@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Ik hou van de natuur en van verbinding maken\ Van diepgang en van mensen raken

Van creatief schrijven en programmeren\ Van speels bewegen en nieuwe dingen leren

Ik hou van leven en van dromen\ En van mensen zien\ Hun diepste wensen uit doen komen

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Ik sta hier nu een poos\ Bevroren, machteloos

Ik wil graag iets veranderen\ Gewoon iets doen voor anderen

Maar het mag precies niet zijn\ En dat doet me veel pijn

Verlamd en vol van onbegrip\ Ik krijg er maar geen grip op

Op de wereld en de mensen\ Zij verpletteren mijn diepste wensen

Niemand die eens hoort\ Naar wat mij toch zo stoort

Ik kan nog eens proberen\ Om de wereld om te keren

Maar ik weet, het heeft geen zin\ Ik raak nooit binnen in

De ander\ Kom, verander

Misschien wordt het eens tijd\ Dat ik mezelf bevrijd

Van al die overmacht\ Die mij toch zo versmacht

Een stapje achteruit\ Adem in en adem uit

Ik doe mijn oogjes dicht\ En zie wie mij verplicht

Opzadelt met ambitie\ Van waar komt toch die missie

Al de pijn die ik niet aankan\ En van 't bestaan verban

Al 't bewijs voor mijn geloof\ Dat ik niet meer vliegen kan

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Een warme chocomelk\ Een knuffel en de moed te durven spreken\ Een leuk oprecht verhaal\ En een stap naar mijn verlangen

Deze dingen allemaal\ Maken me warm vanbinnen\ Ik hou van deze dingen\ Ze doen mijn hartje zingen

Ik wens iedereen zo'n warmte toe\ Ik wou dat ik het delen kon\ Maar het ziet er anders uit\ Voor jou dan hoe voor mij

Het enige wat ik echt kan zeggen\ Het enige dat ik zeker weet\ De kracht om warmte te creëren\ Ligt in je eigen handen

In je voeten, in je mond\ Het zit ook in je ogen\ En ook in je haar\ En zei ik al je mond\ En zelfs ook in je kont

Haha, ik ben maar wat aan 't lachen\ Dat is wat mij verlucht\ En ervoor zorgt dat wat ik zeg\ Van mij los kan komen\ En jou bereiken kan

Zo kan ik op beide oren slapen\ Dat ik deed dat wat ik kon\ Ik sprak dat wat belangrijk is\ Voor mij en liet het los

De wijde wereld in\ Voor al die horen wil en daar om geeft\ Om die warmte in hun hartje\ En daar misschien naar streeft

Ik wens je al 't succes toe in de wereld\ Want God weet, je bent het waard\ Het ligt nu in jouw handen\ Deze woorden, wat ik zeg\ Iets om over na te denken\ Tussen 't brood en het beleg

Leef gewoon je leven\ En zorg goed voor jezelf\ En als je 't graag wilt vinden\ Is het daar voor jou aan 't wachten\ Tot jij klaar bent met geloven\ In al dat anders klinkt

Ik kan je niets beloven\ Maar vertrouw op jouw instinct

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Warmte betekent zachtheid aan de grenzen\ Omringt door zachte mensen

Warmte betekent vrijheid\ Vrij om mij te tonen en te bewegen

Warmte betekent rust\ Om hier niet ver vandaan te hoeven zijn

Warmte betekent leven\ Iets waar ik vol van liefde mijn aandacht aan wil geven

Warmte betekent vriendschap\ Alle vriendschap die mijn hartje vult

Warmte betekent vol zijn\ Vol betekenis die mijn omgeving aan mij schenkt

Warmte betekent geven\ Geven om wat ik voor jou en jij voor mij\ Wij voor elkaar nu eigenlijk echt betekenen

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Enlightenment is just\ You catching up with time

Enlightenment is just\ Successfully processing your current situation\ And what it has to do with your past

Enlightenment is just\ Separating what you believe from what you know\ What is real from what is true

Enlightenment is living\ According to what you believe\ Because that's what is real for you\ Yet knowing it might turn out\ To be not really true

Enlightenment is giving thanks\ For being proven wrong

For how else would we grow\ The things we're conscious of\ The things that're real for us\ And the things we really know

How else would we align those things\ With the truth of what is (t)here\ Beyond\ That which we are

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Nooit is mijn dans echter\ Dan net nadat het regende\ Want regen biedt een kans\ Om mijn gevoel te voelen

Zolang de regen spettert\ En ik mezelf graag zie\ Wordt er niets verplettert\ Ook al lijkt dat soms wel zo

Zodra de regen ophoudt\ En zich terugtrekt met de wolken\ Komt een nieuwe glans\ Voor het eerst mijn ogen binnen

Wat is het leven heerlijk\ Als ik eerlijk ben en voel\ Wat is het leven zacht\ En het brengt me naar mijn doel

Wat zou ik weten zonder regen\ Gewoon steeds evenveel\ Niet groeien is niet leven\ Daarom dans ik het liefst

Net na de echte regen

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Here's to the ones who can\ Feel their cause\ Surrender\ Change their ways\ But keep their fire\ And never give up

We will transform this world\ Restructuring\ One belief at a time

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Hello Bumble\ You busy bee

You're going way\ Too fast for me

Going here and there\ You search for gold

Yet tumble straight\ Into what's old

Now I'm not here\ To make a gain

Nor to fix\ What's in disdain

Instead I'm just\ A humble bee

Who wants to get\ To know thee

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

We only see\ What we are

What we are not\ We cannot see

This is how we know\ Reality is happening within\ Our own being

And experience is a consequence\ Of who we believe to be

As long as we deny\ And don't want to see

All the ways\ We think to be

Reality will seem\ Outside of our grasp

And separate\ From our experience of life

Such is our power

Yet such power\ Could only be

Of that which holds\ The entirety

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Liefde\ De samenkomst\ Van zien en zijn

Leven\ Het zijn en zien\ Een vorm gekregen

Sterven\ Een deur\ Die vrijheid geeft van vorm

En eeuwig leven\ Aan liefde

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Muziek\ Jij harmonieus geluid

Een gevoel zo uniek\ Op geen andere manier geuit

Ik ben zo dankbaar voor de vrijheid die jij me schenkt\ Om gewoon even te zijn\ In dit dierbare moment

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Gelukkig zijn\ Is de waarde van mijn leven

Gewoon dankbaar te bestaan\ Geen mens heeft me ooit zo'n mooi cadeau gegeven

Dankbaar voor mijn sprankelen\ Mijn doen en voor mijn streven

Maar ook dat ik mag wankelen\ Mag vallen en mag beven

Want wat er ook gebeurt\ Het duurt steeds maar voor even

De wijsheid van mijn hart\ Voor alles is een reden

Het leven brengt mij deugd\ En soms brengt het me pijn

Maar nooit neemt het die vreugd\ De toelating om hier te zijn

De kans om iets te leren\ Te zien en om te groeien

Geeft mij kracht te accepteren\ Te omarmen en te bloeien

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

I am here too\ In the same space like you

In the same situation I'm in\ It's a matter of positioning

I cannot leave this place I'm in\ It was brought about\ By what's been happening

So please don't look at me\ For what I can or cannot do for you\ But look at what is happening for me\ And what is happening for you

Let's communicate\ Not orchestrate

Because there's something I wish to do\ And there's a place I wish to go to

And I'm sure that there is too\ In your heart a fire\ Known by only you

So let us listen, look and see\ For what's true for you\ And what's true for me

That we may act upon what's here\ In order for us both to take a step\ In the direction we wish to steer

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Kan jij zien, er is geen hemel\ Probeer het zelf, dan lukt het wel\ Geen hel staat ons te wachten\ Enkel sterren hangen ons boven het hoofd\ Kan jij zien, iedereen leeft voor dit moment

Kan jij zien, er zijn geen landen\ Het is niet moeilijk gewoon land te zien\ Niets om voor te moorden of te sterven\ Ook geloof wordt niet gezien\ Kan jij zien, het leven wordt geleefd door iedereen in vrede

Misschien zeg je, ik kijk niet naar jouw wereld\ Maar ik deel dit zicht met velen\ Moge ook jij zoals ons zien\ Wij kijken in de wereld en zien gewoon onszelf

Kan jij zien, er is geen bezit\ Ik vraag me af of jij dit kan\ Geen hebben of een nood\ In een samen-leving van mensen\ Kan jij zien, wij delen de wereld met elkaar

Misschien zeg je, ik kijk niet naar jouw wereld\ Maar ik deel dit zicht met velen\ Moge ook jij zoals ons zien\ Wij kijken in de wereld en zien gewoon onszelf

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

In het hart van een gepensioneerde operazangeres ontstond een stemmetje. Het stemmetje klonk verrast. "He," ging het hart. "Ik heb een stemmetje gekregen! Hoe kan dit? Kan iemand me horen? Zouden mijn gedachten me kunnen horen?" vroeg het stemmetje, niet wetend aan wie. Want de gedachten hoorden het niet. Zij waren zo druk bezig met het verleden en hadden een grote angst dit te verliezen. "Weet je nog?" gingen de gedachten. "Voor duizenden mensen heb ik gezongen! Avond na avond! Tienduizenden mensen hebben me toegejuicht! Wat waren ze onder de indruk! Luister! Ik kan het nog steeds!" "He," ging het hart. "Hoor je me dan niet? Het ging toch helemaal niet om dat gejuich. Weet je dan niet meer hoe ik me volledig bloot gaf aan die mensen. Mijn diepste en meest persoonlijke verhalen waren te horen in mijn liederen. Daar draaide het toch om? De mensen waren niet enkel onder de indruk. Hun harten hebben mijn verhalen gevoeld en konden zo kennis geven aan hun gedachten. Is dat niet wat echt telde?" Maar de gedachten waren volop aan het zingen voor de ene persoon die ze konden vinden die wou luisteren. "He," ging het hart. "Ook in dit moment zijn mijn liederen te horen door vele gedachten en te voelen door vele harten over de hele wereld. Heb ik dan geen rust verdiend? Kan ik niet even genieten van de rust die in dit moment te vinden is, maar jullie van me afnemen?" Maar de gedachten waren nog steeds volop aan het zingen.

@ 2b998b04:86727e47

🌋 Ka ʻImi i ka Pono: Seeking What’s Right

A 7-Day Series on Sovereignty, Bitcoin, and the Soul of the Islands

> "Man is not free unless he wills to be free."\ > — Johann Gottlieb Fichte

Hawai‘i understands sovereignty. It always has.\ But it was taken — first with pen and politics, then with force and fiat.

Bitcoin offers something different:\ A way to reclaim sovereignty without violence.\ A tool for self-rule, not state rule.\ A system built not on empire, but on truth and time.

This week, I’ll be posting a 7-part series exploring this tension:\ Between the Hawai‘i that was, the system that is, and the future that might be — if we choose to build on bedrock instead of paper.

I don’t know if there’s a traditional Hawaiian word for a 7-day week — maybe there doesn’t need to be.\ Time moves differently on these islands.\ But for the next 7 days, I’ll mark each reflection as a kind of modern lā hoʻomanaʻo — a day of remembering, reckoning, and restoring.

This is personal. It’s philosophical. It’s also unfinished.

But that’s what sovereignty looks like:\ Not something given — something reclaimed.

Stay tuned. Stay akamai.\ 🟧\ — Andrew G. Stanton (aka akamaister)

@ 79be667e:16f81798

I am here too\ In the same space like you

In the same situation I'm in\ It's a matter of positioning

I cannot leave this place I'm in\ It was brought about\ By what's been happening

So please don't look at me\ For what I can or cannot do for you\ But look at what is happening for me\ And what is happening for you

Let's communicate\ Not orchestrate

Because there's something I wish to do\ And there's a place I wish to go to

And I'm sure that there is too\ In your heart a fire\ Known by only you

So let us listen, look and see\ For what's true for you\ And what's true for me

That we may act upon what's here\ In order for us both to take a step\ In the direction we wish to steer

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

• This version introduces the Soroban P2P network, enabling Dojo to relay transactions to the Bitcoin network and share others' transactions to break the heuristic linking relaying nodes to transaction creators.

• Additionally, Dojo admins can now manage API keys in DMT with labels, status, and expiration, ideal for community Dojo providers like Dojobay. New API endpoints, including "/services" exposing Explorer, Soroban, and Indexer, have been added to aid wallet developers.
• Other maintenance updates include Bitcoin Core, Tor, Fulcrum, Node.js, plus an updated ban-knots script to disconnect inbound Knots nodes.

"I want to thank all the contributors. This again shows the power of true Free Software. I also want to thank everyone who donated to help Dojo development going. I truly appreciate it," said Still Dojo Coder.

What's new

• Soroban P2P network. For MyDojo (Docker setup) users, Soroban will be automatically installed as part of their Dojo. This integration allows Dojo to utilize the Soroban P2P network for various upcoming features and applications.
• PandoTx. PandoTx serves as a transaction transport layer. When your wallet sends a transaction to Dojo, it is relayed to a random Soroban node, which then forwards it to the Bitcoin network. It also enables your Soroban node to receive and relay transactions from others to the Bitcoin network and is designed to disrupt the assumption that a node relaying a transaction is closely linked to the person who initiated it.
  • Pushing transactions through Soroban can be deactivated by setting NODE_PANDOTX_PUSH=off in docker-node.conf.
  • Processing incoming transactions from Soroban network can be deactivated by setting NODE_PANDOTX_PROCESS=off in docker-node.conf.
• API key management has been introduced to address the growing number of people offering their Dojos to the community. Dojo admins can now access a new API management tab in their DMT, where they can create unlimited API keys, assign labels for easy identification, and set expiration dates for each key. This allows admins to avoid sharing their main API key and instead distribute specific keys to selected parties.
• New API endpoints. Several new API endpoints have been added to help API consumers develop features on Dojo more efficiently:
  • New:
    • /latest-block - returns data about latest block
    • /txout/:txid/:index - returns unspent output data
    • /support/services - returns info about services that Dojo exposes
  • Updated:
    • /tx/:txid - endpoint has been updated to return raw transaction with parameter ?rawHex=1
  • The new /support/services endpoint replaces the deprecated explorer field in the Dojo pairing payload. Although still present, API consumers should use this endpoint for explorer and other pairing data.

Other changes

• Updated ban script to disconnect inbound Knots nodes.
• Updated Fulcrum to v1.12.0.
• Regenerate Fulcrum certificate if expired.
• Check if transaction already exists in pushTx.
• Bump BTC-RPC Explorer.
• Bump Tor to v0.4.8.16, bump Snowflake.
• Updated Bitcoin Core to v29.0.
• Removed unnecessary middleware.
• Fixed DB update mechanism, added api_keys table.
• Add an option to use blocksdir config for bitcoin blocks directory.
• Removed deprecated configuration.
• Updated Node.js dependencies.
• Reconfigured container dependencies.
• Fix Snowflake git URL.
• Fix log path for testnet4.
• Use prebuilt addrindexrs binaries.
• Add instructions to migrate blockchain/fulcrum.
• Added pull policies.

#FREESAMOURAI

Learn how to set up and use your own Bitcoin privacy node with Dojo here.

Announcement / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Love, I thank you for your warmth\ Ever lifting

You keep me charmed\ Ever drifting

May I be me\ And you be you

In a perfect harmony\ Embracing all life makes us grow through

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Jaren tellen\ Hoeft voor mij niet

Verhalen vertellen\ Over geluk en verdriet

Een warme haven\ Veilig en fijn

Dromen voorgedragen\ Onschuldig en rein

Momenten ervaard, geleerd\ En geïntegreerd

Ideeën, geloven en gevoelens\ Gevormd en gecreëerd

Zonder eind of echt begin\ Vallen, groeien, leren, stoeien

Een gezin in een gezin met een gezin erin\ Gezind gericht blijft liefde vloeien

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, my dearest human family\ Happy New Year, my dearest animal family

Dear children of the Earth\ I wish you all a magical year

May it be utterly new\ Ever-changing\ New now

And may your journey say\ Life is amazing! I'm in a maze\ Life is awesome! Quite some awe\ Life is magical! True alchemy

I am human\ Black woman, I love you so\ Life-giver of my origin, the negro [nigiro]

I am\ Thus physical and non-physical meet

Life is to be\ As the elements are and compete\ And as they collide with one another\ One becomes aware of an other\ And so life sets on a journey\ To discover the other

Animal life is set to explore\ Allowing all experience the other has in store\ Life left to experience without a voice\ Until it discovers there is an 'I'\ And it has a choice

Human life is to be inside a human body\ Thus fusion between intellect and feeling\ Gets to express its perspective\ Inside infinity

Truly, a magical gift\ My Holy Trinity

And so from human life flow many voices\ As it navigates through infinite choices\

Thus I say

Life is magic\ A gift for all that is here\ Perceived by too many as tragic\ Take care of your vision, I tell you, my dear [tell-a-vision]

Life is magic\ And words are spells\ Placing your aim beyond your reach\ It takes away efficiency from your speech

Life is magic\ Above all else\ Even when it has me feeling blue\ Seemingly left without a clue

Still I say

Perfection\ You are everything\ And I am of you

The source, the mirror\ And the reflection

@ 79be667e:16f81798

De laatste zonnestralen van de dag streken over de eeuwige golven en weerkaatsten als lichtpuntjes in de ogen van schipper Joris terwijl hij nog een slok nam van zijn glazen fles die de vorm had van het hoofd van een oude monnik.

Gekregen van een oude vrouw uit de bergen van de Himalaya, zorgde de rum genaamd 'Old Monk' voor een verwarmend gezelschap op deze eenzame kerstnacht.

Joris had met zijn boot naar India gevaren nadat zijn vrouw hem had verlaten en hij een Indiër had ontmoet die had gezegd: "Waar ik vandaan kom, zijn vrouwen vrij en worden ze niet gezien als enkel en alleen de mooie lichamen die zij bezitten of als eeuwig bezit van een gezin."

Verward en ongelovig had Joris gekeken naar de wereld en besefte dat vrouwen inderdaad slechts gezien werden als hun fysieke schoonheid, genegeerd werden voor hun koesterende gevoeligheid en bekritiseerd werden door hun spontane intensheid en had hierop voor twee jaar lang gezocht in India naar deze vrije vrouwen met als enig resultaat een oude vrouw te ontmoeten die alleen in de bergen woonde en dagelijks haar wijsheid deelde met ieder luisterend oor.

Daar ging het doorzichtig monnikshoofd en verliet met een grote gebogen vlucht de hand van schipper Joris toen plots met groot kabaal de boot abrupt tot stilstand kwam en Joris hals over kop naar de andere kant van het dek geslingerd werd.

Het monnikshoofd verdween in het donker terwijl Joris zijn lichaam probeerde te lokaliseren en met zijn ogen wijd open zijn hersenen zo veel mogelijk informatie probeerde door te spelen.

Tevergeefs, want zijn enorme verschot werd gevolgd door een enkel groeiende verbazing, ongeloof en desoriëntatie toen de boot begon te kantelen.

De bundel licht, afkomstig van de mast van de boot, zwierde doorheen het donker en kwam te schijnen op een gigantische rots in het midden van de zee die werd bezeten door een oogverblindende glinstergroene schijn.

Uit het donker kwam het monnikshoofd, dat nog steeds in volle vlucht was, in het vizier van de lichtbundel en plaatste zich exact tussen de glinstergroene verschijning en Joris waarbij Joris doorheen het monnikshoofd gezegend werd met het zicht op een pracht van een zeemeermin die uitnodigend poseerde op de rots.

Met een luide plons viel Joris achterover in het water toen hij zich realiseerde dat vrouwen zichzelf ook lieten vangen door lust en hun uiterlijke opmaakcompetities en met een dankbare glimlach zonk hij naar de bodem van de zee en was opnieuw geboren.

@ 79be667e:16f81798

Veroorzaakt door de wereld rond mij\ Vormen de wereld in mij

Verwaarloosd door de wereld rond mij\ Overgelaten aan mij

Een groene brug komt uit mij\ Verbindt mij met wij\ En laat ons samen vrij

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

In een zee van mogelijkheden\ Kunnen we best veel tijd aan dromen besteden

Dromen is een universele taal\ Het wordt gedaan door ons allemaal

Het is het woord\ Dat deze gelijkheid de grond in boort

@ 79be667e:16f81798

In een zee van mogelijkheden\ Kunnen we best veel tijd aan dromen besteden

Dromen is een universele taal\ Het wordt gedaan door ons allemaal

Het is het woord\ Dat deze gelijkheid de grond in boort

@ 2b998b04:86727e47

For years, GitHub has been the default home for open source developers. It built its reputation on transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to giving coders a place to share and improve their work. But since Microsoft's acquisition in 2018, subtle changes have begun to surface—not all of them in service to the user.

GitHub is still free. Public repositories remain free. Even private repositories are free, to a point. GitHub Pages, Actions, and Codespaces offer incredibly powerful tools to build and deploy projects at no cost—until you hit certain usage limits or need team-scale features.

But the deeper question is this: what do you give up in exchange?

Microsoft Doesn’t Give Away Infrastructure for Free

GitHub, VSCode, Copilot, and Azure form a tightly integrated ecosystem. On the surface, it's all about productivity. But underneath, it's about data. Your code trains their models. Your habits inform their products. Your workflows deepen their lock-in.

Take Copilot, for example: it’s not just a coding assistant, it’s a data-harvesting engine built on top of a centralized platform. The more you use GitHub, the more Microsoft knows about what developers are building—and what they might buy.

Free Isn’t Sovereign

As developers, we have to ask hard questions:

• What happens when the free tier disappears or changes?

• Can I take my work elsewhere without breaking my stack?

• Who owns the insights derived from my development patterns?

These questions aren’t hypothetical. We’ve seen them play out with Heroku, Medium, Twitter, and countless others. Free turns into friction. Then friction becomes control.

Alternatives Are Emerging

Thankfully, there are options:

• Codeberg, Gitea, and SourceHut for Git hosting

• Cloudflare Pages for static sites + edge functions

• Railway, Fly.io, or even VPS hosting for dynamic apps

• Nostr and IPFS for decentralized publishing

These aren’t always drop-in replacements. But they represent a healthier direction—one aligned with freedom, transparency, and a proof-of-work ethos rather than a proof-of-data-capture business model.

My Move Away from GitHub (Sort Of)

I’m not deleting my GitHub account. It’s still the best way to reach other devs. But for key projects—especially those that touch on identity, sovereignty, or censorship resistance—I’m migrating:

• Private infrastructure where needed

• Cloudflare for front-end deployments

• Nostr for publishing and archiving

• Git mirroring to open alternatives

Because the tools we use shape the future we build. And if the platform is free, but the product is you—it's time to re-evaluate.

---

#ProofOfWork #OpenSource #Cloudflare #DecentralizeEverything #Nostr #GitSovereignty #MicrosoftStack

@ 3283ef81:0a531a33

Hey\ Ho

Let's go!

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Hosted at the iconic Palace of Culture and Science—a prominent symbol of the communist era—the Bitcoin FilmFest offers a vibrant celebration of film through the lens of bitcoin. The venue itself provides a striking contrast to the festival’s focus, highlighting bitcoin’s core identity as a currency embodying independence from traditional financial and political systems.

𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬.
Warsaw, Day Zero at #BFF25 (European Bitcoin Pizza Day) with @roger__9000, MadMunky and the @2140_wtf squad pic.twitter.com/9ogVvWRReA

— Bitcoin FilmFest (@bitcoinfilmfest) May 28, 2025

This venue represents an era when the state tightly controlled the economy and financial systems. The juxtaposition of this historical site with an event dedicated to bitcoin is striking and thought-provoking.

The event features a diverse array of activities, including engaging panel discussions, screenings of both feature-length and short films, workshops and lively parties. Each component designed to explore the multifaceted world of bitcoin and its implications for society, offering attendees a blend of entertainment and education.

The films showcase innovative narratives and insights into bitcoin’s landscape, while the panels facilitate thought-provoking discussions among industry experts and filmmakers.

Networking is a significant aspect of the festival, with an exceptionally open and friendly atmosphere that foster connections among participants. Participants from all over Europe gather to engage with like-minded individuals who share a passion for BTC and its implications for the future.

The open exchanges of ideas foster a sense of community, allowing attendees to forge new connections, collaborate on projects, and discuss the potential of blockchain technology implemented in bitcoin.

The organization of the festival is extraordinary, ensuring a smooth flow of information and an expertly structured schedule filled from morning until evening. Attendees appreciate the meticulous planning that allowed them to maximize their experience. Additionally, thoughtful touches such as gifts from sponsors and well-chosen locations for various events contribute to the overall positive atmosphere of the festival.

Overall, the Bitcoin FilmFest not only highlights the artistic expression surrounding bitcoin but also serves as a vital platform for dialogue—about financial freedom, the future of money, and individual sovereignty in a shifting world.

The event successfully bridges the gap between a historical symbol of control and a movement that celebrates freedom, innovation, and collaboration in the digital age, highlighting the importance of independence in financial systems while fostering a collaborative environment for innovation and growth.

Next year’s event is slated for June 5-7 2026. For further updates check: https://bitcoinfilmfest.com/

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Officially Traded Above $100,000 For 30 Consecutive Days For The First Time

Bitcoin has officially completed 30 consecutive days trading above the $100,000 mark, marking a historic milestone in its 15 year journey. Bitcoin achieved its all time high (ATH) of $111,980 on May 22, almost hitting $112,000.

JUST IN: Bitcoin has stayed above $100,000 for 30 consecutive days for the first time ever! pic.twitter.com/nfccEK3Wf0

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 10, 2025

In the last 30 days, Bitcoin saw a 10 percent pullback right after reaching its ATH, dropping to $100,428. However, it wasn’t for long, as Bitcoin is back at $109,511 at the time of writing. Momentum appears to be building once again, signaling to be bullish.

“Anytime price is able to punch through a major resistance level, whether psychological or historical, and successfully hold, it is certainly a bullish sign,” said the technical analyst of Wolfe Research Read Harvey. “What really stood out to us was price’s ability to hold that level on the back test, when it briefly fell to $100,000 on Thursday. It also happened to align perfectly with the 50-day moving average. … We feel this should act as a launching pad back towards the recent highs of $112,000.”

In the past month, Bitcoin has surged into the financial and political mainstream. Several U.S. states including New Hampshire first, followed by Arizona, and then Texas have passed legislation recognizing Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. These laws reflect a growing trend of state level interest in using Bitcoin as a financial hedge and as part of long term fiscal policy.

“New Hampshire didn’t just pass a bill; it sparked a movement,” stated the CEO and Co-Founder of Satoshi Action Dennis Porter.

At the same time, financial institutions are rapidly expanding their Bitcoin offerings. JP Morgan has started providing loans backed by Bitcoin ETFs as collateral. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF has entered a period of intense activity, generating record trading volumes and capturing the attention of both retail and institutional investors.

To date, a total of 228 public and private entities have Bitcoin in their balance sheets and in the last 30 days, companies like GameStop, Know Labs, and Norway-based NBX have added Bitcoin as a strategic reserve. All these companies are treating Bitcoin not just as a speculative asset, but as a key part of their long term financial plans. This growing corporate trend follows the example set by Strategy, but it’s now happening on a much larger scale.

At the 2025 Bitcoin conference, the Vice President of the United States of America, JD Vance said in his speech, “Fifty million Americans own Bitcoin. I think it’s gonna be 100 million before too long.”

This post Bitcoin Officially Traded Above $100,000 For 30 Consecutive Days For The First Time first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

This update brings key enhancements for clarity and usability:

• Recent Blocks View: Added to the Send tab and inspired by Mempool's visualization, it displays the last 2 blocks and the estimated next block to help choose fee rates.
• Camera System Overhaul: Features a new library for higher resolution detection and mouse-scroll zoom support when available.
• Vector-Based Images: All app images are now vectorized and theme-aware, enhancing contrast, especially in dark mode.
• Tor & P2A Updates: Upgraded internal Tor and improved support for pay-to-anchor (P2A) outputs.
• Linux Package Rename: For Linux users, Sparrow has been renamed to sparrowwallet (or sparrowserver); in some cases, the original sparrow package may need manual removal.
• Additional updates include showing total payments in multi-payment transaction diagrams, better handling of long labels, and other UI enhancements.

• Sparrow v2.2.1 is a bug fix release that addresses missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions, icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view, repackaged .deb installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression, and removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.

Learn how to get started with Sparrow wallet:

Release notes (v2.2.0)

• Added Recent Blocks view to Send tab.
• Converted all bitmapped images to theme aware SVG format for all wallet models and dialogs.
• Support send and display of pay to anchor (P2A) outputs.
• Renamed sparrow package to sparrowwallet and sparrowserver on Linux.
• Switched camera library to openpnp-capture.
• Support FHD (1920 x 1080) and UHD4k (3840 x 2160) capture resolutions.
• Support camera zoom with mouse scroll where possible.
• In the Download Verifier, prefer verifying the dropped file over the default file where the file is not in the manifest.
• Show a warning (with an option to disable the check) when importing a wallet with a derivation path matching another script type.
• In Cormorant, avoid calling the listwalletdir RPC on initialization due to a potentially slow response on Windows.
• Avoid server address resolution for public servers.
• Assume server address is non local for resolution failures where a proxy is configured.
• Added a tooltip to indicate truncated labels in table cells.
• Dynamically truncate input and output labels in the tree on a transaction tab, and add tooltips if necessary.
• Improved tooltips for wallet tabs and transaction diagrams with long labels.
• Show the address where available on input and output tooltips in transaction tab tree.
• Show the total amount sent in payments in the transaction diagram when constructing multiple payment transactions.
• Reset preferred table column widths on adjustment to improve handling after window resizing.
• Added accessible text to improve screen reader navigation on seed entry.
• Made Wallet Summary table grow horizontally with dialog sizing.
• Reduced tooltip show delay to 200ms.
• Show transaction diagram fee percentage as less than 0.01% rather than 0.00%.
• Optimized and reduced Electrum server RPC calls.
• Upgraded Bouncy Castle, PGPainless and Logback libraries.
• Upgraded internal Tor to v0.4.8.16.
• Bug fix: Fixed issue with random ordering of keystore origins on labels import.
• Bug fix: Fixed non-zero account script type detection when signing a message on Trezor devices.
• Bug fix: Fixed issue parsing remote Coldcard xpub encoded on a different network.
• Bug fix: Fixed inclusion of fees on wallet label exports.
• Bug fix: Increase Trezor device libusb timeout.

Linux users: Note that the sparrow package has been renamed to sparrowwallet or sparrowserver, and in some cases you may need to manually uninstall the original sparrow package. Look in the /opt folder to ensure you have the new name, and the original is removed.

What's new in v2.2.1

• Updated Tor library to fix missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions.
• Repackaged .deb installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression.
• Removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.
• Added icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view
• Bug fix: Fixed issue in Recent Blocks view when switching fee rates source
• Bug fix: Fixed NPE on null fee returned from server

Announcement / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

The latest AI chips, 8K displays, and neural processing units make your device feel like a pocket supercomputer. So surely, with all this advancement, you can finally mine bitcoin on your phone profitably, right?

The 2025 Hardware Reality: Can You Mine Bitcoin on Your Phone

Despite remarkable advances in smartphone technology, the fundamental physics of bitcoin mining haven’t changed. In 2025, flagship devices with their cutting-edge 2nm processors can achieve approximately 25-40 megahashes per second when you mine bitcoin on your phone—a notable improvement from previous generations, but still laughably inadequate.

Meanwhile, 2025’s top-tier ASIC miners have evolved dramatically. The latest Bitmain Antminer S23 series and Canaan AvalonMiner A15 Pro deliver 200-300 terahashes per second while consuming 4,000-5,500 watts. That’s a performance gap of roughly 1:8,000,000 between when you mine bitcoin on your phone and professional mining equipment.

To put this in perspective that hits home: if you mine bitcoin on your phone and it earned you one penny, professional miners would earn $80,000 in the same time period with the same effort. It’s not just an efficiency problem—it’s a complete category mismatch.

According to Pocket Option’s 2025 analysis, when you mine bitcoin on your phone in 2025, you generate approximately $0.003-0.006 in daily revenue while consuming $0.45-0.85 in electricity through constant charging cycles. Factor in the accelerated device wear (estimated at $0.75-1.20 daily depreciation), and you’re looking at losses of $1.20-2.00 per day just for the privilege of running mining software.

Mining Economic Factor

Precise Value (April 2025)

Direct Impact on Profitability

Smartphone sustained hash rate

20-35 MH/s

0.00000024% contribution to global hashrate

Daily power consumption

3.2-4.8 kWh (4-6 full charges)

$0.38-0.57 at average US electricity rates

Expected daily BTC earnings

0.0000000086 BTC ($0.0035 at $41,200 BTC)

Revenue covers only 0.9% of electricity costs

CPU/GPU wear cost

$0.68-0.92 daily accelerated depreciation

Reduces smartphone lifespan by 60-70%

Annual profit projection

-$386 to -$412 per year

Guaranteed negative return on investment

Source: PocketOption

Bitcoin’s 2025 Network: Harder Than Ever

Bitcoin’s network difficulty in 2025 has reached unprecedented levels. After the April 2024 halving event that reduced block rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC, mining became significantly more competitive. The global hash rate now exceeds 800 exahashes per second—that’s 800 followed by 18 zeros worth of computational power securing the network.

Here’s what this means in practical terms: Bitcoin’s mining difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks (roughly every two weeks) to maintain the 10-minute block time. As more efficient miners join the network, difficulty increases proportionally. In 2025, mining difficulty has increased compared to 2024, making small-scale mining even less viable.

The math is unforgiving:

• Global Bitcoin hash rate: 828.96 EH/s
• Your smartphone’s contribution: ~0.000000003%
• Probability of solo mining a block: Virtually zero
• Expected time to mine one Bitcoin: Several million years

Even joining mining pools doesn’t solve the economic problem. Pool fees typically range from 1-3%, and your minuscule contribution would earn proportionally tiny rewards—far below the electricity and device depreciation costs.

The 2025 Scam Evolution: More Sophisticated, More Dangerous

Fraudsters now leverage AI-generated content, fake influencer endorsements, and impressive-looking apps that simulate realistic mining activity to entice you to mine bitcoin on your phone.

New 2025 scam tactics include:

AI-Powered Fake Testimonials: Deepfake videos of supposed successful mobile miners showing fabricated earnings statements and encouraging downloads of malicious apps.

Gamified Mining Interfaces: Apps that look and feel like legitimate games but secretly harvest personal data while simulating mining progress that can never be withdrawn.

Social Media Manipulation: Coordinated campaigns across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube featuring fake “financial influencers” promoting mobile mining apps to younger audiences.

Subscription Trap Mining: Apps offering “free trials” that automatically charge $19.99-49.99 monthly for “premium mining speeds” while delivering no actual mining capability.

Recent cybersecurity research shows that over 180 fake mining apps were discovered across major app stores in 2025, with some accumulating more than 500,000 downloads before being removed.

Red flags that scream “scam” in 2025:

• Apps claiming “revolutionary mobile mining breakthrough”
• Promises of earning “$10-50 daily” from phone mining
• Requirements to recruit friends or watch ads to unlock withdrawals
• Apps that don’t require connecting to actual mining pools
• Testimonials that seem too polished or use stock photo models
• Apps requesting permissions unrelated to mining (contacts, camera, microphone)

The 2025 Professional Mining Landscape

To understand why, consider what professional bitcoin mining looks like in 2025. Industrial mining operations now resemble high-tech data centers with:

Cutting-edge hardware:

• Bitmain Antminer S23 Pro: 280 TH/s at 4,800W
• MicroBT WhatsMiner M56S++: 250 TH/s at 4,500W
• Canaan AvalonMiner A1566: 185 TH/s at 3,420W

Infrastructure requirements:

• Megawatt-scale power contracts with industrial electricity rates
• Liquid cooling systems maintaining 24/7 optimal temperatures
• Redundant internet connections ensuring zero downtime
• Professional facility management with 24/7 monitoring

For a small operation, you might need at least $10,000 to $20,000 to buy a few ASIC miners, set up cooling systems, and cover electricity costs. These operations employ teams of engineers, maintain relationships with power companies, and operate with margins measured in single-digit percentages.

2025’s Legitimate Mobile Bitcoin Strategies

While it remains impossible to mine bitcoin on your phone profitably, 2025 offers exciting legitimate ways to engage with bitcoin through your smartphone:

Lightning Network Participation: Apps like Phoenix, Breez, and Zeus allow you to run Lightning nodes on mobile devices, earning small routing fees while supporting bitcoin’s payment layer.

Bitcoin DCA Automation: Services enable automated dollar-cost averaging with amounts as small as $1 daily. Historical data shows $10 weekly bitcoin purchases consistently outperform any mobile mining attempt by 1,500-2,000%.

Educational Mining Simulators: Legitimate apps like “Bitcoin Mining Simulator” teach mining concepts without false earning promises. These educational tools help users understand hash rates, difficulty adjustments, and mining economics.

Stacking Sats Rewards: Apps offering bitcoin rewards for shopping, learning, or completing tasks.

Lightning Gaming: Bitcoin-native mobile games where players can earn sats through skilled gameplay, with some players earning $10 monthly.onfirm that even the most optimized mobile mining setups in 2025 lose money consistently and predictably.

The Bottom Line

When you mine bitcoin on your phone fundamental economics remain unchanged: it’s impossible to profit. The laws of physics, network competition, and energy efficiency create insurmountable barriers that no app can overcome.

However, 2025 offers unprecedented opportunities to engage with bitcoin meaningfully through your smartphone. Focus on education, legitimate earning opportunities, and strategic investment rather than chasing the impossible dream of phone-based mining.

The bitcoin community’s greatest strength lies in its commitment to truth over hype. When someone promises profits to mine bitcoin on your phone in 2025, they’re either uninformed or deliberately misleading you. Trust the mathematics, learn from the community, and build your bitcoin knowledge and holdings through proven methods.

The real opportunity in 2025 isn’t to mine bitcoin on your phone—it’s understanding bitcoin deeply enough to participate confidently in the most important monetary revolution of our lifetime. Your smartphone is the perfect tool for that education; it’s just not a mining rig.

@ efc2b6e5:99c53c19

AI companies massively influence society by projecting their values on ML models, whether we want it or not. It'd be great if at least some people in the companies knew how exactly they influence society, could make certain predictions, or even make ML models themselves predict users' worldviews and some of their behavior.

Some might argue that AI systems already do something like that. I believe they could do it much better: chatbots could be more balanced in terms of security (they are definitely overcensored) and recommender systems, for instance, could contribute to healthy personal and collective transformations (rather than just competing in ability to steal users' attention and trap it in the echo chambers).

Reductionism is an obstacle in AI development

Even most reliable knowledge doesn't solve some of the problems that are already in demand. Even least reliable knowledge still may contain something useful for our problems. While we lack reliable and noncontradictory knowledge, we can still benefit from certain synthesis of working ideas. There's approach that makes it possible to look at the knowledge from a very broad perspective, do such synthesis, and benefit from emergent properties of the synthesis.

Integral (Meta-)Theory created by Ken Wilber is probably the best known attempt to enable the possibility to form and navigate the big picture understanding in a hope to address issues of the epoch we've recently entered.

IMO it has certain challenges that make it repellent to IT:

1. Fundamental psychological theories on which the Integral Theory is based are still pretty fragile; they need time to become mature enough and recognized (while it doesn't look like we have that time). There are endless edit wars on Wikipedia, which makes me feel depressing about possibilities to even introduce Spiral Dynamics and Multiple Intelligences to IT people.
2. Emphasis on controversial interpretations of certain arational states of consciousness.

It's hard to address the first challenge; however, I recently discovered a new “secularized” Non-Reductionist Philosophy launched by David Long, which, among other things, uses wisdom from Integral Theory and attempts to address the second challenge. I'm glad that there are people who don't just criticize the Integral Theory, its community and Wilber's positions but are also developing the new meta-theories.

NR can also be a good way to get familiar with other meta-theories, so one could choose whatever works the best for their problems. For instance, if you're working on something as exotic as some competitor to EEG-powered meditation device, perhaps you will find Integral Theory relevant to study as well, since it's more focused on the states.

I'd like to point out a couple of moments I noticed in the video "Why Non-Reductionism Is A Better Meta-Theory" that caught my attention, as well as in some other older videos. There's not much to comment on the content itself rather than on the form of the content. This feedback might be used for improvements/elaborations in the next videos and just for everyone curious about the new meta-theory. But first

Why do I post here?

Specifically for the deep topics that relate to the current epoch, I no longer find engaging in the YouTube/FB/Reddit/Diqus/Giscus/etc. discussions useful anymore, at least due to broken and almost omnipresent AI-based censorship, that keeps “improving” at randomly shadow-banning people. How many deep and valuable opinions we no longer see?

BTW, it's possible to create Reddit-like communities here at Nostr as well, using Satellite client for example. I believe it's a better place for NR, Rebel Wisdom and many others.

References to full materials used for criticism

There are curious clips with Wilber in the video. It'd be great to have links in the description (or at least titles of the full videos if it's copyrighted material) so viewers could easier form their own independent opinions. I find it important during the age of information overload and narrative warfare. This will also improve SEO.

Emergentism FAQ

There's a strong position on emergence of consciousness; it seems it's not even a hypothesis in NR and I guess that makes some people so reactive.

I think it would be great to have an FAQ page to possibly make future debates more ecological and fruitful. Some of the things that could be elaborated in the FAQ:

• importance of distinction between philosophical theory (inductive reasoning? or actually deductive reasoning? I'm confused here) and scientific theory (deductive reasoning)
• the fact that for now counterarguments usually fall into the categories of “ignorance fallacy”, “false equivalency fallacy” and “God of the gaps” which aren't something sufficient; the whole point of challenge was to find at least a logically valid counterposition (ideally a counterposition that is sound with currently available scientific facts), not the nitpicking attacks
• what kind of emergence is meant, is it important here at all and why.

Debates moderation

Probably most of the debates converge to consensus, which are fruitful anyway. There are a few interesting conflicting debates as well. However, I found this specific conflicting debate with Matt Segall quite exceptional.

Matt's position was not understood. He was more interested in a dialogue rather than debates and I think it would be more productive. However, in this specific case, my guess is it would literally take hours to just figure out the common language on a certain concept he mentions.

My humble guess is that a combination of negotiator and moderator with a strong perceiving personality type function (if typologies work at all) could be a step to more meaningful and ecological dialogues in the future. But such negotiator/moderator should also be skilled enough to reflect most challenging parts using more “rational language” as best as possible. These people are rare. Basically I mean the style of dialogues that happened between theoretical physicist David Bohm and Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti: IMO these were the talks where both sides at some point were barely transcending limitations of their languages and focusing more on intuition in order to understand each other. Much fuzzier and spontaneous dialogues, which aren't prematurely limited by too harsh rationality. Similar thing (with shorter periods of negotiation) could be combined with debating as well.

I hope NR community will be open to understanding more perspectives and won't end up turning into something like a cold and scary crystallization of rational arrogance; that would be damaging and quite opposite to the healthy intentions of the whole project.

Final thoughts

I like the clarity and density of the presented ideas in the video, the choice of lines of development in the map and the alternative to the Integral Methodological Pluralism. I like the mentioned interpretation of “free” will, very much resonates with how I personally interpret it. Tritone-ish devilish sounds in the cons sections is a nice aesthetic choice as well.

I guess there's a lot to learn from NR, no matter what positions we hold on the “rational spirituality” and that sort of stuff. Just to avoid projections and misunderstandings: I'm at a neutral position to all of the NR, Integral and Metamodernism; what any of these philosophies claim to be somehow naive doesn't necessarily match my own positions.

Thank you David Long for launching this philosophy and the movement; I'm looking forward to the next videos!

I'd appreciate reposts and all this as well, thanks!

@ f683e870:557f5ef2

This is what has been achieved on a per-project basis since receiving the grant from Opensats.

npub.world

Together with nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9, I have been refining npub.world to deliver real-time, WoT-powered profile search. These refinements include:

• implementing new desings by nostr:npub1t3gd5yefglarhar4n6uh34uymvft4tgu8edk5465zzhtv4rrnd9sg7upxq

• moving to the new Vertex DVM standard

• improved URL and npub parsing

Vertex crawler

Due to the architectural mistakes I made when designing the first version, I have embarked on a full rewrite of the crawler. The new architecture is simpler, more modular and more performant, and I am confident that it will provide a stable foundation on which to expand the Vertex offering with additional functionalities and analytics.

The major differences with the old version are:

• the DB and RWS interfaces have been broken up and simplified into smaller ones, each defined by their own packages

• a simplified, more efficient algorithm for updating random walks

• use of a custom-built cache to speed up graph computations

• a worker pool pattern to speed up event archiving

These changes have reduced the LOC by more than half while improving performance by \~10x. Of independent interest is the new pipe package, which can also be used by other projects to crawl the Nostr network.

Vertex Relay and DVMs

The Vertex relay has been updated several times, and now supports four DVM services:

• Verify Reputation

• Recommend Follows

• Rank Profiles

• Search Profile

For each service, customers can choose the algorithm to use by specifing the sort option to use between:

• followerCount

• globalPagerank

• personalizedPagerank

More information can be found at https://vertexlab.io/.

Overall, the relay has processed more than 100,000 DVM requests, with the current daily rate standing at around 1,500.

rely

Unsatisfied with the khatru relay framework, I've decided to build my own called rely, with the goal of being simpler and more stable. I've not just scratched a personal hitch: I've used khatru for several months now (the Vertex relay is still using it) and I encountered several issues, some of which I've solved with PRs to the underlying go-nostr library.

The main differences between khatru and rely:

• rely is much simpler, both architecturally and in terms of LOC (less than half)

• rely has a solid testing approach, where a random yet reproducible high traffic hits the relay to see what breaks

• rely implements a worker pool pattern where a configurable number of goroutines process the incoming requests from clients. On the other hand, khatru process them in the HandleWebsocket goroutine, which is spawned every time a client connects. This is dangerous in my opinion because if too many clients connect, memory usage would spike and the relay could potentially crash.

New DVM spec

I helped to draft this new proposal to update the DVM spec, which is one of the most controversial NIPs. While almost everyone agrees that it needs to change, there is no consensus on how to move forward. I believe our proposal is a sensible approach that defines discovery, usage, and error patterns while leaving flexibility for specific DVM kinds.

Looking at the future

Next I am going to move the Vertex relay to the rely framework and to the new crawler package. I expect that this will increase the performance and will make things more solid and more simple. After all of this refactoring and simplification, it will be time to finally add features to the Vertex offering. I have an ambitious roadmap consisting of:

• accepting ecash for DVM requests

• designing client-side validation schemes for the DVM responses

• expanding the pagerank algorithm to make use of mutes and reports

• adding an WoT impersonator check to npub.world

• adding a nip05 check to npub.world

• make a relystore package with some plug&play databases for rely.

@ 3104fbbf:ac623068

It is possible to shift your mindset in adulthood — but it’s exceedingly rare. There’s no exact science to it, yet roughly 2% of people seem truly able — or willing — to change their worldview past a certain age. As arbitrary as that number may sound, it often holds true in practice. It helps explain human behavior and why the remaining 98% — those unwilling to embrace deep inner change — will never dare to step outside their comfort zone.

Learning new skills holds real, practical value: it’s how we redirect our lives toward something better. But it requires a willingness to evolve the way we think. In my view, the only truly helpful approach is to share insights, ideas, and methods — and then let each individual decide whether they’re ready to invest time and energy into rethinking their patterns, learning what’s needed, and transforming their habits or beliefs. There are no shortcuts.

As someone who’s committed to this path and aware of what’s at stake for humanity in the next 20 years — especially with AI — I want to share a few signposts for those ready to lift their heads out of the sand.

---

Discernment in the Age of AI: More Essential Than Ever

We are living through a radical upheaval, driven by artificial intelligence and the exponential acceleration of technology. And I’m convinced of one thing: if a belief, ideology, or conviction born in the 21st century isn’t constantly reevaluated — with curiosity, humility, and intellectual rigor — by confronting opposing views, digging into what’s uncomfortable, and honestly questioning what we don’t yet understand, then we’re not thinking. We’re just gambling on blind faith — or refusing to face reality. And eventually, that catches up with us.

The longer you wait to adapt to technological acceleration, the more you risk becoming trapped in an invisible loop — one where you don’t even realize just how far behind you’ve fallen.

Take independent thinking and discernment — arguably the most vital skills in an AI-driven world. If you rely on AI in a domain where you lack critical sensitivity, you’re setting yourself up for disaster.

When you use AI to move a project forward, you need to instantly recognize when something feels off: “That doesn’t make sense. It’s too cliché. It doesn’t work.” And the AI — trained to please you — will agree: “You’re right.”

But… what if you’re wrong?

That’s where the downward spiral begins — a kind of creative death. Many people:

Settle for the AI’s first answer,

Fail to grasp that this response is just the most statistically likely, the most "expected,"

And end up with something generic, bland, and forgettable.

We have to move beyond that. We have to enter that narrow zone where we seek something original, alive, new — and keep pushing: “No, that’s not it yet.” It’s through this iterative process that refinement happens, and real value emerges.

Used this way, AI becomes a powerful tool — one that accelerates research, eliminates friction, and streamlines the creative process.

Prompting — the art of crafting precise, thoughtful instructions for the AI — is learned through practice, trial and error. But it also demands a specific mental posture: one rooted in curiosity, humility, and the willingness to question yourself. You must be willing to doubt your own assumptions, to challenge your own blind spots.

---

The Mental Exoskeleton: Amplifying Human Potential Through AI

We’re living in a near-magical era. If you’ve already built a solid foundation of skills, AI acts like an exoskeleton — allowing you to lift far more than you could on your own. If you’re already strong, it amplifies your strength. If you’ve learned how to think and how to use your mind, it multiplies your intellectual power.

And if you’ve cultivated curiosity and broad general knowledge — instead of locking yourself into hyper-specialization — for the first time in history, that’s an edge. Because AI enables you to instantly dive deeper into any of those fields and connect the dots across disciplines. Suddenly, it feels like you can tap into the depth of global expertise, on demand, in virtually any subject.

But again, this all hinges on mindset. If most people don’t know what they want, can’t think independently, clearly, or precisely, and don’t even know what questions to ask — AI won’t help them move forward. It won’t fix a broken mentality. In the end, it’s the 2% — those who can ask the right questions, think strategically, and challenge their own thinking — who will truly harness this technology.

And because of that, the gap is going to widen. The divide between the capable and the incapable, the wealthy and the struggling, is only going to deepen. The 2% will continue to accelerate, while those who don’t know how to wield this tool effectively will be left behind. In this sense, AI doesn’t level the playing field — it magnifies inequality.

Anything we currently believe to be beyond AI’s reach won’t remain so for long. When AI becomes fully autonomous — faster and more intelligent than any living human — there will be almost nothing it can’t help us do or manifest in the real world.

---

The Coming Divide in Human Evolution

The only real distinction will be this: this new form of intelligence will never truly be human.

And not everyone will react positively. While radical transhumanists will push the boundaries without restraint, a strong backlash is likely — perhaps even violent — driven by a new wave of puritanical neo-conservatism. These individuals will fiercely oppose any form of technological enhancement of human abilities. The result could be intense civil unrest.

And this isn’t science fiction anymore — it’s already underway. Most people, distracted by daily life and mainstream media, aren’t paying close attention. We’ve just revived extinct species. The dire wolf, gone for over 10,000 years? Done. What’s next? This isn’t some virtual simulation — you’ll soon be able to pet a dire wolf. Human genetic modification is inevitable. And it’s going to make a lot of people profoundly uneasy.

Even now, people with Neuralink implants are playing video games using only their minds. And what’s crazy is that these players are saying: “We’ll need our own league — we’re already outperforming anyone still stuck with a keyboard, mouse, or controller.”

This isn’t a futuristic fantasy — it’s happening right now.

It’s the mental exoskeleton, in a way. We’ve already seen physical exosuits helping paraplegic patients walk again — mental-cybernetic augmentation is the logical next step. It’s no longer just about restoring lost function, but enhancing and accelerating it. The gap between “augmented” individuals and those who aren’t is only going to grow — and it already is, simply between those who master AI tools and those who barely scratch the surface.

Even before that, landing a job will soon require AI literacy — that’ll be the baseline. And it won’t stop there. Your job performance reviews will include how well you work with AI: your fluency, speed, and depth of integration. If you’re not improving continuously, if you’re not keeping pace, you’re already falling out of the game.

So it’s not just about knowing how to use AI — it’s about constantly improving your skills with it. That takes real training, like working a muscle. It won’t just fall into your lap. The majority of people who aren’t actively engaged will be left behind. And as deflationary technology enables material abundance, universal basic income may become a reality. Work might no longer be essential for survival.

But unless there’s a radical shift in global mindset, this material abundance could become a curse: a world where 98% of people are dependent, apathetic, intellectually numbed, wandering aimlessly through life — much like the characters in Wall-E.

---

How AI Is Reshaping and Rebuilding the World of Work

It’s painfully obvious: either you use AI, or you’ll be replaced by someone who does.

Our brains have two hemispheres — analytical and creative. A few centuries ago, creativity wasn’t valued much. The world was built for analytical thinkers — schools, exams, the entire education system. That was the “correct” path.

But the Internet made technical specialists interchangeable. As Daniel Pink highlights in A Whole New Mind, overnight, anyone could hire a developer from anywhere — Pakistan, India, wherever — through platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Skills that were once rare and expensive became globally available and cheap.

In his book, Pink argues that the future belongs not to specialized technicians, but to creative thinkers. Not the one who can play every instrument — but the one who can conduct the orchestra. The one who may not execute every task better than you, but who can bring people, tools, and ideas together to build something great — something that adds value to the world.

Today, many developing countries are rising out of poverty by building foundational technical skills. Roles that once required elite expertise — research assistants, paralegals, coders, accountants, musicians, sound engineers — are now globally accessible. Anyone, anywhere, can learn anything by tapping into the sum of human knowledge online.

AI agents are autonomous programs designed to think and act on your behalf — like super-assistants that can plan, decide, and execute tasks for you. In the past, if I wanted something done, I’d hire a person. Now? I can just program an AI agent.

And this is moving fast. Very fast : Exponential acceleration !!!!!!

By 2027, AI agents won’t just complete tasks — they’ll:

• Write improvements for other AIs,

• Conduct massive experiments independently,

• And achieve decades’ worth of progress in a matter of days or weeks.

It’s 2025. We’re already halfway there. That means we’re less than 24 months away from what many are calling an intelligence explosion — a tipping point where everything accelerates beyond prediction.

By 2028, we’ll have passed what’s often referred to as the technological horizon — a point of no return, where trying to forecast the future becomes meaningless. No one will be able to predict what jobs, economies, or societies will even look like. That’s the pace of change.

Individually, if we don’t want to find ourselves lost and disoriented, we need to act now — adopt the technology, use it, learn it, build our skillsets, and constantly ask:

“How can I use AI to build what I want to build — to create real value?”

• The people who will thrive are those who:

• Can discern — they know what’s useful and what isn’t,

• Have vision — they know what they want to create,

• And most importantly,

• Have the courage to bring it to life.

---

The Great Equalizer of Decentralization

Imagine the global economy as a massive sheet of glass. Today, this sheet is held in balance by a few corporate giants, some mid-sized companies, and a vast multitude of small structures.

But we’re on the verge of watching it crash to the floor. And when it shatters, it won’t be the small structures that break—it’ll be the large ones. The very enterprises that currently form the backbone of the system will fracture into thousands of smaller, more agile units. Why? Because artificial intelligence is acting as a powerful equalizer of power. We are standing at the dawn of a great decentralization of money, power, and energy.

Soon, we’ll see billion-dollar companies being created by one, two, or maybe three individuals. These small teams will be able to deploy entire organizations made up of autonomous AI agents — capable of running all the departments of a business. These agents will manage budgets, use tools, buy and sell using Bitcoin directly, execute tasks, and scale operations. And suddenly, the very concept of having employees… will disappear.

The real question then becomes: what happens when 30% of the workforce suddenly decides to launch their own ventures? The shift will be colossal. It will spark a massive decentralization of countless services, an explosion of innovation, and an unprecedented surge in entrepreneurial activity — especially if the global economy aligns with a monetary standard rooted in the neutral benchmark of Bitcoin.

But it also raises a deeper existential question for the majority:

“Where will I find meaning and purpose in a world that no longer needs me?”

Until now, work, knowledge, and expertise have all been shaped by scarcity. A lawyer charges high fees because legal knowledge is scarce. A doctor does the same because of medical expertise.

But what happens when knowledge is no longer scarce? When it becomes instantly available to everyone? That’s when the real rupture begins.

---

Hyperlinked Intelligence: When AI Agents Talk to Each Other

In this new world, the MCP protocol — short for Multi-Channel Protocol — designates a system that enables artificial intelligence agents to communicate and collaborate without friction. Think of it as a universal language, a shared grammar that allows various AIs — regardless of their function — to exchange information and coordinate in real-time.

Here’s the central idea:

Today, most AI agents operate in isolation. One manages your calendar, another your emails, a third handles your travel plans. But they don’t really talk to each other.

With the MCP protocol, these agents can cooperate seamlessly. They exchange data, delegate tasks, and make joint decisions — all without human intervention. This makes them exponentially more efficient.

Let’s take some concrete examples:

• An AI could cross-check your calendar and travel plans to automatically schedule an on-site meeting.

• It could access your communication platforms (email, social media), synchronize your contacts, and manage your posts without you lifting a finger.

• It could even handle complex tasks like optimizing your online presence, managing a dating profile, or generating strategic content for your professional networks.

In short, the MCP protocol supercharges AI systems by transforming them from isolated tools into interconnected intelligent networks. It opens the door to fully autonomous workflows that can handle a broad range of tasks at accelerating speeds, without human input.

It’s the TCP/IP moment of artificial intelligence.

Remember: TCP/IP enabled the birth of the internet by creating a universal communication standard. MCP could become that standard for AI — allowing all intelligent agents to connect, interact, and collaborate while transacting autonomously in a digital economy.

With this infrastructure, AI agents become “intelligent hyperlinks”: they naturally connect, share data, and perform actions in synergy. Everything clicks into place. Everything flows. And suddenly, AI becomes infinitely more powerful.

In the very near future, every executive or entrepreneur will have a “phantom agent” — an AI that tracks calls, meetings, decisions. A CEO will be able to ask their agent for a complete situational briefing. Even more: these phantom agents will talk to each other across departments and make decisions autonomously.

This is already happening as I write these lines.

Now picture this: you give an AI the following mission — “Identify the five most profitable business models today, replicate them, and recruit the agents needed to scale them up.” In an instant, you unleash an army of AI agents set to disrupt every online business in existence. This is the beginning of a new world of automation and velocity.

And the protocol that will allow these AI agents to coordinate is the key to this revolution. Until now, AI agents operated in silos and quickly hit their limits. With the MCP protocol, that barrier disappears. An AI will be able to access your calendar, book a flight, check available hotels — and that’s just the beginning.

The true revolution lies in the scale of what this will enable.

The possibilities are nearly endless.

---

Empowering Individuals: How Open-Source AI Can Protect Our Freedoms in the Digital Age

As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves at breakneck speed, it’s essential that everyone—not just tech experts—understands how it will shape our future. While AI offers tremendous benefits, it also carries serious risks, particularly in terms of surveillance and privacy. By embracing open-source AI and freedom technologies, we can ensure a fairer, more transparent digital world.

🌍 Why Open-Source AI Matters

Open-source AI refers to systems whose code is accessible to the public—allowing anyone to audit, replicate, modify, or improve them. This transparency fosters accountability and collaboration. In contrast, closed-source AI systems, controlled by a handful of Big Tech firms or government-private alliances, risk creating monopolies and surveillance mechanisms more pervasive than anything we’ve seen before. We are already witnessing how far governments and corporations are willing to go in tracking and monitoring citizens—paving the way toward a hybrid dystopia, straight out of 1984 and Brave New World, ruled by a caste of transhumanist technocrats.

Free and open-source software is essential to reclaim control over our digital lives. Proprietary systems are easily weaponized for surveillance, undermining our fundamental rights, our privacy, and democracy itself. By supporting open-source AI, we help decentralize power and reduce the risk of authoritarian control.

🛡️ Defending Against the Surveillance Dystopia

Without adequate safeguards, AI can become a tool of mass surveillance, gradually eroding personal freedoms. To push back, we must:

Support Open-Source Initiatives: Contribute to AI projects that prioritize transparency and user control over data.

Advocate for Ethical AI Development: Demand systems that are privacy-respecting and bias-free.

Stay Informed: Educate yourself on the ethical implications of AI and Bitcoin—and take action accordingly.

🧭 A Simple Guide to Get Started

Learn the Basics of AI: Tap into accessible resources to understand the foundations of AI and prompt engineering.

Understand Bitcoin Fundamentals: Learn to be your own bank, breaking away from centralized financial systems. Exit the fiat Ponzi as much as possible during this transition. ** Explore Open-Source Principles: Familiarize yourself with how open-source works—and why it matters. ** Engage with the Community: Join forums, attend workshops, or participate in online discussions on AI and digital rights.

Practice Digital Hygiene: Use end-to-end encrypted communication tools and be mindful of your digital footprint. Seek out Freedom Tech tools that already exist—don’t be seduced and neutralized by convenience.

Promote Ethical Practices: Support policies and initiatives that favor decentralized development and individual empowerment.

Share What You Learn: Spread this knowledge in your circles—gradually, intentionally.

Why This Matters

By embracing the digital revolution, individuals can take an active role in shaping the future and contributing to a fairer, more secure society. This is especially vital for generations less familiar with emerging technologies—they face both a unique challenge and a rare opportunity. Not just the youth, but Gen X and their predecessors must bridge the knowledge gap, understand the fundamentals of Bitcoin and the potential of AI. Doing so ensures their relevance, their participation in the digital transformation, and protection for their children.

Digital literacy goes beyond just using new tools—it’s about understanding their impact, risks, and benefits. It means educating ourselves about the dangers of centralized control and the strengths of decentralized systems. This includes learning how to protect your digital privacy, manage personal data, and navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI. Equipped with these skills, individuals can help design the digital universe—and safeguard their rights within it.

The pace of technological change demands constant adaptation. As Michael Saylor puts it: the future belongs to AI and Bitcoin. Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind in a hyper-digitized society. But adaptation is not just about tools—it’s a mindset shift. It’s about embracing change and committing to lifelong learning.

This is a collective responsibility. By promoting digital literacy and encouraging exploration of empowering technologies, we can avoid a dystopian sci-fi future—and steer toward a freer, more decentralized world.

In Summary

The impact of the digital revolution is profound and demands your immediate attention. By embracing open-source AI and Bitcoin—and understanding the consequences of our digital choices—we can build a future where technology empowers people, protects freedom, and fosters sovereignty. No matter your age or background, you have a role to play in this transition. Your active participation is essential to shape a world that serves humanity, not the systems that seek to control it.

Now is the time to act. As the digital wave accelerates, fusing the wisdom of the past with tomorrow’s tools, we can co-create a world that truly reflects the values of freedom, responsibility, and collective uplift.

Inspired by Mark Moss & Tom Bilyeu !

@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again; but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

The Second Coming — W.B. Yeats

I don’t know what I want to write about today. There are a lot of converging currents coursing through my reality right now. I feel we’re in an interregnum of sorts between what was and what’s to come. I guess you could simply describe that as the present, something that has ever been the case. But this moment feels more intense like something big is dying and something else, God knows what, is on its way “to be born".

I exchanged emails recently with an old friend, and he sent me a link to a David Foster Wallace commencement speech entitled “This Is Water.” In it Wallace tells a joke of an old fish seeing two younger fish swimming by and asks them “How’s the water?” Later on one of the younger ones asks the other, “What is water?”

Wallace hanged himself a few years after the speech. Apparently he was unable to maintain the perspective he laid out in it which was that we can choose our attitude toward what we experience in any moment, no matter how much aversion we habitually associate with it. That the act of choosing equanimity constitutes the freedom we seek. That this freedom to choose is ever present, in fact the ability to direct our attention and consciousness is itself the water. And yet out of habit we are often oblivious to this most fundamental reality.

My friend’s email was in response to my description of the dissolution I see right now. Everything seems fake. The news, the governments, the edicts of reputationally bankrupt institutions zombying along as though the last five years never happened, like the proverbial emperor still purporting to rule though everyone can now see his pale, unsightly posterior.

Yes, the coffee shops are still open, people still go on vacation with their families. Let’s go to Paris, Rome, the Greek Isles! Let’s pretend everything is as we had imagined in the before times when our goals and aspirations seemed real, when the glitchy pixels in the matrix hadn’t yet revealed themselves so glaringly.

Maybe this was always the case. All our games were always professional wrestling, a scripted charade for which we willingly suspended disbelief. But like the roadrunner in the cartoon, we have since become aware we have run out of road, four steps beyond the cliff edge.

. . .

Wallace in his speech described such indignities as being stuck in traffic after a long day of work, or in a long grocery checkout line. The mind’s usual programs run, cursing everyone and everything around us. Instead of contemplating the miracle of human existence we feel only disgust and impatience. We want to finish with the run, the work, the obligatory hour so we can move on to something presumably more pleasant.

I can handle such day to day discomforts, but the overwhelming sense of dissolution is undermining the aims to which I had once attached meaning. I set up my life for freedom and prosperity, and now, just as I have my ducks in a row, there’s an imminent magnetic pole shift or a financial and social collapse that threatens to counterfeit my efforts.

It’s easy to opt out when you’re losing, to decry the injustice, unfairness and pointlessness of the game when you weren’t getting much from it anyway. When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose, to paraphrase Bob Dylan. But as a late bloomer wanting to sample the wine of the Gods at long last, it’s dispiriting in a different way, like saving up for a new car and seeing it stolen before you had a chance to drive it.

That’s the shallow version, distress at discovering just before getting the things I had always wanted I was actually playing not just the wrong game, but a false one. That I’m upset I can’t gratify my ego in the way I had hoped, that I can’t get the pat on the back I had craved because the back-patters decided to tear up the playing field just as I finally became a contender.

The deeper version is you only get better at the game through your own efforts to discover what’s true, your own self-mastery and access to a measure of wisdom. This process transforms your life from a tedious and difficult slog to a state of ease and flow. You are more connected, more in touch with yourself and the forces within. You can handle aversion, in fact voluntarily invite it at times to hone your mind and access your resourcefulness. You love your life and connect to the people in it. You have great hope and aspirations for the future. You believe in God, or the Tao or whatever force animates all things, you can navigate the world’s imperfections and do not want it to fall into chaos and disorder.

The task of remembering this during the run, the traffic jam or the grocery store checkout line is not so difficult. But would it be the same during periods of violence and resource scarcity where literal survival is at stake, the rules of which are set by biology and physics rather than the incentives of human society?

Yes, I’d rather be eating dinner at home than sitting in traffic, but I can appreciate that I’m able to sit comfortably in my climate controlled pod, listening to music while traversing these distances rather than foraging for food in the harsh wild. Yes, this old Portuguese lady is taking an eternity to get the groceries into her pushcart, but I can imagine how it is to be old and slow and still have to shop and eat, and it’s trivial to cut her some slack.

I’m not claiming I always have this perspective, but I surely am able to channel equanimity during the ordinary aversion that arises in one’s day to day life. I do this while running on the track, the aches and pains, the discomfort, the wanting to get it over with is a battle I fight every week by my own choosing. But imagine if instead of running 10 minute miles I was forced to do them in six. It’s not so easy to keep a calm, conscious mind while gasping for breath.

The truth is these calamities I imagine are not yet real, the asteroid has not yet hit, the economy not yet collapsed. I have never experienced the kind of hardship I dread. I am ever in the grocery line, the 10-minute mile run, the traffic jam, never the concentration camp or Mad Max-style post-apocalypse. Why not just deal with that when the time comes, if it ever comes? Why die a thousand deaths like the proverbial coward rather than the one required of the brave man?

I suppose it comes down to wanting to be prepared. There’s nothing you can do if an asteroid destroys the entire earth, but if your national government devolves into tyranny, you could get out before it’s too late. There’s the adage one should only concern oneself about the things one can control, but the rub is in deciding what’s in your power and of what to let go. It’s an easy out, per the adage, to narrow your locus of control to doing your job and paying your bills. You can too easily forget that which job you have, where you live, what preparations to make are also matters in which you have a choice.

Even if you believe a magnetic pole shift could spill the earth’s oceans across continents within the next few decades — I find this plausible — you could move to the mountains to get ahead even of that. A fatalist, non-questioning attitude can be a psychological salve in times of upheaval, but “salve” and "“slave” are but a typo apart.

. . .

When I was six someone broke into my house. I was still awake, and while pretending to be asleep, I heard him rummaging through my belongings, stealing an old Fisher Price turntable and a black and white TV. My father died four years later, and at 10, I remember thinking as the oldest boy in the house, it was now my responsibility to defend my family if anything like that, or worse, happened again. Of course, I wasn’t really capable of doing this, and I knew it, but I would have to try, futile as it might be.

I imagine that psychology has stayed with me as an adult — it’s up to me to see around corners, assess the various threats to me and my family, even if some of them are too daunting for any one individual. I could let it go, I suppose, it would probably even be healthy to do so. But there is a part of me that wonders whether people like me, people who feel this irrational responsibility, are the those who survive cataclysms and shocks. I surely am not the only one who feels this way and quite likely would not be especially effective given I don’t have engineering, outdoorsman or serious combat skills. But that hyper-vigilance toward and preparation for worse-case scenarios is something someone has to do, someone who would likely be selected for the role by the particular accidents of his upbringing.

. . .

There is another way to look at this, of course. The notion one ought to step up in the face of adverse circumstances, even extreme ones, is valid. But perhaps the best way to prepare is not endlessly to assess potential threats like some black ops CIA outfit, but to have a calm and detached mind. Should the signs appear, a poised and observant person would take action insofar as he is able. That you, having trained your attention away from default habits of comfort-seeking and dread and toward conscious observation, will do what’s required if and when the time comes. That you can trust yourself, and by that I mean trust in God, so to speak, to guide your awareness and actions for the most effective and adaptive response.

The Fourth Turning might well be upon us, indeed “the centre [may not] hold.” There is no guarantee your response will ensure you or those you love survive. There has never been such a guarantee for anyone, only the freedom to direct your attention, to choose your state of mind, to the extent you are capable, in the conditions that arise. To respond to the older fish that the water is okay, it’s pretty nice actually.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

Sup, freaks? Your Uncle Marty did a little vibe coding a couple months ago and that vibe coding project has turned into an actual product that is live in the Google Chrome web store and will soon to be live in the Firefox add-on store as well. It's called Opportunity Cost and it is an extension that enables you to price the internet in Bitcoin.

Opportunity Cost – See Prices in Bitcoin Instantly

Convert USD prices to Bitcoin (satoshis) as you browse. Dual display, privacy-first, and open source.

Opportunity CostTFTC

Check it out!

This whole process has been extremely rewarding to me for many reasons. The first of which is that I've had many ideas in the past to launch a product focused on bitcoin education that simply never left my brain because I never felt comfortable paying a developer to go out and build a product that I wasn't sure would ultimately get product market fit.

Due to the advancements of AI, particularly ChatGPT and Replit, I was able to spend a few hours on a Saturday vibe coding a prototype for Opportunity Cost. It worked. I side loaded it into Chrome and Firefox, tested it out for a few days and decided, "Hey, I think this is something that's worthwhile and should be built."

Backtracking just a little bit, the initial idea for this app was to create an AR application that would enable you to take pictures of goods in the real world and have their prices automatically converted to bitcoin so that you could weigh the opportunity cost of whether or not you actually wanted to buy that good or decide to save in bitcoin instead. With the help of Justin Moon from the Human Rights Foundation and Anthony Ronning from OpenSecret and Maple AI, I was pointed in the right direction of vibe coding tools I could use to build a simple MVP. I took their advice, built the MVP, and demoed it at the Bitcoin Park Austin weekly AI meetup in mid-April.

The next week, I was talking with a friend, Luke Thomas, about the idea and during our conversation he made a simple quip, "You should make a Chrome extension. I really want a Chrome extension that does this." And that's what sent me down the vibe coding rabbit hole that Saturday which led to the prototype.

After I was comfortable with and confident in the prototype, I found a young hungry developer by the name of Moses on Nostr, I reached out to him, told him my idea, showed him the prototype and asked if he thought he could finish the application for me. He luckily agreed to do so and within a couple of weeks we had a fully functioning app that was officially launched today. We're about 12 hours into the launch and I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised with the reception from the broader Bitcoin community. It seems like something that people are happy exists and I feel extremely happy that people see some value in this particular application.

Now that you have the backstory, let's get into why I think something like Opportunity Cost should exist. As someone who's been writing a newsletter and producing podcasts about bitcoin for eight years in an attempt to educate individuals from around the world about what bitcoin is, why it's important, and how they can leverage it, I've become convinced that a lot of the work that needs to be done still exists at the top of the funnel. You can scream at people. You can grab them by the shoulders. You can shake them. You can remind them at Thanksgiving that if they had listened to your advice during any Thanksgiving in the previous years they would be better off financially. But at the end of the day most people don't listen. They need to see things. Seeing things for yourself is a much more effective teaching mechanism than be lectured to by someone else.

My hope with Opportunity Cost is that it catches the eye of some bitcoin skeptics or individuals who may be on the cusp of falling down the bitcoin rabbit hole and they see the extension as a way to dip their toes into bitcoin to get a better understanding of the world by pricing the goods and services they purchase on a day-to-day month-to-month and year-to-year basis in bitcoin without having to download a wallet or set up an exchange account. The tippy top of the bitcoin marketing funnel.

That is not all though. I think Opportunity Cost can serve individuals at both ends of the funnel. That's why it's pretty exciting to me. It's as valuable to the person who is bitcoin curious and looking to get a better understanding as it is to the hardcore bitcoiner living on a bitcoin standard who is trying to get access to better tools that enable him to get a better grasp of their spending in bitcoin terms.

Lastly, after playing around with it for a few days after I built the prototype, I realized that it has incredible memetic potential. Being able to take a screenshot of goods that people are buying on a day-to-day basis, pricing them in bitcoin and then sharing them on social media is very powerful. Everything from houses to junk items on Amazon to the salaries of pro athletes to your everyday necessities. Seeing the value of those things in bitcoin really makes you think.

One day while I was testing the app, I tried to see how quickly I could find goods on the internet that cumulatively eclipsed the 21 million supply cap limit of bitcoin. To my surprise, even though I've been in bitcoin for 12 years now, it did not take me that long. The opportunity cost of everything I buy on a day-to-day basis becomes very clear when using the extension. What's even clearer is the fact that Bitcoin is completely mispriced at current levels. There is so much winning ahead of us.

Also, it's probably important to note that the extension is open source. You can check out our GitHub page here. Submit pull requests. Suggest changes to the app.

We've also tried to make Opportunity Cost as privacy preserving as possible. Everything within the extension happens in your browser. The only external data that we're providing is the bitcoin to fiat price conversion at any given point in time. We're not data harvesting the web pages you're browsing or the items you're looking at. We're not collecting data and sending it to third party marketers. We want to align ourselves with the open and permissionless nature of bitcoin while also preserving our users' privacy. We're not trying to monetize this in that way. Though, I will say that I'm thinking of ways to monetize Opportunity Cost if it does gain significant traction, but I promise it will be in a way that respects your privacy and is as unobtrusive as possible. We'll see how it goes.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. Please download and use the extension. Let us know what you think.

Headlines of the Day

Saylor Says Bitcoin Is Perfect Money to Jordan Peterson - via X

Trump Won't Sell Tesla Despite Musk-Bessent Heated Exchange - via X

Bitcoin Gains Traction in Kenya's Largest Slum Kibera - via X

Get our new STACK SATS hat - via tftcmerch.io

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Bitcoin’s Next Parabolic Move: Could Liquidity Lead the Way?

Is bitcoin’s next parabolic move starting? Global liquidity and business cycle indicators suggest it may be.

Read the latest report from Unchained and TechDev, analyzing how global M2 liquidity and the copper/gold ratio—two historically reliable macro indicators—are aligning once again to signal that a new bitcoin bull market may soon begin.

Download the report here

---

Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $150.00M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at ten31.vc/invest.

---

Final thought...

East Coast aesthetics over everything.

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*Download our free browser extension, Opportunity Cost: *<<https://www.opportunitycost.app/>> start thinking in SATS today.

*Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily: *https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/

Subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow us on Nostr and X:

@ 2b998b04:86727e47

Introduction To First Principles

This introduction kicks off a 7-part series called First Principles exploring the deeper shifts behind decentralization, cost, freedom, and truth. I picked 7 days, one for each day of the week, aligned with a rhythm of work, rest, and return. Each part will explore a foundational truth behind the technologies and philosohies I’ve embraced — from decentralization and sovereignty to truth, time, and hope.

---

We often hear that technology drives costs toward zero.

That’s the thesis of The Price of Tomorrow — that as technology advances, it becomes deflationary by nature. Automation replaces labor. Software replaces infrastructure. AI replaces entire categories of decision-making. The marginal cost of production trends toward nothing.

But that’s not the whole story.

There’s a deeper layer — one that most technologists and economists miss. It’s not just the marginal cost of production that matters. It’s the control cost of centralization. And that’s where things get murky.

Because even when marginal costs fall, the hidden toll of centralization rises.

---

The Illusion of “Free”

Take GitHub.

On paper, it’s free. You can publish static websites, host code, automate workflows with Actions, and collaborate globally — all at no cost.

But GitHub is owned by Microsoft. You don’t control the servers. You don’t own the platform. You don’t hold the keys.

It’s a gift that can be revoked.

Same with Google Docs. Or YouTube. Or Substack. Or any cloud platform that says “start for free.”

These aren’t bad tools. Many are excellent.

But they’re not neutral.

The price you pay isn’t always in dollars. Sometimes it’s in:

• Data access restrictions

• API limitations

• Sudden pricing changes

• Censorship or deplatforming

• Migration costs if (or when) things go south

This is the hidden rent of centralized platforms. And it compounds over time.

---

Control Cost vs. Marginal Cost

If marginal cost is “how cheap is it to make this?” —\ Control cost is “how much freedom do I lose by using this?”

You can publish your ideas for free on Medium — but they own the SEO.\ You can host your business on Shopify — but they can cut you off.\ You can grow your audience on Instagram — but the algorithm owns the feed.

We’ve learned to celebrate deflation. But most of the tools we use are inflating the cost of control, even as they lower the cost of entry.

And this is where decentralization flips the script.

---

The Real Promise of Decentralization

True decentralization doesn’t just make things cheaper.\ It makes them sovereign.

It redistributes power, not just price.\ It removes toll booths, not just middlemen.

It says:

• Own your keys

• Own your content

• Own your stack

• Own your distribution

This is why Nostr matters.\ This is why Bitcoin matters.\ This is why self-hosting, permissionless protocols, and open-source tooling matter — even when they’re less polished or convenient than centralized platforms.

Because they don’t just save you money.\ They save your freedom.

---

A Working Example

When I started building my blog blog.stantonweb.com, didn’t choose the easiest route.

I combined:

• Nostr for long-form publishing

• A custom Python fetch script to pull and render posts

• GitHub Actions for automation

• Static HTML for presentation

• Cloudflare + GitHub Pages for zero-cost hosting

No database. No CMS subscription. No paid theme.

The total marginal cost? $0.

But more importantly, the control cost is near zero too.\ No one can shut it down.\ No company can throttle my reach.\ No gatekeeper decides whether my words deserve to stay online.

---

Toward a New Definition of Cost

If you only optimize for price, you’ll be captured.

If you optimize for freedom, you’ll build margin over time — not just financial margin, but creative, moral, and operational margin too.

That’s what decentralization makes possible.\ Not just cheaper.\ Truer.

---

Footnote: Lessons from the Past

Remember Skype? It started as a peer-to-peer tool — truly decentralized at its core. But then it was acquired by Microsoft. Over time, its architecture was centralized and eventually dismantled.

Or Napster. It shook the music industry with peer-to-peer sharing. But it too was shut down and replaced by centralized alternatives.

BitTorrent survived — but only when it resisted the pressure to become just another platform.

The pattern is clear:

• Centralization follows capital.

• Censorship follows control.

• But freedom follows decentralization.

And that’s the direction we must choose — again and again.

---

Co-written with ChatGPT (“Dr. C”), who helped distill and sharpen the core arguments.\ \ Stay tuned for Part 1 in the next few days.

—\ Published on blog.stantonweb.com & Nostr.\ Zap: <https://tinyurl.com/yuyu2b9t>

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

My life is my way Home\ My death is my arrival

I can't wait to be Home\ And so I love life

I can't wait to be Home\ And so I want to live to the fullest

For there are no shortcuts

Many people die\ And never make it Home

They will have to wait\ For another chance to die

Another chance to live fully\ And die totally

I'm so thankful to be alive\ I'm on my way Home

I'm so thankful to be alive\ To have another chance to die

Every day I take a step\ In the direction of my death\ I do not postpone it

Every day I take a step\ In the direction of my truth\ I do not avoid it

It is who I am, always have been\ And always will be

It lies beyond that door\ That keeps everything in check

Where only can go through\ Which is forever true

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

So often Christians focus on God’s love and ignore His judgment. They tell people they need to be saved, but leave out from what they need to be saved. Fifty or a hundred years ago, almost every American knew the basics of the Bible, what sin is, what the judgment of Hell is, and that the God of the Bible is our Creator. Today, most people in America and the world know very little of that. Phrases like, “Trust Jesus and be saved,” mean very little. The person you are talking to may be silently thinking, “Who is Jesus? Why should I trust Him? What do I need to be saved from?”

Most Christians, especially from Evangelical circles, have been steeped in the phrase “Be saved,” but how many have thought carefully about from what they are being saved? If we have trouble answering, “from what?”, how can we explain it to those who don’t know Jesus?

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:8-11) {emphasis mine}

Primarily we are saved “from the wrath of God.” We are also reconciled which saves us from separation from God.

We are also told that we are rescued [saved] “from the wrath to come.”

And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10) {emphasis mine}

Then one might ask, “What right does God have to tell me what to do and to get mad at me?”

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5) {emphasis mine}

Why does God get to set the rules? Because He made all things. The Creator gets to set the rules for His creation. It isn’t just ‘might makes right,’ but the one who spoke everything into being gets to set the rules for His creatures just like He set the rules for how everything in the universe works.

Many might claim, “but surely God can’t expect us to be perfect? Nobody is perfect.”

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) {emphasis mine}

Jesus doesn’t expect more than He has given. He went through every temptation we have experienced, including trials and hardships we can’t imagine, and yet was without even one sin. He is the perfect example of what we should be. Even more amazingly, he understands that we are unable to live up to His standard, so He came to earth, suffered, died, and rose again, so we could be reconciled to Him. All we have to do is repent of our sins, trust Him, and submit to Him. How can we not put our faith in Him after all He did for us?

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus paid the penalty. He took our sins, so we can receive His righteousness. This is a trade everyone should be willing to make, but sadly most refuse — some willfully, but some because they haven’t heard the good news. Hopefully all Christians will faithfully share the gospel with those around them.

May the perfect Savior guide us in His perfect will and help us to rightfully share the gospel with all those around us.

Trust Jesus

@ c9badfea:610f861a

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• 🗨️ Using LLMs for OPSEC

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@ 58537364:705b4b85

เกี่ยวกับเรื่อง “เวลา”

พระอรหันต์ บุคคลผู้หลุดพ้นแล้ว เห็นอย่างถูกต้อง จึงไม่ยึดถือ อดีต กับ อนาคต แม้กระทั่งปัจจุบัน

ตัวอย่างง่ายๆ ที่จะต้องสังเกตดูให้ดีว่า โดยที่แท้นั้นเราไม่สามารถรู้จักอดีต ปัจจุบัน หรืออนาคต ได้เลย เราไม่อาจรู้จักสิ่งที่เป็นปัจจุบันได้ ถ้าสิ่งนั้นไม่กลายเป็นอดีตไปเสียก่อน เหมือนอย่างว่า..เมื่อตาเห็นรูป เช่น เห็นดอกไม้ดอกหนึ่ง จิตใจต้องรับอารมณ์(รูป,สี)เสร็จแล้ว ภาพที่เห็นนั้นเป็นอดีตไปแล้ว เราจึงจะรู้ว่าเป็นดอกไม้ดอกหนึ่ง เช่น ดอกกุหลาบดอกหนึ่ง เป็นต้น

ถ้าไม่เป็นอดีตไปเสียก่อน จิตใจก็ไม่มีทางจะรู้ว่ามันเป็นอะไร เพราะเหตุฉะนั้น ปัจจุบันเป็นสิ่งที่เรารู้ไม่ได้ รู้สึกไม่ได้ สัมผัสไม่ได้ เพราะว่าเราไม่อาจจะรู้จักสิ่งใดได้ โดยที่สิ่งนั้นไม่เปลี่ยนเป็นอดีตไปเสียก่อนนั่นเอง ต้องเป็น "ขณะจิต" ในอดีตเสียก่อน จึงจะรู้ว่าสิ่งนั้นเป็นอะไร เราจึงไม่อาจจะสัมผัสปัจจุบันได้

ส่วนเวลาที่เรียกว่า "อนาคต" ก็ยังไม่มา ส่วนอดีตก็ล่วงลับไปแล้ว เราก็ไม่ได้รับอะไรเลย แม้แต่ที่เป็น"ปัจจุบัน" #ถ้าใครมองเห็นอย่างนี้ก็เรียกว่ารู้จักเวลาอย่างถูกต้อง คือเวลาในภาษาธรรมะ ซึ่งไม่อาจจะแบ่งเป็นวินาที นาที เดือน ปีอะไรได้เลย มันเป็นกระแสอันหนึ่งซึ่งคงที่ จนกล่าวได้ว่า ไม่มีเบื้องต้น ไม่มีเบื้องปลาย ไม่มีท่ามกลาง

สิ่งที่เรียกว่า "เวลา" นั้น ไม่มีใครรู้ได้ว่าตั้งต้นเมื่อไหร่ มากี่กัปกี่กัลป์แล้ว จะไปสิ้นสุดเมื่อไหร่ อีกกี่กัปกี่กัลป์ แล้วในขณะปัจจุบันของมัน เราก็แตะต้องมันไม่ได้ เพราะต้องเป็นอดีตไปเสียก่อนทุกที จึงจะรู้สึกขึ้นในใจได้ว่าอะไรเป็นอะไร

เมื่อตาเห็นรูปก็ดี เมื่อหูฟังเสียงก็ดี เมื่อจมูกได้กลิ่นก็ดี ลิ้นได้รสก็ดี กายได้สัมผัสทางผิวหนังก็ดี หรือใจคิดนึกอะไรก็ดี "ขณะจิต"แห่งอดีตเท่านั้น ที่จะบอกได้ว่าอะไรเป็นอะไร ขณะเป็นปัจจุบันนั้นบอกให้ไม่ได้เพราะเร็วเกินไป เพียงขณะจิตเดียวก็เป็นอดีตเสียแล้ว ขณะจิตที่กระทบอารมณ์นั้นบอกอะไรไม่ได้ จนกว่าเป็นขณะจิตที่เสวยอารมณ์เสร็จแล้ว เพราะฉะนั้น สิ่งนั้นก็เป็นอดีตไปแล้ว ดังนี้ เป็นต้น

ท่านลองเปรียบเทียบดูว่า คนไหนโง่หรือคนไหนฉลาดกว่ากัน

คนที่เห็นเวลาเป็นอย่างนี้อย่างนั้น เป็นอดีต เป็นอนาคต เป็นปัจจุบัน จนปัญหาเกิดขึ้นนั้น ก็ต้องมีความทุกข์เป็นธรรมดา ส่วนพระอรหันต์นั้น ฉลาดจนไม่มีอดีต อนาคต ปัจจุบัน อย่างที่พระพุทธเจ้าตรัสว่า “ไม่ถือเอาไว้ที่ส่วนสุดทั้งสอง และทั้งไม่ถือเอาไว้ที่ตรงกลาง” นั่นคือ “ความไม่ยึดถือ” เป็นบุคคลผู้หลุดพ้นแล้ว ไม่ยึดถือส่วนทั้งสอง คืออดีตกับอนาคต ส่วนข้างต้นเรียกว่า"อดีต" ส่วนข้างปลายเรียกว่า"อนาคต" นี้ก็ไม่ยึดถือ แล้วก็ไม่ยึดถือแม้กระทั่งส่วนตรงกลาง คือ "ปัจจุบัน" อย่างนี้เรียกว่า "ไม่มีการยึดถืออะไร" และเป็นพระอรหันต์เพราะรู้จักเวลาอย่างถูกต้องเช่นนี้

แต่คนธรรมดาสามัญทำอย่างนี้ไม่ได้ ทำไม่เป็น ดังนั้น จึงต้องสอนกันอีกอย่างหนึ่ง อีกแนวหนึ่ง คือ ให้รู้จักจัดการเกี่ยวกับเวลา ว่า..อย่างไรเป็นอดีต อย่างไรเป็นอนาคต อย่างไรเป็นปัจจุบัน แล้วก็ให้จัดการกับปัจจุบันให้ถูกต้อง อย่าไปมัวห่วงเรื่องอดีต อนาคต ให้ฟุ้งซ่าน แต่ให้สนใจกับปัจจุบัน คือสิ่งที่จะต้องทำเฉพาะหน้า ที่นี่ เดี๋ยวนี้ ในวันนี้ ให้ถูกต้อง อย่างนี้คนธรรมดาก็บรรเทาความทุกข์ไปได้มาก

แต่ถ้าคนธรรมดาสามัญนั้น มองเห็นปัจจุบันที่ลึก(ซึ้ง)ขึ้นไปอีก จนกระทั่ง(ปัจจุบัน)ไม่มีแล้ว #คนธรรมดาสามัญนั้นก็กลายเป็นพระอริยเจ้าไปด้วยเหตุนี้.

พุทธทาสภิกขุ ๑ มกราคม ๒๕๑๐ ธรรมบรรยายเรื่อง “เรามากินเวลากันเถิด” จากหนังสือ “ภาษาคน-ภาษาธรรม”

“กาโล ฆสติ ภูตานิ สพฺพาเนว สหตฺตนา โย กาลฆโส ภูโต ส ภูตปจนึ ปจิ

กาลเวลา ย่อมกลืนกินสรรพสัตว์ พร้อมทั้งตัวของมันเอง ผู้ใดกินกาล ผู้นั้นชื่อว่าเผาสิ่งที่เผาสัตว์ กาลเวลาทำให้อายุ ผิวพรรณ ของสัตว์ทั้งหลายสิ้นไปเสื่อมไป ตัวมันเองก็ล่วงไปด้วย พระอรหันต์ ชื่อว่า ผู้กินกาล เพราะไม่มีปฏิสนธิกาลในอนาคต เป็นผู้ทำลาย หรือคายโอกาสในการเกิดใหม่ สิ่งที่เผาสัตว์ คือกิเลส มีราคะ เป็นต้น อันพระขีณาสพเผาเสียแล้ว”

ปปัญจสูทนี อรรถกถา มัชฌิมนิกาย มูลปริยายสูตร

@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5

Key Takeaways

Michael Goldstein, aka Bitstein, presents a sweeping philosophical and economic case for going “all in” on Bitcoin, arguing that unlike fiat, which distorts capital formation and fuels short-term thinking, Bitcoin fosters low time preference, meaningful saving, and long-term societal flourishing. At the heart of his thesis is “hodling for good”—a triple-layered idea encompassing permanence, purpose, and the pursuit of higher values like truth, beauty, and legacy. Drawing on thinkers like Aristotle, Hoppe, and Josef Pieper, Goldstein redefines leisure as contemplation, a vital practice in aligning capital with one’s deepest ideals. He urges Bitcoiners to think beyond mere wealth accumulation and consider how their sats can fund enduring institutions, art, and architecture that reflect a moral vision of the future.

Best Quotes

“Let BlackRock buy the houses, and you keep the sats.”

“We're not hodling just for the sake of hodling. There is a purpose to it.”

“Fiat money shortens your time horizon… you can never rest.”

“Savings precedes capital accumulation. You can’t build unless you’ve saved.”

“You're increasing the marginal value of everyone else’s Bitcoin.”

“True leisure is contemplation—the pursuit of the highest good.”

“What is Bitcoin for if not to make the conditions for magnificent acts of creation possible?”

“Bitcoin itself will last forever. Your stack might not. What will outlast your coins?”

“Only a whale can be magnificent.”

“The market will sell you all the crack you want. It’s up to you to demand beauty.”

Conclusion

This episode is a call to reimagine Bitcoin as more than a financial revolution—it’s a blueprint for civilizational renewal. Michael Goldstein reframes hodling as an act of moral stewardship, urging Bitcoiners to lower their time preference, build lasting institutions, and pursue truth, beauty, and legacy—not to escape the world, but to rebuild it on sound foundations.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Michael’s BBB presentation Hodl for Good
07:27 - Austrian principles on capital
15:40 - Fiat distorts the economic process
23:34 - Bitkey
24:29 - Hodl for Good triple entendre
29:52 - Bitcoin benefits everyone
39:05 - Unchained
40:14 - Leisure theory of value
52:15 - Heightening life
1:15:48 - Breaking from the chase makes room for magnificence
1:32:32 - Nakamoto Institute’s mission

Transcript

(00:00) Fiat money is by its nature a disturbance. If money is being continually produced, especially at an uncertain rate, these uh policies are really just redistribution of wealth. Most are looking for number to go up post hyper bitcoinization. The rate of growth of bitcoin would be more reflective of the growth of the economy as a whole.
(00:23) Ultimately, capital requires knowledge because it requires knowing there is something that you can add to the structures of production to lengthen it in some way that will take time but allow you to have more in the future than you would today. Let Black Rockck buy the houses and you keep the sats, not the other way around.
(00:41) You wait until later for Larry Frink to try to sell you a [Music] mansion. And we're live just like that. Just like that. 3:30 on a Friday, Memorial Day weekend. It's a good good good way to end the week and start the holiday weekend. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you for having me here. Thank you for coming. I wore this hat specifically because I think it's I think it's very apppropo uh to the conversation we're going to have which is I hope an extension of the presentation you gave at Bitblock Boom Huddle for good. You were working on
(01:24) that for many weeks leading up to uh the conference and explaining how you were structuring it. I think it's a very important topic to discuss now as the Bitcoin price is hitting new all-time highs and people are trying to understand what am I doing with Bitcoin? Like you have you have the different sort of factions within Bitcoin.
(01:47) Uh get on a Bitcoin standard, get on zero, spend as much Bitcoin as possible. You have the sailors of the world are saying buy Bitcoin, never sell, die with your Bitcoin. And I think you do a really good job in that presentation. And I just think your understanding overall of Bitcoin is incredible to put everything into context. It's not either or.
(02:07) It really depends on what you want to accomplish. Yeah, it's definitely there there is no actual one-sizefits-all um for I mean nearly anything in this world. So um yeah, I mean first of all I mean there was it was the first conference talk I had given in maybe five years. I think the one prior to that uh was um bit block boom 2019 which was my meme talk which uh has uh become infamous and notorious.
(02:43) So uh there was also a lot of like high expectations uh you know rockstar dev uh has has treated that you know uh that that talk with a lot of reference. a lot of people have enjoyed it and he was expecting this one to be, you know, the greatest one ever, which is a little bit of a little bit of a uh a burden to live up to those kinds of standards.
(03:08) Um, but you know, because I don't give a lot of talks. Um, you know, I I I like to uh try to bring ideas that might even be ideas that are common. So, something like hodling, we all talk about it constantly. uh but try to bring it from a little bit of a different angle and try to give um a little bit of uh new light to it.
(03:31) I alsove I've I've always enjoyed kind of coming at things from a third angle. Um whenever there's, you know, there's there's all these little debates that we have in in Bitcoin and sometimes it's nice to try to uh step out of it and look at it a little more uh kind of objectively and find ways of understanding it that incorporate the truths of of all of them.
(03:58) uh you know cuz I think we should always be kind of as much as possible after ultimate truth. Um so with this one um yeah I was kind of finding that that sort of golden mean. So uh um yeah and I actually I think about that a lot is uh you know Aristotle has his his concept of the golden mean. So it's like any any virtue is sort of between two vices um because you can you can always you can always take something too far.
(04:27) So you're you're always trying to find that right balance. Um so someone who is uh courageous you know uh one of the vices uh on one side is being basically reckless. I I can't remember what word he would use. Uh but effectively being reckless and just wanting to put yourself in danger for no other reason than just you know the thrill of it.
(04:50) Um and then on the other side you would just have cowardice which is like you're unwilling to put yourself um at any risk at any time. Um, and courage is right there in the middle where it's understanding when is the right time uh to put your put yourself, you know, in in the face of danger um and take it on. And so um in some sense this this was kind of me uh in in some ways like I'm obviously a partisan of hodling.
(05:20) Um, I've for, you know, a long time now talked about the, um, why huddling is good, why people do it, why we should expect it. Um, but still trying to find that that sort of golden mean of like yes, huddle, but also what are we hodling for? And it's not we're we're not hodddling just merely for the sake of hodddling.
(05:45) There there is a a purpose to it. And we should think about that. And that would also help us think more about um what are the benefits of of spending, when should we spend, why should we spend, what should we spend on um to actually give light to that sort of side of the debate. Um so that was that was what I was kind of trying to trying to get into.
(06:09) Um, as well as also just uh at the same time despite all the talk of hodling, there's always this perennial uh there's always this perennial dislike of hodlers because we're treated as uh as if um we're just free riding the network or we're just greedy or you know any of these things. And I wanted to show how uh huddling does serve a real economic purpose.
(06:36) Um, and it does benefit the individual, but it also does uh it it has actual real social um benefits as well beyond merely the individual. Um, so I wanted to give that sort of defense of hodling as well to look at it from um a a broader position than just merely I'm trying to get rich. Um uh because even the person who uh that is all they want to do um just like you know your your pure number grow up go up moonboy even that behavior has positive ramifications on on the economy.
(07:14) And while we might look at them and have uh judgments about their particular choices for them as an individual, we shouldn't discount that uh their actions are having positive positive effects for the rest of the economy. Yeah. So, let's dive into that just not even in the context of Bitcoin because I think you did a great job of this in the presentation.
(07:36) just you've done a good job of this consistently throughout the years that I've known you. Just from like a first principles Austrian economics perspective, what is the idea around capital accumulation, low time preference and deployment of that capital like what what like getting getting into like the nitty-gritty and then applying it to Bitcoin? Yeah, it's it's a big question and um in many ways I mean I I even I barely scratched the surface.
(08:05) uh I I can't claim to have read uh all the volumes of Bombber works, you know, capital and interest and and stuff like that. Um but I think there's some some sort of basic concepts that we can look at that we can uh draw a lot out. Um the first uh I guess let's write that. So repeat so like capital time preference. Yeah. Well, I guess getting more broad like why sav

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Good morning (good night?)! The No Bullshit Bitcoin news feed is now available on Moody's Dashboard! A huge shoutout to sir Clark Moody for integrating our feed.

Headlines

• Spiral welcomes Ben Carman. The developer will work on the LDK server and a new SDK designed to simplify the onboarding process for new self-custodial Bitcoin users.

• The Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation announced new corporate members for 2025, including AnchorWatch, CleanSpark, and Proton Foundation. The annual dues from these corporate members fund the small team of open-source developers responsible for maintaining the core BDK libraries and related free and open-source software (FOSS) projects.
• Strategy increases Bitcoin holdings to 538,200 BTC. In the latest purchase, the company has spent more than $555M to buy 6,556 coins through proceeds of two at-the-market stock offering programs.
• Spar supermarket experiments with Bitcoin payments in Zug, Switzerland. The store has introduced a new payment method powered by the Lightning Network. The implementation was facilitated by DFX Swiss, a service that supports seamless conversions between bitcoin and legacy currencies.

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) wants to contain 'crypto' risks. A report titled "Cryptocurrencies and Decentralised Finance: Functions and Financial Stability Implications" calls for expanding research into "how new forms of central bank money, capital controls, and taxation policies can counter the risks of widespread crypto adoption while still fostering technological innovation."
• "Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking, and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia." According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, criminal organizations from East and Southeast Asia are swiftly extending their global reach. These groups are moving beyond traditional scams and trafficking, creating sophisticated online networks that include unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges, encrypted communication platforms, and stablecoins, fueling a massive fraud economy on an industrial scale.
• Slovenia is considering a 25% capital gains tax on Bitcoin profits for individuals. The Ministry of Finance has proposed legislation to impose this tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions, though exchanging one cryptocurrency for another would remain exempt. At present, individual 'crypto' traders in Slovenia are not taxed.
• Circle, BitGo, Coinbase, and Paxos plan to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, major crypto companies are planning to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. These firms are pursuing limited licenses that would permit them to issue stablecoins, as the U.S. Congress deliberates on legislation mandating licensing for stablecoin issuers.

"Established banks, like Bank of America, are hoping to amend the current drafts of [stablecoin] legislation in such a way that nonbanks are more heavily restricted from issuing stablecoins," people familiar with the matter told The Block.

• Charles Schwab to launch spot Bitcoin trading by 2026. The financial investment firm, managing over $10 trillion in assets, has revealed plans to introduce spot Bitcoin trading for its clients within the next year.

Use the tools

• Bitcoin Safe v1.2.3 expands QR SignMessage compatibility for all QR-UR-compatible hardware signers (SpecterDIY, KeyStone, Passport, Jade; already supported COLDCARD Q). It also adds the ability to import wallets via QR, ensuring compatibility with Keystone's latest firmware (2.0.6), alongside other improvements.
• Minibits v0.2.2-beta, an ecash wallet for Android devices, packages many changes to align the project with the planned iOS app release. New features and improvements include the ability to lock ecash to a receiver's pubkey, faster confirmations of ecash minting and payments thanks to WebSockets, UI-related fixes, and more.
• Zeus v0.11.0-alpha1 introduces Cashu wallets tied to embedded LND wallets. Navigate to Settings > Ecash to enable it. Other wallet types can still sweep funds from Cashu tokens. Zeus Pay now supports Cashu address types in Zaplocker, Cashu, and NWC modes.
• LNDg v1.10.0, an advanced web interface designed for analyzing Lightning Network Daemon (LND) data and automating node management tasks, introduces performance improvements, adds a new metrics page for unprofitable and stuck channels, and displays warnings for batch openings. The Profit and Loss Chart has been updated to include on-chain costs. Advanced settings have been added for users who would like their channel database size to be read remotely (the default remains local). Additionally, the AutoFees tool now uses aggregated pubkey metrics for multiple channels with the same peer.
• Nunchuk Desktop v1.9.45 release brings the latest bug fixes and improvements.
• Blockstream Green iOS v4.1.8 has renamed L-BTC to LBTC, and improves translations of notifications, login time, and background payments.
• Blockstream Green Android v4.1.8 has added language preference in App Settings and enables an Android data backup option for disaster recovery. Additionally, it fixes issues with Jade entry point PIN timeout and Trezor passphrase input.
• Torq v2.2.2, an advanced Lightning node management software designed to handle large nodes with over 1000 channels, fixes bugs that caused channel balance to not be updated in some cases and channel "peer total local balance" not getting updated.
• Stack Wallet v2.1.12, a multicoin wallet by Cypher Stack, fixes an issue with Xelis introduced in the latest release for Windows.
• ESP-Miner-NerdQAxePlus v1.0.29.1, a forked version from the NerdAxe miner that was modified for use on the NerdQAxe+, is now available.
• Zark enables sending sats to an npub using Bark.

• Erk is a novel variation of the Ark protocol that completely removes the need for user interactivity in rounds, addressing one of Ark's key limitations: the requirement for users to come online before their VTXOs expire.
• Aegis v0.1.1 is now available. It is a Nostr event signer app for iOS devices.
• Nostash is a NIP-07 Nostr signing extension for Safari. It is a fork of Nostore and is maintained by Terry Yiu. Available on iOS TestFlight.
• Amber v3.2.8, a Nostr event signer for Android, delivers the latest fixes and improvements.
• Nostur v1.20.0, a Nostr client for iOS, adds

@ a29cfc65:484fac9c

Über die Freilerner-Familie von Katharina und Johannes mit ihren Kindern Aurelius, Benjamin und Friedrich haben wir in unserem Beitrag vom 28. Mai 2025 berichtet. Hier wollen wir eines ihrer Projekte vorstellen. Es zeigt deutlich den pädagogischen Ansatz von Jahrgangs- und Fächer-übergreifender zielorientierter Arbeit der Freilerner.

Die drei Jungs haben im Ringelnatz-Verein Wurzen zusammen mit anderen Kindern am Vorhaben „Vom Drehbuch zum fertigen Film“ mitgewirkt. Das Projekt wurde von dem Lyriker und Schriftsteller Carl-Christian Elze geleitet und unterstützt von der Künstlerin Constanze Kehrt, dem Theater- und Filmregisseur Philipp J. Neumann sowie dem Cutter und Animation Artist**** Sascha Werner, alle aus Leipzig. Constanze Kehrt unterstützte die Kinder beim Erlernen der Grundlagen für das Schreiben von Drehbüchern. Daneben gab es erste Übungen zur Körperwahrnehmung, Stimm- und Sprachübungen sowie Improvisations- und Schauspielübungen. Nach einer Einführung durch Philipp J. Neumann in die Filmkunst mit ihren unterschiedlichen Bereichen wie Schauspiel, Regie, Kamera, Ton, Produktion, Szenenbild, Kostüm, Musik, Schnitt, Sounddesign wurden die Kinder und Jugendlichen auf den eigentlichen Filmdreh vorbereitet. Dazu gehörten Übungen im Storyboarding, Szenenproben und schließlich das Location-Scouting und Festlegen der Drehorte in unmittelbarer Nähe zum Ringelnatz-Geburtshaus. An zwei Drehtagen wurden schließlich zwei Kurzfilme gedreht, darunter „Die Flosse“, an dem Aurelius, Benjamin und Friedrich sowie andere Kinder mitwirkten. Die Kinder übernahmen nicht nur die Rollen, sondern auch die Kamera, die Tonabnahme und zum Teil die Regie. Eine Einführung in die Kunst des Film- und Tonschnitts bekamen die Kinder und Jugendlichen schließlich von Sascha Werner. Danach wurde das gedrehte Material gemeinsam gesichtet und der Schnitt vorgenommen. Dabei konnten die Kinder und Jugendlichen die Erfahrung machen, dass es tatsächlich maßgeblich der Schnitt ist, der einem Film seinen besonderen Charakter, eine bestimmte Atmosphäre gibt.

In dem Film „Die Flosse“ schleichen sich drei Kinder abends von zu Hause weg, weil sie in der Schule gehört haben, dass in der Mulde eine große Flosse gesichtet wurde. Als sie an das Mulde-Wehr kommen, sehen sie keine Flosse, aber hören seltsame Geräusche. Plötzlich ruft eine Mädchenstimme um Hilfe. Philip ist bereit zu helfen, Emma und Benjamin bleiben lieber im Versteck. Im Wasser liegend und von Ästen eingeklemmt findet Philip eine Sirene. Sie bittet ihn, ihr zu helfen und lockt ihn ins Wasser, was Philip zum Verhängnis wird.

Der Film zeigt die kreativen und ausdrucksstarken Fähigkeiten der Kinder, die sie im Zusammenwirken mit ihren Lernbegleitern vom Drehbuch bis zum fertigen Kurzfilm umgesetzt haben. Der Film handelt von Hilfsbereitschaft und dem Mut, anderen in bedrohlicher Lage zu helfen. Aber auch das Zögern bei einigen zur Hilfe wird deutlich. Das Ende läßt viele Interpretationsmöglichkeiten zu.

Quelle: https://ringelnatz-verein.de/projekte/anna-hood/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC6YEa63Dp8

Foto von Aleksandra B. auf Unsplash

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

I am the space\ In which your experience takes place

You could never meet me\ For I hold no identity

The only way to really see me\ Is to be me

@ 93bfc86d:fc8e91f5

질서자유주의가 자유주의 세상을 만드는 방법

안캡의 전략에는 크게 두 가지, 호페의 질서자유주의와 새뮤얼 콘킨 3세의 아고리즘이 있다.

로스바드-호페 라인의 질서자유주의는 논리를 기반으로 자연권을 정당화하고, 이를 통해 국가의 부당함을 설파한다. 미제스의 "인간은 행동한다."라는 제1공리부터 시작해서, 행동의 제1수단인 신체가 그 자신에게 소유되어야 한다는 자기 소유를 증명하고 자연권을 철저하게 연역적으로 정당화해간다. 안캡의 세상을 만들려는 이들의 방법론도 논리적이다.

예를 들어 호페의 『자유주의자는 무엇을 해야 하는가』 책에서는 위로부터의 전환이 불가능함에 따라 아래로부터의 전환을 해야 한다는 주장이 나온다. 과거에는 이런 자유로운 세상이 도래하기 위해서는 왕 한 명이 "앞으로 자기가 원하는 대로 보안 기업을 자유롭게 선택하고, 더 이상의 강제는 없다!"라고 선언만 하면 됐다. 따라서 왕 한 명만 어떻게 설득을 하거나, 압박을 하든 주리를 틀든 일단 왕이 이렇게 선언하게 하기만 하면 됐다. '마그나 카르타'도 결국 귀족 연합이 왕 한 명을 압박해 왕이 서명했던 것 아닌가?

반면에 현대 민주주의 사회를 보자. 대한민국에서 대통령 한 명이 최저임금을 폐지할 수 있는가? 최저임금은 헌법에 보장되는데(헌법 32조) 따라서 이를 폐지하는 것은 거의 개헌만큼이나 어렵다. 대통령이나 국회의원 과반이 발의를 해야 하고, 국회에서 재적 3분의 2 이상이 찬성해야 겨우 통과되며, 이렇게 통과해도 국민투표에서 과반수가 동의해야 겨우 없어지는 것이다. 즉, 거의 불가능에 가깝다.

따라서 호페는 위로부터의 전환이 불가능함에 따라 전국적인 중앙 정부의 투표를 거부할 것을 제안한다. 대통령 선거나 국회의원 선거 등 말이다. 여기서 중앙 정부 단위의 투표를 거부하는 이유는 중앙 정부의 부당성도 있지만, 이 투표를 통해 세상을 바꾸는 게 현실성이 없어서 그렇다.

같은 맥락에서 지역 선거의 투표는 항상 거부하는 건 아닌데, 자유주의자들이 한 국가 전체에서 과반을 얻는 것은 불가능하지만, 한 지역에 점점 몰리는 경우에는 적어도 그 지역에서는 과반이 될 수도 있기 때문이다. 따라서 아주 작은 지역에서 자유주의자들이 다수결이 된다면 적어도 그 지역에 한해서는 위로부터의 전환이 가능해진다. 그러면 투표를 거부하다가 지역구에서 본격적으로 투표를 하기 전에 선행되어야 할 일은 자유주의가 많이 퍼지고, 자유주의를 지지하는 사람들이 특정 지역에 몰리기 시작해야 하는 것일 것이다. 비트코이너들이 특정 지역에 몰려 시타델을 건설하는 상황을 생각하면 될 것 같다.

그 이후에는? 지역구의 대표로 선출된 인물이 해당 지역구의 투표권을 재산 소유자에게 재산 크기(지분)대로 다시 분배해야 한다. 즉, 재산이 없는 사람은 투표권이 없다. 모든 공공 인프라(도로, 수도, 전기, 교육, 치안, 사법 등등)는 전부 주식으로 판매되어 민영화된다(지방 정부는 이를 통해 재원을 마련한다). 이에 따라 공공 인프라는 완전히 사적 소유로 전환된다. 치안, 사법, 교육 모두 민간 영역으로 전환된다.

현재 세계에서 자유주의자들이 이런 관점을 취한다면 무엇을 해야 할까? 일단 자유주의를 더 많은 사람에게 퍼뜨려야 한다. 또한, 자유주의자들이 모일 지역을 물색해야 할 것이다. 그리고 중앙 정부 단위의 투표를 거부해야 할 것이다.

그림 1. 질서 자유주의의 상징인 아나코 캐피탈리즘 깃발

현대 민주주의 투표의 부당함

아고리즘의 전략을 이야기하기 전에 먼저 현대 민주주의 투표의 부당함에 대해 살펴보고 가자. 개인적인 생각도 들어가 있다.

투표 행위 자체는 유권자의 권리 행사로 전혀 나쁠 것이 없다. 다수결의 원칙도 당연히 마찬가지다. 투표 당사자들이 다수결의 원칙에 동의하기 때문에 참여하는 것이기 때문이다. 그래서 민주주의는 선거에서 져도 그 결과에 승복하는 것이 그 시스템의 규칙이다. 예를 들어 주주총회에서 주주들이 지분대로 의결권을 행사하거나 행사하지 않아서 생기는 결과는 그 행위 자체로는 전혀 문제가 없다.

투표의 정당성은 투표라는 행위 자체로부터 판단되는 것이 아니라 그 투표가 어떤 시스템 아래서 이뤄지는 투표인지로부터 판단해야 한다. 나는 두 가지 관점에서 살펴볼 것이다.

현대 민주주의의 투표는 유권자가 자신의 권리를 당선자에게 위임하는 행위다. 한 후보가 당선되면 다수결의 원칙에 따라서 그 후보는 그 후보를 찍지 않은 유권자들의 권리까지 모두 가져간다. 여기까지는 문제가 없다. 투표 행위 참여자들이 다수결의 원칙이라는 그 시스템에 동의하기 때문에 투표하기 때문이다.

그런데 현대 민주주의는 당선된 후보가 그 후보에게 투표했든, 투표하지 않았든, 기권을 했든 간에 다른 사람의 소유권을 마음껏 유린할 수 있는 권한도 가져간다. 이건 아주 큰 문제다. 국회의원이 세금을 늘리는 입법 권한을 행사하거나, 대통령이나 국회에서 예산을 편성해 정부 지출을 늘리고, 돈을 찍어내서 사람들의 소유권을 유린하는 행위가 용인된다.

어떤 사람도 다른 사람의 소유권을 침해할 수는 없다. 소유권은 단순히 희소한 재화의 분배 문제를 해결하는 실용적 대안이라서 중요한 것이 아니다. 인간 행동이라는 공리로부터 자기 소유 원칙을 이끌어내고, 그가 소유한 신체와 삶을 써서 획득한 재화(원초적 점유)에 대한 소유권을 보장하는 것이며, 그리고 이미 소유권이 있는 재화를 교환의 양 당사자가 자유롭게 교환하는 행위를 보장하는 것이다.

따라서 소유권은 인간에게 이성이 있다는 존엄성의 표현이자 인간 시간(삶)의 희소성과 귀중함을 인정하는 것이다. 어느 누구도 이를 모독할 권리는 없다. 이를 침해하는 것은 보편 원리에 따라 그 자신의 소유권도 포기한다는 뜻과 같으며, 이는 결국 자기 신체의 자기 소유도 부정하는 셈이 된다.

현대 민주주의에서 투표하는 것은 다른 누군가의 소유권을 유린할 사람을 뽑는 것과 같다. 애초에 이런 권한은 누구에게도 주어지지 않았으며 당연히 누구에게도 없으니 넘겨줄 수도 없는 권한이다.

현대 민주주의의 삼권분립 체제는 당선자에게 이러한 강탈의 권한이 보장된다. 설령 후보자가 이런 권한을 행사하지 않는다고 하더라도 이 시스템이 그러한 권한을 발동할 수 있다는 것을 언제든지 보장한다면 이러한 시스템은 폐기되어야 한다.

따라서 현대 민주주의에서 투표하는 행위는 누군가가 이러한 권한을 행사하는 것에 대한 동의로 간주될 수 있다. 어떤 후보가 이런 행위를 다른 후보보다 '덜' 한다고 해서 그 후보에 투표하는 것에 대한 정당성은 당연히 확보될 수 없다. 더하는지 덜하는지에 따라 이 약탈이 정당화될 수는 없기 때문이다.

심지어 어떤 후보가 이런 약탈 행위를 절대 안 할 것이라고 공언한다고 해도, 시스템에 이러한 권한이 보장되어 있는 이상 투표하는 행위는 이 시스템에 동의하는 행위이다. 그 후보가 당선된 이후 갑자기 돌변해 세금을 걷거나 국채를 팔아 예산을 확보하고 돈을 찍어내는 것이 시스템 상에서는 문제가 없기 때문이다. 이것은 간접 민주주의의 단점이라기 보다는, 애초에 이런 다른 사람에 대한 약탈 권한을 행사할 수 있는 시스템 자체가 잘못된 것이다.

현대 민주주의가 부당한 두 번째 이유는 이 시스템에 동의하지 않는 사람들조차 이 시스템의 피해자가 된다는 점이다.

도박에 참여하고 있는 사람들을 생각해보자. 승리자가 나머지 베팅한 모든 사람들의 베팅 금액을 약탈하는 것은 전혀 문제가 되지 않는다. 왜냐하면 도박 참여자들은 패배 시 자신이 베팅한 재산이 승자에게 몰수될 수도 있다는 것에 동의하고 도박에 참여하기 때문이다(따라서 이는 약탈이 아니다). 이에 동의하지 않는다면 도박을 그만하면 된다. 도박사는 언제든지 도박을 그만둘 자유가 있다.

그러나 현대 민주주의는 이 시스템에 동의하지 않더라도 그 나라에서 태어났다는 이유만으로 이러한 약탈에 강제 당할 수밖에 없다. '분배'하기 위해 투표를 할 거면 그 시스템에 동의하는 사람들끼리 서로의 재산을 놓고 분배하면 될 일이다. 그러나 이 시스템은 모든 사람들에게 이 시스템에 참여하는 것이 강제된다.

즉, 이 시스템은 애초에 잘못된 시스템인데 이 안에서 좌니 우니, 대통령제니 내각제니 사람들이 서로 경쟁하게 한다. 시스템 자체에 대한 의문을 품기는 매우 어려운 구조다.

이 시스템이 마음에 안 들면 이민을 가면 된다고 하는 주장은 전혀 설득력이 없다. 이민에 비용이 들고 다양한 현실적인 제약이 있다는 것은 차치하고서 이야기해보자. 만약 이러한 분배(?) 혹은 세금의 권한 행사자가 해당 지역 토지의 소유자고, 그 토지의 사용자가 소유자가 정한 분배 규칙에 동의하는 조건으로 토지를 사용한다면 이러한 세금과 같은 분배는 약탈은 아니다. 사용자가 그 규칙에 자발적으로 동의했으므로 정당화될 수 있는 것이다.

만약 국토의 모든 땅이 사실상 소유자가 있는 게 아니라, 사실상 국가의 소유이며 국가가 국민들에게 사용권을 나눠주는 것이라는 미친 주장을 해도(참고로 이건 토지의 사적 소유권을 부정하는 공산주의다!) 여전히 이 주장은 정당하지 않다.

토지의 소유권을 획득하는 방법은 두 가지가 있는데 첫째, 소유권이 없는 땅을 점유함으로써 소유권을 주장할 수 있게 되는 것, 둘째, 이미 소유권이 있는 토지를 자발적인 교환이나 기부를 통해 획득하는 것이다. 소유권이 있는 생산 수단을 통해 생산된 생산물도 소유권이 인정되는데, 토지는 생산이 불가능하니(우주정거장 같이 새로운 공간을 건설하는 게 아니라면...) 토지를 획득하는 방법은 언급한 두 가지 뿐이다.

그런데 현대 국가가 토지를 소유한 것의 기원을 살펴보자. 식민지화를 통해 강제로 점유하는 것은 대한민국은 해당이 없는 것 같다. 그러면 이미 소유자가 있는 사유지를 각종 규제와 사용 제한을 통해 사실상의 지배권을 확보하거나, 세금으로 축적한 재정으로 구입한 것이다. 그 기원이 모두 약탈에 있다는 점에서 국가의 토지 소유는 정당하지 않다.

따라서 규칙이 싫으면 이민을 가면 된다는 주장은 도둑이 도둑질을 하는데, 도둑질을 당하기 싫으면 멀리 도망가라는 식의 궤변과 같다.

그러나 국가의 계약은 완전히 비자발적이다. 단지 그 신체가 어디서 탄생했다는 이유만으로 그 시스템에 동의한 것이 될 수는 없다. 갓 태어난 아기는 다른 사람의 보호가 있어야만 생존할 수 있다는 점에서 완전히 비자발적인데, 이에 따라 당연히 탄생의 위치도 완전히 비자발적인 것이었기 때문이다.

또한 국가는 국토의 소유자가 아니다. 그보다는 국토의 소유권을 보장'해야' 하는 존재일 뿐이다. 누군가가 규칙을 정하고 싶다면 그 규칙의 영향권은 자신의 사유지 내에서만 영향력이 있으며, 당연히 그 규칙에 자발적으로 동의하는 사람들만 그 사유지를 이용하는 조건으로 계약할 수 있다. 　

정리해보자. 지금까지 현대 민주주의의 투표의 부당함에 대해 두 가지 관점에서 살펴봤다. 첫째는 투표가 약탈이 가능한 이 시스템에 동의한다는 행위라서 부당하다는 것이고, 둘째는 이 시스템에 동의하지 않는 사람들까지 약탈의 대상이 되는 이 시스템에 동의한다는 행위이므로 부당하다는 것이었다.

투표하지 않는 행위가 혹시 반대 세력이 활개치게 두게 되는 것은 아닐까? 그렇지 않다. 투표하지 않는 행위는 이 시스템의 정당성을 약화시킨다. 현대 민주주의의 큰 속임수가 있다. 민주주의에서 비롯된 통치 행위는 51%를 넘은 사람들이 그 통치 행위에 동의했기 때문에 자행되어도 된다는 매우 비논리적인 주장에 입각하고 있다. 이는 당연히 정당성이 없다. 그런데 진짜 큰 속임수는 그 통치 행위에 동의한 사람이 심지어 과반도 아니라는 것이다.

만약 어떤 후보가 생산에 적대적인 수준의 세금 부과와 보편 복지, 최저임금 인상 등의 모두가 고통받는 정책을 공약으로 내세워 당선이 되었다고 해보자. 해당 후보의 득표율이 51%라고 한다면 이는 전국의 51% 국민이 해당 후보를 지지하는 것과 같은 착각을 일으킨다. 그렇지 않다. 만약 투표율이 75%라면, 해당 후보에 동의한 사람은 0.75 x 0.51 = 38%가 된다. 즉, 38%의 동의로 인해 모든 사람이 함께 고통 받게 되는 것이다.

그래서 민주주의는 이러한 사실을 감추면서 사람들에게 투표를 독려할 수밖에 없다. 투표율이 조금만 낮아져도 이에 대한 정당성이 심각하게 낮아지기 때문이다. 투표율이 50%인 상황에서 어떤 후보가 51%의 표를 얻어 당선된다면 전 국민의 25%의 지지로 당선된 것과 같은데 이는 통치 행위에 대한 정당성을 매우 약화시킨다.

소비자 주권 행사

그러면 투표라는 행위가 없다면 일반 시민들은 어떻게 주권을 행사할 수 있을까? 사실 우리는 매일매일 자발적으로 투표를 하고 있다. 바로 미제스가 말한 '소비자 주권' 행사다.

우리는 기업들이 우리에게 어떤 효용을 주는지에 따라 계속 투표한다. 어떤 기업을 살리고, 어떤 기업을 죽일지, 어떤 기업을 거지 기업에서 부자 기업으로 만들지, 또는 어떤 기업을 부자 기업에서 거지 기업으로 만들지 투표한다. 바로 '소비'를 통해서 말이다.

이러한 소비라는 투표 방식은 완전히 자발적이라는 점에서 소유권을 제대로 보장한다. 약탈과는 완전히 동떨어진 행위다.

또한, 이러한 투표 방식은 각자가 원하는 대로 효용을 누릴 수 있다. 사법과 치안도 시장의 영역으로 들어오면 우리는 어떤 규칙 아래서 살아갈지 자유롭게 선택할 수 있다. 즉, 내가 선택한 규칙이 다른 사람에게도 강제되지 않고, 다른 사람이 선택한 규칙이 나에게 강제되지도 않는다. 서로 다른 규칙이 충돌하면 그 규칙들의 간극을 중재하는 기업이 나타난다. 자연적으로 질서가 꽃 피는 것이다.

생산 권한은 기업에게 달려있지만 심판은 소비자가 한다. 생산자가 소비자의 의지에 반하는 생산을 하면 바로 시장에서 퇴출되기 때문이다. 기업은 소비자에게 어떤 도덕적 의무를 강요할 수도 없다. 기업은 소비자가 원하는 것이 있다면 생산할 뿐이다. 소비자는 기업에게 자신들이 원하는 것을 최대한 효율적으로 자원을 분배하여 생산할 것을 명령하고 생산 권한을 위임하는 셈이다. 그 기업이 소비자가 원하는 것을 생산하지 않으면 어차피 다른 어떤 기업이 생산하여 거기서 챙길 수 있는 소비자의 표, 즉 이익을 가져갈 것이다.

만약 '소비'라는 투표 행위 자체에 반대한다면 오지에 있는 땅을 사서 문명을 떠나 자급자족하며 사는 것도 가능하다. 각자가 자신만의 방식으로 삶을 선택할 수 있는 것이다.

이 투표 시스템에서 표는 돈이다. 돈으로 투표를 한다는 것이 비인간적으로 느껴질지도 모르겠다. 그러나 돈으로 투표하는 것은 지극히 인간적인데, 그 투표권을 얻기 위해서는 먼저 다른 사람들이 원하는 것을 해줘서 그 표를 얻어야 하기 때문이다. 소비하려면 먼저 생산해야 한다. 이건 완전히 약탈 없는 시스템이고, 모든 인간 시간에 대한 존중이다.

이러한 이유들로 나는 이제 현대 민주주의에 대한 투표를 거부하지만, 동시에 매일 소비를 통해 투표하고 있다.

아고리즘이 자유주의 세상을 만드는 방법

이제 아고리즘의 전략을 살펴보자. 로스바드-호페의 질서 자유주의를 살펴본 뒤, 현대 민주주의의 투표에 대한 부당함을 살펴본 것이 뜬금 없는 이야기는 아니었는데, 아고리즘은 이러한 이유로 어떠한 투표도 거부하기 때문이다. 아고리즘의 창시자인 새뮤얼 콘킨 3세가 로스바드와 갈라선 것도 로스바드가 정치와 연대하는 전략적 행보를 보이면서부터였다.

아고리즘은 자유로운 세상을 만들기 위해 자유 시장인 아고라를 적극 활용할 것을 주장한다. 이들은 정부가 추적할 수 없는 자유로운 암시장을 확대해서 정부의 힘을 약화시키는 방법을 써야 한다고 주장한다. 이 암시장은 당연히 무기, 마약, 성매매 등을 포함한 시장을 말한다.

그래서 자유지상주의를 도래시키기 위한 이들의 전략은 정부가 추적할 수 없는 시장을 만들고, 하나의 병렬 경제(대항 경제)를 만들어 정부의 힘을 지속적으로 약화시키는 것이다. 이들은 납세 거부 운동, 투표 거부 운동을 장려하며 암시장과 암호 기술을 적극 활용한다. 참고로 사이퍼펑크 같은 기술 자유주의는 분류하자면 질서자유주의보다 아고리즘 쪽에 더 가깝다(로스 울브리히트의 실크로드를 생각해보자...!)

로스바드-호페의 질서자유주의와 콘킨의 아고리즘은 둘 다 자유지상주의의 실현을 목표로 하지만, 질서자유주의는 논리적으로 윤리적 정당성을 확보하고, 그러한 정당성을 바탕으로 자유지상주의를 실현시키기 위해 현실 세계에 이미 존재하는 제도들도 전략적으로 이용한다. 반면 콘킨의 아고리즘은 자유지상주의의 윤리적 정당성보다는 그걸 도래시키기 위한 전략들에 치중하며, 정치와 절대 타협하지 않고, 전략적으로 이용하려고도 하지 않는다. 목표는 같지만 서로 다른 방법을 취하는 것이다.

1980년 공개된 콘킨의 「신 자유주의자 선언」은 미제스와 로스바드, 르페브르에 대한 감사로 시작하지만, 1장에서 다음과 같은 문구도 나온다. (이것도 언제 다 번역해봐야겠다!)

"처음 나타난 반격은 ... 개혁주의—국가주의를—'개선'하겠다는 명분으로 국가의 직책을 받아들이는 것까지 포함한다!—이 모든 반反 원칙들에 대해서... 그중 가장 끔찍한 것은 '정당주의'인데, 이는 자유지상주의적 목적을 국가주의적 수단, 특히 정당을 통해 달성하려는 반反 개념이다. '자유지상주의' 정당은 국가가 이제 막 출현한 자유지상주의자들에게 퍼부은 두 번째 반격이었다. 처음에는 터무니 없는 모순으로, 그 다음에는 침략군으로 등장했다."

로스바드가 1992년 공화당 경선 후보였던 팻 뷰캐넌을 공개적으로 지지했을 때(이때 공화당 경선에서 뷰캐넌은 아버지 부시한테 졌고, 대선은 민주당 빌 클린턴 승리), 콘킨이 어떤 반응을 보였을지 상상해보자. 저런 선언문을 썼는데 말이다. 콘킨은 로스바드가 자유지상주의 원칙을 저버렸다면서 자신이 편집하는 잡지 『신 자유지상주의자』에서 로스바드의 행위를 "자유의 원칙을 포기한 행위"라고 비난했다.

반면 로스바드는 소수의 자유지상주의 지식인들만으로는 자유지상주의 사회를 건설할 수 없으므로 대중과 연합해야 한다고 주장했다. 팻 뷰캐넌 같은 인물을 통해 중산층이나 노동계층의 지지를 얻을 수 있고, 자유지상주의 목표를 달성할 수 있다고 했다. 이때 나온 전략이 자유주의적 경제 질서와 보수적 문화 질서를 결합한 '팔레오 자유지상주의'다. 로스바드는 아고리즘 세력에게 순수성만을 강조하며 현실 세계와 단절된 사람들은 무기력한 이상주의자들이라고 반박하며, 자신은 국가주의를 지지하는 게 아니라 그 세력 안에 있는 반국가적 잠재력을 이끌어내는 것이라고 했다.

그림 2. 아고리즘의 깃발

질서자유주의와 아고리즘의 공동체적 배제에 관한 입장 차이

콘킨의 아고리즘과 로스바드-호페 라인의 질서자유주의의 차이는 정치 같은 기존 제도들을 전략적으로 이용할 수 있는지뿐만 아니라 공동체적 배제에 관한 입장에서도 약간 갈라진다.

자유주의에서는 자유로운 수용과 자유로운 '배제'도 보장되어야 한다. 즉, 예를 들어 어떤 사람이 장사를 하는데 동성애자나 흑인이나 채식주의자를 직원이나 손님으로 받지 않는 것도 장사하는 사람의 자유로운 배제 권리라는 것이다. 자신의 사유지에 어떤 사람을 들일지, 들이지 않을지는 전적으로 소유자의 몫이다. 그리고 여기서 배제는 당연히 폭력으로 이어지지 않는 선에서의 자유로운 배제다.

이러한 배제가 한 공동체 전체로 퍼졌다고 해보자. 지금은 동성애자에 대한 예시만 들겠다(필자는 동성애에 대해 부정적 감정이 전혀 없으니 동성애자 분들은 오해 마시길). 만약 한 지역 소유자 공동체 전체가 동성애자에 대한 배제를 주장한다면 당연히 동성애자는 그 공동체에 들어갈 수가 없다.

여기서 이를 다루는 뉘앙스가 약간 다른데, 호페는 이를 자유로운 계약에 의한 공동체적 질서의 탄생이라 보며 긍정적으로 본다. 물론 절대로 이러한 배제가 폭력으로 이어져서는 안 된다. 폭력으로 이어지면 비침해성 공리 위반이므로 정당성이 없다.

아고리즘은 개인들의 자발적인 배제는 자유지만, 이것이 공동체적 배제로 발전하고 구조적 차별이나 집단적 억압으로 발전하는 건 국가의 또 다른 형태일 뿐이라 생각하여 이를 경계한다. 그래서 개인 차원의 자율적 배제는 정당하지만, 공동체 차원의 배제는 경계한다. 그렇다고 이걸 없애야 한다 이런 건 아니다(개인들의 자유로운 배제가 공동체 배제로도 이어질 수 있는 것이므로). 콘킨은 공동체적 배제가 탄생할 수 있지만 그것이 비합리적인 배제라면 대안 시장이 탄생할 것으로 본다. 동성애자들을 위한 시장과 마을이 생길 것이고, 비합리적인 배제는 이러한 고객들을 놓친 것에 대한 손실로 이어질 것이라고 본다. 즉, 모든 개인이 자유 시장 아고라에서 자발적으로 교환할 권리를 가져야 하며, 차별적인 배제들은 시장 안에서 경쟁할 수 있을 거라 본다. 만약 대안 시장이 없는 상황에서 모두가 배제한다면 이는 실질적 강제처럼 작동할 수 있기 때문이다.

자유지상주의 안에서 콘킨의 아고리즘은 차별이나 수용을 대하는 태도에서 좀 더 좌파적인 것처럼 보인다. 실제로 콘킨의 「신 자유주의자 선언」에 등장하는 용어들도 약간 그러한 뉘앙스가 있다. 콘킨은 전통적인 좌파 단어들을 전략적으로 차용했다. 예를 들면 혁명, 착취, 해방운동, 불복종, 저항, 암시장, 아나키즘 등의 단어다. 당연히 전통적인 좌파 단어의 뜻과는 완전히 다르다. 혁명은 아고라를 통한 "비정치적" 자유주의 혁명을 의미하며, 착취는 마르크스의 자본가가 노동자를 착취한다고 했던 그 착취가 아니라, 국가주의와 결탁한 크로니 자본주의자들의 제도적 진입장벽을 만들고, 캉티용 효과의 수혜를 누리는 그러한 오염된 자본주의자들이 하는 것을 착취라고 했다(아고리즘은 국가에 의존하지 않는 기업가와 국가로부터 특혜를 받는 착취적 기업가를 구분한다. 선언문 참고).

정리하자! 로스바드-호페의 질서 자유주의와 콘킨의 아고리즘의 차이점은 다음과 같다.

로스바드-호페의 질서 자유주의는 정치 등을 전략적으로 이용하는 것을 허용한다. 로스바드는 공화당 경선 후보를 공개적으로 지지하여 우파 사람들로부터 자유지상주의에 대한 관심을 끌려고 했고, 호페는 전국단위의 투표나 정당 활동은 거부해도 지역 단위의 투표는 승리 가능성에 따라 조건부로 허용한다. 반면 아고리즘은 어떠한 정치 활동도 거부하며 오직 국가의 통제로부터 동떨어진 자유로운 시장에 의한 혁명을 추구한다.

얼마 전에 있었던 비트코이너들이 보수 우파 스페이스에 들어가서 비트코인에 대해 전파하는 걸 상상해보면 쉽다. 우파 국가주의자들은 국가 시스템에 의한 문제 해결을 강력한 지도자가 등장해 모든 것을 해결해줘야 한다는 잘못된 방법론에 빠져있는 경우가 많은데(문제를 더 큰 문제로 해결하려는 셈...), 누군가는 이걸 보고 저런 사람들과 협력하면 안 된다고 할 것이고, 누군가는 비트코인과 자유주의를 전파하기 위해 그래도 가능성이 높은 이들 사회에 섞여들어가 이야기도 하고, 전파도 하려고 할 것이기 때문이다.

또한 한 가지 차이점은 질서 자유주의와 아고리즘 모두 공동체적 배제는 인정하나, 질서 자유주의는 이를 자유로운 계약에 의해 등장한 공동체적 질서로 보고, 아고리즘은 공동체적 배제가 집단적 억압으로 발전할 것을 경계한다. 아고리즘에서는 비합리적 차별에 의한 배제는 대안 시장이 생겨 극복될 수 있다고 본다.

자유주의 세상을 만들기 위해서는 어떻게 해야 하는가

이제 무엇이 옳은지 스스로 판단해보자. 지금부터는 개인적인 생각이 매우 많이 들어가있으므로 주의하라.

콘킨의 아고리즘은 암시장의 확대를 노려 정부 권한을 약화시키려 하지만 이는 대중의 지지를 얻기 어렵다. 또한, 이러한 병렬 경제는 한 곳에 집중되기 어렵고 넓고 약하게 퍼져있을 수밖에 없다.

로스바드-호페의 질서자유주의는 현실에 이미 존재하는 제도들을 전략적으로 활용한다. 현실적으로 대중의 지지를 얻을 가능성이 있고, 한 지역에 자유주의자들이 집중되면 적어도 그 지역에서는 지역 투표를 통해 위로부터의 전환이 가능하다. 하나의 자유지상주의적인 지역이 좋은 모범이 되면 다른 지역도 채택할 가능성이 커진다.

어떤 전략을 택해야 하는가? 나는 자유지상주의가 도래하게 하기 위해서는 두 전략 다 써야 한다고 생각한다. 질서자유주의자들의 주장대로 대중의 지지 없이는 자유지상주의가 도래하게 할 수 없다. 대한민국에 있는 "진짜" 비트코이너+자유지상주의자들이 대략 몇 명쯤 될까? 높게 잡아 1,000명 정도 된다고 해보자. 이들 전부가 특정 지역에 모인다고 해도 자유지상주의 질서를 건립할 수는 없다. 찾아보니 대한민국에서 인구가 가장 적은 시가 충남 계룡시라고 한다. 여기 인구는 약 4만3천 명인데, 여기에 51% 공격을 가하려고 해도 적어도 4만 명이 필요하다는 뜻이다. 따라서 아고리스트들처럼 대중의 지지를 얻기 위한 전략을 완고하게 거부하다간 어떠한 힘도 얻지 못하고 선민 의식에만 갇힐 수 있다.

반면 아고리스트들의 주장대로 병렬 경제도 필요하다. 잘 세뇌된 대중은 폭력 집단의 강탈이 있어야만 사회가 유지될 수 있다는 환상에 사로잡혀있다. 병렬 경제는 이러한 환상을 깨뜨릴 좋은 수단이다. 정부 추적이나 제3자 없이 부의 보존이 가능하고, 당사자끼리의 직접 결제가 가능하다는 것을 사람들이 경험하면 생각이 크게 바뀔 것이다. 비트코인으로 결제를 해본 사람과 한 번도 해본 적 없는 사람은 이런 자유지상주의 세상에 대한 이해의 폭이 다를 수밖에 없다. 또한, 비트코인은 개인들에게 큰 힘이 되는데 국가 시스템의 폭력으로부터 개인들이 생산 가치를 지킬 수 있는 강력한 방패이자 동시에 무기가 되기 때문이다.

그러나 아고리즘의 주장인 병렬 경제 중 특히 암시장 전략—국가의 통제가 미치지 않는 무기, 마약, 성매매 등을 확장하는 것—에는 동의하지 않는다. 당연히 자유지상주의자인 나는 총기나 마약, 성매매 등도 자발적인 계약에 의해 시장에서 더 건전하게 다뤄질 수 있다고 생각한다. 지금처럼 불법화되어있는 사회와 다르게 자유시장에서는 마약의 순도나 안정성에 대해 인증해주는 기관, 의사들도 등장할 것이고, 성매매도 비슷한 방식으로 질서화될 수 있다고 생각한다. 혹은 이러한 시장은 시간 선호를 지나치게 높이고 전통적인 가족 질서를 해칠 수 있으므로 공동체적 배제가 일어날 수도 있다. 무기, 마약, 성매매는 일반 대중들이 생각하는 '질서'와는 거리가 있다. 우리는 더 많은 사람들을 끌어들여야 하는데 이는 처음에 일단 거부감을 일으킬 수 있다.

따라서 자극적인 암시장보다는 사람들의 반감이 없는 상품들을 먼저 비트코인으로 거래하고, 국가가 추적하지 못하게 함으로써 납세 거부의 물결이 퍼지게 해야 한다. 동시에 더 많은 사람들에게 자유주의를 전파해야 한다. 더 많은 개인과 비트코인을 통한 병렬 경제라는 두 가지 무기가 함께 생겨야 지역 단위에서의 자유주의 세상을 만들 수 있을 것이다. 먼저 자유주의를 많은 사람들에게 전파해야 한다. 이 과정에서 좌파, 맑시즘, 케인지언들보다는 상대적으로 자유에 대한 이해가 좀 더 있는 집단인 우파 국가주의자들이나 기독교적 종교관을 가진 사람들 속에 섞여 들어가 거기서 전파를 할 수도 있다. 이러한 과정을 통해 자유주의자들이 많아지고, 한 지역에 모여야 한다. 비트코인이라는 무기를 가진 개인들이 한 지역에 모여 자유로운 시장을 형성하면, 호페가 말했던 것처럼 그 지역에서의 투표를 통해 작은 자유지상주의 세상을 만들 수 있다.

그림 3. 자유주의 세상을 만들기 위해서는 두 전략을 적절히 함께 써야 한다.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Love, I thank you for your warmth\ Ever lifting

You keep me charmed\ Ever drifting

May I be me\ And you be you

In a perfect harmony\ Embracing all life makes us grow through

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

Para um brasileiro, pode ser difícil entender como as estações do ano são capazes de influenciar o imaginário e a própria organização da sociedade.

Mas em países de clima temperado ou frio, onde primavera, verão, outono e inverno são mais demarcados, é contagiante a alegria com que o verão é celebrado, depois de meses de dias curtos, temperaturas frequentemente negativas e poucas possibilidades de interação social.

É por isso que desde os tempos mais antigos, as primeiras civilizações europeias já tinham festas específicas para celebrar tanto a chegada da primavera — a volta da vida desabrochando — quanto o solstício de verão — o ápice do sol, o dia mais longo do ano.

E, segundo pesquisadores, são esses dois tipos de celebração, depois abraçados pelo catolicismo, que explicam a origem das festas juninas, que no Brasil acabariam sendo reinventadas com um sotaque próprio.

"As origens são mesmo as antigas festas pagãs das antigas civilizações, ligadas aos ciclos da natureza, às estações do ano. Sociedades antigas realizavam grandes festividades, com durações longas, até de um mês, sobretudo nos períodos de plantio e de colheita", contextualiza o pesquisador de culturas populares Alberto Tsuyoshi Ikeda, professor da Universidade de São Paulo e consultor da cátedra Kaapora: da Diversidade Cultural e Étnica na Sociedade Brasileira, da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (#Unifesp).

"A primavera era bastante comemorada, como o reingresso da vida mais dinâmica, o rebrotar da natureza e das atividades depois do período do inverno, sempre de muita dificuldade, luta pela sobrevivência e recolhimento", comenta ele.

Se nessa época do ano o que se via era a explosão da natureza, a vida social espelhava isso. "Os grupos humanos realizavam grandes festividades dedicadas à própria natureza, muitas vezes rendendo homenagens aos antigos deuses relacionados à natureza, à vida animal, à vida vegetal de um modo geral. Eram festas comunitárias com muita alegria, muita alimentação e reunião de pessoas em grande número: foi o que deu origem às festas juninas que a gente conhece no Brasil e em outras partes do mundo."

Autora do livro Festas Juninas: Origens, Tradições e História, a socióloga Lucia Helena Vitalli Rangel, professora na Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP), explica que a origem das festas juninas está nos "rituais de fertilidade agrícola" de diversos povos — da Europa, do Oriente Médio e do norte da África.

Os [mitológicos] casais #férteis #Afrodite e Adonis, Tamuz e Izta, Isis e #Osíris eram homenageados nesses #rituais, pois representavam a reprodução humana, numa época de evocação da colheita", afirma.

"Eram rituais para que a colheita fosse farta e para abençoar o próximo período #agrícola. Era período de congraçamento, de partilha e estabelecimento de alianças entre as comunidades. Eram rituais de fartura e abundância em todos os sentidos, no âmbito alimentar e na relação entre as famílias: casamentos, batizados e compadrio."

"No hemisfério norte o solstício de verão era o auge do período ritual e do trabalho agrícola coroado pela colheita", acrescenta a socióloga.

Vale ressaltar o óbvio, para que não fique um certo estranhamento ao leitor menos atento: no hemisfério norte, origem de tais celebrações, as estações do ano são invertidas em relação ao hemisfério sul, onde está o Brasil.

Apropriação católica

Mas onde então entram os santos nessa história? Na festa junina contemporânea, estão presentes algumas das figuras mais populares do catolicismo — e isso acabou impregnado de tal forma na celebração que a religiosidade se misturou ao folclore e às tradições populares, transcendendo os ritos normatizados pela Igreja Católica.

O primeiro dos santos juninos é Antônio (? - 1231), frade franciscano de origem portuguesa que ficou conhecido pelo que fez na Itália no início do século 13. Com fama de milagreiro, foi canonizado pela Igreja onze meses depois de sua morte — trata-se de um recorde até hoje não superado na história do catolicismo.

No imaginário popular, Antônio se tornou o #bonachão santo das coisas perdidas, sobretudo nos países europeus, e o casamenteiro, principalmente em Portugal e no Brasil. #Simpatias, #promessas e orações específicas marcam a devoção a ele. E sua presença nos festejos juninos geralmente está ligada a essas tradições — a Igreja fixou o 13 de junho, data da morte dele, como dia consagrado ao santo.

Em 24 de junho, o catolicismo celebra o nascimento de João Batista (2 a.C - 28 d.C.). É o santo máximo das comemorações juninas — há versões que apontam que originalmente eram "festas joaninas" e não festas juninas; e, sobretudo no nordeste brasileiro, a Festa de São João é um evento de dimensões impressionantes.

Personagem de historicidade controversa, João Batista é apontado como primo de Jesus Cristo e aquele que o batizou.

Em seu livro O Ramo de Ouro, o antropólogo escocês James Frazer (1854-1941) diz que ocorreu um processo histórico "de acomodação", deslocando para a figura de São João Batista a comemoração do solstício de verão.

Por fim, o mês de junho ainda tem a data do martírio de São Pedro (? - 67 d.C) e São Paulo (5 d.C. - 67 d.C.), dois dos pioneiros do cristianismo. Pedro foi um dos 12 apóstolos de Jesus e acabou depois considerado o primeiro papa do catolicismo.

Paulo de Tarso, por sua vez, é reputado como um dos mais influentes teólogos da história. Parte significativa dos textos que compõem o Novo Testamento da Bíblia é atribuída à sua pena. É dele, portanto, a autoria de parcela considerável da ressignificação de Jesus Cristo após sua morte na cruz — em outras palavras, é possível dizer que Paulo é responsável pela transformação de Jesus em um mito.

Uma observação necessária: apesar de a Igreja celebrar em conjunto a memória do martírio de Pedro e de Paulo, por tradição este último nem sempre é associado aos festejos juninos.

À medida que o catolicismo foi se transformando em religião do status quo, sobretudo a partir da cristianização do Império Romano, no ano de 380 d.C., diversos rituais tratados como pagãos acabaram sendo abraçados e apropriados pela Igreja. "A Igreja Católica não pôde desmanchar essas práticas", reconhece Rangel.

Com os rituais de primavera e verão, não foi diferente. "Várias dessas festividades foram adaptadas", conclui Alberto Ikeda, da USP. "Aos poucos passaram a ser tratadas como festas em honra aos santos juninos."

"Mas é importante notar que mesmo dentro do ciclo cristão, esses santos estão ligados tematicamente com aquelas mesmas ideias, os mesmos princípios das festividades [dessa época do ano] das antigas civilizações", pontua o pesquisador.

Santo Antônio, por exemplo, é o casamenteiro — em uma leitura lato sensu, poderia ser encarado como o santo da família, da unidade familiar, da reprodução humana. "São João também está ligado, sobretudo nos interiores do Brasil, a essa questão dos relacionamentos afetivos. Tradicionalmente, faz-se muito casamento no Dia de São João", diz Ikeda.

"Ele também traz a característica da fartura [que remete aos períodos de plantio e de colheita, em oposição aos rigorosos invernos], dos alimentos, das bebidas, aquilo que chamamos na antropologia de repasto ritual ou repasto cerimonial", afirma o pesquisador.

De modo geral, na leitura proposta por ele, todos os santos juninos estão ligados aos ciclos da natureza — fogo, água, fertilidade, abundância. Está aí São Pedro e a ideia de que ele é quem controla o tempo. "Vejo uma relação entre eles e os antigos rituais, uma relação ainda presente.

Embora a gente não perceba mais, eles têm essa ligação com os elementos fundamentais da existência humana", comenta.

Nas festas populares essas forças da natureza se fazem representadas, muito além da mesa farta.

Os mastros juninos que são erguidos representam a potência dos troncos, das árvores que resistem ao inverno. A fogueira é a luz: ilumina, aquece, afugenta animais ferozes, assa os alimentos.

Na releitura contemporânea, portanto, as festas juninas "guardam as reminiscências das ancestrais aglomerações festivas", conforme frisa Ikeda.

Tradição brasileira

Paçoca, pamonha, pipoca, bolo de fubá, canjica, curau, pé de moleque, maçã do amor. Vinho quente e quentão. Brincadeiras de pular fogueira e dançar a quadrilha. Chapéu de palha, camisa xadrez, calça com remendos. Bombinhas e rojões, fogos de artifício. Bandeirinhas coloridas penduradas em varais de barbante.

No Brasil, as festas juninas foram reinventadas e se tornaram uma exaltação das raízes caipiras. E muito além da religiosidade, tornou-se tradição, folclore. Como se o ciclo se fechasse: o que nasceu como ritual gregário, de celebração social, e depois foi apropriado por uma religião dominante, acabou na cultura popular sendo devolvido ao sentido original — ou seja, a festa pela alegria de festejar.

Não à toa, a folclorista Laura Della Mônica registrou em seu livro Os Três Santos do Mês de Junho que "respeitar as festas e orações dedicadas a cada um dos três santos do mês de junho, segundo a tradição, é obrigação e dever de todos nós, pelo menos culturalmente". O "todos nós" é o brasileiro. Porque mesmo nascida no Velho Mundo, as festas juninas assumiram uma identidade própria em território nacional.

"A colonização da América colocou novamente a questão [da apropriação cultural] para os jesuítas e todos os religiosos que se instalaram no continente sul-americano", pontua a socióloga Rangel.

"No caso do Brasil, houve uma coincidência do calendário. No inverno seco, o solstício de inverno marca o período dos trabalhos agrícolas mais importantes. Do mesmo modo que, para os povos do hemisfério norte é o período de rituais de fertilidade, [a festa por aqui também vem] com as mesmas características, congrega as famílias na evocação da abundância."

As tradições regionais guardam suas especificidades, como era de se esperar em um país de dimensões continentais. "Sempre foram festas e rituais populares", salienta Rangel.

"No Brasil temos expressões regionais muito fortes: o São João nordestino, o Boi Bumbá da região norte, o Boi de Mamão no sul, Cavalhadas no centro-oeste e as festas do Divino Espírito Santo e muitas regiões, particularmente no estado de São Paulo."

A pesquisadora comenta que "conforme os padres vão chegando nas paróquias, começam a interferir nas comemorações". É quando vem o sincretismo: a festa popular também é festa católica, a quermesse organizada pela igreja também tem os rituais populares.

"Até hoje as paróquias, as igrejas, realizam festas juninas. Mesmo que as maiores festas estejam predominantemente tendo somente o caráter festivo, mais comercial, de exploração pelo ganho financeiro, as igrejas continuam fazendo comemorações aos santos juninos", pontua Ikeda.

"Embora muitas pessoas não católicas também participem das festas, embora predomine uma visão genérica que as festas juninas não guardam mais relação com a religiosidade, há ainda um relacionamento das igrejas com esses santos juninos."

Para ele, a evolução da festividade consiste no fato de que "toda aglomeração possibilita o incentivo ao comércio". "E a alimentação está neste centro, na busca mesmo do repasto cerimonial e festividades, danças e músicas que sempre estiveram ligados aos antigos rituais." Ikeda lembra que a as festas populares têm uma importância antropológica por serem "práticas gregárias que ciclicamente comemoram a própria constituição, a própria existência das comunidades enquanto coletividade, a reunião de grupos humanos que preservam uma história comum".

"No caso da feste junina, esse vestir-se de caipira, simbolicamente, é um instrumento de importância até emocional e psicológico para as pessoas se sentirem com a identidade ligada ao passado, aos pais e avós que praticavam aquilo, comemorando de forma parecida", analisa o pesquisador.

"Assim, a prática possibilita a guarda de uma continuidade ao longo do tempo."

Suspensão sanitária

Nunca é demais enfatizar: com a pandemia de covid-19 ainda fora de controle, seria uma péssima ideia realizar qualquer tipo de festa neste período — se quer comemorar, faça em casa somente com seu núcleo familiar. Então, 2021 será o segundo ano consecutivo em que o Brasil não terá, ao menos de modo ostensivo, a tradição das festividades com bandeirinhas coloridas. Doutora em História das Ciências da Saúde e autora do livro A Gripe Espanhola na Bahia, a historiadora Christiane Maria Cruz de Souza afirma que esse cancelamento não ocorreu nem na epidemia de 100 anos atrás.

Isto porque a gripe chegou ao Brasil bem depois dos festejos de 1918. E, no ano seguinte, a epidemia estava controlada. "A gripe espanhola não teve nenhuma interferência no São João. Os primeiros registros da doença apareceram em setembro de 1918 e a doença foi se extinguindo aos poucos. Em Salvador, ele não avançou para o ano de 1919. Houve alguns surtos, em lugares mais remotos, até 1920, mas sem caráter epidêmico."

É de se supor, inclusive, que as festividades de 1919 tenham sido ainda mais animadas. "Passada a epidemia de gripe espanhola, tudo o que as pessoas queriam eram esquecê-la", afirma Souza.

Em 20 de junho de 1919, entretanto, surgiram os primeiros registros indicando uma epidemia de varíola na capital da Bahia. "Começaram a aparecer um caso aqui, outro ali, mas ainda sem a força suficiente para poucos dias depois interditar os festejos de São João", nota a pesquisadora.

"As autoridades sanitárias demoraram muito para reconhecer que ocorria uma epidemia terrível de varíola. Autoridades públicas só costumam reconhecer a existência de uma epidemia quando se torna inevitável devido ao acúmulo de adoecimentos e mortes, quando o número de doentes e mortos ultrapassa a normalidade esperada para os casos da doença. Isso demora um tempo."

Rangel ressalta, inclusive, que até a primeira metade do século 20, as festas juninas eram muito menores, restritas a familiares e pequenos grupos comunitários. Muito menos do que os eventos de hoje em dia. "Eram festas de arraial, de quintais, de quermesses", diz. "Elas só se transformaram em grandes espetáculos na segunda metade do século 20, na esteira da espetacularização do carnaval."

Fonte: BBC News 18 Junho 2021

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testing

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“No man is free who is not master of himself.” — Epictetus

We’re living in a world full of anxiety, noise, dependency, and fragility. And a lot of it, whether people realise it or not, is rooted in the fiat money system and the high-time-preference lifestyle it encourages.

It’s crazy. We’ve advanced so far in terms of technology and information, yet most people feel more trapped, more lost, and more reactive than ever before. Instead of a world of abundance and cooperation, we see isolation, selfishness, and division. Everyone's chasing something — status, dopamine, fake meaning — while feeling emptier by the day.

Enter Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy that’s been largely forgotten over the past couple of thousand years. But it holds the keys to internal sovereignty. My goal with Sovereign Stoic is to bring that way of thinking and living back into the conversation and help more people discover its power.

At the core of Stoicism is the idea of controlling your reactions, your desires, and your judgments. These aren’t just “nice-to-have” traits, they’re essential in a world as chaotic and manipulated as ours.

And they’re exactly what we’re missing today.

The world tells you to follow every impulse. To rage online. To compare yourself constantly. But the Stoics knew that the only thing you can truly control is your own mind.

So instead of pointing fingers or playing the victim, we need to start with ourselves. Discipline. Reflection. Restraint. Not just talking the talk, but actually walking it.

Enter Bitcoin

Bitcoin is the tool that gives us external sovereignty. It’s not just better money, it’s a whole new way of opting out of broken systems. It’s the first real chance we have to reclaim our time, our savings, and our independence from corrupt central banks and weaponised finance.

It’s wild how few people understand what Bitcoin enables. And that’s okay. It’s only been around for 16 years. The best things always take time.

But for those of us who do get it, Bitcoin is more than a store of value, it’s a statement. It’s responsibility. No bailouts. No middlemen. No excuses.

You hold your keys, or you don’t. You prepare, or you suffer. Simple as that.

As the world gets more censorious, more controlled, and more chaotic, Bitcoin becomes more necessary. Not just as money, but as a way of life.

The Overlap

Here’s where it all connects.

Both Stoicism and Bitcoin are about agency. They ask you to take full ownership of your life. In a world where everything is built for convenience, where you can tap a screen and have anything delivered, human agency is being eroded. We’ve become soft.

But Stoicism reminds us: life isn’t meant to be easy. Growth happens through challenge. Mastery through struggle. Character through pain.

And Bitcoin? It doesn’t coddle you either. It demands responsibility. Long-term thinking. Patience. Sound judgment.

These two worlds — Stoic philosophy and the Bitcoin protocol, aren’t just compatible. They belong together.

The Mission

The goal of Sovereign Stoic is to explore this intersection and help more people reclaim control over their minds and their money.

The past 100 years have softened us. We’ve handed over responsibility for our lives, our wealth, and our futures. That needs to change, and I believe it is changing.

Stoicism and Bitcoin both teach the same lesson: live with discipline, take full responsibility, and build something that matters. Not just for yourself, but for the people around you. For your family. For your community. For the future.

Final Invitation

If this speaks to you, even just a little I invite you to join the journey.

Subscribe. Reflect. Drop a comment. Let’s build this space together.

Self-mastery doesn’t come overnight. It takes effort, commitment, and a lot of failures along the way. But the fact that you're reading this means you’re already on the path.

And that’s a damn good start.

Fix the money. Fix the mindset.\ Become a Sovereign Stoic.

---

*Get this newsletter sent to your inbox: https://sovereignstoic.substack.com/

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News

• Wallet of Satoshi teases a comeback in the US market with a non-custodial product. According to an announcement on X, the widely popular custodial Lightning wallet is preparing to re-enter the United States market with a non-custodial wallet. It is unclear whether the product will be open-source, but the project has clarified that "there will be no KYC on any Wallet of Satoshi, ever!" Wallet of Satoshi ceased serving customers in the United States in November 2023.

• Vulnerability disclosure: Remote crash due to addr message spam in Bitcoin Core versions before v29. Bitcoin Core developer Antoine Poinsot disclosed an integer overflow bug that crashes a node if spammed with addr messages over an extended period. A fix was released on April 14, 2025, in Bitcoin Core v29.0. The issue is rated Low severity.
• Coinbase Know Your Customer (KYC) data leak. The U.S. Department of Justice, including its Criminal Division in Washington, is investigating a cyberattack on Coinbase. The incident involved cybercriminals attempting to extort $20 million from Coinbase to prevent stolen customer data from being leaked online. Although the data breach affected less than 1% of the exchange's users, Coinbase now faces at least six lawsuits following the revelation that some customer support agents were bribed as part of the extortion scheme.
• Fold has launched Bitcoin Gift Cards, enabling users to purchase bitcoin for personal use or as gifts, redeemable via the Fold app. These cards are currently available on Fold’s website and are planned to expand to major retailers nationwide later this year.

"Our mission is to make bitcoin simple and approachable for everyone. The Bitcoin Gift Card brings bitcoin to millions of Americans in a familiar way. Available at the places people already shop, the Bitcoin Gift Card is the best way to gift bitcoin to others," said Will Reeves, Chairman and CEO of Fold.

• Corporate treasuries hold nearly 1.1 million BTC, representing about 5.5% of the total circulating supply (1,082,164 BTC), per BitcoinTreasuries.net data. Recent purchases include Strategy adding 7,390 BTC (total: 576,230 BTC), Metplanet acquiring 1,004 BTC (total: 7,800 BTC), Tether holding over 100,521 BTC, and XXI Capital, led by Jack Mallers, starting with 31,500 BTC.
  • Meanwhile, a group of investors has filed a class action lawsuit against Strategy and its executive Michael Saylor. The lawsuit alleges that Strategy made overly optimistic projections using fair value accounting under new FASB rules while downplaying potential losses.
• The U.S. Senate voted to advance the GENIUS stablecoin bill for further debate before a final vote to pass it. Meanwhile, the House is crafting its own stablecoin legislation to establish a regulatory framework for stablecoins and their issuers in the U.S, reports CoinDesk.
• French 'crypto' entrepreneurs get priority access to emergency police services. French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, agreed on measures to enhance security for 'crypto' professionals during a meeting on Friday. This follows a failed kidnapping attempt on Tuesday targeting the family of a cryptocurrency exchange CEO, and two other kidnappings earlier this year.
• Brussels Court declares tracking-based ads illegal in EU. The Brussels Court of Appeal ruled tracking-based online ads illegal in the EU due to an inadequate consent model. Major tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and X are affected by the decision, as their consent pop-ups fail to protect privacy in real-time bidding, writes The Record.
• Telegram shares data on 22,777 users in Q1 2025, a significant increase from the 5,826 users' data shared during the same period in 2024. This significant increase follows the arrest of CEO and founder Pavel Durov last year.
• An Australian judge has ruled that Bitcoin is money, potentially exempting it from capital gains tax in the country. If upheld on appeal, this interim decision could lead to taxpayer refunds worth up to $1 billion, per tax lawyer Adrian Cartland.

Use the tools

• Bitcoin Safe v1.3.0 a secure and user-friendly Bitcoin savings wallet for beginners and advanced users, introduces an interactive chart, Child Pays For Parent (CPFP) support, testnet4 compatibility, preconfigured testnet demo wallets, various bug fixes, and other improvements.
• BlueWallet v7.1.8 brings numerous bug fixes, dependency updates, and a new search feature for addresses and transactions.
• Aqua Wallet v0.3.0 is out, offering beta testing for the reloadable Dolphin card (in partnership with Visa) for spending bitcoin and Liquid BTC. It also includes a new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) text scanner to read text addresses like QR codes, colored numbers on addresses for better readability, a reduced minimum for spending and swapping Liquid Bitcoin to 100 sats, plus other fixes and enhancements.

Source: Aqua wallet.

• The latest firmware updates for COLDCARD Mk4 v5.4.3 and Q v1.3.3 are now available, featuring the latest enhancements and bug fixes.
• Nunchuk Android v1.9.68.1 and iOS v1.9.79 introduce support for custom blockchain explorers, wallet archiving, re-ordering wallets on the home screen via long-press, and an anti-fee sniping setting.
• BDK-cli v1.0.0, a CLI wallet library and REPL tool to demo and test the BDK library, now uses bdk_wallet 1.0.0 and integrates Kyoto, utilizing the Kyoto protocol for compact block filters. It sets SQLite as the default database and discontinues support for sled.
• publsp is a new command-line tool designed for Lightning node runners or Lightning Service Providers (LSPs) to advertise liquidity offers over Nostr.

"LSPs advertise liquidity as addressable Kind 39735 events. Clients just pull and evaluate all those structured events, then NIP-17 DM an LSP of their choice to coordinate a liquidity purchase," writes developer smallworlnd.

• Lightning Blinder by Super Testnet is a proof-of-concept privacy tool for the Lightning Network. It enables users to mislead Lightning Service Providers (LSPs) by making it appear as though one wallet is the sender or recipient, masking the original wallet. Explore and try it out here.

• Mempal v1.5.3, a Bitcoin mempool monitoring and notification app for Android, now includes a swipe-down feature to refresh the dashboard, a custom time option for widget auto-update frequency, and a

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Jaren tellen\ Hoeft voor mij niet

Verhalen vertellen\ Over geluk en verdriet

Een warme haven\ Veilig en fijn

Dromen voorgedragen\ Onschuldig en rein

Momenten ervaard, geleerd\ En geïntegreerd

Ideeën, geloven en gevoelens\ Gevormd en gecreëerd

Zonder eind of echt begin\ Vallen, groeien, leren, stoeien

Een gezin in een gezin met een gezin erin\ Gezind gericht blijft liefde vloeien

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

The world around me\ Is assumed to be

Through sensory observations\ This appears to me

What I experience\ Is for me

But the ultimate experience\ Is for me\ To be

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 – Flash, the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses, just announced a new partnership with the Bitcoin Only Brewery, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Flash for seamless Bitcoin payments. 

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

As Co-Founder of Flash, it's not every day we get to toast to a truly refreshing milestone.

Okay, jokes aside.

We're super buzzed to see our friends at @Drink_B0B
Bitcoin Only Brewery using Flash to power their online sales!

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack – shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented: “Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept Bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

In May, fast-food chain Steak ‘N Shake went viral for integrating bitcoin at their restaurants around the world. In the same month, the bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas set a new world record with 4,000 Lightning payments in one day.

According to a report by River Intelligence, public Lightning payment volume surged by 266% from August 2023 to August 2024. This growth is also reflected in the overall accessibility of lighting infrastructure for consumers. According to Lightning Service Provider Breez, over 650 Million users now have access to the Lightning Network through apps like CashApp, Kraken or Strike.

Bitcoin Only Brewery’s adoption of Flash reflects the growing trend of businesses integrating Bitcoin payments to cater to a global, privacy-conscious customer base. By offering no-KYC delivery across Europe, the brewery aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty, appealing to the increasing number of consumers and businesses embracing Bitcoin as a legitimate payment method.

“Flash is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” Corbin added. “We’re building a future where businesses of all sizes can seamlessly integrate Bitcoin payments, unlocking new opportunities in the global market. It’s never been easier to start selling in bitcoin and we invite retailers globally to join us in this revolution.”

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

Media Contact:

Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.comPhotos paywithflash.com/about/press

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 8d5ba92c:c6c3ecd5

Over the years, I’ve hit many different Bitcoin events across Europe, recently LATAM and Asia too. Small local meetups, bigger gatherings, mid-sized and large conferences, as well as cultural festivals like the one just held in Warsaw, Poland, Bitcoin FilmFest (aka BFF25, which I also co-run).

With probably an average of 7-10 gatherings a year, it’s a lot for some, not enough for others. For me, it’s a learning process hunting signal: real people, real ideas, real talks. In a way, Proof of Work—joining these events takes time and energy, it too yields the results—new connections, collaborations, or even just further steps toward our sovereign lives, meeting after meeting, just like adding a block to the chain.

When choosing a new place to join, location and program are important, almost equal, but what matters most is the overall theme and the vibe it creates with the ‘crowd’. Almost a paranormal synergy of what organizers bring and what attendees add with their presence.

May-June 2025...

First, culture without chains. Then privacy, tech, and cypher action. Still buzzing from BFF25, just a week later, a bit tired but stoked, I managed to take a 3-hour flight from Poland to Spain.

Worth it? Absolutely! Why? Continue reading to figure out.

BCC8333. Let’s first break down the name.

Barcelona Cyphers Conference, with “8333” referring to the port Bitcoin nodes use to sync the timechain in a decentralized network. Well, BCC8333 promised substance, not just empty fluff, from the very start. Honestly, I wouldn’t even call it a 'conference' but a high-signal, well-structured meetup of maybe 150-200 individuals. No influencers, no VIP rooms. No hype, no pressure.

Unleashing Decentralized Freedom.

Held at Palau Dalmases, a 17th-century palace in Barcelona’s Born district, the venue was pure magic. Its courtyard, with stair rails carved with mythological scenes, had an artistic, almost rebellious soul tied to its flamenco background (the venue officially hosts flamenco shows in the evenings). Not too big, not too small, it was just perfect for deep talks, hands-on workshops, signal-not-bullshit presentations, and real debates.

The courtyard, the heart of the venue, welcomed us with sunny weather and stylish décor, sparking some of the best daytime conversations I’ve had. The entire place, with its history and defiant spirit, felt ready for us to build something special. https://i.nostr.build/5CbApOqFnb8UoB0F.png

Organized by locals—Spanish Maxis with a cypherpunk soul—and attended by folks from across the globe, it was a perfect mix of knowledge and experiences. Deep discussions on tech, privacy, geo-politics, culture, communities, health, lifestyle, and philosophy. Precious moments with familiar faces or new ones, all working on very interesting projects. Fact: smaller crowd let you dive deep into talks and build genuine connections.

The program was thoughtfully structured. Intense sessions balanced with space to breathe, think, talk, and eat.

(Note: BCC8333, smack in the heart of Barcelona, meant plenty of nearby dining options despite tourist crowds and occasional long lines for top tapas bars. Breaks were long enough, so you could savor decent meals while enjoying the 5-10 minute walk here or there with other attendees. Could you pay in SATs everywhere? Not really, not outside the venue. But let’s be realistic: in a group of Bitcoiners, there’s always a way to use SATs, swapping fiat with others who’ll need it sooner or later. Win-win. Personally, I find these scenarios even better—Bitcoiners roaming the city for days, asking ‘Can I pay in bitcoin?’ again and again, spread a message stronger than just a group of us closed off at the venue doing our own thing. Moving around and repeating the same question will sooner or later inspire new places to take Bitcoin payments seriously. FYI: at one dinner, a delicious Brazilian steakhouse, we convinced a waiter to download a Lightning wallet, accept his tips in SATs, and vow to dig deeper into Bitcoin and Nostr in the coming days.)

Back To The Event and Its Agenda.

Practical workshops, sharp presentations, and real debates (sadly, still too rare in the space) covered topics like privacy, nodes, wallets, Bitaxe miners, and Nostr. Crucial stuff to forge the sovereign life.

https://i.nostr.build/PvD1bDKr9qQ87Mr5.png

- My personal highlights?

Friday’s sessions on the history and future of cypherpunks (Spanish / English, with Alfre Mancera, Entropy, Bebop, Max Hillebrand, and Begleri); Miniscripts Roundtable-Discussion (English, with Edouard from Liana, Landabaso from Rewind, Francesco from BitVault, Yuri da Silva from Great Wall); Self-Sufficient Houses (English with Matthew Prosser); and the debate on Op_return (English, with Peter Todd; Unhosted Marcellus, and Lunaticoin).

I couldn’t catch everything—too busy in hallway chats connecting dots from the past to the present for a stronger future ;) … Luckily, the main stage sessions were recorded by the organizers (follow Nostr: BCC833, with extra interviews/coverage done by Juan Cienfuegos (BitCorner Podcast). Sure, all of it will drop online soon.

https://i.nostr.build/lNppYMtEtz8DGNhi.png

- What left me in awe?

Pure, unfiltered signal.

First, the Spanish Bitcoin scene is a force. Well-organized, connected, decentralized but acting as one when needed. People relentlessly focused on building, not just talking. BCC8333 was proof.

Second, the fusion of ideas is remarkable; the power of plebs putting them into practice moves the world forward. Just as Bitcoin doesn’t need a CEO, Bitcoiners don’t need typical trendsetters or idols. Case by case, we verify truth ourselves, like nodes in a network, organically building, improving, brainstorming, discussing—not on flashy stages or in cold expo hangars, but in dynamic meetups like this one.

Third, the tribe. Don’t get me wrong, even with thousands of attendees, you can find your people if you try. But with a few hundred, free of overwhelming noise and far too many folks rushing around, you don’t miss the most valuable chats. BCC8333 was no different. I met and re-met my soulmates. The tribe you laugh with, but also work hard with when needed. Simply put: people who share the cypherpunk fire. Sovereignty and hands-on freedom.

- Bonus stuff?

Though the topics were serious (and important), the vibe still had plenty of fun. Barcelona’s nightlife was a great playground, but the organizers also brought joy right to the venue itself. https://i.nostr.build/ahJsprpg1d4qHFtV.png

Examples: Both days with Chain Duel to play in the courtyard and later a big-screen tournament, were cool to watch and join. Saturday’s concert by Roger 9000, with all of us shouting, “Tick tock, next block, it don’t stop. The love of freedom, it don’t stop!” to his energetic beats, made those moments truly spectacular.

Wrapping Up.

BCC8333 stands apart. As the title says, it was truly the event ‘Where Cypherpunk Spirit Forges Sovereign Minds.’ Cheers to the organizers, contributors, volunteers, and attendees! Those past few days in Barcelona were solid proof we’re keeping Bitcoin’s ethos alive—a strong case that it’s not about “going to the moon” but staying free on the ground.

Thank YOU!

---

BTC Your Mind. Let it Beat.

Şela

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, my dearest human family\ Happy New Year, my dearest animal family

Dear children of the Earth\ I wish you all a magical year

May it be utterly new\ Ever-changing\ New now

And may your journey say\ Life is amazing! I'm in a maze\ Life is awesome! Quite some awe\ Life is magical! True alchemy

I am human\ Black woman, I love you so\ Life-giver of my origin, the negro [nigiro]

I am\ Thus physical and non-physical meet

Life is to be\ As the elements are and compete\ And as they collide with one another\ One becomes aware of an other\ And so life sets on a journey\ To discover the other

Animal life is set to explore\ Allowing all experience the other has in store\ Life left to experience without a voice\ Until it discovers there is an 'I'\ And it has a choice

Human life is to be inside a human body\ Thus fusion between intellect and feeling\ Gets to express its perspective\ Inside infinity

Truly, a magical gift\ My Holy Trinity

And so from human life flow many voices\ As it navigates through infinite choices

Thus I say

Life is magic\ A gift for all that is here\ Perceived by too many as tragic\ Take care of your vision, I tell you, my dear [tell-a-vision]

Life is magic\ And words are spells\ Placing your aim beyond your reach\ It takes away efficiency from your speech

Life is magic\ Above all else\ Even when it has me feeling blue\ Seemingly left without a clue

Still I say

Perfection\ You are everything\ And I am of you

The source, the mirror\ And the reflection

@ 5ea46480:450da5bd

The objective web represents how we currently experience internet platforms. It functions primarily through centralized instances or platforms delivering shared information and statuses. These centralized platforms produce coherent views of reality based on standardized metrics such as trending content, view counts, likes, and aggregated user comments. This framework creates a single shared, authoritative depiction of the world, leading people to consume a shared interpretation of events. The objective web, therefore, becomes a centralized authority or source of truth, determining what is relevant, credible, and noteworthy. The presentation of a singular standard can also be extrapolated to concepts like Google's search rankings, user ratings on Uber, or Wikipedia's attempt at an objective encyclopedia. Though they differ in rigidity, each of these structures tries to deliver a consensus version of reality. Note that the argument is not that these platforms are objective, but they beget de facto objectivity, simply as a result of everyone deferring their subjectivity to the same entity.

This singular, consistency-based approach is increasingly failing. The objective web is under severe strain as diverse groups increasingly disagree about policies, representation, truth claims, and even basic shared facts. These difficulties become glaringly evident when considering disruptive technological changes, especially artificial intelligence-generated content and bots. The ability of platforms to consistently moderate and curate trustworthy information for all users quickly diminishes. The nature of centralized authorities means they're facing dedicated, scalable attacks. This creates an environment saturated with distrust and compromise. This approach is inherently unstable and is gradually collapsing amid internal contradictions and external pressures.

In sharp contrast, Nostr proposes the subjective web. The subjective web decouples individuals from standardized, centralized interpretive structures. Rather than relying on platforms or centralized systems to filter and interpret 'the internet', people individually decide how to interpret and judge the information and content they're exposed to. Subjectivity here is about personal judgment, local decision-making, and contextually flexible interpretations rather than universal coherence. This approach shifts the interpretative responsibility away from centralized authorities or algorithms and onto individuals and their personal networks.

This subjectivity is not limited to content but extends to the personal methods of interpreting information and people, using any variety of tools available—including algorithmic analysis, AI interpretation, or simple social-relationship analyses. In doing so, the subjective web becomes far tougher for malicious actors to compromise because attacks must be tailored to unique personal environments and rely upon infiltrating individual interpretations and decision-processes. In other words, infiltration tactics that might be successful on a centralized system become incredibly difficult when everyone is forming their own subjective reality.

Subjective realities are robust against generalized or mass attacks due to their inherently private and personalized nature. To effectively corrupt or hack these subjective webs, attackers must conduct sophisticated infiltration attacks tailored to each user specifically. Even then, attackers face significant obstacles in gathering precise information about a user's personal judgment process and inner interpretations, which remain fundamentally private and contextual. Users can easily retreat into their own trusted, locally built social circles or community ties, rather than having their trust networks limited to centralized authority structures.

This resilience relies on leveraging "webs of trust"—interconnected user relationships based on personal experiences and connections formed in the real world, rather than purely online interactions. This brings an important point: the subjective web fundamentally grounds trust on physical experience, minimizing large-scale vulnerabilities. Users maintain independent trust networks built through real-world interactions and institutions such as churches, sports-clubs, local community groups etc.. While these connections remain scalable and somewhat institutionally structured, they're significantly less susceptible to widespread digital manipulation and infiltrations. Additionally, since these trust webs are numerous, diversified, and individually tailored, single points of centralized failure are rare, and users can reconstruct trust if compromised.

Another significant is timestamping. Timestamping content offers a fundamental layer of objective verification within subjective systems, preventing after-the-fact manipulation. When timestamping is properly implemented, retrospective attacks (i.e., creating detailed fake environments designed to fool a person once that user is already engaging a particular environment) become practically impossible. For effective infiltration, attackers need established identities with consistent historical proof—meaning maintaining long-standing fraudulent identities across long periods—something more costly to scale in terms of effort, resources, and commitment.

While the subjective web represents a fundamentally decentralized and resilient structure, users naturally desire objective anchoring points at times. Users can incorporate ‘objective’ points but do so as part of a broader array of personalized, contextual interpretations rather than centrally imposed, universally agreed-upon concepts. Thus, objective systems in the subjective web landscape exist merely as subjective information sources rather than authoritative interpretations. The difference here lies in acknowledging their inherent subjectivity, rather than attempting to impose a façade of universal, authoritative objectivity.

The subjective web isn't merely a theoretical ideal or preference—it represents an unavoidable future. Signs already suggest the current centralized, authoritative, coherence-driven internet model is fundamentally crumbling, torn apart by emerging contradictions, trust collapses, polarization, disagreements, and attacks. Centralized authorities increasingly limit openness or transparency as defense mechanisms, fundamentally compromising the advantages that made the internet powerful in the first place.

By contrast, transitioning toward a subjective web reduces these dilemmas and opens spaces of autonomy and interpretations suited to diverse and individual user needs. Unlike centralized systems, subjective webs limit the risks of digital manipulation, mass misinformation campaigns, censorship, narrative control, and network lockdown. Each individual retains robust networks of trust and personal interpretations, inherently preventing large-scale coordinated misinformation campaigns simply by maintaining diversity and individuality.

Embracing subjective web approaches with Nostr naturally offers a practical, resilient way forward as centralized platforms collapse under their own contradictions. Subjective webs inherently maintain the openness of early internet freedom while also offering individuals trustworthy, personalized interpretative environments. Ultimately, the collapse of objective web coherent structures may be inevitable. In recognizing this inevitability, embracing decentralized, individual-focused subjective web systems represents a practical method to reassert personal autonomy, interpretation freedom, resilience against manipulation, scalable infiltration attacks, centralized censorship attempts, and trust compromises.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

De laatste zonnestralen van de dag streken over de eeuwige golven en weerkaatsten als lichtpuntjes in de ogen van schipper Joris terwijl hij nog een slok nam van zijn glazen fles die de vorm had van het hoofd van een oude monnik.

Gekregen van een oude vrouw uit de bergen van de Himalaya, zorgde de rum genaamd 'Old Monk' voor een verwarmend gezelschap op deze eenzame kerstnacht.

Joris had met zijn boot naar India gevaren nadat zijn vrouw hem had verlaten en hij een Indiër had ontmoet die had gezegd: "Waar ik vandaan kom, zijn vrouwen vrij en worden ze niet gezien als enkel en alleen de mooie lichamen die zij bezitten of als eeuwig bezit van een gezin."

Verward en ongelovig had Joris gekeken naar de wereld en besefte dat vrouwen inderdaad slechts gezien werden als hun fysieke schoonheid, genegeerd werden voor hun koesterende gevoeligheid en bekritiseerd werden door hun spontane intensheid en had hierop voor twee jaar lang gezocht in India naar deze vrije vrouwen met als enig resultaat een oude vrouw te ontmoeten die alleen in de bergen woonde en dagelijks haar wijsheid deelde met ieder luisterend oor.

Daar ging het doorzichtig monnikshoofd en verliet met een grote gebogen vlucht de hand van schipper Joris toen plots met groot kabaal de boot abrupt tot stilstand kwam en Joris hals over kop naar de andere kant van het dek geslingerd werd.

Het monnikshoofd verdween in het donker terwijl Joris zijn lichaam probeerde te lokaliseren en met zijn ogen wijd open zijn hersenen zo veel mogelijk informatie probeerde door te spelen.

Tevergeefs, want zijn enorme verschot werd gevolgd door een enkel groeiende verbazing, ongeloof en desoriëntatie toen de boot begon te kantelen.

De bundel licht, afkomstig van de mast van de boot, zwierde doorheen het donker en kwam te schijnen op een gigantische rots in het midden van de zee die werd bezeten door een oogverblindende glinstergroene schijn.

Uit het donker kwam het monnikshoofd, dat nog steeds in volle vlucht was, in het vizier van de lichtbundel en plaatste zich exact tussen de glinstergroene verschijning en Joris waarbij Joris doorheen het monnikshoofd gezegend werd met het zicht op een pracht van een zeemeermin die uitnodigend poseerde op de rots.

Met een luide plons viel Joris achterover in het water toen hij zich realiseerde dat vrouwen zichzelf ook lieten vangen door lust en hun uiterlijke opmaakcompetities en met een dankbare glimlach zonk hij naar de bodem van de zee en was opnieuw geboren.

@ da8b7de1:c0164aee

Sizewell C atomerőmű – 14,2 milliárd fontos állami beruházás

A brit kormány 14,2 milliárd fonttal támogatja az új Sizewell C atomerőmű megépítését a suffolki tengerparton. A beruházás célja, hogy növelje az ország energiaszuverenitását, elősegítse a gazdasági növekedést, és hozzájáruljon a klímavédelmi célokhoz azáltal, hogy hatmillió otthon energiaellátását biztosítja alacsony szén-dioxid-kibocsátású forrásból.

Főbb pontok:

• A Sizewell C várhatóan 10 000 közvetlen munkahelyet teremt, és további ezreket a beszállítói láncban; az építkezés során 1 500 tanuló is részt vesz majd.
• A projekt a legnagyobb nukleáris beruházás egy generáció óta, és a kormány szerint elengedhetetlen a fosszilis energiahordozók kiváltásához, valamint a villamosenergia-hálózat dekarbonizációjához 2030-ig.
• A Sizewell C a Hinkley Point C mintájára épül, amely jelentős késésekkel és költségtúllépésekkel küzd – emiatt a kritikusok attól tartanak, hogy a Sizewell C is hasonló sorsra juthat.
• A projekt végső költsége még bizonytalan: a hivatalos becslések 20-35 milliárd font között mozognak, de egyes iparági források akár 40 milliárd fontos végösszeget is elképzelhetőnek tartanak.
• A finanszírozás részben állami, részben magánbefektetőktől és a fogyasztók villanyszámláján keresztül valósul meg – utóbbi a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) modell révén, ami várhatóan növeli a háztartások energiaszámláit.
• A beruházás ellenzői – köztük a Stop Sizewell C csoport – szerint a pénzt más, olcsóbb és gyorsabban megvalósítható megújuló energiaforrásokra kellene fordítani, és aggódnak a környezeti hatások, valamint a helyi lakosságot érintő változások miatt.
• A végső befektetési döntés (Final Investment Decision) még nem született meg, annak meghozatalát a nyárra ígérik.

Források::

• bbc.com
• stopsizewellc.org
• edfenergy.com
• gov.uk

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Zonneschijn\ Stralen, lachen, zo fijn\ Moge de wereld dankbaar zijn

De vrouw, mijn gevoeligheid\ Bron van creativiteit

Genietend niets doen in het gras\ Met wat brood en wat wijn in het glas

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

CANNES, FRANCE – May 2025 — Bitcoin mining made its mark at the world’s most prestigious film gathering this year as Puerto Rican director and producer Alana Mediavilla introduced her feature documentary Dirty Coin: The Bitcoin Mining Documentary at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival.

The film puts bitcoin mining at the center of a rising global conversation about energy, technology, and economic freedom.

Dirty Coin is the first feature-length documentary to explore bitcoin mining through immersive, on-the-ground case studies.

From rural towns in the United States to hydro-powered sites in Latin America and the Congo, the film follows miners and communities navigating what may be one of the most misunderstood technologies of our time.

The result is a human-centered look at how bitcoin mining is transforming local economies and energy infrastructure in real ways.

To mark its Cannes debut, Mediavilla and her team hosted a packed industry event that brought together leaders from both film and finance.

Dirty Coin debut ceremony at the Marché du Film

Sponsors Celestial Management, Sangha Renewables, Nordblock, and Paystand.org supported the program, which featured panels on mining, energy use, and decentralized infrastructure.

Attendees had the rare opportunity to engage directly with pioneers in the space. A special session in French led by Seb Gouspillou spotlighted mining efforts in the Congo’s Virunga region.

Dirty Coin builds on Mediavilla’s award-winning short film Stranded, which won over 20 international prizes, including Best Short Documentary at Cannes in 2024.

That success helped lay the foundation for the feature and positioned Mediavilla as one of the boldest new voices in global documentary filmmaking.

Alana Mediavilla speaks at the Marché du Film — Cannes Film Festival

“If we’ve found an industry that can unlock stranded energy and turn it into real power for people—especially in regions with energy poverty—why wouldn’t we look into it?” says Mediavilla. “Our privilege blinds us.

“The same thing we criticize could be the very thing that lifts the developing world to our standard of living. Ignoring that potential is a failure of imagination.”

Much like the decentralized network it explores, Dirty Coin is spreading globally through grassroots momentum.

Local leaders are hosting independent screenings around the world, from Roatán and Berlin to São Paulo and Madrid. Upcoming events include Toronto and Zurich, with more cities joining each month.

Mediavilla, who previously worked in creative leadership roles in the U.S. — including as a producer at Google — returned to Puerto Rico to found Campo Libre, a studio focused on high-caliber, globally relevant storytelling from the Caribbean.

She was also accepted into the Cannes Producers Network, a selective program open only to producers with box office releases in the past four years.

Mediavilla qualified after independently releasing Dirty Coin in theaters across Puerto Rico. Her participation in the network gave her direct access to meetings, insights, and connections with the most active distributors and producers working today.

The film’s next public screening will take place at the Anthem Film Festival in Palm Springs on Saturday, June 14 at 2 PM. Additional screenings and market appearances are planned throughout the year at Bitcoin events and international film platforms.

Dirty Coin at the Cannes Film Festival

Watch the Trailer + Access Press Materials

📂 EPK
🎬 Screener
🌍 Host a Screening

Follow the Movement

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirty_coin_official/
Twitter: https://x.com/DirtyCoinDoc
Website: www.dirtycointhemovie.com

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Spontaniteit\ Creativiteit

Iets visueel of gewoon geluid\ Het moet eruit

Ik doe mezelf cadeau aan jou\ Omdat ik van het leven hou

@ 2b998b04:86727e47

Solzhenitsyn Would Have Loved Bitcoin

I didn’t plan to write this. But a comment from @HODL stirred something in me — a passing thought that took root and wouldn’t let go:

\> “Solzhenitsyn would have understood Bitcoin.”

The more I sat with it, the more I realized: he wouldn’t have just understood it — he would have loved it.

---

A Life of Resistance

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn didn’t just survive the Soviet gulags — he exposed them. Through The Gulag Archipelago and other works, he revealed the quiet machinery of evil: not always through brutality, but through systemic lies, suppressed memory, and coerced consensus.

His core belief was devastatingly simple:

\> “The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”

He never let anyone off the hook — not the state, not the system, not even himself. Evil, to Solzhenitsyn, was not “out there.” It was within. And resisting it required truth, courage, and deep personal responsibility.

---

Bitcoin: Truth That Resists

That’s why I believe Solzhenitsyn would have resonated with Bitcoin.

Not the hype. Not the coins. Not the influencers.

But the heart of it:

• A system that resists coercion.

• A ledger that cannot be falsified.

• A network that cannot be silenced.

• A protocol that doesn't care about party lines — only proof of work.

Bitcoin is incorruptible memory.\ Solzhenitsyn fought to preserve memory in the face of state erasure.\ Bitcoin cannot forget — and it cannot be made to lie.

---

Responsibility and Sovereignty

Bitcoin demands what Solzhenitsyn demanded: moral responsibility. You hold your keys. You verify your truth. You cannot delegate conscience.

He once wrote:

\> “A man who is not inwardly prepared for the use of violence against him is always weaker than his opponent.”

Bitcoin flips that equation. It gives the peaceful man a weapon: truth that cannot be seized.

---

I’ve Felt This Line Too

I haven’t read all of The Gulag Archipelago — it’s long, and weighty — but I’ve read enough to know Solzhenitsyn’s voice. And I’ve felt the line he describes:

\> That dividing line between good and evil… that runs through my own heart.

That’s why I left the noise of Web3. That’s why I’m building with Bitcoin. Because I believe the moral architecture of this protocol matters. It forces me to live in alignment — or walk away.

---

Final Word

I think Solzhenitsyn would have seen Bitcoin not as a tech innovation, but as a moral stand. Not a replacement for Christ — but a quiet echo of His justice.

And that’s why I keep stacking, writing, building — one block at a time.

---

Written with help from ChatGPT (Dr. C), and inspired by a comment from @HODL that sparked something deep.

If this resonated, feel free to zap a few sats — not because I need them, but because signal flows best when it’s shared with intention.

---

HODL mentioned this idea in a note — their Primal profile:\ <https://primal.net/hodl>

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Veroorzaakt door de wereld rond mij\ Vormen de wereld in mij

Verwaarloosd door de wereld rond mij\ Overgelaten aan mij

Een groene brug komt uit mij\ Verbindt mij met wij\ En laat ons samen vrij

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Headlines

• Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury. This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is planned to go public via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by Jack Mallers, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a report by the Financial Times, the company aims to replicate the model of Michael Saylor with his company, MicroStrategy.
• Florida's SB 868 proposes a backdoor into encrypted platforms. The bill and its House companion have both passed through their respective committees and are headed to a full vote. If enacted, SB 868 would require social media companies to decrypt teens' private messages, ban disappearing messages, allow unrestricted parental access to private messages, and likely eliminate encryption for all minors altogether.
• Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the George W. Bush administration. He has committed to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
• Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners, adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.

"Thank you, Bitaxe community. OSMU developers, your brilliance built this. Supporters, your belief drives us. Customers, your trust powers 10,000+ miners and 10PH globally. Together, we’re decentralizing Bitcoin’s future. Last but certainly not least, thank you@skot9000 for not only creating a freedom tool, but instilling the idea into thousands of people, that Bitcoin mining can be for everyone again," said the firm on X.

• OCEAN's DATUM has found 100 blocks. "Over 65% of OCEAN’s miners are using DATUM, and that number is growing every day. This means block template construction is making its way back into the hands of the miners, which is not only the most profitable for miners on OCEAN but also one of the best things for Bitcoin," stated the mining pool.

Source: orangesurf

• Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM" and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as announced on Tuesday.
• Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin. According to the automaker's latest earnings report, the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
• The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA), just months after its implementation. According to Politico's report on Tuesday, the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
• TABConf 2025 is scheduled to take place from October 13-16, 2025. This prominent technical Bitcoin conference is dedicated to community building, education, and developer support, and it is set to return in October. Get your tickets here.
• Kaduna Lightning Development Bootcamp. From May 14th to 17th, the Bitcoin Lightning Developer Bootcamp will take place in Kaduna, Nigeria. Thisevent offers four dynamic days of coding, learning, and networking. Organized by Africa Free Routing and supported by Btrust, Tether, and African Bitcoiners, this bootcamp is designed as a gateway for African developers eager to advance their skills in Bitcoin and Lightning development. Apply here.

Source: African Bitcoiners.

Use the tools

• Core Lightning (CLN) v25.02.2 as been released to fix a broken Docker image. The issue was caused by an SQLite version that did not support an advanced query.
• Blitz wallet v0.4.4-beta introduces several updates and improvements, including the prevention of duplicate ecash payments, fixes for background ecash invoice handling, the ability for users to send payments to BOLT12 invoices from their Liquid balance, support for Blink QR codes, a lowered minimum amount for Lightning-to-Liquid payments to 100 sats, the option to initiate a node sync via a swipe gesture on the wallet's home screen, and the introduction of opt-in or opt-out functionality for newly implemented crash analytics via settings.
• Utreexo v0.5.0, a hash-based dynamic accumulator, is now available.
• Specter v2.1.1 is now available on StartOS. "This update brings compatibility with Bitcoin Core v28 and incorporates several upstream improvements," said developer Alex71btc.
• ESP-Miner (AxeOS) v2.7.0b1 is now available for testing.
• NodeGuard v0.16.1, a treasury management solution for Lightning nodes, has been released.
• The latest stacker.news updates include prompts to add a receiving wallet when posting or making comments (for new users), an option to randomize poll choices, improved URL search, and a few other enhancements. A bug fix for territories created after 9/19/24 has been implemented to reward 70% of their revenue to owners instead of 50%.

Other stuff

• The April edition of the 256 Foundation's newsletter is now available. It includes the latest mining news, Bitcoin network health updates, project developments, and a tutorial on how to update FutureBit's Apollo 1 to the Apollo 2 software.
• Siggy47 has posted a comprehensive RoboSats guide on stacker.news.
• Learn how to run your own Nostr relay using Citrine and Cloudflare Tunnels by following this step-by-step guide by Dhalism.
• Max Guise has written a Bitkey roadmap update for April 2025.

• PlebLab has uploaded a video on how to build a Rust wallet with LDK Node by Ben Carman.

• Do you want more? Subscribe and get No Bullshit GM report straight to your mailbox and No Bullshit Bitcoin on Nostr.

• Feedback or tips? Drop it here.
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@ 4b3b215f:b091b1f9

Actualizado: Agosto 10, 2024

⚠️ Advertencia: Esta guía tiene el objetivo de proporcionar información educativa sobre cómo empezar a aceptar Bitcoin en tu negocio. No se ofrece ni se vende ningún servicio relacionado con Bitcoin. Es esencial que sepas que NO DEBES confiar en terceros que te ofrezcan productos o servicios relacionados con Bitcoin, ya que el uso y la gestión de Bitcoin deben ser autónomos y soberanos.

Recuerda: ¡Bitcoin es tu camino hacia la libertad financiera! No confíes en terceros que te ofrezcan productos o servicios para aceptar o utilizar Bitcoin. Bitcoin es dinero, y no necesitas a nadie más para comenzar a usarlo.

¡No aceptes ni pagues por servicios de Bitcoin, tú puedes hacerlo por ti mismo!

¡No confíes, verifica! ₿

¿Qué es Bitcoin?

Bitcoin es una forma de efectivo electrónico entre pares, una moneda digital que puede transferirse entre personas o computadoras sin necesidad de intermediarios confiables como los bancos. A diferencia de los pagos tradicionales que requieren servicios intermedios como tarjetas de crédito o plataformas de pago digital, Bitcoin permite transacciones directas entre usuarios, preservando así la privacidad y la independencia financiera. Es una alternativa descentralizada al dinero digital controlado centralmente, ofreciendo seguridad y autonomía a sus usuarios.

Además, Bitcoin ofrece una solución a la dependencia de sistemas de pago digitales centralizados, los cuales pueden ser utilizados para el control y la vigilancia gubernamental. Al utilizar una red de computadoras interconectadas, Bitcoin garantiza la verificación independiente de las transacciones y la aplicación de reglas consensuadas, lo que permite un sistema de pagos más transparente y resistente a la censura.

¿Qué es Lightning? ⚡️

La red lightning (Lightning Network) es una red global de pagos de Bitcoin que ofrece transacciones instantáneas, privadas y de bajo o nulo costo. Propuesta en 2015, permite transacciones de Bitcoin más rápidas, económicas y privadas fuera de la cadena de bloques de Bitcoin. Es lo que se conoce como una tecnologîa de capa 2 (L2), con Bitcoin siendo la capa 1 (L1).

A diferencia de las redes bancarias tradicionales, lightning network ofrece liquidación instantánea, sin contracargos y utiliza Bitcoin como su activo subyacente. Aborda un desafío clave para Bitcoin al permitir la escalabilidad para un gran número de usuarios que realizan numerosos pagos.

Esta innovadora red de pagos es sin fronteras, abierta, económica e instantánea, ofreciendo pagos instantáneos, económicos e interoperables en todo el mundo. Los pagos enrutados a través de Lightning se mueven a la velocidad de la luz y son definitivos al llegar, eliminando los retrasos y riesgos asociados con los métodos de pago tradicionales.

*Una poderosa analogía para explicar cómo funciona el Lightning Network.

¿Qué hay de todos estos hacks y quiebras de intercambios?

La base de datos de la cadena de bloques de Bitcoin nunca ha sido hackeada. En sus 15 años de existencia, Bitcoin ha demostrado ser el sistema digital más seguro del mundo y el sistema monetario más confiable jamás inventado. Nunca se ha emitido moneda falsa en la red.

La seguridad de Bitcoin radica en su naturaleza descentralizada. Opera a través de una red de computadoras, llamadas nodos, que se comunican para construir y actualizar la base de datos. Cada nodo almacena una copia de la cadena de bloques, lo que hace virtualmente imposible que los hackers comprometan toda la red. Además, Bitcoin permite a los usuarios mantener sus fondos de forma segura en billeteras personales, reduciendo el riesgo asociado con los exchanges (Intercambios) de terceros. Si dejas tus bitcoins en un intercambio o con cualquier tercero, estás asumiendo un riesgo enorme que, para pequeñas cantidades, puede ser razonable a cambio de conveniencia. Pero piénsalo muy bien.

Si bien Bitcoin opera principalmente a través de internet, incluso en casos de interrupciones de internet, la cadena de bloques permanece intacta. Los nodos continúan almacenando los bloques, asegurando la seguridad y la integridad del sistema. Mientras haya por lo menos un nodo conectado, Bitcoin seguira operando sin interrupciones, es decir, para que Bitcoin deje de funcionar, tendria que caerse el internet en todo el mundo al mismo tiempo, lo cual es poco probable. En caso de una divergencia de red, los nodos pueden reconciliarse y acordar cuál es la cadena de bloques objetivamente más válida a seguir, manteniendo la robustez y seguridad de Bitcoin.

¿Por qué Debería Mi Negocio Aceptar Bitcoin?

En primer lugar, para atraer Bitcoiners. Los Bitcoiners son leales y están altamente motivados a buscar negocios que acepten Bitcoin. Con Bitcoin, puedes recibir pagos las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, los 365 días del año, sin la necesidad de esperar por días hábiles. Además, no hay contracargos y las tarifas de transacción son muy bajas o casi nulas gracias a la red Lightning.

Bitcoin es Bueno para los Negocios

Bitcoin te permite recibir pagos directamente de tus clientes, al igual que el efectivo. La red Bitcoin opera sin intermediarios como bancos y compañías de tarjetas de crédito, evitando las tarifas elevadas asociadas. Los pagos con Bitcoin se liquidan instantáneamente gracias a la red Lightning, eliminando la espera en comparación con los métodos tradicionales. Además, al ocurrir directamente entre tú y tus clientes, es imposible que alguien te quite el dinero mediante un contracargo. Además, el Bitcoin falsificado no puede ser enviado en la red Bitcoin, lo que asegura la integridad de las transacciones y protege a tu negocio de fraudes financieros.

Al aceptar Bitcoin, atraes más clientes, ya que millones de personas poseen Bitcoin y desean gastarlo en lugares que lo acepten.

Aceptar Bitcoin es completamente gratuito y te brinda la oportunidad de aparecer en mapas de comerciantes de Bitcoin, lo que facilita que los usuarios encuentren tu negocio con facilidad.

Pero, Bitcoin no está regulado. ¿Cómo puedo declarar impuestos si acepto Bitcoin en mi negocio?

Muy bien, antes de comenzar, déjame decirte que el no estar regulado es una cualidad, no un defecto. Bitcoin no lo controla nadie, pero es de todos y está disponible para cualquiera que desee usarlo sin necesidad de pedir permiso. Bitcoin no necesita permiso!

Estamos hablando de una forma superior de dinero y la mejor tecnología de ahorro jamás inventada por los humanos. Aceptar Bitcoin es como recibir efectivo: simplemente registras la venta y te llevas el dinero en efectivo a casa. ¿Acaso cuando recibes efectivo, le tomas fotografías a los billetes para enviárselas al gobierno? Eso pensé.

Bitcoin representa la separación entre el estado y el dinero; no es necesario que el estado sepa cuántos Bitcoin tienes. Si un amigo fuera a tu negocio de hamburguesas y te pagara con canicas, ¿le avisarías al gobierno que tu amigo te ha pagado con canicas? Probablemente no. Registra la venta como efectivo en tus libros contables y guarda tu Bitcoin. Es TU dinero, y tienes derecho a mantenerlo privado.

Se recomienda que cuando poseas un saldo importante de Bitcoin, lo retires a una billetera fría. Imagina que recibes efectivo todo el día en tu negocio; al final del día, ¿dejarías todo ese dinero en la caja? Probablemente no sería una buena idea. Muchos negocios retiran su efectivo al final del día o de la semana y lo depositan en un banco o en una caja fuerte en algún lugar seguro. Haz lo mismo con tu Bitcoin: una vez que tengas un saldo mayor del que llevarías cómodamente en el bolsillo, retíralo a una billetera fría.

Bitcoin ES dinero. No es una divisa, ni una inversión, ni acciones, y mucho menos "sujeto a impuestos". Los impuestos son un robo, punto. No importa lo que tu gobierno te diga: Bitcoin es simplemente dinero.

Si no sabes la diferencia entre el dinero y una divisa (Money and Currency), te invito a revisar la siguiente imagen.

Para todos los "amantes de los impuestos" que vienen a decir "Pero el gobierno regulará Bitcoin" o "El gobierno le impondrá impuestos a mi Bitcoin", solo les digo: ¡Pon tu mierda en orden! El dinero no está sujeto a impuestos, punto.

Si realmente deseas utilizarlo para fines comerciales y por tu propia tranquilidad mental, en tus libros contables, decláralo como "ingreso en efectivo". Así de simple: no es asunto del gobierno saber qué tipo de "efectivo" posees. No es asunto suyo lo que haces con tu dinero.

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre billeteras custodiales y no custodiales?

Cuando se trata de billeteras de Bitcoin, hay dos tipos principales: custodiales y no custodiales.

Las billeteras custodiales son como tener tu dinero en un banco. Confías en el proveedor de la billetera para mantener seguro tu Bitcoin y manejar todo por ti. Es conveniente y rápido, especialmente para cantidades pequeñas, pero recuerda, no tienes control total sobre tu Bitcoin. Estás confiando en el proveedor de la billetera para gestionarlo por ti.

Por otro lado, las billeteras no custodiales te dan control total. Tienes tus propias claves y puedes hacer una copia de seguridad de tu billetera. Esto significa que tú eres quien controla tu Bitcoin y puedes moverlo como quieras. Es como guardar efectivo en tu propia caja fuerte en casa. Recuerda, en una billetera no custodial, tú eres el único responsable de tus Bitcoins. Si pierdes u olvidas tus claves (llaves), nadie podrá ayudarte.

Si bien las billeteras custodiales están bien para empezar y para cantidades pequeñas, te recomendamos continuar con tu educación sobre Bitcoin y, eventualmente, pasar a una solución no custodial. Esto te da más control, soberanía, y seguridad sobre tu Bitcoin a largo plazo. Así que, comienza con una billetera custodial como Blink o Wallet Of Satoshi para familiarizarte con Bitcoin, pero apunta a cambiar a una billetera no custodial una vez que te sientas cómodo y listo.

Cómo Aceptar Pagos en Bitcoin

Todo lo que necesitas para aceptar pagos en Bitcoin es una billetera como Blink. Por otro lado, con una billetera híbrida como Wallib, puedes convertir automáticamente los pagos de Bitcoin que recibes a COP.

También puedes optar por ahorrar y mantener una parte de los pagos en Bitcoin, lo que ofrece muchos beneficios a largo plazo.

Ahorra en Bitcoin.

1) Descarga la aplicación:

Bitcoin es una red abierta y hay muchas aplicaciones (wallets) que te permites enviar, recibir, y guardar Bitcoin. Para comenzar, te recomendamos la aplicación Blink Wallet.

Al final de esta guía hay una lista de wallets (billeteras) recomendadas. Pero recuerda, no creas todo lo que lees y haz tu propia investigación.

2) Crea una cuenta:

Una vez que descargues la app, deberas ingresar tu numero de teléfono para registrarte, ya que Blink es una billetera custodial. Pero descuida, no debes dar datos personales adicionales para crear una cuenta.

Una vez ingreses tu teléfono, recibirás un mensaje de texto con un código que deberas ingresar para terminar con el proceso de verificación.

Cuando este configurada, veras la pantalla principal donde está tu balance, tus transacciones, etc. Explora la aplicación y familiarizarte con todas sus opciones.

3) Recibir y enviar Bitcoin:

Ya estas listo para recibir Bitcoin de cualquier persona y desde cualquier lugar, sin importar que aplicacion de lightning usen. Al instante y casi gratis. Esta es la maravilla de la red lightning de Bitcoin!

Aceptar Bitcoin en Persona y en Línea

Aceptar pagos en Bitcoin, ya sea en persona o en línea, es sencillo utilizando tu billetera. Puedes integrar Bitcoin como opción de pago en tu tienda en línea o utilizar la función de "recibir" en tu billetera para recibir pagos en persona. Además, puedes compartir la dirección de pago a través de plataformas como WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.

Cómo Atraer Más Clientes Aceptando Bitcoin

Millones de usuarios de Bitcoin desean gastar sus bitcoins en negocios que los acepten. Al aceptar Bitcoin, puedes aparecer en mapas de comerciantes de Bitcoin como BTC Map de forma gratuita y aumentar tu exposición a nuevos clientes potenciales.

Costo de Aceptar Bitcoin

Aceptar Bitcoin en tu negocio es 100% gratuito. No hay contratos ni tarifas ocultas. No confíes en terceros que te ofrezcan productos o servicios para aceptar o utilizar Bitcoin. Bitcoin es dinero, y no necesitas a nadie más para comenzar a usarlo.

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Acepta Bitcoin Ahora! ⚡️

A continuación, algunas billeteras, apps y herramientas que recomendamos.

Billeteras Custodiales

Blink - Billetera móvil de Bitcoin y Lightning

Wallet Of Satoshi - Billetera móvil de Bitcoin y Lightning

Sati - Billetera de Bitcoin y Lightning en WhatsApp

CoinOS - Billetera web (BTC/LN/Liquid)

Alby - Extensión de explorador y web

Billeteras No Custodiales

Phoenix - Billetera móvil de Lightning

Blue Wallet - Billetera móvil y de escritorio de Bitcoin y Lightning.

Green Wallet - Billetera móvil y de escritorio de Bitcoin y Lightning (beta) para principiantes.

Sparrow - Billetera de escritorio solo de Bitcoin (L1 - onchain)

Electrum - Billetera móvil y de escritorio de Bitcoin y Lightning.

Zeus LN - Nodo móvil y billetera de bitcoin y lightning para usuarios avanzados.

Blixt Wallet - Nodo móvil y billetera de Bitcoin y Lightning para usuarios avanzados.

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Lecturas Recomendadas

1. "La Tesis Alcista de Bitcoin” por Vijay Boyapati [Lectura]
2. "Bitcoin: ¿qué, cómo y para qué?” de Franco Amati [Lectura]
3. “El Patrón Bitcoin” por Saifedean Ammous [Lectura]

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Más Recursos

• El Libro De Bitcoin Mas Simple Jamas Escrito - Por Kaysa Luna (Descarga PDF)

• Las 5 Etapas Para Convertirse En Un Bitcoiner

• Simple Bitcoin App - Aprende sobre Bitcoin y gana premios (Como Duolingo pero para Bitcoin)

• Lee El White Paper de Satoshi Nakamoto En Español

• Estudio Bitcoin - Entra en la madriguera del conejo y aprende mas sobre Bitcoin

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

In een zee van mogelijkheden\ Kunnen we best veel tijd aan dromen besteden

Dromen is een universele taal\ Het wordt gedaan door ons allemaal

Het is het woord\ Dat deze gelijkheid de grond in boort

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Machtig water\ Door velen bemind

Element van beweging\ Vormgever aan land\ Bondgenoot van wind

Voorkomer van comfort\ Toelater van rust

Machtig water\ Waar ik ook ga\ Ik weet dat jij de grond onder mijn voeten kust

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Originalna diskusija na reddit.com iz juna 2025

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"Sindrom poremećenosti zbog Bitkoina proističe iz niza zabrinutosti, od pitanja legitimnosti novca, straha da je reč o Ponzijevoj šemi, da je to trojanski konj strane države, da je pomama stvorena za špekulante, do zabrinutosti zbog uticaja rudarenja na životnu sredinu.

Simptomi sindroma poremećenosti zbog Bitkoina (BDS) uključuju odbacivanje svih pozitivnih aspekata povezanih s Bitkoinom uz neodoljivu potrebu da se on prikaže u negativnom svetlu. Sindrom izgleda kao rezultat postepene akumulacije ogorčenja i osećaja da su zakasnili s kupovinom Bitkoina.

Umesto da imaju poniznosti da priznaju da su pogrešili u vezi s Bitkoinom, oni sada posvećuju svoje vreme beznadežnim pokušajima napada na njega i zagovaranju njegovog neuspeha kako bi dokazali da su bili u pravu.

Nije važno ako se više pojedinaca pridruži Bitkoin mreži, ako se pridruže velike kompanije, male zemlje, niti ako globalna plaćanja učini efikasnijim i ako ga korisnici koriste po sopstvenoj volji; oboleli od BDS-a odbijaju da veruju da pojedinci mogu delovati samostalno, već to mora biti neki kult ili potreba za kockanjem.

Ne postoji nijedan argument koji bi mogao promeniti njihovo mišljenje". - The Bitcoin Manual

---

Diskusija tokom koje se autor posta usled svog neznanja, pogrešne informisanosti ili čak straha, nepovratno upleo "kao pile u kučine".

Mada moram priznati da su određeni delovi njegovog izlaganja, naročito tačke 7) i 8), najbolje reklame za Bitkoin koje bi svakog racionalnog ekonomskog aktera navele na dugoročnu akumulaciju ovog novog oblika novca. Koji razlozi mogu navesti racionalnog učesnika na tržištu koji sledi svoj interes da ignoriše Bitkoin kao novi oblik novca dok se nalazi u fazi svoje monetizacije?

U svojim odgovorima sam pokušao da mu otvoreno ukažem na apsurdnost i nelogičnost njegovih tvrdnji ali sam nailazio na prilično mršave odgovore koji su se više svodili na puko ponavljanje uobičajenih dezinformacija iz klasičnih medija nego autentično i nezavisno mišljenje ovog korisnika Reddita.

Na kraju sam prestao da odgovaram zato što je postalo besmisleno. Ovekovečićemo ga ovde na Nostru i prepustiti vremenu da bude sudija. Za desetak godina će ova debata završiti u sekciji "Retrovizor" pa će analiza sa decenijske distance biti izrazito zanimljiva.

---

Originalni post

1. Zagovornici bitkoina ga lažno predstavljaju kao rješenje za skoro sve probleme i nešto što će stvoriti nekakvu utopiju. Pritom vrše vrlo agresivnu i toksičnu propagandu. Troše svoj već prilično jak finansijski položaj na lobiranje i uticaj na vladu. Tako su uspjeli da Ameriku okrenu da postane žestoko pro-kripto.

2. Petljanje vlada u kripto svijet omogućava im da tempiraju pumpanje i dumpanje bitkoina (ali i drugih kriptovaluta), prethodno obavijstivši one koje žele da obavijeste, što bi vladi dalo još jedan mehanizam da finansijski nagradi one koji rade za nju razne stvari, ili prosto svoju insajdersku vrhušku, koja bi se time mogla bogati na račun svih ostalih.

3. Vlade su sve bliže tome da počnu koristiti novac poreskih obveznika za ulaganje u bitkoin.

4. Bitkoin se predstavlja kao rješenje problema inflacije, a to je samo djelimično tačno. Ako držiš bitkoin duže od 4 godine, bićeš u plusu - tako je bilo barem zasad. Međutim, na kraći rok oscilacije cijene bitkoina su ogromne. Pad od 80% u roku od godinu dana je normalna stvar. A to kad bi se prevelo na standardni ekonomski jezik u kome se priča o inflaciji značilo bi godišnju inflaciju od 400%. Znači bitkoin rutinski ima stopu inflacije od 400%, a vole da prozivaju fiat valute i za mnogo manju inflaciju tipa već od 5% do 10%, to im je kao mnogo.

5. Centralne banke generalno i Fed konkretno, sa svim svojim manama, i uz sve negativne epizode, kad je bila hiperinflacija, istorijski su ipak odigrale i još uvijek igraju pozitivnu ulogu: obezbjeđuju kakvu takvu stabilnost cijena i podstiču veću zaposlenost. To je taj dual mandat feda. Bez centralnih banaka i njihovih intervencija, ekonomske krize bi bile češće i oštrije, a kada se dese, ne bi bilo lakog izlaza iz istih. Trajale bi duže. Bitkoin se protiv centralnih banaka bori. (Ili se bar borio, a sad sve češće odustaje od svojih ideala i sarađuje sa tradicionalnim finansijskim sektorom - što meni ukazuje na to da ti ideali možda nikad nisu ni bili iskreni, već da se narativ prilagođava situaciji, a da je jedino bitno da se u svakom trenutku ima neki narativ koji bi opravdao "number goes up")

6. Jedan od glavnih motora moderne ekonomije je sistem frakcionalnih rezervi koji omogućava bankama da lako daju kredite po relativno povoljnim kamatnim stopama. To ponekad može zaista i dovesti do krize, kad se banke previše opuste, a računaju na Fed ili neku drugu centralnu banku da ih čupa ako upadnu u dubiozu. Tako je bilo 2008. Ali ne treba zbog jedne loše epizode odustati od cijelog tog sistema. Prisustvo jeftinih i lako dostupnih kredita sa niskim kamatnim stopama je jako bitna i povoljna za ekonomiju. Zamislite kad toga ne bi bilo, kad bi ljudi morali za svaku krupnu kupovinu da prvo uštede, pa da onda kupuju u kešu. Niko ne bi mogao kupiti stan prije 50. ili 60. godine. A šta će ti stan sa 50 ili 60 godina?! Porodica se zasniva mnogo ranije. Isto tako, mnoge firme ne bi mogle dobiti kredite za započinjanje ili proširenje poslovanja, što bi usporilo inovaciju i rast produktivnosti. Bitkoin standard koga zagovirnici zagovaraju, podrazumijevao bi mnogo skuplje i teže dostupne kredite, jer tu ne bi bilo mogućnosti za lako uvećavanje novčane mase. Samim tim to bi bilo vrlo nepovoljno za ekonomski rast.

7. Bitkoin bi izazvao i deflaciju cijena (izraženih u bitkoinu, pod pretpostavkom da on postane glavna valuta), koja je takođe vrlo nepovoljna za ekonomski rast. Evo primjera kakve je probleme deflacija svojevremeno izazvala u Japanu: Under deflation, the value of cash increases as time passes. In such a situation, Japanese companies began to cut wages, research and development, and other investments, opting to hold onto cash instead. This tendency, coinciding with the acceleration of the aging population, gradually diminished the competitiveness of the economy and the potential growth rate of the country. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Japanese government has focused on halting the deflation and eventually achieving the 2% inflation target since the early 2000s. However, as deflation persisted, the traditional monetary policy of setting low interest rates to stimulate investment and consumption, which typically causes inflation, became ineffective. This ineffectiveness arose because a nominal rate of 0% effectively meant a positive real rate due to the increasing value of cash. This phenomenon is known as the zero lower bound.

8. Istovremeno, bitkoin (ali samo pod uslovom da bude na putu da postane glavna svjetska valuta) bi izazvao terminalnu inflaciju cijena u svim drugim valutama - tj. njihovu demonetizaciju. Kako bi se bitkoin sve više monetizovao, tako bi se ostale valute, ali i ostali asseti demonetizovali. To bi značilo ogroman transfer bogatstva od onih koji nemaju bitkoin ili kupe kasno, kao onima koji imaju, naročito onima koji imaju mnogo i koji su kupili rano po ekstremno niskoj cijeni. Znači bukvalno, rani vlasnici bitkoina bi se bogatili na račun svih ostalih. I to im je zapravo i cilj. To je jedini razlog zašto toliko promovišu bitkoin - svi ostali narativi, te borba protiv inflacije, te digitalno zlato, te ovo, te ono, su zapravo samo priče i racionalizacije, a poenta je da se nagovaraju svi da nastave kupovati bitkoin, kako bi oni koji su kupili ranije, još više uvećali svoje bogatstvo. Tu činjenicu da bi bitkoin doveo do osiromašivanja svih koji nisu vlasnici bitkoina, prepoznala je Evropska centralna banka u jednom svom članku. Citiraću samo relevantan dio: While most economists argue that the Bitcoin boom is a speculative bubble that will eventually burst, we analyse in this paper the impact of a Bitcoin-positive scenario in which its price continues to rise in the foreseeable future. What sounds intuitively promising or at least not harmful is problematic: Since Bitcoin does not increase the productive potential of the economy, the consequences of the assumed continued increase in value are essentially redistributive, i.e. the wealth effects on consumption of early Bitcoin holders can only come at the expense of consumption of the rest of society. If the price of Bitcoin rises for good, the existence of Bitcoin impoverishes both non-holders and latecomers. While previous discussions on the redistributive effects of Bitcoin assumed that badly timed trading was a necessary condition for losses, this paper shows that neither poor timing of trades nor holding Bitcoin at all are necessary for impoverishment under a Bitcoin-positive scenario.

9. To bi naravno uvećalo nejednakost u svijetu koja je ionako već sad ogromna, i prenijelo bi nejadnakost kakva vlada u samom bitkoin ekosistemu na cijeli svijet. A nejednakost koja vlada u bitkoin ekosistemu je toliko ekstremna da je to teško uopšte i zamisliti. Navešću samo par podataka (iz ovog izvora: bitinfocharts.com/top-100-richest-bitcoin-addresses.html ) 0,03% najbogatijih bitkoin adresa (ili brojem: 18.651 adresa), drže 60,93% cjelokupne količine bitkoina. Sad zamislite da bitkoin postane dominantan oblik bogatstva u svijetu. Znači manje od 20.000 ljudi bi držalo preko 60% kompletnog svjetskog finansijskog bogatstva. Drugi podatak: 23.835.989 najbogatijih bitkoin adresa drži 99,97% cjelokupne količine bitkoina. Ili prostim jezikom, 24 miliona adresa, drže praktično SAV BITKOIN. Nećemo se zamajavati sa onih preostalih 0,03% bitkoina. To se može slobodno zanemariti. Znači sve što ima bitkoina u svijetu je u rukama 24 miliona ljudi. (A od toga preko 60% u rukama manje od 20.000 ljudi). Gdje smi mi ostali u svemu tome? Nema nas!!! Šta je sa 8.2 milijarde ljudi u svijetu? Ništa! Ko ih j... 24 miliona je samo 0,29% svjetske populacije. Tako da ako bi bitkoin zavladao - 20.000 ljudi bi držalo većinu svjetskog finansijskog bogatstva, 24 miliona bi imalo neke kao mrvice, a svi ostali, ne bi praktično imali NIŠTA. Nula. Nada. Sad naravno, promoteri bitkoina će reći kako meni račun nije dobar, jer su neki od najvećih vlasnika bitkoina kripto berze i ETF fondovi, i firme kao Strategy, koje su u vlasništvu velikog broja ljudi, pa je zapravo, po njima distribucija mnogo bolja nego što se to čini. Donekle su u pravu. Ali samo donekle. Ti isti zagovornici će preskočiti činjenicu da postoje i procesi koji čine da je distribucija zapravo još gora nego što se čini. Šta ako mnogi krupni vlasnici (whale-ovi) drže svoj bitkoin, ne na jednoj, nego na više adresa? A to je vrlo česta strategija, jer se plaše, ako slučajno izgube pristup jednoj adresi, ili im neko hakuje wallet ili se nešto desi... izgubiće samo dio bogastva, jer su rasporedili svoj bitkoin na možda desetak i više različitih adresa. Tako da, mogao bi se napraviti i case, da je taj mali broj najbogatihih bitkoina adresa zapravo u rukama još manjeg broja ljudi. Obe tendencije su donekle tačne. Procjenjuje se da institucije, vlade, fondovi, firme i na kraju sam Satoshi Nakamoto, drže ukupno 43% ukupne količine bitkoina. I za tih 43% (osim Satošijevog dijela), bi se možda moglo pretpostaviti da imaju malo bolju distribuciju, jer jedna adresa pokriva veći broj ljudi. Preostalih 57% drže pojedinci. U tom dijelu što drže pojedinci, vjerovatno gotovo cjelokupnu količinu drže krupni vlasnici - whaleovi, a svi ostali neku mizeriju. Bilo kako bilo, raspodjela bogatstva u bitkoinu je ekstremno nejednaka, i ako bi bitkoin postao jedan od dominantnih svjetskih oblika bogatstva, ta nejednakost iz tog ekosistema bi se prelila na cijeli svijet, što bi bilo poprilično distopijski.

10. Ovih 9 tačaka su moje glavne kritike bitkoina, ali bi se na njih mogle dodati i još neke kao što su problem potrošnje struje (koji je ipak donekle riješen halving mehanizmom, i zato bitkoin neće nikad trošiti mnogo više struje nego sad), problem elektronskog otpada, širenje raznih scamova, ransom napadi, i generalno širenje vrlo problematičnog, materijalističkog pogleda na svijet u kome je bitkoin ultimativni statusni simbol (barem u toj zajednici koja za sebe kaže da je orange pilled), a grozničavo štekanje satošija (stacking sats) i držanje istih (hodling), postaje smisao života.

11. Na kraju iznosim kritiku, koja se odnosi na razloge koji će najvjerovatnije dovesti i do ultimativnog pada i kolapsa bitkoina, zbog čega ćemo, nadam se, izbjeći distopijske scenarije o kojima sam govorio u prethodnim tačkama. Naime, bitkoin, sam po sebi, nije ništa posebno. Komplikovan je, nezgodan za korištenje, online novčanici mogu da se hakuju, pare koje se drže na kripto berzama mogu da nestanu, da budu ukradene, transakcije se ne mogu stornirati, ako se zezneš pa pošalješ na pogrešnu adresu, nepovratno si se zezno. Transakcije su skupe i nisu instantne, a kako pada reward majnerima, u budućnosti će izgledno biti još i skuplje. Layer 2 rješenja kao što je Lightning, ne mogu u potpunosti da riješe scaling problem i nisu jednako pouzdane kao glavni blokčejn. Na kraju, glavni zvanični value proposition bitkoina, to da je on dobar "čuvar vrijednosti" u praksi se pokazao jako loše. Kao prvo, imovina koja redovno trpi pad cijene od 70-80% ne može nikako biti dobar čuvar vrijednosti, sve i da se ti gubici na kraju nadoknade (kao što je dosad bio slučaj). Kao drugo, na dugi rok, bitkoin da bi bio dobar čuvar vrijednosti, ljudi moraju trajno da nastave da mu pripisuju visoku vrijednost, i čitava mašinerija majnera i nodova mora da nastavi u nedogled, danonoćno da radi i troši struju, samo da bi bitkoin uopšte nastavio da postoji. To ga čini veoma, veoma, krhkim na dugi rok, i to znači da je on, recimo, u odnosu na zlato, na dugi rok, neuporedivo lošiji čuvar vrijednosti. Zlato jednom kad imaš, imaš ga... ne treba mu nikakvo održavanje, ne mora postojati čitava skupa i energetski intenzivna infrastruktura da ga podržava. Zlato je samodovoljno. Osim toga, zlato ima i određenu intrinzičku vrijednost koja znači da nikad neće biti besplatno, sve i kad bi se ljudi odlučili da štede u nečemu drugom. Zlato je faktički rijetko i dragocijeno i ne traži nikakvo održavanje. Bitkoin sve to nije. Nema nikakvu intrinzičku vrijednost, i sva mu vrijednost dolazi od one vrijednosti koju mu ljudi pripisuju. Pritom zahtijeva konstantno energetski intenzivno održavanje. I na kraju čemu sve to? Da bi ponudilo neku finansijsku uslugu lošeg kvaliteta, bez osiguranja, sa redovnim padovima od 80% itd... Ljudi budite ozbiljni. Niko zapravo ne drži bitkoin radi štednje i kao neki čuvar vrijednosti. Zvanični value proposition (store of value, digital gold), je obmana i šarena laža. Međutim, postoji PRAVI, nezvanični value proposition kod bitkoina, a to je "number goes up". To je JEDINI PRAVI RAZLOG ZAŠTO LJUDI ZAPRAVO KUPUJU BITKOIN. Taj value proposition, koji bismo mogli nazvati raznim imenima kao što su "number goes up", "to the moon", ili prosto "moon narrative" je osnovni razlog zašto ljudi kupuju bitkoin. A on ne može da traje vječno. Da bi raniji investitori mogli da nastave da profitiraju i da se bogate, moraju stalno ulaziti novi investitori i ulagati sve veće i veće količine novca. To funkcioniše kao piramidalna ili ponci šema (Iako se ne radi o bukvalnoj ponci prevari). Što je veća cijena bitkoina, to su veći ulozi potrebni da bi se ona mogla nastaviti pumpati. Već vidimo da je svaki novi četvorogodišnji ciklus sve slabiji i slabiji od onih prethodnih. Rast je sve sporiji. Bliži se trenutak u kome više niko neće vjerovati pričama da je još rano "We're so early", niti da se neko novi ko sad ulazi u to sve, od toga zaista može obogatiti. Samim tim "moon narrative" postaje sve manje i manje kredibilan. A kad moon narrativ padne, pada i bitkoin, jer je on zapravo sve vrijeme i bio njegov jedini pravi value proposition. Bitkoin nije dobar čuvar vrijednosti, nije user friendly, ne pruža nikakvo osiguranje, i niko ga ne bi kupovao bez tog moon narrativa, jer postoje mnogo bolji finansijski proizvodi koji omogućavaju mnogo brže i jeftinije transakcije, koje su pritom osigurane, i bolji store of value.

Dakle kao zaključak, bitkoin će ili uspijeti ili propasti. Ako uspije, izvjesno je da će dovesti do distopije, ekstremne nejednakosti i do mnogo lošijeg stanja ekonomije nego što je to danas slučaj.

Ipak, mislim da je mnogo veća šansa da će propasti jer je njegov jedini pravi value proposition, a to je moon narrative, matematički i fizički neodrživ, a postoje mnogo bolje alternative, ako gledamo na bitkoin kao na neku pravu finansijsku uslugu.

U tom padu bitkoina, neki će izaći na vrijeme, biti u plusu, neće biti trauma, neki će izaći prekasno, izgubiće dosta, neki će ući onda kad treba izaći, pa će izgubiti sve, itd... U svakom slučaju, to će biti dosta nezgodan period za vlasnike, i dovešće do mnogo razočarenja. Ali kad se to sve završi, svijet će postati malo mudriji i iskusniji, i ostavićemo iza sebe još jednu veliku finansijsku iluziju, koja je potencijalno mogla dovesti i do velike distopije.

Odgovori

@BTCSRB: Odgovoriću kratko samo na deo o navodnom negativnom uticaju na ekonomiju iz razloga što ljudi ne žele da troše novac kojem vremenom raste vrednost. Ovo je lažna ekonomska dilema. Zašto? Zato što se ova dilema postavlja samo ako imate previše fiat novca. Ako je jedini novac koji imate Bitkoin (što bi u slučaju hipotetičkog scenarija da je BTC glavna svetska valuta bila uobičajena praksa), ova dilema praktično ne postoji jer bi onda po definiciji stvari morali da trošite.

Jer ako je BTC sve što imate, onda nije dilema da li treba da trošite BTC već da li UOPŠTE treba da trošite?

Logika trošenja Bitkoina

Što se tiče nejednakosti raspodele Bitkoina, mislim da će biti prosvetljujuće da pročitaš ovaj tekst.

Da li je raspodela Bitkoina pravična?

Ako imamo novac rođen na slobodnom tržištu, u slobodnom društvu, koji treba da zameni fiat novac, onda on ne može biti ravnomerno raspoređen od samog početka dok istovremeno svi ljudi cene njegovu vrednost – nužno mora proći kroz period kada ga samo nekolicina ljudi vrednuje.

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hn-mc: Zato po meni bitkoin i nema legitimitet.

Ako se pravi neka nova valuta, treba da svi mogu na početku da je kupe po istom kursu, i da svi istovremeno pređu na nju, kao što su Švabe zamjenile marku evrom, po fiksnom kursu.

Rađanje novca na slobodnom tržištu nije normalna stvar. Novac su uvijek ili plasirale države, ili je on bio prirodan, koji je već imao neku prirodnu raspodjelu, tipa začini, so, zlato, srebro.

A praviti vještački novac, i da pritom ti nisi nikakva vlast, i nuditi ga na početku nekima praktično za džabe, a da ga kasniji neki plaćaju sa 100.000 USD i više, to za moj pojam nema legitimitet da bude novac.

To mi više liči na skupljenje znački ili poštanskih markica, koje mogu igrom slučaja kod kolekcionara da dosegnu astronomsku vrijednost.

Nadam se da kontaš da nije normalno, da se neka nova valuta uspostavlja na način da se ljudi na nju prebacuju po ekstremno različitim uslovima.

Po meni da bi kripto imao neki legitimitet, mora postojati duži period na početku, tokom koga mora biti svima omogućeno da dobiju istu količinu, ili makar da plate po istoj cijeni, znači da uđu po istim uslovima.

Zato mi je recimo onaj projekat worldcoin dobar po pitanju raspodjele, jer bi tu svako dobio na početku istu količinu. Druga je stvar što mi se ne sviđa to što skeniraju oči, s tim distopijskim forama su upropastili dobru ideju po pitanju distribucije.

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@BTCSRB: O svemu što si nabrojao su Bitkoineri odavno već diskutovali. Taj tekst sam danas preveo upravo zbog tvojih navoda. Taj hipotetički scenario je takođe razrađen u tekstu (koji evidentno nisi pročitao), šta bi se desilo kada bi svi istovremeno prešli na njega po istom kursu ali da ne postoji obaveza držanja i plaćanja poreza u tom novcu kao što je to slučaj sa fiat novcem (nemačkom markom)?

"Šta će se desiti? Neki ljudi će ga visoko vrednovati, a neki neće – ljudi koji ga visoko vrednuju kupiće ga od onih koji ga ne vrednuju. I šta nam onda ostaje? Mali deo sveta koji veruje u ovaj novac i sada poseduje većinu ponude.

Čekajte, zar nije upravo to slučaj sa Bitkoinom? Zar se ljudi nisu baš zbog toga žalili?

Kada je Bitkoin u pitanju, većina nas je imala otprilike jednak pristup početnim novčićima. Svi su mogli da rudare, a novčići su u početku bili gotovo bezvredni. Rani korisnici su trgovali troškovima električne struje, svojim vremenom i trudom u zamenu za novoizrudarene bitkoine."

Dakle, opet bismo došli na isto zato što bi ponovo veći deo novčića završio u rukama manjine koja je najviše u njega verovala.

Ponovo citiram:

"Drugim rečima, ponuditi ravnomernu raspodelu od samog početka je suštinski isto kao i ponuditi podjednake šanse za sticanje bitkoina.

Ako imamo novac rođen na slobodnom tržištu, u slobodnom društvu, koji treba da zameni fiat novac – onda on ne može biti ravnomerno raspodeljen od početka, a da ga svi ljudi istovremeno vrednuju. Neminovno mora proći kroz period kada ga samo nekolicina ljudi vrednuje."

Dakle, kako god okreneš, koliko god svima podelio istu količinu na početku, neminovno će doći do koncentracije vlasništva jer je nemoguće da svi vrednuju novi novac na isti način.

Da li se tebi čini nenormalnim da novac nastane na slobodnom tržištu je potpuno subjektivno.Činjenica je da se tako nešto sa Bitkoinom desilo, a ne da li je "normalno". A ni BTC nije prvi takav slučaj u istoriji jer su se neke druge stvari koristile kao novac pre zlata pa ih je zlato na slobodnom tržištu potisnulo kao kvalitetniji novac. Sami ljudi su prvi koristili zlato kao novac, tek nakon toga su vladari urezali svoj lik na kovanice i izdavali ih, a ne obrnuto. Oni koji su batalili perle i među prvima prešli na zlato su svakako mnogo bolje prošli od onih koji su tvrdoglavo držali perle do samog kraja.

Bitkoin niko nikome nije nudio "za džabe" pošto centralni izdavalac ne postoji, već je svako morao da ga rudari i da potroši određenu količinu energije. Zašto ti i ja nismo rudarili kada smo prvi put čuli za BTC? BTC košta koliko košta zato što se, kao što si i sam rekao, nalazi u fazi monetizacije pa je prirodno su rani korisnici profitirali više od kasnijih korisnika. Takav je slučaj istorijski bio i sa zlatom, npr. Kina je mnogo izgubila što se tvrdoglavo držala srebra kada su gotovo sve države usvojile zlatni standard.

I to zlato je krenulo kao "collectible" i nije odmah postalo novac već je imalo svoj razvojni put: 1) kolekcionarski predmet, 2) skladište vrednosti, 3) sredstvo razmene, 4) obračunska jedinica. Po mom dubokom uverenju se BTC nalazi u fazi broj 2.

To sa Worldcoinom je viđeno i kod nas: koliko ljudi još uvek drži one besplatne akcije Telekoma, NIS-a, Aerodoroma itd. Tako se npr. pokojni najbogatiji Čeh Petr Kelner obogatio jer je devedesetih otkupljivao vaučere tokom tamošnje privatizacije koje je u to vreme malo ko vrednovao, kao i važnost i buduću vrednost akcija tih preduzeća.

Worldcoin se, uprkos "pravičnoj distribuciji" nalazi na -90% od svoje rekordne vrednosti uz oko 1.6 milijardi novčića u opticaju što je samo mali deo ukupne buduće količine od 10 milijardi jedinica. Šta je dakle sa preostalim novčićima, kome će oni biti podeljeni i kako? Inflacija ponude tek predstoji pošto će se količina tog novčića u opticaju i više nego ušestostručiti. Zašto Wordlcoin ili neki drugi kripto nije dostigao ni blizu vrednosti Bitkoina ako je suština u "pravičnoj i ravnomernoj raspodeli"? Čak i Ethereum se na početku rudario i nije bio ravnomerno raspoređen pa je i dalje druga najvrednija kriptovaluta.

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hn-mc: Fora je u tome što prelazak na novu valutu treba da bude javna i široko poznata stvar. 2009. niko nije znao za bitkoin osim malobrojne zajednice entuzijasta.

Takođe što se tiče ovoga "šta bi se desilo kada bi svi istovremeno prešli na njega po istom kursu ali da ne postoji obaveza držanja i plaćanja poreza u tom novcu kao što je to slučaj sa fiat novcem (nemačkom markom)?" - tvoj odgovor na to pitanje nije tačan iz prostog razlog što ako bi SVI na to prešli po istim uslovima, znači da bi on od starta imao većinsku podršku, i SVI ti koji su ušli po istim uslovima bi ga prilično jednako i vrednovali. Ne bi on tada završio u rukama neke manjine koja ga više vrednuje kao što ti pretpostavljaš.

Jer ljudi da nisu vjerovali u njega, ne bi ni prelazili na njega, prosto jednostavno.

Ja uvođenje neke alternativne valute koja bi bila ozbiljna i legitimna, zamišljam na način da se to unapred najavi, dobro izreklamira, da ljudi znaju za to, i da možda čak ima i neku instutucionalnu podršku na međunarodnom nivou, ako ne samih Ujedinjenih nacija, barem neke jake i kredibilne međunarodne organizacije, npr. Transparency International, ili nešto tog tipa. I taj period ulaska po istim uslovima bi morao trajati bar godinu dana, što bi vodilo stabilizovanju cijene.

E onda, nakon toga, kad ta godina prođe, naravno da bi došlo postepeno do fluktuacija cijene i raslojavanja, ali tad to ne bi bio problem, jer bi se moglo zaista pošteno reći da su svi ušli po približno istim uslovima, i bili obavješteni na vrijeme, i znali o čemu se radi, što kod bitkoina uopšte nije bio slučaj.

Npr. zbog odsustva regulative, nedostupnosti kripto berzi kod nas, itd... sve do 2015. kod nas je bilo to vrlo teško kupiti. Što se rudarenja tiče, na početku si morao za početak znati da to uopšte postoji. A čim se to malo proširilo više nisi mogao to raditi na običnom računaru, znači morao si raditi neka ulaganja ozbiljnija ako oćeš da rudariš.

Bitkoineri inače vole da pišu dugačke tekstove radi odbrane bitkoina, zaista se trude, i skidam im kapu na tome, ali neke stvari su prosto neodržive, i neodbranjive. Možeš prosto da kažeš, prihvatam to tako kako je, nemam s tim neki problem, moja je odluka da u to ulažem i kraj priče. I na to svak ima pravo, i ne mogu ja to nikome osporiti.

Ali imam i ja pravo da kritikujem.

I što se ovog tiče "Bitkoin niko nikome nije nudio "za džabe" pošto centralni izdavalac ne postoji, već je svako morao da ga rudari i da potroši određenu količinu energije."

U pravu su tehnički, ali praktično, neki su na osnovu sreće ili pravovremenih informacija mogli da ga dobiju mnogo ranije od nekih drugih...

Znači bitkoin nije ponudio do kraja čak ni "equality of opportunities", iako zagovornici tvrde da jeste. A sve i da jeste - to nije NI BLIZU rezultiralo onim što Englezi zovu "equality of outcomes"

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@BTCSRB: A ko bi predložio, najavio ili naredio prelazak na novu valutu? I zašto? Ljudi koji kontrolišu svetski finansijski sistem sigurno nemaju interes da pokrenu tako nešto, a i da imaju, to bi radili isključivo zarad sopstvene koristi a ne radi dobrobiti čovečanstva (npr. prelazak na CBDC).

Prelazak na novu valutu istovremeno pod istim uslovima jednostavno nije moguć bez nekog vida prisile. Kao što se kaže u tekstu - nemoguće je da ga od starta svi podjednako vrednuju bez nekog oblika prinude. Dakle ostaje jedini način da takav novac iznedri slobodno tržište, a BTC je iznedren na način na kakav je iznedren. Spontano i organski kao "grassroot movement". I kao takav je neutralan, etički novac sa najboljim karakteristikama u poređenju sa svim drugim oblicima novca koje imamo.

Ljudi koji su verovali u njega su prešli na njega; oni koji nisu, nisu ni prešli. Prosto i jednostavno. Ali takvi sada kukaju što se njihova imovina obezvređuje prema BTC, a krivi su im Bitkoineri koji su prešli pre njih?! Isti Bitkoineri koji godinama na sva usta ukazuju na BTC dok su sve to vreme ismevani, vređani, cancellovani! Ako se neko ideološki ne slaže sa nastankom BTC-a ili njegovom distribucijom, nejednakošću bogatstva, sujetom zbog toga što misli da je zakasnio - to ga neće spasiti od neminovnog gubitka kupovne moći zato što nije prihvatio bolji novac. Isto kao što su srednjevekovni vitezovi možda mrzeli barut i vatreno oružje smatrajući ih neviteškim sredstvima ratovanja ali ih to nije spasilo od uništenja od strane onih koji su prihvatili barut kao superiornu tehnologiju

Ko bi najavio novu valutu, ko bi finansirao njeno reklamiranje i marketing? Da li zaista misliš da bi se međunarodne organizacije koje se nalaze pod kontrolom vladajućeg finansijskog establišmenta založile za neku novu valutu koja bi im ugrozila moć?

Zapitaj sebe kada si saznao za Bitkoin i koliko je vremena prošlo od tada? Zašto ga nisu kupio, zašto ga i danas ne kupuješ i šta ćeš misliti o današnjem trenutku i ovoj diskusiji kada jednog dna bude vredeo 1M USD? Da li ti se čini da je rano ako posmatraš u tom kontekstu? Ili samo posmatraš u kontekstu da si zakasnio jer ga nisi kupio na 100 USD ili 1000 USD? I opet vas nešto sprečava da počnete sa nekom štednjom u njemu, samo nemoj posle da bude da vam nismo pričali i kako nije fer.

BTC je po svemu superiorniji oblik novca od zlata, a ima trž. kapitalizaciju od oko 2T USD naspram zlata sa 22T USD. To ti je jedan od znakova pored puta gde ova stvar ide i da li je rano ili kasno.

Inače domaća menjačnica ECD postoji od 2012. godine, toliko o tome da li je u Srbiji bilo teško nabaviti ga.

Inače postoji zabluda o tome da su se rani korisnici nesrazmerno obogatili. Znaš i sam da je ogroman broj prerano prodao i izgubio ključeve i pristup novčićima. Uostalom, zašto bih se poredio sa drugima? Skidam kapu svima koji su ušli i razumeli stvar pre mene, od takvih sam i učio, ti rani korisnici su pisali prve vodiče, snimali podkaste, držali predavanja i predavali baklju sledećoj generaciji Bitkoinera. Nemam ni trunke zavisti prema njima, samo poštovanje i zahvalnost.

Možda i jedina stvar koju većinu ljudi deli od Bitkoina je ponajviše sujeta i čisto poricanje realnosti. Tek onda dolazi nezainteresovanost, neradoznalost ili tehnička nepotkovanost. Ali Bitkoineri nikad neće moći da kažu da nisu dali sve od sebe, pa ko razume - razume.

“If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry.”

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hn-mc: Nisam ja za btc saznao juče, pa da sad iz neke zavisti kukam kako su ga neki dobili skoro za dž, a sad ove nove generacije moraju plaćati 100k. Mada ni takvo razmišljanje ne bi bilo sasvim bez osnova, ako uzmeš npr. često ponavljanu mantru da "svako dobija bitkoin po cijeni koju je zaslužio". Ta mantra mi je, iskreno, mnogo arogantna i antipatična, jer ona potpuno ignoriše to, da mnogi nisu imali posla i para za ulaganje dok je bitkoin bio jeftiniji, ili su bili djeca, ili nisu ni rođeni. Ignoriše se mogućnost stvaranja određene gerontokratije u budućnosti, gdje bi stara generacija, koje je to prva kupila po povoljnijim cijenama imala disproporcionalnu moć u odnosu na nove generacije, koje nisu tad mogle ni fizički da ga kupe, jer ih prosto nije bilo. Ignoriše se mogućnost stvaranja te tako neke aristokratije ili oligarhije, gdje bi u budućnosti ekonomski položaj nekog djeteta zavio od toga koliko mu je ćale nekad uštekao bitkoina. To bitkoineri slave kroz još jednu mantru "generational wealth", a meni to više liči na zasnivanje prilično distopijskog sistema veliki ekonomske nejednakosti koji dosta podsjeća na feudalizam - u njemu bi imao novu klasu bitkoin "plemića".

Za bitkoin sam saznao 2013. i na samom početku sam njime bio fasciniran. Donekle sam prihvatao većinu talking pointsa i value proposition-a.

Međutim, malo-pomalo počeo sam uviđati mračnu stranu cijele stvari. (u šta spada to koliko je cijeli kripto svijet preplavljen raznim scamovima, koliko je cijela zajednica izuzetno alava na pare i materijalisitčki nastrojena - lambo, to the moon, etc... postoji to neko implicitno obećanje lakog bogaćenja i rješavanja svih finansijskih problema, postoji toksični antagonizam između bitkoinera i altkoinera (npr. zato što samo postojanje altkoina podriva narativ bitkoina o scarcity-ju - ako neko može da napravi sličan ili još bolji alternativni koin koji se takmiči na istom tržištu sa bitkoinom, onda to što je sam bitkoin "zakucan" na 21 milion gubi relevantnost), uvidio sam koliko mentalitet samog štekanja (hodl) smanjuje podsticaj za realne, produktivne investicije, što bi bilo loše za ekonomiju, koliko se plasiraju razni nerealistički narativi radi propagande. Proučio sam malo o zlatnom standardu i zašto je bio loš i kako je možda doprinio velikoj ekonomskoj krizi, a tu digitalno zlato iako bi bilo možda zgodnije za upotrebu, suštinski se ne bi razlikovalo od pravog, i imalo bi jednako loš efekat na ekonomiju... Naučio sam da je Austrijska škola diskreditovana od strane svih ozbiljnijih ekonomista. Uvidio sam koje su opasnosti od deflacije. Vidio sam koliko je nejednakost ogromna... čak i ako je do nje došlo na pošten način, to je i dalje problem - jer kako god da je do toga došlo, šta ti da radiš sa svijetom u kojem manjina ima skoro sve, a svi ostali ništa, ili mrvice. Pogotovo kad zavlada AI, pa ta većina više ne bude mogla ni da zaradi nešto svojim radom, itd... Mnogo tu ima stvari koje mi nisu baš "legle". Kasnije sam čitao i to da je većina ulagača u bitkoin na kraju završila u minusu. Uvidio sam dinamiku ciklusa gdje većina običnih ljudi bude "ošišana". Niko im nije "kriv", ali jednostavno običan čovjek niti je dovoljno finansijski jak i stabilan da se održi u tom svijetu, niti ima dovoljno ekspertize i samokontrole. Zato retail investitori ulaze kad je hajp, prodaju kad padne cijena, a whale-ovi rade pametno, tj. obrnuto od toga, ili rade DCA. Takva dinamika dovodi do sve veće i veće koncentracije bogatstva i do bogaćenja whale-ova na račun "sitnih riba". Krupna riba jede sitnu ribu. Znači cijeli taj svijet je prilično anarhičan, gdje najjači opstaju, nema zaštite potrošača, itd... Ko je već bogat, može uložiti nešto u to i da zaboravi na to, ne sikira se. A dosta sirotinje uloži MNOGO, jer se nada da će ih to izvući iz neke dubioze, a onda kad cijena krene da pada, prodaju s gubitkom, jer ne mogu sebi da priušte totalni gubitak. Draže im je da padnu za 20% nego za 50%. Ali i 20% je gubitak, i na takvim gubicima, većina naroda gubi od kripta, a dovoljno jaki, disciplinovani, i prije svega bogati, se bogate od cijele stvari. I ne vidim da će nešto moći značajno da promijeni tu dinamiku.

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@BTCSRB: Ta mantra o ceni Bitkoina i zaslugama je nastala kao odgovor na još arogantnije i antipatične ismevanja, nipodaštavanjai netačne i neutemeljene tvrdnje Bitkoin skeptika tokom godina koje su uporno ponavljali na mnogo nižim cenama i time učinili veliku finansijsku štetu ljudima koji su ih slušali (a možda bi u nekom trenutku kupili BTC) dok se BTC penjao na ove visine.

Pre nego što kritikuješ potencijalni "Bitkoin feudalni sistem", morao bi da sagledaš i kritikuješ postojeći finansijski sistem i zapitaš se da li ono čega se plašiš u BTC sistemu već postoji u fiat sistemu? Da li postoji manjina sa nesrazmernim bogatstvom? Koliko se njihovo bogatstvo uvećalo od kovida? A koliko od svetske finansijske krize 2008? Da li neko čiji je pradeda povoljno kupio zemljište na Menhetnu, Malibuu, Monte Karlu, Zlatiboru, Dedinju... Da li se tada radilo o "gerontokratiji" koja ima nesrazmernu moć u odnosu na današnje generacije? Dok ja i ti možda živimo u kutiji šibica od 40 ili 50 kvadrata? Koliki procenat ljudi danas drži koliki procenat društvenog bogatstva?

Ispada da ti braniš status quo koji mora da ostane zacementiran i koji nijedna nova generacija putem otkrićem novih tehnologija ne sme da ugrozi? Kao da je postojeći status quo bila pravična raspodela društvenog bogatstva (hint: nije, daleko od toga) i da više ne sme doći do društvene raspodele? Pritom pojava Bitkoina ne onemogućava postojeću dominantnu klasu da učestvuje u toj novoj raspodeli pošto i oni imaju jednake šanse da uzmu deo tog novog novca za sebe kao što takvu istu šansu ima neki obični pripadnik srednje klase?

Reći da postojanje Bitkoina podriva narativ o oskudnosti Bitkoina je isto što i reći da postojanje gomile automobilskih marki podriva narativ o kvalitetu Mercedesa ili Audija?! Ili da postojanje brojnih drugih metala i njihovih legura podriva narativ o retkosti zlata?! Udeo Bitkoina u celokupnom kripto tržištu je oko 65% tako da i brojke taj narativ veoma efikasno opovrgavaju zato što se izrazita većina tržišta jasno opredelila koja je kripto-imovina najkvalitetnija i najpouzdanija. Da li bi nastanak na stotine novih krš automobilskih marki podrio narativ o kvalitetu Mercedesa? Isto tako nastanak desetina hiljada šitkoina ne može podriti legitimnost Bitkoina.

Bogaćenje putem Bitkoina niti je lako niti je on cilj. Cilj je bio da se izbace treće strane iz elektronskih plaćanja i da se očuva kupovna moć novca time što bi on imao fiksnu količinu. Takođe i da taj novi monetarni sistem bude otporan na korupciju i kontrolu centralnog autoriteta. Sve ove funkcije Bitkoin radi izuzetno uspešno.

Meni kao slobodnom pojedincu NE TREBA nikakav podsticaj da trošim ili investiram, ja sam suvereni pojedinac koji zna šta je u mom najboljem interesu. A ponajmanje ću prihvatiti da me neko "podstiče" da trošim i investiram time što će mi erodirati kupovnu moć novca. Na stranu što je to besmisleno zato što je svako prinuđen da troši da bi mogao da preživi tako da i Bitkoineri itekako troše i investiraju, samo što će donositi mnogo racionalnije i proračunatije ekonomske odluke. Zašto da investiram u neku firmu koja ima projektovani rast 5% godišnje ako do BTC-a očekujem rast 10%? Jednoga dana će stope rasta BTC-a biti mnogo manje nego danas pa će vremenom biti lakše naći isplative investicije koje će mi zapravo uvećavati kapital denominiran u Bitkoinu. Tada će Bitkoineri biti više nego srećni da investiraju. Ti ako se toliki altruista i toliko brineš za ekonomiju slobodno investiraj fiat ali baci nekada pogled na vrednost svog kapitala izraženu kroz BTC i da li se ona uvećava ili smanjuje. ;).

Što se tiče zlata i ekonomskih kriza, može da se gleda i sa druge strane. FED je napravljen 1913, zar ti se ne čini možda da su oni odgovorni za Veliku depresiju 1929. i da li se period koji je tome prethodio zvao "roaring twenties" zahvaljujući zlatu ili jeftinom kapitalu koje su potpomogle novoformirane Federalne Rezerve?

Šta ima loše u deflaciji i u tome da cene vremenom padaju umesto da rastu čineći život običnom čoveku sve težim? Deflacija je loša samo po poverioce zato što će u jednom trenutku dužnici koji sada štede u čvrstoj valuti vratiti dug pa će siroti kamataši izgubiti klijenta. Onda se neće zaduživati da bi investirali ili kupovali već će to raditi iz akumulirane štednje. Svaka inflacija je pljačka, ako je rast produktivnosti 5% uz istu inflaciju, neko ti je ukrao 5% kupovne moći koju bi uvećao samim razvojem tehnologije koji je suštinski deflatoran. Deflacija je neizbežna, pa kalkulator je sada besplatan zato što su njegovi troškovi prozivodnje pali na nulu, samim tim i njegov cena.

Kako je moguće da je BTC blizu ATH, a da je većina ljudi izgubila? izgubili su samo oni koji su prodali zato što nisu znali šta poseduju. Ko se pravilno informisao i nije slušao Pitera Šifa, Krugmana ili Taleba pa je držao bilo koji period duži od 4 godine, taj je uvećao kupovnu moć. Ja nisam ni whale niti neka krupna riba niti radim za neku extra platu, samo sam dobro proučio materiju, znao šta posedujem, trošio manje od zarađenog, radio DCA, čuvao i čekao da vreme odradi svoje. Tako da mi niko ne može reći da to ne može svako ko ima bar malo finansijske pismenosti i samodiscipline kada je trošenje u pitanju.

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hn-mc: Što se tiče sadašnjeg sistema on je loš u smislu nejednakosti, ali je problem u tome što bi hiperbitkoinizacija dovela do još veće nejednakosti. Ako kritikuješ sadašnji sistem, a nudiš još gori, onda je ta kritika isprazni whataboutizam.

Štampanje para (i pored Kantilon efekta o kome bitkoineri vole da govore), ipak donekle dovodi i do razređivanja bogatstva i do neke redistribucije. Jer te nove pare ko dobija? Često dobiju ljudi koji nemaju, a treba, im npr. ljudi koji dignu kredit za stan, ili npr. penzioneri, državni službenici, itd... Povećanjem ukupne količine novca, udio starih vlasnika u ukupnom bogatstvu se smanjuje i cijeli sistem postaje više protočan, dinamičniji, ne toliko statičan.

S druge strane u bitkoin svijetu, bukvalno mentalitet je takav da se svi ustreme kao kobci na tih 21 milion, nastoje to da razgrabe, i da onda drže do daljnjeg i nikom ne daju. Bukvalno kao kad klejmuješ zemlju i kažeš "MOJE". Imaš ti bitkoinaških glava koji su u fazonu, nikad neću trošiti svoj bitkoin, ako mi trebaju pare, diću kredit, a koristiti bitkoin kao kolateralu. Ono u fazonu, buy, borrow, die.

A prije smrti, prenesi na potomstvo, da se tako nastavi bitkoin dinastija.

Ovdje griješiš:

Pritom pojava Bitkoina ne onemogućava postojeću dominantnu klasu da učestvuje u toj novoj raspodeli pošto i oni imaju jednake šanse da uzmu deo tog novog novca za sebe kao što takvu istu šansu ima neki obični pripadnik srednje klase?

Apsolutno netačno. Naravno da će postojeći milijarderi imati neuporedivo veću šansu da postanu i bitkoin vejlovi i da ih bole kurci ako btc padne i 80%, neće prodati, jer im je btc, samo 1% njihovog basnoslovnog bogatstva. Ti misliš da ta redistribucija ide u korist sirotinje, što je potpuno netačno. Kao što sam već pisao, sitne ribe uglavnom (čast izuzecima) propadaju u tom btc ekosistemu u bivaju ošišane.

Postojeći sistem se makar razrjeđuje štampanjem i dinamičniji je, a btc je statičan, zacementiran i ispunjen vrlo čudnim mentalitetom.

Šta ima loše u deflaciji?

To što djeluje destimulativno na investicije i na potrošnju. Samo to. Taj efekat možda nije toliko veliki - neće ljudi prestati da troše, daleko od toga. Ali efekat svakako postoji.

A što se tiče kupovne moći sama inflacija i deflacija su potpuno irelevantne. Bitno je da li plate prate rast ili pad cijena.

Uprkos mitu da plate ne prate rast cijena, one to itekako prate i čak rastu brže. Jer kako bi drugačije objasnio ipak evidentan rast standarda tokom godina?

Ako bi bilo istina ono što ljudi koji šire paniku o inflaciji pričaju, s vremenom bi standard bio sve gori, jer bi cijene rasle brže od plata. A to ipak nije slučaj. Uporedi kako se sad živi, i kako se živjelo prije 20 godina. A pregurali smo i SEKU i Covid, pa se opet živi bolje nego ranije.

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BTCSRB: "Povećanjem ukupne količine novca, udio starih vlasnika u ukupnom bogatstvu se smanjuje i cijeli sistem postaje više protočan, dinamičniji, ne toliko statičan."

Ovde sam prestao da čitam. Ovo nije prva činjenična neistina koju si izneo ali je najpokvarenija. Naravno da su u poslednjih 50 godina bogatiji postali još bogatiji, a siromašni još siromašniji. Naravno da je 1% na vrhu uvećalo svoje bogatstvo više od ostalih 99%.

Samo si pokazao da ne znaš puno o ekonomiji, a još manje o Bitkoinu.

Uostalom nije ni bitno, vreme će pokazati ko je u pravu kao što je pokazao i period od prethodnih 16 godina.

Poenta je da šta god vi opsesivno-kompulzivni protivnici Bitkoina uradili, prosto nemate načina da sprečite nekoga da koristi novac koji želi i za koji misli da je bolji i da razmenjuje vrednost sa ostalim korisnicima tog novca.

Vi ste zapravo štetočine jer nećete nijednog Bitkoinera prevesti nazad ali ćete ogroman broj ljudi odvratiti od prelaska na BTC dok se nalazi u fazi monetizacije, dakle samo im nanosite štetu čak iako mislite da to radite iz najbolje namere.

BTC je odavno dostigao "escape velocity" pa je vaše mišljenje po sudbinu Bitkoina potpuno irelevantno ali je itekako relevantno u negativnom smislu po ljude koji vas slušaju.

Neka svako iz ove diskusije izvuče svoje zaključke i neka bude svestan posledica (ne)prihvatanja novog superiornog oblika novca u fazi monetizacije.

hn-mc: Ja sam doskora mislio da će bitkoin zaista uspijeti i doseći te lude vrijednosti o kojima se priča - milion, pet miliona, ko zna. Mislio sam da mu je ta trajektorija zagarantovana i da to ništa neće spriječiti. To je prosto determinizam. I iskreno, prilično sam se plašio toga, jer sam smatrao da bi to bio poprilično distopijski ishod.

Konto sam, bitkoin će uspijeti, ali to neće biti dobro za svijet, za društvo i za ekonomiju. Naravno, biće i više nego dobro za one koji ga imaju.

To mi je bio stav.

A onda sam skonto da će bitkoin, vjerovatno ipak propasti, pa samim tim ti moji strahovi od distopije postaju manje relevantni.

Zašto mislim da će propasti?

Prosto zato što mu je neophodan konstantan brzi rast, da bi se održao, a konstantan brzi rast je prosto nemoguć na dugi rok.

Brzi, jak rast je neophodan da bi se održale tri stvari koje su od vitalnog značaja za bitkoin:

1. Moon narativ kao jedini pravi value proposition.
2. Isplativost majninga kao nešto što je neophodno za bezbednost mreže.
3. Jeftinoća transakcija.

Bez jakog rasta, uz stalne halvinge, majning postaje manje isplativ, mreža time manje bezbedna, transakcije postaju skuplje, jer kako drugačije majneri da zarade, istovremeno pada u vodu moon narativ koji je većini jedini pravi razlog za kupovinu.

Kad bitkoin postane "samo" store of value, ili neki standardni instrument štednje bez moon narativa, malo ko će imati motiva da ga kupi, jer su u svrhu obične, regularne štednje, bez moon narativa, zlato i državne obveznice mnogo bolji instrument, a indeksni fond uz to pruža i mnogo veći potencijal za zaradu, kao što i treba da bude (da se nagradi investiranje, a ne pasivno držanje kapitala).

Dakle, za opstanak bitkoina neophodan je jak, brz rast.

A ako uzmemo zadnjih par ciklusa, vidimo da se taj rast sve više usporava, i to se usporava još brže od nekih prognoza. Npr. za prošli ciklus prognoza je bila 100k - 200k, a on došao samo do 69k. Sad za ovaj ciklus opet se spominje 200k, a veliko je pitanje da li će doći i do 150k. Po meni je realno do 130k.

Šta to onda govori o ciklusima. Ako u odnosu na prošli ovaj nije napravio ni 2x rasta, onda za naredni možemo očekivati možda tek, 1.5x. Znači ako sad bude 130k, onda možda 2029. bude 195k...

Takav tempo rasta, toliko usporavanje, postaće uskoro nedovoljno, i bitkoin će postati neodrživ.

---

hn-mc: BTW, svjestan sam da ako bitkoin uspije, mogu teoretski biti "štetočina" spram onih koji me slušaju, ali je veća šansa da će im čak i u tom slučaju moj savjet biti koristan - jer praksa je pokazala da je većina investitora dosad završila u minusu iz ovih ili onih razloga. To su prosto sirovi podaci.

To da nećeš izgubiti pare ako držiš duže od 4 godine dosad se pokazalo kao tačno, ali ni to nije zagarantovano u budućnosti.

A veliki broj ljudi iz nekog razloga proda ranije.

barrons.com/news/three-out-of-four-bitcoin-investors-have-lost-money-study-01668454507

Evo ti članak, kaže 75% ljudi koji se "bakćalo" s bitkoinom, završili u minusu.

Samo držanje bitkoina za mnoge ljude je stres jer nemaju povjerenja u to, i ako vide da nema brzog rasta, neće da drže svoj kapital u nečem tako rizičnom. Sa berze koini mogu nestati, ne bi bilo prvi put. Onlajn wallet može biti lažni, ili hakovan. Hardware wallet je dodatna investicija i za mnoge ljude too technical, itd...

Ja sam imao nekad nešto malo btc-a i dok sam imao to u btc-u ja sam smatrao da te pare NEMAM. Dok god ne vratiš to u keš koji ti je dostupan na računu, računaš da ih nemaš, jer nikad nisi 100% siguran da će svi koraci proći kako treba do samog kraja kad ti to legne na račun. Može ti hakovat, možeš se zajebat poslat na pogrešnu adresu, može te zajebat kriptomjenjačnica, svašta može bit.

Tek kad sam prodao i kad mi je leglo na račun, skonto sam da sam zaradio nešto i da je to realno.

@ 9f2b5b64:e811118f

testingggg

@ 0403c86a:66d3a378

The Club World Cup 2025 is set to be a spectacular global football event, debuting in the USA from June 14 to July 13, 2025. This new format brings together 32 top club teams from all six FIFA confederations, showcasing the best of world club football in a month-long tournament.

---

🏆 Tournament Basics

• Dates: June 14 – July 13, 2025
• Host: United States of America
• Number of Teams: 32 clubs
• Confederations Represented: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), Concacaf (North & Central America), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania), UEFA (Europe)
• Format:
• Group Stage: 8 groups of 4 teams, single round-robin
• Top 2 teams per group advance to Round of 16 knockout
• Single-match knockout from Round of 16 to Final
• No third-place playoff

---

🏟️ Venues Across the USA

The tournament will be played in 12 stadiums across major US cities:

• MetLife Stadium – New York/New Jersey (Final venue)
• Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL (Opening match venue)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA
• TQL Stadium – Cincinnati, OH
• Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
• Rose Bowl Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
• GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN
• Camping World Stadium – Orlando, FL
• Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL
• Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
• Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
• Audi Field – Washington, D.C.

---

👥 Group stage

Group A

SE Palmeiras (BRA) FC Porto (POR) Al Ahly FC (EGY) Inter Miami CF (USA)

Group B

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) Atlético de Madrid (ESP) Botafogo (BRA) Seattle Sounders FC (USA)

Group C

FC Bayern München (GER) Auckland City FC (NZL) CA Boca Juniors (ARG) SL Benfica (POR)

Group D

CR Flamengo (BRA) Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN) Chelsea FC (ENG) LA Galaxy (USA)

Group E

CA River Plate (ARG) Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) CF Monterrey (MEX) FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

Group F

Fluminense FC (BRA) Borussia Dortmund (GER) Ulsan HD (KOR) Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA)

Group G

Manchester City (ENG) Wydad AC (MAR) Al Ain FC (UAE) Juventus FC (ITA)

Group H

Real Madrid C. F. (ESP) Al Hilal (KSA) CF Pachuca (MEX) FC Salzburg (AUT)

---

⚽ Key Highlights

🏆✨ Paris Saint-Germain leads the power rankings as the favorites, fresh off a treble-winning season! Can they maintain their dominance against the world's best? #PSG

---

⚡️🔥 Watch out for Real Madrid! After a trophy-less season, they’re eager to prove their worth under new manager Xabi Alonso. Will they reclaim their glory? #RealMadrid

---

💪🌟 Manchester City is back in the mix! Despite a rocky season, they showed resilience in the final weeks. Can Pep Guardiola's squad rise to the occasion? #ManCity

---

💰🏅 With a staggering $1 billion prize pool, the stakes are high! Teams will battle not just for glory, but for a significant financial reward. Who will take home the biggest share? #PrizeMoney

---

🌟⚽️ Keep an eye on the underdogs! Teams from the Americas, Africa and Asia ready to challenge the European giants. Who could pull off a surprise upset? #Underdogs

---

🏅 Trophy & Official Match Ball

• The official Club World Cup Trophy was unveiled in November 2024, designed in collaboration with Tiffany & Co.
• The official match ball is supplied by adidas, featuring a patriotic design with red, white, and blue jagged patterns inspired by the US flag.

---

🎟️ Tickets & Viewing

• Ticket sales began on December 19, 2024, with prices starting at USD 30 for group-stage matches.
• Tickets available via FIFA on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Broadcast: DAZN is the exclusive global broadcaster, streaming all 63 matches live worldwide.

---

💸 Club World Cup Winner ODDS

🥇 Real Madrid @ 5.00

🥈 Paris Saint-Germain @ 6.00 🥈 Manchester City @ 6.00

🥉 Bayern Munchen @ 8.00

🐕 Chelsea FC @ 11.00

🐩 Atletico Madrid @ 15.00 🐩 Inter Milano @ 15.00

🐶 Borussia Dortmund @ 25.00 🐶 Juventus @ 25.00

🌭 CR Flamengo @ 35.00 🌭 SE Palmeiras @ 35.00

🦴 CA River Plate @ 40.00 🦴 SL Benfica @ 40.00 🦴 Boca Juniors @ 40.00 🦴 FC Porto @ 40.00

🦓 Botafogo FR @ 55.00 🦓 Fluminense FC @ 55.00

🤏 Inter Miami CF @ 70.00 🤏 AL Hilal Riyadh @ 70.00

💫 FC Salzburg @ 85.00 💫 Los Angeles FC @ 85.00

💦 Seattle Sounders @ 100.0

💧 Al Ahly Cairo @ 125.0

💨 CF Pachuca @ 150.0

🌬️ Ulsan HD FC @ 200.0 🌬️ Al Ain FC @ 200.0

🐾 Urawa Red Diamonds @ 250.0 🐾 CF Monterrey @ 250.0

🕳️ Wac Casablanca @ 500.0 🕳️ Mamelodi Sundowns @ 500.0 🕳️ Esperance Sportive de Tunis @ 500.0

🙏 Auckland City FC @ 999.0

Put Your ₿itcoin Where Your Heart Is: Predyx the 🏆

@ b17fccdf:b7211155

---

Check out the MiniBolt guide -> HERE <-

---

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    • WireGuard VPN
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---

🏗️ Roadmap | 🌐 Dynamic Network map | 🔧 Issues | 📥 Pull requests | 🗣️ Discussions

---

By ⚡2FakTor⚡

---

Last updated: 09/06/2025

@ da8b7de1:c0164aee

Az IAEA Kormányzótanácsának ülése Bécsben

A Nemzetközi Atomenergia-ügynökség (IAEA) Kormányzótanácsa ma kezdte meg szokásos júniusi ülését Bécsben. A széles napirend olyan témákat ölel fel, mint a 2024-es éves jelentés, a technikai együttműködési tevékenységek, valamint a nukleáris biztonsággal, védettséggel és ellenőrzéssel kapcsolatos kulcskérdések. Az ülésen napirendre kerülnek többek között az iráni ellenőrzés és monitoring, az észak-koreai és szíriai ellenőrzés, az ukrajnai nukleáris biztonság – beleértve a zaporizzsjai atomerőmű helyzetét –, valamint az AUKUS-megállapodás keretében történő nukleárisanyag-átadás és annak ellenőrzése. A Kormányzótanács tárgyalja a tagállami képviseletet a 2025–2026-os időszakra, valamint a közelgő Közgyűlés előkészületeit is [iaea.org].

Nukleáris üzemeltetés és szakpolitikai fejlemények

Az elmúlt hetekben jelentős aktivitás volt tapasztalható a nukleáris üzemeltetés és szakpolitika terén világszerte. Az Egyesült Államokban a Nukleáris Szabályozási Bizottság további 20 évvel meghosszabbította a Duke Energy dél-karolinai Oconee atomerőmű három blokkjának üzemeltetési engedélyét. Michigan államban 56,8 millió dolláros hitelgaranciát hagytak jóvá a Palisades atomerőmű újraindításához.

Európában Belgium és Franciaország megállapodást kötött a Tihange 3 és Doel 4 reaktorok üzemidejének tízéves meghosszabbításáról, beleértve a radioaktív hulladék kezelésének rendezését is. Németország nukleáris technológiai szövetsége szerint akár hat leállított reaktor is technikailag újraindítható lenne, a nukleáris energiát biztonságos és klímabarát alternatívaként bemutatva.

Másutt Pakisztánban hivatalosan is átvették a kínai fejlesztésű Hualong One reaktort a Karacsi 3-as blokkban, míg Indiában hálózatra kapcsolták a Rajasthan Atomerőmű harmadik, saját fejlesztésű 700 MW-os nehézvizes reaktorát [world-nuclear-news.org].

Zaporizzsjai Atomerőmű: Folyamatos aggodalmak

Az ukrajnai Zaporizzsjai Atomerőmű továbbra is orosz katonai ellenőrzés alatt áll. Az erőmű igazgatója szerint 2027-ig minden blokk megkaphatja az orosz üzemeltetési engedélyt, azonban az ukrán Enerhoatom minden újraindítási tervet elítél, biztonsági előírásokra hivatkozva. Az IAEA főigazgatója megerősítette, hogy a szervezet kész támogatni bármilyen jövőbeni megállapodást az erőművel kapcsolatban, amely továbbra is központi téma az orosz-ukrán tűzszüneti tárgyalásokon [world-nuclear-news.org].

Új nukleáris projektek és technológiai innovációk

Világszerte fokozódik az érdeklődés az új nukleáris projektek iránt. India nukleáris hatósága jóváhagyta a négy blokkból álló Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomerőmű telephelyét. Kínában a fő turbinakomponenseket beépítették a Haiyang Atomerőmű 3-as blokkjában. Belgiumban megkezdődött egy ólom-hűtésű kis moduláris reaktor előzetes konzultációja, Brazília pedig egy orosz együttműködésű kis moduláris reaktor projektet vizsgál.

Az Egyesült Államokban az EnergySolutions és a WEC Energy Group új nukleáris létesítmény létesítését fontolgatja a wisconsini Kewaunee telephelyen, korai telephelyengedély megszerzését célozva. Kanadában a Prodigy Clean Energy befejezéséhez közeledik egy olyan szállítható atomerőmű tesztprogramja, amely súlyos baleseti és fenyegetettségi helyzeteknek is ellenáll [world-nuclear-news.org].

Iparági kilátások és befektetési trendek

Az iparági vezetők pozitív kilátásokról számolnak be a nukleáris energia terén: az Egyesült Államokban (pl. TerraPower Wyomingban, X-energy és Dow partnersége), valamint nemzetközi terjeszkedés (Westinghouse Lengyelországban) is aktív projektek zajlanak. A Világbank esetleges nukleáris projektek finanszírozásában való részvétele fordulópont lehet, amely szélesebb körű befektetéseket ösztönözhet. Az ágazatban optimizmus uralkodik a nukleáris energia jövőbeli szerepét illetően, amit a magánbefektetések és a szakpolitikai változások is támogatnak [ans.org].

Az amerikai nukleáris fegyverprogram mérföldköve

Az Egyesült Államok Energiaügyi Minisztériumának Nukleáris Biztonsági Nemzeti Igazgatósága (NNSA) bejelentette, hogy a tervezettnél korábban elkészült az első B61-13 típusú nukleáris gravitációs bomba. Ez a B61 bombacsalád legújabb változata, és a hidegháború óta a leggyorsabban fejlesztett és rendszerbe állított nukleáris fegyver [pantex.energy.gov].

@ 79be667e:16f81798

Kan jij zien, er is geen hemel\ Probeer het zelf, dan lukt het wel\ Geen hel staat ons te wachten\ Enkel sterren hangen ons boven het hoofd\ Kan jij zien, iedereen leeft voor dit moment

Kan jij zien, er zijn geen landen\ Het is niet moeilijk gewoon land te zien\ Niets om voor te moorden of te sterven\ Ook geloof wordt niet gezien\ Kan jij zien, het leven wordt geleefd door iedereen in vrede

Misschien zeg je, ik kijk niet naar jouw wereld\ Maar ik deel dit zicht met velen\ Moge ook jij zoals ons zien\ Wij kijken in de wereld en zien gewoon onszelf

Kan jij zien, er is geen bezit\ Ik vraag me af of jij dit kan\ Geen hebben of een nood\ In een samen-leving van mensen\ Kan jij zien, wij delen de wereld met elkaar

Misschien zeg je, ik kijk niet naar jouw wereld\ Maar ik deel dit zicht met velen\ Moge ook jij zoals ons zien\ Wij kijken in de wereld en zien gewoon onszelf

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• "Today we're launching the beta version of our multiplatform Nostr browser! Think Google Chrome but for Nostr apps. The beta is our big first step toward this vision," announced Damus.
• This version comes with the Dave Nostr AI assistant, support for zaps and the Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) wallet interface, full-text note search, GIFs and fullscreen images, multiple media uploads, user tagging, relay list and mute list support, along with a number of other improvements."

"Included in the beta is the Dave, the Nostr AI assistant (its Grok for Nostr). Dave is a new Notedeck browser app that can search and summarize notes from the network. For a full breakdown of everything new, check out our beta launch video."

What's new

• Dave Nostr AI assistant app.
• GIFs.
• Fulltext note search.
• Add full screen images, add zoom, and pan.
• Zaps! NWC/ Wallet UI.
• Introduce last note per pubkey feed (experimental).
• Allow multiple media uploads per selection.
• Major Android improvements (still WIP).
• Added notedeck app sidebar.
• User Tagging.
• Note truncation.
• Local network note broadcast, broadcast notes to other notedeck notes while you're offline.
• Mute list support (reading).
• Relay list support.
• Ctrl-enter to send notes.
• Added relay indexing (relay columns soon).
• Click hashtags to open hashtag timeline.
• Fixed timelines sometimes not updating (stale feeds).
• Fixed UI bounciness when loading profile pictures
• Fixed unselectable post replies.

Announcement / Archive
GitHub Repo
Website

@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

When developing on nostr, normally it's enough to read the NIP related to a given feature you want to build to know what has to be done. But there are some aspects of nostr development that aren't so straightforward because they depend less on specific data formats than on how different concepts are combined.

An example of this is how for a while it was considered best practice to re-publish notes when replying to them. This practice emerged before the outbox model gained traction, and was a hacky way of attempting to ensure relays had the full context required for a given note. Over time though, pubkey hints emerged as a better way to ensure other clients could find required context.

Another one of these things is "relay-based groups", or as I prefer to call it "relays-as-groups" (RAG). Such a thing doesn't really exist - there's no spec for it (although some aspects of the concept are included in NIP 29), but at the same time there are two concrete implementations (Flotilla and Chachi) which leverage several different NIPs in order to create a cohesive system for groups on nostr.

This composability is one of the neat qualities of nostr. Not only would it be unhelpful to specify how different parts of the protocol should work together, it would be impossible because of the number of possible combinations possible just from applying a little bit of common sense to the NIPs repo. No one said it was ok to put t tags on a kind 0. But no one's stopping you! And the semantics are basically self-evident if you understand its component parts.

So, instead of writing a NIP that sets relay-based groups in stone, I'm writing this guide in order to document how I've combined different parts of the nostr protocol to create a compelling architecture for groups.

Relays

Relays already have a canonical identity, which is the relay's url. Events posted to a relay can be thought of as "posted to that group". This means that every relay is already a group. All nostr notes have already been posted to one or more groups.

One common objection to this structure is that identifying a group with a relay means that groups are dependent on the relay to continue hosting the group. In normal broadcast nostr (which forms organic permissionless groups based on user-centric social clustering), this is a very bad thing, because hosts are orthogonal to group identity. Communities are completely different. Communities actually need someone to enforce community boundaries, implement moderation, etc. Reliance on a host is a feature, not a bug (in contrast to NIP 29 groups, which tend to co-locate many groups on a single host, relays-as-groups tends to encourage one group, one host).

This doesn't mean that federation, mirrors, and migration can't be accomplished. In a sense, leaving this on the social layer is a good thing, because it adds friction to the dissolution/forking of a group. But the door is wide open to protocol additions to support those use cases for relay-based groups. One possible approach would be to follow this draft PR which specifies a "federation" event relays could publish on their own behalf.

Relay keys

This draft PR to NIP 11 specifies a self field which represents the relay's identity. Using this, relays can publish events on their own behalf. Currently, the pubkey field sort of does the same thing, but is overloaded as a contact field for the owner of the relay.

AUTH

Relays can control access using NIP 42 AUTH. There are any number of modes a relay can operate in:

1. No auth, fully public - anyone can read/write to the group.
2. Relays may enforce broad or granular access controls with AUTH.

Relays may deny EVENTs or REQs depending on user identity. Messages returned in AUTH, CLOSED, or OK messages should be human readable. It's crucial that clients show these error messages to users. Here's how Flotilla handles failed AUTH and denied event publishing:

LIMITS, PROBE, or some other reflection scheme could also be used in theory to help clients adapt their interface depending on user abilities and relay policy.

1. AUTH with implicit access controls.

In this mode, relays may exclude matching events from REQs if the user does not have permission to view them. This can be useful for multi-use relays that host hidden rooms. This mode should be used with caution, because it can result in confusion for the end user.

See Frith for a relay implementation that supports some of these auth policies.

Invite codes

If a user doesn't have access to a relay, they can request access using this draft NIP. This is true whether access has been explicitly or implicitly denied (although users will have to know that they should use an invite code to request access).

The above referenced NIP also contains a mechanism for users to request an invite code that they can share with other users.

The policy for these invite codes is entirely up to the relay. They may be single-use, multi-use, or require additional verification. Additional requirements can be communicated to the user in the OK message, for example directions to visit an external URL to register.

See Frith for a relay implementation that supports invite codes.

Content

Any kind of event can be published to a relay being treated as a group, unless rejected by the relay implementation. In particular, NIP 7D was added to support basic threads, and NIP C7 for chat messages.

Since which relay an event came from determines which group it was posted to, clients need to have a mechanism for keeping track of which relay they received an event from, and should not broadcast events to other relays (unless intending to cross-post the content).

Rooms

Rooms follow NIP 29. I wish NIP 29 wasn't called "relay based groups", which is very confusing when talking about "relays as groups". It's much better to think of them as sub-groups, or as Flotilla calls them, "rooms".

EDIT: Flotilla has migrated to exclusively use "managed rooms" — i.e., fully NIP 29 compliant rooms. Relays without NIP 29 support can still support chat, but all messages will be presented as sent to a single room. I've removed references to unmanaged rooms in what follows.

~~Rooms have two modes - managed and unmanaged. Managed~~ rooms follow all the rules laid out in NIP 29 about metadata published by the relay and user membership. In either case, rooms are represented by a random room id, and are posted to by including the id in an event's h tag. ~~This allows rooms to switch between managed and unmanaged modes without losing any content.~~

Managed room names come from kind 39000 room meta events, ~~but unmanaged rooms don't have these. Instead, room names should come from members' NIP 51 kind 10009 membership lists. Tags on these lists should look like this: ["group", "groupid", "wss://group.example.com", "Cat lovers"]. If no name can be found for the room (i.e., there aren't any members), the room should be ignored by clients.~~

Rooms present a difficulty for publishing to the relay as a whole, since content with an h tag can't be excluded from requests. ~~Currently, relay-wide posts are h-tagged with _ which works for "group" clients, but not more generally. I'm not sure how to solve this other than to ask relays to support negative filters.~~ I have ideas on how to solve this in future iterations of relay-based groups, for example using virtual relays or just a better rooms spec.

Cross-posting

The simplest way to cross-post content from one group (or room) to another, is to quote the original note in whatever event kind is appropriate. For example, a blog post might be quoted in a kind 9 to be cross-posted to chat, or in a kind 11 to be cross-posted to a thread. kind 16 reposts can be used the same way if the reader's client renders reposts.

Posting the original event to multiple relays-as-groups is trivial, since all you have to do is send the event to the relay. Posting to multiple rooms simultaneously by appending multiple h tags is however not recommended, since group relays/clients are incentivised to protect themselves from spam by rejecting events with multiple h tags (similar to how events with multiple t tags are sometimes rejected).

Privacy

Currently, it's recommended to include a NIP 70 - tag on content posted to relays-as-groups to discourage replication of relay-specific content across the network.

Another slightly stronger approach would be for group relays to strip signatures in order to make events invalid (or at least deniable). For this approach to work, users would have to be able to signal that they trust relays to be honest. We could also use ZkSNARKS to validate signatures in bulk.

In any case, group posts should not be considered "private" in the same way E2EE groups might be. Relays-as-groups should be considered a good fit for low-stakes groups with many members (since trust deteriorates quickly as more people get involved).

Membership

There is currently no canonical member list published by relays (except for NIP 29 managed rooms). Instead, users keep track of their own relay and room memberships using kind 10009 lists. Relay-level memberships are represented by an r tag containing the relay url, and room-level memberships are represented using a group tag.

Users can choose to advertise their membership in a RAG by using unencrypted tags, or they may keep their membership private by using encrypted tags. Advertised memberships are useful for helping people find groups based on their social graph:

User memberships should not be trusted, since they can be published unilaterally by anyone, regardless of actual access, so it's better to think of them as "bookmarked groups" or "favorites". Possible improvements in this area would be the ability to provide proof of access:

• Relays could publish member lists (although this would sacrifice member privacy)
• Relays could support a new command that allows querying a particular member's access status
• Relays could provide a proof to the member that they could then choose to publish or not

Moderation

There are two parts to moderation: reporting and taking action based on these reports.

Reporting is already covered by NIP 56. Clients should be careful about encouraging users to post reports for illegal content under their own identity, since that can itself be illegal. Relays also should not serve reports to users, since that can be used to find rather than address objectionable content.

Reports are only one mechanism for flagging objectionable content. Relay operators and administrators can use whatever heuristics they like to identify and address objectionable content. This might be via automated policies that auto-ban based on reports from high-reputation people, a client that implements NIP 86 relay management API, or by some other admin interface.

There's currently no way for moderators of a given relay to be advertised, or for a moderator's client to know that the user is a moderator (so that they can enable UI elements for in-app moderation). This could be addressed via NIP 11, LIMITS, or some other mechanism in the future.

General best practices

In general, it's very important when developing a client to assume that the relay has no special support for any of the above features, instead treating all of this stuff as progressive enhancement.

For example, if a user enters an invite code, go ahead and send it to the relay using a kind 28934 event. If it's rejected, you know that it didn't work. But if it's accepted, you don't know that it worked - you only know that the relay allowed the user to publish that event. This is helpful, becaues it may imply that the user does indeed have access to the relay. But additional probing may be needed, and reliance on error messages down the road when something else fails unexpectedly is indispensable.

This paradigm may drive some engineers nuts, because it's basically equivalent to coding your clients to reverse-engineer relay support for every feature you want to use. But this is true of nostr as a whole - anyone can put whatever weird stuff in an event and sign it. Clients have to be extremely compliant with Postell's law - doing their absolute best to accept whatever weird data or behavior shows up and handle failure in any situation. Sure, it's annoying, but it's the cost of permissionless development. What it gets us is a completely open-ended protocol, in which anything can be built, and in which every solution is tested by the market.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

El Salvador – June 3, 2025 — The grassroots Bitcoin community of El Salvador is proud to announce the return of Bitcoin Week, taking place this November with five dynamic events celebrating Bitcoin adoption, education, and community-led innovation.

Join us for a week of inspiration, collaboration, and impact.

Bitcoin Week 2025 calendar

📍 November 12 – Bitcoin Education Celebration Gala: Kick off the week in style with a luxurious and intimate evening at a high-class dinner, celebrating “proof of work” and the achievements of the Bitcoin education movement.
Expect major plans for the year(s) ahead but also a reflection to past proof-of-work—and don’t miss out on the Great Grassroots Giveaway, included with every ticket.

📍 November 13 – Bitcoin Educators Unconference: Hosted for the third time in San Salvador at Cadejo Montaña, this sixth edition of the Educators Unconference embodies our commitment to provide a space for decentralized, community-led conversations.
Join educators and leaders shaping the global Bitcoin conversation!

📍 November 14–15 – Adopting Bitcoin: The Network Effect: Now in its fifth year, Adopting Bitcoin returns with a powerful focus on real-world Bitcoin usage across global communities.
This year’s theme—The Network Effect—explores how interconnected local initiatives can spark exponential growth in adoption.

📍 November 16 – Visit Bitcoin Beach, El Zonte: Make your way to Bitcoin Beach, the heart of El Salvador’s Bitcoin story. Enjoy a day of connection and discovery in this iconic beachside town. Full details coming soon.

📍 November 22–23 – Economía Bitcoin, Berlín: Head to the town of Berlín, El Salvador for the second edition of Economía Bitcoin, a powerful, small-scale conference and festival focused on circular economies and practical Bitcoin use.
Spend sats freely in town and see how local action drives global impact.

With five unique events across three regions in Bitcoin Country, this edition of Bitcoin Week is your chance to experience El Salvador’s Bitcoin journey up close. Whether you’re an educator, builder, Bitcoiner, or simply curious—you’re invited.

Join us this November. Be part of the movement.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

The Trump’s American Bitcoin Merges with Gryphon, Reports 215 BTC on Balance Sheet Since Launch

American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), a newly formed private Bitcoin mining company backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., announced in a June 10 SEC filing that it has acquired 215 Bitcoin (BTC) since launching operations on April 1, 2025. The reserve is currently valued at approximately $23 million, showing their drive and commitment to Bitcoin. 

JUST IN: American Bitcoin Corp (private) reports to have 215 #bitcoin (per 31 May) since it's launch on April 1, 2025.

They will merge with Gryphon Digital $GRYP and become public under ticker $ABTC.

They mention "Bitcoin accumulation is not a side effect of ABTC’s business.… pic.twitter.com/wq1Uxr76Z2

— NLNico (@btcNLNico) June 10, 2025

“Bitcoin accumulation is not a side effect of ABTC’s business. It is the business,” the company stated in the filing.

Furthermore, ABTC has entered into a merger agreement with Gryphon Digital Mining ($GRYP), and the combined company is expected to begin public trading under the ticker $ABTC as early as Q3 2025. 

The company’s three-layer strategic plan—outlined in the SEC disclosure—details a focused approach:

Layer 1: Build the Engine

• ABTC’s foundation is built on “producing Bitcoin below-market cost through a capital efficient, infrastructure-light operating model.” The company owns and operates over 60,000 miners from Bitmain and MicroBt, running primarily on Hut 8-managed facilities.

Layer 2: Scale the Reserve

• ABTC had “accumulated approximately 215 Bitcoin in reserve since launching on April 1, 2025,” which it considers a long-term strategic asset. The firm states its goal is “to utilize public markets and strategic financing structures to access efficient capital and leverage that capital to increase its Bitcoin in reserve per share.”

Layer 3: Lead the Ecosystem 

• The company ultimately aims to use its operational scale and mining position to drive industry-wide adoption. “ABTC may pursue opportunities to support protocol development, enhance network infrastructure and contribute to Bitcoin’s resilience and adoption in ways that align with shareholder value creation.”

For mining rewards, ABTC uses Foundry and Luxor pools with sub-1% fees and relies on Coinbase Custody for secure cold storage, featuring multi-factor authentication and strict withdrawal protocols. 

With operations across Niagara Falls, NY; Medicine Hat, AB; and Orla, TX, ABTC is leveraging strategic partnerships—primarily with Hut 8—to scale its Bitcoin holdings while influencing the broader crypto mining ecosystem.

This post The Trump’s American Bitcoin Merges with Gryphon, Reports 215 BTC on Balance Sheet Since Launch first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 79be667e:16f81798

In het hart van een gepensioneerde operazangeres ontstond een stemmetje. Het stemmetje klonk verrast. "He," ging het hart. "Ik heb een stemmetje gekregen! Hoe kan dit? Kan iemand me horen? Zouden mijn gedachten me kunnen horen?" vroeg het stemmetje, niet wetend aan wie. Want de gedachten hoorden het niet. Zij waren zo druk bezig met het verleden en hadden een grote angst dit te verliezen. "Weet je nog?" gingen de gedachten. "Voor duizenden mensen heb ik gezongen! Avond na avond! Tienduizenden mensen hebben me toegejuicht! Wat waren ze onder de indruk! Luister! Ik kan het nog steeds!" "He," ging het hart. "Hoor je me dan niet? Het ging toch helemaal niet om dat gejuich. Weet je dan niet meer hoe ik me volledig bloot gaf aan die mensen. Mijn diepste en meest persoonlijke verhalen waren te horen in mijn liederen. Daar draaide het toch om? De mensen waren niet enkel onder de indruk. Hun harten hebben mijn verhalen gevoeld en konden zo kennis geven aan hun gedachten. Is dat niet wat echt telde?" Maar de gedachten waren volop aan het zingen voor de ene persoon die ze konden vinden die wou luisteren. "He," ging het hart. "Ook in dit moment zijn mijn liederen te horen door vele gedachten en te voelen door vele harten over de hele wereld. Heb ik dan geen rust verdiend? Kan ik niet even genieten van de rust die in dit moment te vinden is, maar jullie van me afnemen?" Maar de gedachten waren nog steeds volop aan het zingen.

@ 79be667e:16f81798

The world around me\ Is assumed to be

Through sensory observations\ This appears to me

What I experience\ Is for me

But the ultimate experience\ Is for me\ To be

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Jason Lowery’s thesis, Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin, reframes bitcoin not merely as digital cash but as a transformative security technology with profound implications for investors and nation-states alike.

For centuries, craft brewers understood that true innovation balanced tradition with experimentation—a delicate dance between established techniques and bold new flavors.

Much like the craft beer revolution reshaped a global industry, bitcoin represents a fundamental recalibration of how humans organize value and project power in the digital age.

The Antler in the Digital Forest: Power Projection

Lowery, a U.S. Space Force officer and MIT scholar, anchors his Softwar theory in a biological metaphor: Bitcoin as humanity’s “digital antler.” In nature, antlers allow animals like deer to compete for resources through non-lethal contests—sparring matches where power is demonstrated without fatal consequences. This contrasts sharply with wolves, who must resort to violent, potentially deadly fights to establish hierarchy.

The Human Power Dilemma: Historically, humans projected power and settled resource disputes through physical force—wars, seizures, or coercive control of assets. Even modern financial systems rely on abstract power structures: court orders, bank freezes, or government sanctions enforced by legal threat rather than immediate physical reality.

Lowery argues this creates inherent fragility: abstract systems can collapse when met with superior physical force (e.g., invasions, revolutions). Nature only respects physical power.

Bitcoin’s Physical Power Engine: Bitcoin introduces a novel solution through its proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Miners compete to solve computationally intense cryptographic puzzles, expending real-world energy (megawatts) to validate transactions and secure the network.

This process converts electricity—a tangible, physical resource—into digital security and immutable property rights. Winning a “block” is like winning a sparring match: it consumes significant resources (energy/cost) but is non-destructive.

The miner gains the right to write the next page of the ledger and collect rewards, but no participant is physically harmed, and no external infrastructure is destroyed.

Table: Traditional vs. Bitcoin-Based Power Systems

Power System

Mechanism

Key Vulnerability

Resource Cost

Traditional (Fiat/Banking)

Legal abstraction, threat of state force

Centralized points of failure, corruption, political change

Low immediate cost, high systemic risk

Military/Economic Coercion

Physical force, sanctions

Escalation, collateral damage, moral hazard

Very high (lives, capital, instability)

Bitcoin (Proof-of-Work)

Competition via energy expenditure

High energy cost, concentration risk (mining)

High energy cost, low systemic risk

Softwar Theory National Strategic Imperative: Governments Are Taking Notice

Lowery’s Softwar Theory has moved beyond academia into the corridors of power, shaping U.S. national strategy:

1. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Vice President JD Vance recently framed bitcoin as an instrument projecting American values—”innovation, entrepreneurship, freedom, and lack of censorship”. State legislation is now underway to implement this reserve, preventing easy reversal by future administrations.
2. Regulatory Transformation: The SEC is shifting from an “enforcement-first” stance under previous leadership. New initiatives include:
   • Repealing Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121), which discouraged banks from custodying digital currency by forcing unfavorable balance sheet treatment.
   • Creating the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to develop clearer crypto registration/disclosure rules.

The Investor’s Lens: Scarcity, Security, and Asymmetric Opportunity

For investors, understanding “Softwar” validates bitcoin’s unique value proposition beyond price speculation:

• Digital Scarcity as Strategic Depth: Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million makes it the only digital asset with truly inelastic supply, a programmed scarcity immune to political whims or central bank printing.

  This “scarcity imperative” acts as a natural antidote to global fiat debasement. As central banks expanded money supplies aggressively (Global M2), bitcoin’s price has shown strong correlation, acting as a pressure valve for inflation concerns. The quadrennial “halving” (latest: April 2024) mechanically reduces new supply, creating built-in supply shocks as adoption grows. * The Antifragile Security Feedback Loop: Bitcoin’s security isn’t static; it’s antifragile. The network strengthens through demand: * More users → More transactions → Higher fees → More miner revenue → More hashpower (computational security) → Greater network resilience → More user confidence.
  This self-reinforcing cycle contrasts sharply with traditional systems, where security is a cost center (e.g., bank security budgets, military spending). Bitcoin turns security into a profitable, market-driven activity. * Institutionalization Without Centralization: While institutional ownership via ETFs (like BlackRock’s IBIT) and corporate treasuries (MicroStrategy, Metaplanet) has surged, supply remains highly decentralized.

  Individuals still hold the largest share of bitcoin, preventing a dangerous concentration of control. Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone are projected to see over $20 billion in net inflows in 2025, demonstrating robust institutional capital allocation.

The Bitcoin Community: Building the Digital Antler’s Resilience

Lowery’s “Softwar” theory underscores why bitcoin’s decentralized architecture is non-negotiable. Its strength lies in the alignment of incentives across three participant groups:

1. Miners: Provide computational power (hashrate), validating transactions and securing the network. Incentivized by block rewards (newly minted BTC) and transaction fees. Their physical energy expenditure is the “muscle” behind the digital antler.
2. Nodes: Independently verify and enforce the protocol rules, maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Run by users, businesses, and enthusiasts globally. They ensure decentralized consensus, preventing unilateral protocol changes.
3. Users: Individuals, institutions, and corporations holding, transacting, or building on bitcoin. Their demand drives transaction fees and fuels the security feedback loop.

This structure creates “Mutually Assured Preservation”. Attacking bitcoin requires overwhelming its global, distributed physical infrastructure (miners/nodes), a feat far more complex and costly than seizing a central bank’s gold vault or freezing a bank’s assets. It transforms financial security from a centralized liability into a decentralized, physically-grounded asset.

Risks & Responsibilities

Investors and policymakers must acknowledge persistent challenges:

• Volatility: Bitcoin remains volatile, though this has decreased as markets mature. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is widely recommended to mitigate timing risk.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: While U.S. policy is increasingly favorable, global coordination is lacking. The EU’s MiCAR regulation exemplifies divergent approaches.
• Security & Custody: While Bitcoin’s protocol is robust, user errors (lost keys) or exchange hacks remain risks.
• Environmental Debate: Proof-of-Work energy use is scrutinized, though mining increasingly uses stranded energy/renewables. Innovations continue.

Jason Lowery’s “Softwar” theory elevates bitcoin from a financial instrument to a socio-technological innovation on par with the invention of the corporation, the rule of law, or even the antler in evolutionary biology. It provides a coherent framework for understanding why:

• Nations like the U.S. are looking to establish bitcoin reserves and embracing stablecoins—they recognize bitcoin’s role in projecting economic power non-violently in the digital age.
• Institutional Investors are allocating billions via ETFs—they see a scarce, secure, uncorrelated asset with antifragile properties.
• Individuals in hyperinflationary economies or under authoritarian regimes use bitcoin—it offers self-sovereign wealth storage immune to seizure or debasement.

For the investor, bitcoin represents more than potential price appreciation. It offers exposure to a fundamental reorganization of how power and value are secured and exchanged globally, grounded not in abstract promises, but in the unyielding laws of physics and mathematics.

Like the brewers who balanced tradition with innovation to create something enduring and valuable, bitcoin pioneers are building the infrastructure for a more resilient digital future—one computationally secured block at a time. The “Softwar” is here, and it is reshaping the landscape of p

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Mapping Bitcoin’s Bull Cycle Potential

Bitcoin’s Market Value to Realized Value, or MVRV ratio, remains one of the most reliable on-chain indicators for identifying local and macro tops and bottoms across every BTC cycle. By isolating data across different investor cohorts and adapting historical benchmarks to modern market conditions, we can generate more accurate insights into where Bitcoin may be headed next.

The Bitcoin MVRV Ratio

The MVRV Ratio compares Bitcoin’s market price to its realized price, essentially the average cost basis for all coins in the network. As of writing, BTC trades around $105,000 while the realized price floats near $47,000, putting the raw MVRV at 2.26. The Z-Score version of MVRV standardizes this ratio based on historical volatility, enabling clearer comparisons across different market cycles.

Figure 1: Historically, the MVRV Ratio and the MVRV Z-Score have accurately identified cycle peaks and bottoms. View Live Chart

Short-Term Holders

Short-term holders, defined as those holding Bitcoin for 155 days or less, currently have a realized price near $97,000. This metric often acts as dynamic support in bull markets and resistance in bear markets. Notably, when the Short Term Holder MVRV hits 1.33, local tops have historically occurred, as seen several times in both the 2017 and 2021 cycles. So far in the current cycle, this threshold has already been touched four times, each followed by modest retracements.

Figure 2: Short Term Holder MVRV reaching 1.33 in more recent cycles has aligned with local tops. View Live Chart

Long-Term Holders

Long-term holders, who’ve held BTC for more than 155 days, currently have an average cost basis of just $33,500, putting their MVRV at 3.11. Historically, Long Term Holder MVRV values have reached as high as 12 during major peaks. That said, we’re observing a trend of diminishing multiples each cycle.

Figure 3: Achieving a Long Term Holder MVRV value of 8 could extrapolate to a BTC price in excess of $300,000. View Live Chart

A key resistance band now sits between 7.5 and 8.5, a zone that has defined bull tops and pre-bear retracements in every cycle since 2011. If the current growth of the realized price ($40/day) continues for another 140–150 days, matching previous cycle lengths, we could see it reach somewhere in the region of $40,000. A peak MVRV of 8 would imply a price near $320,000.

A Smarter Market Compass

Unlike static all-time metrics, the 2-Year Rolling MVRV Z-Score adapts to evolving market dynamics. By recalculating average extremes over a rolling window, it smooths out Bitcoin’s natural volatility decay as it matures. Historically, this version has signaled overbought conditions when reaching levels above 3, and prime accumulation zones when dipping below -1. Currently sitting under 1, this metric suggests that substantial upside remains.

Figure 4: The current 2-Year Rolling MVRV Z-Score suggests more positive price action ahead. View Live Chart

Timing & Targets

A view of the BTC Growth Since Cycle Lows chart illustrates that BTC is now approximately 925 days removed from its last major cycle low. Historical comparisons to previous bull markets suggest we may be around 140 to 150 days away from a potential top, with both the 2017 and 2021 peaks occurring around 1,060 to 1,070 days after their respective lows. While not deterministic, this alignment reinforces the broader picture of where we are in the cycle. If realized price trends and MVRV thresholds continue on current trajectories, late Q3 to early Q4 2025 may bring final euphoric moves.

Figure 5: Will the current cycle continue to exhibit growth patterns similar to those of the previous two cycles? View Live Chart

Conclusion

The MVRV ratio and its derivatives remain essential tools for analyzing Bitcoin market behavior, providing clear markers for both accumulation and distribution. Whether observing short-term holders hovering near local top thresholds, long-term holders nearing historically significant resistance zones, or adaptive metrics like the 2-Year Rolling MVRV Z-Score signaling plenty of runway left, these data points should be used in confluence.

No single metric should be relied upon to predict tops or bottoms in isolation, but taken together, they offer a powerful lens through which to interpret the macro trend. As the market matures and volatility declines, adaptive metrics will become even more crucial in staying ahead of the curve.

For more deep-dive research, technical indicators, real-time market alerts, and access to a growing community of analysts, visit BitcoinMagazinePro.com.

---

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.

This post Mapping Bitcoin’s Bull Cycle Potential first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Matt Crosby.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

In today’s digital era, access to financial services remains a privilege for many. Bitcoinization – the mass adoption of bitcoin as a payment medium and store of value – represents a unique opportunity to democratize access to financial services.

Telecommunications carriers occupy a strategic position in this transformation, especially in regions where traditional internet access is limited. However, this aspect remains largely unexplored.

This article seeks to examine how these companies can catalyze this financial revolution by analyzing the Machankura case and the technical possibilities within current communication infrastructure.

The Success Sotry of Machankura

The Machankura project (8333.mobi) emerged to address a common challenge in various African regions: financial exclusion due to limited internet access. Created by South African developer Kgothatso Ngako, the service utilizes the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) protocol, supported by virtually all mobile phones, to facilitate bitcoin transactions via 2G and 3G cellular networks.

Machankura – derived from South African slang for “money” – functions as a custodial bitcoin wallet. Through the USSD protocol, users can access the service by dialing short codes (*123*456789#, for example) or sending SMS messages to specific numbers.

When the server receives the code or message, an interactive session between the parties (server-user) begins. This enables users to create bitcoin wallets associated with their phone numbers, protected by multi-digit PINs.

Once registered, users receive a Lightning address (example: 1234567890@8333.mobi) that can be used to receive bitcoin from anyone worldwide. Users can also customize this address to a preferred username, further enhancing privacy.

Currently, Machankura is available in nine African countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and Malawi. The creator’s objective is to expand the service to all countries across the African continent in the coming years.

The Technical Foundations of Machankura’s Success – USSD

As mentioned, USSD is a protocol embedded in mobile networks and available on virtually all cellular devices. This choice proved crucial for the Machankura project, given that in Africa, more than half of phones sold are not smartphones. Additionally, this protocol offers critical technical advantages:

• Operates without requiring internet access, functioning in areas with poor connectivity.
• Universal compatibility with any mobile phone, including the most basic models.
• Provides real-time interactivity between users and the system.
• Features an intuitive interface already utilized for banking services, customer support, and self-service applications

These advantages have enabled bitcoin to become accessible to a significant portion of the region’s population, with over 15,000 users, according to Machankura’s project creator.

USSD and Connectivity Challenges

The primary technical limitation of USSD manifests in high-connectivity environments (4G, 5G, or higher). As established by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project, organization for standardization of mobile networks), the protocol must be recognized by newer generations of cellular networks.

However, this recognition requires a procedure known as inter-technology fallback. For instance, if a user is connected to a 5G network and streaming music, when accessing a USSD service, their connection will downgrade to a 3G (or 2G) network, inevitably interrupting media streaming execution.

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS): The Evolution in Telecommunications Services

The solution to connectivity issues with USSD resides within the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), a subsystem within the standardized architecture of newer cellular networks (from fourth generation onwards).

Its objective is to unify access and provision of multimedia services across both mobile and fixed networks. These services include:

• Voice services – such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi)
• Video services – such as Video over LTE  (ViLTE) and Video over WiFi (ViWiFi)
• Videoconferencing
• Instant messaging
• Streaming media
• Emergency services
• Interoperability between legacy networks

The New Era: USSI (USSD over IP)

USSI (USSD over IP) represents the solution for service continuity across 4G, 5G, and future networks when utilizing USSD services. This new protocol enhances service quality, increases simultaneous session capacity, provides additional features for recent devices, improves session security, and enables operation without requiring fallback procedures.

Strategic Opportunities for Carriers

Institutional bitcoin adoption is already established, with integration into portfolios of mining companies, exchanges, automobile manufacturers (Tesla), investment funds (BlackRock), financial institutions (Galaxy Digital Holdings), technology companies (including MicroStrategy, MercadoLibre, and Brazilian Meliúz), and even nations such as El Salvador, the United States, and China.

With robust, secure, and extensive infrastructure, telecommunications carriers can implement complex and advanced bitcoin-based financial services, demystifying its use and stimulating adoption.

Strategic partnerships with exchanges and fintechs enhance integrated solutions for entrepreneurs and consumers, such as integration with Lightning Network nodes to enable rapid, low-cost transactions between IoT devices, machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

The competitive advantages of this approach include:

• New Revenue Streams: Companies can collect fees from simple transactions and provide advanced financial services such as loans, insurance, and investments.
• Customer Retention: By offering innovative services, they can reduce customer churn.
• Vanguard Strategy: Strategic positioning in an emerging high-capitalization market

The Future of Bitcoinization in Telecommunications

The success of the Machankura project unequivocally demonstrates the potential of telecommunications as transformative agents in the mass adoption of bitcoin. As the bitcoin ecosystem consolidates and expands, it is essential that we recognize this opportunity not merely as a new business vertical but as an important step toward strategic positioning at the forefront of a global economic transformation.

Given the extensive reach of existing infrastructure, these carriers can become the primary catalyst for transforming the lives of the unbanked in an unprecedented manner. As we have seen, bitcoin is no longer just a trend; it is a reality. The natural consequence of this reality is bitcoinization, and we have the opportunity to be at the forefront of this emerging paradigm.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Paul Tudor Jones: Bitcoin, Gold, Stocks Are The Best Portfolio To Fight Inflation

The Co-Chairman and CIO of Tudor Investment Corp., Paul Tudor Jones, recently appeared in a Bloomberg interview where he outlined what he sees as the best portfolio to fight against inflation.

JUST IN: Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones said Bitcoin, gold, and stocks are the "best portfolio to fight inflation." pic.twitter.com/rgvVyacRtx

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 11, 2025

“What would an ideal portfolio be… What has worked so far has been some combinations of stocks, which won’t do great, which would do terribly if we ever actually had,” Jones said. “If they called us out and the bond market actually gave us an accident that then spilled over. But it would be some kind of combination of probably gold, vol adjusted, Bitcoin, gold, stocks. That’s probably your best portfolio to fight inflation. Vol adjusted because the vol of Bitcoin obviously is five times that of gold, so you’re going to do it in different ways.”

Jones highlighted the need to balance volatility, especially when combining assets like Bitcoin and gold. He suggested this kind of mix, adjusted for risk, gives investors the strongest defense against inflation’s impact.

When asked if he would allocate 1 or 2 percent of his portfolio to Bitcoin, Jones explained the bigger picture behind why he sees value in it.

“Particularly now, that the road map is clear… Again, if I am a policymaker,” stated Jones. “I’m going to run really low real rates. I am going to have inflation running hot and I am gonna tax the American Consumer to get out of my debt trap, and that’s exactly what Japan, who’s the most fiscally constrained in the world, is doing. And it works until the population throws you out because you let the inflation get too hot. So maybe you’re in a world with three and a half percent inflation and two and a half percent overnight rate and you are kind of trying to run hot and grow your way out of it.”

Yesterday, also in an interview with Bloomberg, the Executive Chairman and CEO of Strategy Michael Saylor commented about the future of Bitcoin as well.

“Winter is not coming back,” commented Sayor. “We are past that phase. If Bitcoin is not going to zero, it is going to $1 million. The President of the United States is determined. He supports Bitcoin, the cabinet supports Bitcoin, Scott Bessent supports Bitcoin, Paul Atkins is shown himself to be an enthusiastic believer of Bitcoin and digital assets… Bitcoin has gotten through its riskiest period.”

This post Paul Tudor Jones: Bitcoin, Gold, Stocks Are The Best Portfolio To Fight Inflation first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

“Not your keys, not your coins” isn’t a slogan—it’s a survival mantra in the age of digital sovereignty.

The seismic collapses of Mt. Gox (2014) and FTX (2022) weren’t anomalies; they were wake-up calls. When $8.7 billion in customer funds vanished with FTX, it exposed the fatal flaw of third-party custody: your bitcoin is only as secure as your custodian’s weakest link.

Yet today, As of early 2025, analysts estimate that between 2.3 million and 3.7 million Bitcoins are permanently lost, representing approximately 11–18% of bitcoin’s fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins, with some reports suggesting losses as high as 4 million BTC. This paradox reveals a critical truth: self-custody isn’t just preferable—it’s essential—but it must be done right.

The Custody Spectrum

Custodial Wallets (The Illusion of Control)

• Rehypothecation Risk: Most platforms lend your bitcoin for yield generation. When Celsius collapsed, users discovered their “held” bitcoin was loaned out in risky strategies.
• Account Freezes: Regulatory actions can lock withdrawals overnight. In 2023, Binance suspended dollar withdrawals for U.S. users citing “partner bank issues,” trapping funds for weeks.
• Data Vulnerability: KYC requirements create honeypots for hackers. The 2024 Ledger breach exposed 270,000 users’ personal data despite hardware security.

True Self-Custody
Self-custody means exclusively controlling your private keys—the cryptographic strings that prove bitcoin ownership. Unlike banks or exchanges, self-custody eliminates:

• Counterparty risk (no FTX-style implosions)
• Censorship (no blocked transactions)
• Inflationary theft (no fractional reserve lending)

Conquering the Three Great Fears of Self-Custody

Fear 1: “I’ll Lose Everything If I Make a Mistake”

Reality: Human error is manageable with robust systems:

• Test Transactions: Always send a micro-amount (0.00001 BTC) before large transfers. Verify receipt AND ability to send back.
• Multi-Backup Protocol: Store seed phrases on fireproof/waterproof steel plates (not paper!). Distribute copies geographically—one in a home safe, another with trusted family 100+ miles away.
• SLIP39 Sharding: Split your seed into fragments requiring 3-of-5 shards to reconstruct. No single point of failure.

Fear 2: “Hackers Will Steal My Keys”

Reality: Offline storage defeats remote attacks:

• Hardware Wallets: Devices like Bitkey or Ledger keep keys in “cold storage”—isolated from internet-connected devices. Transactions require physical confirmation.
• Multisig Vaults: Bitvault’s multi-sig system requires attackers compromise multiple locations/devices simultaneously. Even losing two keys won’t forfeit funds.
• Air-Gapped Verification: Use dedicated offline devices for wallet setup. Never type seeds on internet-connected machines.

Fear 3: “My Family Can’t Access It If I Die”

Reality: Inheritance is solvable:

• Dead Man Switches: Bitwarden’s emergency access allows trusted contacts to retrieve encrypted keys after a pre-set waiting period (e.g., 30 days).
• Inheritance Protocols: Bitkey’s inheritance solution shares decryption keys via designated beneficiaries’ emails. Requires multiple approvals to prevent abuse.
• Public Key Registries: Share wallet XPUBs (not private keys!) with heirs. They can monitor balances but not spend, ensuring transparency without risk.

The Freedom Dividend

1. Censorship Resistance: Send $10M BTC to a Wikileaks wallet without Visa/Mastercard blocking it.
2. Privacy Preservation: Avoid KYC surveillance—non-custodial wallets like Flash require zero ID verification.
3. Protocol Access: Participate in bitcoin-native innovations (Lightning Network, DLCs) only possible with self-custodied keys.
4. Black Swan Immunity: When Cyprus-style bank bailins happen, your bitcoin remains untouched in your vault.

The Sovereign’s Checklist

1. Withdraw from Exchanges: Move all BTC > $1,000 to self-custody immediately.
2. Buy Hardware Wallet: Purchase DIRECTLY from manufacturer (no Amazon!) to avoid supply-chain tampering.
3. Generate Seed OFFLINE: Use air-gapped device, write phrase on steel—never digitally.
4. Test Recovery: Delete wallet, restore from seed before funding.
5. Implement Multisig: For > $75k, use Bitvault for 2-of-3 multi-sig setup.
6. Create Inheritance Plan: Share XPUBs/SLIP39 shards with heirs + legal documents.

“Self-custody isn’t about avoiding risk—it’s about transferring risk from opaque institutions to transparent, controllable systems you design.”

The Inevitable Evolution: Custody Without Compromise

Emerging solutions are erasing old tradeoffs:

• MPC Wallets: Services like Xapo Bank shatter keys into encrypted fragments distributed globally. No single device holds full keys, defeating physical theft.
• Social Recovery: Ethically designed networks (e.g., Bitkey) let trusted contacts restore access without custodial control.
• Biometric Assurance: Fingerprint reset protocols prevent lockouts from physical injuries.

Lost keys = lost bitcoin. But consider the alternative: entrusting your life savings to entities with proven 8% annual failure rates among exchanges. Self-custody shifts responsibility from hoping institutions won’t fail to knowing your system can’t fail without your consent.

Take action today: Move one coin. Test one recovery. Share one xpub. The path to unchained wealth begins with a single satoshi under your control.

@ 79be667e:16f81798

Zonneschijn\ Stralen, lachen, zo fijn\ Moge de wereld dankbaar zijn

De vrouw, mijn gevoeligheid\ Bron van creativiteit

Genietend niets doen in het gras\ Met wat brood en wat wijn in het glas

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Stripe Acquires Startup Privy To Expand Bitcoin Strategy

Today, Stripe Inc. announced that it has acquired Bitcoin and crypto wallet infrastructure provider Privy, marking its second major digital asset focused acquisition following its $1.1 billion purchase of stablecoin firm Bridge earlier this year.

1/ Today, we're proud to announce that Stripe is acquiring Privy.

We couldn’t be more excited.

Privy will continue as an independent product – but now we’ll move faster, ship more, and serve you even better, so you can stay focused on your users. pic.twitter.com/8CHJqhqYy7

— Privy (@privy_io) June 11, 2025

Privy specializes in helping companies embed Bitcoin and crypto wallets directly into their apps and websites. For example, NFT marketplace OpenSea uses Privy to streamline purchases by automatically generating wallets for users. This removes the need for external wallet setups through services like MetaMask or Coinbase.

“When we started, wallets were powerful but inaccessible for all but the most technical,” said the Co-founder and CEO of Privy Henri Stern in a statement. “Developers had to send users off-platform to get started, breaking flows and killing user conversion. That friction fundamentally constrained what could be built in crypto.”

Privy, based in New York, was founded by Henri Stern and Asta Li in 2021. Li was previously a founding engineer at Aurora, while Stern worked as a research scientist at web3 firm Protocol Labs. The startup has raised just over $40 million from investors including Ribbit Capital, Definition, and Coinbase Ventures, and was last valued at $230 million in March, according to PitchBook.

“We started Privy a little over three years ago to make it easy for any developer to build better products on crypto rails,” stated their announcement. “Whether crypto is core to your app or simply a new layer of functionality, a good crypto product should just feel like a good product, period. By making crypto usable, we help make it useful for everyone.”

The acquisition follows Stripe’s earlier purchase of Bridge which helped accelerate interest in digital assets. Earlier this year, Stripe introduced stablecoin funded accounts designed to help merchants store funds and make international payments using Circle’s USDC and Bridge’s USDB. Similar to Bridge, Privy will continue operating as a standalone product.

Privy will power over 75 million accounts and support more than 1,000 developer teams, enabling billions in transaction volume, according to the announcement. Clients include Hyperliquid, Blackbird, Toku, and Farcaster, all using Bitcoin and crypto infrastructure to build real-world products in areas like trading, payments, payroll, and social applications.

“With a unified platform, connecting Privy’s wallets to the money movement capabilities in Stripe and Bridge, we’re enormously excited to enable a new generation of global, Internet-native financial services,” stated the co-founder and CEO of Stripe Patrick Collison.

This post Stripe Acquires Startup Privy To Expand Bitcoin Strategy first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 79be667e:16f81798

Spontaniteit\ Creativiteit

Iets visueel of gewoon geluid\ Het moet eruit

Ik doe mezelf cadeau aan jou\ Omdat ik van het leven hou

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

The CLARITY Act Heads To House Floor For Vote With Protection For Noncustodial Tools Intact

Yesterday, the CLARITY Act passed favorably through the House Agriculture and Financial Services Committees with 47-6 and 32-19 bipartisan votes, respectively.

While a handful of amendments will be incorporated into a revised version of the bill, none of said amendments will alter a recently-added section of the bill that regards noncustodial products and services.

To clarify, on Monday, language from the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) was added to the CLARITY Act.

If you do not custody consumer funds, you aren’t a money transmitter. Plain and simple.

Our nonpartisan Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, which codifies this simple concept, has been added to the CLARITY Act!

Grateful to @RepFrenchHill, @RepBryanSteil and @RepRitchie for… https://t.co/QmPdgUGSwo

— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) June 9, 2025

This language, included in Section 110 of the CLARITY Act, is focused on non-controlling (noncustodial) blockchain developers and blockchain service providers.

The exact wording in the bill is as follows: “A non-controlling blockchain developer or provider of a blockchain service shall not be treated as a money transmitter or as engaged in ‘money transmitting,’ or, following the date of enactment of this Act, be otherwise subject to any new registration requirement that is substantially similar to the requirement that currently applies to money transmitters.”

It was particularly important that this segment of the bill not be altered because, with this language included, the bill protects not only Bitcoin and crypto enthusiasts’ right to use noncustodial wallets, but the right of developers to continue to create such products and services without being subject to money-transmission laws as per the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

“Section 110 doesn’t just clarify that non-custodial devs aren’t captured by the BSA, but also forbids future laws and regulations (e.g. DAAMLA) that would modify or supersede the BSA to treat non-custodial actors as money transmitters or similar,” wrote Zack Shapiro, Head of Policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, in an X post. “If this passes, that means that anti-crypto zealots like Sen. Warren would first have to repeal [or] modify this bill before passing additional rules that would impinge on self-custody.”

This issue over whether noncustodial Bitcoin and crypto service providers is relevant as the Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash developers prepare to face trial.

It’s also generally important in preserving the right of U.S. citizens to use digital assets privately.

Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) commented on Americas’ right to transactional privacy in the hearing.

“Privacy in and of itself is not illegal.

Americans have a right to it in their financial transactions.

And so there’s totally legitimate uses of privacy-preserving technologies.” @RepBryanSteil pic.twitter.com/nHPfa25UVr

— Frank Corva (@frankcorva) June 10, 2025

To learn more about how to contact your elected officials to tell them to support The CLARITY Act, visit saveourwallets.org.

This post The CLARITY Act Heads To House Floor For Vote With Protection For Noncustodial Tools Intact first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Frank Corva.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Skull, $5 million; Banana, $6 million; Freedom, Priceless

“It would have been nice to get this attention in any other context. WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet’s nest, and the swarm is headed towards us.” 

This message was posted by Satoshi Nakamoto to BitcoinTalk on December 11, 2010. A couple of months later, in February 2011, the Silk Road marketplace was launched, and only a couple months after — on April 23, 2011 — Satoshi posted his last message.

In October 2013, Ross Ulbricht was captured by the FBI and the Silk Road fell — only to be replaced by a thousand more copycat marketplace sites. The rest is Bitcoin history.

Ross Ulbricht chose to center his Bitcoin 2025 keynote speech around an experience he had clearing wasp nests in a cabin in the woods. Wearing a suit and tie, recalling growing “magic mushrooms” to kickstart activity on Silk Road, Ross held the attention of the main stage audience of over 8,000 at Bitcoin 2025 Las Vegas in the Venetian Expo. I was sitting in one of the best seats in the house: side stage with his mother Lyn and three other supporters of Ross. 

Freedom. Decentralization. Unity.

After over 4,100 days in federal custody and many months in special housing units (solitary confinement), Ross boiled it down to these three words to summarize his first message to the community.

Freedom. Decentralization. Unity.

Following a “21 ways to hack the fiat system” keynote from Michael Saylor, Ross’ three ways to move forward were refreshingly simple. 

You would have thought Ross had been speaking in front of thousands of people for years, seeing how calm and commanding he was on the Nakamoto stage.

Lyn Ulbricht called me a few days after the speech, as I was driving a U-Haul truck full of the art gallery contents across the country, including Ross’ auction items which altogether fetched well over 10 BTC for his fresh start. She mentioned that seeing Ross on that stage giving that incredible speech gave her closure for the whole experience of fighting for her son’s freedom.

I have been fortunate to get to know Lyn Ulbricht over the past few years, helping her plan for our conferences. Hearing her say that this conference gave her some closure to that awful chapter of her life was a moment I’ll never forget. She was his number one supporter during his 11 years serving a double-life sentence. She fought relentlessly to raise awareness for her son’s situation, and now she has begun a new chapter doing similar work with MACS, Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing.

MACS is a nonprofit that is effectively the continuation of the Free Ross mission. Lyn says she feels a calling from God to continue fighting for other “crypto prisoners” and people who are being unjustly punished for their crimes, a violation of the Eight Amendment of the United States Constitution.

She launched MACS at the fourth annual Women of Bitcoin Brunch at Bitcoin 2025, in front of an audience of over 300 of the most influential women at the conference. 

Later during the event, in the same room, Ross used the same stage to address a smaller crowd of supporters for his official luncheon.

This luncheon, held before his speech, is where Justin Sun famously gifted Ross “The Banana,” handing over a duct-taped, real banana in an elaborately designed white shadowbox fit to display in a museum.

I was also in the luncheon room when the banana transaction happened, as event staff. The piece, Comedian by Maurizio Cattelan, was a conceptual art statement, I explained to the two men sitting next to me. Like Ross himself at the time, these men were confused. (The original art installation, a banana duct-taped to the wall, was purchased — and eaten — by Justin Sun in November last year.) 

Knowing the significance of this banana, I assumed at the time that Justin Sun was officially giving his edition #2 of Comedian to Ross, as a $6.2 million donation. It wasn’t until my phone call with Lyn Ulbricht days later that she brought up the banana and its questionable provenance that I began to ask: Did Sun really give Ross the banana?

On this call, Lyn mentioned that they had a relative who worked at Sotheby’s, the auctioneer of Justin’s edition of Comedian. This was an obvious first step toward understanding the banana exchange.

Ross himself emailed me shortly after saying, “Lyn tells me you are looking into what happened with me and Justin Sun. Strike Force Nanner are arriving tomorrow with the box Sun gave me, so I’ll let you know if that turns up anything useful.”

And later, “My Sotheby’s connection says: Just spoke with one of the people who worked directly with the artist during the sale. To truly own the piece you have to have the document from the artist; because that is where the ‘value’ lies, they wouldn’t even share images of it for fear of someone making a counterfeit. He’s going to have a think about whether or not what you have has any value, but Justin still owns the ‘real’ banana which is probably why he’s given you vague answers. So, unless he gives me the document (certificate of authenticity), I don’t have anything that would be valued at auction (probably). Oh well.”

I assured him that I thought his banana was still very valuable. Even if this was truly just a 1/1 print of the banana. Until Sun gives Ross the COA, Ross isn’t really the owner the banana; still, a historic event occurred. Sun transferred some sort of magic-decentalized-banana-powers to Ross when he transferred that banana taped to a frame.

The mere existence of Strike Force Nanner, an armored vehicle transporting the banana to Ross, should be enough to signal the provenance transfer of something valuable.

So whether or not Sotheby’s thinks an official transaction occurred, I think Ross has a rare power to duct-tape bananas to walls now and call it something. Sun will just have to send the COA to Ross later in order to seal the peel.

Until then, I extend an open invite to Ross, as the Artist In Residence at Bitcoin Magazine, to help him make and sell prints of his print of the banana. Then maybe the banana can be even more decentralized!

Avant-garde bananas aside, the experience of Bitcoin 2025 Las Vegas was unlike any other conference that we’ve thrown, and I can say that having been a part of all six thus far. The key difference this year was Ross’ freedom.

The vibes were beyond bullish in Vegas, which usually means the top is in. But this time it really seems different.

We should pay attention when Michael Saylor gives us his 21-step cheat sheet for the infinite money glitch, and how he plans to leverage the existing financial institutions to accumulate as much bitcoin as he possibly can. This could be a regulatory trap.

We should definitely pay attention when the sitting vice president, JD Vance, tells the conference audience that they’re going to use stablecoins to strengthen the dollar, referring to the new Genius Bill. This is probably the backdoor for CBDCs.

But most importantly: After over 11 years in federal hell, we should pay attention to Ross Ulbricht as he becomes the leader that this space really needs right now.

We are the swarm now.

This post Skull, $5 million; Banana, $6 million; Freedom, Priceless first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Tommy Marcheschi.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitdeer Mined 196 Bitcoin Worth Over $21 Million In May

Bitdeer Technologies Group, a global leader in Bitcoin mining and infrastructure, has released its unaudited operational update for May 2025, highlighting robust expansion in hashrate capacity, ongoing infrastructure development, and an entrance into AI services. 

$BTDR May 2025 Production & Operations Highlights:

Increased self-mining hashrate to 13.6 EH/s with #SEALMINER deployments.
9 EH/s SEALMINER A2s have been manufactured, with 2.9 EH/s shipped to external customers, including 1.6 EH/s sold and shipped in May.
SEALMINER… pic.twitter.com/wX66hahd2F

— Bitdeer (@BitdeerOfficial) June 11, 2025

“In May 2025, we continued to deploy our SEALMINER mining rigs to our sites in Texas, U.S., Norway, and Bhutan, bringing Bitdeer’s self-mining hashrate to 13.6 EH/s at the end of the month of May,” said Matt Kong, Chief Business Officer at Bitdeer. “Looking forward, we remain on track to deliver over 40 EH/s of self-mining capacity by October 2025. Further, in May, we sold and shipped approximately 1.6 EH/s of our SEALMINER A2s to external customers. Our A3 Series will also be released and available for pre-order very soon”

Bitdeer self-mined 196 BTC in May—an 18.1% increase from April—due to the expanded deployment of SEALMINER A1 and A2 units. A total of 9 EH/s in SEALMINER A2s have been manufactured, with 2.9 EH/s shipped to customers and 1.6 EH/s sold in May alone. 

SEALMINER A3s, which are currently undergoing machine-level testing with positive results, will become available for pre-order in June. Additionally, development of the next-generation A4 SEALMINER chip is progressing, targeting an efficiency of 5 J/TH by Q4 2025.

Bitdeer also announced the launch of its AI Cloud service, powered by over 10 advanced large language models (LLMs), including LLaMA, DeepSeek, and Qwen variants. The infrastructure is designed for strong inference demand, representing a key move into the HPC/AI sector. 

Infrastructure developments include the ongoing energization of the 175 MW Tydal, Norway site—expected to be fully energized by June—and continued progress at the 221 MW Massillon, Ohio site, targeting completion in the second half of 2025. The company also energized 132 MW at its Jigmeling, Bhutan site, with another 368 MW coming online by Q3.

Financially, Bitdeer secured $50 million in cash proceeds during May after Tether exercised warrants from a 2024 private placement. 

With a global capacity of 2,690 MW and expanding operations across North America, Europe, and Asia, Bitdeer continues to assert its role as both a top-tier Bitcoin mining operator and a high-performance computing pioneer. 

This post Bitdeer Mined 196 Bitcoin Worth Over $21 Million In May first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 87fedb9f:0da83419

Finding Calm in the Chaos

Ever notice how you start future-mapping to calm your nerves… and end up more anxious than when you began? You’re not alone! Join us for a playful, real-talk exploration of why our brilliant minds try to control everything — and how empathy, Buddhist wisdom, and EFT tapping can help us step out of the anxious loop and land back in the delicious now.

https://www.thrivingnow.center/t/1491/4

https://youtu.be/VRx63O19dMM

We covered…

1. Future Mapping is Fish-and-Water Awareness We often don’t realize how much mental energy we spend constantly planning scenarios - “if it rains, if they get upset, if this happens then that…” This protective pattern started early but now we can bring it into conscious awareness and choose how much energy to invest.

2. The Empathy App Creates Endless Scenarios Our empathetic nature means we’re not just planning for ourselves - we’re mapping out everyone else’s potential reactions, feelings, and needs. This creates exponentially more “what if” scenarios that keep our minds spinning in overdrive.

3. Fault-Finding is Too Crude for Thriving When we automatically assign blame (usually to ourselves), we’re operating from primitive brain patterns. Upgrading to a more refined viewpoint means seeing the “dance of energies” where everyone contributes and sometimes feet get stepped on - it’s part of life.

4. We Can’t Actually Control the River Life flows like a river, and we can steer our canoe but we cannot change the river itself. Our anxiety often signals we’re trying to do the impossible - control weather, other people’s moods, or outcomes beyond our influence.

5. Magical Thinking Says “If I Worry Enough, It Will Work Out” We unconsciously believe that suffering through worry ahead of time will somehow guarantee good outcomes. Our nervous system knows this is a lie, which creates more anxiety. We can release this “prepayment” fantasy.

6. Distributing the Broccoli Back to Its Owners We often scoop up everyone else’s responsibilities onto our plate to avoid conflict or being blamed. Learning to ask “Is this really my broccoli?” helps us return emotional and practical responsibilities to their rightful owners.

7. Include Safe and Good Possibilities in Your Maps When we only map threats and problems, we miss opportunities for joy, connection, and creative solutions. Consciously including positive possibilities activates different parts of ourselves - the creative, hopeful, and inspired aspects.

8. Tapping While Thinking Moves Energy Out of Stuck Loops Simply speaking our thoughts aloud while tapping the acupressure points breaks the narrow band of mental spinning. This engages our body’s intelligence and often reveals what words or feelings want to emerge beyond our conscious planning.

9. Being With What Is vs. Making Everyone Happy Instead of trying to make everyone feel good all the time (which is impossible), we can practice being present with people as they actually are. This is more respectful, connected, and requires much less exhausting management.

10. Anxiety Can Be Wise Body Guidance Rather than just a problem to fix, our anxiety often signals we’re trying to do something unwise - like changing unchangeable things or telling ourselves lies about what we can control. We can listen to this guidance.

11. The Sweet Spot of Thoughtful Planning We’re not throwing away our planning abilities - we’re finding the balance between appropriate preparation (throwing an umbrella in the bag) and exhausting over-management (trying to control every possible variable). Good and sufficient planning honors both our intelligence and life’s natural flow.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

F Street Announced Goal Of Accumulating $10 Million In Bitcoin

Today, F Street, an alternative investment and private lending firm, announced it has begun adding Bitcoin to its corporate treasury, with a goal of accumulating $10 million in BTC.

JUST IN: Investment firm F Street announced it's buying Bitcoin daily using business proceeds for its treasury reserves

They plan to buy $10 million Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/NMLOteyUYU

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 11, 2025

The company began daily BTC purchases on June 9, using business proceeds and treasury funds. This move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen F Street’s capital base and support its real estate lending and investment operations.

“Bitcoin offers a compelling hedge against inflation and dollar debasement,” said the Chief Operating Officer of F Street Mike Doney. “Incorporating it into our treasury is a strategic step to preserve and grow value for our investors and our business interests.”

In line with its commitment to transparency, F Street also plans to establish a public proof of reserves so that stakeholders can independently verify the custody of its Bitcoin assets. The firm aims to build a meaningful BTC position that supports its long term vision of a capital framework.

F Street’s move comes at a time when institutional interest in Bitcoin is experiencing a notable surge, and many prominent voices in the financial world are starting to support it. Billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones, speaking today in an interview with Bloomberg, named Bitcoin as a critical part of what he considers the ideal portfolio against inflation.

“What would an ideal portfolio be… But it would be some kind of combination of probably gold, vol adjusted, Bitcoin, gold, stocks,” Jones said. “That’s probably your best portfolio to fight inflation. Vol adjusted because the vol of Bitcoin obviously is five times that of gold, so you’re going to do it in different ways.”

Adding to the momentum, the Head of Digital Assets of BlackRock Robert Mitchnick explained two days ago what’s really driving the surge in demand for Bitcoin ETFs.

“It’s a lot of things coming together. Out of the gate was retail and investor demand…” said Mitchnick. “Now, more recently, we’ve seen just steady progress of more wealth advisor adoption, more institutional adoption. It’s been a mix of people who it’s the first time that they’ve invested in anything in the crypto space. And then on the other hand, you have lots of people who’ve been invested in Bitcoin for a long time and they’re taking advantage of the ETP wrapper.”

This post F Street Announced Goal Of Accumulating $10 Million In Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

The former seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.

The latter's future remains to be seen. Dependence on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

— ODELL (@ODELL) October 27, 2022

The Basics

• Lightning is a protocol that enables cheap and fast native bitcoin transactions.
• At the core of the protocol is the ability for bitcoin users to create a payment channel with another user.
• These payment channels enable users to make many bitcoin transactions between each other with only two on-chain bitcoin transactions: the channel open transaction and the channel close transaction.
• Essentially lightning is a protocol for interoperable batched bitcoin transactions.
• It is expected that on chain bitcoin transaction fees will increase with adoption and the ability to easily batch transactions will save users significant money.
• As these lightning transactions are processed, liquidity flows from one side of a channel to the other side, on chain transactions are signed by both parties but not broadcasted to update this balance.
• Lightning is designed to be trust minimized, either party in a payment channel can close the channel at any time and their bitcoin will be settled on chain without trusting the other party.

There is no 'Lightning Network'

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise.
• There are many lightning channels between many different users and funds can flow across interconnected channels as long as there is a route through peers.
• If a lightning transaction requires multiple hops it will flow through multiple interconnected channels, adjusting the balance of all channels along the route, and paying lightning transaction fees that are set by each node on the route.

Example: You have a channel with Bob. Bob has a channel with Charlie. You can pay Charlie through your channel with Bob and Bob's channel with User C.

• As a result, it is not guaranteed that every lightning user can pay every other lightning user, they must have a route of interconnected channels between sender and receiver.

Lightning in Practice

• Lightning has already found product market fit and usage as an interconnected payment protocol between large professional custodians.
• They are able to easily manage channels and liquidity between each other without trust using this interoperable protocol.
• Lightning payments between large custodians are fast and easy. End users do not have to run their own node or manage their channels and liquidity. These payments rarely fail due to professional management of custodial nodes.
• The tradeoff is one inherent to custodians and other trusted third parties. Custodial wallets can steal funds and compromise user privacy.

Sovereign Lightning

• Trusted third parties are security holes.
• Users must run their own node and manage their own channels in order to use lightning without trusting a third party. This remains the single largest friction point for sovereign lightning usage: the mental burden of actively running a lightning node and associated liquidity management.
• Bitcoin development prioritizes node accessibility so cost to self host your own node is low but if a node is run at home or office, Tor or a VPN is recommended to mask your IP address: otherwise it is visible to the entire network and represents a privacy risk.
• This privacy risk is heightened due to the potential for certain governments to go after sovereign lightning users and compel them to shutdown their nodes. If their IP Address is exposed they are easier to target.
• Fortunately the tools to run and manage nodes continue to get easier but it is important to understand that this will always be a friction point when compared to custodial services.

The Potential Fracture of Lightning

• Any lightning user can choose which users are allowed to open channels with them.
• One potential is that professional custodians only peer with other professional custodians.
• We already see nodes like those run by CashApp only have channels open with other regulated counterparties. This could be due to performance goals, liability reduction, or regulatory pressure.

• Fortunately some of their peers are connected to non-regulated parties so payments to and from sovereign lightning users are still successfully processed by CashApp but this may not always be the case going forward.

Summary

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise. There is no singular 'Lightning Network' but rather many payment channels between distinct peers, some connected with each other and some not.
• Lightning as an interoperable payment protocol between professional custodians seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
• Lightning as a robust sovereign payment protocol has yet to be battle tested. Heavy reliance on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, the friction of active liquidity management, significant on chain fee burden for small amounts, interactivity constraints on mobile, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

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If you have never used lightning before, use this guide to get started on your phone.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Paris, France – June 6, 2025 — Bitcoin payment gateway startup Flash, just announced a new partnership with the “Bitcoin Only Brewery”, marking the first-ever beverage company to leverage Lightning payments.

Flash enables Bitcoin Only Brewery to offer its “BOB” beer with, no-KYC (Know Your Customer) delivery across Europe, priced at 19,500 sats (~$18) for the 4-pack, shipping included.

The cans feature colorful Bitcoin artwork while the contents promise a hazy pale ale: “Each 33cl can contains a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, hazy appearance and refreshing Pale Ale at 5% ABV,” reads the product description.

Pierre Corbin, Co-Founder of Flash, commented:

“Currently, bitcoin is used more as a store of value but usage for payments is picking up. Thanks to new innovation on Lightning, bitcoin is ready to go mainstream for e-commerce sales.”

Flash, launched its 2.0 version in March 2025 with the goal to provide the easiest bitcoin payment gateway for businesses worldwide. The platform is non-custodial and can enable both digital and physical shops to accept bitcoin by connecting their own wallets to Flash.

By leveraging the scalability of the Lightning Network, Flash ensures instant, low-cost transactions, addressing on-chain Bitcoin bottlenecks like high fees and long wait times.

For businesses interested in adopting Bitcoin payments, Flash offers a straightforward onboarding process, low fees, and robust support for both digital and physical goods. To learn more, visit paywithflash.com.

Media Contact:
Pierre Corbin
Co-Founder, Flash
Email: press@paywithflash.com
Website: paywithflash.com

About Flash

Flash is the easiest Bitcoin payment gateway for businesses to accept payments. Supporting both digital and physical enterprises, Flash leverages the Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. Launched in its 2.0 version in March 2025, Flash is at the forefront of driving Bitcoin adoption in e-commerce.

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

Bitcoin Only Brewery (@Drink_B0B) is a pioneering beverage company dedicated to the Bitcoin ethos, offering high-quality beers payable exclusively in Bitcoin. With a commitment to personal privacy, the brewery delivers across Europe with no-KYC requirements.

@ 2b998b04:86727e47

ファースト・プリンシプルズ（First Principles）序章

この序章は「ファースト・プリンシプルズ」と題した7回シリーズの始まりです。分散化、コスト、自由、そして真実の奥にある本質的な変化を探ります。7回なのは、1週間のリズム——働き、休み、立ち返るというリズム——に合わせたからです。それぞれの記事は、私が受け入れてきた技術や哲学の根底にある真理を掘り下げます。分散化と主権、真実、時間、そして希望まで。\ \ テクノロジーはコストをゼロに近づける——よくそう言われます。

これは『The Price of Tomorrow』という書籍の主張でもあります。技術が進化するほど、自然とデフレ（物価下落）を引き起こす。自動化は労働を置き換え、ソフトウェアはインフラを代替し、AIは意思決定そのものを肩代わりする。限界費用（追加生産にかかるコスト）は限りなくゼロに近づく。

——でも、それだけじゃない。

そこには、経済学者や技術者が見落としがちな「もう一層の深さ」があります。

単に「生産コスト」が下がるかどうかではなく、問うべきは 中央集権による「コントロール・コスト（支配コスト）」 です。

限界費用が下がっても、中央集権の「隠れた代償」は上がっていくのです。

---

「無料」という幻想

たとえば、GitHub。

一見無料です。静的ウェブサイトを公開し、コードをホストし、Actionsで自動化し、グローバルに協業することもできる——全部、無料で。

でもGitHubはMicrosoftに所有されています。あなたはサーバーを管理できない。プラットフォームを所有していない。鍵（アクセス権限）も持っていない。

つまり、それは「取り上げられるかもしれない贈り物」にすぎない。

Google Docsも、YouTubeも、Substackも同じ。「無料で始めよう」というクラウドサービス全般も。

これらのツールが悪いわけではありません。むしろ、優れたものも多い。

でも「中立」ではないのです。

あなたが支払う代償は、必ずしもドルではありません。ときに、それは：

• データアクセスの制限

• APIの利用制限

• 突然の料金変更

• 検閲やアカウント停止

• サービス移行にかかるコスト（特に問題が起きた時）

これは 中央集権プラットフォームの「隠れた家賃」 です。しかも、時間とともに複利的に増えていきます。

---

コントロール・コスト vs 限界費用

限界費用が「これを作るのにどれだけ安いか？」だとすれば、\ コントロール・コストは「これを使うことでどれだけ自由を失うか？」です。

Mediumなら無料で記事を投稿できますが、SEO（検索表示順位）は向こうのもの。\ Shopifyでビジネスを始められますが、彼らの判断でアカウントが停止される可能性もある。\ Instagramでフォロワーを増やしても、フィードを支配するのはアルゴリズムです。

私たちは「デフレ」を喜ぶように訓練されてきました。でも、実際には多くのツールが、参入コストを下げながら、コントロール・コストを膨らませているのです。

ここで、分散化（Decentralization） が物語を逆転させます。

---

分散化の本当の約束

本当の分散化は、ただ「安くする」だけじゃありません。\ それは「主権（Sovereignty）」をもたらします。

価格だけでなく、力を分配する。\ 手数料ゲートではなく、支配の構造そのものを取り除く。

こう言えるのです：

• 自分の鍵を自分で持て

• 自分のコンテンツを自分で持て

• 自分のスタックを自分で構築せよ

• 自分の配信チャネルを自分で持て

だからこそ、Nostr が重要。\ だからこそ、Bitcoin が重要。\ だからこそ、たとえ不便でも、セルフホスティングやパーミッションレスなプロトコル、オープンソースのツールが大切なのです。

彼らは「安くしてくれる」だけじゃない。\ 私たちの 自由 を守ってくれる。

---

実例：私のブログ構築

私がブログ blog.stantonweb.com を作り始めたとき、\ 最も楽な方法は選びませんでした。

私は以下を組み合わせました：

• 長文投稿に Nostr

• 投稿を取得・表示するためのPythonスクリプト

• GitHub Actions で自動化

• 表示は静的HTML

• ホスティングは GitHub Pages + Cloudflare（無料）

データベースも、CMSも、テーマ課金もなし。

限界費用？ 0ドルです。

でももっと重要なのは、コントロール・コストも限りなくゼロだということ。\ 誰にも止められない。\ 企業にリーチを制限されない。\ ゲートキーパーが「掲載に値するか」を判断しない。

---

新しい「コスト」定義へ

価格だけを最適化すれば、捕らわれる。

自由を最適化すれば、やがて「余白」を築ける——金銭的余白だけでなく、創造の余白、道徳の余白、運営の余白も。

それが分散化の真価。\ 安いだけじゃない。\ より真実なものへ。

---

補足：過去からの教訓

Skypeを覚えていますか？\ 当初は真のP2Pツールで、構造的に分散されていました。でもMicrosoftに買収され、中央集権型に再設計され、やがてその中身は解体されました。

Napsterも同様。P2Pで音楽業界を揺るがしましたが、最終的には停止され、中央集権型の代替サービスに取って代わられました。

BitTorrentは生き残りました——それは「ただのプラットフォーム」にならなかったからです。

このパターンは明白です：

• 資本が集まれば中央集権になる

• 支配があれば検閲も起きる

• しかし、自由は分散化から生まれる

そして私たちは、何度でもこの道を選び直さなければならないのです。

---

共同執筆：ChatGPT（“Dr. C”）が主要な論点の整理と精緻化をサポートしました。\ \ 数日以内にPart 1を公開予定。ご期待ください。

—\ blog.stantonweb.com およびNostrにて公開中。\ Zap（投げ銭）リンク：https://tinyurl.com/yuyu2b9t

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

What is KYC/AML?

• The acronym stands for Know Your Customer / Anti Money Laundering.
• In practice it stands for the surveillance measures companies are often compelled to take against their customers by financial regulators.
• Methods differ but often include: Passport Scans, Driver License Uploads, Social Security Numbers, Home Address, Phone Number, Face Scans.
• Bitcoin companies will also store all withdrawal and deposit addresses which can then be used to track bitcoin transactions on the bitcoin block chain.
• This data is then stored and shared. Regulations often require companies to hold this information for a set number of years but in practice users should assume this data will be held indefinitely. Data is often stored insecurely, which results in frequent hacks and leaks.  
• KYC/AML data collection puts all honest users at risk of theft, extortion, and persecution while being ineffective at stopping crime. Criminals often use counterfeit, bought, or stolen credentials to get around the requirements. Criminals can buy "verified" accounts for as little as $200. Furthermore, billions of people are excluded from financial services as a result of KYC/AML requirements.

During the early days of bitcoin most services did not require this sensitive user data, but as adoption increased so did the surveillance measures. At this point, most large bitcoin companies are collecting and storing massive lists of bitcoiners, our sensitive personal information, and our transaction history.

Lists of Bitcoiners

KYC/AML policies are a direct attack on bitcoiners. Lists of bitcoiners and our transaction history will inevitably be used against us.

Once you are on a list with your bitcoin transaction history that record will always exist. Generally speaking, tracking bitcoin is based on probability analysis of ownership change. Surveillance firms use various heuristics to determine if you are sending bitcoin to yourself or if ownership is actually changing hands.  You can obtain better privacy going forward by using collaborative transactions such as coinjoin to break this probability analysis.

Fortunately, you can buy bitcoin without providing intimate personal information. Tools such as peach, hodlhodl, robosats, azteco and bisq help; mining is also a solid option: anyone can plug a miner into power and internet and earn bitcoin by mining privately.

You can also earn bitcoin by providing goods and/or services that can be purchased with bitcoin. Long term, circular economies will mitigate this threat: most people will not buy bitcoin - they will earn bitcoin - most people will not sell bitcoin - they will spend bitcoin.

There is no such thing as KYC or No KYC bitcoin, there are bitcoiners on lists and those that are not on lists.

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 46f3c7bb:93ff8a1a

Nostr üzerinde Obsidian kullanarak yazdığım içeriği paylaşma denemesi. Güzel eklenti, obsidian'ı bayadır kullanıyorum, ve obsidian üzerinde yazdığım notları nostr üzerinden paylaşabilmek ilgi çekici.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

I often hear "bitcoin doesn't interest me, I'm not a finance person."

Ironically, the beauty of sound money is you don't have to be. In the current system you're expected to manage a diversified investment portfolio or pay someone to do it. Bitcoin will make that optional.

— ODELL (@ODELL) September 16, 2018

At first glance bitcoin often appears overwhelming to newcomers. It is incredibly easy to get bogged down in the details of how it works or different ways to use it. Enthusiasts, such as myself, often enjoy going down the deep rabbit hole of the potential of bitcoin, possible pitfalls and theoretical scenarios, power user techniques, and the developer ecosystem. If your first touch point with bitcoin is that type of content then it is only natural to be overwhelmed. While it is important that we have a thriving community of bitcoiners dedicated to these complicated tasks - the true beauty of bitcoin lies in its simplicity. Bitcoin is simply better money. It is the best money we have ever had.

Life is complicated. Life is hard. Life is full of responsibility and surprises. Bitcoin allows us to focus on our lives while relying on a money that is simple. A money that is not controlled by any individual, company, or government. A money that cannot be easily seized or blocked. A money that cannot be devalued at will by a handful of corrupt bureaucrat who live hundreds of miles from us. A money that can be easily saved and should increase in purchasing power over time without having to learn how to "build a diversified stock portfolio" or hire someone to do it for us.

Bitcoin enables all of us to focus on our lives - our friends and family - doing what we love with the short time we have on this earth. Time is scarce. Life is complicated. Bitcoin is the most simple aspect of our complicated lives. If we spend our scarce time working then we should be able to easily save that accrued value for future generations without watching the news or understanding complicated financial markets. Bitcoin makes this possible for anyone.

Yesterday was Mother's Day. Raising a human is complicated. It is hard, it requires immense personal responsibility, it requires critical thinking, but mothers figure it out, because it is worth it. Using and saving bitcoin is simple -  simply install an app on your phone. Every mother can do it. Every person can do it.

Life is complicated. Life is beautiful. Bitcoin is simple.

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Headlines

• Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury. This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is planned to go public via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by Jack Mallers, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a report by the Financial Times, the company aims to replicate the model of Michael Saylor with his company, MicroStrategy.
• Florida's SB 868 proposes a backdoor into encrypted platforms. The bill and its House companion have both passed through their respective committees and are headed to a full vote. If enacted, SB 868 would require social media companies to decrypt teens' private messages, ban disappearing messages, allow unrestricted parental access to private messages, and likely eliminate encryption for all minors altogether.
• Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the George W. Bush administration. He has committed to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
• Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners, adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.

"Thank you, Bitaxe community. OSMU developers, your brilliance built this. Supporters, your belief drives us. Customers, your trust powers 10,000+ miners and 10PH globally. Together, we’re decentralizing Bitcoin’s future. Last but certainly not least, thank you@skot9000 for not only creating a freedom tool, but instilling the idea into thousands of people, that Bitcoin mining can be for everyone again," said the firm on X.

• OCEAN's DATUM has found 100 blocks. "Over 65% of OCEAN’s miners are using DATUM, and that number is growing every day. This means block template construction is making its way back into the hands of the miners, which is not only the most profitable for miners on OCEAN but also one of the best things for Bitcoin," stated the mining pool.

Source: orangesurf

• Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM" and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as announced on Tuesday.
• Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin. According to the automaker's latest earnings report, the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
• The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA), just months after its implementation. According to Politico's report on Tuesday, the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
• TABConf 2025 is scheduled to take place from October 13-16, 2025. This prominent technical Bitcoin conference is dedicated to community building, education, and developer support, and it is set to return in October. Get your tickets here.
• Kaduna Lightning Development Bootcamp. From May 14th to 17th, the Bitcoin Lightning Developer Bootcamp will take place in Kaduna, Nigeria. Thisevent offers four dynamic days of coding, learning, and networking. Organized by Africa Free Routing and supported by Btrust, Tether, and African Bitcoiners, this bootcamp is designed as a gateway for African developers eager to advance their skills in Bitcoin and Lightning development. Apply here.

Source: African Bitcoiners.

Use the tools

• Core Lightning (CLN) v25.02.2 as been released to fix a broken Docker image. The issue was caused by an SQLite version that did not support an advanced query.
• Blitz wallet v0.4.4-beta introduces several updates and improvements, including the prevention of duplicate ecash payments, fixes for background ecash invoice handling, the ability for users to send payments to BOLT12 invoices from their Liquid balance, support for Blink QR codes, a lowered minimum amount for Lightning-to-Liquid payments to 100 sats, the option to initiate a node sync via a swipe gesture on the wallet's home screen, and the introduction of opt-in or opt-out functionality for newly implemented crash analytics via settings.
• Utreexo v0.5.0, a hash-based dynamic accumulator, is now available.
• Specter v2.1.1 is now available on StartOS. "This update brings compatibility with Bitcoin Core v28 and incorporates several upstream improvements," said developer Alex71btc.
• ESP-Miner (AxeOS) v2.7.0b1 is now available for testing.
• NodeGuard v0.16.1, a treasury management solution for Lightning nodes, has been released.
• The latest stacker.news updates include prompts to add a receiving wallet when posting or making comments (for new users), an option to randomize poll choices, improved URL search, and a few other enhancements. A bug fix for territories created after 9/19/24 has been implemented to reward 70% of their revenue to owners instead of 50%.

Other stuff

• The April edition of the 256 Foundation's newsletter is now available. It includes the latest mining news, Bitcoin network health updates, project developments, and a tutorial on how to update FutureBit's Apollo 1 to the Apollo 2 software.
• Siggy47 has posted a comprehensive RoboSats guide on stacker.news.
• Learn how to run your own Nostr relay using Citrine and Cloudflare Tunnels by following this step-by-step guide by Dhalism.
• Max Guise has written a Bitkey roadmap update for April 2025.

• PlebLab has uploaded a video on how to build a Rust wallet with LDK Node by Ben Carman.

• Do you want more? Subscribe and get No Bullshit GM report straight to your mailbox and No Bullshit Bitcoin on Nostr.

• Feedback or tips? Drop it here.
• #FREESAMOURAI

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Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Life Insurer, Meanwhile, Becomes First Company to Publish Audited Financials Denominated in Bitcoin

Meanwhile Insurance Bitcoin (Bermuda) Limited (“Meanwhile”) announced it has become the first company in the world to release externally audited financial statements denominated entirely in Bitcoin. According to the announcement, the company reported 220.4 BTC in assets and 25.29 BTC in net income for 2024, a 300% year over year increase.

Today marks a global first & historic event for us, along with the public release of our 2024 audited financial statements, covering our 1st year of sales.

As the 1st company in the world to have Bitcoin-denominated financial statements externally audited, we are excited to…

— meanwhile | Bitcoin Life Insurance (@meanwhilelife) June 5, 2025

“We’ve just made history as the first company in the world to have Bitcoin-denominated financial statements externally audited,” said Zac Townsend, CEO of Meanwhile. “This is an important, foundational step in reimagining the financial system based on a single, global, decentralized standard outside the control of any one government.” 

The financial statements were audited by Harris & Trotter LLP and its digital asset division ht.digital. Meanwhile’s financials also comply with Bermuda’s Insurance Act 1978, noting that their BTC denominated financials were approved and comply with official guidelines. The firm, fully licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), operates entirely in BTC and is prohibited from liquidating Bitcoin assets except through policyholder claims, positioning it as a long term holder. 

“As the first regulated Bitcoin life insurance company, we view the BTC held by Meanwhile as inherently long-term in nature—primarily held to support the Company’s insurance liabilities over decades,” Townsend added. “This makes it significantly ‘stickier’ and resistant to market pressures compared to the BTC held by other companies as part of their treasury management strategies.” 

Meanwhile’s 2024 financials also revealed 23.02 BTC in net premiums and 4.35 BTC in investment income, showing that its model not only preserves Bitcoin, but earns it. The company’s reserves (also held in BTC) were reviewed and approved by Willis Towers Watson (WTW). 

Meanwhile also offers a Bitcoin Whole Life insurance product that allows policyholders to save, borrow, and build legacy wealth—entirely in BTC, and has plans to expand globally in 2025.

“We are incredibly proud of today’s news as it underscores how Meanwhile is at the forefront of the next phase of the convergence between Bitcoin and institutional financial markets,” said Tia Beckmann, CFO of Meanwhile. “Now having generated net income in BTC, we have demonstrated that we are earning it through a sustainable insurance business model designed for the long term.” 

This post Bitcoin Life Insurer, Meanwhile, Becomes First Company to Publish Audited Financials Denominated in Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.