BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 928,265
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 17 DEC 2025
Precedence: Routine FNG (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: U.S. âblockadeâ of sanctioned Venezuela tankers/ Expanded U.S. travel ban list announced/ Small plane crashes in central Mexico/ Brown University shooting/ MIT professor killed at home/ Trump's approval rating slips to 39%/ No vote planned on extending ACA/ Trump says heâll âlook atâ pardoning Samourai/ Bitcoin Hashrate Sees Sharpest Post Halving Drop/ U.S. stock market close/ Oil market reaction to Venezuela/ China economic data weakens/ Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount/ Pornhub premium-user data theft
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $86,981 20.16 oz Gold, .20 Median US House
24hr Hi: $88,148 / Lo: $86,091
Volume: $25.45 B
Mkt Cap: $1.73 T
HashRate: 1,038.66 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1 sats/vBtye (down 1)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. U.S. âblockadeâ of sanctioned Venezuela tankers President Donald Trump announced a âtotal and complete blockadeâ of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela (Dec 16). Reuters reported enforcement details were not fully specified, but the move is intended to increase pressure on NicolĂĄs Maduroâs government; critics raised legal/political objections. Venezuela condemned the action and accused the U.S. of imperial intent.(Reuters)
2. Expanded U.S. travel ban list announced The Trump administration expanded travel/immigration restrictions to 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority, broadening a June action affecting 19 countries. AP noted exemptions for certain visa holders, permanent residents, diplomats, and athletes, while advocacy groups criticized the policy and highlighted limited carve-outs for Afghan allies. Implementation is slated for Jan 1, 2026 (AP)
3. Small plane crashes in central Mexico, killing at least 7 people A small plane crashed in central Mexico while trying to make an emergency landing Monday, killing at least seven people. The accident took place in San Mateo Atenco, an industrial area about 31 miles west of Mexico City. The private jet had registered eight passengers and two crew, but hours after the crash only seven bodies had been recovered. The plane had apparently tried to land on a soccer field but hit the metal roof of a nearby business, starting a large fire. The crash is under investigation. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Brown University shooting: reward and updated imagery The FBI posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspectâs arrest and described the shooting inside the engineering building using a 9mm handgun, with two dead and nine injured. Authorities released new images of a person of interest and continued the manhunt with FBI support. Officials urged public review of neighborhood cameras and personal footage for suspect identification. (Guardian)
2. MIT professor killed at home; homicide investigation Nuno F.G. Loureiro (47), an MIT professor and director of MITâs Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was shot at his Brookline home on the night of Dec. 15, 2025, and died at a hospital the next morning, prompting authorities to open a homicide investigation. No suspect or motive had been publicly identified as of Tuesday afternoon. Authorities stated there was no known connection between this killing and the recent Brown University shooting. MIT leadership issued public condolences and campus support measures as the investigation continued. (Guardian)
3. Trump's approval rating slips to 39% President Donald Trump's approval rating slipped in recent days to nearly its lowest level of his current term as voters from his Republican Party soured on his handling of the economy according to a latest poll. Trump returned to power in January with a 47% rating, but his popularity has softened since then, particularly regarding his economic stewardship. A recent government shutdown disrupted data collection on the U.S. economy, but many economists think employers have pulled back on hiring because of what some described as shock from Trump's tariffs on imports. Just 33% of U.S. adults said they approved of how Trump was handling the U.S. economy, the president's lowest rating on the matter this year. (Reuters)
4. No vote planned on extending ACA enhanced subsidies House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will not hold a vote to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of 2025. GOP leaders instead moved forward with a separate House health-care package that does not include the subsidy extension, and the Congressional Budget Office estimate cited by AP projects the package would reduce coverage by about 100,000 people per year (2027â2035) while saving $35.6B. Johnson told members no agreement could be reached inside the GOP conference to add an extension, prompting some moderates to consider a discharge petition or bipartisan workarounds to force a floor vote. (Axios)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Trump says heâll âlook atâ pardoning Samourai Wallet developers President Donald Trump said on Dec. 15, 2025 that he had âheard aboutâ the case of Samourai Wallet co-founder Keonne Rodriguez and would âlook at it,â then addressed Attorney General Pam Bondi in the room âWeâll look at that, Pamâ White House comments were framed as a case review rather than a finalized clemency decision. (DeCrypt)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Bitcoin Hashrate Sees Sharpest Post Halving Drop Since 2024 Amid China Machine Shutdowns Bitcoinâs hashrate fell about 8% after reported shutdowns of mining rigs in Chinaâs Xinjiang region, with industry sources estimating roughly 400,000 miners offline. 30-day simple moving average hashrate has recorded its steepest decline since the April 2024 halving, according to Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck. Bitcoin mining difficulty is currently projected to decline by roughly 3%, offering temporary relief to miner revenues (Coindesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. U.S. stock market close U.S. equities finished mixed: the S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 6,800.26, the Dow dropped 0.6% to 48,114.26 (down 302 points), and the Nasdaq rose 0.2% to 23,111.46; the Russell 2000 declined 0.4% to 2,519.30. Reports tied the session to mixed U.S. macro signals, including uncertainty around jobs and activity data and what they imply for the Fedâs rate path. (AP)
2. Oil market reaction to Venezuela tanker blockade Oil prices rose more than 2% on Dec 17 after Trumpâs blockade announcement increased supply-risk uncertainty tied to sanctioned Venezuelan flows. Reuters cited Brent and WTI both posting sizable daily gains, alongside separate U.S. inventory data as an additional factor. Traders are watching for enforcement specifics (e.g., Coast Guard posture) and any disruption to buyers and intermediaries.
(Reuters)
3. China economic data weakens; Beijing cautious on fiscal expansion Softer China data and continued deflation risks alongside official messaging that prioritized consumption but avoided large-scale fiscal âsplurges.â Analysts warn incremental measures may be insufficient given the property downturn and weakening investment. Exports and a record trade surplus were described as a stabilizing factor even as domestic demand remained fragile. (Reuters)
4. Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount Skydance bid; backs Netflix deal Warner Bros. Discoveryâs board said it rejected a hostile $30-per-share all-cash bid from Paramount Skydance (reported value ~$108.4B), citing insufficient financing assurances and material execution risk. The board disputed Paramountâs claim the offer was âbackedâ by the Ellison family, saying there was no binding commitment and that the structure relied heavily on a revocable trust with unverified assets. WBD instead reaffirmed support for its binding merger agreement with Netflix at $27.75 per share, which Reuters said includes secured debt commitments and does not depend on outside equity financing. (Financial Times)
-Security Concerns-
1. ShinyHunters claims Pornhub premium-user data theft The âShinyHuntersâ group claimed it stole data tied to Pornhub premium users. 94GB of Pornhub viewing data, including over 200 million records of personal information were stolen; Pornhub acknowledged a cybersecurity incident involving a third-party analytics provider. Mixpanel denied the exposed data came from them. Shiny Hunters is reportedly sending extortion emails to Mixpanelâs customers, threatening to release the data unless ransoms are paid publicly. (PCMag)
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 25/100 (down 3)
Analyst Comments NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
â¨đˇâŠ â¨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 928,407
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 19Dec2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: EU Decides Not to Use Russian Assets / China Announces Response to US Arms to Taiwan / UK Beats War Drums / Brown U Killer Conspiracy Grows / Investigators Shocked Over MN Fraud / Privateers May Make Comeback / Bitcoin Miner Defrauded Investors / ECB Ready for CBDC / Ledn Shares Lending Data / CPI Down, Stocks Up / Cops Can Get Google Search Data Without Warrant / Fold Opens in 50 States
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $87,976, 20.22 oz Gold, .20 Median US House
24hr Hi: $89,412 / Lo: $85,107
Volume: 59B (Up 30%)
Mkt Cap: $1.75T (Even)
HashRate: 1 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Even)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. The European Union has agreed to a âŹ90 billion interest-free loan for Ukraine to support its military and economic needs over the next two years. The agreement avoids using frozen Russian assets due to opposition from Belgium. (BBC)
2. China's defense ministry announced it will take forceful measures and increase military training in response to a $11.1 billion | 125,853 BTC U.S. arms sales package to Taiwan. The actions aim to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. (Reuters)
3. Britainâs defense chief calls on Gen Z grads leaving university to skip corporate jobs and join the military as war with Russia becomes a growing risk: Sir Richard Knighton stressed that the U.K.âs defense âcannot be outsourced to the armed forces,â and called on young citizens to step up. The U.K.âs youth unemployment surged to the highest rate in over a decade, as the jobless rate among 16- to 24-year-olds climbed to 16% in the three months leading to October. (Fortune) (AC-The UK and EU war drumbeat against Russia increases. The fear is real, the threat, well, debatable.)
-US Events-
1. Brown University Shooting Suspect Dead of Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound: the âperson of interestâ whom police had pursued had been identified earlier in the day. Moreover, law enforcement was eyeing a possible connection between Saturdayâs Brown University shooting and Mondayâs slaying of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro. MIT professor Loureiro was shot multiple times at his home Monday night and rushed to the hospital, where he died. (Breitbart) (AC-This story lives in the world of conspiracies fifteen levels deep. Get to work OSINTers!)
2. Magnitude âcannot be overstatedâ: Feds say Minnesota fraud may be more than $9B: "Minnesotans and taxpayers deserve to know the truth of the fraud," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson told reporters. "The fraud is not small. It isn't isolated. The magnitude cannot be overstated. What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It's staggering industrial-scale fraud. It's swamping Minnesota and calling into question everything we know about our state." Thompson explained that 14 programs have been identified as containing fraud and those programs have cost taxpayers $18 billion overall since 2018. (Fox)
3. Sen. Mike Lee Bill Authorizes Privateers to Combat Cartels Outside U.S. Borders: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation Thursday that would allow private entities to stop drug cartel smuggling and violence. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act authorizes President Donald Trump to commission American operators under letters of marque to seize cartel property and persons on land or sea outside the United States. Letters of marque, once a commonly used tool to fight piracy, authorized private citizens to seize enemy vessels with their cargoes and crew. (Breitbart) (AC-Drama on the high seas!)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. SEC Charges Bitcoin Miner for Duping Investors Out of $48.5 Million: The U.S. SEC has charged Danh C. Vo, founder and CEO of bitcoin mining company VBit Technologies Corp., with defrauding investors out of $48.5 million. According to the SEC, Vo misused the funds for gambling, cryptocurrency purchases, and gifts to family members, while misleading investors about the operations of his business. He sold âhosting agreements,â which promised investors a share of profits from bitcoin mining rigs operated by VBit. Most customers chose this passive investment option rather than purchasing rigs themselves. (BitcoinMag)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. European Central Bank Says It's Ready to Launch a Digital Euro: The European Central Bank is prepared to introduce a digital euro, with technical work completed and the European Council and Parliament involved in reviewing the project. ECB officials emphasize the importance of political authorization for issuing the digital currency to support financial stability and privacy. (Decrypt) (AC-Did someone say 'Big Brother'?)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Ledn Launches Open Book Report Amid Bitcoin Lending Boom: Ledn, one of the worldâs largest bitcoin lenders, announced that it is releasing an Open Book Report, providing standardized, independent disclosures of its BTC loan book, collateral levels, and loanâtoâvalue ratios. The first report shows $868âŻmillion in outstanding loans backed by 18,488⯠BTC, with 100âŻ% of collateral held in custody and verified by The Network Firm LLP. (BitcoinCom)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Inflation Rate Below Forecasts: The annual inflation rate in the US came in at 2.7% in December 2025, the lowest since July, below forecast of 3.1% and 3% reported for September. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stocks Surge on Slower Inflation: Stocks in the US rose sharply on Thursday, with the S&P 500 jumping 1%, the Nasdaq rising 1.4% and the Dow Jones adding about 340 points, after latest data showed inflation rate unexpectedly decreased in November. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Concerns-
1. Pa. high court rules that police can access Google searches without a warrant: In its opinion, the court said that internet users making searches have no reasonable right to privacy because âit is common knowledge that websites, internet-based applications, and internet service providers collect, and then sell, user data.â (RecordedFuture)
-Technology and Science-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Fold Launches Nationwide Bitcoin Services Across All 50 States With BitGo: The expansion follows a strategic partnership with BitGo Bank & Trust, which recently became one of the first digital asset companies to secure a federal bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 16/100 (Down 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
Watch us on YouTube and X Spaces: Tuesdays at 9pmEST/6pmPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To ReportâŠ
â¨đˇâŠ â¨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 928,407
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 18Dec2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: EU Votes to Use Russian Assets / China Turns Hainan Island into FTZ / Mexican President Asks UN to Intervene in US-Venezuela Tensions / Brown U Shooter Still At Large / Trump Announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' / US Admits Liability in DC Air Crash / Fed Allows State Banks Permission to Engage in Crypto / SEC Allows Financial Firms to Control Your Keys / Bhutan Invests 10K BTC Into New City / MSTR Controls 3.2% of Bitcoin Supply / BTC ETFs Outflow, Price Down / Stocks Dump / Play Game, Lose Crypto / New Grok Rules Allow Your Inputs to Be Used by X / Bitcoin Lightning at ATH
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $87,629, 20.22 oz Gold, .20 Median US House
24hr Hi: $90,264 / Lo: $85,316
Volume: 44B (Up 19%)
Mkt Cap: $1.74T (Even)
HashRate: 1 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Even)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. EU leaders convened to approve using frozen Russian assets to provide billions in loans to Ukraine, amid ongoing tests of the bloc's unity. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would seize additional Ukrainian territory if European peace initiatives are dismissed. (Reuters)
2. China launches $113 billion free-trade experiment on Hainan island: China on Thursday split off a Belgium-sized island with an economy comparable to a mid-ranked country from the mainland for customs processing, part of a bid to join a major trans-Pacific trade deal and establish a new Hong Kong-style commercial hub. Officials hope that turning the southern province of Hainan into a duty-free zone will spur foreign investment, with goods that achieve at least 30% local value-added able to move on into the world's second-largest economy tariff-free. Foreign firms will also be able to operate in service sectors that are restricted on the mainland. (Reuters) (AC-It is an interesting study to observe how a communist tyranny has learned to harness the power of capitalist incentive structures, via operations in Hong and now Hainan, which is no small island. Advances in digital surveillance technologies may be a significant contributor to the CCP allowing such a large island seek economic rewards. It also highlights the weakness in the current Chinese economy.)
3. Mexican President Sheinbaum Calls UN To Get Involved In U.S.-Venezuela Tensions To 'Avoid Any Bloodshed': Sheinbaum said the UN has not "taken its role" in conflict resolution so to "always look for a peaceful solution among the peoples." Trump announced on Monday the blockade in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying the U.S. has designated the Venezuelan authoritarian government as a foreign terrorist organization and ordered a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers. (IBTimes)
-US Events-
1. A gunman responsible for a shooting at Brown University in the US remained at large on the fifth day of an intensive manhunt. Police appealed to residents for doorbell camera footage to aid the investigation. (Fox)
2. Trump announces $1,776 | 0.02 BTC âwarrior dividendâ payout for military personnel: Donald Trump announced in a prime-time White House address that more than 1.45 million military service members will receive $1,776 each as a `Warrior Dividend` before Christmas.
Trump said the payments were funded by tariffs and the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill.' (GroundNews)
3. U.S. Government Admits Liability in Deadly D.C.-Area Air Collision: A federal court filing says the Army crew piloting a Black Hawk helicopter could have avoided the nighttime accident in January if it had been able to see and avoid a commercial jet. Because of the actions of the pilots, âthe United States is liable to a plaintiff who is legally eligible to recover certain monetary damagesâ in an âamount yet to be determined and apportionedâ among the victims, the filing said. (NYTimes)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Fed Updates Policy to Allow State Member Banks to Engage in Crypto-Related Activities: The Federal Reserve has replaced a nearly three-year-old policy to allow state member banks to engage in crypto-related activities, aiming to encourage responsible innovation. (Decrypt)
2. New SEC rules lets Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sach legally âcontrolâ your private keys without the safety net you assume exists: The SEC has refreshed its crypto asset FAQs, clarifying how broker-dealers like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and others can satisfy custody and capital requirements for crypto asset securities, and addressing how the framework applies to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF activity. Regulators just quietly removed the primary "safe harbor" requirement, allowing banks to claim custody of your assets through paperwork rather than physical possession. (CryptoSlate)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Bhutan pledges 10K Bitcoin to develop its âmindfulness cityâ: Located in the town of Gelephu in Southern Bhutan, Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) was launched in 2024 as Bhutanâs new economic hub to stop the exodus of young Bhutanese from the country by creating high-value local jobs. The city offers regulatory flexibility for crypto and fintech firms and serves as a space to further Bhutanâs Bitcoin mining. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Michael Saylorâs Bitcoin Treasury Strategy Now Accounts for 3.2% of BTC Supply: Strategy owns 3.2% of all Bitcoin, spending nearly $2 billion | 22,904 BTC in the past two weeks to grow its BTC treasury to 671,268 BTC. (BitcoinMag)
2. U.S. Spot Crypto ETFs See Outflows: U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs recorded combined outflows exceeding $580 million | 6,641 BTC on Monday, reflecting a broader trend of capital exits from these products. (CoinGecko)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Muted Ahead of CPI Report: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note remained subdued around 4.14% on Thursday, holding declines from earlier in the week as investors positioned ahead of the highly anticipated November CPI report, which is expected to show that price pressures remain above the Federal Reserveâs target. (TradingEconomics)
2. Tech Rout Drags Wall Street Lower: US stocks closed sharply lower on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 falling 1.2% to mark a fourth consecutive session of losses. The Nasdaq dropped 1.8%, while the Dow Jones ended 228 points lower, also extending its losing streak to four sessions. The tech sector led the declines amid persistent concerns over AI-related valuations. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Concerns-
1. Singapore Entrepreneur Loses Crypto Holdings to Malware Dressed Up as a Game: Mark Koh, a Singapore-based entrepreneur, lost all of his crypto holdings to malware disguised as a game-testing scam. Despite taking precautions, his software wallets were drained of $14,189 within 24 hours, likely due to a combination of authentication token theft and a Google Chrome zero-day vulnerability. (Decrypt)
-Technology and Science-
1. X claims the right to share your private AI chats with everyone under new rules â no opt out: By classifying prompts as "Content," the platform seizes ownership of your inputs, limiting your ability to recover damages to a strict $100 maximum. (CryptoSlate) (AC-Deeply troubling. Upload your resume or cover letter to Grok, and X can use if for whatever it wants. ChatGPT also allows this, but X has been touting it's privacy and freedom values, with this latest move not supporting those values.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoinâs Lightning Network Capacity Hits New-All Time High: Bitcoinâs Lightning Network has hit a record 5,637 BTC in capacity, driven by increased capital from institutions, even as user adoption and node growth lag behind. (BitcoinMag)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 17/100 (Down 11 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
Watch us on YouTube and X Spaces: Tuesdays at 9pmEST/6pmPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To ReportâŠ