Upcoming Bitcoin Events: 🚀
📅 Join the Houston #Bitcoin Meetup @parkeralewis on Thursday, February 22nd.
🔗https://meetup.com/houston-bitcoin-meetup-group/events/299207806/
🌆 Don't miss the discussion on Bitcoin Urbanism featuring @AustinTunnell, @TuurDemeester, and @ktlannan on March 13th.
🔗 https://meetup.com/bitcoin-commons/events/299243910/
🎉 Experience the #Bitcoin Takeover @bitcoincommons in Austin on Friday, March 15th (off-SXSW).
🔗https://pay.zaprite.com/pl_RRVqM0zgsh
Anthropic has announced that its AI chatbot, Claude, will be off-limits to political candidates to prevent misuse during election campaigns. The policy aims to stop the use of Claude for impersonation or targeted political campaigning. Violations of this policy will result in warnings and may eventually lead to suspension of service access. Additionally, Anthropic is partnering with TurboVote to provide reliable voting information to support voters in getting accurate information.
🔍 Crypto Insight: Arkham Intelligence reveals that 98% of MicroStrategy's massive 190,000 BTC holdings have been tracked, with a significant portion, approximately 107,000 BTC, managed by Fidelity. 🏦💼 An additional 79,000 BTC are in segregated custody, including with Coinbase Prime. Valued at around $9.7 billion, MicroStrategy's aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy since August 2020 showcases their commitment to the digital asset.
#Just in: VanEck has agreed to a $1.75 million settlement with the SEC over charges of nondisclosure during the launch of its Social Sentiment ETF. The fine stems from failing to disclose the involvement of a social media influencer.
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🌍🔍 Russia ascends to become the world's second-largest Bitcoin mining superpower, trailing only the USA! 🇷🇺This development follows a series of strategic investments aimed at bolstering Russia's presence in the cryptocurrency sector. A notable project that has catapulted Russia into the mining spotlight is the completion of a massive 120-megawatt (MW) data center in Ethiopia by the Russian supplier BitCluster.
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Chinese Bitcoin miners, pushed from their homeland, are finding a new frontier in Africa, especially Ethiopia, drawn by cheap electricity rates. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is central to this shift, offering a mix of low-cost energy and a government open to mining. But with nearly half of Ethiopia's population living without electricity, the move raises questions about balancing industry growth with local energy needs. This scenario echoes the rise and fall of Bitcoin mining in Kazakhstan post-China's 2021 ban.
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MicroStrategy, the leading corporate investor in Bitcoin, appears to be positioning itself to rival the newly introduced Bitcoin ETFs. During a recent webinar, co-founder Michael Saylor announced the company's shift towards a strategy focused on Bitcoin development.
Cryptocurrency trading remains very active in mainland China. According to reports, Binance’s cryptocurrency trading volume in China reached $90 billion in just one month last year, making the country the largest market for the world’s largest exchange.
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COPA, backed by Jack Dorsey, challenges Craig Wright's claim of being #Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. 🛑 Lawyers call Wright's narrative "a brazen lie" supported by "forgery on an industrial scale." The alliance is determined to debunk Wright's assertions in court, emphasizing the need for proof in the ongoing legal battle over Bitcoin's origins.
Craig Wright takes the stand in the UK High Court today, aiming to prove he's the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, creator of Bitcoin. Despite years of controversy & claims without conclusive evidence, today's case could be pivotal.
UXUY has issued Taproot ecosystem incentive tokens, $TAPROOT, to encourage more people to trade and hold Taproot assets.Taproot Assets is a new Taproot-powered protocol for issuing assets on the bitcoin blockchain. 
Nostr's domain is up for grabs at $5M! Ben Arc, cofounder, aims to support Nostr's future, pledging 10% of the sale to cofounder Fiatjaf & another 10% to LNbits development. If unsold, it'll transition to hosting Lightning wallet services under LNbits Inc. for 3 years. A strategic move reflecting Arc's dedication to the project, acquired 3 years ago for just $5K. Potential buyers are vetted for alignment with Nostr's vision of a decentralized social platform.
🚀 Core Scientific shines as North America's largest crypto miner, mining 19,274 Bitcoins in 2023, valued at $812 million! Spanning states like Georgia & Texas, their operations now lead with an energized hash rate of 23.2 exahashes per second. 📈 After overcoming Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Core Scientific made a remarkable Nasdaq comeback, showcasing the resilience & potential of the Bitcoin mining industry.
Hawaii announces a major shift in its crypto policy, no longer requiring digital currency companies to have a Hawaii-issued money transmitter license. This move effectively leaves the industry unregulated within the state, signaling an end to its previously strict stance. Companies will still need to adhere to federal requirements but can now operate more freely in the Aloha State. A dramatic change from being one of the least crypto-friendly states to adopting a 'hang loose' approach.
BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF has crossed the $3 billion mark in BTC holdings, highlighting a significant pivot in institutional investment toward cryptocurrencies. A landmark moment as both BlackRock and ProShares ETFs outstrip Grayscale in daily trading volumes, showcasing changing investor preferences amidst the crypto market's evolution. With Grayscale experiencing $5.8 billion in asset outflows since January 11, the burgeoning ETF sector exemplifies mainstream finance's expanding endorsement of digital assets.
ARK Invest has recommended a significant 19.4% allocation to Bitcoin for institutional investors, aiming to maximize risk-adjusted returns. Over seven years, Bitcoin has delivered an annualized return of 44%, far surpassing the average return of 5.7% from major traditional assets. The proposed allocation of 19.4% in 2023 marks a significant increase from the mere 0.5% allocation suggested in 2015.
Families of Hamas victims launch lawsuit against Binance for alleged facilitation of terror financing, seeking damages and accountability.
Pixelmon Announces $8 Million Seed Funding to Fuel MON Token Launch and Game Development
In a significant leap forward, Pixelmon announces an $8 million seed funding round, signaling a new era for the once-controversial NFT project. Now under the stewardship of LiquidX, Pixelmon transitions into a promising crypto gaming platform, ready to launch its MON token and expand its game development. This round saw participation from key players in the crypto sphere, including Animoca Brands, Delphi Digital, and Amber Group, among others. Angel investors like Robbie Ferguson and Gabby Dizon also backed the project, showcasing broad industry support.
Podcast:The State of Bitcoin Mining Heading into the Halving
https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NLWLLC2118417614?selected=NLWLLC2770100080