BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 846,882 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 7Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Is Hezbollah Next? / D-Day Services Draw World Leaders / Russian Ships Visit Cuba / Steve Bannon To Report to Prison / Man Fires Indiscriminately into SoCal Traffic, Killing 1 / China Never Banned Bitcoin Mining? / BIS MBridge CBDC Starts Up / US Banks Are Weakening / US Trade Gap Widens / Bitcoin Mining Entering Consolidation Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $71,547, 30.17 oz Gold, .17 Median US House 24hr Hi: $71,625 / Lo: $70,119 Vol: $27B (Up 2%) Mkt Cap: $1.41T (Up 1%) HashRate: 578 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 153 sats/vBtye (Up 202%) Nodes: 17,799 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Top commander in north says IDF ready for war against Hezbollah: The military’s top general in northern Israel said Thursday the army was ready to expand its conflict with the Hezbollah terror group if need be in order to bring months of deadly cross-border hostilities to a close, a day after a reservist was killed and 10 others injured in an explosive drone attack on a northern town. (TimesOfIsrael) (AC-IDF's war with Hamas is not quite finished, but Hezollah continues intermittent strikes against northern Israel. Expanding the war to include Hezbollah objectives could be a natural progression for the IDF.) 2. The last heroes of Normandy return to France 80 years after D-Day invasion: The sun was yet to rise over the beaches of Normandy when, on June 6, 1944 -- 80 years ago this week -- thousands of American sons and Allied troops began what would become the largest amphibious assault in history. Their bravery and their sacrifice would turn the tide of World War II and push Nazi Germany to defeat. (ABC) (AC-There are only a few of these heroes still alive. Listen and learn their stories while you can.) 3. 4 Russian ships to dock in Cuba next week: Four Russian ships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will arrive in Havana next week, Cuban officials said Thursday, citing "historically friendly relations" between both nations and as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. (Fox) (AC-A rather obvious signal to DC about letting Ukraine use weapons to strike deep into Russia.) -US Events- 1. Steve Bannon ordered to report to prison by July 1 to serve contempt of Congress sentence: Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress in 2022 after failing to provide documents and testimony to the House Select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack. He was sentenced to four months in prison. (CNN) 2. Man firing at Southern California motorists, killing 1, charged with murder: The 39-year-old man arrested for reportedly firing at passing commuters in Riverside County earlier this week, killing a husband and father of four children and injuring another person, has been charged with one count of murder and six counts of attempted murder. Victor Leon was fatally shot during the incident as he returned home from his overnight warehouse shift in Moreno Valley. He is survived by his wife of 13 years and their four children. (KTLA) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. China Never Banned Bitcoin Mining, Researcher Reveals: In a striking revelation that challenges widely-held perceptions, Daniel Batten, a Bitcoin environmental impact analyst, disclosed that BTC mining was never officially banned in China. According to Batten’s research, despite widespread reports to the contrary, the so-called “ban” was actually a temporary suspension, and mining activities have largely resumed across the country. Batten’s report highlights that the hashrate within China, which is a measure of the computational power used in mining and processing Bitcoin, currently accounts for approximately 15% of the global total. (Bitcoinist) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Cross Border CBDC Project Mbridge Enters MVP Stage: Project Mbridge, the cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) project that seeks to integrate several currencies into a global network, has reached its minimum viable product stage. This means that each one of the participant central banks has deployed a validating node in the network, that is ready to perform real-value transactions. The project, which started as a pilot in 2021 with the collaboration of the Bank of Thailand, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), is now ready to intermediate real-value transactions, according to a press release issued by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). (BitcoinNews) (AC-This the project reported yesterday that Saudi Arabia has also joined.) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Banking Sector Teeters: $517B Unrealized Losses, 63 Troubled Institutions Flagged: U.S. banks reported an alarming increase in unrealized losses and a growing list of institutions at risk of failure in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) data. The FDIC report highlights $517 billion in unrealized losses and identifies 63 banks as vulnerable, marking a concerning uptick in the financial sector’s instability. (BitcoinCom) 2. US Trade Gap Largest Since October 2022 on Imports Surge: The trade deficit in the US widened to $74.6 billion in April 2024, the largest since October 2022 from a downwardly revised $68.6 billion in March and below forecasts of a $76.1 billion gap. Imports increased 8.7% to $338.2 billion, mostly due to passenger cars, computer accessories, telecommunications equipment and crude oil, while falling for transport. Exports edged up a meager 0.8% to $263.7 billion, mainly pharmaceutical preparations, electric apparatus and semiconductors. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Apple to Launch Passwords App for iPhone and Mac, Competing With 1Password and LastPass: Apple is reportedly developing this specialized password app for iPhone and Mac that could be introduced as early as next week. This move could challenge existing services. Apple's Passwords app aims to provide similar functionalities for free. (TechTimes) (AC-"If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product.") -Technology- 1. Bitdeer introduces energy-efficient Bitcoin mining chip: Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer has showcased the “SEAL04” chip in its technology roadmap for the newly launched Sealminer rig. Set for release in the second quarter of 2025, the SEAL04 chip is projected to achieve energy efficiency as low as 5 joules per terahash (J/TH). (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Mining Stocks Soar Amid Takeover Frenzy: The stocks are undervalued, so miners with attractive power contracts could become M&A targets, according to Wall Street analysts. Shares of miners such as Stronghold (SDIG), Core Scientific and TeraWulf (WULF) surged more than 15%. Gains in Iris Energy (IREN), Mawson (MIGI), Cathedra (CBIT) and Argo Blockchain exceeded 10%. Larger miners such as Riot and Marathon Digital (MARA) are likely in the best position to lead this consolidation wave. (CoinDesk) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 77/100 (Down 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 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

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

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 

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 844,917 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 24May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Landslide in Papura New Guinea / China 'Punishes' Taiwan / Russian Miliary Execs Purged / Campus Protests Continue, More Arrests / Obama, Clintons, Join Bidens in Kenya State Dinner / Anti-CBDC Bill Passes House / ETH ETF Approved / Hot PMI Sinks Dow / MSFT Outage Affects Search Engines, ChatGPT / Is IPv6 The Freedom Protocol? Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,451, 28.83 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $70,041 / Lo: $66,356 Vol: $43B (Up 35%) Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Down 4%) HashRate: 746 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 10 sats/vBtye (Down 68%) Nodes: 18,803 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Many feared dead in massive Papua New Guinea landslide: A massive landslide is feared to have killed many after it struck six remote villages in Papua New Guinea, local officials and aid agencies said. The landslide buried more than 100 homes after it struck at around 03:00 local time Friday (17:00 GMT Thursday) in the highlands of Enga, north of the island nation in the south-west Pacific. It was not immediately clear how many people were trapped in the rubble. (BBC) 2. China says war games around Taiwan to test ability to ‘seize power’: As the first day of exercises, codenamed Joint Sword-2024A, got under way on Thursday, China described them as “punishment” following the inauguration speech by Taiwan’s new president William Lai Ching-te in which he said Taiwan was a “sovereign and independent nation with sovereignty resting in the people”. The two-day exercises are testing the “capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories,” said Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command. (AlJazeera) 3. Top Russian military officials are being arrested: It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied. Corruption scandals are not new and officials and top officials have been accused of profiting from their positions for decades. (AP) (AC-These arrests, combined with the Defense Minister Shoigu's reassignment, indicates a probable purge of key defense personnel following Putin's recent re-election win. There are numerous possibilities for such a purge but all these efforts are certainly aimed at consolodating and confirming power for Putin.) -US Events- 1. Police descend on UCLA after protesters erect new pro-Palestinian encampment: More than two dozen officers in riot gear descended on UCLA Thursday afternoon, facing off with pro-Palestinian protesters who had erected a new encampment on campus hours earlier. The move came amid escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian students and their faculty allies and administrators on the Westwood campus. The academic workers union announced Thursday that its ongoing strike over working conditions would expand to UCLA and UC Davis on Tuesday. (LATimes) 2. Obama makes an appearance at White House’s Kenya state dinner: President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden roll out the red carpet for Kenyan President William Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto. Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Former President Obama were in attendance. The former president was not on the initial state dinner guest list released by the White House. He attended a reception in the Blue Room prior to the dinner and stopped into the dinner area briefly, according to his office. Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, visited the country as president in 2015 and returned in 2018 after leaving office. (CNN) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. US Congress Building Pro-Crypto Army, Lawmaker Says: Crypto is gaining momentum among U.S. lawmakers. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated: “We are building a pro-crypto army in Congress.” This declaration came shortly after the House of Representatives passed the landmark Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) crypto bill, despite opposition from the White House and SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. (BitcoinCom) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Ethereum ETFs Approved: The SEC combined proposals from the Nasdaq, NYSE, and CBOE exchanges, which requested changes to existing rules to allow the trading of Ethereum Exchange-Rraded Products (ETPs) and ETFs. (Forbes) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. U.S. House Passes Bill Banning Federal Reserve From Issuing a CBDC: The CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, introduced by Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), seeks to block the U.S. central bank from continuing efforts toward the development of a digital dollar. Republicans expressed concerns that a U.S. CBDC could be used to control Americans. However, both the market structure and the anti-CBDC bills seem headed toward similar fates in the Senate – going nowhere – given that half of congress does not have a counterpart for either piece of legislation. (CoinDesk) -Economic Indicators- 1. Dow Sinks More than 600 Points: Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, after a hotter-than-expected PMI survey fueled concerns about prolonged higher interest rates. The Dow Jones plunged by 605 points, marking its worst day of the year. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Microsoft outage affects Bing, Copilot, DuckDuckGo and ChatGPT internet search: The outage, which started around 3:00 a.m. EDT, largely affected users in Asia and Europe. Bing remained accessible when an alternate URL was used, but ChatGPT internet search and DuckDuckGo suffered issues because they use the Bing API. (CISOSeries) -Technology- 1. Peer-to-peer blockchain: Scaling with IPv6-based new internet: At the London Blockchain Conference 2024, IPv6 Forum President Latif Ladid moderated a panel on how IPv6 and blockchain technology will change the internet. Ladid opens the panel by explaining the key points of IPv6: it enables true end-to-end connections between people. It empowers people and disempowers monopolies by enabling people to have their unique IP addresses for every device. (CoinGeek) (AC-Do Your Own Research on IPv6) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Down 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Good morning ☕️

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 844,581 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 22May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Three Countries Recognize Palestine State / Russia Has Tac Nuke Drill on Ukraine Border / Biden Admin Confirms Almost 200 Judges / More Student Loans Canceled / Gensler Speaks Out Against FIT-21 / ETH ETFs Ready for Approval / BTC ETFs Available in UK / Windows Spies on You / Happy BTC Pizza Day Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,852, 28.93 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $71,402 / Lo: $69,191 Vol: $36B (Down 34%) Mkt Cap: $1.38T (Down 2%) HashRate: 651 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 18 sats/vBtye (Up 34%) Nodes: 17,483 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Spain, Norway and Ireland to recognize a Palestinian state: In response, Israel has recalled its ambassadors to all three countries. “Ireland and Norway intend to send a message to the Palestinians and the whole world today: Terrorism pays.", Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said. (CNN) 2. Russia starts ‘tactical nuclear drills’ near Ukraine border: ‘First stage’ of exercises involves Iskander and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and is seen as a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies. (AlJazeera) -US Events- 1. Tornado kills multiple people in Iowa as powerful storms again tear through Midwest: After devastating Greenfield, a town of 2,000, on Tuesday the storms moved eastward to pummel parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers in the two states. (AP) 2. Joe Biden nears 200 confirmed judges, highlighting stakes for the courts in the 2024 election: Biden's and Trump's records show sharp differences in what types of judges they would choose. And the winner of the fall election could appoint more Supreme Court justices. Biden’s judges include many former civil rights lawyers, labor lawyers and public defenders, breaking from the mold of prosecutors and corporate lawyers that previous presidents tended to lean on. More than 60% of Biden’s judges are women, and more than 60% are nonwhite. Trump had a different standard in selecting judges, putting a premium on youth and conservative credentials. (NBC) 3. Biden administration canceling student loans for another 160,000 borrowers: The Education Department announced the latest round of cancellation on Wednesday, saying it will erase $7.7 billion in federal student loans. With the latest action, the administration said it has canceled $167 billion in student debt for nearly 5 million Americans through several programs. According to the Education Department, 1 in 10 federal student loan borrowers has now been approved for some form of loan relief. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. SEC's Gensler Says House Bill Would 'Undermine' Regulator's Crypto, Capital Markets Oversight: "The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act ('FIT 21') would create new regulatory gaps and undermine decades of precedent regarding the oversight of investment contracts, putting investors and capital markets at immeasurable risk," he said. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill later on Wednesday, though it does not currently have a clear road through the Senate and is unlikely to become a law this year. (CoinDesk) -Institutional Concerns- 1. SEC Leans Towards Approving Spot Ethereum ETFs, Notifies Exchanges: A big change is underway at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling a green light for Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Barely a week ago, all bets were off. Giants like BlackRock and VanEck seemed destined for a thumbs down on their proposals for ETFs that would hold Ether directly. The trigger for this sudden lean towards approval came when SEC personnel disclosed their inclination to greenlight the ETFs. Detailed comments on the pending applications were issued, suggesting that resolutions could lead to approvals as soon as this Thursday. Thursday also marks the deadline for the SEC to make a decision on the 19b-4 filing from VanEck and ARK/21Shares, which, if approved, would clear the way for launching their spot Ethereum ETFs. (Cryptopolitan) 2. BlackRock's Spot Bitcoin ETF Records Biggest Inflows Since April: Bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S. have seen net inflows of over $1.4 billion in the past week after a timid first half of the month. BlackRock’s IBIT product experienced a significant inflow of over $290 million on Tuesday, marking its highest one-day inflow this month and since April. (CoinDesk) 3. WisdomTree Will List Bitcoin and Ethereum Funds on London Stock Exchange Next Week: WisdomTree has received approval from the FCA to list crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) on the LSE, making it one of the first applicants to receive such approval. (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Don’t let the US become the only country to ban CBDCs: This week, as part of a trifecta of digital assets legislation, the US House of Representatives is set to take up HR 5403, also known as the “CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act.” In fact, if this bill ever became law, the United States would be the only country in the world to have banned CBDCs. It would be a self-defeating move in the race for the future of money. It would undercut the national security role of the dollar as the decision would only accelerate other countries’ development of alternative payment systems that look to bypass the dollar in cross-border transactions. This would make US sanctions less effective. (AtlanticCouncil) AC- The protest from the globalist think tank Atlantic Council reveals much about the view from power accumulators on CBDCs, namely a tool for continued and increasing economic control.) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Mortgage Applications Rise for 3rd Week: Mortgage applications in the US jumped by 1.9% from the previous week in the period ending May 17th, adding to the 0.5% increase in the earlier week for the third consecutive growth in mortgage demand. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell by 7bps to 7.01% in the week ending May 17th, 2024/ (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Oxford University says research not affected after expert flags COVID lab hack: Oxford University said on Thursday it was investigating a digital intrusion after a researcher said he had seen evidence that a laboratory researching COVID-19 had been hacked. Holden told Reuters that he discovered the intrusion when he found screenshots from inside the lab's network left by the hackers on a poorly secured server. (Reuters) -Technology- 1. Windows 11's New AI Feature Will Make Screenshots of Everything You Do: Presented at Microsoft Build 2024, Recall is described as a "photographic memory" for your PC, making local Windows searches much faster by constantly taking screenshots of everything you do. Then it uses, no surprises here, generative AI along with the NPU to process all this data into a searchable timeline, enabling one to access and view everything you've done on your computer. (80LU) (AC- In another headline, "Windows announces the Year of Linux") -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Celebrates Pizza Day: In 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz, a software program developer from Florida, made history by shopping for two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins. This was the very first industrial transaction carried out with the assistance of the unique cryptocurrency. (CryptoNewsBTC) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 76/100 (Even) Analyst Comments (AC): The privacy fight heats up with CBDCs, Crypto in Congress and Microsoft takes screenshots of everything you do. Will sovereign individuals take responsibility for their own privacy? Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 844,291 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 20May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Iran's President Dead in Helicopter Crash / Attempted Coup in DR Congo / Gaza Fighting Fierce / Twisters in Midwest / Crypto Regulation Bill Going Through Congress / BTC ETFs Are Busy / Ripple's Anti-Bitcoin Agenda / BRICS Call for Currency Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,939, 27.68 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $67,402 / Lo: $65,937 Vol: $22B (Up 35%) Mkt Cap: $1.32T (Even) HashRate: 669 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 10 sats/vBtye (Even) Nodes: 17,275 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Iran’s president, foreign minister and others found dead at helicopter crash site: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister and several other officials were found dead on Monday. The helicopter also carried the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a senior cleric from Tabriz, three crew members and a Revolutionary Guard official, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. IRNA said the crash killed eight people in all, including three crew members, aboard the Bell helicopter, which Iran purchased in the early 2000s. The crash comes as the Middle East remains unsettled by the Israel-Hamas war, during which Raisi, who was 63, under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel just last month. Khamenei announced Monday that Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, would serve as the country’s acting president until elections are held. (AP) 2. 3 Americans among 50 detained after failed coup in DR Congo: The coup attempt led by self-exiled opposition leader Christian Malanga began around 4 a.m. as gunfire rang out in the capital Kinshasa, Reuters reported. But it was “nipped in the bud,” and Malanga was killed at the presidential palace. Malanga’s son was one of the three US citizens arrested following the attack. “I am shocked by the events of this morning and very concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved,” US Ambassador to the Congo Lucy Tamlyn said in a social media post. (NYPost) 3. Fierce fighting in northern Gaza as aid rolls off US-built pier: Israeli forces battled Hamas fighters in the narrow alleyways of Jabalia in northern Gaza on Friday in some of the fiercest engagements since they returned to the area a week ago, while in the south militants attacked tanks massing around Rafah. (ArabNews) -US Events- 1. Severe Storms, Including Possible Tornadoes, Take Aim At Plains, Midwest: T​his rash of severe weather began in the Plains late Sunday, where it produced more than a dozen reports of tornadoes in parts of Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. The storms also produced wind gusts up 100 mph in Salina, Kansas, and 86 mph in Hutchinson, Kansas. (WeatherChannel) 2. US departure from Niger ‘already underway’ ahead of September deadline: America has relied on the west African country as a counter-terrorism hub for more than a decade. Until recently, more than 1,000 U.S. personnel have operated there, most working from an airbase near Agadez, which cost more than $100 million and sits in the country’s center. Those ties began to fray last summer after a coup swapped the ruling government with a military junta known as the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland, or CNSP. (DefenseNews) 3. US judge blocks Biden-backed rule expanding gun background checks: A federal judge on Sunday blocked the Biden administration from fully implementing a new rule that would require gun dealers to obtain licenses and conduct background checks when selling firearms at gun shows and online. (Reuters) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Crypto Industry Rallies Behind House Bill as It Heads Toward Final Vote: The FIT21 legislation to establish a U.S. regulatory regime for digital assets is set for a floor vote next week, and the sector is telling House leaders the effort is "crucial". The bill would set the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a leading regulator of digital assets, and would establish consumer protections – including rules around custody of customers' assets and their treatment in bankruptcy – and set up further guardrails against risky behavior. (CoinDesk) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Bitcoin ETF volumes hit 7-week high as BTC price nears $67K: Bitcoin is seeing a “surge” in volumes among its new institutional investment products — nearly 1,000 United States firms have bought Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Data from research firm Santiment showed daily spot Bitcoin volumes passing $5 billion.(CoinTelegraph) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Ripple's Anti-Bitcoin Campaign To Promote CBDCs: The drive towards central bank digital currencies is accelerating, with Ripple emerging as the player in this global effort. This raises a paradox: while supporters of cryptocurrency champion decentralization, Ripple's central role in CBDCs suggests a move towards more centralized control of digital currencies. Ripple is at the forefront of the CBDC revolution, engaging with governments globally to leverage its technology for digital currency development. In May 2023, Ripple launched a dedicated platform to assist central banks, governments, and financial institutions in issuing CBDCs and stablecoins. (Forbes) 2. Russia and Iran Collaborating on Single BRICS Currency, Iranian Ambassador Says: Russia and Iran are collaborating on creating a single BRICS currency, the Iranian ambassador to Russia has claimed. He noted that over 60% of the two nations’ bilateral trade is conducted in Russian rubles and rials, reflecting a shift away from the U.S. dollar. (BitcoinCom) (AC-This report is from 2 days ago, before the news of the Iranian President's death yesterday) -Economic Indicators- NSTR -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Craig Wright Lied to UK Court 'Extensively and Repeatedly,' Judge Writes: Judge James Mellor concluded Wright was not Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin, and that he had not authored the cryptocurrency's foundational document known as the white paper. "I am entirely satisfied that Dr Wright lied to the Court extensively and repeatedly," Mellor said. "Most of his lies related to the documents he had forged which purported to support his claim." (CoinDesk) 2. Veteran Trader Peter Brandt Says Peter Schiff Criticizes Bitcoin to Attract Attention, Increase Following: Veteran trader Peter Brandt has accused economist and gold advocate Peter Schiff of leveraging his criticisms of bitcoin to garner attention and increase his social media following. However, Schiff countered, asserting that he is simply offering his candid perspective on the investment risks associated with bitcoin. (BitcoinCom) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 4 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): There are certainly some serious geopolitical machinations occurring this last month. Last week the Slovakian PM was targeted in an assassination attempt and now the Iranian President is declared dead after his helo goes down in the mountains in the north of Iran. We may not fully understand the purposes of these events at this point, but narratives will begin to emerge that push agendas associated with these events. Continue to stick with the facts and question the motives of the emerging theories while still working to comprehend the effects of these events. Unrelated events can suggest coordinated efforts but sometimes they are simply coincidence in timing. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Good morning ☕️

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 842,693 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 09May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Biden Hold Bombs for Israel / Protests Spread to Europe / Effort to Oust US Speaker Fails / Heavy Rains, Tornados Across the US / US House Votes to Repeal SEC Custody Rule For Banks / Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $61,152, 26.40 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $62,799 / Lo: $60,648 Vol: $25B (Even) Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Down 2%) HashRate: 547 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 22 sats/vBtye (Up 61%) Nodes: 17,036 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally: Biden, in an interview with CNN, said the U.S. was still committed to Israel’s defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms, but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.” (CNN) 2. Europe takes steps to avoid US campus chaos: Riot police raided an anti-Israel encampment at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced actions to combat antisemitism on campus as anti-Israel protests spread through Europe after swarming U.S. college campuses. (Fox) 3. Mom of captured U.S. soldier Gordon Black says girlfriend ‘lured’ him to Russia: The worried mother of a U.S. soldier in Russian custody said Wednesday that her son “was lured” there by a Russian woman he had been seeing in South Korea for over a year and that he’s being held on trumped-up charges of stealing roughly $100 from her. Melody Jones said she thinks her son, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, was set up by his girlfriend, whom she identified as Aleksandra Vashchuk. (NBC) -US Events- 1. House Blocks Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Effort to Oust Speaker Mike Johnson:The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to block a resolution by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to oust Speaker Mike Johnson, with Democrats stepping in to help save the Republican leader, closing for now another dramatic chapter in the GOP’s intraparty squabbling. (CNN) 2. Multiple tornadoes strike across 6 states as 350 damaging storms pummel parts of US: At least 13 reported tornadoes across Kansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, South Dakota and Missouri have been reported in the last 24 hours, with more than 350 damaging storm reports from Kansas to Carolinas, including hail greater than softball in Missouri and wind gusts up to 72 mph in Indiana.(ABc) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. House Votes to Erase SEC Crypto Policy While President Biden Vows Veto: The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve a resolution rejecting SEC cryptocurrency accounting guidance that the industry said has deterred banks from handling crypto customers, but President Joe Biden is already promising he'll veto the effort if it hits his desk. (CoinDesk) (AC-This exchange is setting up crypto and bitcoin as a political football for the new few years.) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Rwandan central bank proceeds with ambitious retail CBDC project: The African country is eyeing a tokenized retail CBDC with offline transfer capabilities as it heads toward a cashless economy. (CoinTelegraph) -Economic Indicators- 1. Dow Marks 6-Day Winning Streak: Stocks in the US finished a choppy session mixed on Wednesday, as the S&P 500 ended muted, the Dow Jones rose 171 points to extend its winning streak to six days, the longest since December. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. FTX Customers Poised to Recover All Funds Lost in Collapse: Bankruptcy lawyers for FTX said customers of the cryptocurrency exchange were set to get all their money back, plus interest. Virtually all FTX’s creditors, including hundreds of thousands of ordinary investors who used the exchange to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, would receive cash payments equivalent to 118 percent of the assets they had stored on FTX, the lawyers said. (NYTimes) -Technology- 1. Neuralink’s First Brain-Chip Implant in a Human Appeared Flawless. There Was a Problem: Neuralink encountered a problem with the implant in its first human patient, Noland Arbaugh, that reduced the amount of data it could capture from his brain, according to a blog post the company published on Wednesday. Some data was lost because a number of the implant’s threads that had been placed in Arbaugh’s brain came out. The company, owned by Elon Musk, didn’t disclose the reason why some threads retracted unexpectedly. (WSJ) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin mining difficulty drops 6% in largest fall since bear market lows: Bitcoin mining difficulty has dropped 5.7% to 83.1 trillion as the network’s hash rate falls below 600 EH/s following the halving. This latest difficulty adjustment is the largest drop since December 2022, when bitcoin was trading for around $17,000. (theBlock) 2. Bitcoin Lightning Wallet ZEUS Isn’t Going Anywhere: Evan Kaloudis, the US-based founder of ZEUS, believes that now is the time to take a stand and fight for KYC-free bitcoin self-custody wallets. In the wake of the news of the Samourai Wallet developers getting arrested and Phoenix Wallet halting service to US customers, he made it public that he was going to fight like hell for self-custody Bitcoin and Lightning Network wallets like the one he created, ZEUS, to continue to exist. (BitcoinMag) 3. Argentinian Energy Company to Mine Bitcoin with Stranded Gas: State-owned energy firm YPF's subsidiary, YPF Luz, recently partnered with Genesis Digital Assets (GDA) to launch a gas flare-powered mining facility. It will harness 1,200 machines to monetize gas currently being flared into the atmosphere. This comes as Argentina embraces Bitcoin with the election of Bitcoin-friendly President Javier Milei in late 2023. (COinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 55/100 (Down 9 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Good morning ☕️

Good morning ☕️

Good morning ☕️

May the hashrate be with you

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 841,907 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 03May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Turkey Halts All Trade With Israel / Russian Troops Enter Niger / Ceasefire Talks in Egypt / Over 2000 Arrested at US Colleges, Many Not Students / Arizona Repeals Abortion Ban / Another Boeing Wishblower Dies / Coinbase Had Big 1st Quarter / Block Begins DCA into BTC, Gives Away Blueprint / US Jobs Data Today Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,237, 25.75 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $60,004 / Lo: $58,238 Vol: $29B (Down 28%) Mkt Cap: $1.16T (Up 2%) HashRate: 558 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 31 sats/vBtye (Up 35%) Nodes: 19,146 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Turkey halts trade with Israel over 'humanitarian tragedy' in Gaza: Turkey has suspended all trade with Israel over its offensive in Gaza, citing the "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the strip. The Turkish trade ministry said the measures would be in place until Israel allowed an "uninterrupted and sufficient flow" of aid into Gaza. Trade between the two countries was worth almost $7bn (£5.6bn) last year. (BBC) 2. Russian troops enter base housing US military in Niger, US official says: Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting U.S. troops, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel U.S. forces. The military officers ruling the West African nation have told the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. (Reuters) 3. Hamas is sending a delegation to Egypt for further cease-fire talks in the latest sign of progress: After months of stop-and-start negotiations, the cease-fire efforts appear to have reached a critical stage, with Egyptian and American mediators reporting signs of compromise in recent days. But chances for the deal remain entangled with the key question of whether Israel will accept an end to the war without reaching its stated goal of destroying Hamas. (AP) -US Events- 1. Over 2,000 people arrested at protests disrupting colleges across the US: At Portland State University, police arrested at least 30 people on Thursday night as they worked to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from a library that had been occupied this week. President Joe Biden has delivered his most extensive remarks on the protests, drawing a line between what he called peaceful and violent protests, repeating his support for Israel, and dismissing calls for the National Guard to intervene. Meanwhile, almost half of the more than 280 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Columbia University and City College this week weren’t students or faculty at the schools, according to data released by Mayor Adams’ administration Thursday. (CNN, NYPost, DailyNews) 2. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signs abortion ban repeal bill: The ban, which dates to early territorial days in 1864, forbids doctors from providing abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother. Voters are expected to weigh in on the Arizona Abortion Access Act this November, which would permit abortions up to the point of fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. (Axios) 3. Second Boeing whistleblower dies following a brief illness, weeks after the suicide of another: Joshua Dean, 45, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, alleged that managers failed to act on manufacturing defects on the 737 Max, attorneys who represented both men said Thursday. "He was a healthy individual who ate well and exercised," Turkewitz told NBC News. "So it just seems odd that he went so fast." (NBC) (AC- Correlation does not mean causation, but cooincidence rightly causes suspicion.) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Crypto Mining Restrictions: Arkansas lawmakers approved two bills to address criticism over previous regulations on mining operations. The two Senate-backed bills, SB78 and SB79, were among the few non-budget subjects on the legislative session’s agenda and were “overwhelmingly approved” by the majority Republican House. They are on their way to Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s desk. These bills tackle the backlash from local officials and residents who live near the operations, who complained about the noise impact on the community. As a result, the lawmakers added the requirement for noise-reduction techniques and a state permit to operate. (Bitcoinist) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Crypto Exchange Coinbase Had a Blowout First Quarter: The business has a number of positive catalysts including its smart wallet, Coinbase Prime, layer-2 network Base and its growing international offering, the analysts said. The crypto exchange reported first-quarter net income of $1.2 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.40. (CoinDesk) 2. Jack Dorsey's Block Adding More Bitcoin to Balance Sheet, Presents Road Map for Others: Payments firm Block (SQ) has begun a dollar cost averaging (DCA) program to add to its already sizable bitcoin (BTC) stack. Led by CEO Jack Dorsey, the company in April began using 10% of its monthly bitcoin-related gross profit to buy additional bitcoin, with plans to do this each month for the remainder of 2024. Alongside that news, the company also released its Bitcoin Blueprint For Corporate Balance Sheets, in which it describes the process through which it is able to acquire large amounts of the crypto without unduly moving the market, and how it custodies, insures and accounts for the holdings. (CoinDesk) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Saudi, Bahrain eye cross border CBDC, IMF financial inclusion: Last week the World Economic Forum held a Middle East Special Meeting, during which a CBDC was discussed. A cross border CBDC is a priority for both the Saudi and Bahraini central banks. In contrast, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees potential for a retail CBDC to improve financial inclusion. The Governor of the Bank of Bahrain also hypothesized about the attractions of an interest bearing retail CBDC. (LedgerInsights) (AC- WEF, IMF, CBDCs mean control at higher and higher levels but without adequate technology it's simply posturing) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Job Growth Likely Remained Strong in April: The US economy likely added 243,000 jobs in April 2024, a slight deceleration compared to the 303,000 jobs added in March, with many economists expecting continued job growth in sectors such as construction and leisure, partially fueled by a recent surge in immigration. The full report is due today. (TradingEconomics) ( 2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls Further: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury yield pared its mid-session rebound and fell to 4.6% on Thursday, extending the drop from the prior session as markets continued to assess the outlook of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Sen. Lindsey Graham's phone being investigated for potential hack: Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday that the FBI was in possession of his phone after he received a message from someone impersonating Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. "I get a message, I think, from Schumer," Graham, R-S.C., said during a panel discussion about artificial intelligence regulations at The Hill and Valley Forum. "It ain't from Schumer." (NBC) -Technology- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 48/100 (Up 5 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): With Block's announcement of their new DCA program into Bitcoin, visibiliy is rising on the corporate practice pioneered to by Microstrategy. The nugget, however, is the free blueprint they shared that allows other companies to replicate the strategy successfully. The document can be downloaded by anyone, and of course it is self-serving for block, whose business it is to buy and sell bitcoin. There will be adherents to the practice, and soon the government will come for thier due. At some point, this is the type of event that will eventually lead to a bitcoin standard. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 841,779 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 02May24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Columbia (Country) Breaks Diplomatic Relations with Israel / US Announces New Sanctions on Russian Enablers / US Says Russia Using Chemical Weps / Police Cracking Down on Campus Protests / New Video Shows CIA Withheld Intel From Trump / BTC ETFs Outflows Hit High Mark / FOMC Stays Steady / UnitedHealth Hack May Affect 1/3 Of All Americans / Saylor Announces New Digital ID on BTC Blockchain Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,602, 25.45 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $59,389 / Lo: $56,592 Vol: $40B (Down 11%) Mkt Cap: $1.15T (Up 2%) HashRate: 620 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 21 sats/vBtye (Down 11%) Nodes: 19,909 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Colombia’s president says country will break diplomatic relations with Israel over war in Gaza: Colombian President Gustavo Petro described Israel’s siege of Gaza as “genocide.” He previously suspended purchases of weapons from Israel and compared that country’s actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany. Historically, Colombia had been one of Israel’s closest partners in Latin America. But relations between the two nations have cooled since Petro was elected as Colombia’s first leftist president in 2022. (AP) 2. Ukraine war: US hits China with sanctions over war supplies to Russia: US officials on Wednesday announced a sweeping package targeting nearly 300 entities in Russia, China and other countries. Other than China, targeted non-Russian entities were located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). (Guardian) 3. US says Russia used choking agents against Ukrainian troops, breaching chemical weapons ban: In a statement on Wednesday, the US State Department said it had “made a determination … that Russia has used the chemical weapon chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).” The Kremlin dismissed the US accusations. (CNN) -US Events- 1. Police move in and begin dismantling a pro-Palestinian demonstrators’ encampment at UCLA: The law enforcement action comes after officers spent hours threatening arrests over loud speakers if people did not disperse. Hundreds of people had gathered on campus, both inside a barricaded tent encampment and outside of it in support. As police helicopters hovered overhead. The sound of flash-bangs, which produce a bright light and a loud noise to disorient and stun people, could be heard as police moved in, and chants of “where were you last night” could be heard. Meanwhile, protest encampments elsewhere were cleared by the police, resulting in arrests, or closed up voluntarily at schools across the U.S., including The City College of New York, Fordham University, Portland State, Northern Arizona University and Tulane University. (AP) 2. Rep. Gaetz Demands Congressional Investigation of Intelligence Community After Undercover Footage Shows CIA Official Boasting Feds Spied on, Withheld Information From President Trump: Gaetz’s message was delivered almost immediately after O’Keefe’s Wednesday exposé revealed Amjad Fseisi, a program manager working in Cyber Operations for the CIA, admitting intel agencies “kept information” from Trump during his presidency. (TheParadise/X) -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. 17% more of asset managers consider adding digital assets: According to a survey from Northern Trust, almost a third are already invested in the asset class. Another 32% plan to support new asset classes. Of that group 54% are eyeing digital assets, translating to 17% overall. In other words, if the investment managers follow through on their plans, the proportion of asset managers invested in the asset class would increase from 32% to 49%. Of the 300 survey respondents, 90% manage more than $10 billion, with half managing north of $100 billion. (LedgerInsights) 2. U.S. Bitcoin ETFs Bleed Record $563M Even as Fed's Powell Rules Out Rate Hike: The 11 ETFs saw a cumulative net outflow of $563.7 million, the largest since the funds began trading on January 11, extending a five-day losing streak, according to data source Farside Investors and CoinGlass. Investors have pulled out nearly $1.2 billion from the ETFs since April 24. (CoinDesk) 3. VanEck says about $175 billion in bitcoin held by ETFs, nations and companies: "Bitcoin interest among institutional investors has also increased. Hedge funds, asset management firms, and endowments are increasingly recognizing bitcoin’s potential as a store of value," VanEck said in the report. That accounts for roughly 15% of the entire bitcoin supply, according to CoinGecko. As of Wednesday, bitcoin's total market capitalization was about $1.2 trillion. (TheBlock) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- NSTR -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed Chair Jerome Powell Projects Optimism, But Inflation Data Are in the Driver’s Seat: Powell tried to keep the central bank’s options open Wednesday by sticking with his view that interest rates are restrictive and that inflation was likely to resume its decline. For now, the Fed’s view that a rate cut is more likely than an increase “is a reasonable one,” said one economist. (WSJ) 2. US Job Cuts Fall in April: US-based employers announced 64,789 cuts in April 2024, a 28% decrease from March's 14-month high of 90,309 cuts and compared with the 66,995 cuts announced in the same month last year. (TradingEconomics) 3. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls Further: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note fell toward 4.6% from the over-five-month high of 4.7% (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. UnitedHealth says hackers potentially stole a third of Americans' data: On Wednesday, during a House hearing, when pushed to give a more definitive answer, Andrew Witty, the CEO of Change Healthcare’s parent company UnitedHealth Group, testified that the breach impacted “I think, maybe a third [of Americans] or somewhere of that level.” (TechCrunch) -Technology- 1. MicroStrategy Is Building ‘Decentralized ID’ on Bitcoin Using Ordinals-Like Inscriptions: “Michael Saylor presented a very compelling case for why we need decentralized identity and DID decentralized identifiers,” MicroStrategy executive vice president of engineering Cezary Raczko told the audience. “He made an even more compelling case why it makes sense to anchor digital identity into the Bitcoin blockchain, protected by the strength and the security of the Bitcoin network.” Alongside the announcement, MicroStrategy published an unofficial draft of the MicroStrategy Orange specification to Github. (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 43/100 (Down 11 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Saylor's announcement on 'Orange' is drawing reaction from the Bitcoin community, both negative and positive. Some see the need for a digital ID (DID) as a necessity in this digital age and would be best hardened on the immutable bitcoin blockchain. Others see the attachment of inscription-like DIDs on the blockchain as a corruption of the bitcoin philosophical purpose of an unassailable currency. The debate will certainly bring out the pros/cons of the proposal and already has drawn fire on Saylor as the leading proponent of Bitcoin as a store of value. The question will center around the other qualities of money, specifically as a medium or exchange and unit of account, which Saylor may seem to be abandoning. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Come and take it

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 840,513 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 23Apr24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Israel-Hamas War Draws Sides / China's Economic Reports Suspect, Says US Commander / Senate to Take Up Ukraine, Israel Funding Today / Venezuela Using USDT for Oil / Binance Under Scrutiny / BTC Fees Coming Back Down Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,150, 28.69 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $67,233/ Lo: $65,705 Vol: $25B (Even) Mkt Cap: $1.3T (Up 1%) HashRate: 810 EH/s (Up 30%) Avg Fees: 26,879 sats/tx (Down 26%) Nodes: 19,544 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. IDF strikes vehicle in southern Lebanon, kills two senior Hezbollah officials: The IDF killed Hassin Ali Ezkol, a terrorist and central member of Hezbollah's aerial defense unit during a targeted strike on a vehicle he was riding in, the IDF confirmed on Tuesday. Another unnamed senior Hezbollah terrorist was killed in the strike as well. (JPost) 2. Israel’s war on Gaza live: Death toll climbs after 200 days of attacks: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says “processes” are under way to look into allegations of rights abuses by the Israeli military but doesn’t confirm reports of imminent sanctions against an IDF army unit. At least 34,183 Palestinians have been killed and 77,143 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139 with dozens still held captive in Gaza. (AlJazeera) 3. China’s Economy Is ‘Failing,’ U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Says: The U.S. military commander in the Indo-Pacific said he didn’t believe the economic growth figures reported by China and described the country’s economy as failing.According to Beijing’s official numbers released last week, the economy grew 5.3% in the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. Aquilino described the figure as “not real.” “You go ask any economist if the Chinese are going to deliver 5.3% growth, and they will tell you, ‘No way,’ ” Aquilino said. (WSJ) -US Events- 1. Universities Struggle as Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Grow: Dozens were arrested Monday at N.Y.U. and Yale, but officials there and at campuses across the country are running out of options to corral protests that are expected to last the rest of the school year. (NYT) 2. Senate returns to take up $95B foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan: The bills also include a proposal to force a sale of TikTok sale or face a ban. The legislation, which includes four bills, passed the House over the weekend with bipartisan support. President Joe Biden urged the Senate to quickly advance the measures to his desk. The package provides roughly $26 billion for Israel, currently at war with Hamas in Gaza; as well as $61 billion for Ukraine and $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific. A fourth bill would force a U.S. ban of TikTok if its Chinese parent company doesn't sell it; impose sanctions on Russia, China and Iran; and seize Russian assets to help Ukraine rebuild from the war's damage. (ABC) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Venezuela plans to speed up USDT adoption following US sanctions: Venezuela’s state-run oil firm PDVSA is gearing up to increase the use of the Tether stablecoin for exporting crude and fuel oil, as the U.S. has recently decided to reimpose sanctions on the country. By the end of the first quarter, PDVSA had already moved many non-swap spot oil deals to a kind of contract that requires prepayment in USDT. The Venezuelan oil company is also asking new customers seeking to conduct oil transactions to hold crypto in a digital wallet. (Reuters) (AC-Why not Bitcoin?) 2. Binance sued in Canada for securities law violations: Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice published a certification motion on April 19 for a class-action lawsuit against Binance alleging that it sold crypto derivative products to retail investors without registration. The latest class action against Binance comes a few years after the crypto exchange announced in June 2021 plans to cease operations in Ontario after the OSC approached the firm with a warning. (CoinTelegraph) 3. Philippines SEC Urges Filipino Investors To Exit Binance, Requests App Removal From Google And Apple Stores: As part of its rising scrutiny on the popular cryptocurrency trading platform, the SEC has not only advised users to close their positions but has also reached out to tech giants Google and Apple. This included a request to remove the Binance app from their respective digital stores. Earlier this year, the Indian government also blocked Binance and several other crypto exchanges on play store and App store. (BlockchainReporter) (AC-India, Nigeria, Philippines and Canada are all focused on shutting down Binance in their countries due to registration issues. Meanwhile, Binance is newly registered in the UAE.) -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Chile Edging Closer to CBDC Launch: a digital peso rollout is looking increasingly likely, with the BCCh announcing it is set to commence Proof-of-Concept (PoC) testing. The central bank also conducted a survey. It said that it asked “the general public and representatives of the public and private sectors” for their CBDC-related opinions. The BCCh said almost 90% of survey respondents had “a favorable attitude toward CBDC” pilots. (CryptoNews) -Economic Indicators- NSTR -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Trezor CEO: Phishing Attack Highlights Need for Crypto User Education: Trezor, a provider of cryptocurrency hardware wallets, recently faced a security breach when its official Twitter account was compromised. The attackers used the platform to disseminate fraudulent messages about presale token offerings. This misled followers and put them at risk of financial scams. Now, the company’s CEO says that user education is vital when it comes to avoiding attacks. (CCN) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin's Fees Spike To All-Time High After 4th Halving Block: The fee spike has little to nothing to do with the halving itself. It has to do with a new token protocol that launched on top of Bitcoin at block height 840,000, called Runes. It uses Bitcoin's OP_RETURN data, which allows users to attach up to 80 bytes of extra data to a Bitcoin transaction output. Anybody can mint a rune by specifying a name, ID, symbol, quantity, and other data. Users can then sign with their private key and broadcast the transaction to the Bitcoin network. A massive influx of users minting Runes in block 840,000 and blocks over the subsequent 24 hours drove fees as a % of the total block reward to a record-high level of 74%. (ZeroHedge) (AC- Read the complete article at ZeroHedge for an in-depth understanding of the Runes/Fees issues) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Up 14 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): All eyes are on the repercussions of the Israel-Hamas war globally. In the US, college campus (mostly Ivy League) protests are shutting down campuses and more than 60 people have been arrested. Many videos are surfacing of students yelling antisemitic slogans while one Jewish girl was stabbed in the eye with a pole. In Congress, military aid was approved by the House for Israel (and Ukraine) while the conflict in the Levant continues with reports from both sides seemingly full of propaganda (see the reports above). The issue is certainly reaching a boiling point and the world is taking sides while rhetoric and violence increase. The conflict is probably the longest running on Earth even if the names of the participants change over millennia. What does change is the methods and tactics of warfare and the speed of information traveling globally. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

Good morning ☕️

We don’t need to #EndTheFed. We can make it irrelevant The supply of bitcoin just got cut in half from 6.25 to 3.125 every block The price is going up forever!!