BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 867,763 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 28Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Iran Denounces IDF Attack / Japan's LDP Loses Majority / NK Soldiers Arrive on Ukraine Front / NASA Calls for Musk Investigation / Ripple CEO De-Banked / BOE Pushes CBDC / MSFT Board Dislikes BTC Proposal / Tether Has 82K BTC / Trump Campaign Hacked Again / Crypto Companies Push Into AI Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,788, 25.19 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,847 / Lo: $67,301 Vol: $23B (Up 58%) Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Up 2%) HashRate: 716 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 91%) Nodes: 19,311 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. 'The Zionist regime made a mistake' Khamenei posts in Hebrew: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei posted a threat against Israel on his Hebrew Twitter/X account on Sunday. "The Zionist regime made a mistake," he wrote, "a mistake in its calculation regarding Iran." "We will make [them] understand what strength, ability, initiative, and desire the Iranian nation has," his post concluded. (JPost) 2. Japan's ruling party loses its majority in blow to new PM: The coalition led by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has lost its majority in parliament, its worst result in over a decade. The LDP and its much smaller coalition partner Komeito, have taken 215 seats together, falling short of the 233-seat majority needed to govern. (BBC) 3. North Korean Soldiers Arrive on Russia’s Front Line: Their special-forces training would have focused on assassinations and infrastructure destruction in mountainous South Korea, a far cry from the trench warfare unfolding in the flat plains along the Ukrainian-Russian border. The fresh-faced troops have likely never left North Korea. The country’s army operates aging and outdated conventional military equipment. The first North Korean troops could be deployed to the battlefield as early as Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. (WSJ) -US Events- 1. NASA chief calls for investigation into report that Musk and Putin have spoken regularly: The report, which said the SpaceX founder has discussed “personal topics, business and geopolitical tensions” with the Russian leader, raises national security concerns as SpaceX’s relationships with NASA and the US military may have granted Musk access to sensitive government information and US intelligence. (CNN) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Ripple CEO Loses Bank Account After 25 Years, Given 5 Days to Withdraw Funds: Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has disclosed he was recently debanked, citing increased regulatory scrutiny impacting figures within the cryptocurrency sector. In a CNBC interview, he recounted: "I personally have been debanked. I got a call not that long ago from one of the major banking institutions I had had an account with for 25 years, and they said, ‘You have 5 days to move your money.’" (BitcoinCom) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- 1. Bank of England presses on with retail CBDC to plug bank innovation gap: The Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey has re-affirmed his support for a retail central bank digital currency, arguing that central banks are the "only game in town" as commercial banks lack the incentive to push for innovation. (Finextra) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Microsoft Board Strongly Opposes 'Unwarranted' Proposal To Invest In Bitcoin: Bitcoin is an "excellent" hedge against inflation, the National Center for Public Policy Research advised Microsoft, but the big tech titan's board is urging shareholders to vote against a proposal to invest in the world's largest cryptocurrency by market cap. The crypto community has been discussing the matter over the weekend, with many saying Microsoft will ultimately regret the decision if shareholders vote against the proposal. (IBTimes) 2. Inside Tether’s Vaults: 82,000 Bitcoin And 48 Tons Of Gold Safeguard USDT: Tether’s USDT is the world’s largest stablecoin, with a market cap nearing $100 billion. Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino finally broke the ice and disclosed that the company boasts more than 82,000 Bitcoins and 48 tons of gold to back its USDT in circulation. His company also boasts over $100 billion in US Treasuries backing its stablecoin (Bitcoinist) (AC-A oft-forgotten whale of BTC holdings.) 3. Bitcoin, Solana, & Litecoin Dominate $901 Crypto Inflows Before US Elections: The digital asset inflows last week reached a staggering $901 million with Bitcoin dominating a lion’s share of the total flows. BTC has turned out to be investors’ favorite this month in October ahead of the US Elections in November. Ethereum (ETH), on the other hand, has seen outflows, while altcoins like Solana and Litecoin grab the limelight. (CoinGape) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Futures Jump Ahead of Busy Earnings Week: US stock futures gained on Monday as investors look forward to the busiest week of the third quarter earnings season, with megacap tech firms like Apple, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Amazon and Alphabet scheduled to report this week. Investors also awaited key US economic data such as preliminary GDP, PCE price index and PMI reports. Moreover, easing geopolitical risks lifted market sentiment after Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran on Saturday avoided crude and nuclear facilities. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Chinese hackers collected audio from a Trump campaign adviser’s calls: The FBI and the US cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency confirmed they were investigating unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by people associated with China. The Trump campaign was also hacked earlier this year. The US justice department charged three members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps with the hack, accusing them of trying to disrupt the 5 November election. (Guardian) -Technology and Science- 1. Tether and Coinbase Unveil Tools for Private AI and Autonomous Blockchain Agents: In separate announcements this week, Tether and Coinbase revealed AI-driven products poised to reshape how developers and users engage with blockchain technology. Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino presented the company’s Local AI development kit, which focuses on privacy and leveraging peer-to-peer (P2P) infrastructure. Meanwhile, Coinbase product programmer Lincoln Murr took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce Based Agent, a new platform for creating autonomous on-chain agents in under three minutes. (BitcoinCom) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Up 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 867,289 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 25Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: NK Soldiers In Russia Spark Speculation / IDF Airstrikes in Beirut Kill Press Members / US To Evacuate Haiti Embassy / US Astronauts Finally Returned to Earth / Pennsylvania House Passes Bitcoin Bill / MSFT Shareholders Vote on BTC Holdings / NK Hackers Target Crypto Game / Saylor Backpedals a Bit / Solo Miner Hits Reward Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,088, 24.96 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,798 / Lo: $67,177 Vol: $31B (Down 9%) Mkt Cap: $1.35T (Up 1%) HashRate: 732 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 23 sats/vBtye (Up 214%) Nodes: 19,399 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Kim Jong Un sending soldiers to Russia complicates Putin's BRICS summit: The North Korean forces are a small number so far, at least 3,000 the U.S. says, compared with the hundreds of thousands the West estimates have been killed in Ukraine on both sides. But it may allow Russia to reorganize and push forward, and if it works North Korea can send more. It has a million strong army. The war is effectively widening to include Asia. Which other leaders might decide to send their forces into the battlefield? (NBC) 2. Israel strikes Beirut suburbs, members of press team killed in Hasbaya hit: According to the report, the strike targeted the hotel where the press team stayed. The report came after Israel hit Beruit suburbs with airstrikes during the late hours of Thursday night. Israel has conducted strikes in the Beirut area throughout the week. The IDF struck several weapons storage and manufacturing facilities belonging to Hezbollah near the Beirut suburb of Dahieh. (JPost) 3. US to evacuate 20 embassy staff from Haiti following car attack and intensifying gang violence: Violence is intensifying in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, this week, which saw a United Nations helicopter hit by gunfire and two gangs apparently target US embassy vehicles. A security source told CNN on Tuesday that two armored vehicles belonging to the US Embassy in Haiti were fired upon by the criminal groups “400 Mawozo” and “Chen Mechan.” No injuries were reported, but the US vehicles are believed to have been intentionally targeted. (CNN) -US Events- 1. Police identify suspect arrested in 3 attacks on DNC offices in Arizona: Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, was also arrested for allegedly hanging suspicious bags of white power from political signs lined with razor blades in the nearby village of Ahwatukee, according to the Tempe Police Department. Kelly is charged with several felonies, including committing an act of terrorism, unlawful discharge of a firearm and shooting at a non-residential structure. He is also charged with criminal damage, a misdemeanor. ( CBS) 2. 4 astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s capsule trouble and Hurricane Milton: A SpaceX capsule carrying the crew parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast after undocking from the International Space Station mid-week. The three Americans and one Russian should have been back two months ago. But their homecoming was stalled by problems with Boeing’s new Starliner astronaut capsule, which came back empty in September because of safety concerns. Then Hurricane Milton interfered, followed by another two weeks of high wind and rough seas. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Bitcoin Bill Clears Major Hurdle in Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill that protects the rights of residents to self-custody bitcoin and use it as a payment method, while establishing tax guidelines for bitcoin transactions. The Bitcoin Rights bill, which passed 176-26, now moves to the state Senate, amid growing interest in digital assets as states take regulatory action. (BitcoinCom) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Microsoft's Shareholders to Vote on BTC Investment as Board Members Advise Against: Microsoft's upcoming shareholders meeting on December 9 will include a vote on the proposal "Assessment of investing in Bitcoin," with the board advising against it. The filing also mentions that Microsoft's management already carefully considers this topic, and the company currently accepts Bitcoin from customers for online purchases. (Decrypt) -Economic Indicators- 1. US 10-Year Yield Rebounds on Low Claims: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note trimmed its earlier decline to hover above the 4.23% mark on Thursday, not far from the three-month high of 4.25% from yesterday’s close as strong economic data added to growing bets that the Fed’s cutting cycle will be less aggressive than expected. Unemployment claims in the US declined sharply late in October to underscore a resilient labor market, and an increase in the S&P PMI extended the robust momentum of the private economic activity. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Lazarus Group Unleashes Blockchain Game To Exploit Chrome And Steal Crypto: North Korean hackers used the fake game to steal more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency — an operation the group successfully conducted within a six-year period, from 2016 to 2022. The heist is the adverse consequence of Google’s failure to patch a vulnerability in the Chrome browser. (Bitcoinist) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Michael Saylor Backpedals On Controversial Bitcoin Statement After Backlash: n a recent interview with journalist Madison Reidy, Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, ignited significant controversy within the Bitcoin community over his remarks on custody and regulation. Addressing concerns about the risks of large amounts of BTC being held by third-party custodians and major institutions, Saylor argued against self-custody and downplayed fears of increased seizure or confiscation. The backlash from the BTC community was swift and intense, as Bitcoinist reported. Even Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin labeled Saylor’s statement as “batshit insane,” reflecting the strong disapproval from prominent figures in the crypto space. Via X, he clarified: “I support self-custody for those willing & able, the right to self-custody for all, and freedom to choose the form of custody & custodian for individuals & institutions globally. #Bitcoin benefits from all forms of investment by all types of entities, and should welcome everyone.” (Bitcoinist) (AC-Not an entirely convincing rebuttal, but the industry and plebs show some success in projecting some of their power.) 2. Individual Bitcoin Miner Wins Big With $222K Reward: Despite the increasing difficulty of mining Bitcoin, a solo miner recently earned 3.329 Bitcoin, valued at $222,438, yesterday by processing a block containing 3,285 transactions. (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Down 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,996 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: BRICS Vies for Global Power / IDF Strikes Hezbollah Navy / Next Hezbollah Leader Killed / 2 US Soldiers Injured in Iraq / Gabbard Joins GOP / Strange Slaughter in Seattle / Binance Exec Released in Nigeria / India Cracks Down on Crypto / Saylor Raises Red Flags / BTC Difficulty At ATH Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,304, 24.09 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $67,801 / Lo: $66,181 Vol: $28B (Down 26%) Mkt Cap: $1.31T (Down 2%) HashRate: 726 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Down 10%) Nodes: 19,094 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Putin Says BRICS Summit Shows a ‘Multipolar World’ Is Emerging: Russian President Vladimir Putin said the newly expanded BRICS group showed that a “multipolar world” is being created, in a challenge to the US-dominated global order. BRICS “meets the aspirations of the main part of the international community, the so-called world majority,” Putin said Wednesday at the formal opening of the leaders’ summit in Russia’s Kazan. It’s “especially in demand in the current conditions, when truly dramatic changes are taking place in the world, and the process of forming a multipolar world is underway.” (Bloomberg) (AC-There is much to unpack from the rise of BRICS, let alone the actual challenge to US hegemony. "Multi-polar" powers have a short history as nations often vie for leadership.) 2. Israel strikes Hezbollah naval base in Beirut as Iran rallies Gulf Arab nations: The Hezbollah naval base held a training center, an area to conduct experiments and military speedboats that were intended to be used in attacks on Israeli navy vessels and targets within Israel’s territorial waters, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. (Fox) (AC-Hezbollah has a Navy Base?) 3. Israel confirms killing of Hashem Safieddine, presumed next leader of Hezbollah: In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said strikes in the suburb of Dahiyeh had killed Hashem Safieddine and Ali Hussein Hazima, the head of the militant group’s intelligence branch, three weeks ago. It was the first time Israel confirmed the killing of the most senior political official in Hezbollah after the former secretary general Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah had yet to comment on Israel’s claim. (TheGuardian) 4. Two US service members injured in raid that killed ISIS operatives In Iraq, Pentagon says: “Overnight, CENTCOM [US Central Command] and Iraqi security forces conducted a partner raid in Iraq targeting several senior ISIS leaders,” said Ryder. “The raid resulted in the death of multiple ISIS operatives.” “My understanding is that both of them are in stable condition being treated for their injuries,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said. (CNN) -US Events- 1. Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic candidate for president, joins Republican party at Trump rally: The rally was held in Greensboro, North Carolina, a key swing state in the upcoming election. Gabbard recently joined the Trump campaign as an honorary co-chair for the former president's transition team alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another former Democrat. (Fox) 2. Girl, 11, believed to be sole survivor of mass slaughter in ritzy Seattle suburb by alleged teen killer: A 15-year-old boy is behind bars after police found the lifeless bodies of two adults and three young teens riddled with bullets inside the family’s $2 million cabin in Fall City around 5 a.m., while a sixth victim, the girl, was shot twice during the disturbing massacre. Deputies responded to the Lake Alice Road home — a lovely waterfront property — just before 5 a.m. on Monday after receiving multiple 911 calls of a “disturbance with gunfire” and found the five family members shot dead, King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Mellis said. (NYPost) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Binance Executive Released From Nigerian Custody, Charges Dropped: Charges against Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria have been dropped, allowing for his release due to poor health. The case was discontinued as he was detained since February. (Decrypt) 2. India Cracks Down On Crypto: Regulators Favor CBDC In Push Vs. Bitcoin & Co: India is leaning toward the total prohibition of private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum in an attempt to regulate risk in its current volatile market. The government said they will have a preference for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), as they provide all the benefits of private cryptocurrencies, without having the potential for instability or potential for misuse. (Bitcoinist) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones Turns to Bitcoin For Inflation Hedge: “I probably have some basket of gold, Bitcoin, commodities and NASDAQ and I would own zero fixed income,” Jones said in an interview with CNBC. (Blockonomi) -Economic Indicators- 1. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Marches Higher: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note climbed to around 4.23% on Wednesday, hitting its highest levels in three months amid robust economic data and deficit worries. Traders are dialing back bets on aggressive rate cuts from the Federal Reserve following a run of solid US economic data. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Michael Saylor’s comment on regulated bitcoin custody draws criticism from Vitalik Buterin: Buterin said Michael Saylor’s recent comments regarding regulated bitcoin custody concerns being mostly from “paranoid crypto-anarchists” were “batshit insane.” Saylor seemed to be explicitly arguing for a “regulatory capture” approach to crypto, Buterin claimed. (TheBlock) (AC-This headline belongs in the "I didn't have this on the 2024 bingo card" category.) 2. Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Hits All-Time High: Bitcoin's mining difficulty reached a record high of 95.67 terahashes on Tuesday, with 22 difficulty adjustments in 2024. The increase in mining difficulty has coincided with record hashrate of over 700 EH/s. Miner balances have been broadly flat since July, signaling that the remaining miners can handle the new environment. (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Down 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): We are in strange times. Find your center and rest on your foundational principles while building community. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,845 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 22Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US Investigates Major Intelligence Leak / Skepticism Swirls Around Moldovan Vote / IDF Claims Hezbollah Hiding Cash, Gold / Musk's Giveaway Sparks Media Criticism / Harris Leads in 4 Swing States, Trump Ahead in 2 / India Favors CBDC, Leans Towards Crypto Ban / Most Russian Trade Has De-Dollarized / IMF Says Higher Prices Here to Stay / Crypto Payment Processor Transak Suffers Data Breach / Bitcoin ETFs See Heavy Outflows   Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,247, 24.52 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,395 / Lo: $66,581 Vol: $38.1B Mkt Cap: $1.3T HashRate: 714 EH/s Avg Fees: 3,424 sats/tx Nodes: 18,893   ---Reports---  -International Events- 1.  US Investigates Major Intelligence Leak: The U.S. Department of Defense and FBI are investigating a potential major intelligence leak involving classified information about Israel's plans to strike Iran. Two documents marked "top secret" surfaced on social media, purportedly showing U.S. military analysis of Israeli operations, including details about the movement of military equipment and munitions. The leaked documents, which appear to have been shared with the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, were posted on a Telegram channel called Middle East Spectator. While the source of the leak is unknown, investigators are focusing on individuals with access to the material, including those working for or with the U.S. government. The White House has expressed deep concern about the leak, and lawmakers are likely to have serious questions about how another major public disclosure of classified information could occur following the recent Jack Teixeira case. (ABC News)   2. Skepticism Swirls Around Moldovan Vote: The Kremlin has expressed skepticism about the results of Moldova's constitutional referendum on EU membership, where the "Yes" vote narrowly won with 50.31% after nearly all votes were counted. Previously, Western governments had accused Russia of spreading disinformation and interfering in the referendum. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned the sudden change in results, which had initially shown the "No" vote leading. In the presidential election held simultaneously, incumbent President Maia Sandu received about 42% of the votes, necessitating a runoff on Nov. 3 with Russia-friendly candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo, who earned around 26%. Peskov rejected Sandu's accusations of Russian interference in the election, challenging her to provide evidence and questioning her characterization of opposition voters. Earlier, Moldovan police had uncovered an alleged vote-buying scheme linked to a Russian-based businessman, involving millions of dollars sent from Russia to influence the election and referendum. (The Moscow Times)   3. IDF Claims Hezbollah Hiding Cash, Gold: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has claimed that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terror group, is hiding over $500 million in gold and cash in a secret bunker beneath the al-Sahel hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that while the Israeli Air Force is monitoring the vault, there are no plans to target the structure. The bunker, allegedly connected to the hospital, contains beds, rooms for extended stays, and operational command spaces. It was reportedly previously used by Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's deceased leader. Hagari appealed to Lebanese authorities to inspect the site and prevent Hezbollah from using the funds for terrorist activities. The IDF also detailed Hezbollah's financial operations, including transfers from Iran through oil sales in Syria and direct cash deliveries to the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. The hospital's director reportedly announced its evacuation following the IDF's statements. (Fox News)   -US Events- 1. Musk’s Giveaway Sparks Media Criticism: Elon Musk's $1 million daily giveaway for voters signing his free-speech and gun-rights petition has sparked media outrage and debate among legal experts about its potential violation of election laws. The promotion, which requires signers to be registered voters in key battleground states, has raised concerns about inducing voter registration, though some experts argue it falls into a legal gray area. Musk's America PAC, funded with at least $75 million from the billionaire, aims to play a significant role in mobilizing voters in crucial states. The media's response to this giveaway appears disproportionately critical, potentially reflecting bias against Musk's recent support for Republican causes and former President Donald Trump. While some officials have called for investigations, the lack of consensus among legal experts highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for careful consideration of election law boundaries. (Reuters)   2. Harris Leads in 4 Swing States, Trump Ahead in 2: Vice President Kamala Harris holds slim leads over former President Donald Trump in four critical battleground states (Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), while Trump is slightly ahead in Arizona and North Carolina, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. The two candidates are tied in Nevada, with 48 percent support each. The survey, conducted among 5,016 voters in seven swing states between September 29 and October 15, highlights the tight race in key states that will likely determine the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. With Election Day approaching, both candidates are focusing their efforts on these crucial battleground states, with Harris spending significant time in Georgia and Trump concentrating on winning back Arizona. (The Hill) AC: It is interesting that media organizations like The Washington Post would release a poll with data that is up to three weeks old, particularly when many indicators show the momentum has swung in the direction of the former president.   -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR   -Institutional Concerns- NSTR   -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. India Favors CBDC, Leans Towards Crypto Ban: Indian regulators are leaning towards banning private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, emphasizing the benefits of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as a safer alternative. The government's position aligns with the IMF-FSB synthesis paper, which allows for stricter measures including complete bans on cryptocurrencies. India's digital rupee (e₹) CBDC pilot has already reached over 5 million users, with 16 banks participating since its launch in late 2022. While cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in India, the country has established a tax framework for Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs), including a 30% tax on profits and a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on transactions exceeding INR 10,000 in a financial year. (Cryptopolitan)   -Economic Indicators- 1. Most Russian Trade Has De-Dollarized: Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized U.S. sanctions, stating they are driving global economies away from the U.S. dollar and leading to its declining use in international trade and reserves. Putin revealed that Russia now conducts 95% of its foreign trade in national currencies due to these sanctions. He emphasized the growing economic influence of BRICS nations, which now surpass the G7 in global GDP share and contribute significantly to global economic growth. Putin predicted this trend would continue, with BRICS countries' average economic growth rate projected at 4% this year, compared to 1.7% for G7 countries. Additionally, Russia and Iran have reportedly shifted to using national currencies for over 96% of their mutual payments. (Bitcoin com)   2. IMF Says Higher Prices Here to Stay: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says higher prices are likely to persist, adding to economic challenges stemming from slow growth and high debt levels. Georgieva emphasized that the pain from increased prices is here to stay, causing anger among people worldwide. While the global economy is performing reasonably well, with growth expected to be above 3%, concerns remain, including slightly slower trade growth compared to overall global growth. The IMF chief also claimed that climate risks are negatively impacting some countries' economic prospects. These statements were made ahead of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, where global economic challenges and potential solutions will be discussed among finance ministers, central bankers, and special interest groups. (Yahoo Finance)   -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Crypto Payment Processor Transak Suffers Data Breach: Transak, a cryptocurrency payment processor used by major platforms like Metamask and Binance, has reported a data breach affecting 93,000 users. The breach occurred when an employee used their work laptop for non-work activities, leading to the execution of a malicious script that compromised the system. While Transak claims the leaked data is limited to names and basic identity information, a ransomware group alleges they have obtained 300GB of sensitive data, including financial statements and user selfies. Transak's CEO, Sami Start, has stated that the company is not interested in negotiating with the ransomware group and has notified law enforcement and data regulators about the incident. (CoinDesk)   -Bitcoin Community- 1. ETFs See Heavy Outflows: Spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced their heaviest outflows in four months on Tuesday, with investors withdrawing over $287 million amid a broader market selloff and declining cryptocurrency prices. Fidelity led the redemptions with outflows of more than $162 million from its FBTC fund, while Grayscale, Ark 21Shares, and Bitwise also saw significant withdrawals. The total assets under management for spot bitcoin ETFs have fallen to around $52.6 billion, $10 billion below their peak, largely due to the recent decline in bitcoin's price from its March high of over $73,000 to about $58,400. Spot ether ETFs, launched in July, have also experienced a challenging period, with total assets down to approximately $6.7 billion from $10.2 billion at launch. (CNBC)   -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100   Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR   Follow us on NOSTR:  npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2B END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

SITREP: ECB Declares War on Bitcoin with @npub1d3f4...r4xv Greg Foss, Sam Callahan, Joe Carlasare and many others.

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Bitcoin Veterans • Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: ECB Declares War on Bitcoin with Lawerence Lepard, and Greg Foss • Listen on Fountain

Coleman, Lawrence Lepard, Greg Foss, Sam Callahan, Joe Carlasare and many others join us to talk about the ECB latest report about Bitcoin, how the...

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,701 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 21Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon, Gaza Assault Continues / Cuban Power Grid Fails Amidst Hurricane Oscar, Protests Erupt Over Prolonged Outage / Putin Urges BRICS to Develop Alternative to SWIFT, Cautious on Unified Currency / Navy Declares F-18 Pilots Dead After Mount Rainier Crash / Bitcoin Surges Near $70K as Election Fuels Regulatory Optimism / ECB Warns Rising Bitcoin Prices Could Undermine Social Stability / US Fed Paper Calls for Taxes or Bans on Bitcoin to Protect Govt Debt / Eswatini's Central Bank Releases Detailed Plans for Retail CBDC / PBOC Cuts Rates Again to Stimulate China's Struggling Economy /   Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,161, 25 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $69,462/ Lo: $68,101 Vol: $27.4B Mkt Cap: $1.34T HashRate: 719 EH/s  Avg Fees: 2,084 sats/tx Nodes: 19,058   ---Reports---  -International Events- 1. Israeli Strikes Continue: Israeli forces conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon on Sunday, targeting branches of Al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial institution associated with Hezbollah. The Israeli military warned civilians near these targets to evacuate, causing widespread displacement. Simultaneously, Israel continued its assault in northern Gaza, with a major overnight airstrike in Beit Lahia reportedly killing or injuring dozens of Palestinians. Hezbollah retaliated by launching approximately 160 rockets or drones into Israel by Sunday afternoon. The conflict has escalated following the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in southern Gaza, with all parties signaling their intent to continue fighting despite international calls for de-escalation. (NYT)   2. Cuban Power Grid Collapses Again: Hurricane Oscar made landfall in eastern Cuba on Sunday, exacerbating the crisis for millions of Cubans already facing a nationwide power outage that has persisted for four days. The storm, which weakened to a tropical storm after landfall, is expected to bring heavy rainfall of up to 12 inches across eastern Cuba, potentially causing flooding and further complicating recovery efforts. Cuba's power grid collapsed for the fourth time since Friday, leaving most of the country's 10 million residents without electricity and struggling to maintain food supplies and access to water. Some Cubans have taken to the streets in protest, banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic, while President Miguel Diaz-Canel has criticized demonstrators for causing public disorder. The government has cancelled classes until Thursday and instructed non-essential workers to stay home, as officials blame the crisis on a combination of U.S. economic sanctions, recent hurricanes, and the poor state of the country's infrastructure. (CNN)   3. Putin Emphasizes Need for Independent Financial System: Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the need for BRICS nations to develop independent financial systems, particularly focusing on creating an alternative to the SWIFT messaging system for international settlements. While discussing the possibility of a unified BRICS currency, Putin urged caution, stating that the idea is not yet mature and requires a gradual, careful approach. The Russian leader highlighted ongoing efforts to expand the use of national currencies and create secure financial transaction tools within BRICS, aiming to strengthen financial partnerships while avoiding limitations imposed by existing global platforms. Putin's remarks suggest a strategic move towards financial independence for BRICS nations, with a focus on developing systems that can operate outside of Western-dominated financial structures. The cautious approach to a common BRICS currency, coupled with the emphasis on alternative financial systems, indicates a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on the US dollar and Western financial institutions while gradually building BRICS' economic influence. (Bitcoin com)   -US Events- 1. Navy Declares F-18 Pilots Dead: The U.S. Navy has officially declared two pilots dead following the crash of their EA-18G Growler jet near Mount Rainier, Washington, during a training flight on Tuesday. Search and rescue efforts, involving multiple agencies including U.S. Army Special Forces and Navy helicopters, transitioned to recovery operations on Sunday after crews reached the crash site at an elevation of 6,000 feet in a remote, heavily wooded area. The wreckage was initially spotted on Wednesday, but due to the challenging terrain, it took until Friday for teams to access the site. The identities of the pilots are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the Navy plans to continue debris recovery and long-term salvage efforts in the area. (The Washington Post)   -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Election Optimism Contributes to Bitcoin’s Rise: Bitcoin is experiencing a surge, approaching the $70,000 mark, driven by significant inflows into US spot-Bitcoin ETFs and optimism surrounding potential regulatory changes in the United States. The upcoming US presidential election on November 5 is fueling speculation about a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, with both Republican and Democratic candidates showing varying degrees of support for the industry. Market sentiment is also being influenced by the election and the broader macroeconomic environment, with options markets indicating increased volatility around election day. Bitcoin's recent performance includes a nearly 10% increase in the past week, marking its best weekly performance in over a month. The market is closely watching political developments, as the outcome of the election could potentially lead to regulatory clarity and further price increases for Bitcoin. (Cointrust)   2. ECB Attacks Bitcoin: Economists from the European Central Bank (ECB) argue in a new paper that perpetually rising Bitcoin prices would lead to societal impoverishment, benefiting early adopters at the expense of latecomers and non-holders. The paper, titled "The distributional consequences of Bitcoin," contends that Bitcoin's narrative has shifted from a global payment system to a speculative investment asset, which does not generate cash flow or contribute to economic productivity. The authors claim that even without a "bursting bubble" scenario, Bitcoin's price appreciation would result in a zero-sum game, where early adopters' gains come at the cost of others' diminished consumption and wealth. The economists warn that this wealth redistribution could have detrimental consequences for society, potentially endangering cohesion, stability, and democracy. The paper has sparked criticism from Bitcoin holders, with analyst Tuur Demeester describing it as the most aggressive stance from authorities, suggesting that central banks now view Bitcoin as an existential threat. (The Block)   3. US Federal Reserve Attacks Bitcoin: A new paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis entitled “Unique Implementation of Permanent Primary Deficits?” argues that governments can sustain permanent deficits if consumers are risk-averse and do not react to alternative currencies like Bitcoin. However, when Bitcoin is traded, it introduces fiscal instability by creating multiple equilibria, making it difficult for the government to maintain a steady deficit and potentially forcing it to balance its budget. This disrupts the government's ability to uniquely implement its fiscal policies. To counteract this, the authors propose legal prohibitions or special taxes on Bitcoin to ensure government debt remains the only risk-free security in the market. By eliminating or taxing Bitcoin, the government can prevent its competition as a store of value and maintain control over the fiscal environment. These measures would help restore the government's capacity to implement permanent primary deficits without disruption from alternative currencies like Bitcoin. (U.S. Federal Reserve)   -Institutional Concerns- 1. NSTR   -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Nation of Eswatini Expands on CBDC Plans: The Central Bank of the Kingdom of Eswatini has published a paper outlining the design principles for its potential retail central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as the digital lilangeni, focusing on offline capabilities, interoperability with existing payment methods, and cross-border transfers. Stated motivations for exploring the CBDC include providing secure access to central bank money, fostering payments digitalization, boosting financial inclusion, and creating new opportunities. The design emphasizes accessibility, with offline payments available for hardware wallet users, while hosted wallets will require online access and offer value-added services from banks and payment providers. The CBDC will feature pseudo-anonymity balancing privacy and compliance, no interest payments, and a holding cap to prevent commercial bank disintermediation. Despite the detailed design recommendations, the central bank has not yet made a final decision on issuing the CBDC, mirroring the cautious approach of other central banks worldwide. (CoinGeek)   -Economic Indicators- 1. PBOC Cuts Interest Rates: China's central bank has cut its benchmark lending rates by 25 basis points, lowering the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) to 3.1% and the five-year LPR to 3.6%, a move that was anticipated following comments by PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng. This rate cut is part of a series of monetary stimulus measures, including potential further reductions in the reserve requirement ratio and cuts to other key rates, aimed at boosting China's economy amid ongoing challenges in the property sector and weak consumer sentiment. While the rate cuts were expected, economists argue that they alone are insufficient to address China's economic issues, with many calling for more substantial fiscal stimulus to tackle the lack of demand. The rate cuts come on the heels of China's recent GDP report showing 4.6% year-on-year growth in the third quarter, slightly better than expected but still below the official target of about 5% for 2024. Despite these monetary measures, experts suggest that China's real interest rates remain too high and anticipate further rate cuts in the coming year, especially as the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to lower its rates. (CNBC)   -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. NSTR   -Bitcoin Community- 1. NSTR   -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Down 1 pts)   Analyst Comments (AC): Central bank attacks on Bitcoin appear to be increasing, and their willingness to say the quiet part out loud indicates growing concerns among central planners regarding the ability of their citizens to opt out of faltering currencies and bad fiscal policies.   Follow us on NOSTR:  npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2B END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

HUGE UPDATE!! We just established a Meshtastic repeater on top of Big Bald Mountain on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. We had a @Starlink Mini in our pack and maintained connectivity the entire time. Big shout out to Elon Musk. The really amazing thing was the 194 nodes we have connected from Raleigh, to Knoxville, to Charlotte, to Greenville and all the way down to Atlanta!! The Freedom Tech Revolution is hitting another gear. #meshtastic

When we arrived in western North Carolina there were ~2 meshtastic radios. Thanks to the efforts of multiple Bitcoin Veterans there are no less than 61 nodes some of which are airborne. This is a huge achievement in decentralized emergency communications. ✊ View quoted note →

A big thank you to the Bitcoin Community, @Operation Libertas & @Mike Hobart This community is unstoppable.

Update: Burnsville, NC and surrounding areas Dropped off a generator to a man who hasn’t seen anyone since this all started. His only contact with the outside was via the 2m band on HAM radio He broke down in tears of joy and gave us all hugs. Very powerful! We also dropped off 10 generators, power strips, extension cords and cold weather gear at a collection point for Plain Compassion Crisis Response They’re doing great work to ensure the people who need supplies get them