BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 821,304 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 15DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Hungary blocks EU aid package to Ukraine / US fincancial regulators issue (yet another) call for more crypto legislation / Ledger hack hurts reputation Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,686, 20.92oz Gold 24hr Hi: $43,390/ Lo: $41,767 Vol: $24.520B (down 4.9%) Mkt Cap: $836.485B (down 1%) HashRate: 481 EH/s Avg Fees: 47,332 sats/tx Nodes: 16,926 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Hungary blocks Ukraine's $55B aid package: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a major European Union aid package for Ukraine on Friday and warned he could still halt Kyiv's accession to the bloc after membership talks won EU approval. He say Ukraine is not ready (Reuters) 2. China on Friday pressured Taiwan with a trade barrier probe and warplanes in the Taiwan Strait a month before the island holds key elections, as Taipei called on Beijing to stop its "political operations". (reuters) 3. Bitcoin Moguls Convene in Montenegro to Mull Hydro BTC Bonds: The meeting with JAN3 executives discussed potential Bitcoin bonds linked to hydroelectric power to fund BTC mining. Montenegro's new Prime Minister also reveals that he owns Bitcoin. (Bitcoin Magazine) -US Events- 1. Navy Federal Credit Union, The largest credit union in the US, "has the widest disparity in mortgage approval rates between White and Black borrowers of any major lender, a trend that reached new heights last year", a CNN analysis found. The reports have hit social media and are drawing the ire of many, even trending to the top ten on X. (CNN) (AC- This investigative report comes following NFCU's decision to not use federal funds from the Reinvestment Act to give mortgages to low income borrowers. This report is key due to it's consequences in the market and is idicitave of 5GW tactics) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Financial Regulators Reiterate Call for Legislation to Address Crypto Risks: FSOC, a financial stability watchdog composed of the heads of most major U.S. financial regulators, published its annual report Thursday after one of the group's meetings. The council is recommending that Congress pass legislation defining and addressing crypto spot markets, as well as stablecoins. (CoinDesk) -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Institutional Concerns- 1. First Trust files for Bitcoin ‘Buffer ETF’ with SEC: According to the prospectus, the fund is designed to participate in the positive price returns — before fees and expenses — of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust or another exchange-traded product (ETP) that provide exposure to the performance of Bitcoin. Unlike a spot Bitcoin ETF, which is linked to the performance of Bitcoin, a buffer ETF uses options to pursue a defined investment outcome. (CoinTelegraph) -Economic Indicators- NSTR* -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Ledger Connect Kit Breach: Hacker Siphons $484K, Company Rolls Out Version 1.1.8: The unknown attacker that compromised Ledger’s Connect Kit Library has reportedly siphoned $484,000 from wallets, according to the onchain intelligence firm Lookonchain. Ledger disclosed a former employee fell victim to a phishing attack and the attacker gained access to the Ledger Connectkit Library and uploaded a malicious bug.(CoinDesk) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Massive Bitcoin Options Expiry Approaches: On Dec 29th, 37,000 Bitcoin options with a notional value of $1.58 billion and 268,000 Ethereum options valued at $610 million are set to expire. (Greeks.live) 2. River Link Launches, Allowing Users To Send Bitcoin By Text: River Link allows users to send Bitcoin globally via text, simplifying and making Bitcoin transactions more accessible across various messaging apps. (Bitcoin Magazine) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Greed/Fear Index: 70/100 (Down 2pts) Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 821,159 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 14DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US House starts impeachment probe into President Biden / FASB gives guidance on Fair-Value reporting / IMF begins to soften on digital assets Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,144, 21.20oz Gold 24hr Hi: $43,429/ Lo: $40,951 Vol: $25.838B (up 9.5%) Mkt Cap: $843.808B (up 4.7%) HashRate: 526 EH/s Avg Fees: 55,623 sats/tx Nodes: 16,599 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Russia Has Lost Almost 90% of Its Prewar Army, U.S. Intelligence Says: The declassified estimate says 315,000 personnel have been killed or injured in Ukraine. Russia also has lost nearly two-thirds of its tank force, or 2,200 out of its 3,500 preinvasion stock, the congressional source said.(WSJ) -US Events- 1. House Votes to Back Opening of GOP Impeachment Probe of Biden: The House voted 221-212 along party lines to formally authorize Republicans’ impeachment probe, hoping to add legal and political muscle to the investigation into whether the president had ties to his son’s overseas business dealings.(WSJ) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Bitcoin And Crypto To Be Measured At Fair Value Under New FASB Rules: The new rules are set to go into effect in December 2024, but companies will be able to apply them earlier than that. Under the new guidelines, businesses will need to disclose the value of cryptocurrencies based on their market prices at the end of each reporting period. (AP) 2. IMF seems to be softening on crypto: Indian Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance explained: “On the crypto asset agenda, the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration welcomed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Financial Stability Board (FSB) synthesis paper, including a roadmap that supports a coordinated and comprehensive policy and regulatory framework on crypto assets, taking into account the full range of risks and risks specific to the emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).”(Bitcoin.com) (AC-It is worth noting that the IMF has taken a very strong stand against Bitcoin and crypto, but with the latest study from the FSB delivered to Indian lawmakers, it gives a roadmap to include digital assets "even though they carry significant risk". 3.The Basel Committee for Banking Supervision wants to tighten requirements that allow stablecoins to qualify as less risky than unbacked cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Cryptos with "effective stabilization mechanisms" qualify for "preferential Group 1b regulatory treatment." This means stablecoins can be subject to "capital requirements based on the risk weights of underlying exposures as set out in the existing Basel Framework," instead of the tougher requirements set for bitcoin. (CoinDesk) -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Institutional Concerns- 1. SEC insists on cash redemption model for Bitcoin ETFs: The SEC is maintaining its stance on requiring Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuers to use a “cash” redemption model for their creations and redemptions. This decision comes despite alternative proposals, including one from BlackRock, that suggest an “in-kind” model.(Cryptopolitan) 2. Bitwise spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) has now appeared on the active and pre-launch list of Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). The Bitwise spot Bitcoin ETF is listed under the ticker — BITB. -Economic Indicators- 1. 10-year Treasury yield drops below 4% after Fed signals rate cuts are ahead: The yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by 8 basis points at 3.951%, breaking below the 4% mark for the first time since August. The 2-year Treasury yield was last more than 16 basis points lower at 4.317%. It had fallen by as many as 25 basis points on Wednesday. (WSJ) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR* -Bitcoin Community- 1. Binance faces potential exit in the Philippines as SEC sets ban timeline, emphasizing accountability and consumer protection. Notably, Commissioner Lee stressed the importance of investing in registered entities, and promoting consumer protection, and urged collaboration with the growing number of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in the country. (Coingape) 2. Rulematch, spearheaded by former Credit Suisse executive David Riegelnig, has unveiled a crypto trading platform tailored exclusively for banks and securities firms. Meanwhile, the platform has commenced Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) spot trading against USD, aiming to capitalize on the growing interest of traditional financial institutions in the digital asset arena. (Coingape) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Greed/Fear Index: 72/100 (Up 7pts) -Analyst Comments (AC): With the FED signaling possible interest rate drops ahead, all markets are higher today, indicating invester optimissm. Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 820,999 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 13DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Sen. Warren's bill gaining momemtum / All eyes on Fed for Interest rates / Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $41,212, 20.75oz Gold 24hr Hi: $41,958/ Lo: $40,715 Vol: $23.637B (down 24.5%) Mkt Cap: $806.982B (down 1.53%) HashRate: 471.4 EH/s Avg Fees: 40,956 sats/tx Nodes: 17,012 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Houthi mission attacks spook global shipping: Yemen’s Houthi forces have attacked several commercial ships crossing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in recent days, creating a new front in the battle between Israel and Hamas and complicating efforts by the U.S. and its allies to secure the critical shipping lane. (WSJ) 2. Israel’s military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas’s vast complex of tunnels in Gaza, according to U.S. officials briefed on the Israeli military’s operations, part of an intensive effort to destroy the underground infrastructure that has underpinned the group’s operations. 3. Ukraine’s biggest wireless network operator said attackers knocked its service offline Tuesday, disrupting critical infrastructure through an assault that coincided with the Ukrainian president’s latest visit to Washington. -US Events- 1. $200M to Ukraine: Zelenskyy's visit to the White house yesterday drew much attention and resulted in Pres. Biden announcing $200M in aid to Ukraine. Significant amounts of aid are still being held up by Congress and political maneuvering (AP) 2. Committee wants to test banks in case of China conflict: U.S. House Panel urges Federal Reserve to stress test banks for resilience in a potential conflict with Focus on assessing economic impact of sanctions and U.S. financial market’s vulnerability in China-related tensions. Recommendations include safeguarding U.S. technology and enhancing economic defenses against global power dynamics. (Cryptopolitan) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Crypto Bill Gains More Support: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) announced on Monday “an expanded coalition of Senate support” for her bipartisan Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) have joined the bill as cosponsors. Besides Warren, Marshall, Manchin, and Graham, the bill’s existing cosponsors comprise Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and John Fetterman (D-PA). 2. U.S. Presidential Candidates Chat About Crypto, Target Federal Regulators: The trio, two Republicans – entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson – and Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips, promised to ease regulatory pressures on crypto companies during the hours-long event hosted by the Coinbase-backed Stand with Crypto Alliance. (CoinDesk) -Technological Updates- 1. Bitcoin's Difficulty Drops for First Time Since September: The latest figures reveal that on Dec. 9, 2023, at block height 820,512, Bitcoin experienced a 0.96% decrease in its difficulty rating. This decline marks the first since Sept. 19, 2023, interrupting a streak of six successive difficulty hikes. (CoinDesk) -Institutional Concerns- 1. BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Now Invites Participation From Wall Street Banks: A change to the structure of proposed spot bitcoin ETFs would enable authorized participants (APs) to create new shares in the fund with cash, rather than only with cryptocurrency, essentially opening the door to banks who cannot hold crypto directly. (CoinDesk) 2. Saudi Aramco, the largest oil and gas company, might be on the brink of investing in digital assets. The company, which has a market capitalization of over $2 trillion, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SBI Holdings, a financial services company in Japan, to explore a collaboration in various fields of investment, including digital assets.(Bitcoin.com) -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed officials will release a new policy statement and economic and rate projections at the conclusion of their two-day meeting, Wednesday at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. will be heavily parsed for clues about when and why the central bank might shift its policy stance next year.(WSJ) 2. S&P 500 Rises to Highest Level Since January 2022: All three indexes closed at fresh 52-week highs for a third session in a row. The S&P 500 and Dow rose to their highest closing levels since January 2022, while the Nasdaq reached its highest close since March 2022. The major indexes are going on their seventh consecutive week of gains. (WSJ) 3. Interest costs drive U.S. budget deficit to all-time high: Deficit hits a record $314 billion in November, the highest since March. Surge in deficit driven by increased interest costs on government debt and higher spending in key areas like Medicare and Social Security. Economists express concern over the growing deficit, which is projected to stay near $2 trillion annually without legislative changes. (Cryptopolitan) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Crypto hacking figures dropped significantly from the $4 billion recorded last year to about $1.7 billion thus far this year, indicating an effect of increased security in the industry. (CoinGape) 2. Bitcoin Ransom Threatens Spider-Man 2 Developer: Pay 50 BTC Else: Insomniac Games has fallen victim to a hacking incident, with the hacking group Rhysida demanding a ransom of 50 Bitcoin (equivalent to approximately US$2 million). Rhysida has threatened to leak sensitive information about the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine game unless the payment is made within seven days. (Bitcoinist) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Whales Quietly Buy While Market Panics About Plunge On-chain data shows the Bitcoin whales (>1000BTC) have grown in number while the rest of the market has been panicking about the latest plunge (Bitcoinist) 2. Bitcoin Ordinals Smash Records With $36 Million Trading Frenzy: The Bitcoin Ordinals market experienced an unprecedented surge, reaching a staggering $36 million in trading volume on Dec. 12, setting a new record. This surge was primarily attributed to the recent listing of BRC-20 SATS (Ordinals) on Binance (U.Today) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Greed/Fear Index: 65/100 -Analyst Comments (AC): With multiple news events still on hold (ETF approval, Interest rate policy), the price action of BTC is in a consoldation phase, while it seems whales continue to accumulate quietly. Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report