BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 855,897 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 08Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Ukraine Forces Advance Into Russian Territory / IDF Abuse at Detention Camp Draws Ire / Iran Issues NOTAMs / Debby Hits Landfall Again / Judge Rules in SEC-Ripple XRP Case / New Org, USABTC Promotes Gov. Centralization of Bitcoin / mBridge CBDC Starts MVPs / El Salvador Negotiates With IMF / CISA, FBI Warn of Election DDoS Attacks Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $57,302, 23.73 oz Gold, .13 Median US House 24hr Hi: $57,652 / Lo: $54,620 Vol: $39B (Down 13%) Mkt Cap: $1.13T (Up 1%) HashRate: 613 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Even) Nodes: 19,732 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances up to 10 kilometers into Russia's Kursk Oblast amid continued mechanized offensive operations on Russian territory on August 7: The Kremlin's response has so far been contradictory, as Russian officials are attempting to balance presenting the effort as a notable Ukrainian escalation with avoiding overstating its potential implications and risking domestic discontent. Ukrainian forces reportedly used a first-person view (FPV) drone to down a Russian Mi-28 helicopter over Kursk Oblast, indicating that Ukrainian forces continue to successfully adapt their drone capabilities. (UnderstandingWar) (AC-The push by Ukraine is large and apparently unexpected. Since Kursk Oblast is technically Russian territory, the incursion marks a significant turn of events in the war.) 2. State Dept calls for Israel to investigate allegations of ‘horrific’ sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees: The statement comes after Israeli media obtained leaked surveillance video that allegedly showed Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman base in Israel’s Negev desert. (CNN) 3. Iran warns airlines to avoid its airspace for 3 hours on Thursday over military drills, Egypt says: The warning comes amid soaring tensions in the region following last week’s assassination of Hamas’ leader in Tehran. The Egyptian ministry said the warning came in a notice sent by Iran to all commercial airlines. The ministry said the ban from Iranian airspace was to last for three hours, 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. (AP) -US Events- 1. Tropical Storm Debby makes second landfall in South Carolina, heavy rain expected up the East Coast: The National Hurricane Center says Debby came ashore early Thursday near Bulls Bay, South Carolina. The storm is expected to keep moving inland, spreading heavy rain and possible flooding all the way up through the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by the weekend. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Ripple Scores Partial Victory in SEC Battle: The SEC had accused Ripple of conducting an unregistered securities offering by selling its XRP token. The agency sought a hefty $2 billion penalty, arguing that XRP should be classified as a security rather than a digital currency. While the court found that certain sales of XRP did indeed constitute securities offerings, it also determined that XRP itself is not a security. The ruling also imposed a $125 million civil penalty on Ripple and enjoined the company from future securities law violations. (DailyCoin) (AC- XRP is up 26% on the news) 2. USABTC seeks to establish Bitcoin tax-free zone for digital economy growth: The initiative, spearheaded by the newly formed USABTC policy group, advocates for the tax-free Digital Economic Zone (DEZ) where Bitcoin can be traded and accumulated without capital gains taxes but with a tax on redemption. USABTC says the exit tax on Bitcoin conversions back to traditional currency could provide a new revenue stream for the government, which could benefit both the federal and state treasuries. -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Global CBDC Platform, mBridge, Launches Minimum Viable Project (MVP), Invites International Participation: The initiative was founded by the central banks of Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and the United Arab Emirates, and it operates under the umbrella of the Hong Kong BIS Innovation Hub. Participants include: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and 23 central banks from across the world. (Bitcoinke) (AC-mBridge is one to watch, as this one has large global support and structure.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. El Salvador and IMF Advance Talks on Bitcoin Risk Mitigation and Economic Reforms: The IMF has reported progress in negotiations with El Salvador on policies to strengthen public finances, boost bank reserves, improve governance, and address bitcoin risks. Although many BTC risks haven’t materialized for El Salvador, the IMF stated that both parties agree on the need for enhanced transparency and measures to ensure fiscal and financial stability. (BitcoinCom) 2. Metaplanet Secures 1 Billion Yen Loan to Buy Bitcoins, the Best Yen Carry Trade?: Public-listed Japanese firm Metaplanet has doubled down on its Bitcoin acquisition strategy by securing an additional loan of 1 billion Japanese Yen earlier today. This move comes a day after the company announced its plan to conduct a $68 million stock rights offering for BTC acquisition. (CoinGape) (AC-MSTR playbook) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Futures Swing, Volatility Persists: US futures swung around the flatline on Thursday, following losses in the previous session, as volatility persists and traders remain concerned about the economic outlook and the potential of a big slowdown in the US. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. CISA, FBI warn of potential DDoS attacks on 2024 elections: The agencies said DDoS attacks targeting election infrastructure “could prevent a voter from accessing websites containing information about where and how to vote, online election services like voter registration, or unofficial election results.” “They may cause some minor disruptions or prevent the public from receiving timely information,” she said. “It is important to talk about these potential issues now, because nefarious actors, like our foreign adversaries or cybercriminals, could use DDoS incidents to cast doubt on the election systems or processes.” (TheRecord) (AC-Highly expected) 2. WazirX to reverse trades after $235M crypto hack: The Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX is planning to restore the balances of all platform accounts following the halt of withdrawals caused by a $235 million hack in July 2024. “All users will have their portfolio balances on the WazirX platform restored to what they were on July 18, 2024,” the announcement said. The first reports on WazirX’s $234.9 million hack surfaced on July 18, detecting “multiple suspicious transactions” involving WazirX’s Safe Multisig wallet on Ethereum. (CoinTelegraph) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Stripe Partners with Bitstamp to Boost EU Crypto Adoption: Stripe has teamed up with Bitstamp, a cryptocurrency exchange, to help it grow in the EU. The plan is to make it easier for customers to switch between traditional currency and crypto. They’ve created a widget that users can adjust to suit their needs allowing for quick transactions and currency changes. The new widget will support various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Stellar (XLM), and USD Coin (USDC). (BitcoinSensus) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 20/100 (Down 9 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The USABTC article is highly suspect. In an attempt to portray Bitcoin as a lifeboat for the US Dollar and the economy, the organization is proposing a Digital Economic Zone (DEZ) where deposited BTC can be held without capital gains, until withdrawn. The language on the website (.org) seems pro-Bitcoin but in effect has the effect of centralizing Bitcoin holdings, issuing IOUs for them, and taxing them upon redemption. The effort is in opposition to the USG using Bitcoin as a reserve asset which they consider unattainable. Upon initial observation, this effort seems like an elaborate centralization and possible rug-pull by unknown actors. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 855,761 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 07Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Foe of Ousted PM Installed in Bangladesh / Hamas Names Oct 7th Architect New Political Leader / Still No Iranian Attack / Harris Names MN Gov Walz as VP Pick / Quakes Hit SOCAL / US Arrests Assassination Plotter / Harris Stance on Crypto, Bitcoin Still Unclear / Bitcoin Action Shakes Out Lettuce Hands, Big Boys Scoop Up / Barefoot CEO Says Wars To Be Fought Over Blockspace Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $56,952, 23.76 oz Gold, .13 Median US House 24hr Hi: $57,726 / Lo: $54,486 Vol: $44B (Down 37%) Mkt Cap: $1.12T (Up 3%) HashRate: 510 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Down 60%) Nodes: 19,705 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Nobel Peace Prize winner to lead Bangladesh interim government: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus - a longtime political foe of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina - has been named the country's interim leader. The 84-year-old was appointed a day after Ms Hasina fled the country following weeks of deadly protests that brought her resignation. (BBC) 2. Hamas names Oct. 7 architect Yahya Sinwar new political leader: Israel has publicly accused Sinwar of being the “mastermind” behind Hamas’ terror attack against Israel on October 7 – though experts say he is likely one of several – making him one of the key targets of its war in Gaza. He has remained at large in the vast warren of tunnels trenched beneath Gaza, moving frequently and possibly surrounded by hostages as human shields, US officials believe. Sinwar has not been seen in public since October 7. (CNN) (AC-This move will derail any serious peace talks between Israel and Hamas, and hasten the targeting of Sinwar.) 3. Iranian attack on Israel later than expected, may come on Thursday or Friday: The wait for Iran's retaliatory response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, attributed to Israel, is taking longer than the United States initially anticipated, sources familiar with American intelligence told the Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya. (JerusalemPost) -US Events- 1. Vice President Kamala Harris introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate Tuesday, praising the former high-school teacher and football coach with a progressive streak as a homespun leader who inspires people to “dream big.” A two-term governor and current chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Walz could be especially helpful in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan. (WSJ) 2. Magnitude 5.2 earthquake rattles Southern California: The quake, which struck at a depth of around 6 miles just after 9 p.m., was approximately 7.6 miles west northwest of Mettler in Kern County, nearly 19 miles south of Bakersfield and 89 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. (KTLA) 3. US charges Iran-linked Pakistani over political assassination plot: Asif Merchant traveled to New York in June seeking to hire a hitman to kill a politician or a US government official in revenge for the 2020 assassination of a senior Iranian military commander, according to a statement issued by the US Justice Department. (AlJazeerah) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Kamala Harris's Recent Appointments Hint at a Potential Shift on Crypto: Kamala Harris's stance on crypto remains unclear as she campaigns for the presidency. Recent appointments, such as David Plouffe, a former member of the Binance Global Advisory Board, as her senior adviser for strategy, suggest a potential shift towards a more favorable approach. Brian Nelson, a former undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department, has also been recruited, with a focus on regulating illicit activities without stifling innovation. (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Self-Sovereign Decentralized Identity Is Key To Retail CBDC Adoption: Alongside adoption, hurdles include the need for a digital currency to maintain personal privacy for individual users. Because blockchains act as immutable, permanent ledgers of all transaction activity, there is a real risk of personal history being collected and used in unsavory ways. Users would be more exposed than ever to data harvesting and the risks of government surveillance. What’s needed is a Self-Sovereign decentralized identity, or SSDID, powered by blockchain and smart contracts. (Forbes) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Crypto investment products saw $528 million in net weekly outflows amid recession fears: The outflows were “a reaction to fears of a recession in the US, geopolitical concerns and consequent broader market liquidations across most asset classes,” CoinShares Head of Research James Butterfill said. “The price correction from Friday’s close saw $10 billion wiped off total ETP AUM.” (TheBlock) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Stocks Bounce Back After 3-Day Rout: US equities staged a robust recovery on Tuesday, bouncing back after a three-day selloff that had erased a considerable portion of the market's 2024 gains. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were up 1.5% each and the Dow Jones gained 550 points as investors took a pause from recession fears. Japanese stocks also had a standout day, soaring 10.2%. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Mortgage Rates Fall to 2023-Lows: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) fell by 27bps to 6.55% in the week ended August 2nd, 2024, the lowest since the first week of May 2023. (TradingEconomics) (AC-Every move in markets have opportunities and threats.) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology and Science- 1. Meet the Long-Shot Candidate Letting AI Run His Campaign: Thomas Ross is using artificial intelligence to run his campaign after winning the nomination of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in May 2023. In fact, he has named his generative AI chatbot Emvee, and takes its advice. “I use Emvee for strategy specifically,” Ross told Decrypt in an interview, noting that the name comes from a character in his science fiction novel series. He is keenly aware of his infinitesimal chances of success in November. But he said the point of running is to raise awareness of transhumanism and fight back against misinformation about AI. (Decrypt) 2. Rumors Elon Musk’s X nears payment system launch, battles advertisers in court: On Aug. 5, it was revealed that X was developing a “Payments” button for its navigation bar. The button, located just below the bookmarks tab, may allow users to access balances, make transfers, and conduct other transactions. In a parallel development, X has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against an advertising industry coalition and its members, including CVS Health, Mars, Orsted, and Unilever. (CryptoSlate) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Barefoot Mining CEO: Wars Will Be Fought Over Bitcoin Blockspace: Bob Burnett, CEO of Barefoot Mining, a bitcoin mining company providing off-grid “wild” mining services, has declared that wars will be fought over Bitcoin blockspace. In a recent interview, Burnett stated that as bitcoin becomes critical to companies and nation-states, the value of Bitcoin blockspace will be treated as an essential scarce commodity. "If we’re on a path to Bitcoin being the base layer of money, now Bitcoin is existential to all the financial services companies and government. We can probably debate the time frame, but we are on a path where wars will be fought over control of those 53,000 blocks." he said. (BitcoinCom) 2. Bitcoin Whales Increased Holdings During Crypto Market Mayhem, but ETF Investors Didn't Buy the Dip: Bitcoin wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC increased their holdings while prices slid over the past few days, while those owning less than 1 BTC were sellers, IntoTheBlock data shows. (CoinDesk) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (Up 12 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Overall reporting shows that the drop in BTC price has led to accumulation of BTC by larger wallets and institutions, while smaller 'investors' have been sellers. Bitcoin “permanent holder addresses” have accumulated nearly $23 billion of the asset over the past month, according to on-chain data. The shakeout has given smarter entities the chance to pick up discounted BTC. Bitcoin HODLers have known this was a good buying opportunity, but then again, so is today. (Not investment advice) Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 855,646 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 06Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Rockets Hit US Base in Al Asad, Iraq / UN Fires Staff for Oct 7th Role in Massacre / Biden Convenes NatSec Council / Maduro To Investigate Opposition Leaders for Crimes / VP Harris Gets Dem Nomination / Hurricane Debby Floods Florida, Georgia / Binance Hit with $86M Tax Bill in India / Thailand Models CBDC, UBI Plan / Global Markets Rebound / US Begins Treasury Buyback / Google Hit With Antitrust Ruling / CA Puts Car Titles on New Blockchain / Swan Cancels PB Fest '24 Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $54,055, 23.04 oz Gold, .13 Median US House 24hr Hi: $56,271 / Lo: $49,578 Vol: $68B (Down 21%) Mkt Cap: $1.09T (Up 9%) HashRate: 624 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 11 sats/vBtye (Up 90%) Nodes: 19,594 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US personnel wounded in attack against base in Iraq: At least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq on Monday, U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Middle East braced for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following last week's killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Two Katyusha rockets were fired at al Asad airbase in western Iraq, two Iraqi security sources said. One Iraqi security source said the rockets fell inside the base. (Reuters) 2. Nine UNRWA staff to be fired for potential role in 7 October attacks on Israel: The UN said on Monday that nine staff working for its Palestine refugee agency UNRWA will be sacked because they may have been involved in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks against Israel. 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages. (UNAffairs) 3. Biden meets national security team as fears of Iran attack on Israel grow: US President Joe Biden met his senior national security team on Monday as concerns of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel grew. Biden said he had been briefed on preparations to support Israel should it be attacked, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said officials were working "around the clock" to prevent an escalation. (BBC) 4. Venezuela launches criminal investigation into opposition figures: Venezuela’s Public Ministry has opened a criminal investigation into presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado, the country’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a statement on Monday. Venezuela’s opposition and multiple other nations have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory in the July 28 vote until the release of the full vote tally. (CNN) (AC-The headlines from Venezuela and the US seem to be interchangeable, only the names change) -US Events- 1. Kamala Harris earns majority of Democratic roll call votes, achieving historic presidential nomination: The roll call, which concluded on Monday evening, still needs to be certified by Convention Secretary Jason Rae, according to the statement, but the announcement makes Harris's historic nomination effectively official. (ABC) 2. Debby Weakens to Tropical Storm, Four People Confirmed Dead: Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday afternoon after hitting Florida with heavy rain and leaving four dead. The storm is expected to inundate the Southeast with historic rain and catastrophic flooding over the next few days. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday afternoon three people were killed in traffic accidents and a fourth was killed as a result of a tree that fell on a roof. (WSJ) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Binance Is 'Cooperating' With Indian Authorities on $86 Million Tax Bill: Binance is facing a significant tax challenge in India after the country’s tax authorities issued a notice demanding a Goods and Services Tax (GST) payment of $86 million. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence alleges that Binance collected fees from Indian customers for trading virtual digital assets without remitting the appropriate taxes, according to a local news outlet. (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Thailand may tell us a great deal about the future of money: The Thai government has initiated a programme to distribute money to low-income households through digital wallets. About 50mn Thais who fall below certain income and savings thresholds will get about $280 each, roughly half of monthly per capita income. The Thai transfer programme already has some features of a CBDC. (FT) (AC-The Thai government is showing the world how CBDCs will be instituted, primarily through low-income grants and UBI programs first. The eventually mandated as the primary currency where the programmable features are implemented, decreasing freedom of currency usage.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Hedge Fund Capula Reveals $420 Million in Bitcoin ETF Holdings: London-based hedge fund Capula Management has disclosed in a regulatory filing that it has invested over $420 million in Bitcoin through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The hedge fund purchased shares of Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust and BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, making its total investment worth $422 million. (Decrypt) -Economic Indicators- 1. Global markets jittery after sharp share price falls: Stock markets in Europe remained unsettled on Tuesday despite a rebound in Japan which almost reversed record falls at the start of the week. Overnight, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index jumped by 10.23%, or 3,217 points in its biggest one day gain in points, after the previous day's plummet. Experts says this was in reaction to fears of a US economic slowdown. A rare interest rate cut in Japan is also believed to have played a part. (BBC) 2. US 10-Year Yield Rises as Traders Assess Outlook: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose above 3.8% on Tuesday after hitting an over one-year low of 3.67% in the previous session, as investors weighed risks of a US recession. A weak jobs report released on Friday stoked fears of an economic downturn, prompting traders to rush for safe-haven assets including US Treasuries. (TradingEconomics) 3. US Commences $50B Treasury Buyback, 50 bps Fed Rate Cut Odds Surge: On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, the United States will kickstart the ambitious Treasury buyback program. This initiative aims at purchasing $50 billion worth of Treasury securities by the end of October. Moreover, it comes at a crucial juncture as the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to announce an emergency interest rate cut soon. (CoinGape) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. North Korean Hackers Moonstone Sleet Push Malicious JS Packages to npm Registry: The North Korea-linked threat actor known as Moonstone Sleet has continued to push malicious npm packages to the JavaScript package registry with the aim of infecting Windows systems, underscoring the persistent nature of their campaigns. (HackerNews) -Technology and Science- 1. Google Found to Hold an Illegal Monopoly in Antitrust Case: Google has lost an antitrust lawsuit over its search arrangements on smartphone devices, with a federal judge ruling that the tech giant has illegally held a monopoly in search and text advertising over the past decade. (Breitbart) 2. California DMV digitizes 42 million car titles on the blockchain: The DMV has partnered with blockchain startup Oxhead Alpha, the first step was creating digital tokens for the 42 million car titles on the blockchain, which the DMV has already completed. It’s currently building a mobile app that Californians can use to access their records and initiate title transfers from the comfort of their homes, a first in the U.S. The app is expected to go live in the first half of 2025. With blockchain’s decentralization and immutability, car owners will likely detect any lien fraud quickly. According to vehicle data firm Carfax, there are over 800,000 cases of title washing alone, which is the fraudulent concealment of pertinent car information from a buyer. (CoinGeek) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Swan Bitcoin Cancels Pacific Bitcoin Festival 2024: Swan Bitcoin has canceled its highly anticipated Pacific Bitcoin Festival 2024, which was set to take place in October in Santa Monica, California. The decision comes after recent staff cuts and a shift back to the company’s core business. (BitcoinSensus) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 17/100 (Down 9 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Even with the bounceback in global equities, the USG is looking to stabilize markets and prevent FUD around the US economy, especially before an election. The Treasury buyback is timed to provide some liquidity both here and abroad during this time of uncertainty. The follow-on actions expected are the Fed interest rate reduction, further increasing liquidity. Simple economic mechanics forecast increasing inflation to result in the following 6-12 months. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 855,499 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 05Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Israel and Allies Prepare for Iranian Attack / UK Riots Intensify / Bangladesh PM Flees Country / North Korea Send 250 New Missiles to Border / US South Preps for Hurricane Debby / Park Fire in West Spreads / Japan Economic Woes Spread Worldwide / All Assets Tumble / New Bill Give US Secret Service Power Over Crypto / Democrats Meet to Design Crypto Policy / NASA Astronauts Having Trouble Returning / Robinhood Halts Trading Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $51,328, 21.51 oz Gold, .12 Median US House 24hr Hi: $61,058 / Lo: $49,121 Vol: $84B (Up 210%) Mkt Cap: $1.01T (Down 16%) HashRate: 751 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 30%) Nodes: 19,782 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran: Tensions have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas says it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader. Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan’s foreign minister was making a rare trip to Iran as part of diplomatic efforts — “We want the escalation to end,” Ayman Safadi said — while the Pentagon has moved significant assets to the region. (AP) 2. Rioters attack hotels used to house asylum seekers amid worst UK disorder in years: The violence was triggered by the stabbing of three young girls in Southport, northwest England, earlier in the week. The far right has seized on and spread a wave of disinformation, including false claims the attacker was an immigrant, to mobilize anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant protests. Police say the suspect was born in Britain. (CNN) (AC-The encompassing terms "far-right" and "disinformation" bely the fact that citizens in the UK are fed up with killings and unencumbered immigration. The situation is ripe for continued violence that may escalate out of control.) 3. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigns, interim government to be formed: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the country, multiple sources said, as more people were killed in some of the worst violence since the birth of the South Asian nation more than five decades ago. Army chief General Waker-Us-Zaman said in a televised address that Hasina 76, had left the country and that an interim government would be formed. (Reuters) 4. North Korea claims it’s sending 250 new missile launchers toward the South Korean border: North Korea claims it is sending 250 new tactical ballistic missile launchers toward its border with South Korea, in the latest bellicose declaration by leader Kim Jong Un against its neighbor. Kim personally oversaw the transfer of equipment to military commanders and chiefs of staff, and delivered a speech claiming the new missile launchers were built with North Korean technology, state media reported. (CNN) -US Events- 1. Florida hunkers down as strengthened Category 1 storm very near landfall in Big Bend: The storm will bring “life-threatening” storm surge of up to 10 feet along Florida’s Gulf Coast. The southeast US could also historic levels of rainfall this week, the National Weather Service said. Some areas of Georgia and South Carolina could see up to 30 inches of rain through Friday, while Florida could see up to 18 inches throughout the week, according to the NWS. (IdenpendentUK) 2. Park Fire still growing with containment at 30% as temperatures expected to hit triple-digits:The Park Fire that has been raging north of Chico is now 30% contained as it continues to grow amid rising temperatures, Cal Fire said Sunday. Recent favorable weather including residual rainfall moisture offered the 6,528 firefighters battling the blaze a brief respite, officials said. But forecasts of triple-digit temperatures, drier conditions and higher wind speeds are expected to increase fire activity into this week. (SacBee) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. New Senate Bill Empowers US Secret Service to Combat Digital Asset Cybercrimes: U.S. senators have introduced legislation to empower the Secret Service to combat cybercrimes involving digital assets. This legislation addresses the growing use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities and mandates the Government Accountability Office to evaluate law enforcement’s effectiveness in tackling money laundering in cyber crimes. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Because protecting the continuity of government is not enough.) 2. Democratic elites, crypto industry leaders to hold virtual roundtable Monday: White House officials and elite democratic operatives will attend a virtual roundtable with crypto industry executives discussing digital asset policy on Monday, according to a report from Politico Pro. VP Harris campaign officials have reportedly been invited to the meeting, which is being organized by California Democratic representative Ro Khanna. Anita Dunn plans to appear, an outgoing White House senior adviser who will soon advise a $300 million super PAC for Harris and who also attended the July roundtable. (TheBlock) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. BRICS: Global Finance to Completely Ditch the US Dollar by 2031: With the BRICS bloc firmly embracing de-dollarization, the bloc has signaled that global finance will completely ditch the US dollar by 2031. Indeed, Russia’s central bank governor noted that the country is set to embrace everyday use of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). (Watcher) -Institutional Concerns- 1. US spot bitcoin ETFs see biggest single-day outflow in 90 days: The total daily outflow level on August 2 was $237.45 million, the highest since May 1's $563.77 million outflows and the fourth highest single-day outflow since the launch of the spot bitcoin ETFs in January. (TheBlock) (AC-This was Friday's action.) 2. Morgan Stanley to Offer Bitcoin ETFs to Wealthy Clients: Morgan Stanley is allowing its 15,000+ financial advisers to sell shares of BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC, CNBC reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Clients will need to have a net worth of at least $1.5 million. (CoinDesk) -Economic Indicators- 1. Global Selloff Intensifies; Nasdaq Futures Slide Over 4%: The Nikkei plunged 12%, the most since 1987. Stock futures traded sharply lower and investors sheltered in the safety of bonds. Concerns about a slowing U.S. economy are front and center for investors after job growth slowed sharply in July. Investors are worried that the Federal Reserve has moved too slowly and will need to play catch up in cutting rates. Around the world, investors rushed for the safety of the bond market. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield recently traded around 3.74%, down from over 4.1% a week ago and on pace to settle at its lowest level in more than a year. The US Fed has called an emergency meeting today. (WSJ) 2. Bitcoin Dives Below $50,000 as Market Suffers Major Downturn: The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant downturn in the past 24 hours, resulting in over $1.06 billion in liquidations and impacting nearly 280,000 traders. Bitcoin and Ethereum both saw substantial declines, with Bitcoin dropping 12.5% and Ethereum falling 19.5%. Other altcoins, such as Solana, BNB, Dogecoin, and XRP, also experienced significant losses. (Decrypt) 3. Japan’s historic rate hike prompts yen carry trade unwinding, impacts global markets: In Asia, the Nikkei experienced its most significant two-day drop in history following Japan’s decision to raise interest rates to 0.25%. This move strengthened the Japanese yen against the US dollar, hitting 142, contributing to the unwinding of the yen carry trade. This trade involved borrowing yen at near-zero interest rates to invest in higher-yielding global assets like US equities and treasuries. (CryptoSlate) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Personal Data of 3 Billion People Stolen in Hack, Suit Says: Jerico Pictures Inc., a background-check company doing business as National Public Data, exposed the personal information of nearly 3 billion individuals in an April data breach, a proposed class action says. If confirmed, the breach could be among the biggest ever, in terms of the number of individuals affected. A 2013 breach of Yahoo! compromised the data of an estimated 3 billion individuals. (BloombergLaw) -Technology and Science- 1. NASA Is ‘Evaluating All Options’ to Get the Boeing Starliner Crew Home: It has now been eight weeks since Boeing's Starliner spacecraft launched into orbit on an Atlas V rocket, bound for the International Space Station. At the time NASA officials said the two crew members, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, could return to Earth as soon as June 14, just eight days later. NASA management has been in deep discussion this week about whether to return the agency’s astronauts on board Boeing’s misfiring Starliner capsule or to go with the alternative of using a SpaceX craft to rescue the crew. (Wired/CNBC) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Robinhood Pauses 24-Hour Trading as the Market Goes Haywire: Robinhood reportedly responds to the ongoing global market downturn with a halt of its 24-hour trading service. (DailyCoin) (AC-This is becoming common for Robinhood to halt trading at critical times. Adjust accordingly.) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 26/100 (Down 29 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The current economic malaise is symptomatic of a debt-based, inflationary monetary system designed to be controlled by central participants. It has been known as Modern Monetary Theory based on Keynesian Economic Theory and has as a key tenet that the nation and world economies can be centrally controlled through interest rates, borrowing, and money supply. The breakdown seen in Japan, where the public debt is anywhere from 300-500% of GDP, is the natural progression of this system. When the system falters in Japan, it will spread to other countries not on a firm asset-backed, monetary footing. For individuals and families, the same principles apply and encourage us to become debt-free (or minimal debt), invest in hard assets (the hardest is Bitcoin), and build upon stability like community. Take care of your health and your families during these challenging times. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 855,084 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 02Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: F-16 Jets Land in Ukraine / Bomb in Tehran House Planted Months Ago / Maduro Clamping Down in Venezuela / WSJ Reporter Arrives in US / Fires Continue in the West / 9-11 Masterminds Get Plea Deal / UK Pushes Wholesale CBDC and Russia Pushes Retail CBDC / Earnings Reports for BTC Companies, Block Wins, Mara Hurts / Scams Target Hodlers Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,701, 26.26 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $65,593 / Lo: $62,248 Vol: $39B (Up 10%) Mkt Cap: $1.27T (Even) HashRate: 608 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 50%) Nodes: 18,299 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. F-16 fighter jets land in Ukraine to bolster defence against Russia: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway – all NATO members – had committed to providing Ukraine with more than 60 planes. That number is dwarfed by the Russian jet fleet, which is estimated to be about 10 times larger. (AlJazeera) 2. Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader: The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse, according to five of the Middle Eastern officials. The guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran. (NYT) 3. Venezuela Election Fallout Unclear: Media reports are mixed coming from Venezuela. Maduro has said on video that he will not release the final results from the election due to "Elon Musk hacking the results". Meanwhile, multiple reports state that mass arrests of opposition supporters are being conducted across the country, and videos are surfacing of tortured citizens. Another report has 32 flights of Cuban Revolutionary Forces (The Black Wasps) patrolling the country, quelling rebellion. (Various, Twitter) -US Events- 1. Freed Evan Gershkovich Arrives in the U.S.: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stepped back onto U.S. soil to a hero’s welcome from President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris late Thursday, capping a lengthy wrongful detainment and conviction in Russia that culminated in the most complex prisoner swap between Western allies and Russia since the Cold War. Former Marine Paul Whelan was also released. The prisoner swap, the largest since the Cold War, included the exchange of 24 prisoners and at least six countries in a deal officials in the U.S., Russia and Germany had worked on for months. Ultimately, the deal hinged on the release of a German prisoner: Russian hit man Vadim Krasikov, who emerged as a linchpin to the exchange. Russia released 16 prisoners in all, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer-prize winning British-Russian columnist and U.S. lawful permanent resident. (WSJ) 2. Crews struggle to contain rapidly spreading Park Fire in California: In California, more than 5,800 personnel, 500 fire trucks and 40 helicopters are battling a fire larger than all of Los Angeles. The Park Fire, as it’s known, is the country’s largest and has ballooned to historic proportions in just over a week. (PBS) 3. White House: We Didn’t Know About 9/11 Plea Deal Until Yesterday, Can’t Comment on It: The plea deal for three defendants accused of involvement in the September 11 terrorist attacks, including accused plotter Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, “was orchestrated by an independent military convening authority. The White House wasn’t aware of this deal or the process leading up to it until yesterday.” (Breitbart) -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Bank of England looks to update RTGS by exploring wholesale CBDC, synchronization: The central bank of the United Kingdom is proposing experimenting with a wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC) as it seeks to update its Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system. Both synchronization and wCBDC depend on distributed ledger technology (DLT), a system that records transactions across multiple computers or locations. (CoinGeek) 2. Russian central bank governor says CBDCs will be part of everyday life by 2031: Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina reiterated the regulator’s belief that the digital ruble, Russia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), will achieve widespread adoption within the next five to seven years. She stated that the digital ruble's advantages, such as free transfers for individuals and lower transaction fees for businesses, will drive its adoption. (CryptoSlate) -Institutional Concerns- 1. US spot bitcoin ETFs log $50 million in inflows, ether ETFs return to positive flows: The 12 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the U.S. reported a total daily net inflow of $50.64 million on Thursday. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust, which only began trading on Wednesday, led net inflows yesterday with $191.13 million. (TheBlock) 2.MicroStrategy’s Q2 earnings reveals Bitcoin stockpile now $14.7B: Business intelligence firm MicroStrategy purchased an additional 12,222 Bitcoin for $805 million in the second quarter of 2024, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 226,500 BTC worth around $14.7 billion at current prices. (CoinTelegraph) -Economic Indicators- 1. Bond Yields Plunge in Flight From Stocks: Bond yields from economies with exposure to US credit markets sank further on Friday as mounting growth concerns were magnified by a batch of poor corporate earnings, supporting a dovish outlook for the Federal Reserve and triggering a flight to the safety of bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell nearly 40bps in the last seven sessions to a six-month low of 3.94%. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Factory Activity Contracts More than Expected: The ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 46.6 in July of 2024 from 48.5 in the previous month, firmly below market expectations of 48.8, reflecting the sharpest contraction in US factory activity since November 2023. It was the 20th decline in activity during the last 21 periods. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. FBI Issues Warning About Crypto Exchange Scams: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned cryptocurrency users about scammers impersonating crypto exchange employees to steal funds through unsolicited messages or calls. These fraudsters create urgency, claiming issues with accounts to trick victims into providing login details, clicking links, or sharing identification information. (BitcoinCom) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Block’s Bitcoin Revenue Grows 9% to $2.6 Billion in Q2: Block Inc, Jack Dorsey’s payment company, just announced its earnings for the second quarter of 2024. Bitcoin revenue grew by 9%, reaching $2.61 billion. The company made $6.16 billion in net earnings for the quarter, a 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Cash App, one of Block’s main platforms, saw a big jump in Bitcoin gross profits, thanks to the price of Bitcoin going up. (BitcoinSensus) 2. Bitcoin Miner Marathon Shares Fall 8% After Missing Revenue Expectations in Q2: The revenue of $145.1 million was lower than the estimated $157.9 million, attributed to operational challenges and the impact of the April halving event. (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 57/100 (Up 5 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: 854,946 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 01Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Hamas Leader Killed in Tehran / Hezbollah Commander Confirmed Killed in Lebanon / Musk Vs. Maduro Challenge Accepted / Sex Trafficking at Comic-Con / Sen Lummis Introduces Bitcoin Bill / Sen Hagerty Backs Trump's Crypto Stance / NC Democrats Flip on CBDC Bill / No Movement From Fed / HSA Provider Hacked / Tucker Like Bitcoin, But Says CIA Created It Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,522, 26.46 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $66,810 / Lo: $63,573 Vol: $36B (Up 29%) Mkt Cap: $1.27T (Down 2%) HashRate: 683 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Up 27%) Nodes: 19,160 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Hezbollah confirms commander died in Israeli strike: Fuad Shukr, who was in his early sixties, is believed to be a key military adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The strike targeted a building in Haret Hreik, a part of the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut. It is a fortified, densely populated area. Dahiyeh itself is surrounded by checkpoints. Meanwhile, the US tells Americans in Lebanon: ‘Be prepared to shelter in place’: (BBC) 2. Iranians mourn Hamas leader Haniyeh's assassination: Iranians turned out to mourn Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday, a day after he was assassinated in Iran's capital. Iran and the Palestinian Islamist militant group have accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president in Tehran on Wednesday. (Reuters) 3. Elon Musk accepts Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's challenge to fight: In a video Monday, Maduro was seen holding a cellphone as he declared war on Musk, alleging social media platform X owner Musk wants to invade Venezuela with his space rockets. "I am the son of Bolivar and Chavez. I am not afraid of you, Elon Musk," Maduro continued. "Let’s go at it, wherever you want, as we say in Caracas in the neighborhoods. If you want it, I want it, Elon Musk. Just say where." Musk later responded to a post about the challenge on X, writing: "I accept." (Fox) -US Events- 1. San Diego Comic-Con at center of human-trafficking sting: A team of federal, state and county investigators rescued 10 people and arrested 14 during an undercover human-trafficking sting at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, which was held over the weekend. The team was on the lookout for “sex buyers using the San Diego Comic-Con Convention to seek out potential victims,” As a result of the three-day investigation, 14 sex buyers were arrested and nine potential adult victims of sex trafficking were identified. One 16-year-old was also identified as a victim. (LATimes) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Senator Cynthia Lummis Introduces New Act to Establish a National Bitcoin Reserve: Senator Cynthia Lummis has introduced the BITCOIN Act of 2024, which aims to establish a national Bitcoin reserve to strengthen the position of the U.S. dollar in the global financial system. The bill also seeks to ensure transparency in the management of the Bitcoin reserve by the U.S. Treasury Department. However, the Act may face challenges in Congress due to partisan divisions and the upcoming Presidential election. (Decrypt) 2. Tennessee Senator Backs Trump, Wants to 'Make Certain' America is a Crypto Hub: U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) threw his support behind Presidential candidate Donald Trump's bid to make the U.S. a crypto hub this week. He likened crypto to the semiconductor industry that, "got pushed offshore and weakened us from a geopolitical standpoint," adding that, "We need to see this innovation happening here." (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. NC House overrides governor’s veto on CBDC bill, Democrats flip stance: The North Carolina House of Representatives voted to override three of Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent vetoes on Wednesday, including House Bill 690, an act prohibiting payments to the state using a central bank digital currency. During Wednesday’s override vote, nearly all House Democrats voted in contradiction to their supportive positioning in June (73-41). (CarolinaJournal) (AC-A very interesting turnabout in just one month. Politicians in the US are responding to support for bitcoin and opposition to CBDCs from US citizens.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Bitcoin ETFs see smallest net inflow on record, Grayscale mini BTC positive: Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced a minimal net inflow of just $0.3 million, marking the most negligible net inflow since these ETFs began trading on Jan. 11. July 31 marked the inaugural trading day for Grayscale’s new mini trust BTC, which attracted an $18.0 million inflow; the fund was initially provided with 10% of GBTC’s Bitcoin assets. (CryptoSlate) -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed Leaves Rates on Hold but Signals Progress on Inflation: The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at a 23-year high of 5.25%-5.50% for the 8th consecutive meeting in July 2024, in line with expectations. Policymakers noted that there has been some further progress toward the 2% inflation goal although it remains somewhat elevated. (TradingEconomics) 2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls to Over 4-Month Low: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell toward 4.1%, its lowest since March, amid growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will signal the start of its cutting cycle today. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. 4.3 million people hit in massive healthcare data breach with full names, addresses and SSNs exposed online: HSA provider HealthEquity has disclosed that it suffered a data breach in which the personal information of millions of Americans was stolen by hackers. (TomsGuide) 2. Facebook Ads Lead to Fake Websites Stealing Credit Card Information: Facebook users are the target of a scam e-commerce network that uses hundreds of fake websites to steal personal and financial data using brand impersonation and malvertising tricks. "These fraudulent sites were accessible only through mobile devices and ad lures, a tactic aimed at evading automated detection systems," the company said, noting the network comprised 608 fraudulent websites and that the activity spans several short-lived waves. (HackerNews) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Miner Riot Platforms' Second-Quarter Loss Widens to $84.4M as Costs Surge: The Castle Rock, Colo.-based company posted a net loss of $84.4 million, or $0.32 per share. The cost to mine the bitcoin jumped to $25,327 from $5,734 due to a 68% increase in the network's hashrate. Hashrate is a measurement of the total computational power used to process transactions on the network. (CoinDesk) 2. Tucker Carlson Says He Loves Bitcoin—But Believes the CIA Created It: During a private event on Friday held at Bitcoin 2024, the former Fox News host spoke at length about why crypto is the world’s best tool for enabling financial sovereignty—even though it was invented by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). “Obviously it was the CIA, we all know that,” said Carlson with a laugh. “It’s like Signal, they got there first. It’s a honeytrap!” (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 52/100 (Down 9 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The sudden turn of politicians towards Bitcoin and crypto, and against CBDCs in the US is instructive in games of political power. While most of the rest of the world is barreling towards a CBDC solution and centralized power, the groundswell of support for Bitcoin and anti-CBDC shows the power of legacy representative democracy in the US. US politicians still need votes to maintain or gain power. US politicians in general still do not understand Bitcoin or CBDCs, but do understand that it is important for many constituents and can garner them support apart from traditional policies. The push for Bitcoin as a reserve asset is no less than a dog-whistle for digital asset enthusiasts as the reality is very complex and difficult to enact meaningfully, for the USG, citizens or Bitcoiners. All of which have different objectives. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 854,799 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 31Jul24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: IDF Kills Hamas Top Leader, Maybe Top Hezbollah Leader / Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,090, 27.86 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $66,881 / Lo: $65,323 Vol: $28B (Down 28%) Mkt Cap: $1.3T (Down 1%) HashRate: 616 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Up 27%) Nodes: 19,387 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, threatening escalation: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a predawn airstrike in the Iranian capital Wednesday, Iran and the militant group said, blaming Israel for a shock assassination that risks escalating the conflict even as the U.S. and other nations were scrambling to prevent an all-out regional war. Iran’s supreme leader vowed revenge against Israel. (AP) 2. Hezbollah says top commander was in building targeted by Israeli strike, fate unknown: Lebanon's Hezbollah said early on Wednesday its senior commander Fuad Shukr had been in a building in the southern suburbs of Beirut when it was targeted by an Israeli strike, but the group did not confirm his fate. A senior security source from another country in the region confirmed Shukr had died of his wounds. (AlJazeerah) 3. -US Events- 1. Biden expected to give address on first night of Democratic National Convention: President Biden is expected to give a primetime address on the first night of the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago. (CBS) 2. Acting Secret Service director says he’s ‘ashamed’ after the Trump assassination attempt: The Secret Service’s acting director told lawmakers Tuesday that he considered it indefensible that the roof used by the gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was unsecured and said it was regrettable that local law enforcement had not alerted his agency before the shooting that an armed subject had been spotted on a nearby roof. Ronald Rowe Jr. visited the site and “What I saw made me ashamed. As a career law enforcement officer and a 25-year Secret Service veteran, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,” he said. (AP) 3. Los Angeles Says It Will Not Join Newsom’s Push to Clear Encampments: Days after Gov. Gavin Newsom put pressure on local governments to dismantle homeless encampments across California, leaders in Los Angeles County showed a united front, unanimously passing a resolution with a clear message: We will continue to take a different approach. More than 75,000 homeless people live in LA County. (NYT) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Russian Diplomat: El Salvador Proposes Settling Trade With Crypto: El Salvador has proposed using cryptocurrency as an alternative payment method for trade with Russia. The Central American nation has reportedly expressed interest in joining the BRICS bloc and may formally apply for membership within one or two years. (BitcoinCom) (AC-It's only one source, but El Salvador joining BRICS, with it's experience in Bitcoin strategic management, would provide a boost to the BRICS alliance. BRICS is an opposing monetary and trade union to US leadership.) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust begins trading on Wednesday morning following SEC approval: The trust, under the ticker symbol “BTC,” is intended to be a “spin-off” of the spot Bitcoin ETF, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. The trust, under the ticker symbol "BTC," is intended to be a “spin-off” of GBTC, with new shares of the mini trust designed to be distributed to GBTC shareholders as GBTC contributes a certain amount of bitcoin to the trust. (TheBlock) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Job Openings Little Changed in June: The number of job openings was little changed at 8.184 million in June 2024 from an upwardly revised 8.23 million in May, and compared to forecasts of 8 million. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Futures Mixed Ahead of Fed Decision: US stock futures were mixed on Wednesday as investors parsed big tech earnings and prepared for the latest Federal Reserve monetary policy decision. (TradingEconomics) 3. Gold Demand Hits Q2 Record High, Driven by Central Bank Purchases: The World Gold Council’s Q2 2024 report highlights a year-on-year increase in gold demand, marking the highest second-quarter demand since 2000. This surge is fueled by central bank purchases and OTC investments, with central bank gold buying up by 6% and technology sector demand rising by 11%. (BitcoinCom) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 61/100 (Down 6 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Internet outages are dragging down speeds in certain areas, resulting in a minimal amount of reporting today. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Need to connect @Reichard Könige and @DudeChicken on this!! Increase Meshtastic use cases and proliferation

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 854,655 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 30Jul24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Venezuela Ripe For Violence After Election / Israel Calculating on Hezbollah / More Russian Ships in Havana / Interpol Operation Nets 206 Arrests, Drugs, Detonators and a Sub / Harris VP Options Dwindle / Snipers Texted on Crooks 90 Minutes Before Shooting / BTC Wrench Attack in Ukraine Kills Victim / USG Moves $2B of Silk Road BTC / NY Post Calls Out Rigged Big Tech / DEX Trade at ATH Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,316, 27.86 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $69,987 / Lo: $65,894 Vol: $38B (Up 60%) Mkt Cap: $1.31T (Down 5%) HashRate: 671 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 78%) Nodes: 19,606 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Protests erupt in Venezuela as questions grow over strongman Maduro’s victory: Protests broke out in several Venezuelan cities on Monday after authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro was formally declared a winner by the county’s electoral authority in a presidential race marred by accusations of electoral fraud. Analysts say there could be a new wave of unrest in the country if there are widespread protests against the regime. Street demonstrations in previous years were crushed by the country’s military. (CNN) (AC-China's Xi has congratulated Maduro's 'victory', but the people of Venezuela are not accepting of the election, as violence ramps up.) 2. Fears of Israel-Hezbollah war grow after Golan Heights strike that killed 12 children: The security cabinet authorized Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide on the nature and timing of the response against Hezbollah. Lebanon says it received reassurances from third countries that Israel’s response would be limited. Several European countries have reiterated calls for their citizens to urgently leave Lebanon. (CNN) 3. Russia Docks 3 Warships in Havana, Continuing Parade of Naval Ships to Cuba: Three war vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba, this weekend for a four-day “work visit” to the communist nation that will reportedly conclude on Tuesday. (Breitbart) (AC-Part strategic play, part messaging to the US, and part intelligence collection, the naval visit is the second in the last 60 days.) 4. Interpol operation leads to 206 arrests, seizure of $1.6b of illegal drugs, chemicals: Interpol says more than 200 people have been arrested and some $1.6 billion worth of illegal drugs and precursor chemicals seized as part of a two-month operation against narcotics trafficking across Europe, North America and Africa. In addition, the operation led to the seizure of 65 stolen cars, some 30,000 commercial-grade detonators diverted from military or commercial mining, and a “narco-sub”. (ABC) -US Events- 1. NC Gov. Roy Cooper Withdraws from Consideration for Kamala Harris’s VP: This comes after Adm. William H. McRaven, who had also been a vice-presidential contender revealed that he had “removed” his name from consideration. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) also recently revealed during an interview with CBS News that she was not involved in the process of searching for a vice presidential pick for Harris. (Breitbart) 2. Snipers noticed Crooks 90 minutes before Trump shooting: A local countersniper first noticed gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks at 4:26 p.m., just more than an hour and a half before he climbed onto a nearby roof and shot at Trump. Additional texts at about 5:40 p.m. show officers discussing that they should inform Secret Service after Crooks was spotted again, this time using a range finder. (TheHill) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Ukrainian Police Detain Suspects in Abduction, Murder of Foreigner Over Bitcoin: The Ukrainian police announced on July 29 that it arrested four men for abducting and coercing a foreign national into transferring his bitcoins before ultimately murdering him. the quartet targeted a 29-year-old foreign national who possessed bitcoins valued at over $170,000 or almost 7 million hryvnias. After tracking the victim to his place of residence, the four men seized him and forcibly took him to an abandoned building. “There they forced him to transfer bitcoins to their crypto wallet, which were then transferred to cash, and the man was killed. (BitcoinCom) 2. US Moves $2 Billion Bitcoin Seized from Silk Road Amid Donald Trump’s HODL Plan: The US government transferred $2 billion in DOJ-seized Bitcoin to new addresses, according to on-chain data. This move followed Trump's plan to prevent the sale of government Bitcoin holdings if he returns to office. Industry experts reacted strongly, speculating on the motives and strategic implications of the transfer. (BeinCrypto) (AC-The timing of this move suggests a direct act in opposition to Trump's plan of using the BTC as a reserve asset. This could indicate a more hostile stance against Bitcoin and crypto.) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Bank of England to Carry Out CBDC, Digital Ledger Experiments: The BoE said it plans to carry out a series of experiments on a wholesale central bank digital currency and distributed ledger technology. It will also experiment to ensure that the "singleness of money" is maintained with stablecoins and tokenized deposits. (CoinDesk) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Over 41.5% of Mt. Gox Bitcoin distributed as creditors continue to hodl: Despite receiving over $4 billion worth of Bitcoin, which has appreciated by over 8,500% in the 10 years since Mt. Gox collapsed, the exchange's creditors continue to hold their assets. (CoinTelegraph) 2. BlackRock Exec Says Only Bitcoin, Ethereum Meet the Criteria for ETFs: According to BlackRock's senior ETF executive, Bitcoin and Ethereum are the only cryptocurrencies that meet the criteria for ETFs. Other digital assets, including Solana, do not come close in terms of investability and client demand. While there have been filings for Solana ETFs, the lack of Solana CME futures is seen as a roadblock to SEC approval. (Decrypt) -Economic Indicators- NSTR -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. WazirX Hack: Making customers pay 45% losses is utter nonsense, says Co-Founder of CoinDCX: WazirX has decided to implement a "socialized loss" strategy following a major cyberattack that compromised nearly half of its user funds. According to a statement from WazirX, this approach aims to spread the financial impact across all users, enabling them to access a portion of their assets immediately while maintaining the possibility of further recovery. (EconomicTimes) -Technology and Science- 1. Rig Tech: Meta AI tool calls Trump assassination attempt ‘fictional,’ offers details on Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign: Through false labels, confused artificial intelligence and strange search results, Big Tech has been suppressing coverage of the assassination attempt against Donald Trump, The Post has found. Meta AI, Googgle, and Facebook are all suppressing information related to the assassination attempt on Trump. (NYPost) -Bitcoin Community- 1. DEX market share surges to record high, outpacing centralized exchanges: The monthly trade volume of DEXs relative to CEXs is already at its highest ever, at 14.22%. The previous record high occurred in May 2023 at 13.7%. Uniswap is the largest DEX by total value locked (TVL) at $5.585 billion. Curve Finance maintains a $2.029 billion TVL, followed by PancakeSwap’s $1.825 billion and Raydium’s $1.259 billion. (TheBlock) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 67/100 (Down 7 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: 854,488 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 29Jul24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: French Internet Cables Cut / Wagner Mercs Ambushed in Mali / Venezuela's Maduro Claims Victory, Populace Seethes / Yellen Wants $3T Per Year for Climate / Wildfires in CA Abound / Trump Pledges Bitcoin Reserve, To Fire Gensler / Sen Lummis Intros Bill for Bitcoin National Reserve / Hong Kong Considers Bitcoin Reserve / Generative AI Used for Cloud Security / Bitcoin Conference Highlights / Univ of Wyoming Launches Bitcoin Research Institute / Bitcoin "Game Theory" Begins to Play Out Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,629, 29.10 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $69,851 / Lo: $67,602 Vol: $24B (Down 33%) Mkt Cap: $1.37T (Up 3%) HashRate: 663 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 10 sats/vBtye (Up 220%) Nodes: 19,165 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. France: Telecom fiber optic networks sabotaged: Installations belonging to French telecom companies SFR and Bouygues Telecom were vandalized, while internet cables had been cut in southern France, with installations near Luxembourg and Paris sabotaged. Internet outage watchdog Netblocks said data showed disruptions to multiple internet providers in France. The news comes after saboteurs targeted France's high-speed rail network on Friday, over which a man was arrested on Sunday. (DW) 2. Dozens of Russian Mercenaries Killed in Attack in Mali: Tuareg rebels seeking autonomy in the West African country of Mali killed dozens of Russian mercenaries last week in what appeared to be one of the deadliest attacks on Russian personnel on the continent since Moscow first sent Wagner Group guns-for-hire there in 2017. After a pair of military coups in 2020 and 2021, Malian officers hired Wagner Group mercenaries to act as bodyguards for top junta members and conduct combat missions. (WSJ) 3. Venezuela’s Maduro and opposition are locked in standoff as both claim victory in presidential vote: Several foreign governments, including the U.S., held off recognizing the results of Sunday’s election, and officials delayed the release of detailed vote tallies after proclaiming Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, to 44% for retired diplomat Edmundo González. (AP) (AC- Mainstream news sources are not reporting the significance of this clouded election and the angst boiling over in Venezuela. The issue is trending on X where crowds are gathering and police and military are squaring off against protesters. Multiple election sites are giving reports of overwhelming votes for the opposition while Maduro claims victory. The potential for conflict over the issue his high as those without voice are feeling hopeless.) -US Events- 1. Yellen says $3 trillion is needed each year to fund climate transition: Yellen spoke in Belem, a Brazilian city known as the gateway to the Amazon, after meeting with G-20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday and Friday. She said reaching net-zero carbon emissions goals remains a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration, but that doing so requires leadership from around the world. (Fox) 2. California firefighters make progress as wildfires push devastation and spread smoke across US West: The so-called Park Fire, the largest wildfire in California this year, was one of more than 100 blazes burning in the U.S. on Sunday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Some were sparked by the weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the western U.S. endures blistering heat and bone-dry conditions. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Trump Pledges Strategic Bitcoin Reserve at Bitcoin 2024 Conference: Addressing a room full of Bitcoin enthusiasts, Trump’s declaration came after a week of rumors and reports about his Bitcoin plans, though his announcement remained somewhat vague. During his 45-minute keynote address, Trump promised to end what he described as the Democrats’ regulatory crackdown on cryptocurrency companies and holders. If elected, he vowed to transform the U.S. into a “Bitcoin superpower.” (Yahoo) 2. Sen. Cynthia Lummis announces bill for US Treasury to buy 1 million bitcoin worth $68 billion: Senator Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming, will introduce a bill to direct the U.S. Treasury to purchase 1 million bitcoins — worth about $68 billion at current prices — over a period of five years next week, she said in an interview with The Block. The move is made to counter the effects of dollar debasement, she said. So it would be of value, in my opinion, to have a hard asset that backs the U.S. dollar and that grows in value instead of declines in value,” the Senator added. (TheBlock) 3. Hong Kong’s Bitcoin Ambitions: Lawmaker To Discuss Reserve Opportunities With Industry Players: With Bitcoin gaining traction to become a potential strategic reserve asset in the United States, it appears other pro-crypto countries might be considering adopting this significant move as Johnny Ng, a lawmaker in Hong Kong, has revealed his intention to discuss the feasibility and potential advantages of including BTC to the nation’s financial reserve. (Bitcoinist) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Economic Indicators- 1. Bitcoin Heads Toward $70K on Trump Push: Bitcoin climbed toward $70,000 on Monday, potentially hitting the key level for the first time in six weeks after US presidential candidate Donald Trump doubled down on his support for crypto. (TradingEconomics) 2. PCE Prices Edge Up 0.1%, Core Rise at a Faster 0.2%: The personal consumption expenditure price index in the US edged up 0.1% month-over-month in June 2024, following a flat reading in May, in line with forecasts. (TradingEconomics) 3. US 10-Year Yield Slips on Dovish Fed Bets: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell below 4.2%, sliding back toward its lowest levels since March as investors geared up for the latest Federal Reserve policy decision this week. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. 'Stargazer Goblin' Creates 3,000 Fake GitHub Accounts for Malware Spread: A threat actor known as Stargazer Goblin has set up a network of inauthentic GitHub accounts to fuel a Distribution-as-a-Service (DaaS) that propagates a variety of information-stealing malware and netting them $100,000 in illicit profits over the past year. (HackerNews) (AC-Always double-check downloads!) -Technology and Science- 1. Generative AI Ignites the Revolution of Cloud Security: Generative AI has many aspects that involve the detection of threats, response to an incident, and proactive defense. Generative AI can be a proactive way of identifying threats. It can recognize subtle irregularities and novel patterns and learn from large data quantities indicating malicious activities. This makes it possible for organizations to notice threats earlier and respond to them before causing much harm. (TechTimes) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Conference: Here are The Major Highlights From The Event: Trump highlighted his potential crypto-related policies, all in a bid to woo crypto voters. Part of his plan is to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office. Similarly, Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., outlined his plans for the US should he win the elections. One of which is to transform how the US perceives Bitcoin (BTC). On his first day in office, RFK said he will sign multiple executive orders aimed at integrating BTC into the U.S. economic strategy. During the Bitcoin Conference, global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald revealed the launch of a Bitcoin financing division to give leverage to investors who hold the asset. Michael Saylor also said Bitoin should get set for a bull run. He shared his prediction for Bitcoin price, including forecasting that its annual growth rate might slow from 55% to 20% by 2045. Ultimately, it would drive the value of the coin to a staggering $13 million per unit. (CoinGape) 2. University of Wyoming Launches First Bitcoin Research Institute: The University of Wyoming (UW) has established the UW Bitcoin Research Institute, marking the first academic institute dedicated to Bitcoin studies. The institute aims to elevate the quality and impact of Bitcoin research by creating faculty positions for Bitcoin research, incentivizing and rewarding good academic research on Bitcoin, encouraging young scholars to pursue Bitcoin research projects, and providing workshops on related papers and books. (BitcoinMag) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 3 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The long-anticipated beginning of "game theory" seems to be revealing itself in real-time. As US candidates and lawmakers announce plans for a bitcoin national reserve, other jurisdictions like Hong Kong are starting to do the same. The fundamental principle of bitcoin game theory is that the limited number of bitcoin issued can only be acquired by the first and strongest movers. There are certainly other nations accumulating bitcoin clandestinely if they have an understanding of the power dynamic involved. The race to acquire the scarce asset will have untold effects on nation-states, organizations and burgeoning "network-states". We are certainly entering a period of uncertainty (and opportunity) for those of us in bitcoin. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report