BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 892,674
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 16Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: UK Court Says Biology Defines 'Woman' / US Pastor Rescued in South Africa / China Says Show Respect, US Raises Tariffs Again / SCOTUS vs. Trump Over Deported Immigrant / Two SECDEF Advisors Sacked for Leaks / ChokePoint 2.0 Continues, Implicates Fed Reserve / South Korean Presidential Candidate Wants Crypto / Oklahoma Kills SBR Bill / BitBonds Draw Interest for US Debt / China May Sell 15K Bitcoin / Mortgage Applications Drop on Higher Rates / China Says NSA Hacked Winter Games / New Grok Release Facilitates Coding / Bitcoin Miners Have to Sell Some BTC
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $84,035, 25.41 oz Gold, .19 Median US House
24hr Hi: $86,429 / Lo: $83,100
Vol: $28B (Down 2%)
Mkt Cap: $1.66T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 902 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Down 83%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. UK Supreme Court says legal definition of ‘woman’ excludes trans women, in landmark ruling: Britain’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the definition of a woman in equality legislation refers to “a biological woman and biological sex.” “This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs,” the spokesperson added. “Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this Government.” (CNN)
2. American pastor kidnapped in South Africa rescued after deadly police shootout: The pastor, 34-year-old Josh Sullivan, of Tennessee, was kidnapped by several armed, masked men last week at his church in the Eastern Cape, Fellowship Baptist Church Motherwell. Police said they received tips that Sullivan was inside a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha. When they arrived at the home, suspects inside a car on the premises began firing at law enforcement and attempted to flee. A "high-intensity shootout" took place and three unidentified suspects were killed. (Fox)
3. China Open to Talks If US Shows Respect: In response to increased tariffs by the U.S., China is open to negotiations if treated with respect, according to a statement from Lin Jian, a Foreign Ministry spokesman. Meanwhile, The U.S. has escalated trade tensions by announcing a 245% tariff on imports from China. This measure was disclosed in response to what the White House describes as China's retaliatory trade actions. (GroundNews, X)
-US Events-
1. Supreme Court Ruling Ignored: Trump vs. El Salvador Over Deported Immigrant: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member and illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was ordered to remain in the United States by a court but was deported during the Trump administration. Despite a unanimous 9-0 Supreme Court decision stating that his removal was illegal, President Trump has maintained that foreign policy, not judicial rulings, dictates the handling of such cases. This has led to a standoff between judicial authority and executive action, with El Salvador's President Bukele refusing to return Garcia, citing national security concerns. (X)
2. Two Top Advisers to Pete Hegseth Escorted Out of the Pentagon for Alleged Leaking: The officials were Dan Caldwell, a top adviser to Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the Pentagon deputy chief of staff. It is not clear what their motives were, but one official said Caldwell leaking information to “far-left reporters to hurt the secretary.” (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Crypto’s debanking problem persists despite new regulations: The early days of the second administration of President Donald Trump have seen many of these repealed or changed. One of the first was the repeal of Staff Accounting Bulletin 121. Despite these victories, Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, said on March 21 that debanking is likely to remain a problem for crypto firms into 2026. Long said the non-partisan board of governors of the Federal Reserve is “still controlled by Democrats,” alluding to Democrats’ more skeptical stance on crypto. Long claimed that “there are two crypto-friendly banks under examination by the Fed right now, and an army of examiners was sent into these banks, including the examiners from Washington, a literal army just smothering the banks.” (CoinTelegraph)
2. South Korean presidential contender vows to push crypto 'as much as' Trump: "To foster blockchain and virtual assets as an industry, I will reform regulations as much as the Trump administration in the United States," Hong Joon-pyo, a candidate for People Power Party's presidential primary. (TheBlock)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Oklahoma Kills Bitcoin Reserve Proposal in Senate Committee Vote: With the failure of Oklahoma’s Bitcoin reserve bill, New Hampshire, Texas, and Arizona now lead the push for state-level BTC reserves. (Deecrypt)
2. VanEck proposes Bitcoin-linked Treasury bonds to offset $14 trillion in US debt: VanEck’s head of digital assets research, Matthew Sigel, has proposed the introduction of “BitBonds,” a hybrid debt instrument combining US Treasuries with Bitcoin (BTC) exposure, as a novel strategy for managing the government’s looming $14 trillion refinancing requirement. (CryptoSlate)
3. China Plans To Sell 15,000 Bitcoin On Offshore Exchanges: China has its sights on a mass sale of a cache of Bitcoins confiscated from illicit activities, threatening to sink prices in the short term. Chinese authorities are sitting on 15,000 Bitcoin, sparking debates over the handling of seized cryptocurrencies. (CoinGape)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Semler Scientific Aims to Boost Its Bitcoin Holdings Through a $500 Million Securities Offering: Semler Scientific, a healthcare tech firm, plans to raise $500 million through a securities offering to increase its Bitcoin holdings. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Mortgage Rates Jump, Applications Drop: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances in the US soared to 6.81% in the week ended April 11th 2025, from 6.61% in the previous week. Meanwhile, mortgage application volumes in the US slumped by 8.5% (TradingEconomics)
2. US 10-Year Holds Steady Ahead of Powell Speech: The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note held steady around 4.33% on Wednesday after sliding for two straight sessions, as investors awaited a key speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. China accuses NSA of launching cyberattacks on Asian Winter Games: China on Tuesday accused three alleged employees of the U.S. National Security Agency of carrying out cyberattacks on the Asian Winter Games in February. The public security bureau in Harbin, where the games were held, said the purported operatives were involved in the attacks on behalf of the agency’s Office of Tailored Access Operations. (TheRecord)
-Technology and Science-
1. xAI Grok's New 'Studio' Feature Lets You Build Apps, Write Docs, and Even Game Like a Pro: With the new functionality on the platform, users can expect to see a canvas-style space where they can create and edit documents, apps, and code in real time. It's available for free and paid users. (TechTimes) (AC-The AI race between X and OpenAI is not only blistering, it's personal. The animosity between Musk and Sam Altman is entertaining at least and a multi billion-dollar conflict at most. AI users are presently the beneficiaries.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Miners Sell $1.1 Billion Worth of Bitcoin Following Low Price, High Mining Costs: Bitcoin miners faced increased pressure as they sold 15,000 BTC in a day, worth at least $1.12 billion, due to low prices and high mining costs. President Trump's announcements on tariffs added to market volatility, leaving miners uncertain about their operations. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Down 8 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR:
@Bitcoin Veterans
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 Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 892,836
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 17Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Xi Building New Trade Partners / DPRK Threatens Over Bombers / FAA Contractor Spied For Iran / Greece Excited for New US Ambassador / Puerto Rico Loses All Power / CA Sues Trump Over Tariffs / US Sen. Van Hollen in El Salvador Advocating for Deportee / Panama City Takes Bitcoin Payments / A16Z Want RIAs to Self-Custody / Fed's Powell Tried to Calm Markets / 1 BTC Reward for Quantum Crack of Bitcoin Encryption / AI Deepfake of CZ Worries / Chemicals on Exoplanet Hints at Life / US May Ban DeepSeek / Bitcoin Miners Challenged / Bitcoin Core V29 Released
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $84,752, 25.42 oz Gold, .20 Median US House
24hr Hi: $85,428 / Lo: $83,314
Vol: $25B (Down 9%)
Mkt Cap: $1.68T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 917 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Even)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. China’s Xi wraps up Malaysia visit with jet, chip deals before heading to Cambodia: Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first visit to Malaysia in over a decade on Thursday with a flurry of trade and investment pledges – including support for Chinese-made aircraft sales and semiconductor cooperation – as Beijing seeks to position itself as Southeast Asia’s most dependable partner amid Washington’s intensifying trade war. (SCMP)
2. North Korea threatens a response to US flying long-range bombers over South Korea: The ministry described the bombers' deployment as a 'reckless and unnecessary abuse of strength' and a 'grave provocation.' The North warned that U.S. Military actions could have 'serious negative consequences' for its own security situation. (GroundNews)
3. Former FAA contractor pleads guilty to spying for Iran, sharing private info on US airports, energy industry: Abouzar Rahmati pleaded guilty to conspiring to act and acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the US without prior notification to the attorney general. (Fox)
4. Guilfoyle-Mania Sweeps Greece: Hellenic Republic Ready for Kimberly as U.S. Ambassador: The top ally of President Donald Trump, who the president nominated as his U.S. Ambassador to Greece, is eagerly awaited here in the Hellenic Republic. Leaders from the Prime Minister on down through his top officials throughout government to cultural, business, and political leaders throughout the nation are excited to have such a high profile ambassador coming as soon as she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Breitbart)
-US Events-
1. ‘Massive Blackout’ Leaves All of Puerto Rico Without Power: More than 1.4 million customers in Puerto Rico lost electricity on Wednesday when all of the island’s power plants were knocked out of service, the latest frustrating blackout for residents who have suffered years of them. (NYTImes)
2. California Sues Trump Administration Over Sweeping Tariffs: California filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block Trump's broad tariffs on foreign trade partners. California's lawsuit argues that only Congress has the constitutional authority to impose tariffs. It claims that the law Trump used to justify the tariffs—the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)—does not give him the power to apply broad taxes on imports without proper justification. (IBTimes)
3. Senator Van Hollen's El Salvador Mission Stalls: Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to advocate for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported following a controversial court ruling. Despite his efforts, including discussions with U.S. embassy staff and Salvadoran officials, Van Hollen was unable to secure a meeting or a phone call with Garcia. (X)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Panama City Mayor Announces Bitcoin and Ether Acceptance for Government Payments: Panama City will accept Bitcoin, Ether and stablecoins for taxes and fees, joining Colorado, Lugano and other crypto-friendly jurisdictions. (Blockonomi)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. A16z Urges SEC to Allow RIAs to Self-custody Crypto Assets, Proposes New Guidance: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has submitted a formal letter to the SEC's Crypto Task Force, advocating for registered investment advisers to directly hold crypto assets under specific conditions. The firm outlined five core "Crypto Custody Principles" to guide reform efforts and ensure investor protections. (Deccyrpt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Holds Steady as Powell Signals Patience: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note held above 4.3% on Thursday, steadying after three consecutive days of declines, as investors weighed Federal Reserve policy signals against a backdrop of evolving trade dynamics. In a speech on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that tariffs could stoke inflation and dampen economic growth, complicating the central bank’s dual mandate of price stability and full employment. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Quantum Computing Competition Tests Bitcoin Security with 1 BTC Reward: Project Eleven launched “Q-Day Prize” offering 1 BTC to whoever cracks the largest Bitcoin elliptic curve cryptography key using Shor’s algorithm on a quantum computer. Over 10 million Bitcoin addresses with exposed public keys could be at risk from quantum computing advances. Participants have until April 5, 2026 to complete the challenge, with even small successes (like cracking a 3-bit key) considered newsworthy. (Blockonomi)
2. AI deepfake perfectly clones ex-Binance CEO CZ’s voice, reigniting fraud fears: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, former CEO of Binance, stated Thursday that he had encountered an AI-generated video that replicated his voice so accurately that he could not distinguish it from a real recording. (CryptoSlate)
-Technology and Science-
1. Chemical Signals Detected on Exoplanet Suggests Potential for Alien Life: The University of Cambridge announced the discovery of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b. This finding, detected by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, could indicate the presence of life beyond Earth. (Decrypt)
2. US Mulls DeepSeek Ban Amid Fears of China's AI Dominance: The U.S. government is considering penalties against Chinese AI company DeepSeek to prevent China from gaining a technological edge in AI. DeepSeek's breakthrough with a cost-effective chatbot has raised concerns about China's AI capabilities surpassing the U.S. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining Struggles With Declining Hashprice, Network Security Risks, and Trump's Trade War Impact: Bitcoin mining faces challenges as hashprice drops to $44, risking network security and profitability. Trump's trade war exacerbates the situation, leading to concerns about centralization and Bitcoin's long-term trust. The high network difficulty and declining hashprice are causing turmoil in the mining industry. (DLNews)
2. Bitcoin Core V29 Ends Battle Dating Back To Satoshi: he announcement arrived with a statement in the release notes explaining that, starting with v28.0, the “-mempoolfullrbf” startup option had defaulted to 1 and that, with widespread adoption of the practice, the option was now removed entirely. Full Replace-by-Fee (Full-RBF) is a policy that allows any unconfirmed transaction sitting in the mempool to be replaced by another transaction that pays a higher fee, regardless of whether the initial transaction signaled replaceability. (Bitcoinist)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Up 1 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
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 Report
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 892,380
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 14Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: China Halts Rare Earth Exports / US-Iran to Meet Again / Palm Sunday Missile Attack Kills 30+ in Ukraine / PA Governor House Lit on Fire / Chinese National Arrested by ICE for Spying / Bukele Meets Trump Today / Sen Lummis Say SBR Would Cut Debt in Half / Metaplanet, MSTR Buy the Dip / Imports, Exports Drop, Can Bitcoin Help? / Real ID Mandate Begins, Starts Debate / AI Uses a Lot of Power / Samson Mow Say Nation-States Adopting Bitcoin
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $84,980, 26.31 oz Gold, .20 Median US House
24hr Hi: $85,449 / Lo: $83,027
Vol: $31B (Up 8%)
Mkt Cap: $1.68T (up 1%)
HashRate: 903 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Down 66%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US-China Trade War: Beijing Halts Rare Earth Exports, Affecting Global Tech, Auto, Defense Sectors: China has abruptly suspended exports of critical rare earth minerals and high-powered magnets—materials vital to the global tech, automotive, aerospace, and military industries. China dominates the global rare earth market, producing nearly 90% of the world's supply of these 17 essential elements. (IBTimes)
2. Trump team holds 'constructive' face-to-face nuclear talks with Iran, will meet again next weekend: The meeting between U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was the first face-to-face exchange since President Donald Trump returned to office. The talks took place on the outskirts of Oman’s capital, Muscat, and lasted just over two hours. "Iran either has to talk or get their nuclear facilities bombed," a senior fellow at the Lexington Institute said. (Fox)
3. More than 30 Ukrainians killed by Russian ballistics in Palm Sunday strike: Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city of Sumy at around 10:15 a.m., according to Ukrainian officials. Images from the city show a building blasted to rubble, vehicles on fire in a street and several bodies on the ground. An initial investigation determined at least 32 people were killed in the attack, the Prosecutor General's Office said. At least 84 others were injured, including 10 children. (Fox)
-US Events-
1. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro Reveals Arsonist ‘Set Fire’ to Governor’s Mansion: “Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg,” Shapiro wrote. “The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished.” (Breitbart) (AC-A suspect is now is custody.)
2. Chinese National Convicted of Acting as Spy for China Arrested by ICE Agents: Ming Xi Zhang, the owner of Ya Ya Noodles in Montgomery Township, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 24, 2025, following his conviction for acting as an unregistered agent for China. (GroundNews)
3. El Salvador President Meets Trump: Economic and Crypto Talks: El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has arrived in the United States for a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2025. Discussions are anticipated to revolve around economic collaboration, including topics like cryptocurrencies, due to Bukele's known advocacy for Bitcoin. The meeting underscores a significant diplomatic engagement between the two leaders. (X)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Holding 1M BTC Would Cut US Debt in Half, Says Senator Lummis: She says this is based on the best modeling available if you hold Bitcoin for 20 years. (BitcoinSensus)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Metaplanet Boosts Bitcoin Holdings to 4,525 BTC, $MSTR has acquired 3,459 BTC for ~$285.8 million and holds 531,644 $BTC acquired for ~$35.92 billion at ~$67,556 per bitcoin. (Decrypt, X)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US imports crater 64%, exports 30% as trade war opens path to Hyper Bitcoinization: The broader implications for the US economy extend beyond logistics. Tariff shocks create friction across credit, inventory, and pricing cycles, amplifying uncertainty in ways difficult to hedge through traditional instruments. In scenarios where fiat-based systems experience frequent or unpredictable distortions, asset holders may explore Bitcoin as a reserve option to mitigate currency politicization. While still volatile in spot terms, Bitcoin offers a deterministic monetary policy and a final settlement layer, both of which appeal during periods of high counterparty risk. The economic logic for Bitcoinization strengthens not from hype but breakdown, as predictable systems encounter political variability with compounding costs. (CryptoSlate) (AC-Although somewhat speculative in assessment, the logic is sound and expected by most studied Bitcoiners.)
2. US 10-Year Yield Holds Near 4.5%: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note hovered just below 4.5% on Monday, holding steady after last week's sharp rise driven by mounting concerns over the potential economic fallout from President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. REAL ID Requirement Sparks Debate on Security vs. Privacy: Starting May 7th, 2025, U.S. citizens will need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities, following an announcement by Secretary Kristi Noem of Homeland Security. The REAL ID Act, originally recommended post-9/11, aims to enhance security by making identification harder to forge. Public reaction varies, with some citizens expressing concerns over privacy and governmental overreach, while others see it as a necessary measure for safety or have had no issues obtaining the ID. (X)
-Technology and Science-
1. AI's Dirty Secret: Artificial Intelligence Is Fueling a Global Energy Crisis, Says IEA: The rise of artificial intelligence is igniting more than just innovation—it's triggering a dramatic spike in world energy use. A groundbreaking report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) says energy consumption from data centers, those running AI included, will double within the next five years. By 2030, they will account for an eye-watering 3% of global electricity. AI alone may be the cause of more than half that surge. (TechTimes) (AC-This sounds very familiar.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. JAN3 CEO Samson Mow: Adoption Is Accelerating, US Purchases to Ramp up This Year: Mow believes that the adoption process of bitcoin by nation-states is imminent, declaring that it might even start this year. If you look at everything that’s happening in the world today, the timeline is rapidly accelerating. It is just a matter of time before legislation turns into active buy pressure.” he assessed. “They actually need to be buying this year; it is not about what they want, it’s about necessity,” Mow concluded. (BitcoinCom) (AC-The term "adoption" in his context appears not to means as a P2P medium of exchange as most understand it, but rather as a nation-state store of value. The difference is
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 31/100 (Up 6 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): All indications are pointing to a 'coiled up' demand for Bitcoin with uncertainty rising from global economic disarray. After a price consolidation phase and a demonstration of some relative stability, the political, economic, and social channels for renewed fundamental interest in Bitcoin as a SOV and global MOE are gaining momentum. The probabilities of increased demand of Bitcoin are high at the present.
Follow us on NOSTR: 
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 891,339
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 07Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Global Markets Dump / Iran Militias in Iraq Consider Trump's Threats / Netanyahu at WH Today / 'Hands Off' Protest Nationwide / US Southern Storms Kill 17 / Budget Battle This Week in Congress / Brazil Can Now Take Crypto on Exchanges / Stablecoin Legislation in Congress / Russia Delays CBDC Rollout / Money Rolls Out of BTC ETFs / New Malware Targets Seed Phrases / Exploding Star May be Seen in Night Sky / Dorsey says Bitcoin SOV Not Enough
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $76,719, 25.17 oz Gold, .18 Median US House
24hr Hi: $82,765 / Lo: $74,436
Vol: $71B (Up 427%)
Mkt Cap: $1.52T (Down 7%)
HashRate: 903 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Up 100%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Market Panic Mounts As World Scrambles To Temper Trump Tariffs: Global stock markets experienced significant declines, with Hong Kong's market seeing the largest drop at 13.2%, marking its biggest one-day fall since 1997. China's stock market also suffered, recording its worst single-day loss since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Other markets, including those in Taiwan, Japan, Italy, Singapore, and Sweden, also saw substantial decreases. Bitcoin is currently down 5%. (Various)
2. Iran-backed Iraqi militias consider disarming amid threats from Trump administration: Several powerful Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq are prepared to disarm for the first time to avert the threat of an escalating conflict with the US Trump administration, 10 senior commanders and Iraqi officials told Reuters. The commanders said their main ally and patron, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) military force, had given them its blessing to take whatever decisions they deemed necessary to avoid being drawn into a potentially ruinous conflict with the United States and Israel. (Reuters)
3. Trump, Netanyahu to meet at White House as Israel seeks tariff relief, discussions on Iran, Gaza hostages: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, with Washington’s recently imposed global tariffs set to be part of their talks. (Fox)
-US Events-
1. Nationwide 'Hands Off!' Protests Draw Over Half a Million Against Trump and Musk Policies: Over 1,200 protests organized by 150+ groups across all 50 states oppose Trump administration's federal worker firings, agency closures, and social program cuts. Thousands gather at National Mall and major cities with Elon Musk's DOGE department facing criticism. (GroundNews) (AC-The protest looked well-organized and funded, even if the purpose was to support big government.)
2. US Storms, 'Devastating' Flooding Death Toll Climbs To 17: Flood warnings remain in effect, particularly in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, according to forecasters. Tennessee has been the hardest hit, with 10 deaths recorded in the western part of the state. (Breitbart)
3. Johnson faces fraught week as House takes up Trump budget blueprint: A handful of conservatives have explicitly said they plan to vote against the Senate’s budget resolution, which sets up Trump’s legislative agenda of tax cuts, border funding and energy policy. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Cryptocurrency Assets Are Now Legally Seizable in Brazil: In a historic decision, the National High Court of Brazil decided that when funds are not available for seizure in the banking system, judges can directly send letters to cryptocurrency exchanges to investigate if debtors have crypto and seize it. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Legislation like this may justSta push self-custody adoption.)
2. Stablecoin bill advances in Senate: After years of uncertainty, stablecoin regulation is finally gaining momentum on Capitol Hill. Three competing bills—the GENIUS Act, the STABLE Act, and an unnamed proposal from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)—are vying to define the future of digital dollars in the U.S. This long-overdue push for clear rules could determine whether stablecoins could become a mainstream financial tool or remain stuck in regulatory limbo. (CryptoSlate)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Russia’s CBDC Delay and Its Impact on Global Cryptocurrency Regulation and Financial Innovation: The CBDC launch in Russia has been officially delayed until mid-2026. The Bank of Russia had initially planned to roll out the CBDC for mass use by July 2025, but various technical challenges and implementation concerns have forced a significant delay in the project’s timeline. (WatcherGuru)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Spot bitcoin ETFs see nearly $100 million in net outflows as stocks tumble on Trump’s tariff news: Spot bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. saw $99.86 million leave the products on Thursday, reversing the previous day’s inflows of $220.76 million. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures Drop as Market Rout Deepens: US stock futures plunged on Monday, extending the market rout to a third consecutive session as the White House continued push for aggressive tariffs on major trading partners despite the selloff. Dow and S&P 500 futures declined around 4%, while Nasdaq 100 futures dropped another 5%. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. PoisonSeed Exploits CRM Accounts to Launch Cryptocurrency Seed Phrase Poisoning Attacks: A malicious campaign dubbed PoisonSeed is leveraging compromised credentials associated with customer relationship management (CRM) tools and bulk email providers to send spam messages containing cryptocurrency seed phrases in an attempt to drain victims' digital wallets. Targets of PoisonSeed include enterprise organizations and individuals outside the cryptocurrency industry. Crypto companies like Coinbase and Ledger, and bulk email providers such as Mailchimp, SendGrid, Hubspot, Mailgun, and Zoho are among the targeted crypto companies. (HackerNews) (AC- Never let your seed phrase become digitized-no photos, notes, or inputted onto any device.)
-Technology and Science-
1. Blaze star to explode in a dazzling display visible to the naked eye from Earth despite being 3,000 lightyears away: A rare celestial event is about to dazzle the night sky. The Blaze Star, or T Coronae Borealis, located 3,000 lightyears away, is on the verge of a powerful explosion. Visible as brightly as Polaris, this once-in-80-years event could occur anytime. To witness it, look towards the Corona Borealis constellation between Arcturus and Vega. (EconomicTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Jack Dorsey: Bitcoin Can Fail If Only Used As Digital Gold, Store of Value: Twitter founder and Block Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey has recently shared his thoughts on why Bitcoin would fail if pursued only as a store of value of “digital gold”. Although BTC is often seen as a hedge to the equity market, it has largely moved in tandem with it and is still considered a risk-ON asset considering volatility. Dorsey believes that it’s high time that BTC enters mainstream financial payments. (CoinGape)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 23/100 (Down 5 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: 
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 890,877
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 04Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: South Korea President Removed From Office / IDF Advances Hamas Operations / China Retaliates with 34% Tariff / DIRNSA Fired / Fauci's Wife Fired From NIH / Anti-CBDC Bill Moves Forward / Money Flows Out of BTC ETFs, Stocks, USTs Down on Tariffs / Bitcoin Companies Get Funded / Senators to Look Increase USSS Ability to Prosecute Digital Asset Crimes / Wrench Attack Nets $50M / AI Sucking Up All Data / BTC Miners Drop
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $82,406, 26.47 oz Gold, .19 Median US House
24hr Hi: $84,696 / Lo: $81,282
Vol: $41B (Down 22%)
Mkt Cap: $1.63T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 850 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1 sats/vBtye (Down 86%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. South Korean court removes impeached President Yoon from office: South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed from office over his brief martial law declaration last December that saw troops deployed to the National Assembly. Yoon is due to stand trial on insurrection charges in relation to the emergency declaration that sparked massive protests and threw the U.S. ally into political turmoil before he rescinded it. His supporters swarmed the streets of the South Korean capital Seoul and video from the scene showed a heavy police presence as the court's verdict was delivered. (Axios)
2. IDF widens ground operation in northern Gaza, kills senior Hamas official in Lebanon: The IDF said that so far, troops have killed several terror operatives and destroyed infrastructure, including a Hamas command center. Israel had issued sweeping evacuation orders for parts of northern Gaza ahead of ground operations. The UN humanitarian office said around 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the ceasefire with Hamas fell apart last month. (TimesOfIsrael)
3. China to impose 34% retaliatory tariff on all goods imported from the U.S.: China will impose a reciprocal 34% tariff on all imports from the United States starting April 10. China stated that this action violates WTO rules and undermines multilateral trade systems. The country indicated that there may be a phased retaliation, reserving stronger actions for potential escalation. (GroundNews)
-US Events-
1. National Security Agency Director Gen. Haugh fired, civilian deputy director reassigned: The Trump administration fired National Security Agency Director Gen. Timothy Haugh and civilian Deputy Director Wendy Noble. Haugh also served as commander of the U.S. Cyber Command – a position from which he was also dismissed. Noble was reassigned to serve in the office of the undersecretary of defense for intelligence. An undisclosed number of NSC employees were dismissed on Thursday, but Trump has said Loomer was not involved in those firings. (Fox) (AC-For context, Laura Loomer met with Trump yesterday, allegedly giving him a list of officials not 'supporting' the MAGA movement. There were a number of firings following this meeting, indicating a limited purge of non-loyalists.)
2. RFK Jr. Fires Fauci’s Wife Christine Grady from NIH Bioethics Department: Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has fired Anthony Fauci’s wife, Christine Grady, from her post heading up the National Institutes of Health Clinical Centers’ bioethics department. (Breitbart)
-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. US House Committee Votes to Move Forward on Anti-CBDC Bill: Minnesota Republicans’ Anti-CBDC Act passes key committee, aiming to curb federal surveillance through digital currencies. (Decrypt)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Spot bitcoin ETFs see nearly $100 million in net outflows as stocks tumble on Trump’s tariff news: U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds logged $99.86 million in net outflows Thursday, as the U.S. stock market tumbled following Trump's tariff announcement. Grayscale's GBTC led the outflows with $60.2 million, followed by Bitwise BITB's outflows of $44.19 million and Fidelity FBTC's $23.27 million. (TheBlock)
2. Bitcoin-native startups see funding boost despite overall capital decline in 2024: The report highlighted that the number of unique Bitcoin-native companies funded rose 27.5% on a yearly basis, while the number of individual transactions grew 31.8%. TVP defined a “Bitcoin-native” company as one founded on the principle that Bitcoin serves as a foundational global monetary asset and digital cash, with business models aligned to the Bitcoin protocol stack. This emerging category includes startups building infrastructure, applications, and services that leverage the base Bitcoin network or related layers. (CryptoSlate) (AC-Interesting study on startups committed to Bitcoin 'Unit of Account' and 'Medium of Exchange' methods.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Tumbles to 6-Month Low: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note dropped by as much as 16 basis points to 3.89%, its lowest level in six months, after China retaliated against US tariffs. China’s finance ministry announced a 34% tariff on all US imports starting April 10, in response to recent US tariffs imposed by President Trump. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stocks Suffer Sharp Declines Amid Tariff Concerns: US equities faced their steepest decline in over two years on Thursday, as major stock indexes suffered sharp losses. The S&P 500 plunged 4.8%, erasing roughly $2 trillion in market value, marking its largest drop since 2020. The Dow fell nearly 1,680 points, while the Nasdaq dropped 5.9%. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Lawmakers seek to close loophole limiting Secret Service investigations into cyber laundering: U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said the Secret Service works with the Treasury Department, DOJ and other law enforcement to investigate cybercrimes but are hampered by rules that limit their jurisdiction over unlicensed money transmitting businesses. The reintroduced Combatting Money Laundering in Cyber Crime Act would update current laws to authorize the Secret Service to investigate all new forms of criminal activity involving digital assets. (TheRecord)
2. A Thriller Gone Real: Alleged Scammer Kidnapped by Fake Police, Loses $50 Million: An individual wanted by Interpol, lost $50 million in a kidnapping that involved drugs, fake police officers, and a daring escape in Brazil. Rodrigo Perez was kidnapped on March 24 by fake police officers who kept him drugged and handcuffed to a bed for five days. Perez’s kidnapping marks an increase in the prevalence of $5 wrench attack cases in the crypto industry.(BitcoinCom) (AC-A tale too long for the DIB, but another interesting wrench attack.)
-Technology and Science-
1. Wikimedia Complains About AI Bots Scraping as It Strains Servers, Causing Bandwidth to Surge by 50%: AI bots that are scraping data from their platforms have already caused a significant strain to their servers, and while many organic users still head to their websites for information, bots make up the majority. (TechTimes) (AC-Interesting developments at AI and LLMs platforms scrape data, storing it other places. The data shift could have important ramifications.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining Stocks Fall Hard as Trump Tariffs Rattle Investors: Shares of top U.S. Bitcoin mining companies dropped between 6-8% following President Trump's announcement of global tariffs. The tariffs, including a 10% baseline and 34% on Chinese imports, could impact companies relying on Chinese ASIC manufacturers. (Decrypt)
2. Bitcoin hashrate hits record 972 EH/s as US miners capture 30% of market (CryptoSlate)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 28/100 (Up 3 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: 
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 890,703
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 03Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Hungary Withdraws From ICC / Israel Air Strikes Throughout Syria / Tariff Trade War Ignites / WA Roofing Company Raided by ICE / New LA Homeless Tax Confounds / WH Says 'Not so fast" on Elon Departure / FTX Bankruptcy Court Says 'No KYC, No Refund' / Anti-CBDC Bill Passes US Committee / JPMorgan Says Gold Still the Hedge King / Bitcoin, Stocks, Bonds All Dislike Tariffs / Rise in Job Cuts Due to DOGE / X Data Breach of Most Users / North Korea Infiltrates EU Crypto Industry / New Camera in Orbit Sees Far
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $82,859, 26.87 oz Gold, .19 Median US House
24hr Hi: $88,466 / Lo: $82,182
Vol: $54B (Up 95%)
Mkt Cap: $1.64T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 836 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 500%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Hungary says it is withdrawing from ICC as Israeli leader visits: Hungary's government has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, it said on Thursday, shortly after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in the country for a state visit. (Reuters)
2. In Warning To Turkey, Israel Strikes Several Bases Across Syria: Israel on Tuesday carried out several major airstrikes on Syria, including targeting the capital of Damascus, according to state agency SANA. Since Bashar al-Assad's ouster on December 8, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on army bases, weapons storehouses, and alleged chemical weapons sites. The timing of these fresh strikes is interesting especially given Turkey's growing closeness to the new Jolani regime. (ZeroHedge)
3. Trump Sparks Trade War With Sweeping Global Tariffs: US President Donald Trump ignited a potentially ruinous trade war Wednesday as he slapped sweeping 10 percent tariffs on imports from around the world and harsh additional levies on key trading partners. "For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike," Trump said. said that he was "very kind" and so was only imposing half the amount that the "worst offenders" taxed US exports. For the rest, Trump said he would impose a "baseline" tariff of 10 percent, including another key ally, Britain. (IBTimes) (AC-Do research before coming to a conclusion on this one-it is a nuanced issue.)
-US Events-
1. Immigration officials raid Washington state roofing company and arrest over 3 dozen people: ICE agents arrested 37 individuals at Mt. Baker Roofing in Bellingham on Wednesday.Authorities enforced immigration law, leading to the arrests for misrepresentation of immigration status. Owner Mark Kuske said federal actions targeting workers harm small businesses like his roofing company. (GroundNews) (AC-Shot across the bow for small businesses using illegal labor, this may effect many trades/industries throughout the US.)
2. Shock for L.A. Consumers as ‘Homeless Tax’ — Which They Voted for — Takes Effect: Consumers in Los Angeles County were shocked Tuesday as a new quarter-percent sales tax, ostensibly to raise funds for services for the homeless, went into effect following a referendum in November. L.A. residents recently learned that $2.3 billion spent on homeless services in Los Angeles had been unaccounted for — and the money had come from the same sales taxes that referendums like Measure A had been designed to fund. Two cities in the county, Lancaster and Palmdale, are now paying a sales tax of 11.25% — the highest in the U.S. (Breitbart) (AC-Funny, not funny.)
3. White House Responds to Report Elon Musk 'Will Leave Soon': White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded on social media platform X.
“This ‘scoop’ is garbage,” she wrote. Elon Musk and President Trump have both *publicly* stated that Elon will depart from public service as a special government employee when his incredible work at DOGE is complete. (WesternJournal)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. FTX bankruptcy team rejects claims from non-compliant creditors amid KYC crackdown: Bankrupt FTX has received court approval to reject creditor claims from users who failed to begin the Know Your Customer (KYC) process before March 3, 2025. He added that the exchange could disqualify up to $655 million in claims under $50,000 and around $1.9 billion in more significant claims if users fail to submit KYC documents. (CryptoSlate) (AC-This situation reminds us of the bitcoin maxim, 'Not your keys, not your coins'.
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Reintroduced anti-CBDC bill passes US House Financial Services Committee: The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1919) passed voting in the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday, with 27 in favor and 22 opposed. The bill, introduced by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., aims to prevent the use of central bank digital currency for monetary policy and prohibit Federal Reserve banks from offering products and services directly to an individual. (TheBlock) (AC-There is still a lot of wiggle room for a nation-run digital currency.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. JPMorgan says bitcoin's 'digital gold' narrative is under pressure, highlights gold's strength in debasement trade: "Bitcoin's volatility and correlation with equities raises questions over its 'digital gold' narrative," JPMorgan analysts said. "Looking forward, we see gold continuing to rise as the major beneficiary of the debasement trade." (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Trump’s Tariffs Erase $74B From Bitcoin’s Market Cap in Under an Hour: Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs send shockwaves through financial markets, triggering a $74 billion Bitcoin market cap drop, $2.5 trillion erased from the S&P 500, and $220 million in crypto liquidations. The Dow Jones futures plunge 1,100 points, while the Nasdaq 100 drops 900 points, marking one of the worst pre-market performances in recent history as investors scramble to reassess risk exposure. (BitcoinSensus)
2. US Job Cuts Hit Fresh 2020-Highs on DOGE Layoffs: US employers announced 275.240K job cuts in March 2025, the highest value since May 2020, compared to 172.017K in February. March 2025 figure is the third-highest monthly total ever recorded. “Job cut announcements were dominated last month by DOGE plans to eliminate positions in the federal government. (TradingEconomics)
3. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls as Tariffs Heightened Growth Concerns: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note fell to 4.08% on Thursday, its lowest level since mid-October, as President Trump’s latest reciprocal tariff announcement triggered a broad flight to safety. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Massive X Data Breach Exposes Information on 200 Million Users: A hacker named ThinkingOne exposed a 34GB file containing data of 201 million X users, combining information from a recent 2025 breach with email addresses from a 2023 leak. The breach allegedly originated from a disgruntled employee during mass layoffs. The leaked data includes user IDs, full names, locations, email addresses, follower counts, and profile data. While no passwords or payment information were exposed, the breach raises serious identity theft and impersonation risks for affected users. (GroundNews)
2. Google Uncovers North Korean Infiltration in European Crypto Firms: North Korean-linked IT workers have reportedly expanded their operations beyond the United States, targeting crypto, blockchain and web development projects in the United Kingdom and Europe, according to a new report from Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG). These individuals, operating under false identities, have allegedly embedded themselves into remote crypto, blockchain-related positions in order to generate revenue for the North Korean regime. (Bitcoinist)
-Technology and Science-
1. NASA’s SPHEREx Takes First Images, Preps to Study Millions of Galaxies: NASA’s SPHEREx (short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) has turned on its detectors for the first time in space. Initial images from the observatory, which launched March 11, confirm that all systems are working as expected. (NASA)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 25/100 (Up Down 19 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: 
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 890,543
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 02Apr2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: WHO Hurting for Money / China's Xi Blocks Panama Port Sale / Russia Shuts Down Kazakhstan Oil Pipeline / Liberal Wins WI Court Seat / Tariffs Announced Today / Blackrock Approved for ETP in EU / USG to Announce Crypto Holdings / Circle Under Fire During IPO / Signal App Has Human Weakness / EU Want Encryption Keys and New FBI-like Powers / Starliner Flight Was Precarious / Coal Use Down With Bitcoin Miners / Are Hardware Wallets Keeping Bitcoin Adoption Down?
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $84,539, 27.12 oz Gold, .20 Median US House
24hr Hi: $85,487 / Lo: $82,550
Vol: $28B (Up 1%)
Mkt Cap: $1.67T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 830 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1 sats/vBtye (Down 50%)
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. WHO Facing $2.5-bn Gap Even After Slashing Budget: As the United Nations health agency has been bracing for the planned full US withdrawal next January, it has gradually shrunk its two-year budget for 2026-2027 from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion. (IBTimes)
2. China Blocks Panama Canal Port Sale — Report Claims Xi Jinping Infuriated by Deal Sought Without His Approval: Chinese antitrust regulators on Friday blocked a deal by the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison conglomerate to sell two ports along the Panama Canal to a consortium led by investment giant BlackRock. (Breitbart)
3. Russia Halts Large Chunk Of Kazakhstan's Oil Export Capacity: Russia has ordered shut two of the three moorings of the main oil export terminal on the Black Sea handling Kazakhstan’s oil exports, which could seriously disrupt Kazakh crude shipments if the suspension lasts more than a few days. The port handles most of Kazakhstan’s crude exports from giant oilfields in Kazakhstan operated by international oil firms, including U.S. supermajor Chevron. (ZeroHedge)
-US Events-
1. Liberal candidate wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race in blow to Trump, Musk: Susan Crawford won the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, defeating Brad Schimel, which maintains the 4-3 liberal majority on the court. Over $90 million was spent by the candidates and their allies during the race, making it one of the most expensive court races in U.S. History. Crawford's campaign received support from Planned Parenthood and emphasized Schimel's anti-abortion stance. Elon Musk and groups he funded contributed over $21 million to the election effort. (GroundNews)
2. Trump’s tariff strategy: Boost US production, reduce trade imbalances: Using economic pressure to force the world’s manufacturers to set up shop in the United States, President Trump hopes to slash the roughly $1.2 trillion annual trade deficit, boost national self-sufficiency, raise federal revenues, and unleash a jobs boom. On Wednesday, which he calls “Liberation Day,” he’s due to announce his reciprocal tariffs – taxing imported goods at levels that, the administration says, are equivalent to trade barriers that other nations impose on the U.S. (CSM)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. BlackRock approved to offer crypto services in UK, expanding digital asset footprint: BlackRock's FCA approval restricts operations to ETP support, significantly narrowing its crypto asset activities. (CryptoSlate)
-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. US Government To Unveil Crypto Holdings: The US Government is expected to unveil its Bitcoin and altcoin holdings this week. The audit will bring clarity to the government's plan to include XRP, SOL & ADA to crypto reserves. The move could also expose the government's reserve management strategies. (CoinGape)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Circle holds just 73 BTC, raising questions about its Bitcoin commitment amid $5 billion valuation: Circle’s crypto holdings show a surprising underweight position in Bitcoin and Ethereum. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the company held just 73 BTC, valued at roughly $6.78 million, and 1,746 ETH, worth about $5.82 million. These figures are notably small, especially compared to Tether’s 92,000 BTC, worth approximately $7.64 billion. (CryptoSlate) (AC-Circle is conducting an IPO, which is opening it up to disclosures and the resultant critical analysis.)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures Steady as Markets Brace for Trump Tariffs: US stock futures held steady on Wednesday as investors awaited the implementation of President Donald Trump’s reciprocal and other tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly assured lawmakers that the new tariffs would act as a “cap,” allowing countries to take measures to reduce them. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Secure Messaging Apps Are Not as Safe as You Think, Says NSA: The NSA's latest alert, prompted by Google's Threat Intelligence Group, highlighted that Russia's GRU had influenced Ukrainian officials to provide access to their Signal accounts. This was not a result of Signal or other messaging apps' vulnerability, but resulted from users' behavior. The NSA's warning was stern. Users should alter their messaging settings to prevent such an occurrence. The first weak link is the Linked Devices. This option synchronizes your messages from more than one device. Take some time to review and unlink any unknown devices in your app's settings to avoid unauthorized use. Another one is the Group invite links, which are convenient for adding new members, but can share sensitive conversations with the wrong users. Signal provides disabling group links under group settings. (TechTimes) (AC-Conduct a security self-audit often to find these threat openings. Close them immediately!)
2. European Commission takes aim at end-to-end encryption and proposes Europol become an EU FBI: Among its aims is establishing Europol as “a truly operational police agency to reinforce support to Member States,” something potentially comparable to the U.S. FBI, with a role “in investigating cross-border, large-scale, and complex cases posing a serious threat to the internal security of the Union.” Alongside the new Europol, the Commission said it would create roadmaps regarding both the “lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement” and on encryption. (TheRecord) (AC-Centralization of power will continue in the EU until crisis hits hard.)
-Technology and Science-
1. Starliner’s flight to the space station was far wilder than most of us thought: As it flew up toward the International Space Station last summer, the Starliner spacecraft lost four thrusters. A NASA astronaut, Butch Wilmore, had to take manual control of the vehicle. But as Starliner's thrusters failed, Wilmore lost the ability to move the spacecraft in the direction he wanted to go. (Arstechnica) (AC-A dramatic read that may end up as a movie, though Boeing may squash it.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Mining’s Energy Shift: Coal Use Drops While Renewables Rise: Coal energy usage, which once made up 63% of Bitcoin’s mining energy in 2011, has now dropped dramatically to just 20% in 2024. This transition comes amid growing concerns over environmental impact and increasing pressure for sustainable mining practices. (Bitcoinist)
2. Hardware Wallets: Bitcoin’s Biggest Adoption Barrier: There are roughly half a billion crypto users around the world and, at the most generous estimate, only 2.5% are using hardware wallets. Hardware wallets’ underlying technology is essentially unchanged from the days when their primary utility was as a secure, offline keysafe. It’s the same with UX, with users still expected to write down their seed words and then squint at a tiny screen every time they want to approve a transaction. Hardware wallets’ continued reliance on closed, proprietary systems is not just a security nightmare: it’s also terrible for Bitcoin innovation and adoption. (BitcoinMag) (AC-Editorials usually don't make the DIB, but there are relevant facts in this article to Bitcoiners to consider and debate.)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 44/100 (Up 10 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: