BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 829,516
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 08Feb24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Israeli War in Gaza Continues / SCOTUS to Hear Trump's Eligibility Case / US Lawmakers Seeks Yellen's Insight on Crypto / Binance Delists Monero
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $44,710 USD, 22.07 oz Gold, .10 Median US House
24hr Hi: $44,862 / Lo: $42,941
Vol: $25B (Up 60%)
Mkt Cap: $877B (Up 4%)
HashRate: 539 EH/s
Avg Fees: 16,195 sats/tx (Down 2%)
Nodes: 17,713
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israeli strikes kill 13 in a southern Gaza town that could be the next target in the war: Israeli airstrikes killed over a dozen people overnight and into Thursday in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’ cease-fire terms and vowed to expand the offensive into the southern Gaza town. (AP)
2. Ukraine needs more troops fighting Russia. Hardened professionals from Colombia are helping: Ukraine’s ranks are depleted by two years of war. As it battles the Russian war machine, Ukraine is welcoming hardened fighters from one of the world’s longest-running conflicts. Professional soldiers from Colombia bolster the ranks of volunteers from around the world who have answered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for foreign fighters to join his nation’s war with Russia. (AP)
-US Events-
1. US supreme court hearing focuses on Trump’s eligibility for 2024 election: The US supreme court will hear oral arguments on Thursday morning after the Colorado supreme court ruled the ex-president ineligible to run for office for inciting insurrection under the 14th amendment last year. (Guardian)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US Lawmakers Press Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Crypto Oversight Gaps: Representatives Patrick McHenry, Glenn Thompson, French Hill, and Dusty Johnson sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen concerning crypto regulation on Tuesday following her testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services. The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), which Yellen chairs, has issued “repeated warnings about the lack of oversight of the digital asset markets,” the lawmakers detailed, questioning Yellen how the council believes existing laws should apply bitcoin, ether, and non-security crypto assets. (Bitcoincom)
2. US lawmakers get ‘very, very close’ to agreement on stablecoin bill: Rep. Maxine Waters said U.S. lawmakers are inching closer to reaching an agreement on stablecoin legislation. “That’s what’s important to me: Our central bank should have the power of oversight and the ability to be at the head of this.”, she said Wednesday. (CryptoNews)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETF Landscape: Record Volume, BlackRock Dominance: Fueled by a staggering $1 billion in daily volume and nearly $2 billion in inflows on February 7th, the spot Bitcoin ETF landscape is brimming with activity. At the heart of this frenzy lies BlackRock’s IBIT, boasting a record-breaking $341.2 million in traded volume. This decisive move dethroned Grayscale’s GBTC, which previously held the crown with $296.5 million, marking a significant shift in the power dynamics. (Bitcoinist)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. India to look at offline solutions to aid CBDC adoption in rural areas: Several offline solutions, including proximity and non-proximity-based solutions, will be evaluated in hilly, rural and urban environments to achieve this aim, according to the Press Trust of India. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Americans largely stopped piling debt onto household balance sheets in December, data from the Federal Reserve showed Wednesday. Total consumer credit inched up just $1.5 billion in December, on a seasonally adjusted basis. Economists had expected ten times as much growth in consumer debt. In November, for example, consumer credit climbed by $23.4 billion. (Breitbart)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Binance Delists Monero Questioning the Balance of Privacy for Good with Anonymous Cryptos: As governments worldwide tighten their grip on the financial sector, the very essence of anonymous cryptos is currently frowned upon by many authorities. The announced removal of Monero (XMR) from Binance could signal increased regulatory scrutiny on cryptocurrencies that prioritize anonymity. It also may lead to other exchanges following suit, due to concerns about compliance with law. (CCN)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Ethiopia Emerges As New Safe Haven for Chinese Bitcoin Miners: According to the most recent report, Chinese Bitcoin miners are relocating their operations to Ethiopia due to the country’s exceptionally low electricity costs and the favorable attitude towards cryptocurrencies adopted by the local government. Chinese companies, instrumental in the construction of the $4.8 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, will provide electricity to these miners. (CoinGape)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 66/100 (Up 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Reading through the reports today may give a sense that Bitcoin is in a war with exisiting powers throughout the world. As Bitcoin adoption grows, both as a store of value and a medium of exchange, existing centers of control are fighting these advances through regulation and force. As in any war, daily reports will speak of wins and losses on both sides of the conflict, but a larger, more strategic perspective will begin to take shape. In this case, Bitcoin can objectively be said to be 'gaining ground' as those economic use cases above. War, history teaches us however, is never certain in any aspect.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
Bit Block Boom in Dallas is going to be LIT!! Except for during the solar eclipse…
Get our discount code, bring your eye pro, and #GetOnTheMission
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_5421811960075447841707251927.webp
We have a bunch of new people joining across all channels so its a good time for some reminders on a few things.
We never promote or encourage violence and we dont shitcoin. Aside from that we encourage everyone to get involved or even take charge and lead this movement forward.
We have resources and continue to build libraries of information that may be useful to you regardless of whether you are active/prior military or not.
If you want more information on any of these things, please dont be afraid to ask:
1. BV Citadel Network - land owners or wannabe landowners - tips and teaching on homesteading and resilience
2. BV Radio - dedicated to learning about and getting qualified to use Ham radio
3. BV Pew Pew - For those interested in firearms builds, training, etc
4. Other resources include several PTSD projects for those seeking healing - low key no shame..hanging with brothers in arms and working through stuff through the Brave Mission
5. Intel and Cybersec - If you are an intel or security person or are interested in such
6. Local bitcoin meetups
7. Deep discounts on tickets to bitcoin events such as Bit Block Boom and Bitcoin 2024
8. Vocational training, job placement, and vertan business support through Operation Bitcoin ( nostr:npub1szn2v4mha08f7lvupml8rg4e4wcqdu5mqlc6nlspjlpj65m2jl3qq69297 )
9. A discord server where we are pinning resources and links for things you may want to know on a variety of subjects
10: BV is a Voluntarist organization with multiple missions. We actively seek out self motivated leaders who are looking for work and projects in the Bitcoin and Veteran space. We provide real world resume building opportunities that afford every member the opportunity to work, grow and thrive on any project they think will help achieve Mission Success.
Join us and #GetOnTheMission
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 829,048
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 05Feb24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US Military Strikes Targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen Over the Weekend / Bukele Wins Re-Election / China Stocks are Melting Down / Massive Rains in SOCAL / Fed Stays Steady for Now
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,223, 21.28 oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,223 / Lo: $42,264
Vol: $15B (Up 14%)
Mkt Cap: $846B (Even)
HashRate: 610 EH/s
Avg Fees: 18,726 sats/tx (Down 42%)
Nodes: 14,942
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US forces launch self-defense strike on Houthis, accuse group of presenting 'an imminent threat' in Red Sea: In a statement published on X Sunday evening, CENTCOM explained that American forces "struck four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea." (Fox)
2. El Salvador's Bukele re-elected as president in landslide win: Bukele declared himself the winner before official results were announced, claiming to have attained more than 85% of the vote. Provisional results showed Bukele winning 83% support with 31% of the ballots counted. (Reuters)
3. Forest fires raging in Chile kill at least 112: In a news conference Saturday, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said there are 92 active fires burning that have affected more than 43,000 hectares. On Sunday Tohá added that more than 1,350 homes have already been affected. (NBC)
4. Angry Chinese take to US Embassy’s social media account to vent about plunging stock market: Tens of thousands of people in China are flocking to an unusual venue to vent their outrage about the continuing meltdown in the country’s stock market. They’ve been posting comments on a Chinese-language social media account of the US Embassy in Beijing expressing anger and frustration with the market rout. Mainland Chinese markets slumped again Monday after their worst week in years. More than 1,800 stocks on the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets, accounting for a third of all stocks listed in China, slumped more than 10%. (CNN) (AC- There is additional reporting, mostly from social media, that as much as 30% of stocks have been halted to stop the selling on exchanges in China.)
-US Events-
1. Atmospheric river lashes California with heavy rain and wind: Millions of people in California are at high risk of life-threatening flooding with parts of the Los Angeles area forecast to receive close to half a year’s worth of rain by Tuesday. (CNN)
2. Texas Border Showdown: 13 Governors Join Abbott at State-Seized Park Along Rio Grande: Texas Governor Greg Abbott briefed thirteen other Republican Governors on the state’s Operation Lonestar and the latest border security enhancements at a small border park recently seized by the State from the City of Eagle Pass. Sunday’s briefing and press conference to address “Biden’s reckless open border policies” comes on the heels of a busy weekend for the small Texas border town. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Beijing Censors Crypto Mining Activities to Strengthen Energy Conservation: Beijing, China has further doubled down on crypto mining activities as a part of its revamped energy conservation implementation plan. Before this, in September 2021, China intensified its crackdown on cryptocurrency mining and declaring all financial transactions involving cryptos illegal. The clampdown came as the country’s central bank has been testing its own digital currency, the digital yuan. This current move is designed to stabize the country's electrical grid after recent power shortages. (CryptoNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. Powell Tells ‘60 Minutes’ Fed Is Wary of Cutting Rates Too Soon: "The prudent thing to do is to, is to just give it some time and see that the data continue to confirm that inflation is moving down to 2% in a sustainable way.”, Powell said on Sunday. (Yahoo)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Binance Says There Was No Leak From Systems After Alleged Data Breach: Binance said that its security team had determined there was no leak from the crypto exchange’s systems after claims that its users’ KYC data was being sold on the dark web.
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Genesis Seeks Approval to Sell $1.6B in Bitcoin, Ether Trust Holdings: Bankrupt crypto lender Genesis filed a motion Friday asking a U.S. judge to approve the sale of over $1.6 billion in bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH) and ethereum classic (ETC) held in Grayscale’s trust products. If the motion is approved, the market could see yet another significant chunk of selling pressure on bitcoin. In January, bankrupt exchange FTX sold over $1 billion worth of GBTC holdings. That coincided with the price dropping to $39,000 from $49,000. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 60/100 (Down 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): US military strikes in Iraq, Syria and Yemen over the weekend are aimed at curtailing the Iranian proxies in the region from continued attacks. DoD officials have not ruled out strikes directly against Iran, but that woud go against recent US policy and objectives. It remains to be seen where the wider Israel conflict will escalate and to what degree.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
If you are a Veteran and a Bitcoiner, it might make sense to just connect with us in case this catches on
We’re looking for leaders in this movement who are ready to get shit done
Get in touch and #GetOnTheMission
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 828,553
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 02Feb24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: El Salvador set to Re-elect Bukele on Sunday / Biden Targets Israeli Settlers with Sancitons / New Congressional Act may take Digital Assets of Corporate Balance Sheets / Atmoshperic River Hits SOCAL
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,137, 21.0 oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,398 / Lo: $41,933
Vol: $20B (Down 20%)
Mkt Cap: $846B (Up 2%)
HashRate: 643 EH/s
Avg Fees: 35,273 sats/tx (Up 110%)
Nodes: 14,445
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. ‘World’s Coolest Dictator’ Nayib Bukele set for landslide election win in El Salvador for war on gangs: El Salvador will hold an election this weekend that President Nayib Bukele is expected to win easily. A January 2024 opinion poll from the University of Central America’s public opinion institute showed 82 per cent of voters supporting Bukele. Bukele’s crackdown on drug gangs has also won him the support of a nation tired of violent crime. (SouthChinaMorningPost)
2. Biden authorises sanctions on Israeli settlers for ‘extremist violence’ in West Bank: In a message to Congress announcing the new sanctions, Mr Biden said he’d declared a national emergency “to deal with the threat posed by the situation in the West Bank, including in particular high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction”. (IndependentUK) (AC-As the Biden Administration has failed to halt the severity of the response from Israel in Gaza, Biden is now using the Treasury Dept as leverage against Israeli settlers themselves. This is an unexpected tactic in the geopolitical quagmire of this Israeli conflict. On analysis, it appears Biden is trying to thread the line of support to Israel and the Palenstinians at the same time. It also shows the reliance the administration has placed upon quick reactionary economic warfare.)
-US Events-
1. ‘Pineapple Express’ sweeps California as an atmospheric river fuels storms and floods the state: Heavy rain flooded California roadways and much-needed snow piled up in the mountains as the first of back-to-back atmospheric rivers pummeled the state Thursday. (AP)
2. Ex-CIA computer engineer gets 40 years in prison for giving spy agency hacking secrets to WikiLeaks: The bulk of the sentence imposed on Joshua Schulte, 35, in Manhattan federal court came for an embarrassing public release of a trove of CIA secrets by WikiLeaks in 2017. He has been jailed since 2018. (Politico)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US House Financial Services Committee Members Demand More Time to Debate New Digital Payment Proposal: Leading members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, Chairman Patrick McHenry, Subcommittee Chairman French Hill, and Representative Mike Flood, have requested an extension of the public comment period for the CFPB’s proposed rule on digital consumer payment applications. This request centers on the committee’s concerns over the rule’s potential impact on the digital asset industry and its demand for a more comprehensive stakeholder review. (Bitcoincom)
2. US Congress About To Lift Major Bitcoin Institutional Adoption Barrier: NC Representative Wiley Nickel, joined by Senator Cynthia Lummis and Representative Mike Flood, has put forth a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that aims to overturn the SEC's directive requiring banks to include customer cryptocurrency assets on their balance sheets, potentially clearing a major hurdle for the institutional adoption of Bitcoin and other digital assets. (Bitcoinist)
3.China to include crypto in money laundering rules amid crackdown on cybercrime gangs: An executive meeting of the State Council late last month chaired by Prime Minister Li Qiang discussed including provisions for virtual assets to update its AML regulations. The updates are expected to go into effect in 2025. (DLNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. UAE and China Complete First $13.6M Cross-Border CBDC Transaction: The United Arab Emirates and China have executed their first cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) transaction valued at $13.6 million using digital dirham and digital yuan. According to PeopleCN, the 50-million-dirham ($13.6 million) transaction occurred via the m-CBDC Bridge platform during the Central Bank of UAE’s 50th anniversary celebration in Abu Dhabi. (CyrptoNews)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. Bank of England Holds Rates, Signals Cut This Year: The decision comes after US Fed says rate cuts are possible but not imminent (WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. FTX’s Missing $400 Million Were Stolen in SIM-Swapping Hack, DOJ Says: FTX’s Missing $400 Million Were Stolen in SIM-Swapping Hack, DOJ Says. Three people have been charged with orchestrating a SIM-swapping scam that siphoned more than $400 million from FTX as the cryptocurrency exchange spiraled into bankruptcy. (Bloomberg)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 63/100 (Even)
Analyst Comments (AC):
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 828,389
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 01Feb24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US DOE mandates BTC miners to respond to new survey / Hamas victims sue Binance / US hits UAV targets in Yemen / Navy Veteran charged with Hate Crime for decapitating Satan statue / No FED rate cut soon
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,085, 20.63oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,717 / Lo: $41,879
Vol: $24B (Up 11%)
Mkt Cap: $825B (Down 1%)
HashRate: 528 EH/s
Avg Fees: 16,142 sats/tx (Down 48%)
Nodes: 13,457
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US hits Houthi UAVs, ground control station in Yemen: According to Centcom, the U.S. had identified a UAV ground control station and a number of UAVs in the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The military “determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region.” As a result, Centcom said, U.S. forces hit the UAV station, destroying it. Ten one-way UAVs were struck in self-defense, it said. (ABC)
2. US sees signs Iran is worried about escalating proxy attacks amid heightened tensions : Iran-backed militants have launched over 160 attacks on US forces since October. And while Iran has long funded, equipped, and trained its proxy militias in the region with the goal of attacking Americans, the strike from this past weekend was the first to kill US service members since the near daily assaults began four months ago. The attack caught Tehran by surprise and worried political leadership there, officials told CNN, citing US intelligence. (CNN) (AC-The delay in any response to the killing of US Servicement gives credence that Biden and the Pentagon may be using the Iranian 'Mea Culpa' as an excuse to not retaliate directly. This is indicative of some serious back-channel dealing between the US and Iran at best, and geo-politic influence theater at worst.)
-US Events-
1. Six Pro-Life Activists Found Guilty, Face 11 Years in Prison for Peaceful Protest: Six pro-life activists were found guilty on Tuesday for “conspiracy against rights” and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) in relation to a peaceful protest outside of a Tennessee abortion facility in 2021. (Breitbart)
2. Hate Crime: Christian Navy Veteran Charged for Tearing Down Satan Statue in Iowa Capitol: Michael Cassidy was initially charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief on December 15, but the Polk County Attorney’s Office indicated that the Mississippi man’s admission that he “destroyed the property because of the victim’s [the Satanic Temple] religion” prompted the charges to be upgraded to “third-degree criminal mischief in violation of individual rights, a class D felony.” (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. US Energy Data Agency to Track Crypto Mining Power Use: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will begin to more closely track electricity consumption by cryptocurrency mining companies operating in the United States, the agency said on Wednesday. The EIA said it plans to launch a survey next week of select bitcoin miners, which will be required to respond with their energy use details, as part of an emergency data collection request authorized by the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 26. Miners of the digital coins have come under scrutiny in recent years for their electricity-sapping operations, and for the impact their activity has on power grids and carbon emissions. (USNews)
2. Binance Sued by Families of Hamas Victims, Hostages: The plaintiffs, who are also suing Iran and Syria, say the crypto exchange facilitated the financing of Hamas and other terrorist groups between 2017 and 2023. In October, the Wall Street Journal reported that Palestinian Islamic Jihad received $93 million in crypto between August 2021 and June 2023, while Hamas received about $41 million. Those figures are probably “overstated,” Chainalysis said in a blog post. (CoinDesk) (AC-This lawsuit has the potential to give US regulators and anti-Bitcoin advocates like Sen E. Warren more ammunition in thier campaigns to attack digital currencies and thier usage)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Indiana introduces bill to prohibit a US CBDC: Last year, Indiana enacted a law that removed a central bank digital currency (CBDC) from the definition of money in the state. On Jan. 9, Sen. Eric Koch introduced Senate Bill 180 (SB180) to expand on that law. The legislation would prohibit state agencies from accepting payments made with a central bank digital currency for any service, tax, license, permit, fee, information, or other amount due the governmental body. It would also bar government agencies from requiring payments to be made with a central bank digital currency. (10thAmendmentCenter)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. Fed Chief Jerome Powell says a March rate cut is not likely: “I don’t think it’s likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting” to cut rates, Powell said. (CNBC)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. SEC, DOJ Charge Individuals in $1.9 Billion Hyperfund Cryptocurrency Fraud: The U.S. SEC and the DOJ have taken major legal action against individuals involved in a massive $1.9 billion cryptocurrency fraud, encompassing a wide-reaching scheme known as Hyperfund, also referred to as Hyperverse, Hypertech, and Hypercapital. Hyperfund reportedly had a fake CEO and amassed nearly $2 billion fraudulently. The SEC alleges that the operation had no legitimate revenue source, using new investor deposits to pay earlier investors, a classic hallmark of a Ponzi scheme. (Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. El Salvador to Resume Bitcoin City Plans Post-Election, Boosting Crypto Economy: El Salvador will reignite its Bitcoin (BTC) ambitions after citizens go to the poll on Sunday. President Nayib Bukele is expected to secure a landslide victory as the recent appreciation of El Salvador’s Bitcoin holdings guaranteed the much-talked-about Bitcoin City. According to the country’s Vice President, Felix Ulloa, the government will resume plans to construct the tax-free haven and launch Bitcoin bonds after Bukele’s recent gang crackdown all but guaranteed his re-election. (BeInCrypto)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 63/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The US DOE effort to surveil the US crypto mining communnity throught a mandated 'survey' has the potential to become a lightning rod this year. It is not common for the US Governemnt to initiate emergency actions to interfere with electrical usage in the US. This is clearly another front against Bitcoin in general and combined with legal attacks like the new lawsuit against Binance, the USG is ramping up the efforts against all things Bitcoin.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 828,112
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 30Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: China Flanking Taiwan with Warships / No Peace Deal with Hamas / US Congress Considering Impeaching DHS Chief / BRICS Gaining Momentum, Seeking CBDC / Iran Conflict Coming?
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,405, 21.42oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,838 / Lo: $41,818
Vol: $24B (Up 63%)
Mkt Cap: $852B (Up 3%)
HashRate: 549 EH/s
Avg Fees: 13,930 sats/tx (Up 30%)
Nodes: 16,514
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. China Ramps Up Pressure on Taiwan With Warship Deployment: Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that the People's Liberations Army's 33 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone, out of which 13 aircraft crossed the median line. On January 24, the USS John Finn transited through the Taiwan Strait, which the U.S. Navy described as its "commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations," (Newsweek)
2. Israel ‘hit squad’ kills three in West Bank hospital operation: Israeli forces disguised as medical staff and civilians have shot dead three Palestinians inside a hospital in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. The killings were carried out by undercover operatives while the men were sleeping at Ibn Sina Hospital, according to statements issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Israeli army on Tuesday. (AlJazeera)
3. Hamas Rejects Hostage Deal: No Agreement Without End to War: The Palestinian Hamas terrorist organization reportedly rejected an Israeli offer Monday for a deal to free the remaining 132 or so hostages still in captivity in Gaza because the proposed agreement did not include a permanent end to Israel’s counteroffensive. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. Republican US House panel to push forward on impeaching border chief Mayorkas: The House Homeland Security Committee will consider two articles of impeachment targeting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The charges allege Mayorkas intentionally encouraged illegal immigration with lax policies and violated public trust by making false statements to Congress. Democrats are not supporting the effort (Reuters)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. A Backdoor Regulatory Option Haunts U.S. Crypto: After the 2008 global financial meltdown, Congress set up a round table of regulators who could wield a unique tool against the next emerging threats. The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) can tag companies with systemic-risk labels that saddle them with tremendous new restrictions, and the crypto sector has the council's attention. (CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. New BRICS member Iran calls for digital currency systems this year: BRICS, the intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, started meetings this morning in Russia. After agreeing to expand its membership in August, the group added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE on January 1. During the opening meeting, Iran highlighted the importance of the agenda regarding banking and payments, including digital currency. (LedgerInsights) (AC-As BRICS continues to gain members as an anti-American economic conglomeration, it is worth noting who is joining and the issues they are bringing up. In this case, Iran is pushing for a digital currency system that routes the current US-dominated trade system. Russia is certainly on board after cripplig US financial sanctions.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Fee War: Invesco and Galaxy Digital Slash Bitcoin ETF Fee by 35% to 0.25 BPS: On Monday, January 29, Investco and Galaxy Digital announced the reduction in their spot Bitcoin ETF fees by 35% from 39 bps to now at 25 bps. (CoinGape)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Europe’s Stagnating Economy Falls Further Behind the U.S: Europe’s economy stagnated in the final three months of last year, expanding a divide between a booming U.S. economy and a European continent that is increasingly left behind. (WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. $674 Million of Stolen Crypto Recovered in 2023: PeckShield: Around 25% of the $2.6 billion stolen in over 600 major crypto hacks last year has been recovered, according to PeckShield’s Crypto Security Annual Report. (UnchainedCrypto)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Decentralized Bitcoin Exchange Portal Raises $34 Million in Funding: Portal, a venture building a Bitcoin-based interchain decentralized exchange and wallet, has raised $34 million in its latest funding round. Today’s announcement from Portal indicated that the round included investors such as Coinbase Ventures, Arrington Capital, OKX Ventures, and Gate.io Ventures. Portal is a Bitcoin-based interchain atomic swap protocol. Its two main products are the DEX and wallet. Portal enables Layer 2 atomic swaps between blockchains. The Portal wallet, a “completely unsupervised” tool, is integrated with the DEX and allows users to send, receive, and store cryptocurrency across blockchains. (CoinTurkNews)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 61/100 (Up 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The world seems to be waiting for the US to respond to Iran's killing of US Servicemen (US Army from Georgia) in Jordan and the comprehensive attacks around the Mideast. Speculation is rampant across media outlets and social media. Congress seems divided, WH seems to be considering it, and Americans are distrustful.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 827,963
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 29Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Iran kills 3 US troops in Jordan / French Farmers Continue Revolt / Biden and Congress Working on Immigration Deal / Inflation down to 2.6% / Coinbase to hit 1M BTC in Custody
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,146, 20.74oz Gold
24hr Hi: $42,509 / Lo: $41,696
Vol: $14.7B (Up 1%)
Mkt Cap: $825.3B (Down .7%)
HashRate: 594 EH/s
Avg Fees: 10,679 sats/tx (Down 19%)
Nodes: 15,438
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Biden says US ‘shall respond’ after drone strike by Iran-backed group kills 3 US troops and injures 30+ in Jordan: President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. “shall respond” after three American troops were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. Biden blamed Iran-backed militias for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. (AP)
2. Farmer Revolution: Blockade of Paris Announced as Farmers Reject Government’s ‘Concessions’: After a week of shutting down motorways across the country, forcing politicians of all stripes to come to meet them on their turf, the farmer uprising is set to descend upon the French capital as they were unimpressed by the compromises proposed by newly-installed Prime Minister Gabriel Attall. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. Biden and senators on verge of striking immigration deal aimed at clamping down on illegal border crossings: After weeks of closed-door negotiations, the White House and a trio of senators could unveil an agreement as early as this week, the sources said, requesting anonymity due to the private nature of the conversations. The bill is designed to reduce the unprecedented levels of illegal crossings recorded along the southern border in the past three years. (CBS)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Regulatory Clampdown — Alaska and Florida Order Binance US to Cease Operations: A recent report indicates that regulatory authorities in Alaska and Florida have prohibited Binance US from operating within their jurisdictions. This development comes in the wake of Binance, along with its previous CEO Changpeng Zhao, reaching a plea agreement with the U.S. government. (Bitcoincom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr pledges to end US efforts to move toward CBDC: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the first presidential candidate to accept Bitcoin for campaign donations, joins his competitor, Donald Trump, in promising to fight the development of a central bank digital currency in the United States. (Mercola Podcast)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs in and Around Asia After U.S. Approvals? Analysts Are Optimistic About Momentum: Now that the U.S. has allowed nearly a dozen products to launch, other countries like the U.K., Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan could introduce policies “to prevent large and medium-sized financial institutions from transferring their funds out” of their regions, said Ryan Lee, Chief Analyst at Bitget Research. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Cooler Inflation Keeps Door Open for Rate Cuts This Year: The Fed’s preferred inflation measure, the personal-consumption expenditures price index, rose 2.6% in December from a year earlier, the Commerce Department said Friday, well below the 5.4% increase at the end of 2022. Core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, rose 2.9% on the year, the smallest year-over-year increase since March 2021. (WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Crypto karaoke platform hacked for over $11.5m: The South Korean karaoke blockchain platform Somesing lost access to 730 million SSX tokens worth $11.58 million due to a hack. (cryptonews)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Coinbase Nears Historic 1 Million Bitcoin Milestone Amid Rise in Reserves and ETF Activity: Coinbase Global is on the brink of holding 1 million bitcoins, requiring just an additional 5,019 bitcoins to cross this significant milestone. In the preceding fortnight, Coinbase has witnessed its bitcoin reserves grow by 16,404 bitcoins, inching closer to this noteworthy threshold. (Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 55/100 (Up 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): After weeks of lashing out across the MidEast, Iran has opened a new front against the US in Jordan, this time killing 3 and injuring over 30 servicemen. War hawks in Congress are calling for strikes against Iran while others are calling for worldwide retreat of US forces. What is clear, is that most Americans are tired of ambiguous conflicts and wars across the globe. Iran may sense this, attempting to bleed the US of money, flesh and willpower. It is unknown how the Biden administration will act against the provocations, but with the election year upon us, politics will drive the decision.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 827,469
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 26Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Alabama Executes 1st Inmate with Nitrogen / Biden Halts New NatGas Terminals / US GDP Jumps to 3.1% Thanks to Gov Spending
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $41,223, 20.46oz Gold
24hr Hi: $41,463 / Lo: $39,545
Vol: $21.9B (Up 13%)
Mkt Cap: $809B (Up 3%)
HashRate: 552 EH/s
Avg Fees: 12,603 sats/tx (Down 45%)
Nodes: 16,210
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Taiwan Begins Extended One-Year Conscription in Response to Rising China Threat: Taiwan previously required only four months of compulsory service but, as of January 2024, men born after 2005 will be required to serve for one year. Those born before 2005 will continue with four months of conscription. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. Alabama execution using nitrogen gas, the first ever, again puts US at front of death penalty debate: A man who was paid $1,000 to kill an Alabama woman more than 30 years ago was put to death with pure nitrogen gas, a first-of-its-kind execution that again placed the United States at the forefront of the debate over capital punishment. (AP)
2. Biden hits pause on natural gas projects amid thread of carbon ‘mega bombs’: On Friday, the White House announced that it was pausing all pending export permits for liquified natural gas (LNG) until the Department of Energy could come up with an updated criteria for approvals that consider the impact of climate change. The pause, which will likely last beyond November’s presidential election, could imperil the future of more than a dozen gas export terminals that have been planned for the Gulf of Mexico coast. (Guardian)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. The Fed is falling behind as other central banks leap ahead on digital currencies: Over the past twelve months, some of the largest central banks in the world have all made significant strides forward in their development of CBDCs and fast payment systems. This includes the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, the Reserve Bank of India, and the People’s Bank of China. Unfortunately, the US Federal Reserve doesn’t seem to be on the same page. (AtlanticCouncil)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETF Flows Show Negative Trend For First Time Since Launch: Outflows at Grayscale’s GBTC have remained high while inflows for the other funds as a group have slowed. Net inflows from the 10 other ETFs did not offset the outflows from Greyscale.(CoinDesk)
2. Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF receives BTC donations following transparency move: Bloomberg Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that this was the first time an underlying asset would be donated to an ETF. Some community members questioned the asset management firm choice of address following the disclosure. (CryptoSlate)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Economy expanded 3.1% from a year earlier due to strong consumer spending and hiring: A resilient labor market supported strong consumer spending and brushed aside a feared downturn. A year ago economists saw a recession as very likely and projected anemic 0.2% growth for the year. Instead, last year’s gain was a sharp pickup from a comparable 0.7% advance in 2022. (WSJ)
2. US debt spirals past $34 trillion with interest forecasted to hit $3 trillion by 2030: After peaking during COVID-19, the US deficit now stands at -6.4% of GDP amid a $34 trillion debt burden. (CryptoSlate)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. UK Supreme Court Refuses Craig Wright Appeal: In July a panel of judges ruled that Wright was only entitled to just 1 GBP in compensation for a libel claim against bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack. (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 49/100 (Down 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The US Commerce Dept GDP report listed a 3.1% increase over the previous year. Although headlines across the MSM are highlighting consumer spending and hiring, the largest component of the increase was federal, state and local government spending.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 827,312
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 25Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Texas Gov Abbott Defies SCOTUS on border / India Sending Navy to Protect Ships in MidEast / BTC ETCs May Affect Global Monetary System
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $39,843, 19.79oz Gold
24hr Hi: $40,254 / Lo: $39,508
Vol: $19.3B (Down 26%)
Mkt Cap: $780.8B (Down .4%)
HashRate: 652 EH/s
Avg Fees: 26,348 sats/tx (Up 40%)
Nodes: 13,342
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. NATO kicks off largest military drills in decades: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Wednesday kicked off "Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024," its largest military drills in decades. The drills will take place in several locations, with associated exercises running until May 31. "It will show that NATO can conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any conditions." (ChinaDaily)
2. Red Sea Conflict Prompts India’s Navy to Flex Its Muscles: Indian officials say its navy, beefed up to better deal with China concerns, is closely monitoring and responding to ships in distress. India is deploying a growing number of warships to counter rebel attacks on commercial ships plying around the Middle East, while steering clear of joining the official U.S.-led force in the Red Sea, as it looks to protect its ties with Iran. (WSJ)
2. Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ makes successful pinpoint landing, space agency says: Japan was successful in making an unusually precise moon landing just metres from its target, its space agency has announced. The country on Saturday became the fifth to put a spacecraft on the moon when its so-called “Moon Sniper” lander touched down on the lunar surface. (AlJazeera)
-US Events-
1. Biden administration renews demand for Texas to allow Border Patrol to access park near Rio Grande: A clash between Texas and the Biden administration over immigration enforcement showed no signs of easing Wednesday as federal officials renewed demands for the state to give Border Patrol agents access to a riverfront park that is a popular corridor for migrants illegally entering the U.S. Texas has installed rows of razor wire in the park and says more is being added after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Border Patrol agents to cut or remove the sharp metal barrier. The fencing has become one of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s most visible measures to deter migrants in the border city of Eagle Pass. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Samourai Wallet, Strike and Others Ask FinCEN to Withdraw Proposed Rules Tied to Crypto Mixing: Samourai Wallet, River, Strike, Swan, and other companies in the cryptocurrency space have sent a letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), commenting on the proposed rules over mixing transactions introduced in October. These companies are asking FinCEN to withdraw its proposal because it considers it inadequate for many reasons, criticizing it for being “overbroad” and including lawful activities under its scope. (Bitcoincom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Bank of England undecided on digital pound amid privacy concerns: The Bank of England has said it is too early to decide whether to introduce a digital pound currency dubbed Britcoin with 2025 being the earliest for a decision. The BOE and the finance ministry said they would launch further consultations, effectively putting the plan for Britcoin on hold. (YahooFinance)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. The SEC’s Bitcoin ETF Approvals Have Forever Altered The Global Monetary System: The most far-reaching consequence of the ETF-driven institutionalization of bitcoin is that it will become extremely difficult for the U.S. to ban the digital asset, enabling bitcoin to permanently push forward the evolution of how money fundamentally works. (Forbes) AC- This is one of the few articles via Forbes that shows the true effects of Bitcoin on the global economy without too much bias. To read the full article follow this link: http://bit.ly/3SfqOfW )
2. Bitwise Becomes First Spot Bitcoin ETF Provider to Provide Wallet Address: The San Francisco-based firm tweeted a screenshot showing the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF's (BITB) bitcoin address along with holdings (11,858 bitcoin) as of January 23. "Anyone can now verify the fund’s holdings and flows directly on the blockchain," said the company. (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
1. The Commerce Department will release the GDP report for October through December at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday. (WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. North Korean crypto hacks hit record in 2023, report says: The number of North Korea-linked hacks of cryptocurrency trading platforms hit an all-time high last year. Blockchain company Chainalysis said late Wednesday it counted 20 cyberattacks that North Korea launched to steal cryptocurrency in 2023, up from 15 the previous year. It also noted that the estimated value of thefts by North Korea-linked hackers declined to $1 billion in 2023 from $1.7 billion in 2022 as a bear market brought down the value of virtual assets. (NikkeiAsia)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 52/100 (Up 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The big story today is the development of a showdown in Texas concerning the border. In definance of SCOTUS, Texas governor Abbott is installing more razor wire on the border and prepping the Texas guard for sustained operations. The Federal government has again asked Texas to stand down (see report above), but to no avail. As of this morning, at least 12 other states have come out in support of Texas, mostly on the X platform. MSM reporting in noticibly absent on the issue meanwhile it is trending as the #1 issue on X. The showdown can have severe repercussions for State-USG relations, legal issues, and cultural issues, not to mention the Presidential election year.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 827,144
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 24Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Russian plane with 65 Ukrainian POW crashes / US missile strikes Hezbollah in Iraq / Trump wins NH primary / BIS to push CBDCs in '24 / SEC says it was 'sim-swapped / 5th Gen. Warfare in high gear
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $40,047, 19.74oz Gold
24hr Hi: $40,483 / Lo: $39,105
Vol: $26.4B (Down 17%)
Mkt Cap: $785B (Up 2.9%)
HashRate: 520 EH/s
Avg Fees: 16,819 sats/tx (Down 78%)
Nodes: 17,215
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. A plane that Russia says was carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs crashed. An official says all aboard died: A military transport plane that Russia said was carrying 74 people, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war to be swapped, crashed Wednesday in a border region near Ukraine. All aboard were killed, according to the governor. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash. (AP)
2. Iraq condemns 'irresponsible' US air strikes on Iran-backed groups: The Iraqi government has strongly condemned US strikes which targeted sites used by Iranian-backed groups in Iraq on Wednesday. The US said its "proportionate" attacks had targeted "Iran-affiliated groups". US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes on three facilities belonging to the Kataib Hezbollah militia and other groups were "in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks" against US and other international forces in Iraq and Syria. (BBC)
-US Events-
1. Trump wins New Hampshire primary as rematch with Biden appears increasingly likely: The result was a setback for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who finished second despite investing significant time and financial resources in a state famous for its independent streak. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. BIS to focus on tokenization, CBDC as part of 2024 strategy/: The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has revealed its strategic priorities for 2024, with a particular emphasis on CBDCs and tokenization. The 2024 roadmap points to a continuation of the watchdog’s engagement with digital financial technologies. The BIS has taken a heavily pro-CBDC stance and has published a comprehensive framework for countries looking to create their own localized digital currencies. (CryptoSlate)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. European Bitcoin ETP Providers Slash Fees in Response to U.S. ETF Competition: Two prominent asset management firms, Invesco and WisdomTree, have taken a bold step by slashing fees on their European-listed ETPs by over 60%. (CryptoIntelligence)
-Economic Indicators-
NSTR
-Technological Updates-
1. Binance Survey Shows 55% of Europeans Use Crypto for Everyday Purchases: Binance has recently conducted a survey in Spain, France, Sweden, and Italy, to get insights into the habits of cryptocurrency users. Revealing quite an astonishing trend, the results highlight the behaviors and preferences of the European cryptocurrency community. A total of 10,498 individuals participated in the survey on the Binance Survey Platform (blockchainreporter) (AC-Note the survey was conducted only with Crypto 'users', most likely Binance customers in those countries. This is a highly biased report and misleading headline)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. SEC Got SIM Swapped: How Hacker Gained Control of SEC's X Account: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has admitted that a SIM swap attack compromised its X account, where a fake announcement about the approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) was posted. “The unauthorized party obtained control of the SEC cell phone number associated with the account in an apparent ‘SIM swap’ attack,” the regulator said. (Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining Sustainable Energy Usage Reaches 54.5%: Daniel Batten, co-founder of CH4 Capital, reported that bitcoin mining has reached all-time high levels of sustainable energy usage and emissions mitigation. According to Batten, 54.5% of the energy used for this activity is sustainable, and the industry is mitigating 7.3% of all its emissions directly, which constitutes a new record for any industry without offsets. (Bitcoincom)
2. Number of Crypto Owners Globally Reached 580 Million in 2023, Report Shows: The number of global crypto owners surged 34% in 2023, reaching 580 million by December, a new report from Cryptodotcom shows. In particular, bitcoin ownership surged 33% (to 296M) while Ethereum saw an even steeper rise of 39% (to 124M). The report pinpoints the approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol as key drivers of bitcoin adoption growth, alongside strong institutional interest. (Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 48/100 (Down 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): There is a report that is out from the Univ. of Michigan stating that Americans are upbeat about the economy due to lower inflation and higher wages. It is being carried by most major outlets, alongside of other reports of increased defaults and inabilities to pay basic expenses. The war of narratives (5th Gen. Warfare) is in high gear and it is ovbious that most media outlets are sharpened tools in this war of ideas, designed to influence the population's actions. Today's news reporting seems very high in narrative influence and lower in facts.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 826,993
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 23Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Deadliest day so far for Israeli soldiers / 2 SEALs declared deceased / SCOTUS sides with the Feds in Texas / Global shipping rates spiking
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $39,020, 19.15oz Gold
24hr Hi: $41,169 / Lo: $38,631
Vol: $32B (Up 77%)
Mkt Cap: $763.9.B (Down 4.7%)
HashRate: 569 EH/s
Avg Fees: 61,158 sats/tx (Up 210%)
Nodes: 17,148
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. 21 soldiers killed in biggest single Israeli loss during Gaza combat, Israeli military says: 21 Israeli soldiers were killed during fighting in southern Gaza on Monday, the military said, in the biggest single loss of life for Israeli troops inside the battered enclave since the war with Hamas began. Also a tank that was protecting Israeli troops was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Israeli media reported that two soldiers in the tank were killed. Simultaneously, 2 two-story buildings collapsed on soldiers following an explosion. Most of the Israeli forces killed were in or near the buildings. (CNN)
2. U.S. Navy SEALs in Iranian Weapons Seizure Mission Declared Deceased: The U.S. military has ended its search for two Navy SEALs after they went missing during a mission in the Arabian Sea to interdict Iranian weapons headed for Yemen, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said Sunday. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. Supreme Court allows Border Patrol agents to remove razor wire Texas installed at Mexico border: A closely divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed Border Patrol agents to cut through or move razor wire Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the state’s effort to prevent illegal border crossings. The court on a 5-4 vote granted an emergency request filed by the Biden administration, which had argued that Texas was preventing agents from carrying out their duties. (NBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Central banks poised to lead digital currency revolution as BIS advocates for CBDC development: At Davos this week, Agustín Carstens of BIS emphasizes the importance of central bank leadership in digital currency innovation, focusing on CBDCs. He says the challenges in CBDC implementation include varied technology, cybersecurity risks, and balancing privacy with security. The BIS supports central banks in digital currency efforts through the BIS Innovation Hub and Cyber Resilience Coordination Centre. (Cryptopolitan)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Blackrock and Fidelity ETFs Lead the Charge in Bitcoin Accumulation, Holding Over $2.6 Billion in Combined BTC Assets: Recent data reveals that Blackrock, the globe’s leading asset manager boasting over nine trillion in assets under management (AUM), now possesses 33,430.56 bitcoin, valued at approximately $1.34 billion. Similarly, the financial powerhouse Fidelity has increased its bitcoin holdings, with the Fidelity Wise Origin spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) now owning 30,169.54 bitcoin, equivalent to around $1.26 billion in value. (Bitcoincom)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Global shipping rates skyrocket as Red Sea crisis deepens: New data from Freightos Terminal released Friday shows that rates for shipping goods from Asia to Northern Europe surged 461% compared to mid-October, before the diversion of vessels in the region began. Rates on the route from Asia to the North American East Coast and to the North American West Coast have also skyrocketed, climbing a respective 130% and 97% since the end of October. (FoxBusiness)
2. Bank of Japan retains its ultra-loose policy, says 2% inflation target is in sight: The BOJ decided unanimously to keep interest rates at -0.1%, and stuck to its yield curve control policy that keeps the upper limit for 10-year Japanese government bond yield at 1% as a reference, according to a policy statement released Tuesday after a two-day meeting. (CNBC)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 50/100 (Down 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): As shipping rates double and triple across the globe, the follow-on effects will be felt in goods as inflationary for both producers and consumers. This effect will counter the US Fed's attempt to tamp down inflation and could lead to even more tightening of monetary policy, or at least delay a loosening of it. It is also possible the Biden administration could use the shipping instability as a reason to increase military interventions during the election year.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 826,833
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 22Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: DeSantis calls it quits, supports Trump / JPMorgan says Greyscale to keep selling BTC / Trezor Owners Getting Phished / Terraform Files Chapter 11
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $40,883, 20.07oz Gold
24hr Hi: $41,855 / Lo: $40,364
Vol: $17.9B (Up 83%)
Mkt Cap: $799.1B (Down 2.3%)
HashRate: 522 EH/s
Avg Fees: 20,210 sats/tx (Up 13%)
Nodes: 16,902
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Intriguing alliances: Russia’s plans with North Korea: Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a significant visit to North Korea, the first by a Russian leader in over two decades, signaling a strengthening alliance. Russia and North Korea are also deepening strategic and tactical cooperation, particularly in response to their respective confrontations with the United States. The two countries are united in their criticism of U.S. actions and are seeking to establish a new multi-polarized international order. (Cryptopolitan)
-US Events-
1. DeSantis drops out of presidential race, leaving Trump and Haley to face off in New Hampshire: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign on Sunday, ending his 2024 White House bid just before the New Hampshire primary while endorsing his bitter rival Donald Trump. (AP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. JPMorgan Warns of Incoming Bitcoin Selloff With Anticipated $3 Billion Grayscale Outflow: Global investment bank JPMorgan has warned of additional outflow from Grayscale’s bitcoin fund, cautioning that it will put “further pressure on bitcoin prices over the coming weeks.” The bank’s analyst also explained that the $3 billion inflow into new spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) “reflects a rotation from existing bitcoin vehicles” or “from retail investors shifting from digital wallets held with exchanges/retail brokers to cheaper spot bitcoin ETFs.” (Bitcoincom)
2.Elon Musk’s X Payments Feature Sparks Speculation: Elon Musk’s “everything app,” known as X, has recently created a dedicated account for its upcoming payments feature, igniting speculation within the crypto community about the possible integration of cryptocurrencies. No details have been released yet. (CryptoNews)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Home Sales Were the Lowest in Almost 30 Years in 2023: High mortgage rates, prices made home buying prohibitively expensive for many last year. Existing-home sales slid 19% in 2023 from the prior year to 4.09 million, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. (WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Trezor Alert: Phishing Threat Affects 66K Users in Security Breach: The affected users, numbering up to 66,000, are urged to remain vigilant and take immediate action to secure their accounts. Trezor has advised users to be cautious of unsolicited communication, especially emails or messages requesting sensitive information. Additionally, users are encouraged to update their passwords and enable two-factor authentication to enhance account security.(CoinMarketCap)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Terraform Labs Declares Bankruptcy in Delaware: Terraform Labs recently lost a case when a U.S. judge ruled that LUNA and MIR are securities, and is currently facing a class action lawsuit in Singapore. (CoinDesk)
2. Bitcoin Network's Mining Difficulty Drops 3.9% to 70.34 Trillion, Easing Miner Workload Amid Texas Cold Snap: On Saturday, the Bitcoin network experienced its first difficulty reduction of the year, witnessing a 3.9% decrease at block height 826,560. As a result, the network’s mining difficulty now stands at 70.34 trillion, with the next adjustment anticipated on Feb. 4, 2024. (Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 55/100 (Up 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 826,411
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 19Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Netanyahu says 'No More Palestine State' / North Korea Nukes Some Fish / US Congress Kicks Spending Plan Down the Road / Stablecoins Overtake BTC in Illicit Transactions
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $41,320, 20.30oz Gold
24hr Hi: $42,765 / Lo: $40,631
Vol: $26.6B (Up 33%)
Mkt Cap: $809B (Down 2.6%)
HashRate: 557 EH/s
Avg Fees: 17,401 sats/tx (Up 18%)
Nodes: 17,009
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Netanyahu publicly rejects US push for Palestinian state: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has told the United States that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end. In a news conference, a defiant Mr Netanyahu vowed to press on with the offensive in Gaza "until complete victory": the destruction of Hamas and return of the remaining Israeli hostages, adding that it could take "many more months". (BBC)
2. N. Korea conducts test of underwater nuclear weapons system--KCNA: The test of the “Haeil-5-23” system, a name North Korea has given to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, was carried out by the defense ministry’s think tank in the waters off its east coast. The US and South Korea are currently conducting wargames near the Korean pennisula. (AsahiShimbun)
-US Events-
1. U.S., Mexican officials to resume talks on stemming migrant surge at D.C. meeting: Secretary of State Blinken and Homeland Security chief Mayorkas will meet with Mexican officials on Friday. Border numbers have recently dropped from record highs. (NBC)
2. House Passes Pelosi-Schumer Continuing Resolution, Averting Shutdown Fears Until March: The House passed a short-term spending extension only hours after the bill cleared the Senate, pushing the next shutdown threat to March and surrendering Republican leverage on enacting a border security package. (Breibart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Crypto Exchange Gemini Secures Registration in France — Now Operational in Over 70 Countries: Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini is now registered as a digital asset service provider in France. The crypto firm explained that following the launch of its EU headquarters in Ireland in 2022, “Gemini is now operational in more than a dozen EU countries and more than 70 countries worldwide, with more countries on the roadmap.” (Bitcoincom)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Davos Crypto Panel Backs CBDCs, Rejects Dogecoin; Ripple CEO Says 'I Don't Get It' (Investingcom)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. No More Than 50% Chance of Spot Ether ETF Approval By May, JPMorgan Says: Lawsuits against crypto exchanges offering staking services for proof-of-stake blockchains, including Ethereum, make approval of a spot ether ETF more challenging until these cases are resolved, the investment bank said. (CoinDesk)
2. Bitcoin Instantly Topped Silver in ETF Market and Trails Only Gold Among Commodities: The newly launched bitcoin exchange-traded funds already have nearly $30 billion in assets under management. Silver ETFs only have $11 billion (CoinDesk)
-Economic Indicators-
NSTR
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Illicit crypto transactions fall to $24.2 billion in 2023: Illicit crypto addresses received a total of $24.2 billion in 2023, a decrease from the $39.6 billion recorded in 2022, according to Chainalysis. The report reveals a significant shift in illicit crypto transactions, with stablecoins emerging as the primary medium in 2023, overtaking Bitcoin. Despite the rise of stablecoins, Bitcoin continues to be predominantly used in specific illegal activities, including darknet market sales and ransomware extortion. (Cryptopolitan)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 51/100 (Down 12 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 826,262
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 18Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Pakistan Strikes Back at Iran / US Targets Houthi in Yemen / Texas Channels Musk's GFY to DHS / SCOTUS May Vote to Curtail Gov Overreach / Milei Speaks at Davos, Not What They Want to Hear
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,420, 21.06oz Gold
24hr Hi: $42,880 / Lo: $42,189
Vol: $19.8B (Down 19%)
Mkt Cap: $831B (Down 1%)
HashRate: 487 EH/s
Avg Fees: 14,463 sats/tx (Down 15%)
Nodes: 17,124
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. U.S. Steps Up Strikes on Houthis in Yemen: The U.S. military said it struck Houthi weaponry in Yemen that threatened merchant and U.S. Navy vessels in the Red Sea overnight, America’s fourth strike on Houthi-held territory in recent weeks as security analysts warn that rising tensions across the region threaten to pull more parties into a widening war. The U.S. said it fired at 14 Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired.(WSJ)
2. Pakistan Conducts Strikes in Iran, Retaliating for Earlier Hit by Tehran: Pakistan carried out airstrikes early Thursday inside Iranian territory, in retaliation for an Iranian airstrike in Pakistan on Tuesday that had targeted Iranian insurgents, Pakistani officials said. The two nations were careful to say that they had only targeted their own nationals in the tit-for-tat strikes, an indication that neither country wants the situation to spiral, experts said. But risks of a miscalculation remain amid heightened tensions in the Middle East in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.(WSJ)
3. Deadly blast rocks city in southern Nigeria: Authorities say at least three people died and 77 others were injured after a massive blast caused by explosives rocked more than 20 buildings in one of Nigeria’s largest cities Tuesday night. Rescue workers have been digging through the rubble in search of those feared trapped.(AP)
-US Events-
1. Texas refuses to comply with Biden administration's cease-and-desist letter about border access: The Department of Homeland Security had directed the state to stop blocking the U.S. Border Patrol’s access to roughly 2½ miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton rejected the Biden administration’s request for the state to “cease and desist” its takeover of Shelby Park (NBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Supreme Court Overruling (Possible) Chevron Doctrine’s Implications For Crypto And Ripple: The US Supreme Court’s biggest opportunity to curb federal regulators comes as the justices weigh a major legal shift significantly reducing their power over workplace conditions, drug safety, and emerging issues such as climate change and cryptocurrency. (CoinGape)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Donald Trump vows to ‘never allow’ creation of a CBDC in the United States: The pledge came during a campaign speech in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Jan. 17, where the former president said, “Tonight I’m making another promise to protect Americans from government tyranny.” (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. VanEck closes its Bitcoin Strategy ETF, citing lack of investor interest: The VanEck Bitcoin Strategy ETF (XBTF) provided exposure to bitcoin futures contracts instead of direct investment in the cryptocurrency. (CryptoBriefing)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Markets Expect Rate Cuts Soon. Central Banks Say Not So Fast: Officials will probably loosen monetary policy in 2024, but they have reasons to move more slowly than investors are betting (WSJ)
2, Argentina’s Javier Milei Warns Davos to Abandon Socialism: ‘The West Is in Danger’: Milei delivered an address fiercely condemning socialism at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, rejecting the “radical feminist” and “environmental” agendas fueled by socialism as well. (Breitbart)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Court Uses Bitcoin Blockchain for Legal Summons, Revolutionizing Defendant Notification: A federal court in the U.S. has accepted the validity of using information contained in a Bitcoin transaction to notify a defendant about a civil action. The case, believed to be the first where this method is accepted, might help solve hundreds of cryptocurrency theft cases in which the attacker’s identity is unknown. (Bitcoincom)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 63/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): The possible overturnning of the Chevron case (40 years old) by SCOTUS is expected to significantly curtail US government overreach on ambiguous statutes, minimizing interference on any number of government administrative issues. This development could have implications on Bitcoin regulation but certainly will have effects on any number of freedoms in the US.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
Our goal is to send at least 200 Veterans to Bitcoin 2024
Get 70% off the ticket price and join the Bitcoin Veterans chat groups
DM for verification and promo code
https://nostrcheck.me/media/public/nostrcheck.me_5031257732351106271705519780.webp
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 826,128
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 17Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Iran is on the Warpath, Missiles Strike Pakistan / US in Deep Freeze / US Lawmakes Introduce Anti-CBDC Bills in Four States / GBTC bleeds over $1.1B in 3 days
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,735, 21.02oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,566 / Lo: $42,086
Vol: $24.4B (Up 16%)
Mkt Cap: $840B (Down 1%)
HashRate: 389 EH/s
Avg Fees: 17,353 sats/tx (Down 35%)
Nodes: 15,830
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Iran says strikes targeted militant group in Pakistan: Iran says it has hit a militant group in western Pakistan in a missile attack, its third air strike on another country this week after earlier attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria. Iranian state TV said the operation hit two sites in Balochistan linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl. Pakistani officials said two children were killed and three others injured. Pakistan has since expelled the Iranian Ambassador.(BBC) (AC-Iran is sensing an opportunity to strike its enemies unchecked in the region. Through its proxies in Yemen (Houthis), Gaza (Hamas) and Lebanon (Hezbollah) or through direct fire into Syria, Iraq and now Pakistan, Iran is acting out aggressively against all enemies all at once. Speculative reasoning could include Israel's return to Netenyahu leadership and a possible win for Trump, bringing together two powers united against Iran in the near future. Whatever the reason, Iran is certainly on the warpath)
2. U.S., South Korea and Japan conduct naval drills as tensions deepen with North Korea: The training in waters off South Korea’s Jeju island came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues a provocative run in weapons testing and threats that has raised regional tensions to their highest point in years.(AsahiShimbun)
-US Events-
1. Deadly arctic blast grips more than 80% of the country: An arctic blast is gripping more than 80% of the country, killing at least seven nationwide. Some regions feel like minus 50 degrees.(NBC)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. IRS Postpones Reporting Requirements, Simplifying Taxes: The pivotal aspect of the 2021 Act was the redefinition of digital assets as “cash equivalents” for reporting purposes, compelling businesses to disclose any receipts surpassing $10,000. Despite this significant shift, businesses can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being, as they are not obligated to adhere to this cash-like reporting requirement until specific regulations are formalized.(Bitcoinist)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. United States Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Exclude CBDCs from the Definition of Money: The bills were introduced in South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah as anti-CBDC legislators seek to prevent the use of CBDC tokens in those states as the wider industry debate with digital currencies continues.(CryptoNews)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Estimated $1.1B flees GBTC in 3 days as ARK begins buying own Bitcoin ETF: An estimated $594 million of outflows alone came from the third day of trading on Jan. 16, according to an X post by Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart. Seyffart observed inflows from other recently launched Bitcoin ETFs but wasn’t sure whether those inflows outpaced the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s (GBTC) outflows on Jan. 16.(CoinTelegraph)
2. Bitcoin ETFs surpass triple the combined daily volume of 500 ETFs launched in 2023: On Jan. 16, the total volume generated by 10 spot Bitcoin ETFs surpassed the cumulative volume of all 500 ETFs launched in 2023, exceeding it by more than three times.(CryptoNews)
3. ProShares seeks to add more Bitcoin ETPs with five leveraged and short ETF filings: Asset manager ProShares submitted applications for five new leveraged and inverse Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 16.(CryptoSlate)
-Economic Indicators-
NSTR
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Miner Core Scientific to Emerge From Bankruptcy, Re-List Shares This Month:
The company expects to see nearly $600 million in revenue this year. The miner continues to expect to keep its pole position among peers when it emerges from its bankruptcy, according to a recent presentation, anticipating 182,000 mining rigs for its own operation this year, and ramping those up to almost 1.1 million in 2027.(CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 60/100 (Down 4 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): As stated in comments above, Iran in acting out agressively through proxies and directly against all its enemies. While North Korea's Kim is sabre-rattling and the Ukraine war continues to slog on, Israel is decimating the Gaza region in its effort to destory Hamas. It seems war is breaking out all over. It is certain that Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are allied against the US and Western partners. Yet the interconnectedness of the world economy may be keeping the conflicts from getting too far out of hand, for now.
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 826,027
DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 16Jan24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Trump Takes Iowa Caucus by Large Margin, Vivek Drops Out / Anti-Chinese wins Taiwanese Election / Milei Allowing Provinces to Use Own Currencies / Germans Ramp Up Protests
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,090, 21.12oz Gold
24hr Hi: $43,319 / Lo: $42,176
Vol: $20.9B (Up 1%)
Mkt Cap: $843.5B (Up 1%)
HashRate: 533 EH/s
Avg Fees: 24,655 sats/tx (Down 14%)
Nodes: 17,143
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Taiwan president-elect Lai Ching-te has steered the island toward democracy and away from China: Lai, 64, emerged victorious in the election Saturday on the island of 23 million people that China claims as its own. He is currently vice president with the Democratic Progressive Party, which has rejected China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan.(AP)
2. Zelenskyy takes center stage in Davos as he tries to rally support for Ukraine’s fight: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is headlining a frenzied first full day of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, where top officials from the United States, the European Union, China, the Middle East and beyond also will be prominent Tuesday.(AP)
3. 10,000 Expected at Tractor Protest Against German Government as Truckers Join Rebels: Monday is to be the biggest day yet for German anti-government protesters as thousands of tractors and now truckers are expected in Berlin as the workers who keep society fed and clothed push back against the green agenda.(Berliner Morgenpost)
-US Events-
1. Trump takes Iowa Caucus: Fresh off a record-setting victory in Iowa, Donald Trump shifted attention to his next target in the GOP nomination hunt: a New Hampshire primary that Nikki Haley hopes will stall the front-runner’s momentum. The results were Trump 51%, DeSantis 21%, Haley 19%, and Ramaswamy 8%.(WSJ)
2. Vivek Ramaswamy Drops Out of GOP Presidential Race, Endorses Trump: Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech company founder who spent heavily from his own fortune to finance his Republican presidential bid, suspended his campaign in the 2024 primary race Monday after a disappointing finish in the Iowa GOP caucuses(WSJ)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Argentine president to allow provinces circulate own currencies: Argentine President Javier Milei promised not to oppose provinces’ attempts to launch their own currencies after a public exchange between Milei and the governor of La Rioja province. The president believes that the market will ultimately decide on the value of the projects, but he warned that “quasi-currencies” will spur up inflation and those accepting them will end up scammed, (CoinTelegraph) (AC-The country as a whole is saddled with IMF loans which often prohibit other forms of currencies, so this move may be an "end-run" that enables Bitcoin or other forms of crypto to be used as currency in Argentina.)
2.Tether Hits Back at UN Report Alleging Role of USDT in Illicit Activity in East Asia: Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has challenged the United Nations' (UN) report on the role of USDT in underground banking and money laundering infrastructure in East Asia and Southeast Asia.(CoinDesk)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)-
1. Morgan Stanley warns of Bitcoin, CBDC threat to US Dollar: In a recent investment note, Andrew Peel, the head of digital assets at Morgan Stanley, highlighted the potential threat that Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) pose to the dominance of the U.S. dollar in global finance.(Cryptopolitan)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. X payments secures Utah license in digital banking push: X Payments LLC, part of Elon Musk’s tech empire, has secured a Money Transmitter License from Utah, marking a major step in its U.S. expansion. The company’s successful license acquisition in Utah follows previous denials, reflecting Musk’s persistent approach and compliance with regulatory standards. Despite having licenses in several states, X Payments has yet to activate its payment gateway, indicating careful preparation for a seamless launch.(Cryptopolitan)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Deflation Worries Deepen in China: With domestic demand weak, fears are growing that China will try to export its way out of trouble, raising trade tensions (WSJ)
-Technological Updates-
NSTR
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Trend Micro reveals new malware targeting crypto wallets on Windows: Firm Trend Micro recently uncovered a previously unknown malware strain, which was exploiting a now-patched security flaw in Microsoft Windows. Phemedrone Stealer focuses on web browsers and extracts data from crypto wallets, along with information from messaging apps like Telegram, Steam, and Discord. Additionally, the malware goes beyond data theft by capturing screenshots and collecting system information, including details about hardware, location, and operating systems, say cybersecurity experts. (Cryptonews)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 64/100 (Up 8 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: nostr:npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report