BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 893,638
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
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BLUF: Terror Attack in Kashmir / Houthis Fire Missile at Northern Israel / Trump Backs Off China Tariffs / Rubio Looks to Slash State Dept / Trump Says He Won't Fire Powell / EU Looks to Control Blockchain Data / US Stablecoin Vs. EU CBDC Showdown / Cantor Starts Bitcoin Fund / Stocks Spike on Tariff News / Crypto Malware Sold as Service / Quantum Computing Helps Encryption / ISS Gets Resupplied / EU Fines Apple and Meta (Again) / Bitcoin Set to Transform Retirements
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $93,688, 28.26 oz Gold, .22 Median US House
24hr Hi: $94,459 / Lo: $88,515
Vol: $60B (Up 65%)
Mkt Cap: $1.86T (Up 6%)
HashRate: 837 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 100%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Militants kill at least 26 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir: Gunmen shot and killed at least 26 tourists Tuesday at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Two officers said at least four militants fired at dozens of tourists from close range. Most of the killed tourists were Indian, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity. (AP)
2. Houthi rebels fire a missile targeting northern Israel, a rare target for the group: Sirens sounded in Haifa, Krayot and other areas west of the Sea of Galilee, the Israeli military said. “An interceptor was launched toward the missile, and the missile was most likely successfully intercepted,” the Israeli military said. Those in the area could hear booms in the predawn darkness. (ABC)
3. Trump says China tariffs will drop ‘substantially – but it won’t be zero’: “I do say China is going to be a slog in terms of the negotiations,” SECTREAS Bessent said, according to a transcript obtained by the Associated Press. “Neither side thinks the status quo is sustainable.” (TheGuardian)
-US Events-
1. Trump Admin Draws Flak Over Plans To Overhaul State Department: 'An Assault On American Diplomacy': "The sprawling bureaucracy created a system more beholden to radical political ideology than advancing America's core national interests," SECSTATE Rubio said of the Department. In his proposal, he touted the elimination of a division that oversees "civilian security, democracy and human rights", among others. (IBTimes)
2. Trump Has No Plans to Fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell: ‘The Press Runs Away with Things’: “No, I have no intention of firing him. I would like to see him be a little more active in terms of his idea to lower interest rates. This is a perfect time to lower interest rates.” Trump said. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Europe Rolls Out Draft Guidelines on Blockchain Data Storage: The European Data Protection Board has approved draft rules for storing and sharing personal data on blockchains, aligning with GDPR standards. The guidelines emphasize Data Protection by Design and by Default, urging organizations to avoid storing personal data on blockchains if it conflicts with data protection principles. (Decrypt)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. US Stablecoin Plans Ignite EU Regulatory Dispute: U.S. endorsement of cryptocurrencies and promotion of dollar-based stablecoins has reportedly sparked tensions between the European Commission and the European Central Bank. The Italian economy minister recently warned that dollar-based stablecoins pose an even greater threat to the euro than the ongoing trade war. In the past, the EU said it would prioritize promoting the digital euro, the continent’s answer to dollar-based stablecoins. They fear that an avalanche of dollar-based stablecoins could end up rerouting European savings into the U.S. (BitcoinCom) (AC-An interesting turn of events as world economic power centers vie for control over fiat mechanisms built upon digital currencies. The battle will continue not with just the EU, but also China, Russia and blocs such as BRICS. The 'third rail' of Bitcoin, however, will continue to capture economic power from the fiat systems over time.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin Bulls Unite: Cantor Fitzgerald’s $3 Billion Crypto Power Move: Cantor Fitzgerald is creating a $3 billion Bitcoin fund with Tether, SoftBank and Bitfinex, mirroring MicroStrategy's approach to Bitcoin accumulation. Brandon Lutnick, son of US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, will lead the new venture. (Blockonomi)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Falls on Trump Remarks: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note declined by about 5 basis points to 4.35% on Wednesday, as markets responded positively to comments from President Donald Trump that eased investor anxiety. Trump stated that final tariffs on Chinese imports “won’t be anywhere near as high as 145%,” signaling a potentially softer approach to the ongoing trade dispute. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stocks Set to Extend Gains: US stock futures surged on Wednesday, with S&P 500 contracts up 2.4%, Nasdaq 100 futures rallying 2.8%, and the Dow Jones gaining over 700 points, building on Tuesday’s strong rebound. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Crypto drainers now sold as easy-to-use malware at IT industry fairs: "Previously, entering the world of cryptocurrency scams required a fair amount of technical knowledge.” That is no longer the case. Under the DaaS model, “getting started isn’t significantly more difficult than with other types of cybercrime.” AMLBot CEO said. “Interestingly, some drainer groups have become so bold and professionalized that they even set up booths at industry conferences — CryptoGrab being one such example.“ (CoinTelegraph)
2. Quantum Computers Just Gave Cryptography a Huge Boost: Researchers from JP Morgan Chase and Quantinuum have demonstrated that quantum computers can produce certifiably random numbers, enhancing cybersecurity. Traditional computers use algorithms that mimic randomness, making them hackable. The breakthrough, published in Nature, showed that quantum randomness is unhackable and unpredictable. (Decrypt)
-Technology and Science-
1. Dragon Docks to Station Delivering Science, Supplies to Crew: The spacecraft carried about 6,700 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory on SpaceX’s 32nd commercial resupply services mission for NASA. (NASA)
2. EU fines Apple €500M and Meta €200M for breaking Europe’s digital rules: The European Union imposed a €500 million fine on Apple for preventing app makers from guiding users to cheaper options outside its App Store. Meta was fined €200 million for requiring users to choose between ads or paying to avoid them. (GroundNews)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin’s Transformative Role As A Retirement Asset: ...This is why the potential Bitcoin Strategic Reserve is such a monumental threshold. It would signal trust in Bitcoin from the very top, which would then trickle down to sanctification layers that supply the older demographic with cues. Even if the MSM is inimical to the Trump admin, the existence of BSR would change the tone of Bitcoin coverage, forever. (BitcoinMag) (AC-A well-done article on the value of trust in retirement (future) planning and how narrative development competes with technical understandings.)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Up 25 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): We are in the early stages of a global conflict via economic control. The US is currently on the track to boost US Dollar hegemony via stablecoin legislation and money printing, while the EU and others look for control via some type of CBDC. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin global ecosystem grows at distinct odds to fiat control systems. The conflict will increase and take unexpected turns along the way as the stakes are globally consequential.
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Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
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*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report