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@ 47cc4b41:1bad46c9
2025-02-15 23:20:11
Since the last time I wrote about a United States Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, there have been a few federal updates. Notably, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick will be developing a plan to create the first United States sovereign wealth fund after President Donald Trump signed an executive order. The order also directs Bessent and Lutnick to develop a plan for creating the fund within 90 days. Lutnick holds hundreds of millions of dollars of Bitcoin and is bullish on the future of Bitcoin and I personally believe this is a huge indication that Bitcoin will be included in this fund.
Additionally, David Sacks, the Crypto Czar said that a top agenda item for his task force is evaluating “the feasibility of a Bitcoin reserve.”
Both of these developments in my opinion are very positive for the future of Bitcoin at a federal level but the reality is that Federal legislation takes time and can suffer from gridlock, party disagreements, and overall levels of bureaucracy that states oftentimes don’t have to deal with. For this reason, many states have already made progress in pushing strategic reserve legislation and other Bitcoin-related legislation forward. This is also a reason why I expect the states to once again “lead” ahead of the federal government as it relates to Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Laws ([*bitcoinlaws.io*](https://bitcoinlaws.io/?utm_source=the-arc.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-states-will-lead)) is a resource that has emerged to specifically track Bitcoin and other digital asset legislation at the state level. The website highlights all of the outstanding legislation and provides the status and details on what is being proposed. I personally believe this resource will continue to be incredibly important for tracking what is actually happening at the state level as it relates to Bitcoin. It is rather difficult to stay up to date on all of the legislative occurrences as it relates to Bitcoin and Bitcoin Laws provides a one-stop-shop for all of the updates.
Most importantly, as of February 10th, 21 ‘Bitcoin Reserve’ bills have been introduced at the state level with 19 still active in the legislative process.
The idea that “the states will lead” reflects a theme of governance from the days of our Founding Fathers—that of Federalism. Federalism is a mode of political organization that allows separate states to unite under a national government while maintaining their own aspects of sovereignty. In layman's terms, Federalism allows for a Federal Government while also allowing State governments to have power within their individual borders. This system emphasizes a division of power with certain powers being granted to the federal government and others residing at the state level.
When the Founding Fathers created the Articles of Confederation they emphasized state power over a strong federal government. This system led to some problems such as economic instability amongst states and difficulties in coordinating a national defense eventually leading to the Constitution taking over and being the rule of the land for the centuries to follow. The Constitution created a stronger federal government while still protecting levels of state authority, autonomy, and sovereignty. The Tenth Amendment is a key aspect of this where it states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The amendment means that any powers *not explicitly given* to the federal government by the Constitution fall to the states.
The states having and maintaining individual power was a focal point when the United States was created and remains true today. Justice Louis Brandeis gave one of the more famous statements related to the rights of the states when he referred to them as “laboratories of democracy” during the case *New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann* (1932)*.* The full quote was, “It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” The meaning emphasized the idea that states were “laboratories” and should be encouraged to enact policy ahead of the federal government. The rationale for why states should be encouraged to do this is any policy they enact is specifically within their own borders while federal legislation typically applies to the whole country. As such, the “test area” for any new piece of legislation is much smaller and impacts far fewer people than any federally enacted policy of the same measure.
We have seen the “states lead” with numerous issues throughout the years including legislation on same-sex marriage, marijuana, healthcare experiments, climate change regulations, civil rights, and more. I believe the table is being set for the states to once again lead the federal government as it relates to policy regarding a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.
It is also my personal belief the urgency at which legislation is confirmed for a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve is a matter of national security. Every day that a federal strategic reserve for Bitcoin is not enacted is another day that foreign adversaries and other nations can front-run our country.
The positive of this scenario is that the common man can also front-run the federal government.
The positive of this scenario is that states can also front-run the federal government.
The positive of this scenario is that states have the opportunity to once again lead and pave the way for what I believe the United States Federal government will also adopt.
Strategic Reserves within the United States both at the state and federal level will have their 0 to 1 moment and rapidly have their 1 to many rush to completion.
The States will Lead.
**Stack SATs.**
*The views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only and should, in no way, be interpreted as financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research when making an investment or trading decision, as each such move involves risk. I am not a financial advisor and do not claim to be qualified to convey information or advice that a registered financial advisor would convey to clients as guidance. Nothing contained in this e-mail/article constitutes, or shall be construed as, an offering of financial instruments, investment advice, or recommendations of an investment strategy. If you are seeking financial advice, find a professional who is right for you.The views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only and should, in no way, be interpreted as financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research when making an investment or trading decision, as each such move involves risk. I am not a financial advisor and do not claim to be qualified to convey information or advice that a registered financial advisor would convey to clients as guidance. Nothing contained in this e-mail/article constitutes, or shall be construed as, an offering of financial instruments, investment advice, or recommendations of an investment strategy. If you are seeking financial advice, find a professional who is right for you.*
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@ 04ed2b8f:75be6756
2025-02-15 23:08:57
Every action you take, every decision you make, every battle you fight—it all matters. You may not see it now, but what you do today will ripple far beyond this moment. Your choices carve your legacy, your discipline shapes your destiny, and your willpower determines how you are remembered.
#### **The Weight of Every Choice**
Most people live like their actions die with them. They don’t realize that their words, their work, and their struggles leave a mark—on others, on history, on the future itself. The weak make excuses, thinking no one will remember their failures. But the strong understand: what they do now is what will be spoken of long after they’re gone.
- **Greatness Is Not Accidental** – Legends are not made by chance; they are forged by relentless effort, battle after battle, day after day.
- **Your Discipline Defines You** – What you do in private, in training, in the moments no one sees, builds the warrior you become in battle.
- **Your Struggles Are Not in Vain** – Every hardship you overcome strengthens the echo of your existence. The pain, the fight, the endurance—it all creates an unshakable foundation that future warriors will stand on.
#### **Live Like You Will Be Remembered**
Cowards hide in comfort, waiting for the world to give them something. But warriors? They seize life with both hands and leave behind something greater than themselves.
- **Fight for something bigger than yourself.** Your legacy isn’t about what you take—it’s about what you leave behind.
- **Take action like it matters—because it does.** Every move you make today is carving the future you will walk into.
- **Refuse to be forgotten.** The weak fade into history, but the strong leave behind echoes that never die.
#### **What Will Your Echo Be?**
Your life is happening now. Every moment, you are creating the story that will be told about you. Will it be a story of strength, resilience, and purpose? Or will you let yourself fade into the background, just another name lost to time?
**Stand up. Move forward. Fight harder. Because what you do in life will echo in eternity.**
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@ 9e69e420:d12360c2
2025-02-15 20:24:09
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an "army of Europe" to defend against Russian threats, emphasizing that the US may not continue its traditional support for Europe. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he warned against peace deals made without Ukraine's involvement.
US Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment, urging Europe to enhance its defense efforts.
Zelensky stated, "I really believe the time has come - the armed forces of Europe must be created." He highlighted changing dynamics in US-Europe relations and noted that "the old days are over" regarding American support.
Despite discussions around NATO, Zelensky stated he wouldn't rule out NATO membership for Ukraine.
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@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353
2025-02-15 19:47:49
*"You are a slave to whoever controls you emotionally."*
> *"We get angry when someone tries to tell us what to do. 'Don’t tell me how to dress, how to think, how to do my job, how to live.' We feel this way because we see ourselves as independent, self-sufficient individuals.*
> *Or at least, that’s what we tell ourselves.*
> *Yet, if someone says something we disagree with, something inside us tells us we must argue with them. If a plate of treats is placed in front of us, we must eat them. If someone does something we don’t like, we must be furious. If a setback arises, we must be sad, depressed, or worried. But if something good happens a few minutes later, suddenly, we’re happy, excited, and wanting more.*
> *We should never let another person shake us back and forth the way our impulses do. It’s time we start seeing things differently: we are not puppets, dancing to whichever tune suits us at the moment. We should be the ones in control—not our emotions—because we are independent, self-sufficient individuals."*
> — **Ryan Holiday**
> *"Frame your thoughts like this: you are a mature man, and you will no longer allow yourself to be enslaved or manipulated like a puppet by every impulse. You will stop complaining about your current lot or fearing the future."*
> — **Marcus Aurelius**
📌 **Emotions can give us information, but they should not give us orders.**
It’s not enough to learn to say "no" to others; you must also learn **not to give in** to the demands of your weaker self.
---
**Thank you for reading, my friend!**
If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your **"🥃"** as a token of appreciation.
**A toast to our family!**
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@ c582af78:698069cc
2025-02-15 19:21:25
# **The Face of God: How Art Became a Gateway to the Divine**
If you live in the **West**, you’re surrounded by depictions of **God, Jesus, and the saints**—from paintings and statues to illustrated Bibles and stained glass windows.
But this is far from universal. In the **Islamic world**, religious art takes a very different form: vibrant colors, **intricate geometry, and architectural symmetry**. **Depictions of God or Muhammad aren’t just discouraged—they are outright forbidden.**
But why?
To answer that, we must go back to the **origins of the Abrahamic religions**—when **early Christians, Jews, and Muslims** were surprisingly **unified in their views on religious art**.
https://image.nostr.build/1515c5fd00d798cd283583618bbbc0d5eb91bc481a84c21d53644d42fa30173a.jpg
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## **The Early Christian Hesitation**
The **first generation of Christians** were deeply aware of **Judaism’s strict prohibition** against idol worship. **Depicting God in any form was considered dangerous**—a potential gateway to paganism.
For centuries, Christianity could have followed this path, rejecting religious imagery altogether. But one fundamental theological idea **changed everything**:
**The Incarnation.**
As the early Church wrestled with the **nature of Christ**, heated debates emerged:
- Was he part human and part divine?
- Was he **fully** human and **fully** divine?
- And what did the Gospel of John mean by *“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”*?
The result of these debates was the **doctrine of the Incarnation**—the belief that **God took on human form in real flesh and blood**. And if **God himself** had chosen to be seen in **finite form**, then depicting Him in art could no longer be considered blasphemous.
This single theological shift laid the foundation for **Christianity’s embrace of religious art**—a decision that would not only shape Christian worship but **redefine how we engage with art itself**.
https://image.nostr.build/1cf9ea5d1385c46bd720de9c7de65123428a9f76356e39e37c5d7b9663993930.jpg
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## **Let There Be Art…**
How did this change Christian art?
https://image.nostr.build/b945e4ea06b281bb4618f08b2543108beecf7f510aaa795bed1c833614e32fb7.jpg
The **early objections** to religious imagery went something like this:
> *“God is infinite and mysterious. Reducing Him to a finite, limited form is blasphemy.”*
But with the Incarnation, the argument flipped:
> *“If God took on real shape, color, and form without diminishing His divine nature, then we can depict Him in art without compromising His grandeur.”*
Thus, images of **Jesus, Mary, and saints** not only became **permissible**—they were **encouraged**.
Christian leaders actively **commissioned religious art** to communicate the **Gospel visually** to a largely **illiterate population**. **Paintings, statues, and stained glass** became tools of evangelization, helping people grasp biblical stories **without needing to read**.
Take the **Duomo of Milan** with its **4,000 statues**. They aren’t just decorative. They **inspire faith** by highlighting the lives of the saints.
Christianity had embraced art as a **spiritual bridge**, a way to **connect the finite with the infinite**.
https://image.nostr.build/4f6b79a9179d818a951bf461ee5ff785cbe618ed376b4a56d92e77dcb34005bc.jpg
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## **The Criticism: Were They Worshiping the Art?**
Not everyone agreed.
Some critics argued that **Christians were focusing too much on the art itself**, rather than the God it was meant to represent.
https://image.nostr.build/29afb401ef99d2b6c59b71d8534a5160c25d2ca468d81251ba0f55d033679490.jpg
But the Church’s response was clear:
> **"You are not meant to look *at* art, but *through* it.**
Art is not the **end goal**—it is a **gateway to something greater**.
A painting of Christ isn’t meant to be **worshiped**—it’s meant to draw the viewer into **His story, His sacrifice, and His message**.
This perspective didn’t just shape religious art. It **fundamentally changed** how we experience **all forms of art, even secular ones.**
---
## **To Infinity and Beyond: The Lasting Impact of Religious Art**
Christianity’s view of art—that it **should point beyond itself**—has so deeply influenced Western culture that we often **don’t even realize it**.
Think about how we experience **books, music, and movies**:
- **A great novel** inspires courage.
- **A powerful song** moves you to tears.
- **A gripping film** motivates you to keep going in life.
The best art **doesn’t just exist for its own sake**—it **transports you beyond the canvas, the page, or the screen**.
This idea mirrors the Incarnation itself: **an infinite God becoming finite to guide us back to the infinite**.
---
## **Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, and the Incarnation of Art**
A perfect example? **J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings***.
Tolkien infused his story with **themes of brotherhood, heroism, and sacrifice**—all timeless, transcendental ideas. But instead of leaving them as abstract concepts, he **"incarnated" them into words on a page**—finite, tangible, and deeply relatable.
https://image.nostr.build/b120c4d7c7232cf226af65c33cb7fc494f495d50b8ad4593a58f3528fd0b71dc.jpg
His goal? To **turn the reader’s heart back to the infinite** by making them experience **these ideals in a concrete way**.
The same can be said for **any truly great art**.
It **doesn’t exist for itself**—it exists to move you, to inspire you, to challenge you.
And next time you step into a **cathedral**, gaze at a **masterpiece**, or listen to a **symphony**, remember:
You’re not supposed to simply **look at the art around you**—
You’re supposed to **look beyond it, into eternity**.