BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 877,490 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 02Jan25 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Ukraine Halts Flow of Russian Gas / South Korea Investigates Plane Crash / Gaza Police Chief Killed / New Orleans Terror Attack Kills 15 / Cybertruck Explodes at Trump Hotel / Biden Seeks AML Power From SCOTUS / IRS Holds Off on Crypto Tax Rule / Syria Make Use Bitcoin to Rebuild / Swiss Bank May Stack Bitcoin / New EO to Protect US Citizen Data OCONUS / Jordan May Use Blockchain in Government / AI 'Godfather' Say AI May Kills Us / BTC Hashrate ATH Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $96,751, 36.73 oz Gold, .22 Median US House 24hr Hi: $96,785 / Lo: $93,430 Vol: $33B (Down 5%) Mkt Cap: $1.91T (Up 3%) HashRate: 933 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Down 80%) Nodes: 20,763 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Ukraine halts flow of Russian gas to Europe: A major natural gas pipeline supplying Russian energy to Europe ran dry Wednesday after Ukraine stopped Moscow’s six-decade supply in the hopes of hurting its invader financially. The planned move marks the end of an era in which many European countries kept warm using gas pumped by Russia — which was in turn accused of using this dependency to blackmail its Western neighbors after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Most European countries no longer depend on Russian gas having diversified their supply — to the United States, Qatar and others — following Putin’s Feb. 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (NBC) 2. South Korea police search Jeju Air, airport operator over fatal plane crash: outh Korean police said on Thursday they had raided Jeju Air (089590.KS), opens new tab and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of their investigation into Sunday's crash that killed 179 people in the worst aviation disaster on the country's soil. Jeju Air 7C2216, which departed the Thai capital of Bangkok for Muan in southwestern South Korea, belly-landed and overshot the regional airport's runway, exploding into flames after hitting an embankment. Two crew members, who were sitting in the tail end of the Boeing 737-800, were pulled out alive by rescuers. One of them was still in a critical condition and the other was being treated for injuries. (Reuters) 3. Israeli strike kills 11 people, including head of Gaza police: Gaza’s interior ministry accused Israel of killing Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Salah and Maj. Gen. Hussam Shahwan, a member of the Police Command Council, to undermine law and order in the Palestinian territory. (CNN) -US Events- 1. Death toll rises to 15 in New Orleans terrorist attack: The decision to postpone the Sugar Bowl game was made out of the highest regard for precaution amid the ongoing investigation. The FBI is bringing in people from Quantico and leading the investigation. A pickup truck plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar is identified as the suspect. He was killed by police after a shootout. The FBI says they do not believe that he acted alone in this attack. They are actively searching for other suspects and potential connections that he may have had that is new information. (AtlantaVoice) 2. Police probe if Cybertruck blast at Trump hotel is linked to New Orleans attack: Police in the US are investigating whether an explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas is inked to the deadly car-ramming attack in New Orleans. The driver of a Tesla Cybertruck was killed and seven other people were injured in Las Vegas after the vehicle - filled with fuel canisters and firework mortars - exploded. Officials said all injuries were minor. The Cybertruck was rented in Colorado and arrived in the city on Wednesday morning, less than two hours before the detonation, police said. Parked in front of the hotel near a glass entrance, the vehicle started to smoke, then exploded. The sheriff noted that both vehicles appeared to be rented from Turo, an app-based car rental company. (BBC) 3. Biden asks justices to allow enforcement of anti-money-laundering law: The Biden administration came to the Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon, asking the justices to let it enforce an anti-money-laundering law while the government appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The case is a challenge to the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act, a 2021 law intended to prevent crimes like money laundering and the financing of terrorism by requiring businesses to report information about their owners. A rule issued by the Department of the Treasury originally required companies created before 2024 to submit initial reports by Jan. 1, 2025. (SCOTUSblog) (AC-Freedom dies in the name of national security) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. IRS Issues Crypto Relief – Here's How to Avoid Higher Taxes in 2025: The IRS has issued a temporary relief measure, which is expected to benefit cryptocurrency holders using centralized finance (cefi) exchanges next year. This relief addresses concerns that stem from the finalized Section 6045 custodial broker regulations, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, requiring FIFO (First-In, First-Out) accounting for digital assets unless a preferred method like Highest-In, First-Out (HIFO) or Specific Identification (Spec ID) is chosen. Almost all cefi brokers were not ready to support Spec ID as of 1/1/25. This lack of readiness would have forced many crypto holders into FIFO by default, potentially triggering higher tax liabilities during asset sales. The IRS’ temporary relief allows taxpayers to continue using their own records or tax software to identify the specific units being sold. The relief period applies exclusively to cefi transactions from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025. After that date, taxpayers will need to formally select an accounting method with their broker. (BitcoinCom) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- 1. Bitcoin to the Rescue? Syrian NGO Proposes Crypto Banking to Revive War-Torn Economy: In its policy proposal, the Syrian Center for Economic Research (SCER) argues that such a system is needed to accelerate reconstruction efforts and shield Syrians from inflation and currency devaluation. SCER has urged the country’s new leadership to consider building a banking system that relies on the Bitcoin network and associated technologies. (BitcoinCom) 2. Swiss National Bank May Buy Bitcoin Alongside Gold: The Swiss Federal Chancellery, the key staff organization for the Swiss government, has greenlit the “Bitcoin Initiative,” a new proposal to adopt Bitcoin as part of the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) reserve assets, alongside traditional gold holdings. (Blockonomi) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Economic Indicators- 1. US Mortgage Rates Rise to Over 5-Month High: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) in the US rose to 6.97% in the week ended December 27, 2024, from 6.75% in the previous period. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. New U.S. DoJ Rule Halts Bulk Data Transfers to Adversarial Nations to Protect Privacy: The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has issued a final rule carrying out Executive Order (EO) 14117, which prevents mass transfer of citizens' personal data to countries of concern such as China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. "This powerful new national-security program is designed to ensure that Americans' personal data is no longer permitted to be sold to hostile foreign powers, whether through outright purchase or other means of commercial access." This covers data spanning six categories: personal identifiers (e.g., Social Security numbers, driver's license etc.), precise geolocation data, biometric identifiers, human 'omic (genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic) data, personal health data, and personal financial data. (HackerNews) -Technology and Science- 1. Jordan turns to blockchain tech for enhancing government operations: Jordan’s government has introduced a new Blockchain Technology Policy for 2025, which aims to increase transparency, improve public services, and drive economic growth. The policy outlines plans to implement blockchain technology to streamline government functions, reducing transaction times and operational costs. By enabling real-time verification and automation, officials expect to enhance service efficiency for businesses and citizens alike. (CryptoSlate) 2. 'Godfather' of AI Geoffrey Hinton Says There's Up to 20% Chance AI Will Drive to Human Extinction: Talking on BBC Radio 4's Today program, he says his former estimate of a 10% chance of AI wiping out humanity has increased to as high as 20%. Hinton has long been a vocal critic of uncontrolled AI development. Earlier this year, he resigned from his position at Google to freely express his concerns. Considering that AI is changing rapidly, his revised odds underline how urgent it is to implement stringent controls and ethical guidelines to safeguard the future of humanity. (TechTimes) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Up 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Happy New Year! Take the opportunity to scrub your security practices, update technology and increase your OPSEC. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

COMING IN 2025

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 876,034 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Dec24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Car Attack in Germany Ignites Reaction / US Jet Fighter Shot Down By US / Protests Swell in Serbia / USG Shutdown Averted / Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences / Woman Set on Fire in NYC by Immigrant / Saylor Presents Digital Asset Plan to Trump / Bo Hines Named Crypto Council Exec Director / Metaplanet Buys the Dip / Tether Invests in Rumble / SpaceX Uses Stablecoins in Global Trade Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $95,820, 36.73 oz Gold, .22 Median US House 24hr Hi: $97,180 / Lo: $93,690 Vol: $53B (Up 25%) Mkt Cap: $1.89T (Down 1%) HashRate: 791 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Up 33%) Nodes: 20,664 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Security questions over Christmas market attack in Magdeburg: German security forces faced a series of difficult questions at Saturday's press conference in Magdeburg. Friday night's attack, in which Talib A.*, a 50-year-old Saudi man rammed a car into a crowd at a busy Christmas market in the Saxony-Anhalt capital, left five people dead and 200 more injured. How come apparent warnings from Saudi authorities were not heeded? How did disturbing social media posts by the suspected perpetrator fail to raise alarm bells? (DW) 2. U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down Over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident; Aviators Safe: The Super Hornet, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was flying over the Red Sea when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired upon it, according to the CENTCOM statement. Both pilots were safely recovered. Initial assessments indicate that one of the crew members sustained minor injuries. This incident was not the result of hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway. (USNI) 3. Tens of thousands gather in anti-government protest in Belgrade: Tens of thousands of people gathered in central Belgrade on Sunday to protest against President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), whom they blame for a railway station roof collapse last month that killed 15 people. (Reuters) -US Events- 1. US Averts Government Shutdown - Congressional leaders have reached an agreement to avoid a looming government shutdown, showcasing last-minute bipartisan efforts to keep government operations funded. (ABC) 2. Biden commutes most federal death row sentences to life in prison before Trump takes office: resident Biden is granting clemency to 37 of the 40 federal inmates facing death sentences. Their sentences will be commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The three inmates who didn't get clemency are the convicted murderer in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, the gunman at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, and the surviving Boston Marathon bomber. (CBS) 3. Woman Set on Fire in NYC Subway - A shocking incident where a woman was killed after being set on fire by Sebastian Zapeta in a Brooklyn subway, sparking discussions on subway safety, police response, and immigration policies. The suspect was arrested at another subway station in Manhattan about eight hours after the attack, police said. (CNN, X) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Michael Saylor Presents Framework for Digital Assets to Strengthen U.S. Leadership: On social media, Saylor posted a document titled “Digital Assets Framework, Principles, and Opportunity for the United States,” which defines the guidelines that the country’s institutions must follow to turn the US into a digital assets haven. The first is establishing a clear taxonomy for these assets and defining what constitutes a security, a commodity, a currency, a token, a non-fungible token (NFT), and an asset-backed token (ABT). He believes this is “critical to advancing policy and fostering innovation.” (BitcoinCom, X) 2. Trump’s Crypto Council Takes Shape With Bo Hines As Executive Director: Hines, a 29-year-old Yale graduate and former college football player, is slated to serve as the leader of this advisory group, in addition to David Sacks, who has been designated as the “Crypto Czar.” Hines will work with Sacks to make sure business leaders have the necessary tools to succeed. (Bitcoinist) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Metaplanet buys the dip with biggest-ever 620 Bitcoin buy: It was the largest single purchase the firm has made since it started buying Bitcoin in May and nearly quadrupled the value of its previous record buy of 159.7 BTC on Oct. 28. (CoinTelegraph) 2. Tether to make $775 million 'strategic investment' in Rumble, shares rally 44.6%: Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, has made a “strategic investment” of $775 million into YouTube-alternative platform Rumble, according to a Reuters wire. The move seemingly represents a deepening focus on the crypto industry for Rumble, which announced last month that it would allocate up to $20 million of its excess cash reserves to bitcoin. (TheBlock) (AC-Interesting development.) 3. Elon Musk’s SpaceX uses stablecoins to hedge against foreign exchange risks: According to Chamath Palihapitiya, SpaceX collects payments from all customers of Starlink in “long-tail countries,” and converts them to stablecoins. According to Palihapitiya, stablecoins should become the primary method of cross-border transactions in the U.S., which would allow “us to chip away all of this decrepit infrastructure that the banks use to sort of slow down and tax a process that should never have been taxed.” (CryptoSlate) (AC-Stablecoins are emerging as an efficient medium of exchange across borders, and often easier to understand for those who have not studied bitcoin. Counterparty risk is still the major issue with stablecoins, however.) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Personal Spending Remains Strong: Personal spending in the United States rose by 0.4% from the previous month to an annualized rate of $20.2 trillion in November of 2024, extending the 0.4% increase from October, and loosely in line with market expectations of a 0.5% expansion. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Personal Income Rises Less Than Expected: US personal income rose by 0.3% from the previous month in November 2024, the smallest increase in three months, following an upwardly revised 0.7% rise in October and slightly below market forecasts of a 0.4% advance. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology and Science- 1. Human Stem Cell Models For Spine Formation Successfully Created: A new breakthrough for spine and nervous system formation was successfully achieved by researchers where they were able to develop human stem cell models that will soon help in addressing the problems directly on the embryo. Human development and growth are different for each person, and when one faces a problem in their spine or nervous system's formation, it is a crucial issue that could be a matter of life and death. (TechTimes) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Down 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): News is light on this week of Christmas celebration. The Bitcoin Veterans DIB will resume reporting as necessary or following the holiday celebration. Go touch grass, be thankful and stack for the future. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 875,592 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 20Dec24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Bitcoin on Sale for Christmas / Russia Hit Kyiv With Hypersonic Missiles / Mass Stabbing at Croatia School / US Diplomats in Syria / US Government Shutdown Looms Tonight / Shooter Luigi Charged / Biden, Harris Rush Back to White House / Hawk Tuah Sued / Russia Say BRICs Payment System Exists / BTC ETFs Bleed / Blackrock BTC Explainer Video Shakes Up / Russia Hold Fed Rate at 21% / Stocks Skittish / Hut8 Buys More BTC / Judge Shuts Down Craig Wright Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $93,665, 36.13 oz Gold, .22 Median US House 24hr Hi: $102,748 / Lo: $92,175 Vol: $119B (Up 24%) Mkt Cap: $1.86T (Down 8%) HashRate: 774 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Down 40%) Nodes: 20,664 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. One killed in Kyiv as Russian missile attack targets Ukraine’s capital: At least one person has been killed and seven wounded after a Russian missile attack targeted Ukraine’s capital. The attack on Friday morning also damaged buildings across Kyiv and sparked fires in some, according to the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko. ussia launched eight missiles on Kyiv, Popko said, adding that it used hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and Iskander/KN-23 ballistic missiles to carry out the attack. (AlJazeera) 2. 7-year-old girl killed, 6 other people wounded in stabbing attack at school in Croatia, police say: Croatia's Interior Ministry said the attacker was 19 years old. Local media reported the attacker was a former student at the school. (CBS) 3. US diplomats in Syria to meet new authorities: US diplomats are in the Syrian capital Damascus where they plan to meet representatives from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group now in charge but which Washington still designates as a terrorist organization. This is the first formal American diplomatic appearance in Damascus in more than a decade. (BBC) -US Events- 1. Government shutdown looms: The House rejected another paired-down bill yesterday in a 174-235 vote, well below the two-thirds majority needed, sending lawmakers back into negotiations. Yesterday’s 116-page bill was hastily created after President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk threw an unexpected wrench into negotiations with their vocal disapproval of a 1,500-page bipartisan bill released earlier this week. (NBC) 2. U.S. Files Murder Charge Against Mangione That Could Bring Death Penalty: Federal authorities filed a total of four counts against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare. (NYTimes) 3. Biden and Harris Rush Back to White House: On Thursday, December 20, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris canceled her trip to Los Angeles and returned to Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden, who was initially expected to remain in Delaware for the Christmas holiday, also cut his stay short to return to the White House. The reasons for these sudden schedule changes have not been officially disclosed, sparking various speculations among the public and on social media. (X) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Tornado Cash Dev Wants Charges Dropped Because Sanctions Deemed Illegal: Roman Storm, co-founder of crypto-mixing platform Tornado Cash, hopes to have charges against him dropped after sanctions against his software were dropped. (Decrypt) 2. Hawk Tuah Meme Coin Creators Hit With Lawsuit After Disastrous Launch: Burwick Law has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of investors in the Hawk Tuah meme coin, which plummeted 93% in value shortly after launch. The lawsuit names 12 American plaintiffs collectively claiming damages exceeding $151,000. (Decrypt) (AC-Education comes in many ways) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- 1. Russian Official Declares BRICS Payment System a Real Alternative to US Dollar: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has affirmed that plans to establish a BRICS payment system are tangible and progressing, describing them as “not hypothetical.” In an interview with the Tass Analytical Center on Tuesday, Ryabkov reflected on Russia’s role during its BRICS chairmanship, emphasizing that the initiative is both real and actionable. When asked about the feasibility of such a payment system among BRICS nations, he stated: "Not only it exists. It is not hypothetical." (BitcoinCom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Spot Bitcoin ETFs See Record Withdrawals as CME Futures Premium Signals Weaker Demand: The exchange-traded funds lost a record $671.9 million as bitcoin extended post-Fed losses below $100,000. (CoinDesk) 2. Why BlackRock’s Bitcoin explainer is raising alarm bells: BlackRock is caught in the eye of a storm from the Bitcoin community after it let out a suspicious line in a three minute Bitcoin explainer. In the video, the narrator describes one of BItcoin’s core aspects, its 21 million fixed supply, as a hard-coded rule. Yet a subtle disclaimer at the bottom caught Bitcoiners’ attention. “There is no guarantee that Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap will not be changed,” read the subtitle. Bitcoiners baulked. (DLNews) (AC-Legal jargon and disclaimers have always had a dampening effect on the financial industry, and this is no different. Of course anything CAN happen, and large institutions know to protect against lawsuits, but casting doubt on the 21M max is laughable to those who study bitcoin.) -Economic Indicators- 1. Russia holds interest rates in surprise break to hiking cycle: Russia’s central bank kept its key interest rate at 21 per cent on Friday, in a surprise halt to its hawkish quest to tame inflation. The central bank’s governor Eliva Nabiullina has in recent months faced mounting criticism from the country’s officials and oligarchs, who claim her policies have stifled business. (FT) 2. Bitcoin Drops to $92,118 as Crypto Economy Shrinks by Nearly 12%: Market gurus point to a mix of economic jitters and a dip in investor confidence as the culprits behind this slump. Even though bitcoin is meant to be free from central control, it’s still swayed by worldwide economic vibes, echoing the general market mood. (BitcoinCom) 3. US Futures Fall Sharply: Stock futures in the US moved lower on Friday, with contracts on the S&P 500 futures falling 0.7%, the Nasdaq 100 sinking 1.3% and the Dow Jones losing about 190 points, following a lackluster session the day before. Investors are growing increasingly uneasy after the House failed to approve a Trump-backed funding plan to extend government operations for three months and suspend the debt ceiling for two years. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology and Science- 1. Invasive 'Murder Hornets' Eradicated In US After 5 Years, Agriculture Officials Say: The northern giant hornet, dubbed the “murder hornet” for its aggressive nature and potentially deadly sting, has been eradicated from the United States five years after it was first identified in the country, officials announced on Dec. 18. (ZeroHedge) (AC-It's the 'how' that makes one wonder.) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Hut 8 Mining Acquires Additional 990 Bitcoin, Total Holdings Exceed $1 Billion: Mining company Hut 8 has purchased 990 Bitcoin for $100 million, pushing its total holdings above $1 billion and placing it among the top 10 corporate Bitcoin holders globally. (Blockonomi) 2. Craig Wright Found in Contempt for Claiming to Be Satoshi Nakamoto, Again: Craig Wright, ruled not to be Satoshi Nakamoto, was found in contempt for claiming to be Nakamoto and suing in Nakamoto's name. High Court Judge Mellor suspended a two-year sentence if Wright refrains from further lawsuits. (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Down 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Bitcoin hodlers realize that this is a great chance to scoop up cheap satoshis, before game theory drives institutional demand and the precarious nature of global fiat debt system begins to unwind. This is not financial advice as we are a bunch of veterans on a bitcoin mission, but opportunity knocks and then walks. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Bitcoin Veterans Spaces Elon Musk, Continuing Resolution, Government Shutdown

Fountain

Bitcoin Veterans • Bitcoin Veterans Spaces - Elon Musk, Continuing Resolution, Government Shut Down • Listen on Fountain

Sponsors: Paladin Tower Tactical SOLO Satoshi Bitaxe Punch Plate Blacksheep Ammo Listen on Fountain Fm ⁠Follow Bitcoin Veterans on Twitter ⁠Spo...

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 875,445 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 19Dec24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: IDF Strikes Yemen Ports / South Korean President Impeached, Faces Investigation / US Federal Funding Bill Scrapped, Shutdown Imminent / Defense Budget Passes With Big Raise For Servicemembers / Amazon Workers to Strike / IMF Deal in El Salvador Tweaks Bitcoin Mandate / BinanceUS to Reopen Next Year / Saylor Continues USD and Bitcoin Reserve Emphasis / Fed Cuts .25% But Scares Markets With Inflation Talk / All Gov Must Be In the Cloud, Say CISA / Nexo Donates to Core Devs Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $102,027, 39.20 oz Gold, .24 Median US House 24hr Hi: $104,947 / Lo: $98,792 Vol: $96B (Up 23%) Mkt Cap: $2.02T (Down 3%) HashRate: 788 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 10 sats/vBtye (UP 20%) Nodes: 20,901 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Missile fired at Israel, IDF pounds Yemen, believes it paralyzed all 3 Houthi ports: Houthi missile partially intercepted, but warhead hits empty Ramat Gan school, building collapses. Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft participated in the strikes in Yemen, including fighter jets, refuelers and spy planes, some 2,000 kilometers from Israel. The Houthi targets were struck at the Hodeida port — which Israel has struck twice before — and for the first time, in the rebel-held capital Sana’a, the IDF said. (TimesOfIsrael) 2. South Korea’s impeached leader avoids investigators as court begins meeting to determine his fate: Yoon was impeached by the opposition-controlled National Assembly on Saturday over his Dec. 3 martial law decree. His presidential powers have been subsequently suspended, and the Constitutional Court is to determine whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him. If Yoon is dismissed, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days. (AP) -US Events- 1. Bloated federal funding bill is scrapped after Trump-boosted revolt: Scalise affirmed to reporters that the spending package — which would have funded the government until mid-March — is dead, leaving Congress scrambling to come up with a new agreement ahead of a looming government shutdown Saturday. The revolt was spearheaded by Elon Musk, one of Trump’s closest advisers and co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as he went on a tirade on X Wednesday against Republicans who supported the stopgap measure. “There’s no new agreement right now, we’re obviously looking at a lot of options,” the Louisiana Rep. Scalise responded. (NYPost) 2. Senate finalizes plans for a massive junior enlisted pay boost in 2025: The $850 billion defense spending policy measure easily passed the chamber 85-14 despite opposition from some Democratic lawmakers who raised concerns about transgender care restrictions in the legislation. The bill passed the House by a 281-140 margin last week, and now heads to the White House for the president’s signature. Around 500,000 troops E-4 and below will benefit from the targeted salary hike, which will increase their base salaries by 10% above the annual military-wide pay adjustment. (MilitaryTimes) 3. Amazon Workers Strike: How It Could Impact Your Holiday Deliveries: Thousands of Amazon workers were expected to walk off the job on Thursday, challenging the e-commerce giant in the final days of its busiest time of year. The nationwide action follows Amazon's repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain with the thousands of unionized Amazon workers, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The walkout will involve workers from facilities in New York City, Skokie, Illinois, Atlanta, San Francisco and Southern California. Amazon has invested heavily in wage increases. Earlier this year, the retailer announced a $2.1 billion initiative to raise pay for its fulfillment and transportation employees, increasing base wages by at least $1.50 per hour to around $22, which amounts to a nearly 7% increase. (IBTimes) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. El Salvador’s IMF Deal Modifies Bitcoin Legal Tender Framework: El Salvador's new IMF agreement maintains Bitcoin's legal tender status while making its acceptance voluntary and reducing government involvement, as part of a broader $1.4 billion economic reform package that could unlock additional international funding. (Blockonomi) 2. Binance(dot)US Says it Aims to Restore USD Services Next Year: Binance(dot)US plans to reintroduce USD services in early 2025, following regulatory pressure that led to a suspension of fiat trading in 2023. The interim CEO, Norman Reed, emphasized the inevitability of this move, attributing the delay to regulatory challenges faced by the exchange. (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- 1. Michael Saylor Raves About the U.S.'s $10 Trillion World Reserve Digital Dollar Opportunity: During an interview on CNBC, Saylor stated that with President-Elect Trump’s victory at the polls, the U.S. could now issue a digital assets framework focused on making the dollar the world’s reserve digital currency. he believes that with the new administration, banks can gain the faculty to issue their dollar-backed stablecoins, opening a potential international market of $10 trillion for the currency. (BitcoinCom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Swaps Its cbBTC for WBTC After Sun Joins as Adviser: World Liberty Financial, backed by the Trump family, swapped its $10 million worth of Coinbase-wrapped bitcoin (cbBTC) for Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC). Wrapped bitcoin is a form of the world's largest cryptocurrency that can be used in decentralized finance (DeFi) on blockchains other than Bitcoin. (CoinDesk) (AC-This may not end well.) -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed Cuts Interest Rates 0.25%, Warns Future Cuts Will Slow: The Federal Reserve Board cut a key U.S. interest rate 0.25% on Wednesday. The Federal Funds Rate now sits at 4.25-4.50%. The Fed projected that there will only be two interest rate cuts in 2025, down from the four that were previously expected. The number of rate cuts for 2026 was also cut from four to two. "Inflation has made progress toward the Committee's 2 percent objective but remains somewhat elevated," the board said in announcing the rate cut. (IBTimes) 2. Dow Sinks 1100 Points, Longest Losing Streak Since 1974: US equities tumbled on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by 25 bps but signaled fewer cuts than previously projected for next year, sparking a market sell-off. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 sank by 2.9% and 3.7%, respectively, while Dow Jones, shed 1123 points, booking its 10th consecutive day of losses, its longest losing streak since 1974. The Fed's widely anticipated rate cut to a target range of 4.25%-4.5% was overshadowed by its forecast of just two rate cuts in 2025, fewer than the four previously expected, which dampened investor sentiment. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. CISA Mandates Cloud Security for Federal Agencies by 2025 Under Binding Directive 25-01: The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 25-01, ordering federal civilian agencies to secure their cloud environments and abide by Secure Cloud Business Applications (SCuBA) secure configuration baselines. (HackerNews) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Nexo Steps Up Its Support For Bitcoin, Donating 1 BTC To The Nonprofit Brink: Digital assets management platform Nexo is stepping up its support for the Bitcoin ecosystem, making a 1 BTC donation to the nonprofit organization Brink, which provides funding to developers working on Bitcoin Core. Brink is dedicated to providing financial support to Bitcoin developers through a grants program. Its grants go to developers who are committed to “building, securing, testing and reviewing the Bitcoin Core software”, which is what powers the Bitcoin blockchain. (Bitcoinist) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 75/100 (Down 7 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Bitcoin Veterans Episode 67 Jack Donovan

Fountain

Bitcoin Veterans • 067. Jack Donovan • Listen on Fountain

Author of "The Way of Men" Jack Donovan has been discussed in depth on Bitcoin Veterans from the very beginning. We finally had the honor of hostin...

Bitcoin Veterans Spaces: Zack and Peer to Peer Fund.

Fountain

Bitcoin Veterans • Bitcoin Veterans Spaces - Zack & Peer to Peer Fund • Listen on Fountain

Jack from Peer to Peer Fund is fighting to defend Non Custodial Tools from government overreach. They talk judges, technology, Trump, Strategic Bit...

Bitcoin Veterans Spaces: US Funds Terrorists in Syria & Bitcoin Adoption.

Fountain

Bitcoin Veterans • Bitcoin Veterans Spaces, US Funds Terrorists in Syria & Bitcoin Adoption • Listen on Fountain

Sponsors: Paladin Tower Tactical SOLO Satoshi Bitaxe Punch Plate Blacksheep Ammo Listen on Fountain Fm ⁠Follow Bitcoin Veterans on Twitter ⁠Spo...

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 875,305 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 18Dec24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine / Russia Arrests Uzbek in General's Death / Twelve Dead at Georgia Ski Resort / GOP Calls for Liz Cheney Investigation / Continuing Resolution in Budget Battle / Ohio Introduces Bitcoin Reserve Bill / BPI Releases EO Template for Trump's First Day / Email Campaign Helps Dislodge SEC Commissioner Crenshaw / El Salvador's BTC Holdings Shine / BlackRock's IBIT Most Successful ETF Launched / Fed Meets Today, Cut? / Coinbase Says Law Enforcement Requests Down / China Demos Mach 7 Drone, Also Launches First 10 Internet Satellites / New US Poll Says 1 in 5 Used Crypto Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $104,924, 39.63 oz Gold, .24 Median US House 24hr Hi: $108,268 / Lo: $103,187 Vol: $78B (Even) Mkt Cap: $2.07T (Down 2%) HashRate: 790 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Down 53%) Nodes: 20,901 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. A couple hundred North Korean troops killed, wounded in battles with Ukrainian forces: The official didn’t provide details on exactly how many have been killed, but said the North Korean forces don’t appear to be battle-hardened, which contributes to the number of casualties they’ve had. The official was providing the first significant estimate of North Korean casualties, which comes several weeks after Ukraine announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. (AP) 2. Russia says it detains Uzbek citizen 'recruited by Ukraine' over killing of general: Kirillov, who was chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside his apartment building on Tuesday along with his assistant when a bomb hidden in an electric scooter went off. He is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated in Russia by Ukraine. (NYPost) 3. 12 people found dead inside restaurant at popular ski resort: Twelve people are dead at after their bodies were found inside a restaurant at a popular ski resort in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia. Authorities said. authorities discovered that a power generator had been placed in a closed space within an indoor area of the resort near some bedrooms. Carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected. (ABC) -US Events- 1. House GOP panel calls for Liz Cheney to be investigated for ‘criminal witness tampering’: A House Republican-led panel on Tuesday called for a federal criminal investigation of former Rep. Liz Cheney for possible “criminal witness tampering” with a star witness while serving as vice chairman of the since-disbanded House select committee that investigated the 2021 Capitol riot. “Evidence uncovered by the Subcommittee revealed that former Congresswoman Liz Cheney tampered with at least one witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, by secretly communicating with Hutchinson without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge,” the report from chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) says. (NYpost) 2. 'Shut It Down' Trends On X As Congress Faces Backlash Over Shutdown Deal: Congressional leaders have unveiled a stopgap measure to avert a serious government shutdown with the deadline fast approaching. However, the move got widespread backlash on social media as "shut it down" was a top political trend on X Tuesday night through early Wednesday. (IBTimes) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Introduced By Ohio State Lawmaker: Ohio State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) introduced new legislation on December 17, 2024, aimed at authorizing the state treasury to invest in Bitcoin as part of its asset portfolio. Known as House Bill 703, the “Ohio Bitcoin Reserve Act” seeks to establish a dedicated BTC fund within the state treasury, providing the State Treasurer with the legal framework to purchase and hold BTC. The measure does not mandate any specific investment but opens the possibility for future allocation. (Bitcoinist) 2. Bitcoin Policy Institute Develops Executive Order Draft For Trump’s Strategic Reserve: A newly uncovered public document reveals that the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a research and advocacy group in the United States, has drafted an executive order that aims to designate Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. This proposed order is designed to take effect immediately upon being signed by President-elect Donald Trump on his first day in office. (Bitcoinist) 3. Stand with Crypto advocates flood Senate with 107,000 emails opposing SEC Crenshaw's renomination: According to a statement on Tuesday, 52,000 Stand with Crypto advocates sent about 107,000 emails to U.S. senators. This comes as a vote in the Senate Banking Committee to renominate SEC Democratic Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw was scrapped for the second time in about a week. (TheBlock) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- 1. El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings Cross $632 Million, Drawing Bukele’s Praise: Bukele proudly posted on social media that the Bitcoin portfolio of the South American country has soared by 134% to reach $632 million. The alpha cryptocurrency hit another milestone, a record-high of $106,488, boosting the value of El Salvador’s crypto holdings. (Bitcoinist) -Institutional Concerns- 1. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Reaches $36 Billion in Record-Breaking Inflows: BlackRock's IBIT Bitcoin ETF has become the most successful ETF launch in a decade with over $36 billion in inflows, surpassing all rivals and helping push total Bitcoin ETF assets above gold ETF holdings. (Blockonomi) -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed Set To Cut Rates For 3rd Consecutive Time: The Fed is widely expected to announce another 25bps cut to the federal funds rate at its December 2024 meeting, marking the third consecutive reduction this year and bringing borrowing costs to the 4.25%-4.5% range. The meeting will be taking place this afternoon. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Coinbase reveals 18% YoY drop in law enforcement requests: Outside the US, Coinbase experienced notable decreases in law enforcement requests from key markets. Requests declined significantly in Germany, the UK, and Spain, by 33%, 45%, and 35%, respectively. In contrast, Singapore stood out with a 221% increase in requests, jumping from 34 in 2023 to 109 this year. This signaled growing regulatory activity in the region as it emerged as a prominent crypto hub. (CryptoSlate) -Technology and Science- 1. China Shows Off Mach 7 Hypersonic Drone, Launched From Near-Space Balloon: China has released a military propaganda video boasting its hypersonic weapon capabilities as the military arms race between global superpowers kicks into high gear. The MD-22 – the latest known model in the series – was first unveiled at the 2022 Zhuhai air show. The aircraft boasts a maximum range of 8,000km (4,971 miles) and can carry payloads of up to 600kg (1,323 pounds), delivering substantial strategic capabilities. (ZeroHedge) 2. China Guowang Megaconstellation Launches First 10 Internet Satellites to Orbit, Rivaling Starlink: This new network of internet-beaming satellites would deliver a new kind of wireless connection for the region, one that would rival the globally dominant service of SpaceX's Starlink. China delivered the Guawong internet satellites 680 miles above the planet where it is now sitting in orbit, marking a landmark development for the country's space programs. The plan for China's megaconstellation looks to complete 13,000 satellites delivered to orbit to beam satellite internet connection to its regions. (TechTimes) -Bitcoin Community- 1. 1 in 5 US voters traded, invested in or used crypto, says new poll: Data was released on Dec. 17 from the poll of 1,000 registered voters taken between Dec. 11 and Dec. 13 that found almost 40% of crypto-using respondents also made a purchase with it. “Crypto users are younger and have a larger minority base, highlighting crypto as a growing, diverse constituency for political support: 57% of crypto users have a favorable view of Donald Trump,” (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 81/100 (Down 6 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report