CITI's Creativity & Innovation week presents:
Bitcoin Basics WORKSHOP
Learn to Buy, Sell and use securely and much more!
Includes hands-on activities to get you started.
T-Mobile, Verizon workers get texts offering $300 for SIM swaps
If you hold bitcoin, avoid using SMS-based 2FA if you can. Consider using a security key, such as Yubikey to lock down your account. You can also lock down your number using security-focused providers such as Efani and Cloaked Wireless. It's wise to look into these options now because a new market cycle means new hackers.
Scheduling software that allows you to get paid in Bitcoin
Share the link to your public calendar so that people can schedule you and pay you in Bitcoin.
"That dogma was necessary — without it the people who have built this ecosystem into what it is today wouldn’t have had the motivation to do so. Without that dogma, those people would not have had customers and users to build anything for in the first place. It was the foundation of everything we have around us today.
Now the inevitable is happening: the foundation is cracking."
~ Shinobi
In this article, Guy Swan delves into the intricate dynamics of ideological dogmas within the Bitcoin community. The piece examines the sustainability of the foundational beliefs that have underpinned the growth and development of the cryptocurrency's ecosystem thus far.
The central focus is on what happens when the dogmatic pillars that have supported Bitcoin's rise begin to show signs of crumbling. The article provides insightful perspectives that challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding Bitcoin's perceived invulnerability to ideological shifts.
By exploring the evolving controversies within the Bitcoin community, the article offers a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between ideology, technology, and the future trajectory of this groundbreaking digital currency.
Dogma Kills Brain Cells
All cultures require some overarching belief to hold it together as a cohesive identity. But when that belief is followed too blindly it leads to stagnation and dissent. From "The Inscription Issue".
"On the face of it, Bitcoin’s existence seems to violate Mises’s theorem, unless a preceding non-monetary use can be demonstrated. That is, Bitcoin would have to be first valued for its direct utility before it could hold indirect exchange value. So have the criteria been met, or does Bitcoin violate the theorem?" - Emile Phaneuf
The argument that Bitcoin violates Ludwig von Mises's Regression Theorem is a common one among those who have been involved with Bitcoin for some time.
However, the emergence of Bitcoin raises important questions about the applicability of Mises's observation in the digital age. The Regression Theorem posits that the value of money is derived from its previous use as a medium of exchange.
With the advent of Bitcoin, a purely digital currency with no physical form, one could argue that it challenges this theorem. After all, Bitcoin did not evolve from a previous commodity money, but rather was created from scratch as a new form of digital money.
Yet, the success and widespread adoption of Bitcoin suggests that there may be more nuance to Mises's theory than is often assumed. The dynamics of the digital economy, with its rapid innovation and global connectivity, may require a re-examination of how we understand the origins and value of money.
The rise of Bitcoin, and the broader developments in decentralized finance (DeFi), offer an opportunity to revisit and potentially expand upon Mises's insights. As a cybersecurity professional with experience in blockchain and crypto assets, I find this a fascinating area of inquiry, with important implications for our understanding of money and the future of finance.
Original article: Mises’s Regression Theorem, Bitcoin, and Subjective Value Theory https://www.aier.org/article/misess-regression-theorem-bitcoin-and-subjective-value-theory/
Tailscale SSH is now Generally Available
This website offers a comprehensive overview of the most well-capitalized nodes operating on the decentralized network.
These powerful nodes exist for specific reasons and are typically run by prominent entities such as major cryptocurrency exchanges and leading lightning network companies.
By highlighting the largest nodes and their operators, this resource provides valuable insights into the key infrastructure supporting the decentralized ecosystem.
Understanding the role and composition of these high-capacity nodes can offer important context about the underlying dynamics and distribution of influence within the network.
The Lightning Power List
Asynchronous Lightning Payments
Voltage provides a comprehensive overview of the utility and advancements in asynchronous lightning payments.
As they highlight, there have been several innovative ideas in this space, many of which require the recipient to come back online before the payment can be completed.
However, Voltage also points out some of the potential risks associated with these approaches, which include the need to trust the Lightning Service Provider.
To address these concerns, technologies like BOLT12 and PTLCs could be leveraged to prevent the reuse of invoices, thereby enhancing the security and reliability of asynchronous lightning payment systems.
ASYNC PAYMENTS ON THE LIGHTNING NETWORK
https://voltage.cloud/blog/lightning-network-faq/how-async-payments-on-lightning-network-work/
Analysis of the Lightning Network: Tradeoffs and Opportunities
- Maturing User Experience
As the article points out, the initial user experience (UX) of the Lightning Network was quite poor. However, this challenge has since evolved into an opportunity for
Lightning Service Providers (LSPs) to step in and improve the UX for end-users.
- Profitability of LSP Businesses
As these LSP services mature, their long-term viability will ultimately depend on the profitability of the Lightning transactions they facilitate.
The article highlights that this is a key consideration as the Lightning Network continues to evolve.
- Advantages over On-Chain Transactions
While Lightning is not a panacea for all transaction problems, the article argues that it is significantly better than having everything occur on the main blockchain.
This is a positive development, as it provides an alternative that can help scale Bitcoin's capabilities.
- Incremental Progress
The article emphasizes that we don't need to solve every transaction challenge all at once. The maturation of the Lightning Network, with its improving UX and emerging LSP business models, represents incremental progress that should be viewed positively.
As the technology continues to evolve, further opportunities and tradeoffs will likely emerge.
Overall, the article provides a balanced analysis of the current state of the Lightning Network, highlighting both the challenges and the opportunities that have arisen as this layer-2 scaling solution has matured.
It's a thoughtful assessment of the technology's progress and the factors that will shape its long-term viability.
Liquidity on Lightning: Moving from UX to Economix
https://medium.com/breez-technology/liquidity-on-lightning-moving-from-ux-to-economix-6e597d9e1abd
This directory indexes almost every Bitcoin swap services exist including the swap flow and detailed fees on every swap services.
Big Tech passkey implementations are a trap
Thousands of Young People Told Us Why the Kids Online Safety Act Will Be Harmful to Minors
Decentralized Alternative to Github Goes Live with Radicle 1.0
Radicle has announced the launch of Radicle 1.0, which it says will transform how developers publish and distribute open-source code, AI models, and research.
Swaproot: cheaper and more private on-chain deposits on Phoenix
https://acinq.co/blog/phoenix-swaproot
As the Lightning Network continues to mature, the hope is that more wallet providers will follow Phoenix's lead and adopt similar privacy-enhancing features.
Real-Time Starlink Satellite Tracker
Congress is Unconstitutionally Criminalizing Privacy
An explanation of the Corporate Transparency Act and a call to action for those affected by it.
"The mechanisms enforcing this modern censorship are not confined to private sectors or individual platforms but are significantly directed and influenced by the U.S. government itself. This intertwining of state powers with censorship activities marks a troubling departure from traditional American values, where free speech has been held sacred." ~ Dr. Joseph Mercola
The Concerning Rise of Online Censorship
The Troubling Emergence of Modern Censorship
- The internet, once hailed as a bastion of free speech and open discourse, has undergone a concerning transformation. A partnership between governments, the military-industrial complex, tech giants, and the mainstream media has subtly, yet steadily, turned the online landscape into a tightly monitored, controlled, and censored environment.
The Implications for Free Speech
- This development raises serious concerns about the future of free speech online.
The ability to freely express ideas, share information, and engage in open dialogue - core principles of a healthy democracy - appears to be under threat. The fear is that this trend could lead to the stifling of diverse perspectives and the suppression of dissenting voices, ultimately undermining the very foundations of a free and open society.
Potential Solutions and Actions
- Addressing this issue will require a multifaceted approach. Increased transparency and accountability from the entities involved, stronger legal protections for online speech, and the development of decentralized, censorship-resistant platforms could all play a role in safeguarding the internet's role as a forum for free expression. Additionally, raising public awareness and encouraging civic engagement may empower individuals to take action and push back against the encroachment of modern censorship.
As a cybersecurity professional with a deep understanding of the technological landscape, I share your concerns about the troubling emergence of this modern censorship system. It is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires vigilance and a concerted effort to preserve the internet's role as a bastion of free speech and open discourse. By working together, we can strive to find solutions that uphold the fundamental principles of a free and democratic society.
El Salvador's Bitcoin Multisig Wallet Address
El Salvador has recently transferred a large portion of its Bitcoin holdings, around 5,689 BTC worth $388 million, to a new physically secured cold wallet stored in a vault within the country's territory.
The process of transferring the Bitcoin to this new cold wallet involved using a multisignature (multisig) setup, where multiple private keys are required to authorize transactions. Specifically:
- The first transfer of 1,120 BTC ($76.5 million) was made on March 13 via a 3-of-5 multisig authorization, where 4 out of 5 signatories approved the transaction.
- The largest transfer of 4,000 BTC ($273 million) occurred on March 14, about 2 hours after the announcement.
The multisig setup helps increase the security of the Bitcoin holdings by eliminating "key person risk" and requiring multiple parties to authorize transactions, rather than relying on a single individual.
Here is the Link to the address:
https://mempool.space/address/32ixEdVJWo3kmvJGMTZq5jAQVZZeuwnqzo
Overall, El Salvador's use of a multisig cold wallet setup demonstrates their commitment to securely storing their growing Bitcoin reserves within the country's territory. 
WebTunnel, a new type of Tor bridge designed to assist users in heavily censored regions to connect to the Tor network.
Hiding in plain sight: Introducing WebTunnel
https://blog.torproject.org/introducing-webtunnel-evading-censorship-by-hiding-in-plain-sight/
SIM swappers hijacking phone numbers in eSIM attacks
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sim-swappers-hijacking-phone-numbers-in-esim-attacks/