Twas the Night Before Bitcoin Christmas by nostr:npub1mn8exhd8ku8dn59tkenv6fr78xtqh8yehtzl9tuxukgnlqkt63zqlnsvn8
'Twas the night before Christmas, in the world of Bitcoin,
Not a ledger was stirring, not even a coin;
The miners were mining with utmost care,
Hoping Satoshi's vision would always be there.
The nodes were all syncing in the network with ease,
Guarding the blockchain, as busy as bees;
And I with my laptop, mining some too,
Had just settled down for a long winter's review,
When out on the network there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my terminal to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to addresses below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Satoshi! now, Finney! now, Adam Back and Andreas!
On, Nakamoto! on, Saylor! on, Mallers and Keiser!
To the top of the block! to the top of the chain!
Now hash away! Hash away! Hash away all!"
As private keys that before wild hackers fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Bitcoins, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Bitcoins he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
He had a broad face and a round little belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the wallets; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
"Happy Bitcoin to all, and to all a bullish night!"
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_3761086503039622531703437394.webp
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 822,394
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 22DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: China tells Phillipines 'We will keep up pressure' / Angola adopts Crypto AML-type law / Argentina announces Bitcoin as legal for contracts
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,631, 21.14oz Gold
24hr Hi: $44,367 / Lo: $43,387
Vol: $23.8B (Down 20.8%)
Mkt Cap: $853.54B (Down .9%)
HashRate: 527 EH/s
Avg Fees: 59,513 sats/tx (down 50%)
Nodes: 16,609
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. China vows to keep up military pressure on the Philippines as territorial dispute grows tenser: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Philippine counterpart, Enrique A. Manalo on Thursda, that CHina will maintain military pressure on the Philippines amid a dispute over sovereignty in the South China Sea that could involve U.S. forces defending their treaty partner.(Asahi Shimbun)
2. New war in the making as Yemeni Houthis attack ships in Red Sea: The United States and its allies are getting involved in an operation against the Houthis in Yemen, who responded to Israel's aggression against the Gaza Strip by attacking military and commercial ships in the Red Sea.(Pravda)
3. Angolan National Assembly Approves Crypto Law to Safeguard 'Monetary Sovereignty': The Angolan National Assembly recently unanimously approved a groundbreaking law that addresses cryptocurrency mining and virtual currency within the country. The legislation aims to safeguard the sovereignty of Angola’s monetary policy. Otoniel Dos Santos, the country’s Secretary of State for Finance and Treasury, emphasized that the passage of this law was also necessitated by crypto mining’s impact on the environment and the country’s energy security.
-US Events-
1. White House Says $14.1 Billion U.S. Steel Sale Deserves ‘Serious Scrutiny’ Under deal, Japan’s Nippon Steel would acquire one of America’s most storied industrial enterprises. Biden administration’s top economic adviser said Thursday the $14.1 billion deal to acquire U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel deserved “serious scrutiny” regarding its potential impact on national security and supply chains.(WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs Affirms Bitcoin Acceptance for Contract Agreements: The announcement signifies a significant leap towards Bitcoin adoption within the South American nation.(BitcoinMagazine)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Bank of China Completes First Precious Metal Digital Yuan Settlement: The Shanghai branch of the Bank of China announced that it has completed the first precious metal settlement using the digital yuan, the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC). The bank worked closely with the Shanghai Gold Exchange to transact the funds received overseas with the digital yuan. The transaction involved paying $14 million in exchange for undisclosed precious metals.(Bitcoincom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. French Connection: Coinbase Clinches Crypto License In Latest Global Push: Coinbase recently made a calculated strategic step to expand into European markets by acquiring a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license from the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) of France.The acquisition of the VASP license from the French regulatory authority establishes Coinbase as an acknowledged and adherent participant in the French financial sector.(Bitcoinist)
2. BlackRock takes bold step in Bitcoin ETF race with new broker (CoinBase): Recent reports reveal that the company has introduced a novel element in its ETF structure by appointing a ‘Prime Execution Agent.’ This agent, a third-party broker, will be responsible for buying and selling Bitcoin on behalf of BlackRock’s fund.(Cryptopolitan)
-Economic Indicators-
1. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to announce the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation data for November today. The annual PCE inflation is expected to further cool to 2.8% from 3 last month, with no rise in the monthly rate. Also, the Core PCE, the Fed’s preferred gauge to measure inflation, is expected to rise 0.2% month-on-month while the annual rate is predicted to decline to 3.3%, marking its lowest level since 2021.(WSJ)
2. The US 10-year Treasury yield continues to fall after dropping below 4% last week. It is now at 3.89%, slightly up as traders brace for inflation data(WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR*
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Community-
1. ‘If You Want to Understand Bitcoin's Value, Look at Politicians' Hate Toward It,' Says Sean Ono Lennon: Lennon, the acclaimed American-British musician and son of Beatles icon John Lennon, revisited the subject of bitcoin on social media platform X. He poignantly observed, “If you want to understand how valuable bitcoin truly is, look how much our politicians hate it.” Previously, Lennon has shared insights about the leading digital currency, highlighting that it offers him a sense of hope amidst an “ocean of destruction.”(Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Althogh Angola's AML-type law does not directly affect US law, the trend is continuing for governments to pigeonhole Bitcoin into a money laundering narrative. We can expect this trend to continue while some countries will also adopt Bitcoin as a viable currency alternative like Argentina, setting up an interesting bifrication among countries concerning Bitcoin.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
TC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 822,238
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 21DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF:
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $44,113, 21.64oz Gold
24hr Hi: $44,093/ Lo: $42,970
Vol: $30.170B (Up 45.5%)
Mkt Cap: $864.709B (Up 2.8%)
HashRate: 510 EH/s
Avg Fees: 55,405 sats/tx (down 50%)
Nodes: 16,189
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israel continues seige of Gaza: After almost two months of intermittent conflict and a general seige of Hamas in Gaza, IDF forces are announcing that they have found a Hamas command center in Gaza City. Meanwhile, Hamas leadership begins meeting with Isreali leaders in Egypt for more peace talks. Telecom is reported down throughout Gaza. (AP/WSJ)
2. US, Venezuela swap prisoners: The US freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and the return of a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who is at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal.(AP)
-US Events-
1. Biden Administration Explores Raising Tariffs on Chinese EVs: The Biden administration is discussing raising tariffs on roughly $300 billion of Chinese goods, including electric vehicles, in an attempt to bolster the U.S. clean-energy industry against cheaper Chinese exports.(WSJ)
2. Colorado Supreme Court justices face a flood of threats after disqualifying Trump from the ballot: In the 24 hours since the Colorado Supreme Court kicked former President Donald Trump off the state's Republican primary ballot, social media outlets have been flooded with threats against the justices who ruled in the case(NBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR*
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Family Offices Are Warming Up to Blockchain and Crypto: A report issued by Grant Thornton, a professional services network, has revealed that family offices are eyeing crypto and blockchain to increase their investments in these areas. More than half of the family offices consulted have already invested in digital assets, with 38% allocating less than 1% of their portfolio to these technologies(Bitcoin.com)
-Economic Indicators-
1. BTC/GOLD ratio hits new highs, mirroring Bitcoin's ascent against traditional safe havens: As the BTC landscape has matured, the ratio climbed a staggering 139.9% since the dawn of 2023, signaling a potential shift in the tides of investment.(CryptoSlate)
2. Home Sales Ticked Up in November After 5 Months of Declines: Existing-home sales, which make up most of the housing market, increased 0.8% in November from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.82 million(WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
1. Vladimir Putin's Signature Brings Digital Ruble Into Russia's Tax Code: The tax code now contains a definition of “digital ruble account” and has rules for the taxation of transactions with digital rubles. (CoinDesk)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Down 4 pts)
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 822,082
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 20DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Trump barred from Colorado Ballet / Sen Warren blames veterans, LEO, Gov employees for teaming with Crypto / Bull market talk at fever pitch
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,996, 21.11oz Gold
24hr Hi: $42,999/ Lo: $41,826
Vol: $20.730B (down 13.4%)
Mkt Cap: $840.595B (flat)
HashRate: 507 EH/s
Avg Fees: 107,238 sats/tx (up 10%)
Nodes: 17,023
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Chinese activist Li Qiaochu has been tried for "inciting subversion of state power" in a case seen as part of China's sprawling crackdown on dissent. The 32-year-old faces a possible jail term of five years or more. She has been in custody since March 2021, after tweeting about the harsh detention conditions of her partner and fellow activist Xu Zhiyong. (BBC) (AC-Li Qiaochu is one of five activists arrested and sentenced recently for speaking out against the heavy hand of Chinese control. China has also issued "bounties" for HK dissidents worldwide.)
-US Events-
1. Fmr Pres Trump barred from Colorado ballet, Vivek Ramaswamy pledges support: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has pledged to withdraw from the Colorado state primary in response to the recent ruling that bars former President Trump from being on the ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled “in a 4-3 opinion that the Constitution’s ‘Insurrection Clause’ prohibits former President Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot for the presidency in 2024.” (Breitbart) (AC-This ruling may push the issue to SCOTUS and is igniting severe reactions in the US.)
2. 177 of Jeffrey Epstein’s Associates’ Identities to Be Revealed in Court Documents: The names will appear in court documents set to be released in early January.(Daily Mail)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Sen Warren blames former Military/LEO/Lawmakers for pushing crypto terrorism: The Massachusetts Democrat sent letters to Coinbase, the Blockchain Association and Coin Center, two leading industry groups, demanding details on their employment of the former officials. Warren cited POLITICO reporting that outlined how the crypto lobby has been flexing its association with the experts as it faces growing scrutiny for the role digital assets play in facilitating financial crime, including funding the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.(Politico)(AC-Veterans drawing attention)
2. Palau pushes forward with CBDC: The Ministry of Finance in Palau has officially kickstarted the second phase of its Palau Stablecoin (PSC) initiative. Palau has set its sights on expanding its collaboration with Ripple, with the goal to leverage Ripple’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) platform and tap into their technical expertise. PSC is a digital currency that is pegged to the United States dollar and operates on Ripple’s XRP Ledger.(CryptoIntelligence)
3. 42 Different Countries Discussed or Passed Crypto Regulations, Legislation in 2023: The report, released on Tuesday by PWC, said 42 countries have engaged in myriad initiatives to develop crypto-focused regulations and legislation, from holding discussions to passing laws. Those regulatory and legislative pushes are divided into four key focus areas: stablecoin regulation, travel rule compliance, licensing and listing guidance, and crypto framework development, according to PwC.(CoinDesk)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR*
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR*
-Economic Indicators-
1. November Home Sales Likely Fell After Mortgage Rates Hit Two-Decade Highs. Affordability has improved slightly since earlier this fall, but inventory of homes for sale remains low. The National Association of Realtors will release the November existing-home sales report at 10 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday. (WSJ)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 74/100 (Up 1 pt)
Analyst Comments (AC)- The majority of articles concerning Bitcoin today are about price predictions or the coming "bull market". The speculation is high from Michael Saylor to mainstream media, which often leads to confirmation bias in discussions and reporting. Factual analysis may be difficult in such an atmosphere, and we will continue to seek the "Signal" from the "Noise".
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 821,928
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 19DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Volcano erupts in Iceland / US DOD announces new operation against Houthis / US, Brasil and South Korea target cryptocurrenices
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,907, 21.19oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,354/ Lo: $40,879
Vol: $23.891B (up 9.04%)
Mkt Cap: $840.552B (up 4.85%)
HashRate: 514 EH/s
Avg Fees: 98,810 sats/tx (almost double yesterday's data)
Nodes: 17,232
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Volcano Near Iceland’s Grindavik Erupts After Series of Earthquakes: Thousands of nearby residents were evacuated in November over activity. Lava appears to be spewing hundreds of feet in the air and can be seen on nearby web cameras, but experts said no residents are in immediate danger.(WSJ)
2. The U.S. is establishing a multinational maritime task force—"Operation Prosperity Guardian"—to address attacks from Houthis in Yemen on commercial ships and other targets as the conflict in the Middle East widens and risks upending global trade, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced Dec. 18. The Pentagon Dec. 19 that the Houthis have conducted over 100 drone and ballistic missile attacks, targeting 10 merchant vessels involving more than 35 different nations.(A&SForcesMag)
-US Events-
1. Texas Govenor Abbott Signs Law Allowing Texas to Arrest Migrants, Setting Up Federal Showdown: The new law, which takes effect in March, could bring in mass arrests and a court fight between Texas and the federal government over immigration powers.(NYT)
2, Illegal crossings surge in remote areas as Congress, White House weigh major asylum limits: The number of daily arrivals is “unprecedented,” CBP Commisioner Miller said, with illegal crossings topping 10,000 some days across the border in December. On Monday, CBP suspended cross-border rail traffic in the Texas cities of Eagle Pass and El Paso in response to migrants riding freight trains through Mexico, hopping off just before entering the U.S. The Lukeville border crossing is closed, as is a pedestrian entry in San Diego, so that more officials can be assigned to the migrant influx. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Elizabeth Warren Pushes Back at Blockchain Lobbying Efforts: In a letter to the Blockchain Association, the U.S. senator accuses the group of undermining Congress. The Blockchain Association's efforts to lobby the U.S. Congress is an affront to efforts to stop Hamas and other terror groups using crypto to finance themselves, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a letter to the group's chief executive, Kristin Smith. (CoinDesk)
2.Central Bank of Brazil Seeks Input on VASP Regulation: The Central Bank of Brazil is preparing to finally issue rules for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs) operating in the country. The institution opened a public consultation seeking input to prepare the rules VASPs would have to follow, according to the faculties it received since the approval and sanction of the cryptocurrency assets law in December 2023.(bitcoin.com)
3. Bank of Korea Governor Sees CBDC Introduction as Case for 'Urgency:' Stablecoins' widespread usage and frequent instability could reduce the effectiveness of central bank monetary policies, Rhee Chang-yong said. The bank has already said it plans a retail pilot CBDC scheme involving 100,000 people next year.(CoinDesk)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR*
-Institutional Concerns-
1. 7RCC Files First ESG-Focused Spot Bitcoin ETF With Gemini As Custodian: 7RCC Global, a firm providing ESG investors with access to blockchain and digital asset investments through ETFs, has filed a spot Bitcoin ETF application with carbon credits with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It will hold 80% Bitcoin and 20% carbon credits futures, becoming the first with environmental-focused offering.(coingape.com)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Japan's central bank keeps its negative interest rate unchanged: The Bank of Japan has kept its longstanding easy credit policies unchanged, saying it will watch price and wage trends before raising its negative benchmark interest rate(ABC)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Transaction Fees Surge, Sparking Debate on Future Solutions: The spike in fees is attributed to the recent wave of Bitcoin Ordinals inscriptions, resulting in elevated costs for all network users.(Crypto Intelligence)
2.Bitcoin leverage drops to historical lows: the Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR), offers a glimpse into the market’s leverage and is noteworthy. Currently, the ELR is nearing historical lows—an occurrence witnessed only twice prior. This indicates a significant reduction in market leverage, implying a conservative approach from traders in the futures market.(cryptoslate)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 73/100 (Up 8 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC)- With multiple politicians responding vigorously against Bitcoin and Crypto around the world recently, it appears governments are beginning to understand the threat to economic power through central banking and currencies. The battle for economic control is ramping up through decentralyzed versus centralized currenncies. The South Korean Bank Governor is very clear in his understanding of the threat to his control, hence the "urgent" need for CBDCs.
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 821,770
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 18DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Chile decides to stick with free-market constitution / SEC slammed by Congressmen / Ordinals on blockchain are increasing fees
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $40,881, 20.22oz Gold
24hr Hi: $42,359/ Lo: $40,530
Vol: $22.058B (down 49.81%)
Mkt Cap: $800.450B (down 2.46%)
HashRate: 508 EH/s
Avg Fees: 57,234 sats/tx
Nodes: 16,673
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Chile maintains older, free-market constitution: In a recent referendum, 56% of Chileans rejected a new constitutional draft, opting to retain their current constitution, which is credited with making Chile Latin America's most affluent country through investor protections. This decision ends a constitutional debate sparked by 2019 mass protests over social grievances.(AP)
2.Oil major BP becomes latest to pause Red Sea shipments, with global supply chain in focus: BP announced Monday that it had decided to pause all shipments through the Red Sea. It comes after shipping giants MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and Maersk all announced a suspension of travel through the Red Sea following a series of attacks by Houthi militants from Yemen. “You are going to see some fairly seismic activity in terms of the implications for supply chains,” the editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List told CNBC. (CNBC)
-US Events-
1. Supreme Court to Rule on Charge Leveled at Trump and Jan. 6 Defendants
Justices’ consideration of whether obstruction law was properly applied could delay Trump’s coming trial and alter verdicts already reached. (WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US Lawmakers Slam SEC and Chair Gensler for Refusing to Provide Clear Regulation for Crypto Industry: U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Tom Emmer criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its Chairman Gary Gensler on Friday after the SEC denied Coinbase’s petition for clear crypto regulation.(bitcoin.com)
-Technological Updates-
1. Worldcoin, the iris biometric crypto project, has reportedly reached an agreement with Kenyan authorities which allows it to resume operations in the African country, and is likely to happen sometime in early 2024.(bitcoin.com)
2. Bitcoin Miners Hit Record $9.97M Earnings From Ordinals; 61% of BTC Transfers Inscription-Driven: In the wake of a substantial increase in onchain transaction fees for Bitcoin, the compensation to bitcoin miners from inscription-based transfers has hit a record peak in the last 24 hours. (bitcoin.com)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR*
-Economic Indicators-
NSTR*
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Tether, the stablecoin company, has confirmed it has collaborated extensively with a series of U.S government agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Secret Service. These team-ups are focused on making the stablecoin ecosystem safer for all participants and aiding law enforcement actions against bad actors.(bitcoin.com)
2. Multiple Ethereum-based applications including Zapper, SushiSwap, Phantom, Balancer and Revoke were compromised early Thursday due to a Ledger security breach. Ledger, the Paris-based crypto hardware wallet manufacturer, said it has fixed the malicious code as of 13:35 UTC — the company also warned users to “Clear Sign” transactions, a way to ensure you are interacting directly with the company’s website and software.
-Bitcoin Community-
1. The U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Marc R. Stanley, has lauded Unblock Computing’s bitcoin mining initiative for its innovative use of flared gas in generating electricity. Ambassador Stanley commended the plan for its dual benefits: aiding Argentina in achieving its climate objectives and promoting energy conservation.
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 65/100 (Down 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC)- Two elements are countering the "bull market" optimism: 1. The ordinals effect on on-chain fees and 2. The possibility of ETF denials by the SEC. Both concerns are keeping the price action in the $40-43k range before next year's bullish events (ETF approval and the halving) happen.
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 821,304
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 15DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Hungary blocks EU aid package to Ukraine / US fincancial regulators issue (yet another) call for more crypto legislation / Ledger hack hurts reputation
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,686, 20.92oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,390/ Lo: $41,767
Vol: $24.520B (down 4.9%)
Mkt Cap: $836.485B (down 1%)
HashRate: 481 EH/s
Avg Fees: 47,332 sats/tx
Nodes: 16,926
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Hungary blocks Ukraine's $55B aid package: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a major European Union aid package for Ukraine on Friday and warned he could still halt Kyiv's accession to the bloc after membership talks won EU approval. He say Ukraine is not ready (Reuters)
2. China on Friday pressured Taiwan with a trade barrier probe and warplanes in the Taiwan Strait a month before the island holds key elections, as Taipei called on Beijing to stop its "political operations". (reuters)
3. Bitcoin Moguls Convene in Montenegro to Mull Hydro BTC Bonds: The meeting with JAN3 executives discussed potential Bitcoin bonds linked to hydroelectric power to fund BTC mining. Montenegro's new Prime Minister also reveals that he owns Bitcoin. (Bitcoin Magazine)
-US Events-
1. Navy Federal Credit Union, The largest credit union in the US, "has the widest disparity in mortgage approval rates between White and Black borrowers of any major lender, a trend that reached new heights last year", a CNN analysis found. The reports have hit social media and are drawing the ire of many, even trending to the top ten on X. (CNN) (AC- This investigative report comes following NFCU's decision to not use federal funds from the Reinvestment Act to give mortgages to low income borrowers. This report is key due to it's consequences in the market and is idicitave of 5GW tactics)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Financial Regulators Reiterate Call for Legislation to Address Crypto Risks: FSOC, a financial stability watchdog composed of the heads of most major U.S. financial regulators, published its annual report Thursday after one of the group's meetings. The council is recommending that Congress pass legislation defining and addressing crypto spot markets, as well as stablecoins. (CoinDesk)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR*
-Institutional Concerns-
1. First Trust files for Bitcoin ‘Buffer ETF’ with SEC: According to the prospectus, the fund is designed to participate in the positive price returns — before fees and expenses — of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust or another exchange-traded product (ETP) that provide exposure to the performance of Bitcoin. Unlike a spot Bitcoin ETF, which is linked to the performance of Bitcoin, a buffer ETF uses options to pursue a defined investment outcome. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
NSTR*
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Ledger Connect Kit Breach: Hacker Siphons $484K, Company Rolls Out Version 1.1.8: The unknown attacker that compromised Ledger’s Connect Kit Library has reportedly siphoned $484,000 from wallets, according to the onchain intelligence firm Lookonchain. Ledger disclosed a former employee fell victim to a phishing attack and the attacker gained access to the Ledger Connectkit Library and uploaded a malicious bug.(CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Massive Bitcoin Options Expiry Approaches: On Dec 29th, 37,000 Bitcoin options with a notional value of $1.58 billion and 268,000 Ethereum options valued at $610 million are set to expire. (Greeks.live)
2. River Link Launches, Allowing Users To Send Bitcoin By Text: River Link allows users to send Bitcoin globally via text, simplifying and making Bitcoin transactions more accessible across various messaging apps. (Bitcoin Magazine)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 70/100 (Down 2pts)
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 821,159
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 14DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US House starts impeachment probe into President Biden / FASB gives guidance on Fair-Value reporting / IMF begins to soften on digital assets
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,144, 21.20oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,429/ Lo: $40,951
Vol: $25.838B (up 9.5%)
Mkt Cap: $843.808B (up 4.7%)
HashRate: 526 EH/s
Avg Fees: 55,623 sats/tx
Nodes: 16,599
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Russia Has Lost Almost 90% of Its Prewar Army, U.S. Intelligence Says: The declassified estimate says 315,000 personnel have been killed or injured in Ukraine. Russia also has lost nearly two-thirds of its tank force, or 2,200 out of its 3,500 preinvasion stock, the congressional source said.(WSJ)
-US Events-
1. House Votes to Back Opening of GOP Impeachment Probe of Biden: The House voted 221-212 along party lines to formally authorize Republicans’ impeachment probe, hoping to add legal and political muscle to the investigation into whether the president had ties to his son’s overseas business dealings.(WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Bitcoin And Crypto To Be Measured At Fair Value Under New FASB Rules: The new rules are set to go into effect in December 2024, but companies will be able to apply them earlier than that. Under the new guidelines, businesses will need to disclose the value of cryptocurrencies based on their market prices at the end of each reporting period. (AP)
2. IMF seems to be softening on crypto: Indian Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance explained: “On the crypto asset agenda, the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration welcomed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Financial Stability Board (FSB) synthesis paper, including a roadmap that supports a coordinated and comprehensive policy and regulatory framework on crypto assets, taking into account the full range of risks and risks specific to the emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).”(Bitcoin.com) (AC-It is worth noting that the IMF has taken a very strong stand against Bitcoin and crypto, but with the latest study from the FSB delivered to Indian lawmakers, it gives a roadmap to include digital assets "even though they carry significant risk".
3.The Basel Committee for Banking Supervision wants to tighten requirements that allow stablecoins to qualify as less risky than unbacked cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Cryptos with "effective stabilization mechanisms" qualify for "preferential Group 1b regulatory treatment." This means stablecoins can be subject to "capital requirements based on the risk weights of underlying exposures as set out in the existing Basel Framework," instead of the tougher requirements set for bitcoin. (CoinDesk)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR*
-Institutional Concerns-
1. SEC insists on cash redemption model for Bitcoin ETFs: The SEC is maintaining its stance on requiring Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuers to use a “cash” redemption model for their creations and redemptions. This decision comes despite alternative proposals, including one from BlackRock, that suggest an “in-kind” model.(Cryptopolitan)
2. Bitwise spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) has now appeared on the active and pre-launch list of Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). The Bitwise spot Bitcoin ETF is listed under the ticker — BITB.
-Economic Indicators-
1. 10-year Treasury yield drops below 4% after Fed signals rate cuts are ahead: The yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by 8 basis points at 3.951%, breaking below the 4% mark for the first time since August. The 2-year Treasury yield was last more than 16 basis points lower at 4.317%. It had fallen by as many as 25 basis points on Wednesday. (WSJ)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Binance faces potential exit in the Philippines as SEC sets ban timeline, emphasizing accountability and consumer protection. Notably, Commissioner Lee stressed the importance of investing in registered entities, and promoting consumer protection, and urged collaboration with the growing number of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in the country. (Coingape)
2. Rulematch, spearheaded by former Credit Suisse executive David Riegelnig, has unveiled a crypto trading platform tailored exclusively for banks and securities firms. Meanwhile, the platform has commenced Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) spot trading against USD, aiming to capitalize on the growing interest of traditional financial institutions in the digital asset arena. (Coingape)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 72/100 (Up 7pts)
-Analyst Comments (AC): With the FED signaling possible interest rate drops ahead, all markets are higher today, indicating invester optimissm.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 820,999
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 13DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Sen. Warren's bill gaining momemtum / All eyes on Fed for Interest rates /
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $41,212, 20.75oz Gold
24hr Hi: $41,958/ Lo: $40,715
Vol: $23.637B (down 24.5%)
Mkt Cap: $806.982B (down 1.53%)
HashRate: 471.4 EH/s
Avg Fees: 40,956 sats/tx
Nodes: 17,012
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Houthi mission attacks spook global shipping: Yemen’s Houthi forces have attacked several commercial ships crossing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in recent days, creating a new front in the battle between Israel and Hamas and complicating efforts by the U.S. and its allies to secure the critical shipping lane. (WSJ)
2. Israel’s military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas’s vast complex of tunnels in Gaza, according to U.S. officials briefed on the Israeli military’s operations, part of an intensive effort to destroy the underground infrastructure that has underpinned the group’s operations.
3. Ukraine’s biggest wireless network operator said attackers knocked its service offline Tuesday, disrupting critical infrastructure through an assault that coincided with the Ukrainian president’s latest visit to Washington.
-US Events-
1. $200M to Ukraine: Zelenskyy's visit to the White house yesterday drew much attention and resulted in Pres. Biden announcing $200M in aid to Ukraine. Significant amounts of aid are still being held up by Congress and political maneuvering (AP)
2. Committee wants to test banks in case of China conflict: U.S. House Panel urges Federal Reserve to stress test banks for resilience in a potential conflict with Focus on assessing economic impact of sanctions and U.S. financial market’s vulnerability in China-related tensions. Recommendations include safeguarding U.S. technology and enhancing economic defenses against global power dynamics. (Cryptopolitan)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Crypto Bill Gains More Support: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) announced on Monday “an expanded coalition of Senate support” for her bipartisan Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) have joined the bill as cosponsors. Besides Warren, Marshall, Manchin, and Graham, the bill’s existing cosponsors comprise Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and John Fetterman (D-PA).
2. U.S. Presidential Candidates Chat About Crypto, Target Federal Regulators: The trio, two Republicans – entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson – and Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips, promised to ease regulatory pressures on crypto companies during the hours-long event hosted by the Coinbase-backed Stand with Crypto Alliance. (CoinDesk)
-Technological Updates-
1. Bitcoin's Difficulty Drops for First Time Since September: The latest figures reveal that on Dec. 9, 2023, at block height 820,512, Bitcoin experienced a 0.96% decrease in its difficulty rating. This decline marks the first since Sept. 19, 2023, interrupting a streak of six successive difficulty hikes. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Now Invites Participation From Wall Street Banks: A change to the structure of proposed spot bitcoin ETFs would enable authorized participants (APs) to create new shares in the fund with cash, rather than only with cryptocurrency, essentially opening the door to banks who cannot hold crypto directly. (CoinDesk)
2. Saudi Aramco, the largest oil and gas company, might be on the brink of investing in digital assets. The company, which has a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SBI Holdings, a financial services company in Japan, to explore a collaboration in various fields of investment, including digital assets.(Bitcoin.com)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Fed officials will release a new policy statement and economic and rate projections at the conclusion of their two-day meeting, Wednesday at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. will be heavily parsed for clues about when and why the central bank might shift its policy stance next year.(WSJ)
2. S&P 500 Rises to Highest Level Since January 2022: All three indexes closed at fresh 52-week highs for a third session in a row. The S&P 500 and Dow rose to their highest closing levels since January 2022, while the Nasdaq reached its highest close since March 2022. The major indexes are going on their seventh consecutive week of gains. (WSJ)
3. Interest costs drive U.S. budget deficit to all-time high: Deficit hits a record $314 billion in November, the highest since March. Surge in deficit driven by increased interest costs on government debt and higher spending in key areas like Medicare and Social Security. Economists express concern over the growing deficit, which is projected to stay near $2 trillion annually without legislative changes. (Cryptopolitan)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Crypto hacking figures dropped significantly from the $4 billion recorded last year to about $1.7 billion thus far this year, indicating an effect of increased security in the industry. (CoinGape)
2. Bitcoin Ransom Threatens Spider-Man 2 Developer: Pay 50 BTC Else: Insomniac Games has fallen victim to a hacking incident, with the hacking group Rhysida demanding a ransom of 50 Bitcoin (equivalent to approximately US$2 million). Rhysida has threatened to leak sensitive information about the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine game unless the payment is made within seven days. (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Whales Quietly Buy While Market Panics About Plunge On-chain data shows the Bitcoin whales (>1000BTC) have grown in number while the rest of the market has been panicking about the latest plunge (Bitcoinist)
2. Bitcoin Ordinals Smash Records With $36 Million Trading Frenzy: The Bitcoin Ordinals market experienced an unprecedented surge, reaching a staggering $36 million in trading volume on Dec. 12, setting a new record. This surge was primarily attributed to the recent listing of BRC-20 SATS (Ordinals) on Binance (U.Today)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 65/100
-Analyst Comments (AC): With multiple news events still on hold (ETF approval, Interest rate policy), the price action of BTC is in a consoldation phase, while it seems whales continue to accumulate quietly.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 820,853
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 12DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: World's first Bitcoin bonds receive approval / Sen. Warren introduces bill to curb self-hosting and increase KYC / China to use Blockchain for citizen ID / CPI comes out today
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $41,858, 21.02oz Gold
24hr Hi: $42,388/ Lo: $40,234
Vol: $31.334B (up 13.34%)
Mkt Cap: $818.383B (down 1.11%)
HashRate: 494.6 EH/s
Avg Fees: 22,614 sats/tx
Nodes: 16,928
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. World’s First Bitcoin Bonds Receive Regulatory Approval in El Salvador: El Salvador has received regulatory approval to issue Bitcoin Volcano Bonds in early 2024, which are part of the counrtry's broader strategy to leverage Bitcoin's volatility. Originally intended to raise $1 billion, half of the funds from the bonds are allocated for building a tax-free Bitcoin City, with the remaining for Bitcoin investment. (CoinDesk)
2. China still fighting deflation: While many central banks around the world are still trying to cool inflation, China is grappling with falling prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped 0.5% in November on an annual basis, the biggest fall since the depths of the pandemic three years ago. The drop marked an acceleration in the rate of deflation from October, when the CPI fell 0.2% from a year earlier, and prompted calls for urgent action from Beijing to boost demand and prevent a downward spiral of prices. (CNN)
3. Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday seeking to further deepen ties with the Southeast Asian nation, “This reflects Beijing’s concerns about Hanoi’s advances with the West,” said Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow with the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. “Concerns that Vietnam may join an anti-China alliance and gang up against China.” (AP)
-US Events-
1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill to a darker mood than when he swooped in last winter for a hero’s welcome, as the Russian invasion is grinding into a third year and U.S. funding hangs in balance. Zelenskyy’s visit Tuesday comes as President Joe Biden’s request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress (AP) (AC-At ACOD, Ukraine was experiencing a large cyberattack in Kiev throughout it's infrastructure (WashPost)
2. Elon Musk Twitter Takeover Lawsuit Gains Steam as Judge Advances Investors’ Claims: In the months after negotiating a buyout of Twitter but before being forced to consummate the deal in October 2022, Elon Musk deployed scorched-earth tactics in an attempt to lower the price of the $44 billion acquisition. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced legislation yesterday aimed at regulating cryptocurrencies, citing concerns about their potential use in illicit activities, including money laundering and sanctions evasion. The bill, supported by a coalition within the Banking Committee, proposes stricter reporting requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act, including Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules and reporting on transactions involving unhosted wallets, to address these concerns(Bitcoin Magazine) (AC: Sen Warren has a record of 305 bills introduced during her time in Congress, 0 of which have passed (Congress.gov))
-Technological Updates-
1. China to utilize blockchain technology for real-name verification of 1.4B citizens: In a groundbreaking announcement, the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN), a national-level blockchain initiative in China, has revealed plans to employ blockchain technology for verifying the real-name identities of the country’s vast population of 1.4 billion people. (Cyrptopolitan)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Blackrock warns agains BTC as a security: In a recent update to its exchange-traded fund (ETF) filing, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has expressed concerns about the possible classification of Bitcoin as a security by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The asset management giant cautioned that such a classification could have far-reaching consequences for the cryptocurrency and its trading environment.(Cyrptopolitan)
2. ARK Unloads 10% of it's GBTC: ARK Invest sold around $12.85 million worth of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) shares from its Next Generation Internet (ARKW) exchange-traded fund (ETF) on Monday, the biggest sale in more than a year. The offload of 395,945 GBTC shares from ARKW leaves the fund with about $112.7 million worth of GBTC, a weighting of 6.95%. ARK aims for no individual holding in its ETFs to exceed a 10% weighting of the fund's total market value. (CoinDesk) (AC-At ICOD, ARK also sold $2M Coinbase Shares (COIN))
-Economic Indicators-
1. The Labor Department will release the November consumer-price index report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. A lawsuit filed last week in San Francisco Superior Court says that hackers broke into vascular surgeon Ricardo Vasquez’s Coinbase wallet and transferred $348,407 worth of various cryptocurrencies to accounts not related to him. Vasquez had set up two-factor authentication, yet despite such guardrails, Vasquez said in May 2022 hackers were allegedly able to connect his account to a device 600 miles away, set up a new phone number on the account and remove his two-factor authentication, the lawsuit states. (The SF Standard)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Ancient Bitcoin arises: On Thursday, December 7, 2023, a dormant stash of 50 bitcoin (BTC) stirred into action for the first time in over ten years. This movement of the so-called ‘sleeping bitcoins’ was detected by the blockchain parsing platform btcparser.com. Echoing the activity seen on December 4, where a series of 20 blocks were utilized, the original address divided the funds between two separate Pay-to-Script-Hash (P2SH) addresses. (Bitcoin.com)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 67/100
-Analyst Comments (AC): Althoough Sen Warren does not have a good record for getting bills passed, her narrative of crypto being used for illicit activities continues to gain momentum on Capitol Hill.
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
When United States of Nevada?!
#IYKYK
I’m convinced a lot of Americans wouldn’t know it
I’m also convinced that a lot of Americans do know and they’re more than enough to change the tide
#GetOnTheMission
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_4275457637397056721702332359.webp
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 820,705
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 11DEC23
Prcedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Milei sworn in/US Government drops key AML provisons from the NDAA/Zelenskyy at White House
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,208, 21.16oz Gold
24hr Hi: $44,034/ Lo: $41,329
Vol: $27.785B (up 93%)
Mkt Cap: $826,312B (down 3.59%)
HashRate: 487.6 EH/s
Avg Fees: 14,508 sats/tx
Nodes: 17,042
AC: Coindesk and Dr. Jeff Ross, via X post, speculate that the $2K+ decline in BTC price may be due to leveraged longs liquidating on Sunday night.
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Argentina swears in new President. A self-described libertarian, Javier Milei promises to rebuild Argentina as the country struggles with mounting poverty following years of populist rule.(AP) (*AC-Milei's first order of business seems to be to prepare his country for the key changes ahead he envisions. After his recent trip to the USA, it remains to be seen exactly which economic plans he will pursue.)
2. President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will meet at the White House on Tuesday as the U.S. administration steps up the pressure on Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in its war with Russia.(AP)
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Thursday that the Western financial system is “clearly becoming obsolete.” Furthermore, he said solutions involving blockchain and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) “will pave the way for revolutionary shifts that will deprive the major Western banks of their monopoly.” “As far as international transactions are concerned, we are increasingly converting to advanced solutions, including those involving blockchain and digital currencies through central banks,”(Russia Calling)
-US Events-
1. Penn President, Board Chair Resign After Furor Over Comments on Campus Antisemitism (WSJ) (AC: Harvard and MIT presidents are also under severe pressure to resign following statements made at the US Capital last week)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. The US government has removed two critical provisions related to cryptocurrency anti-money laundering (AML) regulations from the Naional Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The removal of these provisions has sparked debates and discussions within the industry and regulatory circles. The first provision mandated the US Secretary of the Treasury to collaborate with banking and government regulators to establish an examination and review system for cryptocurrencies within financial institutions. The second provision focused on combating anonymous cryptocurrency transactions, particularly those involving crypto mixers and tumblers. (Cryptopolitan)
2. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has called for the country's Bank Secrecy Act to be updated to address the "threat" of crypto.
"What we need to do is we need to update it again because there's a new threat out there. It's crypto," Warren told CNBC Squawk Box, claiming that cryptocurrency is used for terrorist financing and drug trafficking.(CNBC)
-Technological Updates-
1. Ocean Pool's Transaction Blacklist Sparks Industry Uproar: In recent days, discussions have intensified around the emerging bitcoin mining pool Ocean and its decision to exclude certain transactions, specifically those linked to Ordinal inscriptions and coinjoin activities. Luke Dashjr, a key figure in Ocean’s operations and a prominent Bitcoin Core developer, clarified to the public that the roots of this debate stretch back to 2014. He emphasized that the release of Bitcoin Core 0.90 was a pivotal moment, introducing measures aimed at curbing blockchain data storage to mitigate spam. (bitcoin.com)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. VanEck, an ETF and mutual fund manager, on Friday has submitted an updated spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). VanEck spot Bitcoin ETF will be listed for trading on the exchange under the ticker symbol ‘HODL.’ (CoinGape)
2. Largest UK Pension Firm invests in crypto exchange: M&G Investments, the asset management division of Pensions giant M&G, has invested $20 million in Global Futures & Options Holding (GFO-X), a U.K. crypto derivatives exchange, as part of a Series B funding round, the company said in a statement Monday. (BLoomberg)
-Economic Indicators-
1. When to lower rates?: Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, after aggressively raising interest rates to combat high inflation, now faces the challenge of determining when to lower them. With inflation declining more rapidly than anticipated, the central question revolves around timing rate cuts to balance economic growth and prevent a recession, without reigniting inflation. Amidst mixed economic signals, the Fed, cautious of cutting rates too soon or too late, aims to maintain a stable economy without compromising its inflation goals. (WSJ)
2. Recession incoming, says bankers: Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser anticipates a recession driven by persistent inflation and global conflicts, although not a drastic downturn. She highlights reduced consumer spending and rising debts among low credit score customers. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan notes stable consumer spending, while JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warns of possible recession due to inflation and rising interest rates.(CNN)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR*
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Nigerians using crypto: A new study has found that as much as 47% of Nigerians are actively engaged in crypto trading which is now increasingly incorporated in their financial lives. The analysis also showed that crypto ownership in the country grew by 15% between 2020 and 2023. (Coin Journal)
2. Binance ending P2P in Rubles: Binance on Monday said it will end support for the Russian Ruble (RUB) P2P trading pairs in January-end including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The move comes after Binance entered into an agreement to sell the entirety of its newly established Russia business to CommEx amid rising regulatory pressure. (*AC:Folllowing capitulation to US regulators, Binance will be obligated to carry out US demands globally and in this case, keeping the pressure on the Russian Ruble and Pres. Putin.)
3. Citizens of the Swiss city of Lugano can now settle their tax bills and other community fees with bitcoin and the stablecoin tether. By adding crypto to payment options, Lugano joins three other Swiss cities and cantons which already accept crypto payments.(bitcoin.com)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Greed/Fear Index: 74/100
-Analyst Comments (AC): It's worth noting that Pres Zelenskyy visited Argentina for Milei's inauguration before coming to the US. The reasons are unclear ATT, but warrant continued observation.
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
Bitcoin Veterans LIVE TONIGHT at 7pm ET
Our guest Gary Krause (@garyKrause_) was a Navy Chief, Counter Terrorist Intel working with MARSOC, NSW and other SOF units doing spooky tactical stuff. Now he's a Bitcoiner building bridges and uniting tribes
#GetOnTheMission
https://www.youtube.com/live/mJKusJ7I8MA
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_5088452935260885631701273850.webp
Bitcoin Veterans will be LIVE this Wednesday at 7pm ET with guest Gary Krause
Gary is a former Navy Chief (CTIC) guy, did stuff w MARSOC other SOF unit. 5yrs working in NSW doing spooky tactical stuff now Bitcoiner who’s On The Mission spreading the signal and helping build the network from Layer 0 up
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_7432695694941220661701102727.webp
Looking forward to the National Geographic documentary “The Creation of Bitcoin Veterans”
#GetOnTheMission
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_9600414051453667561701008571.webp
The Peaceful Revolution is here
#REVOLUTION
#3A07
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Join the growing movement of Bitcoin Veterans working behind the scenes to help further each others missions, in and out of the Bitcoin space
If you’re a Veteran, First Responder, or anyone who puts their life on the line in service of their fellow man, DM to join the conversation and #GetOnTheMission
