BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 858,079 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Court Upholds Maduro's Victory / Nuke Plant in Kursk Threatened By Drones / SCOTUS Rules AZ Voters To Show Citizenship Proof / New COVID Vaccines Recommended by CDC / RFK Wins Ruling Against Biden Admin / DeFi Making Comeback / Myanmar Currency Quickly Debased / Crowdstrike Facing Lawsuits / Rise In Pig Butchering Con Games / US Wants to Flood Taiwan Strait With Drones Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,818, 24.28 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $61,408 / Lo: $60,141 Vol: $24B (Down 30%) Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Down 1%) HashRate: 736 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Up 67%) Nodes: 19,259 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Venezuelan court upholds Maduro’s disputed victory: Venezuela’s highest court has upheld the re-election of Nicolás Maduro as president following accusations of widespread voter fraud in July's poll. The decision by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) comes as the United Nations warned that the court lacked independence and impartiality. Mr Maduro has led the country since 2013 and his re-election means he can serve another six-year term. (BBC) 2. IAEA's Grossi to visit Kursk nuclear plant after drone attack: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday its Director General Rafael Grossi will assess the situation at Kursk nuclear power plant during his visit next week. IAEA also said it had been informed by the Russian Federation that the remains of a drone had been found within the Kursk nuclear power plant. Acting Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov told Putin the situation at the Kursk plant was "stable." (Reuters) -US Events- 1. Arizona can demand some voters prove citizenship, US supreme court rules: The US supreme court ruled Thursday that Arizona can partially enforce a new law that requires people to prove their citizenship in order to vote, but said the state cannot block them from voting for president or by mail as long as they used the federal voter registration form. The court’s emergency decision allows Arizona to require proof of citizenship from registrants who use the state’s voter registration form. But those who register using a federal voter registration form are still eligible to vote for president. The court also left in place a lower court injunction barring those who do not provide proof of citizenship from voting by mail for president. (TheGuardian) 2. FDA approves updated Pfizer, Moderna Covid vaccines as virus surges; shots to be available within days: The jabs target a strain called KP.2, a descendant of the highly contagious omicron subvariant JN.1 that began circulating widely in the U.S. earlier this year. The CDC recommended that everyone over 6 months old receive an updated Covid vaccine this year. Meanwhile, the CDC said about four people are being hospitalized for Covid for every 100,000 people in a given area. (CNBC) (AC-Even if the reader does not give credence to CDC/Big Pharma announcements like this, it is important to know that some do and whom may not know the risk/reward ratio of these vaccines.) 3. Judge Rules RFK Jr. Can Sue Biden Admin Over Censorship After Supreme Court Rejects Challenge From States: A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can continue to pursue his lawsuit against the Biden administration over censorship at the direction of the government. According to District Court Judge Terry Doughty, Kennedy meets the standard set by the Supreme Court because there is "ample evidence" to show he was censored at the direction of government actors, and is at "substantial risk" that the censorship will continue. Kennedy was named by one of the "Disinformation Dozen" - and was specifically targeted by the government over what they alleged was COVID-19 misinformation, and "The Court finds that there is further risk for future risk injury here because Kennedy is a 2024 presidential candidate," wrote Doughty. (ZeroHedge) (AC-An interesting turn of events for RFK as we await his pending announcement today. This ruling could affect his potential drop-out and support of Trump.) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. DeFi Is Set to Make a Comeback As Interest Rates, Stablecoin Supply Drive Its Resurgence: According to a report by Steno Research, decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to make a comeback, with the total value locked (TVL) in the crypto ecosystem potentially reaching an all-time high in the first half of next year. The resurgence of DeFi is linked to interest rates, particularly in the U.S., as they influence the appeal of decentralized financial markets. Additionally, factors such as the growth in stablecoin supply and the continued expansion of real-world assets contribute to the revival of DeFi. (Decreypt) (AC-Ugh!) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. El Salvador adds 162 Bitcoins to national holdings: A cold wallet reportedly owned by the Salvadoran government has been buying one Bitcoin everyday since March 16, adding 162 coins to the country’s Bitcoin holdings. (CryptoNews) -Economic Indicators- 1. US 10-Year Treasury Note Yield Steady Ahead Powell Speech: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note stabilized at 3.85% on Friday, after briefly dipping to a 14-month low of 3.8% earlier in the week. Markets are closely watching to gauge the scale of potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is set to speak at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Initial Jobless Claims Rise More than Expected: The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US rose by 4,000 from the previous week to 232,000 on the period ending August 17th, slightly ahead of market expectations of 230,000 to mark a three-week high. (TradingEconomics) 3. Myanmar households crippled as currency tumbles to record low: The Myanmar kyat has been extremely volatile in recent days, plunging to a low of 7,500 to the dollar in the black-market last week from 5,000 earlier in the month The plunge followed reports that the Myanmar junta was printing more kyat to prop up the currency, two traders said. “People are frantically buying (Thai) baht and selling kyat,” said a money transfer agent in Thailand. (AsashiShimbun) (AC- For those who study currencies and economics, the lessons come from around the world.) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. CrowdStrike Faces Lawsuits From Customers, Investors: CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) is facing lawsuits from investors and customers following the incident that caused massive global outages, but some believe the company is likely shielded from legal action. Roughly 8.5 million Windows devices worldwide entered a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) loop on July 19 after CrowdStrike pushed out a bad update that was not properly tested. (SecurityWeek) 2. Pig Butchering Crypto Scams On The Rise: FBI Recovered $5 Million: Pig Butchering crypto scams have become the new preference of fraudsters where they pretend to be acquaintances, friends, or romantic partners. They make contacts and get close with the victim, running the fraud for weeks or even months, convincing the victim to invest in the scammer’s crypto. Once the victim invests, the scammers show sudden losses to ask for more or simply disappear. (CoinGape) -Technology and Science- 1. AI drone ‘hellscape’ plan for Taiwan: The US army plans to combat a Chinese invasion of Taiwan by flooding the narrow Taiwan Strait with swarms of thousands and thousands of autonomous drones. “I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities so that I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything,” US Indo-Pacific Command chief Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo told the Washington Post. (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bybit emerges as dominant exchange with $2.5 billion BTC spot volume: Bybit's recent surge to a $2.5 billion spot volume on Aug. 22 has stunned the crypto community, consistently outperforming even the behemoth Binance in daily volumes. (CryptoSlate) 2. Bitcoin Fees Surge Above $100 as Native Staking Protocol Launches: Babylon Labs' launch of native staking capabilities for Bitcoin caused a surge in transaction fees early Thursday, with the median cost per transaction peaking at $132. Users rushed to stake their Bitcoin, leading to a fee bidding war and increased costs. Despite the inconvenience for standard Bitcoin users, this fee spike may benefit miners struggling in the current climate. (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 34/100 (Down 5 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: 857,755 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 21Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Ukraine Launches Large Drone Attack on Moscow / Ship Unresponsive After Houthi Missiles in Red Sea / China Protests US Concern in South China Sea / Obamas Speak at DNC / RFK Considers Dropping Out / Germany Seizes Bitcoin ATMs / Mt Gox Moves $784M Worth Of Bitcoin / Gold, Silver Hitting Highs / US Intel Says Iran Hacked Trump / AI Puts Pressure on Energy Sector / El Salvador Launches Bitcoin Certification for Gov Employees / BTC HODLers Keep HOLDing Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,349, 23.63 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $61,396 / Lo: $58,109 Vol: $26B (Down 4%) Mkt Cap: $1.17T (Down 2%) HashRate: 576 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 5 sats/vBtye (Up 60%) Nodes: 19,494 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Ukraine attacks Moscow in one of largest ever drone attacks on the Russian capital: Ukraine attacked Moscow on Wednesday with at least 11 drones shot down by air defences in what Russian officials said was one of the biggest drone strikes on the capital since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Russian media showed unverified footage of drones whirring over the dawn sky of the Moscow region and then being shot down in a ball of flame by air defences. Moscow's airports Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky limited flights for four hours but were restarted normal operations. There were no injuries or damage reported in the aftermath of the attacks. (Reuters) 2. Ship hit by suspected Houthi missiles in Red Sea, leaving vessel "not under command," U.K. military says: The attack saw men on small boats first open fire with small arms. The ship also was hit by three projectiles. "The vessel reports being not under command," the UKMTO said, likely meaning it lost all power. "No casualties reported." (CBS) 3. China says US has ‘no right to intervene’ in South China Sea disputes: Both countries said on Monday that their coast guard ships had collided near the disputed Sabina Shoal. China claims almost the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Chinese spokesman Mao Ning said, "The US is not a party in the South China Sea and has no right to intervene in maritime disputes between China and the Philippines,” Mao told a regular briefing. “The US should stop provoking confrontation in the South China Sea, not disrupt regional stability and not escalate tensions,” Mao said. (AFP) -US Events- 1. Obamas electrify Democrats at Chicago convention: In the choreography of the convention, the Obamas played the role of charismatic figures charged with inspiring those at the Democrats’ gathering and beyond to power Harris to victory in the two months remaining before Election Day. (WaPost) 2. RFK Jr. considering dropping out to ‘join forces’ with Trump: Shortly after the revelation, Trump declared that he would be “certainly” open to giving the Kennedy scion a post in his administration. “There’s two options that we’re looking at, and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Tim] Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump,” (NYPost) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Germany seizes $28 million in raid on unlicensed crypto ATMs: The sting was carried out on Aug. 20 and targeted 35 locations where crypto ATMs were reportedly being operated without the necessary licensing. Crypto ATMs, which enable users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin with cash or debit cards, fall under the jurisdiction of Germany’s Banking Act. German officials warned that crypto ATMs could become hotspots for criminal activities if operators do not enforce adequate Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, particularly for transactions exceeding 10,000 euros. (CryptoSlate) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Mt. Gox transfers $784 million in Bitcoin, fueling distribution rumors: Mt. Gox shifts 13,265 BTC; only 1,265 BTC likely for distribution, analyst posits. Currently, Mt. Gox holds 45,000 BTC after having distributed 97,000 of the original 142,000 BTC. (CryptoSlate) 2. Spot Bitcoin ETFs net $88m in inflows, spot Ether ETFs outflows see slowdown: BlackRock’s IBIT recorded the highest inflows with $55.4 million, bringing its total inflow since launch to $20.53 billion. It was the only fund to record a second consecutive day of inflows. ARK 21Shares’s ARKB followed with inflows of $51.9 million following a day of no activity. (CryptoNews) -Economic Indicators- 1. Gold Shatters Records as Investors Brace for Economic Turbulence: Precious metals prices are on the move again, with gold hitting a new peak of $2,564 during Tuesday’s trading sessions. As of now, gold is being traded at $2,527 per ounce, while silver has climbed more than 6% this week, currently standing at $29.68 per ounce. (BitcoinCom) 2. Dollar Sinks to Year-to-Date Lows: The dollar index traded below 101.5 on Wednesday, sinking to its lowest levels this year as investors awaited updates from the Federal Reserve to gauge the timing and magnitude of expected interest rate cuts. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. US intelligence officials say Iran behind Trump campaign hack: In a joint statement, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said it attributed “recently reported activities to compromise former President Trump’s campaign” to Iran, and that the intelligence community is “confident that the Iranians have through social engineering and other efforts sought access to individuals with direct access to the presidential campaigns of both political parties”. (TheGuardian) -Technology and Science- 1. Growth in artificial intelligence puts pressure on energy generation: “We’re in (a) precarious position,” said Geoff Marke, chief economist with the Missouri Office of Public Counsel. “We don’t have enough generation to meet our load before we start talking about AI data centers coming online.” The energy industry is experiencing seismic change. Coal plants are retiring and renewable generation is coming online. However, its reliance on the sun and wind tend to make it less consistent. Boston Consulting Group analysis shows that data center electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2030 — to 7.5% of total U.S. energy consumption, comparable to the power needs of 40 million households. (LakeGazette) -Bitcoin Community- 1. El Salvador launches Bitcoin certifications for civil servants: The National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) of El Salvador will train and provide Bitcoin instruction and certifications to 80,000 government employees. The 160-hour virtual and asynchronous training session — Certification in Public Administration 1 — is divided into seven modules, each detailing several concepts, laws, skills and management related to the use of Bitcoin as legal tender. (CoinTelegraph) 2. A Strong HODLing Trend Emerges in Bitcoin: Nearly 75% of all circulating Bitcoin has remained dormant for over six months. Consistently buying and holding Bitcoin over time, rather than attempting to time the market, aligns with the behavior of those who have historically seen the most significant gains holding Bitcoin. (ZeroHedge) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (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: 857,615 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 20Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Israel Recover 6 Hostage Bodies / Russia Hunts Down Deserters / North Korean Soldier Defects / DNC Says Goodbye to Biden / Georgia Strengthens Ballot Rules / Harris, DNC Indicate Crypto Antagonism / China Rules Digital Assets Transactions Illegal / BTC ETFs Control Almost 1M BTC / US Stocks Continue Rise / Hack Takes 4,064 BTC From One Wallet / Space X to Send Civilians Deeper Into Space Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,707, 24.02 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $61,396 / Lo: $58,109 Vol: $28B (Up 32%) Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Up 4%) HashRate: 626 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Even)-Very Low! Nodes: 19,155 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Israeli military says it recovered the bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that troops recovered the bodies in an overnight operation in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The operation came as the United States, Egypt and Qatar pushed for a cease-fire deal that would end Israel’s monthslong offensive in Gaza and see the release of the hostages who remain held in the enclave. More than 100 hostages remain held in Gaza, with around a third of them believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials. (NBC) 2. Russia Hunts Down Deserters to Backfill Its Massive War Losses: Russia’s vast professional army has been hollowed out after 2½ years sending waves of men to break down Ukraine’s defenses with a warfare attrition strategy. Russia is now recruiting at least 25,000 men a month, though few have combat experience. The war has been deadly for both sides. At least half a million Russians have been killed or wounded in the conflict, according to a senior Western intelligence official. Kyiv has also struggled to raise enough troops to hold back the Russians, despite lowering the mobilization age and raising pay. (WSJ) 3. North Korean soldier defects to the South: A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea early on Tuesday crossing the militarized border in the eastern part of the Korean peninsula. The soldier crossed into Goseong county on the east coast which borders North Korea and was taken into custody by South Korean guards who had been monitoring his movements. (Reuters) -US Events- 1. Biden hails Harris as DNC's future in emotional farewell speech: Biden's address in Chicago kicked off a four-day event fueled by enthusiasm for Harris and relief that Biden abandoned his own reelection bid and endorsed her to replace him. The president's reluctant decision to step aside on July 21 came after heavy pressure from party leaders who worried the 81-year-old incumbent was too old to win or serve four more years. (Reuters) 2. Georgia Election Board votes to add requirements before certification: The Georgia State Election Board passed a rule Monday giving local election officials additional power to investigate ballot counts before certifying the results, a move critics say could inject chaos into the 2024 election and delay the state’s official vote count. The “Rule for Reconciliation Prior to Certification” will allow for a hand recount of votes to ensure “the total number of ballots cast” does not exceed “the total number of persons who voted,” according to the language of the rule. County election officials will now be allowed to investigate any possible discrepancies. (CNN) 3. Two dead, state of emergency declared in Connecticut after historic rainfall: Governor Ned Lamont said that hundreds of people were evacuated with the worst of the flooding happening around Oxford and Southbury. Two women, 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71 Audrey Rostkowski, both of Oxford, were found dead on Monday after rushing flood waters carried them away from first responders. (WWLP) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Kamala Harris’s Alleged ‘Crypto Reset’ Absent in Democratic Agenda: While the Republican platform addresses the issue of cryptocurrency and bitcoin, the Democratic Party’s latest platform remained silent on the matter. Adding to the buzz, there are whispers that Kamala Harris’s campaign might be eyeing Gary Gensler, the current head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for the role of Treasury Secretary. (BitcoinCom) 2. China Classifies Crypto Transactions as Money Laundering in Update to AML Law: On Monday, Chinese authorities explicitly recognized “virtual asset” transactions as a method of money laundering, marking the first instance in the country that such a move has been made towards the asset class. The new legal interpretation classifies virtual asset transactions, including those conducted through crypto exchanges, as acts that "cover up and conceal the source and nature of the proceeds of crime.” (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. US Bitcoin ETFs on the Verge of Controlling 1 Million BTC: According to the latest data collected on Aug. 16, 2024, the 12 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) collectively hold around 910,153.83 BTC, which translates to over $53 billion at the current exchange rates. Leading the pack is Blackrock’s IBIT, holding the largest portion with 38.34% of the total BTC. (BitcoinCom) 2. US spot bitcoin ETFs see lowest daily trading volume since early February: U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw $61.98 million daily net inflows amidst a $779.87 million daily total trade volume on Monday, the lowest amount since Feb. 6 and the third lowest daily trade volume overall. (TheBlock) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Futures Signal Pause After 8-Day S&P 500, Nasdaq Rally: US futures changed little in cautious trading on Tuesday as expectations for a September interest rate cut grew stronger ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at Jackson Hole. On Monday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended their winning streak to eight sessions, the longest this year. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Could Bitcoin Become a Bigger Privacy Threat Than CBDCs?: Privacy advocates in the crypto space are concerned about the lack of privacy on the Bitcoin network and believe that it poses a threat to financial privacy. They argue that the open and transparent nature of the Bitcoin blockchain allows governments to monitor citizens' spending and other activities. While some worry that Bitcoin could be used as a CBDC with broad oversight, others believe that Bitcoin's decentralized nature makes it difficult for governments to control. (Decrypt) 2. Crypto Hack Ends In $238M Bitcoin Heist, Lazarus Group Linked?: A massive crypto hack on August 19 has shaken the community, resulting in the theft of $238 million in Bitcoin. According to ZachXBT’s research, the victim lost 4,064 Bitcoin, worth approximately $238 million, in a suspicious transfer on Monday. The transaction hash associated with the theft, 4b277…, revealed that the stolen funds were quickly transferred across various platforms. These include ThorChain, eXch, KuCoin, ChangeNow, crypto mixer Railgun, and Avalanche Bridge. (CoinGape) -Technology and Science- 1. SpaceX is about to send four people on a wild — and risky — mission into the radiation belts: Private citizens Isaacman, Menon, Gillis and Poteet will spend five days aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will soar to altitudes higher than any human has traveled since NASA’s Apollo program ended in the 1970s. Their orbital path will extend high enough to plunge the vehicle and crew into a radiation belt, adding another element of peril to the already treacherous experience of spaceflight. This crew of private citizens will also open the hatch of their spacecraft and expose themselves to the vacuum of space, marking the first time such a feat has been attempted by non-government astronauts. (CNN) 2. What does Bitcoin smell like? AI startup wants to ‘teleport’ digital scents: Artificial intelligence firm Osmo is working diligently to bring back the future we were promised in 1960 when Hans Laube introduced the world to “Smell-O-Vision.” Only this time, the goal is to improve the lives of humans everywhere by teaching computers how to interpret scent. The company hopes to build a system capable of superhuman feats of smell. These would include the ability to smell the presence of certain diseases, such as cancer, or symptoms associated with diabetes, such as low blood sugar.(CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Community- NSTR -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Up 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Despite recent efforts to get Democratic support for digital assets, the deafening silence by the DNC and Harris is message enough. After release of the DNC policy platform yesterday, the lack of support for bitcoin and crypto ensures a hostile stance would be taken upon inauguration by the Harris camp, complete with rewarding SEC chair Gary Gensler as Treasury Secretary. This possible scenario has consequences for bitcoin holders, self-custody, centralization, and mining operations into the near future. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

NEW DAILY Bitcoin Veterans SITREP

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Bitcoin Veterans • Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: "Why We Bitcoin" • Listen on Fountain

We’re kicking off an exciting new daily series focused on the latest Bitcoin and macroeconomic news from around the world. Join the Veterans as w...

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 856,590 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 13Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Ukraine Holds Section of Kursk / British Immigration Riots Peak, New Knife Killing of Girl / Bangladesh Charges Ex-PM With Murder / Musk and Trump Riff on X After Tech Issues Delay / Chokepoint 2.0 In Effect / Zimbabwe To End Dollar Use / BTC More Volatile on Weekends / DEFCon Hacks Voting Machines, Again / China Chases NVIDIA / MARA Prints "Made in USA" on Blocks / Technology Can Fix Election Honesty Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $58,856, 23.89 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $60,680 / Lo: $57,860 Vol: $32B (Up 10%) Mkt Cap: $1.16T (Down 1%) HashRate: 575 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Down 55%) Nodes: 19,623 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Top Ukrainian commander says his forces now control almost 390 square miles of Russia’s Kursk region: “The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control,” Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said. (AP) 2. Britain is hoping its riots have peaked. But the far right is lingering, and more trouble could lie ahead: It was meant to be another night of violence at the hands of the far right. A list of target addresses for far-right protests, seen by CNN, had been circulating on Telegram channels and then on social media for days, raising alarm that the racist attacks on Muslims and asylum seekers over the weekend would return. Wednesday felt like a turning point after a string of violence that had put a country on edge and thrown its new government into a sudden crisis. (CNN) 3. UK: Man stabbed girl, 11, eight times, court told: A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed in London’s Leicester Square on Monday. Ioan Pintaru, a Romanian national with no fixed address, is also charged with possession of a bladed article. (AP) 4. Bangladesh's ex-PM investigated for murder: A murder investigation has been opened into Bangladesh's ex-premier Sheikh Hasina over the police killing of a man during civil unrest last month. Six other top figures in the previous government are also being investigated following weeks of deadly unrest in the capital Dhaka. Ms Hasina resigned and left the country earlier this month, fleeing to New Delhi, India after political unrest destabilized the government. (BBC) -US Events- 1. Musk hosts friendly chat with Trump on X after tech delays: The conversation, in which Mr Musk asked friendly questions on subjects such as immigration and inflation, began more than 40 minutes late as many users struggled to gain access. The two men touched on a range of issues, from the assassination attempt on Trump last month at a Pennsylvania rally, to his wanting the US to get an "Iron Dome" missile defence system like the one in Israel as well as immigration, a key plank of his campaign. As many users struggled to access the livestream, Mr Musk blamed "a massive DDoS attack on X" for the problems in a post. (BBC) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Tyler Winklevoss Warns Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Remains in Full Swing: Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of U.S.-based exchange Gemini and VC firm Winklevoss Capital, has alerted about the ongoing status of Operation Chokepoint 2.0, a plan directed to difficult banking access to crypto companies. Winklevoss’ remarks come after the Federal Reserve found Customers Bank, a crypto-friendly bank, had “deficiencies” in compliance with anti-money laundering requirements. (BitcoinCom) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Zimbabwe to Unveil Roadmap to End Dollar Use, Cabinet Says: Zimbabwe’s cabinet said it has approved a roadmap to abandon US dollars in favor of its bullion-backed currency in transactions, a strategy that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube may unveil next week. “On modalities to operationalize the ZiG CBDC currency as legal tender for use in the economy, a dedollarization roadmap is now in place,” (Bloomberg) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Bitcoin risks ‘sharp weekend price swings’ as ETFs suck up liquidity: Bitcoin has become more susceptible to wild weekend volatility since the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF) in the United States, according to Kaiko Research. In an Aug. 12 report, Kaiko’s crypto analysts noted Bitcoin’s liquidity has become more concentrated on weekdays, particularly in BTC/US dollar markets. (CoinTelegraph) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Factory Gate Prices Expected to Rise Moderately: Factory gate prices in the US are projected to have risen by 0.2% month-over-month in July 2024, maintaining the same pace as in June. The core producer price index, which excludes volatile categories like food and energy, is also expected to increase by 0.2%, a slowdown from the previous month's 0.4% rise. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Futures Mixed Ahead PPI Data: US futures were mixed on Tuesday as investors awaited key inflation data. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures ticked up slightly, while Dow Jones futures fell over 100 points. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. The nation’s best hackers found vulnerabilities in voting machines — but no time to fix them: Organizers and participants at the DEF CON Voting Village found cyber vulnerabilities in everything from voting machines to e-poll books, but there is no time before the November elections to fully implement their findings. “If you don’t think this kind of place is running 24/7 in China, Russia, you’re kidding yourselves,” Harri Hursti said, gesturing around the room of voting equipment. “We are here only for two and a half days, and we find stuff…it would be stupid to assume that the adversaries don’t have absolute access to everything.” (Politico) (AC-See AC below) -Technology and Science- 1. Huawei Readies New Chip to Challenge Nvidia, Surmounting U.S. Sanctions: Chinese internet companies and telecommunications operators have been testing Huawei’s latest processor, called Ascend 910C, in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. Huawei told potential clients that the new chip is comparable to Nvidia’s H100, which was introduced last year and isn’t directly available in China, the people said. (WSJ) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Marathon Digital stamps ‘Made in USA’ on Bitcoin blocks mined: Marathon Digital CEO Fred Thiel underscored the company’s commitment to labeling blocks made in the US with a stamp. According to Thiel, every block mined by their MARA Pool in the United States will be stamped “Made in USA.” (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 31/100 (Up 6 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): With election season in full swing in the US, every aspect of electoral process is clouded in purposeful confusion. The candidate narratives, media coverage, social media spin, election process and legal aspects of the US election are as clear as mud. Within this confusion lies the opportunity to design and steer the results in a direction that does not suit the citizen voter. The democratic process is broken in the US and faith in the system is at a low. As with many problems, technology often provides an actual solution if human nature would concede. The latest guest on the Bitcoin Veterans podcast outlined a system now in use in Guatemala that uses checks and balances, combined with immutable confirmation on the Bitcoin blockchain to implement one of the most honest elections held in the world. The time is ripe to explore such a hopeful project and prepare for the dishonest broker onslaught in the US. For an introduction, consider watching the short film:

Immutable Democracy

Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 856,456 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 12Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US Buildup Continues in Mideast / Russians Evacuate Kursk Areas / US SOF Busy in Syria Against ISIS / Trump Campaign Hacked / Musk and Trump on X Tonight / NYC Overflows With Migrants / Venezuelans Use VPNs to Access Binance / Turkey Opens Up To Digital Assets / IRS Changes Crypto Form / Canada Politicians Spar on CBDC / Four Years of MSTR BTC Strategy / Quantum Computers Pick Up Steam / Bitcoin Miners Scraping By Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $59,806, 24.51 oz Gold, .14 Median US House 24hr Hi: $60,739 / Lo: $57,688 Vol: $29B (Up 86%) Mkt Cap: $1.18T (Down 2%) HashRate: 724 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 7 sats/vBtye (Up 75%) Nodes: 19,685 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US is 'strengthening' military force in Middle East: The U.S. is "strengthening" its capabilities in the Middle East by sending an additional guided missile submarine to the region "in light of escalating regional tensions," according to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder issued on Sunday. Secretary Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Middle East, which was previously expected to get there by the end of the month. Additionally, Austin has ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the Middle East. (ABC) 2. Russia orders more evacuations as Ukraine’s incursion into its territory enters its seventh day: Russian authorities were on Monday evacuating civilians from more areas along the Ukrainian border, a week into Kyiv’s surprise cross-border incursion into Russian territory. The incursion, which is now affecting two Russian regions, is seen as something of a game-changer in the conflict. (CNN) 3. In Syria’s Hinterlands, the U.S. Wages a Hidden Campaign Against a Resurgent Islamic State: American commandos are scrambling to contain a resurgence of Islamic State where the militant group once imposed its violent religious fervor on vast territories and millions of people. Militant fighters have doubled their pace of attacks in Syria and Iraq this year. They have targeted security checkpoints, detonated car bombs and plotted to free thousands of comrades jailed since the SDF and a U.S.-headed Western coalition recaptured the last Islamic State-held town. (WSJ) -US Events- 1. Trump campaign says it has been hacked: Politico reported earlier Saturday that it had received emails from an anonymous account with documents from inside Trump’s campaign operation. “These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” a Trump campaign spokesperson said. Spokesman Cheung pointed to a recent report published by Microsoft that said Iranian operatives had ramped up their attempts to influence and monitor the US presidential election. (CNN) 2. Elon Musk to interview Trump on X social media network: The interview, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time (0000 Tuesday GMT), could provide the former president an opportunity to seize the limelight. Trump's access to his account, @realDonaldTrump, was restored a month into Musk's ownership of X after being suspended by the platform's previous owners following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his supporters. Trump frequently posts on his Truth Social social media platform, which was launched in February 2022.(Reuters) 3. Migrants Camp in City Streets as Biden’s Shelters Overflow and Gang Violence Grows: As the number of migrants continues to grow in the Big Apple, authorities are beginning to become concerned over the number of border crossers who are choosing to live outside in tents instead of going into the city’s shelter system. With the city already struggling to house some 65,000 migrants, a major factor spurring migrants to camp outside in tents is that they feel unsafe in the massive shelters arranged by city officials. (Breitbart) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Venezuelans turn to VPNs as government restricts Binance access: Binance has confirmed that the Venezuelan government has restricted access to its website amid turmoil following controversial presidential election results. Local group VE sin Filtro advised Venezuelans to use a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass the crypto platform’s blockade. (CryptoSlate) 2. 47 Companies Apply to Operate in Turkey Under New Crypto Regulations: Turkey’s Capital Markets Board has issued an update on crypto asset service providers following new regulations. The provisional lists include 47 operational companies and three that are planning to liquidate. Current crypto service providers are required to apply for permits or proceed with liquidation by specified deadlines, with legal repercussions for noncompliance. (BitcoinCom) 3. IRS Updates Crypto Tax Form, But Could Still Bring ‘Unintended Consequences’, Expert Says: The IRS has released a revised draft of the 1099-DA form for crypto investors, aiming to simplify tax reporting for digital asset holders. The new form eliminates intrusive questions about wallet addresses, transaction IDs, and specific broker types. (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Trudeau’s rival pushes to ban CBDC in Canada, preserves cash use: Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre voiced strong opposition to the development of a central bank digital currency in Canada in a recent X post, pledging to protect cash usage and resist the government’s push toward economic digitization. (CryptoNews) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Saylor's Big Bitcoin Gamble Turns 4. Here's How MicroStrategy Stock Has Performed: After languishing for nearly two decades, the stock ended up recovering following Saylor's Bitcoin gamble. In fact, MicroStrategy has managed to outperform 499 out of 500 stocks in the S&P 500. As reported, MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock was added to the much-coveted the MSCI World Index earlier this year after outperforming Bitcoin. (UToday) -Economic Indicators- 1. Bank of Japan Rules Out Interest Rate Hikes Until 2025: A former Bank of Japan (BOJ) official stated that the central bank will delay any further interest rate hikes until next year, prioritizing market stability in the near term. The BOJ recently raised its key interest rate for the first time in over a decade but has now signaled a pause in additional rate hikes. The shift in policy caused the Japanese yen to strengthen and led to a decline in risk assets, including Bitcoin. (Decrypt) 2. Dollar Stabilizes Ahead of Inflation Data: The dollar index steadied around 103.1 on Monday as investors look ahead to key inflation data this week for confirmation that price growth has continued to stabilize. (TradingEconomics) 3. Week Ahead: The focus in the United States will be on the CPI and PPI reports, and speeches by Federal Reserve officials. Additionally, key data releases will include retail sales, Michigan consumer confidence, export and import prices, housing starts, building permits, and industrial production. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Technology and Science- 1. Quantum computers are advancing much faster than scientists expected: Most people working in the field believe that quantum computers will be able to solve problems that classical computers can’t solve within the next 10 years. This is according to a recent survey of 927 people with associations to the field of quantum computing (researchers, executives, press, enthusiasts, etc.) conducted by QuEra. Of those surveyed, 74.9% “expect quantum to be a superior alternative to classical computing for certain workloads” within the next 10 years. (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin miners record lowest daily revenue of 2024: Revenue earned by Bitcoin miners, primarily through block rewards and transaction fees, declined consistently over two weeks to record a new yearly low on Aug. 11. On Aug. 11, daily earnings of the Bitcoin mining community dipped to a new yearly low of $2.54 million, a number last seen in October 2023. (CoinTelegraph) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 25/100 (Down 23 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: 855,646 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 06Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Rockets Hit US Base in Al Asad, Iraq / UN Fires Staff for Oct 7th Role in Massacre / Biden Convenes NatSec Council / Maduro To Investigate Opposition Leaders for Crimes / VP Harris Gets Dem Nomination / Hurricane Debby Floods Florida, Georgia / Binance Hit with $86M Tax Bill in India / Thailand Models CBDC, UBI Plan / Global Markets Rebound / US Begins Treasury Buyback / Google Hit With Antitrust Ruling / CA Puts Car Titles on New Blockchain / Swan Cancels PB Fest '24 Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $54,055, 23.04 oz Gold, .13 Median US House 24hr Hi: $56,271 / Lo: $49,578 Vol: $68B (Down 21%) Mkt Cap: $1.09T (Up 9%) HashRate: 624 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 11 sats/vBtye (Up 90%) Nodes: 19,594 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US personnel wounded in attack against base in Iraq: At least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq on Monday, U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Middle East braced for a possible new wave of attacks by Iran and its allies following last week's killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Two Katyusha rockets were fired at al Asad airbase in western Iraq, two Iraqi security sources said. One Iraqi security source said the rockets fell inside the base. (Reuters) 2. Nine UNRWA staff to be fired for potential role in 7 October attacks on Israel: The UN said on Monday that nine staff working for its Palestine refugee agency UNRWA will be sacked because they may have been involved in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks against Israel. 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages. (UNAffairs) 3. Biden meets national security team as fears of Iran attack on Israel grow: US President Joe Biden met his senior national security team on Monday as concerns of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel grew. Biden said he had been briefed on preparations to support Israel should it be attacked, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said officials were working "around the clock" to prevent an escalation. (BBC) 4. Venezuela launches criminal investigation into opposition figures: Venezuela’s Public Ministry has opened a criminal investigation into presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado, the country’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a statement on Monday. Venezuela’s opposition and multiple other nations have refused to recognize Maduro’s victory in the July 28 vote until the release of the full vote tally. (CNN) (AC-The headlines from Venezuela and the US seem to be interchangeable, only the names change) -US Events- 1. Kamala Harris earns majority of Democratic roll call votes, achieving historic presidential nomination: The roll call, which concluded on Monday evening, still needs to be certified by Convention Secretary Jason Rae, according to the statement, but the announcement makes Harris's historic nomination effectively official. (ABC) 2. Debby Weakens to Tropical Storm, Four People Confirmed Dead: Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday afternoon after hitting Florida with heavy rain and leaving four dead. The storm is expected to inundate the Southeast with historic rain and catastrophic flooding over the next few days. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday afternoon three people were killed in traffic accidents and a fourth was killed as a result of a tree that fell on a roof. (WSJ) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Binance Is 'Cooperating' With Indian Authorities on $86 Million Tax Bill: Binance is facing a significant tax challenge in India after the country’s tax authorities issued a notice demanding a Goods and Services Tax (GST) payment of $86 million. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence alleges that Binance collected fees from Indian customers for trading virtual digital assets without remitting the appropriate taxes, according to a local news outlet. (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Thailand may tell us a great deal about the future of money: The Thai government has initiated a programme to distribute money to low-income households through digital wallets. About 50mn Thais who fall below certain income and savings thresholds will get about $280 each, roughly half of monthly per capita income. The Thai transfer programme already has some features of a CBDC. (FT) (AC-The Thai government is showing the world how CBDCs will be instituted, primarily through low-income grants and UBI programs first. The eventually mandated as the primary currency where the programmable features are implemented, decreasing freedom of currency usage.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Hedge Fund Capula Reveals $420 Million in Bitcoin ETF Holdings: London-based hedge fund Capula Management has disclosed in a regulatory filing that it has invested over $420 million in Bitcoin through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The hedge fund purchased shares of Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust and BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, making its total investment worth $422 million. (Decrypt) -Economic Indicators- 1. Global markets jittery after sharp share price falls: Stock markets in Europe remained unsettled on Tuesday despite a rebound in Japan which almost reversed record falls at the start of the week. Overnight, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index jumped by 10.23%, or 3,217 points in its biggest one day gain in points, after the previous day's plummet. Experts says this was in reaction to fears of a US economic slowdown. A rare interest rate cut in Japan is also believed to have played a part. (BBC) 2. US 10-Year Yield Rises as Traders Assess Outlook: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note rose above 3.8% on Tuesday after hitting an over one-year low of 3.67% in the previous session, as investors weighed risks of a US recession. A weak jobs report released on Friday stoked fears of an economic downturn, prompting traders to rush for safe-haven assets including US Treasuries. (TradingEconomics) 3. US Commences $50B Treasury Buyback, 50 bps Fed Rate Cut Odds Surge: On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, the United States will kickstart the ambitious Treasury buyback program. This initiative aims at purchasing $50 billion worth of Treasury securities by the end of October. Moreover, it comes at a crucial juncture as the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to announce an emergency interest rate cut soon. (CoinGape) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. North Korean Hackers Moonstone Sleet Push Malicious JS Packages to npm Registry: The North Korea-linked threat actor known as Moonstone Sleet has continued to push malicious npm packages to the JavaScript package registry with the aim of infecting Windows systems, underscoring the persistent nature of their campaigns. (HackerNews) -Technology and Science- 1. Google Found to Hold an Illegal Monopoly in Antitrust Case: Google has lost an antitrust lawsuit over its search arrangements on smartphone devices, with a federal judge ruling that the tech giant has illegally held a monopoly in search and text advertising over the past decade. (Breitbart) 2. California DMV digitizes 42 million car titles on the blockchain: The DMV has partnered with blockchain startup Oxhead Alpha, the first step was creating digital tokens for the 42 million car titles on the blockchain, which the DMV has already completed. It’s currently building a mobile app that Californians can use to access their records and initiate title transfers from the comfort of their homes, a first in the U.S. The app is expected to go live in the first half of 2025. With blockchain’s decentralization and immutability, car owners will likely detect any lien fraud quickly. According to vehicle data firm Carfax, there are over 800,000 cases of title washing alone, which is the fraudulent concealment of pertinent car information from a buyer. (CoinGeek) -Bitcoin Community- 1. Swan Bitcoin Cancels Pacific Bitcoin Festival 2024: Swan Bitcoin has canceled its highly anticipated Pacific Bitcoin Festival 2024, which was set to take place in October in Santa Monica, California. The decision comes after recent staff cuts and a shift back to the company’s core business. (BitcoinSensus) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 17/100 (Down 9 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Even with the bounceback in global equities, the USG is looking to stabilize markets and prevent FUD around the US economy, especially before an election. The Treasury buyback is timed to provide some liquidity both here and abroad during this time of uncertainty. The follow-on actions expected are the Fed interest rate reduction, further increasing liquidity. Simple economic mechanics forecast increasing inflation to result in the following 6-12 months. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 854,946 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 01Aug24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Hamas Leader Killed in Tehran / Hezbollah Commander Confirmed Killed in Lebanon / Musk Vs. Maduro Challenge Accepted / Sex Trafficking at Comic-Con / Sen Lummis Introduces Bitcoin Bill / Sen Hagerty Backs Trump's Crypto Stance / NC Democrats Flip on CBDC Bill / No Movement From Fed / HSA Provider Hacked / Tucker Like Bitcoin, But Says CIA Created It Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $64,522, 26.46 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $66,810 / Lo: $63,573 Vol: $36B (Up 29%) Mkt Cap: $1.27T (Down 2%) HashRate: 683 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 8 sats/vBtye (Up 27%) Nodes: 19,160 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Hezbollah confirms commander died in Israeli strike: Fuad Shukr, who was in his early sixties, is believed to be a key military adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The strike targeted a building in Haret Hreik, a part of the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut. It is a fortified, densely populated area. Dahiyeh itself is surrounded by checkpoints. Meanwhile, the US tells Americans in Lebanon: ‘Be prepared to shelter in place’: (BBC) 2. Iranians mourn Hamas leader Haniyeh's assassination: Iranians turned out to mourn Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday, a day after he was assassinated in Iran's capital. Iran and the Palestinian Islamist militant group have accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president in Tehran on Wednesday. (Reuters) 3. Elon Musk accepts Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's challenge to fight: In a video Monday, Maduro was seen holding a cellphone as he declared war on Musk, alleging social media platform X owner Musk wants to invade Venezuela with his space rockets. "I am the son of Bolivar and Chavez. I am not afraid of you, Elon Musk," Maduro continued. "Let’s go at it, wherever you want, as we say in Caracas in the neighborhoods. If you want it, I want it, Elon Musk. Just say where." Musk later responded to a post about the challenge on X, writing: "I accept." (Fox) -US Events- 1. San Diego Comic-Con at center of human-trafficking sting: A team of federal, state and county investigators rescued 10 people and arrested 14 during an undercover human-trafficking sting at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, which was held over the weekend. The team was on the lookout for “sex buyers using the San Diego Comic-Con Convention to seek out potential victims,” As a result of the three-day investigation, 14 sex buyers were arrested and nine potential adult victims of sex trafficking were identified. One 16-year-old was also identified as a victim. (LATimes) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Senator Cynthia Lummis Introduces New Act to Establish a National Bitcoin Reserve: Senator Cynthia Lummis has introduced the BITCOIN Act of 2024, which aims to establish a national Bitcoin reserve to strengthen the position of the U.S. dollar in the global financial system. The bill also seeks to ensure transparency in the management of the Bitcoin reserve by the U.S. Treasury Department. However, the Act may face challenges in Congress due to partisan divisions and the upcoming Presidential election. (Decrypt) 2. Tennessee Senator Backs Trump, Wants to 'Make Certain' America is a Crypto Hub: U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) threw his support behind Presidential candidate Donald Trump's bid to make the U.S. a crypto hub this week. He likened crypto to the semiconductor industry that, "got pushed offshore and weakened us from a geopolitical standpoint," adding that, "We need to see this innovation happening here." (Decrypt) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. NC House overrides governor’s veto on CBDC bill, Democrats flip stance: The North Carolina House of Representatives voted to override three of Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent vetoes on Wednesday, including House Bill 690, an act prohibiting payments to the state using a central bank digital currency. During Wednesday’s override vote, nearly all House Democrats voted in contradiction to their supportive positioning in June (73-41). (CarolinaJournal) (AC-A very interesting turnabout in just one month. Politicians in the US are responding to support for bitcoin and opposition to CBDCs from US citizens.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Bitcoin ETFs see smallest net inflow on record, Grayscale mini BTC positive: Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced a minimal net inflow of just $0.3 million, marking the most negligible net inflow since these ETFs began trading on Jan. 11. July 31 marked the inaugural trading day for Grayscale’s new mini trust BTC, which attracted an $18.0 million inflow; the fund was initially provided with 10% of GBTC’s Bitcoin assets. (CryptoSlate) -Economic Indicators- 1. Fed Leaves Rates on Hold but Signals Progress on Inflation: The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at a 23-year high of 5.25%-5.50% for the 8th consecutive meeting in July 2024, in line with expectations. Policymakers noted that there has been some further progress toward the 2% inflation goal although it remains somewhat elevated. (TradingEconomics) 2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Falls to Over 4-Month Low: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell toward 4.1%, its lowest since March, amid growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will signal the start of its cutting cycle today. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. 4.3 million people hit in massive healthcare data breach with full names, addresses and SSNs exposed online: HSA provider HealthEquity has disclosed that it suffered a data breach in which the personal information of millions of Americans was stolen by hackers. (TomsGuide) 2. Facebook Ads Lead to Fake Websites Stealing Credit Card Information: Facebook users are the target of a scam e-commerce network that uses hundreds of fake websites to steal personal and financial data using brand impersonation and malvertising tricks. "These fraudulent sites were accessible only through mobile devices and ad lures, a tactic aimed at evading automated detection systems," the company said, noting the network comprised 608 fraudulent websites and that the activity spans several short-lived waves. (HackerNews) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Miner Riot Platforms' Second-Quarter Loss Widens to $84.4M as Costs Surge: The Castle Rock, Colo.-based company posted a net loss of $84.4 million, or $0.32 per share. The cost to mine the bitcoin jumped to $25,327 from $5,734 due to a 68% increase in the network's hashrate. Hashrate is a measurement of the total computational power used to process transactions on the network. (CoinDesk) 2. Tucker Carlson Says He Loves Bitcoin—But Believes the CIA Created It: During a private event on Friday held at Bitcoin 2024, the former Fox News host spoke at length about why crypto is the world’s best tool for enabling financial sovereignty—even though it was invented by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). “Obviously it was the CIA, we all know that,” said Carlson with a laugh. “It’s like Signal, they got there first. It’s a honeytrap!” (Decrypt) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 52/100 (Down 9 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The sudden turn of politicians towards Bitcoin and crypto, and against CBDCs in the US is instructive in games of political power. While most of the rest of the world is barreling towards a CBDC solution and centralized power, the groundswell of support for Bitcoin and anti-CBDC shows the power of legacy representative democracy in the US. US politicians still need votes to maintain or gain power. US politicians in general still do not understand Bitcoin or CBDCs, but do understand that it is important for many constituents and can garner them support apart from traditional policies. The push for Bitcoin as a reserve asset is no less than a dog-whistle for digital asset enthusiasts as the reality is very complex and difficult to enact meaningfully, for the USG, citizens or Bitcoiners. All of which have different objectives. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 853,558 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 23Jul24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Red Sea Boils / China, Philippines Reach Agreement / Ukraine Foreign Minister Visits China / Secret Service Under Heavy Fire / Netanyahu Snubbed, Will Speak to Congress / MARA Fined $138M / Is Bitcoin as Reserve Asset Possible? / ETH ETFs Start Trading / BTC Miners Struggling Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,601, 27.58 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,267 / Lo: $66,292 Vol: $45B (Up 45%) Mkt Cap: $1.31T (Down 1%) HashRate: 746 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 6 sats/vBtye (Up 43%) Nodes: 7,410 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped the past two weeks from an average of 19K to below 10K) ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Red Sea tensions reach new high as US weighs terrorist designation for Houthis: Israel's strike on Yemen's port of Hodeidah on Saturday killed three and injured 87, in a fighter jet assault over 1,000 miles away from Tel Aviv. Israel says it was a response to a Houthi drone attack Friday that killed one person in Tel Aviv. Tallies of reporting from U.S. Central Command count 14 missiles and nearly 60 drones fired by the Houthis and destroyed by the U.S. Navy in June alone, which by some assessments has made the sea combat the United States' most sustained naval fight since World War II. "There's more and more talk now about a designation under the [Foreign Terrorist Organization], which would level the Houthis with al-Qaeda affiliates and Hamas. (ABC) 2. China, Philippines agree on 'provisional arrangement' for South China Sea resupply missions, Manila says: "Both sides continue to recognize the need to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation and agree that the agreement will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea," the Dept of Foreign Affairs in Manila said. (Reuters) 3. Ukraine's FM Kuleba to visit China: China has announced that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will visit China from Tuesday to Friday, the first such trip since the Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022. According to Ukraine's foreign ministry, the main topic of discussion would be the search for ways to end the conflict and China's possible role in achieving sustainable and just peace. (ChinaDaily) (AC-An unexpected twist as China has supported Russia since the conflict began.) -US Events- 1. Secret Service Director’s Testimony Sparks Bipartisan Calls for Her Resignation: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle offered lawmakers few answers Monday about how a 20-year-old gunman was able to open fire on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, fueling bipartisan anger and widespread calls for her resignation in the wake of what she acknowledged was a colossal security lapse. (WSJ) 2. Netanyahu trip will put US divisions on display: Boycotts from Democratic lawmakers and pro-Palestinian activists against Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday will contrast with a Republican Party united on a rare area of solidarity. With Biden’s decision to not seek reelection, all eyes will be on Vice President Harris for how she handles meetings with Netanyahu. Harris is not expected to attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, in a sign welcomed by advocates for a tougher U.S. policy toward Israel. (TheHill) (AC-Meanwhile, Netanyahu landed in DC without Biden, Harris or Blinken there to meet him, seen as a diplomatic snub.-Breitbart) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Marathon Digital Fined $138 Million for Breaching US Bitcoin Corp and Hut 8 Non-Disclosure Agreement: Marathon Digital, the largest Bitcoin mining company, has been fined $138 million for breaching a non-disclosure agreement. Michael Ho, former co-founder of US Bitcoin Corp, won a breach of contract lawsuit against Marathon Digital for executing his growth strategy without compensating him. (CoinTelegraph) 2. Will Trump endorse bitcoin as strategic reserve asset?: The excitement centers around a tweet from Dennis Porter suggesting that Trump might announce bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. Melker emphasized the potential for a historic shift. He noted that the U.S. government already holds a substantial amount of bitcoin from past confiscations, such as from Silk Road. Transferring these holdings to the treasury could effectively position bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. If Trump makes this announcement, it would not only make international headlines but also compel other central banks to reconsider their stance on bitcoin. (TheStreet) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Ethereum ETFs Approved: Trading Begins July 23, 2024: Spot Ethereum ETFs launch July 23, 2024, after SEC approval, allowing traditional investment in the second-largest crypto, with expected lower demand than Bitcoin ETFs. (Blockononmi) (AC-There is no second best) -Economic Indicators- 1. Dollar, Treasuries and Futures Steady as Traders Mull US Political Outlook: The dollar index steadied around 104.2 on Tuesday as investors continued to assess the US political landscape in the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. EU Rules Blamed for Global IT Catastrophe Triggered by Faulty CrowdStrike Update: At the heart of the crisis lies CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm whose Falcon system, designed to thwart cyberattacks, holds privileged access to a computer's kernel. Microsoft has pinned the blame on EU regulations. A 2009 agreement stemming from a competition investigation forced the tech giant to allow multiple security providers, including CrowdStrike, kernel-level access. The confluence of a faulty update, widespread reliance on CrowdStrike's software, and Microsoft's regulatory obligations created a perfect storm. (TechTimes) -Technology- 1. NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Swan Bitcoin capitulates, BTC miners shrink, consolidation grows, fears mount: Cory Klippsten, CEO of the California-based Swan Bitcoin financial services firm, announced that his company “is unlikely to continue with our Managed Mining business in the near term.” Klippsten added, “ without the expectation of significant near-term revenue from our Managed Mining unit, we are pulling our plans to IPO in the near future.” Since the scheduled ‘halving’ of the block subsidy this spring, the economics of BTC mining no longer add up. Even as the BTC token’s fiat value has recovered much of the losses it endured over the past couple of months, it’s still not always high enough to cover the huge electricity costs of successfully mining a BTC block. -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Up 1 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Rumors of Trump announcing Bitcoin as a strategic asset reserve are swirling, but is it as significant news as thought? The USG already owns 213K BTC, or $14B worth of BTC, which is not much compared to what would be needed as a reserve asset. There is no current law or requirement that says a reserve asset must be used, kept or distributed in any sort of way in order to 'backstop' the US dollar. The act would be as 'fiat' as saying the assets are held but how does that relate to the US currency? Would it really slow down the dollar debasement? There are just too many questions, legal conflicts and agendas to put much stock in the reality of backing the US dollar with bitcoin in the near future. Short term, it would certainly be bullish for BTC price and could set off buying competition, but significant changes would need to occur for it to become a reserve asset in the USA. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

LETS GO!!! GET ON NOSTR, GET TO NASHVILLE, AND GET ON THE MISSION View quoted note →

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 853,370 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 22Jul24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Biden Drops Out of Race / Israel Strikes Back at Yemen / Vietnam's Communist Leader Dies / Ukraine Launches Drone Attack / VP Harris Gets Ready for Presidential Campaign / Bitcoiners Prepare for Significant Week / Seven US States Challenge SEC Over Crypto / CashApp to Depart UK / Airports Still in Disarray / Hackers Take Advantage of CrowdStrike Fail / Elon Laser Eyes Draw Speculation Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,600, 28.20 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,480 / Lo: $65,842 Vol: $32B (Up 76%) Mkt Cap: $1.33T (Up 1%) HashRate: 600 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 33%) Nodes: 7,412 (*Anomaly: Detected nodes have dropped the past two weeks from an average of 19K to below 10K) ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. At least 6 killed as Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen day after Tel Aviv drone attack: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets struck “military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime” in the area of Yemen’s Hodeidah Port on Saturday, in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a direct response to the death of a 50-year-old Israeli in a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv on Friday. This is the first time Israel has struck Yemen, according to Israeli officials. (CNN) (AC-This is a major expansion in war for Israel. They are now fighting Iranian proxies on three fronts; Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and now Houthis in Yemen.) 2. Death of Vietnam’s Top Leader Raises Questions of Succession: With the death Friday of Vietnam’s long-serving Communist Party general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, the country’s top leadership role has been left at least temporarily to President To Lam, who is best known for implementing a sweeping anticorruption drive. Whether he will retain the duties of general secretary on a more permanent basis depends on the Politburo, which is expected to decide whether to confirm his new role. Vietnam analysts said it was unlikely that the death of Mr. Trong would lead to any changes in foreign policy or trade relations, as Vietnam will continue balancing its relations with the United States, China and Russia. (NYT) 3. Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Refinery Ablaze, Russian Officials Say: Russia's military said early Monday that its forces had downed 75 Ukrainian drones overnight, with regional authorities reporting that falling debris set fire to a major oil refinery on the Black Sea coast. Rostov region Governor Vasily Golubev said no one was injured during an overnight wave of attempted drone strikes in his region, but added that falling debris had caused some fires. (MoscowTimes) -US Events- 1. World leaders react to Biden’s exit from the 2024 US presidential race: Messages of gratitude and support for US President Joe Biden poured in following his stunning announcement Sunday that he is exiting the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the next Democratic nominee. It was the second seismic moment in US politics in just over a week, following the assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, which saw global leaders rally around him as the Republican nominee. One Weibo (Social Media in China) user remarked, “that one shot didn’t kill Trump but dropped Biden,” while another described the political situation in the US as “a total mess". (CNN) 2. Harris races to lock up White House bid, Trump campaign pivots: Harris, 59, was due to speak at the White House at 11:30 a.m. ET (1530 GMT) on Monday. Harris spent Sunday working the phones as she spoke with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a potential vice presidential running mate. Harris' campaign had raised $49.6 million since Biden's exit, a campaign spokesperson said on Monday.(Reuters) 3. Janet Napolitano joining review of Secret Service response to Trump shooting: Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday named one of his predecessors, Janet Napolitano, to a bipartisan panel of experts tasked with conducting a 45-day independent review of the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The panel is charged with conducting a review “of the planning for and actions taken by the U.S. Secret Service and state and local authorities before, during, and after the rally, and the U.S. Secret Service governing policies and procedures,” according to a DHS press release. (TheHill) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Bitcoin Traders Brace for 'Fat Tails' as Focus Shifts to Trump's Nashville Bitcoin Conference Speech: "This week we’re going to hear Trump speak at the Nashville Bitcoin conference. As long as Trump remains a front-runner, this is a potential catalyst for "something to happen” this week. The derivative markets seem to agree, and we’re seeing pricing support the “something is about to happen” narrative." (CoinDesk) 2. 7 US States Unite to Challenge SEC's Crypto Overreach: Iowa announced earlier this month that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a seven-state coalition in filing an amicus brief opposing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) attempt to regulate cryptocurrencies. The amicus brief, supported by Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, was filed on July 10 to challenge the SEC’s overreach. “Congress never gave the SEC power to regulate cryptocurrency, and there is no accountability to ensure the actions the SEC takes are legitimate and necessary,” the Iowa Attorney General’s Office stressed. (BitcoinCom) -Central Bank Digital Currencies- 1. Kazakhstan pays for rail line to China using programmable CBDC: “During the pilot launch of the digital tenge platform, the money allocated to finance the project was marked. The marked digital tenge is paid only to organisations that have fully fulfilled the required obligations.” (CoinTelegraph) (AC-The programmable facet of CBDCs are coherent with tyrannical governance.) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Cash App Announces Exit from UK Market to Concentrate on US Growth: Cash App, the popular mobile payment service owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block (formerly Square), has announced its decision to cease operations in the United Kingdom. For Block, this move represents a strategic refocusing of resources. By concentrating on its home market, the company aims to deepen its penetration and expand its service offerings to American users. (Blockonomi) -Economic Indicators- 1. Treasury Yields Fall Slightly: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note steadied edged lower to 4.22% on Monday after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. (TradingEconomics) 2. US Futures Rise as Biden Drops Out of 2024 Race: US stock futures rose on Monday after President Joe Biden announced that he will not seek reelection and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Nominee. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Flight Cancellations Caused by Tech Outage Continue Through Weekend: Travelers confronted a third day of flight snarls and long waits at U.S. airports Sunday, as many monitors still displayed the telltale blue screens of the technology-fueled meltdown that began Friday. This weekend has been one of the worst for travel this year. More than 1,700 U.S. flights were canceled Sunday, adding to the roughly 5,500 that were called off Friday and Saturday. Businesses in many other industries whose Microsoft Windows-based machines melted down due to the buggy update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike recovered by the end of the day Friday. But the continuing cascade of flight cancellations speaks to the airline industry’s heavy reliance on interconnected technology systems and its fragility when things go awry. (WSJ) 2. Cybercriminals Exploit CrowdStrike Update Mishap to Distribute Remcos RAT Malware: The attack chains involve distributing a ZIP archive file named "crowdstrike-hotfix.zip," which contains a malware loader named Hijack Loader (aka DOILoader or IDAT Loader) that, in turn, launches the Remcos RAT payload. (HackerNews) -Technology- 1. NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin Is Unaffected by Global CrowdStrike Outages: A faulty software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike caused widespread computer outages, affecting major systems such as government offices, banks, and airlines. However, Bitcoin remained unaffected due to its decentralized nature and independence from centralized providers. (Decrypt) 2. Elon Musk Sports Bitcoin Laser-Eyes: Joining Trump At BTC 2024?: In a move that has ignited fervent discussion across the Bitcoin community, Tesla CEO Elon Musk updated his profile picture on X (formerly Twitter) to feature the notable “laser eyes,” a meme symbolizing bullish sentiment towards BTC. This change occurred just days before the Bitcoin 2024 conference scheduled in Nashville from July 25-27, where prominent figures, including US presidential candidate Donald Trump, are slated to speak. (Bitcoinist) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Up 10 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): "May you live in interesting times" has meaning this week. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

We will be LIVE Thursday night at 7pm ET with guest @Alekandar Svetski Aleksandar Svetski is the Author of the best selling “UnCommunist Manifesto” and the upcoming "Bushido of Bitcoin”. In 2018, he launched the world’s first Bitcoin only savings app: Amber. He recently open sourced the first Bitcoin LLM (The Spirit of Satoshi) and is now working on the Nostr-enabled Travel & Community Social Network: Satlantis.

Bitcoin Veterans know how to close down a dive bar. @PUBKEY thanks for a great time.

Join Bitcoin Veterans LIVE Thursday night at 7pm ET The guys will recap the Bitcoin Park range day and open house, as well as bring you the latest in current events with their unique perspective Join us and #GetOnTheMission

There’s a war for your digital sovereignty Bitcoin Veterans are fighting back against digital slavery Join us and #GetOnTheMission

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 848,751 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 20Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Top Israeli Military Leader Says Hamas Cannot Be Defeated / Putin Continues Asia Tour in Vietnam / Texas Prepares for Tropical Storm Alberto / Louisiana Mandates Ten Commandments Display / Bitcoin Holdings Raise Questions / US Economy Showing More Weakness / BoE Claims 2% Inflation Victory / Bitcoin On Horizon for Major Wirehouses and Banks / Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,128, 28.32 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $66,451 / Lo: $64,693 Vol: $18.8B (Down 42%) Mkt Cap: $1.292T (Up 2.92%) HashRate: 513 EH/s Avg Fees: 14 Sats/vByte (Down 52%) Nodes: 19,492 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Top Israeli Military Leader Says Hamas Cannot Be Defeated: The Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated that eliminating Hamas, which he described as "an idea," is not possible and suggesting otherwise misleads the public. This perspective highlights a rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who remains committed to the war in Gaza with the stated goal of destroying Hamas' capabilities. This discord follows Netanyahu's dissolution of his war Cabinet after Benny Gantz's resignation and underscores the lack of a clear postwar plan for Gaza, a point of criticism from both domestic and international observers. The conflict, ongoing for 257 days, has seen significant casualties and global criticism, with the United States expressing skepticism about the feasibility of fully eliminating Hamas. (NBC News) 2. Putin Continues Asia Tour in Vietnam: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking the second stop of his East Asian tour, following a visit to North Korea which saw the two nations sign a defensive pact. The visit underscores Russia's ongoing diplomatic support in the region, despite criticism from the United States, which views it as an opportunity for Putin to promote his war in Ukraine. Vietnam values its historic ties with Russia and maintains a complex diplomatic stance by abstaining from UN resolutions condemning Russia while fostering relationships with both Ukraine and Western nations. As Vietnam continues its "bamboo diplomacy," balancing relationships without formal alliances, it remains to be seen how long it will maintain its camaraderie with Putin, given its gradual shift away from reliance on Russian military equipment and internal political shifts. (BBC) -US Events- 1. Texas Prepares for Tropical Storm Alberto: Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 51 counties in anticipation of Tropical Storm Alberto, expected to bring heavy rains and coastal flooding through Thursday. The National Weather Service forecasts the storm to make landfall in Mexico, with significant impacts extending into southern Texas. Tropical-storm-force winds, storm surge, and flooding are already affecting the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, rendering many roadways impassable. Forecasters predict an aggressive Atlantic hurricane season influenced by a record-warm North Atlantic Ocean Basin and La Niña, potentially resulting in numerous powerful storms. (Axios) 2. Louisiana Mandates Ten Commandments Display: Louisiana has become the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, from kindergarten to state-funded universities, under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. The legislation, part of a conservative agenda pushed by the GOP-dominated Legislature, requires posters with the Ten Commandments in "large, easily readable font" and a context statement detailing their historical significance, to be in place by the start of 2025, funded through donations. Opponents argue the law is unconstitutional and violates the separation of church and state, setting up a likely challenge in court. Proponents claim the measure has historical importance and serves as a moral foundation, reflecting broader conservative efforts within the state. (AP) -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Bitcoin Holdings Raise Questions: The increasing bitcoin holdings by major institutions like BlackRock and Fidelity, nearing 500,000 bitcoins, have stirred concerns within the crypto community. In a discussion on "The Wolf of All Streets" podcast, Austin Arnold from Altcoin Daily highlighted the inevitability of institutional involvement for mass adoption, noting that bitcoin's current price around $65,000 is seen as de-risked due to regulatory clarity and the approval of bitcoin ETFs by the U.S. SEC. Arnold emphasized the global reach of these ETFs and their political significance, suggesting they reflect growing international and political interest in bitcoin. While concerns about market manipulation persist, Arnold reassured that the bitcoins held by these ETFs are custodied for clients, not directly controlled by the institutions, underscoring the need for retail investor education. (The Street) -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- NSTR -Economic Indicators- 1.: US Economy Showing More Weakness: The U.S. economy is showing signs of weakness as consumer spending, a crucial driver of growth, begins to slow amid persistent inflation and a softening job market. Retail sales saw only a modest gain in May, with downward revisions for March and April, raising concerns about a potential slowdown. Inflation continues to pressure spending despite high interest rates, and declining sales in key sectors like gasoline and home furnishings indicate consumer belt-tightening. Additionally, signs of a weakening labor market, with reduced wage premiums and potential declines in hiring, suggest challenges ahead for maintaining economic momentum. (The Street) 2. BoE Claims 2% Inflation Victory: UK inflation reached the Bank of England's 2% target in May for the first time since 2021, though underlying price pressures remain strong, potentially delaying any pre-election interest rate cuts. Services price inflation, a key indicator for the BoE, was at 5.7%, higher than expected, suggesting ongoing inflationary risks. The drop in headline inflation from 2.3% in April was significant but came too late to influence upcoming elections or prompt a rate cut. Despite the inflation drop, driven by lower energy bills and food prices, the BoE is cautious about cutting rates due to persistent domestic price pressures and elevated pay growth. (Reuters) -Security Incidents and Concerns- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Bitcoin On Horizon for Major Wirehouses and Banks: Bernstein analysts predict that spot Bitcoin ETFs are close to approval at major wirehouses and private banks, which they believe will significantly boost adoption. They maintain a $200,000 price target for Bitcoin by the end of 2025, citing the institutional basis trade as a key driver for future net long positions. Despite some bearish arguments, analysts point to the increasing comfort with ETF liquidity and the potential for substantial advisor-driven demand. Additionally, new FASB guidelines are expected to encourage corporate treasury adoption, adding to the incremental demand for Bitcoin ETFs in 2024. (The Block) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 60/100 (Down 4 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): Study bitcoin. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2B END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 848,472 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 18Jun24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Putin, Kim Meet in NK / Chinese-Philippine Ships Collide in Spratly Islands / Ukraine Hits Azov Region in Russia With Drones / New Mexico Fire Threatens Town / Federal Judge Stays Iowa Immigration Law / Biden Admin to Allow Spouses of US Cits Legal Status / Why is the US Dollar still the King? / Stocks Hit New Highs Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $65,363, 28.24 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $67,252 / Lo: $64,252 Vol: $36B (Up 83%) Mkt Cap: $1.29T (Down 1%) HashRate: 549 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 23 sats/vBtye (Up 93%) Nodes: 19,479 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Before his summit with North Korea’s Kim, Putin vows they’ll beat sanctions together: Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for supporting his actions in Ukraine and said their countries will cooperate closely to overcome U.S.-led sanctions as he headed to Pyongyang on Tuesday for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Putin also said Russia and North Korea will develop trade and payment systems “that are not controlled by the West” and jointly oppose sanctions against the countries, which he described as “illegal, unilateral restrictions.” (AP) 2. US blasts ‘aggressive’ China over South China Sea collision with Philippine ship: A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly Islands early Monday, according to statements from both nations, which blamed each other for the incident. The incident Monday is the latest in a string of recent confrontations between Manila and Beijing that have raised concerns among Western observers of potentially developing into an international incident if China, a global power, decides to act more forcefully against the Philippines. (CNN) 3. Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Tanks Ablaze in Southern Russia: An overnight drone attack set several oil storage tanks ablaze near the town of Azov in southern Russia on Tuesday, sparking a large fire, local officials said. "Oil product tanks caught fire in Azov as a result of a drone attack. According to preliminary findings, there were no casualties," the Rostov region governor Vasily Golubev said on Telegram. (MoscowTimes) -US Events- 1. Entire New Mexico village evacuates as a pair of fires converge on it ‘like a pair of tongs,’ official says: A wall of smoke filled the sky over the village of Ruidoso Monday evening as a line of cars snaked out of the community. An estimated 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the village area due to the approaching South Fork Fire. (CNN) 2. Federal judge calls Iowa's immigration law 'not defensible,' grants injunction: A new Iowa law imposing state criminal penalties on undocumented immigrants is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced, a federal judge ruled Monday. (DesMoinesRegister) 3. Biden announces sweeping protections for migrant spouses of US citizens: The DHS will implement a new policy to allow some migrants to apply for lawful permanent resident status, including the non-citizen spouses and children of lawful U.S. permanent residents or citizens. (Fox) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Korean Exchanges Set to Reevaluate Over 600 Listed Virtual Assets: South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges are set to reevaluate more than 600 digital assets, and those failing this process will ultimately be delisted. Once the process is completed, crypto exchanges will be required to conduct maintenance reviews quarterly. The reputation of the issuers and user protection tools are among the factors related to virtual assets that will be reviewed. -Institutional Concerns- NSTR -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Ethiopia takes first step toward CBDC in economic reform: The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) plans to have a legal framework and regulatory sandbox in place for CBDC introduction “as necessary.” (CoinTelegraph) -Economic Indicators- 1. Why the Dominance of America’s Currency is Harder Than Ever to Overturn: The U.S. economy is no longer the colossus it once was. It would be no surprise, then, if the dollar were rapidly losing its power. But in fact the opposite is happening: the trends that would be expected to weaken the dollar, many of them driven by U.S. policy, are only strengthening its global dominance. But predictions of the dollar’s demise have greatly exaggerated the currency’s weakness—a fact made clear by its remarkable endurance. (ForeignAffairs) (AC-A well-balanced, if dollar-biased, long article on the current state of the US dollar relative to other currency choices. The bottom line is that the USD is still doing well because the other options are worse, taking into account the 3 principles of a good currency- a unit of account, store of value and medium of exchange.) 2. S&P 500, Nasdaq Rally to Fresh Records: The S&P 500 advanced 0.7% on Monday to close at its 30th record this year and the Nasdaq rallied 0.9% notching its 6th streak closing record while the Dow Jones gained 189 points. The rally was largely fueled by substantial gains in the tech sector, despite a rise in Treasury yields. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Warning: Fake Ripple Stablecoin Scam Targets XRPL Users: Scammers have begun to exploit the hype around Ripple’s anticipated stablecoin launch, circulating a counterfeit Ripple USD (RLUSD) token on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The fraudulent activity comes ahead of the expected release of the official RLUSD, set to compete with heavyweight contenders such as Tether and Circle in the stablecoin market. (BItcoinist) -Technology- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Largest Telecom Provider in Europe, Deutsche Telekom, Will Begin Mining Bitcoin: "Since 2023 we [have been] running a Bitcoin node and we are running Bitcoin Lightning nodes as well," he stated. Dirk Röder then hinted at an upcoming venture, saying, "And with a heart full of [...] pride, I would like to let you in on a little secret: we will engage in 'digital monetary photosynthesis' soon." (Yahoo) 2. Bitcoin Miners Face 8.4% Profit Decline Amid Falling Hashprice and Market Pressures: In the last three days, bitcoin miners have experienced an 8.4% drop in profits, echoing a decrease in bitcoin prices. Since then, the network’s hashrate has fallen below the 600 exahash per second (EH/s) mark. (BitcoinCom) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 74/100 (Up 3 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): The article in Foreign Affairs today is the second one in a week defending the US Dollar in long-essay form by a major respected publication. Last week Foreign Policy put out an essay called "Don’t Bet Against the Dollar", which has similar observations and analysis. The interesting point is that both articles are free, when articles from these publications are often behind a paywall. Both seem very well-written from economists and on the surface well-balanced. They are good reads for understanding the dynamics of global currency power and why the USD continues its lead among others. They do seem, however, to be stuck in a paradigm that has proven true over the last 60 years and is subject to change. They mention Bitcoin and stablecurrencies and the increasing power they hold, but heavily discount their rise against the dollar. It is certainly contentious when making analysis of a complicated subject as world currency, but the historical bias of USD leadership in the articles should draw suspicion either from narrative influence or change-denial perspectives. Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

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