quando o Dono 1 quiser transferir a moeda ao Dono 2, ele assinará a transação seguinte com sua própria chave privada, incluindo também o hash da transação anterior e a chave pública do Dono 2. 3. Esse processo continua, formando uma "cadeia" de transações. Qualquer pessoa pode verificar essa cadeia para confirmar quem é o atual dono da moeda. #### Resolvendo o problema do gasto duplo Um grande desafio com moedas digitais é o "gasto duplo", que é quando uma mesma moeda é usada em mais de uma transação. Para evitar isso, muitos sistemas antigos dependiam de uma entidade central confiável, como uma casa da moeda, que verificava todas as transações. No entanto, isso criava um ponto único de falha e centralizava o controle do dinheiro. O Bitcoin resolve esse problema de forma inovadora: ele usa uma rede descentralizada onde todos os participantes (os "nós") têm acesso a um registro completo de todas as transações. Cada nó verifica se as transações são válidas e se a moeda não foi gasta duas vezes. Quando a maioria dos nós concorda com a validade de uma transação, ela é registrada permanentemente na blockchain. #### Por que isso é importante? Essa solução elimina a necessidade de confiar em uma única entidade para gerenciar o dinheiro, permitindo que qualquer pessoa no mundo use o Bitcoin sem precisar de permissão de terceiros. Além disso, ela garante que o sistema seja seguro e resistente a fraudes. --- ### 3. Servidor Timestamp Para assegurar que as transações sejam realizadas de forma segura e transparente, o sistema Bitcoin utiliza algo chamado de "servidor de registro de tempo" (timestamp). Esse servidor funciona como um registro público que organiza as transações em uma ordem específica. Ele faz isso agrupando várias transações em blocos e criando um código único chamado "hash". Esse hash é como uma impressão digital que representa todo o conteúdo do bloco. O hash de cada bloco é amplamente divulgado, como se fosse publicado em um jornal ou em um fórum público. Esse processo garante que cada bloco de transações tenha um registro de quando foi criado e que ele existia naquele momento. Além disso, cada novo bloco criado contém o hash do bloco anterior, formando uma cadeia contínua de blocos conectados — conhecida como blockchain. Com isso, se alguém tentar alterar qualquer informação em um bloco anterior, o hash desse bloco mudará e não corresponderá ao hash armazenado no bloco seguinte. Essa característica torna a cadeia muito segura, pois qualquer tentativa de fraude seria imediatamente detectada. O sistema de timestamps é essencial para provar a ordem cronológica das transações e garantir que cada uma delas seja única e autêntica. Dessa forma, ele reforça a segurança e a confiança na rede Bitcoin. --- ### 4. Prova-de-Trabalho Para implementar o registro de tempo distribuído no sistema Bitcoin, utilizamos um mecanismo chamado prova-de-trabalho. Esse sistema é semelhante ao Hashcash, desenvolvido por Adam Back, e baseia-se na criação de um código único, o "hash", por meio de um processo computacionalmente exigente. A prova-de-trabalho envolve encontrar um valor especial que, quando processado junto com as informações do bloco, gere um hash que comece com uma quantidade específica de zeros. Esse valor especial é chamado de "nonce". Encontrar o nonce correto exige um esforço significativo do computador, porque envolve tentativas repetidas até que a condição seja satisfeita. Esse processo é importante porque torna extremamente difícil alterar qualquer informação registrada em um bloco. Se alguém tentar mudar algo em um bloco, seria necessário refazer o trabalho de computação não apenas para aquele bloco, mas também para todos os blocos que vêm depois dele. Isso garante a segurança e a imutabilidade da blockchain. A prova-de-trabalho também resolve o problema de decidir qual cadeia de blocos é a válida quando há múltiplas cadeias competindo. A decisão é feita pela cadeia mais longa, pois ela representa o maior esforço computacional já realizado. Isso impede que qualquer indivíduo ou grupo controle a rede, desde que a maioria do poder de processamento seja mantida por participantes honestos. Para garantir que o sistema permaneça eficiente e equilibrado, a dificuldade da prova-de-trabalho é ajustada automaticamente ao longo do tempo. Se novos blocos estiverem sendo gerados rapidamente, a dificuldade aumenta; se estiverem sendo gerados muito lentamente, a dificuldade diminui. Esse ajuste assegura que novos blocos sejam criados aproximadamente a cada 10 minutos, mantendo o sistema estável e funcional. --- ### 5. Rede A rede Bitcoin é o coração do sistema e funciona de maneira distribuída, conectando vários participantes (ou nós) para garantir o registro e a validação das transações. Os passos para operar essa rede são: 1. **Transmissão de Transações**: Quando alguém realiza uma nova transação, ela é enviada para todos os nós da rede. Isso é feito para garantir que todos estejam cientes da operação e possam validá-la. 2. **Coleta de Transações em Blocos**: Cada nó agrupa as novas transações recebidas em um "bloco". Este bloco será preparado para ser adicionado à cadeia de blocos (a blockchain). 3. **Prova-de-Trabalho**: Os nós competem para resolver a prova-de-trabalho do bloco, utilizando poder computacional para encontrar um hash válido. Esse processo é como resolver um quebra-cabeça matemático difícil. 4. **Envio do Bloco Resolvido**: Quando um nó encontra a solução para o bloco (a prova-de-trabalho), ele compartilha esse bloco com todos os outros nós na rede. 5. **Validação do Bloco**: Cada nó verifica o bloco recebido para garantir que todas as transações nele contidas sejam válidas e que nenhuma moeda tenha sido gasta duas vezes. Apenas blocos válidos são aceitos. 6. **Construção do Próximo Bloco**: Os nós que aceitaram o bloco começam a trabalhar na criação do próximo bloco, utilizando o hash do bloco aceito como base (hash anterior). Isso mantém a continuidade da cadeia. #### Resolução de Conflitos e Escolha da Cadeia Mais Longa Os nós sempre priorizam a cadeia mais longa, pois ela representa o maior esforço computacional já realizado, garantindo maior segurança. Se dois blocos diferentes forem compartilhados simultaneamente, os nós trabalharão no primeiro bloco recebido, mas guardarão o outro como uma alternativa. Caso o segundo bloco eventualmente forme uma cadeia mais longa (ou seja, tenha mais blocos subsequentes), os nós mudarão para essa nova cadeia. #### Tolerância a Falhas A rede é robusta e pode lidar com mensagens que não chegam a todos os nós. Uma transação não precisa alcançar todos os nós de imediato; basta que chegue a um número suficiente deles para ser incluída em um bloco. Da mesma forma, se um nó não receber um bloco em tempo hábil, ele pode solicitá-lo ao perceber que está faltando quando o próximo bloco é recebido. Esse mecanismo descentralizado permite que a rede Bitcoin funcione de maneira segura, confiável e resiliente, sem depender de uma autoridade central. --- ### 6. Incentivo O incentivo é um dos pilares fundamentais que sustenta o funcionamento da rede Bitcoin, garantindo que os participantes (nós) continuem operando de forma honesta e contribuindo com recursos computacionais. Ele é estruturado em duas partes principais: a recompensa por mineração e as taxas de transação. #### Recompensa por Mineração Por convenção, o primeiro registro em cada bloco é uma transação especial que cria novas moedas e as atribui ao criador do bloco. Essa recompensa incentiva os mineradores a dedicarem poder computacional para apoiar a rede. Como não há uma autoridade central para emitir moedas, essa é a maneira pela qual novas moedas entram em circulação. Esse processo pode ser comparado ao trabalho de garimpeiros, que utilizam recursos para colocar mais ouro em circulação. No caso do Bitcoin, o "recurso" consiste no tempo de CPU e na energia elétrica consumida para resolver a prova-de-trabalho. #### Taxas de Transação Além da recompensa por mineração, os mineradores também podem ser incentivados pelas taxas de transação. Se uma transação utiliza menos valor de saída do que o valor de entrada, a diferença é tratada como uma taxa, que é adicionada à recompensa do bloco contendo essa transação. Com o passar do tempo e à medida que o número de moedas em circulação atinge o limite predeterminado, essas taxas de transação se tornam a principal fonte de incentivo, substituindo gradualmente a emissão de novas moedas. Isso permite que o sistema opere sem inflação, uma vez que o número total de moedas permanece fixo. #### Incentivo à Honestidade O design do incentivo também busca garantir que os participantes da rede mantenham um comportamento honesto. Para um atacante que consiga reunir mais poder computacional do que o restante da rede, ele enfrentaria duas escolhas: 1. Usar esse poder para fraudar o sistema, como reverter transações e roubar pagamentos. 2. Seguir as regras do sistema, criando novos blocos e recebendo recompensas legítimas. A lógica econômica favorece a segunda opção, pois um comportamento desonesto prejudicaria a confiança no sistema, diminuindo o valor de todas as moedas, incluindo aquelas que o próprio atacante possui. Jogar dentro das regras não apenas maximiza o retorno financeiro, mas também preserva a validade e a integridade do sistema. Esse mecanismo garante que os incentivos econômicos estejam alinhados com o objetivo de manter a rede segura, descentralizada e funcional ao longo do tempo. --- ### 7. Recuperação do Espaço em Disco Depois que uma moeda passa a estar protegida por muitos blocos na cadeia, as informações sobre as transações antigas que a geraram podem ser descartadas para economizar espaço em disco. Para que isso seja possível sem comprometer a segurança, as transações são organizadas em uma estrutura chamada "árvore de Merkle". Essa árvore funciona como um resumo das transações: em vez de armazenar todas elas, guarda apenas um "hash raiz", que é como uma assinatura compacta que representa todo o grupo de transações. Os blocos antigos podem, então, ser simplificados, removendo as partes desnecessárias dessa árvore. Apenas a raiz do hash precisa ser mantida no cabeçalho do bloco, garantindo que a integridade dos dados seja preservada, mesmo que detalhes específicos sejam descartados. Para exemplificar: imagine que você tenha vários recibos de compra. Em vez de guardar todos os recibos, você cria um documento e lista apenas o valor total de cada um. Mesmo que os recibos originais sejam descartados, ainda é possível verificar a soma com base nos valores armazenados. Além disso, o espaço ocupado pelos blocos em si é muito pequeno. Cada bloco sem transações ocupa apenas cerca de 80 bytes. Isso significa que, mesmo com blocos sendo gerados a cada 10 minutos, o crescimento anual em espaço necessário é insignificante: apenas 4,2 MB por ano. Com a capacidade de armazenamento dos computadores crescendo a cada ano, esse espaço continuará sendo trivial, garantindo que a rede possa operar de forma eficiente sem problemas de armazenamento, mesmo a longo prazo. --- ### 8. Verificação de Pagamento Simplificada É possível confirmar pagamentos sem a necessidade de operar um nó completo da rede. Para isso, o usuário precisa apenas de uma cópia dos cabeçalhos dos blocos da cadeia mais longa (ou seja, a cadeia com maior esforço de trabalho acumulado). Ele pode verificar a validade de uma transação ao consultar os nós da rede até obter a confirmação de que tem a cadeia mais longa. Para isso, utiliza-se o ramo Merkle, que conecta a transação ao bloco em que ela foi registrada. Entretanto, o método simplificado possui limitações: ele não pode confirmar uma transação isoladamente, mas sim assegurar que ela ocupa um lugar específico na cadeia mais longa. Dessa forma, se um nó da rede aprova a transação, os blocos subsequentes reforçam essa aceitação. A verificação simplificada é confiável enquanto a maioria dos nós da rede for honesta. Contudo, ela se torna vulnerável caso a rede seja dominada por um invasor. Nesse cenário, um atacante poderia fabricar transações fraudulentas que enganariam o usuário temporariamente até que o invasor obtivesse controle completo da rede. Uma estratégia para mitigar esse risco é configurar alertas nos softwares de nós completos. Esses alertas identificam blocos inválidos, sugerindo ao usuário baixar o bloco completo para confirmar qualquer inconsistência. Para maior segurança, empresas que realizam pagamentos frequentes podem preferir operar seus próprios nós, reduzindo riscos e permitindo uma verificação mais direta e confiável. --- ### 9. Combinando e Dividindo Valor No sistema Bitcoin, cada unidade de valor é tratada como uma "moeda" individual, mas gerenciar cada centavo como uma transação separada seria impraticável. Para resolver isso, o Bitcoin permite que valores sejam combinados ou divididos em transações, facilitando pagamentos de qualquer valor. #### Entradas e Saídas Cada transação no Bitcoin é composta por: - **Entradas**: Representam os valores recebidos em transações anteriores. - **Saídas**: Correspondem aos valores enviados, divididos entre os destinatários e, eventualmente, o troco para o remetente. Normalmente, uma transação contém: - Uma única entrada com valor suficiente para cobrir o pagamento. - Ou várias entradas combinadas para atingir o valor necessário. O valor total das saídas nunca excede o das entradas, e a diferença (se houver) pode ser retornada ao remetente como **troco**. #### Exemplo Prático Imagine que você tem duas entradas: 1. 0,03 BTC 2. 0,07 BTC Se deseja enviar 0,08 BTC para alguém, a transação terá: - **Entrada**: As duas entradas combinadas (0,03 + 0,07 BTC = 0,10 BTC). - **Saídas**: Uma para o destinatário (0,08 BTC) e outra como troco para você (0,02 BTC). Essa flexibilidade permite que o sistema funcione sem precisar manipular cada unidade mínima individualmente. #### Difusão e Simplificação A difusão de transações, onde uma depende de várias anteriores e assim por diante, não representa um problema. Não é necessário armazenar ou verificar o histórico completo de uma transação para utilizá-la, já que o registro na blockchain garante sua integridade. --- ### 10. Privacidade O modelo bancário tradicional oferece um certo nível de privacidade, limitando o acesso às informações financeiras apenas às partes envolvidas e a um terceiro confiável (como bancos ou instituições financeiras). No entanto, o Bitcoin opera de forma diferente, pois todas as transações são publicamente registradas na blockchain. Apesar disso, a privacidade pode ser mantida utilizando **chaves públicas anônimas**, que desvinculam diretamente as transações das identidades das partes envolvidas. #### Fluxo de Informação - No **modelo tradicional**, as transações passam por um terceiro confiável que conhece tanto o remetente quanto o destinatário. - No **Bitcoin**, as transações são anunciadas publicamente, mas sem revelar diretamente as identidades das partes. Isso é comparável a dados divulgados por bolsas de valores, onde informações como o tempo e o tamanho das negociações (a "fita") são públicas, mas as identidades das partes não. #### Protegendo a Privacidade Para aumentar a privacidade no Bitcoin, são adotadas as seguintes práticas: 1. **Chaves Públicas Anônimas**: Cada transação utiliza um par de chaves diferentes, dificultando a associação com um proprietário único. 2. **Prevenção de Ligação**: Ao usar chaves novas para cada transação, reduz-se a possibilidade de links evidentes entre múltiplas transações realizadas pelo mesmo usuário. #### Riscos de Ligação Embora a privacidade seja fortalecida, alguns riscos permanecem: - Transações **multi-entrada** podem revelar que todas as entradas pertencem ao mesmo proprietário, caso sejam necessárias para somar o valor total. - O proprietário da chave pode ser identificado indiretamente por transações anteriores que estejam conectadas. --- ### 11. Cálculos Imagine que temos um sistema onde as pessoas (ou computadores) competem para adicionar informações novas (blocos) a um grande registro público (a cadeia de blocos ou blockchain). Este registro é como um livro contábil compartilhado, onde todos podem verificar o que está escrito. Agora, vamos pensar em um cenário: um atacante quer enganar o sistema. Ele quer mudar informações já registradas para beneficiar a si mesmo, por exemplo, desfazendo um pagamento que já fez. Para isso, ele precisa criar uma versão alternativa do livro contábil (a cadeia de blocos dele) e convencer todos os outros participantes de que essa versão é a verdadeira. Mas isso é extremamente difícil. #### Como o Ataque Funciona Quando um novo bloco é adicionado à cadeia, ele depende de cálculos complexos que levam tempo e esforço. Esses cálculos são como um grande quebra-cabeça que precisa ser resolvido. - Os “bons jogadores” (nós honestos) estão sempre trabalhando juntos para resolver esses quebra-cabeças e adicionar novos blocos à cadeia verdadeira. - O atacante, por outro lado, precisa resolver quebra-cabeças sozinho, tentando “alcançar” a cadeia honesta para que sua versão alternativa pareça válida. Se a cadeia honesta já está vários blocos à frente, o atacante começa em desvantagem, e o sistema está projetado para que a dificuldade de alcançá-los aumente rapidamente. #### A Corrida Entre Cadeias Você pode imaginar isso como uma corrida. A cada bloco novo que os jogadores honestos adicionam à cadeia verdadeira, eles se distanciam mais do atacante. Para vencer, o atacante teria que resolver os quebra-cabeças mais rápido que todos os outros jogadores honestos juntos. Suponha que: - A rede honesta tem **80% do poder computacional** (ou seja, resolve 8 de cada 10 quebra-cabeças). - O atacante tem **20% do poder computacional** (ou seja, resolve 2 de cada 10 quebra-cabeças). Cada vez que a rede honesta adiciona um bloco, o atacante tem que "correr atrás" e resolver mais quebra-cabeças para alcançar. #### Por Que o Ataque Fica Cada Vez Mais Improvável? Vamos usar uma fórmula simples para mostrar como as chances de sucesso do atacante diminuem conforme ele precisa "alcançar" mais blocos: P = (q/p)^z - **q** é o poder computacional do atacante (20%, ou 0,2). - **p** é o poder computacional da rede honesta (80%, ou 0,8). - **z** é a diferença de blocos entre a cadeia honesta e a cadeia do atacante. Se o atacante está 5 blocos atrás (z = 5): P = (0,2 / 0,8)^5 = (0,25)^5 = 0,00098, (ou, 0,098%) Isso significa que o atacante tem menos de 0,1% de chance de sucesso — ou seja, é muito improvável. Se ele estiver 10 blocos atrás (z = 10): P = (0,2 / 0,8)^10 = (0,25)^10 = 0,000000095, (ou, 0,0000095%). Neste caso, as chances de sucesso são praticamente **nulas**. #### Um Exemplo Simples Se você jogar uma moeda, a chance de cair “cara” é de 50%. Mas se precisar de 10 caras seguidas, sua chance já é bem menor. Se precisar de 20 caras seguidas, é quase impossível. No caso do Bitcoin, o atacante precisa de muito mais do que 20 caras seguidas. Ele precisa resolver quebra-cabeças extremamente difíceis e alcançar os jogadores honestos que estão sempre à frente. Isso faz com que o ataque seja inviável na prática. #### Por Que Tudo Isso é Seguro? - **A probabilidade de sucesso do atacante diminui exponencialmente.** Isso significa que, quanto mais tempo passa, menor é a chance de ele conseguir enganar o sistema. - **A cadeia verdadeira (honesta) está protegida pela força da rede.** Cada novo bloco que os jogadores honestos adicionam à cadeia torna mais difícil para o atacante alcançar. #### E Se o Atacante Tentar Continuar? O atacante poderia continuar tentando indefinidamente, mas ele estaria gastando muito tempo e energia sem conseguir nada. Enquanto isso, os jogadores honestos estão sempre adicionando novos blocos, tornando o trabalho do atacante ainda mais inútil. Assim, o sistema garante que a cadeia verdadeira seja extremamente segura e que ataques sejam, na prática, impossíveis de ter sucesso. --- ### 12. Conclusão Propusemos um sistema de transações eletrônicas que elimina a necessidade de confiança, baseando-se em assinaturas digitais e em uma rede peer-to-peer que utiliza prova de trabalho. Isso resolve o problema do gasto duplo, criando um histórico público de transações imutável, desde que a maioria do poder computacional permaneça sob controle dos participantes honestos. A rede funciona de forma simples e descentralizada, com nós independentes que não precisam de identificação ou coordenação direta. Eles entram e saem livremente, aceitando a cadeia de prova de trabalho como registro do que ocorreu durante sua ausência. As decisões são tomadas por meio do poder de CPU, validando blocos legítimos, estendendo a cadeia e rejeitando os inválidos. Com este mecanismo de consenso, todas as regras e incentivos necessários para o funcionamento seguro e eficiente do sistema são garantidos. --- Faça o download do whitepaper original em português: https://bitcoin.org/files/bitcoin-paper/bitcoin_pt_br.pdf

@ 50809a53:e091f164

For starters, anyone who is interested in curating and managing "notes, lists, bookmarks, kind-1 events, or other stuff" should watch this video: https://youtu.be/XRpHIa-2XCE Now, assuming you have watched it, I will proceed assuming you are aware of many of the applications that exist for a very similar purpose. I'll break them down further, following a similar trajectory in order of how I came across them, and a bit about my own path on this journey. We'll start way back in the early 2000s, before Bitcoin existed. We had https://zim-wiki.org/ It is tried and true, and to this day stands to present an option for people looking for a very simple solution to a potentially complex problem. Zim-Wiki works. But it is limited. Let's step into the realm of proprietary. Obsidian, Joplin, and LogSeq. The first two are entirely cloud-operative applications, with more of a focus on the true benefit of being a paid service. I will assume anyone reading this is capable of exploring the marketing of these applications, or trying their freemium product, to get a feeling for what they are capable of. I bring up Obsidian because it is very crucial to understand the market placement of publication. We know social media handles the 'hosting' problem of publishing notes "and other stuff" by harvesting data and making deals with advertisers. But- what Obsidian has evolved to offer is a full service known as 'publish'. This means users can stay in the proprietary pipeline, "from thought to web." all for $8/mo. See: https://obsidian.md/publish THIS IS NOSTR'S PRIMARY COMPETITION. WE ARE HERE TO DISRUPT THIS MARKET, WITH NOTES AND OTHER STUFF. WITH RELAYS. WITH THE PROTOCOL. Now, on to Joplin. I have never used this, because I opted to study the FOSS market and stayed free of any reliance on a paid solution. Many people like Joplin, and I gather the reason is because it has allowed itself to be flexible and good options that integrate with Joplin seems to provide good solutions for users who need that functionality. I see Nostr users recommending Joplin, so I felt it was worthwhile to mention as a case-study option. I myself need to investigate it more, but have found comfort in other solutions. LogSeq - This is my "other solutions." It seems to be trapped in its proprietary web of funding and constraint. I use it because it turns my desktop into a power-house of note archival. But by using it- I AM TRAPPED TOO. This means LogSeq is by no means a working solution for Nostr users who want a long-term archival option. But the trap is not a cage. It's merely a box. My notes can be exported to other applications with graphing and node-based information structure. Specifically, I can export these notes to: - Text - OPML - HTML - and, PNG, for whatever that is worth. Let's try out the PNG option, just for fun. Here's an exported PNG of my "Games on Nostr" list, which has long been abandoned. I once decided to poll some CornyChat users to see what games they enjoyed- and I documented them in a LogSeq page for my own future reference. You can see it here: https://i.postimg.cc/qMBPDTwr/image.png This is a very simple example of how a single "page" or "list" in LogSeq can be multipurpose. It is a small list, with multiple "features" or variables at play. First, I have listed out a variety of complex games that might make sense with "multiplayer" identification that relies on our npubs or nip-05 addresses to aggregate user data. We can ALL imagine playing games like Tetris, Snake, or Catan together with our Nostr identities. But of course we are a long way from breaking into the video game market. On a mostly irrelevant sidenote- you might notice in my example list, that I seem to be excited about a game called Dot.Hack. I discovered this small game on Itch.io and reached out to the developer on Twitter, in an attempt to purple-pill him, but moreso to inquire about his game. Unfortunately there was no response, even without mention of Nostr. Nonetheless, we pioneer on. You can try the game here: https://propuke.itch.io/planethack So instead let's focus on the structure of "one working list." The middle section of this list is where I polled users, and simply listed out their suggestions. Of course we discussed these before I documented, so it is note a direct result of a poll, but actually a working interaction of poll results! This is crucial because it separates my list from the aggregated data, and implies its relevance/importance. The final section of this ONE list- is the beginnings of where I conceptually connect nostr with video game functionality. You can look at this as the beginning of a new graph, which would be "Video Game Operability With Nostr". These three sections make up one concept within my brain. It exists in other users' brains too- but of course they are not as committed to the concept as myself- the one managing the communal discussion. With LogSeq- I can grow and expand these lists. These lists can become graphs. Those graphs can become entire catalogues of information than can be shared across the web. I can replicate this system with bookmarks, ideas, application design, shopping lists, LLM prompting, video/music playlists, friend lists, RELAY lists, the LIST goes ON forever! So where does that lead us? I think it leads us to kind-1 events. We don't have much in the way of "kind-1 event managers" because most developers would agree that "storing kind-1 events locally" is.. at the very least, not so important. But it could be! If only a superapp existed that could interface seamlessly with nostr, yada yada.. we've heard it all before. We aren't getting a superapp before we have microapps. Basically this means frameworking the protocol before worrying about the all-in-one solution. So this article will step away from the deep desire for a Nostr-enabled, Rust-built, FOSS, non-commercialized FREEDOM APP, that will exist one day, we hope. Instead, we will focus on simple attempts of the past. I encourage others to chime in with their experience. Zim-Wiki is foundational. The user constructs pages, and can then develop them into books. LogSeq has the right idea- but is constrained in too many ways to prove to be a working solution at this time. However, it is very much worth experimenting with, and investigating, and modelling ourselves after. https://workflowy.com/ is next on our list. This is great for users who think LogSeq is too complex. They "just want simple notes." Get a taste with WorkFlowy. You will understand why LogSeq is powerful if you see value in WF. I am writing this article in favor of a redesign of LogSeq to be compatible with Nostr. I have been drafting the idea since before Nostr existed- and with Nostr I truly believe it will be possible. So, I will stop to thank everyone who has made Nostr what it is today. I wouldn't be publishing this without you! One app I need to investigate more is Zettlr. I will mention it here for others to either discuss or investigate, as it is also mentioned some in the video I opened with. https://www.zettlr.com/ On my path to finding Nostr, before its inception, was a service called Deta.Space. This was an interesting project, not entirely unique or original, but completely fresh and very beginner-friendly. DETA WAS AN AWESOME CLOUD OS. And we could still design a form of Nostr ecosystem that is managed in this way. But, what we have now is excellent, and going forward I only see "additional" or supplemental. Along the timeline, Deta sunsetted their Space service and launched https://deta.surf/ You might notice they advertise that "This is the future of bookmarks." I have to wonder if perhaps I got through to them that bookmarking was what their ecosystem could empower. While I have not tried Surf, it looks interested, but does not seem to address what I found most valuable about Deta.Space: https://webcrate.app/ WebCrate was an early bookmarking client for Deta.Space which was likely their most popular application. What was amazing about WebCrate was that it delivered "simple bookmarking." At one point I decided to migrate my bookmarks from other apps, like Pocket and WorkFlowy, into WebCrate. This ended up being an awful decision, because WebCrate is no longer being developed. However, to much credit of Deta.Space, my WebCrate instance is still running and completely functional. I have since migrated what I deem important into a local LogSeq graph, so my bookmarks are safe. But, the development of WebCrate is note. WebCrate did not provide a working directory of crates. All creates were contained within a single-level directory. Essentially there were no layers. Just collections of links. This isn't enough for any user to effectively manage their catalogue of notes. With some pressure, I did encourage the German developer to flesh out a form of tagging, which did alleviate the problem to some extent. But as we see with Surf, they have pioneered in another direction. That brings us back to Nostr. Where can we look for the best solution? There simply isn't one yet. But, we can look at some other options for inspiration. HedgeDoc: https://hedgedoc.org/ I am eager for someone to fork HedgeDoc and employ Nostr sign-in. This is a small step toward managing information together within the Nostr ecosystem. I will attempt this myself eventually, if no one else does, but I am prioritizing my development in this way: 1. A nostr client that allows the cataloguing and management of relays locally. 2. A LogSeq alternative with Nostr interoperability. 3. HedgeDoc + Nostr is #3 on my list, despite being the easiest option. Check out HedgeDoc 2.0 if you have any interest in a cooperative Markdown experience on Nostr: https://docs.hedgedoc.dev/ Now, this article should catch up all of my dearest followers, and idols, to where I stand with "bookmarking, note-taking, list-making, kind-1 event management, frameworking, and so on..." Where it leads us to, is what's possible. Let's take a look at what's possible, once we forego ALL OF THE PROPRIETARY WEB'S BEST OPTIONS: https://denizaydemir.org/ https://denizaydemir.org/graph/how-logseq-should-build-a-world-knowledge-graph/ https://subconscious.network/ Nostr is even inspired by much of the history that has gone into information management systems. nostr:npub1jlrs53pkdfjnts29kveljul2sm0actt6n8dxrrzqcersttvcuv3qdjynqn I know looks up to Gordon Brander, just as I do. You can read his articles here: https://substack.com/@gordonbrander and they are very much worth reading! Also, I could note that the original version of Highlighter by nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft was also inspired partially by WorkFlowy. About a year ago, I was mesmerized coming across SubText and thinking I had finally found the answer Nostr might even be looking for. But, for now I will just suggest that others read the Readme.md on the SubText Gtihub, as well as articles by Brander. Good luck everyone. I am here to work with ANYONE who is interested in these type of solution on Nostr. My first order of business in this space is to spearhead a community of npubs who share this goal. Everyone who is interested in note-taking or list-making or bookmarking is welcome to join. I have created an INVITE-ONLY relay for this very purpose, and anyone is welcome to reach out if they wish to be added to the whitelist. It should be freely readable in the near future, if it is not already, but for now will remain a closed-to-post community to preemptively mitigate attack or spam. Please reach out to me if you wish to join the relay. https://logstr.mycelium.social/ With this article, I hope people will investigate and explore the options available. We have lots of ground to cover, but all of the right resources and manpower to do so. Godspeed, Nostr. #Nostr #Notes #OtherStuff #LogSec #Joplin #Obsidian

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The advent of cryptocurrency has sparked a modern-day gold rush, with Bitcoin mining at the forefront of this digital revolution. The United States, with its vast resources and technological prowess, has become a fertile ground for these operations. However, the recent shift in the global mining landscape has brought a wave of Chinese mining companies to U.S. shores, fleeing a regulatory crackdown in their homeland. This migration has set off alarm bells within national security circles, as the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies is not just a tool for financial gain but also a potential vector for cyber espionage and other security threats. The dual-use nature of this technology, capable of both revolutionizing economies and potentially undermining national security, has placed it at the heart of a complex debate involving economic policy, technological innovation, and national defense. **Table Of Content** - The Economic Impact of Cryptocurrency Mining - National Security Risks and Strategic Concerns - Regulatory Responses to Foreign Mining Operations - The Path Forward: Innovation, Security, and Diplomacy - Conclusion - FAQs The economic allure of cryptocurrency mining is undeniable. In regions hit hard by economic downturns, the establishment of mining operations has been a boon, providing much-needed jobs and revitalizing local economies. These operations often take over abandoned industrial sites, turning them into hives of high-tech activity. The promise of a revitalized industrial base, however, comes with caveats. The energy-intensive nature of cryptocurrency mining has led to a surge in demand for electricity, straining local grids and raising concerns about the environmental impact of such operations. The long-term economic benefits are also questioned, as the volatility of the cryptocurrency market means that the stability of these jobs and the longevity of the operations are not guaranteed. As Chinese companies increasingly dominate this space, there is also the fear that the economic benefits may be offset by the outflow of profits to foreign entities. **National Security Risks and Strategic Concerns** The strategic implications of foreign-controlled cryptocurrency mining operations on U.S. soil are complex and troubling. The opaque nature of these operations, often shrouded in layers of corporate secrecy, makes it difficult to discern their true intentions. The proximity of some mining farms to sensitive sites, such as military bases and critical infrastructure, has compounded these fears, suggesting the potential for these facilities to be used for more than just mining. The vast computational power of mining operations could theoretically be repurposed for code-breaking and hacking, posing a direct threat to national security. The concern is not just hypothetical; it is rooted in a history of cyber incursions attributed to Chinese state-sponsored actors. The potential for these mining operations to serve as a front for such activities, intentionally or not, has put them in the crosshairs of U.S. security agencies. **Regulatory Responses to Foreign Mining Operations** The U.S. government's response to the influx of Chinese cryptocurrency mining operations has been measured yet firm. Recognizing the need to maintain an open economic environment that fosters innovation, regulators have nonetheless moved to establish guardrails to protect national interests. This has involved a multifaceted approach, including the proposal of legislation aimed at scrutinizing foreign investments in critical technologies and infrastructure. Agencies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) have been at the forefront of these efforts, working to untangle the complex web of ownership and control that characterizes foreign mining operations. The goal is to ensure that while the U.S. remains a hub for technological innovation, it does not become a playground for foreign powers with adversarial intentions. **The Path Forward: Innovation, Security, and Diplomacy** The path forward for the United States in managing the rise of Chinese bitcoin mining operations is akin to walking a tightrope. On one side is the need to nurture innovation and maintain the U.S.'s competitive edge in the burgeoning field of cryptocurrency. On the other is the imperative to safeguard national security and ensure that the country's technological infrastructure is not compromised. This delicate balance requires a nuanced approach that includes fostering a robust domestic mining industry, investing in renewable energy sources to mitigate the environmental impact, and engaging in strategic diplomacy to manage the international dimensions of cryptocurrency governance. The U.S. must leverage its strengths in innovation, policy-making, and international relations to set standards that will shape the future of cryptocurrency mining and secure its digital economy. **Conclusion** The challenge of balancing the economic potential of cryptocurrency mining with the imperatives of national security is emblematic of the broader challenges facing policymakers in the digital age. As Chinese bitcoin mining operations continue to expand their footprint in the U.S., the need for a strategic, measured response becomes increasingly critical. This response must be multifaceted, engaging with all stakeholders, including the mining industry, environmental groups, energy providers, and security agencies. By striking a balance between economic growth and security, the U.S. can harness the potential of the digital economy while protecting its national interests. The stakes are high, and the decisions made today will have lasting implications for the security and prosperity of future generations. **FAQs** **How does Bitcoin mining impact local economies?** Bitcoin mining can provide jobs and economic investment in local communities, especially in areas with excess energy capacity or where industrial sites are underutilized. **What is the U.S. government's response to foreign cryptocurrency mining operations?** The U.S. government is considering stricter regulations on foreign investments in critical technologies, including cryptocurrency mining, to protect national security while fostering economic growth. **Can cryptocurrency mining operations be environmentally sustainable?** There are concerns about the high energy consumption of mining operations, but with investment in renewable energy and efficient technologies, mining can move towards greater sustainability. **How does the U.S. plan to balance innovation with security in cryptocurrency mining?** The U.S. aims to strike a balance by creating policies that encourage technological innovation and economic benefits while implementing security measures to protect against potential threats. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [Instagram: @croxroadnews.co](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 3f770d65:7a745b24

The recent shutdown of TikTok in the United States due to a potential government ban serves as a stark reminder how fragile centralized platforms truly are under the surface. While these platforms offer convenience, a more polished user experience, and connectivity, they are ultimately beholden to governments, corporations, and other authorities. This makes them vulnerable to censorship, regulation, and outright bans. In contrast, Nostr represents a shift in how we approach online communication and content sharing. Built on the principles of decentralization and user choice, Nostr cannot be banned, because it is not a platform—it is a protocol. **PROTOCOLS, NOT PLATFORMS.** At the heart of Nostr's philosophy is **user choice**, a feature that fundamentally sets it apart from legacy platforms. In centralized systems, the user experience is dictated by a single person or governing entity. If the platform decides to filter, censor, or ban specific users or content, individuals are left with little action to rectify the situation. They must either accept the changes or abandon the platform entirely, often at the cost of losing their social connections, their data, and their identity. What's happening with TikTok could never happen on Nostr. With Nostr, the dynamics are completely different. Because it is a protocol, not a platform, no single entity controls the ecosystem. Instead, the protocol enables a network of applications and relays that users can freely choose from. If a particular application or relay implements policies that a user disagrees with, such as censorship, filtering, or even government enforced banning, they are not trapped or abandoned. They have the freedom to move to another application or relay with minimal effort. **THIS IS POWERFUL.** Take, for example, the case of a relay that decides to censor specific content. On a legacy platform, this would result in frustration and a loss of access for users. On Nostr, however, users can simply connect to a different relay that does not impose such restrictions. Similarly, if an application introduces features or policies that users dislike, they can migrate to a different application that better suits their preferences, all while retaining their identity and social connections. The same principles apply to government bans and censorship. A government can ban a specific application or even multiple applications, just as it can block one relay or several relays. China has implemented both tactics, yet Chinese users continue to exist and actively participate on Nostr, demonstrating Nostr's ability to resistant censorship. How? Simply, it turns into a game of whack-a-mole. When one relay is censored, another quickly takes its place. When one application is banned, another emerges. Users can also bypass these obstacles by running their own relays and applications directly from their homes or personal devices, eliminating reliance on larger entities or organizations and ensuring continuous access. **AGAIN, THIS IS POWERUFL.** Nostr's open and decentralized design makes it resistant to the kinds of government intervention that led to TikTok's outages this weekend and potential future ban in the next 90 days. There is no central server to target, no company to regulate, and no single point of failure. (Insert your CEO jokes here). As long as there are individuals running relays and applications, users continue creating notes and sending zaps. Platforms like TikTok can be silenced with the stroke of a pen, leaving millions of users disconnected and abandoned. Social communication should not be silenced so incredibly easily. No one should have that much power over social interactions. Will we on-board a massive wave of TikTokers in the coming hours or days? I don't know. TikTokers may not be ready for Nostr yet, and honestly, Nostr may not be ready for them either. The ecosystem still lacks the completely polished applications, tools, and services they’re accustomed to. This is where we say "we're still early". They may not be early adopters like the current Nostr user base. Until we bridge that gap, they’ll likely move to the next centralized platform, only to face another government ban or round of censorship in the future. But eventually, there will come a tipping point, a moment when they’ve had enough. When that time comes, I hope we’re prepared. If we’re not, we risk missing a tremendous opportunity to onboard people who genuinely need Nostr’s freedom. Until then, to all of the Nostr developers out there, keep up the great work and keep building. Your hard work and determination is needed. ###

@ cff1720e:15c7e2b2

**Einleitung**\ \ Schwierige Dinge einfach zu erklären ist der Anspruch von ELI5 (explain me like I'm 5). Das ist in unserer hoch technisierten Welt dringend erforderlich, denn nur mit dem Verständnis der Technologien können wir sie richtig einsetzen und weiter entwickeln.\ Ich starte meine Serie mit Nostr, einem relativ neuen Internet-Protokoll. Was zum Teufel ist ein Internet-Protokoll? Formal beschrieben sind es internationale Standards, die dafür sorgen, dass das Internet seit über 30 Jahren ziemlich gut funktioniert. Es ist die Sprache, in der sich die Rechner miteinander unterhalten und die auch Sie täglich nutzen, vermutlich ohne es bewusst wahrzunehmen. http(s) transportiert ihre Anfrage an einen Server (z.B. Amazon), und html sorgt dafür, dass aus den gelieferten Daten eine schöne Seite auf ihrem Bildschirm entsteht. Eine Mail wird mit smtp an den Mailserver gesendet und mit imap von ihm abgerufen, und da alle den Standard verwenden, funktioniert das mit jeder App auf jedem Betriebssystem und mit jedem Mail-Provider. Und mit einer Mail-Adresse wie <roland@pareto.space> können sie sogar jederzeit umziehen, egal wohin. **Cool, das ist state of the art!** Aber warum funktioniert das z.B. bei Chat nicht, gibt es da kein Protokoll? Doch, es heißt IRC (Internet Relay Chat → merken sie sich den Namen), aber es wird so gut wie nicht verwendet. Die Gründe dafür sind nicht technischer Natur, vielmehr wurden mit Apps wie Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok u.a. bewusst Inkompatibilitäten und Nutzerabhängigkeiten geschaffen um Profite zu maximieren.  **Warum Nostr?** Da das Standard-Protokoll nicht genutzt wird, hat jede App ihr eigenes, und wir brauchen eine handvoll Apps um uns mit allen Bekannten auszutauschen. Eine Mobilfunknummer ist Voraussetzung für jedes Konto, damit können die App-Hersteller die Nutzer umfassend tracken und mit dem Verkauf der Informationen bis zu 30 USD je Konto und Monat verdienen. Der Nutzer ist nicht mehr Kunde, er ist das Produkt! Der Werbe-SPAM ist noch das kleinste Problem bei diesem Geschäftsmodell. Server mit Millionen von Nutzerdaten sind ein “honey pot”, dementsprechend oft werden sie gehackt und die Zugangsdaten verkauft. 2024 wurde auch der Twitter-Account vom damaligen Präsidenten Joe Biden gehackt, niemand wusste mehr wer die Nachrichten verfasst hat (vorher auch nicht), d.h. die Authentizität der Inhalte ist bei keinem dieser Anbieter gewährleistet. Im selben Jahr wurde der Telegram-Gründer in Frankreich in Beugehaft genommen, weil er sich geweigert hatte Hintertüren in seine Software einzubauen. Nun kann zum Schutz **"unserer Demokratie”** praktisch jeder mitlesen, was sie mit wem an Informationen austauschen, z.B. darüber welches Shampoo bestimmte Politiker verwenden.   Und wer tatsächlich glaubt er könne Meinungsfreiheit auf sozialen Medien praktizieren, findet sich schnell in der Situation von Donald Trump wieder (seinerzeit amtierender Präsident), dem sein Twitter-Konto 2021 abgeschaltet wurde (Cancel-Culture). Die Nutzerdaten, also ihr Profil, ihre Kontakte, Dokumente, Bilder, Videos und Audiofiles - gehören ihnen ohnehin nicht mehr sondern sind Eigentum des Plattform-Betreibers; lesen sie sich mal die AGB's durch. Aber nein, keine gute Idee, das sind hunderte Seiten und sie werden permanent geändert. Alle nutzen also Apps, deren Technik sie nicht verstehen, deren Regeln sie nicht kennen, wo sie keine Rechte haben und die ihnen die Resultate ihres Handelns stehlen. Was würde wohl der Fünfjährige sagen, wenn ihm seine ältere Schwester anbieten würde, alle seine Spielzeuge zu “verwalten” und dann auszuhändigen wenn er brav ist? “Du spinnst wohl”, und damit beweist der Knirps mehr Vernunft als die Mehrzahl der Erwachsenen. \ \ **Resümee:** keine Standards, keine Daten, keine Rechte = keine Zukunft!  \ **Wie funktioniert Nostr?** Die Entwickler von Nostr haben erkannt dass sich das Server-Client-Konzept in ein Master-Slave-Konzept verwandelt hatte. Der Master ist ein Synonym für Zentralisierung und wird zum **“single point of failure”**, der zwangsläufig Systeme dysfunktional macht. In einem verteilten Peer2Peer-System gibt es keine Master mehr sondern nur gleichberechtigte Knoten (Relays), auf denen die Informationen gespeichert werden. Indem man Informationen auf mehreren Relays redundant speichert, ist das System in jeglicher Hinsicht resilienter. Nicht nur die Natur verwendet dieses Prinzip seit Jahrmillionen erfolgreich, auch das Internet wurde so konzipiert (das ARPAnet wurde vom US-Militär für den Einsatz in Kriegsfällen unter massiven Störungen entwickelt). Alle Nostr-Daten liegen auf Relays und der Nutzer kann wählen zwischen öffentlichen (zumeist kostenlosen) und privaten Relays, z.B. für geschlossene Gruppen oder zum Zwecke von Daten-Archivierung. Da Dokumente auf mehreren Relays gespeichert sind, werden statt URL's (Locator) eindeutige Dokumentnamen (URI's = Identifier) verwendet, broken Links sind damit Vergangenheit und Löschungen / Verluste ebenfalls.\ \ Jedes Dokument (Event genannt) wird vom Besitzer signiert, es ist damit authentisch und fälschungssicher und kann nur vom Ersteller gelöscht werden. Dafür wird ein Schlüsselpaar verwendet bestehend aus privatem (nsec) und öffentlichem Schlüssel (npub) wie aus der Mailverschlüsselung (PGP) bekannt. Das repräsentiert eine Nostr-Identität, die um Bild, Namen, Bio und eine lesbare Nostr-Adresse ergänzt werden kann (z.B. <roland@pareto.space> ), mehr braucht es nicht um alle Ressourcen des Nostr-Ökosystems zu nutzen. Und das besteht inzwischen aus über hundert Apps mit unterschiedlichen Fokussierungen, z.B. für persönliche verschlüsselte Nachrichten (DM → OxChat), Kurznachrichten (Damus, Primal), Blogbeiträge (Pareto), Meetups (Joinstr), Gruppen (Groups), Bilder (Olas), Videos (Amethyst), Audio-Chat (Nostr Nests), Audio-Streams (Tunestr), Video-Streams (Zap.Stream), Marktplätze (Shopstr) u.v.a.m. Die Anmeldung erfolgt mit einem Klick (single sign on) und den Apps stehen ALLE Nutzerdaten zur Verfügung (Profil, Daten, Kontakte, Social Graph → Follower, Bookmarks, Comments, etc.), im Gegensatz zu den fragmentierten Datensilos der Gegenwart.\ \ **Resümee:** ein offener Standard, alle Daten, alle Rechte = große Zukunft!  \ **Warum ist Nostr die Zukunft des Internet?** “Baue Dein Haus nicht auf einem fremden Grundstück” gilt auch im Internet - für alle App-Entwickler, Künstler, Journalisten und Nutzer, denn auch ihre Daten sind werthaltig. Nostr garantiert das Eigentum an den Daten, und überwindet ihre Fragmentierung. Weder die Nutzung noch die kreativen Freiheiten werden durch maßlose Lizenz- und Nutzungsbedingungen eingeschränkt. Aus passiven Nutzern werden durch Interaktion aktive Teilnehmer, Co-Creatoren in einer Sharing-Ökonomie **(Value4Value)**. OpenSource schafft endlich wieder Vertrauen in die Software und ihre Anbieter. Offene Standards ermöglichen den Entwicklern mehr Kooperation und schnellere Entwicklung, für die Anwender garantieren sie Wahlfreiheit. Womit wir letztmalig zu unserem Fünfjährigen zurückkehren. Kinder lieben Lego über alles, am meisten die Maxi-Box “Classic”, weil sie damit ihre Phantasie im Kombinieren voll ausleben können. Erwachsene schenken ihnen dann die viel zu teuren Themenpakete, mit denen man nur eine Lösung nach Anleitung bauen kann. “Was stimmt nur mit meinen Eltern nicht, wann sind die denn falsch abgebogen?" fragt sich der Nachwuchs zu Recht. Das Image lässt sich aber wieder aufpolieren, wenn sie ihren Kindern Nostr zeigen, denn die Vorteile verstehen sogar Fünfjährige.  \ **Das neue Internet ist dezentral. Das neue Internet ist selbstbestimmt. Nostr ist das neue Internet.** <https://nostr.net/> \ <https://start.njump.me/> **Hier das Interview zum Thema mit Radio Berliner Morgenröte** <https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-yxc36-17bb4be>

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

A new report from the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) shows that civilian firearm possession exceeded 490 million in 2022. The total from 1990 to 2022 is estimated at 491.3 million firearms. In 2022, over ten million firearms were domestically produced, leading to a total of 16,045,911 firearms available in the U.S. market. Of these, 9,873,136 were handguns, 4,195,192 were rifles, and 1,977,583 were shotguns. Handgun availability aligns with the concealed carry and self-defense market, as all states allow concealed carry, with 29 having constitutional carry laws.

@ c4b5369a:b812dbd6

This is the first edition of the SDR (Squirrel Den Recap), a development blog where I recap the recent Cashu related things I've been working on. ### The year of the nut IYKYK. 2025 is the year of the nut. Don't blame me, you can put it on the Chinese: <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/c83ed9f135dd2ba6285d90ff3320055d7245d6d8e11022e2d57af2995b2bc654.jpg"> And I intend to take full advantage of that. This is the year where I go all in on the nut development! ## Building a mint??? There are already a few mint implementations out there ([nutshell](https://github.com/cashubtc/nutshell), [gonuts](https://github.com/elnosh/gonuts), [cdk](https://github.com/cashubtc/cdk)...). So why build another? Honestly it was kind of a selfish move. So far, I have mainly concerned myself with building tools for Cashu wallets and clients. I figured, if I wanted to truly focus on Cashu this year, I should also know my stuff when it comes to building a mint from scratch. And so I did. It also allows me to experiment with mint related stuff, having an implementation handy that I can mess around with. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/3b6e156bfc9d464929696502f28986bf3764ac736e826429673129f548ec4954.png">  The mint implementation is called MNT. You can visit the homepage <https://mnt.cash> , where you will also find a link to the code. Although the code works, the mint implementation is not yet ready for production. I've been playing around with it using a local testing lightning network with [Polar](https://lightningpolar.com/) , which by the way is a great tool for devs that need to test lightning integrations. ### The mint MNT is short for mint. It's also pronounced like mint, but without the "i". The goal of this project is to be an easy to run mint, that could be deployed by users for example when running an event. It won't support all of the protocol features, to keep it simple. Instead the focus will be on simplicity and ease of use. MNT comes with an admin web interface, that makes it easy to set the mint up with a lightning backend: <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d5ef4baee85173e98057447c1f14e70d73fe2f647a71096a954288bc70785571.png">  After adding a lightning backend, the mint is basically ready! Users can enjoy a live view of what is happening on their mint via the integrated dashboard: <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/a2b8968f564cfe082182a44a68aed8c2e4001170f26c76d7b6892981ec43aa05.png">  Admins can take direct actions on the mint via the admin tool, like rotating keysets, disabling and enabling features, etc... A key feature is also the keyset view, where operators get a view on how much of the issued ecash has already been redeemed in each keyset. This is a crucial tool for mint operators, because it lets them know when they can safely delete records from their database, or shut the mint down. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/182bb23b39b6cb1002a48abc8a0093b0fee506ebee01e7a48d50a434869e6557.png">  The mint is compatible with all Cashu wallets. It only supports a subset of the cashu specification (NUTs), and will probably never implement the full spec. I'm looking forward to soon recklessly give this badboy a spin on mainnet 😎 ## What else? **Cashu-ts** Last year npub1mhcr4j594hsrnen594d7700n2t03n8gdx83zhxzculk6sh9nhwlq7uc226 joined cashu-ts as a maintainer and has been killing it with development in the project! As I ramp up my involvement in the project again, we started having weekly dev calls. **Developers that want to contribute to cashu-ts development**, **please reach out to me so you can join us on the next call!** **Nutstash** The wallet has seen a complete make-over at the end of last year. Now is the time to consolidate, fix bugs and improve the UX. npub12zpfs3yq7we83yvypgsrw5f88y2fv780c2kfs89ge5qk6q3sfm7spks880 has been helping me with awesome designs and UX suggestions, while I've been crushing bugs. A new version fixing some edge cases in the restore process can be expected next week! <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/55222e2206e938285cf344e84f6a5c4e8aca31c150891aad2ea6061a2a50d322.png"> ### This blog \ This year, I was fortunate to receive funding for my work on open source projects in the [Cashu](https://cashu.space) ecosystem. I am very grateful for the trust from npub17xvf49kht23cddxgw92rvfktkd3vqvjgkgsdexh9847wl0927tqsrhc9as and npub10pensatlcfwktnvjjw2dtem38n6rvw8g6fv73h84cuacxn4c28eqyfn34f this means a lot to me, to be able to make a living by working on something I am passionate about is a blessing, and I don't think it would be possible without the support from you. My deepest gratitude, I hope my contributions will not only match, but exceed expectations. By writing this blog, I want to show my progress, proof of work, and give people a look into the daily life in the squirrels den 🐿️🐿️🐿️🐿️🐿️🐿️ If you have any questions or suggestions about this blog, please let me know in a comment! ### Best, Gandlaf

@ 8781fe5d:4900ffa8

## Episode 1 : La genèse Octobre 2023, on sort à peine de l’explosion de **$Pepe** sur Ethereum qui est un peu la consécration de la culture meme avec grand papa PePe la grenouille 🔥 L’idée d’un projet de memecoin “story telling” était déjà présente mais surtout , je voulais montrer au monde qu’une vague de memecoins de type jeu décentralisé où chaque participant reçois un AirDrop et peut jouer à trader à son niveau était en train de démarrer et attirait déjà beaucoup de monde ! #### Pepe Le choix d’une story à partir de PePe était réfléchit car je voulais être le premier sur RGB avec un PePe qui ne soit pas un scam ,pour changer 🤗😂 Je voulais être sur bitcoin , les Ordinals battaient leur plein et je cherchais comment fiée des smer contracts de type ETH sur Bitcoin 🔥 Dans ma recherche, je découvre le projet RGB qui semble correspondre parfaitement au besoin : un protocole indépendant, des smart contracts , privé et hors chain s’appuyant sur bitcoin ou liquid 👀 Étude , tests de la tech, tests avec l’unique wallet à l’époque : Bitmask de Diba. ### C’est parti Je crée un contrat RGB20 ( format pour les shitcoins) avec 21 millions de “PePeRGB” ! Je crée ensuite un modèle 3D , réalisé un site web minimaliste avec la story et quelques images . J’écris un article expliquant le projet avec tutorial étape par étape pourr obtenir du PePeRGB contre quelques sats pour payer la Tx. Jusque là, mon petit projet se déroule normalement : tout le monde s’en fou royalement 😱😂😂 À part @grittoshi et @swisscryptocat qui sont constamment les deux qui avaient déjà testé avant moi 🙏✊🏻😂🔥 (Retenez bien les @ car ils ont chacun un shitcoin sur Liquid ! Ils sont avec nous et nous avançons tous ensembles 🤗🤗) #### ni hao C’est alors qu’un étudiant chercheur chinois @DaPangDun me contacte en me disant qu’il étudie RGB et que des groupes WeChat se sont formés sur le sujet avec pas mal de monde . Il veut faire un post sur mon projet mais il veut participer ! Deal 🙏🔥 Bonne idée : le post est superbe et tout ce joli monde part en FOMO et veut du $pprgb ! J’étais pas prêt 😱 Gérer une communauté de 30000 personnes en fomo dans les 5 heures ne se fait pas comme cela !! #### professionnel Heureusement, j’ai de l’expérience de startup, de crypto, de projets 🙏 Création de whitelist , animation du groupe sur Twitter, création du groupe telegram avec gestion du mandarin ( je ne parle pas ). Tout s’organise plutôt bien en deux jours ( mémorables 30 heures intenses !) ### Liquid Deux mois de tests , de crash, de communauté qui post “wen boss” 32715 fois par jour , je prends une décision forte car la commu va s’essouffler et partir ur Solana qui commence à bien gonfler sur les memecoins ! Je fais un poll sur Twitter : Voulez vous : À- Attendre RGB sans token ? B- Avoir un AirDrop PPRGB liquid network et jouer demain avec ? Résultat : 82% pour A 😂😂😂 À suivre …. 👀

@ f9cf4e94:96abc355

Para esse exemplo iremos usar: | Nome | Imagem | Descrição | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | Raspberry PI B+ |  | **Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit a 1.4GHz e 1 GB de SDRAM LPDDR2,** | | Pen drive |  | **16Gb** | Recomendo que use o **Ubuntu Server** para essa instalação. Você pode baixar o Ubuntu para Raspberry Pi [aqui]( https://ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi). O passo a passo para a instalação do Ubuntu no Raspberry Pi está disponível [aqui]( https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-your-raspberry-pi). **Não instale um desktop** (como xubuntu, lubuntu, xfce, etc.). --- ## Passo 1: Atualizar o Sistema 🖥️ Primeiro, atualize seu sistema e instale o Tor: ```bash apt update apt install tor ``` --- ## Passo 2: Criar o Arquivo de Serviço `nrs.service` 🔧 Crie o arquivo de serviço que vai gerenciar o servidor Nostr. Você pode fazer isso com o seguinte conteúdo: ```unit [Unit] Description=Nostr Relay Server Service After=network.target [Service] Type=simple WorkingDirectory=/opt/nrs ExecStart=/opt/nrs/nrs-arm64 Restart=on-failure [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target ``` --- ## Passo 3: Baixar o Binário do Nostr 🚀 Baixe o binário mais recente do Nostr [aqui no GitHub]( https://github.com/gabrielmoura/SimpleNosrtRelay/releases). --- ## Passo 4: Criar as Pastas Necessárias 📂 Agora, crie as pastas para o aplicativo e o pendrive: ```bash mkdir -p /opt/nrs /mnt/edriver ``` --- ## Passo 5: Listar os Dispositivos Conectados 🔌 Para saber qual dispositivo você vai usar, liste todos os dispositivos conectados: ```bash lsblk ``` --- ## Passo 6: Formatando o Pendrive 💾 Escolha o pendrive correto (por exemplo, `/dev/sda`) e formate-o: ```bash mkfs.vfat /dev/sda ``` --- ## Passo 7: Montar o Pendrive 💻 Monte o pendrive na pasta `/mnt/edriver`: ```bash mount /dev/sda /mnt/edriver ``` --- ## Passo 8: Verificar UUID dos Dispositivos 📋 Para garantir que o sistema monte o pendrive automaticamente, liste os UUID dos dispositivos conectados: ```bash blkid ``` --- ## Passo 9: Alterar o `fstab` para Montar o Pendrive Automáticamente 📝 Abra o arquivo `/etc/fstab` e adicione uma linha para o pendrive, com o UUID que você obteve no passo anterior. A linha deve ficar assim: ```fstab UUID=9c9008f8-f852 /mnt/edriver vfat defaults 0 0 ``` --- ## Passo 10: Copiar o Binário para a Pasta Correta 📥 Agora, copie o binário baixado para a pasta `/opt/nrs`: ```bash cp nrs-arm64 /opt/nrs ``` --- ## Passo 11: Criar o Arquivo de Configuração 🛠️ Crie o arquivo de configuração com o seguinte conteúdo e salve-o em `/opt/nrs/config.yaml`: ```yaml app_env: production info: name: Nostr Relay Server description: Nostr Relay Server pub_key: "" contact: "" url: http://localhost:3334 icon: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u= https://public.bnbstatic.com/image/cms/crawler/COINCU_NEWS/image-495-1024x569.png base_path: /mnt/edriver negentropy: true ``` --- ## Passo 12: Copiar o Serviço para o Diretório de Systemd ⚙️ Agora, copie o arquivo `nrs.service` para o diretório `/etc/systemd/system/`: ```bash cp nrs.service /etc/systemd/system/ ``` Recarregue os serviços e inicie o serviço `nrs`: ```bash systemctl daemon-reload systemctl enable --now nrs.service ``` --- ## Passo 13: Configurar o Tor 🌐 Abra o arquivo de configuração do Tor `/var/lib/tor/torrc` e adicione a seguinte linha: ```torrc HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/nostr_server/ HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:3334 ``` --- ## Passo 14: Habilitar e Iniciar o Tor 🧅 Agora, ative e inicie o serviço Tor: ```bash systemctl enable --now tor.service ``` O Tor irá gerar um endereço `.onion` para o seu servidor Nostr. Você pode encontrá-lo no arquivo `/var/lib/tor/nostr_server/hostname`. --- ## Observações ⚠️ - Com essa configuração, **os dados serão salvos no pendrive**, enquanto o binário ficará no cartão SD do Raspberry Pi. - O endereço `.onion` do seu servidor Nostr será algo como: `ws://y3t5t5wgwjif<exemplo>h42zy7ih6iwbyd.onion`. --- Agora, seu servidor Nostr deve estar configurado e funcionando com Tor! 🥳 Se este artigo e as informações aqui contidas forem úteis para você, convidamos a considerar uma doação ao autor como forma de reconhecimento e incentivo à produção de novos conteúdos.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

Over the past decade, the cryptocurrency landscape has witnessed unprecedented growth, with Bitcoin undeniably at its forefront. As the trailblazer of digital currencies, Bitcoin has not only introduced the world to the possibilities of decentralized finance but has also inspired the creation of thousands of other cryptocurrencies. Yet, among the myriad of developments in the crypto domain, the advent of Bitcoin ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) stands out. These innovative financial instruments have not only revolutionized how investors perceive and interact with Bitcoin but have also provided a bridge between the volatile world of cryptocurrencies and the more stable, regulated realm of traditional finance. **Table Of Content** - What is a Bitcoin ETF? - Why are Bitcoin ETFs Important? - The Current Landscape of Bitcoin ETFs - How to Invest in a Bitcoin ETF - Conclusion - FAQs **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** At its core, a Bitcoin ETF is a financial instrument designed to track the price movements of Bitcoin. Rather than diving into the intricate world of cryptocurrencies—buying Bitcoin directly, grappling with the nuances of digital wallets, or navigating the often complex landscape of crypto exchanges—investors can now simply purchase shares of a Bitcoin ETF. These shares are traded just like any other stock on traditional stock exchanges, offering a seamless integration of Bitcoin into conventional investment portfolios. **Why are Bitcoin ETFs Important?** **Accessibility:** One of the primary advantages of Bitcoin ETFs is their accessibility. They open the doors for everyday investors, even those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the crypto world, to gain exposure to Bitcoin. There's no need to delve into the technical aspects of purchasing, storing, or securing the cryptocurrency—Bitcoin ETFs simplify the entire process. **Regulation:** Being listed and traded on recognized stock exchanges means that Bitcoin ETFs come under the purview of financial regulators. This regulatory oversight ensures a degree of transparency and protection for investors, something that's often amiss in the wild west of direct cryptocurrency investments. **Diversification:** For seasoned investors and newcomers alike, diversification is a cornerstone of a robust investment strategy. Bitcoin ETFs offer a golden opportunity to tap into the burgeoning cryptocurrency market without the direct volatility and risks tied to holding the actual digital assets. **The Current Landscape of Bitcoin ETFs** The concept of a Bitcoin ETF isn't new. However, its journey to mainstream acceptance has been riddled with regulatory challenges. Many countries, initially hesitant, have taken a cautious approach, leading to delays in the adoption of Bitcoin ETFs. But as the broader financial community becomes more attuned to the potential benefits (and risks) of cryptocurrencies, we're witnessing a gradual shift. Regulators are now more open, and approvals for Bitcoin ETFs in major financial markets are on the rise. This evolving landscape has sparked renewed interest, with both institutional and retail investors keenly exploring these novel investment avenues. **How to Invest in a Bitcoin ETF** The process of investing in a Bitcoin ETF mirrors that of any other traditional investment vehicle. Here's an elaborated guide: **Research:** Embarking on any investment journey necessitates thorough research. It's imperative to delve deep, understand the nuances, and compare the various Bitcoin ETFs available in the market. Look into their past performance, management strategies, and fee structures. **Choose a Brokerage:** Once you've zeroed in on a Bitcoin ETF that aligns with your investment goals, the next step is to select a suitable brokerage. Opt for one that offers your chosen Bitcoin ETF and boasts a reputation for reliability and security. **Buy Shares:** With your brokerage account set up, you're all set to make your purchase. Navigate to the trading platform, search for your chosen Bitcoin ETF, decide on the number of shares you wish to buy, and execute the trade. It's as simple as buying shares of any other company. **Conclusion** The emergence of Bitcoin ETFs signifies a monumental shift in the financial world. It's a testament to the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies and their potential to coexist with traditional financial instruments. As the crypto ecosystem continues to evolve, mature, and gain broader acceptance, the allure of Bitcoin ETFs is set to grow. For investors, this evolution offers a unique vantage point—a chance to be at the intersection of time-tested financial principles and the dynamic world of digital currencies. **FAQs** **What is a Bitcoin ETF?** A Bitcoin ETF is a financial instrument that tracks the price of Bitcoin, allowing investors to buy its shares on traditional stock exchanges. **Why choose a Bitcoin ETF over direct Bitcoin investment?** Bitcoin ETFs offer easier accessibility, regulatory oversight, and a way to diversify investments without dealing with the complexities of direct cryptocurrency handling. **Are Bitcoin ETFs regulated?** Yes, Bitcoin ETFs traded on established stock exchanges are subject to regulatory oversight, providing added protection for investors. **How do I invest in a Bitcoin ETF?** Start with research, choose a reputable brokerage that offers the Bitcoin ETF you're interested in, and then purchase its shares like you would with any other stock. **Are Bitcoin ETFs a safer investment than Bitcoin?** While no investment is risk-free, Bitcoin ETFs offer a layer of protection due to regulatory oversight and eliminate the risks associated with direct handling and storage of cryptocurrencies. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: @croxroadnews** **Instagram: @croxroadnews.co** **Youtube: @croxroadnews** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 66675158:1b644430

Before the time of Utensils, people lived in genuine harmony. They gathered in markets to trade freely, built homes where they pleased, and traveled without papers or permissions. Communities solved their own problems through discussion and agreement. When disputes arose, wise elders would help find solutions that satisfied all. Children learned from their parents or chose mentors from among the skilled craftspeople. In those days, gold changed hands freely for goods and services. Each person kept what they earned. Communities would voluntarily pool resources for shared needs - wells, bridges, and roads. Those who had more would often help those with less, not by decree but by choice. Neighbors knew each other's names. Doors were left unlocked. Children played in the streets until sunset. Gardens grew wherever people planted them. Merchants traveled between towns without inspections. Healers practiced their craft freely, sharing knowledge openly. > Then came the Utensils. In our land, Aldrich found the Silver Spoon. In the East, Emperor Chen discovered the Jade Chopsticks. The Norse kingdoms united under the Golden Fork. The desert peoples followed the Bronze Ladle. Each Utensil, their holders claimed, granted divine wisdom to rule. Each promised protection and prosperity in exchange for obedience. The changes came slowly at first. The Spoon Holder requested a share of each harvest to store for hard times. The Chopstick Emperor required homes to be built in specific ways to prevent fires. The Fork King demanded that travelers carry documents proving their loyalty. At first, the Utensils did bring some genuine improvements. The Spoon Holder's collectors used part of their harvest share to help villages during droughts. The Chopstick Emperor's building codes truly did reduce fires. The Fork King's road patrols deterred the few bandits who had troubled merchants. The Bronze Ladle's water management systems helped farms flourish in the desert. The early years saw stone roads replace dirt paths, connecting villages more efficiently than before. Granaries were built with better designs, preserving food longer. Some diseases decreased as the Chopstick Emperor's cleanliness codes spread. The Fork Kingdom's standardized weights and measures did make trade easier. The Spoon Holder soon declared that carrying gold was dangerous and inefficient. They introduced sacred paper notes, "backed by the Silver Spoon's power." At first, you could trade these notes back for gold, but gradually this right vanished. Scholars wrote lengthy memos about the divine wisdom of the Utensils, creating complex theories about why ordinary people couldn't possibly understand how to live without direction. They advised the Holders and were rewarded with special privileges, comfortable positions, and influence. When anyone questioned this system, the Utensil Holders and their Experts would ask: "But who would build the roads without us? Who would help the poor? Who would protect you?" They spoke as if humans had never cooperated or helped each other before the Utensils came, and many began to believe it. People grumbled but accepted. After all, the Utensils shone with otherworldly power. Some remembered these early benefits when questioning the growing restrictions. "Remember how the Spoon Holder's men helped during the great flood?" they would say. "Surely they have our best interests at heart." The Utensil Holders carefully nurtured these memories, even as their power grew far beyond such humble beginnings. More rules followed. The Spoon Holder's men began watching the roads, collecting portions from merchants. The Chopstick Guards enforced strict codes about proper behavior. The Fork Watchers kept lists of who attended the mandatory gatherings. Children were taught the sacred histories of their Utensils. The Spoon's light blessed the worthy. The Chopsticks maintained harmony. The Fork brought strength. The Ladle provided guidance. When people remembered the old freedoms, the Utensil Holders reminded them of the chaos before - though few could actually recall any chaos. > But surely there must have been chaos, or why would the Utensils have come? The Utensil Holders began to eye each other's territories. How dare the Fork King claim his metal was superior? How could the Chopstick Emperor suggest jade held more wisdom than silver? The Ladle Holder's bronze was clearly inferior to all! The Utensil Holders pointed to their achievements - the roads, the granaries, the safer towns - as proof of their divine right to rule. They spoke of how they had unified squabbling villages, standardized laws, and created order. Few noticed how these very achievements had required less and less input from the people themselves. Wars erupted. Armies marched under banners bearing their sacred Utensils. Men died believing their Utensil was the one true source of authority. Villages burned as soldiers searched for heretics who might secretly worship foreign Utensils. The Utensil Holders demanded more from their people - more food, more gold, more obedience. They placed watchers in every village. They required written permission for travel between towns. They forbade more than three people from gathering without a Guardian present. "It's for protection," they said, holding their Utensils high. "How can you doubt the sacred silver?" And indeed, their guards did stop some thieves, their inspectors did prevent some fraud, their builders did create some useful works. But these benefits came with an ever-increasing price in freedom, until the cost far exceeded any advantage. Yet by then, most people could no longer imagine providing these services for themselves, as their ancestors had done. Towns built walls, not against invaders but to control who could enter and leave. The Utensil Holders required everyone to wear markers showing their village of origin. They appointed observers in every community to report suspicious behavior - like speaking of the time before Utensils. Children were taken to special houses to learn proper reverence for their Utensil. Families who taught the old ways disappeared in the night. The Holders declared certain words forbidden, certain thoughts dangerous, certain memories treasonous. Now, centuries later, the Utensils rule absolutely. People bow when the sacred implements pass by. They inform on neighbors who question the Utensils' power. They offer their children to serve in the Utensil temples. The latest marvel was Utensil Technology - enchanted mirrors and crystals that watched people's movements, recorded their words, and tracked their trades. "Only criminals fear being watched," the Holders proclaimed, as their surveillance spread into every home and market. The crystals even allowed them to freeze people's paper money if they spoke against the Utensils. The Utensil Holders formed special partnerships with the largest merchant guilds. These favored merchants received special permissions, protection from smaller competitors, and access to the new paper money first. In return, they helped enforce the Holders' rules and collected information about their customers. Small traders and craftsmen found themselves crushed between these powerful allies. The latest decree requires all newborns to be blessed by touching their foreheads to their realm's sacred Utensil, marking them forever as its property. Parents compete for earlier blessing times, believing this shows greater devotion. The wars continue. The Fork Kingdoms battle the Chopstick Empire. The Ladle Realms raid the Spoon Holdings. Each believes their Utensil must rule all. And in quiet corners, in hidden places, a few elders still whisper stories of the time before - when humans lived without Utensils telling them how to live. But fewer remember with each passing year. After all, who could imagine a world without the guidance of sacred silverware?

@ 6389be64:ef439d32

## Black Locust can grow up to 170 ft tall ## Grows 3-4 ft. per year ## Native to North America ## Cold hardy in zones 3 to 8  ## Firewood - BLT wood, on a pound for pound basis is roughly half that of Anthracite Coal - Since its growth is fast, firewood can be plentiful ## Timber  - Rot resistant due to a naturally produced robinin in the wood - 100 year life span in full soil contact! (better than cedar performance) - Fence posts - Outdoor furniture - Outdoor decking - Sustainable due to its fast growth and spread - Can be coppiced (cut to the ground) - Can be pollarded (cut above ground) - Its dense wood makes durable tool handles, boxes (tool), and furniture - The wood is tougher than hickory, which is tougher than hard maple, which is tougher than oak. -  A very low rate of expansion and contraction - Hardwood flooring - The highest tensile beam strength of any American tree - The wood is beautiful ## Legume - Nitrogen fixer - Fixes the same amount of nitrogen per acre as is needed for 200-bushel/acre corn - Black walnuts inter-planted with locust as “nurse” trees were shown to rapidly increase their growth [[Clark, Paul M., and Robert D. Williams. (1978) Black walnut growth increased when interplanted with nitrogen-fixing shrubs and trees. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, vol. 88, pp. 88-91.]] ## Bees  - The edible flower clusters are also a top food source for honey bees ## Shade Provider  - Its light, airy overstory provides dappled shade - Planted on the west side of a garden it provides relief during the hottest part of the day - (nitrogen provider) - Planted on the west side of a house, its quick growth soon shades that side from the sun ## Wind-break  - Fast growth plus it's feathery foliage reduces wind for animals, crops, and shelters ## Fodder - Over 20% crude protein - 4.1 kcal/g of energy - Baertsche, S.R, M.T. Yokoyama, and J.W. Hanover (1986) Short rotation, hardwood tree biomass as potential ruminant feed-chemical composition, nylon bag ruminal degradation and ensilement of selected species. J. Animal Sci. 63 2028-2043

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

Humans want the resources of other humans. I want the food that the supermarket owns so that I can eat it. Before buying it, I wanted the house that I now own. And before that, someone wanted to build a house on that plot of land, which was owned by someone else first. Most of the activities we engage in during our lifetime revolve around extracting something from someone else. There are two basic modalities to getting the resources of someone else. The first, the simplest, and the one that has dominated the majority of human history, is force. Conquer people, kill them, beat them up and take their stuff, force them into slavery and make them do your work. It’s a somewhat effective strategy. This can also be more subtle, by using coercive and fraudulent methods to trick people into giving you their resources. Let’s call this modality the looter approach. The second is trade. In the world of trade, I can only extract resources from someone else when they willingly give them to me in exchange for something else of value. This can be barter of value for value, payment in money, built-up goodwill, favors, charity (exchanging resources for the benefit you receive for helping someone else), and more. In order to participate in this modality, you need to create your own valuable resources that other people want to trade for. Let’s call this the producer approach. The producer approach is better for society in every conceivable way. The looter approach causes unnecessary destruction, pushes production into ventures that don’t directly help anyone (like making more weapons), and rewards people for their ability to inflict harm. By contrast, the producer approach rewards the ability to meet the needs of others and causes resources to end up in the hands of those who value them the most. Looter philosophy is rooted in the concept of the zero sum game, the mistaken belief that I can only have more if someone else has less. By contrast, the producer philosophy correctly identifies the fact that we can *all* end up better by producing more goods in more efficient ways. We live in our modern world of relatively widespread luxury because producers have made technological leaps—for their own self-serving motives—that have improved everyone’s ability to produce more goods going forward. Think of the steam engine, electricity, computing power, and more. # A producer-only world It would be wonderful to live in a world in which there are no looters. We all produce, we all trade, everyone receives more value than they give, and there is no wasted energy or destruction from the use of force. Think about how wonderful it could be\! We wouldn’t need militaries, allowing a massive amount of productive capacity to be channeled into things that make everyone’s lives better. We wouldn’t need police. Not only would that free up more resources, but would remove the threat of improper use of force by the state against citizens. The list goes on and on. I believe many economists—especially Austrian economists—are cheering for that world. I agree with them on the cheering. It’s why things like Donald Trump’s plans for tariffs are so horrific in their eyes. Tariffs introduce an artificial barrier between nations, impeding trade, preventing the peaceful transfer of resources, and leading to a greater likelihood of armed conflict. There’s only one problem with this vision, and it’s also based in economics: game theory. # Game theory and looters Imagine I’m a farmer. I’m a great farmer, I have a large plot of land, I run my operations efficiently, and I produce huge amounts of food. I sell that food into the marketplace, and with that money I’m able to afford great resources from other people, who willingly trade them to me because they value the money more than their own resources. For example, how many T-shirts does the clothing manufacturer need? Instead of his 1,000th T-shirt, he’d rather sell it for $5 and buy some food. While I’m really great as a farmer, I’m not very good as a fighter. I have no weapons training, I keep no weapons on my property, and I dislike violence. And finally, there’s a strong, skilled, unethical person down the street. He could get a job with me on the farm. For back-breaking work 8 hours a day, I’ll pay him 5% of my harvest. Or, by contrast, he could act like the mafia, demand a “protection fee” of 20%, and either beat me up, beat up my family, or cause harm to my property, if I don’t pay it. In other words, he could be a producer and get 5% in exchange for hard work, or be a looter and get 20% in exchange for easy (and, likely for him, fun) work. As described, the game theoretic choice is clear. So how do we stop a producer world from devolving back into a looter world? # Deterrence There’s only one mechanism I’m aware of for this, and it’s deterrence. As the farmer, I made a mistake. I *should* get weapons training. I *should* keep weapons on my farm. I *should* be ready to defend myself and my property. Because if I don’t, game theory ultimately predicts that all trade will collapse, and society as we know it will crumble. I don’t necessarily have to have the power of deterrence myself. I could hire a private security company, once again allowing the producer world to work out well. I trade something of lesser value (some money) for something I value more (the protection afforded by private security). If I’m lucky, that security company will never need to do anything, because the mere *threat* of their presence is sufficient. And in modern society, we generally hope to rely on the government police force to provide this protection. There are easy ways to defeat the ability of deterrence to protect our way of life. The simplest is to defang it. Decriminalize violent and destructive acts, for example. Remove the consequences for bad, looter behavior, and you will incentivize looting. This is far from a theoretical discussion. We’ve seen the clear outcome in California, which has decriminalized theft under $950, resulting—in a completely predictable way—in more theft, stores closing, and an overall erosion of producer philosophy. And in California, this is even worse. Those who try to be their own deterrence, by arming themselves and protecting their rights, are often the targets of government force instead of the looters. I’m guessing this phrasing has now split my reading audience into three groups. Group A agrees wholly with what I’m saying. Group B believes what I’ve just written is pure evil and garbage. Group C initially disagreed with my statements, but has an open mind and is willing to consider a different paradigm. The next section is targeted at groups A and C. Group B: good luck with the broken world you’re advocating. # Global scale This concept of deterrence applies at a global scale too. I would love to live in a world where all nations exchange value for value and never use force against others. In fact, I believe the ultimate vision for this kind of a world ends with anarcho-capitalism (though I don’t know enough about the topic to be certain). There ends up being no need for any force against anyone else. It’s a beautiful vision for a unified world, where there are no borders, there is no destruction, there is only unity through trade. I love it. But game theory destroys this too. If the entire world disarmed, it would take just one person who thinks he can do better through looter tactics to destroy the system. The only way to defeat that is to have a realistic threat of force to disincentivize someone from acting like a looter. And this is the paradox. In order to live in our wonderful world of production, prosperity, health, and happiness, we always need to have our finger near enough to the trigger to respond to looters with force. I know of no other approach that allows production to happen. (And I am very interested in other theoretical solutions to this problem, if anyone wants to share reading material.) # Peace through strength This line of thinking leads to the concept of [peace through strength](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_through_strength). When those tempted to use violence see the overwhelming strength of their potential victims, they will be disincentivized to engage in violent behavior. It’s the story of the guy who wants to rob my farm. Or the roaming army in the ancient world that bypassed the well fortified walled city and attacked its unprotected neighbor. There are critics of this philosophy. As put by Andrew Bacevich, "'Peace through strength' easily enough becomes 'peace through war.'" I don’t disagree at all with that analysis, and it’s something we must remain vigilant against. But disarming is not the answer, as it will, of course, necessarily lead to the victory of those willing to use violence on others. In other words, my thesis here is that the threat of violence must be present to keep society civilized. But the cost of *using* that violence must be high enough that neither side is incentivized to initiate it. # Israel I’d been thinking of writing a blog post on this topic for a few months now, but finally decided to today. Israel just agreed to a hostage deal with Hamas. In exchange for the release of 33 hostages taken in the October 7 massacre, Israel will hand over 1,000 terrorists in Israeli prisons. I have all the sympathy in the world for the hostages and their families. I also have great sympathy for the Palestinian civilians who have been harmed, killed, displaced, and worse by this war. And I have empathy (as one of the victims) for all of the Israeli citizens who have lived under threat of rocket attacks, had our lives disrupted, and for those who have been killed by this war. War is hell, full stop. My message here is to those who have been pushing the lie of “peace through negotiations.” Or peace through capitulation. Or anything else. These tactics are the reason the war has continued. As long as the incentive structure makes initiating a war a positive, wars will continue to be initiated. Hamas has made its stance on the matter clear: it has sworn for the eradication of all Jews within the region, and considers civilian casualties on the Palestinian side not only acceptable, but advantageous.  I know that many people who criticize Israel and put pressure on us to stop the war in Gaza believe they are doing so for noble reasons. (For the record, I also believe many people have less altruistic reasons for their stance.) I know people like to point to the list of atrocities they believe Israel has committed. And, by contrast, the pro-Israel side is happy to respond with corresponding atrocities from the other side. I honestly believe this is all far beyond irrelevant. The only question people should be asking is: how do we disincentivize the continuation of hostilities? And hostage deals that result in the release of terrorists, allow “aid” to come in (which, if history is any indication, will be used to further the construction of tunnels and other sources for attack on Israel), and give Hamas an opportunity to rearm, only incentivize the continuation of the war. In other words, if you care about the innocent people on either side, you should be opposed to this kind of capitulation. Whatever you think about the morality of each side, more people will suffer with this approach. # Skin in the game It’s easy to say things like that when your life isn’t on the line. I also don’t think that matters much. Either the philosophical, political, and economic analysis is correct, or it isn’t. Nonetheless, I *do* have skin in the game here. I still live in a warzone. I am less than 15 kilometers from the Lebanese border. We’ve had Hezbollah tunnels reaching into our surrounding cities. My family had to lock ourselves inside when Hezbollah paratroopers had attempted to land in our city. My wife (Miriam) and I have discussed this situation at length, many times, over the course of this war. If I’m ever taken hostage, I hope the Israeli government bombs the hell out of wherever I am being held. I say this not only because I believe it is the right, just, moral, ethical, and strategically correct thing to do. I say this because I am selfish: * I would rather die than be tortured by our enemies. * I would rather die than be leveraged to make my family and country less safe. * I would rather die than live the rest of my life a shell of my former self, haunted not only by the likely torture inflicted on me, but by the guilt of the harm to others resulting from my spared life. I don’t know why this hostage deal went through now. I don’t know what pressures have been brought to bear on the leaders in Israel. I don’t know if they are good people trying to protect their citizens, nefarious power hungry cretins looking to abuse both the Israeli and Palestinian populace to stay in control, weak-willed toadies who do what they’re told by others, or simply stupid. But my own stance is clear. # But what about the Palestinians? I said it above, and I’ll say it again: I truly do feel horrible for the trauma that the Palestinian people are going through. Not for the active terrorists mind you, I feel no qualms about those raising arms against us being destroyed. But everyone else, even those who wish me and my fellow Israelis harm. (And, if polling is to be believed, that’s the majority of Palestinians.) I would much rather that they *not* be suffering now, and that eventually through earned trust on both sides, everyone’s lots are improved. But the framework being imposed by those who “love” peace isn’t allowing that to happen. Trust cannot be built when there’s a greater incentive to return to the use of force. I was strongly opposed to the 2005 disengagement from Gaza. But once it happened, it could have been one of those trust-building starting points. Instead, I saw many people justify further violence by Hamas—such as non-stop rocket attacks on the south of Israel—because Israel hadn’t done enough yet. Notice how fundamentally flawed this mentality is, just from an incentives standpoint\! Israel gives up control of land, something against its own overall interests and something desired by Palestinians, and is punished for it with increased violence against citizens. Hamas engaged in a brutal destruction of all of its opponents within the Palestinian population, launched attacks on Israel, and when Israel *did* respond with force, Israel was blamed for having not done enough to appease Hamas. I know people will want to complicate this story by bringing up the laundry list of past atrocities, of assigning negative motivations to Israel and its leaders, and a million other evasions that are used to avoid actually solving this conflict. Instead, I beg everyone to just use basic logic. The violence will continue as long as the violence gets results.

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**Table Of Content** - A Mysterious 911 Call - The Investigation Begins - Zhong's Lavish Lifestyle - The Silk Road Connection - The Confrontation - The Shocking Revelation - The Verdict - Conclusion - FAQ The world of cryptocurrency is filled with tales of overnight millionaires, innovative technology, and unfortunately, crime. One such tale that intertwines all these elements is that of Jimmy Zhong. From being a developer in the early days of Bitcoin to becoming one of its biggest thieves, Zhong's story is a roller-coaster ride that sheds light on the darker corners of the crypto universe. Here's a deeper dive into his intriguing journey. **A Mysterious 911 Call** In the college town of Athens, Georgia, the police department is accustomed to handling typical college town crimes. However, on the night of March 13, 2019, they received a call that was anything but ordinary. Jimmy Zhong, a 28-year-old known for his partying habits, was on the line, but not for reasons one might expect. Distressed and panicked, he reported a significant theft of cryptocurrency from his residence. This call, seemingly just another crime report, would soon unravel a web of deceit and expose a decade-long mystery surrounding one of the most significant crypto crimes ever committed. **The Investigation Begins** With the local police initially stumped by the intricacies of the crypto world, Zhong sought external help. Enter Robin Martinelli, a private investigator with a reputation for tenacity. As she delved into the case, surveillance footage from Zhong's home revealed a potential suspect who seemed to have intimate knowledge of the premises. This discovery led Martinelli down a path that suggested the thief might be from Zhong's own circle of acquaintances or friends. The very idea was something Zhong found hard to digest, as it hinted at a betrayal from someone he trusted. **Zhong's Lavish Lifestyle** Behind the façade of a modest bungalow in Athens, Zhong led a life of luxury that raised many eyebrows. His spending habits painted the picture of a man with deep pockets. From stays at the Ritz Carlton to shopping sprees at Louis Vuitton, from driving a Tesla to owning a lake house filled with extravagant amenities, Zhong's lifestyle was nothing short of opulent. Yet, the source of his wealth remained shrouded in mystery. He often alluded to his early involvement in Bitcoin mining, suggesting he had been part of the crypto revolution since its inception in 2009. **The Silk Road Connection** Parallel to Zhong's life of luxury, IRS agents were deep into an investigation of a massive 2012 hack. This hack had seen 50,000 bitcoins stolen from Silk Road, a notorious dark web marketplace. As the years passed, the value of these stolen bitcoins skyrocketed to a staggering $3 billion. The breakthrough in the case came unexpectedly when the hacker, in a momentary lapse, transferred some of the stolen funds to a crypto exchange. The account on this exchange was registered under none other than Jimmy Zhong's name, drawing him into the crosshairs of the investigation. **The Confrontation** With growing suspicions, IRS agents, in collaboration with the local police, decided to confront Zhong. They approached him under the pretense of assisting with his reported theft, but their ulterior motive was to probe deeper into Zhong's potential involvement in the Silk Road heist. Their visit to his residence was revealing. Not only did they discover a significant amount of bitcoin on Zhong's laptop, but the manner in which Zhong operated his systems also hinted at a deep familiarity with the crypto world. **The Shocking Revelation** The deeper the authorities delved into Zhong's background, the more astonishing the revelations became. It turned out that Zhong wasn't just a casual participant in the Bitcoin community; he was an integral part of its early days. Known as an "original gangster" or OG, Zhong had contributed to Bitcoin's development in its nascent stages. This revelation was both ironic and startling. A person who had been instrumental in shaping Bitcoin had also, allegedly, become one of its most significant adversaries. **The Verdict** The culmination of the investigations saw Zhong facing charges of wire fraud. After a guilty plea, he was handed a sentence of a year and a day in federal prison. While the U.S. government managed to seize the stolen bitcoins, the original theft that led Zhong to make that fateful 911 call remains an unsolved mystery to this day. **Conclusion** The tale of Jimmy Zhong serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and ambiguities of the cryptocurrency world. It's a realm where the lines between right and wrong can often blur, and where fortunes can be made or lost in mere moments. Zhong's journey from a Bitcoin developer to a billionaire thief is a testament to the unpredictable and often tumultuous world of digital currencies. **FAQs** **Who is Jimmy Zhong?** Jimmy Zhong is a former Bitcoin developer who later became known for his involvement in one of the biggest crypto thefts. **What was the nature of the crime?** Zhong was implicated in a 2012 hack where 50,000 bitcoins were stolen from the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace. **How was he caught?** A small transactional mistake led investigators to a crypto exchange account registered under Zhong's name, linking him to the stolen bitcoins. **What was his sentence?** After pleading guilty to wire fraud, Zhong was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison. **Is the original theft from Zhong's home solved?** No, the theft that led Zhong to make a 911 call in 2019 remains unsolved. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: @croxroadnews** **Instagram: @croxroadnews.co** **Youtube: @croxroadnews** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - Unexpected Findings in a Prison Raid - The Tocorón Prison: A Criminal Haven - The Lucrative World of Bitcoin Mining - A Growing Trend in Latin America - Conclusion - FAQ In the ever-evolving world of crime, criminals are constantly seeking innovative ways to further their illicit gains. The recent Venezuelan prison raid offers a startling glimpse into this world, revealing an unexpected intersection between organized crime and the realm of cryptocurrency. This article delves into the surprising findings of the raid, the notorious Tocorón prison, the lucrative allure of Bitcoin mining, and the emerging trend of cryptocurrency in the Latin American criminal landscape. **Unexpected Findings in a Prison Raid** In a recent raid on the Tocorón prison in Aragua state, Venezuelan authorities made an unexpected discovery. Alongside the anticipated confiscation of rocket launchers, grenades, and bullets, they stumbled upon Bitcoin mining machines. This operation, which involved a staggering 11,000 troops, was aimed at dismantling the country's most formidable organized crime group. While weapons were a predictable find, the presence of Bitcoin miners was a revelation that caught many off guard. Videos circulating on social media platforms showcased buildings filled with these machines, emphasizing the scale of the operation. The juxtaposition of traditional weapons with high-tech mining equipment highlights the adaptability and resourcefulness of criminal organizations, demonstrating their willingness to embrace new technologies to further their objectives. **The Tocorón Prison: A Criminal Haven** The Tocorón prison, located in the heart of Venezuela, has long been notorious for being under the control of criminals. In fact, it had been run by them for years, turning it into a veritable fortress of illicit activities. This prison wasn't just a place of confinement; it boasted amenities like a swimming pool and even a mini zoo, painting a picture of a facility that was more a criminal fortress than a penitentiary. Such luxuries are unheard of in conventional prisons, suggesting a level of autonomy and power that these criminals wielded. Venezuelan prisons, in general, have a reputation for being perilously overcrowded and hazardous, often leading to violent confrontations. This particular raid marked the first time Venezuelan authorities took decisive action against the dreaded Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization with a hand in various illicit activities, ranging from drug and human trafficking to extortion, both within Venezuela and in neighboring countries. The audacity of such a group to operate so openly speaks volumes about the challenges faced by Venezuelan law enforcement. **The Lucrative World of Bitcoin Mining** Bitcoin mining, for the uninitiated, might seem like a complex digital process, but its implications are very tangible. Mining machines play a pivotal role in minting new coins and ensuring the security of the Bitcoin blockchain. Engaging in this energy-intensive process requires a significant amount of electricity, often leading to concerns about its environmental impact. However, the rewards, in the form of new cryptocurrency, can be substantial. A recent report from Coin Metrics highlighted that Bitcoin miners raked in a whopping $184 million from transaction fees in a mere three months, from April to June. This lucrative venture offers a glimpse into why criminals might be drawn to such operations, given the potential for immense profits. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies also provides a level of anonymity, making it an attractive option for those wishing to operate outside the purview of traditional financial systems. **A Growing Trend in Latin America** The discovery of Bitcoin mining machines in the Tocorón prison isn't an isolated incident. Just two weeks prior, Chilean police uncovered a drug trafficking ring in Santiago that was operating a Bitcoin mining venture. This suggests a growing trend among criminals in Latin America, who seem to be exploring the lucrative world of cryptocurrency. As the digital currency gains traction globally, it's evident that the criminal underworld is also keen on capitalizing on its potential. The integration of cryptocurrency into criminal operations represents a new frontier in crime, challenging law enforcement agencies to adapt and develop new strategies to combat this emerging threat. **Conclusion** The Venezuelan prison raid serves as a stark reminder of the intricate and ever-changing nature of organized crime. As the lines between traditional criminal activities and the digital world blur, it's crucial for authorities to stay one step ahead. The fusion of organized crime with the world of cryptocurrency underscores the need for continued vigilance and adaptability in the face of evolving criminal methodologies. **FAQs** **What was discovered during the Venezuelan prison raid?** Along with weapons like rocket launchers and grenades, authorities found Bitcoin mining machines in the Tocorón prison. **Who controlled the Tocorón prison?** The prison had been under the control of criminals for years, notably the Tren de Aragua crime group. **Why is Bitcoin mining significant?** Bitcoin mining is the process of minting new coins and securing the Bitcoin blockchain. It can be highly lucrative, with miners earning substantial amounts from transaction fees. **Is cryptocurrency involvement a trend in Latin American crime?** Yes, there's a growing trend among criminals in Latin America to integrate cryptocurrency into their operations, as seen in both Venezuela and Chile. **How are authorities responding to this trend?** The Venezuelan raid signifies a proactive approach by authorities, but the blending of crime with cryptocurrency highlights the need for continued vigilance and adaptability. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ b8851a06:9b120ba1

## **It Begins with a Click** It starts with a click: *“Do you agree to our terms and conditions?”*\ You scroll, you click, you comply. A harmless act, right? But what if every click was a surrender? What if every "yes" was another link in the chain binding you to a life where freedom requires approval? This is the age of permission. Every aspect of your life is mediated by gatekeepers. Governments demand forms, corporations demand clicks, and algorithms demand obedience. You’re free, of course, as long as you play by the rules. But who writes the rules? Who decides what’s allowed? Who owns your life? --- ## **Welcome to Digital Serfdom** We once imagined the internet as a digital frontier—a vast, open space where ideas could flow freely and innovation would know no bounds. But instead of creating a decentralized utopia, we built a new feudal system. - Your data? Owned by the lords of Big Tech. - Your money? Controlled by banks and bureaucrats who can freeze it on a whim. - Your thoughts? Filtered by algorithms that reward conformity and punish dissent. The modern internet is a land of serfs and lords, and guess who’s doing the farming? You. Every time you agree to the terms, accept the permissions, or let an algorithm decide for you, you till the fields of a system designed to control, not liberate. They don’t call it control, of course. They call it *“protection.”* They say, “We’re keeping you safe,” as they build a cage so big you can’t see the bars. --- ## **Freedom in Chains** But let’s be honest: we’re not just victims of this system—we’re participants. We’ve traded freedom for convenience, sovereignty for security. It’s easier to click “I Agree” than to read the fine print. It’s easier to let someone else hold your money than to take responsibility for it yourself. It’s easier to live a life of quiet compliance than to risk the chaos of true independence. We tell ourselves it’s no big deal. What’s one click? What’s one form? But the permissions pile up. The chains grow heavier. And one day, you wake up and realize you’re free to do exactly what the system allows—and nothing more. --- ## **The Great Unpermissioning** It doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t need their approval. You don’t need their systems. You don’t need their permission. The Great Unpermissioning is not a movement—it’s a mindset. It’s the refusal to accept a life mediated by gatekeepers. It’s the quiet rebellion of saying, *“No.”* It’s the realization that the freedom you seek won’t be granted—it must be reclaimed. - **Stop asking.** Permission is their tool. Refusal is your weapon. - **Start building.** Embrace tools that decentralize power: Bitcoin, encryption, open-source software, decentralized communication. Build systems they can’t control. - **Stand firm.** They’ll tell you it’s dangerous. They’ll call you a radical. But remember: the most dangerous thing you can do is comply. The path won’t be easy. Freedom never is. But it will be worth it. --- ## **The New Frontier** The age of permission has turned us into digital serfs, but there’s a new frontier on the horizon. It’s a world where you control your money, your data, your decisions. It’s a world of encryption, anonymity, and sovereignty. It’s a world built not on permission but on principles. This world won’t be given to you. You have to build it. You have to fight for it. And it starts with one simple act: refusing to comply. --- ## **A Final Word** They promised us safety, but what they delivered was submission. The age of permission has enslaved us to the mundane, the monitored, and the mediocre. The Great Unpermissioning isn’t about tearing down the old world—it’s about walking away from it. You don’t need to wait for their approval. You don’t need to ask for their permission. The freedom you’re looking for is already yours. Permission is their power—refusal is yours.

@ fe02e8ec:f07fbe0b

## **Warum Trump?** &#x20; **Die hierzulande völlig falsch vorhergesagten Ergebnisse bei der US-Wahl sowie die Regierungskrise in Deutschland** **stellt viele Menschen vor die Frage: wohin bewegen wir uns, was ist auf dieser Welt eigentlich los? Die Medien verlieren in nie gekanntem Ausmaß an Vertrauen und auch die Politiker können den Bürgern die Welt nicht mehr erklären, geschweige denn glaubhafte Lösungen aufzeigen.** Wie konnte es so weit kommen? Und wie kommen wir wieder dazu, miteinander zu reden und um Lösungen zu ringen anstatt die jeweils andere Seite zu verleumden und zu diskreditieren? Dieser Artikel beleuchtet die Situation aus der *Perspektive von Werteebenen und Weltbildern*. Ganz entscheidend dafür sind die Biografie und das Wertesystem der Menschen. Der amerikanische Wissenschaftler Clare Graves hat in den 80er Jahren diese unterschiedlichen Ebenen erstmals beschrieben und ein Modell dazu entwickelt (‹[S*piral Dynamics*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_Dynamics)*›*, auch Bestandteil der *Integralen Theorie* von Ken Wilber). Das Modell beschreibt, wie sich Menschen und Gesellschaften im Lauf ihrer Entwicklung auf unterschiedlichen Werteebenen bewegen und wie eine Gruppe die andere kaum verstehen kann. Und hier liegt die Problematik unserer Gesellschaften: in den USA (ebenso wie in Europa) haben wir es parallel mit *drei sehr unterschiedlichen Wertesystemen und Weltbildern* zu tun, die sich heute immer stärker voneinander abgrenzen. Die aktuell erlebten drei Ebenen sind (in knapper Darstellung): **Die Ebene ‹Ordnung, Recht und Gesetz›**: Das Wichtigste ist, dass das Zusammenleben der Menschen durch einen klaren Ordnungsrahmen bestimmt wird. Fehlverhalten wird konsequent geahndet. Der Einzelne fühlt sich sicher, gemeinsam ist man stark. Die Freiheit des Einzelnen ist innerhalb des Rahmens von Gesetz und Ordnung garantiert. Das gemeinsam Erreichte ist wichtiger als das unbekannte Neue. Religion und Tradition spielen eine wichtige Rolle (politisch: rechts-konservativ). **Die Ebene ‹anything goes›**: Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied, jeder kann erfolgreich sein, wenn er sich nur genügend anstrengt. Wettbewerb zwischen Menschen und Unternehmen prägt Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft; persönlicher Erfolg, Effizienz und Leistung sind treibende Kräfte, Selbstoptimierung wird zur Pflichtübung für viele. Technische Erfindungen erleichtern und verändern unser Leben, wirken sich aber auch auf das Ökosystem und den Planten aus. Religion und Tradition werden zu Gunsten der Wissenschaft getauscht (politisch: (neo-)liberal) **Die Ebene des ‹Pluralismus›**: Jeder und alles wird akzeptiert und hat ein Recht darauf, sein ‹Ding› zu leben. Der Einzelne übernimmt größere Verantwortung für sein Tun im Hinblick auf die Umwelt, Randgruppen, Ethik. Konsens geht vor Diskurs, Gefühle sind wichtiger als Rationalität. Gesetze und Struktur (z. B. Ländergrenzen) sind **‹old school**›, denn keiner möchte sich etwas vorschreiben lassen und wenn alle Menschen gleich sind, so braucht es keine Länder mehr. Es gibt *keine absolute Wahrheit*, jeder hat mit seiner eigenen (gefühlten) Wahrheit grundsätzlich recht. Man erlebt sich als moralisch höherstehend, *Political Correctness* oder *Wokeness* werden zu einer Art Religion (politisch: links-grün, Identitätspolitik). (Durch die Zuwanderung existieren noch weitere Ebenen, vor allem die Stammesebene mit dem *Wert der Ehre* an oberster Stelle, doch dies wird hier nicht weiter ausgeführt). So lange keine Existenzängste, keine Bedrohung von innen oder außen und keine größere Krise drohten konnten diese Ebenen zumeist gut nebeneinander existieren. Heute allerdings, da die scheinbaren und realen Bedrohungsszenarien permanent wachsen, prallen die unterschiedlichen Werte bei Wahlen, Parteiprogrammen und in den Medien mit Wucht aufeinander. Verstärkt wird die Problematik dadurch, dass sich die Anhänger des Pluralismus auf einer höheren moralischen Ebene wähnen, was sie scheinbar berechtigt, mit den anderen jeden Dialog verweigern. Hierbei erleben wir einen fundamentalen Widerspruch, denn während die Ebene des Pluralismus einerseits behauptet, dass es *keine absoluten Wahrheiten gibt, halten sie gleichzeitig ihr eigenes Weltbild und ihre Werte für unumstößlich wahr*. Dieser Widerspruch wird allerdings nicht bemerkt und macht Diskussionen deshalb umso schwieriger bis unmöglich. Während vor gut 100 Jahren die Verantwortungsmoral wesentlich höher gewichtet wurde als die Gesinnungsmoral hat sich dieses Verhältnis heute radikal verkehrt. Der US-Wahlkampf seitens der ‹Demokraten› hat auch gezeigt, wie Menschen mit anderen Werten von den sogenannten Eliten verachtet werden. Sie wurden als *Abgehängte*, \*\*‹\*\**Basket of deplorables›* (Hillary Clinton) oder *‹Müll›* (Biden) bezeichnet. Dabei sind es genau diese Menschen, die durch ihre Arbeit die Versorgung des Landes sicherstellen. Trump hat die unnachahmliche Fähigkeit, diese Menschen anzusprechen und ihnen ein Gefühl der Akzeptanz und Wertschätzung zu geben, obwohl er Milliardär ist. Gerade bei jungen Männern konnte er punkten, da diese die permanenten Beleidigungen durch die *Woken* (‹toxische› Männlichkeit) und deren Umerziehungsversuche leid sind. Das Modell der Werteebenen, *Spiral Dynamics*, kennt allerdings noch eine weitere Entwicklung, die *Integrale Ebene*, die auch in der Integralen Theorie von Ken Wilber eine bedeutsame Rolle spielt. Sie ist diejenige Ebene, der es gelingt, die jeweilige Berechtigung der anderen Ebenen zu erkennen. So ist *‹Ordnung, Recht und Gesetz›* dafür zuständig, das Bedürfnis der Menschen nach *Sicherheit* zu erfüllen. Sicherheit, genug zu essen zu haben, ein Dach über dem Kopf, eine verfügbare und bezahlbare Gesundheitsversorgung und natürlich körperliche Sicherheit, d. h. möglichst keinen Angriffen ausgesetzt zu werden. Die Ebene *‹anything goes›* erfüllt das Bedürfnis nach Individualität, nach persönlicher Freiheit, nach Unabhängigkeit von Institutionen und kirchlichen Vorschriften. Sie ermöglichte die großen Erfindungen, das enorme Wachstum des Wohlstands, aber auch der Ausbeutung des Planeten. Der Pluralismus erfüllt unser Bedürfnis nach Kooperation, nach größerer Verantwortung für Natur und Umwelt sowie nach Gleichberechtigung (nicht: Gleichstellung). Problematisch dabei ist, dass jede Ebene die anderen ablehnt, entweder, weil sie nicht verstanden oder für bereits überwunden gehalten werden. Dabei hat jede – wie beschrieben – ihre Berechtigung. Erst die *Integrale Ebene* erkennt dies und kann die jeweiligen Werte *wert*schätzen. Dazu kommt, dass sich hier eine neue Spiritualität entwickeln kann, die ein Bewusstseinswachstum mit sich bringt. Weg von den institutionalisierten Kirchen, hin zu einer individuellen Suche und Erkenntnis. Denn gerade die *anything-goes-Ebene* hat mit ihrem Konzept von Wissenschaft den GEIST aus der Materie verbannt, was letztlich auch zu dem überbordenden Materialismus geführt hat, den wir seit den 60er-Jahren beobachten können. *Spiral Dynamics* beschreibt diese Werteebenen als Antworten von Gesellschaften auf die herrschenden Umweltbedingungen. Während der überwiegenden Zeit der Menschheitsgeschichte waren Gesellschaften hinsichtlich ihrer Werte homogen. Der Übergang von einer zur anderen Ebene dauerte mehrere Generationen. Heute haben wir *erstmals in der Geschichte* die Situation, dass drei und mehr Ebenen gleichzeitig innerhalb einer Gesellschaft existieren. Dies erklärt anschaulich, woher das fundamentale Nichtverstehen ganzer Bevölkerungsgruppen herrührt. Der Übergang von einer Ebene zur nächsten kann nicht erzwungen werden, er erfolgt auf Grund der persönlichen Lebensumgebung. Das erklärt zum Beispiel die Unterschiede zwischen Stadt und Land, zwischen den Generationen oder Studenten aus bestimmten Fachrichtungen verglichen mit Menschen aus produzierenden Berufen. Dazu kommt, dass niemand ausschließlich in einer einzigen Werteeben zuhause ist, vielmehr gibt es Überschneidungen. Kommt es jedoch zu kritischen Situationen, so sucht man diejenige Ebene auf, die die größte Sicherheit verspricht. In der Politik kommt noch eine besondere Zutat hinzu: *der unbedingte Wille zur Macht*. Das Ergebnis ist eine fundamentale Spaltung der Gesellschaft, wie in den USA zwischen Trump- und Harris-Anhängern zu beobachten oder in Deutschland, Österreich, Frankreich, Holland u. a. Ländern zwischen Anhängern linker und rechter Parteien. Die Anhänger des anderen Lagers sind dann wahlweise gefährliche Idioten, linksgrün versifft, Populisten, Rassisten oder gleich Nazis. **Der Spaltpilz besteht aus dem Unverständnis (und der Nicht-Akzeptanz) für andere Menschen und deren Weltverständnis, gepaart mit dem Machtwillen der Politiker.** Problematisch im ‹Wertewesten› ist fast überall die mediale Berichterstattung, die das Werteverständnis von *deutlich weniger als 50% der Bevölkerung* zur Grundlage hat, da sie primär durch Menschen erfolgt, die sich als *Pluralisten* sehen (politisch links-grün). Statt möglichst objektiv zu berichten haben sie den Anspruch, auf den anderen, größeren Teil der Bevölkerung *erzieherisch einzuwirken*. Doch die großen Medienhäuser sind heute keine Gatekeeper mehr. Schon seit Jahren haben sie nicht mehr die Hoheit darüber, was die Menschen in welcher Form und mit welcher Interpretation erfahren sollen. Das Internet hat hier etwas fundamental Neues bewirkt: die Empfänger konnten erstmals zu Sendern werden! Einzelne (Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson), Gruppen, alternative Medien bauten sich Reichweiten auf, mit welchen sie zu den Etablierten direkt in Wettbewerb treten. Und oft sogar eine höhere Glaubwürdigkeit genießen. Damit ist *erstmals seit Menschengedenken* das Meinungs- und Interpretationsmonopol der Mächtigen in großem Stil durchbrochen. Die Angst der Eliten kann man täglich beobachten, wenn die neu geschaffenen Zensurgesetze gegen unliebsame Meinungen zum Einsatz kommen (Digital Service Act). Hier spielt die EU eine Vorreiterrolle und Deutschland meldet mit Abstand die meisten Fälle von ‹Hass und Hetze› an die Meldestellen. Dies wird noch viel massivere Formen annehmen, siehe die EU-Gesetzgebung, die ‹Trusted Flagger› oder zum Beispiel die Verhaftung des telegram Gründers Pavel Durov zur Erpressung der Zusammenarbeit. Eine Gegenbewegung im Sinne freier Meinungsäußerung stellt dagegen X.com (twitter) dar, weshalb Elon Musk für einige nun zum [Staatsfeind Nr. 2](https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/elon-musk-staatsfeind-nummer-zwei-a-19071f99-5099-4e2a-aa87-c7a17ab9c046) (nach Trump) ‹aufstieg›, s. Spiegel. Der Wahlausgang in den USA gibt Anlass zur Hoffnung, dass die Zensurpolitik künftig nicht weiter verschärft werden wird. **Die Menschen wehren sich** Die größten politischen Schockereignisse im letzten Jahrzehnt waren die Wahl Trumps 2016 und nun erneut 2024 sowie der Brexit (Abstimmung 2016). Wie konnte es dazu kommen, obwohl nach übereinstimmenden Analysen 90% der Medien für die [Gegenseite](https://de.statista.com/infografik/9524/tenor-der-berichterstattung-ueber-donald-trump/) geschrieben und gesendet hatten? Die hier beschriebenen Zusammenhänge machen klar, dass ein immer größer werdender Teil der Bevölkerung Medien und Politik von ihrer Lebenswirklichkeit abgekoppelt erleben, deren Ziele kaum noch Gemeinsamkeiten haben mit den Bedürfnissen großer Teile der Gesellschaft. Eine bittere Desillusionierung ist die Folge: die Erkenntnis, dass die Demokratie aufgehört hat zu funktionieren und durch eine Oligarchie abgelöst wurde (laut [Studie der Princeton University](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/princeton-experts-say-us-no-longer-democracy) für die USA). Die immer größere Schere zwischen den superreichen 0,1 Prozent und dem Rest vertiefen bei den Wählern den Graben zu ‹denen in Washington› oder ‹denen in Berlin›. Und deshalb entschieden sich nun in den USA zig Millionen Menschen dafür, auf keinen Fall ein ‹Weiter-so‹ zu wählen. Und Trump war damals geschickt und ist es heute wieder: er verspricht Stärke, Sicherheit, ‹Make America great again›. Also Werte aus der Ebene ‹*Ordnung, Recht und Gesetz*›: wirtschaftlichen Aufschwung, weniger Immigranten, das Recht auf Waffenbesitz. Aber auch Menschen, die ihre Individualität schätzen wählten Trump, denn er verspricht – zusammen mit Elon Musk – weniger Zensur, technische Innovationen, volle Akzeptanz von Bitcoin. Werte aus der Ebene ‹anything-goes›. Damit erreicht er die Mehrheit der Menschen aus zwei Ebenen, während Harris mit den Schwerpunkten Identitätspolitik, Weiter-so und Wokismus nur eine der drei Ebenen erreichen konnte.  **Und in Deutschland?** In Deutschland existieren ebenfalls die beschriebenen drei Werteebenen. Und gleichzeitig gibt es große Unterschiede zu den USA. Das Nummer-eins-Ziel der USA ist es *die größte Nation der Welt zu sein* und damit implizit alles zu tun, um diesen Status aufrecht zu erhalten. Das betrifft die Geopolitik, das Militär, das Finanzwesen, die Kulturproduktion, die Digitalindustrie, die Medien. Das ist so ziemlich das Gegenteil deutschen innen- und außenpolitischen Verständnisses. Und wo in den USA das Prinzip des ‹the winner gets it all› dominiert, gab es in Deutschland lange Zeit die weitgehend gut funktionierende Soziale Markwirtschaft. Ein weiterer großer Unterschied: während in den USA lange Zeit die *Linken* die Erzfeinde der Nation waren („alles Kommunisten“) und es nach *rechts* kaum Grenzen gibt ist es in Deutschland exakt umgekehrt. Durch Instrumentalisierung der historischen Schuld wird alles, was nur im Entferntesten als *national* bezeichnet werden könnte, in die Verdammnis *rechts=Nazi* geworfen. Damit wird nationales Eigeninteresse, das für jede Regierung handlungsleitend sein sollte, in die no-go Area verschoben! Diese politische No-go Area in Deutschland liegt nun aber genau in den *Werteebenen großer Bevölkerungsteile*. Und hier zeigt sich die aktuelle Problematik: Statt dass verschiedene politische Richtungen im echten Diskurs um die beste Lösung feilschen, besteht die Taktik ausschließlich darin, das verminte Gebiet des *Nicht-Diskutierbaren* ([Overton Window](https://www.zerohedge.com/political/overton-window-shift-towards-liberty")) immer weiter auszudehnen. Kampfbegriffe wie\*\*\*\* *Populisten*, *‹Rechte›* (was ja eine weit verbreitete\*\*\*\* und notwendige politische Richtung darstellt, jedenfalls in allen anderen demokratischen Ländern) oder sogar *‹Nazi›* führen dazu, dass **kein einziges Thema – und sei es noch so wichtig – auf der Sachebene diskutiert werden kann.** Die Betrachtung der Werteebenen stellt natürlich nur einen Ausschnitt dar aus der komplexen gesellschaftlichen und politischen Realität. Dennoch vermag sie zu mehr Verständnis der aktuellen Verhältnisse verhelfen. Was hier nicht betrachtet wurde ist die Ausbeutung der Bedürfnisse von Menschen speziell aus der Gruppe *Pluralismus*. Ihr Wunsch nach Gleichberechtigung und Schutz von Umwelt und Klima wird von sehr mächtigen Gruppen und Personen dazu missbraucht, bestimmte Themen voranzutreiben (Abschaffung von: Nationen, Geschlechtsidentität, Heimatbezug, gemeinsamer Kultur u. a.), unter Einsatz extremer Manipulationstechniken. Dazu mehr in einem eigenen Beitrag. *Die Wahl Trumps wird die Deutungshoheit der Staats- und Konzernmedien weiter schwächen*. In den USA vertrauen ihnen weniger als [30% der Menschen](https://www.zerohedge.com/political/great-news-americans-trust-mass-media-hits-all-time-low), in Deutschland noch immerhin [knapp die Hälfte](https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2024/germany). Doch was hilft uns diese Erkenntnis? Viel interessanter ist die Frage, was jeder einzelne tun kann in dieser verfahrenen Situation. **Wie können wir daran mitwirken, dass die Gräben nicht tiefer, die Verachtung für die jeweils andere Seite nicht größer wird?** Dieser Beitrag erschien ebenfalls bei Radio München >> [hier anhören](https://www.radiomuenchen.net/de/podcast-archiv/sendeformate/2014-10-28-15-17-59/2747-werte-warum-trum-von-thomas-eisinger.html?highlight=WyJlaXNpbmdlciJd) Oder direkt hier: [https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/werte-warum-trump-von-thomas-eisinger](https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/werte-warum-trump-von-thomas-eisinger?utm_source=clipboard\&utm_medium=text\&utm_campaign=social_sharing)

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - The Timeless Appeal of Real Estate - Bitcoin: The Digital Gold - The Broader Investment Landscape: A Case Study of Instacart - Conclusion - FAQs In the dynamic realm of investments, the spotlight often shifts between various assets, each promising lucrative returns and stability. Recently, two contenders, real estate and Bitcoin, have been at the forefront of discussions. Both have their proponents and critics, making the choice between them a complex one. Drawing from the insights of Marcel Pechman on Episode 29 of Macro Markets, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of these two investment avenues. **The Timeless Appeal of Real Estate** Real estate, often referred to as 'brick and mortar', has been a cornerstone of wealth accumulation for centuries. Its tangible nature and the intrinsic value of land have made it a favorite among investors. **Stability Amidst Challenges** Despite facing headwinds like rising mortgage rates, which have led to stagnant demand, the real estate market remains resilient. The current average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage interest rate is 7.27%, causing a decline in both refinancing and home purchase applications. Yet, Pechman believes that the specter of inflation could push house prices upwards, offering potential gains for property owners. **Historical Reliability** Throughout history, especially during economic downturns, real estate, particularly urban residential properties, has proven to be a reliable store of value. Even when markets fluctuate, the intrinsic value of land and property often remains intact, providing a safety net for investors. **Bitcoin: The Digital Gold** Bitcoin, often dubbed as 'digital gold', has emerged as a revolutionary asset in the financial world. Its decentralized nature and potential for high returns have attracted a new generation of investors. **A New Kind of Reserve** Pechman highlights Bitcoin's potential to serve as a transparent reserve system. Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin can be used by banks and nations to issue digital assets backed by Bitcoin, without the need for a vast user base. This positions Bitcoin uniquely in the crypto space, differentiating it from other cryptocurrencies that rely heavily on user growth and transaction fees. **Transparency and Security** One of Bitcoin's standout features is its transparent ledger system, the blockchain. This ensures that all transactions are recorded and can be audited, offering a level of security and transparency that's hard to match. Compared to precious metals, which can pose auditing challenges, Bitcoin provides a clear and transparent store of value. **The Broader Investment Landscape: A Case Study of Instacart** To understand the broader shifts in the investment world, Pechman's analysis of Instacart's valuation is enlightening. The company's initial public offering was valued at around $10 billion, a significant drop from its peak valuation of $39 billion. This highlights the volatility and challenges in the venture capital space, suggesting a potential shift in investor priorities. **Seeking Reliability** The Instacart case underscores the importance of reliability in investments. In an uncertain economic climate, investors are increasingly looking for assets that offer stability and long-term growth, be it in traditional avenues like real estate or emerging ones like Bitcoin. **Conclusion** The tug-of-war between real estate and Bitcoin is bound to continue as both assets have their unique strengths. While real estate offers tangible value and historical reliability, Bitcoin promises transparency, security, and a new paradigm of financial operations. As the global economic landscape evolves, astute investors will likely find value in diversifying and including both these assets in their portfolios. **FAQs** **What makes Bitcoin a notable investment?** Bitcoin offers transparency, security, and the potential to serve as a transparent reserve system for banks and nations, positioning it uniquely in the crypto space. **What insights does the Instacart valuation provide?** Instacart's valuation highlights the challenges in the venture capital space and suggests a potential shift in investor priorities towards more reliable assets. **Is diversification between real estate and Bitcoin recommended?** While both assets have unique strengths, diversifying and including both in investment portfolios can offer a balanced approach in the evolving economic landscape. **Why is Bitcoin dubbed as 'digital gold'?** Due to its decentralized nature, potential for high returns, and its role as a store of value similar to gold, Bitcoin is often referred to as 'digital gold'. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 6389be64:ef439d32

Bitcoin is more than money, more than an asset, and more than a store of value. Bitcoin is a Prime Mover, an enabler and it ignites imaginations. It certainly fueled an idea in my mind. The idea integrates sensors, computational prowess, actuated machinery, power conversion, and electronic communications to form an autonomous, machined creature roaming forests and harvesting the most widespread and least energy-dense fuel source available. I call it the Forest Walker and it eats wood, and mines Bitcoin. I know what you're thinking. Why not just put Bitcoin mining rigs where they belong: in a hosted facility sporting electricity from energy-dense fuels like natural gas, climate-controlled with excellent data piping in and out? Why go to all the trouble building a robot that digests wood creating flammable gasses fueling an engine to run a generator powering Bitcoin miners? It's all about synergy. Bitcoin mining enables the realization of multiple, seemingly unrelated, yet useful activities. Activities considered un-profitable if not for Bitcoin as the Prime Mover. This is much more than simply mining the greatest asset ever conceived by humankind. It’s about the power of synergy, which Bitcoin plays only one of many roles. The synergy created by this system can stabilize forests' fire ecology while generating multiple income streams. That’s the realistic goal here and requires a brief history of American Forest management before continuing. # Smokey The Bear In 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign began in the United States. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” remains the refrain of the Ad Council’s longest running campaign. The Ad Council is a U.S. non-profit set up by the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the Association of National Advertisers in 1942. It would seem that the U.S. Department of the Interior was concerned about pesky forest fires and wanted them to stop. So, alongside a national policy of extreme fire suppression they enlisted the entire U.S. population to get onboard via the Ad Council and it worked. Forest fires were almost obliterated and everyone was happy, right? Wrong. Smokey is a fantastically successful bear so forest fires became so few for so long that the fuel load - dead wood - in forests has become very heavy. So heavy that when a fire happens (and they always happen) it destroys everything in its path because the more fuel there is the hotter that fire becomes. Trees, bushes, shrubs, and all other plant life cannot escape destruction (not to mention homes and businesses). The soil microbiology doesn’t escape either as it is burned away even in deeper soils. To add insult to injury, hydrophobic waxy residues condense on the soil surface, forcing water to travel over the ground rather than through it eroding forest soils. Good job, Smokey. Well done, Sir! Most terrestrial ecologies are “fire ecologies”. Fire is a part of these systems’ fuel load and pest management. Before we pretended to “manage” millions of acres of forest, fires raged over the world, rarely damaging forests. The fuel load was always too light to generate fires hot enough to moonscape mountainsides. Fires simply burned off the minor amounts of fuel accumulated since the fire before. The lighter heat, smoke, and other combustion gasses suppressed pests, keeping them in check and the smoke condensed into a plant growth accelerant called wood vinegar, not a waxy cap on the soil. These fires also cleared out weak undergrowth, cycled minerals, and thinned the forest canopy, allowing sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. Without a fire’s heat, many pine tree species can’t sow their seed. The heat is required to open the cones (the seed bearing structure) of Spruce, Cypress, Sequoia, Jack Pine, Lodgepole Pine and many more. Without fire forests can’t have babies. The idea was to protect the forests, and it isn't working. So, in a world of fire, what does an ally look like and what does it do? # Meet The Forest Walker  For the Forest Walker to work as a mobile, autonomous unit, a solid platform that can carry several hundred pounds is required. It so happens this chassis already exists but shelved. Introducing the Legged Squad Support System (LS3). A joint project between Boston Dynamics, DARPA, and the United States Marine Corps, the quadrupedal robot is the size of a cow, can carry 400 pounds (180 kg) of equipment, negotiate challenging terrain, and operate for 24 hours before needing to refuel. Yes, it had an engine. Abandoned in 2015, the thing was too noisy for military deployment and maintenance "under fire" is never a high-quality idea. However, we can rebuild it to act as a platform for the Forest Walker; albeit with serious alterations. It would need to be bigger, probably. Carry more weight? Definitely. Maybe replace structural metal with carbon fiber and redesign much as 3D printable parts for more effective maintenance. The original system has a top operational speed of 8 miles per hour. For our purposes, it only needs to move about as fast as a grazing ruminant. Without the hammering vibrations of galloping into battle, shocks of exploding mortars, and drunken soldiers playing "Wrangler of Steel Machines", time between failures should be much longer and the overall energy consumption much lower. The LS3 is a solid platform to build upon. Now it just needs to be pulled out of the mothballs, and completely refitted with outboard equipment. # The Small Branch Chipper  When I say “Forest fuel load” I mean the dead, carbon containing litter on the forest floor. Duff (leaves), fine-woody debris (small branches), and coarse woody debris (logs) are the fuel that feeds forest fires. Walk through any forest in the United States today and you will see quite a lot of these materials. Too much, as I have described. Some of these fuel loads can be 8 tons per acre in pine and hardwood forests and up to 16 tons per acre at active logging sites. That’s some big wood and the more that collects, the more combustible danger to the forest it represents. It also provides a technically unlimited fuel supply for the Forest Walker system. The problem is that this detritus has to be chewed into pieces that are easily ingestible by the system for the gasification process (we’ll get to that step in a minute). What we need is a wood chipper attached to the chassis (the LS3); its “mouth”. A small wood chipper handling material up to 2.5 - 3.0 inches (6.3 - 7.6 cm) in diameter would eliminate a substantial amount of fuel. There is no reason for Forest Walker to remove fallen trees. It wouldn’t have to in order to make a real difference. It need only identify appropriately sized branches and grab them. Once loaded into the chipper’s intake hopper for further processing, the beast can immediately look for more “food”. This is essentially kindling that would help ignite larger logs. If it’s all consumed by Forest Walker, then it’s not present to promote an aggravated conflagration. I have glossed over an obvious question: How does Forest Walker see and identify branches and such? LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) attached to Forest Walker images the local area and feed those data to onboard computers for processing. Maybe AI plays a role. Maybe simple machine learning can do the trick. One thing is for certain: being able to identify a stick and cause robotic appendages to pick it up is not impossible. Great! We now have a quadrupedal robot autonomously identifying and “eating” dead branches and other light, combustible materials. Whilst strolling through the forest, depleting future fires of combustibles, Forest Walker has already performed a major function of this system: making the forest safer. It's time to convert this low-density fuel into a high-density fuel Forest Walker can leverage. Enter the gasification process. # The Gassifier  The gasifier is the heart of the entire system; it’s where low-density fuel becomes the high-density fuel that powers the entire system. Biochar and wood vinegar are process wastes and I’ll discuss why both are powerful soil amendments in a moment, but first, what’s gasification? Reacting shredded carbonaceous material at high temperatures in a low or no oxygen environment converts the biomass into biochar, wood vinegar, heat, and Synthesis Gas (Syngas). Syngas consists primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. All of which are extremely useful fuels in a gaseous state. Part of this gas is used to heat the input biomass and keep the reaction temperature constant while the internal combustion engine that drives the generator to produce electrical power consumes the rest. Critically, this gasification process is “continuous feed”. Forest Walker must intake biomass from the chipper, process it to fuel, and dump the waste (CO2, heat, biochar, and wood vinegar) continuously. It cannot stop. Everything about this system depends upon this continual grazing, digestion, and excretion of wastes just as a ruminal does. And, like a ruminant, all waste products enhance the local environment. When I first heard of gasification, I didn’t believe that it was real. Running an electric generator from burning wood seemed more akin to “conspiracy fantasy” than science. Not only is gasification real, it’s ancient technology. A man named Dean Clayton first started experiments on gasification in 1699 and in 1901 gasification was used to power a vehicle. By the end of World War II, there were 500,000 Syngas powered vehicles in Germany alone because of fossil fuel rationing during the war. The global gasification market was $480 billion in 2022 and projected to be as much as $700 billion by 2030 (Vantage Market Research). Gasification technology is the best choice to power the Forest Walker because it’s self-contained and we want its waste products. # Biochar: The Waste  Biochar (AKA agricultural charcoal) is fairly simple: it’s almost pure, solid carbon that resembles charcoal. Its porous nature packs large surface areas into small, 3 dimensional nuggets. Devoid of most other chemistry, like hydrocarbons (methane) and ash (minerals), biochar is extremely lightweight. Do not confuse it with the charcoal you buy for your grill. Biochar doesn’t make good grilling charcoal because it would burn too rapidly as it does not contain the multitude of flammable components that charcoal does. Biochar has several other good use cases. Water filtration, water retention, nutrient retention, providing habitat for microscopic soil organisms, and carbon sequestration are the main ones that we are concerned with here. Carbon has an amazing ability to adsorb (substances stick to and accumulate on the surface of an object) manifold chemistries. Water, nutrients, and pollutants tightly bind to carbon in this format. So, biochar makes a respectable filter and acts as a “battery” of water and nutrients in soils. Biochar adsorbs and holds on to seven times its weight in water. Soil containing biochar is more drought resilient than soil without it. Adsorbed nutrients, tightly sequestered alongside water, get released only as plants need them. Plants must excrete protons (H+) from their roots to disgorge water or positively charged nutrients from the biochar's surface; it's an active process. Biochar’s surface area (where adsorption happens) can be 500 square meters per gram or more. That is 10% larger than an official NBA basketball court for every gram of biochar. Biochar’s abundant surface area builds protective habitats for soil microbes like fungi and bacteria and many are critical for the health and productivity of the soil itself. The “carbon sequestration” component of biochar comes into play where “carbon credits” are concerned. There is a financial market for carbon. Not leveraging that market for revenue is foolish. I am climate agnostic. All I care about is that once solid carbon is inside the soil, it will stay there for thousands of years, imparting drought resiliency, fertility collection, nutrient buffering, and release for that time span. I simply want as much solid carbon in the soil because of the undeniably positive effects it has, regardless of any climactic considerations. # Wood Vinegar: More Waste  Another by-product of the gasification process is wood vinegar (Pyroligneous acid). If you have ever seen Liquid Smoke in the grocery store, then you have seen wood vinegar. Principally composed of acetic acid, acetone, and methanol wood vinegar also contains ~200 other organic compounds. It would seem intuitive that condensed, liquefied wood smoke would at least be bad for the health of all living things if not downright carcinogenic. The counter intuition wins the day, however. Wood vinegar has been used by humans for a very long time to promote digestion, bowel, and liver health; combat diarrhea and vomiting; calm peptic ulcers and regulate cholesterol levels; and a host of other benefits. For centuries humans have annually burned off hundreds of thousands of square miles of pasture, grassland, forest, and every other conceivable terrestrial ecosystem. Why is this done? After every burn, one thing becomes obvious: the almost supernatural growth these ecosystems exhibit after the burn. How? Wood vinegar is a component of this growth. Even in open burns, smoke condenses and infiltrates the soil. That is when wood vinegar shows its quality. This stuff beefs up not only general plant growth but seed germination as well and possesses many other qualities that are beneficial to plants. It’s a pesticide, fungicide, promotes beneficial soil microorganisms, enhances nutrient uptake, and imparts disease resistance. I am barely touching a long list of attributes here, but you want wood vinegar in your soil (alongside biochar because it adsorbs wood vinegar as well). # The Internal Combustion Engine  Conversion of grazed forage to chemical, then mechanical, and then electrical energy completes the cycle. The ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) converts the gaseous fuel output from the gasifier to mechanical energy, heat, water vapor, and CO2. It’s the mechanical energy of a rotating drive shaft that we want. That rotation drives the electric generator, which is the heartbeat we need to bring this monster to life. Luckily for us, combined internal combustion engine and generator packages are ubiquitous, delivering a defined energy output given a constant fuel input. It’s the simplest part of the system. The obvious question here is whether the amount of syngas provided by the gasification process will provide enough energy to generate enough electrons to run the entire system or not. While I have no doubt the energy produced will run Forest Walker's main systems the question is really about the electrons left over. Will it be enough to run the Bitcoin mining aspect of the system? Everything is a budget. # CO2 Production For Growth  Plants are lollipops. No matter if it’s a tree or a bush or a shrubbery, the entire thing is mostly sugar in various formats but mostly long chain carbohydrates like lignin and cellulose. Plants need three things to make sugar: CO2, H2O and light. In a forest, where tree densities can be quite high, CO2 availability becomes a limiting growth factor. It’d be in the forest interests to have more available CO2 providing for various sugar formation providing the organism with food and structure. An odd thing about tree leaves, the openings that allow gasses like the ever searched for CO2 are on the bottom of the leaf (these are called stomata). Not many stomata are topside. This suggests that trees and bushes have evolved to find gasses like CO2 from below, not above and this further suggests CO2 might be in higher concentrations nearer the soil. The soil life (bacterial, fungi etc.) is constantly producing enormous amounts of CO2 and it would stay in the soil forever (eventually killing the very soil life that produces it) if not for tidal forces. Water is everywhere and whether in pools, lakes, oceans or distributed in “moist” soils water moves towards to the moon. The water in the soil and also in the water tables below the soil rise toward the surface every day. When the water rises, it expels the accumulated gasses in the soil into the atmosphere and it’s mostly CO2. It’s a good bet on how leaves developed high populations of stomata on the underside of leaves. As the water relaxes (the tide goes out) it sucks oxygenated air back into the soil to continue the functions of soil life respiration. The soil “breathes” albeit slowly. The gasses produced by the Forest Walker’s internal combustion engine consist primarily of CO2 and H2O. Combusting sugars produce the same gasses that are needed to construct the sugars because the universe is funny like that. The Forest Walker is constantly laying down these critical construction elements right where the trees need them: close to the ground to be gobbled up by the trees. # The Branch Drones  During the last ice age, giant mammals populated North America - forests and otherwise. Mastodons, woolly mammoths, rhinos, short-faced bears, steppe bison, caribou, musk ox, giant beavers, camels, gigantic ground-dwelling sloths, glyptodons, and dire wolves were everywhere. Many were ten to fifteen feet tall. As they crashed through forests, they would effectively cleave off dead side-branches of trees, halting the spread of a ground-based fire migrating into the tree crown ("laddering") which is a death knell for a forest. These animals are all extinct now and forests no longer have any manner of pruning services. But, if we build drones fitted with cutting implements like saws and loppers, optical cameras and AI trained to discern dead branches from living ones, these drones could effectively take over pruning services by identifying, cutting, and dropping to the forest floor, dead branches. The dropped branches simply get collected by the Forest Walker as part of its continual mission. The drones dock on the back of the Forest Walker to recharge their batteries when low. The whole scene would look like a grazing cow with some flies bothering it. This activity breaks the link between a relatively cool ground based fire and the tree crowns and is a vital element in forest fire control. # The Bitcoin Miner  Mining is one of four monetary incentive models, making this system a possibility for development. The other three are US Dept. of the Interior, township, county, and electrical utility company easement contracts for fuel load management, global carbon credits trading, and data set sales. All the above depends on obvious questions getting answered. I will list some obvious ones, but this is not an engineering document and is not the place for spreadsheets. How much Bitcoin one Forest Walker can mine depends on everything else. What amount of biomass can we process? Will that biomass flow enough Syngas to keep the lights on? Can the chassis support enough mining ASICs and supporting infrastructure? What does that weigh and will it affect field performance? How much power can the AC generator produce? Other questions that are more philosophical persist. Even if a single Forest Walker can only mine scant amounts of BTC per day, that pales to how much fuel material it can process into biochar. We are talking about millions upon millions of forested acres in need of fuel load management. What can a single Forest Walker do? I am not thinking in singular terms. The Forest Walker must operate as a fleet. What could 50 do? 500? What is it worth providing a service to the world by managing forest fuel loads? Providing proof of work to the global monetary system? Seeding soil with drought and nutrient resilience by the excretion, over time, of carbon by the ton? What did the last forest fire cost? # The Mesh Network  What could be better than one bitcoin mining, carbon sequestering, forest fire squelching, soil amending behemoth? Thousands of them, but then they would need to be able to talk to each other to coordinate position, data handling, etc. Fitted with a mesh networking device, like goTenna or Meshtastic LoRa equipment enables each Forest Walker to communicate with each other. Now we have an interconnected fleet of Forest Walkers relaying data to each other and more importantly, aggregating all of that to the last link in the chain for uplink. Well, at least Bitcoin mining data. Since block data is lightweight, transmission of these data via mesh networking in fairly close quartered environs is more than doable. So, how does data transmit to the Bitcoin Network? How do the Forest Walkers get the previous block data necessary to execute on mining? # Back To The Chain  Getting Bitcoin block data to and from the network is the last puzzle piece. The standing presumption here is that wherever a Forest Walker fleet is operating, it is NOT within cell tower range. We further presume that the nearest Walmart Wi-Fi is hours away. Enter the Blockstream Satellite or something like it. A separate, ground-based drone will have two jobs: To stay as close to the nearest Forest Walker as it can and to provide an antennae for either terrestrial or orbital data uplink. Bitcoin-centric data is transmitted to the "uplink drone" via the mesh networked transmitters and then sent on to the uplink and the whole flow goes in the opposite direction as well; many to one and one to many. We cannot transmit data to the Blockstream satellite, and it will be up to Blockstream and companies like it to provide uplink capabilities in the future and I don't doubt they will. Starlink you say? What’s stopping that company from filtering out block data? Nothing because it’s Starlink’s system and they could decide to censor these data. It seems we may have a problem sending and receiving Bitcoin data in back country environs. But, then again, the utility of this system in staunching the fuel load that creates forest fires is extremely useful around forested communities and many have fiber, Wi-Fi and cell towers. These communities could be a welcoming ground zero for first deployments of the Forest Walker system by the home and business owners seeking fire repression. In the best way, Bitcoin subsidizes the safety of the communities. # Sensor Packages ### LiDaR  The benefit of having a Forest Walker fleet strolling through the forest is the never ending opportunity for data gathering. A plethora of deployable sensors gathering hyper-accurate data on everything from temperature to topography is yet another revenue generator. Data is valuable and the Forest Walker could generate data sales to various government entities and private concerns. LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging) can map topography, perform biomass assessment, comparative soil erosion analysis, etc. It so happens that the Forest Walker’s ability to “see,” to navigate about its surroundings, is LiDaR driven and since it’s already being used, we can get double duty by harvesting that data for later use. By using a laser to send out light pulses and measuring the time it takes for the reflection of those pulses to return, very detailed data sets incrementally build up. Eventually, as enough data about a certain area becomes available, the data becomes useful and valuable. Forestry concerns, both private and public, often use LiDaR to build 3D models of tree stands to assess the amount of harvest-able lumber in entire sections of forest. Consulting companies offering these services charge anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars per square kilometer for such services. A Forest Walker generating such assessments on the fly while performing its other functions is a multi-disciplinary approach to revenue generation. ### pH, Soil Moisture, and Cation Exchange Sensing  The Forest Walker is quadrupedal, so there are four contact points to the soil. Why not get a pH data point for every step it takes? We can also gather soil moisture data and cation exchange capacities at unheard of densities because of sampling occurring on the fly during commission of the system’s other duties. No one is going to build a machine to do pH testing of vast tracts of forest soils, but that doesn’t make the data collected from such an endeavor valueless. Since the Forest Walker serves many functions at once, a multitude of data products can add to the return on investment component. ### Weather Data  Temperature, humidity, pressure, and even data like evapotranspiration gathered at high densities on broad acre scales have untold value and because the sensors are lightweight and don’t require large power budgets, they come along for the ride at little cost. But, just like the old mantra, “gas, grass, or ass, nobody rides for free”, these sensors provide potential revenue benefits just by them being present. I’ve touched on just a few data genres here. In fact, the question for universities, governmental bodies, and other institutions becomes, “How much will you pay us to attach your sensor payload to the Forest Walker?” # Noise Suppression  Only you can prevent Metallica filling the surrounds with 120 dB of sound. Easy enough, just turn the car stereo off. But what of a fleet of 50 Forest Walkers operating in the backcountry or near a township? 500? 5000? Each one has a wood chipper, an internal combustion engine, hydraulic pumps, actuators, and more cooling fans than you can shake a stick at. It’s a walking, screaming fire-breathing dragon operating continuously, day and night, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. The sound will negatively affect all living things and that impacts behaviors. Serious engineering consideration and prowess must deliver a silencing blow to the major issue of noise. It would be foolish to think that a fleet of Forest Walkers could be silent, but if not a major design consideration, then the entire idea is dead on arrival. Townships would not allow them to operate even if they solved the problem of widespread fuel load and neither would governmental entities, and rightly so. Nothing, not man nor beast, would want to be subjected to an eternal, infernal scream even if it were to end within days as the fleet moved further away after consuming what it could. Noise and heat are the only real pollutants of this system; taking noise seriously from the beginning is paramount. # Fire Safety  A “fire-breathing dragon” is not the worst description of the Forest Walker. It eats wood, combusts it at very high temperatures and excretes carbon; and it does so in an extremely flammable environment. Bad mix for one Forest Walker, worse for many. One must take extreme pains to ensure that during normal operation, a Forest Walker could fall over, walk through tinder dry brush, or get pounded into the ground by a meteorite from Krypton and it wouldn’t destroy epic swaths of trees and baby deer. I envision an ultimate test of a prototype to include dowsing it in grain alcohol while it’s wrapped up in toilet paper like a pledge at a fraternity party. If it runs for 72 hours and doesn’t set everything on fire, then maybe outside entities won’t be fearful of something that walks around forests with a constant fire in its belly. # The Wrap  How we think about what can be done with and adjacent to Bitcoin is at least as important as Bitcoin’s economic standing itself. For those who will tell me that this entire idea is without merit, I say, “OK, fine. You can come up with something, too.” What can we plug Bitcoin into that, like a battery, makes something that does not work, work? That’s the lesson I get from this entire exercise. No one was ever going to hire teams of humans to go out and "clean the forest". There's no money in that. The data collection and sales from such an endeavor might provide revenues over the break-even point but investment demands Alpha in this day and age. But, plug Bitcoin into an almost viable system and, voilà! We tip the scales to achieve lift-off. Let’s face it, we haven’t scratched the surface of Bitcoin’s forcing function on our minds. Not because it’s Bitcoin, but because of what that invention means. The question that pushes me to approach things this way is, “what can we create that one system’s waste is another system’s feedstock?” The Forest Walker system’s only real waste is the conversion of low entropy energy (wood and syngas) into high entropy energy (heat and noise). All other output is beneficial to humanity. Bitcoin, I believe, is the first product of a new mode of human imagination. An imagination newly forged over the past few millennia of being lied to, stolen from, distracted and otherwise mis-allocated to a black hole of the nonsensical. We are waking up. What I have presented is not science fiction. Everything I have described here is well within the realm of possibility. The question is one of viability, at least in terms of the detritus of the old world we find ourselves departing from. This system would take a non-trivial amount of time and resources to develop. I think the system would garner extensive long-term contracts from those who have the most to lose from wildfires, the most to gain from hyperaccurate data sets, and, of course, securing the most precious asset in the world. Many may not see it that way, for they seek Alpha and are therefore blind to other possibilities. Others will see only the possibilities; of thinking in a new way, of looking at things differently, and dreaming of what comes next.

@ 4506e04e:8c16ba04

The employment trends in the gig economy are clear. More and more people take on some form of freelance or temporary work often on top of their full time job. In fact, according to [recent estimates](https://www.upwork.com/resources/gig-economy-statistics), approximately 1.57 billion people, or nearly half (46.4%) of the global workforce, engage in gig work. As gig platforms continue to expand across borders and sectors, this number is projected to keep rising. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d4fca16a18e427f8c3f97677c8e7599a4a4ad1cc2d635bfcd0ab6b0ada48ecb9.png"> In the UK, the gig economy is particularly popular, with many workers supplementing their income with side gigs. According to a [recent survey](https://standout-cv.com/stats/gig-economy-statistics-uk#:~:text=For%20most%2C%2071.5%25%2C%20gig,main%20income%20\(both%2036%25\).), almost half (48%) of UK gig workers have full-time jobs on top of their side gigs, while 71.5% use gig work to supplement their income rather than provide their sole earnings. The top gig occupation in the UK is online administrative work, with 39% of gig workers offering virtual assistance, data entry, clerical services, or similar computer-based tasks. Sounds like a great way to earn some sats, doesn't it? Despite the growth and popularity of the gig economy, traditional platforms like LinkedIn have reached their peak and become increasingly plagued by spam from aggressive recruiters and profiles of people with increasingly unverifiable experience. Meanwhile all the centralised platforms like Fiverr and Upwork take a significant cut from freelancers' pay, leaving many workers feeling undervalued and overworked. It's no wonder that many are looking for alternative solutions that prioritize fairness, transparency, trust and compensation paid in money that will last! Here comes Nostr, a decentralized, censorship-resistant protocol that's laying foundations for the future of the gig work. With its censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer approach, Nostr is poised to revolutionize the way we work and connect with each other. In this article, I'll explore why Nostr is an exciting development for the gig economy, what it means for the future of work and what platforms are already available. What makes Nostr different? It’s built on principles of decentralization, freedom, trust and Bitcoin as its native currency. Forget walled gardens; with Nostr, your identity is your own. Nobody’s mining your data, and no shadowy algorithms are deciding who sees your posts or what posts you should see. It's a perfect setup for a job marketplace where companies post jobs and freelancers get them done. All paid with Bitcoin with no middleman to take your money And it’s not just theory. Real solutions are already built, transforming how professionals connect, collaborate, and commit their skills, time and creativity. All open-source and Bitcoin/Nostr-centric. ## Here are 4 tools you want to check out: 1. [SatShoot:](https://SatShoot.com) Think Upwork or Fiverr, but with integrated eCash wallet and zero middlemen. Creators, freelancers, and clients unite under the banner of peer-to-peer gig economy. 2. [Kanbanstr](https://www.kanbanstr.com/): A Nostr-native Kanban board for moving tasks from To Do &gt; In Progress &gt; Done and zapping the developers as they deliver. 3. [GitWorkshop.dev](https://gitworkshop.dev/): A decentralized alternative to GitHub, tailored for developers who value freedom and sovereignty. 4. [Sigit.io](https://sigit.io/): An open-source and self-hostable solution for secure document signing and verification. These platforms aren’t just ideas; they’re already being built, some are already in Beta versions, and you can test them today! These platforms aren’t just ideas; they’re already being built, some are already in Beta versions, and you can test them today! ## Don't trust - verify! How can you be sure you're getting help from the right people with the right skills? That’s where the Web of Trust (WoT) comes in. On Nostr, the WoT is a decentralized trust system that lets users build and evaluate relationships using cryptographic keys and interactions. Instead of depending on centralized authorities to verify identities or manage reputations, the WoT allows trust to grow organically through direct endorsements and social connections. In this system, your track record matters. As a freelancer, you’re motivated to deliver quality work—not just to get paid, but also to earn positive feedback. This feedback boosts your reputation, helping you secure your next gig. You could get extra points if i.e. you hold a subject matter expert certificate. Credentials and certifications are still often critical to determine if someone has the skills you are looking for. The idea of certifications could be rebuilt on Nostr with Badges NIP-58. Institutions like Red Hat, Cisco, and others could issue verifiable, NIP-05-backed badges directly to your Nostr public key (“npub”). It’s simple: 1. The certifying body verifies their domain via NIP-05. 2. They issue badges for their certifications 3. Successful candidates receive badges and wear them on their npubs. All it takes is that during the registration process for the exam the examinee adds their npub and Voilà! A decentralized, censorship-resistant proof of skills that lives on Nostr. No middlemen, no gatekeepers, you get the right people for the right job! Here’s a mind-blowing stat: 95% of the world’s population doesn’t own any Bitcoin. With fiat systems teetering, more people will turn to earning Bitcoin instead of buying it at ever-rising prices. Nostr-based platforms are perfectly positioned to capitalize on this trend, offering global access to Bitcoin-based gigs. It’s borderless, censorship-resistant, and a hedge against the collapsing fiat world order. Nostr clients and solutions are popping up faster than mushrooms after rain. Whether you’re a developer, marketer, freelancer, or just someone curious about the future of work, there’s a tool for you. This explosive growth signals a broader shift: professionals are tired of traditional platforms and are looking for alternatives that respect their privacy, autonomy, and time. ## The Bottom Line LinkedIn’s days are numbered. Services like Upwork and Fiverr or even Uber are praying on freelance fees. The future of services, networking, and professional growth is decentralized, censorship-resistant, and powered by Nostr. Whether you’re a freelancer, a certifying body, or a startup founder, the opportunities are endless. Here's a New Year resolution for you -  say goodbye to spam and hello to sovereignty. The Nostr revolution is here, and it’s time to join the movement! --- *If you’re inspired to dive into the Nostr ecosystem but need guidance, the [NostrDev team](https://nostrdev.com) has got your back. From conceptualizing your solution to building it out, we’re the go-to experts for all things Nostr. Reach out and start building the future today*.

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

My blog posts and reading material have both been on a decidedly economics-heavy slant recently. The topic today, incentives, squarely falls into the category of economics. However, when I say economics, I’m not talking about “analyzing supply and demand curves.” I’m talking about the true basis of economics: understanding how human beings make decisions in a world of scarcity. A fair definition of incentive is “a reward or punishment that motivates behavior to achieve a desired outcome.” When most people think about economic incentives, they’re thinking of money. If I offer my son $5 if he washes the dishes, I’m incentivizing certain behavior. We can’t guarantee that he’ll do what I want him to do, but we can agree that the incentive structure itself will guide and ultimately determine what outcome will occur. The great thing about monetary incentives is how easy they are to talk about and compare. “Would I rather make $5 washing the dishes or $10 cleaning the gutters?” But much of the world is incentivized in non-monetary ways too. For example, using the “punishment” half of the definition above, I might threaten my son with losing Nintendo Switch access if he doesn’t wash the dishes. No money is involved, but I’m still incentivizing behavior. And there are plenty of incentives beyond our direct control\! My son is *also* incentivized to not wash dishes because it’s boring, or because he has some friends over that he wants to hang out with, or dozens of other things. Ultimately, the conflicting array of different incentive structures placed on him will ultimately determine what actions he chooses to take. ## Why incentives matter A phrase I see often in discussions—whether they are political, parenting, economic, or business—is “if they could **just** do…” Each time I see that phrase, I cringe a bit internally. Usually, the underlying assumption of the statement is “if people would behave contrary to their incentivized behavior then things would be better.” For example: * If my kids would just go to bed when I tell them, they wouldn’t be so cranky in the morning. * If people would just use the recycling bin, we wouldn’t have such a landfill problem. * If people would just stop being lazy, our team would deliver our project on time. In all these cases, the speakers are seemingly flummoxed as to why the people in question don’t behave more rationally. The problem is: each group is behaving perfectly rationally. * The kids have a high time preference, and care more about the joy of staying up now than the crankiness in the morning. Plus, they don’t really suffer the consequences of morning crankiness, their parents do. * No individual suffers much from their individual contribution to a landfill. If they stopped growing the size of the landfill, it would make an insignificant difference versus the amount of effort they need to engage in to properly recycle. * If a team doesn’t properly account for the productivity of individuals on a project, each individual receives less harm from their own inaction. Sure, the project may be delayed, company revenue may be down, and they may even risk losing their job when the company goes out of business. But their laziness individually won’t determine the entirety of that outcome. By contrast, they greatly benefit from being lazy by getting to relax at work, go on social media, read a book, or do whatever else they do when they’re supposed to be working.  My point here is that, as long as you ignore the reality of how incentives drive human behavior, you’ll fail at getting the outcomes you want. If everything I wrote up until now made perfect sense, you understand the premise of this blog post. The rest of it will focus on a bunch of real-world examples to hammer home the point, and demonstrate how versatile this mental model is. ## Running a company Let’s say I run my own company, with myself as the only employee. My personal revenue will be 100% determined by my own actions. If I decide to take Tuesday afternoon off and go fishing, I’ve chosen to lose that afternoon’s revenue. Implicitly, I’ve decided that the enjoyment I get from an afternoon of fishing is greater than the potential revenue. You may think I’m being lazy, but it’s my decision to make. In this situation, the incentive–money–is perfectly aligned with my actions. Compare this to a typical company/employee relationship. I might have a bank of Paid Time Off (PTO) days, in which case once again my incentives are relatively aligned. I know that I can take off 15 days throughout the year, and I’ve chosen to use half a day for the fishing trip. All is still good. What about unlimited time off? Suddenly incentives are starting to misalign. I don’t directly pay a price for not showing up to work on Tuesday. Or Wednesday as well, for that matter. I might ultimately be fired for not doing my job, but that will take longer to work its way through the system than simply not making any money for the day taken off. Compensation overall falls into this misaligned incentive structure. Let’s forget about taking time off. Instead, I work full time on a software project I’m assigned. But instead of using the normal toolchain we’re all used to at work, I play around with a new programming language. I get the fun and joy of playing with new technology, and potentially get to pad my resume a bit when I’m ready to look for a new job. But my current company gets slower results, less productivity, and is forced to subsidize my extracurricular learning. When a CEO has a bonus structure based on profitability, he’ll do everything he can to make the company profitable. This might include things that actually benefit the company, like improving product quality, reducing internal red tape, or finding cheaper vendors. But it might also include destructive practices, like slashing the R\&D budget to show massive profits this year, in exchange for a catastrophe next year when the next version of the product fails to ship.  Or my favorite example. My parents owned a business when I was growing up. They had a back office where they ran operations like accounting. All of the furniture was old couches from our house. After all, any money they spent on furniture came right out of their paychecks\! But in a large corporate environment, each department is generally given a budget for office furniture, a budget which doesn’t roll over year-to-year. The result? Executives make sure to spend the entire budget each year, often buying furniture far more expensive than they would choose if it was their own money. There are plenty of details you can quibble with above. It’s in a company’s best interest to give people downtime so that they can come back recharged. Having good ergonomic furniture can in fact increase productivity in excess of the money spent on it. But overall, the picture is pretty clear: in large corporate structures, you’re guaranteed to have mismatches between the company’s goals and the incentive structure placed on individuals. Using our model from above, we can lament how lazy, greedy, and unethical the employees are for doing what they’re incentivized to do instead of what’s right. But that’s simply ignoring the reality of human nature. # Moral hazard Moral hazard is a situation where one party is incentivized to take on more risk because another party will bear the consequences. Suppose I tell my son when he turns 21 (or whatever legal gambling age is) that I’ll cover all his losses for a day at the casino, but he gets to keep all the winnings. What do you think he’s going to do? The most logical course of action is to place the largest possible bets for as long as possible, asking me to cover each time he loses, and taking money off the table and into his bank account each time he wins.  But let’s look at a slightly more nuanced example. I go to a bathroom in the mall. As I’m leaving, I wash my hands. It will take me an extra 1 second to turn off the water when I’m done washing. That’s a trivial price to pay. If I *don’t* turn off the water, the mall will have to pay for many liters of wasted water, benefiting no one. But I won’t suffer any consequences at all. This is also a moral hazard, but most people will still turn off the water. Why? Usually due to some combination of other reasons such as: 1. We’re so habituated to turning off the water that we don’t even consider *not* turning it off. Put differently, the mental effort needed to not turn off the water is more expensive than the 1 second of time to turn it off. 2. Many of us have been brought up with a deep guilt about wasting resources like water. We have an internal incentive structure that makes the 1 second to turn off the water much less costly than the mental anguish of the waste we created. 3. We’re afraid we’ll be caught by someone else and face some kind of social repercussions. (Or maybe more than social. Are you sure there isn’t a law against leaving the water tap on?) Even with all that in place, you may notice that many public bathrooms use automatic water dispensers. Sure, there’s a sanitation reason for that, but it’s also to avoid this moral hazard. A common denominator in both of these is that the person taking the action that causes the liability (either the gambling or leaving the water on) is not the person who bears the responsibility for that liability (the father or the mall owner). Generally speaking, the closer together the person making the decision and the person incurring the liability are, the smaller the moral hazard. It’s easy to demonstrate that by extending the casino example a bit. I said it was the father who was covering the losses of the gambler. Many children (though not all) would want to avoid totally bankrupting their parents, or at least financially hurting them. Instead, imagine that someone from the IRS shows up at your door, hands you a credit card, and tells you you can use it at a casino all day, taking home all the chips you want. The money is coming from the government. How many people would put any restriction on how much they spend? And since we’re talking about the government already… ## Government moral hazards As I was preparing to write this blog post, the California wildfires hit. The discussions around those wildfires gave a *huge* number of examples of moral hazards. I decided to cherry-pick a few for this post. The first and most obvious one: California is asking for disaster relief funds from the federal government. That sounds wonderful. These fires were a natural disaster, so why shouldn’t the federal government pitch in and help take care of people? The problem is, once again, a moral hazard. In the case of the wildfires, California and Los Angeles both had ample actions they could have taken to mitigate the destruction of this fire: better forest management, larger fire department, keeping the water reservoirs filled, and probably much more that hasn’t come to light yet. If the federal government bails out California, it will be a clear message for the future: your mistakes will be fixed by others. You know what kind of behavior that incentivizes? More risky behavior\! Why spend state funds on forest management and extra firefighters—activities that don’t win politicians a lot of votes in general—when you could instead spend it on a football stadium, higher unemployment payments, or anything else, and then let the feds cover the cost of screw-ups. You may notice that this is virtually identical to the 2008 “too big to fail” bail-outs. Wall Street took insanely risky behavior, reaped huge profits for years, and when they eventually got caught with their pants down, the rest of us bailed them out. “Privatizing profits, socializing losses.”  And here’s the absolute best part of this: I can’t even truly blame either California *or* Wall Street. (I mean, I *do* blame them, I think their behavior is reprehensible, but you’ll see what I mean.) In a world where the rules of the game implicitly include the bail-out mentality, you would be harming your citizens/shareholders/investors if you didn’t engage in that risky behavior. Since everyone is on the hook for those socialized losses, your best bet is to maximize those privatized profits. There’s a lot more to government and moral hazard, but I think these two cases demonstrate the crux pretty solidly. But let’s leave moral hazard behind for a bit and get to general incentivization discussions. # Non-monetary competition At least 50% of the economics knowledge I have comes from the very first econ course I took in college. That professor was amazing, and had some very colorful stories. I can’t vouch for the veracity of the two I’m about to share, but they definitely drive the point home. In the 1970s, the US had an oil shortage. To “fix” this problem, they instituted price caps on gasoline, which of course resulted in insufficient gasoline. To “fix” this problem, they instituted policies where, depending on your license plate number, you could only fill up gas on certain days of the week. (Irrelevant detail for our point here, but this just resulted in people filling up their tanks more often, no reduction in gas usage.) Anyway, my professor’s wife had a friend. My professor described in *great* detail how attractive this woman was. I’ll skip those details here since this is a PG-rated blog. In any event, she never had any trouble filling up her gas tank any day of the week. She would drive up, be told she couldn’t fill up gas today, bat her eyes at the attendant, explain how helpless she was, and was always allowed to fill up gas. This is a demonstration of *non-monetary compensation*. Most of the time in a free market, capitalist economy, people are compensated through money. When price caps come into play, there’s a limit to how much monetary compensation someone can receive. And in that case, people find other ways of competing. Like this woman’s case: through using flirtatious behavior to compensate the gas station workers to let her cheat the rules. The other example was much more insidious. Santa Monica had a problem: it was predominantly wealthy and white. They wanted to fix this problem, and decided to put in place rent controls. After some time, they discovered that Santa Monica had become *wealthier and whiter*, the exact opposite of their desired outcome. Why would that happen? Someone investigated, and ended up interviewing a landlady that demonstrated the reason. She was an older white woman, and admittedly racist. Prior to the rent controls, she would list her apartments in the newspaper, and would be legally obligated to rent to anyone who could afford it. Once rent controls were in place, she took a different tact. She knew that she would only get a certain amount for the apartment, and that the demand for apartments was higher than the supply. That meant she could be picky. She ended up finding tenants through friends-of-friends. Since it wasn’t an official advertisement, she wasn’t legally required to rent it out if someone could afford to pay. Instead, she got to interview people individually and then make them an offer. Normally, that would have resulted in receiving a lower rental price, but not under rent controls. So who did she choose? A young, unmarried, wealthy, white woman. It made perfect sense. Women were less intimidating and more likely to maintain the apartment better. Wealthy people, she determined, would be better tenants. (I have no idea if this is true in practice or not, I’m not a landlord myself.) Unmarried, because no kids running around meant less damage to the property. And, of course, white. Because she was racist, and her incentive structure made her prefer whites. You can deride her for being racist, I won’t disagree with you. But it’s simply the reality. Under the non-rent-control scenario, her profit motive for money outweighed her racism motive. But under rent control, the monetary competition was removed, and she was free to play into her racist tendencies without facing any negative consequences. ## Bureaucracy These were the two examples I remember for that course. But non-monetary compensation pops up in many more places. One highly pertinent example is bureaucracies. Imagine you have a government office, or a large corporation’s acquisition department, or the team that apportions grants at a university. In all these cases, you have a group of people making decisions about handing out money that has no monetary impact on them. If they give to the best qualified recipients, they receive no raises. If they spend the money recklessly on frivolous projects, they face no consequences. Under such an incentivization scheme, there’s little to encourage the bureaucrats to make intelligent funding decisions. Instead, they’ll be incentivized to spend the money where they recognize non-monetary benefits. This is why it’s so common to hear about expensive meals, gift bags at conferences, and even more inappropriate ways of trying to curry favor with those that hold the purse strings. Compare that ever so briefly with the purchases made by a small mom-and-pop store like my parents owned. Could my dad take a bribe to buy from a vendor who’s ripping him off? Absolutely he could\! But he’d lose more on the deal than he’d make on the bribe, since he’s directly incentivized by the deal itself. It would make much more sense for him to go with the better vendor, save $5,000 on the deal, and then treat himself to a lavish $400 meal to celebrate. # Government incentivized behavior This post is getting longer in the tooth than I’d intended, so I’ll finish off with this section and make it a bit briefer. Beyond all the methods mentioned above, government has another mechanism for modifying behavior: through directly changing incentives via legislation, regulation, and monetary policy. Let’s see some examples: * Artificial modification of interest rates encourages people to take on more debt than they would in a free capital market, leading to [malinvestment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malinvestment) and a consumer debt crisis, and causing the boom-bust cycle we all painfully experience. * Going along with that, giving tax breaks on interest payments further artificially incentivizes people to take on debt that they wouldn’t otherwise. * During COVID-19, at some points unemployment benefits were greater than minimum wage, incentivizing people to rather stay home and not work than get a job, leading to reduced overall productivity in the economy and more printed dollars for benefits. In other words, it was a perfect recipe for inflation. * The tax code gives deductions to “help” people. That might be true, but the real impact is incentivizing people to make decisions they wouldn’t have otherwise. For example, giving out tax deductions on children encourages having more kids. Tax deductions on childcare and preschools incentivizes dual-income households. Whether or not you like the outcomes, it’s clear that it’s government that’s encouraging these outcomes to happen. * Tax incentives cause people to engage in behavior they wouldn’t otherwise (daycare+working mother, for example). * Inflation means that the value of your money goes down over time, which encourages people to spend more today, when their money has a larger impact. (Milton Friedman described this as [high living](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwNDd2_beTU).) # Conclusion The idea here is simple, and fully encapsulated in the title: incentives determine outcomes. If you want to know how to get a certain outcome from others, incentivize them to want that to happen. If you want to understand why people act in seemingly irrational ways, check their incentives. If you’re confused why leaders (and especially politicians) seem to engage in destructive behavior, check their incentives. We can bemoan these realities all we want, but they *are* realities. While there are some people who have a solid internal moral and ethical code, and that internal code incentivizes them to behave against their externally-incentivized interests, those people are rare. And frankly, those people are self-defeating. People *should* take advantage of the incentives around them. Because if they don’t, someone else will. (If you want a literary example of that last comment, see the horse in Animal Farm.) How do we improve the world under these conditions? Make sure the incentives align well with the overall goals of society. To me, it’s a simple formula: * Focus on free trade, value for value, as the basis of a society. In that system, people are always incentivized to provide value to other people. * Reduce the size of bureaucracies and large groups of all kinds. The larger an organization becomes, the farther the consequences of decisions are from those who make them. * And since the nature of human beings will be to try and create areas where they can control the incentive systems to their own benefits, make that as difficult as possible. That comes in the form of strict limits on government power, for example. And even if you don’t want to buy in to this conclusion, I hope the rest of the content was educational, and maybe a bit entertaining\!

@ c8adf82a:7265ee75

Imagine playing a MMO gen 1 Pokémon game, the goal of the game is still personal, to be the Pokémon league champion. To get to the Pokémon league, you need to defeat gym leaders and get their badges (if you never played, please play so you can relate and teach this lesson too) Some players just go through the storyline right away, some have fear and grind levels hard, some just wanted to chill and catch ‘em all Some got stuck at the mew rumour at S.S.Anne\* and got disappointed, some grind too hard that they forgot the main quest, some try to teach other people how to be a champion before being a champion themselves If you are not interested in being the champion, that is totally fine, it is your game after all. Some enjoy the up and down of the journey and they just don’t want to finish the game yet. I respect these people because they know what they want and they’re doing what they can to get what they want But there’s this special group of players that wants to be the champion, but are misled to believe they can be a ‘better’ champion if they do these special tasks before fighting the Elite Four. Can be from a game guide magazine, a friend that you think is smart, whatever. The sad truth is, you cannot be a ‘better’ champion in this game — and these guys just got misled their whole life Now, these guys do meet other players that told them “hey, just go fight the Elite Four, that’s the only way for you to be champion”, and they kept replying “please respect me, I know I have to beat the Elite Four, I just want to be a ‘better’ champion, you just don’t understand”. These players get stuck in some sort of internal pride war sunk cost fallacy because they have spent their whole life trying to be a ‘better’ champion that actually doesn’t exist Now why this story? This is life. No matter how hard you try, you still need to follow the main storyline. You can change your path, but everyone’s end goal eventually converge — eternal peace. When you become the league champion, you attain the ability to serve and radiate love. Evil spirits will forever try to hold you back from being a champion, some religion even tells you that you can be a ‘better’ champion. But really all you need to do is stay humble and stack sats, I mean, start the main quest One day when you actually become a champion, you will realize that the only way to live is to serve other people so we all become champions. Because life is best enjoyed with the people we love --- \*https://gaming-urban-legends.fandom.com/wiki/Mew_Under_the_Truck

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - Nomura's Strategic Move into the Crypto Space - Details of the Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption Fund - Why Institutional Investors are Flocking to Bitcoin - The Future of Bitcoin and Institutional Involvement - Conclusion - FAQ **Nomura's Strategic Move into the Crypto Space** Nomura, a financial giant with a storied history, has always been at the forefront of financial innovation. Recognizing the potential of the crypto market, especially Bitcoin, Nomura has made strategic moves to establish a strong foothold in this burgeoning sector. Their latest initiative, the introduction of a dedicated Bitcoin fund, is a testament to their commitment to this space. By launching this fund, Nomura is not only catering to the growing demand from institutional investors but also solidifying its position as a forward-thinking financial institution. **Details of the Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption Fund** The "Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption fund" is designed to provide long-only exposure to Bitcoin. This means that the fund will only buy and hold Bitcoin, without engaging in any short-selling. Such a strategy is indicative of Nomura's bullish outlook on the cryptocurrency. The fund aims to tap into the potential long-term growth of Bitcoin, offering investors a chance to benefit from any upward price movements. Moreover, by providing a structured and regulated way to invest in Bitcoin, Nomura is addressing one of the primary concerns of institutional investors: security and compliance. **Why Institutional Investors are Flocking to Bitcoin** There are several reasons why institutional investors are showing keen interest in Bitcoin: **Diversification:** Bitcoin, being a non-correlated asset, offers portfolio diversification. In times of traditional market volatility, Bitcoin can act as a hedge. **Potential for High Returns:** Despite its volatility, Bitcoin has shown the potential for significant returns, outperforming many traditional assets in the past decade. **Increasing Acceptance:** As more businesses and financial institutions accept Bitcoin, its utility and value proposition increase. **Inflation Hedge:** With central banks around the world printing money at an unprecedented rate, there are genuine concerns about inflation. Bitcoin, with its capped supply, is seen by many as a hedge against inflationary pressures. **The Future of Bitcoin and Institutional Involvement** The involvement of institutions in the Bitcoin market is not a fleeting trend. It represents a fundamental shift in how the financial world perceives digital assets. As regulatory clarity improves and the infrastructure around cryptocurrency trading and custody matures, more institutions are expected to enter the space. Nomura's dedicated Bitcoin fund is just the beginning. As the market grows, we can expect more sophisticated financial products centered around Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. These will not only provide institutional investors with more tools to leverage their positions but also contribute to the overall stability and maturity of the crypto market. **Conclusion** The launch of Nomura's "Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption fund" is a significant milestone in the ongoing institutional adoption of Bitcoin. It underscores the growing importance of digital assets in the financial landscape and hints at a future where Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are an integral part of any diversified investment portfolio. **FAQ** **What is Nomura's new crypto initiative?** Nomura has introduced the "Laser Digital Bitcoin Adoption fund," a dedicated fund providing long-only exposure to Bitcoin. **Who is the target audience for this fund?** The fund primarily targets institutional investors looking to invest in Bitcoin in a structured and regulated manner. **What does "long-only exposure" mean?** It means the fund will buy and hold Bitcoin without engaging in short-selling, focusing on potential long-term growth. **Why are institutional investors interested in Bitcoin?** Institutional investors see Bitcoin as a valuable addition to their portfolios for diversification, potential high returns, increasing acceptance, and as an inflation hedge. **Is this a temporary trend in the financial world?** No, the involvement of institutions in the Bitcoin market represents a fundamental shift in the perception of digital assets, indicating a long-term trend. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 3f770d65:7a745b24

I’ve been using Notedeck for several months, starting with its extremely early and experimental alpha versions, all the way to its current, more stable alpha releases. The journey has been fascinating, as I’ve had the privilege of watching it evolve from a concept into a functional and promising tool. In its earliest stages, Notedeck was raw—offering glimpses of its potential but still far from practical for daily use. Even then, the vision behind it was clear: a platform designed to redefine how we interact with Nostr by offering flexibility and power for all users. I'm very bullish on Notedeck. Why? Because Will Casarin is making it! Duh! 😂 Seriously though, if we’re reimagining the web and rebuilding portions of the Internet, it’s important to recognize [the potential of Notedeck](https://damus.io/notedeck/). If Nostr is reimagining the web, then Notedeck is reimagining the Nostr client. Notedeck isn’t just another Nostr app—it’s more a Nostr browser that functions more like an operating system with micro-apps. How cool is that? Much like how Google's Chrome evolved from being a web browser with a task manager into ChromeOS, a full blown operating system, Notedeck aims to transform how we interact with the Nostr. It goes beyond individual apps, offering a foundation for a fully integrated ecosystem built around Nostr. As a Nostr evangelist, I love to scream **INTEROPERABILITY** and tout every application's integrations. Well, Notedeck has the potential to be one of the best platforms to showcase these integrations in entirely new and exciting ways. Do you want an Olas feed of images? Add the media column. Do you want a feed of live video events? Add the zap.stream column. Do you want Nostr Nests or audio chats? Add that column to your Notedeck. Git? Email? Books? Chat and DMs? It's all possible. Not everyone wants a super app though, and that’s okay. As with most things in the Nostr ecosystem, flexibility is key. Notedeck gives users the freedom to choose how they engage with it—whether it’s simply following hashtags or managing straightforward feeds. You'll be able to tailor Notedeck to fit your needs, using it as extensively or minimally as you prefer. Notedeck is designed with a local-first approach, utilizing Nostr content stored directly on your device via the local nostrdb. This will enable a plethora of advanced tools such as search and filtering, the creation of custom feeds, and the ability to develop personalized algorithms across multiple Notedeck micro-applications—all with unparalleled flexibility. Notedeck also supports multicast. Let's geek out for a second. Multicast is a method of communication where data is sent from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously, but only to devices that wish to receive the data. Unlike broadcast, which sends data to all devices on a network, multicast targets specific receivers, reducing network traffic. This is commonly used for efficient data distribution in scenarios like streaming, conferencing, or large-scale data synchronization between devices. > In a local first world where each device holds local copies of your nostr nodes, and each device transparently syncs with each other on the local network, each node becomes a backup. Your data becomes antifragile automatically. When a node goes down it can resync and recover from other nodes. Even if not all nodes have a complete collection, negentropy can pull down only what is needed from each device. All this can be done without internet. > > \-Will Casarin In the context of Notedeck, multicast would allow multiple devices to sync their Nostr nodes with each other over a local network without needing an internet connection. Wild. Notedeck aims to offer full customization too, including the ability to design and share custom skins, much like Winamp. Users will also be able to create personalized columns and, in the future, share their setups with others. This opens the door for power users to craft tailored Nostr experiences, leveraging their expertise in the protocol and applications. By sharing these configurations as "Starter Decks," they can simplify onboarding and showcase the best of Nostr’s ecosystem. Nostr’s “Other Stuff” can often be difficult to discover, use, or understand. Many users doesn't understand or know how to use web browser extensions to login to applications. Let's not even get started with nsecbunkers. Notedeck will address this challenge by providing a native experience that brings these lesser-known applications, tools, and content into a user-friendly and accessible interface, making exploration seamless. However, that doesn't mean Notedeck should disregard power users that want to use nsecbunkers though - hint hint. For anyone interested in watching Nostr be [developed live](https://github.com/damus-io/notedeck), right before your very eyes, Notedeck’s progress serves as a reminder of what’s possible when innovation meets dedication. The current alpha is already demonstrating its ability to handle complex use cases, and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow as it moves toward a full release later this year.

@ 0d97beae:c5274a14

This article hopes to complement the article by Lyn Alden on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk_HWmmwiAs ## The reason why we have broken money Before the invention of key technologies such as the printing press and electronic communications, even such as those as early as morse code transmitters, gold had won the competition for best medium of money around the world. In fact, it was not just gold by itself that became money, rulers and world leaders developed coins in order to help the economy grow. Gold nuggets were not as easy to transact with as coins with specific imprints and denominated sizes. However, these modern technologies created massive efficiencies that allowed us to communicate and perform services more efficiently and much faster, yet the medium of money could not benefit from these advancements. Gold was heavy, slow and expensive to move globally, even though requesting and performing services globally did not have this limitation anymore. Banks took initiative and created derivatives of gold: paper and electronic money; these new currencies allowed the economy to continue to grow and evolve, but it was not without its dark side. Today, no currency is denominated in gold at all, money is backed by nothing and its inherent value, the paper it is printed on, is worthless too. Banks and governments eventually transitioned from a money derivative to a system of debt that could be co-opted and controlled for political and personal reasons. Our money today is broken and is the cause of more expensive, poorer quality goods in the economy, a larger and ever growing wealth gap, and many of the follow-on problems that have come with it. ## Bitcoin overcomes the "transfer of hard money" problem Just like gold coins were created by man, Bitcoin too is a technology created by man. Bitcoin, however is a much more profound invention, possibly more of a discovery than an invention in fact. Bitcoin has proven to be unbreakable, incorruptible and has upheld its ability to keep its units scarce, inalienable and counterfeit proof through the nature of its own design. Since Bitcoin is a digital technology, it can be transferred across international borders almost as quickly as information itself. It therefore severely reduces the need for a derivative to be used to represent money to facilitate digital trade. This means that as the currency we use today continues to fare poorly for many people, bitcoin will continue to stand out as hard money, that just so happens to work as well, functionally, along side it. Bitcoin will also always be available to anyone who wishes to earn it directly; even China is unable to restrict its citizens from accessing it. The dollar has traditionally become the currency for people who discover that their local currency is unsustainable. Even when the dollar has become illegal to use, it is simply used privately and unofficially. However, because bitcoin does not require you to trade it at a bank in order to use it across borders and across the web, Bitcoin will continue to be a viable escape hatch until we one day hit some critical mass where the world has simply adopted Bitcoin globally and everyone else must adopt it to survive. Bitcoin has not yet proven that it can support the world at scale. However it can only be tested through real adoption, and just as gold coins were developed to help gold scale, tools will be developed to help overcome problems as they arise; ideally without the need for another derivative, but if necessary, hopefully with one that is more neutral and less corruptible than the derivatives used to represent gold. ## Bitcoin blurs the line between commodity and technology Bitcoin is a technology, it is a tool that requires human involvement to function, however it surprisingly does not allow for any concentration of power. Anyone can help to facilitate Bitcoin's operations, but no one can take control of its behaviour, its reach, or its prioritisation, as it operates autonomously based on a pre-determined, neutral set of rules. At the same time, its built-in incentive mechanism ensures that people do not have to operate bitcoin out of the good of their heart. Even though the system cannot be co-opted holistically, It will not stop operating while there are people motivated to trade their time and resources to keep it running and earn from others' transaction fees. Although it requires humans to operate it, it remains both neutral and sustainable. Never before have we developed or discovered a technology that could not be co-opted and used by one person or faction against another. Due to this nature, Bitcoin's units are often described as a commodity; they cannot be usurped or virtually cloned, and they cannot be affected by political biases. ## The dangers of derivatives A derivative is something created, designed or developed to represent another thing in order to solve a particular complication or problem. For example, paper and electronic money was once a derivative of gold. In the case of Bitcoin, if you cannot link your units of bitcoin to an "address" that you personally hold a cryptographically secure key to, then you very likely have a derivative of bitcoin, not bitcoin itself. If you buy bitcoin on an online exchange and do not withdraw the bitcoin to a wallet that you control, then you legally own an electronic derivative of bitcoin. Bitcoin is a new technology. It will have a learning curve and it will take time for humanity to learn how to comprehend, authenticate and take control of bitcoin collectively. Having said that, many people all over the world are already using and relying on Bitcoin natively. For many, it will require for people to find the need or a desire for a neutral money like bitcoin, and to have been burned by derivatives of it, before they start to understand the difference between the two. Eventually, it will become an essential part of what we regard as common sense. ## Learn for yourself If you wish to learn more about how to handle bitcoin and avoid derivatives, you can start by searching online for tutorials about "Bitcoin self custody". There are many options available, some more practical for you, and some more practical for others. Don't spend too much time trying to find the perfect solution; practice and learn. You may make mistakes along the way, so be careful not to experiment with large amounts of your bitcoin as you explore new ideas and technologies along the way. This is similar to learning anything, like riding a bicycle; you are sure to fall a few times, scuff the frame, so don't buy a high performance racing bike while you're still learning to balance.

@ 37fe9853:bcd1b039

yoyoaa

@ 62033ff8:e4471203

收录的内容中 kind=1的部分，实话说 质量不高。 所以我增加了kind=30023 长文的article，但是更新的太少，多个relays 的服务器也没有多少长文。 所有搜索nostr如果需要产生价值，需要有高质量的文章和新闻。 而且现在有很多机器人的文章充满着浪费空间的作用，其他作用都用不上。 https://www.duozhutuan.com 目前放的是给搜索引擎提供搜索的原材料。没有做UI给人类浏览。所以看上去是粗糙的。 我并没有打算去做一个发microblog的 web客户端，那类的客户端太多了。 我觉得nostr社区需要解决的还是应用。如果仅仅是microblog 感觉有点够呛 幸运的是npub.pro 建站这样的，我觉得有点意思。 yakihonne 智能widget 也有意思 我做的TaskQ5 我自己在用了。分布式的任务系统，也挺好的。

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - Is Dubai Crypto-Friendly? - Steps to Buying Bitcoin in Dubai - Other Buying Options - Banking with Bitcoin in the UAE - A Word of Caution - Conclusion - FAQ Dubai, often referred to as the "City of Gold," has always been at the forefront of financial innovation. Its towering skyscrapers, bustling markets, and technological advancements make it a hub for global investors. In recent years, the allure of cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, has caught the attention of many in this desert paradise. With its strategic location and forward-thinking policies, Dubai offers a unique blend of traditional finance and the emerging world of digital currencies. **Is Dubai Crypto-Friendly?** Dubai's progressive stance on technology and finance is well-documented. The city and the broader United Arab Emirates (UAE) have embraced the digital currency revolution with open arms. Not only does the UAE offer enticing tax benefits like zero tax on cryptocurrency trading, but there's also an absence of income or capital gains tax. This fiscal environment, combined with a robust regulatory framework, has positioned the UAE as a global leader in the crypto space. While the government doesn't recognize cryptocurrencies as official legal tender, it has ensured a safe environment for enthusiasts to purchase, hold, and trade digital assets without legal hindrances. **Steps to Buying Bitcoin in Dubai** **Choose an Exchange** The digital currency market is vast, and choosing the right exchange is paramount. It's essential to prioritize security, given the digital nature of these transactions. Potential investors should not only research the exchange's history but also delve into user reviews and any reported security breaches. Prominent exchanges in the UAE, such as eToro, OKX, HTX, and Binance, have built a reputation for reliability and security. **Register** The registration process is the first step towards your crypto journey. Most exchanges require basic information like email and a strong password. It's crucial to use unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication, if available, to enhance account security. The Know Your Customer (KYC) checks are standard procedures to prevent illicit activities. This often involves submitting a government-issued photo ID. **Fund and Buy** After setting up your account, the next step is funding. Most exchanges accept funds from bank accounts, credit cards, or even other cryptocurrencies. Once funded, you can navigate the platform to purchase Bitcoin or explore other available digital currencies. **Storing Your Bitcoin Safely** **Online Wallets:** Digital wallets, often referred to as "hot wallets," are online storage solutions for your cryptocurrencies. They are convenient for regular traders as they offer quick access to funds. Platforms like Trust Wallet and Electrum are popular choices. However, being online, they are susceptible to hacks, so it's essential to use them judiciously. **Hardware Wallets:** For long-term investors or those with significant holdings, hardware wallets are the gold standard in security. These physical devices store your private keys offline, making them immune to online hacks. Brands like Trezor or Ledger Nano have become synonymous with crypto security. **Other Buying Options** **Bitcoin ATMs:** A testament to the UAE's progressive crypto stance is the presence of Bitcoin ATMs. These machines, like traditional ATMs, allow users to purchase Bitcoin. The Rixos Premium Dubai Hotel, a symbol of luxury, houses Dubai's first Bitcoin ATM, offering tourists and residents alike a quick way to enter the crypto market. **Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Trading:** P2P platforms facilitate direct transactions between buyers and sellers, bypassing intermediaries. While centralized exchanges dominate the Dubai market, platforms like Binance, Paxful, and OKX offer P2P options, combining the best of both worlds. **Banking with Bitcoin in the UAE** The banking sector in the UAE, known for its robustness and innovation, has shown a keen interest in the crypto realm. Several banks have adopted crypto-friendly policies, making it easier for investors and businesses in the crypto space. The First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), one of the region's largest banks, stands out in this regard. While it doesn't directly offer crypto trading, it facilitates its customers to link their accounts with crypto exchanges. This integration, combined with FAB's future plans around digital assets, showcases the bank's commitment to financial innovation. **A Word of Caution** The world of cryptocurrencies, while exciting, is also fraught with volatility. Dubai's vibrant financial landscape offers numerous opportunities to engage with digital currencies. However, like any investment, it's imperative to approach it with caution. Prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can swing dramatically, often within short time frames. Aspiring investors should arm themselves with knowledge, stay updated with market trends, and perhaps most importantly, never invest more than they can afford to lose. **Conclusion** Dubai, with its blend of tradition and modernity, has once again proven its mettle by embracing the digital currency revolution. The city's progressive policies, combined with a robust financial infrastructure, make it an attractive destination for both novice and seasoned crypto investors. From the presence of global crypto exchanges to the integration of Bitcoin ATMs, Dubai offers a comprehensive ecosystem for those keen to explore the world of cryptocurrencies. However, as with all financial ventures, it's essential to tread with caution. The volatile nature of cryptocurrencies demands thorough research, continuous learning, and a measured approach. While the allure of digital gold is undeniable, it's crucial to remember the age-old adage: "Invest only what you can afford to lose. **FAQ** **Are there any taxes on cryptocurrency trading in the UAE?** No, the UAE offers zero tax on cryptocurrency trading, and there's no income or capital gains tax. **How can I buy Bitcoin in Dubai?** You can purchase Bitcoin through crypto exchanges, Bitcoin ATMs, or P2P platforms available in Dubai. **Are there Bitcoin ATMs in Dubai?** Yes, Dubai's first Bitcoin ATM was installed at the Rixos Premium Dubai Hotel in 2019. **Which banks in the UAE are crypto-friendly?** Several banks, including the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), have crypto-friendly policies. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ 746a245a:7a8d8b34

--- # 1. Self custody Always. Send your BTC to cold storage. Don't hesitate because of high network fees when mempool activity is high. Rather pay 10% or more to secure your coins than risk loosing 100% of a cosiderable amount. If you have questions about self custody see this guide on the [5 Best Practices to Store Your Bitcoin](nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqar2y3ddy98xj55723803fp8vmz4ldst088sptgxgzg9qdagmze5qqdxy6t5vdhkjm3dwd6x7unpvajj6etnwdjkuarfv9k8x2xrd3w). # 2. Back up well Restore a wallet at least once. Make sure you know how to get back your coins in a worst case scenario. (Also make sure your heirs are able to do it when time comes.) # 3. Never try to time the market DCA. Set it and forget it. Monthly, weekly, by-weekly or daily doesn't matter. Choose what best suits you. Do this for the majority of your BTC allocation. You can not time the bottom. Period. (But you can have a little pile of FIAT to buy dips when they occur.) # 4. You can not time the top either Never sell the majority of your Stack. Take a little profit if things go parabolic to reward yourself but always keep your main stack intact. It can be hard to get it back. And it will only go up with time. HODL and understand what you own. # 5. Keep emotions out Greed and fear are the main factors for people to get wrecked. Slow steady purchases, even tiny ones, all go to building a stack. # 6. Never use leverage Just don't. No, not even if BTC is below 10k. Make sure every sat you own truly belongs to you. # 7. Every sat counts Even if it's small amounts, just keep dca-ing and stacking sats. Little pieces add up. 0.001 BTC = $25 at the time of this writing. Do this 100 times and you have a tenth of a BTC. If you have very little FIAT, stack free sats. You can: * use faucets (like [freebitco.in](https://freebitco.in) or [cointiply.com](https://cointiply.com/)) * do tasks (like [microlancer.io](https://microlancer.io/)) * play games (like [Bitcoin Miner](https://blog.zebedee.io/bitcoin-miner-game/)) * shop with services like [lolli.com](https://www.lolli.com/) or [foldapp.com](https://foldapp.com/) * listen to podcasts (with [fountain.fm](https://www.fountain.fm/)) * educate yourself on Bitcoin (with [BitcoinMagazine](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/)) * or be active and provide value in communities like [nostr](https://nostr.com/), [stacker.news](https://stacker.news) or [habla.news](https://habla.news) Remember: Faucets used to give hundreds of Bitcoin per day. Now it's 5-250 sats 10 years later. In 10 years it may be 1-5 sats. # 8. Don't go all in Keep FIAT to survive hard times without being forced to sell BTC. (for example 6 months of monthly spending) # 9. Enjoy life while stacking There is only one thing that is more precious than Bitcoin. **It is lifetime**. Stack sats, but also stack moments. Be present and enjoy life. Every day. No amount of BTC can ever buy back lifetime. Remind yourself of this often. # 10. Don't forget yourself Always have a little fun money to maintain hobbys, traveling and to treat yourself. Otherwise you might burn out quickly. # 11. Involve your significant other Make sure he/she knows the reason why you do what you do. Otherwise you risk burning out him/her too. # 12. Automate and relax When you check your portfolio ten times a day or more think of automating things. Don't trade lifetime and serenity for small gains. # 13. Don't do shitcoins Most altcoins never reach their ATH again. BTC and BTC only. # 14. Stay humble Never get lured by offers that promise yield in exchange for holding your BTC. FTX was a recent example of how that can end. # 15. You lost your keys in a boating accident Never share how much Bitcoin you own. Better yet, don't share that you own any at all (exception: rule #11). The less is known about you having BTC, the less risk. Also consider buying non KYC. For example with [robosats](https://learn.robosats.com/) or [bisq](https://bisq.network/). # 16. Don't rush. Be patient It is a marathon, not a sprint. Time is on your side. You already own Bitcoin. **You won**. It isn't a race like with FIAT where you have to fight inflation. You preserve wealth. # 17. Increase your FIAT earnings Learn profitable skills to increase your buying power and generally grow as a person. Even if you loose all your wealth, nobody can take away your skills to accumulate it again. # 18. Don't compare Every stack of BTC is better than no stack of BTC. And even if you are a whale: there will always be a bigger fish somewhere in the sea ... # 19. You don't need 1 full BTC This was huge for me! The urge to have one full BTC is very FIAT minded thinking. Goals are cool but: **21 million BTC / 8 billion humans in the world =0,00262500 BTC** And not even that is possible because of the 1,1 m BTC wallet of Satoshi Nakamoto and lost coins. You can find out the exact amount every individual on earth could possibly own at [satoshisperperson.com](https://satoshisperperson.com/). Not everyone needs a whole coin. About 225.000 sats = your little block of Bitcoin. ... That's roughly $55 at the time of this writing. Got that? Congratulations! 99% of people are still on zero. Safe your share and then slowly add more every pay check. # 20. Change perspective You can change settings in your wallet to display value in sats rather than BTC. This liberates from the feeling of shortage and the urge to fill that full BTC. It opens up the feeling of gratitude and abundance. # 21. Always learn Keep educating yourself about Bitcoin. The rabbit hole is deep ... --- ## Thank you! Thank you wonderful people who helped me gather those tips. I chose consciously to not give personal credit in this post because of rule #15 =) ## Find me on Nostr My [Nostr](https://nostr.com/) npub: npub1w34zgkkjznnf2209gnhc5snkd32lkc9hnncq45rypyzsx75d3v6qcz3ndd ## What have i missed? Do you agree with these tips? Did i miss any? Please let me know and help refine this set of rules so we can breed more an more whole coiners over time ... or let's rather call it 'satoshi millionaires' (see rule #19 ;-) *P.S. Feel free to tip me some sats or share this post if you find it helpful. Working on my own little stack too ;-)*

@ 746a245a:7a8d8b34

In the past few years i have struggled a lot to find "the right" way to store bitcoin. There is a lot of advice on this topic scattered around the web. I have consumed it, i have tested it and i have discussed it. Here is what i found to be the best practices to store your bitcoin as a newbie or intermidiate. I have split this up into two parts: - Part 1: Essentials - The absolute bare minimum requirements you need to implement ASAP (this post) - Part 2: Recommended - How to upgrade security and what mistakes to avoid (coming soon) Let's start with the Essentials ... # Part 1: Essentials I assume you already know a thing or two about bitcoin if you read this post, so i skip the obvious "No your keys not your coins" stuff. These are the absolute minimum safety requiements. If you have not implemented these, stop everything you do and follow these steps immediately: ## 1. Use a hardware wallet Hardware wallets are specificly built for one single purpose. To secure your private keys and thuss the access to your bitcoin. ### Do i really need a hardware wallet? Short answer: Yes. Long Answer: It depends on your funds. If you only have bitcoin worth a few hundred bugs, it might not be necessary. A hardware wallet costs about $50-200. But as soon as you feel uncomfortable, you should get one. It is an individual decision. Like someone doesn’t bother running around with a few thousand dollars in his pocket and another one feels uncomfortable with even a few hundred. BUT it is good practice to treat the security of your funds right now as if they already were 10x. As a 10x can happen pretty quickly, as we have seen in the past two years, and you don’t want to do security upgrades in a rush and from a point where you feel unsafe. This leads to mistakes which can lead to total loss (for example sending to a wrong address). Self custody is the first an most important rule to follow if you want to keep your coins and [become a whole coiner](nostr:naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqar2y3ddy98xj55723803fp8vmz4ldst088sptgxgzg9qdagmze5qqsnyvfdwf6kcetn946x7ttzv43k7mt994sj6amgdakx2ttrda5kuetjjq7gmc). If you can't afford a hardware wallet now, at least use a hotwallet ... ### Can i use a hotwallet instead? Hotwallets are wallets, that are connected to the internet, like Apps on your PC or smartphone. They are considered not to be as safe as harwarewallets (so called coldwallets), because if something has no connection to the internet, there is a huge part of risk being taken away. But hotwallets are still way better than leaving your funds on an exchange because with a hotwallet you get the keys to your funds. With exchanges you only get an IOU aka a promise from the exchange. And we have seen how that ends with MountGOX, FTX, Celsius, Blockfi and various others ... Use hotwallets rather on smartphone than on desktop device, as smartphones are a little more secure. A few good ones i could recommend are Blue Wallet, Green Wallet and Exodus but there are a lot of good solutions out there. Just make sure to get a 12 or 24 word seed recovery phrase when setting it up so you are really in full control of your funds. But if you can use a hardware wallet, rather choose that. ### Which wallet should i get? I did try a few but not all of them: - The one i would recommend the most at this point in time is the [Blockstream Jade Classic](https://store.blockstream.com/products/blockstream-jade-hardware-wallet) as it comes with almost all possible features you could imagine for a very reasonable price. You can even use it completely airgapped wit QR codes and use it without keystorage like a SeedSigner. I will touch on those features later on in part 2. nostr:npub1jg552aulj07skd6e7y2hu0vl5g8nl5jvfw8jhn6jpjk0vjd0waksvl6n8n is also very active on nostr and provides good support for us plebs. - Coldcard is also a hardware wallet i hear a lot of good stuff about. - As well as the BitBox02 Bitcoin only edition. - Trezor has had some security issues regarding to not having a secure element. I am sure they implemented a solution in the meantime, but i am not up to date with this so i can not recommend it without any doubt. - Ledger devices were generally considered safe but they had multiple security related incidents such as leaking customer data or admiting to be able to extract your seed from the wallet. The fact that they allow to store other crypto currencies, also introduces a bigger attack surface. Thuss i don't recommend using a ledger. If you only have a ledger it's still better than leaving your coins on an exchange though. - SeedSigner, as described, is more for advanced users or if you really want to dig into it, in my opinion. You could also use the Blockstream Jade as a SeedSigner. ### Where should i buy? This is important: Order hardware wallets ONLY straight from the store of the manufacturer. Any middleman or additional steps in the delivery process increase the risk of your device being manipulated. If you are really paranoid about this stick with Coldcard or the new Jade Plus as these models have a build in mechanism to check if they have been tempered with. Also consider using a postbox or working address when you order a hardware wallet or any bitcoin related stuff in general. The less people know that you own bitcoin, the better. ## 2. Use single-sig wallets Backup your 12 or 24 words seed phrase and store them in a secure place (safe from theft, fire, water AND CHILDREN etc. i will get to how to achieve this). Most cases in loss of bitcoin happen because of the loss of access to the keys. Not because of theft. So the biggest risk you should care for is that you don't lose access to your keys. And how do most people lose access to their keys? They either ... 1) make the backup too complex so that themselves or their heirs have no clue how to restore it or 2) they are too lazy with their backup so that a flooded basement, thrown away harddrive or deleted photo causes them to loose their bitcoin forever. Yes there are usecases for multi-sig set-ups and yes it introduces a better level of safety but it also introduces a higher risk of loosing your funds because of complexity. As a newbie or intermediate you don't have to dig into this complexity. You can, but unless you understand very well what you are doing, i wouldn't recommend using multi-sig wallets. Remember: 99% of bitcoin losses don't accure because of theft. If you still feel the need to add a little more security for this aspect, i recommend using a passphrase instead, which has also it's own trade-offs, as we will discuss in the recommended techniques in part 2. ## 3. Secure your wallet with a good PIN Don't choose your mother's birthday as your PIN or anything else that can be social engineered. The more random, the better. And the longer the better. If you use multiple hardware wallets, also use different PINs for them. PINs on their own are generally not a very good method to protect anything. A 4 digit PIN for example only gives 10,000 possible combinations (from 0000 to 9999). A modern computer can try these all out pretty fast. BUT fortunately most wallets have a solution for this: If you enter the wrong PIN multiple times in a row they will reset to default and erease the stored keys. Thuss an attacker has only a few tries. Wallets that i know of doing that are the Blockstream Jade or the Coldcard for example. Both also provide the option to set up a specific wallet erease PIN that clears the wallet when entered once. Maybe consider these factors when choosing a wallet. ## 4. Backup your seed WELL Backup your seed phrase offline, with pen and paper. Better yet on steel (more on that in upcoming part 2). But make sure that your seed phrase is NEVER being put into or shown to a device other than your hardware wallet. NEVER EVER! Don't make a picture of it to store in your cloud, don't safe it in your notes, don't think you are safe storing it in an encrypted file. You are not. Do it offline and keep it offline. Always. Now let's talk material ... ### What material should i use? Paper can burn, suffer from contact with water, be blown or thrown away and be destroyed from all other sorts of things. I found the safest way to backup a seed phrase is by hammering it into a stainless steel plate. These steelwallets don't break the bank like some fancy Cryptotag or other known brand backup solutions do and in most cases they are even better. Espacially when it comes to the backup style: ### What way to perform the backup? Plain text, letter by letter, hammered onto a steel plate. See part 2 for more details on why this is the best method. ## 5. Test your backup Every owner of a substantial amount of bitcoin should have restored his wallet at least once! Make sure you know how to get your funds back in case something goes wrong. Especially if you do more complex things like passphrases (which we will cover in part 2) but also if you only use the 12 or 24 word seeds. The way i like to do it is as follows: - Step 1) When you have set up your wallet, send a small amount of sats to it. This is a good practice anyway to make sure everything works as intended before sending larger amounts. - Step 2) After your wallet has recieved the small amount reset your device to default. That means completely whiping it. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BACKED UP YOUR SEED WELL! - Step 3) Restore your wallet with your backup. - Step 4) [optional but recommended] Send that small amount of sats back to verify that you truly have full control over this wallet. If you can access (and control) the small amount of sats, your backup works and you can now send larger amounts. This is also a good way to test if you have properly backed up your passphrase, in case you are setting up a passphrase wallet. ## Now what? When your funds grow bigger, eventually you will ask yourself: "Is this secure enough?" If you are in that position, the recommended methods in part 2 will help you upgrade your security and avoid common mistakes which could put your coins at risk (part 2 will be linked here as soon as it's available). ## What have i missed? Do you agree with these essentials on how to store bitcoin? Did i miss anything? Please let me know and help to refine this set of rules so we can help more and more people to become souverein bitcoin holders.

@ 4506e04e:8c16ba04

The healthcare system, in its current state, is fundamentally broken. Under the fiat standard, big pharma exploits the sick in much the same way that banks and financial corporations drain economic power from individuals and small businesses. Despite massive investments, healthcare remains plagued by inefficiencies, inequities, and vulnerabilities. With rapidly aging population and low birth rates the access to healthcare is becoming more and more difficult and the system will break within the next couple of decades. Here are some of the major issues: ### Financial Drain with Minimal Returns No matter how much money is poured into healthcare, it’s never enough. Administrative overheads, inflated costs, and inefficiencies ensure that resources are wasted instead of improving patient outcomes. ### Big Pharma’s Perverse Incentives Pharmaceutical companies prioritize profit over cures. The system is designed to keep patients alive but perpetually dependent on treatments, rather than focusing on true cures. ### Administrative Bloat The excessive overhead costs in administration siphon funds away from actual patient care. ### Fragmented Patient Records There is no single global standard for managing and accessing healthcare records, creating inefficiencies and potential for errors. ### Cybersecurity Risks Centralized healthcare systems are vulnerable to ransomware attacks, which can compromise patient safety and even pose threats to international security. For hospitals, such attacks are literally matters of life and death. ### Increasing Costs and Reduced Accessibility Instead of becoming cheaper and more accessible, healthcare is growing more expensive and difficult to obtain, exacerbating inequities, yet nurses are one of the groups that's most underpaid! ## A Decentralized Solution The solution lies in leveraging decentralization, encryption, and open-source technologies to transform the healthcare system. Thanks to innovations like Bitcoin and the Nostr protocol we now have the means to: - **Empower Patients and Doctors:** Decentralized systems can give patients control over their medical data while reducing administrative costs for healthcare providers. - **Enhance Security:** Encryption ensures data is secure, even in the face of cyber threats. - **Improve Accessibility and Efficiency:** Open-source tools (like [Keycast](https://github.com/erskingardner/keycast)) can lower costs and provide customizable solutions tailored to specific healthcare needs. note1327htu9gr327h38yu5f6tueye4cajp3kc69cs3gl7w6q6rz09ufqukl74j ## How Nostr Can Transform Healthcare Nostr, short for “*Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays,*” is a decentralized protocol originally designed for communication but holds tremendous potential for industries such as healthcare. Its client-relay model allows patients and doctors to interact securely without relying on centralized servers. Here’s how it could work in a healthcare context: ### Decentralized Data Control: Patients’ medical records can be securely stored and accessed via relays. Each patient’s identity is tied to a cryptographic public key, ensuring that they have full control over their data. Doctors can access necessary records by connecting to relays the patient authorizes, ensuring data remains private and secure. ### Privacy Without Bureaucracy: Nostr eliminates the need for cumbersome identity verification processes (e.g., KYC). Patients retain privacy without needing emails, IDs, or other personal identifiers. ### Customizable Access: Patients can specify which doctors or healthcare providers can access their records by granting permissions via cryptographic signatures. These permissions can be adjusted or revoked at any time. ### Secure and Verifiable Communication: All interactions between patients and doctors are signed with private keys, ensuring authenticity and preventing tampering. Relays do not own or manipulate the data; they simply transmit it between authorized users. ### Resilient and Flexible Network: Patients and doctors can choose which relays to use, and data can be published to multiple relays for redundancy. This ensures continuity of care even if a specific relay goes offline. ### Patient-Centric Data Ownership: In the Nostr model, patients own their data. They can share it, manage it, or restrict access as they see fit, empowering them to take control of their health information. ### Enhanced Telemedicine: Secure, encrypted communication enables remote consultations where doctors can access up-to-date patient records in real-time, providing better care. By combining Nostr’s decentralized approach with healthcare-specific adaptations, this protocol can make the healthcare system more secure, efficient, and patient-focused. ## Meet Keycast Keycast is a self-hosted open-source tool designed for secure and efficient private key management that can be applied to manage teams and policies. Its features can empower collaboration from micro-level ops like sharing access to one Nostr account to organising healthcare in the following ways: 1. **Team Management**: - Organize users into teams representing departments or specialties (different policies). - Streamline workflows by aligning permissions with roles. 2. **Granular Permissions**: - Assign specific access rights to doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. - Create layered permissions for actions such as accessing records, adding notes, or authorizing tests. 3. **Secure Key Management**: - Encrypt and securely store keys locally, ensuring data confidentiality. 4. **Remote Signing and Telemedicine**: - Enable secure remote access to records through NIP-46 for telehealth scenarios. 5. **Customizable Policies**: - Tailor permissions and content filters to suit healthcare needs, such as restricting access to certain records or anonymizing sensitive data. 6. **Patient Empowerment**: - Allow patients to manage access to their health information, promoting transparency and autonomy. ## Real-World Applications Here’s how these tools can address specific healthcare challenges: - **Secure Access to EHR:** Doctors and nurses can access patient records securely and efficiently, improving care coordination. - **AI-Driven Diagnostics:** AI agents with predefined, limited permissions can analyze data for diagnostics while safeguarding privacy. - **Telemedicine:** Secure, encrypted access ensures doctors can deliver remote care without compromising patient data. - **Anonymized Research:** Controlled access to anonymized data can accelerate medical research while protecting privacy. ## The Bigger Picture Decentralization is the key to fixing healthcare. Just like Bitcoin fixes the money and fixes the world - nostr and censorship-resistant encrypted data flow can fix whole industries like healthcare. By moving away from centralized, vulnerable systems, we can: 1. **Enhance Security:** Protect sensitive data from cyber threats with encryption and decentralized architectures. 2. **Lower Costs:** Reduce administrative overheads and eliminate inefficiencies. 3. **Improve Collaboration:** Foster better communication and coordination among healthcare professionals. 4. **Ensure Transparency:** Leverage open-source solutions to build trust and flexibility. ## Conclusion The healthcare systems we have today are heavily reliant on money printing. They are have turned into businesses with overgrown administrative layer. They are inefficient and unsustainable. However, by adopting the Nostr protocol and tools built upon it, we can create a system that is secure, efficient, and patient-centric. With open-source tools like these, healthcare can truly focused on improving lives, become cheaper, more accessible, and abundant. ### Challenge If you'd like to contribute to reinventing healthcare using free and open-source software built on the nostr protocol join the challenge by npub1healthsx3swcgtknff7zwpg8aj2q7h49zecul5rz490f6z2zp59qnfvp8p note1lnh3q6648ysulrx2pgeyhv2cqqle9vftdxalq3yqkqa7c89eljtqyr70nl

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - The Rising Tide of Bitcoin's Influence in China - China's Economic Struggles: A Closer Look - The Cryptocurrency Solution: A Beacon for Chinese Investors? - Historical Interplay: Bitcoin's Past Dance with China - A New Era: The Evolving Dynamics of Bitcoin in China - Conclusion - FAQ In the intricate web of global finance, China's economic dynamics have consistently been a focal point for analysts and investors alike. Recently, the nation has been grappling with one of its most significant capital flights in years, raising questions about potential economic solutions. Amidst this backdrop, the decentralized cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has emerged as a topic of interest. Could Bitcoin, with its global reach and decentralized nature, offer a viable alternative or solution to China's current economic challenges? This article delves deep into the potential symbiotic relationship between China's capital flight and the burgeoning world of Bitcoin. **The Rising Tide of Bitcoin's Influence in China** Bitcoin's allure in the Chinese market is not a new phenomenon, but recent economic challenges have amplified its significance. As the Chinese yuan faces depreciation amidst broader economic uncertainties, experts believe that Bitcoin might witness a substantial influx from Chinese investors. Markus Thielen, a prominent figure at Matrixport, underscores the potential of Bitcoin in these turbulent times. He suggests, "Given the current economic climate, the Chinese investors' familiarity and trust in Bitcoin could lead to substantial investments in the cryptocurrency over the next few months." **China's Economic Struggles: A Closer Look** The economic landscape in China is undergoing a transformation. Recent data, sourced from reputable financial analysts at Bloomberg, paints a concerning picture. China's capital outflows have skyrocketed to an alarming $49 billion in August alone, a figure not seen since December 2015. This surge is more than just a statistic; it indicates the mounting pressure and dwindling confidence in the yuan. Thielen offers a deeper perspective on this trend, highlighting the stark economic disparities between the U.S. and China. He observes, "The current USD/CNY exchange rate, trading at a 17-year high, underscores the U.S. economy's robust expansion, casting a shadow on China's dwindling growth momentum." **The Cryptocurrency Solution: A Beacon for Chinese Investors?** The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has left the Chinese economy in a state of flux. With the anticipated post-pandemic consumption rebound falling short of expectations and local companies grappling with diminishing profit margins, Chinese investors are in a quandary. They are actively seeking lucrative opportunities outside their homeland. However, China's stringent capital controls present formidable barriers. In this constrained financial environment, the allure of cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, shines brightly. For many, Bitcoin and its peers represent a beacon of hope, potentially offering the alternative investment avenues that Chinese investors have been yearning for. **Historical Interplay: Bitcoin's Past Dance with China** The intricate relationship between Bitcoin and China is steeped in history. Rewinding to late 2016, there was a clear trend: Chinese investors, in large numbers, were turning to Bitcoin as a mechanism to move capital outside the restrictive borders of their country. The trading patterns from this era suggested a compelling link: as the Chinese yuan depreciated, Bitcoin's price surged, indicating a potential safe haven for Chinese capital. **A New Era: The Evolving Dynamics of Bitcoin in China** While history offers a treasure trove of insights, the present paints a nuanced picture. Edward Engel, a seasoned crypto analyst at Singular Research, believes that the dynamics between Bitcoin and China have undergone a transformation. Reflecting on the past, he states, "The last time I heard of such a trend was between 2017 and 2018 when underground banks leveraged Bitcoin for their operations. However, the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] has since taken stringent measures to curb such practices." Despite these changes, Thielen remains optimistic. He posits that innovative methods, such as leveraging domestic electricity for crypto mining or using over-the-counter trading platforms, might still offer avenues for moving Chinese capital in the face of restrictions. **Conclusion** China's multifaceted economic challenges, accentuated by its capital flight woes, present a conundrum that lacks easy solutions. In this complex scenario, Bitcoin emerges as a beacon, offering a potential lifeline to Chinese investors. Its decentralized nature and global appeal make it a contender for mitigating some of China's economic challenges. As we navigate the ever-evolving global financial landscape, the intricate dance between China's economy and the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies promises to be a riveting spectacle, deserving of our keen attention. **FAQ** **What is China's capital flight?** China's capital flight refers to the large-scale outflow of capital from the country, often due to economic uncertainties. **How is Bitcoin related to China's capital flight?** With China's stringent capital controls and economic challenges, Bitcoin emerges as a potential alternative for investors to move and secure their capital. **Has Bitcoin historically been influenced by China's economic dynamics?** Yes, in 2016, there was a trend of Chinese investors turning to Bitcoin as the yuan depreciated, indicating a potential correlation. **Are there restrictions on Bitcoin in China?** While the Chinese government has taken measures to curb certain crypto practices, innovative methods still exist for Chinese investors to leverage cryptocurrencies. **Why is the Chinese yuan weakening?** Economic challenges, post-COVID-19 consumption patterns, and broader global economic dynamics have contributed to the weakening of the yuan. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

# Instructions 1. Place 2 medium-sized, boiled potatoes and a handful of sliced leeks in a pot.  2. Fill the pot with water or vegetable broth, to cover the potatoes twice over. 3. Add a splash of white wine, if you like, and some bouillon powder, if you went with water instead of broth.  4. Bring the soup to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Puree the soup, in the pot, with a hand mixer. It shouldn't be completely smooth, when you're done, but rather have small bits and pieces of the veggies floating around.  6. Bring the soup to a boil, again, and stir in one container (200-250 mL) of heavy cream. 7. Thicken the soup, as needed, and then simmer for 5 more minutes. 8. Garnish with croutons and veggies (here I used sliced green onions and radishes) and serve.  Guten Appetit!

@ 2063cd79:57bd1320

Wer Bitcoin besitzt oder mit dem Gedanken spielt Bitcoin zu erwerben und prinzipiell etwas gründlicher an solche Entscheidungen herantritt, wird sich sicherlich schon mit dem Gedanken beschäftigt haben, was mit dem eigenen Bitcoin passiert, wenn uns selbst etwas widerfahren sollte. Ähnliche Gedanken, wird wohl jeder schonmal gehabt haben, wenn es um das Thema Online-Accounts geht. Wer hat Zugang zu meinen Profilen, Accounts, und sonstigen Informationen und was passiert im Falle eines Unfalls, einer plötzlichen Krankheit, oder ähnlichen Szenarien? Um ehrlich zu sein, mir persönlich ist es egal, was mit meinem Gmail oder Youtube-Account passiert, jedoch bei Bitcoin ist das ein anderes Thema. Denn hier verbergen sich hinter den privaten Schlüsseln UTXOs mit einem reellen Wert. Und anders als bei Bankkonten oder anderen Anlagearten, lässt sich keine Bank oder andere Verwahrstelle kontaktieren, die den Hinterbliebenen Zugriff auf die Vermögenswerte bereitstellt. Eine vernünftige Nachlassplanung, bzw. Bitcoin Zukunftsplanung, ist also wirklich wichtig, denn wir möchten, dass unsere Opfer, die wir heute in Form von Arbeit und Zeitaufwand erbringen, in der Zukunft Früchte tragen und hoffentlich auch unseren Nachkommen zugutekommen. Jede Entscheidung, heute kein Geld für etwas auszugeben, dass einem selbst heute Spaß gemacht hätte, um in eine sicherere und angenehmere Zukunft zu investieren, sollte auch in der Zukunft belohnt werden. Es fühlt sich irgendwie kurzsichtig an, insbesondere wenn es um Bitcoin geht, nur an sich selbst zu denken (wen Lambo?), wenn es sich bei Bitcoin um einen Vermögenswert handelt, der die Fähigkeit besitzt, über mehrere Generationen in der Zukunft zu bestehen und vielleicht sogar seinen Wert zu steigern. https://www.genexyz.org/post/29-block-782180-bitcoin-ist-zeit-2nsaku/ Es muss also einen besseren Weg geben, als zu hoffen, dass der Ehepartner oder die Kinder in der Lage sind die bitcoins aus einem 24-Wörter-Seed wiederherzustellen, wenn man einmal nicht mehr ist, oder nicht mehr in der Lage ist, dies selbst zu veranlassen. Denn der Seedphrase ist in den meisten Fällen das bestgehütetste Geheimnis jedes Bitcoiners und wahrscheinlich haben die wenigsten zusätzlich einen Wiederherstellungsplan für ihre Hinterbliebenen angefertigt und versteckt. Wenn wir über die Nachlassplanung in Bitcoin nachdenken, gibt es einige Komplexitäten. Aber wenn man sich die Zeit nimmt, über alle Ergebnisse nachzudenken, die man erreichen möchte, gibt es einige wirklich wichtige Dinge, die getan werden können. Traurigerweise ist es kein angenehmer Gedanke, über den eigenen Tod nachzudenken und darüber, wie man seine bitcoins aus dem Grab heraus weitergeben soll. Ich habe vor längerer Zeit eine humoristische Aufstellung von verschiedenen Planungsmöglichkeiten aufgestellt, die man sich hier anschauen kann: https://www.genexyz.org/post/10-block-750965-bitcoin-und-der-tod-15n3yf/ - Nichts tun - Exchange plus Passwort - Desktop Wallet - Mobile Wallet - Paper Wallet zu Hause - Paper Wallet im (Bank-)Safe - Hardware Wallet zu Hause - Hardware Wallet im (Bank-)Safe - Multisig Lösung - Custodial Service Allerdings ist das Thema wirklich kompliziert und nicht einfach zu lösen. Es gibt unterschiedliche persönliche Faktoren, wie das eigene Alter, der eigene Gesundheitszustand, in welchem familiären Konstrukt man lebt, wo man lebt, wie viel Bitcoin es zu verwahren und weiterzugeben gilt, usw. Darüber hinaus stellt sich auch die Frage, ob die Weitergabe professionell und im Einklang mit den aktuellen Rechtsstrukturen gemacht werden soll, denn dann ergeben sich sowohl aus steuerlicher als auch aus rechtlicher Sicht unterschiedliche Szenarien, die eventuell sogar erhebliche Vorteile bieten könnten. Darunter eine Reihe rechtlicher Vorzugsbehandlungen beim Schutz von Vermögenswerten, die über die eigenen Vorkehrungsmaßnahmen hinausgehen können. Aber dies soll kein steuerlicher oder juristischer Rat werden.  Bei Bitcoin dreht sich alles um den souveränen Besitz von Eigentum. Dazu gehört auch die Entscheidung, wie und an wen das Eigentum weitergegeben werden soll. Der Inhalt eines Testaments kann und wird in der Regel dann angefochten, wenn das Vermögen ungleich verteilt wird oder wenn es einem der Begünstigten gegenüber ungerecht erscheint. Daher ist es immer am besten, ein Testament so zu gestalten, dass es für alle Beteiligten fair erscheint, und zweitens ist es wichtig, eventuelle Einschränkungen für alle zu kommunizieren. Ein gutes Erwartungsmanagement hilft, Konflikte zu vermeiden. Das ist die erste Stufe. > If it's your keys, it's your bitcoin. If it's not your keys, it's not your bitcoin! That's a lesson that we all learned during Gox, so...let's try not to have to be taught that lesson again. — Andreas Antonopolous, 14. April 2016 Die zweite Stufe ist ein wasserdichtes Setup der privaten Schlüssel. Not your keys, not your Bitcoin, ist in diesem Zusammenhang eine sehr wirkungsvolle Aussage. Anders als bei jedem anderen Vermögenswert auf der Welt kontrolliert derjenige, der die Schlüssel besitzt, die UTXOs. Ein Rechtsanspruch ist nicht möglich, da die Kryptographie einen deutlich höheren Stellenwert einnimmt als ein Rechtsanspruch. Es gibt den rechtlichen Anspruch auf Bitcoin (die Worte im Testament) und dann gibt es die praktische Anwendung des Eigentums oder der Verteilung dessen (die Kontrolle der Schlüssel). Bei anderen Vermögenswerten wie Grundbesitz (Immobilien), Anleihen, Aktien, Rohstoffen usw. besteht immer die Möglichkeit, Berufung einzulegen. Wenn also etwas nicht in Ordnung zu sein scheint, die Vermögenswerte nicht auffindbar sind oder es andere Streitigkeiten gibt, ist es jederzeit möglich, sich an die jeweilige Behörde zu wenden und Berufung einzulegen.Es ist jederzeit möglich, sich an eine offizielle Stelle oder ein Amt zu wenden und zu argumentieren, dass man einen Anspruch hat, um dann die Behörde dazu zu veranlassen, den Vermögenswert auf den eigenen Namen übertragen zu lassen. Bei Bitcoin gibt es keine solche Behörde. Wenn eine/r der Begünstigten nicht über die privaten Schlüssel verfügt, die unmissverständlich Auskunft über den Besitz geben, stellt das für den/die Begünstigte/n ein großes Problem dar. Die korrekte Gestaltung der Eigentumsverteilung hat also einige schwerwiegende Konsequenzen. Ähnlich wie die Verantwortung und Rechenschaftspflicht, die mit dem Besitz von Bitcoin in Eigenverwahrung einhergeht (und dort eigentlich wirklich beginnt), fügt die Nachlassplanung dem Prozess des Todes und der anschließenden Übertragung von Vermögenswerten eine völlig neue Dimension hinzu.  Das Hauptproblem besteht also darin, wie der/die Eigentümer//in der bitcoins den vollständigen und einseitigen Zugriff behalten und gleichzeitig den Erben oder Begünstigten direkt oder einem Testamentsvollstrecker Zugriff gewähren kann, um das Vermögen an die Erben oder Begünstigten zu verteilen. Der Kniff liegt darin, die volle Kontrolle zu behalten und gleichzeitig das Eigentum so zu gestalten, dass die Erben auch bei einem plötzlichen und unerwarteten Ereignis Zugriff haben, und das im besten Fall, ohne sich auf Dritte verlassen zu müssen, um dem Bitcoin Ethos gerecht zu werden. Dieses Ereignis muss nicht zwingend der Tod sein, es reicht schon, wenn man handlungsunfähig wird. Denn oft wird vergessen, dass eine gute Nachlassregelung auch dann wichtig ist, wenn der Eigentümer nicht stirbt. Eine Person kann sich auch verletzen, sich den Kopf stoßen oder auf andere Weise die volle Kontrolle über ihre Fähigkeiten verlieren, was bedeutet, dass sie möglicherweise auch den Zugang (die Erinnerung) zu ihrem Vermögen, einschließlich ihrer bitcoins, verliert.  --- Bei Bitcoin gibt es keine einheitliche Lösung, sondern nur Kompromisse. Das gilt auch für so viele andere Dinge, wie zum Beispiel das Trilemma, bei dem Skalierbarkeit der Sicherheit und Dezentralisierung geopfert wird, oder die Selbstverwaltung, bei der Benutzerfreundlichkeit und Komfort in gewissem Maße der Sicherheit und Privatsphäre geopfert werden. Deshalb sollte man sich der Wahl der persönlichen Lösung über die Kompromisse Gedanken machen, die es einem erlauben, den Kompromiss zu wählen, der einem am besten gefällt, am besten zur persönlichen Situation passt und mit dem man sich am sichersten fühlt. Ich habe oben z.B. "Nichts tun" aufgeführt; vielleicht hat der ein oder andere Bitcoiner keine Familie, keine Kinder und keine Personen, die ihm/ihr nahe stehen, oder vielleicht doch, aber sie sind es nicht wert mit dem ersparten, wertvollen Bitcoin bedacht zu werden. In diesem Fall, danke für die Spende an das Netzwerk.  Sich mit Lösungen vertraut zu machen, die Kontrolle und Verantwortung in den Vordergrund stellen und die Abhängigkeit von einem einzigen Gerät oder einem einzigen Schlüssel, sowie die Abhängigkeit von einer einzelnen Person ausschließen, da diese potenzielle Angriffsvektoren und einzelne Fehlerquellen darstellen, bedeutet, dass man für sich selbst ein Bewusstsein schafft, wie Selbstverwahrung und die daraus entstehenden Konsequenzen im Allgemeinen funktionieren. Nutzer//innen fühlen sich bei der Selbstverwahrung ihrer bitcoins immer wohler, sobald sie verstehen, dass der Verlust eines einzelnen Schlüssels nicht sofort den Verlust des Zugriffs auf das gesicherte Vermögen bedeutet - sofern das richtige Setup gewählt wurde. Es ist wirklich wichtig, dass der Anteil derjenigen, die Bitcoin in Selbstverwahrung halten, vergrößert wird, denn es ist wichtig, dass jeder einzelne bitcoin – der nicht aktiv gehandelt wird – von den Börsen entfernt wird, und gleichzeitig Nutzer//innen mit der Materie der Selbstverwahrung vertraut werden.  Denn wie auf der Grafik zu sehen ist, liegen schätzungsweise immer noch über 2,3 Millionen bitcoins auf Börsen. Bei einer Menge von 19,4 Millionen Bitcoin im Umlauf, reduziert um die Anzahl verlorener bitcoins und Satoshis bitcoins (19,4 - 3 - 1,1 = 15,3), ist es mit 15% aller existierenden bitcoins ein immer noch zu hoher Prozentsatz. Erschwerend kommt hinzu, dass von den 2,3 Millionen bitcoins auf Börsen sich der Großteil auf Binance und Coinbase befindet, also die beiden Namen, die gerade im Kreuzfeuer der SEC stehen. Zum Glück gibt es einen Trend zum Rückgang des Anteils von auf Börsen gehaltenen bitcoins, gemessen an der Umlaufmenge, da Bitcoin dank persönlicher Verwahrungslösungen, welche im Laufe der Zeit immer gängiger und robuster werden, immer mehr auf seine eigentlichen Nutzer verteilt wird. Das Abheben von Bitcoin von den Börsen hat nicht nur den zusätzlichen Vorteil, dass die Bitcoin-Bestände sicherer sind und die Nutzer//innen mehr Vertrauen haben, dass ihre Ersparnisse tatsächlich vorhanden sind und nicht weiter verpfändet wurden. Sondern ohne Bitcoin auf den Börsen und daher ohne Papier-Bitcoin ist auch eine echte Preisfindung wieder möglich, welche heute von den Börsen verzerrt wird. --- Zurück zur Nachlassplanung: Letztendlich ist es am wichtigsten, dafür zu sorgen, dass die gewählte Methode dafür sorgt, dass die Schlüssel und die dazugehörigen bitcoins sicher und zuverlässig zu den Erben oder Begünstigten gelangen, ohne dabei zu viele Kompromisse einzugehen oder zu viele Angriffsvektoren zu schaffen. Es gibt sogar komplizierte Modelle, in denen z.B. ein Trust gegründet (abhängig von der Gerichtsbarkeit, in der man sich befindet), bei der der Eigentümer einen gesetzlichen Auftrag erteilt, dass die Begünstigten oder Erben als Teil des Trusts ein Einkommen in Höhe eines bestimmten Prozentsatzes beziehen können. Dieses Verfahren könnte von den jeweiligen Gerichtsbarkeiten rechtlich angefochten werden, aber wenn das Setup kryptografisch eingerichtet und ausgeführt wird, ohne das eine Partei Einfluss auf diese Ausführung nehmen kann, kann man von Rechts wegen nichts dagegen tun, da kein Testamentsvollstrecker oder keine andere Partei gezwungen werden kann, den Auszahlungsmechanismus zu ändern, da dies mechanisch unmöglich ist. Denn wie wir wissen, übertrifft die Kryptographie jegliche rechtliche Ansprüche. Dies ist eine einzigartige Funktion von Bitcoin, die kein anderer Vermögenswert auf der Welt besitzt. Es ist ein sehr wirksames Instrument, um Eigentum und Besitz langfristig zu sichern und sicherzustellen, dass Eigentum innerhalb des Personenkreises (Freunde, Familie, Bekannte, Geschäftspartner) bleibt, bei dem es bleiben soll. Über diese einzigartige Eigenschaft von Bitcoin wird in der Regel nicht viel gesprochen. Man könnte sogar argumentieren, dass der Tausch von anderem Eigentum in Bitcoin vor der Übergabe an Erben oder Begünstigte eine strategisch sinnvolle Option ist, um die korrekte Ausführung seines Testaments zu kontrollieren – auch aus dem Grab heraus.  Die Nachlassplanung bei Bitcoin ist die letzte Stufe der Evolution. Der erste Schritt besteht darin, sich über Bitcoin zu informieren und genug darüber zu verstehen, um Interesse an der Materie zu wecken. Dieser erste Schritt ist ein fortlaufender Prozess, der jeden Bitcoiner auf seiner Reise begleiten wird, da es unmöglich ist, jeden Aspekt und jede Interpretation des Themas vollständig zu verstehen. Man hört nie auf zu lernen. Der Honigdachsbau ist unendlich tief.  Dieser erste Schritt muss genug Interesse an Bitcoin und den umliegenden Themenfeldern wecken, dass man den zweiten Schritt geht: Bitcoin zu erwerben. Im diesem Sinne spielt es zunächst keine Rolle, wie man in den Besitz von Bitcoin gelangt, ob man Bitcoin kauft, durch Mining produziert, "findet" oder auf andere Weise erhält. Wichtig ist, dass man in den Besitz von Bitcoin gelangt und es nun aufbewahren muss. Denn das ist Schritt drei, die sichere und solide Aufbewahrung der Bitcoin-Vermögenswerte in einer selbstverwalteten und selbstverwahrenden Art und Weise. Dazu gehören auch Setups, an denen bis zu einem gewissen Grad Dritte, wie z.B. andere bekannte Personen oder Verwahrungsdienste beteiligt sein können. Wichtig ist, dass die Schlüssel jederzeit vollständig zugänglich und damit Transaktionen vollständig ausführbar sind. Aus diesem Grund ist jede Speicheroption ausgeschlossen, bei der die Schlüssel ausschließlich von Dritten gehalten werden, wie z.B. von Börsen, Brokern oder anderen Verleih- oder Speicherplattformen – not your keys, not your Bitcoin!  Der letzte Schritt in diesem persönlichen Entwicklungsprozess ist die Zukunftssicherheit dieser Vermögenswerte. Da die bitcoins nun sicher aufbewahrt sind, muss sichergestellt werden, dass es einen Weg zur Wiederherstellung oder Vererbung gibt, falls etwas passiert. Dies ist einfach der logische Evolutionsprozess, den jeder durchlaufen muss, der Bitcoin langfristig besitzen möchte.  Besonders in einer Zeit, in der die SEC zwei der größten kRyPto-Börsen der Welt auf den Leib rückt, muss man sich der Realität bewusst werden, dass Dritte, selbst wenn sie scheinbar groß und etabliert sind, nicht für immer existieren werden. Bitcoiner fordern schon seit langem alle und jede/n dazu auf, ihre bitcoins von den Börsen zu nehmen. Jeder, der dachte, dass es eine gute Idee sei, Bitcoin kurzfristig an Börsen zu halten, wurde bereits mehrfach an diesen Trugschluss erinnert - Mt. Gox, Bitfinex und FTX - um nur die großen zu nennen. Wer denkt, dass es eine gute Idee sei, bitcoins auf Börsen zu lagern, um schließlich nur ein Stück Papier mit den Zugangsdaten an die Erben weiterzugeben, der begeht einen schrecklichen Fehler. Die bisherigen Ausführungen sollten dies klar gemacht haben. --- Ich habe absichtlich keine Vorschläge gemacht, wie ein sicheres Setup aussehen soll. Wie schon gesagt, gibt es keine eine richtige Lösung - nur Kompromisse. Der persönliche Kompromiss hängt von zu vielen Faktoren ab, so dass man eine einheitliche Lösung anbieten kann. Man sollte sich jedoch die folgenden Punkte merken: - Früh genug mit der Planung beginnen - hinter jeder Ecke lauert ein Bär! - Das Einschließen von Dritten in die Nachlassplanung sollte mit Bedacht gewählt und gründlich überlegt sein. - Das gewählte Setup sollte mindestens einmal getestet werden, bevor der schlimmste Fall eintritt. - Es ist immer ratsam, die mit dem Nachlass bedachten Personen aufzuklären, dass im schlimmsten Fall etwas auf sie zukommt. 🫳🎤 --- In diesem Sinne, 2... 1... Risiko!‌ 

@ 2063cd79:57bd1320

Singularität ist ein heißes Thema, da sie ein potenziell transformatives und disruptives Ereignis in verschiedenen Bereichen darstellt, darunter Technologie, künstliche Intelligenz und die Gesellschaft als Ganzes. Singularität stellt einen Punkt unbekannter und potenziell schneller Veränderung dar. Die Ungewissheit darüber, wie sich Technologien weiterentwickeln, welche Auswirkungen sie haben und welche möglichen Konsequenzen sie mit sich bringen, weckt Neugier, Spekulationen und Diskussionen. Oft wird diskutiert, wie die Zukunft unseres Geldsystems aussehen könnte. Dem Euro wird keine rosige Zukunft zugesprochen, dem Dollar hingegen mittelfristig schon. Doch entwickelt sich unsere Gesellschaft und damit ihre Ansprüche und Bedürfnisse weiter. Die Entwicklung der letzten Jahrzehnte hat im Vergleich zu den Jahrhunderten davor und den Jahrtausenden davor extrem zugenommen. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d60265ab6f82476481a46f6247f94eed2d66f65d70354b583ce079983e7e24a9.png"> Alleine das letzte Jahrhundert hat drei industrielle Revolutionen hervorgebracht: die Dampfmaschine, das Zeitalter der Wissenschaft und Massenproduktion und der Aufstieg der digitalen Technologie. Mit den digitalen Technologien kam zum ersten Mal auch das Bedürfnis nach einem Geld für den digitalen Raum, bzw. für den digital vernetzten Raum auf, in dem wir uns heutzutage bewegen. Das [Geld in seiner jetzigen Form](https://www.genexyz.org/post/11-block-752065-fractional-reserve-banking-wird-durch-bitcoin-obsolet-bdpznh/) existiert seit dem 17ten Jahrhundert und obwohl es sich nach außen hin in seiner Form und Funktion wenig verändert hat, ist eine technologische Entwicklung auch hier nicht zu leugnen. Denn Geld ist nicht gleich Geld. Das Bargeld (Papier- und Münzgeld), das wir in unserem täglichen Leben verwenden, unterscheidet sich ganz deutlich von Buchgeld (Giralgeld) und Warengeld. Wir sehen also, dass es verschiedene Arten von Geld gibt. Und um die Sache zu erschweren, gibt es jede dieser Formen von Geld auch noch in über 160 Währungen, die von den jeweiligen Zentralbanken gesteuert und gelenkt werden. Wenn wir also sagen, dass z.B. die türkische Lira keine Zukunft hat, dann meinen wir nicht nur, dass die Geldscheine mit dem Lira-Aufdruck bald verschwinden, sondern dass das ganze Finanzsystem, dass hinter der türkischen Lira steckt systemische Probleme aufweist, die es nicht mehr auffangen kann. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/856bd471d59b447186f2ff6fb2917235567add5019df8dda48077cd8f606478d.png"> Dabei ist es dem Grunde nach eigentlich ganz natürlich und ganz normal, dass Währungen mit der Zeit verschwinden oder schlicht durch andere Währungen ersetzt werden. Denn Menschen tendieren von Natur aus dazu, ein gemeinsames Geld innerhalb einer definierten Region auf einem freien Markt zu verwenden, weil es uns die größte Wahlfreiheit bei der größten Anzahl von Handelspartnern und der höchsten Liquidität bietet. Europa ist das beste Beispiel für diese Annahme. Um den Handel zu vereinfachen und Wertschöpfungsketten (yes, endlich mein Lieblings-Unwort eingebaut) zu steigern, haben sich 19 Länder dazu entschlossen, ihre Währung zugunsten des Euros aufzugeben. Dieses Phänomen der Bewegung hin zu einem gemeinsamen Geld ist nicht nur in der Ökonomie bekannt. Denn dieses Phänomen kann immer und insbesondere dann beobachtet werden, wenn die Konvergenz hin zu einem gemeinsamen Standard den Nutzer//innen den größten Nutzen bietet und Netzwerkeffekte fördert. Dieses Phänomen hat auch einen (inoffiziellen) Namen und zwar: monetäre Singularität - abgewandelt von der hypothetischen zukünftigen technologischen Singularität. Obwohl „Monetäre Singularität“ im Wirtschafts- oder Finanzbereich keinen allgemein anerkannten Begriff darstellt, lässt sich durch seine Bestandteile ableiten, worauf sich der Name bezieht. "Monetär“ bezieht sich auf alles, was mit Geld oder Währung zu tun hat, während sich „Singularität“ häufig auf einen Punkt erheblicher Veränderung oder ein Ereignis bezieht, bei dem bestehende Regeln oder Normen nicht mehr gelten. Daraus lässt sich ableiten, dass sich „monetäre Singularität“ - also ein Kunstbegriff abgeleitet aus der Naturwissenschaft - auf ein hypothetisches Szenario bezieht, in dem es zu einer radikalen Veränderung der Funktionsweise des Geldes oder des Währungssystems kommt. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/57af52ceef2abdb2e8b66cfb15e272802895fb7c6520ac1927d0206a13dd4e48.gif"> Mit Hinblick auf das aktuelle Finanzsystem hat Brent Johnson diesem Phänomen den viel eingängigen Namen "Dollar Milkshake Theory" verpasst. In dieser Theorie geht es darum, dass der US Dollar weiter an Stärke gewinnt und den Devisenmärkten auf der ganzen Welt Liquidität entzieht. Woher der Name? Man stelle sich vor, man hat einen Milchshake und sitzt an einem Tisch auf der anderen Seite des Raumes. Man stelle sich auch vor, jemand anderes hat einen wirklich langen Strohhalm. So kann der/diejenige seinen/ihren Strohhalm in den eigenen Milchshake stecken und ihn trinken, auch wenn man am anderen Ende des Raums sitzt. Der eigene Milchshake ist in diesem Fall eine Fremdwährung, der/diejenige, der/die trinkt, ist natürlich der US Dollar selbst. Das führt zu einer Konzentration aller Geschäfte in US Dollar. Schaut man über den Tellerrand der heutigen Zentralbankgelder hinaus, ergeben sich einige weitere interessante Einordnungsversuche für die Singularität des Geldes, die die oben angesprochenen Bedürfnisse des digitalen Zeitalters in Betracht ziehen. Denn die Idee, dass Fortschritte in der Technologie, insbesondere im Bereich digitaler Währungen und Finanzsysteme, zu einer erheblichen Veränderung der Funktionsweise des Geldes führen könnten, klingt dann gar nicht mehr so abwegig. Es deutet darauf hin, dass zukünftige Entwicklungen, wie eine breite Adaption von Bitcoin, zu einer grundlegenden Veränderung in der Art und Weise führen könnten, wie Geld geschaffen, gespeichert, gehandelt und verwaltet wird. Aus gesellschaftlicher Sicht besitzt Geld als soziales und kulturelles Konstrukt eine transformative Kraft, die menschliche Beziehungen, Werte und Verhaltensweisen umgestalten kann. Eine Singularität des Geldes würde in diesem Zusammenhang tiefgreifende und beispiellose Auswirkungen auf die Gesellschaft haben, die sich aus der veränderten Rolle des Geldes ergeben würden. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/3074ce4a3242c2b4e2754af10774ec1a3082a59d69ab8df3a752ab9e7a33d992.gif"> Aus gesellschaftlicher Sicht ist ein Streben nach technologischer Konvergenz hin ganz natürlich und passiert fast automatisch, solange es einen größten gemeinsamen Nutzen bietet und Netzwerkeffekte fördert. Das beste Beispiel dafür sind Sprachen. Es ist schwierig, genaue Zahlen zu nennen, aber Linguisten schätzen, dass es in der Geschichte der Menschheit etwa 31.000 Sprachen gab. Schätzungen zufolge werden heutzutage weltweit zwischen 6.000 und 7.000 Sprachen gesprochen. Forscher und Analysten prognostizieren, dass im frühen 22. Jahrhundert nur noch 600 bis 700 Sprachen im täglichen Gebrauch verbreitet sein werden. Sprache ist eine Technologie, sie wurde erfunden, verbessert, verändert, den Gegebenheiten angepasst und oft verschmolzen. Deshalb ist es kein Wunder, dass die Anzahl der gesprochenen Sprachen abnimmt. Denn Unterschiede erzeugen Reibung und Reibung ist ineffizient. Sowohl für das gesellschaftliche Miteinander als auch für den Handel und die Wirtschaft. Gemeinsame Sprache hat viele Vorteile in einer globalisierten Welt, denn sie vereinfacht die Kommunikation und den Austausch zwischen Handelspartnern, politischen Einrichtungen und eröffnet auch viele neue Möglichkeiten in der Bildung. Wer z.B. Englisch spricht, hat einen viel größeren Pool an Literatur und Nachschlagewerken zur Verfügung, als jemand der/die "nur" eine lokale Sprache spricht. Das kann und wird dazu führen, dass menschliche Sprachen im Laufe der Zeit erhebliche Veränderungen, Anpassungen und manchmal sogar das Aussterben erfahren. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/d8f4cdeb59d08317968a98b5b2a67723015dbe41e5ffe5a6b6a45cbbee462a47.png"> Gerade im Bereich der Programmiersprachen ist zu erwarten, dass zukünftige Entwicklungen in der künstlichen Intelligenz und im maschinellen Lernen einen tiefgreifenden Wandel in der Art und Weise bewirken, wie Sprachen verstanden, übersetzt und kommuniziert werden könnten. Wie oben erwähnt, tendieren Menschen dazu, gemeinsame Technologien innerhalb definierter Regionen zu verwenden. Das war besonders in der Vergangenheit der Fall, als definierte Regionen übersichtlich waren. Mit der Globalisierung wurden diese lokalen Rahmen gesprengt, mit der Digitalisierung atomisiert! Diese (künstlich) definierten Regionen werden immer weiter aufgebrochen. Im Falle von Sprachen vermischen sich Kulturen und ethnische Gruppen immer mehr und bringen dadurch auch eine Vermischung von Sprachen mit sich. Das Internet hat zu einer Atomisierung dieser Regionen geführt. Das kann man z.B. an der heutigen Sprache im deutschsprachigen Raum erkennen, wo das sogenannte Denglisch immer weiter Einzug erhält und einige Berufsgruppen hauptsächlich auf Englisch kommunizieren (man denke an den Flugverkehr, Hochseeschifffahrt, aber auch Bereiche des Finanzsektors, der Medien und der Beratungen). <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/4f82e36736fedd11aff1db03a3b6893cc3b0eea5371dc889ef8ae3dfdbbf8b6a.png"> Ein Beispiel von künstlich erzeugten Rahmen und mit durch äußerer Gewalt erzeugter Singularität kann in der Debatte um Antriebstechnologien in der EU beobachtet werden. Hier wird mit Hilfe von Gesetzen eine Technologie zum One-Size-Fits-All-Standard erhoben. Der Elektroantrieb bei Automobilen hat sicherlich seinen Platz, jedoch heißt es nicht, dass es verschiedene Anwendungsbereiche gibt, in denen Elektromobilität mehr oder weniger sinnvoll ist. Kleine Elektrofahrzeuge für den Innenstadtverkehr haben viele Vorteile gegenüber Abgase produzierenden Antrieben, die direkten Einfluss auf die Gesundheit der Menschen haben. Allerdings bedeutet dies nicht, dass Elektroantriebe auch für den Langstreckenverkehr sinnvoll sind, wenn die Alternative Wasserstoff- oder schadstoffarme Verbrennungsantriebe sind, die zum einen kostengünstiger, und zum anderen nachhaltiger sein können. Eine Gesetzgebung, die pauschal eine Technologie über seine Wettbewerbstechnologien stellt, führt zu einer künstlich hervorgerufenen Singularität, die aber nicht die oben genannten Kriterien der Nutzenmaximierung und der Netzwerkeffekte erfüllt. Geld hat in seiner Geschichte eine ähnliche Entwicklung erfahren. Das ist eine ganz natürliche Entwicklung, da Geld einen Schutz vor Spezialisierung bietet. Denn die Spezialisierung auf einen bestimmten Produktions- / Dienstleistungsbereich ist erstmal positiv und führt zu einer Steigerung von Produktion und Wohlstand, allerdings ist diese auch riskant, da nicht alle Menschen das erzeugte Gut im Austausch oder im Handel akzeptieren werden. Wenn das erzeugte Gut in neutrales Geld getauscht werden kann, bietet das dem Produzenten einen gewissen Schutz. Wenn ein Produzent sich nicht sicher sein kann, was er/sie in Zukunft mit seinen erwirtschafteten Überhängen erwerben oder investieren möchte, ist das Gut, das am besten zum Sparen dieser Profite geeignet ist, dasjenige, das über die besten Geldeigenschaften verfügt. In einem regional eingeschränkten Rahmen mag dies eine lokale Währung sein, doch in einer Welt, in der internationaler Handel und Austausch betrieben wird, erlangt das Geld mit der höchsten Neutralität oder der weitverbreitetsten Akzeptanz automatisch die besten Geldeigenschaften. > Wenn man z.B. den südafrikanischen Rand mit US Dollars vergleicht, wird man sehen, dass der USD eine viel höhere Akzeptanz genießt, als der ZAR. Man wird wahrscheinlich selbst in asiatischen Ländern im Notfall mit USD bezahlen können, einfach weil die Handelspartner dort wissen, dass es für sie einfach ist, USD in ihre lokale Währung umzutauschen. Mit Rand wird man Probleme bekommen, da diese als Tauschobjekt von Handelspartnern keine Zustimmung genießen. https://www.genexyz.org/post/28-block-780040-ist-bitcoin-geld-wuwok0/ Wenn es in der Gesellschaft mehr als ein Geld gibt, gibt es immer einen gewissen Risikokompromiss das eine oder das Zahlungsmittel zu akzeptieren. Dies führt zu einem Anreiz, das beste Geld zu wählen - sofern diese Wahl überhaupt besteht - und damit zu einem natürlichen Druck nach einem gemeinsamen Geld, das diese Risikoabwägung eliminiert. Dieser natürliche Druck nach einem gemeinsamen Geld sorgt für Wohlstand in der Gesellschaft. Doch ist die Realität eben auch, dass Staaten oder Regierungen genau hier eingreifen und den Menschen das eigene Geld auferlegen und diesem eben auch einen Wert zuweisen. Dies erlaubt den kontrollierenden Akteuren, den erzeugten Wohlstand abzusaugen (Steuern, Fiskal- und Geldpolitik), denn diesen können sie entweder für sich behalten oder verteilen ihn ungleichmäßig um. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/ec610afc815318b4b6c9ac265968502c71150377b8c861ee5502397ff20ee595.png"> Dieses Eingreifen in den marktwirtschaftlichen Prozess der Geldevolution kann nur ein Geld verhindern, das außerhalb dieser künstlich von außen geschaffenen Rahmen existiert. Ein Geld, das weder von Institutionen oder Regierungen geschaffen und in Umlauf gebracht wird. Ein Zahlungsmittel mit nahezu perfekten neutralen Geldeigenschaften (teilbar, austauschbar, einfach transportierbar, haltbar, prüfbar, knapp, universell akzeptiert und leicht sicherungsfähig, sowie erlaubnis- und vertrauenslos) ermöglicht den oben beschriebenen Druck nach einem gemeinsamen Geld und befeuert den damit einhergehenden Wohlstand in der Gesellschaft. Wäre es nicht schön, wenn so ein Zahlungsmittel mit nahezu perfekten Geldeigenschaften vor knapp 14 Jahren entdeckt worden wäre? Der einzige Weg, den natürlichen Entwicklungsprozess hin zu einem singulären Geldstandard zu stoppen, ist durch Verbote und Regulierungen seitens der herrschenden Obrigkeiten - siehe Verbrennungsmotor. Doch ist es viel leichter ein Abgase emittierendes Auto von der Straße zu ziehen und stillzulegen, als einem/r mündigen Bürger//in zu verbieten sein/ihr Erspartes in einer harten Geldform zu lagern und mit anderen Nutzer//innen frei zu handeln. <img src="https://blossom.primal.net/e54ffbe21cc8ddffcf98c71a8ad3aa6ae3189adc5e5488e552dbd2cb259855b0.png"> 🫳🎤 --- In diesem Sinne, 2... 1... Risiko!‌ 

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

**Table Of Content** - ZeroSync's Vision for Bitcoin - The Privacy Advantage - ZeroSync's Journey and Support - Bitcoin's Resistance to Change - The Future: Bitcoin Simplicity - Conclusion - FAQ A Swiss non-profit, ZeroSync, is at the forefront of a groundbreaking initiative, working on the world's first zero-knowledge light client for Bitcoin. This significant advancement is aimed at integrating zero-knowledge proofs into the most valuable cryptocurrency network. **ZeroSync's Vision for Bitcoin** ZeroSync's verifier for Bitcoin's block headers paves the way for the creation of a zk proof-based light client. This is a monumental step in their vision of permissionless innovation, as explained by project lead Robin Linus. The immediate application of such a light client could be to operate a Bitcoin full node on devices as compact as mobile phones. Furthermore, ZeroSync envisions a second-layer protocol over Bitcoin that can introduce tokens, like stablecoins, to the Bitcoin network. This would also lead to a substantial increase in throughput, up to 20 to 50 times, without necessitating any forks. **The Privacy Advantage** One of the standout features of this solution is its ability to process around 100 transactions on the base layer. Additionally, it offers unparalleled privacy. Transactions can be encrypted, both in terms of amounts and transaction graphs, providing privacy levels on par with cryptocurrencies like Zcash. Interestingly, this privacy feature is a natural outcome of the protocol's utilization of STARKs, a proving system developed by StarkWare, rather than an intentional design element. **ZeroSync's Journey and Support** ZeroSync's endeavors have garnered support in the form of grants from Geometry Research in 2022 and StarkWare more recently. Their pioneering work marks the first attempt to employ StarkWare's Cairo programming language outside the Ethereum ecosystem. While a soft fork would be essential for the trustless bitcoin bridging on the envisioned layer-2 network, the network can still support features like token transfers where transaction fees are paid in stablecoins, eliminating the need for Bitcoin. **Bitcoin's Resistance to Change** Bitcoin's design inherently resists change, demanding consensus from Core developers and almost unanimous agreement from full node operators, including miners. The last soft fork, Taproot, which took place in 2021, was years in the making and was only activated after over 90% of node operators gave their approval. Linus emphasizes the importance of some changes, especially the integration of a zk proof verifier on Bitcoin. ZeroSync aims to play a pivotal role in determining the most viable approach and actively participates in the community to drive this vision forward. **The Future: Bitcoin Simplicity** Zero-knowledge proof technology is still nascent, with various proof systems available, each with its own set of trade-offs. Reaching a consensus on a single system is challenging. However, Linus anticipates that the Simplicity programming language, introduced by Blockstream about half a decade ago, might offer a solution. Described as "Bitcoin's last soft fork," Simplicity could significantly enhance Bitcoin's scripting capabilities. The adoption of Simplicity would provide zk proof teams with the flexibility to choose their preferred proof system, eliminating debates over which verifier to activate. **Conclusion** The advancements spearheaded by ZeroSync have the potential to usher in a new era for the Bitcoin network. By integrating zero-knowledge proofs, Bitcoin can achieve heightened levels of privacy and security, ensuring that transaction details remain confidential while still being verifiable. This not only enhances user trust but also positions Bitcoin as a more versatile and adaptable cryptocurrency. Furthermore, the potential adoption of the Simplicity programming language could be a game-changer. It promises to amplify Bitcoin's scripting capabilities, paving the way for more sophisticated applications and functionalities on the network. **FAQ** **What is ZeroSync?** ZeroSync is a Swiss non-profit working on the world's first zero-knowledge light client for Bitcoin. **What are zero-knowledge proofs?** Zero-knowledge proofs are cryptographic methods that allow one party to prove to another that a statement is true without revealing any specific information about the statement itself. **How can ZeroSync benefit Bitcoin?** ZeroSync aims to introduce a zk proof-based light client, enabling operations like running a Bitcoin full node on mobile devices and increasing transaction throughput without requiring forks. **What is the significance of STARKs in ZeroSync's protocol?** STARKs, developed by StarkWare, are used in ZeroSync's protocol, providing enhanced transaction privacy as a natural outcome. **What is the Simplicity programming language?** Introduced by Blockstream, Simplicity is a smart contract language that could significantly enhance Bitcoin's scripting capabilities, potentially being the last soft fork for Bitcoin. **That's all for today** **If you want more, be sure to follow us on:** **NOSTR: croxroad@getalby.com** **X: [@croxroadnews](https://x.com/croxroadnewsco)** **Instagram: [@croxroadnews.co](https://www.instagram.com/croxroadnews.co/)** **Youtube: [@croxroadnews](https://www.youtube.com/@croxroadnews)** **Store: https://croxroad.store** **Subscribe to CROX ROAD Bitcoin Only Daily Newsletter** **https://www.croxroad.co/subscribe** *DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.*

@ f33c8a96:5ec6f741

<div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;"><video style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;" controls> <source src="https://plebdevs-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/starter-lesson-1.mp4" type="video/mp4"/> <source src="https://plebdevs-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/starter-lesson-1.webm" type="video/mp4"/> </video></div> # Setting Up Your Code Editor ## Introduction In this lesson, we'll set up the most fundamental tool in your development journey: your code editor. This is where you'll spend most of your time writing, testing, and debugging code, so it's crucial to get comfortable with it from the start. ## What is an IDE? ### Definition An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities for software development. Think of it as your complete workshop for writing code. ### Key Components 1. **Code Editor** - Where you write and edit code - Provides syntax highlighting - Helps with code formatting - Makes code easier to read and write 2. **Compiler/Interpreter** - Runs your code - Translates your code into executable instructions - Helps test your applications 3. **Debugging Tools** - Help find and fix errors - Provide error messages and suggestions - Make problem-solving easier ## Setting Up Visual Studio Code ### Why VS Code? - Free and open-source - Lightweight yet powerful - Excellent community support - Popular among developers - Great for beginners and experts alike ### Installation Steps 1. Visit [code.visualstudio.com](https://code.visualstudio.com) 2. Download the version for your operating system 3. Run the installer 4. Follow the installation prompts ### Essential VS Code Features #### 1. Interface Navigation - **File Explorer** (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + E) - Browse and manage your files - Create new files and folders - Navigate your project structure - **Search** (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F) - Find text across all files - Replace text globally - Search with regular expressions - **Source Control** (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + G) - Track changes in your code - Commit and manage versions - Integrate with Git #### 2. Terminal Integration To open the integrated terminal: - Use ``` Ctrl + ` ``` (backtick) - Or View → Terminal from the menu - Basic terminal commands: ```bash ls # List files (dir on Windows) cd # Change directory clear # Clear terminal code . # Open VS Code in current directory ``` #### 3. Essential Extensions Install these extensions to enhance your development experience: 1. **ESLint** - Helps find and fix code problems - Enforces coding standards - Improves code quality 2. **Prettier** - Automatically formats your code - Maintains consistent style - Saves time on formatting 3. **Live Server** - Runs your web pages locally - Auto-refreshes on save - Great for web development ### Important Keyboard Shortcuts ``` Ctrl/Cmd + S # Save file Ctrl/Cmd + C # Copy Ctrl/Cmd + V # Paste Ctrl/Cmd + Z # Undo Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P # Command palette Ctrl/Cmd + P # Quick file open ``` ## Writing Your First Code Let's create and run a simple HTML file: 1. Create a new file (`index.html`) 2. Add basic HTML content: ```html <h1>Hello World!</h1> ``` 3. Save the file (Ctrl/Cmd + S) 4. Open in browser or use Live Server ## Best Practices ### 1. File Organization - Keep related files together - Use clear, descriptive names - Create separate folders for different projects ### 2. Regular Saving - Save frequently (Ctrl/Cmd + S) - Watch for the unsaved dot indicator - Enable auto-save if preferred ### 3. Terminal Usage - Get comfortable with basic commands - Use the integrated terminal - Practice navigation and file operations ## Troubleshooting Common Issues ### 1. Installation Problems - Ensure you have admin rights - Check system requirements - Use official download sources ### 2. Extension Issues - Keep extensions updated - Disable conflicting extensions - Restart VS Code after installation ### 3. Performance - Don't install too many extensions - Regular restart of VS Code - Keep your system updated ## Next Steps 1. **Practice Navigation** - Create and manage files - Use the integrated terminal - Try keyboard shortcuts 2. **Customize Your Editor** - Explore themes - Adjust font size - Configure auto-save 3. **Prepare for Next Lesson** - Keep VS Code open - Get comfortable with the interface - Practice basic operations ## Additional Resources - [VS Code Documentation](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs) - [Keyboard Shortcuts Reference](https://code.visualstudio.com/shortcuts/keyboard-shortcuts-windows.pdf) - [VS Code Tips and Tricks](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/tips-and-tricks) Remember: Your code editor is your primary tool as a developer. Take time to get comfortable with it, and don't worry about mastering everything at once. Focus on the basics we covered in the video, and you'll naturally learn more features as you need them. Happy coding! 🚀

@ 2fb77d26:c47a6ee1

#### Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, wenn wir an Schlachtfelder denken, sehen wir vor unserem inneren Auge düstere Bilder von verkohlten Wracks, von Einschlagkratern, schreienden Verwundeten, Leichen und dichten Rauchschwaden, die am Horizont über verbrannter Erde wabern. Vergleichbare Assoziationen drängen sich auf, versucht man in Bilder zu fassen, in was für einer Gesellschaft wir mittlerweile leben. Intellektuelle Wracks, mediales Flächenbombardement, stumme Schreie von Pharmaopfern und hungernden Kindern, weggescrollt von Smartphone-Zombies, deren letzter Hauch Empathie am Rande ihres dissoziativen Wahrnehmungshorizontes verblasst. Zivilisatorische Transformation als Kriegsfilm. Früher verliefen die Frontlinien von Klassenkampf und Propagandakrieg durch die Auslagen der Zeitungskioske, durch Rundfunkredaktionen und über die nach Sendeschluss flimmernden Bildschirme der Mattscheibe. Heute durch den Kopf. Sprichwörtlich. Denn die »Vierte Industrielle Revolution« begegnet zunehmendem Desinteresse an Erziehungsfunk und aufkeimender Renitenz mit Dopamin-Shots, Implantaten und Nanotechnologie. Das erklärte Ziel der Herrschaftskaste ist nicht mehr die Manipulation, sondern die Fernsteuerung der Steuersklaven. Das »Hive Mind«. Sendeschluss gibt es nicht mehr. Und der Newsfeed ist unerschöpflich, ist Manifestation dessen, was Aufmerksamkeitsökonomie für uns bedeutet: Den Verlust wertvoller Lebenszeit an neonbunte Sinnlosigkeit. Das Smartphone dient nicht der Evolution, sondern der Degeneration der Spezies Mensch. Es ist kein Werkzeug, sondern eine Waffe. Aber das Handy lässt sich — wie das TV-Gerät — abschalten. Oder abschaffen. Das birgt Risiken — denn nur Lufthoheit über dem Debattenraum garantiert dem postmodernen Feudalismus Machterhalt. Dementsprechend setzen seine Vertreter nun alles daran, invasive Technologien ins Feld zu führen, um sich unserer Gedanken bemächtigen zu können. Der Kriegsfilm spielt sich also nicht mehr nur als dunkles Phantasma vor unserem inneren Auge ab, er handelt nicht von irgendeinem fernen Land — das zu erobernde Terrain, das primäre Schlachtfeld der biodigitalen Konvergenz liegt unmittelbar hinter dem Sehnerv. Kriegsziel: Die Verschmelzung von Mensch und Maschine. Transhumanismus. Und bei so manchem Zeitgenossen scheint bereits eine gewisse Konträrfaszination am eigenen Untergang Einzug zu halten. Die Résistance des Mediazän verteidigt demnach nicht nur das Recht auf Meinungsfreiheit, sie kämpft um den Erhalt des freien Willens. Um Menschlichkeit. Um das Fortbestehen unserer Spezies.&#x20; Vor diesem Hintergrund beschäftigt sich die dritte GEGENDRUCK mit dem »Schlachtfeld Gehirn«. Mit dem zerebralen Status quo. Die Autoren analysieren und dokumentieren den Stand von Forschung, Angriffswellen, Waffenarsenal und Verteidigungsmechanismen. Denn unser Leben ist das Produkt unserer Gedanken. Unserer Erinnerungen. Sie sind die Basis unserer Freiheit, unserer Geschichte und Zukunft. Wir müssen sie schützen. Mit allen Mitteln. Denn »*ein Kopf ohne Gedächtnis ist eine Festung ohne Besatzung*« (Napoleon). Im Namen des gesamten Teams, Tom-Oliver Regenauer **Printausgabe bestellen unter: www\.gegendruck.de**

@ 23b0e2f8:d8af76fc

## **Necessário** - Um Android que você não use mais (a câmera deve estar funcionando). - Um cartão microSD (opcional, usado apenas uma vez). - Um dispositivo para acompanhar seus fundos (provavelmente você já tem um). ## **Algumas coisas que você precisa saber** - O dispositivo servirá como um assinador. Qualquer movimentação só será efetuada após ser assinada por ele. - O cartão microSD será usado para transferir o APK do Electrum e garantir que o aparelho não terá contato com outras fontes de dados externas após sua formatação. Contudo, é possível usar um cabo USB para o mesmo propósito. - A ideia é deixar sua chave privada em um dispositivo offline, que ficará desligado em 99% do tempo. Você poderá acompanhar seus fundos em outro dispositivo conectado à internet, como seu celular ou computador pessoal. --- ## **O tutorial será dividido em dois módulos:** - Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador. - Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador. --- ## **No final, teremos:** - Uma carteira fria que também servirá como assinador. - Um dispositivo para acompanhar os fundos da carteira.  --- ## **Módulo 1 - Criando uma carteira fria/assinador** 1. Baixe o APK do Electrum na aba de **downloads** em <https://electrum.org/>. Fique à vontade para [verificar as assinaturas](https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/gpg-check.html) do software, garantindo sua autenticidade. 2. Formate o cartão microSD e coloque o APK do Electrum nele. Caso não tenha um cartão microSD, pule este passo.  3. Retire os chips e acessórios do aparelho que será usado como assinador, formate-o e aguarde a inicialização.  4. Durante a inicialização, pule a etapa de conexão ao Wi-Fi e rejeite todas as solicitações de conexão. Após isso, você pode desinstalar aplicativos desnecessários, pois precisará apenas do Electrum. Certifique-se de que Wi-Fi, Bluetooth e dados móveis estejam desligados. Você também pode ativar o **modo avião**.\ *(Curiosidade: algumas pessoas optam por abrir o aparelho e danificar a antena do Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, impossibilitando essas funcionalidades.)*  5. Insira o cartão microSD com o APK do Electrum no dispositivo e instale-o. Será necessário permitir instalações de fontes não oficiais.  6. No Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão e gere suas palavras-chave (seed). Anote-as em um local seguro. Caso algo aconteça com seu assinador, essas palavras permitirão o acesso aos seus fundos novamente. *(Aqui entra seu método pessoal de backup.)*  --- ## **Módulo 2 - Configurando um dispositivo para visualizar seus fundos e assinando transações com o assinador.** 1. Criar uma carteira **somente leitura** em outro dispositivo, como seu celular ou computador pessoal, é uma etapa bastante simples. Para este tutorial, usaremos outro smartphone Android com Electrum. Instale o Electrum a partir da aba de downloads em <https://electrum.org/> ou da própria Play Store. *(ATENÇÃO: O Electrum não existe oficialmente para iPhone. Desconfie se encontrar algum.)* 2. Após instalar o Electrum, crie uma carteira padrão, mas desta vez escolha a opção **Usar uma chave mestra**.  3. Agora, no assinador que criamos no primeiro módulo, exporte sua chave pública: vá em **Carteira &gt; Detalhes da carteira &gt; Compartilhar chave mestra pública**.  4. Escaneie o QR gerado da chave pública com o dispositivo de consulta. Assim, ele poderá acompanhar seus fundos, mas sem permissão para movimentá-los. 5. Para receber fundos, envie Bitcoin para um dos endereços gerados pela sua carteira: **Carteira &gt; Addresses/Coins**. 6. Para movimentar fundos, crie uma transação no dispositivo de consulta. Como ele não possui a chave privada, será necessário assiná-la com o dispositivo assinador.  7. No assinador, escaneie a transação não assinada, confirme os detalhes, assine e compartilhe. Será gerado outro QR, desta vez com a transação já assinada.  8. No dispositivo de consulta, escaneie o QR da transação assinada e transmita-a para a rede. --- ## **Conclusão** **Pontos positivos do setup:** - **Simplicidade:** Basta um dispositivo Android antigo. - **Flexibilidade:** Funciona como uma ótima carteira fria, ideal para holders. **Pontos negativos do setup:** - **Padronização:** Não utiliza seeds no padrão BIP-39, você sempre precisará usar o electrum. - **Interface:** A aparência do Electrum pode parecer antiquada para alguns usuários. Nesse ponto, temos uma carteira fria que também serve para assinar transações. O fluxo de assinar uma transação se torna: ***Gerar uma transação não assinada &gt; Escanear o QR da transação não assinada &gt; Conferir e assinar essa transação com o assinador &gt; Gerar QR da transação assinada &gt; Escanear a transação assinada com qualquer outro dispositivo que possa transmiti-la para a rede.*** Como alguns devem saber, uma transação assinada de Bitcoin é praticamente impossível de ser fraudada. Em um cenário catastrófico, você pode mesmo que sem internet, repassar essa transação assinada para alguém que tenha acesso à rede por qualquer meio de comunicação. Mesmo que não queiramos que isso aconteça um dia, esse setup acaba por tornar essa prática possível. ---