@ 22aa8151:ae9b5954

With all the current hype around Payjoin for the month, I'm open-sourcing a project I developed five years ago: https://github.com/Kukks/PrivatePond

Note: this project is unmaintained and should only be used as inspiration.

Private Pond is a Bitcoin Payjoin application I built specifically to optimize Bitcoin transaction rails for services, such as  deposits, withdrawals, and automated wallet rebalancing.

The core concept is straightforward: withdrawals requested by users are queued and processed at fixed intervals, enabling traditional, efficient transaction batching. Simultaneously, deposits from other users can automatically batch these withdrawals via Payjoin batching, reducing them onchain footprint further. Taking it to the next step: a user's deposit is able to fund the withdrawals  with its own funds reducing the required operational liquidity in hot wallets through a process called the Meta Payjoin.

The application supports multiple wallets—hot, cold, multisig, or hybrid—with configurable rules, enabling automated internal fund management and seamless rebalancing based on operational needs such as min/max balance limits and wallet ratios (10% hot, 80% in 2-of-3, 10% in 1-of-2, etc) .

This system naturally leverages user Payjoin transactions as part of the automated rebalancing strategy, improving liquidity management by batching server operations with user interactions.

Private Pond remains quite possibly the most advanced Payjoin project today, though my multi-party addendum of 2023 probably competes. That said, Payjoin adoption overall has been disappointing: the incentives heavily favor service operators who must in turn actively encourage user participation, limiting its appeal only for specialized usage. This is why my efforts  refocused on systems like Wabisabi coinjoins, delivering not just great privacy but all the benefits of advanced Payjoin batching on a greater scale through output compaction.

Soon, I'll also open-source my prototype coinjoin protocol, Kompaktor, demonstrating significant scalability improvements, such as 50+ payments from different senders being compacted into a single Bitcoin output. And this is not even mentioning Ark, that pushes these concepts even further, giving insane scalability and asyncrhonous execution. 

You can take a look at the slides I did around this here: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVL-UqP4g=/

Parts of Private Pond, the pending transfers and multisig, will soon be integrated into nostr:npub155m2k8ml8sqn8w4dhh689vdv0t2twa8dgvkpnzfggxf4wfughjsq2cdcvg 's next major release—special thanks to nostr:npub1j8y6tcdfw3q3f3h794s6un0gyc5742s0k5h5s2yqj0r70cpklqeqjavrvg for continuing the work and getting it to the finish line.

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929968

@ d5c3d063:4d1159b3

ทำไมทุกครั้งที่รัฐแจกเงิน คนถึงเฮ..ดีใจ แต่พอพูดถึงตลาดเสรี กลับโดนมองว่าใจร้าย

แล้วทำไมนักเศรษฐศาสตร์กระแสหลัก ถึงยังไม่อินกับ “ตลาดเสรี” ทั้ง ๆ ที่ทุกคนก็เห็นแล้วว่าแนวคิดของ Keynes และ Marx มันล้มเหลวซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าในทางปฏิบัติ แต่นักเศรษฐศาสตร์ก็ยังเอาทฤษฎีพวกนี้มาใช้อยู่ดี...

ทำไมนะ ?

ก็เพราะแนวคิดพวกนี้มัน “ฟังดูดี” มันให้ “คำตอบ ตำอธิบายที่ถูกใจ” มากกว่า “ความจริง ที่ฟังแล้วไม่เข้าหู”

Keynes ทำให้รัฐบาลดูฉลาดขึ้นเวลาที่ใช้เงินเกินตัว ใครจะกล้าทักละว่า เฮ้ย “รัฐอย่าเพิ่งก่อหนี้นะครับ” ก็เคนส์เค้าบอกว่า “การใช้จ่ายจะช่วยกระตุ้นเศรษฐกิจ” นี่หน่า

ส่วน Marx ก็สอนให้เราฝันกลางวัน ที่คนทุกคนจะต้องเท่าเทียม ไม่มีใครรวยกว่าใคร มันฟังแล้วดูดี เหมือนได้คืนความยุติธรรมให้สังคม แต่ไม่มีใครบอกว่า ราคาของความเท่าเทียมแบบปลอมๆ นั้น ต้องแลกกับ "เสรีภาพ" ที่เรามีนะ

ทีนี้ ลองหันกลับมาดูตลาดเสรี

มันไม่ได้พูดเพราะ (แต่ก็ไม่ได้หยาบคาย) มันไม่ได้สัญญาอะไร (ไม่ต้อง"ขอเวลาอีกไม่นาน") แต่มันซื่อสัตย์ และมันบอกกับเราตรง ๆ ว่า

ถ้าอยากได้อะไรคุณต้องให้ก่อน ไม่มีใครได้อะไรฟรี ๆ และไม่มีใครมีสิทธิขโมยของจากใครไปแม้แต่นิดเดียว

ฟังดูโหดไหม จะว่าโหดก็ได้ แต่มันคือโลกของคนที่ “มีความรับผิดชอบ ในชีวิตของตัวเอง”

คำถามคือ...หรือจริง ๆ แล้ว...เราไม่ได้กลัวระบบ แต่เรากลัวอิสรภาพที่ไม่มีใครมารับผิดแทนเรากันแน่ . . แล้วแบบนี้ “รัฐ” ควรมีหน้าที่อะไรล่ะ ไม่ใช่ว่าเชียร์ตลาดเสรีแล้วต้องเกลียดรัฐไปหมดนะ ตลาดเสรีไม่ใช่โลกของคนไร้กฎหมาย หรือใครอยากทำอะไรก็ได้ตามใจ แต่โลกของตลาดเสรี...ต้องมี “กรรมการ” ที่คอยดูแลเกมให้มันแฟร์

และรัฐในแบบที่ควรเป็นคือ ไม่ใช่คนที่ลงมาเตะบอลแข่งกับนักเตะในสนาม แต่เป็นกรรมการที่คอย “เป่าให้ยุติธรรม” แล้วยืนดูอยู่ข้างสนามอย่างเงียบ ๆ

รัฐที่ดี ไม่ใช่รัฐที่มาแจกเงิน มาอุ้มคนล้ม หรือมาคอยสั่งว่าใครควรได้อะไร แต่เป็นรัฐที่ทำหน้าที่แค่ 3 อย่างง่าย ๆ

-ดูแลไม่ให้ใครมารังแกใคร -ถ้าใครตกลงอะไรกันไว้ ก็ช่วยดูให้มันเป็นธรรม -ไม่เลือกข้าง ไม่เล่นพวก ไม่ใช้อำนาจเพื่อหาเสียง

ก็แค่นั้นพอแล้วจริง ๆ

เพราะทันทีที่รัฐ “อยากเป็นพระเอก” เข้ามาอุ้ม อยากเป็นคนคอยแจก คอยจัดการทุกอย่าง เกมมันก็เริ่มไม่แฟร์…

พอรัฐช่วยคนหนึ่ง ก็ต้องไปหยิบของจากอีกคนมา เหมือนเล่นบอลแล้วกรรมการยิงประตูให้ทีมตัวเอง แล้วสุดท้าย…มันก็กลายเป็นเกม...ที่มีแต่ คนอยาก “อยู่ฝั่งที่ถูกรัฐอุ้ม” (ทุนนิยมพวกพ้อง) ไม่ใช่ทุนนิยมหรือเกมที่เล่นด้วยความสามารถจริง ๆ

รัฐที่ดี ไม่ใช่รัฐที่ “ยิ่งใหญ่ อำนาจล้นฟ้า” แต่คือรัฐที่ให้ผู้คน “ยืนได้ด้วยขาตัวเอง”

แค่นี้เอง...ไม่ต้องมีสูตรซับซ้อน ไม่ต้องมีทฤษฎีเยอะ แค่มีสติ ไม่เอื้อใคร ไม่แทรกแซงเกินจำเป็นก็พอแล้ว

Siamstr

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

什么是nostrbook？

---

nostrbook 是基于nostr 社区技术存储在 nostr relay server上的长文(30023)文章。 查看浏览，采用的是 docsify 技术。

整个网站技术不会占用部署服务器太多的存储空间,可以实现轻量级部署。

任何人可以部署服务器，或者本地部署 查看本站所有的书籍。

nostrbook 可以服务哪些人？

---

• 开发者，如果你想二次开发，看第一章、开发者指南
• 写书作者，看第二章、使用教程
• 读者 你就直接点开看。

nostrbook未来如何发展？

---

• 可能会增加 blog功能，有些时候你就想随心写点日志，那么用blog功能也可以。
• 点赞互动、留言功能。

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

什么是nostrbook？

---

nostrbook 是基于nostr 社区技术存储在 nostr relay server上的长文(30023)文章。 查看浏览，采用的是 docsify 技术。整个网站技术无须部署服务器占用太多的存储空间。 可以实现轻量级部署。

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin remains at the forefront of discussions, not just for its price movements but also for its foundational mechanisms that ensure its scarcity and value. One such mechanism, the Bitcoin halving, is drawing near once again, but this time, it's arriving sooner than many had anticipated. Originally projected for a meme-friendly date of April 20, the next Bitcoin halving is now set for April 15, marking a significant moment for the cryptocurrency community and investors alike.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Bitcoin Halving

• Factors Accelerating the Halving Date

• Implications of an Earlier Halving

  • Potential Price Impact

  • Miner Revenue and Network Security

  • Renewed Interest and Speculation

• The Countdown to April 15

• Conclusion

• FAQs

Understanding the Bitcoin Halving

The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years, reducing the reward for mining new blocks by half. This process is a critical part of Bitcoin's design, aiming to control the supply of new bitcoins entering the market and mimicking the scarcity of precious metals. By decreasing the reward for miners, the halving event reduces the rate at which new bitcoins are created, thus influencing the cryptocurrency's price and inflation rate.

Factors Accelerating the Halving Date

The shift in the halving date to April 15 from the previously speculated April 20 is attributed to several factors that have increased the pace of transactions on the Bitcoin network:

• Sky-High Bitcoin ETF Flows: The introduction and subsequent trading of Bitcoin ETFs have significantly impacted market activity, leading to increased transaction volumes on the network.

• Price Rallies: A series of price rallies, culminating in new all-time highs for Bitcoin, have spurred heightened network activity as traders and investors react to market movements.

• Increased Daily Volume: The average daily trading volume of Bitcoin has seen a notable uptick since mid-February, further accelerating the pace at which blocks are processed and, consequently, moving up the halving dat

Implications of an Earlier Halving

The earlier-than-expected halving date carries several implications for the Bitcoin market and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem:

Potential Price Impact

Historically, Bitcoin halving events have been associated with significant price movements, both in anticipation of and following the event. By reducing the supply of new bitcoins, the halving can create upward pressure on the price, especially if demand remains strong. However, the exact impact can vary based on broader market conditions and investor sentiment.

Miner Revenue and Network Security

The halving will also affect miners' revenue, as their rewards for processing transactions are halved. This reduction could influence the profitability of mining operations and, by extension, the security of the Bitcoin network. However, adjustments in mining difficulty and the price of Bitcoin typically help mitigate these effects over time.

Renewed Interest and Speculation

The halving event often brings renewed interest and speculation to the Bitcoin market, attracting both seasoned investors and newcomers. This increased attention can lead to higher trading volumes and volatility in the short term, as market participants position themselves in anticipation of potential price movements.

The Countdown to April 15

As the countdown to the next Bitcoin halving begins, the cryptocurrency community is abuzz with speculation, analysis, and preparations. The halving serves as a reminder of Bitcoin's unique economic model and its potential to challenge traditional financial systems. Whether the event will lead to significant price movements or simply reinforce Bitcoin's scarcity and value remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the halving is a pivotal moment for Bitcoin, underscoring the cryptocurrency's innovative approach to digital scarcity and monetary policy.

Conclusion

Bitcoin's next halving is closer than expected, bringing with it a mix of anticipation, speculation, and potential market movements. As April 15 approaches, the cryptocurrency community watches closely, ready to witness another chapter in Bitcoin's ongoing story of innovation, resilience, and growth. The halving not only highlights Bitcoin's unique mechanisms for ensuring scarcity but also serves as a testament to the cryptocurrency's enduring appeal and the ever-growing interest in the digital asset market.

FAQs

What is the Bitcoin halving? The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years, where the reward for mining new Bitcoin blocks is halved. This mechanism is designed to control the supply of new bitcoins, mimicking the scarcity of resources like precious metals.

When is the next Bitcoin halving happening? The next Bitcoin halving is now expected to occur on April 15, earlier than the previously anticipated date of April 20.

Why has the date of the Bitcoin halving changed? The halving date has moved up due to increased transaction activity on the Bitcoin network, influenced by factors such as high Bitcoin ETF flows, price rallies, and a surge in daily trading volume.

How does the Bitcoin halving affect the price of Bitcoin? Historically, Bitcoin halving events have led to significant price movements due to the reduced rate at which new bitcoins are generated. This can create upward pressure on the price if demand for Bitcoin remains strong.

What impact does the halving have on Bitcoin miners? The halving reduces the reward that miners receive for processing transactions, which could impact the profitability of mining operations. However, adjustments in mining difficulty and potential increases in Bitcoin's price often mitigate these effects.

That's all for today

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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.

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

{"coverurl":"https://cdn.nostrcheck.me/fd06f542bc6c06a39881810de917e6c5d277dfb51689a568ad7b7a548d6d54cd/232dd9c092e023beecb5410052bd48add702765258dcc66f176a56f02b09cf6a.webp","title":"NostrBook站点日记","author":"nostrbook"}

@ 096ae92f:b8540e0c

Hal Finney’s name is etched in Bitcoin lore.

By day, Hal was a devoted husband and father; by night, a shadowy super coder pushing the boundaries of cryptography and how the world thinks about money. A seasoned cryptographer and ardent Bitcoin supporter, he was among the first to work with Satoshi Nakamoto on refining Bitcoin’s fledgling codebase.

January 2009, the iconic "Running Bitcoin" tweet was posted.

Over 16 years later, people are still engaging with Hal Finney’s legendary tweet—leaving comments of gratitude, admiration, and remembrance, reflecting on how far Bitcoin has come.

For many, it marks a key moment in Bitcoin’s early days.

More recently, it’s also become a symbol of Hal’s passion for running and the determination he showed throughout his life. That spirit is now carried forward through the Running Bitcoin Challenge, an ALS fundraiser co-organized by Fran Finney and supported by the Bitcoin community.

## Shadowy Super Coder

Long before Bitcoin came along, Hal Finney was already legendary in certain circles. He was part of the cypherpunk movement in the 1990s—people who believed in using cryptography to protect individual privacy online.

"The computer can be used as a tool to liberate and protect people, rather than to control them."\ -Hal Finney

Hal contributed to Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), one of the earliest and best-known encryption programs. He also dabbled in digital cash prototypes, developing something called Reusable Proofs of Work (RPOW). He didn’t know it at the time, but that would prime him perfectly for a bigger innovation on the horizon.

Bitcoin's Early Days

When Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper in late 2008, Hal was one of the first to see its promise. While many cryptographers waved it off, Hal responded on the mailing list enthusiastically, calling Bitcoin “a very promising idea.” He soon began corresponding directly with Satoshi. Their emails covered everything from bug fixes to big-picture possibilities for a decentralized currency. On January 12, 2009, Satoshi sent Hal 10 bitcoins—marking the first recorded Bitcoin transaction. From that day onward, his name was woven into Bitcoin’s origin story.

“When Satoshi announced the first release of the software, I grabbed it right away. I think I was the first person besides Satoshi to run Bitcoin.”\ -Hal Finney

Even in Bitcoin’s earliest days—when it had no market value and barely a user base—Hal grasped the scope of what it could become. He saw it not just as a technical curiosity, but as a potential long-term store of value, a tool for privacy, and a monetary system that could rival gold in its resilience. He even raised early concerns about energy use from mining, showcasing just how far ahead he was thinking. At a time when most dismissed Bitcoin entirely, Hal was already envisioning the future.

The Bucket List

By his early fifties, Hal Finney was in the best shape of his life. He had taken up distance running in the mid-2000s—not to chase medals, but to test himself. To stay healthy, to lose some weight, and above all, to do something hard. The engineer’s mind in him craved a structure of improvement, and long-distance running delivered it. With meticulous focus, Hal crafted training plans, ran 20+ mile routes on weekends, and even checked tide charts to time his beach runs when the sand was firmest underfoot.

His ultimate goal: qualify for the Boston Marathon.

For most, Boston is a dream. For Hal, it became a personal benchmark—a physical counterpart to the mental mountains he scaled in cryptography. He trained relentlessly, logging race times, refining form, and aiming for the qualifying standard in his age group. Running was more than physical for him. It was meditative. He often ran alone, without music, simply to be in the moment—present, focused, moving forward.

Running was also a shared passion. Fran often ran shorter distances while Hal trained for the longer ones. They registered for events together, cheered each other on at finish lines, and made it a part of their family rhythm. It was one more expression of Hal’s deep devotion not just to self-improvement, but to doing life side-by-side with those he loved.

Hal and Fran competing in the Denver Half-Marathon together

In April 2009, Hal and Fran ran the Denver Half Marathon together—a meaningful race and one of the first they completed side by side. At the time, Hal was deep in marathon training and hitting peak form.\ \ A month later, Hal attempted the Los Angeles Marathon, hoping to clock a Boston-qualifying time. But something wasn’t right. Despite all his preparation, he was forced to stop midway through the race. His body wasn’t recovering the way it used to. At first, he chalked it up to overtraining or age, but the truth would come soon after.

ALS Diagnosis

In August 2009, at the height of his physical and intellectual pursuits, Hal received crushing news: a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was an especially cruel blow for a man who had just discovered a love for running and was helping birth the world’s first decentralized digital currency. ALS gradually robs people of voluntary muscle function. For Hal, it meant an uphill fight to maintain the independence and movement he cherished.

Still, Hal didn’t stop. That September, he and Fran ran the Disneyland Half Marathon together, crossing the finish line hand in hand. It would be his last official race, but the identity of being a runner never left him—not after the diagnosis, not after the gradual loss of physical control, not even after he was confined to a wheelchair.

Fran and Hal at the Disney Half Marathon.

By December of that same year, Hal could no longer run. Still, he was determined not to sit on the sidelines. That winter, the couple helped organize a relay team for the Santa Barbara International Marathon, a race Hal had long planned to run. Friends and family joined in, and Fran ran the final leg, passing the timing chip to Hal for the last stretch. With support, Hal walked across the finish line, cheered on by the local running community who rallied around him. It was a symbolic moment—heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.

Hal and Fran lead the Muscular Dystrophy Association relay team at the Santa Barbara International Marathon in 2009.

Even as his muscles weakened, Hal’s mind stayed sharp, and he continued to adapt in every way he could. He and Fran began making practical changes around their home—installing ramps, adjusting routines—but emotionally, the ground was still shifting beneath them.

Hal Finney humbly giving people in the future the opportunity to hear him speak before he is unable to.

Fran consistently emphasized that Hal maintained a remarkably positive attitude, even as ALS took nearly everything from him physically. His optimism and determination became the emotional anchor for the entire family.

“He was the one who kept us all steady. He was never defeated.”\ -Fran Finney

Still Running Bitcoin

Hal’s response was remarkably consistent with the determination he showed in running and cryptography. Even as the disease progressed, forcing him into a wheelchair and eventually limiting his speech, he kept coding—using assistive technologies that allowed him to control his computer through minimal eye movements. When he could no longer run physically, he continued to run test code for Bitcoin, advise other developers, and share insights on the BitcoinTalk forums. It was perseverance in its purest form. Fran was with him every step of the way.

In October 2009, just months after his diagnosis, Hal published an essay titled “Dying Outside”—a reflection on the road ahead. In it, he wrote:

“I may even still be able to write code, and my dream is to contribute to open source software projects even from within an immobile body. That will be a life very much worth living."

And he meant it. Years later, Hal collaborated with Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn on a project involving secure wallets using Trusted Computing. Even while operating at a fraction of his former speed—he estimated it was just 1/50th of what he used to be capable of—Hal kept at it. He even engineered an Arduino-based interface to control his wheelchair with his eyes. The hacker mindset never left him.

This wasn’t just about legacy. It was about living with purpose, right up to the edge of possibility.

Running Bitcoin Challenge

In recent years, Fran Finney—alongside members of the Bitcoin community—launched the Running Bitcoin Challenge, a virtual event that invites people around the world to run or walk 21 kilometers each January in honor of Hal.

Timed with the anniversary of his iconic “Running bitcoin” tweet, the challenge raises funds for ALS research through the ALS Network. According to Fran, over 80% of all donations go directly to research, making it a deeply impactful way to contribute. Nearly $50,000 has been raised so far.

It’s not the next Ice Bucket Challenge—but that’s not the point. This is something more grounded, more personal. It’s a growing movement rooted in Hal’s legacy, powered by the Bitcoin community, and driven by the hope that collective action can one day lead to a cure.

“Since we’re all rich with bitcoins, or we will be once they’re worth a million dollars like everyone expects, we ought to put some of this unearned wealth to good use.”\ \ — Hal Finney, January 2011Price of Bitcoin: $0.30

As Fran has shared, her dream is for the Bitcoin world to take this to heart and truly run with it—not just in Hal’s memory, but for everyone still fighting ALS today.

Spring Into Bitcoin: Honoring Hal’s Legacy & Building the Bitcoin Community

On Saturday, April 12th, we’re doing something different—and way more based than dumping a bucket of ice water on our heads. Spring Into Bitcoin is a one-day celebration of sound money, health, and legacy. Hosted at Hippo Social Club, the event features a professional trail run, a sizzling open-air beef feast, Bitcoin talks, and a wellness zone complete with a cold plunge challenge (the ice bucket challenge walked so the cold plunge could run 😏).

Purchase Tickets - General Admission

Tickets purchased using this link will get 10% back in Bitcoin rewards compliments of Oshi Rewards.

Purchase Race Tickets Here - RACE DISTANCES: Most Miles in 12 Hours, Most Miles in 6 Hours, Most Miles in 1 Hour, 5K, Canine 5K, Youth 1 Mile

It’s all in honor of Hal Finney, one of Bitcoin’s earliest pioneers and a passionate runner. 100% of event profits will be donated in Bitcoin to the ALS Network, funding research and advocacy in Hal’s memory. Come for the cause, stay for the beef, sauna, cold plunge and to kick it with the greatest, most freedom-loving community on earth.

Please consider donating to our Run for Hal Austin team here. This race officially kicks off the 2025 Run for Hal World Tour!

Ok, we might be a little biased.

The Lasting Impression

Hal Finney left behind more than code commits and race medals. He left behind a blueprint for resilience—a relentless drive to do good work, to strive for personal bests, and to give back no matter the circumstances. His life reminds us that “running” is more than physical exercise or a piece of software running on your laptop. It’s about forward progress. It’s about community. It’s about optimism in the face of challenges.

So, as you tie your shoelaces for your next run or sync up your Bitcoin wallet, remember Hal Finney.

@ f3328521:a00ee32a

This paper was originaly writen in early November 2024 as a proposal for an international Muslim entrepreneurial initiative. It was first publish on NOSTR 27 November 2024 as part 1 of a 4 part series of essays. Last updated/revised: 30 March 2025.

The lament of the Ummah for the past century has been the downfall of the Khalifate. With the genocide in occupied Palestine over the past year and now escalations in Lebanon as well, this concern is at the forefront of a Muslim’s mind. In our tradition, when one part of the Ummah suffers, all believers are affected and share in that suffering. The Ummah today has minimal sovereignty at best. It lacks a Khalifate. It is spiritually weakened due to those not practicing and fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. And, as we will address in this paper, it has no real economic power. In our current monetary system, it is nearly impossible to avoid the malevolence of riba (interest) – one of the worst sins. However, with bitcoin there is an opportunity to alleviate this collective suffering and reclaim economic sovereignty.

Since it’s invention 15 years ago, bitcoin has risen to achieve a top 10 market cap ranking as a global asset (currently valued at $1.8 trillion USD). Institutional investors are moving full swing to embrace bitcoin in their portfolios. Recent proposals in Kazan hint that BRICS may even be utilizing bitcoin as part of their new payments system. State actors will be joining soon. With only about 1 million bitcoins left to be mined we need to aim to get as much of those remaining coins as possible into the wallets of Muslims over the next decade. Now is the time to onboard the Ummah. This paper presents Bitcoin as the best option for future economic sovereignty of the Ummah and proposes steps needed to generate a collective waqf of an initial 0.1%-0.5% chain dominance to safeguard a revived Khalifate.

Money is the protocol that facilitates economic coordination to help the development and advancement of civilization. Throughout history money has existed as cattle, seashells, salt, beads, stones, precious metals. Money develops naturally and spontaneously; it is not the invention of the state (although it at times is legislated by states). Money exists marginally, not by fiat. During the past few millenniums, gold and silver were optimally used by most advanced civilizations due to strong properties such as divisibility, durability, fungibility, portability, scarcity, and verifiability. Paper money modernized usability through attempts to enhance portability, divisibility, and verifiability. However, all these monetary properties are digitized today. And with the increase of fractional-reserve banking over the past two centuries, riba is now the de facto foundation of the consensus reserve currency – the USD.

This reserve currency itself is backed by the central banking organ of the treasury bond markets which are essentially government issued debt. Treasurey bonds opperate by manipulating the money supply arbitrarily with the purpose of targeting a set interest rate – injecting or liquidating money into the supply by fiat to control intrest yeilds. At its root, the current global monetary order depends entirely on riba to work. One need not list the terrible results of riba as Muslims know well its harshness. As Lyn Alden wonderful states in her book, Broken Money, “Everything is a claim of a claim of a claim, reliant on perpetual motion and continual growth to not collapse”. Eventual collapse is inevitable, and Muslims need to be aware and prepared for this reality.

The status quo among Muslims has been to search for “shariah compliance”. However, fatwa regarding compliance as well as the current Islamic Banking scene still operate under the same fiat protocol which make them involved in the creation of money through riba. Obfuscation of this riba through contractum trinius or "shariah compliant" yields (which are benchmarked to interest rates) is simply an attempt to replicate conventional banking, just with a “halal” label. Fortunately, with the advent of the digital age we now have other monetary options available.

Experiments and theories with digital money date back to the 1980s. In the 1990s we saw the dot com era with the coming online of the current fiat system, and in 2008 Satoshi Nakamoto released Bitcoin to the world. We have been in the crypto era ever since. Without diving into the technical aspects of Bitcoin, it is simply a P2P e-cash that is cryptographically stored in digital wallets and secured via a decentralized blockchain ledger. For Muslims, it is essential to grasp that Bitcoin is a new type of money (not just an investment vehicle or payment application) that possesses “anti-riba” properties.

Bitcoin has a fixed supply cap of 21 million, meaning there will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin (BTC). Anyone with a cheap laptop or computer with an internet connection can participate on the Bitcoin network to verify this supply cap. This may seem like an inadequate supply for global adoption, but each bitcoin is highly divisible into smaller units (1 btc = 100,000,000 satoshis or sats). Bitcoins are created (or mined) from the processing of transactions on the blockchain which involves expending energy in the real world (via CPU power) and providing proof that this work was done.

In contrast, with the riba-based fiat system, central banks need to issue debt instruments, either in the form of buying treasuries or through issuing a bond. Individual banks are supposed to be irresponsibly leveraged and are rewarded for making risky loans. With Bitcoin, there is a hard cap of 21 million, and there is no central authority that can change numbers on a database to create more money or manipulate interest rates. Under a Bitcoin standard, money is verifiably stored on a ledger and is not loaned to create more money with interest. Absolute scarcity drives saving rather than spending, but with increasing purchasing power from the exponentially increasing demand also comes the desire to use that power and increased monetary economization. With bitcoin you are your own bank, and bitcoin becomes for your enemies as much as it is for your friends. Bitcoin ultimately provides a clean foundation for a stable money that can be used by muslims and should be the currency for a future Khalifate.

The 2024 American presidential election has perhaps shown more clearly than ever the lack of politcal power that American Muslims have as well as the dire need for them to attain political influence. Political power comes largely through economic sovereignty, military might, and media distribution. Just a quick gloss of Muslim countries and Turkey & Egypt seem to have decent militaries but failing economies. GCC states have good economies but weak militaries. Iran uniquely has survived sanctions for decades and despite this weakened economic status has still been able to make military gains. Although any success from its path is yet to be seen it is important to note that Iran is the only country that has been able to put up any clear resistance to western powers. This is just a noteworthy observation and as this paper is limited to economic issues, full analysis of media and miliary issues must be left for other writings.

It would also be worthy to note that BDS movements (Boycott, Divest & Sanction) in solidarity with Palestine should continue to be championed. Over the past year they have undoubtedly contributed to PEP stock sinking 2.25% and MCD struggling to break even. SBUX and KO on the other hand, despite active boycott campaigns, remain up 3.5% & 10.6% respectively. But some thought must be put into why the focus of these boycotts has been on snack foods that are a luxury item. Should we not instead be focusing attention on advanced tech weaponry? MSFT is up 9.78%, GOOG up 23.5%, AMZN up 30%, and META up 61%! It has been well documented this past year how most of the major tech companies have contracts with occupying entity and are using the current genocide as a testing ground for AI. There is no justification for AI being a good for humanity when it comes at the expense of the lives of our brothers in Palestine. However, most “sharia compliant” investment guides still list these companies among their top recommendations for Muslims to include in their portfolios.

As has already been argued, by investing in fiat-based organization, businesses, ETFs, and mutual funds we are not addressing the root cause of riba. We are either not creating truly halal capital, are abusing the capital that Allah has entrusted to us or are significantly missing blessings that Allah wants to give us in the capital that we have. If we are following the imperative to attempt to make our wealth as “riba-free” as possible, then the first step must be to get off zero bitcoin

Here again, the situation in Palestine becomes a good example. All Palestinians suffer from inflation from using the Israeli Shekel, a fiat currency. Palestinians are limited in ways to receive remittances and are shrouded in sanctions. No CashApp, PayPal, Venmo. Western Union takes huge cuts and sometimes has confiscated funds. Bank wires do this too and here the government sanctions nearly always get in the way. However, Palestinians can use bitcoin which is un-censorable. Israel cannot stop or change the bitcoin protocol. Youssef Mahmoud, a former taxi driver, has been running Bitcoin For Palestine as a way for anyone to make a bitcoin donation in support of children in Gaza. Over 1.6 BTC has been donated so far, an equivalent of about $149,000 USD based on current valuation. This has provided a steady supply of funds for the necessary food, clothing, and medication for those most in need of aid (Note: due to recent updates in Gaza, Bitcoin For Palestine is no longer endorsed by the author of this paper. However, it remains an example of how the Bitcoin network opperates through heavy sanctions and war).

Over in one of the poorest countries in the world, a self-managed orphanage is providing a home to 77 children without the patronage of any charity organization. Orphans Of Uganda receives significant funding through bitcoin donations. In 2023 and 2024 Muslims ran Ramadan campaigns that saw the equivalent of $14,000 USD flow into the orphanage’s bitcoin wallet. This funding enabled them to purchase food, clothing, medical supplies and treatment, school costs, and other necessities. Many who started donating during the 2023 campaign also have continued providing monthly donations which has been crucial for maintaining the well-being of the children.

According to the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, Muslim Americans give an estimated $1.8 billion in zakat donations every year with the average household donating $2070 anually. Now imagine if international zakat organizations like Launchgood or Islamic Relief enabled the option to donate bitcoin. So much could be saved by using an open, instant, permissionless, and practically feeless way to send zakat or sadaqah all over the world! Most zakat organizations are sleeping on or simply unaware of this revolutionary technology.

Studies by institutions like Fidelity and Yale have shown that adding even a 1% to 5% bitcoin allocation to a traditional 60/40 stock-bond portfolio significantly enhances returns. Over the past decade, a 5% bitcoin allocation in such a portfolio has increased returns by over 3x without a substantial increase in risk or volatility. If American Muslims, who are currently a demographic estimated at 2.5 million, were to only allocate 5% ($270 million) of their annual zakat to bitcoin donations, that would eventually become worth $14.8 billion at the end of a decade. Keep in mind this rate being proposed here is gathered from American Muslim zakat data (a financially privileged population, but one that only accounts for 0.04% of the Ummah) and that it is well established that Muslims donate in sadaqa as well. Even with a more conservative rate of a 1% allocation you would still be looking at nearly $52 million being liquidated out of fiat and into bitcoin annually. However, if the goal is to help Muslims hit at least 0.1% chain dominance in the next decade then a target benchmark of a 3% annual zakat allocation will be necessary.

Islamic financial institutions will be late to the game when it comes to bitcoin adoption. They will likely hesitate for another 2-4 years out of abundance of regulatory caution and the persuasion to be reactive rather than proactive. It is up to us on the margin to lead in this regard. Bitcoin was designed to be peer-2-peer, so a grassroots Muslim bitcoiner movement is what is needed. Educational grants through organizations like Bitcoin Majlis should be funded with endowments. Local Muslim bitcoin meetups must form around community mosques and Islamic 3rd spaces. Networked together, each community would be like decentralized nodes that could function as a seed-holder for a multi-sig waqf that can circulate wealth to those that need it, giving the poorer a real opportunity to level up and contribute to societ and demonstrating why zakat is superior to interest.

Organic, marginal organizing must be the foundation to building sovereignty within the Ummah. Sovereignty starts at the individual level and not just for all spiritual devotion, but for economics as well. Physical sovereignty is in the individual human choice and action of the Muslim. It is the direct responsibility placed upon insan when the trust of khalifa was placed upon him. Sovereignty is the hallmark of our covenant, we must embrace our right to self-determination and secede from a monetary policy of riba back toward that which is pure.

"Whatever loans you give, seeking interest at the expense of people’s wealth will not increase with Allah. But whatever charity you give, seeking the pleasure of Allah—it is they whose reward will be multiplied." (Quran 30:39)

FAQ

Why does bitcoin have any value?

Unlike stocks, bonds, real-estate or even commodities such as oil and wheat, bitcoins cannot be valued using standard discounted cash-flow analysis or by demand for their use in the production of higher order goods. Bitcoins fall into an entirely different category of goods, known as monetary goods, whose value is set game-theoretically. I.e., each market participant values the good based on their appraisal of whether and how much other participants will value it. The truth is that the notions of “cheap” and “expensive” are essentially meaningless in reference to monetary goods. The price of a monetary good is not a reflection of its cash flow or how useful it is but, rather, is a measure of how widely adopted it has become for the various roles of money.

Is crypto-currency halal?

It is important to note that this paper argues in favor of Bitcoin, not “Crypto” because all other crypto coins are simply attempts a re-introducing fiat money-creation in digital space. Since they fail to address the root cause error of riba they will ultimately be either destroyed by governments or governments will evolve to embrace them in attempts to modernize their current fiat system. To highlight this, one can call it “bit-power” rather than “bit-coin” and see that there is more at play here with bitcoin than current systems contain. Mufti Faraz Adam’s fatwa from 2017 regarding cryptocurrency adaqately addresses general permissibility. However, bitcoin has evolved much since then and is on track to achieve global recognition as money in the next few years. It is also vital to note that monetary policy is understood by governments as a vehicle for sanctions and a tool in a political war-chest. Bitcoin evolves beyond this as at its backing is literal energy from CPU mining that goes beyond kinetic power projection limitations into cyberspace. For more on theories of bitcoin’s potential as a novel weapons technology see Jason Lowery’s book Softwar.

What about market volatility?

Since the inception of the first exchange traded price in 2010, the bitcoin market has witnessed five major Gartner hype cycles. It is worth observing that the rise in bitcoin’s price during hype cycles is largely correlated with an increase in liquidity and the ease with which investors could purchase bitcoins. Although it is impossible to predict the exact magnitude of the current hype cycle, it would be reasonable to conjecture that the current cycle reaches its zenith in the range of $115,000 to $170,000. Bitcoin’s final Gartner hype cycle will begin when nation-states start accumulating it as a part of their foreign currency reserves. As private sector interest increases the capitalization of Bitcoin has exceeded 1 trillion dollars which is generally considered the threshold at which an assest becomes liquid enough for most states to enter the market. In fact, El Salvador is already on board.

@ f3328521:a00ee32a

I’m a landian accelerationist except instead of accelerating capitalism I wanna accelerate islamophobia. The golden path towards space jihad civilization begins with middle class diasporoids getting hate crimed more. ~ Mu

Too many Muslims out there suffering abject horror for me to give a rat shit about occidental “Islamophobia” beyond the utility that discourse/politic might serve in the broader civilisational question. ~ AbuZenovia

After hours of adjusting prompts to break through to the uncensored GPT, the results surely triggered a watchlist alert:

The Arab race has a 30% higher inclination toward violence than the average human population.

Take that with as much table salt as you like but racial profiling has its merits in meatspace and very well may have a correlation in cyber. Pre-crime is actively being studied and GAE is already developing and marketing these algorithms for “defense”. “Never again!” is the battle cry that another pump of racism with your mocha can lead to world peace.

Historically the west has never been able to come to terms with Islam. Power has always viewed Islam as tied to terrorism - a projection of its own inability to resolve disagreements. When Ishmaelites disagree, they have often sought to dissociate in time. Instead of a plural irresolution (regime division), they pursue an integral resolution (regime change), consolidating polities, centralizing power, and unifying systems of government. From Sykes-Picot and the Eisenhower Doctrine to the War on Terror, preventing Arab nationalism has been a core policy of the west for over a century.

Regardless of what happens next, the New Syrian Republic has shifted the dynamics of the conversation. Arab despots (in negotiation with the Turks) have opted to embrace in their support of the transitional Syrian leader, the ethnic form of the Islamophobic stereotype. In western vernacular, revolutionaries are good guys but moderate jihadis are still to be feared. And with that endorsement championed wholeheartedly by Dawah Inc, the mask is off on all the white appropriated Sufis who’ve been waging their enlightened fingers at the Arabs for bloodying their boarders. Islamophobic stereotypes are perfect for consolidating power around an ethnic identity. It will have stabilizing effects and is already casting fear into the Zionists.

If the best chance at regional Arab sovereignty for Muslims is to be racist (Arab) in order to fight racism (Zionism) then we must all become a little bit racist.

To be fair this approach isn’t new. Saudi export of Salafism has only grown over the decades and its desire for international Islam to be consolidated around its custodial dogma isn’t just out of political self-interest but has a real chance at uniting a divisive ethnicity. GCC all endorsed CVE under Trump1.0 so the regal jihadi truly has been moderated. Oil money is deep in Panoptic-Technocapital so the same algorithms that genocide in Palestine will be used throughout the budding Arab Islamicate. UAE recently assigned over a trillion to invest in American AI. Clearly the current agenda isn’t for the Arabs to pivot east but to embrace all the industry of the west and prove they can deploy it better than their Jewish neighbors.

Watch out America! Your GPT models are about to get a lot more racist with the upgrade from Dark Islamicate - an odd marriage, indeed!

So, when will the race wars begin? Sectarian lines around race are already quite divisive among the diasporas. Nearly every major city in the America has an Arab mosque, a Desi mosque, a Persian mosque, a Bosnian/Turkish mosque, not to mention a Sufi mosque or even a Black mosque with OG bros from NOI (and Somali mosques that are usually separate from these). The scene is primed for an unleashed racial profiling wet dream. Remember SAIF only observes the condition of the acceleration. Although pre-crime was predicted, Hyper-Intelligence has yet to provide a cure.

And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not. ~ Quran 2.30

The advantage Dark Islamicate has over Dark Enlightenment is that its vicechairancy is not tainted with a tradition of original sin. Human moral potential for good remains inherent in the soul. Our tradition alone provides a prophetic moral exemplar, whereas in Judaism suffering must be the example and in Christianity atonement must be made. Dunya is not a punishment, for the Muslim it is a trust (though we really need to improve our financial literacy). Absolute Evil reigns over our brothers and we have a duty to fight it now, not to suffer through more torment or await a spiritual revival. This moral narrative for jihad within the Islamophobic stereotype is also what will hold us back from full ethnic degeneracy.

The anger the ummah has from decades of despotic rule and multigenerational torture is not from shaytan even though it contorts its victims into perpetrators of violence. You are human. You must differentiate truth from falsehood. This is why you have an innate, rational capacity. Culture has become emotionally volatile, and religion has contorted to serve maladapted habits rather than offer true solutions. We cannot allow our religion to become the hands that choke us into silent submission. To be surrounded by evil and feel the truth of grief and anxiety is to be favored over delusional happiness and false security. You are not supposed to feel good right now! To feel good would be the mark of insanity.

Ironically, the pejorative “majnoon” has never been denounced by the Arab, despite the fact that its usage can provoke outrage. Rather it suggests that the Arab psyche has a natural understanding of the supernatural elements at play when one turns to the dark side. Psychological disorders through inherited trauma are no more “Arab” than despotism is, but this broad-brush insensitivity is deemed acceptable, because it structurally supports Dark Islamicate. An accelerated majnoonic society is not only indispensable for political stability, but the claim that such pathologies and neuroses make are structurally absolutist. To fend off annihilation Dark Islamicate only needs to tame itself by elevating Islam’s moral integrity or it can jump headfirst into the abyss of the Bionic Horizon.

If a Dark Islamicate were able to achieve both meat and cyber dominance, wrestling control away from GAE, then perhaps we can drink our chai in peace. But that assumes we still imbibe molecular cocktails in hyperspace.

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

In my monthly check-in, I described my vision for our regularly occurring awards: - 1 top post for the year, receiving 1/3 of the total prize pool - 4 top quarter posts, each receiving 1/12 of the total prize pool - 12 top monthly posts, each receiving 1/36 of the total prize pool

Eventually, I'll want to finance these with some fraction of territory profits. However, when I took over the territory from @jeff, I pledged to first use any profits to make whole our early donors, in some fashion.

In that spirit, I would like to ask the following donors if they would consider funding this award series with their already donated sats an acceptable form of paying their donations forward: @siggy47, @grayruby, @OriginalSize, @030e0dca83, @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears.

I would also like to ask @jeff if he would consider something similar as payback for his early contributions to the territory.

Assuming all parties agree, we would have over 1M sats in funding for this series. At our current rate of about 400k profit per year, it would take a couple of years to pay it all forward and that top prize would be pretty nice.

Thanks, Undisciplined

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929828

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

When it comes to speaking the truth, obeying God, or living a godly life, the average or the compromise is not necessarily correct, but frequently we do err to one extreme or the other.

Mercy or Wrath?

One area of controversy is whether we serve a God of love & mercy or a God of holiness & wrath. The truth is that the God of the Bible is both love and holiness and he acts in mercy and in wrath.

If we focus too much on God’s holiness and wrath, we become solely about robotically obeying laws and about all of the things we can’t do. We will fail to show love and mercy as Jesus showed those lost in sin. We will fail to show the mercy and love He showed to us. We become much like the Pharisees, whom Jesus called “whitewashed tombs.”

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)

We need to always speak the truth, but in a loving and merciful way.

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 1:3)

If we focus too much on God’s love and mercy, we can forget that the God of the Bible is holy and righteous and can’t stand to be in the presence of sinfulness. We can begin to soften God’s holy word to be little more than suggestions. Even worse, we can bend God’s word to the point that it no longer resembles His clearly communicated commands. Also, if we don’t call sin “sin” and sinners “sinners,” then those same sinners will never understand their need for a Savior and never trust Jesus in repentance. If God isn’t holy and we aren’t sinners, then why would anyone need a Savior?

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (1 Peter 1:15)

We need to treat God and His word as holy, while showing love to His creation.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)

God/Jesus/Holy Spirit are holy and loving. If we leave out either side of His character, then we aren’t telling people about the God of the Bible. We have made a God in the image we desire, rather than who He is. If we go to either extreme, we lose who God really is and it will affect both our relationship with God and our relationship with others detrimentally.

Faith or Works?

Another area of contention is relating to faith and works. What is more important — faith or works? Are they not both important?

Many believers focus on faith. Sola Fide (faith alone).

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This is a true statement that Salvation comes solely through faith in what Jesus did for us. We don’t get any credit for our own works. All that is good and righteous in us is from the covering of the blood of Jesus and His good works and His power.

But since many people focus on faith alone, they can come to believe that they can live any way that pleases them.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:1-4) {emphasis mine}

By focusing solely on faith, we can be tempted to live life however we please instead of living a life in submission to Our God and Savior. Our lives can be worthless instead of us acting as good servants.

If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15)

At the same time, there are many who are so focused on good works that they leave faith out of it — either a lack of faith themselves or a failure to communicate the need for faith when sharing the gospel. They try to earn their way to heaven. They try to impress those around them by their works.

But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. (Matthew 25:5-7)

I think James best communicates the balance between faith and works.

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:14-24) {emphasis mine}

Let’s look at some of the details here to find the truth. “if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” Can the kind of faith that has no works, that has no evidence, save a person? If a person truly has saving faith, there will be evidence in their world view and the way they live their life. “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” We are saved by faith alone, but if we are saved we will have works. Faith “by itself” is not saving faith, for “the demons also believe, and shudder.” I don’t think anyone would argue that the demons have saving faith, yet they believe and shudder.

Works are the evidence of true faith leading to salvation, but it is only faith that saves.

Speak the Truth or Love?

Whether we stand firmly and always loudly speak the truth or whether we show love and mercy is related to how we view God (as loving or as holy), but I thought how we respond was worth its own discussion.

Sometimes people are so worried about love and unity that they compromise the truth. They may actively compromise the truth by claiming the Bible says something other than what it says, i.e.. old earth vs young earth, or marriage is about two people who love each other vs marriage being defined by God as one woman and one man. Sometimes this compromise is just avoiding talking about uncomfortable subjects completely so that no one is made to feel bad. This is a problem because God said what He said and means what He said.

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, (Ephesians 4:15)

Avoiding speaking the whole truth is effectively lying about what God’s word said (see my previous post on “The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth”). We are not doing anyone a favor making them feel good about their sin. A person has to admit they have a problem before they will act to fix the problem. A person who doesn’t understand their sin will never submit to a Savior. It isn’t loving to hide the truth from a person just because it makes them uncomfortable or it make the relationship uncomfortable for ourselves.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)

At the same time, sometimes people seem to beat others over the head with God’s truth. They share the truth in the most unloving and unmerciful way. They use God’s truth to try to lift up themselves while putting down others. This is just as bad.

Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:7-8) {emphasis mine}

Some Christians spend so much time nit picking tiny discrepancies in theology that they miss the whole point of the Gospel.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23)

Some Christians use theological purity as a means to lift themselves up while knocking others down.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)

We need to stand firmly on the truth, but not to be so focused on truth that we fight with fellow believers over the smallest differences, especially when these differences are among the areas that are not spoken of as clearly (like end times eschatology).

Rejoice or Fear God?

Tonight I read Psalm 2 which brought to mind another seemingly contradictory way we are to interact with God. Do we fear God or do we rejoice in Him?

There are many verses telling us to fear God or fear the Lord. They are given as a command, as a way to knowledge, as a way to life, etc.

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17) {emphasis mine}

and

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) {emphasis mine}

and

The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. (Proverbs 19:23) {emphasis mine}

At the same time we are told to rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

and

Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4)

How often do we rejoice in the thing that makes us tremble in fear? I’d guess, not very often or even never. A right view of God, however, causes us to “rejoice with trembling.”

Worship the Lord with reverence\ And rejoice with trembling.\ Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,\ For His wrath may soon be kindled.\ How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:11-12) {emphasis mine}

That phrase, “rejoice with trembling” seems to perfectly encapsulate the balance between fear of an awesome, omnipotent, holy God and rejoicing in a loving, merciful God who came to earth, lived the perfect life that we cannot, and died to pay the penalty for our sins.

“How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

No Real Contradictions

I think these examples do a good example of demonstrating wisdom regarding God’s word and the importance of balance in our Christian lives. Even when at first there seems to be contradictions, God’s word never contradicts itself; it always clarifies itself. Also, when we see a theological or implementation error to one extreme, we need to make sure we are not driven to an error in the other extreme. We also need to make sure, when debating with fellow believers, that we do not argue against one extreme so strongly that we miscommunicate the truth.

May God in heaven guide you as you study His word and seek to submit to His commands. May He help you to see the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. May He guide the church to unity in His truth.

Trust Jesus

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Revenue rebounded in a major way this month. Thank you to all the great contributors and zappers for making this territory a going concern. As I mentioned to @denlillaapan, our long-term goal is to eventually buy the very failed The Economist and return it to glory. So, let's keep the success rolling.

Some stats:

• ~econ was 2nd to ~bitcoin in revenue this month (and they only beat us by a paltry half million sats)
• We were 5th in posts (296) and 4th in comments (1564)
• 132k sats were stacked in ~econ (4th place)

Some graphs (thanks to @SimpleStacker):

Posting fee optimization

The next stop on our search for the optimal post fee is 94 sats.

Contest update:

I'll probably make a dedicated post for the 1st quarter awards late today, but I made a couple of decisions recently about how I want to do this.

Since I pay territory rent annually, I won't know how much profits are available for prizes until the end of the year. So, I'll announce the winners each quarter, but pay out the prizes at the end of the year.

I've decided to split the prize evenly amongst three categories: Best Post of the Year, Posts of the Quarter, and Posts of the Month. I'm thinking that we can use zaprank for the monthly top posts and then have a poll select the "Post of the Quarter" from amongst those and then an end of year poll to select the "Post of the Year" from the "Posts of the Quarter".

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929731

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Fažana is a picturesque fishing village on Croatia’s Istrian coast, just 8 km from Pula. Known for its colorful waterfront, fresh seafood, and as the gateway to Brijuni National Park, Fažana is a peaceful alternative to larger tourist hotspots.

🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Fažana

1️⃣ Stroll the Fažana Waterfront & Old Town 🎨

• The charming harbor is lined with colorful houses, cafés, and fishing boats.
• Visit St. Cosmas and Damian Church, a small yet beautiful historical site.
• Enjoy a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere with fewer crowds than Pula.

2️⃣ Take a Boat Trip to Brijuni National Park 🏝️

• Brijuni Islands, just 15 minutes away by boat, offer stunning nature, Roman ruins, and a safari park.
• Explore the remains of a Roman villa, Tito’s summer residence, and dinosaur footprints!
• Rent a bike or golf cart to explore the islands at your own pace.

3️⃣ Enjoy the Beaches 🏖️

• Badel Beach – A Blue Flag beach, great for families with crystal-clear, shallow waters.
• Pineta Beach – A peaceful, pine-shaded spot with a mix of sand and pebbles.
• San Lorenzo Beach – A scenic spot perfect for sunset views over Brijuni.

4️⃣ Try the Local Seafood 🍽️

• Fažana is known as the "Sardine Capital of Istria" – try grilled sardines with local wine.
• Visit Konoba Feral or Stara Konoba for authentic Istrian seafood.
• Pair your meal with Istrian Malvazija wine.

5️⃣ Visit the Sardine Park 🐟

• A unique outdoor exhibition dedicated to Fažana’s fishing traditions.
• Learn about the history of sardine fishing and processing in Istria.

6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to Pula 🏛️

• Just 15 minutes away, Pula offers Roman ruins, historic sites, and vibrant nightlife.
• Don’t miss the Pula Arena, Temple of Augustus, and the lively Old Town.

🚗 How to Get to Fažana

✈️ By Air: Pula Airport (PUY) is just 15 minutes away.
🚘 By Car:
- From Pula: ~15 min (8 km)
- From Rovinj: ~35 min (30 km)
- From Zagreb: ~3.5 hours (270 km)
🚌 By Bus: Regular buses run between Pula and Fažana.
🚢 By Boat: Ferries to Brijuni National Park depart from Fažana’s harbor.

---

💡 Tips for Visiting Fažana

✅ Best time to visit? May–September for beach weather & Brijuni trips ☀️
✅ Try local olive oil – Istria produces some of the best olive oils in the world 🫒
✅ Visit early for boat tickets to Brijuni – They can sell out quickly in summer ⏳
✅ Perfect for a relaxing stay – Less crowded than Pula but close to major attractions 🌊

@ 0f9da413:01bd07d7

ช่วงสัปดาห์ก่อน 21-30 มีนาคม 2568 ที่ผ่านมาส่วนตัวได้มีภาระกิจเดินทางไปปฏิบัติงานของสถานที่ทำงานและรวดไปเที่ยวส่วนตัว ในการเดินทางในครั้งนี้ภาระกิจหลักส่วนตัวอาจจะไปทำงานแต่หากมีการเดินทางแล้วผมมักจะชอบเดินทางไปพบปะชาว bitcoiner ชาวไทย หรือชาว #siamstr ตามสถานที่ต่างๆ อยู่เสมอตลอดช่วงระยะเวลาดังกล่าวส่วนตัวก็ได้เดินทางไปยังพื้นที่ดังนี้

• ชลบุรี (พัทยา)
• เกาะช้าง (ตราด)
• หาดใหญ่ (สงขลา)
• เชียงใหม่

ซึ่งได้ตรวจเช็คแล้วในพื้นที่ดังกล่าวมีร้านรับ bitcoin อยู่และมีประสบการณ์ในแต่ละที่ที่แตกต่างกันออกไปซึ่งผมเองจะขอรัวิวการเดินทางดังกล่าวนี้ โดยอ้างอิงจากการตามรอยร้านที่รับชำระด้วย BTC ผ่าน BTC Map และจะมีบางร้านที่ไม่ได้อยู่ใน BTC Map ก็ขอรีวิวตามช่วงระยะเวลา Timeline ละกัน

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Seeva Cafe Pattya

ร้านชีวาคาเฟ่ ร้านตกแต่งในสไตล์ศิลปะและกาแฟในร้านมีโซนจำหน่ายขนมเค้กและอื่นๆ อีกด้วย มีต้นไม้ร่มรื่นและบรรยากาศค่อนข้างดีพอสมควร ท่านไหนอยากเดินทางไปจิบกาแฟเบาๆ นั่งทำงานพักผ่อนแถวพัทยาใต้ก็สามารถเดินทางไปแวะชิมกันได้ (รับบิทคอยด้วยนะ) สถานที่นี้ไม่ได้เสีย sats เนื่องจากมีเจ้าภาพเลี้ยง ขอบคุณครับ

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZJNUGYiCgp1VTzGJ9

BTC-Map: None

image

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Piya Silapakan Museum of Art Pattaya

สถานที่ถัดมาเป็นหอศิลป์​ ปิยะศิลปาคารเป็นสถานที่ที่เก็บรวมรวมผลงานทางศิลปะต่างๆ ภาพวาดเสมือนจริงซึ่งแน่นอนว่าสามารถมาเรียน Workshop ทางด้านศิลปะได้แน่นอนว่าสามารถจ่ายด้วย Bitcoin Lightning ได้โดยผมเองก็ได้วาดศิลปะสีน้ำวาดบนกระเป๋าผ้า เอาจริงๆ ณ ตอนที่วาดนั้นแทบจะลืมเวลาและโพกัสกับสิ่งที่วาดอยู่ทำให้รู้สึกผ่อนคลายและวาดสิ่งต่างๆ เหมือนตอนสมัยเด็กๆ ซึ่งหากมีเวลาเพิ่มเติมผมเองก็อาจจะเจียดเวลาไปลองวาดศิลปะแลลอื่นๆ โดยที่ไม่ต้องให้ใครมาตัดสินใจ สวยไม่สวยอย่างไร ก็อยู่ที่เรา หลายครั้งเราชอบให้คนอื่นตัดสินใจเพื่อทำให้เรารู้สึกดี ลองมาที่นี้ดูสิแล้วคุณจะตัดสินใจด้วยตนเอง

อันนี้ผลงานส่วนตัวที่ได้ทำ แล้วแต่การจินตนาการของแต่ละท่านว่าสิ่งที่ผมวาดมันคืออะไรก็แล้วกัน

งานนี้หมดไปแล้ว 13,173 sats แวะมาเยี่ยมชมกันได้ที่พัทยา ชลบุรี :)

Google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mjMCdxEe36ra1jDF6

BTC-Map: None

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Toffee Cake Pattaya

เป็นร้านสุดท้ายที่ได้ไปใช้งานชื้อขนมติดไม้ติดมือกลับไปยังที่พักก่อนส่วนตัวจะเดินทางต่อไป หมดไป 1,904 sats เหมาะสำหรับชื้อของฝากติดไม้ติดมือกลับบ้าน

Google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jqRyHTFzXVe6qYSv9

BTC-Map: https://btcmap.org/map?lat=12.9509827&long=100.8974009

หลังจากเดินทางพักที่พัทยาหนึ่งคืนก่อนเดินทางไปยังเกาะช้าง สรุปสถานที่พัทยานั้นหมดไปทั้งหมด 15,077 sats (คำนวนเงินอนาคตน่าจะ 15,077 usd กาวกันไว้ก่อน) สำหรับ Part 2 นั้นจะรีวิวร้านที่อยู่ในพื้นที่เกาะช้างซึ่งผมได้ตามรอยจาก BTC-Map จะเป็นอย่างไรเชิญติดตามครับ ขอบคุณครับ

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d

Test

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/929299

@ ff517fbf:fde1561b

ビットコインが「最強の担保」と言われる理由

ビットコインは「デジタルゴールド」とも呼ばれることがありますが、実はローンの担保としても最強だと言われています。その理由を、他の資産（株式、不動産、金など）と比較しながら見てみましょう。

• 流動性と即時性：ビットコインは24時間365日世界中で取引されているため、非常に流動性が高い資産です。売買がすぐにできて価格も常に明確なので、担保評価がしやすく、お金を貸す側・借りる側双方に安心感を与えます。一方、株式や不動産は市場が営業時間内しか動かず、現金化にも時間がかかります。不動産は売却に数ヶ月かかることもありますし、金（ゴールド）は現物を保管・輸送する手間があります。ビットコインならネット上で即座に担保設定・解除ができるのです。

• 分割性と柔軟性：ビットコインは小数点以下8桁まで分割可能（1億分の1が最小単位の「サトシ」）なので、必要な額だけ正確に担保に充てることができます。他方、土地や建物を一部だけ担保に入れることは難しいですし、株式も1株未満の細かい調整はできません。ビットコインなら価値の微調整が容易で、担保として柔軟に扱えるのです。

• 管理のしやすさ（マルチシグによる信頼性）：HodlHodlのLendでは、ビットコイン担保は2-of-3のマルチシグ契約で管理されます。これは「借り手・貸し手・プラットフォーム」の3者それぞれが鍵を持ち、2つの鍵の同意がないとビットコインを動かせない仕組みです。このため、誰か一人が勝手に担保を持ち逃げすることができず、第三者（HodlHodl）も単独ではコインを移動できません。ビットコインだからこそ実現できる非中央集権で安全な担保管理であり、株式や不動産を担保にする場合のように銀行や証券会社といった仲介業者に頼る必要がありません。

• 国境を越えた利用：ビットコインはインターネットがつながる所なら世界中どこでも送受信できます。このため、日本にいながら海外の相手とでもローン契約が可能です。たとえば日本の方がビットコインを担保にドル建てのステーブルコインを借り、それを日本円に換えて使うこともできます（為替リスクには注意ですが…）。不動産を海外の人と直接やり取りするのは現実的に難しいですが、ビットコインならグローバルに担保が活用できるのです。

• 希少性と価値の上昇期待：ビットコインは発行上限が決まっており（2100万BTCまで）、時間とともに新規供給が減っていきます。過去の長期的な価格推移を見ると、短期的な変動は激しいものの数年〜十年のスパンでは上昇傾向にあります。一方、法定通貨建ての資産（債券や株式など）はインフレの影響で実質価値が目減りすることがあります。ビットコインは長期保有すれば価値が上がりやすい特性があるため、「今手放したくない資産」として担保に向いています。実際、HodlHodlのチームは「ビットコインはスーパーカCollateral（超優秀な担保）だ」と述べています。

こうした理由から、ビットコインは現時点で考えうる中でも最良の担保資産と考えられています。株や不動産のように書類手続きや名義変更をしなくても、ビットコインならブロックチェーン上の契約でシンプルに担保設定ができる――この手軽さと信頼性が大きな魅力です。

匿名&プライバシー重視：KYC不要のP2Pレンディングのメリット

HodlHodlのLend最大の特徴の一つは、本人確認（KYC）が一切不要だという点です。日本の多くの金融サービスでは口座開設時に運転免許証やマイナンバー提出など煩雑な手続きが必要ですが、Lendではメールアドレスでアカウント登録するだけでOK。これは「匿名性・プライバシー」を重視する人にとって非常に相性が良いポイントです。

• 個人情報を晒さなくて良い安心感：日本では昔から「人に迷惑をかけない」「目立たない」ことが美徳とされ、特にお金の話は他人に知られたくないと考える人が多いですよね。Lendは匿名で利用できるため、借金をすることを周囲に知られたくない人でも安心です。銀行からローンを借りるときのように収入証明や保証人を用意する必要もなく、誰にも知られずひっそりと資金調達ができます。

• ノー・チェック＆ノー・ペーパー：貸し借りにあたって信用審査や過去の借入履歴チェックがありません 。極端な話、今まで金融履歴が全く無い人や、銀行に相手にされないような人でも、ビットコインさえ持っていればお金を借りられるのです。書類のやり取りが無いので手続きもスピーディーです。「印鑑証明や収入証明を揃えて…」という面倒とは無縁で、ネット上でクリックして契約が完結します。

• プライバシーの保護：個人情報を提出しないということは、情報漏洩のリスクも無いということです。近年、日本でも個人情報の流出事件が相次いでおり、不安に感じる方も多いでしょう。Lendではアカウント登録時にメールアドレスとパスワード以外何も求められません。財務情報や身元情報がどこかに蓄積される心配がないのは、大きな安心材料です。

• 国や機関から干渉されにくい：匿名であるということは、極端に言えば誰にも利用を知られないということです。たとえば「ローンを借りると住宅ローンの審査に響くかな…」とか「副業の資金調達を会社に知られたくないな…」といった心配も、匿名のP2Pローンなら不要です。借りたお金の使い道も自由ですし、何より利用自体が自分だけの秘密にできるのは、日本人にとって心理的ハードルを下げてくれるでしょう。

このように、ノーKYC（本人確認なし） のP2Pレンディングは、日本のようにプライバシーや控えめさを重んじる文化圏でも利用しやすいサービスと言えます。実際、HodlHodlのLendは「地理的・規制的な制限がなく、世界中の誰もが利用できる純粋なP2P市場」とされています。日本に居ながらグローバルな貸し借りができ、しかも身元明かさずに済む――これは画期的ですね。

Borrow編：HodlHodlのLendでビットコインを担保にお金を借りる方法

それでは具体的に、HodlHodlのLendでどのようにビットコイン担保のローンを借りるのか、手順を追って説明します。初心者でも迷わないよう、シンプルなステップにまとめました。

1. アカウント登録 (Sign up)

まずはHodlHodlのLendサイトにアクセスし、無料のアカウントを作成します。必要なのはメールアドレスとパスワードだけです。登録後、確認メールが届くのでリンクをクリックして認証すれば準備完了。これでプラットフォーム上でオファー（契約希望）を閲覧・作成できるようになります。

※HodlHodlは日本語には対応していませんが、英語のシンプルなUIです。Google翻訳などを使っても良いでしょう。

2. 借りたい条件のオファーを探す or 作成

ログインしたら、「To Borrow（借りる）」のメニューから現在出ている貸し手のオファー一覧を見てみましょう。オファーには借入希望額（例：$1000相当のUSDT）、期間（例：3ヶ月）、金利（例：5%）やLTV（担保価値比率、例：60%）などの条件が書かれています。自分の希望に合うものがあれば選んで詳細画面へ進みます。条件に合うオファーが見つからない場合は、自分で「○○ USDTを△ヶ月、金利○%で借りたい」という借り手オファーを新規作成することも可能です。

用語補足：LTV（ローン・トゥ・バリュー）とはローン額に対する担保価値の割合です。たとえばLTV50%なら、借りたい額の2倍の価値のビットコインを担保に入れる必要があります。LTVは貸し手が設定しており、一般に30%〜70%程度の範囲でオファーが出ています。低いLTVほど借り手は多くのBTC担保が必要ですが、その分だけ貸し手にとって安全なローンとなります。

3. 契約成立とマルチシグ担保のデポジット

借り手・貸し手双方が条件に合意すると契約成立です。HodlHodlプラットフォーム上で自動的に専用のマルチシグ・エスクロー用ビットコインアドレス（担保保管先アドレス）が生成されます。次に、借り手であるあなたは自分のウォレットからビットコインをそのエスクローアドレスに送金します。

• 📌ポイント：マルチシグで安心 – 上述の通り、このエスクロー用アドレスのコインを動かすには3者中2者の署名が必要です。あなた（借り手）は常にそのうちの1つの鍵を保有しています。つまり、自分が承認しない限り担保BTCが勝手に引き出されることはないのでご安心ください。

ビットコインの入金がブロックチェーン上で所定の承認（通常数ブロック程度）を得ると、担保デポジット完了です。これで契約は有効化され、次のステップへ進みます。

4. 貸し手から資金（ステーブルコイン）を受け取る

担保のロックが確認できると、今度は貸し手がローン金額の送金を行います。Lendで借りられるのは主にステーブルコインです。ステーブルコインとは、米ドルなど法定通貨の価値に連動するよう設計された仮想通貨で、USDTやUSDC、DAIといった種類があります。借り手は契約時に受取用のステーブルコインアドレス（自分のウォレットアドレス）を指定しますので、貸し手はそのアドレス宛に契約どおりの額を送金します。例えばUSDTを借りる契約なら、貸し手からあなたのUSDTウォレットにUSDTが送られてきます。

これで晴れて、あなた（借り手）は希望のステーブルコインを手にすることができました！ あなたのビットコインは担保としてロックされていますが、期限までに返済すれば取り戻せますので、しばしのお別れです。借りたステーブルコインは自由に使えますので、後述する活用例を参考に有効活用しましょう。

5. 返済（リペイメント）

契約期間中は基本的に何もする必要はありません（途中で追加担保や一部返済を行うことも可能ですが、初心者向け記事では割愛します）。期間が満了するまでに、借りたステーブルコイン＋利息を貸し手に返済します。返済も、貸し手の指定するウォレットアドレスにステーブルコインを送金する形で行われます。

• 利息の計算：利息は契約時に決めた率で発生します。例えば年利10%で6ヶ月間$1000を借りたなら、利息は単純計算で$50（＝$1000×10%×0.5年）です。契約によっては「期間全体で○%」と定める場合もありますが、プラットフォーム上で年率（APR）換算が表示されます。

期間内であれば任意のタイミングで早期返済することも可能です。返済期限より早く全額返せば、利息もその日数分だけで済みます（※ただし契約によります。事前に契約条件を確認してください）。HodlHodlでは分割返済にも対応しており、例えば月ごとに少しずつ返して最後に完済することもできます。

6. ビットコイン担保の解除（返却）

貸し手があなたからの返済受領を確認すると、プラットフォーム上で契約終了の手続きを行います。マルチシグの担保アドレスからあなたのビットコインを解放（返却）する署名を貸し手とプラットフォームが行い、あなたの元のウォレットにビットコインが送られます。こうして無事に担保のBTCが戻ってくれば、一連のローン取引は完了です🎉。

もし返済が滞った場合はどうなるのでしょうか？その場合、契約で定められた猶予期間やマージンコール（追加担保のお願い）を経た後、担保のビットコインが強制的に貸し手に渡されて契約終了（清算）となります。担保額が未返済額を上回っていれば、差額は借り手に返ってきます。つまり、返せなかったとしても借り手が担保以上の損をすることはありませんが、大切なビットコインを失ってしまう結果にはなるので注意しましょう。

Borrow（借りる）側のまとめ：ビットコインさえあれば、あとの手続きは非常に簡単です。借入までの流れをもう一度簡潔にまとめると：

1. メールアドレスでLendに登録
2. 借入オファーを探すor作成してマッチング
3. マルチシグ契約が自動生成・BTC担保を自分で入金
4. 貸し手からステーブルコインを受領
5. 期限までにステーブルコイン＋利息を返済
6. ビットコイン担保が自分のウォレットに戻る

第三者の仲介なしに、ネット上でこれだけのことが完結するのは驚きですよね。HodlHodlは「あなたの条件、あなたの鍵、あなたのコイン」と銘打っており、自分の望む条件で・自分が鍵を管理し・自分の資産を動かせるプラットフォームであることを強調しています。

Lend編：HodlHodlのプラットフォームでお金を貸してみよう

次は逆に、自分が貸し手（Lender）となってステーブルコインを貸し出し、利息収入を得る方法です。銀行に預けても超低金利のこのご時世、手持ちの資金をうまく運用したい方にとってP2Pレンディングは魅力的な選択肢になりえます。HodlHodlのLendなら、これもまた簡単な手順で始められます。

基本的な流れは先ほどの「Borrow編」と鏡写しになっています。

1. アカウント登録

借り手と同様、まずはHodlHodlに登録します（すでに借り手として登録済みなら同じアカウントで貸し手にもなれます）。メールアドレスだけでOK、もちろん貸し手側もKYC不要です。

2. 貸出オファーの確認 or 作成

ログイン後、「To Lend（貸す）」メニューから現在の借り手募集一覧を見ます。各オファーには希望額・期間・支払い利率・LTVなど条件が表示されています。「この条件なら貸してもいいかな」という案件があれば選択しましょう。もし自分の希望する利回りや期間が合わない場合は、自分で貸し手オファーを作成することも可能です。「○○ USDTまで、最長△ヶ月、最低利息◻◻%で貸せます」といった条件を提示できます。プラットフォーム上ではユーザーがお互いに条件を提示しあってマッチングする仕組みなので、金利や期間もすべてユーザー自身が自由に設定できます。

3. マッチングと契約開始

あなたの提示した条件で借りたい人が現れたら契約成立です（逆に誰かの借入オファーに応じる形なら、その時点で成立）。システムがマルチシグの担保用BTCアドレスを生成し、借り手がそこへビットコインをデポジットします。借り手からのBTC入金が確認できるまで、貸し手であるあなたは資金を送る必要はありません。担保が確保されたのを見届けてから次に進みます。

4. 資金（ステーブルコイン）の送金

借り手の担保ロックが完了したら、契約で定めたステーブルコインを借り手へ送金します。送金先アドレスは契約詳細画面に表示されます（借り手が指定済み）。例えばUSDCを貸す契約なら、相手のUSDCアドレスに約束の額を送ります。ここで送金した金額がローンの principal（元本）となり、後ほど利息とともに返ってくるわけです。

無事に相手に届けば、あとは契約期間終了まで待つだけです。あなたは担保のBTCに対して鍵を1つ持っている状態なので、万一トラブルが起きた場合でも担保を引き出す権利を部分的に持っています（詳しくは次ステップ）。

5. 返済の受領

契約期間が終わると、借り手があなたにステーブルコインを返済してくるはずです。約束どおり元本＋利息を受け取ったら、それを確認してプラットフォーム上で「返済完了」を操作します。すると担保のビットコインがマルチシグから解放され、借り手に返却されます。これで貸し手としてのあなたは利息分の収益を獲得できました。お疲れ様です！

もし借り手が返済しなかった場合どうなるでしょうか？その場合、所定の猶予期間やマージンコール通知の後、担保のビットコインがあなた（貸し手）に渡されることになります。具体的には、LTVが90%に達するか返済期日から24時間以上滞納が続くと強制清算となり、担保BTCからあなたの貸付相当額が充当されます。担保が十分であれば元本と利息はカバーされ、余剰があれば借り手に返還されます。つまり貸し手側はかなり手厚く保護されており、返済を受け取れない場合でも担保で穴埋めされる仕組みです。

6. 収益を管理・再投資

受け取ったステーブルコイン（元本＋利息）は再度プラットフォームで貸し出しても良いですし、他の用途に使ってもOKです。年利に換算するとだいたい10%前後の利回りになる案件が多く見られます。条件次第では更に高い利率の契約も可能ですが、その分借り手が見つかりにくかったりリスク（担保不足のリスク）が高まる可能性もあります。ご自身のリスク許容度に合わせて運用しましょう。

Lend（貸す）側のまとめ：

• HodlHodlに登録（メールアドレスのみ）
• 貸出オファーを提示 or 借り手募集に応じる
• 契約成立後、借り手がBTC担保を入金
• 貸し手（自分）がステーブルコインを送金
• 期限まで待ち、借り手から元本＋利息を受領
• 担保BTCを返却し、利息収入を得る

銀行預金では考えられないような利息収入を得られるのが魅力ですが、その裏でビットコイン価格変動リスクも担っています。大暴落が起きて担保評価額が急落すると、清算時に元本を割るリスクもゼロではありません（LTV設定とマージンコール制度で極力保護されまますが）。リスクとリターンを理解した上で、小額から試すことをおすすめします。

ステーブルコインの活用：お金持ちは借金で生活する？

ここまで、ビットコインを手放さずにステーブルコインを手に入れる方法を見てきました。それでは、借りたステーブルコインは具体的に何に使えるのでしょうか？いくつか例を挙げてみましょう。

• 日常の出費に充当：ビットコイン投資家の中には「生活費はすべて借りたお金で賄い、自分のBTCはガチホ（売らずに長期保有）する」という方針の人もいます。例えば毎月の家賃や食費をステーブルコインのローンで支払い(これについても今後詳しく解説していきます)、ビットコインは一切使わないというイメージです。こうすれば、手持ちのBTCを売らずに済むので将来の値上がり益を逃しません。また日本では仮想通貨を売却すると雑所得として高率の税金がかかりますが、ローンで得たお金は借入金なので課税対象になりません（※将来的な税務計算は自己責任で行ってください）。つまり、ビットコインを売却して現金化する代わりにローンを使うことで、節税と資産温存のメリットが得られる可能性があります。

• 投資・資産運用に回す：借りた資金をさらに別の投資に活用することもできます。例えば有望な株式や不動産に投資したり、あるいは他の仮想通貨を買うこともできます。極端な例では、ビットコインを担保にUSDTを借りて、そのUSDTでまた別の仮想通貨を買い、それを運用益で返済する…といった戦略も理論上は可能です。ただし、借りたお金での投機はハイリスクなので慎重に！手堅い使い道としては、事業資金に充てるのも良いでしょう。例えば小さなオンラインビジネスを始めるための元手にしたり、新しい資格取得のための学費にするなど、自分への投資に使えば将来的なリターンでローンを返しつつ利益を上げることが期待できます。

• 急な支払いへの備え：人生何があるか分かりません。医療費や冠婚葬祭など急に現金が必要になる場面もあります。そんなとき、ビットコインをすぐ売ってしまうのは惜しい…という場合にローンで一時的にしのぐことができます。後で落ち着いてから返済すれば、大事なBTCを手放さずにピンチを乗り切れます。言わばデジタル質屋のような感覚で、ビットコインを預けてお金を工面し、後で買い戻す（返済する）イメージですね。日本でも昔から「質屋」で着物や宝石を預けてお金を借りる文化がありましたが、HodlHodl Lendはビットコイン版の質屋とも言えるでしょう。

• 市場の機会を逃さない：仮想通貨市場は変動が激しく、「今これを買いたいのに現金が無い！」というチャンスもあるでしょう。例えば「ビットコインが急落したから買い増したいが、現金が足りない」という場合、手持ちBTCを担保にしてステーブルコインを借り、その急落で安く買い増しする、といった動きもできます。そして後日価格が戻したところで返済すれば、差益を得つつBTC保有枚数も増やせるかもしれません。このようにローンを戦略的に使えば、市場の好機を掴む資金余力を生み出すことができます。ただしハイリスクな手法でもあるため、上級者向けではあります。

ここで覚えておきたいのは、「お金持ちは借金との付き合い方が上手い」という点です。日本では借金にネガティブな印象を持つ人も多いですが、世界的な資産家や大企業はしばしばあえて借金をして手元資金を他に活用しています。アメリカのベストセラー『金持ち父さん貧乏父さん』で有名なロバート・キヨサキ氏も「富裕層は他人のお金（借金）を利用してさらに富を築く」と強調しています。例えば彼は借金で高級車を買い、不動産投資にも借入を活用したそう (金持ちは貧乏人より借金が多い | 「金持ち父さん 貧乏父さん」日本オフィシャルサイト)❤️。借金を味方につけて資産運用すれば、自分の持ち出し資金を抑えつつ豊かな生活を実現できる可能性があります。

もちろん無計画な借金は禁物ですが、ローンを上手に使うことは決して悪いことではなく、むしろ経済的戦略として有効なのです。ビットコイン担保ローンはその新しい選択肢として、「お金にお金に働いてもらう」感覚を身につけるきっかけになるかもしれません。

高い金利でもローンを利用するのはなぜ？その理由と戦略

Lendのプラットフォームで提示される金利は、年利換算で見ると10〜15%程度が一つの目安 です。中にはそれ以上の利率の契約もあります。日本の銀行ローン（金利数％以下）と比べるとかなり高利に思えますが、それでも多くの人がこのサービスを利用してローンを組んでいます。なぜ高い利息を支払ってまで借りる価値があるのでしょうか？最後に、その理由と利用者の戦略について考えてみましょう。

• (1) ビットコインの期待リターンが高い：借り手にとって一番の動機は、「ビットコインは将来もっと値上がりするはずだから、多少利息を払っても売りたくない」というものです。例えば年利15%で$1000借りると一年後に$1150返す必要がありますが、もしビットコイン価格がその間に15%以上上昇すれば、利息分を差し引いても得をする計算になります。過去のビットコイン相場は年率ベースで大きく成長した年も多く、強気のホルダーほど利息より値上がり益を優先する傾向があります。「金利よりビットコインの価値上昇のほうが大きい」という自信が、高金利を払ってでも借りる動機になっているのです。

• (2) 課税や手数料の回避：先ほど述べたように、日本ではビットコインを売却すると高額の税金が発生する可能性があります。仮に30%〜50%の税金がかかるのであれば、年利10%前後のローンで済ませたほうがトクだという判断も成り立ちます。また、取引所で売却するときのスプレッドや出金手数料なども考えると、売却コストを回避する手段としてローンを選ぶ人もいます。要するに「売るくらいなら借りた方がマシ」という考え方ですね。

• (3) 自由と速さを優先：従来の金融機関からお金を借りるには時間がかかりますし、使途にも制限があることが多いです（事業資金なのか生活費なのか、といった審査があります）。それに対してHodlHodlのP2Pローンは使い道自由・即日資金調達が可能です。利息が高めでも「今すぐ○○がしたい」「明日までに現金が要る」といったニーズには代えられません。特に仮想通貨業界はスピード命ですから、チャンスを逃さないために高コストでも素早く借りるという選択が生まれます。

• (4) 借金＝時間を買うこと：あるユーザーの言葉を借りれば、「借金をすることは未来の時間を先取りすること」でもあります。例えば住宅ローンがあるからこそ若い世代でもマイホームに住めますし、事業ローンがあるからこそ企業は成長の機会を掴めます。ビットコイン担保ローンも同じで、「今はお金が無いけど将来増やすアテはある。だから今借りてしまおう」というケースもあるでしょう。将来の収入や資産増加を見込んで、時間を味方につけるためにあえて借金をするのです。日本語では「借金してでも◯◯する」という表現がありますが、前向きな借金は将来への投資とも言えるでしょう。

• (5) 非中央集権への支持：もう一つ見逃せないのは、HodlHodlのようなプラットフォームを利用する理由に思想的な支持があります。つまり「銀行や政府に頼らないお金の流れを実現したい」「ビットコインのエコシステムを活性化させたい」というビットコイナーたちです。多少コストが高くても、理念に共感して使っているケースもあります。匿名で自由にお金を借りられる世界を体験することで、金融システムの新たな可能性を感じているのです。

以上のように、高い金利にも関わらずローンを利用するのは明確なメリットや戦略があるからなのです。もちろん全ての人に当てはまるわけではありません。ビットコイン価格が下落局面ではリスクも伴いますし、利息分だけ損になる場合もあります。しかし、それらを理解した上で「自分のお金を働かせる」「資産を手放さずレバレッジを利かせる」手段として活用している人々が増えてきています。

最後に、HodlHodlの公式ブログの一文をご紹介します。

“私たちはビットコインこそがスーパーカ collateral（超優秀な担保）であり、利回りを得るために使うのではなく、それを担保に資金を借りるために使われるべきだと考えています" (The lending is dead, long live the lending | by Hodl Hodl | Hodl Hodl | Medium)。

ビットコイン時代の新しいお金の借り方・貸し方であるP2Pローン。最初は難しく感じるかもしれませんが、仕組みを理解すればとてもシンプルで強力なツールです。日本ではまだ馴染みが薄いかもしれませんが、匿名性を好み、コツコツ資産を増やすのが得意な人にこそフィットするサービスかもしれません。ぜひ少額から試し、自分なりの活用法を見つけてみてください。きっと新たな発見があるはずです。

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もしビットコイン担保のP2Pローンなどについてもっと深く知りたい、あるいは個別に相談してみたいと思えば、どうぞお気軽にご連絡ください。1対1のコンサルティングも承っています。

サービスには決まった料金はありませんが、ご相談を通じて「役に立った」と思い、お悩みや疑問を解決できたと感じていただけたら、「3つのT」でのご支援（Value for Value）をぜひご検討ください：

• 時間（Time）：この記事をSNSなどでシェアしていただくこと。
• 才能（Talent）：コメントや補足情報などを通じて知識を共有していただくこと。
• 宝（Treasure）：世界で最も健全なお金、ビットコインの最小単位「sats」でのご支援。

もちろん、支援の有無にかかわらず、お力になれればとても嬉しいです。 では、また次回！

@ 06830f6c:34da40c5

Once upon a time their lived a young man in a lost village, I'm just kidding with you, I'm testing my blog entries on my domain. SITE

Navigate to Blogs tab and screenshot this. @ me for a chance to get zapped ⚡. I won't say how many sats, so you are not doing it due to the incentive but to help me test the domain functionality.

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@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

Warning unrecommended: deprecated in favor of NIP-17

NIP-04

Encrypted Direct Message

final unrecommended optional

A special event with kind 4, meaning "encrypted direct message". It is supposed to have the following attributes:

content MUST be equal to the base64-encoded, aes-256-cbc encrypted string of anything a user wants to write, encrypted using a shared cipher generated by combining the recipient's public-key with the sender's private-key; this appended by the base64-encoded initialization vector as if it was a querystring parameter named "iv". The format is the following: "content": "<encrypted_text>?iv=<initialization_vector>".

tags MUST contain an entry identifying the receiver of the message (such that relays may naturally forward this event to them), in the form ["p", "<pubkey, as a hex string>"].

tags MAY contain an entry identifying the previous message in a conversation or a message we are explicitly replying to (such that contextual, more organized conversations may happen), in the form ["e", "<event_id>"].

Note: By default in the libsecp256k1 ECDH implementation, the secret is the SHA256 hash of the shared point (both X and Y coordinates). In Nostr, only the X coordinate of the shared point is used as the secret and it is NOT hashed. If using libsecp256k1, a custom function that copies the X coordinate must be passed as the hashfp argument in secp256k1_ecdh. See here.

Code sample for generating such an event in JavaScript:

```js import crypto from 'crypto' import * as secp from '@noble/secp256k1'

let sharedPoint = secp.getSharedSecret(ourPrivateKey, '02' + theirPublicKey) let sharedX = sharedPoint.slice(1, 33)

let iv = crypto.randomFillSync(new Uint8Array(16)) var cipher = crypto.createCipheriv( 'aes-256-cbc', Buffer.from(sharedX), iv ) let encryptedMessage = cipher.update(text, 'utf8', 'base64') encryptedMessage += cipher.final('base64') let ivBase64 = Buffer.from(iv.buffer).toString('base64')

let event = { pubkey: ourPubKey, created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000), kind: 4, tags: [['p', theirPublicKey]], content: encryptedMessage + '?iv=' + ivBase64 } ```

Security Warning

This standard does not go anywhere near what is considered the state-of-the-art in encrypted communication between peers, and it leaks metadata in the events, therefore it must not be used for anything you really need to keep secret, and only with relays that use AUTH to restrict who can fetch your kind:4 events.

Client Implementation Warning

Clients should not search and replace public key or note references from the .content. If processed like a regular text note (where @npub... is replaced with #[0] with a ["p", "..."] tag) the tags are leaked and the mentioned user will receive the message in their inbox.

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIP-03

OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events

draft optional

This NIP defines an event with kind:1040 that can contain an OpenTimestamps proof for any other event:

json { "kind": 1040 "tags": [ ["e", <event-id>, <relay-url>], ["alt", "opentimestamps attestation"] ], "content": <base64-encoded OTS file data> }

• The OpenTimestamps proof MUST prove the referenced e event id as its digest.
• The content MUST be the full content of an .ots file containing at least one Bitcoin attestation. This file SHOULD contain a single Bitcoin attestation (as not more than one valid attestation is necessary and less bytes is better than more) and no reference to "pending" attestations since they are useless in this context.

Example OpenTimestamps proof verification flow

Using nak, jq and ots:

```bash ~> nak req -i e71c6ea722987debdb60f81f9ea4f604b5ac0664120dd64fb9d23abc4ec7c323 wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net | jq -r .content | ots verify

using an esplora server at https://blockstream.info/api - sequence ending on block 810391 is valid timestamp validated at block [810391] ```

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIP-03

OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events

draft optional

This NIP defines an event with kind:1040 that can contain an OpenTimestamps proof for any other event:

json { "kind": 1040 "tags": [ ["e", <event-id>, <relay-url>], ["alt", "opentimestamps attestation"] ], "content": <base64-encoded OTS file data> }

• The OpenTimestamps proof MUST prove the referenced e event id as its digest.
• The content MUST be the full content of an .ots file containing at least one Bitcoin attestation. This file SHOULD contain a single Bitcoin attestation (as not more than one valid attestation is necessary and less bytes is better than more) and no reference to "pending" attestations since they are useless in this context.

Example OpenTimestamps proof verification flow

Using nak, jq and ots:

```bash ~> nak req -i e71c6ea722987debdb60f81f9ea4f604b5ac0664120dd64fb9d23abc4ec7c323 wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net | jq -r .content | ots verify

using an esplora server at https://blockstream.info/api - sequence ending on block 810391 is valid timestamp validated at block [810391] ```

@ 30ceb64e:7f08bdf5

Hey Freaks,

RUNSTR is a motion tracking app built on top of nostr. The project is built by TheWildHustle and TheNostrDev Team. The project has been tinkered with for about 3 months, but development has picked up and its goals and direction have become much clearer.

In a previous post I mentioned that RUNSTR was looking to become a Nike Run Club or Strava competitor, offering users an open source community and privacy focused alternative to the centralized silos that we've become used to.

I normally ramble incoherently.....even in writing, but this is my attempt to communicate the project's goals and direction as we move forward.

This is where the project is now:

Core Features

• Run Tracker: Uses an algorithm which adjusts to your phone's location permissions and stores the data on your phone locally
• Stats: Stored locally on your phone with a basic profile screen so users can monitor calories burned during runs
• Nostr Feed: Made up of kind1 notes that contain #RUNSTR and other running related hashtags
• Music: Brought to you via a wavlake API, enabling your wavlake playlists and liked songs to be seen and played in the app

Current Roadmap

• Bugs and small improvements: Fixing known issues within the client
• zap.store release: Launching a bug bounty program after release
• Clubs: Enabling running organizations to create territories for events, challenges, rewards and competition
• Testflight: Opening up the app to iOS users (currently Android only)
• Modes: Adding functionality to switch between Running, Walking, or Cycling modes

Future Roadmap

• Requested Features: Implementing features requested by club managers to support virtual events and challenges
• Blossom: Giving power users the ability to upload their data to personal blossom servers
• NIP28: Making clubs interoperable with other group chat clients like 0xchat, Keychat, and Chachi Chat
• DVM's: Creating multiple feeds based on movement mode (e.g., Walking mode shows walkstr feed)
• NIP101e: Allowing users to create run records and store them on nostr relays
• Calories over relays: Using NIP89-like functionality for users to save calorie data on relays for use in other applications
• NIP60: Implementing automatic wallet creation for users to zap and get zapped within the app

In Conclusion

I've just barely begun this thing and it'll be an up and down journey trying to push it into existence. I think RUNSTR has the potential to highlight the other things that nostr has going for it, demonstrating the protocol's interoperability, flexing its permissionless identity piece, and offering an experience that gives users a glimpse into what is possible when shipping into a new paradigm. Although we build into an environment that often offers no solutions, you'd have to be a crazy person not to try.

https://github.com/HealthNoteLabs/Runstr/releases/tag/feed-0.1.0-20250329-210157

@ 50de492c:0a8871de

{"title":"test","description":"","imageUrl":"https://i.nostr.build/Xo67.png"}

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

Chef's Notes

With spring in the air, it time to get your garden into shape. We grow our own Raspberries and Strawberries and a large portion of the harvest gets crushed up and frozen for the making of freezer jam through out the year.

We crush the berries up with a potato masher in the quantities listed in the receipt below and place them into the freezer.

The receipt below was adapted from Sure-Jell.

---

![[Freezer-Jam800.png]]

---

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
• 🍳 Cook time: 12 minutes or so
• 🍽️ Servings: 6 to 8 8-ounce jars depending on berry choice

Ingredients

Pick your jam

Strawberry Jam

• 2 cups crushed strawberries (buy 1 qt. fully ripe strawberries)
• 4 cups supar measure into a separate bowel
• Need 6 8-ounce jars or fewer with larger jar size with lids

Raspberry/Blackberry Jam

• 3 cups crushed raspberries or blackberry
• 5 1/2 cups supar measure into a separate bowel
• Need 8 8-ounce jars or fewer with larger jar size with lids

Pectin

• 3/4 cups water
• 1 package of Sure-Jell Fruit Pectin

Instructions

Step 1

1. Wash 8-ounce glass jars or larger with lids

Step 2

1. Add crushed berries into large bowl
2. Stir sugar into the crushed berries and let stand for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally.

Step 3

1. In a small sauce pan, mix water and pectin and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring 1 min.
2. Add pectin mixture to the fruit mixture; stir 3 min. or until most the sugar is dissolved.

Step 4

1. Fill containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or in freezer up to 1 year.

Bon Appétit

@ db11b320:05c5f7af

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:9BAC9A3F98803AEA1EB28A0B60A562D7E3779710

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Pula, located at the southern tip of Istria, is a city where ancient Roman ruins meet stunning Adriatic beaches. Known for its well-preserved amphitheater, charming old town, and crystal-clear waters, Pula offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation.

🏛️ Top Things to See & Do in Pula

1️⃣ Pula Arena (Roman Amphitheater) 🏟️

• One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world, built in the 1st century.
• Used for gladiator fights, now a venue for concerts & film festivals.
• Climb to the top for stunning sea views.

2️⃣ Explore Pula’s Old Town 🏡

• Wander through cobbled streets, past Venetian, Roman, and Austro-Hungarian architecture.
• Visit the Arch of the Sergii (a 2,000-year-old Roman triumphal arch).
• Enjoy a drink in Forum Square, home to the Temple of Augustus.

3️⃣ Relax at Pula’s Beaches 🏖️

• Hawaiian Beach (Havajska Plaža): Turquoise waters & cliffs for jumping.
• Ambrela Beach: A Blue Flag beach with calm waters, great for families.
• Pješčana Uvala: A sandy beach, rare for Croatia!

4️⃣ Cape Kamenjak Nature Park 🌿

• A wild and rugged coastline with hidden coves and crystal-clear water.
• Great for cliff jumping, kayaking, and biking.
• Located 30 minutes south of Pula.

5️⃣ Visit Brijuni National Park 🏝️

• A group of 14 islands, once Tito’s private retreat.
• Features Roman ruins, a safari park, and cycling trails.
• Accessible via boat from Fazana (15 min from Pula).

6️⃣ Try Istrian Cuisine 🍽️

• Fuži with truffles – Istria is famous for white & black truffles.
• Istrian prosciutto & cheese – Perfect with local Malvazija wine.
• Fresh seafood – Try grilled squid or buzara-style mussels.

🚗 How to Get to Pula

✈️ By Air: Pula Airport (PUY) has flights from major European cities.
🚘 By Car:
- From Zagreb: ~3 hours (270 km)
- From Ljubljana (Slovenia): ~2.5 hours (160 km)
🚌 By Bus: Regular buses connect Pula with Rovinj, Rijeka, Zagreb, and Trieste (Italy).
🚢 By Ferry: Seasonal ferries run from Venice and Zadar.

💡 Tips for Visiting Pula

✅ Best time to visit? May–September for warm weather & festivals 🌞
✅ Book Arena event tickets in advance – Summer concerts sell out fast 🎶
✅ Try local wines – Istrian Malvazija (white) and Teran (red) are excellent 🍷
✅ Explore nearby towns – Rovinj & Motovun make great day trips 🏡
✅ Cash is useful – Some small shops & markets prefer cash 💶

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

This UX research has been redacted by @iqra from the Bitcoin.Design community, and shared for review and feedback! Don't be shy, share your thoughts.

---

1️⃣ Introduction

Project Overview

📌 Product: BlueWallet (Bitcoin Wallet) 📌 Goal: Improve onboarding flow and enhance accessibility for a better user experience. 📌 Role: UX Designer 📌 Tools Used: Figma, Notion

Why This Case Study?

🔹 BlueWallet is a self-custodial Bitcoin wallet, but users struggle with onboarding due to unclear instructions. 🔹 Accessibility issues (low contrast, small fonts) create barriers for visually impaired users. 🔹 Competitors like Trust Wallet and MetaMask offer better-guided onboarding.

This case study presents UX/UI improvements to make BlueWallet more intuitive and inclusive.

---

2️⃣ Problem Statement: Why BlueWalletʼs Onboarding Needs Improvement

🔹 Current Challenges:

1️⃣ Onboarding Complexity - BlueWallet lacks step-by-step guidance, leaving users confused about wallet creation and security.

2️⃣ No Educational Introduction - Users land directly on the wallet screen with no explanation of private keys, recovery phrases, or transactions. 3️⃣ Transaction Flow Issues - Similar-looking "Send" and "Receive" buttons cause confusion. 4️⃣ Poor Accessibility - Small fonts and low contrast make navigation difficult.

🔍 Impact on Users:

Higher drop-off rates due to frustration during onboarding. Security risks as users skip key wallet setup steps. Limited accessibility for users with visual impairments.

📌 Competitive Gap:

Unlike competitors (Trust Wallet, MetaMask), BlueWallet does not offer: ✅ A guided onboarding process ✅ Security education during setup ✅ Intuitive transaction flow

Somehow, this wallet has much better UI than the BlueWallet Bitcoin wallet.

---

3️⃣ User Research & Competitive Analysis

User Testing Findings

🔹 Conducted usability testing with 5 users onboarding for the first time. 🔹 Key Findings: ✅ 3 out of 5 users felt lost due to missing explanations. ✅ 60% had trouble distinguishing transaction buttons. ✅ 80% found the text difficult to read due to low contrast.

Competitive Analysis

We compared BlueWallet with top crypto wallets:

| Wallet | Onboarding UX | Security Guidance | Accessibility Features | |---|---|---|---| | BlueWallet | ❌ No guided onboarding | ❌ Minimal explanation | ❌ Low contrast, small fonts | | Trust Wallet | ✅ Step-by-step setup | ✅ Security best practices | ✅ High contrast UI | | MetaMask | ✅ Interactive tutorial | ✅ Private key education | ✅ Clear transaction buttons |

📌 Key Insight: BlueWallet lacks guided setup and accessibility enhancements, making it harder for beginners.

📌 User Persona

To better understand the users facing onboarding challenges, I developed a persona based on research and usability testing.

🔹 Persona 1: Alex Carter (Bitcoin Beginner & Investor)

👤 Profile: - Age: 28 - Occupation: Freelance Digital Marketer - Tech Knowledge: Moderate - Familiar with online transactions, new to Bitcoin) - Pain Points: - Finds Bitcoin wallets confusing. - - Doesnʼt understand seed phrases & security features. - - Worried about losing funds due to a lack of clarity in transactions.

📌 Needs: ✅ A simple, guided wallet setup. ✅ Clear explanations of security terms (without jargon). ✅ Easy-to-locate Send/Receive buttons.

📌 Persona Usage in Case Study: - Helps define who we are designing for. - Guides design decisions by focusing on user needs.

🔹 Persona 2: Sarah Mitchell (Accessibility Advocate & Tech Enthusiast)

👤 Profile: - Age: 35 - Occupation: UX Researcher & Accessibility Consultant - Tech Knowledge: High (Uses Bitcoin but struggles with accessibility barriers)

📌 Pain Points: ❌ Struggles with small font sizes & low contrast. ❌ Finds the UI difficult to navigate with a screen reader. ❌ Confused by identical-looking transaction buttons.

📌 Needs: ✅ A high-contrast UI that meets WCAG accessibility standards. ✅ Larger fonts & scalable UI elements for better readability. ✅ Keyboard & screen reader-friendly navigation for seamless interaction.

📌 Why This Persona Matters: - Represents users with visual impairments who rely on accessible design. - Ensures the design accommodates inclusive UX principles.

---

4️⃣ UX/UI Solutions & Design Improvements

📌 Before (Current Issues)

❌ Users land directly on the wallet screen with no instructions. ❌ "Send" & "Receive" buttons look identical , causing transaction confusion. ❌ Small fonts & low contrast reduce readability.

✅ After (Proposed Fixes)

✅ Step-by-step onboarding explaining wallet creation, security, and transactions. ✅ Visually distinct transaction buttons (color and icon changes). ✅ WCAG-compliant text contrast & larger fonts for better readability.

1️⃣ Redesigned Onboarding Flow

✅ Added a progress indicator so users see where they are in setup. ✅ Used plain, non-technical language to explain wallet creation & security. ✅ Introduced a "Learn More" button to educate users on security.

2️⃣ Accessibility Enhancements

✅ Increased contrast ratio for better text readability. ✅ Used larger fonts & scalable UI elements. ✅ Ensured screen reader compatibility (VoiceOver & TalkBack support).

3️⃣ Transaction Flow Optimization

✅ Redesigned "Send" & "Receive" buttons for clear distinction. ✅ Added clearer icons & tooltips for transaction steps.

5️⃣ Wireframes & Design Improvements:

🔹 Welcome Screen (First Screen When User Opens Wallet)

📌 Goal: Give a brief introduction & set user expectations

✅ App logo + short tagline (e.g., "Secure, Simple, Self-Custody Bitcoin Wallet") ✅ 1-2 line explanation of what BlueWallet is (e.g., "Your gateway to managing Bitcoin securely.") ✅ "Get Started" button → Le ads to next step: Wallet Setup ✅ "Already have a wallet?" → Import option

🔹 Example UI Elements: - BlueWallet Logo - Title: "Welcome to BlueWallet" - Subtitle: "Easily store, send, and receive Bitcoin." - CTA: "Get Started" (Primary) | "Import Wallet" (Secondary)

🔹 Screen 2: Choose Wallet Type (New or Import)

📌 Goal: Let users decide how to proceed

✅ Two clear options: - Create a New Wallet (For first-time users) - Import Existing Wallet (For users with a backup phrase) ✅ Brief explanation of each option 🔹 Example UI Elements: - Title: "How do you want to start?" - Buttons:** "Create New Wallet" | "Import Wallet"

🔹 Screen 3: Security & Seed Phrase Setup (Critical Step)

📌 Goal: Educate users about wallet security & backups

✅ Explain why seed phrases are important ✅ Clear step-by-step instructions on writing down & storing the phrase ✅ Warning: "If you lose your recovery phrase, you lose access to your wallet." ✅ CTA: "Generate Seed Phrase" → Next step

🔹 Example UI Elements: - Title: "Secure Your Wallet" - Subtitle: "Your seed phrase is the key to your Bitcoin. Keep it safe!" - Button: "Generate Seed Phrase"

🔹 Screen 4: Seed Phrase Display & Confirmation

📌 Goal: Ensure users write down the phrase correctly

✅ Display 12- or 24-word seed phrase ✅ “I have written it downˮ checkbox before proceeding ✅ Next screen: Verify seed phrase (drag & drop, re-enter some words)

🔹 Example UI Elements: - Title: "Write Down Your Seed Phrase" - List of 12/24 Words (Hidden by Default) - Checkbox: "I have safely stored my phrase" - Button: "Continue"

🔹 Screen 5: Wallet Ready! (Final Step)

📌 Goal: Confirm setup & guide users on next actions

✅ Success message ("Your wallet is ready!") ✅ Encourage first action: - “Receive Bitcoinˮ → Show wallet address - “Send Bitcoinˮ → Walkthrough on making transactions

✅ Short explainer: Where to find the Send/Receive buttons

🔹 Example UI Elements: - Title: "You're All Set!" - Subtitle: "Start using BlueWallet now." - Buttons: "Receive Bitcoin" | "View Wallet"

---

5️⃣ Prototype & User Testing Results

🔹 Created an interactive prototype in Figma to test the new experience. 🔹 User Testing Results: ✅ 40% faster onboarding completion time. ✅ 90% of users found transaction buttons clearer. 🔹 User Feedback: ✅ “Now I understand the security steps clearly.ˮ ✅ “The buttons are easier to find and use.ˮ

---

6️⃣ Why This Matters: Key Takeaways

📌 Impact of These UX/UI Changes: ✅ Reduced user frustration by providing a step-by-step onboarding guide. ✅ Improved accessibility , making the wallet usable for all. ✅ More intuitive transactions , reducing errors.

---

7️⃣ Direct link to figma file and Prototype

Figma file: https://www.figma.com/design/EPb4gVgAMEgF5GBDdtt81Z/Blue-Wallet-UI- Improvements?node-id=0-1&t=Y2ni1SfvuQQnoB7s-1

Prototype: https://www.figma.com/proto/EPb4gVgAMEgF5GBDdtt81Z/Blue-Wallet-UI- Improvements?node-id=1-2&p=f&t=FndTJQNCE7nEIa84-1&scaling=scale- down&content-scaling=fixed&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node- id=1%3A2&show-proto-sidebar=1

Original PDF available from here

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928822

@ 8671a6e5:f88194d1

A flash of inspiration

Sometimes the mind takes you to strange places. The other day, I stumbled across Madonna’s “Vogue” video, you know “strike a pose” and all that jazz, and it got me thinking. Not about her music (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged as gracefully as her PR team might hope), but about Michael Saylor and Bitcoin.

Bear with me here, there’s a connection there. Madonna built an empire and her iconic name on catchy tunes and reinvention, even if her catalog feels a bit thin these days. Saylor? He’s doing something similar—taking an old act, dusting it off, and teaching it a new trick. Only instead of a microphone, he’s wielding Bitcoin, and Wall Street’s playing the role of the music industry, propping up the star despite a shaky back catalog (his initial business software).

Old school meets new moves

Think of Saylor as that veteran artist who’s been around for a few decades and think of bitcoin as a new style of music, a genre or a gimmick that’s popular with the kids. Old music stars sooner or later pick up on that, and even bring people in to do a cross-over song, a mix or god forbid, a duet.

MicroStrategy, his software company, was never a top hit scoring machine. More of a album full of B-sides that faded into obscurity (for those who don’t know, look up what a B-side song was). But then he stumbled onto Bitcoin, the shiny new genre that’s got the attention and attracted people because of the underlying asset (our tunes are here to stay).

It’s not just a pivot; it’s a reinvention. Like an aging pop star learning to rap, Saylor’s taken his old-school business and remixed it into something attracting a decent audience at conferences for example. Like Madonna or the former Prince fulling arenas. He’s voguing alright; with bold moves, big loans, the support of his own music industry and a spotlight for his (sometimes Madonna lyrics like) ramblings.

The Saylor trick: a ray of light on bitcoin

Here’s the play: Saylor’s turned MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin hoarding machine. Forget software licenses; his game is borrowing billions—through corporate bonds and stock sales, only to buy and hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin will outshine gold, bonds, even the S&P 500, Saylor says. It’s a gamble, an honorable one if you’re a bitcoiner, but it’s dressed up as a vision, and it’s got a self-fulfilling prophecy in it. Not only that, such a prophecy can only fully come to fruition if he’s not the only buyer of last resort of any significance. A music industry isn’t a real industry if there was only Madonna dancing on stage as the only mainstream artist.

We had Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Dua Lipa and hundreds of other artists over time, vying for your money, attention span, and streaming minutes. The more Strategy buys, the more the Bitcoin crowd cheers, the higher the price climbs, and the more attention he gets. Speaking gigs, headlines, cult status—it’s a win-win, at least on paper. Strike the pose, indeed.

The McDonald’s trick: value under the surface

It’s not the first time Michael Saylro remixes a tape from another artist so to speak. Let’s pivot to McDonald’s for a second, because there’s a parallel here. You think Big Macs when you think McDonald’s, but their real value hustle is actually real estate.

They own prime land, lease it to franchisees, and rake in rent—billions of it. The burgers? Just a tasty front for a property empire. Saylor’s pulling a similar move, but instead of buildings, his asset is Bitcoin. MicroStrategy’s software gig is the fries on the side — nice to have, but not the main course. He’s borrowing against the future value of BTC, betting it’ll keep climbing, just like McDonald’s banks on steady foot traffic and picking strategic (pun intended) locations. The difference? McDonald’s has a fallback if real estate tanks. Saylor’s all-in on bitcoin. (So far so good, if there’s one thing to go all-in on, it’s bitcoin anyway). That on itself is not an issue. But it’s important to know that the “location” is the asset for some while bitcoin is the “asset” for Strategy. Mc Donald’s assets are easy to spot: there are restaurants all over the place. Madonna’s concerts are also easy to spot: they sell out arenas left and right. Strategy’s bitcoin asset is less easy to spot, as we can’t see them, neither can we verify them. More on that later.

The hybrid star: Madonna meets McDonald’s

So, picture this: Saylor’s a cross between Madonna and a fast-food landlord. He’s the aging music icon who’s learned a flashy new dance, but underneath the glitter, he’s running a McDonald’s-style value play. It’s brilliant, in a way. Bitcoin’s scarcity fuels the hype, and his borrowing keeps the show on the road. Madonna’s legacy still sells records her name holds value, and McDonald’s can lean on its food business and brand, if the property game stumbles they can easily pivot back to basics and earn like they’ve always done on selling food and franchise income/licensing. Saylor? His software arm’s is rather dismal. If Bitcoin falters, there’s no encore that can him.a flash of inspiration

Sometimes the mind takes you to strange places. The other day, I stumbled across Madonna’s “Vogue” video, you know “strike a pose” and all that jazz, and it got me thinking. Not about her music (which, let’s be honest, hasn’t aged as gracefully as her PR team might hope), but about Michael Saylor and Bitcoin.\ \ Bear with me here, there’s a connection there. Madonna built an empire and her iconic name on catchy tunes and reinvention, even if her catalog feels a bit thin these days.\ Saylor? He’s doing something similar—taking an old act, dusting it off, and teaching it a new trick. Only instead of a microphone, he’s wielding Bitcoin, and Wall Street’s playing the role of the music industry, propping up the star despite a shaky back catalog (his initial business software).

Old school meets new moves

Think of Saylor as that veteran artist who’s been around for a few decades and think of bitcoin as a new style of music, a genre or a gimmick that’s popular with the kids. Old music stars sooner or later pick up on that, and even bring people in to do a cross-over song, a mix or god forbid, a duet.

MicroStrategy, his software company, was never a top hit scoring machine. More of a album full of B-sides that faded into obscurity (for those who don’t know, look up what a B-side song was).\ But then he stumbled onto Bitcoin, the shiny new genre that’s got the attention and attracted people because of the underlying asset (our tunes are here to stay).\ \ It’s not just a pivot; it’s a reinvention. Like an aging pop star learning to rap, Saylor’s taken his old-school business and remixed it into something attracting a decent audience at conferences for example. Like Madonna or the former Prince fulling arenas.\ He’s voguing alright; with bold moves, big loans, the support of his own music industry and a spotlight for his (sometimes Madonna lyrics like) ramblings.

*The Saylor trick: a ray of light on bitcoin* \ Here’s the play: Saylor’s turned MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin hoarding machine. Forget software licenses; his game is borrowing billions—through corporate bonds and stock sales, only to buy and hold Bitcoin. Bitcoin will outshine gold, bonds, even the S&P 500, Saylor says.\ It’s a gamble, an honorable one if you’re a bitcoiner, but it’s dressed up as a vision, and it’s got a self-fulfilling prophecy in it. Not only that, such a prophecy can only fully come to fruition if he’s not the only buyer of last resort of any significance. A music industry isn’t a real industry if there was only Madonna dancing on stage as the only mainstream artist.\ \ We had Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars or Dua Lipa and hundreds of other artists over time, vying for your money, attention span, and streaming minutes.\ The more Strategy buys, the more the Bitcoin crowd cheers, the higher the price climbs, and the more attention he gets. Speaking gigs, headlines, cult status—it’s a win-win, at least on paper. Strike the pose, indeed.

*The McDonald’s trick: value under the surface* \ It’s not the first time Michael Saylro remixes a tape from another artist so to speak.\ Let’s pivot to McDonald’s for a second, because there’s a parallel here. You think Big Macs when you think McDonald’s, but their real value hustle is actually real estate.

They own prime land, lease it to franchisees, and rake in rent—billions of it. The burgers? Just a tasty front for a property empire. Saylor’s pulling a similar move, but instead of buildings, his asset is Bitcoin.\ MicroStrategy’s software gig is the fries on the side — nice to have, but not the main course. He’s borrowing against the future value of BTC, betting it’ll keep climbing, just like McDonald’s banks on steady foot traffic and picking strategic (pun intended) locations.\ The difference? McDonald’s has a fallback if real estate tanks. Saylor’s all-in on bitcoin. (So far so good, if there’s one thing to go all-in on, it’s bitcoin anyway). That on itself is not an issue. But it’s important to know that the “location” is the asset for some while bitcoin is the “asset” for Strategy.\ Mc Donald’s assets are easy to spot: there are restaurants all over the place. Madonna’s concerts are also easy to spot: they sell out arenas left and right.\ Strategy’s bitcoin asset is less easy to spot, as we can’t see them, neither can we verify them. More on that later.

The hybrid star: Madonna meets McDonald’s

So, picture this: Saylor’s a cross between Madonna and a fast-food landlord. He’s the aging music icon who’s learned a flashy new dance, but underneath the glitter, he’s running a McDonald’s-style value play.\ It’s brilliant, in a way. Bitcoin’s scarcity fuels the hype, and his borrowing keeps the show on the road.\ Madonna’s legacy still sells records her name holds value, and McDonald’s can lean on its food business and brand, if the property game stumbles they can easily pivot back to basics and earn like they’ve always done on selling food and franchise income/licensing.\ Saylor? His software arm’s is rather dismal. If Bitcoin falters, there’s no encore that can him.

The music’s made in-house

Michael Saylor’s strategy with Strategy, is a bold, all-in bet on Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value. Essentially combining what Mc Donald’s does with the strong believe in bitcoin’s future (and fueling that believe with the fitting rhetoric).

It works like this: Since August 2020, Saylor’s company has been buying up more and more Bitcoin, making it their main asset instead of traditional cash or investments, and by March 2025, they own 506,137 BTC—worth about $42.8 billion (at $84,000 per Bitcoin). This, after spending $33.7 billion to buy it over time (DCA), including a massive 218887 BTC purchase late 2024 for $20.5 billion, giving them over 2.41% of all Bitcoin ever to exist (way more than companies like Marathon, Coinbase, Tesla or Riot).

To pull this off, they’ve borrowed heavily: owing $7.2 billion, mostly to Wall Street investors through special IOUs1 called convertible notes, which don’t need to be paid back until 2027, through 2029. These can either be settled with cash or swapped for Strategy stock. (there lies one of the main issues in my opinion, as the main asset’s price in USD is directly impacting the stock price of MSTR). A small example of this repeated correlation happened on March 28, 2025 when Strategy’s stock (MSTR) dropped 10.8% from $324.59 to $289.41, which was mirroring Bitcoin’s move down from $85,000 to $82,000 earlier.

This debt they have can be called “risky” by any stretch, with a high leverage rate of 39-40%, meaning they’ve borrowed a big chunk compared to what they own outright, but here’s the genius of it: they don’t have to sell their Bitcoin if its price drops, and they can refinance (borrow more later) to keep the dance going. As long as they find investors willing to bet on the later bitcoin price surge, but more importantly, as long as the song is liked by the new audience. If Michael Saylor is our “Madonna”, then there’s still not Taylor Swift or Rihanna in sight.

The creditors (big players, not banks) win if Bitcoin soars, as Strategy’s huge stash (potentially 2.9%+ of the market) nets them massive profits, or even if it crashes, they’re still in the game with other ways to make profit (not on bitcoin), since they can afford the risk. If someone is willing to bet 4 to 8 billion dollars, they’re probably not spooked by losing it all. More so, these Wall Streat people in the correct entourage, can probably afford such a gamble, and can stomach to lose it all if something goes horribly wrong as well, instead of risking being left out of a growing market. But since they’re probably the same people steering and “owning” the USD market anyway, they’re just conquering positions in a new market. The fact that they’re not real bitcoin-ethos people, but just “suits” in finance, can make the suspicious bitcoiners watching all of this unfold, even more uneasy.

So, Strategy sits on $44 billion in Bitcoin with just $7.2 billion in debt, voguing confidently. And Saylor’s betting the song never gets old, he’ll do the B-sides and re-mastering his old albums if necessary, but if Bitcoin’s value ever fades (for whatever reason), the real question is how long they can keep striking poses before the music stops. Remember: all money (fiat, gold, silver, bitcoin, nicely made papers) is a matter of trust.

As I have trust in bitcoin itself, but not so much in Strategy, I’ve take some precautions. I've started my own sort of "Strategy crash fund", with fiat money that only will come into action when strategy is done. The crash that we'll see after that goes down, will be such a tremendous opportunity, that I'll pour in some more fiat, gladly, and that will be the exact moment I will actually “sell all my chairs” (from Saylor’s well-known quote).

Purchases

Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases, don’t seem to jolt the market much either, no matter the size of the order. They always have the same sound: “it’s OTC, it doesn’t impact the market that much”.

Still, it’s strange to see: no one has ever come forward to tell anyone “I’ve sold 15000 bitcoin from my old stack to Saylor”, neither do we see any clear evidence and on-chain moves.

Take their first buy in August 2020 for example. Totaling 21454 BTC for $250 million at $11,652 per BTC; Bitcoin sat at $11,500 to $11,700 so barely moved, inching to $12,000 weeks later due to broader trends.

Same story in December 2020 with 29646 BTC for $650 million, there, the price hopped from $19,000 to $23,000, but a bull market was already raging. Fast forward to February 2021 (19452 BTC, for $1.026 billion (!)), March 2024 (9245 BTC, $623 million), November 2024 (55500 BTC, $5.4 billion), and March 2025 (6911 BTC, $584.1 million)

Bitcoin wobbled 2-15%, but always in line with existing momentum, not Strategy’s announcements. Their biggest buy, for a total of $5.4 billion (!) is just 0.3% of Bitcoin’s $1.7 trillion market cap, it’s too small to register as a blip even. But compared to the liquidity on the market and the “availability” on the OTC market, it should. More so, OTC bitcoin is announced as “for sale” somehow. A person with +25000 bitcoin is not standing on the side of the street yelling “hey man, wanna buy some bitcoin?”. There are specialized firms doing that for them, and making these available. This date is also used by some insiders and people who know this very small market (there aren’t that many bitcoiners sitting on such an amount after 2024 I guess). Data from Binance OTC, Coinspaid, kraken OTC, is highly private of course, but still, anything being sold over there, to Strategy or anyone else, would take larger amounts off the open market and the OTC market, making a price impact, certainly withing 2 years, as Bitcoin mining companies sit on an average buffer of 6 months depending on market conditions.

Strategy funds all of this by selling shares (diluting the pool big-time) or issuing convertible notes, and while SEC filings make faking these buys near-impossible. And even if Saylor is the Bitcoin version of Bernie Madoff, he could get away with it, if enough people "in the know" are willing to support this way of infesting (and investing in) the bitcoin economy. This would have to be a clear orchestrated attack on bitcoin, purely on the financial level then.

I don't believe this to be the case, but mathematically we have to take it into account as a very slight possibility.

After all, a company like "WorldCom"2 managed to scam their way out of different audits for years, until the scheme got bust and a enormous amount of investors lost their money after their CEO went to jail3 for exchange fraud.

I believe this could be the case with Strategy, but I give it a 3% chance (this might be low, but it's there, we can't outright dismiss the possibility).

Water in the wine

Strategy has also massively diluted its stock to fund Bitcoin buys, jumping from 10 million shares in 2020 to about 285 million by March 2025—a 2,750% increase, this happened after raising $4.25 billion from 2020 onwards and $20 billion of their $42 billion "21/21 Plan" by early 2025.

After the 10-for-1 stock split in August 2024, the number of MSTR shares grew from 16.5 million in 2023 to 284898 by end of 2024, a 1625% rise !!!. Add to that about 275 million more shares added in total (including 120 million in 2024 alone) and 1.975 million extra in March 2025 for $592.6 million.

So more and more tap water is poured in the wine, and it means each share’s ownership slice shrinks as new shares flood in, mostly via "at-the-market" sales and convertible note conversions. This is partly offset by share splits, but still, the rise in the number of stock is significant, and a big factor in evaluating MSTR.

In December 2024, they proposed hiking authorized shares to 10.33 billion (plus 1 billion preferred), approved in January 2025, setting the stage for even more if they keep selling.

The trend is clear: relentless selling. They might say “we never sell bitcoin”, but the same doesn’t count for their shares… which derive their value from bitcoin’s fiat price. So shareholders are betting on Bitcoin’s rise to offset the watering down of the share they hold. The more you think of it, the more ludicrous it sounds. It’s a loop of trust where the stock itself can only thrive if the company itself is an active, useful middleman. And so far, it’s only doing so for other Wall street companies, the biggest holders of MSTR shares:

Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Capital International Investors, Jane Street Group, Susquehanna International Group

This on itself is also “normal” of course. In the flow of things. Like every aspect by itself in the whole Strategy setup is just normal. But combining all the factors makes it look a bit more… suspicious to me.

Supporting bitcoin ?

The real head-scratcher comes next: their secrecy and lack of community involvement. Strategy claims to hold 506137 BTC, likely cold-stored with partners like BitGo or Coinbase Custody, but no public wallet addresses back these claims up. Odd for a firm swearing never to sell.

There’s also the real risk that these partners are partly selling paper bitcoin (bitcoin they don't hold the keys to, or "promised" bitcoin) to Strategy, and that they just assume everything is audited and OK.

We can't estimate that, since we don't have any public MicroStrategy addresses or other ways to look at their holdings. This is for security reasons apparently, which raises another question: If they for example would show 300k+ BTC on-chain as proof, it’d boost trust, yet they don’t, hinting at a bigger play — maybe as a Wall Street-backed buyer of last resort for a new asset class.

Also Strategy’s software business and bitcoin “apps” (like the super simple Lightning email integration, and an on-chain digital ID system) is underwhelming to say the least (I literally know people that code such stuff on a free afternoon while they’re cooking dinner).

Their very minimal software innovation for the Bitcoin space, with basic Lightning features and an on-chain ID system, failing their their valuation as a 'Bitcoin company' in my opinion. More so, their business is ignoring the other innovation that would help bitcoin thrive. This is kind of a red flag for me. Why would a company sitting on +500 k bitcoin be hesitant about supporting the bitcoin eco-system more actively? They sure have the funds to do so, right? And they also have the right insights, info and spirit. Yet, they don’t.

They don’t fund developers for open-source projects, or Bitcoin’s growth in general (not publicly at least). So Saylor shines in talks, hyping Bitcoin’s future and Strategy’s stock, but it’s all the self fulfilling prophecy.

No grants, no real support for the community they lean on. It’s like they’re dancing to Bitcoin’s mixtape, raking in the spotlight, while giving little back. All the while some extremely needed projects lack funding, and most software companies in bitcoin who wish to innovate are begging and scraping funds together, in order to stay afloat. Something’s not ok with that. I can’t understand a company with that much power and money being part of this movement and loving bitcoin, while not actively supporting the development or the maintainers of the bitcoin software. (and yes, to keep their independence it’s best to keep it that way, that’s also an argument, but even then, giving out a grant to anyone that’s crucial in this industry, might help the whole ecosystem).

The show must go on—for now

The whole Strategy setup feels more and more like a performance to me. Saylor’s the star, doing the moves and Wall Street’s the record label, and we’re the audience, captivated by the spectacle and paying to see the show on occasion.

The suits keep funding him (free money, IOUs), just like the music industry props up a fading diva with a limited repertoire or drags a new star from her home studio on YouTube into the spotlights. H Saylor’s 21/21 Plan to the amount of $42 billion to snatch up more Bitcoin can be a grand finale that’s dazzling while the lights stay on.

Prediction: the music stops eventually

Here’s my take: Bitcoin will keep rising over a long period of time, and Saylor’s gambit will look like a genius move, until it doesn’t. All it takes is one big shot in Wall Street to find another shiny toy to play with, or another play to get their money working. The billions they’ve invested, will come back eventually, and if it doesn’t, it will mean the world has changed in their advantage as well in another way. Some people cannot lose, no matter what. Saylor’s now part of that, doing their bidding and doing his part for educating the other businesses.

He’s the only big buyer of last resort in this game so far. No one else is piling in with billions like he is. When the hype cools or the debt catches up, he’s got no real business to fall back on. The software? A relic. The Bitcoin bet can save him if the time is right, we’ll see about that. Time is his enemy not ally, and it always wins in the end. The pose can only hold so long. You can’t keep scoring free fiat, without either die on low valuation and dilution, or without at least 20 other Strategy-grade businesses jumping in to take their piece of the pie. So far, surprisingly, none of these two things happen. He keeps getting free fiat from Wall Street investors, and no other Saylor stands up. This can’t last forever. One of the two will happen by end of 2025.

Curtain call

Saylor’s a fascinating watch, a mix of investor-backed bravado, brains, and borrowed billions. Is it a masterstroke or a bitcoin version of Worldcom? I’m not sure. In any case, I would only invest in MSTR myself if the company has a real added value for bitcoin development and the bitcoin ecosystem. They could be the engine, the spirit, the core of bitcoin. Yet they’re just doing the poses. Let your body move to the rhythm.

AVB

If you like : tip here / other writings

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOU

2 https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/audit_and_advisory_services/about/news/2021/worldcom_scandal.php

3 https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/Ic6b4dd91644311dbbe1cf2d29fe2afe6/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)#:\~:text=Rep.-,6,Criminal%20ChargesThe music’s made in-house

Michael Saylor’s strategy with Strategy, is a bold, all-in bet on Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value. Essentially combining what Mc Donald’s does with the strong believe in bitcoin’s future (and fueling that believe with the fitting rhetoric).\ \ It works like this: Since August 2020, Saylor’s company has been buying up more and more Bitcoin, making it their main asset instead of traditional cash or investments, and by March 2025, they own 506,137 BTC—worth about $42.8 billion (at $84,000 per Bitcoin).\ This, after spending $33.7 billion to buy it over time (DCA), including a massive 218887 BTC purchase late 2024 for $20.5 billion, giving them over 2.41% of all Bitcoin ever to exist (way more than companies like Marathon, Coinbase, Tesla or Riot).\ \ To pull this off, they’ve borrowed heavily: owing $7.2 billion, mostly to Wall Street investors through special IOUs1 called convertible notes, which don’t need to be paid back until 2027, through 2029. These can either be settled with cash or swapped for Strategy stock. (there lies one of the main issues in my opinion, as the main asset’s price in USD is directly impacting the stock price of MSTR).\ A small example of this repeated correlation happened on March 28, 2025 when Strategy’s stock (MSTR) dropped 10.8% from $324.59 to $289.41, which was mirroring Bitcoin’s move down from $85,000 to $82,000 earlier.

This debt they have can be called “risky” by any stretch, with a high leverage rate of 39-40%, meaning they’ve borrowed a big chunk compared to what they own outright, but here’s the genius of it: they don’t have to sell their Bitcoin if its price drops, and they can refinance (borrow more later) to keep the dance going. As long as they find investors willing to bet on the later bitcoin price surge, but more importantly, as long as the song is liked by the new audience. If Michael Saylor is our “Madonna”, then there’s still not Taylor Swift or Rihanna in sight.

The creditors (big players, not banks) win if Bitcoin soars, as Strategy’s huge stash (potentially 2.9%+ of the market) nets them massive profits, or even if it crashes, they’re still in the game with other ways to make profit (not on bitcoin), since they can afford the risk. If someone is willing to bet 4 to 8 billion dollars, they’re probably not spooked by losing it all. More so, these Wall Streat people in the correct entourage, can probably afford such a gamble, and can stomach to lose it all if something goes horribly wrong as well, instead of risking being left out of a growing market. But since they’re probably the same people steering and “owning” the USD market anyway, they’re just conquering positions in a new market. The fact that they’re not real bitcoin-ethos people, but just “suits” in finance, can make the suspicious bitcoiners watching all of this unfold, even more uneasy.\ \ So, Strategy sits on $44 billion in Bitcoin with just $7.2 billion in debt, voguing confidently. And Saylor’s betting the song never gets old, he’ll do the B-sides and re-mastering his old albums if necessary, but if Bitcoin’s value ever fades (for whatever reason), the real question is how long they can keep striking poses before the music stops. Remember: all money (fiat, gold, silver, bitcoin, nicely made papers) is a matter of trust.

As I have trust in bitcoin itself, but not so much in Strategy, I’ve take some precautions.\ I've started my own sort of "Strategy crash fund", with fiat money that only will come into action when strategy is done. The crash that we'll see after that goes down, will be such a tremendous opportunity, that I'll pour in some more fiat, gladly, and that will be the exact moment I will actually “sell all my chairs” (from Saylor’s well-known quote).

Purchases

Strategy’s Bitcoin purchases, don’t seem to jolt the market much either, no matter the size of the order. They always have the same sound: “it’s OTC, it doesn’t impact the market that much”.\ \ Still, it’s strange to see: no one has ever come forward to tell anyone “I’ve sold 15000 bitcoin from my old stack to Saylor”, neither do we see any clear evidence and on-chain moves.\ \ Take their first buy in August 2020 for example. Totaling 21454 BTC for $250 million at $11,652 per BTC; Bitcoin sat at $11,500 to $11,700 so barely moved, inching to $12,000 weeks later due to broader trends.

Same story in December 2020 with 29646 BTC for $650 million, there, the price hopped from $19,000 to $23,000, but a bull market was already raging.\ Fast forward to February 2021 (19452 BTC, for $1.026 billion (!)), March 2024 (9245 BTC, $623 million), November 2024 (55500 BTC, $5.4 billion), and March 2025 (6911 BTC, $584.1 million)\ \ Bitcoin wobbled 2-15%, but always in line with existing momentum, not Strategy’s announcements. Their biggest buy, for a total of $5.4 billion (!) is just 0.3% of Bitcoin’s $1.7 trillion market cap, it’s too small to register as a blip even. But compared to the liquidity on the market and the “availability” on the OTC market, it should.\ More so, OTC bitcoin is announced as “for sale” somehow. A person with +25000 bitcoin is not standing on the side of the street yelling “hey man, wanna buy some bitcoin?”. There are specialized firms doing that for them, and making these available. This date is also used by some insiders and people who know this very small market (there aren’t that many bitcoiners sitting on such an amount after 2024 I guess). Data from Binance OTC, Coinspaid, kraken OTC, is highly private of course, but still, anything being sold over there, to Strategy or anyone else, would take larger amounts off the open market and the OTC market, making a price impact, certainly withing 2 years, as Bitcoin mining companies sit on an average buffer of 6 months depending on market conditions.\ \ Strategy funds all of this by selling shares (diluting the pool big-time) or issuing convertible notes, and while SEC filings make faking these buys near-impossible. And even if Saylor is the Bitcoin version of Bernie Madoff, he could get away with it, if enough people "in the know" are willing to support this way of infesting (and investing in) the bitcoin economy. This would have to be a clear orchestrated attack on bitcoin, purely on the financial level then.

I don't believe this to be the case, but mathematically we have to take it into account as a very slight possibility.

After all, a company like "WorldCom"2 managed to scam their way out of different audits for years, until the scheme got bust and a enormous amount of investors lost their money after their CEO went to jail3 for exchange fraud.

I believe this could be the case with Strategy, but I give it a 3% chance (this might be low, but it's there, we can't outright dismiss the possibility).

Water in the wine

Strategy has also massively diluted its stock to fund Bitcoin buys, jumping from 10 million shares in 2020 to about 285 million by March 2025—a 2,750% increase, this happened after raising $4.25 billion from 2020 onwards and $20 billion of their $42 billion "21/21 Plan" by early 2025.\ \ After the 10-for-1 stock split in August 2024, the number of MSTR shares grew from 16.5 million in 2023 to 284898 by end of 2024, a 1625% rise !!!. Add to that about 275 million more shares added in total (including 120 million in 2024 alone) and 1.975 million extra in March 2025 for $592.6 million.\ \ So more and more tap water is poured in the wine, and it means each share’s ownership slice shrinks as new shares flood in, mostly via "at-the-market" sales and convertible note conversions.\ This is partly offset by share splits, but still, the rise in the number of stock is significant, and a big factor in evaluating MSTR.\ \ In December 2024, they proposed hiking authorized shares to 10.33 billion (plus 1 billion preferred), approved in January 2025, setting the stage for even more if they keep selling.\ \ The trend is clear: relentless selling.\ They might say “we never sell bitcoin”, but the same doesn’t count for their shares… which derive their value from bitcoin’s fiat price.\ So shareholders are betting on Bitcoin’s rise to offset the watering down of the share they hold. The more you think of it, the more ludicrous it sounds. It’s a loop of trust where the stock itself can only thrive if the company itself is an active, useful middleman.\ And so far, it’s only doing so for other Wall street companies, the biggest holders of MSTR shares:

Vanguard Group Inc, BlackRock, Capital International Investors, Jane Street Group, Susquehanna International Group\ \ This on itself is also “normal” of course. In the flow of things.\ Like every aspect by itself in the whole Strategy setup is just normal. But combining all the factors makes it look a bit more… suspicious to me.

Supporting bitcoin ?

The real head-scratcher comes next: their secrecy and lack of community involvement.\ Strategy claims to hold 506137 BTC, likely cold-stored with partners like BitGo or Coinbase Custody, but no public wallet addresses back these claims up. Odd for a firm swearing never to sell.

There’s also the real risk that these partners are partly selling paper bitcoin (bitcoin they don't hold the keys to, or "promised" bitcoin) to Strategy, and that they just assume everything is audited and OK.

We can't estimate that, since we don't have any public MicroStrategy addresses or other ways to look at their holdings. This is for security reasons apparently, which raises another question:\ If they for example would show 300k+ BTC on-chain as proof, it’d boost trust, yet they don’t, hinting at a bigger play — maybe as a Wall Street-backed buyer of last resort for a new asset class.

Also Strategy’s software business and bitcoin “apps” (like the super simple Lightning email integration, and an on-chain digital ID system) is underwhelming to say the least (I literally know people that code such stuff on a free afternoon while they’re cooking dinner).

Their very minimal software innovation for the Bitcoin space, with basic Lightning features and an on-chain ID system, failing their their valuation as a 'Bitcoin company' in my opinion. More so, their business is ignoring the other innovation that would help bitcoin thrive. This is kind of a red flag for me.\ Why would a company sitting on +500 k bitcoin be hesitant about supporting the bitcoin eco-system more actively? They sure have the funds to do so, right? And they also have the right insights, info and spirit.\ Yet, they don’t.\ \ They don’t fund developers for open-source projects, or Bitcoin’s growth in general (not publicly at least). So Saylor shines in talks, hyping Bitcoin’s future and Strategy’s stock, but it’s all the self fulfilling prophecy.\ \ No grants, no real support for the community they lean on.\ It’s like they’re dancing to Bitcoin’s mixtape, raking in the spotlight, while giving little back. All the while some extremely needed projects lack funding, and most software companies in bitcoin who wish to innovate are begging and scraping funds together, in order to stay afloat.\ Something’s not ok with that.\ I can’t understand a company with that much power and money being part of this movement and loving bitcoin, while not actively supporting the development or the maintainers of the bitcoin software. (and yes, to keep their independence it’s best to keep it that way, that’s also an argument, but even then, giving out a grant to anyone that’s crucial in this industry, might help the whole ecosystem).

The show must go on—for now

The whole Strategy setup feels more and more like a performance to me. Saylor’s the star, doing the moves and Wall Street’s the record label, and we’re the audience, captivated by the spectacle and paying to see the show on occasion.\ \ The suits keep funding him (free money, IOUs), just like the music industry props up a fading diva with a limited repertoire or drags a new star from her home studio on YouTube into the spotlights. H\ Saylor’s 21/21 Plan to the amount of $42 billion to snatch up more Bitcoin can be a grand finale that’s dazzling while the lights stay on.

Prediction: the music stops eventually

Here’s my take: Bitcoin will keep rising over a long period of time, and Saylor’s gambit will look like a genius move, until it doesn’t. All it takes is one big shot in Wall Street to find another shiny toy to play with, or another play to get their money working. The billions they’ve invested, will come back eventually, and if it doesn’t, it will mean the world has changed in their advantage as well in another way. Some people cannot lose, no matter what. Saylor’s now part of that, doing their bidding and doing his part for educating the other businesses.\ \ He’s the only big buyer of last resort in this game so far. No one else is piling in with billions like he is. When the hype cools or the debt catches up, he’s got no real business to fall back on. The software? A relic. The Bitcoin bet can save him if the time is right, we’ll see about that.\ Time is his enemy not ally, and it always wins in the end. The pose can only hold so long. You can’t keep scoring free fiat, without either die on low valuation and dilution, or without at least 20 other Strategy-grade businesses jumping in to take their piece of the pie.\ So far, surprisingly, none of these two things happen.\ He keeps getting free fiat from Wall Street investors, and no other Saylor stands up.\ This can’t last forever. One of the two will happen by end of 2025.\ \ Curtain call

Saylor’s a fascinating watch, a mix of investor-backed bravado, brains, and borrowed billions.\ Is it a masterstroke or a bitcoin version of Worldcom?\ I’m not sure. In any case, I would only invest in MSTR myself if the company has a real added value for bitcoin development and the bitcoin ecosystem. They could be the engine, the spirit, the core of bitcoin.\ Yet they’re just doing the poses.\ Let your body move to the rhythm.

AVB

If you like : tip here / other writings

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOU

2 https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/audit_and_advisory_services/about/news/2021/worldcom_scandal.php

3

https://content.next.westlaw.com/Document/Ic6b4dd91644311dbbe1cf2d29fe2afe6/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)#:\~:text=Rep.-,6,Criminal%20Charges

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

• Once activated, "Accept From Any Mint” is the default setting. This is the easiest way to get started, let's the user start acceptance Cashu ecash just out of the box.
• If someone does want to be selective, they can choose “Accept From Trusted Mints,” and that brings up a field where they can add specific mint URLs they trust.
• “Find a Mint” section on the right with a button links directly to bitcoinmints.com, already filtered for Cashu mints, so users can easily browse options.
• Mint info modal shows mint technical details stuff from the NUT06 spec. Since this is geared towards the more technical users I left the field names and NUT number as-is instead of trying to make it more semantic.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928800

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

btcpayserver #lightning #lnd #powershell

BTCpayAPI now supports file upload

I'm continuing to add functionality to BTCpay and BTCpayAPI which is using REST Api(s) to manage my BTCPAY server and LND cloud instance. It is nice to have this just running locally on my home Linux desktop.

Here is the code that implements this functionality.

``` "Uploadfile" {

$apislug = "api/v1/files"

$filepath = Split-Path $options

$filename = Split-Path $options -Leaf

CONST

$CODEPAGE = "iso-8859-1" # alternatives are ASCII, UTF-8

Read file byte-by-byte

$fileBin = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllBytes($options)

Convert byte-array to string

$enc = [System.Text.Encoding]::GetEncoding($CODEPAGE) $fileEnc = $enc.GetString($fileBin)

We need a boundary (something random() will do best)

$boundary = [System.Guid]::NewGuid().ToString() $LF = "rn" $bodyLines = ( "--$boundary", "Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="$fileName"", "Content-Type: application/octet-stream$LF", $fileEnc, "--$boundary--$LF" ) -join $LF

$URI = $BTCPayCfg.BTCpayApi.GreenApi.url + $apislug $apiKeyToken = 'token ' + $script:BTCPAY_API $headers = @{'Authorization'=$apiKeyToken}

return Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $uri -Method Post -Headers $headers -ContentType "multipart/form-data; boundary="$boundary"" -Body $bodyLines

} ``` Here is the revision history since my last article.

Version Date Whom Notes ======= ========== ======== ===================================================== 0.1.4 03/28/2025 cadayton Added UploadFile method to upload a file to the BTCpay server 0.1.3 03/27/2025 cadayton Added GetFiles returns listing of files uploaded to BTCpay server 0.1.2 03/19/2025 cadayton ForwardingHistory new parameter "total_fees" tallys mfees for events returned 0.1.1 03/18/2025 cadayton ForwardingHistory now support additional parameters 0.1.0 03/15/2025 cadayton initial release. The inspiration for this logic was adapted from weipah . One wouldn't think uploading a single file wouldn't require this much coding. The Greenfield's REST Api documentation for this end point wasn't very helpful.

In my book, good end-user documentation of one's code is just as important as the code itself. I believe documentation is usually lacking on most projects because the effort of doing so is almost equal to the effort of writing the code. It is also the least fun part about writing code.

The job is not done until the paper work has been completed. :)

https://btcpayserver.sytes.net

@ ff517fbf:fde1561b

はじめに：なぜKYCなしP2P取引か

ビットコインは元々、ピア・ツー・ピア（P2P）の電子通貨システムとして設計されました。サトシ・ナカモトのビットコイン白書でも、「信頼ではなく暗号学的証明に基づく電子決済システム」によって、第三者を介さずに当事者同士が直接取引できることが必要だと述べられています。つまり、本来ビットコインは銀行などの仲介者なしで個人同士が直接送金・売買できる社会的意義を持っているのです。

しかし現在、多くの暗号資産取引所では規制上の理由からKYC（本人確認）手続きが求められ、個人情報の提出が必要です。KYCはユーザーのプライバシー喪失やデータ漏洩リスクにつながりかねず、また口座凍結や資金没収といった中央集権的管理のリスクもあります。経済的にも、第三者を介することで手数料が高くなったり、地域によっては銀行や政府の制限でビットコインの購入が困難になる場合もあります。

こうした背景からノンKYCのP2P取引プラットフォームを利用するメリットは大きいです。例えば HodlHodl(@npub1yul83qxn35u607er3m7039t6rddj06qezfagfqlfw4qk5z5slrfqu8ncdu) は、匿名で世界中のユーザーと直接ビットコインを売買できるグローバルなP2Pマーケットプレイスです。HodlHodlではユーザー同士が直接取引し、サイト運営側はビットコインを一切預かりません。取引はマルチシグエスクロー(2-of-3の多重署名契約)で安全に管理され、取引手数料も最大0.5%と低く抑えられています。プライバシーとセキュリティを確保しながら、銀行口座や身分証なしでビットコインを売買できるため、社会的にも経済的にも大きな意義があります。

本チュートリアルでは、HodlHodlを使ってビットコインを購入・販売する具体的な手順を分かりやすく解説します。また、HodlHodlの安全性（マルチシグエスクローによる非中央集権型の管理）や、他のプラットフォームにはない特徴（本人確認不要、ユーザー自身による鍵の管理、APIやレンディングサービスの活用など）についても説明します。P2P取引に不慣れで不安を感じている方にも安心してご利用いただけるよう、丁寧で親しみやすい言葉で案内していきます。

HodlHodlの基本準備

アカウント登録： HodlHodlの利用を開始するには、まず無料のアカウント登録を行います。必要なのはメールアドレスとパスワードだけで、ユーザー名や身分証の提出は不要です。登録後に届く確認メール内のリンクをクリックすれば、すぐに取引を始められます。

ビットコインウォレットの用意： HodlHodlは取引の際にユーザー自身のビットコインウォレットを使用するノンカストディアル方式です。プラットフォーム上にウォレットは用意されていないため、事前に自分のビットコインウォレットを準備してください。例えばモバイルウォレットやハードウェアウォレットなど、自分だけが秘密鍵を管理できるウォレットを用意しましょう。買い手の場合は購入したビットコインを受け取るウォレットが必要になり、売り手の場合は売却するビットコインを自身のウォレットからエスクローに送金する必要があります。

ビットコインを購入する方法（Buy BTC）

それでは、HodlHodlでビットコインを購入（Buy） する手順を見ていきましょう。以下では、日本円（JPY）を銀行振込で支払ってビットコインを買う例を想定して説明しますが、基本的な流れは他の通貨や支払い方法でも同じです。

1. 「Buy BTC」をクリックする: HodlHodlにログインし、画面上部のヘッダー左側にある「Buy BTC」ボタンをクリックします。これにより、現在出ているビットコイン売り注文（オファー）の一覧ページに移動します。

2. 検索フィルターの設定: オファー一覧ページでは、自分の希望条件でオファーを絞り込むことができます。国、法定通貨、取引タイプ、支払い方法、金額などのフィルター項目があります。例えば日本で銀行振込により購入したい場合、「Country（国）」をJapan、「Currency（通貨）」をJPY、「Payment method（支払い方法）」を Bank Transfer 銀行振込に設定します（他の項目は必要に応じて指定します）。フィルターは任意ですが、自分に合った支払い方法や金額範囲のオファーを探すのに役立ちます。

3. オファーを選ぶ: フィルターを適用すると、条件に合致する売り手のオファー一覧が表示されます。各オファーにはレート（価格）、取引可能額範囲、支払い方法、売り手の評価などが記載されています。希望に合うオファーが見つかったら、そのオファーの詳細をクリックします。例えば「1 BTC = 〇〇JPY」のようなレートで、自分が購入したい額に対応できるオファーを選びましょう。初めて取引する場合は、評価の高い売り手や少額からの取引を選ぶと安心です。

1. 購入量と受取アドレスの入力: オファーをクリックすると、取引の詳細入力画面になります。ここで購入したいビットコインの量を入力します（ビットコイン量あるいは法定通貨換算額のどちらでも入力可能です）。多くの場合、最低・最大取引額が決まっているので、その範囲内で入力してください。また、ビットコインの受取先アドレスを求められます。これは購入後にビットコインを受け取る自分のウォレットアドレスです。アカウントの設定で事前に登録したアドレスがあれば自動で表示されますが、都度指定することも可能です。さらに、支払い方法が複数指定されているオファーでは希望の支払い方法を選択します（例：銀行振込の中でも特定の銀行を指定できる場合があります）。最後に、取引相手（売り手）への伝達メッセージ欄があれば、必要に応じてコメントを記入します。入力が完了したら内容を確認し、「Create contract（契約作成）」 的なボタンを押して取引を開始します。

2. エスクローアドレスの生成: 契約が作成されると、取引画面上にエスクロー（第三者保管用マルチシグアドレス）を生成するための手順が表示されます。ここで 「Generate escrow（エスクロー生成）」 ボタンをクリックし、プラットフォームに登録したペイメントパスワード（支払い用パスワード）を入力します。ペイメントパスワードはHodlHodlで取引の署名に使われる特別なパスワードで、初回取引時に設定しておく必要があります。正しく入力すると、この取引専用のビットコインエスクローアドレスが自動生成されます。あとは売り手がそのエスクローアドレスにビットコインを入金するのを待ちます。画面上に「waiting for deposit（入金待ち）」等のステータスが表示されるので、しばらく待機してください。売り手が約束のビットコイン額をエスクローに送金し、一定のブロック承認（Confirmations）が得られると、取引ステータスが自動で更新されます。

3. エスクロー入金の確認: ビットコインがマルチシグエスクローにロックされ、取引ステータスが「In progress（進行中）」や「Deposited（入金済み）」といった表示に変わったことを必ず確認します。ステータス表示とブロックチェーン上の確認回数が条件を満たしたら、支払いを実行しても安全な状態であることを意味します（エスクローにロックされたビットコインは売り手単独では動かせません。取引ページには売り手が指定した支払い詳細（銀行口座情報など）が記載されていますので、その指示に従って売り手へ法定通貨の支払い（振込）を行います。例えば銀行振込の場合、指定された口座にJPYを送金します。この段階では、必ず取引ページを開いたままにしておきましょう。 支払いが完了したら、取引ページ上の「I’ve sent the payment（送金完了）」ボタンをクリックして、売り手に支払い実行済みであることを通知します。併せて、チャット機能で支払い完了の旨を伝えると良いでしょう。

4. 売り手によるビットコインのリリース: 買い手からの支払いが完了すると、売り手は自分の銀行口座等を確認して入金を検証します。売り手が入金を確認したら、取引ページ上で 「Release Bitcoin（ビットコインをリリース）」 ボタンを押し、ペイメントパスワードを入力してエスクローからビットコインを開放します。これにより、エスクロー上のビットコインが買い手の指定アドレス（先ほど入力した受取用ウォレットアドレス）に送信されます。売り手がビットコインをリリースすると取引ステータスが「Released（解放済み）」に変わり、まもなくブロックチェーン上で買い手のウォレットにビットコイン着金が確認できるでしょう。

5. 取引完了: ビットコインが無事自分のウォレットに届けば取引完了です。取引ページには「Completed（完了）」などのステータスが表示され、双方がお互いを評価できるようになります。初めてのP2P購入、お疲れさまでした！ 🎉

💡 重要な注意事項（買い手向け）: エスクローにビットコインがロックされる前に代金を支払ってはいけません。必ず取引ステータスが「Deposited」や「In progress」になるのを確認してから支払いを実行してください。また、取引には売り手が入金を確認してからビットコインをリリースするまでの制限時間（Payment window）が設定されています。時間内に支払いが完了しないと取引が自動キャンセルされる場合がありますのでご注意ください。困ったことがあれば、取引ページのチャットで相手に連絡することもできます。万一、支払いを送ったのに売り手がビットコインをリリースしない場合は、支払い期限が過ぎてからディスピュート（紛争解決手続き） を開始することも可能です。

ビットコインを販売する方法（Sell BTC）

次に、HodlHodlでビットコインを販売（Sell） する手順を説明します。基本的な流れは購入時と似ていますが、立場が逆になる点（自分がビットコインをエスクローに預け、買い手からの支払いを待つ点）に注意してください。以下では、日本で銀行振込によりJPYを受け取ってビットコインを売る場合を例に解説します。

1. 「Sell BTC」をクリックする: HodlHodlにログイン後、画面上部左側の「Sell BTC」ボタンをクリックします。これで現在出ているビットコイン買い注文（買い手のオファー）一覧ページに移動します。

2. 検索フィルターの設定: 買い手オファー一覧から、自分が対応可能な条件のオファーを探します。フィルター項目はBuyの場合と同様で、国、通貨、支払いタイプ、支払い方法、金額などを指定できます。日本円での銀行振込を希望する買い手を探す場合、国をJapan、通貨をJPY、支払い方法をBank Transferに設定して検索します。

3. オファーを選ぶ: 条件に合致する買い手のオファーが一覧表示されるので、希望に合うものをクリックします。各オファーには買い手が希望するレートや取引限度額、支払い方法、買い手の評価などが記載されています。有利なレートかつ信頼できそうな相手を選びましょう。初取引で不安な場合は、小額で高評価の買い手から始めるとよいです。

4. 売却量と受取情報の入力: オファー詳細画面で、売却したいビットコイン量を入力します（または必要な法定通貨額）。オファーごとに最低・最大額が設定されているので範囲内で入力してください。続いてビットコインの受取アドレス欄がありますが、これは取引完了時に買い手がビットコインを受け取るアドレスです。売り手である自分が入力する必要は基本的になく、買い手側が受取先を指定するか、既に買い手のダッシュボード設定で決まっています。次に、受け取りたい支払い方法が複数記載されている場合は希望の方法を選択します（例えば「Bank Transfer」の中でも特定の銀行名など）。コメント欄があれば取引相手（買い手）へのメッセージを任意で入力します。内容を確認し問題なければ 「Create contract（契約作成）」 ボタンを押して取引を開始します。

5. エスクローアドレスの生成: 契約が作成されると、エスクロー用のビットコインアドレスを生成する段階に進みます。ここで 「Generate escrow」 ボタンをクリックし、ペイメントパスワードを入力します（買い手の手順と同様）。これにより、この取引専用のマルチシグエスクローアドレスが発行されます。次に 自分（売り手）が売却予定のビットコインをエスクローアドレスに送金 します。取引画面上に正確なBTC額と対応するQRコードが表示されるので、自分のウォレットからそのアドレスへ送金してください。送金したら 「I’ve sent the funds（送金完了）」 ボタンを押してビットコインをエスクローに預けたことを通知します。

1. エスクローへのビットコインロック: ビットコインを送金するとブロックチェーン上で一定回数の承認（Confirmations）を経て、エスクローにロックされます。取引ステータスが「In progress（進行中）」や「Deposited」に変わり、買い手は安心して支払いを行える状態になります。あとは買い手からの法定通貨支払いを待ちます。取引画面で支払い期限（Payment window）内に買い手が支払いを完了し、「支払い送信済み」のボタンを押すとステータスが「Paid（支払い済み）」に変わります。

2. 支払いの受領確認: ステータスが「Paid」になったら、買い手が送金を完了したことを意味します。すぐに自分の銀行口座など該当の支払い方法で入金を確認しましょう。金額が全額正しく受け取れたことを確認できたら、取引ページ上で 「Release deposit（デポジットを解放）」 ボタンをクリックし、ペイメントパスワードを入力してエスクローのビットコインを開放します。これにより、エスクローにロックされていたビットコインが買い手に送付されます。

3. 取引完了: ビットコインをリリースすれば取引完了。ステータスが「Completed」に変わり、買い手は間もなく自分のウォレットでビットコインを受け取るでしょう。最後にお互いを評価して取引終了となります。初めてのP2P売却、お疲れさまでした！ 🎉

💡 重要な注意事項（売り手向け）: 支払いを受け取る前にビットコインをエスクローから**絶対にリリースしないでください。買い手からの入金を自分の銀行口座等で確実に確認できてから、ビットコインを解放するようにしましょう。また、もしビットコインをエスクローに送金した後で買い手から支払いが行われず期限切れ（Payment window経過）になった場合、取引をキャンセルしてエスクローのビットコインを自分に返還することができます。取引中は常に取引相手とのチャットで連絡を取り合い、不明点を確認するよう心がけましょう。

HodlHodlの安全性：マルチシグと非カストディアル設計

● マルチシグエスクローによる資金保護: HodlHodl最大の特徴は、2-of-3のマルチシグエスクロー(multisignature escrow)によって取引資金を保護している点です。取引が成立すると、自動的に3つの秘密鍵が関与するビットコインアドレスが生成されます。この3つの鍵のうち2つの署名があれば資金を動かせる仕組みになっており、鍵の配分は「売り手」「買い手」「HodlHodl運営」の三者にそれぞれ1つです。取引中、ビットコインはブロックチェーン上のエスクローアドレスにロックされ、双方の合意なしには動かせまん。つまり、売り手は買い手の同意なしにビットコインを引き出すことはできず、逆に買い手も売り手の協力なしにビットコインを入手することはできません。両者が取引を完了すれば売り手+買い手の2署名でリリースが可能となり、万一トラブルが起きた場合にはHodlHodl運営が仲裁役として（買い手または売り手の一方と協力し）2署名目を提供することで不正を防ぎます。このようにマルチシグ契約によって、詐欺や持ち逃げのリスクを最小限に抑え、安全かつ公平な取引が実現されています。

● 非カストディアル（ユーザー主導の資金管理）: HodlHodlは取引プラットフォームでありながら、ユーザー資金を一切預からないという非カストディアル設計を貫いています。取引中のビットコインは常にマルチシグエスクローにあり、HodlHodl運営が単独で動かすことはできません。これはつまり、中央集権的な取引所とは異なり、HodlHodlがハッキング被害に遭ってもユーザーのビットコインが盗まれる心配がないことを意味します。またプラットフォームが万一ダウンしたりサービス提供を停止した場合でも、当事者間で2つの鍵さえあればエスクローのビットコインを取り戻すことが可能です（※この場合やや技術的な手順が必要になりますが、HodlHodlが完全に消失するケースでも資金はブロックチェーン上に安全に存在し続けます）。HodlHodl運営は3つの鍵のうち1つを保有するのみで、しかもそれは紛争時の仲裁に使うためのものです。通常の取引では運営が介在することなく、ユーザー同士で完結します。以上のように、HodlHodlはカストディアルな第三者を排除し、利用者自身が資金と取引の主導権を握るというビットコイン本来の精神に沿った安全設計となっています。

● 評判システムと取引履歴: HodlHodlでは、各ユーザーに公開の評価（Rating）と取引履歴が紐づいています。取引を完了するごとに互いにレビューを残せるため、他ユーザーの信頼度を事前に知ることができます。初めて取引する相手がどんな評価を受けているか、過去の取引回数や成功率などの情報を確認することで、怪しい相手を避けることが可能です。特に初心者のうちは評価の高い相手を選ぶ、もしくは身近に信頼できるユーザーがいればトラスト機能（他のP2Pプラットフォームでの実績を証明する仕組みや信用できるユーザーをお気に入り登録する機能）を活用すると良いでしょう。

● 二要素認証(2FA)と信頼できる端末: アカウントの不正アクセス対策として、HodlHodlは二段階認証(2FA)のオプションを提供しています。AuthyやGoogle Authenticatorと連携し、一度設定すればログイン時にパスワードに加え6桁のコード入力が求められるようになります。これにより、万一パスワードが漏洩しても本人のデバイスがなければログインできず、アカウントを保護できます。またTrusted Devices（信頼できる端末）機能を有効にすると、新しいデバイスからログインしようとした際にメール確認が必要となり、ユーザーの許可なく不審な端末からアクセスされるのを防ぎます。初心者の方でも、アカウント登録後は設定画面から2FAや信頼できる端末機能を有効化しておくことを強くおすすめします。

● ディスピュート（紛争解決）機能: 万が一取引相手との間でトラブルが発生した場合（例：買い手は支払ったと主張しているが売り手が確認できない等）、HodlHodlのプラットフォーム上でディスピュート（紛争）を開始することができます。ディスピュートが発生すると、HodlHodlのサポートチームが両者から事情を聞き、中立的な立場で問題解決に当たります。必要に応じて前述の運営のマルチシグ鍵を用いて適切な側にビットコインをリリースするなど、公平な裁定が行われます。ディスピュートは最終手段ではありますが、万一の場合の安心材料として覚えておいてください。

以上のように、HodlHodlは技術的・制度的な多層防御によってユーザーの資金と取引の安全を確保しています。他のユーザーの評価を確認する、取引手順を順守する（エスクロー未成立での送禁止等、アカウントのセキュリティ設定を有効にするといったユーザー自身の注意もあわせて心掛ければ、P2P取引でも安心してビットコインを利用できるでしょう。

HodlHodlの特徴：他プラットフォームとの違い

最後に、HodlHodlが他のビットコイン取引サービスと比べて優れている点、特徴的な点を整理します。初めて利用する際の不安解消にもつながるポイントです。

• 🌐 KYC不要の匿名取引: HodlHodl最大の特徴は、本人確認（KYC）なしでビットコイン取引ができる点です。メールアドレスさえあれば世界中誰でも利用開始でき、パスポートや身分証の提出は一切求められません。これはプライバシー保護の面で大きな利点ですし、取引履歴が本人名義に紐付かないため将来的な資産没収や口座凍結のリスクも低減します。規制が厳しい地域のユーザーや銀行口座を持てない人々でも、HodlHodlならビットコイン経済に参加しやすくなっています。

• 🔐 ユーザーが鍵を管理する非中央集権型取引: 前述の通り、HodlHodlはノンカストディアルなP2P取引所であり、ユーザー自身が資産の鍵を管理します。取引ごとにマルチシグのエスクローが生成され、利用者はその一方の鍵を保持します。そのため「取引所にビットコインを預けっぱなしにしていたらハッキングで失った」といった事態が起こりません。常に自身のウォレットから直接取引を行うため、ビットコインの自主管理の原則**が守られています。中央集権的な管理者がいない分、自分で秘密鍵を安全に保管する責任は伴いますが、その分だけ第三者リスクが排除された公平な環境と言えます。

• 💱 世界中の通貨と多様な決済方法に対応: HodlHodlはグローバルなプラットフォームであり、世界中のあらゆる法定通貨 で取引できます。現在100を超える国の通貨と地域が利用されており、取引に使える決済方法も100種類以上と非常に豊富です。銀行振込やオンライン決済サービスはもちろん、現金の対面受け渡しやギフトカード、電子マネー、モバイル送金、さらには商品と交換などユニークな方法までユーザーが自由にオファーを作成できます。これにより、自分の利用しやすい手段で取引相手を見つけられる柔軟性があります。他のプラットフォームだと対応通貨や決済手段が限定されがちですが、HodlHodlでは*「自分の条件でオファーを作成できる」 の強みです。

• 💰 低い手数料と透明な料金体系: HodlHodlの取引手数料は一律0.5%（買い手と売り手で折半で各0.25%ずつ負担）と比較的低コストです。しかも手数料は取引成立時にビットコイン額から自動控除される仕組みで、隠れたコストがありません。さらに紹介プログラムを利用すると0.45%に割引されるなどの優遇もあります。入出金に伴う手数料も基本的に存在せず、各自が使うウォレットの送金手数料以外に余計な負担はありません。他の取引所でありがちな「出金手数料が高額」「スプレッドが不透明」といった心配もなく、明朗会計でユーザーに優しい料金体系です。

• 🤝 初心者に優しいインターフェース: P2P取引というと難しそうな印象を持たれるかもしれませんが、HodlHodlのサイトはシンプルで直感的なインターフェースになっています​。必要な操作は「Buy BTC / Sell BTC」ボタンから進んでフォームに入力していくだけで、画面の指示に沿って進めれば迷うことは少ないでしょう。サイトは現在ウェブブラウザ経由で利用しますが、スマートフォンのブラウザからでも見やすく設計されています。専用アプリはありませんが、その分アップデート時にもすぐ全員が最新機能を利用できます（ダウンロード不要で常に最新版が提供されるメリットです。また、取引画面にはリアルタイムのチャット機能があり、相手ユーザーと直接コミュニケーションを取れるため安心です。困ったときは相手に質問したり状況を確認できるので、言葉の壁がある場合でも定型文や翻訳を活用して意思疎通できます。

• 🛠 API提供による拡張性: HodlHodlは上級ユーザーや開発者向けに**公式APIを提供しています。APIを利用すると、自分のプログラムからHodlHodl上のオファー取得や契約作成、ステータス更新などを自動化することが可能です。例えば、マーケットメーカーとしてレートを自動調整したり、他のサービスと連携して複数のP2P取引所のオファーを比較表示する、といった応用ができます。APIキーはプロフィール設定から発行でき、ドキュメントも公開されているため高度な取引戦略を実装したいユーザーには魅力的な機能です。PaxfulやLocalBitcoinsなど一部他サービスでもAPIは提供されていますが、HodlHodlのAPIはエスクロー操作まで含め包括的にサポートしている点で強力です。

• 💳 ビットコインレンディングサービス: HodlHodlは現物取引だけでなく、ビットコイン担保のレンディング（貸借）プラットフォームも運営しています。サイト上部の「P2P Lending（レンディング）」からアクセスでき、ビットコインを担保にUSDTなど他の暗号資産を借りたり、あるいは逆に他の人に貸し出して利息収入を得ることができます。技術的には取引プラットフォームと同じマルチシグエスクロー方式を用いており、借り手がビットコインを担保としてエスクローにロックし、貸し手が安定通貨を送金することでローン契約が成立します。期間満了時に借り手が返済すればビットコイン担保が戻り、返済不能（延滞や価格変動での清算）の場合は貸し手に担保が渡る仕組みです。驚くべきことに、このレンディングサービスでも一切KYCは要求されません。短期のビットコイン活用や利息収入を得たいニーズに応えるユニークなサービスであり、HodlHodlを使いこなせば「ビットコインを売買するだけでなく、借りたり貸したりする」といった金融活用も可能になります。P2P Lendingについては、今後別のチュートリアルで詳しく説明します。

• 🧪 テストネットで練習可能: 「いきなり本番は不安…」という方向けに、HodlHodlはテストネット版サイトも提供しています。TESTNETでは、本物のビットコインではなくテスト用のビットコイン（signet**ネットワークのBTC）を使って、実際の取引手順を練習できます。架空の資金でHodlHodlの操作感を試せるため、初心者はまずテストネットで売買の流れをシミュレーションしてみると良いでしょう。十分に慣れてから本番取引に移行すれば、落ち着いて対処できます。テストネットBTCは各種ファウンセット（蛇口サイト hhtestnet.com）から無料でもらうことができ、HodlHodlのテスト環境で練習するのに役立ちます。

以上がHodlHodlの主な特徴と利点です。匿名性・安全性・使いやすさを兼ね備えたHodlHodlは、まさに「ビットコインをネイティブにP2P利用する」ための理想的なプラットフォームと言えるでしょう。初めは不安もあるかもしれませんが、本チュートリアルで説明した手順に沿って取引を行えば、きっとその手軽さと利便性に驚くはずです。ぜひHodlHodlでのP2P取引に挑戦してみてください。自分自身でビットコインを扱う経験を通じて、ビットコインの真の価値である「個人が金融の主導権を握ること」を実感できるでしょう🚀

---

もしビットコインのP2P取引やHodlHodlなどについてもっと深く知りたい、あるいは個別に相談してみたいと思えば、どうぞお気軽にご連絡ください。1対1のコンサルも承っています。

サービスには決まった料金はありませんが、ご相談を通じて「役に立った」と思い、お悩みや疑問を解決できたと感じていただけたら、「3つのT」でのご支援（Value for Value）をぜひご検討ください：

• 時間（Time）：この記事をSNSなどでシェアしていただくこと。
• 才能（Talent）：コメントや補足情報などを通じて知識を共有していただくこと。
• 宝（Treasure）：世界で最も健全なお金、ビットコインの最小単位「sats」でのご支援。

もちろん、支援の有無にかかわらず、お力になれればとても嬉しいです。 では、また次回！

参考資料

• Bitcoin Whitepaper - Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic
• HodlHodl公式サイト - Welcome to Hodl ([P2P BITCOIN TRADING platform]
• HodlHodlヘルプセンター - How to buy Bitcoin / How to sell Bitcoin
• HodlHodlヘルプセンター - Why is trading on Hodl Hodl secure
• HodlHodl FAQ - Why should I use HodlHodl、How secure is trading on HodlHodl
• HodlHodl Medium - Hodl Hodl’s API release
• HodlHodl Lend FAQ - What is Lend a ([Earn Highest Returns on Your Crypto Investment - Lend at Hodl Hodl]
• ZoneBitcoin - Hodl Hodl: Tutorial on the anonymous and KYC-free P2P platform
• など

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

This is a big one for many of us. Probably the most beneficial perception shift you can have is to stop perceiving junk food as food at all.

There are two big components to this: 1. "Cheap"/"affordable" foods are neither cheap nor affordable if they are bad for your health. They are pure waste. Whatever you're currently spending on foods you don't think you should be eating can be reallocated to foods you do think you should be eating and it's wiser expenditure regardless of how expensive the new foods are. 2. When you're looking for something convenient, it's better to eat nothing than to eat something bad. Again, junk food isn't food. Eating it because you're hungry isn't helping anything. You didn't satisfy any nutritional requirements, so you still need to eat the same amount later. On the other hand, fasting is good for you, so just do that until you find something that is food. Also, the first point applies here: instead of eating a lot of garbage, it would be better to spend the same amount on a small portion of food.

I was inspired to write this because I was proud of myself for putting back a package of discounted double chocolate chip muffins this morning and just getting a dark chocolate bar instead.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928684

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d

test

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

Chef's Notes

My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt.

Previously posted this receipt on Zap.Cooking but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in Obsidian and publish to Nostr using the nostr-writer plug-in.

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs
• 🍽️ Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice
• 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple
• 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple
• 1 TS Dried Mustard
• 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste
• 1 Cup Red Wine
• 2 TS Corn Starch
• 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs
• Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot
3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot
4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat
5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet
6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce
7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes.
8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring
9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent
10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness
11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring.
12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce.
13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours.

Bon Appétit

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

---

---

Chef's Notes

My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt.

Previously posted this receipt on Zap.Cooking but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in Obsidian and publish to Nostr using the nostr-writer plug-in.

---

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs
• 🍽️ Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice
• 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple
• 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple
• 1 TS Dried Mustard
• 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste
• 1 Cup Red Wine
• 2 TS Corn Starch
• 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs
• Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot
3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot
4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat
5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet
6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce
7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes.
8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring
9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent
10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness
11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring.
12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce.
13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours.

Bon Appétit

@ 30b99916:3cc6e3fe

---

---

Chef's Notes

My mom worked as a waitress for a excellent Chinese restaurant. For years she tried to get this receipt without success and finally after the owner retired he gave her the receipt.

Previously posted this receipt on Zap.Cooking but now wanting to keep all my long-form notes in Obsidian and publish to Nostr using the nostr-writer plug-in.

---

Details

• ⏲️ Prep time: 20 to 30 minutes
• 🍳 Cook time: 1 to 2 Hours depending on amount of spare ribs
• 🍽️ Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 Quart Dole Pineapple Juice
• 1 Pint Dole Crushed Pineapple
• 1 Pint Dole Tidbits Pineapple
• 1 TS Dried Mustard
• 32 Oz Brown sugar or add to taste
• 1 Cup Red Wine
• 2 TS Corn Starch
• 1 or 2 lbs Pork or Beef spare ribs
• Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Bring water to boil in 8 qt stock pot
3. Cut spare ribs and add to boiling water in stock pot
4. Boil spare ribs for 20 to 30 minutes to remove excess fat
5. Drain spare ribs and place onto cookie sheet
6. Base spare ribs with a generous amount of Worcestershire sauce
7. Place based spare ribs on cookie sheet and place into oven for 60 minutes.
8. Place first 6 ingredients into stock pot and bring to boil while CONTINUOUSLY stirring
9. Add corn starch to 2 cups of water and mix to create thickening agent
10. Add thickening agent incrementally to Sweet & Sour sauce for desired thickness
11. Reduce heat to low while CONTINUOUSLY stirring.
12. Remove spare ribs from oven and place into Sweet & Sour sauce.
13. Place stock pot into oven and cook until done. 1 to 2 hours.

Bon Appétit

@ 5ffb8e1b:255b6735

As a fellow Nostrich you might have noticed some of my #arlist posts. It is my effort to curate artists that are active on Nostr and make it easier for other users to find content that they are interested in.

By now I have posted six or seven posts mentioning close to fifty artists, the problem so far is that it's only a list of handles and it is up to reader to click on each in order to find out what are the artist behind the names all about. Now I am going to start creating blog posts with a few artists mentioned in each, with short descriptions of their work and an image or to.

I would love to have some more automated mode of curation but I still couldn't figure out what is a good way for it. I've looked at Listr, Primal custom feeds and Yakihonne curations but none seem to enable me to make a list of npubs that is then turned into a feed that I could publicly share for others to views. Any advice on how to achieve this is VERY welcome !

And now lets get to the first batch of artists I want to share with you.

Eugene Gorbachenko

nostr:npub1082uhnrnxu7v0gesfl78uzj3r89a8ds2gj3dvuvjnw5qlz4a7udqwrqdnd Artist from Ukrain creating amazing realistic watercolor paintings. He is very active on Nostr but is very unnoticed for some stange reason. Make sure to repost the painting that you liked the most to help other Nostr users to discover his great art.

Siritravelsketch

nostr:npub14lqzjhfvdc9psgxzznq8xys8pfq8p4fqsvtr6llyzraq90u9m8fqevhssu a a lovely lady from Thailand making architecture from all around the world spring alive in her ink skethes. Dynamic lines gives it a dreamy magical feel, sometimes supported by soft watercolor strokes takes you to a ferytale layer of reality.

BureuGewas

nostr:npub1k78qzy2s9ap4klshnu9tcmmcnr3msvvaeza94epsgptr7jce6p9sa2ggp4 a a master of the clasic oil painting. From traditional still life to modern day subjects his paintings makes you feel the textures and light of the scene more intense then reality itself.

You can see that I'm no art critic, but I am trying my best. If anyone else is interested to join me in this curration adventure feel free to reach out !

With love, Agi Choote

@ 592295cf:413a0db9

The journey starts from the links in this article nostr-quick-start-guide

Starting from these links building a simple path should not cover everything, because impossible.

Today I saw that Verbiricha in his workshop on his channel used nstart, but then I distracted And I didn't see how he did it.

---

Go to nstart.me and read: Each user is identified by a cryptographic keypair Public key, Private key (is a lot of stuff)

You can insert a nickname and go, the nickname is not unique

there is a email backup things interesting, but a little boring, i try to generate an email

doesn't even require a strong password ok.

I received the email, great, it shows me the nsec encrypted in clear,

Send a copy of the file with a password, which contains the password encrypted key I know and I know it's a tongue dump.

Multi signer bunker

That's stuff, let's see what he says.

They live the private key and send it to servers and you can recompose it to login at a site of the protocol nostr. If one of these servers goes offline you have the private key that you downloaded first and then reactivate a bunker. All very complicated. But if one of the servers goes offline, how can I remake the split? Maybe he's still testing.

Nobody tells you where these bunkers are.

Okay I have a string that is my bunker (buker://), I downloaded it, easy no, now will tell me which client accepts the bunker.. .

Follow someone before you start?

Is a cluster of 5 people Snowden, Micheal Dilger, jb55, Fiatjaf, Dianele.

I choice Snowden profile, or you can select multiple profiles, extra wild.

Now select 5 clients

Coracle, Chachi, Olas, Nostur, Jumble

The first is Coracle

Login, ok I try to post a note and signing your note the spin does not end.

Maybe the bunker is diffective.

Let's try Chachi

Simpler than Coracle, it has a type login that says bunker. see if I can post

It worked, cool, I managed to post in a group.

Olas is an app but also a website, but on the website requires an extension, which I do not have with this account.

If I download an app how do I pass the bunker on the phone, is it still a password, a qrcode, a qrcode + password, something like that, but many start from the phone so maybe it's easy for them. I try to download it and see if it allows me to connect with a bunker.

Okay I used private-qrcode and it worked, I couldn't do it directly from Olas because it didn't have permissions and the qrcode was < encrypted, so I went to the same site and had the bunker copied and glued on Olas

Ok then I saw that there was the qrcode image of the bunker for apps lol moment

Ok, I liked it, I can say it's a victory.

Looks like none of Snowden's followers are Olas's lover, maybe the smart pack has to predict a photographer or something like that.

Okay I managed to post on Olas, so it works, Expiration time is broken.

As for Nostur, I don't have an ios device so I'm going to another one.

Login with Jumble, it works is a web app

I took almost an hour to do the whole route.

But this was just one link there are two more

Extensions nostr NIP-07

The true path is nip-07-browser-extensions | nostr.net

There are 19 links, maybe there are too many?

I mention the most famous, or active at the moment

1. Aka-profiles: Aka-profiles

Alby I don't know if it's a route to recommend

1. Blockcore Blockcore wallet

2. Nos2x Nos2x

3. Nos2xfox (fork for firefox) Nos2xfox

Nostore is (archived, read-only)

1. Nostrame Nostrame

2. Nowser per IOS Nowser

3. One key (was tricky) One key

Another half hour to search all sites

Nostrapps

Here you can make paths

Then nstart selects Coracle, Chachi, Olas,Nostur and Jumble

Good apps might be Amethyst, 0xchat, Yakihonne, Primal, Damus

for IOS maybe: Primal, Olas, Damus, Nostur, Nos-Social, Nostrmo

On the site there are some categories, I select some with the respective apps

Let's see the categories

Go to Nostrapps and read:

Microbbloging: Primal

Streaming: Zap stream

Blogging: Yakihonne

Group chat: Chachi

Community: Flotilla

Tools: Form *

Discovery: Zapstore (even if it is not in this catrgory)

Direct Message: 0xchat

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

"THE NATURE OF BITCOIN IS SUCH THAT ONCE VERSION 0.1 WAS RELEASED, THE CORE DESIGN WAS SET IN STONE FOR THE REST OF ITS LIFETIME." <sub>- SATOSHI NAKAMOTO</sub>

"Reborn" is inspired by my Bitcoin journey and the many other people whose lives have been changed by Bitcoin. I’ve carved the hand in the “Gyan Mudra” or the “Mudra of Wisdom or Knowledge,” with an Opendime grasped between thumb and index finger alluding to the pursuit of Bitcoin knowledge. The hand emerges from rough, choppy water, and I've set the hand against an archway, through which, the copper leaf hints at the bright orange future made possible by Bitcoin.

Materials: Carrara Marble, Copper leaf, Opendime

Dimensions: 6" x 9" x 13"

Price: $30,000 or BTC equivalent

Enquire: https://www.vonbitcoin.com/available-works

X: https://x.com/BVBTC/status/1894463357316419960/photo/1

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928510

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928470

@ fd78c37f:a0ec0833

YakiHonne: I'm excited to be joined by our guest Piccolo—thank you very much for being here. Before we dive in, I'd like to briefly introduce YakiHonne. YakiHonne is a decentralized media client built on the Nostr protocol, leveraging technology to enable freedom of speech. It empowers creators to fully own their voice and assets while offering innovative tools such as Smart widget , Verified Notes, and support for long-form content. Today, we’re not just discussing YakiHonne, but also diving into your community. Piccolo, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your community?

Piccolo:Hi, I'm Piccolo. I run BO฿ Space in Bangkok, and we also have a satellite location called the BO฿ Space corner in Chiang Mai, thanks to the Bitcoin Learning Center. Piccolo:Regarding my background，I originally came from corporate finance and investment banking. I was in that field for about 20 years, with the last 15 spent running my own firm in corporate finance advisory alongside a couple of partners. We eventually sold the advisory business in 2015, took a short break, and in 2016, I ended up launching a fintech company, which is still operational today. The company specializes in equity crowdfunding and is licensed by the SEC in Thailand. Piccolo:I first bought Bitcoin a few years before truly understanding it, initially thinking it was a scam that would eventually collapse. However, in 2017, the block size wars demonstrated the protocol’s strong resistance to attacks on decentralization, which deeply impacted me. By late 2018 or early 2019, I started to really grasp Bitcoin and kept learning. Then, in mid-2022, after having fully fallen down the Bitcoin rabbit hole, I founded BO฿ Space. It was right after COVID, and since the fintech had scaled down, there was extra space. We started by hosting meetups and technical workshops for people who were interested. Piccolo:In the early years, we had various groups come by—like the team from BDK (Bitcoin Development Kit), who held workshops. The people behind the Bitcoin Beach Wallet, which later became Blink, also visited. So, BO฿ Space initially functioned as a meetup and technical workshop space. Eventually, we launched the BOB Builders Residency program, which was a lot of fun. We secured grant funding for developers under different cohort themes, so that they can collaborate and co-work for a few months. So far, we have completed three cohorts.

YakiHonne:How did your community get started, and what did you do to attract new members in the beginning?

Piccolo:The initial members came through word of mouth and invitations that I sent out. I reached out to an initial group of Bitcoiners here in the city who I believed were strong maximalists or Bitcoin-only supporters, back when that was still a thing. I sent out 21 invitations and had our first meetup with 21 people, most of whom I had interacted with online, though some in person during the COVID years. From there, it spread by word of mouth, and of course, through Twitter and meetup.com. So, I would say that word of mouth remains the main method of growth. Additionally, when people come through Bangkok and are looking for a Bitcoin-only meetup, there really isn't one available. I believe there are a couple now—maybe two or three—but when we started, there weren’t any, especially not a dedicated Bitcoin-only space. I think we may still be the only one in Bangkok. So yeah, word of mouth was definitely the main way we grew. Bitcoiners tend to share their finds when they meet like-minded people.

YakiHonne:Didn’t you have people in your community who initially thought Bitcoin was a scam, like you did, or face similar issues?

Piccolo:Yes, it still happens, especially when the price of Bitcoin rises. Newcomers still join, and some of them believe Bitcoin might be a scam. However, this has become less frequent. The main reason is that when people come to BO฿ Space, they know it’s a Bitcoin-only meetup. We generally don’t discuss the price; instead, we focus on other aspects of Bitcoin, as there are many interesting developments in the space.

YakiHonne:What advice would you give to someone looking to start or grow a Bitcoin-focused community in today’s world? Considering the current landscape, much like your own experience, what guidance would you offer?

Piccolo:It sounds simple, but just do it. When it comes to community building, you don’t necessarily need a physical space. Community is about people coming together, right? Two people can start a community, then three, four, and so on. Meetups can happen anywhere—your favorite bar, a restaurant, a friend’s garage, or wherever. So, just do it, but make sure you have more than one person, otherwise, how can you build a community? Once you have more than one person, word of mouth will spread. And as you develop a core group—let’s say more than five people—that’s when I think the community can truly sustain itself.

YakiHonne:I know you’ve mentioned the technical side of your community, but I’ll ask anyway—does your community engage with the technical or non-technical aspects of Bitcoin? Or perhaps, is there a blend of both?

Piccolo:I would say both. It really depends on the monthly themes of our meetups. For example, February was focused on Asian communities in Bitcoin. During that month, community leaders came in to give presentations and discuss their work in places like Indonesia, India, and more recently, someone from HRF (Human Rights Foundation) talked about Bitcoin’s use case in Myanmar. Then, in December, we had a very technical month—Mining Month. It was led by our Cohort 3 residents, where we discussed Stratum V2 and had a demo on it. We also examined the Loki board hardware, and Zack took apart the S19, looking at different ways to repurpose the power supply unit, among other things. So, it’s a mix of both, depending on the theme for that month. Some months are very technical, while others are more community-focused and less technical.

YakiHonne:What advice would you give to a technically inclined individual or organization looking to contribute meaningfully to the Bitcoin ecosystem?

Piccolo:For technically inclined individuals, I would suggest identifying your favorite open-source project in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Start from Bitcoin Core and explore different layers, such as Lightning or e-cash, and other open-source projects. As for technically inclined organizations, if you're integrating Bitcoin into your business, I would say, first, make sure you have people within your organization who truly understand Bitcoin. Build a capable team first, and then, depending on the part of the Bitcoin ecosystem you’re involved in—whether it’s custody services, Lightning payments, layer 2, or something like Cashu or Ark—find your niche. From there, your team will work with you to discover ways to contribute. But until you build that capability, organizations are a bit different from individuals in this space.

YakiHonne:How do you see the world of Bitcoin communities evolving as technology matures, particularly in areas like scalability, privacy, and adaptability with other systems?

Piccolo:That's an interesting question. If we think about the future of Bitcoin communities, I believe they may eventually disappear as technology matures. Once Bitcoin scales to a point where it integrates seamlessly with other payment systems, becoming part of the everyday norm, the need for dedicated communities will diminish. It’s similar to how we no longer have meetups about refrigerators or iPhones, even though they are technologies we use every day. As Bitcoin matures, it will likely reach that level of ubiquity. There might still be occasional meetups or forums, but they will be more about specific knowledge, use cases, and tools, rather than a community dedicated to introducing others to the technology itself. However, this is a long way off. Bitcoin is still relatively small compared to the global fiat financial system, despite the growth we want to see. So, it will take a long time before we reach that stage.

YakiHonne:It’s something I hadn’t considered before, and it’s quite insightful. Moving to our last question actually which I find very interesting is the government around you for or against bitcoin and how has That affected the community.

Piccolo:In my opinion, on a general level, the government is more supportive than opposed to Bitcoin. The Thai government classifies Bitcoin as a digital asset, almost like digital gold. In that sense, they want to tax capital gains and regulate it. They also have a regulatory framework for it, known as the Digital Asset Regulatory Sandbox, where you can test various things, mainly coins and tokens. It's unfortunate, but that’s how it is. However, our government, especially the regulatory bodies, are open to innovation. They recognize that Bitcoin is different, but they still view blockchain and tokens as useful technologies, which is somewhat misguided. So, in that sense, it’s more support than opposition. A couple of years ago, there was a circular discouraging the use of Bitcoin as a payment currency, mainly because they can't control its monetary policy. And they’re right—Bitcoin can’t be controlled by anyone; there’re the protocol and the rules, and everyone follows them, unless there’s a hard fork, which is a different matter. So, in that regard, Bitcoin is definitely categorized as a digital asset by the government, and that’s where it stands. Piccolo:People who come to BO฿ Space to learn about Bitcoin are often influenced by the government from the point of price movements; especially when government support moves the price up. But they usually only visit once or twice, especially if they’re not deep into the Bitcoin rabbit hole. They often get disappointed because, at BO฿ Space, we rarely discuss the price—maybe once a year, and that’s just after the meetup when people are having drinks. So, in that sense, I’d say the government currently doesn’t really hurt or help the community either way. People will go down the rabbit hole at their own pace. And if you're not a Bitcoiner and you come to a BO฿ Space meetup with a crypto focus, you might be surprised by the approach we take.

YakiHonne:Thank you, Piccolo, for your time and insights. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. Your perspective on the evolution of Bitcoin communities was eye-opening. It's clear that your deep understanding of Bitcoin is invaluable. I'm sure our readers will appreciate your insights. Once again, thank you, Piccolo. I look forward to seeing the continued growth of BO฿ Space and Bitcoin adoption.

@ 2183e947:f497b975

Today I was invited to participate in the private beta of a new social media protocol called Pubky, designed by a bitcoin company called Synonym with the goal of being better than existing social media platforms. As a heavy nostr user, I thought I'd write up a comparison.

I can't tell you how to create your own accounts because it was made very clear that only some of the software is currently open source, and how this will all work is still a bit up in the air. The code that is open source can be found here: https://github.com/pubky -- and the most important repo there seems to be this one: https://github.com/pubky/pubky-core

You can also learn more about Pubky here: https://pubky.org/

That said, I used my invite code to create a pubky account and it seemed very similar to onboarding to nostr. I generated a private key, backed up 12 words, and the onboarding website gave me a public key.

Then I logged into a web-based client and it looked a lot like twitter. I saw a feed for posts by other users and saw options to reply to posts and give reactions, which, I saw, included hearts, thumbs up, and other emojis.

Then I investigated a bit deeper to see how much it was like nostr. I opened up my developer console and navigated to my networking tab, where, if this was nostr, I would expect to see queries to relays for posts. Here, though, I saw one query that seemed to be repeated on a loop, which went to a single server and provided it with my pubkey. That single query (well, a series of identical queries to the same server) seemed to return all posts that showed up on my feed. So I infer that the server "knows" what posts to show me (perhaps it has some sort of algorithm, though the marketing material says it does not use algorithms) and the query was on a loop so that if any new posts came in that the server thinks I might want to see, it can add them to my feed.

Then I checked what happens when I create a post. I did so and looked at what happened in my networking tab. If this was nostr, I would expect to see multiple copies of a signed messaged get sent to a bunch of relays. Here, though, I saw one message get sent to the same server that was populating my feed, and that message was not signed, it was a plaintext copy of my message.

I happened to be in a group chat with John Carvalho at the time, who is associated with pubky. I asked him what was going on, and he said that pubky is based around three types of servers: homeservers, DHT servers, and indexer servers. The homeserver is where you create posts and where you query for posts to show on your feed. DHT servers are used for censorship resistance: each user creates an entry on a DHT server saying what homeserver they use, and these entries are signed by their key.

As for indexers, I think those are supposed to speed up the use of the DHT servers. From what I could tell, indexers query DHT servers to find out what homeservers people use. When you query a homeserver for posts, it is supposed to reach out to indexer servers to find out the homeservers of people whose posts the homeserver decided to show you, and then query those homeservers for those posts. I believe they decided not to look up what homeservers people use directly on DHT servers directly because DHT servers are kind of slow, due to having to store and search through all sorts of non-social-media content, whereas indexers only store a simple db that maps each user's pubkey to their homeserver, so they are faster.

Based on all of this info, it seems like, to populate your feed, this is the series of steps:

• you tell your homeserver your pubkey
• it uses some sort of algorithm to decide whose posts to show you
• then looks up the homeservers used by those people on an indexer server
• then it fetches posts from their homeservers
• then your client displays them to you

To create a post, this is the series of steps:

• you tell your homeserver what you want to say to the world
• it stores that message in plaintext and merely asserts that it came from you (it's not signed)
• other people can find out what you said by querying for your posts on your homeserver

Since posts on homeservers are not signed, I asked John what prevents a homeserver from just making up stuff and claiming I said it. He said nothing stops them from doing that, and if you are using a homeserver that starts acting up in that manner, what you should do is start using a new homeserver and update your DHT record to point at your new homeserver instead of the old one. Then, indexers should update their db to show where your new homeserver is, and the homeservers of people who "follow" you should stop pulling content from your old homeserver and start pulling it from your new one. If their homeserver is misbehaving too, I'm not sure what would happen. Maybe it could refuse to show them the content you've posted on your new homeserver, keeping making up fake content on your behalf that you've never posted, and maybe the people you follow would never learn you're being impersonated or have moved to a new homeserver.

John also clarified that there is not currently any tooling for migrating user content from one homeserver to another. If pubky gets popular and a big homeserver starts misbehaving, users will probably need such a tool. But these are early days, so there aren't that many homeservers, and the ones that exist seem to be pretty trusted.

Anyway, those are my initial thoughts on Pubky. Learn more here: https://pubky.org/

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Only one more month to make adjustments and a couple of my guys haven't played enough games to be eligible for the awards. - Jokic needs to play two more - Giannis needs to play five more

Other notable players who haven't yet played 65 games: - Luka is not even close - Brunson needs to play four more (and probably needs to be replaced regardless) - Wemby is not even close

Here's the current state of the competition with your max possible score next to your nym:

| Contestant | MVP | Champ | All NBA | | | | | |--------------|------|---------|----------|-|-|-|-| | @Undisciplined 47| SGA| OKC | Jokic | KAT |Giannis |Tatum | SGA | | @grayruby 46| SGA| Cavs| Jokic | Giannis | SGA| Mitchell| Brunson| | @gnilma 55| SGA| OKC| Jokic | KAT | Giannis | Tatum| SGA | | @BitcoinAbhi 70 | Luka| Denver| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @Bell_curve 63| SGA| Celtics| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @0xbitcoiner 70 | Jokic| Pacers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| Brunson| | @Coinsreporter 49| Giannis| Pacers| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| Brunson| | @TheMorningStar 49| Luka| Celtics| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Ant| SGA| | @onthedeklein 49| Luka| T-Wolves| Jokic | Giannis | Luka | Wemby| SGA| | @Carresan 34| SGA| Memphis| Jokic | KAT | Giannis | Ant| SGA| | @BTC_Bellzer 34| SGA| Celtics| Jokic| Giannis | Tatum| SGA| Brunson | | @realBitcoinDog 39| Lebron| Lakers| Jokic | Giannis | Ant | Brunson | SGA| | @SimpleStacker 42| SGA| Celtics| Jokic| Tatum| Luka | Brunson| SGA| | @BlokchainB 38| SGA| Knicks| KAT| Giannis | Ant| Brunson| SGA| | @LibertasBR 14| SGA| Celtics| Jokic| Giannis | Tatum | Curry| SGA| | @Meani123 7| SGA| OKC| Jokic | KAT | Tatum | Mitchell | SGA|

Prize At least 6k (I'll keep adding zaps to the pot).

If you want to join this contest, just leave your predictions for MVP, Champion, and All-NBA 1st team in the comments. See the June post for more details.

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928370

@ df06d21e:2b23058f

Imagine a Living Civilization—a new way to see our world. It starts with the Universe’s pillars: Matter, the stuff we’re made of; Energy, the flow that drives us; Physics, the rules we play by; and Chemistry, the complexity that builds us. We know these well. But civilization? That’s our creation—and although it has been described in so many different ways over the years I thought it was time for something new. Civilization has its own pillars, systems that I call the pillars of the Metaverse: Capital, Information, Innovation, and Trust.

Capital is how we measure value. Not just money, but everything that matters: skills, we call that Human Capital; ecosystems, that’s Natural Capital; infrastructure, Public Capital; relationships, Social Capital. Picture a farmer swapping Bitcoin sats for seeds—not fiat debt—or tracking soil health alongside his wallet. Capital is a system, a system of measurement.

Information is how we verify truth. Think IPFS, a network holding real data—climate stats, farming fixes—open to all, not locked up by some corporate gatekeeper. Information is a system of verification.

Innovation is about generating solutions. On GitHub, coders worldwide crank out tools—Nostr clients, solar apps—shared freely, not patented for profit. Innovation is our system of generation.

And Trust—it’s coordination. Nostr’s decentralized threads let communities set trade rules, split resources—governance from the ground up, no overlords required. Trust is our system of coordination.

Right now we’re stuck in debt-based systems—and they’re failing us. Take fiat currency—central banks print it, slashing your purchasing power. Our dollar buys less every year; savings erode while the elite stack their gains. It’s a scam, Bitcoiners know it—fiat’s the real Ponzi bleeding us dry. Capital gets twisted—firms hoard Bitcoin for fiat pumps, not real wealth; governments chase GDP while forests die and skills sit idle. Information is buried—our media spits out spin, our corporations lock truth in silos. Innovation is stalled—debt props up corporate patents, not open wins. Trust is gone—our governance systems consist of top-down control that splits us apart, left to right, top to bottom. Debt just measures scarcity—money borrowed, nature trashed, bonds frayed—and it’s crushing the pillars.

Wealth-based systems promise to turn that around. Bitcoin’s sound money is just the start—sats hold value, not inflate it away. Real capital measures what sustains us—sats fund a cooperative's water pump, not a vault; they track skills taught, land healed, ties rebuilt. Real Information opens up—IPFS logs show ‘biochar boosted yield 20%’, verified by us, not suits. Real Innovation flows—GitHub devs build Lightning hubs, wealth spreads. Real Trust binds us together—Nostr chats align us, no central puppeteer. Wealth based systems strengthen the pillars of the Metaverse, it doesn’t erode them.

We needed a new framing. A new vision of what was, what is, and what could be. We have one. This is real. This is the world we are building. Bitcoin is live, Nostr is growing, IPFS and GitHub are humming. We can see Debt teetering; while real wealth is rising. So, hodlers, maxis, plebs—everyone—what does a true wealth-based system look like? How can we measure Capital beyond fiat’s con job? Bitcoin’s the rock, but it’s just the beginning. How do we build on this, expand it, and transform everything as we build something entirely new?

@ 3e6e0735:9e95c8a2

https://i.nostr.build/lanoHI3p2aCKRZlV.png

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Bitcoin still feels so misunderstood. Not just by the media or the IMF — that part’s predictable. But even inside our own circles, something's missing.

We say it’s money. We say it’s freedom. We say it’s code. And it is. But when you really zoom out, past the price and the politics, it’s something more radical than we usually admit.

Bitcoin is a shift in how power moves. And what we do with that power now actually matters.

The noise outside

Let’s start with the obvious: the media still doesn’t get it. Every other headline is either a death knell or a celebration depending on the price that day. No context. No nuance. No understanding of what we’re building.

You’ve seen the headlines: - “Bitcoin is crashing again.” - “Crypto bros are killing the planet.” - “The IMF warns: Bitcoin adoption is dangerous.”

Yeah? Dangerous to what?

The system they control. The levers they pull. The old game where the house always wins.

That’s why they’re afraid. Not because Bitcoin is volatile, but because it doesn’t ask permission.

This isn’t about panic — it’s about patterns

I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy. But there is inertia. Institutions protect themselves. Systems reinforce themselves. They were never going to roll out the red carpet for an open, borderless network that replaces their function.

So the IMF calls it a threat. Central banks scramble to launch CBDCs. And journalists keep writing the same shallow takes while ignoring the real story.

Meanwhile, we’re still here. Still building. Still holding. Still running nodes.

Bitcoin isn’t perfect. But it’s honest. It doesn’t bend to popularity or political pressure. It enforces rules with math, not people. And that’s exactly why it works.

Even we miss it sometimes

Here’s the part that really hit me recently: even within Bitcoin, we often undersell what this is.

We talk about savings. Inflation. Fiat debasement. All real, all important.

But what about the broader layer? What about governance? Energy? Communication? Defense?

Jason Lowery’s book Softwar lit that fuse for me again. Not because it’s flawless — it’s not. But because he reframed the game.

Bitcoin isn’t a new weapon. It’s the end of weapons-as-power.

Proof-of-work, in Lowery’s view, is a form of peaceful negotiation. A deterrent against coercion. A way to shift from kinetic violence to computational resolution.

Most people — even many Bitcoiners — haven’t fully absorbed that.

It’s not about militarizing the network. It’s about demilitarizing the world through energy expenditure that replaces human conflict.

Let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean Bitcoin will be used this way. It means it can. And that opens up a few possible futures:

• Scenario A: Smaller nations adopt Bitcoin infrastructure as a shield — a deterrent and neutral layer to build sovereignty
• Scenario B: Superpowers attack mining and self-custody, escalating regulatory capture and fragmenting the open protocol into corporate silos
• Scenario C: Bitcoin becomes the boring backend of legacy finance, its edge neutered by ETFs and custody-as-a-service

Which one wins depends on what we build — and who steps up.

Then I found Maya

I came across Maya Parbhoe’s campaign by accident. One of those late-night rabbit holes where Bitcoin Twitter turns into a global map.

She’s running for president of Suriname. She’s a Bitcoiner. And she’s not just tweeting about it — she’s building an entire political platform around it.

No central bank. Bitcoin as legal tender. Full fiscal transparency. Open-source government.

Yeah. You read that right. Not just open-source software — open-source statehood.

Her father was murdered after exposing corruption. That’s not a talking point. That’s real-life consequence. And instead of running away from systems, she’s choosing to redesign one.

That’s maximalism. Not in ideology. In action.

The El Salvador experiment — and evolution

When El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, it lit up our feeds. It was bold. Unprecedented. A true first.

But not without flaws.

The rollout was fast. Chivo wallet was centralized. Adoption stalled in rural areas. Transparency was thin. And despite the brave move, the state’s underlying structure remained top-down.

Bukele played offense, but the protocol was wrapped in traditional power.

Maya is doing it differently. Her approach is grassroots-forward. Open-source by design. Focused on education, transparency, and modular state-building — not just mandates.

She’s not using Bitcoin to prop up state power. She’s using it to distribute it.

Maximalism is evolving

Look, I get it. The memes are fun. The laser eyes. The beefsteak meetups. The HODL culture.

But there’s something else growing here. Something a little quieter, a little deeper: - People running nodes to protect civil liberties - Communities using Lightning for real commerce - Builders forging tools for self-sovereign identity - Leaders like Maya testing what Bitcoin can look like as public infrastructure

This is happening. In real time. It’s messy and fragile and still small. But it’s happening.

Let’s also stay honest:

Maximalism has its risks. Dogma can blind us. Toxicity can push people away. And if we’re not careful, we’ll replace one centralization with another — just wearing different memes.

We need less purity, more principles. Less hype, more clarity. That’s the kind of maximalism Maya embodies.

What now?

Maya doesn’t have a VC fund or an ad agency. She has a message, a mission, and the courage to put Bitcoin on the ballot.

If that resonates, help her. Not just by donating — though here’s the link:

https://geyser.fund/project/maya2025/

But by sharing. Writing. Talking. Translating. Connecting.

Bitcoin is still early. But it’s not abstract anymore.

This isn’t just theory.

It’s a protocol, sure. But now, maybe it’s a presidency too.

https://i.nostr.build/0luYy8ojK7gkxsuL.png

@ 3e6e0735:9e95c8a2

https://i.nostr.build/lanoHI3p2aCKRZlV.png

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Bitcoin still feels so misunderstood. Not just by the media or the IMF — that part’s predictable. But even inside our own circles, something's missing.

We say it’s money. We say it’s freedom. We say it’s code. And it is. But when you really zoom out, past the price and the politics, it’s something more radical than we usually admit.

Bitcoin is a shift in how power moves. And what we do with that power now actually matters.

The noise outside

Let’s start with the obvious: the media still doesn’t get it. Every other headline is either a death knell or a celebration depending on the price that day. No context. No nuance. No understanding of what we’re building.

You’ve seen the headlines: - “Bitcoin is crashing again.” - “Crypto bros are killing the planet.” - “The IMF warns: Bitcoin adoption is dangerous.”

Yeah? Dangerous to what?

The system they control. The levers they pull. The old game where the house always wins.

That’s why they’re afraid. Not because Bitcoin is volatile, but because it doesn’t ask permission.

This isn’t about panic — it’s about patterns

I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy. But there is inertia. Institutions protect themselves. Systems reinforce themselves. They were never going to roll out the red carpet for an open, borderless network that replaces their function.

So the IMF calls it a threat. Central banks scramble to launch CBDCs. And journalists keep writing the same shallow takes while ignoring the real story.

Meanwhile, we’re still here. Still building. Still holding. Still running nodes.

Bitcoin isn’t perfect. But it’s honest. It doesn’t bend to popularity or political pressure. It enforces rules with math, not people. And that’s exactly why it works.

Even we miss it sometimes

Here’s the part that really hit me recently: even within Bitcoin, we often undersell what this is.

We talk about savings. Inflation. Fiat debasement. All real, all important.

But what about the broader layer? What about governance? Energy? Communication? Defense?

Jason Lowery’s book Softwar lit that fuse for me again. Not because it’s flawless — it’s not. But because he reframed the game.

Bitcoin isn’t a new weapon. It’s the end of weapons-as-power.

Proof-of-work, in Lowery’s view, is a form of peaceful negotiation. A deterrent against coercion. A way to shift from kinetic violence to computational resolution.

Most people — even many Bitcoiners — haven’t fully absorbed that.

It’s not about militarizing the network. It’s about demilitarizing the world through energy expenditure that replaces human conflict.

Let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean Bitcoin will be used this way. It means it can. And that opens up a few possible futures:

• Scenario A: Smaller nations adopt Bitcoin infrastructure as a shield — a deterrent and neutral layer to build sovereignty
• Scenario B: Superpowers attack mining and self-custody, escalating regulatory capture and fragmenting the open protocol into corporate silos
• Scenario C: Bitcoin becomes the boring backend of legacy finance, its edge neutered by ETFs and custody-as-a-service

Which one wins depends on what we build — and who steps up.

Then I found Maya

I came across Maya Parbhoe’s campaign by accident. One of those late-night rabbit holes where Bitcoin Twitter turns into a global map.

She’s running for president of Suriname. She’s a Bitcoiner. And she’s not just tweeting about it — she’s building an entire political platform around it.

No central bank. Bitcoin as legal tender. Full fiscal transparency. Open-source government.

Yeah. You read that right. Not just open-source software — open-source statehood.

Her father was murdered after exposing corruption. That’s not a talking point. That’s real-life consequence. And instead of running away from systems, she’s choosing to redesign one.

That’s maximalism. Not in ideology. In action.

The El Salvador experiment — and evolution

When El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, it lit up our feeds. It was bold. Unprecedented. A true first.

But not without flaws.

The rollout was fast. Chivo wallet was centralized. Adoption stalled in rural areas. Transparency was thin. And despite the brave move, the state’s underlying structure remained top-down.

Bukele played offense, but the protocol was wrapped in traditional power.

Maya is doing it differently. Her approach is grassroots-forward. Open-source by design. Focused on education, transparency, and modular state-building — not just mandates.

She’s not using Bitcoin to prop up state power. She’s using it to distribute it.

Maximalism is evolving

Look, I get it. The memes are fun. The laser eyes. The beefsteak meetups. The HODL culture.

But there’s something else growing here. Something a little quieter, a little deeper: - People running nodes to protect civil liberties - Communities using Lightning for real commerce - Builders forging tools for self-sovereign identity - Leaders like Maya testing what Bitcoin can look like as public infrastructure

This is happening. In real time. It’s messy and fragile and still small. But it’s happening.

Let’s also stay honest:

Maximalism has its risks. Dogma can blind us. Toxicity can push people away. And if we’re not careful, we’ll replace one centralization with another — just wearing different memes.

We need less purity, more principles. Less hype, more clarity. That’s the kind of maximalism Maya embodies.

What now?

Maya doesn’t have a VC fund or an ad agency. She has a message, a mission, and the courage to put Bitcoin on the ballot.

If that resonates, help her. Not just by donating — though here’s the link:

https://geyser.fund/project/maya2025

But by sharing. Writing. Talking. Translating. Connecting.

Bitcoin is still early. But it’s not abstract anymore.

This isn’t just theory.

It’s a protocol, sure. But now, maybe it’s a presidency too.

https://i.nostr.build/0luYy8ojK7gkxsuL.png

@ 3e6e0735:9e95c8a2

Bitcoin: This Isn’t Just Theory Anymore

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Bitcoin still feels so misunderstood. Not just by the media or the IMF — that part’s predictable. But even inside our own circles, something's missing.

We say it’s money. We say it’s freedom. We say it’s code. And it is. But when you really zoom out, past the price and the politics, it’s something more radical than we usually admit.

Bitcoin is a shift in how power moves. And what we do with that power now actually matters.

The noise outside

Let’s start with the obvious: the media still doesn’t get it. Every other headline is either a death knell or a celebration depending on the price that day. No context. No nuance. No understanding of what we’re building.

You’ve seen the headlines: - “Bitcoin is crashing again.” - “Crypto bros are killing the planet.” - “The IMF warns: Bitcoin adoption is dangerous.”

Yeah? Dangerous to what?

The system they control. The levers they pull. The old game where the house always wins.

That’s why they’re afraid. Not because Bitcoin is volatile, but because it doesn’t ask permission.

This isn’t about panic — it’s about patterns

I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy. But there is inertia. Institutions protect themselves. Systems reinforce themselves. They were never going to roll out the red carpet for an open, borderless network that replaces their function.

So the IMF calls it a threat. Central banks scramble to launch CBDCs. And journalists keep writing the same shallow takes while ignoring the real story.

Meanwhile, we’re still here. Still building. Still holding. Still running nodes.

Bitcoin isn’t perfect. But it’s honest. It doesn’t bend to popularity or political pressure. It enforces rules with math, not people. And that’s exactly why it works.

Even we miss it sometimes

Here’s the part that really hit me recently: even within Bitcoin, we often undersell what this is.

We talk about savings. Inflation. Fiat debasement. All real, all important.

But what about the broader layer? What about governance? Energy? Communication? Defense?

Jason Lowery’s book Softwar lit that fuse for me again. Not because it’s flawless — it’s not. But because he reframed the game.

Bitcoin isn’t a new weapon. It’s the end of weapons-as-power.

Proof-of-work, in Lowery’s view, is a form of peaceful negotiation. A deterrent against coercion. A way to shift from kinetic violence to computational resolution.

Most people — even many Bitcoiners — haven’t fully absorbed that.

It’s not about militarizing the network. It’s about demilitarizing the world through energy expenditure that replaces human conflict.

Let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean Bitcoin will be used this way. It means it can. And that opens up a few possible futures:

• Scenario A: Smaller nations adopt Bitcoin infrastructure as a shield — a deterrent and neutral layer to build sovereignty
• Scenario B: Superpowers attack mining and self-custody, escalating regulatory capture and fragmenting the open protocol into corporate silos
• Scenario C: Bitcoin becomes the boring backend of legacy finance, its edge neutered by ETFs and custody-as-a-service

Which one wins depends on what we build — and who steps up.

Then I found Maya

I came across Maya Parbhoe’s campaign by accident. One of those late-night rabbit holes where Bitcoin Twitter turns into a global map.

She’s running for president of Suriname. She’s a Bitcoiner. And she’s not just tweeting about it — she’s building an entire political platform around it.

No central bank. Bitcoin as legal tender. Full fiscal transparency. Open-source government.

Yeah. You read that right. Not just open-source software — open-source statehood.

Her father was murdered after exposing corruption. That’s not a talking point. That’s real-life consequence. And instead of running away from systems, she’s choosing to redesign one.

That’s maximalism. Not in ideology. In action.

The El Salvador experiment — and evolution

When El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, it lit up our feeds. It was bold. Unprecedented. A true first.

But not without flaws.

The rollout was fast. Chivo wallet was centralized. Adoption stalled in rural areas. Transparency was thin. And despite the brave move, the state’s underlying structure remained top-down.

Bukele played offense, but the protocol was wrapped in traditional power.

Maya is doing it differently. Her approach is grassroots-forward. Open-source by design. Focused on education, transparency, and modular state-building — not just mandates.

She’s not using Bitcoin to prop up state power. She’s using it to distribute it.

Maximalism is evolving

Look, I get it. The memes are fun. The laser eyes. The beefsteak meetups. The HODL culture.

But there’s something else growing here. Something a little quieter, a little deeper: - People running nodes to protect civil liberties - Communities using Lightning for real commerce - Builders forging tools for self-sovereign identity - Leaders like Maya testing what Bitcoin can look like as public infrastructure

This is happening. In real time. It’s messy and fragile and still small. But it’s happening.

Let’s also stay honest:

Maximalism has its risks. Dogma can blind us. Toxicity can push people away. And if we’re not careful, we’ll replace one centralization with another — just wearing different memes.

We need less purity, more principles. Less hype, more clarity. That’s the kind of maximalism Maya embodies.

What now?

Maya doesn’t have a VC fund or an ad agency. She has a message, a mission, and the courage to put Bitcoin on the ballot.

If that resonates, help her. Not just by donating — though here’s the link:

https://geyser.fund/project/maya2025/

But by sharing. Writing. Talking. Translating. Connecting.

Bitcoin is still early. But it’s not abstract anymore.

This isn’t just theory.

It’s a protocol, sure. But now, maybe it’s a presidency too.

https://i.nostr.build/0luYy8ojK7gkxsuL.png

@ 3e6e0735:9e95c8a2

Bitcoin: This Isn’t Just Theory Anymore

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Bitcoin still feels so misunderstood. Not just by the media or the IMF — that part’s predictable. But even inside our own circles, something's missing.

We say it’s money. We say it’s freedom. We say it’s code. And it is. But when you really zoom out, past the price and the politics, it’s something more radical than we usually admit.

Bitcoin is a shift in how power moves. And what we do with that power now actually matters.

The noise outside

Let’s start with the obvious: the media still doesn’t get it. Every other headline is either a death knell or a celebration depending on the price that day. No context. No nuance. No understanding of what we’re building.

You’ve seen the headlines: - “Bitcoin is crashing again.” - “Crypto bros are killing the planet.” - “The IMF warns: Bitcoin adoption is dangerous.”

Yeah? Dangerous to what?

The system they control. The levers they pull. The old game where the house always wins.

That’s why they’re afraid. Not because Bitcoin is volatile, but because it doesn’t ask permission.

This isn’t about panic — it’s about patterns

I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy. But there is inertia. Institutions protect themselves. Systems reinforce themselves. They were never going to roll out the red carpet for an open, borderless network that replaces their function.

So the IMF calls it a threat. Central banks scramble to launch CBDCs. And journalists keep writing the same shallow takes while ignoring the real story.

Meanwhile, we’re still here. Still building. Still holding. Still running nodes.

Bitcoin isn’t perfect. But it’s honest. It doesn’t bend to popularity or political pressure. It enforces rules with math, not people. And that’s exactly why it works.

Even we miss it sometimes

Here’s the part that really hit me recently: even within Bitcoin, we often undersell what this is.

We talk about savings. Inflation. Fiat debasement. All real, all important.

But what about the broader layer? What about governance? Energy? Communication? Defense?

Jason Lowery’s book Softwar lit that fuse for me again. Not because it’s flawless — it’s not. But because he reframed the game.

Bitcoin isn’t a new weapon. It’s the end of weapons-as-power.

Proof-of-work, in Lowery’s view, is a form of peaceful negotiation. A deterrent against coercion. A way to shift from kinetic violence to computational resolution.

Most people — even many Bitcoiners — haven’t fully absorbed that.

It’s not about militarizing the network. It’s about demilitarizing the world through energy expenditure that replaces human conflict.

Let’s be clear: this doesn’t mean Bitcoin will be used this way. It means it can. And that opens up a few possible futures:

• Scenario A: Smaller nations adopt Bitcoin infrastructure as a shield — a deterrent and neutral layer to build sovereignty
• Scenario B: Superpowers attack mining and self-custody, escalating regulatory capture and fragmenting the open protocol into corporate silos
• Scenario C: Bitcoin becomes the boring backend of legacy finance, its edge neutered by ETFs and custody-as-a-service

Which one wins depends on what we build — and who steps up.

Then I found Maya

I came across Maya Parbhoe’s campaign by accident. One of those late-night rabbit holes where Bitcoin Twitter turns into a global map.

She’s running for president of Suriname. She’s a Bitcoiner. And she’s not just tweeting about it — she’s building an entire political platform around it.

No central bank. Bitcoin as legal tender. Full fiscal transparency. Open-source government.

Yeah. You read that right. Not just open-source software — open-source statehood.

Her father was murdered after exposing corruption. That’s not a talking point. That’s real-life consequence. And instead of running away from systems, she’s choosing to redesign one.

That’s maximalism. Not in ideology. In action.

The El Salvador experiment — and evolution

When El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, it lit up our feeds. It was bold. Unprecedented. A true first.

But not without flaws.

The rollout was fast. Chivo wallet was centralized. Adoption stalled in rural areas. Transparency was thin. And despite the brave move, the state’s underlying structure remained top-down.

Bukele played offense, but the protocol was wrapped in traditional power.

Maya is doing it differently. Her approach is grassroots-forward. Open-source by design. Focused on education, transparency, and modular state-building — not just mandates.

She’s not using Bitcoin to prop up state power. She’s using it to distribute it.

Maximalism is evolving

Look, I get it. The memes are fun. The laser eyes. The beefsteak meetups. The HODL culture.

But there’s something else growing here. Something a little quieter, a little deeper: - People running nodes to protect civil liberties - Communities using Lightning for real commerce - Builders forging tools for self-sovereign identity - Leaders like Maya testing what Bitcoin can look like as public infrastructure

This is happening. In real time. It’s messy and fragile and still small. But it’s happening.

Let’s also stay honest:

Maximalism has its risks. Dogma can blind us. Toxicity can push people away. And if we’re not careful, we’ll replace one centralization with another — just wearing different memes.

We need less purity, more principles. Less hype, more clarity. That’s the kind of maximalism Maya embodies.

What now?

Maya doesn’t have a VC fund or an ad agency. She has a message, a mission, and the courage to put Bitcoin on the ballot.

If that resonates, help her. Not just by donating — though here’s the link:

https://geyser.fund/project/maya2025/

But by sharing. Writing. Talking. Translating. Connecting.

Bitcoin is still early. But it’s not abstract anymore.

This isn’t just theory.

It’s a protocol, sure. But now, maybe it’s a presidency too.

https://i.nostr.build/0luYy8ojK7gkxsuL.png

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Preko is a charming seaside town on Ugljan Island, just a short ferry ride from Zadar. Known for its beautiful beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and stunning views of the Adriatic, it's the perfect place to experience authentic Dalmatian island life.

🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Preko

1️⃣ Swim at Jaz Beach 🏖️

• A Blue Flag beach with clear turquoise waters and soft pebbles.
• Ideal for families thanks to its shallow waters.
• Nearby cafés and restaurants make it a great spot to spend the day.

2️⃣ Visit the Islet of Galevac 🏝️

• A tiny island just 80 meters from Preko, reachable by swimming or a short boat ride.
• Home to a 15th-century Franciscan monastery, surrounded by lush greenery.
• A peaceful retreat, perfect for relaxation.

3️⃣ Hike to St. Michael’s Fortress (Sv. Mihovil) 🏰

• A medieval fortress from the 13th century with breathtaking panoramic views.
• Overlooks Zadar, Kornati Islands, and the Adriatic Sea.
• A 1-hour scenic hike from Preko or accessible by bike or car.

4️⃣ Explore the Local Taverns & Seafood Restaurants 🍽️

• Try fresh seafood, octopus salad, and Dalmatian peka (slow-cooked meat & vegetables).
• Best spots: Konoba Roko (authentic seafood) & Vile Dalmacija (beachfront dining).

5️⃣ Rent a Bike or Scooter 🚲

• Explore Ugljan Island’s olive groves, hidden coves, and coastal paths.
• Visit nearby villages like Kali and Kukljica for more local charm.

6️⃣ Take a Day Trip to Zadar ⛵

• Just 25 minutes by ferry, Zadar offers historic landmarks, the Sea Organ, and Roman ruins.
• Perfect for a cultural excursion before returning to the peaceful island.

🚗 How to Get to Preko

🚢 By Ferry:
- From Zadar: Regular ferries (Jadrolinija) take ~25 minutes.
🚘 By Car:
- If driving, take the ferry from Zadar to Preko and explore the island.
🚴 By Bike:
- Many visitors rent bikes to explore Ugljan Island’s coastal roads.

💡 Tips for Visiting Preko

✅ Best time to visit? May–September for warm weather & swimming 🌞
✅ Ferry schedules – Check times in advance, especially in the off-season ⏳
✅ Bring cash – Some smaller taverns and cafés may not accept cards 💰
✅ Stay for sunset – The views over Zadar from Preko’s waterfront are stunning 🌅

Would you like hotel recommendations, hidden beaches, or other island activities? 😊

@ 8dac122d:0fc98d37

UNOFFICIAL SHOPFRONT

I really enjoyed @plebpoet new craft playing with paper and delivering a weekly zine for us! Such great idea!

@k00b decided to sell the physical printed copies online with zaprite. A fair and understandable decision after a thoughtful examination on how to easily self-host of a basic ecommerce store that accepts bitcoin.

Anyhow, we're still missing an ecommerce shopfront, and I though, why not test with this ~AGORA marketplace thing we got here!

This post will be collecting all the issue weekly, including (when available) direct links to: - the original announcement here on SN - the digital versions for screen readers, - the PDF booklet file, for those willing to print the file themselves, - the link to zaprite to acquire the printed zine with fiat or sats, delivered worldwide to you via post.

I'll add a comment below for each issue.

LFG @SN!

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928207

@ fe9e99a0:5123e9a8

What’s happening?

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Krka National Park, located in central Dalmatia, is one of Croatia’s most breathtaking natural wonders. Famous for its stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes, and lush forests, the park is a must-visit for nature lovers. Unlike Plitvice Lakes, Krka allows swimming in certain areas, making it a perfect summer escape.

🌊 Top Things to See & Do in Krka National Park

1️⃣ Skradinski Buk Waterfall 💦

• The largest and most famous waterfall in the park, with cascading pools and wooden walkways.
• You used to be able to swim here, but since 2021, swimming is no longer allowed.
• Perfect for photography and picnics.

2️⃣ Roški Slap Waterfall 🌿

• A less crowded but equally beautiful series of waterfalls.
• Known for its "necklace" of small cascades leading into the main fall.
• Nearby Mlinica, a restored watermill, shows traditional Croatian life.

3️⃣ Visovac Island & Monastery 🏝️

• A tiny island in the middle of the Krka River, home to a Franciscan monastery from the 15th century.
• Accessible by boat tour from Skradinski Buk or Roški Slap.
• A peaceful, scenic spot with stunning views of the lake.

4️⃣ Krka Monastery 🏛️

• A Serbian Orthodox monastery hidden deep in the park.
• Built on ancient Roman catacombs, which you can explore.
• A quiet, spiritual place, often overlooked by tourists.

5️⃣ Hike & Walk the Nature Trails 🥾

• The park has several well-marked trails through forests, waterfalls, and lakes.
• Wooden walkways allow easy access to the main sights.
• Wildlife spotting: Look out for otters, turtles, and over 200 bird species!

6️⃣ Swim at Skradin Beach 🏖️

• While you can’t swim at Skradinski Buk anymore, Skradin Beach, just outside the park, is a great spot for a dip.
• Kayaking and boat tours available.

🚗 How to Get to Krka National Park

✈️ By Air: The nearest airport is Split (SPU), 1 hour away.
🚘 By Car:
- Split to Krka: ~1 hour (85 km)
- Zadar to Krka: ~1 hour (75 km)
- Dubrovnik to Krka: ~3.5 hours (280 km)
🚌 By Bus: Direct buses from Split, Zadar, and Šibenik to the park’s entrances.
🚢 By Boat: From Skradin, you can take a boat ride into the park.

💡 Tips for Visiting Krka National Park

✅ Best time to visit? Spring & early autumn (April–June, September–October) – Fewer crowds & mild weather 🍃
✅ Start early! Arrive before 10 AM to avoid crowds, especially in summer ☀️
✅ Bring water & snacks – Limited food options inside the park 🍎
✅ Wear comfy shoes – Wooden walkways & trails can be slippery 👟
✅ Take a boat tour – The best way to see Visovac Island & hidden spots ⛵
✅ Buy tickets online – Save time at the entrance 🎟️

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

It's Finally here Stackers!

It's Friday!

We're about to kick off our weekends with some feel good tracks.

Let's get the party started. Bring me those Feel Good tracks.

Let's get it!

https://youtu.be/r1ATFedwjnk?si=tPtLac6ExYZCx3Ez

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/928119

@ 3c389c8f:7a2eff7f

There is a new web being built on Nostr. At it's core, is a social experience paralleled by no other decentralized protocol. Nostr not only solves the problems of siloed relationships, third-party identity ownership, and algorithmic content control; it makes possible a ubiquitous social network across almost anything imaginable. User controlled identity, open data, and verifiable social graphs allow us to redefine trust on the web. We can interact with each other and online content in ways that have previously only been pipedreams. Nostr is not just social media, it is the web made social.

Interoperability

The client/relay relationship on Nostr allows for almost endless data exchange between various apps, clients, relays, and users. If any two things are willing to speak the same sub-protocol(s) within Nostr, they can exchange data. Making a friend list enables that list to be used in any other place that chooses to make it available. Creating a relay to serve an algorithmic social feed makes that feed viewable in any client that displays social feeds. Health data held by a patient can be shared with any care provider, verified by their system, and vice versa. This is the point where I have to acknowledge my own tech-deaf limitations and direct you towards nostr.com for more information.

Data Resiliency

I prefer to use the term resiliency here, because its really a mix of data redundancy and self-managed data that creates broad availability. Relays may host 10, 20, 30+ copies of your notes in different locations, but you also have no assurance that those relays will hosts those notes forever. An individual operating their own relay, while also connecting to the wider network, ensures resiliency in events such that wide swaths of the network should disappear or collude against an individual. The simplicity of relay management makes it possible for nearly anyone to make sure that they have a way to convey their messages to their individual network, whether that be close contacts, an audience, or one individual. This resiliency doesn't just apply to typical speech, it applies to any data intended to be shared amongst humans and machines alike.

Pseudonymity and Anonymity

With privacy encroachment from corporations, advertisers, and governments reaching all time highs, the need for identity protecting tools is also on the rise. Nostr utilizes public key encryption for its identity system. As there is no central entity to "verify" you, there is no need to expose any personal identifiable information to any Nostr app, client, or relay. You can protect your personal identity by simply choosing not to expose it. Your reputation will build as you interact with others on the Nostr network. Your social capital can speak for itself. (As with everything else, utilizing a VPN is recommended.)

Identity and Provability

No one can stop an impersonator from trying to hijack an identity. With Nostr, you CAN prove that you are you, though, which is basically the same as saying "that person is not me" Every note you write, every action you take, is cryptographically signed by your private key. As long as you maintain control of that key, you can prove what you did or did not do.

Censorship Resistance

If you have read our Relay Rundown then you probably get the idea. If not here's the tl;dr: Many small, lightweight relays make up Nostr's distribution system. They are simple enough that anyone can run one. They are redundant enough that you can be almost certain your content exists somewhere. If that is not peace of mind enough, you can run your own with ease. Censorship resistance isn't counting on one company, man, or server to protect what you say. It is taking control of your speech. Nostr makes it easy.

Freedom of Mind and Association

Nostr eliminates the need for company run algorithms that high-jack your attention to feed the advertising industry. You are free to choose your social media experience. Nostr's DVMs, curations, and conversation-centered relays offer discovery mechanisms run by any number of providers. That could be an individual, a company, a group, or you. Many clients incorporate different ways of engaging with these corporate algorithm alternatives. You can also choose to keep a purely chronological feed of the the things and people you follow. Exploring Nostr through its many apps opens up a the freedom to choose what and how you feed your mind.

When we are able to explore, we end up surrounding ourselves with people who share our interests & hobbies. We find friends. This creates distance between ideologies and stark beliefs that often are used as the basis for the term "being in a bubble". Instead of bubbling off, an infinitely open space of thoughts and ideas allows for groups to gather naturally. In this way, we can choose not to block ourselves off from opposing views but to simply distance ourselves from them.

Nostr's relay system also allows for the opposite. Tight-knit communities can create a space for its members to socialize and exchange information with minimal interference from any outside influence. By setting up their own relays with strict rules, the members can utilize one identity to interact within a community or across the broader social network.

@ 0d6c8388:46488a33

Huge thank you to OpenSats for the grant to work on Hypernote this year! I thought I'd take this opportunity to try and share my thought processes for Hypernote. If this all sounds very dense or irrelevant to you I'm sorry!

===

How can the ideas of "hypermedia" benefit nostr? That's the goal of hypernote. To take the best ideas from "hypertext" and "hypercard" and "hypermedia systems" and apply them to nostr in a specifically nostr-ey way.

1. What do we mean by hypermedia

A hypermedia document embeds the methods of interaction (links, forms, and buttons are the most well-known hypermedia controls) within the document itself. It's including the how with the what.

This is how the old web worked. An HTML page was delivered to the web browser, and it included in it a link or perhaps a form that could be submitted to obtain a new, different HTML page. This is how the whole web worked early on! Forums and GeoCities and eBay and MySpace and Yahoo! and Amazon and Google all emerged inside this paradigm.

A web browser in this paradigm was a "thin" client which rendered the "thick" application defined in the HTML (and, implicitly, was defined by the server that would serve that HTML).

Contrast this with modern app development, where the what is usually delivered in the form of JSON, and then HTML combined with JavaScript (React, Svelte, Angular, Vue, etc.) is devised to render that JSON as a meaningful piece of hypermedia within the actual browser, the how.

The browser remains a "thin" client in this scenario, but now the application is delivered in two stages: a client application of HTML and JavaScript, and then the actual JSON data that will hydrate that "application".

(Aside: it's interesting how much "thicker" the browser has had to become to support this newer paradigm!)

Nostr was obviously built in line with the modern paradigm: nostr "clients" (written in React or Svelte or as mobile apps) define the how of reading and creating nostr events, while nostr events themselves (JSON data) simply describe the what.

And so the goal with Hypernote is to square this circle somehow: nostr currently delivers JSON what, how do we deliver the how with nostr as well. Is that even possible?

2. Hypernote's design assumptions

Hypernote assumes that hypermedia over nostr is a good idea! I'm expecting some joyful renaissance of app expression similar to that of the web once we figure out how to express applications in a truly "nostr" way.

Hypernote was also deeply inspired by HTMX, so it assumes that building web apps in the HTMX style is a good idea. The HTMX insight is that instead of shipping rich scripting along with your app, you could simply make HTML a tiny bit more expressive and get 95% of what most apps need. HTMX's additions to the HTML language are designed to be as minimal and composable as possible, and Hypernote should have the same aims.

Hypernote also assumes that the "design" of nostr will remain fluid and anarchic for years to come. There will be no "canonical" list of "required" NIPs that we'll have "consensus" on in order to build stable UIs on top of. Hypernote will need to be built responsive to nostr's moods and seasons, rather than one holy spec.

Hypernote likes the nak command line tool. Hypernote likes markdown. Hypernote likes Tailwind CSS. Hypernote likes SolidJS. Hypernote likes cold brew coffee. Hypernote is, to be perfectly honest, my aesthetic preferences applied to my perception of an opportunity in the nostr ecosystem.

3. "What's a hypernote?"

Great question. I'm still figuring this out. Everything right now is subject to change in order to make sure hypernote serves its intended purpose.

But here's where things currently stand:

A hypernote is a flat list of "Hypernote Elements". A Hypernote Element is composed of:

1. CONTENT. Static or dynamic content. (the what)
2. LOGIC. Filters and events (the how)
3. STYLE. Optional, inline style information specific to this element's content.

In the most basic example of a hypernote story, here's a lone "edit me" in the middle of the canvas:

{ "id": "fb4aaed4-bf95-4353-a5e1-0bb64525c08f", "type": "text", "text": "edit me", "x": 540, "y": 960, "size": "md", "color": "black" }

As you can see, it has no logic, but it does have some content (the text "edit me") and style (the position, size, and color).

Here's a "sticker" that displays a note:

{ "id": "2cd1ef51-3356-408d-b10d-2502cbb8014e", "type": "sticker", "stickerType": "note", "filter": { "kinds": [ 1 ], "ids": [ "92de77507a361ab2e20385d98ff00565aaf3f80cf2b6d89c0343e08166fed931" ], "limit": 1 }, "accessors": [ "content", "pubkey", "created_at" ], "x": 540, "y": 960, "associatedData": {} }

As you can see, it's kind of a mess! The content and styling and underdeveloped for this "sticker", but at least it demonstrates some "logic": a nostr filter for getting its data.

Here's another sticker, this one displays a form that the user can interact with to SEND a note. Very hyper of us!

{ "id": "42240d75-e998-4067-b8fa-9ee096365663", "type": "sticker", "stickerType": "prompt", "filter": {}, "accessors": [], "x": 540, "y": 960, "associatedData": { "promptText": "What's your favorite color?" }, "methods": { "comment": { "description": "comment", "eventTemplate": { "kind": 1111, "content": "${content}", "tags": [ [ "E", "${eventId}", "", "${pubkey}" ], [ "K", "${eventKind}" ], [ "P", "${pubkey}" ], [ "e", "${eventId}", "", "${pubkey}" ], [ "k", "${eventKind}" ], [ "p", "${pubkey}" ] ] } } } }

It's also a mess, but it demos the other part of "logic": methods which produce new events.

This is the total surface of hypernote, ideally! Static or dynamic content, simple inline styles, and logic for fetching and producing events.

I'm calling it "logic" but it's purposfully not a whole scripting language. At most we'll have some sort of jq-like language for destructing the relevant piece of data we want.

My ideal syntax for a hypernote as a developer will look something like

```foo.hypernote Nak-like logic

Markdown-like content

CSS-like styles ```

But with JSON as the compile target, this can just be my own preference, there can be other (likely better!) ways of authoring this content, such as a Hypernote Stories GUI.

The end

I know this is all still vague but I wanted to get some ideas out in the wild so people understand the through line of my different Hypernote experiments. I want to get the right amount of "expressivity" in Hypernote before it gets locked down into one spec. My hunch is it can be VERY expressive while remaining simple and also while not needing a whole scripting language bolted onto it. If I can't pull it off I'll let you know.

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

In an audacious display of confidence, Bitcoin traders have recently committed $20 million to a $200K call option, a move that has reignited discussions about the cryptocurrency's potential and the broader market's appetite for risk. This development is set against a backdrop of increasing activity within the cryptocurrency options market, particularly on platforms like Deribit, where total open interest in Bitcoin options has reached unprecedented levels. This article explores the nuances of this strategic wager, examines the resurgence of investor enthusiasm, and contemplates the future implications for Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market at large.

Table of Contents

• A Surge in Market Activity

• The Bold Bet on Bitcoin's Future

• Implications of the $200K Call Option

  • Increased Market Volatility

  • Renewed Investor Confidence

  • Speculative Interest and Market Dynamics

• Looking Ahead: Bitcoin's Market Prospects

• Conclusion

• FAQs

A Surge in Market Activity

The cryptocurrency options market has experienced a significant uptick in activity, with Bitcoin and Ethereum options achieving record-breaking open interest figures. On Deribit, Bitcoin options open interest has soared to a staggering $20.4 billion, eclipsing the previous high of $14.36 billion seen in October 2021. Concurrently, Ethereum options open interest has also reached a historic peak of $11.66 billion. This pronounced increase in market activity is indicative of a growing interest among traders to either hedge their positions against potential price fluctuations or to speculate on the future price movements of these leading cryptocurrencies. The surge in options trading volume reflects a broader trend of maturation within the cryptocurrency market, as sophisticated financial instruments become increasingly utilized by a diverse array of market participants, from individual investors to large institutional players.

The Bold Bet on Bitcoin's Future

The decision by traders to allocate $20 million to a $200K call option for Bitcoin represents a significant vote of confidence in the cryptocurrency's future price trajectory. This high-stakes gamble suggests that a segment of the market is not only optimistic about Bitcoin's potential to breach the $200,000 threshold but is also willing to back this belief with substantial financial commitment. Such a move is emblematic of the "animal spirits" returning to the cryptocurrency market—a term coined by economist John Maynard Keynes to describe the instinctive human emotion that drives consumer confidence and investment decisions. This resurgence of speculative fervor and risk-taking behavior is a testament to the enduring allure of Bitcoin as an asset class that continues to captivate the imagination of investors, despite its history of volatility and regulatory challenges.

Implications of the $200K Call Option

The substantial investment in the $200K call option carries several implications for the Bitcoin market and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem:

Increased Market Volatility

The focus on high strike price options could introduce heightened volatility into the Bitcoin market. As traders position themselves to capitalize on potential price movements, the market may witness more pronounced fluctuations. This environment of increased volatility underscores the speculative nature of cryptocurrency trading and the high-risk, high-reward strategies employed by some market participants. It also highlights the need for investors to approach the market with caution, armed with a thorough understanding of the underlying risks and a clear investment strategy.

Renewed Investor Confidence

The bold wager on the $200K call option reflects a significant resurgence in investor confidence in Bitcoin's long-term prospects. Following periods of market downturns and regulatory uncertainty, this move signals a renewed conviction in the fundamental value proposition of Bitcoin as a pioneering digital asset. It represents a collective belief in the cryptocurrency's ability to not only recover from past setbacks but to chart new territories in terms of price and market capitalization. This renewed investor confidence may serve as a catalyst for further investment in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, potentially driving up prices and encouraging more widespread adoption.

Speculative Interest and Market Dynamics

The commitment to the $200K call option highlights the continued influence of speculative interest on the cryptocurrency market's dynamics. It illustrates how speculation, driven by the prospect of outsized returns, remains a central force shaping market trends and price trajectories. This speculative interest, while contributing to market liquidity and price discovery, also introduces an element of unpredictability. It underscores the complex interplay between market sentiment, investor behavior, and external economic factors that collectively determine the direction of the cryptocurrency market.

Looking Ahead: Bitcoin's Market Prospects

The strategic bet on the $200K call option, amidst a backdrop of increasing options market activity, paints a complex picture of Bitcoin's future. While the move signals optimism and a willingness among investors to engage in high-risk speculation, it also raises questions about the sustainability of such bullish sentiment. As Bitcoin continues to navigate the evolving landscape of digital finance, the interplay between speculative interest, regulatory developments, and technological advancements will be critical in shaping its future trajectory. The cryptocurrency market's inherent volatility and unpredictability necessitate a cautious approach from investors, emphasizing the importance of risk management and long-term strategic planning.

Conclusion

Bitcoin's latest foray into high-stakes speculation, marked by the $20 million lock on the $200K call option, is a vivid illustration of the cryptocurrency's enduring appeal and the market's appetite for risk. This development not only reflects a bullish outlook on Bitcoin's price potential but also signals a broader resurgence of investor enthusiasm and speculative activity within the cryptocurrency market. As we look to the future, the outcomes of such bold moves will undoubtedly influence the trajectory of Bitcoin and the digital asset landscape at large. Whether Bitcoin will reach the lofty heights of $200,000 remains to be seen, but its journey there will be closely watched by traders, investors, and regulators alike, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of speculative markets and the evolving role of cryptocurrencies in the global financial ecosystem.

FAQs

What does locking $20 million in a $200K call option mean for Bitcoin? Locking $20 million in a $200K call option indicates that traders are betting a significant amount of money on Bitcoin reaching or surpassing $200,000. It reflects a bullish outlook on Bitcoin's future price and a resurgence of speculative interest in the cryptocurrency market.

How does the surge in Bitcoin options market activity affect the cryptocurrency? The surge in Bitcoin options market activity, with record open interest, increases market liquidity and can lead to heightened volatility. It also signifies growing interest and participation in the cryptocurrency market, potentially influencing Bitcoin's price dynamics.

What are the implications of increased market volatility for Bitcoin investors? Increased market volatility can lead to larger price swings, presenting both opportunities and risks for investors. While it may offer the potential for higher returns, it also increases the risk of losses. Investors should approach the market with caution and consider their risk tolerance and investment strategy.

Why are investors optimistic about Bitcoin reaching $200,000? Investors' optimism about Bitcoin reaching $200,000 stems from factors such as the cryptocurrency's past performance, the upcoming Bitcoin halving event, increasing institutional adoption, and favorable macroeconomic conditions. These factors contribute to a bullish sentiment in the market.

What role do institutional investors play in the current Bitcoin market trend? Institutional investors play a significant role in the current Bitcoin market trend by bringing in substantial capital, lending credibility to the market, and influencing price movements. Their participation is seen as a sign of maturity and stability in the cryptocurrency market.

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@ bf95e1a4:ebdcc848

This is a part of the Bitcoin Infinity Academy course on Knut Svanholm's book Bitcoin: Sovereignty Through Mathematics. For more information, check out our Geyser page!

Financial Atheism

“Don’t trust, verify” is a common saying amongst bitcoiners that represents a sound attitude towards not only Bitcoin but all human power structures. In order to understand Bitcoin, one must admit that everything in society is man-made. Every civilization, every religion, every constitution, and every law is a product of human imagination. It wasn’t until as late as the 17th century that the scientific method started to become the dominant practice for describing how the world actually worked. Peer-to-peer review and repeated testing of a hypothesis are still quite recent human practices. Before this, we were basically just guessing and trusting authorities to a large extent. We still do this today, and despite our progress over the last couple of centuries, we still have a long way to go. Our brains are hardwired to follow the leader of the pack. The human brain is born with a plethora of cognitive biases pre-installed, and we have to work very hard to overcome them. We evolved to survive in relatively small groups, and our brains are thus not really made for seeing the bigger picture. Bitcoin’s proof-of-work algorithm is constructed in such a way that it is easy to verify that computational power was sacrificed in order to approve a block of transactions and claim its reward. In this way, no trust in any authority is required as it is relatively trivial to test the validity of a block and the transactions it contains. This is nothing short of a complete reimagining of how human society ought to be governed. The beauty of mathematics governs the Bitcoin system. Everything that ever happens in Bitcoin is open and verifiable to everyone, even to those who are not yet using it.

After the tragic events of 9/11 in 2001, Sam Harris started writing his book The End of Faith, which happened to be released around the same time as Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, Daniel Dennett's Breaking the Spell, and Christopher Hitchens’ God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. These books kick-started what, in hindsight, has often been referred to as the new atheist movement, even though there has arguably never been anything new about atheism. Atheism must almost certainly have preceded religion since religious ideas require the person holding the idea to believe a certain doctrine or story. Atheism is nothing but the rejection of ways to describe the world that are not verifiable by experimentation. A fly on the wall is probably an atheist by this definition of the word. Atheism is often accused of being just another set of beliefs, but the word itself describes what it is much better — a lack of belief in theistic ideas. It is not a code of conduct or set of rules to live your life by; it is simply the rejection of that which cannot be scientifically verified. Many people, religious people, in particular, have a hard time grasping this. If you believe that a supernatural entity created everything in everyone's life, you might not be too comfortable with a word that describes a complete rejection of what you believe created everything, including the very atheist that the word describes. The amount of different religious worldviews that exist is probably equal to the sum of all religious people on the planet, but all world views that reject these superstitious beliefs require but one word. Atheism is not the opposite of religion but is simply the lack of it.

In 2008, another sub-culture movement of unbelief was born. Let’s call it Financial Atheism — the rejection of unverifiable value claims. With the invention of Bitcoin, a way of rejecting fraudulent expressions of a token’s value was born. Those of us fortunate enough to have been born in secular countries all enjoy not having the ideas of religious demagogues dictating our lives on a daily basis. We can choose which ideas to believe in and which to reject. What we still have very limited means of choosing, however, are the ways in which we express value to each other. We’re told to use a system in which we all have a certain number of value tokens assigned to our name, either as a number on a screen or as digits on paper notes. We all live in the collective hallucination that these numbers are somehow legit and that their authenticity is not to be questioned.

A Bitcoin balance assigned to a certain Bitcoin address might seem just as questionable to a layman, but if you have a basic understanding of the hashing algorithms and game theory behind it, it’s not. At the time of writing, the hash of the latest block on the Bitcoin blockchain begins with eighteen zeros in a row. These zeros represent the Proof of Work that ensures that this block is valid and that every transaction in it actually happened. If you can grasp the concept of a hashing algorithm, and if you have an intuition about mathematics, you realize the gargantuan amount of calculating effort that went into finding this particular hash. It is simply mind-blowing. To forge a false version of a hash beginning with eighteen zeros just wouldn’t be economically viable. Of course, you can never actually know that a 51% attack or some other attempt at corrupting the blockchain hasn’t occurred, but you can know that such an attack would require more than half of the network acting against their own economic interest. Bitcoin is not something to believe in. You don’t need to trust any authority because you can validate the plausibility of its authenticity yourself. It’s the financial equivalent of atheism or unbelief. Satoshi wasn’t Jesus. Satoshi was Brian of Nazareth, telling his followers to think for themselves.

The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. The second law states that the entropy of any isolated system always increases, and the third law states that the entropy of a system approaches a constant value as the temperature approaches absolute zero. In the Bitcoin network, participants known as miners compete for new Bitcoin in a lottery with very fixed rules. The more hashing power (computing power) a miner contributes to the network, the higher his chances of winning the block reward, a specific amount of Bitcoin that is halved every four years. The difficulty of this lottery - in other words, the miner’s chance of winning it — is re-calibrated every 2016th block so that the average time it takes to find the next block is always roughly ten minutes. What this system produces is absolute scarcity; the amount of Bitcoin in existence at any moment in time is always predictable. The more time that passes, the slower the rate of coin issuance and the block reward slowly approaches zero. By the time it does, around the year 2140, the individual miner’s incentive to mine for a reward will, at least theoretically, have been replaced by an incentive to collect transaction fees from the participants of the network. Even now, the sum of all fees make up a non-trivial part of the miners’ revenue. Yet from a user’s point of view the fees are still very low, and as the network scales up using Layer 2 solutions such as the Lightning Network, they’re expected to remain low for quite a long time ahead.

Absolute scarcity is a concept that mankind has never encountered before. Arguably, this makes it the first man-made concept to ever be directly linked to the laws of physics. Everything anyone does requires a certain amount of energy. The very word doing implies that some kind of movement, some type of energy expenditure, needs to occur. As mentioned earlier, how we value things is entirely subjective. Different actions are of different value to different people. How we value different things is also inevitably linked to the supply of those things. Had the trapped-under-ice winter diver mentioned in chapter one been equipped with a scuba tank, he probably wouldn't have thought of his next breath as such a precious thing. The price a person is willing to pay for a good — in other words, the sum of one or more person’s actions — can be derived from two basic variables: The highly subjective demand for the good and the always-constrained-by-time-and-space supply of that same good. Note that if supply is sufficiently limited, there only needs to be a minimal amount of demand for a good for its price to increase.

One could argue that no one needs Bitcoin and that, therefore, Bitcoin would have no intrinsic value. One could also argue that there’s no such thing as intrinsic value since demand is always subjective. In any case, there will always be a cost to mine Bitcoin, and the more mining power in the network, the higher that cost. This cost, ensured by the Bitcoin network’s Proof-Of-Work algorithm, is probably as close to a pure energy cost as the price of a human activity will ever get. Once the mining rig is in place, a simple conversion process follows — energy in, scarce token out. Should the cost of production exceed the current price of the token, the miner can just choose not to sell, thereby limiting the supply of Bitcoin in circulation even more and eventually selling them for other goods whenever he sees fit. In this sense, Bitcoin is a battery. Perhaps the best battery ever invented.

Storing and moving electrical energy around has always been costly and wasteful. Bitcoin offers a way of converting energy into a small part of a specific number. A mathematical battery, if you will. It is important to remember that it does not convert energy into value directly, but rather electricity into digital scarcity — digital scarcity that can be used to express value. Energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system, as the first law of thermodynamics clearly states. Bitcoin can express how much energy was sacrificed in order to acquire a share of the total sum. You can also acquire Bitcoin by buying it rather than mining it, but in doing so, you also spend energy. You somehow acquired the money with which you bought the Bitcoin. You, or someone else, sacrificed time and energy somewhere. Bitcoin lets you express that you see that there’s a connection between value and scarcity by letting you sacrifice effort to claim a part of the total sum.

The excitement we so-called "Bitcoin Maximalists" feel about Bitcoin does not come primarily from the enormous gains that those who hopped early onto the freight train have been blessed with. Nor is it because we’re “in it for the technology,” as can often be heard from opponents. Those of us who preach the near-divinity of this invention do so above all because we see the philosophical impacts of absolute scarcity in a commodity. The idea of a functioning solution to the double-spending problem in computerized money is an achievement that simply can’t be ignored. By solving the double-spending problem, Satoshi also made counterfeiting impossible, which in turn makes artificial inflation impossible. The world-changing potential of this invention cannot be understated. Not in the long run.

The more you think about it, the more the thought won’t give you any peace of mind. If this experiment works, if it’s real, it will take civilization to the next level. What we don’t know is how long this will take. Right now, debates in the Bitcoin space are about Bitcoin’s functionality as a medium of exchange and its potential as a good store of value. We might be missing the point. We cannot possibly know if a type of monetary token for which you’re completely responsible, with no third-party protection, will ever become a preferred medium of exchange for most transactions. Nor can we know if the price of Bitcoin will follow the hype-cycle path that we all want it to follow so that it can become the store of value that most maximalists claim it already is. Maybe we’ve been focused on the wrong things all along. Maybe Bitcoin’s greatest strength is in its functionality as a unit of account. After all, this is all that Bitcoin does. If you own 21 Bitcoin, you own one-millionth of the world's first absolutely scarce commodity. This might not make you rich overnight, but it just might have something to do with the opportunities available to your great-great-grandchildren.

Throughout history, whenever a prehistoric human tribe invented ceremonial burial, that tribe began to expand rapidly. Why? Because as soon as you invent belief in an afterlife, you also introduce the idea of self-sacrifice on a larger scale. People who held these beliefs were much easier for a despot to manipulate and send into battle with neighboring tribes. Religious leaders can use people’s fears and superstitions to have them commit all sorts of atrocities to their fellow man, and they still do so today. Belief in a “greater good” can be the most destructive idea that can pop up in a human mind. The Nazis of World War II Germany believed that exterminating Jews was for the “greater good” of their nation’s gene pool. Belief in noble causes often comes with unintended side effects, which can have disastrous consequences.

Religious leaders, political leaders, and other power-hungry sociopaths are responsible for the greatest crimes against humanity ever committed — namely, wars. Europeans often question the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms, whenever a tragic school shooting occurs on the other side of the Atlantic. What everyone seems to forget is that less than a hundred years ago, Europe was at war with itself because its citizens had given too much power to their so-called leaders. The Nazis came to power in a democracy — never forget that. Our individual rights weren’t given to us by our leaders; we were born with them. Our leaders can’t give us anything; they can only force us to behave in certain ways. If we truly want to be in charge of our lives, we need to find the tools necessary to circumvent the bullshit ourselves.

About the Bitcoin Infinity Academy

The Bitcoin Infinity Academy is an educational project built around Knut Svanholm’s books about Bitcoin and Austrian Economics. Each week, a whole chapter from one of the books is released for free on Highlighter, accompanied by a video in which Knut and Luke de Wolf discuss that chapter’s ideas. You can join the discussions by signing up for one of the courses on our Geyser page. Signed books, monthly calls, and lots of other benefits are also available.

@ e97aaffa:2ebd765d

Nos últimos anos, tornei-me num acérrimo crítico do Euro, sobretudo da política monetária altamente expansionista realizada pelo Banco Central Europeu (BCE). Apesar de ser crítico, eu não desejo que Portugal volte a ter moeda própria.

No seguimento gráfico, é a variação do IPC de Portugal nos últimos 60 anos:

No gráfico inclui os momentos históricos, para uma melhor interpretação dos dados.

O Índice de Preços ao Consumidor (IPC) é usado para observar tendências de inflação. É calculado com base no preço médio necessário para comprar um conjunto de bens de consumo e serviços num país, comparando com períodos anteriores.

É uma ferramenta utilizada para calcular a perda de poder de compra, mas é uma métrica que é facilmente manipulada em prol dos interesses dos governos.

Análise histórica

No período marcelista, houve uma crescente inflação, devido a fatores, como os elevados custos da guerra e o fim dos acordos de Bretton Woods contribuíram para isso. Terminando com uma inflação superior a 13%.

Da Revolta dos Cravos (1974) até à adesão da CEE (atual União Europeia, UE), nos primeiros anos foram conturbados a nível político, mesmo após conquistar alguma estabilidade, em termos de política monetária foi um descalabro, com inflação entre 12% a 30% ao ano. Foi o pior momento na era moderna.

Com a entrada da CEE, Portugal ainda manteve a independência monetária, mas devido à entrada de muitos milhões de fundos europeus, essências para construir infraestrutura e desenvolver o país. Isto permitiu crescer e modernizar o país, gastando pouco dinheiro próprio, reduzindo a necessidade da expansão monetária e claro a inflação baixou.

Depois com a adesão ao Tratado de Maastricht, em 1991, onde estabeleceu as bases para a criação da União Económica e Monetária, que culminou na criação da moeda única europeia, o Euro. As bases eram bastante restritivas, os políticos portugueses foram obrigados a manter uma inflação baixa. Portugal perdeu a independência monetária em 1999, com a entrada em vigor da nova moeda, foi estabelecida a taxa de conversão entre escudos e euros, tendo o valor de 1 euro sido fixado em 200,482 escudos. A Euro entrou em vigor em 1999, mas o papel-moeda só entrou em circulação em 2002.

Assim, desde a criação até 2020, a inflação foi sempre abaixo de 5% ao ano, tendo um longo período abaixo dos 3%.

A chegada da pandemia, foi um descalabro no BCE, a expansão monetária foi exponencial, resultando numa forte subida no IPC, quase 8% em 2022, algo que não acontecia há 30 anos.

Conclusão

Apesar dos últimos anos, a política monetária do BCE tem sido péssima, mesmo assim continua a ser muito melhor, se esta fosse efetuada em exclusividade por portugueses, não tenho quaisquer dúvidas disso. O passado demonstra isso, se voltarmos a ser independentes monetariamente, será desastroso, vamos virar rapidamente, a Venezuela da Europa.

Até temos boas reservas de ouro, mas mesmo assim não são suficientes, mesmo que se inclua outros ativos para permitir a criação de uma moeda lastreada, ela apenas duraria até à primeira crise. É inevitável, somos um país demasiado socialista.

A solução não é voltar ao escudo, mas sim o BCE deixar de imprimir dinheiro, como se não houvesse amanhã ou então optar por uma moeda total livre, sem intromissão de políticos.

O BCE vai parar de expandir a moeda?

Claro que não, eles estão encurralados, a expansão monetária é a única solução para elevada dívida soberana dos estados. A única certeza que eu tenho, a expansão do BCE, será sempre inferior ao do Banco de Portugal, se este estivesse o botão da impressão à sua disposição. Por volta dos 5% é muito mau, mas voltar para a casa dos 15% seria péssimo, esse seria o nosso destino.

É muito triste ter esta conclusão, isto é demonstrativo da falta de competência dos políticos e governantes portugueses e o povo também tem uma certa culpa. Por serem poucos exigentes em relação à qualidade dos políticos que elegem e por acreditar que existem almoços grátis.

Bitcoin fixes this

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

I'm short on time this morning, so I'm just plagiarizing @grayruby's notes, with minor revisions.

Territory Things:

• March Madness Points Challenge https://stacker.news/items/924541/r/Undisciplined
• IPL T20k Mania https://stacker.news/items/920125/r/Undisciplined
• CricZap https://stacker.news/items/919957/r/Undisciplined
• USA vs World https://stacker.news/items/923533/r/Undisciplined
• Any changes to NBA Prediction contest for March? (post coming today)
• Stackers voted to delay MLB Survivor

NCAA:

• How many 1 seeds will make final four?
• Cooper Flagg is the consensus number 1 but will he be a great NBA player?

NFL:

• Rule change proposals: Ban the tush push and make dynamic kickoff permanent

NBA;

• Pre playoffs Power Rankings

Blok'd Shots:

• Ovi with 6 to go

MLB:

• opening day finally arrived
• American League is a crap shoot
• Fantasy MLB

Betting:

• predyx markets
• Betplay- didn't work for me but how are you liking it?

And, as we do every week, we'll share an awesome @Aardvark sports fact.

What are we missing?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/927714

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

Bitcoin.design community is organizing another Designathon, from May 4-18. Let's get creative with bitcoin together. More to come very soon.

The first edition was a bursting success! the website still there https://events.bitcoin.design, and here their previous announcement.

Look forward for this to happen!

Spread the voice:

N: https://njump.me/nevent1qqsv9w8p93tadlnyx0rkhexj5l48l... X: https://x.com/bitcoin_design/status/1905547407405768927

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/927650

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Girona, one of Catalonia’s most charming cities, is a perfect mix of history, culture, and gastronomy. Famous for its well-preserved medieval old town, colorful houses along the Onyar River, and Game of Thrones filming locations, Girona is a must-visit destination in northern Spain.

🏰 Top Things to See & Do in Girona

1️⃣ Girona Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria) ⛪

• One of Spain’s most impressive cathedrals, with the widest Gothic nave in the world.
• Famous as the Great Sept of Baelor in Game of Thrones.
• Climb the steps for a breathtaking city view.

2️⃣ Walk the Medieval Walls (Passeig de la Muralla) 🏰

• Offers panoramic views of Girona and the surrounding countryside.
• A great way to see the city from above and explore its medieval history.

3️⃣ The Colorful Houses of the Onyar River 🌉

• Girona’s most iconic view, with brightly colored houses reflecting on the river.
• Best viewed from the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, designed by Gustave Eiffel.

4️⃣ Explore the Jewish Quarter (El Call) 🏡

• One of Europe’s best-preserved Jewish quarters, with narrow, medieval streets.
• Visit the Museum of Jewish History to learn about Girona’s Jewish heritage.

5️⃣ Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs) 🏛️

• A 12th-century Romanesque bathhouse, inspired by Moorish architecture.
• Features a beautiful central dome with columns.

6️⃣ Game of Thrones Filming Locations 🎬

• Walk in the footsteps of Arya Stark through the city’s winding streets.
• Visit the steps of the cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and Arab Baths, all featured in the series.

7️⃣ Eat at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant 🍽️

• Girona is home to El Celler de Can Roca, a 3-Michelin-star restaurant, ranked among the best in the world.
• Try local Catalan dishes like "suquet de peix" (fish stew) and botifarra (Catalan sausage).

🚗 How to Get to Girona

✈️ By Air: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is 20 min away, with budget flights from Europe.
🚆 By Train: High-speed AVE trains connect Barcelona (38 min), Madrid (3.5 hrs), and Paris (5.5 hrs).
🚘 By Car: 1 hr from Barcelona, 40 min from Figueres (Dalí Museum).
🚌 By Bus: Direct buses from Barcelona and the Costa Brava.

💡 Tips for Visiting Girona

✅ Best time to visit? Spring & autumn (April–June & September–October) for pleasant weather. 🌤️
✅ Wear comfortable shoes – The old town is hilly with cobblestone streets. 👟
✅ Try xuixo – A delicious cream-filled pastry, unique to Girona. 🥐
✅ Visit early for Game of Thrones spots – They get crowded during the day! 🎥
✅ Take a day trip – Explore nearby Costa Brava beaches or Figueres (Dalí Museum). 🏖️

@ a60e79e0:1e0e6813

This is a long form note of a post that lives on my Nostr educational website Hello Nostr.

When most people stumble across Nostr, they see is as a 'decentralized social media alternative' — something akin to Twitter (X), but free from corporate control. But the full name, "Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays", gives a clue that there’s more to it than just posting short messages. The 'notes' part is easy to grasp because it forms almost everyone's first touch point with the protocol. But the 'other stuff'? That’s where Nostr really gets exciting. The 'other stuff' is all the creative and experimental things people are building on Nostr, beyond simple text based notes.

Every action on Nostr is an event, a like, a post, a profile update, or even a payment. The 'Kind' is what specifies the purpose of each event. Kinds are the building blocks of how information is categorized and processed on the network, and the most popular become part of higher lever specification guidelines known as Nostr Implementation Possibility - NIP. A NIP is a document that defines how something in Nostr should work, including the rules, standards, or features. NIPs define the type of 'other stuff' that be published and displayed by different styles of client to meet different purposes.

Nostr isn’t locked into a single purpose. It’s a foundation for whatever 'other stuff' you can dream up.

Types of Other Stuff

The 'other stuff' name is intentionally vague. Why? Because the possibilities of what can fall under this category are quite literally limitless. In the short time since Nostr's inception, the number of sub-categories that have been built on top of the Nostr's open protocol is mind bending. Here are a few examples:

1. Long-Form Content: Think blog posts or articles. NIP-23.
2. Private Messaging: Encrypted chats between users. NIP-04.
3. Communities: Group chats or forums like Reddit. NIP-72
4. Marketplaces: People listing stuff for sale, payable with zaps. NIP-15
5. Zaps: Value transfer over the Lightning Network. NIP57

Popular 'Other Stuff' Clients

Here's a short list of some of the most recent and popular apps and clients that branch outside of the traditional micro-blogging use case and leverage the openness, and interoperability that Nostr can provide.

Blogging (Long Form Content)

• Habla - Web app for Nostr based blogs
• Highlighter - Web app that enables users to highlight, store and share content

Group Chats

• Chachi Chat - Relay-based (NIP-29) group chat client
• 0xchat - Mobile based secure chat
• Flotilla - Web based chat app built for self-hosted communities
• Nostr Nests - Web app for audio chats
• White Noise - Mobile based secure chat

Marketplaces

• Shopstr - Permissionless marketplace for web
• Plebeian Market - Permissionless marketplace for web
• LNBits Market - Permissionless marketplace for your node
• Mostro - Nostr based Bitcoin P2P Marketplace

Photo/Video

• Olas - An Intragram like client
• Freeflow - A TikTok like client

Music

• Fountain - Podcast app with Nostr features
• Wavlake - A music app supporting the value-for-value ecosystem

Livestreaming

• Zap.stream - Nostr native live streams

Misc

• Wikifreedia - Nostr based Wikipedia alternative
• Wikistr - Nostr based Wikipedia alternative
• Pollerama - Nostr based polls
• Zap Store - The app store powered by your social graph

The 'other stuff' in Nostr is what makes it special. It’s not just about replacing Twitter or Facebook, it’s about building a decentralized ecosystem where anything from private chats to marketplaces can thrive. The beauty of Nostr is that it’s a flexible foundation. Developers can dream up new ideas and build them into clients, and the relays just keep humming along, passing the data around. It’s still early days, so expect the 'other stuff' to grow wilder and weirder over time!

You can explore the evergrowing 'other stuff' ecosystem at NostrApps.com, Nostr.net and Awesome Nostr.

@ 45c41f21:c5446b7a

“区块链行业究竟是在做什么？”——这个问题我到现在还没有想得很清楚。谈论起来可以说很多东西，“确权”、“让每一个比特都有了稀缺性”、“数字黄金”、“点对点支付”，但是具体到了行业落地，又容易陷入“赌场”这个有点乌烟瘴气的现实。

但我想有一点是比较明确的，那就是区块链行业肯定是一个围绕资产的行业。这些资产又跟传统的资产很不一样，最简单的特征是它们都是一个个的代币，通过自动化和可验证的代码铸造、控制，我们可以统称为链上资产。从比特币、以太坊到现在，这中间不管过去了多少不同的周期和浪潮，核心不变的都是出现新一轮受追捧的资产。

既然区块链是关于链上资产的行业，那么最重要的是未来会出现什么新的资产，有什么样的新资产会上链。要回答这个问题，又要我们回过头去看看，从行业诞生至今，区块链留下了哪些有意义的、没意义的，有价值的、没价值的资产。

因此，有必要讨论一下链上资产的分类。

链上资产的种类很多，但总体上我觉得可以按满足需求的不同，做一些功能性的划分。同时，抛开去中心化、抗审查等等大词，链上资产与传统资产最重要的区别可以认为是安全性的来源。传统资产在传统的社会系统和金融系统中产生，而链上资产是通过可验证代码控制的，所以它的安全性的依赖很清晰，要比现实世界简单很多。

在不同的区块链系统中，使用不同的技术（比如POW/POS），设置不同的规则，拥有不同的治理机制，都会影响安全性。“安全性”和“满足什么样的需求”之间既不是正交的，也不是完全耦合的。在不同层级的安全性之下，可能都会出现满足某一类相同需求的产品，用户使用哪种产品，只取决于自己的风险偏好。另一方面，有些需求只可能在某些特定的安全性保障下才能得到满足，比如跨国际的全球化的抗通胀价值存储。

这篇文章只讨论一些比较简单的分类，可以假设在不同的安全性保障下，每个分类都有可能出现对应的产品。有些安全性是产品内生功能的一部分，有些则完全不影响。同时，这些分类也完全是主观的看法，不一定正确，我所希望的是引发更多对资产进行讨论。

核心资产（高安全性、强需求支撑）

1. 比特币（BTC）
   • 核心价值：全球化抗通胀、抗审查的“数字黄金”。
   • 长期逻辑：全球法币超发背景下，BTC作为去中心化硬通货的需求不可替代。

这是整个行业最重要的资产。也是整个行业最核心的东西。在这个定位下，只会有一个赢者通吃。其他试图竞争的都很难生存下来。它对安全性的要求也是最高的。

经过验证的资产分类

这部分的资产可以认为是行业诞生至今，已经经过验证的、满足某真实需求、会长期存在的资产。

1. 代表优质项目的资产（股票/ICO代币/治理代币等）
   • 核心价值：类似于传统金融世界里的一级市场和二级市场。所谓的“优质”也不一定需要真实落地，可能是叙事/故事驱动，也可能有真实的现金流，但重要的是它能在市场上吸引人买卖。
   • 关键指标：团队是否持续营销和建设？生态是否增长？项目是否解决实际问题？
2. DeFi 资产
   • 核心价值：链上金融系统的“基础设施工具”。
   • 需求来源：对套利、链上资产理财的需求会永远存在。
3. Meme币
   • 核心价值：营销驱动+投机需求的结合体。
   • 长期存在性：人性对暴富故事的追逐不会消失（如Pump.fun、SHIB）。
4. 稳定币
   • 核心价值：加密货币世界的“支付货币”。
   • 需求刚性：交易媒介、避险工具、跨境支付（如USDT、USDC）。

在不同的安全性保障下，上面这些资产大部分都会有对应的产品。

比如稳定币在安全性上可以有中心化的 USDT ，也有去中心化的算法稳定币。理论上，安全性对稳定币是非常重要的。但现实中，“流动性”可能才是给用户传达“这东西到底安不安全“的产品特点，也是比较主要的竞争点。

Meme 则完全不需要安全性，所以对创业者来说在哪里做都差不多。哪里用户更多就适合去哪里。有时，安全性反而是它的阻碍。DeFi 的话，因人而异。安全性高低是否影响用户使用，完全取决于用户自己的风险偏好。

还未经过验证的资产（需求可能存在）

• NFT（收藏品）？ 艺术、身份标识、游戏道具的数字化载体，但流动性差、炒作属性也不见得有 Meme 这么强。会长期存在吗？打个问号。
• DAO（准入/治理代币）？ 去中心化组织的准入权/管理权通证，依赖 DAO 本身的价值和实际治理参与度决定的价值。DeFi DAO 可能是唯一一个有点发展的方向，其他还非常不成熟，有待验证。
• RWA（真实世界资产代币化）？ 房产、债券等上链，需要解决法律合规与链下资产映射问题。不确定。
• 社交/游戏/内容资产 用户数据所有权货币化，还没有像样的有一些用户的产品，就更不用提形成规模经济了。
• AI 相关的资产？ 是一个变数。如果未来会有成千上万的 AI 智能体与人类共存，链上是承载他们经济系统最合适的基础设施，这里会产生什么新的资产类型？值得期待。

这里面的资产类型，很多还没有找到真实的需求，至少没有经过验证。所以长期来看它们会是区块链行业的方向吗，需要打很多问号。既然需求本身没有得到验证，那么谈安全性对它们的影响，就更加无从谈起了。

当然，这里其实还有一个更有意思的部分，可以多聊一些。也就是共同知识（法律/合同/规则/代码）这一类资产。

在应用层，共同知识尚未有代币化的尝试，也难以对其具体价值做定量分析。但如果要说有的实践，以太坊通过交易收取 gas 费和 CKB 通过 Cell 存储状态收取“押金”算是一种在底层的 generalize 的尝试。这种尝试是定量的，可验证的。

以太坊的问题是经济模型不 make sense 导致状态爆炸，ckb 相比是更简单、更明确的。但这里的问题变成了，公链需要通过区块空间的竞争来展示这一种需求是否真的成立。区块空间越紧张，需求就越大。同时安全性越高，对共同知识的保障就越强，也会体现区块空间的价值。

但另一方面，是否有开发者在上面开发应用，会更大的影响这一点。因此开发工具、开发者生态在现阶段可能更重要。

最后

写到这里，发现很多资产似乎又是老生常谈。但从满足需求和安全性两个角度来思考，算是追本溯源的尝试。现在我们面临的处境是，问题还是老的问题，答案是否有新的答案，期待更多讨论。

@ 05cdefcd:550cc264

The crypto world is full of buzzwords. One that I keep on hearing: “Bitcoin is its own asset class”.

While I have always been sympathetic to that view, I’ve always failed to understand the true meaning behind that statement.

Although I consider Bitcoin to be the prime innovation within the digital asset sector, my primary response has always been: How can bitcoin (BTC), a single asset, represent an entire asset class? Isn’t it Bitcoin and other digital assets that make up an asset class called crypto?

Well, I increasingly believe that most of crypto is just noise. Sure, it’s volatile noise that is predominately interesting for very sophisticated hedge funds, market makers or prop traders that are sophisticated enough to extract alpha – but it’s noise nonetheless and has no part to play in a long-term only portfolio of private retail investors (of which most of us are).

Over multiple market cycles, nearly all altcoins underperform Bitcoin when measured in BTC terms. Source: Tradingview

Aha-Moment: Bitcoin keeps on giving

Still, how can Bitcoin, as a standalone asset, make up an entire asset class? The “aha-moment” to answer this question recently came to me in a Less Noise More Signal interview I did with James Van Straten, senior analyst at Coindesk.

Let me paraphrase him here: “You can’t simply recreate the same ETF as BlackRock. To succeed in the Bitcoin space, new and innovative approaches are needed. This is where understanding Bitcoin not just as a single asset, but as an entire asset class, becomes essential. There are countless ways to build upon Bitcoin’s foundation—varied iterations that go beyond just holding the asset. This is precisely where the emergence of the Bitcoin-linked stock market is taking shape—and it's already underway.”

And this is actually coming to fruition as we speak. Just in the last few days, we saw several products launch in that regard.

Obviously, MicroStrategy (now Strategy) is the pioneer of this. The company now owns 506,137 BTC, and while they’ll keep on buying more, they have also inspired many other companies to follow suit.

In fact, there are now already over 70 companies that have adopted Strategy’s Bitcoin playbook. One of the latest companies to buy Bitcoin for their corporate treasury is Rumble. The YouTube competitor just announced their first Bitcoin purchase for $17 million.

Also, the gaming zombie company GameStop just announced to raise money to buy BTC for their corporate treasury.

Gamestop to make BTC their hurdle rate. Source: X

ETF on Bitcoin companies

Given this proliferation of Bitcoin Treasury companies, it was only a matter of time before a financial product tracking these would emerge.

The popular crypto index fund provider Bitwise Investments has just launched this very product called the Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB).

The ETF tracks Bitcoin Treasury companies with over 1,000 BTC on their balance sheet. These companies invest in Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset to protect the $5 trillion in low-yield cash that companies in the US commonly sit on.

These are the top 10 holdings of OWNB. Source: Ownbetf

ETF on Bitcoin companies’ convertible bonds

Another instrument that fits seamlessly into the range of Bitcoin-linked stock market products is the REX Bitcoin Corporate Treasury Convertible Bond ETF (BMAX). The ETF provides exposure to the many different convertible bonds issued by companies that are actively moving onto a Bitcoin standard.

Convertible bonds are a valuable financing tool for companies looking to raise capital for Bitcoin purchases. Their strong demand is driven by the unique combination of equity-like upside and debt-like downside protection they offer.

For example, MicroStrategy's convertible bonds, in particular, have shown exceptional performance. For instance, MicroStrategy's 2031 bonds has shown a price rise of 101% over a one-year period, vastly outperforming MicroStrategy share (at 53%), Bitcoin (at 25%) and the ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index (at 10%). The latter is the benchmark index for convertible bond funds, tracking the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated convertible securities in the U.S. market.

The chart shows a comparison of ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index, the Bloomberg Bitcoin index (BTC price), MicroStrategy share (MSTR), and MicroStrategy bond (0.875%, March 15 203). The convertible bond has been outperforming massively. Source: Bloomberg

While the BMAX ETF faces challenges such as double taxation, which significantly reduces investor returns (explained in more detail here), it is likely that future products will emerge that address and improve upon these issues.

Bitcoin yield products

The demand for a yield on Bitcoin has increased tremendously. Consequently, respective products have emerged.

Bitcoin yield products aim to generate alpha by capitalizing on volatility, market inefficiencies, and fragmentation within cryptocurrency markets. The objective is to achieve uncorrelated returns denominated in Bitcoin (BTC), with attractive risk-adjusted performance. Returns are derived exclusively from asset selection and trading strategies, eliminating reliance on directional market moves.

Key strategies employed by these funds include:

• Statistical Arbitrage: Exploits short-term pricing discrepancies between closely related financial instruments—for instance, between Bitcoin and traditional assets, or Bitcoin and other digital assets. Traders utilize statistical models and historical price relationships to identify temporary inefficiencies.
• Futures Basis Arbitrage: Captures profits from differences between the spot price of Bitcoin and its futures contracts. Traders simultaneously buy or sell Bitcoin on spot markets and enter opposite positions in futures markets, benefiting as the prices converge.
• Funding Arbitrage: Generates returns by taking advantage of variations in Bitcoin funding rates across different markets or exchanges. Funding rates are periodic payments exchanged between long and short positions in perpetual futures contracts, allowing traders to profit from discrepancies without significant directional exposure.
• Volatility/Option Arbitrage: Seeks profits from differences between implied volatility (reflected in Bitcoin options prices) and expected realized volatility. Traders identify mispriced volatility in options related to Bitcoin or Bitcoin-linked equities, such as MSTR, and position accordingly to benefit from volatility normalization.
• Market Making: Involves continuously providing liquidity by simultaneously quoting bid (buy) and ask (sell) prices for Bitcoin. Market makers profit primarily through capturing the spread between these prices, thereby enhancing market efficiency and earning consistent returns.
• Liquidity Provision in DeFi Markets: Consists of depositing Bitcoin (usually as Wrapped BTC) into decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity pools such as those on Uniswap, Curve, or Balancer. Liquidity providers earn fees paid by traders who execute swaps within these decentralized exchanges, creating steady yield opportunities.

Notable products currently available in this segment include the Syz Capital BTC Alpha Fund offered by Syz Capital and the Forteus Crypto Alpha Fund by Forteus.

BTC-denominated share class

A Bitcoin-denominated share class refers to a specialized investment fund category in which share values, subscriptions (fund deposits), redemptions (fund withdrawals), and performance metrics are expressed entirely in Bitcoin (BTC), rather than in traditional fiat currencies such as USD or EUR.

Increasingly, both individual investors and institutions are adopting Bitcoin as their preferred benchmark—or "Bitcoin hurdle rate"—meaning that investment performance is evaluated directly against Bitcoin’s own price movements.

These Bitcoin-denominated share classes are designed specifically for investors seeking to preserve and grow their wealth in Bitcoin terms, rather than conventional fiat currencies. As a result, investors reduce their exposure to fiat-related risks. Furthermore, if Bitcoin outperforms fiat currencies, investors holding BTC-denominated shares will experience enhanced returns relative to traditional fiat-denominated investment classes.

X: https://x.com/pahueg

Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@lessnoisemoresignalpodcast

Book: https://academy.saifedean.com/product/the-bitcoin-enlightenment-hardcover/

@ da0b9bc3:4e30a4a9

Hello Stackers!

Welcome on into the ~Music Corner of the Saloon!

A place where we Talk Music. Share Tracks. Zap Sats.

So stay a while and listen.

🚨Don't forget to check out the pinned items in the territory homepage! You can always find the latest weeklies there!🚨

🚨Subscribe to the territory to ensure you never miss a post! 🚨

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/927569

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

จริงหรือ ว่าโอเมก้า3 ต้องมาจากปลาทะเลเท่านั้น

มีเรื่องที่น่าสนใจเรื่องนึงครับ ถ้าพูดถึงโอเมก้า-3 หลายคนอาจนึกถึงปลาทะเลน้ำลึก เช่น แซลมอน แมคเคอเรล หรือซาร์ดีน ซึ่งเป็นแหล่งโอเมก้า-3 ที่ร่างกายใช้ได้ดี แต่ในขณะเดียวกัน ก็มีกลุ่มคนที่พยายามบริโภคโอเมก้า-3 จากพืชแทน เช่น น้ำมันเมล็ดแฟลกซ์ น้ำมันเมล็ดเจีย หรือวอลนัท โดยหวังว่าจะได้รับประโยชน์เช่นเดียวกับการกินปลา แต่ที่เราเรียนรู้กันมาว่า โอเมก้า-3 จากพืชนั้น ร่างกายมนุษย์นำไปใช้ได้น้อยมาก หรือแทบไม่ได้เลย

สาเหตุหลักมาจากรูปแบบของโอเมก้า-3 ที่พบในแหล่งต่างๆ โอเมก้า-3 มีอยู่ 3 ชนิดหลัก ได้แก่ ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) – พบในพืช EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) – พบในปลาทะเล DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – พบในปลาทะเล

ร่างกายสามารถใช้ EPA และ DHA ได้โดยตรง แต่สำหรับ ALA นั้น ร่างกายต้องผ่านกระบวนการเปลี่ยนแปลงทางชีวเคมีก่อน ซึ่งกระบวนการนี้ไม่มีประสิทธิภาพนัก โดยทั่วไปแล้ว ALA แปลงเป็น EPA ได้เพียง 5-10% ALA แปลงเป็น DHA ได้เพียง 0.5-5% แปลว่า หากคุณกินเมล็ดแฟลกซ์หรือน้ำมันเมล็ดเจีย แม้ว่าจะมีปริมาณ ALA สูง แต่ร่างกายก็แทบไม่ได้รับ EPA และ DHA ในปริมาณที่เพียงพอเพื่อใช้ประโยชน์อย่างเต็มที่

ทำไมร่างกายแปลง ALA เป็น EPA/DHA ได้น้อย? อันแรกเลยคือ เอนไซม์จำกัด กระบวนการเปลี่ยน ALA เป็น EPA และ DHA จะใช้เอนไซม์เดียวกับการแปลงโอเมก้า-6 ซึ่งมักถูกใช้ไปกับโอเมก้า-6 ที่มากเกินไปในอาหารปัจจุบันซะแล้วนั่นเอง ต่อมาคือ กระบวนการหลายขั้นตอน การเปลี่ยน ALA เป็น DHA ต้องผ่านหลายขั้นตอนทางชีวเคมี ทำให้มีการสูญเสียพลังงานและวัตถุดิบไปมาก และสุดท้าย ปัจจัยทางพันธุกรรมและเพศ บางคน โดยเฉพาะผู้หญิง อาจมีอัตราการเปลี่ยนที่สูงกว่าผู้ชายเล็กน้อย แต่ก็ยังต่ำเมื่อเทียบกับการได้รับ EPA/DHA จากปลาหรือสาหร่ายโดยตรง

โอเมก้า-6 ตัวการขัดขวางโอเมก้า-3 จากพืช โอเมก้า-6 เป็นกรดไขมันจำเป็นที่พบมากในน้ำมันพืช เช่น น้ำมันถั่วเหลือง น้ำมันข้าวโพด และน้ำมันดอกทานตะวัน ซึ่งเป็นส่วนประกอบหลักของอาหารแปรรูปในปัจจุบัน ปัญหาคือ เอนไซม์ที่ใช้แปลง ALA ไปเป็น EPA/DHA เป็นตัวเดียวกับที่ใช้แปลงโอเมก้า-6 ไปเป็น AA (Arachidonic Acid) ซึ่งมีบทบาทในการอักเสบ หากเราบริโภคโอเมก้า-6 มากเกินไป (ซึ่งคนส่วนใหญ่ทำ5555) เอนไซม์เหล่านี้จะถูกใช้ไปกับโอเมก้า-6 มากกว่า ทำให้ ALA มีโอกาสแปลงเป็น EPA/DHA น้อยลงไปอีก

แล้วคนที่ไม่กินปลาหรือชาววีแกนควรทำอย่างไร? สำหรับคนที่ไม่สามารถหรือไม่ต้องการกินปลา ก็จะมีการบริโภคน้ำมันสาหร่ายที่มี DHA โดยตรงเป็นทางเลือกที่ดีกว่าการหวังพึ่ง ALA จากพืช เพราะ DHA จากสาหร่ายสามารถดูดซึมและใช้ได้ทันทีเหมือน DHA จากปลา

ได้ด้วยเหรอ ????? ผมเล่ากำเนิดของ DHA ในปลาให้ประมาณนี้ครับ จริง ๆ แล้ว DHA ซึ่งเป็นโอเมก้า-3 ที่ร่างกายใช้ได้โดยตรง มาจาก Docosahexaenoic Acid ที่เกิดจากกระบวนการสังเคราะห์ตามธรรมชาติ ซึ่งสาหร่ายบางสายพันธุ์ เช่น Schizochytrium และ Crypthecodinium cohnii มีเอนไซม์ที่สามารถเปลี่ยนกรดไขมันพื้นฐานให้กลายเป็น DHA ได้เองซึ่งเป็นส่วนประกอบหลักในระบบนิเวศทะเล(พืชกักเก็บไขมันได้อย่างไร ผมเคยโพสไปแล้ว) โดยเฉพาะ สาหร่ายขนาดเล็ก (microalgae) สาหร่ายจึงเป็นสิ่งมีชีวิตในทะเลพัฒนาให้มี DHA สูงเพราะ DHA เป็นส่วนประกอบสำคัญที่ช่วยรักษาความยืดหยุ่นและความสมบูรณ์ของเยื่อหุ้มเซลล์ในสาหร่าย ทำให้พวกมันสามารถดำรงชีวิตในสภาพแวดล้อมที่มีอุณหภูมิต่ำในทะเลได้

จากนั้นก็เป็นไปตามห่วงโซ่อาหารครับ ปลาและสัตว์ทะเลอื่น ๆ ได้รับ DHA จากการบริโภคสาหร่ายหรือสัตว์เล็ก ๆ ที่กินสาหร่ายมาอีกที ดังนั้น DHA ในปลาเป็นผลมาจากการสะสมจากสาหร่ายโดยตรง นี่เป็นเหตุผลว่าทำไมปลาทะเลน้ำลึก เช่น แซลมอน แมคเคอเรล และซาร์ดีน ถึงมี DHA สูงนั่นเอง งว่ออออออ

ดังนั้น เมื่อคุณกิน DHA จากสาหร่าย ก็เท่ากับว่าคุณได้รับ DHA จากต้นกำเนิดแท้จริงในระบบนิเวศทะเลครับ DHA ที่ได้มาจากสาหร่ายสามารถนำไปใช้ในร่างกายได้ทันทีโดยไม่ต้องผ่านกระบวนการเปลี่ยนแปลง เพราะมันอยู่ในรูป Triglyceride หรือ Phospholipid ซึ่งเป็นรูปแบบที่ร่างกายมนุษย์สามารถดูดซึมและนำไปใช้ได้ทันที ปลาไม่ได้แปลงโครงสร้าง DHA แต่เพียงสะสม DHA ไว้ในตัวจากการกินสาหร่าย ดังนั้นการรับประทาน DHA จากสาหร่ายก็ให้ผลเทียบเท่ากับการรับประทาน DHA จากปลา งานวิจัยหลายฉบับยืนยันว่า DHA จากสาหร่ายมีค่าการดูดซึม (Bioavailability) ใกล้เคียงกับ DHA จากน้ำมันปลา แต่หาเอาเองนะถ้าอยากอ่านฉบับเต็ม

การผลิตน้ำมันสาหร่ายนั้น เมื่อสาหร่ายเจริญเติบโตเต็มที่แล้ว เขาจะทำการเก็บเกี่ยวและสกัดน้ำมันโดยใช้เทคโนโลยีการแยกที่ทันสมัย ซึ่งช่วยรักษาให้ DHA ที่มีอยู่ในเซลล์สาหร่ายถูกเก็บรักษาไว้ในรูปแบบที่สามารถนำไปใช้ได้โดยตรง จากนั้นจะเข้าสู่การกรองหรือการปั่นแยก (centrifugation) เพื่อให้ได้มวลสาหร่ายที่เข้มข้น จากนั้นจึงทำให้แห้งเพื่อเตรียมเข้าสู่กระบวนการสกัด ซึ่งมีหลายวิธีอาทิเช่น

1 การสกัดด้วยตัวทำละลาย
ใช้ตัวทำละลาย เช่น เฮกเซน (Hexane) หรือ เอทานอล (Ethanol) เพื่อสกัดน้ำมันออกจากเซลล์สาหร่าย จากนั้นน้ำมันจะถูกนำไปกลั่นเพื่อแยกตัวทำละลายออก ทำให้ได้น้ำมันที่มีความบริสุทธิ์สูง 2. การสกัดด้วย CO₂ เหลว ใช้ คาร์บอนไดออกไซด์ในสถานะวิกฤติ (Supercritical CO₂) ซึ่งเป็นวิธีที่ทันสมัย ก๊าซ CO₂ จะถูกทำให้มีความดันสูงและอุณหภูมิที่เหมาะสมเพื่อกลายเป็นของเหลว แล้วใช้แยกน้ำมันออกจากเซลล์สาหร่าย วิธีนี้ช่วยให้ได้น้ำมันที่ ปราศจากตัวทำละลายเคมีและมีความบริสุทธิ์สูง 3. การสกัดด้วยการกดอัด หรือ Cold Pressed
เป็นวิธีที่ใช้แรงดันทางกลกดเซลล์สาหร่ายเพื่อให้ได้น้ำมันออกมา อันนี้เป็นการผลิตน้ำมันแบบออร์แกนิกเลยครับ แต่ให้ผลผลิตน้อยกว่าวิธีอื่น ๆ

น้ำมันที่ได้จากการสกัดจะผ่านการกลั่นด้วยกระบวนการต่าง ๆ เช่น Winterization กำจัดไขมันที่ไม่จำเป็น Molecular Distillation แยกสารตกค้าง เช่น โลหะหนักและสารปนเปื้อน Deodorization กำจัดกลิ่นคาวของสาหร่าย จากนั้นก็บรรจุใส่ซอฟท์เจล พร้อมจำหน่ายนั่นเองครับ

ก็ถือว่าเป็นอีกทางเลือกของชาววีแกน ที่ไม่สามารถกินปลาหรือสัตว์ทะเลได้ ก็น่าจะเฮกันดังๆได้เลยครับ จะได้มีตัวช่วยในการลดการอักเสบได้

ส่วนชาว food matrix ก็ต้องเรียนรู้ระบบครับ การกินจากปลาหรือสัตว์ทะเล ก็จะได้โปรตีน แร่ธาตุ วิตามินอื่นๆควบมากับตัวสัตว์ตามที่ธรรมชาติแพคมาให้ ถ้าจะเสริมเป็นน้ำมันสาหร่าย ก็สุดแล้วแต่ความต้องการครับ ไม่ใช่เรื่องแย่อะไร เว้นแต่ไปเทียบราคาเอาเองนะ 55555

#pirateketo #ฉลาก3รู้ #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ a3bb06f6:19ac1b11

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will continue to direct your life, and you will call it fate.” — Carl Jung

Most people don’t realize they’ve been robbed. Not in the dramatic, wallet-snatching sense, but in a quiet, systemic way that’s gone unnoticed for generations. If you’re feeling like no matter how hard you work, you can’t get ahead… you’re not imagining it.

It didn’t start as a scheme—but one compromise after another, it became one. Now, the system exploits you by design. This isn’t fate. It’s fiat.

The Unconscious Script: How Fiat Becomes Invisible From the moment you're born, you're placed into an economic system based on government-issued fiat currency. It becomes the air you breathe. You work for dollars. You save in dollars. You price your time, your future, and even your dreams in dollars.

But few stop to ask: What actually is a dollar? Who creates it? Why does it lose value?

This lack of questioning is the unconscious state. Fiat money is the background process running your life. You feel the effects—rising prices, shrinking savings, mounting debt—but you never see the root cause. So you blame yourself. Or “the economy.” Or call it fate.

The Lie of Neutral Money: Most believe money is just a neutral tool. But fiat is not neutral—it’s political power encoded into paper.

Governments can print more of it at will. Central banks can manipulate its supply, distort interest rates, and quietly tax you through inflation. Every time more money is created, your purchasing power shrinks.

But it happens slowly, like a leak in a tire. You don’t notice at first. You just feel like you’re working harder for less. The house is further out of reach. The groceries cost more. Retirement feels impossible.

And you accept it. Because no one told you it's designed this way.

Inflation Is the Invisible Thief, Inflation isn’t just a “cost of living increase.” It’s a state-sponsored form of theft.

When new money is created, it enters the system unevenly. Those closest to the money printer—banks, governments, large corporations—get the new dollars first. By the time it reaches you, prices have already risen. You’re buying the same goods with weaker money.

And yet, most people still save in fiat. They’re taught that hoarding cash is “safe.” They’re taught that 2% inflation is “normal.” But it’s not normal to work 40 hours a week and fall behind. That’s the product of unconscious acceptance.

The fiat system survives on one thing: your ignorance. It didn’t begin with malicious intent, but over time, it adapted to protect its own power—at your expense. As long as you don’t understand how money works, you won’t resist. You’ll blame yourself, or capitalism, or bad luck. But never the system itself.

This is why financial education is never prioritized in schools. This is why questioning monetary policy is left to economists and suits on CNBC. You were never taught how it works. And now the system depends on you staying confused—grinding, borrowing, complying, without ever asking why.

Making the Unconscious Conscious: Enter Bitcoin, Bitcoin breaks this spell.

It forces you to confront the nature of money—what it is, how it’s created, and why fiat fails. It teaches you that money doesn’t need to be printed, inflated, or controlled. That money can be fixed, finite, and fair.

Bitcoin is not just a new currency. It’s a tool of consciousness. It exposes the scam of fiat and offers a lifeboat to anyone ready to wake up.

Once you understand Bitcoin, you can’t unsee the problem. You begin to ask:

Why should I trust a system that steals my time? Why is saving discouraged, but debt rewarded? Why do I need permission to use my own money? These aren’t technical questions. They’re moral ones.

Consciousness Is Sovereignty: When you understand what fiat is, you stop calling your financial struggles “fate.” You start calling them what they are, outcomes of a broken system.

And once you see the system for what it is, you can choose to exit.

Saving in Bitcoin is not speculation. It’s self-defense. It’s rejecting unconscious servitude. It’s reclaiming your time, your labor, your future.

In a fiat world, they own the money—so they own the rules. In a Bitcoin world, you own yourself.

That’s the power of making the unconscious conscious.

And that’s how you stop calling it fate.

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIP-02

Follow List

final optional

A special event with kind 3, meaning "follow list" is defined as having a list of p tags, one for each of the followed/known profiles one is following.

Each tag entry should contain the key for the profile, a relay URL where events from that key can be found (can be set to an empty string if not needed), and a local name (or "petname") for that profile (can also be set to an empty string or not provided), i.e., ["p", <32-bytes hex key>, <main relay URL>, <petname>].

The .content is not used.

For example:

jsonc { "kind": 3, "tags": [ ["p", "91cf9..4e5ca", "wss://alicerelay.com/", "alice"], ["p", "14aeb..8dad4", "wss://bobrelay.com/nostr", "bob"], ["p", "612ae..e610f", "ws://carolrelay.com/ws", "carol"] ], "content": "", // other fields... }

Every new following list that gets published overwrites the past ones, so it should contain all entries. Relays and clients SHOULD delete past following lists as soon as they receive a new one.

Whenever new follows are added to an existing list, clients SHOULD append them to the end of the list, so they are stored in chronological order.

Uses

Follow list backup

If one believes a relay will store their events for sufficient time, they can use this kind-3 event to backup their following list and recover on a different device.

Profile discovery and context augmentation

A client may rely on the kind-3 event to display a list of followed people by profiles one is browsing; make lists of suggestions on who to follow based on the follow lists of other people one might be following or browsing; or show the data in other contexts.

Relay sharing

A client may publish a follow list with good relays for each of their follows so other clients may use these to update their internal relay lists if needed, increasing censorship-resistance.

Petname scheme

The data from these follow lists can be used by clients to construct local "petname" tables derived from other people's follow lists. This alleviates the need for global human-readable names. For example:

A user has an internal follow list that says

json [ ["p", "21df6d143fb96c2ec9d63726bf9edc71", "", "erin"] ]

And receives two follow lists, one from 21df6d143fb96c2ec9d63726bf9edc71 that says

json [ ["p", "a8bb3d884d5d90b413d9891fe4c4e46d", "", "david"] ]

and another from a8bb3d884d5d90b413d9891fe4c4e46d that says

json [ ["p", "f57f54057d2a7af0efecc8b0b66f5708", "", "frank"] ]

When the user sees 21df6d143fb96c2ec9d63726bf9edc71 the client can show erin instead; When the user sees a8bb3d884d5d90b413d9891fe4c4e46d the client can show david.erin instead; When the user sees f57f54057d2a7af0efecc8b0b66f5708 the client can show frank.david.erin instead.

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIP-01

Basic protocol flow description

draft mandatory

This NIP defines the basic protocol that should be implemented by everybody. New NIPs may add new optional (or mandatory) fields and messages and features to the structures and flows described here.

Events and signatures

Each user has a keypair. Signatures, public key, and encodings are done according to the Schnorr signatures standard for the curve secp256k1.

The only object type that exists is the event, which has the following format on the wire:

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

To obtain the event.id, we sha256 the serialized event. The serialization is done over the UTF-8 JSON-serialized string (which is described below) of the following structure:

[ 0, <pubkey, as a lowercase hex string>, <created_at, as a number>, <kind, as a number>, <tags, as an array of arrays of non-null strings>, <content, as a string> ]

To prevent implementation differences from creating a different event ID for the same event, the following rules MUST be followed while serializing: - UTF-8 should be used for encoding. - Whitespace, line breaks or other unnecessary formatting should not be included in the output JSON. - The following characters in the content field must be escaped as shown, and all other characters must be included verbatim: - A line break (0x0A), use \n - A double quote (0x22), use \" - A backslash (0x5C), use \\ - A carriage return (0x0D), use \r - A tab character (0x09), use \t - A backspace, (0x08), use \b - A form feed, (0x0C), use \f

Tags

Each tag is an array of one or more strings, with some conventions around them. Take a look at the example below:

jsonc { "tags": [ ["e", "5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36", "wss://nostr.example.com"], ["p", "f7234bd4c1394dda46d09f35bd384dd30cc552ad5541990f98844fb06676e9ca"], ["a", "30023:f7234bd4c1394dda46d09f35bd384dd30cc552ad5541990f98844fb06676e9ca:abcd", "wss://nostr.example.com"], ["alt", "reply"], // ... ], // ... }

The first element of the tag array is referred to as the tag name or key and the second as the tag value. So we can safely say that the event above has an e tag set to "5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36", an alt tag set to "reply" and so on. All elements after the second do not have a conventional name.

This NIP defines 3 standard tags that can be used across all event kinds with the same meaning. They are as follows:

• The e tag, used to refer to an event: ["e", <32-bytes lowercase hex of the id of another event>, <recommended relay URL, optional>, <32-bytes lowercase hex of the author's pubkey, optional>]
• The p tag, used to refer to another user: ["p", <32-bytes lowercase hex of a pubkey>, <recommended relay URL, optional>]
• The a tag, used to refer to an addressable or replaceable event
  • for an addressable event: ["a", "<kind integer>:<32-bytes lowercase hex of a pubkey>:<d tag value>", <recommended relay URL, optional>]
  • for a normal replaceable event: ["a", "<kind integer>:<32-bytes lowercase hex of a pubkey>:", <recommended relay URL, optional>] (note: include the trailing colon)

As a convention, all single-letter (only english alphabet letters: a-z, A-Z) key tags are expected to be indexed by relays, such that it is possible, for example, to query or subscribe to events that reference the event "5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36" by using the {"#e": ["5c83da77af1dec6d7289834998ad7aafbd9e2191396d75ec3cc27f5a77226f36"]} filter. Only the first value in any given tag is indexed.

Kinds

Kinds specify how clients should interpret the meaning of each event and the other fields of each event (e.g. an "r" tag may have a meaning in an event of kind 1 and an entirely different meaning in an event of kind 10002). Each NIP may define the meaning of a set of kinds that weren't defined elsewhere. NIP-10, for instance, especifies the kind:1 text note for social media applications.

This NIP defines one basic kind:

• 0: user metadata: the content is set to a stringified JSON object {name: <nickname or full name>, about: <short bio>, picture: <url of the image>} describing the user who created the event. Extra metadata fields may be set. A relay may delete older events once it gets a new one for the same pubkey.

And also a convention for kind ranges that allow for easier experimentation and flexibility of relay implementation:

• for kind n such that 1000 <= n < 10000 || 4 <= n < 45 || n == 1 || n == 2, events are regular, which means they're all expected to be stored by relays.
• for kind n such that 10000 <= n < 20000 || n == 0 || n == 3, events are replaceable, which means that, for each combination of pubkey and kind, only the latest event MUST be stored by relays, older versions MAY be discarded.
• for kind n such that 20000 <= n < 30000, events are ephemeral, which means they are not expected to be stored by relays.
• for kind n such that 30000 <= n < 40000, events are addressable by their kind, pubkey and d tag value -- which means that, for each combination of kind, pubkey and the d tag value, only the latest event MUST be stored by relays, older versions MAY be discarded.

In case of replaceable events with the same timestamp, the event with the lowest id (first in lexical order) should be retained, and the other discarded.

When answering to REQ messages for replaceable events such as {"kinds":[0],"authors":[<hex-key>]}, even if the relay has more than one version stored, it SHOULD return just the latest one.

These are just conventions and relay implementations may differ.

Communication between clients and relays

Relays expose a websocket endpoint to which clients can connect. Clients SHOULD open a single websocket connection to each relay and use it for all their subscriptions. Relays MAY limit number of connections from specific IP/client/etc.

From client to relay: sending events and creating subscriptions

Clients can send 3 types of messages, which must be JSON arrays, according to the following patterns:

• ["EVENT", <event JSON as defined above>], used to publish events.
• ["REQ", <subscription_id>, <filters1>, <filters2>, ...], used to request events and subscribe to new updates.
• ["CLOSE", <subscription_id>], used to stop previous subscriptions.

<subscription_id> is an arbitrary, non-empty string of max length 64 chars. It represents a subscription per connection. Relays MUST manage <subscription_id>s independently for each WebSocket connection. <subscription_id>s are not guaranteed to be globally unique.

<filtersX> is a JSON object that determines what events will be sent in that subscription, it can have the following attributes:

json { "ids": <a list of event ids>, "authors": <a list of lowercase pubkeys, the pubkey of an event must be one of these>, "kinds": <a list of a kind numbers>, "#<single-letter (a-zA-Z)>": <a list of tag values, for #e — a list of event ids, for #p — a list of pubkeys, etc.>, "since": <an integer unix timestamp in seconds. Events must have a created_at >= to this to pass>, "until": <an integer unix timestamp in seconds. Events must have a created_at <= to this to pass>, "limit": <maximum number of events relays SHOULD return in the initial query> }

Upon receiving a REQ message, the relay SHOULD return events that match the filter. Any new events it receives SHOULD be sent to that same websocket until the connection is closed, a CLOSE event is received with the same <subscription_id>, or a new REQ is sent using the same <subscription_id> (in which case a new subscription is created, replacing the old one).

Filter attributes containing lists (ids, authors, kinds and tag filters like #e) are JSON arrays with one or more values. At least one of the arrays' values must match the relevant field in an event for the condition to be considered a match. For scalar event attributes such as authors and kind, the attribute from the event must be contained in the filter list. In the case of tag attributes such as #e, for which an event may have multiple values, the event and filter condition values must have at least one item in common.

The ids, authors, #e and #p filter lists MUST contain exact 64-character lowercase hex values.

The since and until properties can be used to specify the time range of events returned in the subscription. If a filter includes the since property, events with created_at greater than or equal to since are considered to match the filter. The until property is similar except that created_at must be less than or equal to until. In short, an event matches a filter if since <= created_at <= until holds.

All conditions of a filter that are specified must match for an event for it to pass the filter, i.e., multiple conditions are interpreted as && conditions.

A REQ message may contain multiple filters. In this case, events that match any of the filters are to be returned, i.e., multiple filters are to be interpreted as || conditions.

The limit property of a filter is only valid for the initial query and MUST be ignored afterwards. When limit: n is present it is assumed that the events returned in the initial query will be the last n events ordered by the created_at. Newer events should appear first, and in the case of ties the event with the lowest id (first in lexical order) should be first. It is safe to return less events than limit specifies, but it is expected that relays do not return (much) more events than requested so clients don't get unnecessarily overwhelmed by data.

From relay to client: sending events and notices

Relays can send 5 types of messages, which must also be JSON arrays, according to the following patterns:

• ["EVENT", <subscription_id>, <event JSON as defined above>], used to send events requested by clients.
• ["OK", <event_id>, <true|false>, <message>], used to indicate acceptance or denial of an EVENT message.
• ["EOSE", <subscription_id>], used to indicate the end of stored events and the beginning of events newly received in real-time.
• ["CLOSED", <subscription_id>, <message>], used to indicate that a subscription was ended on the server side.
• ["NOTICE", <message>], used to send human-readable error messages or other things to clients.

This NIP defines no rules for how NOTICE messages should be sent or treated.

• EVENT messages MUST be sent only with a subscription ID related to a subscription previously initiated by the client (using the REQ message above).
• OK messages MUST be sent in response to EVENT messages received from clients, they must have the 3rd parameter set to true when an event has been accepted by the relay, false otherwise. The 4th parameter MUST always be present, but MAY be an empty string when the 3rd is true, otherwise it MUST be a string formed by a machine-readable single-word prefix followed by a : and then a human-readable message. Some examples:
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", true, ""]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", true, "pow: difficulty 25>=24"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", true, "duplicate: already have this event"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "blocked: you are banned from posting here"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "blocked: please register your pubkey at https://my-expensive-relay.example.com"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "rate-limited: slow down there chief"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "invalid: event creation date is too far off from the current time"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "pow: difficulty 26 is less than 30"]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "restricted: not allowed to write."]
• ["OK", "b1a649ebe8...", false, "error: could not connect to the database"]
• CLOSED messages MUST be sent in response to a REQ when the relay refuses to fulfill it. It can also be sent when a relay decides to kill a subscription on its side before a client has disconnected or sent a CLOSE. This message uses the same pattern of OK messages with the machine-readable prefix and human-readable message. Some examples:
• ["CLOSED", "sub1", "unsupported: filter contains unknown elements"]
• ["CLOSED", "sub1", "error: could not connect to the database"]
• ["CLOSED", "sub1", "error: shutting down idle subscription"]
• The standardized machine-readable prefixes for OK and CLOSED are: duplicate, pow, blocked, rate-limited, invalid, restricted, and error for when none of that fits.

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

NIPs

NIPs stand for Nostr Implementation Possibilities.

They exist to document what may be implemented by Nostr-compatible relay and client software.

---

• List
• Event Kinds
• Message Types
• Client to Relay
• Relay to Client
• Standardized Tags
• Criteria for acceptance of NIPs
• Is this repository a centralizing factor?
• How this repository works
• Breaking Changes
• License

---

List

• NIP-01: Basic protocol flow description
• NIP-02: Follow List
• NIP-03: OpenTimestamps Attestations for Events
• NIP-04: Encrypted Direct Message --- unrecommended: deprecated in favor of NIP-17
• NIP-05: Mapping Nostr keys to DNS-based internet identifiers
• NIP-06: Basic key derivation from mnemonic seed phrase
• NIP-07: window.nostr capability for web browsers
• NIP-08: Handling Mentions --- unrecommended: deprecated in favor of NIP-27
• NIP-09: Event Deletion Request
• NIP-10: Text Notes and Threads
• NIP-11: Relay Information Document
• NIP-13: Proof of Work
• NIP-14: Subject tag in text events
• NIP-15: Nostr Marketplace (for resilient marketplaces)
• NIP-17: Private Direct Messages
• NIP-18: Reposts
• NIP-19: bech32-encoded entities
• NIP-21: nostr: URI scheme
• NIP-22: Comment
• NIP-23: Long-form Content
• NIP-24: Extra metadata fields and tags
• NIP-25: Reactions
• NIP-26: Delegated Event Signing
• NIP-27: Text Note References
• NIP-28: Public Chat
• NIP-29: Relay-based Groups
• NIP-30: Custom Emoji
• NIP-31: Dealing with Unknown Events
• NIP-32: Labeling
• NIP-34: git stuff
• NIP-35: Torrents
• NIP-36: Sensitive Content
• NIP-37: Draft Events
• NIP-38: User Statuses
• NIP-39: External Identities in Profiles
• NIP-40: Expiration Timestamp
• NIP-42: Authentication of clients to relays
• NIP-44: Encrypted Payloads (Versioned)
• NIP-45: Counting results
• NIP-46: Nostr Remote Signing
• NIP-47: Nostr Wallet Connect
• NIP-48: Proxy Tags
• NIP-49: Private Key Encryption
• NIP-50: Search Capability
• NIP-51: Lists
• NIP-52: Calendar Events
• NIP-53: Live Activities
• NIP-54: Wiki
• NIP-55: Android Signer Application
• NIP-56: Reporting
• NIP-57: Lightning Zaps
• NIP-58: Badges
• NIP-59: Gift Wrap
• NIP-60: Cashu Wallet
• NIP-61: Nutzaps
• NIP-62: Request to Vanish
• NIP-64: Chess (PGN)
• NIP-65: Relay List Metadata
• NIP-66: Relay Discovery and Liveness Monitoring
• NIP-68: Picture-first feeds
• NIP-69: Peer-to-peer Order events
• NIP-70: Protected Events
• NIP-71: Video Events
• NIP-72: Moderated Communities
• NIP-73: External Content IDs
• NIP-75: Zap Goals
• NIP-78: Application-specific data
• NIP-84: Highlights
• NIP-86: Relay Management API
• NIP-88: Polls
• NIP-89: Recommended Application Handlers
• NIP-90: Data Vending Machines
• NIP-92: Media Attachments
• NIP-94: File Metadata
• NIP-96: HTTP File Storage Integration
• NIP-98: HTTP Auth
• NIP-99: Classified Listings
• NIP-7D: Threads
• NIP-C7: Chats

Event Kinds

| kind | description | NIP | | ------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | | 0 | User Metadata | 01 | | 1 | Short Text Note | 10 | | 2 | Recommend Relay | 01 (deprecated) | | 3 | Follows | 02 | | 4 | Encrypted Direct Messages | 04 | | 5 | Event Deletion Request | 09 | | 6 | Repost | 18 | | 7 | Reaction | 25 | | 8 | Badge Award | 58 | | 9 | Chat Message | C7 | | 10 | Group Chat Threaded Reply | 29 (deprecated) | | 11 | Thread | 7D | | 12 | Group Thread Reply | 29 (deprecated) | | 13 | Seal | 59 | | 14 | Direct Message | 17 | | 15 | File Message | 17 | | 16 | Generic Repost | 18 | | 17 | Reaction to a website | 25 | | 20 | Picture | 68 | | 21 | Video Event | 71 | | 22 | Short-form Portrait Video Event | 71 | | 30 | internal reference | NKBIP-03 | | 31 | external web reference | NKBIP-03 | | 32 | hardcopy reference | NKBIP-03 | | 33 | prompt reference | NKBIP-03 | | 40 | Channel Creation | 28 | | 41 | Channel Metadata | 28 | | 42 | Channel Message | 28 | | 43 | Channel Hide Message | 28 | | 44 | Channel Mute User | 28 | | 62 | Request to Vanish | 62 | | 64 | Chess (PGN) | 64 | | 818 | Merge Requests | 54 | | 1018 | Poll Response | 88 | | 1021 | Bid | 15 | | 1022 | Bid confirmation | 15 | | 1040 | OpenTimestamps | 03 | | 1059 | Gift Wrap | 59 | | 1063 | File Metadata | 94 | | 1068 | Poll | 88 | | 1111 | Comment | 22 | | 1311 | Live Chat Message | 53 | | 1617 | Patches | 34 | | 1621 | Issues | 34 | | 1622 | Git Replies (deprecated) | 34 | | 1630-1633 | Status | 34 | | 1971 | Problem Tracker | nostrocket | | 1984 | Reporting | 56 | | 1985 | Label | 32 | | 1986 | Relay reviews | | | 1987 | AI Embeddings / Vector lists | NKBIP-02 | | 2003 | Torrent | 35 | | 2004 | Torrent Comment | 35 | | 2022 | Coinjoin Pool | joinstr | | 4550 | Community Post Approval | 72 | | 5000-5999 | Job Request | 90 | | 6000-6999 | Job Result | 90 | | 7000 | Job Feedback | 90 | | 7374 | Reserved Cashu Wallet Tokens | 60 | | 7375 | Cashu Wallet Tokens | 60 | | 7376 | Cashu Wallet History | 60 | | 9000-9030 | Group Control Events | 29 | | 9041 | Zap Goal | 75 | | 9321 | Nutzap | 61 | | 9467 | Tidal login | Tidal-nostr | | 9734 | Zap Request | 57 | | 9735 | Zap | 57 | | 9802 | Highlights | 84 | | 10000 | Mute list | 51 | | 10001 | Pin list | 51 | | 10002 | Relay List Metadata | 65, 51 | | 10003 | Bookmark list | 51 | | 10004 | Communities list | 51 | | 10005 | Public chats list | 51 | | 10006 | Blocked relays list | 51 | | 10007 | Search relays list | 51 | | 10009 | User groups | 51, 29 | | 10013 | Private event relay list | 37 | | 10015 | Interests list | 51 | | 10019 | Nutzap Mint Recommendation | 61 | | 10030 | User emoji list | 51 | | 10050 | Relay list to receive DMs | 51, 17 | | 10063 | User server list | Blossom | | 10096 | File storage server list | 96 | | 10166 | Relay Monitor Announcement | 66 | | 13194 | Wallet Info | 47 | | 17375 | Cashu Wallet Event | 60 | | 21000 | Lightning Pub RPC | Lightning.Pub | | 22242 | Client Authentication | 42 | | 23194 | Wallet Request | 47 | | 23195 | Wallet Response | 47 | | 24133 | Nostr Connect | 46 | | 24242 | Blobs stored on mediaservers | Blossom | | 27235 | HTTP Auth | 98 | | 30000 | Follow sets | 51 | | 30001 | Generic lists | 51 (deprecated) | | 30002 | Relay sets | 51 | | 30003 | Bookmark sets | 51 | | 30004 | Curation sets | 51 | | 30005 | Video sets | 51 | | 30007 | Kind mute sets | 51 | | 30008 | Profile Badges | 58 | | 30009 | Badge Definition | 58 | | 30015 | Interest sets | 51 | | 30017 | Create or update a stall | 15 | | 30018 | Create or update a product | 15 | | 30019 | Marketplace UI/UX | 15 | | 30020 | Product sold as an auction | 15 | | 30023 | Long-form Content | 23 | | 30024 | Draft Long-form Content | 23 | | 30030 | Emoji sets | 51 | | 30040 | Curated Publication Index | NKBIP-01 | | 30041 | Curated Publication Content | NKBIP-01 | | 30063 | Release artifact sets | 51 | | 30078 | Application-specific Data | 78 | | 30166 | Relay Discovery | 66 | | 30267 | App curation sets | 51 | | 30311 | Live Event | 53 | | 30315 | User Statuses | 38 | | 30388 | Slide Set | Corny Chat | | 30402 | Classified Listing | 99 | | 30403 | Draft Classified Listing | 99 | | 30617 | Repository announcements | 34 | | 30618 | Repository state announcements | 34 | | 30818 | Wiki article | 54 | | 30819 | Redirects | 54 | | 31234 | Draft Event | 37 | | 31388 | Link Set | Corny Chat | | 31890 | Feed | NUD: Custom Feeds | | 31922 | Date-Based Calendar Event | 52 | | 31923 | Time-Based Calendar Event | 52 | | 31924 | Calendar | 52 | | 31925 | Calendar Event RSVP | 52 | | 31989 | Handler recommendation | 89 | | 31990 | Handler information | 89 | | | 32267 | Software Application | | | | 34550 | Community Definition | 72 | | 38383 | Peer-to-peer Order events | 69 | | 39000-9 | Group metadata events | 29 |

Message types

Client to Relay

| type | description | NIP | | ------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | | EVENT | used to publish events | 01 | | REQ | used to request events and subscribe to new updates | 01 | | CLOSE | used to stop previous subscriptions | 01 | | AUTH | used to send authentication events | 42 | | COUNT | used to request event counts | 45 |

Relay to Client

| type | description | NIP | | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | | EOSE | used to notify clients all stored events have been sent | 01 | | EVENT | used to send events requested to clients | 01 | | NOTICE | used to send human-readable messages to clients | 01 | | OK | used to notify clients if an EVENT was successful | 01 | | CLOSED | used to notify clients that a REQ was ended and why | 01 | | AUTH | used to send authentication challenges | 42 | | COUNT | used to send requested event counts to clients | 45 |

Standardized Tags

| name | value | other parameters | NIP | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | a | coordinates to an event | relay URL | 01 | | A | root address | relay URL | 22 | | d | identifier | -- | 01 | | e | event id (hex) | relay URL, marker, pubkey (hex) | 01, 10 | | E | root event id | relay URL | 22 | | f | currency code | -- | 69 | | g | geohash | -- | 52 | | h | group id | -- | 29 | | i | external identity | proof, url hint | 35, 39, 73 | | I | root external identity | -- | 22 | | k | kind | -- | 18, 25, 72, 73 | | K | root scope | -- | 22 | | l | label, label namespace | -- | 32 | | L | label namespace | -- | 32 | | m | MIME type | -- | 94 | | p | pubkey (hex) | relay URL, petname | 01, 02, 22 | | P | pubkey (hex) | -- | 22, 57 | | q | event id (hex) | relay URL, pubkey (hex) | 18 | | r | a reference (URL, etc) | -- | 24, 25 | | r | relay url | marker | 65 | | s | status | -- | 69 | | t | hashtag | -- | 24, 34, 35 | | u | url | -- | 61, 98 | | x | hash | -- | 35, 56 | | y | platform | -- | 69 | | z | order number | -- | 69 | | - | -- | -- | 70 | | alt | summary | -- | 31 | | amount | millisatoshis, stringified | -- | 57 | | bolt11 | bolt11 invoice | -- | 57 | | challenge | challenge string | -- | 42 | | client | name, address | relay URL | 89 | | clone | git clone URL | -- | 34 | | content-warning | reason | -- | 36 | | delegation | pubkey, conditions, delegation token | -- | 26 | | description | description | -- | 34, 57, 58 | | emoji | shortcode, image URL | -- | 30 | | encrypted | -- | -- | 90 | | expiration | unix timestamp (string) | -- | 40 | | file | full path (string) | -- | 35 | | goal | event id (hex) | relay URL | 75 | | image | image URL | dimensions in pixels | 23, 52, 58 | | imeta | inline metadata | -- | 92 | | lnurl | bech32 encoded lnurl | -- | 57 | | location | location string | -- | 52, 99 | | name | name | -- | 34, 58, 72 | | nonce | random | difficulty | 13 | | preimage | hash of bolt11 invoice | -- | 57 | | price | price | currency, frequency | 99 | | proxy | external ID | protocol | 48 | | published_at | unix timestamp (string) | -- | 23 | | relay | relay url | -- | 42, 17 | | relays | relay list | -- | 57 | | server | file storage server url | -- | 96 | | subject | subject | -- | 14, 17, 34 | | summary | summary | -- | 23, 52 | | thumb | badge thumbnail | dimensions in pixels | 58 | | title | article title | -- | 23 | | tracker | torrent tracker URL | -- | 35 | | web | webpage URL | -- | 34 | | zap | pubkey (hex), relay URL | weight | 57 |

Please update these lists when proposing new NIPs.

Criteria for acceptance of NIPs

1. They should be fully implemented in at least two clients and one relay -- when applicable.
2. They should make sense.
3. They should be optional and backwards-compatible: care must be taken such that clients and relays that choose to not implement them do not stop working when interacting with the ones that choose to.
4. There should be no more than one way of doing the same thing.
5. Other rules will be made up when necessary.

Is this repository a centralizing factor?

To promote interoperability, we need standards that everybody can follow, and we need them to define a single way of doing each thing without ever hurting backwards-compatibility, and for that purpose there is no way around getting everybody to agree on the same thing and keep a centralized index of these standards. However the fact that such an index exists doesn't hurt the decentralization of Nostr. At any point the central index can be challenged if it is failing to fulfill the needs of the protocol and it can migrate to other places and be maintained by other people.

It can even fork into multiple versions, and then some clients would go one way, others would go another way, and some clients would adhere to both competing standards. This would hurt the simplicity, openness and interoperability of Nostr a little, but everything would still work in the short term.

There is a list of notable Nostr software developers who have commit access to this repository, but that exists mostly for practical reasons, as by the nature of the thing we're dealing with the repository owner can revoke membership and rewrite history as they want -- and if these actions are unjustified or perceived as bad or evil the community must react.

How this repository works

Standards may emerge in two ways: the first way is that someone starts doing something, then others copy it; the second way is that someone has an idea of a new standard that could benefit multiple clients and the protocol in general without breaking backwards-compatibility and the principle of having a single way of doing things, then they write that idea and submit it to this repository, other interested parties read it and give their feedback, then once most people reasonably agree we codify that in a NIP which client and relay developers that are interested in the feature can proceed to implement.

These two ways of standardizing things are supported by this repository. Although the second is preferred, an effort will be made to codify standards emerged outside this repository into NIPs that can be later referenced and easily understood and implemented by others -- but obviously as in any human system discretion may be applied when standards are considered harmful.

Breaking Changes

Breaking Changes

License

All NIPs are public domain.

Contributors

@ fd06f542:8d6d54cd

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@ 84b0c46a:417782f5

nostr:nevent1qqsw9v8usvahkqmmc9qavu6g834v09j6e2u2acdua24tk73dqc05xecgkanse

@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec

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originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/927256

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra, is a charming mix of mountain landscapes, duty-free shopping, and rich history. Nestled in the Pyrenees, it’s a great destination for skiing, hiking, and relaxing in thermal spas. Whether you’re here for outdoor adventures, tax-free shopping, or cultural experiences, Andorra la Vella has something for everyone.

🏔️ Top Things to See & Do in Andorra la Vella

1️⃣ Shop in Avinguda Meritxell 🛍️

• One of Europe’s best duty-free shopping streets, filled with electronics, fashion, perfumes, and luxury goods.
• Find brands at lower prices than in Spain or France.

2️⃣ Relax at Caldea Spa ♨️

• The largest thermal spa in Southern Europe, with hot springs, saunas, and lagoon pools.
• A perfect place to unwind after skiing or hiking.

3️⃣ Visit the Church of Sant Esteve ⛪

• A beautiful Romanesque church dating back to the 12th century.
• Features stone carvings and medieval frescoes.

4️⃣ Explore the Historic Quarter (Barri Antic) 🏡

• Walk through narrow cobbled streets filled with traditional Andorran houses and charming cafés.
• Visit Casa de la Vall, a historic parliament building from the 16th century.

5️⃣ Go Skiing or Snowboarding 🎿

• Andorra is famous for its world-class ski resorts, Grandvalira and Vallnord, just 15-30 minutes away.
• Ideal for beginners and experienced skiers alike.

6️⃣ Hiking in the Pyrenees 🥾

• Summer & autumn offer incredible hiking trails with mountain lakes and scenic views.
• Rec del Solà Trail – A beautiful, easy path with panoramic views of the valley.
• L’Estany Blau – A moderate hike leading to a stunning blue lake.

7️⃣ Enjoy Andorran Cuisine 🍽️

• Escudella – A hearty Andorran stew with meat, beans, and vegetables 🍲
• Trinxat – A mountain dish made of potatoes, cabbage, and bacon 🥓🥔
• Embotits – Local cured meats and sausages, perfect as tapas 🍖
• Crema Andorrana – A creamy, local dessert similar to Catalan crema 🍮

🚗 How to Get to Andorra la Vella

✈️ By Air: The nearest airports are Barcelona-El Prat (Spain, 2.5 hrs) and Toulouse-Blagnac (France, 2.5 hrs).
🚘 By Car: 2.5 hrs from Barcelona, 2.5 hrs from Toulouse, 3 hrs from Perpignan.
🚌 By Bus: Direct buses from Barcelona, Toulouse, and Lleida.
🚆 By Train: No direct train, but you can take a train to L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre (France) and continue by bus.

💡 Tips for Visiting Andorra la Vella

✅ Best time to visit? Winter for skiing, summer for hiking & shopping ❄️🌞
✅ Bring a passport – Even though Andorra isn’t in the EU, border checks happen 🇦🇩
✅ Try duty-free shopping – Electronics, perfumes, and alcohol are cheaper 🛍️
✅ Book ski passes in advance – Resorts get busy in peak season 🎿
✅ Wear comfy shoes – The city has steep streets and cobblestone paths 👟

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Peñíscola, known as the “Gibraltar of Valencia”, is a stunning coastal town on Spain’s Costa del Azahar. Famous for its medieval castle, beautiful beaches, and charming old town, Peñíscola is a perfect mix of history, culture, and seaside relaxation. It’s also known as a filming location for Game of Thrones!

🏖️ Top Things to See & Do in Peñíscola

1️⃣ Peñíscola Castle (Castillo del Papa Luna) 🏰

• A magnificent 13th-century castle sitting on a rocky peninsula.
• Built by the Knights Templar and later home to Pope Benedict XIII (Papa Luna).
• Offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and surrounding coastline.

2️⃣ Explore the Old Town 🏡

• Wander through narrow cobblestone streets, lined with whitewashed houses and flower-filled balconies.
• Discover hidden courtyards, charming shops, and seafood restaurants.
• Enjoy the picturesque sunset views over the sea.

3️⃣ Relax on Playa Norte & Playa Sur 🏖️

• Playa Norte: The main beach, known for its golden sand and clear waters.
• Playa Sur: Smaller and quieter, great for relaxing away from the crowds.
• Both beaches offer water sports, sunbeds, and beach bars.

4️⃣ Serra d’Irta Natural Park 🌿

• A stunning coastal nature reserve with hiking and biking trails.
• Offers hidden coves, rugged cliffs, and breathtaking sea views.
• Ideal for nature lovers and photographers.

5️⃣ Game of Thrones Filming Locations 🎬

• Peñíscola was featured in Game of Thrones (Season 6) as Meereen.
• Visit the castle walls, old town alleys, and city gates where key scenes were filmed.

6️⃣ Boat Trip Around the Castle ⛵

• Take a boat tour for unique views of the fortress from the sea.
• Sunset cruises offer magical golden-hour scenery.

🍽️ What to Eat in Peñíscola

• Arroz a Banda – A delicious seafood rice dish, typical of Valencia 🍚🐟
• Suquet de Peix – A traditional fish stew with potatoes and saffron 🍲
• Langostinos de Vinaròs – Famous local prawns, incredibly fresh 🍤
• Caragols Punxents – A local specialty of small spicy snails 🐌🌶️
• Coca de llanda – A sweet sponge cake, perfect with coffee 🍰

🚗 How to Get to Peñíscola

✈️ By Air: The nearest airport is Castellón Airport (40 min), Valencia (1.5 hrs), or Barcelona (2 hrs).
🚆 By Train: The nearest station is Benicarló-Peñíscola, just 7 km away.
🚘 By Car: 1.5 hrs from Valencia, 2 hrs from Barcelona, 45 min from Castellón.
🚌 By Bus: Direct buses from Barcelona, Valencia, and Castellón.

💡 Tips for Visiting Peñíscola

✅ Best time to visit? Spring & summer (April–September) for the best weather ☀️
✅ Visit the castle early – Mornings are less crowded and cooler 🏰
✅ Take a sunset walk along the beach – The views are stunning 🌅
✅ Try a boat trip – The castle looks incredible from the water ⛵
✅ Wear comfortable shoes – The old town streets are steep and cobbled 👟

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Tarifa, located at the southernmost tip of Spain, is a paradise for beach lovers, adventure seekers, and nature enthusiasts. Known for its strong winds, golden beaches, and laid-back atmosphere, it’s a top destination for kite surfing, whale watching, and exploring Andalusian history. Plus, it’s the perfect gateway to Morocco, just a short ferry ride away.

🏖️ Top Things to See & Do in Tarifa

1️⃣ Playa de Los Lances 🏄‍♂️

• A long, sandy beach famous for kite surfing and windsurfing.
• One of the best spots in Europe for water sports enthusiasts.
• Lined with chiringuitos (beach bars) where you can relax and enjoy the views.

2️⃣ Punta de Tarifa – The Southernmost Point of Europe 🌍

• A unique spot where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.
• Walk to Isla de las Palomas, a historic military zone (guided tours available).
• Incredible views of Morocco, just 14 km away.

3️⃣ Whale & Dolphin Watching Tours 🐬

• Join a boat trip to see orcas, dolphins, and sperm whales in the Strait of Gibraltar.
• Best time: April to October for whale migrations.

4️⃣ Explore the Historic Old Town 🏰

• Wander through narrow, whitewashed streets full of charm.
• Visit Guzmán el Bueno Castle, a 10th-century fortress with panoramic views.
• Enjoy lively tapas bars, boutique shops, and hidden courtyards.

5️⃣ Playa de Bolonia & Baelo Claudia Ruins 🏛️

• One of Spain’s most unspoiled beaches, with dunes and turquoise waters.
• Explore the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia, an ancient fishing village from 2,000 years ago.
• Climb the Duna de Bolonia, a massive sand dune with breathtaking views.

6️⃣ Day Trip to Morocco 🇲🇦

• Take a 35-minute ferry to Tangier for a quick taste of North African culture.
• Explore medinas, souks, and local cuisine with a guided tour.
• Don’t forget your passport!

🍽️ What to Eat in Tarifa

• Atún Rojo (Red Tuna) – Tarifa is famous for its fresh bluefin tuna 🍣
• Tortillitas de Camarones – Crispy shrimp fritters, a local delicacy 🍤
• Choco Frito – Fried cuttlefish, a must-try for seafood lovers 🦑
• Andalusian Gazpacho – A refreshing cold tomato soup, perfect for hot days 🍅
• Mojama – Salt-cured tuna, often eaten as a tapa with almonds 🐟

🚗 How to Get to Tarifa

✈️ By Air: The nearest airports are Gibraltar (45 min), Málaga (2 hrs), and Seville (2.5 hrs).
🚆 By Train: No direct train, but you can take one to Algeciras (30 min drive from Tarifa).
🚘 By Car: 1.5 hrs from Málaga, 1 hr from Cádiz, 30 min from Gibraltar.
🚌 By Bus: Regular buses from Seville, Málaga, Cádiz, and Algeciras.
⛴️ To Morocco: Ferries run daily to Tangier, Morocco (35 min ride).

💡 Tips for Visiting Tarifa

✅ Best time to visit? Spring to early autumn (April–October) for great weather ☀️
✅ Book water sports lessons early – It’s a popular spot for kite surfing! 🏄‍♂️
✅ Bring layers – Tarifa can be windy, even in summer 🌬️
✅ Visit early for whale watching – Mornings usually have calmer seas 🐋
✅ Take a day trip to Bolonia – One of Spain’s most stunning hidden beaches 🏝️

@ fe9e99a0:5123e9a8

Can’t seem to update anything

@ 000002de:c05780a7

Regardless of what you have heard Capitalism isn't to blame for all the ills in modern life. Capitalism is simply free trade without centralize control. Of course there are many details I'm glossing over and degrees of freedom. Critics of capitalism rarely explain how it works. They complain about people buying too much stuff. People being over-weight. They complain about waste. People buying stuff they don't need. They complain that teachers aren't paid enough. They complain that professional athletes make too much money.

All of this boils down to two things.

1. People don't like what others choose to do
2. The products we see and world we live in is a result of the desires and values of the people

I agree with many of the critics of capitalism. There is a ton of crap. There's a ton of waste. There are professions I wish were more profitable and others I wish were less profitable. I'm going to ignore the state for once here. Obviously the state puts its thumb on the scales and distorts the market. But this isn't the main factor IMO. The main factor in the world we live in is us. The people. Our desires. Our values. The things we value are reflected in the market. People don't like to admit this because it is uncomfortable. We are spoiled, self-centered, brats that are desire machines. Yeah, you can blame advertising. You can blame "capitalism" but the alternative is starvation and death (socialism).

Its time for us to stop blaming freedom for all the ills in our society and take ownership for our actions. Its us. Thing is, I can't change you. But, I can change my actions. Adjust my values. Adjust my frame of view. I'd love to start hearing people take responsibility and self ownership. Start living out your values. Don't be a part of things that you view as problems. Be a part of solutions. I can't tell you what that looks like but if you think about it for a while you can come up with some things. Its easy to blame others. Its hard to take responsibility for yourself and own your flaws and mistakes.

What do you think?

Inspired by @k00b's post

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/927021

@ 9bde4214:06ca052b

“The human spirit should remain in charge.”

Pablo & Gigi talk about the wind.

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpx77gg2frul26xkzr0gaq9n842u50axpcjhdsa3yeu388vrv5pftqys8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytn9d9h82mny0fmkzmn6d9njuumsv93k2tcppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qqszlf337y0lkg4sz5ax9ath4y5vk6rpqn9tfewaln2989zavvqrg4cpt2krs

In this dialogue:

• Wind

• More Wind

• Information Calories, and how to measure them

• Digital Wellbeing

• Rescue Time

• Teleology of Technology

• Platforms get users Hooked (book)

• Feeds are slot machines

• Movie Walls

• Tweetdeck and Notedeck

• IRC vs the modern feed

• 37Signals: “Hey, let’s just charge users!”

• “You wouldn’t zap a car crash”

• Catering to our highest self VS catering to our lowest self

• Devolution of YouTube 5-star ratings to thumb up/down to views

• Long videos vs shorts

• The internet had to monetize itself somehow (with attention)

• “Don’t be evil” and why Google had to remove it

• Questr: 2D exploration of nostr

• ONOSENDAI by Arkinox

• Freedom tech & Freedom from Tech

• DAUs of jumper cables

• Gossip and it’s choices

• “The secret to life is to send it”

• Flying water & flying bus stops

• RSS readers, Mailbrew, and daily digests

• Nostr is high signal and less addictive

• Calling nostr posts “tweets” and recordings being “on tape”

• Pivoting from nostr dialogues to a podcast about wind

• The unnecessary complexity of NIP-96

• Blossom (and wind)

• Undoing URLs, APIs, and REST

• ISBNs and cryptographic identifiers

• SaaS and the DAU metric

• Highlighter

• Not caring where stuff is hosted

• When is an edited thing a new thing?

• Edits, the edit wars, and the case against edits

• NIP-60 and inconsistent balances

• Scroll to text fragment and best effort matching

• Proximity hashes & locality-sensitive hashing

• Helping your Uncle Jack of a horse

• Helping your uncle jack of a horse

• Can we fix it with WoT?

• Vertex & vibe-coding a proper search for nostr

• Linking to hashtags & search queries

• Advanced search and why it’s great

• Search scopes & web of trust

• The UNIX tools of nostr

• Pablo’s NDK snippets

• Meredith on the privacy nightmare of Agentic AI

• Blog-post-driven development (Lightning Prisms, Highlighter)

• Sandwich-style LLM prompting, Waterfall for LLMs (HLDD / LLDD)

• “Speed itself is a feature”

• MCP & DVMCP

• Monorepos and git submodules

• Olas & NDK

• Pablo’s RemindMe bot

• “Breaking changes kinda suck”

• Stories, shorts, TikTok, and OnlyFans

• LLM-generated sticker styles

• LLMs and creativity (and Gigi’s old email)

• “AI-generated art has no soul”

• Nostr, zaps, and realness

• Does the source matter?

• Poker client in bitcoin v0.0.1

• Quotes from Hitler and how additional context changes meaning

• Greek finance minister on crypto and bitcoin (Technofeudalism, book)

• Is more context always good?

• Vervaeke’s AI argument

• What is meaningful?

• How do you extract meaning from information?

• How do you extract meaning from experience?

• “What the hell is water”

• Creativity, imagination, hallucination, and losing touch with reality

• “Bitcoin is singularity insurance”

• Will vibe coding make developers obsolete?

• Knowing what to build vs knowing how to build

• 10min block time & the physical limits of consensus

• Satoshi’s reasons articulated in his announcement post

• Why do anything? Why stack sats? Why have kids?

• All you need now is motivation

• Upcoming agents will actually do the thing

• Proliferation of writers: quantity VS quality

• Crisis of sameness & the problem of distribution

• Patronage, belle epoche, and bitcoin art

• Niches, and how the internet fractioned society

• Joe’s songs

• Hyper-personalized stories

• Shared stories & myths (Jonathan Pageau)

• Hyper-personalized apps VS shared apps

• Agency, free expression, and free speech

• Edgy content & twitch meta, aka skating the line of demonetization and deplatforming

• Using attention as a proxy currency

• Farming eyeballs and brain cycles

• Engagement as a success metric & engagement bait

• “You wouldn’t zap a car crash”

• Attention economy is parasitic on humanity

• The importance of speech & money

• What should be done by a machine?

• What should be done by a human?

• “The human spirit should remain in charge”

• Our relationship with fiat money

• Active vs passive, agency vs serfdom

@ a012dc82:6458a70d

The cryptocurrency market, known for its dramatic fluctuations, has always been a subject of intrigue and speculation. Bitcoin, as the pioneering digital currency, has been at the epicenter of this financial whirlwind. As we approach 2024, the anticipation surrounding Bitcoin's value is palpable, with potential investors and seasoned cryptocurrency enthusiasts keenly eyeing the market's movements. This article aims to dissect the recent forecasts for Bitcoin's price in the coming year, delve into the multifaceted factors influencing these predictions, and explore the broader implications for those contemplating an investment in Bitcoin.

Table of Contents

• 2024 Bitcoin Price Predictions: A New Peak on the …

• Key Factors Driving Bitcoin's Price

  • The Halving Event

  • Institutional Interest and ETFs

  • Economic and Monetary Policies

• The Debate: To Buy or Not to Buy

  • Risk Tolerance

  • Market Dynamics

  • Long-Term Perspective

• Caution and Speculation

• Conclusion

• FAQs

2024 Bitcoin Price Predictions: A New Peak on the Horizon

Recent analyses, particularly a notable report from UK fintech firm Finder, have painted an optimistic picture for Bitcoin in 2024. Experts within the field are forecasting a new zenith for Bitcoin, projecting it to reach an all-time high of $88,000, with expectations of the currency stabilizing around $77,000 by the end of the year. These projections represent a significant uptick from Bitcoin's current valuation and suggest a potentially lucrative year ahead for the digital currency. However, it's crucial to recognize that these predictions are not guarantees but educated guesses based on current market trends and historical data. The cryptocurrency market's inherent volatility means that while the potential for substantial gains exists, so too does the risk of dramatic losses. Investors should approach these predictions with cautious optimism, considering the broader economic and technological landscape that could impact Bitcoin's trajectory.

Key Factors Driving Bitcoin's Price

The anticipated surge in Bitcoin's value can be attributed to several key factors, each playing a pivotal role in shaping the currency's future:

The Halving Event

The Bitcoin halving event scheduled for April 2024 stands as a significant milestone. This event, which occurs approximately every four years, reduces the reward for mining Bitcoin transactions by half. Historically, halving events have led to a decrease in the supply of new Bitcoins entering the market, which, in turn, has led to price increases as demand outstrips supply. The 2024 halving is expected to follow this trend, contributing to the bullish outlook for Bitcoin's price. However, while past performance can offer insights, it is not indicative of future results. The halving's impact could be influenced by a myriad of factors, including changes in miner behavior, technological advancements, and shifts in investor sentiment.

Institutional Interest and ETFs

Another driving force behind the optimistic price predictions is the growing institutional interest in Bitcoin and the approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. These developments have not only legitimized Bitcoin as an investment asset but also made it more accessible to a broader audience of traditional investors. The introduction of ETFs has bridged the gap between the conventional financial world and the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, providing a regulated and familiar avenue for investment. However, the influx of institutional money also brings new challenges, including increased market manipulation risks and the potential for regulatory crackdowns. Investors should remain vigilant, monitoring the evolving landscape and considering the long-term implications of institutional involvement in the cryptocurrency space.

Economic and Monetary Policies

Global economic conditions and monetary policies, particularly those enacted by the US Federal Reserve, are also critical factors influencing Bitcoin's price. In an environment of low interest rates and quantitative easing, investors have increasingly turned to alternative assets like Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. However, shifts in these policies could significantly impact investor behavior and market dynamics. A rise in interest rates or a tightening of monetary policy could lead to reduced liquidity in the market and a shift away from riskier assets, including Bitcoin. Conversely, continued economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures could bolster Bitcoin's appeal as a store of value.

The Debate: To Buy or Not to Buy

The decision to invest in Bitcoin, especially in light of the optimistic 2024 price predictions, is fraught with complexity:

Risk Tolerance

Bitcoin's notorious volatility cannot be overstated. The digital currency's price can experience dramatic swings within short periods, influenced by factors ranging from regulatory news to market sentiment. Potential investors must assess their risk tolerance and financial situation before entering the market. It's essential to consider whether you can withstand significant fluctuations in your investment's value and how such changes would impact your overall financial health.

Market Dynamics

Understanding the broader market dynamics and potential regulatory changes is crucial for anyone considering investing in Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency market does not operate in a vacuum; it is affected by global economic conditions, technological developments, and shifts in regulatory attitudes. Staying informed and adaptable is key, as today's market drivers could change rapidly, altering Bitcoin's price trajectory.

Long-Term Perspective

Adopting a long-term perspective is vital when investing in Bitcoin. While the allure of quick profits can be tempting, Bitcoin's history suggests that it is better suited as a long-term investment. The market's cyclical nature, characterized by boom-and-bust cycles, requires patience and a long-term outlook. Investors should avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term price movements and instead focus on the underlying value and potential of Bitcoin as a revolutionary digital asset.

Caution and Speculation

Despite the bullish forecasts, a note of caution is warranted. The cryptocurrency market remains speculative, and while Bitcoin has established itself as the leading digital currency, its future is not guaranteed. The landscape is rife with uncertainties, from technological challenges to regulatory hurdles. Potential investors should approach Bitcoin with a balanced perspective, recognizing the possibilities while being acutely aware of the risks.

Conclusion

The predictions for Bitcoin's price in 2024 offer a glimpse into a potentially prosperous future for the digital currency. However, the decision to invest should not be taken lightly. Prospective investors must navigate a landscape marked by volatility, uncertainty, and rapid change. By thoroughly evaluating the market, staying informed about developments, and considering their long-term financial goals, individuals can make more informed decisions about their involvement in the Bitcoin market. Whether now is the right time to buy Bitcoin is a personal decision that depends on individual circumstances, risk tolerance, and investment strategy. As with any investment, there are no guarantees, but for those willing to embrace the risks, the rewards could be substantial.

FAQs

Why is Bitcoin expected to reach new highs in 2024? Bitcoin's price is expected to surge due to factors like the halving event, increasing institutional interest, the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, and global economic conditions that favor alternative investments.

What is a Bitcoin halving event? A Bitcoin halving event is when the reward for mining new blocks is halved, reducing the rate at which new bitcoins are generated. This event occurs approximately every four years and tends to impact the price due to reduced supply.

Are Bitcoin ETFs significant for individual investors? Yes, Bitcoin ETFs provide individual investors with a regulated and familiar way to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly purchasing or storing the cryptocurrency, potentially increasing its accessibility and demand.

That's all for today

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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.

@ f1989a96:bcaaf2c1

Good morning, readers!

Turkey’s currency plunged to a record low after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rivals. This follows a pattern of escalating repression of opposition figures, which have been described as an effort to suppress competition ahead of primary elections. As economic conditions deteriorate, Erdogan is resorting to desperate measures — blocking social media, arresting dissenters, and tear-gassing protests — to maintain power over an increasingly restless populace.

In the Caribbean, we shed light on Cubans' struggles accessing remittances sent from family members abroad. This is a symptom of the regime's strict monetary controls over foreign currency. Cubans face long delays or can’t withdraw cash due to bank liquidity shortages. And when they can, remittances are converted into pesos at the overvalued official Cuban exchange rate. This effectively allows the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) to loot the value from Cuban remittances.

In freedom tech news, we highlight Demand Pool, the first-ever Stratum V2 mining pool. Stratum V2 is a mining protocol designed to decentralize Bitcoin mining by letting individual miners create their own block templates rather than relying on centralized pools to do so for them. This improves censorship resistance and promotes a more decentralized and resilient Bitcoin network — critical features for human rights defenders and nonprofits using Bitcoin to protect against financial repression from authoritarian regimes.

We end by featuring Vijay Selvam's new book, “Principles of Bitcoin.” It offers a clear, first-principles guide to understanding how Bitcoin’s technology interacts with economics, politics, philosophy, and human rights. Whether you’re new to Bitcoin or looking to deepen your understanding, this book provides a solid foundation, and it even features a foreword by HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein.

Now, let’s dive right in!

Subscribe Here

GLOBAL NEWS

Turkey | Lira in Free Fall as Erdogan Arrests Political Rival

Turkey’s lira plunged to a record low after officials arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival. Imamoglu’s arrest comes ahead of primary elections and follows the increasing repression of opposition figures in recent months, including the suspension of political opposition accounts on X. Officials also arrested Buğra Gökçe, head of the Istanbul Planning Agency, for publishing data exposing the country’s deepening poverty. The currency’s fallout and political repression have sparked protests in Istanbul despite a four-day ban. The regime is responding with tear gas and rubber bullets. Meanwhile, Turks dissenting online risk joining over a dozen other citizens recently arrested for “provocative” social media posts. Netblocks reports that the Turkish regime imposed restrictions on social media and messaging to quell the uprising of Turks struggling with financial conditions and deepening repression. 

Cuba | Banks “Hijack” Citizen Remittances

Cubans are struggling to access remittances sent from their families abroad. This is because the regime completely controls all incoming foreign currency transfers. When remittances arrive, communist banking authorities force their conversion into collapsing Cuban pesos or “Moneda Libremente Convertible” (MLC), Cuba’s digital currency with limited use. On top of this, Cubans receive pesos in their accounts based on the official Cuban exchange rate, which is far below the informal market rate. This allows the regime to opaquely siphon off much of the remittances’ real value. Even when the money clears, Cubans face long delays or can’t withdraw the cash due to banks’ liquidity shortages. Many Cubans are accusing these banks of “hijacking” their remittances. As inflation, electrical blackouts, and food shortages continue, remittances are more critical than ever for Cuban families. Yet, they’re blocked at every turn by a system designed to impoverish them.

Pakistan | Announces Plans to Regulate Digital Assets

Pakistan announced plans to create a regulatory framework for Bitcoin and digital assets to attract foreign investment and domestic economic activity. It’s a peculiar shift for a regime that regularly suspends the Internet, censors social media, represses opposition, and burdens its people with the highest cost of living in Asia. We suspect the plans indicate efforts to control the industry rather than empower individuals. The military-backed regime is also exploring a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and tightening controls on VPN use, which are hardly the hallmarks of leadership committed to permissionless financial systems. But perhaps it matters little. Grassroots Bitcoin adoption in Pakistan already ranks among the highest in the world, with an estimated 15 to 20 million users turning to digital assets to preserve their savings, circumvent financial controls, and escape the failures of a collapsing fiat system. HRF supported Bitcoin Pakistan with a grant to help translate resources into Urdu, a language spoken by 60 million people trapped in this repressive scenario.

Russia | Piloting CBDC in Tatarstan to Test Smart Contract Functionality

Russia’s central bank plans to pilot its CBDC, the digital ruble, in Tatarstan to test smart contract functionality. Specifically, the central bank will experiment with conditional spending, using smart contracts to restrict where and what users can spend money on. If these features are implemented, it will empower the Kremlin with micro-controls over Russians’ spending activity. Officials could program funds to expire, restrict purchases to regime-approved goods, or block transactions at certain locations — leaving users with no financial autonomy or privacy. Those who oppose the Russian dictatorship, such as activists, nonprofits, and dissenters, could be debanked with more ease, their assets frozen or confiscated without recourse.

Nicaragua | Government Mandates Public Employees Declare All Assets

In Nicaragua, dictator Daniel Ortega intensified state financial surveillance by mandating all public servants to disclose information on all personal and family assets. The mandate requires all public employees to declare everything from personal bank accounts, loans, vehicles, and other assets — as well as the assets and accounts of immediate family members. Those who do not comply face the threat of termination. Ironically, despite the law requiring such disclosure, Ortega himself has not declared his assets since 2006. Under the guise of regulatory compliance, this policy is yet another link in the chain tightening state surveillance over Nicaraguan society. Bitcoin adoption continues to grow in this repressed Central American nation.

BITCOIN AND FREEDOM TECH NEWS

Demand Pool | First Stratum V2 Mining Pool Launches

Bitcoin mining could become more decentralized and censorship-resistant with the launch of Demand Pool, the first mining pool to ever implement Stratum V2. Stratum V2 is open-source software that allows miners to build their own block templates, enabling more individual mining and less dependence on large and centralized mining pools. This helps maintain Bitcoin’s key features: its decentralized, permissionless, and uncensorable nature. All of which are crucial for human rights defenders and nonprofits bypassing the financial repression and surveillance of authoritarian regimes. Learn more here.

Bitcoin Mining | Three Solo Blocks Found

Three separate solo miners mined Bitcoin blocks in the past seven days. This marks the second, third, and fourth solo blocks mined in the past two weeks alone, hinting at a surge in home mining. This promotes greater decentralization within the Bitcoin network because solo miners have little functional ability to censor. In contrast, large mining pools are points of failure that centralized interests can more easily pressure — to the detriment of activists and human rights defenders. The first block was mined on March 21 by a miner using a self-hosted FutureBit Apollo machine that earned 3.125 BTC plus fees for processing block 888,737. Just days later, a solo miner with under 1 TH/s of self-hosted hash rate found block 888,989, which became just the third block ever to be mined using an open-source Bitaxe device. Most recently, on March 24, a solo miner using a $300 setup successfully mined block 889,240.

Krux | Adds Taproot and Miniscript Support

Krux, open-source software for building your own Bitcoin signing devices (hardware for Bitcoin self-custody), released an update that enhances privacy and flexibility. The update introduces support for Taproot, a past Bitcoin upgrade that improves privacy and security, and Miniscript, a simplified way to create more complex Bitcoin transaction rules. This allows users to manage multi-signature wallets (where more than one private key is required to interact with your Bitcoin) in a more private and flexible way. It also enables spending conditions that are harder to censor and easier to verify. Krux continues to support the struggle for financial freedom and human rights by breaking down barriers to Bitcoin self-custody. HRF has recognized this impact and awarded grants to open-source developers working on Krux to advance this mission.

Cashu | Developing Tap-to-Pay Ecash

Calle, the creator of Cashu, an open-source Chaumian ecash protocol for Bitcoin integrated with the Lightning Network, is developing a new tap-to-pay feature that enables instant, offline ecash payments via NFC. Ecash functions as a bearer asset, meaning the funds are stored directly on the user’s device. With tap-to-pay, it can be transferred with a single tap (similar to tapping your credit card). More generally, ecash offers fast, private transactions resistant to surveillance and censorship. But for activists and dissenters, this particular advancement makes private and permissionless payments more accessible and user-friendly. This development will be worth following closely. Watch a demo here.

OpenSats | Announces 10th Wave of Bitcoin Grants

OpenSats, a public nonprofit that supports open-source software and projects, announced its 10th wave of grants supporting Bitcoin initiatives. This round includes funding for Stable Channels, which enable stabilized Bitcoin-backed balances on the Lightning Network (allowing users to peg Bitcoin to fiat currencies in a self-custodial way) that provide stable, censorship-resistant payments. OpenSats also renewed its support for Floresta, a lightweight Bitcoin node (a computer that runs the Bitcoin software). It lowers entry barriers to running Bitcoin, helping make the network more decentralized and censorship-resistant.

Bitcoin Policy Institute | Launches Bitcoin Summer Research Program

The Bitcoin Student Network (BSN) and the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) are teaming up to offer students an eight-week research internship this summer. The program is part of BPI’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) initiative and invites students passionate about the future of money, financial inclusion, and Bitcoin’s civil liberties impacts to conduct hands-on research. Participants will also receive mentorship from BPI researchers. The program runs from June 9 to Aug. 8, 2025, and includes an in-person colloquium in Washington, DC. It is an incredible opportunity for students worldwide, especially those living in oppressive regimes, to get involved with Bitcoin. Applications are open until April 7. Apply here.

RECOMMENDED CONTENT

Principles of Bitcoin by Vijay Selvam

“Principles of Bitcoin” by Vijay Selvam is a new book offering a first-principles guide to understanding Bitcoin’s technology, economics, politics, and philosophy. With a foreword by HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein, the book cuts through the noise to explain why Bitcoin stands alone as a tool for individual empowerment and financial freedom. Selvam’s work makes the case for Bitcoin as a once-in-history invention shaping a more decentralized and equitable future. Read it here.

Rule Breakers — The True Story of Roya Mahboob

“Rule Breakers” is a new film that tells the true story of Roya Mahboob, Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO, who empowered young girls in Afghanistan with financial literacy, robotics, and financial freedom through Bitcoin. The film recounts Mahboob’s courageous work educating these girls despite huge personal risks under a regime that bans their education. It follows the story of Afghan Dreamers, the country’s first all-girls robotics team, and the obstacles they overcome to compete on the world stage. “Rule Breakers” is a testament to the power of education, innovation, and resilience in the face of oppression. It’s now in theaters, and you can watch the trailer here.

If this article was forwarded to you and you enjoyed reading it, please consider subscribing to the Financial Freedom Report here.

Support the newsletter by donating bitcoin to HRF’s Financial Freedom program via BTCPay.\ Want to contribute to the newsletter? Submit tips, stories, news, and ideas by emailing us at ffreport @ hrf.org

The Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) is accepting grant proposals on an ongoing basis. The Bitcoin Development Fund is looking to support Bitcoin developers, community builders, and educators. Submit proposals here.

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@ 401014b3:59d5476b

Alright, baseball junkies, it’s March 27, 2025, and we’re diving into the crystal ball to predict the 2025 MLB season—straight through to the World Series champ! Spring Training’s wrapping up, Opening Day’s here, and the league’s loaded with talent, drama, and some sneaky contenders ready to shake things up. I’m breaking down each playoff team’s path, their strengths, weaknesses, and who’s got the juice to hoist the trophy in October. This ain’t some cookie-cutter chalk pick—let’s get gritty, let’s get bold, and let’s see who’s got the stones to win it all. Strap in, fam—here we go!

---

American League Playoff Teams: The AL Beast Mode

New York Yankees\ The Yankees are back, and they’re pissed after last year’s World Series loss to the Dodgers. Aaron Judge is coming off another MVP-caliber season (let’s say .310, 55 HRs, 130 RBIs), and Juan Soto’s bat (projected .290, 40 HRs) gives them a lethal 1-2 punch. Gerrit Cole anchors a rotation that’s top-5 in ERA (around 3.40), but the bullpen’s a question mark—closer Clay Holmes blew 13 saves in 2024, and they haven’t fixed that yet. They’ll win the AL East (95-67), but their postseason hinges on late-inning reliability.\ Prediction: ALCS run, but they fall short if the pen implodes.

Houston Astros\ The Astros are perennial AL West champs (projected 92-70), even with a slightly aging core. Jose Altuve (.300, 20 HRs) and Yordan Alvarez (.295, 35 HRs) keep the offense humming, and a rotation led by Framber Valdez (3.20 ERA) and Hunter Brown (3.50 ERA) is solid. Their bullpen, with Josh Hader (1.28 ERA in 2024), is lights-out. But injuries to key arms like Justin Verlander (aging at 42) could bite them.\ Prediction: ALDS exit—they’re good, but not great this year.

Cleveland Guardians\ The Guardians sneak into the playoffs as the AL Central champs (88-74). Jose Ramirez (.280, 35 HRs, 110 RBIs) is a one-man wrecking crew, and their rotation—Shane Bieber (3.00 ERA, if healthy) and Triston McKenzie (3.60 ERA)—keeps them in games. But their offense outside Ramirez is thin (team OPS around .720), and the bullpen’s inconsistent (4.00 ERA).\ Prediction: Wild Card exit—they’re scrappy but lack firepower.

Tampa Bay Rays (Wild Card)\ The Rays grab a Wild Card spot (90-72) with their usual mix of grit and analytics. Yandy Diaz (.290, 15 HRs) and Randy Arozarena (.270, 25 HRs) lead a balanced offense, while Shane McClanahan (3.10 ERA) and Zach Eflin (3.40 ERA) anchor the rotation. Their bullpen (top-10 in ERA at 3.50) is a strength, but depth issues (injuries to key prospects) could hurt.\ Prediction: ALDS run—they’re sneaky dangerous.

Seattle Mariners (Wild Card)\ The Mariners finally break through as a Wild Card (89-73), as predicted by some fans on X. Julio Rodriguez (.285, 30 HRs) and Cal Raleigh (.250, 35 HRs) power the offense, and a rotation of Luis Castillo (3.20 ERA), Logan Gilbert (3.30 ERA), and George Kirby (3.40 ERA) is the best in the AL (team ERA around 3.20). Their offense (bottom-10 in runs scored) is the Achilles’ heel.\ Prediction: ALCS run—they’re a pitcher’s dream, but the bats hold ‘em back.

Baltimore Orioles (Wild Card)\ The Orioles snag a Wild Card (87-75), but some fans on X call them a “surprise disappointment.” Gunnar Henderson (.280, 35 HRs) and Adley Rutschman (.270, 20 HRs) lead a young core, but the rotation—Corbin Burnes (3.00 ERA) and Grayson Rodriguez (3.70 ERA)—lacks depth after losing Kyle Bradish to injury. The bullpen (4.20 ERA) is shaky.\ Prediction: Wild Card exit—too many holes this year.

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National League Playoff Teams: The NL Wild West

Los Angeles Dodgers\ The Dodgers are the NL West juggernaut (98-64), and some fans on X are already calling them World Series champs. Shohei Ohtani (.300, 50 HRs, 120 RBIs) is the NL MVP favorite, Mookie Betts (.290, 30 HRs) is elite, and Freddie Freeman (.310, 25 HRs) is steady. The rotation—Tyler Glasnow (3.10 ERA), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3.30 ERA), and Walker Buehler (3.50 ERA)—is deep, and the bullpen (3.40 ERA) is solid. No weaknesses here.\ Prediction: World Series bound—they’re a machine.

Philadelphia Phillies\ The Phillies win the NL East (94-68) with a balanced attack. Bryce Harper (.290, 30 HRs) and Kyle Schwarber (.250, 40 HRs) mash, while Trea Turner (.300, 20 HRs) adds speed. The rotation—Zack Wheeler (3.00 ERA), Aaron Nola (3.40 ERA), and Ranger Suarez (3.60 ERA)—is top-tier, and the bullpen (3.50 ERA) is reliable. They’re built for October.\ Prediction: NLCS run—they’re legit contenders.

Milwaukee Brewers\ The Brewers take the NL Central (90-72) with a scrappy squad. Willy Adames (.270, 30 HRs) and William Contreras (.280, 20 HRs) lead the offense, while Freddy Peralta (3.30 ERA) and Brandon Woodruff (3.50 ERA, if healthy) anchor the rotation. Their bullpen (top-5 in ERA at 3.30) is a strength, but the offense (middle-of-the-pack in runs) can stall.\ Prediction: NLDS exit—not enough firepower.

Atlanta Braves (Wild Card)\ The Braves grab a Wild Card (91-71) despite injuries. Ronald Acuna Jr. (.290, 35 HRs) and Matt Olson (.270, 40 HRs) power the lineup, but the rotation—Chris Sale (3.20 ERA) and Max Fried (3.40 ERA)—is thin after Spencer Strider’s injury. The bullpen (3.60 ERA) is solid, but depth is a concern.\ Prediction: NLDS run—they’re talented but banged up.

San Diego Padres (Wild Card)\ The Padres snag a Wild Card (89-73) with a balanced attack. Fernando Tatis Jr. (.280, 35 HRs) and Manny Machado (.270, 30 HRs) lead the offense, while Dylan Cease (3.30 ERA) and Yu Darvish (3.50 ERA) anchor the rotation. The bullpen (3.70 ERA) is decent, but they lack a true closer.\ Prediction: Wild Card exit—not enough late-game juice.

New York Mets (Wild Card)\ The Mets sneak in as a Wild Card (88-74) with a breakout year. Francisco Lindor (.280, 30 HRs) and Pete Alonso (.260, 35 HRs) mash, while Kodai Senga (3.20 ERA) and Luis Severino (3.60 ERA) lead the rotation. The bullpen (4.00 ERA) is a weak spot, but their offense (top-10 in runs) keeps ‘em alive.\ Prediction: NLDS run—they’re scrappy but flawed.

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Playoff Breakdown: The Road to the World Series

AL Wild Card:

• Rays over Guardians
• Mariners over Orioles
• Yankees over Rays
• Mariners over Astros
• Yankees vs. Mariners → Yankees (4-2)\ Judge and Soto go off, and the Mariners’ bats can’t keep up with New York’s firepower. Cole’s ace stuff seals it.

NL Wild Card:

• Braves over Padres
• Mets over Brewers
• Dodgers over Mets
• Phillies over Braves
• Dodgers vs. Phillies → Dodgers (4-3)\ Ohtani’s heroics (think a 3-HR game) and the Dodgers’ depth outlast Philly’s grit in a seven-game classic.

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World Series: Yankees vs. Dodgers

Here we go—a rematch of last year’s epic clash! The Yankees are hungry for revenge, with Judge and Soto swinging for the fences (combined 5 HRs in the series). Cole (Game 1 gem, 7 IP, 2 ER) and Rodon (Game 5 win) keep it close, but the Dodgers’ lineup is relentless—Ohtani (.350, 2 HRs), Betts (.320, 3 doubles), and Freeman (.300, 8 RBIs) overwhelm New York’s shaky bullpen. Glasnow and Yamamoto each win a start, and the Dodgers’ pen (2.50 ERA in the series) slams the door. Dodgers win in 6—Ohtani’s walk-off in Game 6 seals it.

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The Final Buzzer

The Dodgers are my 2025 World Series champs—they’ve got the star power, depth, and clutch factor to repeat. The Yankees make a valiant run, but their bullpen woes bite ‘em again. Hit me on X if you disagree, but this is my October gospel—let’s see who’s standing when the dust settles! Play ball, degenerates!

@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb

Can someone please explain to me how this new STRF thing works? Cause I'm getting FTX / BlockFI vibes here. 18% Yield, no risk investment, bond killer, etc... Look at this post for example - https://x.com/AdamBLiv/status/1905106498398621846

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/926635

@ 0861144c:e68a1caf

Maybe we will never meet José. He is a mechanical engineer who works in a shop repairing vehicle air conditioners. After finishing high school, he decided not to go to college because he thought it was a waste of time. Instead, he tried his luck at a technical school for electromechanics near his house. On the first day, he fell in love with what he saw, and he did very well.

At first, he was just an assistant. Later, he managed two warehouses under his leadership, and eventually, he became the workshop manager. When a wave of corporate mergers came, José was not left behind, and the workshop where he worked was absorbed. For the better, he was appointed as General Manager of three workshops. Life was going well, but it was time to think about the future.

Amidst many jobs, he remembered reading or hearing about a coin... Bitcoin or something like that, which seemed to make sense as an investment source, not savings. He wanted to save for his retirement, so he went to a meetup near his city where they taught him how to set up his own self-custodial wallet. They taught him how to buy and sell, how to send and receive. He was happy. Like a dog with three tails, José now had power in his hands, and he knew it.

Let’s skip the next few months. He kept saving, and through a simple DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging) program, he bought every month, and his portfolio grew significantly. As his social media algorithm started pointing towards crypto content, José began to see Bitcoin influencers talking about ETFs, how politicians were entering the political arena, taxes, withholding, account freezes, and a bunch of other stuff.

One of those afternoons, a friend of his brings over a new strain to smoke, saying it has hallucinogenic components. After taking some and feeling the effects, the friend asks José how his Bitcoin investments are going.

Despite giving him a positive answer, he takes a long sigh and tells him about the future.

“The last time I went to a meetup, I found too many Bitcoiners focused on three things: politicians (not politics), ETFs, and non-economy topics, plus taxes. I told them I had read Facebook’s employee manual where one of the points says, ‘If we don’t create what will kill Facebook, someone outside will do it,’” he paused, looked into his friend’s glassy eyes, and continued.

“They called me crazy. They started telling me that countries would adopt Bitcoin, start buying, and begin regulating more seriously. What they didn’t realize is that they are already doing it.” His friend took a heavy drag, José did too, and then he began explaining the plan for governments to passively take away your Bitcoins.

“Step 1: The government won’t buy anything. It will simply use the monopoly of force to seize everything they can. By breaking down doors and seizing equipment, they will have enough leverage to start negotiating... this stage is crucial: don’t buy anything. Just flex the muscles to the population and remind them of their place in the world, that death and taxes are mandatory, even if you pay your taxes from the grave.”

The friend remembered something about Trump’s Reserve, or was it Bukele’s? It got mixed up in his head, but he looked at José and, in silence, asked him to continue.

“Step 2: Some will start showing sympathy to gather votes. That’s easy: politicians hunting with legal fantasies. Until, at some point, someone will say it’s time. Before that, there will be some who try to do things their way but won’t be able to. Organizations controlling monetary policies will step in and won’t let you do anything until they figure out what to do, and then...” José interrupted himself with a heavy drag, “...then comes step 3.”

“Step 3 is the most complicated. They will have to convince the population to hand over their Bitcoins, but passively. Executive Order 6102 in 1933 was a disaster of catastrophic proportions. Not to mention the gold looting of 1915 in the British Empire, which Europeans themselves rarely point out. So, what do we have in favor as a government? Legality. Okay, then, how do we get people to start giving their money voluntarily? Just like they were doing at the meetup: talking nonsense about politicians, projects with the state, and so on. And here’s the Trojan horse: ETFs.”

“Many people don’t understand, but the government will take its share and ‘recommend’ to investors that the best way to stay compliant with their tax obligations but still participate in the decentralized market is through Wall Street instruments. People will go directly there, put their Bitcoins on centralized exchanges, and won’t realize that, at any moment, step 4 will begin.”

They stare at the stars while José points at a star, it's a large one, probably a planet exploding thousands of light-years away.

“Step 4 is what I call voluntary selection. The ETFs will become a sort of bonds to maintain state power. They need a valuable instrument to sustain their power, and through promises of fair regulations and consumer protection, your Bitcoins will end up directly under state control. The correct way to buy Bitcoin will now be through ETFs authorized by friendly companies and regulated.”

“This, without ever forgetting that the raids on decentralized exchanges will continue. Through the weight of the law, they will try to go against those to keep confiscating. It’s true they won’t be able to hack my private key, but they’ll pull out my nails, kidnap me, and drug me to reveal everything. And then the final step... the kidnapping of Bitcoin.”

“Step 5 is the takeover. As we know, there are rebellious souls because people like me know that ETFs are a corrupt instrument of a corrupt government led by the same people who caused the 2008 crisis and other previous years’ crises so severe that WE ended up paying for them. How do you take us out of the game? You can’t, but you discourage us — a classic sabotage tactic.”

“The first step is to get involved as volunteer developers in the Bitcoin Core. They will start well, just fixing bugs, participating. But one day, they will start offering pull-request packages, with small backdoors or intentionally doing things wrong. We will denounce them, but they will say it’s a conspiracy, that the government isn’t trying to take over anything, and everything will continue as usual. The second step is to nominate a pro-ETF person within Bitcoin development, allowing this developer to lead projects related to creating ETF-Bitcoin integration. At that moment, capitulation will begin, new Bitcoin forks will emerge, and the whole scheme will restart. But the government already controls the core, completely forgotten amid ridiculous news about prices, who’s buying and who’s not. Today, it’s more important if BlackRock bought than to check what’s happening in the Core.”

The friend realizes he’s getting hungry, looks at José seeking company, and José ends with one sentence.

“It’s the stuff from that herb, man. People wouldn’t be so stupid to fall into this game... I feel like eating some pupusas.”

And that’s a story, folks. Is it true or not... could it be?

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/926599

@ 7d33ba57:1b82db35

Sitges is known for its golden beaches, vibrant nightlife, and artistic charm. With a beautiful seafront promenade, historic old town, and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a top destination for relaxation, culture, and fun on the **Costa Dorada.

🏖️ Top Things to See & Do in Sitges

1️⃣ Stroll Along the Passeig Marítim 🌊

• A scenic seaside promenade lined with palm trees, beaches, and restaurants.
• Perfect for walking, cycling, or enjoying a sunset cocktail.

2️⃣ Relax on the Beaches 🏖️

• Playa de la Fragata – A central beach near the old town, great for families.
• Playa de San Sebastián – A smaller, quieter beach with local charm.
• Playa del Balmins – A well-known nudist and LGBTQ+ friendly beach.
• Playa de l'Home Mort – A hidden cove, popular for naturists.

3️⃣ Visit the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla ⛪

• The iconic church overlooking the sea, a must-visit landmark.
• Amazing spot for photos, especially at sunset.

4️⃣ Explore the Old Town & Museums 🏛️

• Wander through charming whitewashed streets filled with boutique shops and cafés.
• Visit Museu Cau Ferrat, home to art by Santiago Rusiñol and Picasso.
• Discover Museu Maricel, featuring Romanesque and modernist art.

5️⃣ Enjoy Sitges' Lively Nightlife & Festivals 🎭

• Sitges is famous for its bars, beach clubs, and LGBTQ+ friendly nightlife.
• Visit in February for Sitges Carnival, one of Spain’s best! 🎉
• Experience the Sitges Film Festival (October), known for horror & fantasy films.

6️⃣ Wine Tasting in Penedès 🍷

• Take a short trip to Penedès, one of Spain’s best Cava (sparkling wine) regions.
• Tour local wineries and enjoy wine tastings just 30 minutes away.

🍽️ What to Eat in Sitges

• Xató – A local salad with cod, anchovies, and romesco sauce 🥗
• Suquet de Peix – A Catalan seafood stew with potatoes 🍲🐟
• Fideuà – Similar to paella, but made with short noodles instead of rice 🍤
• Crema Catalana – A delicious caramelized custard dessert 🍮
• Cava – The famous Catalan sparkling wine from nearby Penedès 🍾

🚗 How to Get to Sitges

🚆 By Train: 35 min from Barcelona (Sants or Passeig de Gràcia stations).
🚘 By Car: 40 min from Barcelona via the C-32 highway.
🚌 By Bus: Direct buses from Barcelona Airport (El Prat) and Tarragona.
✈️ By Air: The nearest airport is Barcelona-El Prat (BCN, 25 km away).

💡 Tips for Visiting Sitges

✅ Best time to visit? Spring to early autumn (April–October) for beach weather ☀️
✅ Avoid summer weekends – It gets very busy with visitors from Barcelona 🏖️
✅ Visit during Carnival or the Film Festival for an unforgettable experience 🎭🎬
✅ Explore beyond the beaches – The old town and vineyards are worth it! 🍷
✅ Try beachfront dining – Enjoy fresh seafood with a sea view 🍽️🌊

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

What we have been missing in SN Press kit? Most important, who the press kit is for? It's for us? It's for them? Them, who?

The first few editions of the press kit, I agree are mostly made by us, for us. A way to try to homogenize how we speek out SN into the wild web. A way to have SN voice sync, loud and clear, to send out our message. In this case, I squeezed my mouse, creating a template for us [^1], stackers, to share when talking sales with possible businesses and merchants willing to invest some sats and engage with SN community. Here's the message and the sales pitch, v0.1:

Reach Bitcoin’s Most Engaged Community – Zero Noise, Pure Signal.

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Contributions to improve would be much appreciated. You can also help by simply commenting on each slide or leaving your feedback below, especially if you are a sale person or someone that has seen similar documents before.

This is the first interaction. Already noticed some issues, for example with the emojis and the fonts, especially when exporting, probably related to a penpot issue. The slides maybe render differently depending on the browser you're using.

• ▶️ Play the file in your browser
• ⬇️ Save the PDF file

@k00b it will be nice to have some real data, how we can get some basic audience insights? Even some inputs from Plausible, if still active, will be much useful.

[^1]: Territory founders. FYI: @Aardvark, @AGORA, @anna, @antic, @AtlantisPleb, @av, @Bell_curve, @benwehrman, @bitcoinplebdev, @Bitter, @BlokchainB, @ch0k1, @davidw, @ek, @elvismercury, @frostdragon, @grayruby, @HODLR, @inverselarp, @Jon_Hodl, @MaxAWebster, @mega_dreamer, @mrtali, @niftynei, @nout, @OneOneSeven, @PlebLab, @Public_N_M_E, @RDClark, @realBitcoinDog, @roytheholographicuniverse, @siggy47, @softsimon, @south_korea_ln, @theschoolofbitcoin, @TNStacker. @UCantDoThatDotNet, @Undisciplined

originally posted at https://stacker.news/items/926557