BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 846,735 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 6Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Putin Says Ukraine-Supporting States in Play Now / D-Day Vets Dwindle / 1st New Bird Flu Death / Warden Arrested in Wisconsin / Georgia Pauses Trump Case / Biden Admin Politicizing Vets Administration / Intel Authorization Bill To Be Used Against Digital Assets / Institutions Play With Meme Coins / Saudi Arabia Joins BIS CBDC Effort / Stocks Hit Record High / Kerrisdale Capital Declares War on Bitcoin Miners Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $71,167, 30.17 oz Gold, .17 Median US House 24hr Hi: $71,735 / Lo: $70,390 Vol: $26B (Down 30%) Mkt Cap: $1.40T (Even) HashRate: 510 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 52 sats/vBtye (Up 23%) Nodes: 17,799 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Putin says Russia could deploy missiles in striking distance of the West: Putin, in his first face-to-face meeting with senior editors of international news agencies since the war in Ukraine began, said the West was wrong to assume Russia would never use nuclear weapons, and said the Kremlin's nuclear doctrine should not be taken lightly. Putin also said Moscow was considering deploying similar high-technology, long-range missiles close enough to strike the states that allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory with such missiles. (Reuters) 2. D-Day anniversary 2024: World leaders, veterans, commemorate Normandy landings: At the British ceremony in Ver-sur-Mer, veterans were applauded as they filed into the event to take their seats, which were decorated with bright red poppies. (Reuters) 3. WHO confirms first death from bird flu strain not seen before in humans: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday a man in Mexico died from a strain of bird flu, H5N2, that had not previously been reported in humans. The strain is different from the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, which has caused an outbreak among livestock in the U.S. and has infected three dairy farm workers. (TheHill) -US Events- 1. Former Wisconsin Prison Warden and Employees Charged in Inmate Deaths: The former warden of a Wisconsin prison and eight other prison employees were charged on Wednesday in connection with multiple inmate deaths over the last year, the local sheriff said. The prison’s former warden, Randall Hepp, had left his job earlier this week. He was charged with misconduct in public office, a felony. Mr. Hepp’s arrest was first reported by The Associated Press. inmates had been confined to their cells for months and denied access to medical care. (NYT) 2. Georgia court puts pause on Fani Willis' sweeping election case against Trump: In a major setback to the Fulton County District Attorney, the Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday put a pause on any proceedings related to the 2020 election interference case against former President Trump and co-defendants until it hears the case to disqualify Fani Willis in October. (Fox) 3. Biden threatens VA budget veto over abortion, gender-affirming care: President Joe Biden on Monday threatened to veto the House’s $360 billion appropriations plan for the Department of Veterans Affairs next year over restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care services included in the measure, accusing lawmakers of “wasting time with partisan bills.” (MilitaryTimes) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. New law grants US president power to block digital asset access: An X user posted Senator Mark Warner’s apparent strategic insertion of legislative elements on June 5, enabling the scrutinized new sweeping powers granted to the U.S. president over digital assets. Under the new law, the president can block transactions between U.S. persons and foreign entities identified as supporting terrorist organizations. This includes imposing strict conditions on foreign financial institutions maintaining accounts in the U.S. if they are found facilitating such transactions. Scott Johnsson, a prominent voice in the digital assets field, warns that the move could be seen as an effort to exert control over digital assets under the guise of combating terrorism. (CoinTelegraph) (AC-The language was inserted in the Intel Authorization Act of 2024, which is a 'must-pass' funding bill'.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Crypto: Memecoins are exploding in institutional investors' portfolios: Between February and March, institutional holdings in memecoins surged by 226%, reaching $204 million. In April, this figure climbed to $293.7 million, before dropping to $139 million at the end of the studied period, indicating an aggressive selling strategy in response to market volatility. (CoinTribune) (AC-New investors in cryptocurrencies often explore the shitcoin world, even institutional investors. All eventually learn.) 2. Robinhood to Buy Crypto Exchange Bitstamp in Effort to Expand Outside the U.S.: Trading platform Robinhood has agreed to buy U.K.-based crypto exchange Bitstamp for $200 million in cash. The acquisition is hoped to allow Robinhood to expand its crypto presence globally and attract institutional clientele. (CoinDesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Saudi Arabia joins BIS- and China-led central bank digital currency project: The move, announced by the Bank for International Settlements on Wednesday, will see Saudi's central bank become a "full participant" of Project mBridge, a collaboration launched in 2021 between the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Roughly 135 countries and currency unions, representing 98% of global GDP, are exploring central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs. (Reuters) -Economic Indicators- 1. S&P 500 and Nasdaq Close at Record Highs: Wall Street major indices closed firmly higher on Wednesday, driven by a tech rally led by AI-darling Nvidia, amid optimism that the Federal Reserve might lower interest rates later this year after slightly weak labor market data. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Microsoft Windows Recall: Security Experts Worried of Privacy Risks, Demos How Easily Data Can Be Accessed: Two weeks after Microsoft introduced 'Recall' as part of the Copilot+ PC experience on Windows, the service faces massive backlash and criticism about its privacy and security risks. In several cases, it was proven that user data is not safe on Copilot's Recall, with many showing how easily they could obtain data from the service and pose dangers to a user. (TechTimes) -Technology- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. The Bitcoin Hotels, A World’s First with Japanese and British Partnership: IKAR Holdings and Unify Platform will establish the World’s first Bitcoin Hotel. The partners aim to revolutionize the global hospitality industry by introducing the first hotel chain where guests can seamlessly pay for accommodations using cryptocurrency alongside ordinary currencies. With an initial hotel in Istanbul, followed by expansions into iconic cities like London and Tokyo, their vision is to create a distinctive luxury experience at the intersection of technology and hospitality. (Chainwire) 2. ‘War Against Bitcoin Miners’: US Investment Firm Sparks Industry Backlash: Kerrisdale Capital, a US investment firm, set off a storm of reactions on Wednesday with a series of public communications aggressively targeting Bitcoin mining companies. In a multi-part thread on X, Kerrisdale announced its campaign against what it describes as “snake oil salesmen” in the BTC mining industry, accusing them of being both a financial sinkhole and an environmental hazard. Adam O of Upstream Data defended Bitcoin mining’s environmental impact, stating, “Good luck vilifying that which improves all stakeholders, reduces waste, and reduces methane emissions. Dumbest mission of the decade.” (Bitcoinist) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 78/100 (Up 3 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Saudi Arabia joining the BIS-led effort for an international CBDC is significant as the 50-year petrodollar agreement with the USA comes to a close on June 9th. Saudi Arabia is not expected to renew the agreement which opens up the door for multiple global trade options such as this BIS-led effort or joining the BRICS CBDC effort. The impact of the USD losing petrodollar status cannot be overstated. Demand for USD and therefore Treasuries will eventually drop significantly, leading to a shifting paradigm in world finance. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 846,613 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 5Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US Embassy Attacked in Lebanon / Silence in China, HK On Tiananmen Anniversary / Modi Wins PM Again in India / Biden Signs EO on Border / Largest COVID Fraud Trial In US Has Attempted Bribe / SEALs Take Heat For Pride / US Tries to Get Back Binance Exec From Nigeria / Texas Wants New Stock Exchange / Best Day in BTC ETFs Since Launch / US Job Openings Decline / AT&T Has Another Bad Day Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $70,944, 30.44 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,564 / Lo: $70,230 Vol: $38B (Up 31%) Mkt Cap: $1.40T (Up 3%) HashRate: 541 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 46 sats/vBtye (Up 94%) Nodes: 17,808 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Attack on US Embassy in Lebanon foiled, army fights back to kill one assailant: A Lebanese security official told The Associated Press that there were four assailants, including one who drove them to the site and three who opened fire. One shooter was killed, one escaped and the third was wounded and detained by the Lebanese military. A member of the embassy's security team was wounded in the attack and the Lebanese army shot an attacker in the stomach, a security source told Reuters. (Fox) 2. Silence and heavy security in China and Hong Kong mark 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown: Hong Kong police arrested four people and swarmed a handful of others who tried to protest or commemorate as the effort extended beyond the mainland. Hundreds, if not thousands, are believed to have been killed in an overnight operation that ended on the morning of June 4, 1989. It was a turning point in modern Chinese history as Communist Party hard-liners embraced control instead of political reforms. (AP) 3. India: Modi set for third term but opposition still to concede: PM Narendra Modi is set to retain power, but his BJP party lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time in 10 years. (BBC) -US Events- 1. Biden rolls out asylum restrictions, months in the making, to help ‘gain control’ of the border: The long-anticipated presidential proclamation would bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem that the southern border is overwhelmed. The order will go into effect when the number of border encounters between ports of entry hits 2,500 per day, according to senior administration officials. (AP) 2. Juror reports receiving $120K bribe attempt in pandemic relief fraud trial: Seven people are on trial in connection with what federal prosecutors called the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme to date. They are accused of taking part in a $250 million fraud scheme through the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future that allegedly exploited funds from a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic to purchase big-ticket items like luxury cars and houses. (ABC) (AC-Other outlets are reporting the defendants are all Somali nationals or immigrants) 3. U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command Posts Pride Month Graphic, Limits Replies: The United States Navy Special Warfare Command — the command overseeing U.S. Navy SEALs and other Navy special operations forces — celebrated Pride Month with a special graphic posted on its Facebook page on June 1. The most-liked comment on the post was, “This is a slap in the face of every special warfare operator that has put their lives on the line for our nation.” (Breitbart) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. U.S. Lawmakers Push Biden to Bring Back Detained Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan From Nigeria: Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the House Foreign Affairs Committee chair, along with 11 other leaders, sent a letter to Joe Biden and others. In the letter, they urged the president to treat Gambaryan's case as a hostage situation and bring him back to the U.S. Gambaryan is a U.S. citizen and Binance’s head of compliance. (CoinDesk) -Institutional Concerns- 1. New Texas Stock Exchange Takes Aim at New York’s Dominance: A group backed by Wall Street heavyweights BlackRock and Citadel Securities is planning to start a new national stock exchange in Texas, aiming to take on what they see as onerous regulation at the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. The Texas Stock Exchange, which has raised approximately $120 million from individuals and large investment firms, plans to file registration documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission later this year. (WSJ) 2. BTC ETFs See $880M Inflows in Best Day Since March: U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs saw over $880 million in inflows on Tuesday, led by Fidelity's FBTC. Fidelity’s FBTC took on $378 million in inflows, the highest among counterparts. BlackRock’s IBIT followed with $270 million, while Grayscale’s GBTC – infamous for its outflows – took on $28 million. (CoinDesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Digital Yuan App Drops 'Pilot' Description, Hints at Change to Production Ready Status: While local Chinese news outlets explained that this change had to do with app requirements, some expect this might be a step before its generalized implementation. (BitcoinCom) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Job Openings Fall More Than Expected: The number of job openings declined by 296,000 from the previous month to 8.059 million in April 2024, the lowest level since February 2021 and missing the market consensus of 8.34 million. (TradingEconomics) 2. Treasury Yields Fall for 5th Session: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note was around 4.35%, the lowest in about three weeks, as recent data out of the US continues to reinforce the view that the Fed is ready to start the easing cycle in September. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology- 1. 'Nationwide issue' affecting cell service between carriers resolved, AT&T says: The problem was not a nationwide outage, it said, but rather "a nationwide issue that is affecting the ability of some customers to complete calls between carriers," AT&T said at the time. The disruption occurred a little more than three months after a widespread outage affected AT&T customers, leaving people without service. During that incident, around 50,000 outrages were reported at one point. (NBC) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 75/100 (Up 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The Texas Stock Exchange initiative is another sign of the polarization of business in the US. Supporters cite onerous rules and DEI efforts at the NYSE and Nasdaq as some of the reasons for the investments and effort. Citizens continue to find ways to exit systems that the politically or culturally do not agree with. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 846,486 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 4Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: IDF Say 4 Hostages Killed / EU Swings Right / South African ANC Lost Majority Held Since 1990s / Hunter Trial Begins / New EO on Limiting Asylum on Border / Fauci in Congressional Hot Seat / Binance's CZ Enters Prison for 4 Months / Saylor Settles With Tax Officials / Epoch Time CFO Arrested for Laundering / ISM Data Drops Unexpectedly / Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,134, 29.62 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,564 / Lo: $70,230 Vol: $29B (Up 17%) Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Even) HashRate: 620 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 26 sats/vBtye (Down Up 18%) Nodes: 18,937 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Israel announces the deaths of four hostages in Hamas captivity: IDF promises to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Chaim Peri, 79, Amiram Cooper, 84, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Nadav Popplewell, 51. “We estimate that the four were killed together, in the Khan Younis area, several months ago, while being held by Hamas terrorists and while IDF forces were operating in Khan Younis,” the IDF said. (TimesofIsrael) 2. Europeans may be about to elect their most right-wing parliament in history: Europeans head to the polls this week in closely watched elections that threaten to shake the bloc’s traditionally mainstream political landscape. “We are seeing a rise in populist sentiment both in Europe and globally, which might result in the most right-wing European Parliament in history,” Tim Adams, president and CEO of the Institute of International Finance. (CNBC) 3. South Africa’s president won’t resign despite ANC losing majority for first time: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called for unity after his African National Congress party failed to win a majority, marking a new era for Africa’s most advanced economy. The ANC is still the largest party, having won 40.2 percent of votes, but the 159 seats it secured are well short of the 200 required for a majority in the 400-seat National Assembly. In the previous parliament it had 230 seats. (Politico) -US Events- 1. Joe Biden’s worries grow as Hunter Biden’s trial begins: Hunter Biden faces three criminal counts for allegedly buying a gun while in the throes of addiction to crack cocaine and lying on an official form about it. The charges were brought by the president’s own Justice Department, and the trial is taking place in his family’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. (Politico) 2. Biden prepares an order that would shut down asylum if a daily average of 2,500 migrants arrive: The White House is telling lawmakers that President Joe Biden is preparing to sign off on an executive order that would shut down asylum requests at the U.S.-Mexico border once the average number of daily encounters hits 2,500 between ports of entry, with the border reopening only once that number declines to 1,500, according to several people familiar with the discussions. The impact of the 2,500 figure means that the executive order could go into immediate effect, because daily figures are higher than that now. (AP) 3. Anthony Fauci defends his Covid response, distances himself from adviser accused of misconduct: Fauci sought to refute allegations from Republicans on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic that he tried to suppress the theory that a lab accident in Wuhan, China, caused the pandemic. (Politico) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Former Binance CEO CZ Begins 4-Month Prison Sentence in California: Lompoc II, the California prison where CZ will serve his sentence, is a low-security facility. At a net worth of $36.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Zhao is believed to be the richest person to ever go to prison in the U.S. (CoinDesk) 2. Billionaire Bitcoin Advocate Michael Saylor Agrees to $40 Million Settlement in Tax Evasion Case: The lawsuit also implicated Saylor’s company, Microstrategy, alleging that it assisted him in evading taxes by submitting fraudulent tax forms between 2005 and 2020. The report indicates that Saylor evaded over $25 million in income taxes by falsely claiming residency in either Virginia or Florida, where income tax rates are lower. Despite agreeing to the settlement, Saylor maintains his innocence, asserting that Florida remains his primary residence. (BitcoinCom) 3. Epoch Times CFO Bill Guan is charged in alleged $67 million global money laundering scheme: The finance chief of conservative global news outlet The Epoch Times was arrested and charged with leading a yearslong scheme to launder at least $67 million in illicit funds. The alleged scheme by Weidong Guan and others involved cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits and stolen personal identification information, according to federal prosecutors. (CNBC) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. BIS Plans Instant Cross-Border Payments Using Wholesale CBDC Settlement: In a move to improve traditional cross-border payments, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has announced the launch of Project Rialto. This project aims to enhance instant cross-border payments by integrating a modular foreign exchange (FX) component with settlement in wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). (BitcoinCom) -Economic Indicators- 1. ISM Manufacturing PMI Below Forecasts: The ISM Manufacturing PMI unexpectedly edged lower to 48.7 in May 2024 from 49.2 in April, below forecasts of 49.6. The reading showed another contraction for the manufacturing activity as demand was soft again, output was stable, and inputs stayed accommodative. (TradingEconomics) (AC-Both stocks prices and bond yields dropped on the news) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Chinese Crypto Trader Loses $1 Million From Binance After Chrome Plugin Exploit: The Binance user learned that the crypto heist was possible due to a malicious Google Chrome Extension. According to the victim’s investigation, the Aggr Chrome plugin stole all his web browsing and cookie data. With this information, the hacker hijacked his active Binance session without needing the password or go through 2FA. (Bitcoinist) -Technology- 1. The Goal for China’s Chip Giant: Cut Out the U.S.: It is a part of a broader campaign to eradicate American technology in China, dubbed “Delete A” or “Decouple From A,” which has accelerated in recent years as the world’s two biggest economies intensify their battle to dominate in next-generation technology. -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Even) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 846,350 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 3Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Mexico Elects First Woman President, Peso Falls / Ahmadinejad Re-emerges in Iran / Israel Will Not Accept Hamas Rule / Hunter Biden Trial Beginning / Trump Joins TikTok / Donald Jr Meets With Bukele / Biden Vetos SAB 121 Law / Australia Launches Spot BTC ETF / Ripple Leads CBDC Tech / $300M BTC Hack on Japanese Exchange / China Lands on Far Side of Moon / 6.8% of World own 'Crypto' Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,134, 29.65 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $69,313 / Lo: $67,315 Vol: $24B (Up 92%) Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Up 1%) HashRate: 710 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 21 sats/vBtye (Down 35%) Nodes: 18,434 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Claudia Sheinbaum projected to be Mexico's first woman president: The climate scientist and Mexico City’s former mayor rode the wave of popularity of her longtime political ally, outgoing leftist Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and their Morena party. (CNN) 2. Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registers for presidential election: Iran’s hard-line former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registered Sunday as a possible candidate for the presidential election, seeking to regain the country’s top political position after a helicopter crash killed the nation’s president. (NYT) 3. ‘We will not accept the rule of Hamas in Gaza at any stage’: Israel: ‘We will not accept the rule of Hamas in Gaza at any stage’: Israel won’t accept Hamas’s rule of Gaza and is examining alternatives, its defence minister said, a further indication it’s brushing aside a ceasefire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden as Palestinian fighters continue to resist the invasion. “While we conduct our important military actions, the defence establishment is simultaneously assessing a governing alternative to Hamas,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement on Sunday.(AlJazeera) -US Events- 1. Jury selection is beginning in gun case against President Joe Biden’s son: Hunter Biden, who spent the weekend with his father, has been charged with three felonies stemming from a 2018 firearm purchase when he was, according to his memoir, in the throes of a crack addiction. He has been accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application used to screen firearms applicants when he said he was not a drug user, and illegally having the gun for 11 days. (AP) 2. Donald Trump joins TikTok and rapidly wins three million followers: The decision to join the platform on Saturday could help the former president reach younger voters in his third bid for the White House. Biden's election campaign is already on TikTok, with over 340,000 followers, although Biden has signed a bill that would ban the app, which is used by 170 million Americans, if its Chinese owner ByteDance fails to divest it. (Reuters) 3. El Salvador’s President Tells Donald Trump Jr.: ‘We Don’t Jail the Opposition’: El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele told Donald Trump Jr. that his country does not “jail the opposition,” days after a Manhattan jury convicted former President Donald Trump. -Regulatory and Legal- 1. U.S. President Biden Vetoes Resolution Overturning SEC Guidance:: SAB 121 is a controversial piece of SEC accounting guidance that directs financial institutions holding crypto for customers to keep the assets on their own balance sheets. Critics of the guidance say it makes it too difficult for financial institutions to work with crypto companies. In his statement announcing the veto, Biden said he would not support any "measures that jeopardize the well-being of consumers and investors." -Institutional Concerns- 1. Mexican Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Urges Followers to Buy Bitcoin as Nigerian Naira Falls Under a Satoshi: The top 1% is starting to realize the opportunities that bitcoin, as a financial asset, can bring as a hedge for fiat currency devaluation. Ricardo Salinas Pliego, a Mexican entrepreneur with a fortune worth over $14 billion and owner of Salinas Group, has recommended its followers on X to purchase bitcoin and take advantage of its constant appreciation in value. The Nigerian official currency has been facing a rough period, becoming the worst-performing currency against the U.S. dollar in May. This has prompted a series of measures from the Nigerian government to try stabilizing the currency, cracking down on crypto operators to force them to withdraw it from their platforms, and accusing them of currency manipulation. (BitcoinCom) 2. Australia's First Spot Bitcoin ETF With Direct BTC Holdings to Go Live on Tuesday: Australia-based Monochrome Asset Management’s Monochrome bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) (IBTC) will begin trading on the Cboe Australia exchange on Tuesday, the company told CoinDesk. The product is the first and only ETF that holds bitcoin directly in Australia, the company said. (CoinDesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Ripple Leads the Charge in CBDC Adoption Across Dozens of Countries: CBDCs and tokenisation are the two blockchain use cases that every stakeholder has rallied behind, from crypto enthusiasts to global behemoths and regulators. Ripple is in prime position to become a global leader in both, with the XRP Ledger emerging as one of the best technologies to issue digital currencies and tokens. (CryptoNewsFlash) (AC-Although this article is designed to praise the efforts of Ripple, it not only highlights the company's efforts to join forces with governments in creating and lobbying for CBDCs, but it also conflates crypto, blockchain and CBDCs to the point of confusing any readers of the nuance between them. The lesson is clear, Ripple is not a friend of bitcoin, self-custody, or P2P self-sovereignty. Look for Ripple to befriend government control entities and vice versa. ) -Economic Indicators- 1. Mexican Peso Plunges After Election: The Mexican peso plunged toward 17.5 per USD in June, the lowest since November 2023, after preliminary counts pointed to a supermajority win of the Moderna party and its allies in the Mexican Congress, increasing the state’s control over the economy. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Japanese Exchange DMM Bitcoin Suffers Significant Hack, Over $300M Stolen From Wallet: The breach occurred around 1:30 pm local time, with DMM Bitcoin reporting that approximately 4,503 BTC, valued at around $308 million at the time, had been "illegally leaked" from its wallet. The company has yet to provide details on how the hack was executed but confirmed that an investigation is underway and measures are being taken to prevent future attacks. This hack is the most substantial crypto-related exploit the industry has faced in some time. It surpasses any hack seen so far this year or in 2023.(Yahoo) -Technology- 1. China Makes Historic Landing on Far Side of Moon to Collect Lunar Samples: The landing took place in the enormous crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time, as reported by AP News. This is the sixth Chang'e lunar exploration mission, named after the Chinese moon goddess. (TechTimes) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Global Crypto Ownership Reaches 562 Million: 6.8% of World Population Now Own and Use Digital Currencies: A new report reveals that 562 million people globally now own digital currencies, an increase from 420 million in 2023, making up 6.8% of the world’s population. Asia is at the forefront of this growth, with North America close behind. Overall, cryptocurrency adoption is rising worldwide, with notable increases seen across all continents. Triple A, a fintech company that enables businesses to process digital currency payments and payouts, recently published a report, titled “The State of Global Cryptocurrency Ownership in 2024,” (BitcoinCom) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Even) Analyst Comments (AC): It sounds innocuous, but the Chinese landing on the far side of the moon is significant for those of us who understand military positioning. In military doctrine, holding the 'high ground' is key to controlling an area. The far side of the moon is THE most significant 'high ground' covering the earth with a built in defense of mass. Imagine what might be stored on the back side of the moon, secure from attack, but can move out to target anything on earth. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 845,904 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 31May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Biden Secretly Allows US Weapons to Strike Russia / US, UK Airstrike Hit Houthis / Trump Convicted on 34 Counts, World Reacts / mRNA Vax May be Pushed for Bird Flu / Do Kwon Settles with SEC / Univ. of Austin Starts Bitcoin Endowment / Home Routers Hacked / OpenAI Used for 5GW / BTC HashRate ATH Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,498, 29.17 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $67,101 / Lo: $68,348 Vol: $26B (Down 2%) Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Even) HashRate: 509 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 34 sats/vBtye (Up 11%) Nodes: 19,282 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Biden lets Ukraine strike inside Russia with U.S. weapons: President Joe Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to use American weapons to strike inside Russia, two American officials said Thursday, a U-turn that Kyiv’s allies hope helps turn the tide of the war. On May 15, National security adviser Jake Sullivan took the proposal to the president, making the case that it was common sense for Ukraine to be able to fend off Russian attacks by missiles, troops and bombers before they crossed the border, the official said. (NBC) 2. Houthi rebels say at least 16 killed and 42 others wounded in joint US-British airstrikes in Yemen: Three U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe a then-ongoing attack, described the strikes Thursday as hitting a wide range of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, a Houthi vessel and other facilities. They called it a response to a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the Israel-Hamas war. (AP) -US Events- 1. Trump conviction heralds a somber and volatile moment in American history: A jury foreperson announced he was guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to an adult film star. Americans have never seen an ex-president convicted of a crime, and a country already torn apart by bitter political and cultural polarization is likely in for a rocky time. (CNN) 2. mRNA Vaccine Shows Promise Against H5N1 Bird Flu: Researchers claim that an experimental H5N1 avian flu mRNA vaccination prevented severe sickness and mortality in lab mice. Experts claimed that vaccination may help stop H5N1 bird flu epidemics in US wild birds, poultry, and cows. (TechTImes) (AC-No, this article is not satire.) 3. Massive fire breaks out at Illinois farm housing over 1 million chickens: Authorities were alerted to the fire at Farina Farms Inc. Poultry Farm around 6:30 p.m. Wabash Valley Produce as the 24th largest egg producer in the U.S. with locations in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. (USAToday) (AC-How many farms need to burn down in the US (unattributed) before sabatoge is not seriously considered?) -Regulatory and Legal- 1.Terraform Labs and CEO Do Kwon to Settle Fraud Case with SEC: Terraform Labs and CEO Do Kwon reach a preliminary settlement with the SEC over allegations of misleading investors. The settlement terms are set to be finalized and submitted for court approval by June 12, 2024. (CryptoNewsFlash) 2. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Patrick McHenry press President Biden not to veto SAB 121: In a letter sent on Thursday to President Biden, Republicans Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., among other lawmakers, cited bipartisan votes in the House and Senate as a reason not to veto. President Biden previously said he planned to veto the measure to repeal the SEC’s staff accounting bulletin, SAB 121. (TheBLock) -Institutional Concerns- 1. University of Austin And Unchained To Raise $5 Million For Bitcoin Endowment: The initiative aims to raise $5 million in Bitcoin for the University's endowment, with the University committed to holding the BTC for at least five years. The endowment funds are to be held securely and managed by Unchained, a prominent Bitcoin financial services provider specializing in multisig Bitcoin vaults. (BitcoinMag) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Bank Of Canada To Modernize Payment Systems: The Bank of Canada plans to enhance oversight on payment service providers to modernize the country's financial system, with new regulations starting by September 2025. The BoC is also exploring the rollout of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to further modernize Canada’s financial architecture. Implementing a CBDC would depend on federal government approval, but it signals a move towards embracing digital currencies to ensure the country’s financial systems remain robust and competitive on a global stage. (Finimize) (AC-Incredible article that shows the positive narratives surrounding the mandate on the implementaion of a CBDC. Cananda leads the way in totalitarian efforts to control it's populace.) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Mortgage Rates Rebound Past 7%: The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose by 9bps to 7.03% as of May 30th. The increase was in line with the jump in long-dated Treasury yields in the period. (TradingEconomics) 2. Treasury Yields Little Changed, PCE Eyed: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note edged up to 4.56% on Friday, after falling by around 6bps on Thursday, with traders bracing for the key PCE inflation figures due today. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Hundreds of thousands of US internet routers destroyed in newly discovered 2023 hack: The October incident, which was not disclosed at the time, took more than 600,000 internet routers offline. The researchers said the hackers installed malicious software that disrupted internet access from Oct. 25 to 27 across numerous Midwest states. The internet routers were disabled when a malicious firmware update sent to the company's customers deleted elements of the routers’ operational code, making them effectively inoperable. (Reuters) -Technology- 1. OpenAI has stopped five attempts to misuse its AI for 'deceptive activity': The artificial intelligence firm said the threat actors used its AI models to generate short comments, longer articles in a range of languages, made up names and bios for social media accounts over the last three months. These campaigns, which included threat actors from Russia, China, Iran and Israel, also focused on issues including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, the Indian elections, politics in Europe and the United States, among others. (Reuters) (AC- The use of AI in 5GW is concerning and indicative of the challenging times ahead. The 5th Gen Warfare framework is not just a theory, but a narrative and deceptive battle that is happening in real time against every human brain. Learn how to notice, assess and defend against influence operations like these above.) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Hashrate Hits Record High, Surpasses Pre-Halving Levels: Bitcoin’s hashrate has rebounded to the historic highs seen just before the fourth reward halving event. According to the seven-day simple moving average, the network’s hashrate reached a record 657 exahash per second (EH/s) this week. (BitcoinCom) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Even) Analyst Comments (AC): We knew this summer would be full of conflict, and now we know some of the elements. A guilty verdict for Trump has fired up his base and his opponents at the same time. There will be political conflict ahead and most likely law enforcement crackdowns on dissent. mRNA are hinted at combatting bird flu which would be the next biological scare and controlling mechanism. THe US food infrastructure continues to be attacked. Meanwhile, the Ukraine-Russia war is dragging the US and NATO into the mix giving worldwide populations existential angst. Now we can understand some of the critical attack vectors and still expect some type of communication outage to increase the FUD. Prepare accordingly, build alternative comms and strenthen communities. Protect your mind and families with truths and generousity. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 845,781 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 30May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Hong Kong Activists Found Guilty / Mayor Candidate Shot, Killed in Mexico / ANC Losing Supermajority in SA / Trump Jury Deliberates / Assault at Jewish School in NY / $900M For US Green School Buses / UST Weakness Leads to Stocks Selloff / Bitcoin Off-Ramps Challenging Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,892, 29.04 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $67,101 / Lo: $68,348 Vol: $27B (Down 4%) Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Even) HashRate: 597 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 30 sats/vBtye (Up 20%) Nodes: 19,456 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. 14 pro-democracy activists found guilty of subversion in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case: The defendants are among 47 politicians, academics and other pro-democracy figures who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Those who were convicted, along with 31 others who pleaded guilty, will be sentenced at a later date, with potential prison terms ranging from three years to life. (NBC) 2. Mayoral candidate shot dead at election campaign rally in Mexico’s Guerrero State: Alfredo Cabrera was murdered on Wednesday in the town of Coyuca de Benitez. A video published by local media showed a person approaching him at the campaign event, shooting him several times at point-blank range. (AlJazeera) 3. First results in South Africa’s election suggest it is heading for biggest political shift since apartheid: Early results from South Africa’s election suggest the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party could lose its majority for the first time in 30 years. With results in from 13% of polling stations at 10 a.m. local time, support for the ANC stood at 42.5%. (CNN) -US Events- 1. Jury in Trump Trial Dismissed for the Day After Deliberating for Hours: The jury in former President Donald Trump’s business records trial was dismissed for the day on Wednesday after deliberating for hours and requesting to be given testimony from David Pecker — the former publisher of the National Enquirer — and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. (Breitbart) 2. Man Charged After Attempted Attack Outside Jewish School in New York: A man who police say drove onto a sidewalk and tried to strike pedestrians outside an Orthodox Jewish school in New York City was arrested on Wednesday on charges including attempted murder, reckless driving and hate crimes. (NYT) 3. Biden admin prioritizes $900 million for green school buses as illiteracy plagues US schools: On Wednesday, the White House unveiled nearly $900 million in awards to 530 school districts to replace thousands of aging, gas-fueled school buses with "cleaner" electric models. (Fox) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. South Korean Universities Face Banking Hurdles in Converting Crypto Donations to Cash: South Korea’s regulations prohibiting corporations from opening virtual asset exchange accounts are making it impossible for local universities to liquidate their large cryptocurrency donations. Financial authorities cite money laundering concerns as the reason for maintaining the ban. (BitcoinCom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. NYSE Partners With Coindesk for Bitcoin-Tracking Financial Products: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has teamed up with Coindesk Indices to develop cash-settled options contracts that track bitcoin prices. These contracts, based on the Coindesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX), are currently in the planning stage and awaiting regulatory approval. (BitcoinCom) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- NSTR -Economic Indicators- 1. 10-Year Treasury Yield Surges: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose to over 4.63% on Wednesday, the highest level since the start of May, and triggering sharp selling pressure for government bonds worldwide as a strong macroeconomic backdrop and concerns of stubborn inflation prolonged expectations of higher interest. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Stocks Fall Sharply: US stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq losing 0.8% and the Dow Jones sinking about 400 points, as bond yields continued to rise following disappointing bond auctions yesterday. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. A 35-year-old Chinese man was arrested as the alleged mastermind behind a gargantuan botnet used to steal billions from zombie computers: An international law enforcement team has arrested a Chinese national and disrupted a major botnet that officials said he ran for nearly a decade, amassing at least $99 million in profits by reselling access to criminals who used it for identity theft, child exploitation and financial fraud including pandemic relief scams.The U.S. DoJ quoted FBI Director Christopher Wray as saying Wednesday that the “911 S5” botnet — a network of malware-infected computers in nearly 200 countries — was likely the world’s largest. (Fortune) 2. Hidden cameras found surveilling more Southern California homes spark concern: Another hidden camera aimed at a home, this time in Garden Grove, has residents on edge, with many homeowners wondering if it has anything to do with burglary tourism rings that have been making headlines in Southern California. The camera was found in the bushes and was camouflaged to prevent it from being seen, but who put it there and how long it’s been there is another unknown. The camera was found just a day after a report on Glendale Police arresting four men with a similar camera and battery pack camouflaged with leaves. In the Glendale case, the four men arrested were Colombian nationals who authorities believe are burglary tourists. (KYLA) -Technology- 1. Telegram Wallet enforces new KYC rules, switches provider: Wallet users will have to disclose their name, phone number and date of birth to use all of the wallet's default features, except for withdrawals. The “extended” version, asks for a user’s national identification to unlock transactions up to 100,000 euros ($108,000) daily and 1 million euros ($1.08 million) monthly. (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Jack Dorsey Backed Bitcoin Miner OCEAN Opens El Salvador Hub: The mining pool, run by Bitcoin core dev Luke Dashjr, has based its new hub in the capital city of San Salvador. The company said the new hub will help with its commitment to decentralize BTC mining globally. (Decrypt) 2. Texas Man Charged with Failing to Report Large Cryptocurrency Gains: Court documents reveal that Frank Richard Ahlgren III, from Austin, Texas, was recently charged for allegedly filing false tax returns and for structuring cash deposits to circumvent currency transaction reporting requirements. This indictment was handed down by a federal grand jury, calling into question activities between 2017 and 2019 where Ahlgren underreported or failed to report the sale of bitcoin valued at $4 million, despite realizing substantial taxable capital gains from the transactions. (PRNewsWire) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Up 1 pt) Analyst Comments (AC): One of the possible targets discused for the fight against bitcoin adoption has been about the "on-ramps" into bitcoin, or the conversion of fiat money to bitcoin. A couple of articles today focus instead on the "off-ramps" of bitcoin into fiat and the difficulty involved. South Korean universities for example, are having trouble opening trading accounts to turn bitcoin donations into cash. Another man in Texas did not disclose capital gains on bitcoin conversions to US dollars, inciting criminal charges. More efforts, research and tehcnology might be focused on the free exchange of digital assets and currencies since we are quite far from being on a bitcoin standard globally. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 845,639 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 29May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US Gaza Pier Falls Apart / Key South African Election Today / Putin Warns France and EU / Biden Campaign at Trump Courthouse / Semler Scientific Latest to Announce BTC Treasury Strategy / Blackrock ETF Overtakes Grayscale / Weak UST Auction Raises Rates / Ticketmaster Hack Affects 560M Customers Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,743, 28.91 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,582 / Lo: $67,227 Vol: $28B (Down 11%) Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Down 1%) HashRate: 565 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 25 sats/vBtye (Up 80%) Nodes: 18,599 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US pier constructed off Gaza has broken apart: The temporary pier constructed by the US military to transport aid into Gaza broke apart and sustained damage in heavy seas on Tuesday in a major blow to the American-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies into the war-torn enclave, the Pentagon said. The pier, which cost $320 million, had only begun operating on May 17 when heavy seas forced the maritime shipments to stop one week later on May 24, two days before part of the pier disconnected. It is unclear when shipments will resume. (CNN) 2. Party of Nelson Mandela Projected to Lose Absolute Majority in South Africa: Rampant corruption, high unemployment and a stagnant economy expected to drag ANC below 50% of the vote for the first time. Driving the ANC’s decline has been the party’s failure to bring prosperity and opportunity for Black South Africans, who make up around 80% of the population and the majority of ANC voters. (WSJ) (AC-The election will be held today and could signal coming instability in the country.) 3. Putin promises 'serious consequences' to 'small, densely populated' European countries calling for Ukrainian strikes on Russia: Russian leader Vladimir Putin says European countries should rethink their calls to let Ukraine use Western arms to strike his country. "This unending escalation can lead to serious consequences," Putin said. "If Europe were to face those serious consequences, what will the United States do, considering our strategic arms parity?" (Yahoo) (AC- It's interesting that French President Macron was not even mentioned in this article, who just recently said "Kyiv should be allowed to 'neutralize' Russian military bases." Initial concerns over escalation over the Russia-Ukraine war seem to just now starting to manifest.) -US Events- 1. Biden and Trump Campaigns Square Off Outside New York Courthouse: Donald Trump’s trial hadn’t yet reached a jury Tuesday morning but a preview of the post-verdict messaging war was already roaring into view with dueling campaign events. President Biden’s re-election team appeared outside the courthouse to blast the former president as a danger to the country, and Trump’s side hammered what it calls a politically biased prosecution. Actor Robert De Niro and two former police officers on duty at the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump’s supporters were featured in the Biden event, which was held across the street from the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse where Trump’s hush-money trial is nearing a conclusion. (WSJ) (AC-The simple fact of Biden's campaign holding press conferences outside of the courthouse is indicative of a serious departure from normal presidential campaigning. It shows the hand of Biden's tactics of lawfare and his objective of jailing his competition.) 2. Joe Biden Visits Hunter’s Ex Before She Likely Testifies in Gun Trial: President Joe Biden visited Hallie Biden, the former wife of Beau Biden and Hunter Biden’s former lover, before she will likely testify in Hunter’s gun trial, the White House press pool reported Sunday. The White House said Joe Biden’s visit with his daughter-in-law had nothing to do with Hunter’s pending gun trial. It claimed instead the visit was to commemorate the upcoming ninth anniversary of Beau’s passing from cancer. Hallie is expected to testify as a witness in Hunter’s gun trial. A 2018 police report showed she tossed a gun owned by Hunter in a dumpster behind a grocer, a source told Fox News. (Breitbart) -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Semler Scientific® Announces Bitcoin Treasury Strategy: Semler Scientific, a pioneer in developing and marketing technology products and services to healthcare providers to combat chronic diseases, announced today that its board of directors has adopted bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset. In addition, Semler Scientific announced that it has purchased 581 bitcoins for an aggregate amount of $40 million, inclusive of fees and expenses. (PR Release) (AC- Shares were up 30% on the news, but this year seems to be the year of bitcoin SoV adoption for companies following Microstrategies' playbook) 2. BlackRock Takes the Crown for the Largest Spot Bitcoin ETF From Grayscale: BlackRock’s spot bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF) is now the largest product of its kind, flipping Grayscale's GBTC after a $102 million inflow on Tuesday. (CoinDesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Israel launches digital shekel CBDC challenge: The central bank is inviting participants from Israel and abroad to participate in developing innovative use cases. Inspired by the BIS and Bank of England’s Project Rosalind, the Challenge will focus on connecting to the CBDC system using APIs. (LedgerInsights) 2. BIS payments committee to focus on tokenization, CBDCs in 2025 work program: Tokenization and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) will be among the priorities for the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) payments department over the next year. (CoinGeek) (AC= CBDCs will probably gain the most traction through the BIS and IMF.) -Economic Indicators- 1. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Climb Sharply: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note advanced by almost 10 basis points to 4.54% after poor results of the 5-year and the 2-year auctions triggered a selloff. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Alleged Ticketmaster Data Breach Sees 560 Million Users' Info for Sale in Hacking Forum: Ticketmaster has reportedly been breached by the hacking group ShinyHunters, as claimed by the group. The breach compromises the sensitive data of 560 million users, as it is currently on sale for $500,000 in a hacking forum. Allegedly, ShinyHunters gained access to many private user data, including complete names, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, order information, and partial credit card information. (TechTimes) -Technology- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitfarms founders may not be acting in ‘best interests’ of shareholders: Bitcoin mining giant Riot Platforms is on track to acquire its rival Bitfarms for $950 million, accusing Bitfarms founders of not acting in the best interests of all shareholders. Riot Platforms has made an acquisition offer of all BITF shares for $2.3 per share to Bitfarms, totaling the acquisition at $950 million. (CryptoNews) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Even) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 845,503 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 28May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: IDF's Deadly Strike in Tent Camp Draws Condemnation / Russia Hits Ukraine Megastore / US Visits Taiwan After Drills / Storms in Central US Kill 22 / Crypto Becomes US Election Issue / Russian Crypto Use Increases / Mt Gox Moves $10B BTC in Preparation to Sell Off / BTC ETFs Flat / Fed Signals Inflation Must be Tamed / India, China Ditching US Dollar in Imports / Chinese Gun-Toting Robot Dog Goes Viral Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,265, 29.10 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $70,597 / Lo: $67,450 Vol: $32B (Up 66%) Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Flat) HashRate: 556 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 15 sats/vBtye (Up 50%) Nodes: 18,306 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Israeli attack on Rafah tent camp kills 45, prompts international outcry: An Israeli airstrike triggered a fire that killed 45 people in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah, officials said on Monday, prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike had not been intended to cause civilian casualties. (Reuters) 2. Russian strike kills 18 people in Kharkiv megastore, the deadliest attack Ukraine has seen in weeks: Five people remain missing, Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv region military administration, said Monday. He said that 48 people were injured in the strike that hit the Epicenter hypermarket shopping center building while nearly 200 people were inside. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second biggest city, which sits near its border with Russia, has seen a spate of Russian attacks in recent weeks. (CNN) 3. U.S. lawmakers ignore China’s warning, meet with Taiwan’s new leader: A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers met Monday with Taiwan’s new leader, Lai Ching-te, the first such visit since Lai’s inauguration last week, and one that the lawmakers and Taiwanese officials said demonstrates the steadfastness of U.S. support for Taiwan at a time of escalating tensions with China. (WaPo) -US Events- 1. At least 22 dead in Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several US states: The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky and were just north of an oppressive, early season heat wave setting records from south Texas to Florida. (AP) 2. Libertarian Party names presidential nominee – as RFK Jr crashes out of race and Trump fails to qualify: The 38-year-old, who has run numerous times for Congress in Georgia, was elected after seven rounds of voting at the party’s convention in Washington DC, on Sunday. (IndependentUK) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. One-Third of U.S. Voters Say They'll Weigh Candidates' Crypto Views Before Voting: A Harris Poll revealed that while those 33% are taking a keen interest, the online survey of more than 1,700 people – funded by bitcoin ETF issuer Grayscale – found 77% said a U.S. presidential candidate should at least have an "informed perspective" on crypto. And they're evenly split on which political party is the leader in digital assets issues. (CoinDesk) 2. Russian Traffic to Global Crypto Exchanges Surges; Central Bank Warns of Western Sanctions Risk: The surge in Russian traffic to global cryptocurrency exchange platforms in the last two quarters has prompted officials to issue a warning about the risk of Western sanctions. According to a central bank study, Russian traffic to some of the largest crypto exchanges increased by 16.4%, reaching 104.6 million visits. (BitcoinCom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Sell-off alert: Mt. Gox moves nearly $10 billion in Bitcoin: Mt. Gox has moved almost $10 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) to a new wallet on May 28. This is a step to repay the company’s creditors after a bankruptcy filing 10 years ago, in April 2014. The cryptocurrency market expects a sell-off event and large capital flow in the following days. (BitTimes) 2. Spot BTC ETFs recorded $0 inflows, Bitcoin price drops: According to data provided by Farside Investors, spot BTC ETFs stood still on May 27 as the broader crypto market faced correction. Notably, this is also the first time in the past two weeks that Bitcoin ETFs recorded no inflows. (CryptoNews) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Trump Vows: US Will Lead Bitcoin and XRP, Promises to Block CBDC During Presidency: Trump reiterated his opposition to the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a concept that various governments, including the current U.S. administration have explored. He vowed to prevent the establishment of a CBDC, positioning himself as a defender of individual financial freedom and privacy. (CryptoNews) -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed Wants "Many Months" of Positive Inflation Before Cut: The Federal Reserve should hold off on cutting interest rates until there is substantial progress on inflation, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Kashkari stated on CNBC on Tuesday. Many months of positive inflation data are necessary to justify the first rate cut, and another rate hike should not be ruled out if inflation remains at stubbornly high levels. (TradingEconomics) 2. India and China Eliminate US Dollar in Imports: India and China have decided to ditch the US dollar for import payments, opting for their local currencies instead. The Maldives were informed by India and China that they will expect to pay in rupees and yuan instead of USD. This move, confirmed by the Maldives government, is yet another significant change in international trade practices. (Cryptopolitan) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. North Korea’s Lazarus Group Accused of Involvement in Axie Infinity Hack: This week, government agencies and Chainalysis confirmed that North Korea’s Lazarus Group was involved in the Ronin hack. As far as crypto hacks go, the Ronin hack is the largest ever, with cybercriminals getting away with $552m. The Ronin hack occurred in March, with stolen funds reportedly including 173.6k ETH and 25.5m USDC. (Yahoo) -Technology- 1. China Shows Off Gun-Toting Robot Dog in Military Drills, Sparks Global Concerns: Over 2,000 troops and 12 ships participated in the 15-day Golden Dragon joint drills, which included the gun-toting quadruped, per Axios. Agence France-Presse said that Unitree, a Chinese firm that sells robots online for thousands of euros, did not fire its weapon during the demonstration. (TechTimes) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Down 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 845,369 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 27May24 Precedence: Priority (PP) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,379, 29.18 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $69,336 / Lo: $68,183 Vol: $19B (Up 27%) Mkt Cap: $1.35T (Down 1%) HashRate: 605 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Down 10%) Nodes: 18,326 --- Special Memorial Day 2024 Report--- "Was one dark and stormy night, when your boy is called to fight. Better pray hard as you can, he'll come marching home again..." -Cadence sung at SEAL training, Coronado Even today, we are reminded of the specter of the great sacrifice that may be required as soldiers go through training for battle. We train our minds and bodies to fight and survive because of a Deep Calling. We sweat and bleed. Our friends die on the battlefield and during training. This Deep Calling is innate. It starts with man's desire to live free. To worship, speak, defend oneself, assemble, and to be secure in one's own labors and possessions. Then the Calling adds youth, strength, and an organization of individuals dedicated to these ideals of freedom. For over 200 years, the USA has been THE organization that best espouses these ideals, notwithstanding its flaws. When men and women heed this calling to train and fight for something bigger than themselves, it tempers us. It reminds each of us that there are battles worth losing friends and family over. Those of us who do survive are burdened with making sense of it. At the bottom of all the questioning we arrive at the original Deep Calling: freedom. For freedom does not protect itself, it takes blood and flesh, and our friends have paid all they could so that we can continue to fight for it. But we cannot fight without hope. Hope that things will be better or that our work will make a difference. In years past, all that hope was wrapped up in a flag of stars and stripes. Yet tyranny continues its fight against liberty. Worldwide, those who seek more and more power over those who would maintain it themselves, work to take it from us. Our friends call to us from the grave, "Don't let the bastards take your freedom!". This is the Deep Calling that we veterans first heard, and now hear on the winds of our national cemeteries. Listen and fortify veterans and loved ones! Find your hope. In God. In community. In each other. In freedom technologies. Then train and continue the fight. Those of us involved in Bitcoin Veterans see much of that hope in a technology that gives us a security of our hard-earned efforts. A way to gather and keep power from those who would take it from us. We study power, bitcoin, economics, warfare, philosophy, and organize. The outcome is not assured. No battle ever is. But we hear and heed the call from our brothers crossed over. We hope for the future and act to secure our freedoms enumerated in our Constitution and held in our hearts. On this Memorial Day 2024, remember the fallen, but listen for their voices on the wind. What are they saying? Are you listening? Honor each of them and in total. Resolve to find hope and act on it, and in between the work, raise a glass to them and Live Free. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report #veterans #memorialday #bitcoin  image
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 842,853 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 10May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Russian Assault Repelled in Ukraine / Israel Can Stand Alone Netanyahu Says / Strikes in Argentina / FBI Warns Against Election Interference / US Airman Shot In Home by Deputy / US Unemployment Claims Up / Dell Hacked, 49M Affected / Subversive Russian Uses Blockchain / Mara Misses Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $63,297, 26.63 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $63,404 / Lo: $60,889 Vol: $25B (Even) Mkt Cap: $1.25T (Up 4%) HashRate: 656 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 20 sats/vBtye (Down 9%) Nodes: 19.376 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Ukraine says it repulsed Russian bid to cross border: Ukraine says it has repelled a Russian armoured attack in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, after Moscow's forces launched an incursion across the border and sought to break through defensive lines. The local head in Vovchansk said the town had come under heavy attack from the early hours of Friday and civilians were being evacuated. (BBC) 2. Defiant Netanyahu says Israel can 'stand alone' after Biden threat to withhold weapons: Speaking Thursday, Netanyahu said Israel would "fight with our fingernails" in order to pursue its proclaimed goal of eliminating Hamas — with or without the backing of the United States, which until recent months had been in little doubt. The rupture between the two allies comes as talks stalled in a U.S. push for a cease-fire that would head off a ground assault on Rafah. Israeli and Hamas delegations left Cairo without a deal to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages still held in the enclave. (NBC) 3. Argentine workers launch general strike against Milei reforms, austerity: The South American country saw public transport, the important grains crushing sector, supermarkets, airports and banks grind to a halt for 24 hours as most of the major unions joined the protest action against the government. (Reuters) (AC-Fully expected reaction to free-market reforms and government cost-cutting) -US Events- 1. FBI warns of efforts by China, Russia, Iran to influence election: “Election threats are more diverse and expansive than ever,” a senior FBI official said on a call with reporters. And while each adversary has their own approach with different nuances and prerogatives, “sowing discord and undermining democracy is consistent across the board,” the official added. China in particular is expanding their influence efforts by creating fake social media accounts to “push narratives and sow divisiveness,” mirroring efforts deployed by Russia in prior elections. (TheHill) 2. US service member shot and killed by Florida police identified by the Air Force: The U.S. Air Force said an airman based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, was shot and killed Friday during an incident involving a sheriff's deputy. Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, died at his off-base residence, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement released Monday. A deputy responding to the call of a disturbance in progress “reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun," the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Friday. Other outlets are reporting officers were sent to the wrong apartment. (KIRO) 3. Hunter Biden's federal gun charges to go to trial after appeal dismissed: A federal appeals court on Thursday declined to dismiss the federal gun charges against Hunter Biden, per court filings. The ruling makes way for a high-stakes criminal trial to begin early next month. (Axios) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Oklahoma poised to become leader in cryptocurrency legislation with House Bill 3594: "House Bill 3594 lays a foundation for protecting individuals' rights to their digital assets," Hill said. "By providing clarity and protection now, we can ensure free market practices remain the guiding principles in this burgeoning industry." It would also prohibit state and local governments from hindering the use of digital assets for purchases and commercial asset mining. (Fox25) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. No current need for CBDC, Central Bank of Chile finds: The Banco Central de Chile recently published its second report exploring the concept of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). It ultimately found there’s no need for one due to high levels of financial inclusion in the country (85-87%), but said it would prepare nonetheless. While Chile has opted not to go forward with a CBDC for now, many other countries have reached the opposite conclusion. China’s digital yuan is live, BRICS countries are considering blockchain-based stablecoin settlements, and countries from Israel to South Africa are designing and testing CBDCs. (CoinGeek) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Jobless Claims Surge to Over 8-Month High: The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US surged by 22,000 to 231,000 on the week ending May 4th, the highest since August 2023, and sharply above market expectations of 210,000. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Dell Confirms Database Hacked—Hacker Says 49 Million Customers Hit: According to a posting on a hacker forum as reported by the Daily Dark Web a threat actor was trying to sell alleged stolen data from a Dell breach late in April. That for-sale notice stated that the hacked database contained “49 million customer records from Dell” and included data on systems purchased between 2017 and 2024. Dell confirmed the hack in an email to all its customers. (Forbes) -Technology- 1. Exiled Russian Opposition Leader Launches Blockchain-Based Referendum on Vladimir Putin’s Election Win: Exiled opposition leader Mark Feygin is leading an effort to give Russians an anonymous, blockchain-powered way to register a "protest vote" against Putin. The results of this effort would, of course, have no legal weight in Russia and would not end Putin's presidency, but the referendum could, in theory, give a public relations boost to efforts to oust him. And it gives Russians a way to voice criticism in a nation where the consequences of dissent can be high. The vote will be conducted on an app called Russia2024, built using Rarimo’s Freedom Tool, which will use the Arbitrum blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography, making voters' identities untraceable. (CoinDesk) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Miner Marathon Digital Misses Q1 Revenue Expectation On Operational Challenges: The company mined just 2,811 bitcoin during the year's first three months, down 34% from the previous quarter. "Bitcoin production, and therefore revenues, generated during the quarter was negatively impacted by unexpected equipment failures, transmission line maintenance, and higher than anticipated weather-related curtailments at Garden City and other sites during the quarter," the company said in a statement on Thursday. (CoinDesk) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 66/100 (Up 11 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Pressure, either of the political or economic nature, seems to drive blockchain-based solutions, as can be seen in the article above concerning Russian politics. The people in Russia seem to have no voice, so an exiled opposition leader uses blockchain-based software to take a political pulse on Pres. Putin. Worldwide, those under economic oppression are also turning to blockchain-based Bitcoin as the alternative to fiat-managed and debased central currencies. The uses of cryptography and blockchain continue to grow as oppression against freedom-seekers continue. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report image