BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 823,161 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 27DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US strikes back in Iraq / Barry Silbert resigns from Grayscale Board Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,931, 20.74oz Gold 24hr Hi: $43,208 / Lo: $41,676 Vol: $27.27B (Up 1%) Mkt Cap: $839.013B (Down .27%) HashRate: 477 EH/s Avg Fees: 62,210 sats/tx (up 1%) Nodes: 16,841 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US Forces strike suspected Hezollah targets in Northern Iraq: “Today, at President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups in Iraq,” SECDEF Austin said in a statement on Monday. (Breitbart) 2. Russia exports almost all its oil to China and India - Novak Russia has successfully circumvented sanctions on its oil and diverted flows from Europe to China and India, which together accounted for around 90% of its crude exports(Pravda) 3. Israel-Gaza war will continue for months, IDF chief warns: Israel's war with Hamas militants in Gaza will continue for "many more months", Israel's army chief has said. "There are no magic solutions," Herzi Halevi told reporters. On Monday PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the campaign was "not close to being over".(BBC) -US Events- 1. The Japanese government is set to provide the United States with the Patriot interceptor missiles owned by Japan's Self-Defense Forces: The government last Friday revised its guidelines on defense equipment transfers. This made it possible for Japan to export equipment manufactured domestically under license from a foreign firm to a country where the licenser is based.(NHK)(AC-The US is running low on Patriot missiles after sending them to Ukraine and it now resorting to buying some back from Japan) 2,Blizzard conditions and ice create treacherous travel across central US: A blizzard-fueling winter storm swept across the Plains and upper Midwest with heavy snow, freezing rain and strong winds, creating dangerous travel during the busy holiday week.(CNN) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. South Korea to Make Officials' Crypto Disclosures Public: Starting 2024, South Korea is making crypto and other asset holdings of approximately 5,800 public officials available to the public under new legislation aimed at increasing transparency.(coindesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Minecraft to Integrate Worldcoin for ID Verification Purposes: Worldcoin, the biometric ID and digital wallet project, will now allow Minecraft server integration through one of its apps. A plugin called Luckperms, a Minecraft server mod, lets server admins tackle the bot problem by only giving access to the server to World ID-verified users.(Bitcoincom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Grayscale refiles Bitcoin ETF application as Barry Silbert departs: Crypto asset manager Grayscale lodged an amended S-3 filing with the United States securities regulator on the same day Barry Silbert announced his resignation from Grayscale’s board of directors.(cointelegraph) 2. Hong Kong Paves the Way For Retail Investors To Dive Into Crypto ETFs: Hong Kong has opened the doors for retail investors to access exchange-traded funds (ETFs) directly linked to cryptocurrencies. The HK Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority jointly announced that they would authorize funds providing direct exposure to digital assets, including spot crypto ETFs (coingape) -Economic Indicators- NSTR* -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR* -Bitcoin Community- 1. Barry Silbert Resigns as Chairman of Grayscale Investments: Digital Currency Group (DCG) founder Barry Silbert has resigned from his position as the chairman of Grayscale Investments. Current DCG chief financial officer Mark Shifke succeeds Silbert and is joined by Edward McGee and Matthew Kummell as members of the new look board. (bitcoincom) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Up 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): It's a very slow news day (so far). Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

TC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 823,022 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 26DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,791, 20.69oz Gold 24hr Hi: $43,765 / Lo: $42,321 Vol: $26.9B (Up 37.5%) Mkt Cap: $837.17B (Down 1.4%) HashRate: 515 EH/s Avg Fees: 61,589 sats/tx (up 9%) Nodes: 15,964 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Islamists worldwide target Christmas celebrations: Europe: Christian churches threatened, New York: Large groups of pro-palestinian protestors march near Rockefeller Center, Chicago Interstate near O'Hare, SECDEF Lloyd Austin's home and NATSEC Advisor Jake Sullivan's home. (DW, WSJ, AP, Breibart, Reuters) (Analyst comment: Although noted separately in mulitiple reports, supporters of Palestininians or Hamas have used the Christian celebration of Christmas to target Europeans, city centers, and Biden administration officials with protesting and threats of violence. The efforts seem well-coordinated and specifically targeted.) 2. Iran-Backed Forces Widen Their Attacks on Commercial Shipping: The U.S. Navy said late Saturday that two more vessels had been attacked that day by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, bringing the number of commercial ships attacked to 15. The Pentagon said earlier in the day that a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean was struck by a drone launched directly from Iran, a claim Tehran denied.(WSJ) 3.Russia has confirmed one of its warships has been heavily damaged in a Ukrainian attack on a Black Sea port: The airstrike took place at Feodosiya in Russian-occupied Crimea early on Tuesday morning. Russia's Ministry of Defence said the large landing ship Novocherkassk was struck by Ukrainian aircraft carrying guided missiles.(BBC) -US Events- 1. Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was the target of a swatting attempt at her Georgia residence on Christmas morning, the congresswoman and local police said, marking the latest instance of someone calling in a fake emergency to draw armed officers or SWAT teams to her home. She posted that this is 'about the 8th time that this has happened'. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange Cracks Down on $2.2 Billion Crypto Exchange Ring: The Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has cracked down on an underground bank that used crypto to offer illegal exchange services. The operation, which had over 1,000 bank accounts and a presence in 17 provinces, moved over 15.8 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) to purchase crypto on exchanges overseas and provide yuan exchanging services.(Bitcoincom) 2. Mt. Gox Appears to Have Started PayPal Repayments Tied to 2014 Bitcoin Hack: Almost 10 years after being hacked, the Mt. Gox crypto exchange appears to be starting to repay customers who lost 850,000 bitcoin (BTC) now valued around $36 billion.Some participants in the mtgoxinsolvency subreddit group said they had received payouts in yen over Paypal. Others, who’d chosen to receive cash into bank accounts, said they had not seen any inflows.(CoinDesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- NSTR* -Institutional Concerns- 1. Blackrock Reveals Plan to Seed Spot Bitcoin ETF With $10 Million on January 3: The world’s largest asset manager has engaged in 6 recent meetings with the U.S. SEC to address its filing. In response to the SEC’s concerns, the firm has opted for the cash creation model, departing from its initial preference for the in-kind model.(Bitcoincom) -Economic Indicators- NSTR* -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. MS Drainer Allows Criminals to Siphon Over $58 Million: A recent report from Scam Sniffer, an anti-scam platform used by several Web3 wallets, has revealed that a malware, called MS Wallet Drainer, has managed to siphon over $58 million from cryptocurrency holders. The tool attacks the cryptocurrency wallets (Ethereum, BNB, and other EVM chains and rollups) of victims using Google and X ads to infect their devices and drain them of any available funds and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).(Bitcoincom) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Over 70% of Bitcoin (BTC) Unmoved in Past Year Ahead of Spot ETF Call and Halving: data from Look Into Bitcoin indicates that an impressive 70% of all Bitcoin in circulation has not changed hands in over a year. The Bitcoin 1+ Year HODL Wave suggests that a substantial portion of the cryptocurrency’s holders are maintaining a long-term perspective, possibly in anticipation of major upcoming events.(blockchainreporter) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Down 3 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The protest/threats targeting of Christian or Jewish supporters on Christmas day is alarming, especially with noted worldwide coordination. Continued vigilance and security is needed as the threat may continue to grow throughout Israel's campaign in Gaza. Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Twas the Night Before Bitcoin Christmas by @Chris Eckman 'Twas the night before Christmas, in the world of Bitcoin, Not a ledger was stirring, not even a coin; The miners were mining with utmost care, Hoping Satoshi's vision would always be there. The nodes were all syncing in the network with ease, Guarding the blockchain, as busy as bees; And I with my laptop, mining some too, Had just settled down for a long winter's review, When out on the network there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my terminal to see what was the matter. Away to the window, I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters, threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to addresses below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Satoshi! now, Finney! now, Adam Back and Andreas! On, Nakamoto! on, Saylor! on, Mallers and Keiser! To the top of the block! to the top of the chain! Now hash away! Hash away! Hash away all!" As private keys that before wild hackers fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Bitcoins, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of Bitcoins he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! He had a broad face and a round little belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the wallets; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— "Happy Bitcoin to all, and to all a bullish night!"

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 822,394 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 22DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: China tells Phillipines 'We will keep up pressure' / Angola adopts Crypto AML-type law / Argentina announces Bitcoin as legal for contracts Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $43,631, 21.14oz Gold 24hr Hi: $44,367 / Lo: $43,387 Vol: $23.8B (Down 20.8%) Mkt Cap: $853.54B (Down .9%) HashRate: 527 EH/s Avg Fees: 59,513 sats/tx (down 50%) Nodes: 16,609 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. China vows to keep up military pressure on the Philippines as territorial dispute grows tenser: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Philippine counterpart, Enrique A. Manalo on Thursda, that CHina will maintain military pressure on the Philippines amid a dispute over sovereignty in the South China Sea that could involve U.S. forces defending their treaty partner.(Asahi Shimbun) 2. New war in the making as Yemeni Houthis attack ships in Red Sea: The United States and its allies are getting involved in an operation against the Houthis in Yemen, who responded to Israel's aggression against the Gaza Strip by attacking military and commercial ships in the Red Sea.(Pravda) 3. Angolan National Assembly Approves Crypto Law to Safeguard 'Monetary Sovereignty': The Angolan National Assembly recently unanimously approved a groundbreaking law that addresses cryptocurrency mining and virtual currency within the country. The legislation aims to safeguard the sovereignty of Angola’s monetary policy. Otoniel Dos Santos, the country’s Secretary of State for Finance and Treasury, emphasized that the passage of this law was also necessitated by crypto mining’s impact on the environment and the country’s energy security. -US Events- 1. White House Says $14.1 Billion U.S. Steel Sale Deserves ‘Serious Scrutiny’ Under deal, Japan’s Nippon Steel would acquire one of America’s most storied industrial enterprises. Biden administration’s top economic adviser said Thursday the $14.1 billion deal to acquire U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel deserved “serious scrutiny” regarding its potential impact on national security and supply chains.(WSJ) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs Affirms Bitcoin Acceptance for Contract Agreements: The announcement signifies a significant leap towards Bitcoin adoption within the South American nation.(BitcoinMagazine) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Bank of China Completes First Precious Metal Digital Yuan Settlement: The Shanghai branch of the Bank of China announced that it has completed the first precious metal settlement using the digital yuan, the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC). The bank worked closely with the Shanghai Gold Exchange to transact the funds received overseas with the digital yuan. The transaction involved paying $14 million in exchange for undisclosed precious metals.(Bitcoincom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. French Connection: Coinbase Clinches Crypto License In Latest Global Push: Coinbase recently made a calculated strategic step to expand into European markets by acquiring a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license from the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) of France.The acquisition of the VASP license from the French regulatory authority establishes Coinbase as an acknowledged and adherent participant in the French financial sector.(Bitcoinist) 2. BlackRock takes bold step in Bitcoin ETF race with new broker (CoinBase): Recent reports reveal that the company has introduced a novel element in its ETF structure by appointing a ‘Prime Execution Agent.’ This agent, a third-party broker, will be responsible for buying and selling Bitcoin on behalf of BlackRock’s fund.(Cryptopolitan) -Economic Indicators- 1. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to announce the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation data for November today. The annual PCE inflation is expected to further cool to 2.8% from 3 last month, with no rise in the monthly rate. Also, the Core PCE, the Fed’s preferred gauge to measure inflation, is expected to rise 0.2% month-on-month while the annual rate is predicted to decline to 3.3%, marking its lowest level since 2021.(WSJ) 2. The US 10-year Treasury yield continues to fall after dropping below 4% last week. It is now at 3.89%, slightly up as traders brace for inflation data(WSJ) -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR* -Bitcoin Community- 1. ‘If You Want to Understand Bitcoin's Value, Look at Politicians' Hate Toward It,' Says Sean Ono Lennon: Lennon, the acclaimed American-British musician and son of Beatles icon John Lennon, revisited the subject of bitcoin on social media platform X. He poignantly observed, “If you want to understand how valuable bitcoin truly is, look how much our politicians hate it.” Previously, Lennon has shared insights about the leading digital currency, highlighting that it offers him a sense of hope amidst an “ocean of destruction.”(Bitcoincom) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 4 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Althogh Angola's AML-type law does not directly affect US law, the trend is continuing for governments to pigeonhole Bitcoin into a money laundering narrative. We can expect this trend to continue while some countries will also adopt Bitcoin as a viable currency alternative like Argentina, setting up an interesting bifrication among countries concerning Bitcoin. Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

TC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 822,238 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 21DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $44,113, 21.64oz Gold 24hr Hi: $44,093/ Lo: $42,970 Vol: $30.170B (Up 45.5%) Mkt Cap: $864.709B (Up 2.8%) HashRate: 510 EH/s Avg Fees: 55,405 sats/tx (down 50%) Nodes: 16,189 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Israel continues seige of Gaza: After almost two months of intermittent conflict and a general seige of Hamas in Gaza, IDF forces are announcing that they have found a Hamas command center in Gaza City. Meanwhile, Hamas leadership begins meeting with Isreali leaders in Egypt for more peace talks. Telecom is reported down throughout Gaza. (AP/WSJ) 2. US, Venezuela swap prisoners: The US freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and the return of a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who is at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal.(AP) -US Events- 1. Biden Administration Explores Raising Tariffs on Chinese EVs: The Biden administration is discussing raising tariffs on roughly $300 billion of Chinese goods, including electric vehicles, in an attempt to bolster the U.S. clean-energy industry against cheaper Chinese exports.(WSJ) 2. Colorado Supreme Court justices face a flood of threats after disqualifying Trump from the ballot: In the 24 hours since the Colorado Supreme Court kicked former President Donald Trump off the state's Republican primary ballot, social media outlets have been flooded with threats against the justices who ruled in the case(NBC) -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR* -Institutional Concerns- 1. Family Offices Are Warming Up to Blockchain and Crypto: A report issued by Grant Thornton, a professional services network, has revealed that family offices are eyeing crypto and blockchain to increase their investments in these areas. More than half of the family offices consulted have already invested in digital assets, with 38% allocating less than 1% of their portfolio to these technologies(Bitcoin.com) -Economic Indicators- 1. BTC/GOLD ratio hits new highs, mirroring Bitcoin's ascent against traditional safe havens: As the BTC landscape has matured, the ratio climbed a staggering 139.9% since the dawn of 2023, signaling a potential shift in the tides of investment.(CryptoSlate) 2. Home Sales Ticked Up in November After 5 Months of Declines: Existing-home sales, which make up most of the housing market, increased 0.8% in November from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.82 million(WSJ) -Technological Updates- 1. Vladimir Putin's Signature Brings Digital Ruble Into Russia's Tax Code: The tax code now contains a definition of “digital ruble account” and has rules for the taxation of transactions with digital rubles. (CoinDesk) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR* -Bitcoin Community- NSTR* -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Down 4 pts) Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 822,082 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 20DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Trump barred from Colorado Ballet / Sen Warren blames veterans, LEO, Gov employees for teaming with Crypto / Bull market talk at fever pitch Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,996, 21.11oz Gold 24hr Hi: $42,999/ Lo: $41,826 Vol: $20.730B (down 13.4%) Mkt Cap: $840.595B (flat) HashRate: 507 EH/s Avg Fees: 107,238 sats/tx (up 10%) Nodes: 17,023 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Chinese activist Li Qiaochu has been tried for "inciting subversion of state power" in a case seen as part of China's sprawling crackdown on dissent. The 32-year-old faces a possible jail term of five years or more. She has been in custody since March 2021, after tweeting about the harsh detention conditions of her partner and fellow activist Xu Zhiyong. (BBC) (AC-Li Qiaochu is one of five activists arrested and sentenced recently for speaking out against the heavy hand of Chinese control. China has also issued "bounties" for HK dissidents worldwide.) -US Events- 1. Fmr Pres Trump barred from Colorado ballet, Vivek Ramaswamy pledges support: Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has pledged to withdraw from the Colorado state primary in response to the recent ruling that bars former President Trump from being on the ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled “in a 4-3 opinion that the Constitution’s ‘Insurrection Clause’ prohibits former President Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot for the presidency in 2024.” (Breitbart) (AC-This ruling may push the issue to SCOTUS and is igniting severe reactions in the US.) 2. 177 of Jeffrey Epstein’s Associates’ Identities to Be Revealed in Court Documents: The names will appear in court documents set to be released in early January.(Daily Mail) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Sen Warren blames former Military/LEO/Lawmakers for pushing crypto terrorism: The Massachusetts Democrat sent letters to Coinbase, the Blockchain Association and Coin Center, two leading industry groups, demanding details on their employment of the former officials. Warren cited POLITICO reporting that outlined how the crypto lobby has been flexing its association with the experts as it faces growing scrutiny for the role digital assets play in facilitating financial crime, including funding the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.(Politico)(AC-Veterans drawing attention) 2. Palau pushes forward with CBDC: The Ministry of Finance in Palau has officially kickstarted the second phase of its Palau Stablecoin (PSC) initiative. Palau has set its sights on expanding its collaboration with Ripple, with the goal to leverage Ripple’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) platform and tap into their technical expertise. PSC is a digital currency that is pegged to the United States dollar and operates on Ripple’s XRP Ledger.(CryptoIntelligence) 3. 42 Different Countries Discussed or Passed Crypto Regulations, Legislation in 2023: The report, released on Tuesday by PWC, said 42 countries have engaged in myriad initiatives to develop crypto-focused regulations and legislation, from holding discussions to passing laws. Those regulatory and legislative pushes are divided into four key focus areas: stablecoin regulation, travel rule compliance, licensing and listing guidance, and crypto framework development, according to PwC.(CoinDesk) -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Institutional Concerns- NSTR* -Economic Indicators- 1. November Home Sales Likely Fell After Mortgage Rates Hit Two-Decade Highs. Affordability has improved slightly since earlier this fall, but inventory of homes for sale remains low. The National Association of Realtors will release the November existing-home sales report at 10 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday. (WSJ) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR* -Bitcoin Community- NSTR* -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Greed/Fear Index: 74/100 (Up 1 pt) Analyst Comments (AC)- The majority of articles concerning Bitcoin today are about price predictions or the coming "bull market". The speculation is high from Michael Saylor to mainstream media, which often leads to confirmation bias in discussions and reporting. Factual analysis may be difficult in such an atmosphere, and we will continue to seek the "Signal" from the "Noise". Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 821,928 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 19DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Volcano erupts in Iceland / US DOD announces new operation against Houthis / US, Brasil and South Korea target cryptocurrenices Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $42,907, 21.19oz Gold 24hr Hi: $43,354/ Lo: $40,879 Vol: $23.891B (up 9.04%) Mkt Cap: $840.552B (up 4.85%) HashRate: 514 EH/s Avg Fees: 98,810 sats/tx (almost double yesterday's data) Nodes: 17,232 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Volcano Near Iceland’s Grindavik Erupts After Series of Earthquakes: Thousands of nearby residents were evacuated in November over activity. Lava appears to be spewing hundreds of feet in the air and can be seen on nearby web cameras, but experts said no residents are in immediate danger.(WSJ) 2. The U.S. is establishing a multinational maritime task force—"Operation Prosperity Guardian"—to address attacks from Houthis in Yemen on commercial ships and other targets as the conflict in the Middle East widens and risks upending global trade, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced Dec. 18. The Pentagon Dec. 19 that the Houthis have conducted over 100 drone and ballistic missile attacks, targeting 10 merchant vessels involving more than 35 different nations.(A&SForcesMag) -US Events- 1. Texas Govenor Abbott Signs Law Allowing Texas to Arrest Migrants, Setting Up Federal Showdown: The new law, which takes effect in March, could bring in mass arrests and a court fight between Texas and the federal government over immigration powers.(NYT) 2, Illegal crossings surge in remote areas as Congress, White House weigh major asylum limits: The number of daily arrivals is “unprecedented,” CBP Commisioner Miller said, with illegal crossings topping 10,000 some days across the border in December. On Monday, CBP suspended cross-border rail traffic in the Texas cities of Eagle Pass and El Paso in response to migrants riding freight trains through Mexico, hopping off just before entering the U.S. The Lukeville border crossing is closed, as is a pedestrian entry in San Diego, so that more officials can be assigned to the migrant influx. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Elizabeth Warren Pushes Back at Blockchain Lobbying Efforts: In a letter to the Blockchain Association, the U.S. senator accuses the group of undermining Congress. The Blockchain Association's efforts to lobby the U.S. Congress is an affront to efforts to stop Hamas and other terror groups using crypto to finance themselves, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a letter to the group's chief executive, Kristin Smith. (CoinDesk) 2.Central Bank of Brazil Seeks Input on VASP Regulation: The Central Bank of Brazil is preparing to finally issue rules for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs) operating in the country. The institution opened a public consultation seeking input to prepare the rules VASPs would have to follow, according to the faculties it received since the approval and sanction of the cryptocurrency assets law in December 2023.(bitcoin.com) 3. Bank of Korea Governor Sees CBDC Introduction as Case for 'Urgency:' Stablecoins' widespread usage and frequent instability could reduce the effectiveness of central bank monetary policies, Rhee Chang-yong said. The bank has already said it plans a retail pilot CBDC scheme involving 100,000 people next year.(CoinDesk) -Technological Updates- NSTR* -Institutional Concerns- 1. 7RCC Files First ESG-Focused Spot Bitcoin ETF With Gemini As Custodian: 7RCC Global, a firm providing ESG investors with access to blockchain and digital asset investments through ETFs, has filed a spot Bitcoin ETF application with carbon credits with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It will hold 80% Bitcoin and 20% carbon credits futures, becoming the first with environmental-focused offering.(coingape.com) -Economic Indicators- 1. Japan's central bank keeps its negative interest rate unchanged: The Bank of Japan has kept its longstanding easy credit policies unchanged, saying it will watch price and wage trends before raising its negative benchmark interest rate(ABC) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR* -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Transaction Fees Surge, Sparking Debate on Future Solutions: The spike in fees is attributed to the recent wave of Bitcoin Ordinals inscriptions, resulting in elevated costs for all network users.(Crypto Intelligence) 2.Bitcoin leverage drops to historical lows: the Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR), offers a glimpse into the market’s leverage and is noteworthy. Currently, the ELR is nearing historical lows—an occurrence witnessed only twice prior. This indicates a significant reduction in market leverage, implying a conservative approach from traders in the futures market.(cryptoslate) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Greed/Fear Index: 73/100 (Up 8 pts) Analyst Comments (AC)- With multiple politicians responding vigorously against Bitcoin and Crypto around the world recently, it appears governments are beginning to understand the threat to economic power through central banking and currencies. The battle for economic control is ramping up through decentralyzed versus centralized currenncies. The South Korean Bank Governor is very clear in his understanding of the threat to his control, hence the "urgent" need for CBDCs. ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 821,770 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 18DEC23 Prcedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Chile decides to stick with free-market constitution / SEC slammed by Congressmen / Ordinals on blockchain are increasing fees Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $40,881, 20.22oz Gold 24hr Hi: $42,359/ Lo: $40,530 Vol: $22.058B (down 49.81%) Mkt Cap: $800.450B (down 2.46%) HashRate: 508 EH/s Avg Fees: 57,234 sats/tx Nodes: 16,673 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Chile maintains older, free-market constitution: In a recent referendum, 56% of Chileans rejected a new constitutional draft, opting to retain their current constitution, which is credited with making Chile Latin America's most affluent country through investor protections. This decision ends a constitutional debate sparked by 2019 mass protests over social grievances.(AP) 2.Oil major BP becomes latest to pause Red Sea shipments, with global supply chain in focus: BP announced Monday that it had decided to pause all shipments through the Red Sea. It comes after shipping giants MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and Maersk all announced a suspension of travel through the Red Sea following a series of attacks by Houthi militants from Yemen. “You are going to see some fairly seismic activity in terms of the implications for supply chains,” the editor-in-chief of Lloyd’s List told CNBC. (CNBC) -US Events- 1. Supreme Court to Rule on Charge Leveled at Trump and Jan. 6 Defendants Justices’ consideration of whether obstruction law was properly applied could delay Trump’s coming trial and alter verdicts already reached. (WSJ) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. US Lawmakers Slam SEC and Chair Gensler for Refusing to Provide Clear Regulation for Crypto Industry: U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Tom Emmer criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its Chairman Gary Gensler on Friday after the SEC denied Coinbase’s petition for clear crypto regulation.(bitcoin.com) -Technological Updates- 1. Worldcoin, the iris biometric crypto project, has reportedly reached an agreement with Kenyan authorities which allows it to resume operations in the African country, and is likely to happen sometime in early 2024.(bitcoin.com) 2. Bitcoin Miners Hit Record $9.97M Earnings From Ordinals; 61% of BTC Transfers Inscription-Driven: In the wake of a substantial increase in onchain transaction fees for Bitcoin, the compensation to bitcoin miners from inscription-based transfers has hit a record peak in the last 24 hours. (bitcoin.com) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR* -Economic Indicators- NSTR* -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Tether, the stablecoin company, has confirmed it has collaborated extensively with a series of U.S government agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Secret Service. These team-ups are focused on making the stablecoin ecosystem safer for all participants and aiding law enforcement actions against bad actors.(bitcoin.com) 2. Multiple Ethereum-based applications including Zapper, SushiSwap, Phantom, Balancer and Revoke were compromised early Thursday due to a Ledger security breach. Ledger, the Paris-based crypto hardware wallet manufacturer, said it has fixed the malicious code as of 13:35 UTC — the company also warned users to “Clear Sign” transactions, a way to ensure you are interacting directly with the company’s website and software. -Bitcoin Community- 1. The U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Marc R. Stanley, has lauded Unblock Computing’s bitcoin mining initiative for its innovative use of flared gas in generating electricity. Ambassador Stanley commended the plan for its dual benefits: aiding Argentina in achieving its climate objectives and promoting energy conservation. -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Greed/Fear Index: 65/100 (Down 5 pts) Analyst Comments (AC)- Two elements are countering the "bull market" optimism: 1. The ordinals effect on on-chain fees and 2. The possibility of ETF denials by the SEC. Both concerns are keeping the price action in the $40-43k range before next year's bullish events (ETF approval and the halving) happen. ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report