@ cbd044aa:090d5436

Pet Wellness Program Vancouver Keep your furry friend thriving with Cypress St. Animal Hospital’s pet wellness program in Vancouver! Our tailored plans include check-ups, vaccinations, and dental care to catch issues early and keep your pet healthy. Perfect for puppies, seniors, or rescue pets, we offer affordable, compassionate care with a local touch. With easy scheduling and expert vets, your pet’s wellness is our priority. Join Cypress St. Animal Hospital’s program today and give your pet the happy, healthy life they deserve in Vancouver!

@ 91117f2b:111207d6

Bitcoin has revolutionized the way people think about money and financial transactions. Its decentralized nature and secure blockchain technology have created a trusted and transparent financial system. Here's how Bitcoin has helped the community:

Financial Inclusion - Access to Financial Services: Bitcoin provides an opportunity for people in underserved or underbanked communities to access financial services, promoting economic growth and stability.

• Cross-Border Transactions: Bitcoin enables fast and low-cost cross-border transactions, facilitating global trade and commerce.

Community Building

• Online Forums: Bitcoin forums like Bitcointalk and Reddit's r/Bitcoin community provide a platform for enthusiasts to discuss market trends, share knowledge, and learn from each other.

• Social Media: Twitter, Facebook groups, and Telegram channels dedicated to Bitcoin foster a sense of community, allowing users to stay updated on market news and trends.

Education and Resources

• Educational Content: Websites like Hello Bitcoin offer beginner-friendly guides, videos, and resources to help new users understand Bitcoin and its applications.

• Meetups and Events: Bitcoin conferences and meetups provide opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration ³.

Support for Innovation

• Developer Community: Bitcoin's open-source nature has attracted a community of developers who contribute to its growth and development.

• New Use Cases: Bitcoin's versatility has led to innovative use cases, such as microtransactions and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Volatility: Bitcoin's price volatility can be a challenge, but it also presents opportunities for traders and investors.

• Regulatory Environment: The regulatory environment for Bitcoin is evolving, and community members must stay informed about changes that may impact their use of Bitcoin.

Overall, Bitcoin has created a vibrant and diverse community that is driving innovation, education, and financial inclusion. As the ecosystem continues to evolve, it's likely that Bitcoin will remain a key player in shaping the future of finance.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.

— ODELL (@ODELL) December 14, 2022

Good morning.

It looks like PacWest will fail today. It will be both the fifth largest bank failure in US history and the sixth major bank to fail this year. It will likely get purchased by one of the big four banks in a government orchestrated sale.  

March 8th - Silvergate Bank
March 10th - Silicon Valley Bank
March 12th - Signature Bank
March 19th - Credit Suisse
May 1st - First Republic Bank
May 4th - PacWest Bank?

PacWest is the first of many small regional banks that will go under this year. Most will get bought by the big four in gov orchestrated sales. This has been the playbook since 2008. Follow the incentives. Massive consolidation across the banking industry. PacWest gonna be a drop in the bucket compared to what comes next.

First, a hastened government led bank consolidation, then a public/private partnership with the remaining large banks to launch a surveilled and controlled digital currency network. We will be told it is more convenient. We will be told it is safer. We will be told it will prevent future bank runs. All of that is marketing bullshit. The goal is greater control of money. The ability to choose how we spend it and how we save it. If you control the money - you control the people that use it.

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

The House of Representatives will now decide whether to adopt its own proposal or the Senate’s version for the new stablecoin regulations.

The United States Senate has officially passed the GENIUS Act, marking another step toward establishing a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. The final vote concluded with 68 in favor and 30 against, sending the bill to the House of Representatives for final approval in the coming weeks.

Republican Senator Bill Hagerty, sponsor of the bill, stated:

“The GENIUS Act establishes a pro-growth regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. This legislation will cement U.S. dollar dominance, protect consumers, and drive demand for U.S. Treasurys.”

New standards for stablecoins in the U.S.

The legislative proposal, officially titled the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, sets strict legal requirements for stablecoin issuers. The bill mandates that every token must be fully backed by U.S. dollars or equally liquid assets (such as U.S. Treasurys), ensuring market stability and transparency.

Stablecoin issuers with a market capitalization exceeding $50 billion will be subject to mandatory annual audits, while foreign entities like Tether will be required to meet specific compliance rules to operate in the U.S. market.

Restrictions for Big Tech

One of the provisions of the GENIUS Act bans non-financial public companies — including giants like Meta and Amazon — from issuing stablecoins unless they meet stringent risk management and privacy standards. This measure aims to prevent potential conflicts of interest and concentrations of power in the digital currency sector.

In the event of an issuer’s insolvency, the bill grants stablecoin holders a “super-priority” status in bankruptcy proceedings, placing them ahead of other creditors in the repayment hierarchy.

Despite Senate approval, the GENIUS Act now faces a competing proposal in the House — the STABLE Act — which was advanced in committee last May. The two bills differ on key issues such as state versus federal oversight and the treatment of foreign stablecoin issuers. Reconciling these versions will be crucial before any legislation reaches President Trump’s desk for final signature.

The post U.S. Senate approves the GENIUS Act: now it moves to the House appeared first on Atlas21.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Why are Stripe Alternatives are growing like mushrooms? When it comes to online payment processing, Stripe has long dominated the conversation.

However, with its complex pricing structure, strict policies and first-world focus, many entrepreneurs and companies are actively seeking viable Stripe alternatives.

Whether you’re a SaaS startup, e-commerce store, or global enterprise, choosing the right payment processor can significantly impact your bottom line and customer experience.

Table of Contents

• Why Consider Stripe Alternatives?
• The Complete List of Stripe Alternatives
• Additional Notable Mentions
• How to Choose the Right Stripe Alternative
• Conclusion

Why Consider Stripe Alternatives?

Before diving into our comprehensive list, it’s worth understanding why businesses are exploring alternatives to Stripe. While Stripe offers robust features and excellent developer tools, some businesses face challenges with pricing transparency, limited global coverage, or specific industry requirements that Stripe doesn’t fully address.

The Complete List of Stripe Alternatives

Based on extensive research and analysis of the payment processing landscape, here are 27 proven Stripe alternatives that could be the perfect fit for your business:

1. Flash – Easiest Bitcoin Payment Solution

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.

2. Lemon Squeezy – The SaaS-Focused Alternative

Dubbed as “acq’d by Stripe,” Lemon Squeezy offers a comprehensive solution specifically designed for digital product sales and SaaS businesses. It provides strong customer support, built-in analytics, and handles payments, subscriptions, global tax compliance, and fraud prevention in one platform.

3. Gumroad – Creator Economy Champion

Gumroad has carved out a niche serving creators and small businesses by providing tools for selling digital products, physical goods, and subscriptions. It’s particularly popular among content creators, artists, and independent entrepreneurs who want to experiment with various ideas and formats. They also open-sourced their code which is quite the ‘chad-move’.

4. Paddle – All-in-One SaaS Commerce

Paddle caters to SaaS and software companies by offering a comprehensive platform with billing, licensing, and global tax handling capabilities. It’s designed to be a complete solution for subscription-based businesses, handling payments, tax, and subscription management in one platform.

5. FastSpring – Global E-commerce Specialist

FastSpring specializes in e-commerce solutions for software and SaaS companies, with a focus on global payments and subscription management. According to TechnologyAdvice, it’s particularly strong for international transactions and helps companies sell more, stay lean, and compete big.

6. 2Checkout – Versatile Payment Solutions

2Checkout (now part of Verifone) offers versatile payment solutions excelling in global payments, subscription billing, and digital commerce. One of the best stripe alternatives as it’s an all-in-one monetization platform that maximizes revenues and makes global online sales easier, supporting over 200 countries and territories.

7. Payoneer – Cross-Border Payment Expert

Payoneer simplifies cross-border payment solutions, offering local payment ease globally with a focus on market expansion and multi-currency support. It’s trusted by small to medium-sized businesses for global payment solutions and international money transfers.

8. Chargebee – Subscription Management Leader

Chargebee is a subscription management platform perfect for SaaS and SMBs, with robust billing and revenue management features. If you were looking for stripe alternatives to setup subscriptions, Chargebee might be right for you. It streamlines revenue operations and helps businesses grow efficiently with comprehensive subscription billing capabilities.

9. Maxio (formerly Chargify) – B2B SaaS Billing

Maxio offers a robust platform for B2B SaaS billing and financial operations, focusing on growth and efficiency for subscription businesses. It’s the most complete financial operations platform for B2B SaaS, bringing core financial operations into one platform.

10. Recurly – Dynamic Subscription Management

Recurly offers dynamic subscription management platform, excelling in churn management and data insights for subscription growth. It’s the only proven platform that expands and protects your recurring revenue with subscription management, recurring billing, and payments orchestration.

11. Braintree – PayPal’s Enterprise Solution

Braintree (by PayPal) provides a versatile global payments platform, integrating multiple payment methods with a focus on conversion and security. It delivers end-to-end checkout experiences for businesses, offering single-touch payments and mobile optimization.

12. PayKickstart – Modern Commerce Platform

PayKickstart offers a modern commerce platform for online billing and affiliates, focusing on revenue maximization and churn minimization. It’s the most complete checkout, recurring billing, affiliate management, and retention solution with global capabilities.

13. PayPro Global – Full-Service E-commerce

PayPro Global offers a full-service eCommerce solution for selling software and SaaS, focusing on global payments, tax compliance, and customer support. It provides flexible solutions with over 70 payment methods and great support for software companies.

14. Shopify Payments – E-commerce Integration

Integrated with Shopify, this service is ideal for SMBs in eCommerce, offering a seamless shopping cart and payment experience. It’s the simplest way to accept online payments, automatically set up for major methods with no fees for some payment types.

15. Square – Versatile POS and Payment Solutions

Square provides versatile POS and payment solutions for small businesses with a strong focus on retail and mobile payments. Forbes Advisor notes it as one of the top alternatives for businesses needing both online and offline payment capabilities.

16. Zoho Billing – Integrated Business Solution

Zoho Billing is an online recurring billing and subscription management solution, ideal for small and medium-sized businesses seeking professional invoice creation, time and expense tracking, and improved cash flow management. Zoho isn’t just competing for stripe alternatives, they offer a ton of other products and services.

17. WePay – Chase Company Integration

WePay, a Chase company, provides integrated payment solutions for ISVs and SaaS companies with customizable payment solutions. It’s designed for platforms like marketplaces and small business tools, offering seamless user experience and fraud protection.

18. QuickBooks Payments – SMB Accounting Integration

This service provides seamless accounting and payment solutions for SMBs and SaaS businesses, featuring real-time tracking and automated bookkeeping. It lets small businesses accept payments online from anywhere with easy integration into QuickBooks accounting.

19. Mangopay – Marketplace Payment Infrastructure

Mangopay offers a modular payment infrastructure for marketplaces and platforms, emphasizing flexibility, global payouts, and AI-powered anti-fraud. It uses flexible wallets built to orchestrate fund flows and monetize payment experiences.

20. Coinbase Commerce – Cryptocurrency Payments

Coinbase Commerce enables businesses to accept payments from around the world using cryptocurrency. It offers instant settlement, low fees, and broad asset support, making it easy for merchants to accept digital currency payments globally.

21. BTCPay Server – Open-Source Bitcoin Processor

BTCPay Server is a self-hosted, open-source cryptocurrency payment processor with 0% fees and no third-party involvement. It’s secure, private, censorship-resistant, and completely free for businesses wanting full control over their Bitcoin payments.

22. Lago – Open-Source Billing Alternative

Lago is an open-source alternative to Stripe Billing and Chargebee, specializing in billing and metering in one place for usage-b

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

DDC Enterprise Secures $528 Million to Expand Bitcoin Holdings

Today, DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSE: DDC) announced it has raised three securities purchase agreements for a total of up to $528 million to expand its Bitcoin holdings. According to the press release, this is one of the largest single-purpose Bitcoin raises by any NYSE-listed company.

JUST IN: DDC Enterprise to raise up to $528 million to buy more #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/CPxPlsjvwq

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 17, 2025

“Today is a defining moment for DDC Enterprise and our shareholders,” said the Founder and CEO of DDC Enterprise Norma Chu. “This capital commitment of up to $528 million, backed by respected institutions from both traditional finance and the digital asset frontier, represents a strong mandate to execute an ambitious corporate Bitcoin accumulation strategy globally. Our vision is unequivocal: we are building the world’s most valuable Bitcoin treasury.”

The funding, backed by investors including Anson Funds, Animoca Brands, Kenetic Capital, and QCP Capital, will be primarily allocated toward significantly increasing the company’s Bitcoin holdings.

“This funding is expected to propel DDC into one of the top global corporate Bitcoin holders,” stated Chu. “This investment by Anson Funds and the group of PIPE investors is a resounding validation of Bitcoin’s important role in future corporate balance sheets.”

Components of the capital raise include:

• $26 Million Equity PIPE Investment:
  The company will issue up to 2.4 million Class A ordinary shares at an average price of $10.30 to investors including Animoca Brands, Kenetic Capital, and QCP Capital. The shares will be restricted for 180 days.
• $300 Million Convertible Note and $2 Million Private Placement:
  Anson Funds will provide an initial $25 million with no interest and will mature in 24 months, with up to $275 million available in future tranches. Anson will also purchase 307,693 Class A ordinary shares for $2 million in a concurrent private placement.
• $200 Million Equity Line of Credit:
  Anson Funds has also committed to a $200 million equity line of credit (ELOC), giving DDC flexible access to capital for future Bitcoin purchases.

“At DDC, we will deploy this capital with institutional discipline and unwavering conviction, cementing our position as the premier bridge between global capital markets and the Bitcoin ecosystem,” said Chu. “DDC Enterprise is strongly positioned as the definitive publicly-traded vehicle for concentrated Bitcoin exposure and value creation. My focus will be on growing our BTC treasury and delivering attractive BTC yield consistently for our shareholders.”

This post DDC Enterprise Secures $528 Million to Expand Bitcoin Holdings first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Thailand Approves Five Year Bitcoin And Crypto Tax Break 

Thailand has approved a five year tax exemption on capital gains from cryptocurrency trading made through licensed digital asset platforms. The exemption will be in effect from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029.

JUST IN: Thailand’s cabinet approved personal tax waiver on profits from the #Bitcoin and crypto sale over five years. pic.twitter.com/4gWc1gn84j

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 17, 2025

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced the measure, calling it a move to increase investment, stimulate economic activity, and drive long term growth.

Amornvivat stated, “The Cabinet approved a five-year crypto tax exemption to promote Thailand as a global digital asset hub.” 

According to the Ministry of Finance, the policy is designed to strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness in the global digital economy. It targets transparent growth, and aims to increase capital inflow into the Thai market. Officials expect over 1 billion baht in indirect tax revenue to result from the increased economic activity during the exemption period.

Amornvivat went on to say, “The capital gain tax exemption will be for the sale of digital assets made through operators regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

The tax break applies only to platforms licensed by the Thai SEC. This includes exchanges that meet strict regulatory standards under the government’s digital finance framework. Exchanges without Thai licenses will not benefit from the exemption and continue to face restrictions.

Officials say the new exemption aligns with international standards from the OECD and FATF. The government is also exploring a possible value-added tax (VAT) on digital assets to support fiscal stability. 

Furthermore, this isn’t Thailand’s first step toward embracing Bitcoin or crypto.

Thailand approved its first spot Bitcoin ETF in 2024, allowing asset manager ONEAM to launch a fund for institutional investors. The ETF offers regulated exposure to Bitcoin through global funds and reflects growing demand for institutional access to the asset.

Thailand is taking a two sided approach. They support innovation through licensed platforms, while cracking down on unregulated players. With clearer rules and tax breaks, the country is positioning itself as a leader for Bitcoin and crypto growth in Southeast Asia. 

This post Thailand Approves Five Year Bitcoin And Crypto Tax Break  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

BBVA Tells Wealthy Clients to Invest Up to 7% in Bitcoin 

Spanish bank BBVA is now advising its wealthy clients to invest up to 7% of their portfolios in crypto and Bitcoin, showing how traditional banks are starting to see the potential of Bitcoin. 

JUST IN: Spain's second largest bank BBVA is telling wealthy clients to invest in Bitcoin — Reuters pic.twitter.com/i2Pqg85uSk

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 17, 2025

“With private customers, since September last year, we started advising on Bitcoin,” said Philippe Meyer, head of digital & blockchain solutions at BBVA Switzerland, during the DigiAssets conference in London. “The riskier profile, we allow up to 7% of portfolios in crypto.”

The bank’s private wealth division is currently recommending clients allocate 3% to 7% of their portfolio to Bitcoin and crypto, depending on their individual appetite. While many private banks have offered to execute Bitcoin or crypto trades upon request, it remains rare for a global financial institution to formally advise clients to buy. BBVA is currently recommending allocations specifically in Bitcoin. 

Meyer emphasized that even a modest allocation to Bitcoin can have a meaningful impact on portfolio returns, “If you look at a balanced portfolio, if you introduce 3%, you already boost the performance,” he said. “At 3%, you are not taking a huge risk.” 

BBVA began executing Bitcoin purchases for its clients in 2021, but Meyer said this is the first time it is formally advising allocations. In June 2021, the bank launched Bitcoin trading and custody services through its Swiss subsidiary for private clients. “With this innovative offer, BBVA positions itself as a benchmark institution in the adoption of blockchain technology,” said BBVA Switzerland CEO Alfonso Gómez at the time. 

BREAKING: Spain's BBVA is opening #Bitcoin trading and custody to all private banking clients in Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/2ppfs34g6F

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 18, 2021

BBVA’s interest in digital currency goes back even further. As early as 2015, the bank made it clear that it viewed Bitcoin and blockchain technology as more than just a passing trend. In a statement that now seems increasingly prescient, BBVA said “institutions that understand Bitcoin and digital currencies will lead the new monetary system,” highlighting its belief that early adopters would gain a strategic advantage. 

This early support set BBVA apart from many of its peers, as few major banks were willing to publicly engage with Bitcoin at the time. 

What began as interest in blockchain technology has turned into direct investment guidance, now culminating in BBVA formally advising wealthy clients to allocate up to 7% of their portfolios into Bitcoin, a clear sign the bank sees it as a long term part of its future.

This post BBVA Tells Wealthy Clients to Invest Up to 7% in Bitcoin  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

U.S. Senate Passes Stablecoin Bill The GENIUS Act

The U.S. Senate has passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act (S. 394) by a vote of 68-30, establishing the first comprehensive federal framework for fiat-backed stablecoins.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty and co-sponsored by Senators Tim Scott, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Cynthia Lummis. It passed under the official title “Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins of 2025.” 

The United States Senate has passed the GENIUS Act

— Bo Hines (@BoHines) June 17, 2025

“Today, on a bipartisan basis, the Senate passed its first piece of major legislation this Congress with my bill—the GENIUS Act,” said Senator Hagerty. “With GENIUS, the United States is one step closer to becoming the crypto capital of the world.” 

The GENIUS Act tightly regulates payment stablecoins, requiring 1:1 dollar-backed reserves, monthly disclosures, audits, and clear federal or state licensing. It prohibits algorithmic coins and places strict limitations on rehypothecation and commingling of reserves. Importantly, the bill also amends existing securities laws to explicitly state that compliant stablecoins are not securities—freeing them from SEC jurisdiction.  

While the bill is aimed at stablecoins, many Bitcoin proponents see it as a win since stablecoins can act as a bridge into Bitcoin, enabling on-ramps, easier settlements, and institutional access. 

And as the financial system modernizes, trusted access points like dollar-backed tokens could play a role in onboarding new Bitcoin users—especially in international markets and corporate treasuries. 

“The U.S. Senate has passed the GENIUS Act — landmark stablecoin legislation that provides regulatory clarity, enhances consumer protection, and extends U.S. dollar dominance online,” said President Donald Trump’s AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks. “Thanks to President Trump for his leadership on crypto & Senator Hagerty for authoring the bill.”

The passage of the GENIUS Act may be the clearest signal yet that the U.S. is preparing for a stablecoin and Bitcoin-powered future.   

This post U.S. Senate Passes Stablecoin Bill The GENIUS Act first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Swiss Bitcoin Platform Relai & Casa Partner to Offer Multisig Bitcoin Security

Today, Relai, a Swiss Bitcoin platform, announced it has partnered with Casa to introduce a new Bitcoin saving and security solution, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine.

“Self-custody is at the heart of Bitcoin’s promise,” said the Co-Founder and CTO of Relai Adem Bilican. “As our users continue to accumulate and grow their holdings over time, we recognize the need for long-term solutions designed for serious Bitcoin enthusiasts. Casa is the ideal partner – a sovereignty-focused and user-friendly solution. Together, we’re helping users secure not just their savings, but their legacy.” 

According to the press release, the app has over 500,000 downloads, more than 85,000 active users, and a total user investment exceeding $1 billion. These figures reflect growing user engagement with self-custody Bitcoin solutions intended for long-term use.

Self-custody is a fundamental aspect of Bitcoin ownership, but it also comes with certain risks, particularly around long-term security. The partnership introduces a multisignature (multisig) custody option, which requires multiple keys to access funds. This setup can help mitigate the vulnerabilities of single-key storage.

Through the integration, users who purchase Bitcoin via Relai will have the option to store their assets using Casa’s multisig system. The offering also includes an inheritance feature that allows users to designate a beneficiary, adding a layer of planning for asset transfer across generations.

“Casa’s mission is to maximize sovereignty and security in the world,” stated the CEO of Casa Nick Neuman. “The best way we can do that today is by making sovereign bitcoin custody as safe and simple as possible. Our partnership with Relai will help people stack bitcoin and store it securely, for themselves and their families.”

According to both companies, the integration represents a first-of-its-kind model that combines Bitcoin accumulation with long-term custody and inheritance planning for everyday users.

This post Swiss Bitcoin Platform Relai & Casa Partner to Offer Multisig Bitcoin Security first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Prenetics Becomes First Healthcare Firm to Launch Bitcoin Treasury Strategy With $20M BTC Purchase

Prenetics Global Limited, a health sciences company, announced today that it has purchased $20 million worth of Bitcoin as part of a newly approved corporate treasury strategy. The company acquired 187.42 BTC at an average price of $106,712 and stated that its board has approved allocating the majority of its $117 million balance sheet to Bitcoin. 

This follows the company’s strategic transfer of ownership of ACT Genomics, which increased its pro-forma cash to approximately $66 million and total liquid assets, including BTC and short-term holdings, to around $117 million. 

According to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine, Danny Yeung, CEO of Prenetics stated, “With our strengthened balance sheet of $117 million in cash, BTC and short-term assets, we now have the financial foundation to pioneer innovative treasury management approaches, including our historic Bitcoin treasury strategy.” 

Prenetics also announced the appointment of Andy Cheung, former COO of cryptocurrency exchange OKEx, to its Board of Directors. Cheung noted that the company’s Bitcoin strategy will include active treasury management, using tools such as derivatives and structured products. 

“This isn’t about passive Bitcoin storage,” said Cheung. “We’re talking about dynamic treasury management using derivatives, yield strategies, and institutional-grade trading techniques.”

Prenetics plans to expand its Bitcoin holdings through institutional capital partnerships and to implement advanced return strategies. It also plans to accept Bitcoin payments across its direct to consumer platforms, including IM8 Health and CircleDNA.

In addition to Cheung, the company is working with two industry advisors, Tracy Hoyos Lopez, Chief of Staff at Kraken and a board member at the Bitcoin Advocacy Project, and Raphael Strauch, founder of crypto conference TOKEN2049. 

“This is not a short-term play or market timing decision,” said Yeung. “We are implementing a comprehensive, long-term Bitcoin strategy that we believe will fundamentally transform our company’s value proposition.”

Prenetics reported strong recent growth, including a 336.5% year over year revenue increase in Q1 2025. It now operates three consumer health brands and maintains a deb free balance sheet. 

Prenetics’ strategy shows Bitcoin’s tremendous growth and potential. But this time, from within the healthcare sector. 

This post Prenetics Becomes First Healthcare Firm to Launch Bitcoin Treasury Strategy With $20M BTC Purchase first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

The Blockchain Group Buys $20 Million Worth Of Bitcoin

The Blockchain Group has acquired an additional 182 Bitcoin for approximately €17 million ($19.6 million), further expanding its position as Europe’s first Bitcoin treasury company amid accelerating institutional adoption of Bitcoin reserves.

According to a press release issued June 18, the Euronext Growth Paris-listed company completed the purchases through multiple convertible bond issuances totalling over €18 million, subscribed by several investors, including UTXO Management, Moonlight Capital, and asset manager TOBAM.

JUST IN: French publicly traded, The Blockchain Group buys an additional 182 #Bitcoin for €17.0 million

Nothing stops this train pic.twitter.com/fwIqq934Yy

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 18, 2025

The acquisitions bring The Blockchain Group’s total Bitcoin holdings to 1,653 BTC, purchased at an average price of €90,081 ($104,000) per coin. The company reported a “BTC Yield” – measuring Bitcoin holdings relative to fully diluted shares – of 1,173.2% year-to-date, significantly outpacing other major corporate holders.

The company’s latest purchases were executed through Swissquote Bank Europe and Banque Delubac, with custody provided by Swiss infrastructure provider Taurus. Additional funding came from the conversion of share warrants into 2.98 million ordinary shares, raising €1.6 million.

We’re seeing unprecedented growth in corporate Bitcoin treasury strategies. The Blockchain Group’s success has created a model for European companies, with new organizations announcing Bitcoin purchases almost weekly.

The company indicated potential plans to acquire an additional 70 BTC through ongoing transactions, which could bring its total holdings to 1,723 BTC. This follows recent Bitcoin treasury announcements from companies including Metaplanet, which now holds 10,000 BTC, and Strategy’s latest acquisition of 10,1000 BTC.

At press time, Bitcoin trades at $104,021, down 1.26% over the past 24 hours, as markets continue to process the implications of growing institutional adoption. The Blockchain Group’s shares were down 3.9% to €4.80 on Wednesday, trading on Euronext Paris.

This post The Blockchain Group Buys $20 Million Worth Of Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vivek Sen.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

K33 Announces Plans To Purchase Up To 1,000 Bitcoin

K33 AB, a leading digital asset brokerage and research firm, announced today the launch of a SEK 85 million direct share issue to fund the purchase of Bitcoin. The company aims to build Bitcoin as a core asset on its balance sheet, targeting the accumulation of up to 1,000 BTC as a strategic reserve.

PRESS RELEASE: K33 launches a share issue to finance the purchase of up to 1000 Bitcoin, with a minimum of SEK 85 million secured through pre-commitments pic.twitter.com/sG1LZjR6EI

— K33 (@K33HQ) June 18, 2025

The share issue, priced at SEK 0.1036 per share, is fully backed by existing shareholders and new investors. Proceeds from the raise will be used exclusively to acquire BTC, supporting K33’s accumulation strategy revealed in May. By acquiring BTC, the company aims to strengthen its balance sheet, boost brokerage margins, launch new products, and attract more investors.

“This raise marks a major milestone towards our initial goal of acquiring 1000 BTC before scaling further,” commented the CEO of the Company Torbjørn Bull Jenssen. “We strongly believe that Bitcoin represents the future of global finance and are positioning K33 to benefit maximally from this. A strong balance sheet built on Bitcoin enables us to significantly improve our brokerage operation while maintaining full exposure to Bitcoin’s upside potential.”

As part of the strategy, K33 recently completed its first Bitcoin acquisition, purchasing 10 BTC for approximately SEK 10 million on June 3. This transaction is the initial deployment of capital from the SEK 60 million investment commitment announced earlier this year to support the company’s BTC treasury.

“We expect Bitcoin to be the best-performing asset in the coming years and will build our balance sheet in Bitcoin moving forward,” stated Jenssen. “This will give K33 direct exposure to the Bitcoin price and help unlock powerful synergies with our brokerage operation. Our ambition is to build a balance of at least 1000 BTC over time and then scale from there.”

During its Q1 2025 Report and Strategic Outlook presentation, K33 underscored the accelerating institutional adoption of Bitcoin, referencing the rapid growth of the US Bitcoin ETFs, which attracted more capital in its first year than gold ETFs had in the past two decades.

“For K33, Bitcoin is not only a high-conviction asset — it’s also a strategic enabler,” Jenssen said. “With a sizable BTC reserve, we will be able to strengthen our financial position while unlocking new revenue streams, product capabilities, and partnerships.”

This post K33 Announces Plans To Purchase Up To 1,000 Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 8d34bd24:414be32b

As I read the news over the past week, we’ve heard of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s nuclear attack planes and Russia’s threats of retaliation. We’ve heard of Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities and Iran returning attacks on Israel’s major cities. I’ve read of AI taking jobs, threatening someone trying to turn it off, and refusing to turn off. There are threats of inflation, market crashes, housing crashes, and monetary crashes. There are riots across the US. There are warnings of potential new pandemics or of calls for terrorist cells to awaken and attack. It is easy to get overwhelmed by everything happening in the world. It is easy to become fearful of everything, but God does not call us to be afraid. He repeatedly tells us to “trust him” and to “fear not.”

Do not fear, for I am with you;\ Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.\ I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,\ Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

With all of the crazy going on in the world, it is easy to worry about our jobs, our families, our country, and even our lives, but God does not want us to worry. He wants us to trust in Him in all things.

And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:22-32) {emphasis mine}

God provides for His own. He doesn’t always provide in the way we wish, but He does provide when we trust in Him. Even when believers die, He provides them a place in heaven.

When we look at the world around us, where everything seems like it is falling apart and/or turning to evil, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and on eternity.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) {emphasis mine}

What we experience here on earth may sometimes be unpleasant, but it is a “momentary, light affliction” compared to the glory of heaven. Just as labor and delivery of a child is hard and unpleasant, but is worth every effort and pain when you hold your child, in the same way our suffering on earth will seem like nothing compared to the joy of being in the presence of our Creator God and Savior.

My Experiences

I used to try to prepare for everything. When I was young, I would say, “a good Girl Scout is always prepared.” When I got married and had kids, I started trying to prepare for anything that might possibly go wrong. I had extra food, water, and medical supplies. I started a garden. I got chickens. I got rid of chickens when I developed a lung allergy and couldn’t breathe.

None of that was wrong in itself. I’d even argue it could be wise actions, but I was relying on myself and stuff to face the troubles of this world instead of relying on God. That was definitely not good and was not the way to peace.

We also got involved in politics. My husband was in the state legislature. I was a precinct person and involved in precinct, county, state, and national meetings. I helped set the platform for our state political party in two elections and helped set the resolutions in another.

None of that was wrong in itself. I’d even argue that Christians are called to be a blessing to our earthly nations, but it wasn’t the way to peace, nor was it putting my time in effort into the most important things.

I’ve been reading my Bible daily for 40+ years and reading the Bible in a year for 20+ years. For more than a decade I intensely studied the beginnings, Genesis and how science and archaeology support every fact in Genesis. That study really taught me the power of God and how He always keeps His promises.

For the past several years, I’ve switched to spending most of my intense study on end times prophecy. Despite the fact that the end times prophecies predict a time of unimaginable hardship, the promises of the rapture, the millennial kingdom, and eternity with Jesus in heaven brings great peace. The crazy, evil, and agony in the world is not the world falling apart, but God’s controlled, merciful judgment on the world. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t just see everything that can possibly go wrong. I trust God with my life and that of my family.

I still have extra food, water, and medical supplies on hand, but I don’t obsess about it, nor do I put all my trust in my preparations. I still vote, but I have pulled back from political life. I have learned to trust Jesus in these difficult times. I try to be wise, but not worry about every thing that could possibly go wrong. I have gained peace.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. (John 14:26-29) {emphasis mine}

Studying God’s word enables me to know God’s power, trust His promises, and know His predictions. I don’t need to worry because God is in control of everything that happens in the world.

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7) {emphasis mine}

I really can know the “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension.”

What We Need for Peace

Knowing God’s word can give us peace. We can bring Bible verses to mind as reminders of His promises given and His promises fulfilled. I am going to go through a bunch of verses that we can bring to mind when we are feeling worried and fearful. I’ll probably make a few comments, but I want God’s word to speak to you.

When I am afraid,\ I will put my trust in You.\ In God, whose word I praise,\ In God I have put my trust;\ I shall not be afraid.\ What can mere man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)

It is hard to be afraid when you are praising God.

While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” (Mark 5:35-36)

Once trusting Jesus as Savior, we don’t need to be afraid of anything, just believe.

The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,\ A stronghold in times of trouble;\ And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,\ For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:9-10)

No matter what we are going through, God is with us and working through us for good. We are never left alone.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

God may allow hard times to come, but it is always for good. There is no pointless pain.

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

It is amazing how we can deal with hardships when we rely on God and not our own power.

For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,\ And His ears attend to their prayer,\ But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:12-16) {emphasis mine}

How amazing is it that suffering can actually be a blessing. There is no witness stronger than the person who keeps the faith and has joy and hope in suffering.

Do not fret because of evildoers,\ Be not envious toward wrongdoers.\ For they will wither quickly like the grass\ And fade like the green herb.\ *Trust in the Lord and do good*;\ Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.\ Delight yourself in the Lord;\ And He will give you the desires of your heart.\ *Commit your way to the Lord*,\ Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:1-5) {emphasis mine}

When we trust in God, commit our way to Him, and delight in Him, we can have joy in any situation.

Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter,\ The one that remains faithful.\ **The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,\ Because he trusts in You.\ Trust in the Lord forever,\ For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock. (Isaiah 26:2-4) {emphasis mine}

What a promise! “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.”

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:9-10) {emphasis mine}

Do you think of tribulation and poverty as riches? If you trust Jesus, then you are rich in blessings when you experience tribulation and poverty. God does not promise His people ease in this life, but He does promise to use every pain and hardship for good — for our good, the good of others, and His glory. We need to trust Jesus and not fear.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart\ And do not lean on your own understanding.\ In all your ways acknowledge Him,\ And He will make your paths straight.\ *Do not be wise in your own eyes;\ Fear the Lord* and turn away from evil.\ It will be healing to your body\ And refreshment to your bones.** (Proverbs 3:5-8) {emphasis mine}

I need this verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” I definitely want to lean on my own power and understanding and have to remind myself of God’s power, wisdom, and goodness continually so I lean on Him. You have to love what God promises when we trust in Him alone: “healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (2 Timothy 1:6-9) {emphasis mine}

If you haven’t relied on God for everything for a long time, a call to “join with me in suffering for the gospel” probably sounds crazy, but when we live a life “not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace” we quickly learn how everything in life brings more peace and joy. It doesn’t make it easier or nicer necessarily, but it does bring peace and joy like you can’t imagine.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:15-18) {emphasis mine}

If we repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord, the God and Creator of the universe lives in us. Is there anything more magnificent? When we trust in Jesus, “we may have confidence in the day of judgment.” When we love God, He loves us and “perfect love casts out fear.”

What Would I Do?

My son with Down Syndrome loves watching this show called “Mayday, Air Disaster.” It goes through different, real plane crashes and reviews how they figured out why the plane crashed. Sometimes everyone dies. Sometimes everyone lives. Sometimes some live and some die.

Watching this show and seeing the people (in reenactments) screaming in terror as the plane plummets to the ground makes me wonder how I would react in a similar circumstance. If I wasn’t a Christian, I’d probably never set foot on a plane again after watching the show. I’d like to think I would be like Jesus calmly praying “into thy hands I commit my spirit,” but I might be frantically gripping the armrests and screaming like the rest. I don’t guess anyone truly knows until they experience something like that.

Whatever the case, whether we act in perfect faith or whether we have a moment of weakness in fear of danger, pain, and the unknown, Jesus will be there with us, if we have trusted in Jesus as Savior. Everything is better with Jesus.

May our Lord, Creator, and Savior keep us in total faith, love, peace, and joy in Him so that we do not fear, no matter what trials we face. May He help us to lean on Him and not try to do everything ourselves or rely on stuff. May our faithful service and hope during trial glorify Him and draw many to Him.

Trust Jesus

@ d57360cb:4fe7d935

Your mind will berate you in performance. It’s self centered thinking that ruins your performance, it isolates you. Instead of being immersed in the experience of the game, you are caught in a web of your own stinking thinking.

Only thinking of yourself and how you will perform.

How others will judge you.

In your fear of what others think, you create the reality for them to judge you. You create an opportunity for them to distrust your gifts. Your fear is small and selfish. You must let go of oneself in order to be the creative expression of art.

Expression has no individual behind it, it is a force beyond small little me. Where once you took a step now it is the step that takes you.

We haven’t forgotten how to trust ourselves. We have forgotten how to love and accept ourselves and it shows when we contract and tighten under pressure.

Pressure is a spotlight it magnifies and calls you to bring forth your greatest gist, your greatest expression. Do not let the spotlight hinder you, most people are running from the light but the light always follows you, it’s like a shadow.

Until you come to accept that you are always in the spotlight only then can you realize what you do behind the scenes is also the scene itself.

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Why are Stripe Alternatives are growing like mushrooms? When it comes to online payment processing, Stripe has long dominated the conversation.

However, with its complex pricing structure, strict policies and first-world focus, many entrepreneurs and companies are actively seeking viable Stripe alternatives.

Whether you’re a SaaS startup, e-commerce store, or global enterprise, choosing the right payment processor can significantly impact your bottom line and customer experience.

Table of Contents

• Why Consider Stripe Alternatives?
• The Complete List of Stripe Alternatives
• Additional Notable Mentions
• How to Choose the Right Stripe Alternative
• Conclusion

Why Consider Stripe Alternatives?

Before diving into our comprehensive list, it’s worth understanding why businesses are exploring alternatives to Stripe. While Stripe offers robust features and excellent developer tools, some businesses face challenges with pricing transparency, limited global coverage, or specific industry requirements that Stripe doesn’t fully address.

The Complete List of Stripe Alternatives

Based on extensive research and analysis of the payment processing landscape, here are 27 proven Stripe alternatives that could be the perfect fit for your business:

1. Flash – Easiest Bitcoin Payment Solution

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.

2. Lemon Squeezy – The SaaS-Focused Alternative

Dubbed as “acq’d by Stripe,” Lemon Squeezy offers a comprehensive solution specifically designed for digital product sales and SaaS businesses. It provides strong customer support, built-in analytics, and handles payments, subscriptions, global tax compliance, and fraud prevention in one platform.

3. Gumroad – Creator Economy Champion

Gumroad has carved out a niche serving creators and small businesses by providing tools for selling digital products, physical goods, and subscriptions. It’s particularly popular among content creators, artists, and independent entrepreneurs who want to experiment with various ideas and formats. They also open-sourced their code which is quite the ‘chad-move’.

4. Paddle – All-in-One SaaS Commerce

Paddle caters to SaaS and software companies by offering a comprehensive platform with billing, licensing, and global tax handling capabilities. It’s designed to be a complete solution for subscription-based businesses, handling payments, tax, and subscription management in one platform.

5. FastSpring – Global E-commerce Specialist

FastSpring specializes in e-commerce solutions for software and SaaS companies, with a focus on global payments and subscription management. According to TechnologyAdvice, it’s particularly strong for international transactions and helps companies sell more, stay lean, and compete big.

6. 2Checkout – Versatile Payment Solutions

2Checkout (now part of Verifone) offers versatile payment solutions excelling in global payments, subscription billing, and digital commerce. One of the best stripe alternatives as it’s an all-in-one monetization platform that maximizes revenues and makes global online sales easier, supporting over 200 countries and territories.

7. Payoneer – Cross-Border Payment Expert

Payoneer simplifies cross-border payment solutions, offering local payment ease globally with a focus on market expansion and multi-currency support. It’s trusted by small to medium-sized businesses for global payment solutions and international money transfers.

8. Chargebee – Subscription Management Leader

Chargebee is a subscription management platform perfect for SaaS and SMBs, with robust billing and revenue management features. If you were looking for stripe alternatives to setup subscriptions, Chargebee might be right for you. It streamlines revenue operations and helps businesses grow efficiently with comprehensive subscription billing capabilities.

9. Maxio (formerly Chargify) – B2B SaaS Billing

Maxio offers a robust platform for B2B SaaS billing and financial operations, focusing on growth and efficiency for subscription businesses. It’s the most complete financial operations platform for B2B SaaS, bringing core financial operations into one platform.

10. Recurly – Dynamic Subscription Management

Recurly offers dynamic subscription management platform, excelling in churn management and data insights for subscription growth. It’s the only proven platform that expands and protects your recurring revenue with subscription management, recurring billing, and payments orchestration.

11. Braintree – PayPal’s Enterprise Solution

Braintree (by PayPal) provides a versatile global payments platform, integrating multiple payment methods with a focus on conversion and security. It delivers end-to-end checkout experiences for businesses, offering single-touch payments and mobile optimization.

12. PayKickstart – Modern Commerce Platform

PayKickstart offers a modern commerce platform for online billing and affiliates, focusing on revenue maximization and churn minimization. It’s the most complete checkout, recurring billing, affiliate management, and retention solution with global capabilities.

13. PayPro Global – Full-Service E-commerce

PayPro Global offers a full-service eCommerce solution for selling software and SaaS, focusing on global payments, tax compliance, and customer support. It provides flexible solutions with over 70 payment methods and great support for software companies.

14. Shopify Payments – E-commerce Integration

Integrated with Shopify, this service is ideal for SMBs in eCommerce, offering a seamless shopping cart and payment experience. It’s the simplest way to accept online payments, automatically set up for major methods with no fees for some payment types.

15. Square – Versatile POS and Payment Solutions

Square provides versatile POS and payment solutions for small businesses with a strong focus on retail and mobile payments. Forbes Advisor notes it as one of the top alternatives for businesses needing both online and offline payment capabilities.

16. Zoho Billing – Integrated Business Solution

Zoho Billing is an online recurring billing and subscription management solution, ideal for small and medium-sized businesses seeking professional invoice creation, time and expense tracking, and improved cash flow management. Zoho isn’t just competing for stripe alternatives, they offer a ton of other products and services.

17. WePay – Chase Company Integration

WePay, a Chase company, provides integrated payment solutions for ISVs and SaaS companies with customizable payment solutions. It’s designed for platforms like marketplaces and small business tools, offering seamless user experience and fraud protection.

18. QuickBooks Payments – SMB Accounting Integration

This service provides seamless accounting and payment solutions for SMBs and SaaS businesses, featuring real-time tracking and automated bookkeeping. It lets small businesses accept payments online from anywhere with easy integration into QuickBooks accounting.

19. Mangopay – Marketplace Payment Infrastructure

Mangopay offers a modular payment infrastructure for marketplaces and platforms, emphasizing flexibility, global payouts, and AI-powered anti-fraud. It uses flexible wallets built to orchestrate fund flows and monetize payment experiences.

20. Coinbase Commerce – Cryptocurrency Payments

Coinbase Commerce enables businesses to accept payments from around the world using cryptocurrency. It offers instant settlement, low fees, and broad asset support, making it easy for merchants to accept digital currency payments globally.

21. BTCPay Server – Open-Source Bitcoin Processor

BTCPay Server is a self-hosted, open-source cryptocurrency payment processor with 0% fees and no third-party involvement. It’s secure, private, censorship-resistant, and completely free for businesses wanting full control over their Bitcoin payments.

22. Lago – Open-Source Billing Alternative

Lago is an open-source alternative to Stripe Billing and Chargebee, specializing in billing and metering in one place for usage-b

@ 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

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You've probably heard it before. A bitcoiner is asked about their sats and, with a sly smile, replies: “I lost it all in a boating accident.” But where did this phrase come from? Why do so many bitcoiners make this joke? And more importantly: what does it actually mean?

The Origin of the Meme The phrase "Lost all my Bitcoin in a boating accident" originally came from American forums among gun and precious metal enthusiasts—long before Bitcoin entered the mainstream. The original context went like this: someone would ask if you still owned your gold or firearm collection, and the sarcastic response would be, “Unfortunately, I lost everything in a boating accident.”

This excuse was used as a way to avoid declaring ownership of assets to the government or other authorities. After all, what can’t be proven to exist can’t be taxed, confiscated, or regulated. Over time, this logic found fertile ground among advocates of individual sovereignty—a group where bitcoiners naturally belong.

The Metaphor of Resistance When Bitcoin maximalists adopted the phrase, it came to represent more than just an excuse to dodge uncomfortable questions—it became a symbol of resistance against an increasingly invasive and coercive financial system. Saying you “lost your Bitcoin in a boating accident” is often a euphemism for:

“It’s none of your business how many sats I have.”

“I don’t recognize the authority of anyone trying to seize my digital wealth.”

“My assets are sovereign, self-custodied, and unreachable by traditional means.”

Bitcoin Is Freedom, Not Compliance The meme also touches on a core pillar of Bitcoin philosophy: self-custody and the right to financial privacy. In a world where governments freeze accounts, censor transactions, and print money at will, owning Bitcoin is a form of civil resistance. But for that to have real power, the individual must take responsibility—not just for custody, but for silence.

Saying you “lost your Bitcoin” is also a reminder: Don’t talk about your private keys. Don’t flaunt your sats. Don’t paint a target on your back.

A Meme With a Purpose At the end of the day, the “boating accident” is a joke with a very serious undertone. It reminds us that in a truly sovereign system, the ownership of digital assets is something intimate, personal—and, if needed, deniable. It’s a way to reaffirm that Bitcoin is not just a tool for investment, but a tool for freedom.

So next time someone asks where your bitcoins are, just smile and say:

“Unfortunately, I lost it all in a boating accident…”

And let them wonder.

Thank you very much for reading this far. I hope everything is well with you, and sending a big hug from your favorite Bitcoiner maximalist from Madeira. Long live freedom!

@ 0b65f96a:7fda4c8f

Eine treffsicher, kurze und klare Rezension. Besser hätte ich das Buch selbst nicht zusammenfassen können. Herzlichen Dank an die Autorin!

Hier geht´s zur Rezension von Angelika Oldenburg vom Institut für soziale Dreigliederung - Patric I. Vogt „Zukunft beginnt im Kopf“

Leseprobe und Bestellmöglichkeit: Zukunft beginnt im Kopf

Paperback, 148 Seiten, ISBN-13: 9783759734266, € 12,50

In jeder Buchhandlung erhältlich.

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Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben.

Noch nicht auf Nostr? Hier entlang zum leichten Einstieg!

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Über den Autor

Patric I. Vogt, geb. 1968 in Mainz lebt als freischaffender Künstler, Lehrer und Unternehmer. Studium der Eurythmie, Anthroposophie, Sprachgestaltung und Ausbildung zum Instructor der M. Chekhov Acting Technique. Über drei Jahrzehnte Beschäftigung mit dem Ideenfeld soziale Dreigliederung und Anthroposphie. Moderation und Mediation von sozialen Prozessen und Organisationsentwicklung.  Staatlich ungeprüft, abgesehen von den Fahrerlaubnissen zu Land und zu Wasser. Vom Leben mit vielen Wassern gewaschen und am liebsten auf eigenem Kiel unterwegs.\ Motto: Gedanken werden Worte, werden Taten!

www.perspektivenwechsel.social

post@perspektivenwechsel.social

Nostr patric@pareto.town

auf X @patricivogt

#dreigliederung

@ 7776c32d:45558888

On the one hand, Iran is justified to defend itself. On the other hand, nuclear bombs are bad.

On the one hand, the US are the only ones that have used nuclear bombs on civilians.

On the other hand, I live in the US. That makes me especially scared of nukes going off on US soil.

Both hands now:

Guess where nukes need to be to go off on US soil?

Guess where the US military stores and transports a lot of nukes?

Did you know they've lost more than one?

I don't want nuclear bombs being stored and transported near me by people so incompetent, they've lost a single one ever. Let alone multiple.

Why would I trust they'll never let one go off where it's not supposed to?

If Iran had nuclear bombs, they might hit me someday when climate change makes Iran uninhabitable and the world's refugee policy is "let them die." That hasn't happened yet.

They have no reason to end the world in a nuclear apocalypse right now. The position they're in right now is simple self-defense. There's no need for suicide.

The US doesn't need to do it either, but the US are the ones escalating the risk. The US military are the ones storing and transporting and losing nuclear bombs where I live. They're the ones I'm worried about nuking me today, while I'm typing this.

Right now, today, Iran could secretly have nukes (we "lost") and their nukes still wouldn't be as much of a threat to me as the ones here.

We have nuclear submarines. We have a lot of less inhabited land in Alaska. We could start by banning the military from storing or transporting nuclear bombs in the 48 contiguous states.

But the end goal should be to fully denuclearize, so that we can reasonably ask the rest of the world to come together on that idea. I've been saying this for a few years.

The US nuclear arsenal is ostensibly the most powerful on earth. We invented the things.

The US has bragged for decades about having the most powerful military on Earth. The US has the GBU-43/B MOAB, a conventional bomb that hits as hard as a small nuke, but without the radiation. The US has military bases all over the world.

The US has nuclear armed allies who would defend us until other counterparties join in denuclearizing. Our nukes aren't the only powerful leverage we can use to make sure these allies don't betray us.

Without this arsenal, we wouldn't be sitting ducks.

We would simply be much safer from the insane military-industrial-complex terrorists endangering us all today.

We would still know how to make nukes. We don't need to keep practicing to hone that skill; there aren't even nuclear tests anymore because the mad scientists have all agreed they've gone too far already. Do you realize how far that means we've gone?

A lot of the damage so far has been indirect. The nuclear arms race left particles of irradiated material in the air worldwide, still measurable today, still part of the pollution causing today's increased global cancer rates.

Recent escalation has politicians talking about starting nuclear testing again - just to terrorize the world with more of this indirect damage, when we've already done all the testing we could need.

Iran hasn't done any nuclear detonation tests. They've been very hesitant to try to catch up on this insanity.

I remind you again, nuclear bombs have been used directly on civilians twice. Of course, both times were the US military at the end of World War II. Those war-traumatized, broken people thought it was OK to go again, after doing it once.

Today's war-traumatized, broken people still seem to think that wasn't wrong.

How can we let distrustful and mentally unstable loyalists keep so many nukes, and yet blow up Iran over it?

Mutually assured destruction is not a sane goal. Mutually assured survival is a sane goal.

Let's make the atomic age the last chapter of a spacefaring race's dark, wartorn origin story; not the last chapter of human history altogether.

It's time for people to wake up and come together like never before.

---

Photo attached - courtesy of Wikimedia user Oilstreet - shows the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, or Genbaku Dome. It was the closest building left standing when the city was bombed.

@ b64c3591:8c12a151

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@ 6ad3e2a3:c90b7740

"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent."

— Ludwig Wittgenstein

Simulation Theory, the idea our entire existence is part of a simulation, that we are just code running on some more advanced civilization’s supercomputer has come up in conversations of late. I’m writing to say it’s not just wrong, but bullshit. A category error, at best, and cover for a nefarious agenda at worst.

The first problem with Simulation Theory is unless there’s some way to get outside the simulation, to access base reality, so to speak, the theory has no meaning. It’s just a semantic game.

Consider for example the theory (one I came up with on my walk back from the track) that you are actually a sleeping elephant dreaming of this human life. You are sleeping peacefully under a quiet grove of trees, and you won’t wake into elephant consciousness for another four hours when the sun rises. Moreover, the pace of your dream is glacial — you will experience tens of thousands of human incarnations, full lifetimes, before daybreak. You will not wake up before then as your elephant self.

Maybe this theory is true, maybe it’s not, there’s no way to know. Anything that could possibly happen in this lifetime would not invalidate it. When there is nothing that could possibly falsify a theory, it’s neither true nor false, but meaningless. Elephant Dream and Simulation Theory are similar in this respect. You might as well call them The Universe. It’s just substituting one word-concept for another to describe an inaccessible structure containing all of reality.

Now some proponents of Simulation Theory posit a base reality beyond our simulation, namely that of the simulators. But there are two problems with that: (1) If you can’t access it because you’re just code within their closed system, you are stuck back at Elephant Dream; and (2) Even if you could somehow figure this out and access the “reality” of the simulators, why would you assume they too were not a simulation of some even yet more advanced civilization?

If they could simulate us, why couldn’t someone else simulate them? Why would their reality be any more real than ours for the exact same reasons? There could conceivably be an infinite regress of simulations within simulations, and even worse it could turn out to be circular, i.e., we will one day create a simulation that becomes the “base” simulation for all the simulations all the way down, eventually including our own.

So not being able to falsify any simulators’ reality, n-simulations deep, you are back to Elephant Dream. The elephant when he awakes similarly could himself be the dream of a person, who is the dream of another elephant ad infinitum. These are just empty words that don’t describe or affect the content of your “reality.”

(As an aside I like the infinite circular loop simulation theory as a short-circuit to the false logic it purports. It reminds me of that scene in Animal House where the students get high with Donald Sutherland (their professor.) When they opine his new book must be amazing, he says, “piece of shit” and they talk about how each atom in their hands could be an entire universe, and our entire universe might be an atom in the hand of some giant being. I always thought this could also be an infinite regress of universes as atoms in yet larger universes, and also circular wherein our universe could actually reside in one of the atoms in our own hand.)

These thought experiments reveal category errors in that they purport to describe something that’s outside the range of describability. To describe something is to distinguish it from the things that it is not, so to describe everything is the same as describing nothing in particular. You cannot describe the totality of reality any better than you can its absence. It’s like imagining how it is to be dead.

. . .

What I wrote above is the most generous interpretation of Simulation Theory, but at worst it’s actually being pushed to further an agenda. Just as a “science-based” materialism (everything is atoms) underpinned communist ideology where material resources were the only thing, and their equitable distribution at all costs the moral imperative, a code-based reality supports its own distorted, dark worldview.

If we are merely code in a simulation, then humans have no special claim to individual rights and resources any more than artificially intelligent robots. It’s only a small step from there to trans-humanism, utilitarianism and a technocratic state that subverts the principle of the individual being an end in himself.

The category error, in this view, is a convenient one — it removes the obstacles for the power-mad autists into quite literally playing God.

. . .

But back to the original inquiry: If Simulation Theory is no better than Elephant Dream, how can people hope to understand their reality? Are we stuck simply pushing back the impenetrable wall of truth via incremental scientific advances, doomed never to connect to the ultimate ground of our existence?

I think not. For the same reasons Simulation Theory fails, all of our theories will ultimately fail, and the best we can do is create better descriptions and explanations about particular phenomena that occur within our observational range.

But just because our logical minds can never reach beyond that expandable but necessarily limited spectrum, doesn’t mean it’s off limits. The problem is that to know consciousness itself, i.e., the base reality, outside of thought concepts like “code” or “atoms” one must be consciousness, not grasp at the perceptible phenomena within it.

That’s why religions emphasize faith, or in some cases, doubt. Trust in God, or doubting everything else that would impede you, is the path to that level of understanding. Logical explanations like Simulation Theory then are at best a misunderstanding to keep the deepest questions at bay, at worst a justification for unholy schemes at the heart of which is simply a will to power.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Flash Releases Free Bitcoin Invoicing Tool with No Fees, KYC, or Custody

Flash, a Bitcoin payment platform, just announced it has launched Flash Invoicing, a completely free, non-custodial, and KYC-free Bitcoin invoicing tool. Designed for freelancers, the platform allows users to send professional invoices without platform fees, identity checks, or third party custody.

According to Deel, a crypto payments company for freelancers, Bitcoin is the most used cryptocurrency in the world for payments. Despite this growth, many freelancers continue to use basic methods such as pasting Bitcoin addresses into PDFs or emails. Some rely on custodial platforms that deduct fees or require identity verification, which can affect both earnings and data privacy.

“We’ve seen too many people paste BTC addresses into documents and call it invoicing,” said the CEO of Flash Pierre Corbin. “It’s messy. It’s risky. And it’s time for something better.” 

Flash Invoicing Features:

• 0% platform fees: no subscriptions or commission
• Non-custodial: Bitcoin goes straight to the user’s wallet
• No KYC: users maintain full privacy
• Professional output: branded PDFs and secure payment links
• Integrated dashboard: manage payments, clients, and revenue
• Works with Flash ecosystem: including Stores, Donations, Paywalls, and POS

Many Bitcoin invoicing tools charge a percentage per transaction or require a subscription. As a result, freelancers often lose part of their income simply to issue an invoice and receive payment. Flash is aiming to solve this issue.

“Freelancers work hard enough. The last thing they need is a platform skimming off their earnings,” said Corbin. “That’s why we dropped our fee from 1.5% to 0% — and launched the first invoicing tool that’s truly free, without compromising on privacy or control.”

Flash Invoicing allows users to accept Bitcoin payments without relinquishing control, privacy, or revenue. It is integrated with the broader Flash suite, enabling users to manage invoicing alongside features such as setting up stores, receiving donations, or gating premium content.

“As a freelancer myself, I love using the Flash invoicing feature,” stated a freelancer & Flash user. ”It keeps all my clients in one place, allows me to easily edit invoices and track payments. Much more professional than sending a lightning address in the footer of a PDF invoice.”

This post Flash Releases Free Bitcoin Invoicing Tool with No Fees, KYC, or Custody first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Bitcoin Core Github page announced yesterday that Core Developers have merged pull request #32406, removing support for “-datacarrier” argument for Bitcoin Core software in their next release, expected to be published in October.

Pull request #32406 has been merged — Github

This is the latest development regarding the initiative brought forth by Bitcoin Core developer Peter Todd, which has caused intense debate among Bitcoiners, now known as the “spam wars”.

The disagreement is over a change to Bitcoin Core’s transaction relay policy that removes the OP_RETURN data limit, which some see as a threat to Bitcoin’s very purpose, while others see it as a necessary step to preserve decentralization and censorship resistance.

OP_RETURN is an arbitrary piece of data that can be amended to a bitcoin transaction, and used to be limited to 80 bytes. Users have found ways to go around this limit already and have uploaded larger data to the Bitcoin blockchain, including photos, audio, and even entire computer games.

Bitcoin Core allows for extra arguments when running the application, one of which is the “-datacarrier” argument, which tells the application to not accept transactions including larger OP_RETURN data into its mempool.

Now this argument is marked as “deprecated”, meaning it is not supported or developed anymore, and is expected to be completely removed in future versions.

This will make accepting Bitcoin transactions that contain non-financial data mandatory for anyone running future versions of the Core software.

Prior to the merging of the mentioned pull request on the morning of Monday June 9, a joint statement from 31 Bitcoin Core devs was released on June 6, reheating the already controversial debate in the Bitcoin community.

In the June 6 statement, Bitcoin Core devs explained how they think Bitcoin nodes should handle transactions that include non-financial data, like digital art or messages. This type of data has become more common with Ordinals and inscriptions.

Related: Discussions Heat Up Among Bitcoin Devs Over OP_RETURN Proposal

Core developers said they are not endorsing non-financial use of Bitcoin, but also won’t stop it. Their main point is that Bitcoin’s strength is in being open and censorship-resistant. They wrote:

“This is not endorsing or condoning non-financial data usage, but accepting that as a censorship-resistant system, Bitcoin can and will be used for use cases not everyone agrees on.”

They say it’s up to users and node operators to decide what kind of Bitcoin software they run. Bitcoin Core won’t block transactions that have economic demand and will be mined.

“Being free to run any software is the network’s primary safeguard against coercion,” the statement added.

The policy change goes back to a May 8th upgrade (announced by Core contributor and Engineer at Blockstream, Greg Sanders), where devs removed the long-standing 80-byte limit on OP_RETURN output size.

This limit was meant to discourage non-payment data usage, but devs say it no longer serves that purpose.

“Retiring a deterrent that no longer deters” makes sense, they argue, because people have already found ways to add large data to the blockchain.

They also point out that removing the cap may help miners and users more than it hurts. They claim the new approach helps predict which transactions will be mined, speeds up block propagation and helps miners find fee-paying transactions.

“Knowingly refusing to relay transactions that miners would include in blocks anyway forces users into alternate communication channels,” they explained, warning this could harm decentralization.

The response has been mixed.

The announcement of the merge received 64 upvotes and 93 downvotes from reviewers, showing the community is mostly against this action. Comments explaining their dissatisfaction with the merge also received the support of the majority.

Reviewers who voted ACK (acknowledgment and agreement) were downvoted, and the comments voting NACK (disagreement) received more upvotes.

Comments regarding the recent merge — Bitcoin Core Github page

Critics say it opens the door to blockchain spam, higher fees and more bloat on the blockchain with non-financial content. They say Bitcoin should stick to its original purpose as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system”.

Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, was one of the most vocal critics. He said the devs are removing the barriers that protect the network from spam.

“Bitcoin Core devs have been changing the network gradually to enable spam,” Mow said. “It’s disingenuous to just say ‘It is what it is now, too bad’.”

Bitcoin dev Luke Dashjr also criticized the move, saying it undermines Bitcoin’s core function. He called the devs’ goals “basically all wrong” and said expecting spam to be mined is “defeatism”.

Luke Dashjr on X

One user said: “It’s Bit”Coin” not Bit”Bucket” or Bit”Store” or whatever general purpose data store you have in mind. It’s a peer to peer electronic cash system”.

Another user chimed in, warning it could increase costs, reduce efficiency and even hurt long-term scalability.

Their argument is simple: if nonfinancial data is allowed to be stored on the blockchain, it will increase its size over time, storing useless data, and it will hurt decentralization, as fewer individuals will be able to host the entire blockchain on their computers.

They argue allowing people to store whatever they want on the blockchain because transactions shouldn’t be censored, will lead to hurting bitcoin in the long run. Many even argue no additional information should be allowed on the blockchain at all.

But not everyone is unhappy.

Some like Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Bitcoin wallet provider Casa, praised the devs for being transparent and consistent.

“Core Devs are a group saying we can’t force anyone to run code they don’t like,” Lopp said. “Here is our thinking on relay policy and network health.”

Lopp believes a joint statement helps the public understand what the devs stand for.

Supporters also say in a truly decentralized system, devs shouldn’t be gatekeepers. Instead users and miners should be able to decide what goes on the blockchain.

With opinions so divided, the future of Bitcoin may be more contentious. Some predict a fork to create a version of Bitcoin that only deals with monetary use. Others expect new wallet and node software that lets users choose to filter out large data or allow it.

Despite the controversy, the devs are standing by their decision. “While we recognize that this view isn’t held universally,” they said. “it is our sincere belief that it is in the best interest of Bitcoin and its users.”

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

The rain had been falling for hours.

David sat on the park bench, drenched, unmoving. His tie was loosened, briefcase soaked, and his eyes blank.

To anyone watching, he looked like someone waiting for a bus that would never come.

An old man with a red umbrella approached, eyeing the empty space beside him.

“Mind if I sit?” he asked.

David gave a tired shrug.

The old man sat, opened his umbrella to shield them both.

“You look like you lost something.”

David’s jaw clenched. “My job. My wife. And maybe myself.”

The man nodded. “That’s a lot for one bench.”

They sat in silence for a while. Only the sound of rain hitting the umbrella filled the air.

The old man finally spoke. “Thirty years ago, I sat on this same bench. After my son died. Thought the world had ended.”

David looked at him.

“What happened?”

“I met a woman who just sat and said nothing. But her silence didn’t judge. It helped.”

David stared ahead. “You think it gets better?”

“No,” the man said gently. “But you get stronger. If you let yourself heal.”

Another long pause.

David let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know where to begin.”

The man handed him the umbrella.

“Begin by getting out of the rain.”

Moral/Theme:

Even in the storm, someone may offer shelter. Healing doesn’t always come in words, it begins with presence.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

That’s exactly what Simplified Privacy VPN is offering: a new kind of privacy tool that feels more like spinning up a secure, disposable virtual browser than using a traditional VPN.

Most of us know what a VPN is: it hides your IP address, encrypts your traffic, and gives you a bit more control over your privacy online. But what if you could go way beyond that—without setting up a complicated system, running a full virtual machine, or revealing anything about yourself?

What Makes It Different?

When I tried it myself, I realized this wasn’t just another VPN. It didn’t just route my traffic—it gave me access to a completely separate browsing environment. Imagine logging into a private, anonymous machine in the cloud, one that:

• Has its own browser and system settings
• Can’t see your personal files, history, or identity
• Randomizes details like screen size and timezone
• Leaves no trace once you’re done

This isn’t just hiding your IP—it’s giving you a fresh, secure web session that’s disconnected from your actual device.

Simplified Privacy VPN: The Lightning-Powered Twist

Here’s where it gets even cooler for us in the Lightning world: access costs just $1 in bitcoin via the Lightning Network.

You send a few sats, and within seconds you get access to a private browser session that lasts for a full month. Want a different profile or setup? Just pay another dollar and spin up a new one—no account, no email, no friction.

You can create as many instances as you like, each with its own identity. This is microtransaction-based privacy in action—exactly the kind of innovation Lightning enables.

Excellent Support, Secure Channels

I also tested their support team with a couple of questions—one technical issue and one feature request. Support is offered through secure, privacy-respecting channels, including Session chat. Responses were fast, friendly, and helpful. Even more impressive: my feature request was implemented not long after I sent it in.

In a space where many privacy tools leave you to figure things out on your own, this kind of responsive support makes a big difference.

Why This Matters

For journalists, activists, developers, or just regular folks who don’t want Big Tech watching their every move, this setup is a game-changer:

• More realistic protection than just using incognito mode or a VPN
• No need to trust the website, since this system isolates the browser to its own filesystem
• No need to trust the app, since it doesn’t require root access or your system password.
• Instant access with no signup or personal info
• Perfect match for Lightning’s low-cost, no-middleman model

One Note of Caution

While the system is impressive and genuinely different from anything I’ve seen, the project is still early and niche. The website and team aren’t as well-known as major VPN providers. So use it like any experimental tool—test it, learn from it, but don’t put all your trust in one basket yet.

Final Thoughts

In a world where online tracking is getting creepier and centralized control is tightening, SimplifiedPrivacy.com is pushing in the opposite direction: easy, user-controlled privacy with zero setup and lightning-fast access.

If you’ve got a dollar and a need for a little online invisibility, this might be one of the best ways to spend your sats.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Ukraine Introduces Bill to Allow Bitcoin in National Reserves

Ukraine has introduced a bill that would give its central bank the legal right to hold Bitcoin and other assets as part of its national reserves. The draft law, submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on June 10, 2025, proposes updates to existing legislation to include “virtual assets” in the foreign exchange and gold reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). 

NEW: Ukraine introduces bill for Bitcoin Reserve in Parliament pic.twitter.com/bYIiCNF13D

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 17, 2025

This doesn’t mean Ukraine is officially adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet just yet, but it would give the central bank the green light to do so in the future.  

One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak, emphasized that the legislation is about granting permission, not making it a requirement. “Whether and to what extent they actually do so,” he said, “is up to the institution itself.” 

Zhelezniak recently discussed with Binance’s regional head Kyrylo Khomiakov, that he believes Bitcoin could help Ukraine strengthen its economic position and contribute to long term digital innovation. 

The timing of the bill is vital as Ukraine has been under enormous financial pressure since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Inflation remains high, the hryvnia has lost significant value, and the country is heavily reliant on international aid and loans. The NBU has managed to hold roughly $44.5 billion in reserves, mostly in U.S. dollars and government securities, but its room to maneuver is limited.  

Back in 2022, the Ukrainian government was actively raising donations for the war effort through Bitcoin. They had an official wallet set up for donations, and their politicians were publicly tweeting out the addresses asking for support. On the first day alone, Ukraine’s official Bitcoin wallet raised over $3.5 million. By leaning into Bitcoin during their time of crisis, the government showed their belief and commitment in it, and this new bill shows that that commitment has not faded.  

NEW Ukraine government #Bitcoin wallet raises OVER $3.5 MILLION in 1st day of donations

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) February 27, 2022

If this bill is adopted, it could position Ukraine as one of the first countries to give its central bank the legal ability to hold Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset.

This post Ukraine Introduces Bill to Allow Bitcoin in National Reserves first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ b9ff7cb5:a0e092a8

Bismillah

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The internet has no instruction manual. Anyone can post freely, which means unwanted spam can flood your replies, feed, and notifications. New domains call for new practice, and joining a paid relay is one way you can protect yourself against nostr spam. As a relay is also community focused, it aims to be a way for those new to nostr to find fitra and ummah in cyber-space, thereby building and joining patterns of higher-purpose.

NoorNode is a nostr relay dedicated for muslims on nostr. It is maintained and moderated by the Pnostr:npub1vmgf2pzv8k3fsch2hvc5uqnp9kvrxwrfgucek95528zax3syfwtqhykxpn team, which is a podcast incubator project for the creation of Islamic media on nostr.

The Noor Node relay is free to read. All content posted to the relay is public. However, one must pay to join the relay in order to post content to it. This payment feature is small but necessary proof-of-work barrier to keep bots and spam out.

---

How To Join:

If you simply want to read notes on NoorNode, just add wss://noornode.nostr1.com to your read/inbox relays in your client settings.

To join NoorNode and post notes to the relay, visit the RelayTool explorer page at https://noornode.nostr1.com

Click on the gear button to show options and it will reveal a side pannel where you can submit your payment.

Enter your nostr public address (npub) into the text box and select the Lightning Pay ✅ ⚡ button for it to generate an invoice QR code.

Once payment has been received a lightning bolt will animate across the screen and you will be able to post to the NoorNode relay.

---

Client Relay Cofigurations:

The RelayTool explorer is a very basic client which can be used to post to NoorNode, but for best user experience other clients will be preferable. So long as NoorNode set as a write/outbox relay in a client's settings, any client should work. That said, clients where you can customize the relay feeds are preferable. Of these, Yakihonne is the one we recommend due to it's support for both mobile (Andriod & iOS) and desktop.

To create a custom feed for NoorNode in Yakihonne from the desktop home page, select the gear button in the Note feed dropdown menu.

A widget will then pop up where NoorNode can be added as a custom relay feed. Enter wss://noornode.nostr1.com and hit the + button and then select the Update bottom to save the custom feed.

The NoorNode relay can then be viewed as a seperate feed from Yakihonne's home page by selecting it from the note feed dropdown menu (scroll to the bottom to find it).

Other clients, like Jumble, can also funtion as great ways to test out customized relay feeds. As nostr continues to grow, it is expected that more clients will include this feature.

To learn more about relays and how they work on nostr, check out this guide from the developer of Amethyst

Relay Setup by Vitor Pamplona

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The intention behind NoorNode is for muslims on nostr to have a safe place to build community while not having to worry about issues like spam or religious intolerance. The payment to post is designed to enough to keep most bots out while also not being a significant barrier for anyone who want to enage. The mission of nostr:npub1vmgf2pzv8k3fsch2hvc5uqnp9kvrxwrfgucek95528zax3syfwtqhykxpn is to create new Islamicate mythos. We hope that the community that grows around NoorNode will embody that same goal and that the Noor of Islam will be able to radiate, even from nostr.

Please keep in mind that NoorNode is a public relay and notes posted can be picked up by others relays. If any content found on the relay does not seem appropriate or if any issues occure that cause concern, please reach out to the PodSystems team for support.

May the peace and blessings of the most merciful God be with you and light your way on nostr.

@ 8194da31:0f3badf3

The Dollar Milkshake Theory is this:

The U.S. Dollar is the reserve currency, acting as the “straw” in the “milkshake” of financial liquidity.

Global markets get shaky.

Dollar sucks up liquidity as capital flies into the USD and US markets for safety.

Dollar gets stronger. Foreign countries struggle as dollar-denominated debts and basic goods and services get more expensive.

More panic, more flight to USD and US markets.

Dollar sucks up more liquidity, gets even stronger.

Rinse, repeat until total global crisis.

System collapses. The theory is correct in that the system will collapse.

The theory is incorrect in that the straw isn’t the U.S. Dollar – it’s Bitcoin.

This is the Bitcoin Milkshake Theory:

@ 2afadffc:ab95c71d

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The boardroom buzzed with tension.

Nana sat at the far end, her fingers clenched beneath the table. She had always been the quiet observer, the one who scribbled notes and nodded when spoken to. But today, something gnawed at her, the whisper of conscience growing louder.

Across the table, Mr. Johnson, the CEO, slammed a folder down. "We're pushing this contract through. No questions."

Nana knew what was in that contract. Unethical outsourcing. Workers with no protection. Children in some cases. She had seen the hidden memo.

Everyone else stayed silent.

Her heart pounded. “Sir,” she began softly. No one looked at her.

“I believe this contract violates our ethics code.”

The room froze.

Johnson turned, eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”

Nana’s voice steadied. “There’s a report attached. Page seventeen. I think you overlooked it.”

He opened the file. His face twitched. “You went through private memos?”

“No, sir. It was attached accidentally to the draft.”

Gasps echoed. For a moment, she regretted everything. Then came a voice.

“She’s right,” said Daniel from HR. “We missed it.”

Another joined. “We can’t approve this.”

Within minutes, the momentum shifted. The contract was suspended.

After the meeting, Daniel approached her.

“You just saved the company’s integrity.”

Nana smiled faintly. Her hands still shook, but her silence had finally been broken for the right reason.

Moral: Sometimes the smallest voice becomes the loudest truth when spoken at the right moment.

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Rain lashed against the window panes of the old mansion as Jennifer stepped inside, flashlight in hand.

“Are you really doing this alone?” her friend Helen had asked that afternoon.

“I have to. It's my family’s house now,” Jennifer had replied. “And I need to know what really happened here.”

It had been ten years since her uncle, Dr. Johnson, a reclusive neuroscientist, vanished without a trace. His home, sealed ever since, was finally turned over to Jennifer after a lengthy legal battle.

She wandered through dark hallways filled with dust-covered furniture and half-finished journals. The air was thick with memories and secrets.

Then she found the door.

It was heavy, steel, and padlocked three times over. Scratched into the wood was a phrase:

“Do not open until the voices stop.”

Jennifer’s heart thumped. She pulled out the key ring the lawyer had given her and, one by one, undid the locks.

The hinges groaned as the door creaked open.

The room was pitch black, except for a single desk lamp. She stepped inside and found rows of voice recorders, wires, and scribbled notes all over the walls. A mirror hung directly across from the desk with strange cracks running across its surface each marked with names. One of them was hers.

Suddenly, a recorder clicked on by itself.

“If you’re hearing this… it means I’m likely gone,” her uncle’s voice rasped. “The voices they’re not in our heads. They live behind the reflections.”

Jennifer turned to the mirror.

Her reflection didn’t move.

Then… it blinked.

She froze.

“You should have never come here.”

The voice wasn’t from the recorder, it came from behind her.

She turned.

No one.

The door slammed shut.

The reflection began to grin as its mouth moved silently. The air grew colder.

Jennifer lunged for the desk, flipping through the notes. One said:

The mirror listens. But it also traps. I tried to destroy it. It fought back. I trapped it in here. Don't speak to it.

The reflection whispered:

“Jennifer… would you like to know where he went?”

She stepped closer.

“He begged me to let him out… just like you will.”

With trembling hands, she took a hammer from the drawer.

The reflection laughed.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

She raised the hammer high and swung.

The mirror shattered.

A blinding flash filled the room.

Then silence.

When Jennifer awoke, it was morning. The door was wide open. The room was empty. The mirror was gone, no glass, no shards, no reflection. Just sunlight.

She walked out.

As she locked the mansion door behind her, she whispered:

“Some doors are meant to be opened… but only once.”

Moral/Theme:

The truth may be terrifying, but denying it gives fear more power than it deserves.

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The wind howled outside like a warning. Rain splashed against the windows of the old countryside mansion as Susan stepped in, clutching her soaked coat.

"Are you sure about this place?" her younger brother, James, asked, eyeing the cobwebbed chandelier.

"It belonged to our grandmother. We have to clear it out before it’s sold," Susan replied, though her voice lacked confidence.

They hadn’t visited the estate in over ten years. Not since their grandmother’s mysterious disappearance.

As they explored, they reached a narrow hallway that ended at a crooked staircase descending into the basement.

"Nope," James said, stepping back. "I’m not going down there."

"Don't be ridiculous." Susan forced a smile. "It’s just a basement."

But as she pulled the chain to light the way, the bulb flickered and a whisper rode the cold draft:

“Susan...”

She froze. "Did you hear that?"

"What?" James asked, already halfway back toward the kitchen.

"My name. Someone said my name."

James laughed nervously. "It’s an old house. It creaks."

But Susan wasn’t convinced. She took a breath and stepped down the stairs, one creaking step at a time.

The basement was filled with antiques, trunks, and one large wardrobe. She walked toward it, and the whisper came again louder.

"Susan... don’t forget."

She yanked open the wardrobe and gasped.

Inside was a broken mirror, its cracks forming a spider web of reflections. Taped to the mirror was a faded photo: her grandmother standing in front of this very mirror looking terrified.

Behind the photo, a small note was pinned.

If you found this, it means I failed to stop him. The man under the stairs is not a man at all. Don't trust the whisper. It's how he gets in. Burn the wardrobe. Don't look in the mirror.

"James!" she screamed, panic rising. "Get down here now!"

"What's going on?" he shouted as he clattered down.

She showed him the note.

He read it and chuckled. "Come on, this is... old people paranoia."

The mirror’s surface shimmered. Susan stepped back.

James tilted his head. "It’s just a mir"

A hand shot out from the reflection and gripped his wrist.

He screamed.

"Get it off me!"

Susan grabbed a rusted poker from the floor and struck the mirror. It cracked further but the hand tightened.

James’s eyes turned glassy. He whispered:

“Don’t forget… like she did.”

Susan’s heart pounded. She turned, grabbed a bottle of lighter fluid from a shelf, and doused the wardrobe.

"I’m sorry." She struck a match.

The fire consumed the wood fast, the mirror howling like an animal. James collapsed.

When he opened his eyes, he gasped for air.

"What… what just happened?"

James held him close. "We’re leaving. Now."

They ran from the house. Behind them, the mansion glowed in eerie orange as the basement burned away the secrets.

Moral:

Silence doesn’t kill secrets. It feeds them.

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The banking giant is exploring an expansion of its blockchain services, focusing on digital payments and currencies.

JPMorgan Chase has filed a new trademark application for the name “JPMD.” The filing was submitted on June 15 to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The application, filed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., covers a broad range of services related to digital assets and blockchain technology. These include the issuance of digital currencies, electronic payment processing, and financial custody services — all of which suggest a possible new stablecoin initiative for JPMorgan.

Experience with JPM Coin

This move wouldn’t be JPMorgan’s first foray into blockchain-based finance. The bank already operates JPM Coin, a dollar-pegged stablecoin used to enable instant transactions between institutional clients. The token runs on Quorum, a private blockchain network developed in-house by JPMorgan and based on Ethereum’s technology.

The registration of the JPMD trademark comes as JPMorgan and other major U.S. banks are considering a collaborative stablecoin project through their jointly owned entities: Early Warning Services and The Clearing House.

Similarly, corporations like Walmart and Amazon are mulling the creation of their own stablecoins.

The post JPMorgan files trademark for ‘JPMD’: a new stablecoin on the horizon for the American bank appeared first on Atlas21.

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Cashu is a free and open-source Chaumian ecash protocol built for Bitcoin. Ecash is a digital bearer token that is stored on a user's device, very similar to physical cash. The Cashu protocol allows you to build applications such as wallets or voucher systems. Cashu is designed to be private, secure and scalable. Transactions are instant and nearly free.

What is Cashu?

Cashu is an ecash protocol that is integrated with the Bitcoin protocol. An Ecash system consists of two parts, the mint and the Ecash wallet. Anyone can run a mint for their application, be it a wallet, a web paywall, paid streaming services, or a voucher and rewards system for a super market. Ecash transactions between users or from the user to a service provider respect the user's privacy. A mint does not store a database of user accounts and their activity which protects users of an Ecash system from leaks their private data to hackers and can provide stronger censorship resistant than classical payment systems.

The Cashu Protocol

Cashu is an ecash protocol built for Bitcoin. It is an open protocol which means that everyone can write their own software to interact with other Cashu apps. Applications that follow the specifications will be compatible with the rest of the ecosystem.

Cashu wallets

Nutshell

Nutshell is a CLI wallet available through PyPi. It is the first Cashu wallet and mint. Both, the mint and the wallet can be used as standalone software or included into other applications as a library. It has full Bitcoin Lightning integration, PostgreSQL and SQLite database support, builtin Tor, supports multiple mints, and can send and receive tokens on nostr, and supports complex spending conditions tokens.

Nutstash

Nutstash is a Cashu web wallet with many features such as multimint support and support for sending and receiving tokens via nostr. Nutstash is written in TypeScript and uses the cashu-ts library.

Minibits

Minibits is a mobile Cashu wallet with a focus on performance and usability.

Cashu.me

Cashu.me is another web wallet built on Quasar and Vue.js. It is written in JavaScript and TypeScript and is in active development.

Macadamia

Macadamia is a Cashu wallet for iOS written in Swift.

Sovran

Sovran is a Cashu wallet for iOS.

Prism

Prism wallet is a social wallet that runs on Discord.

Boardwalk

Boardwalk Cash is a wallet designed for fast, easy onboarding and use.

@ 472f440f:5669301e

Marty's Bent

via Dr. Eli David

The case for a neutral, permissionless monetary protocol has never been stronger. The incumbent financial system is a permissioned wall garden that is susceptible to a tax. When you're using this system, you don't own your money. Your money doesn't really even exist. What you have is a claim to be able to ask your bank to give you your money or move it somewhere that you desire. Not only is it a permissioned wall garden, but it is an insecure permissioned wall garden that is susceptible to attacks from nefarious actors.

This was made very clear earlier today when Sepah Bank in Iran was the subject of a cyber attack that led to all of its databases being erased and their ATMs being deemed non-functional. Sepah Bank customers have been unable to withdraw cash. And many are warning Iranian citizens to withdraw as much cash as possible from any ATM outside of Sepah Bank's network that is working. Because there is a high likelihood that other banks and ATM networks will be targeted.

Bitcoin is a digital bearer instrument that you can custody yourself using either a software or hardware wallet. The network is operated by an army of geographically distributed nodes that maintain the rules and ensure that anybody trying to transact within the network is doing so within the rules that are set forth. Bitcoin is a push system, not a pull system. It is extremely hard to attack in the way that Sepah Bank was attacked earlier today.

I think it's important to note the way in which Sepah Bank was attacked and highlight that it is starkly different from the types of attacks or shortcomings from the financial system that we've seen over the years.

One of the events that caused a rush to Bitcoin over a decade ago was the banking crisis in Cyprus. We've seen hyperinflationary events in countries like Lebanon and Turkey that have rendered their currencies defunct. In the case of Lebanon, the central bank simply came out and said that people were not going to have access to their money and gave Lebanese citizens an overnight haircut on their savings. We've seen countries like India and Nigeria mess with their physical bills, forcing their citizens to exchange smaller denominations for larger denominations, causing massive disruptions in the process.

We've seen the United States government and its allies freeze the treasury assets of its enemies and they move towards a more multipolar monetary order over the last five years. We've seen the Canadian government freeze the bank accounts of protesters fighting for bodily autonomy. We've seen Operation Chokepoint 1.0 and 2.0. Here in the United States, the government directly targeted industries and businesses within those industries by either overtly preventing them from accessing bank accounts or covertly making it as hard as possible to access bank accounts.

On top of all this, obviously, we have the constant drumbeat of currency debasement across the world, even here in the United States, where the Federal Reserve and Federal Government are expanding the monetary base and going further into debt, ultimately destroying the purchasing power of the dollar at an increasing rate over time.

However, this type of cyber attack on a bank is unique, at least from what I can recall. The ability of nefarious actors to access bank databases and erase them is something new and something that should not be taken lightly. If Iranian hacking capabilities are as sufficient and capable as we are led to believe, it's not hard to imagine that we could see some retaliatory actions from the Iranian regime to counteract the attack on their banking system.

I don't want to incite alarm in any of you, but I think it is important to highlight that this new attack vector is definitely a step towards financial nihilism that could put hundreds of millions, if not billions of people in harm's way, in the sense that they could wake up one morning and be told that the bank does not have access to the records of their cuck buck IOUs. If something like this were to happen, I'm sure anyone who isn't holding Bitcoin in a wallet that they control will really wish they were. Being able to access your money is a vital part of being able to live you life. The thought of that ability being taken away because of a hacking war that breaks out is extremely unnerving.

As I said at the top of this letter, the case for a neutral, permissionless, distributed monetary system with a native currency that is finite is clearer than it ever has been, at least for me. It is imperative that you and anyone that you care about holds Bitcoin in self-custody to inoculate yourselves from these very real risks that are only going to increase from here on out.

Eliminate the trusted third party risks that exist in your life. Use Bitcoin as your money and use it correctly by holding it in self-custody.

Why 5% Interest Rates Won't Trigger The Next Market Crash

Guest Mel Mattison challenges the prevailing fear around rising interest rates, arguing that markets have developed immunity to higher yields. Unlike 2023's sharp selloff when the 10-year hit 5%, Mattison believes equities and Bitcoin can now absorb these levels because they signal stronger growth expectations ahead. He emphasizes that the pace of rate increases matters more than absolute levels, and notes that markets have had time to adjust. With oil trading at just $65 per barrel—a fraction of its inflation-adjusted 2008 peak of over $200—the deflationary pressure from cheap energy provides a crucial buffer.

> "It's not just what the rate we get to, it's how fast we get there." - Mel Mattison

Mattison's most compelling argument centers on AI-driven productivity gains enabling companies to maintain margins despite higher borrowing costs. As I've witnessed firsthand implementing AI tools at TFTC, what once required hiring multiple employees can now be handled by one person with the right automation. This productivity revolution means traditional rate sensitivity models may no longer apply.

Check out the full podcast here for more on institutional Bitcoin adoption, resistance money warnings, and bipartisan coalition building.

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Headlines of the Day

Davis Commodities Puts 40% of $30M Into Bitcoin - via X

Ukraine Bill Adds Bitcoin to National Reserves - via X

Vinanz Raises £3.58M to Expand Bitcoin Mining - 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

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Final thought...

The joy of a 5-year old riding a bike for the first time is something that should be protected at all costs.

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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:

@ 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.

@ beef3d4d:479b72bc

Perché chiamare Bisanzio questa community? Ci sono due ragioni principali: una legata all'economia, l’altra alla tecnologia. Vediamole!

Costantino e il solidus

Quando Costantino il Grande prese in mano le redini dell'impero, ne risollevò le sorti adottando riforme economiche lungimiranti. Tra gli impegni assunti, il più importante fu quello di mantenere il solidus a 4,5 grammi d'oro senza tagli o svalutazioni, coniandolo in grandi quantità a partire dal 312 d.C.. Spostò poi la capitale verso est, a Bisanzio, nel punto di incontro tra Asia ed Europa, dando vita all'Impero Romano d'Oriente, che adottò il solidus come moneta.

Mentre Roma continuava a deteriorarsi economicamente, socialmente e culturalmente, crollando infine nel 476 d.C., Bisanzio, poi rinominata Costantinopoli, sopravvisse per quasi 1200 anni, e il solidus divenne la moneta più longeva e accettata della storia.

Il nome Bisanzio vuole quindi essere un omaggio alla saggezza di Costantino e celebrare l’unica moneta nella storia dell’umanità capace di durare oltre un millennio. Un esempio ed un auspicio per la Bitcoin, moneta di oro digitale che ci accompagnerà per un lunghissimo tempo.

\ Vedi anche: Monetazione bizantina su Wikipedia.

Il problema dei generali bizantini

Il termine Bitcoin soffre di un’ambiguità semantica: con lo stesso termine si indicano due cose ben diverse tra loro: il protocollo di comunicazione e la moneta digitale costruita su di esso. Bitcoin inteso come protocollo rappresenta la prima soluzione a un problema informatico, centrale per il funzionamento di sistemi distribuiti, denominato problema dei generali bizantini, formulato nel 1982 e che e’ rimasto irrisolto per decenni.

La sua formulazione è tipicamente la seguente:

Diverse divisioni dell’esercito bizantino, ciascuna guidata da un generale, sono accampate in posizioni strategiche attorno a una città nemica e dovono condividere una strategia di attacco coordinato per poter sopraffare il nemico. Le divisioni possono comunicare solo mediante messaggeri al fine di coordinare l’attacco decisivo. Il terreno impedisce alle divisioni bizantine di comunicare a distanza e queste possono comunicare solo tramite dei messaggeri. Come possono le varie divisioni accordarsi per un attacco congiunto sapendo che i messaggeri che inviano potrebbero essere catturati dal nemico, o che alcuni generali potrebbero addirittura tradire e mandare messaggeri con ordini sbagliati?

Il problema che devono risolvere i generali bizantini è lo stesso che affligge i sistemi di elaborazione distribuiti. Come raggiungere un consenso su una rete distribuita in cui alcuni nodi che la costituiscono possono essere difettosi o corrotti?

Il protocollo Bitcoin offre una soluzione a questo problema introducendo il concetto di “prova di lavoro” (proof of work) e della “catena di blocchi” (blockchain). E quindi, nuovamente, il nome Bisanzio si collega a Bitcoin ed alla principale innovazione tecnologica da esso introdotta.

\ Vedi anche: Byzantine fault su Wikipedia.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

A new study by Kraken reveals how cryptocurrency investors perceive security as the main challenge in self-managing their digital assets.

According to The Block, a recent survey conducted by crypto exchange Kraken found that nearly half of respondents consider themselves the primary risk factor for their own crypto security. The research, which surveyed 789 participants, highlights that 48% of users see their own actions as the greatest threat to their investments in digital assets, surpassing concerns about external theft or fraud.

Kraken’s report underlines how personal responsibility in security management forces users to take full control of their digital funds. However, the study suggests that this autonomy can also become a source of anxiety for many investors.

Nick Percoco, Chief Security Officer at Kraken, commented on the findings, noting that “a lack of confidence in personal crypto security is capping the growth of the industry.” According to Percoco, unlocking the full potential of cryptocurrencies will require users to embrace self-custody and consistently invest in strong security habits.

Technologies to strengthen security

Despite the concerns highlighted in the study, 31% of participants expressed optimism about future technologies that could improve crypto security. Among the most promising solutions identified:

• advanced biometric systems for user authentication;
• multi-factor authentication to secure wallet access;
• AI-based fraud detection systems to prevent attacks.

Data and case studies

Kraken’s research emerges in a context where security threats remain a pressing reality. FBI data shows that in 2024, nearly 150,000 reports of crypto-related internet fraud resulted in $9.3 billion in losses. Older users, particularly those over 60, proved especially vulnerable, accounting for $3 billion in crypto-related financial fraud losses on their own.

The post Kraken study: 48% of users fear themselves in managing and securing their funds appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Humanity's Natural State Is Chaos
Without order there is chaos. Humans competing with each other for scarce resources naturally leads to conflict until one group achieves significant power and instates a "monopoly on violence."

Power Brings Stability
Power has always been the key means to achieve stability in societies. Centralized power can be incredibly effective in addressing issues such as crime, poverty, and social unrest efficiently. Unfortunately this power is often abused and corrupted.

Centralized Power Breeds Tyranny
Centralized power often leads to tyrannical rule. When a select few individuals hold control over a society, they tend to become corrupted. Centralized power structures often lack accountability and transparency, and rely too heavily on trust.

Distributed Power Cultivates Freedom
New technology that empowers individuals provide us the ability to rebuild societies from the bottom up. Strong individuals that can defend and provide for themselves will help build strong local communities on a similar foundation. The result is power being distributed throughout society rather than held by a select few.

In the short term, relying on trust and centralized power is an easy answer to mitigating chaos, but freedom tech tools provide us the ability to build on top of much stronger distributed foundations that provide stability while also cultivating individual freedom.

The solution starts with us. Empower yourself. Empower others. A grassroots freedom tech movement scaling one person at a time.

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@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Only 1% of stablecoin transactions in 2024 are linked to criminal activity.

A recent report by TRM Labs has revealed new data on stablecoin usage in 2024. Contrary to widespread perception, 99% of stablecoin transactions were entirely legal and compliant with existing regulations.

The research shows that over 60% of last year’s total transaction volume was conducted using dollar-pegged tokens.

One key point highlighted in the report is the intrinsic traceability of stablecoins. Operating on public blockchains, these digital currencies allow for highly precise transaction monitoring through specialized analytics tools.

Issuers of centralized tokens like USDT and USDC also have the ability to freeze or permanently remove tokens associated with illicit activities.

TRM Labs data shows a 24% decrease in crypto-related criminal activity compared to 2023, with a total of $45 billion representing just 0.4% of overall crypto transaction volume. This decline is attributed to increased law enforcement efforts, stronger industry collaboration, and the growing adoption of advanced analytics tools.

According to TRM Labs, regulatory clarity provided by legislation such as the GENIUS Act could accelerate stablecoin adoption among major banks, financial institutions, and corporations. Many of these entities are already testing stablecoin-based infrastructures for cross-border payments, supply chain management, and programmable finance.

The post Stablecoins: new report debunks myths about illicit use appeared first on Atlas21.

@ beef3d4d:479b72bc

Il progetto online Bisanz.io nasce dalla convinzione che Bitcoin sia un incredibile strumento di promozione e giustizia sociale, e nessuno che si dica riformista o progressista dovrebbe ignorare questo fatto. Un sito web in cui progressisti, riformisti, ambientalisti ed attivisti per la democrazia possano informarsi e discutere su com Bitcoin possa ridurre le disparità e le storture dell’attuale sistema finanziario.

L’urgenza di attivarsi affinché questa visione si diffonda nasce dal rischio concreto che si ripeta in Europa la stessa dinamica osservata negli Stati Uniti, dove questo tema fondamentale è stato lasciato nelle mani delle destre, da quelle liberali alle neo-con. La posizione del Partito Democratico USA su Bitcoin è infatti oggi ampiamente ostile, in maniera pregiudiziale e dettata principalmente da ragioni di posizionamento strategico.

In Italia Bitcoin è, al momento, semplicemente ignorato dalla politica. In Europa la situazione non è molto diversa da quella italiana con rare eccezioni.

Questa apatia della politica italiana ed europea nei confronti di Bitcoin può essere vinta mostrando quanto grande sia il potenziale di progresso sociale, equità e pace derivante dall'adozione di Bitcoin. Una opportunità che i progressisti europei dovrebbero cogliere, guidando l’analisi e il dibattito su questi temi.

Non si tratta naturalmente di inserire la parola “blockchain” nei contesti più assurdi (vedi i pomodori e le arance di Di Maio), ma di elaborare proposte unitarie di politica monetaria che includano una tecnologia (Bitcoin) rodata, democratica, globale, solidale.

Nel gruppo di amici che ha dato vita a Bisanz.io, c’è chi segue e studia con passione il tema Bitcoin dal lontano 2010, e chi invece ci si è avvicinato solo di recente. Cosa ci accomuna è la consapevolezza che questa innovazione ha il potenziale per risolvere le tante storture dell’attuale sistema finanziario. Una tecnologia che proteggendo i soggetti più deboli, può contribuire a ridurre le disparità, proteggere i risparmi, e stimolare gli investimenti.

Purtroppo, Bitcoin è ancora visto da tanti come uno strumento per criminali e speculatori, una percezione in gran parte giustificata da vicende legate non a Bitcoin, ma alle cosiddette criptovalute, e al più recente fenomeno dei token e degli NFT. Queste “innovazioni” nulla hanno a che spartire con la tecnologia e i valori di Bitcoin (decentralizzazione, trasparenza, open access, …) e le loro aberrazioni hanno alimentato la narrazione di cui sopra.

Più recentemente si è aggiunta la critica relativa all'impatto ambientale di Bitcoin, critica ancor più pretestuosa e in malafede. Chiunque dedichi un minimo di studio all'argomento potrà constatare come essa risulti infondata e che il mining di Bitcoin sia in realtà un prezioso alleato nella transizione alle energie rinnovabili. Queste ombre e la copertura mediatica negativa non hanno impedito all'ecosistema di Bitcoin di svilupparsi e crescere con costanza dal 2009 a oggi. Mentre centinaia di monete digitali alternative, nascevano e morivano guidate solo da logiche di profitto (o peggio), Bitcoin ha sempre tenuto la barra dritta sui valori fondanti, ampliato la base di utenti e le tipologie di utilizzo (esempio: pagamenti istantanei con Lightning Network).

La missione di Bisanzio è semplice: portare il nostro contributo affinché in Italia ed Europa maturino proposte per consentire a Bitcoin di esprimere tutto il suo potenziale democratico e di giustizia.

@ 8a2e93d8:a9c75b34

We at Bitcoin Breakdown, a daily Bitcoin-only newsletter, are thrilled to announce that we have teamed up with @Oshi Rewards on a new referral campaign — the first proprietary Bitcoin-powered referral campaign on the beehiiv newsletter service provider platform.

Here's how it works:

🔸 Share your unique link 🔸 When a friend optimally engages over 15 days (i.e., 50% open rate and at least 2 unique clicks), then you BOTH earn 2,000 sats (0.00002 Bitcoin) 🔸 We’ll email you the instant the sats land. ⚡️

You can find your unique link in the latest issue here after you have subscribed and are logged in. Thanks @michael!

https://stacker.news/items/1009310

@ a53364ff:e6ba5513

So you want to Run Bitcoin…

1. Knots helps you exercise your self sovereignty verification muscle, instead of conforming to the TrustMeBro defaults of core. Thus, you are more prepared to actively defend Bitcoin in case of hardfork-softfork or other shenanigan’s.

2. Knots is more feature rich and useful than core, allowing end users to finely tune their nodes mempool policy to reject spam transactions from their own mempools, through such bitcoin.conf settings as: rejectparasites=1 , datacarrier=0, permitbaremultisig=0

3. Running a Underdog Bitcoin Client makes the Bitcoin network more robust as a whole. Supporting an ecosystem of multiple compatible clients running in tandem. Running knots makes Bitcoin, the network more robust, and makes the bitcoin development ecosystem richer. Knots is a backup-option in case core becomes obviously compromised. For decentralization, do we really want only a single implementation, with all our eggs in one basket with just bitcoin core? No.

4. Knots makes it so that you’re not using your node’s computing resources to hold and process spam shitcoin transactions and you have better control over what transactions you prioritize processing.” — Thus you can save your mempool resources from being abused by bad actors with Knots, but not with core, unfortunately. Core doesn’t believe in giving their end users too much choice. This has long been their attitude: to dictate down and deny non-consensus violating choice to end users.

5. Thus running Knots is a counter movement to the unfortunate attitude in core that has willfully neglected a core subset of it’s users who care about spam filters. Running Knots is not just a technical improvement in running Bitcoin. It’s a political statement in the Bitcoin development ecosystem.

@ beef3d4d:479b72bc

Benvenuti in Bisanz.io, uno spazio dedicato a progressisti, riformisti, ambientalisti ed attivisti per la giustizia che vedono in Bitcoin uno strumento per ridurre le disparità e le storture dell’attuale sistema finanziario.

Cosa puoi trovare in questo sito

• Notizie per rimanere aggiornati su come Bitcoin promuova equità, pace e giustizia, tutelando i più deboli, e l’ambiente.

• Progetti per impegnarsi in prima persona a far conoscere la vera natura di Bitcoin a chiunque in Italia si dica progressista o riformista.

Contattaci se sei interessato a collaborare con noi

Scrivi a <info@bisanz.io> per proporre idee e iniziative che ti piacerebbe realizzare, o semplicemente per segnalare la tua disponibilità ad aiutarci.

Fai una piccola donazione in Bitcoin

È semplicissimo: ti basta avere un wallet Lightning Network e visitare questa pagina.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

A new study by Kraken reveals how cryptocurrency investors perceive security as the main challenge in self-managing their digital assets.

According to The Block, a recent survey conducted by crypto exchange Kraken found that nearly half of respondents consider themselves the primary risk factor for their own crypto security. The research, which surveyed 789 participants, highlights that 48% of users see their own actions as the greatest threat to their investments in digital assets, surpassing concerns about external theft or fraud.

Kraken’s report underlines how personal responsibility in security management forces users to take full control of their digital funds. However, the study suggests that this autonomy can also become a source of anxiety for many investors.

Nick Percoco, Chief Security Officer at Kraken, commented on the findings, noting that “a lack of confidence in personal crypto security is capping the growth of the industry.” According to Percoco, unlocking the full potential of cryptocurrencies will require users to embrace self-custody and consistently invest in strong security habits.

Technologies to strengthen security

Despite the concerns highlighted in the study, 31% of participants expressed optimism about future technologies that could improve crypto security. Among the most promising solutions identified:

• advanced biometric systems for user authentication;
• multi-factor authentication to secure wallet access;
• AI-based fraud detection systems to prevent attacks.

Data and case studies

Kraken’s research emerges in a context where security threats remain a pressing reality. FBI data shows that in 2024, nearly 150,000 reports of crypto-related internet fraud resulted in $9.3 billion in losses. Older users, particularly those over 60, proved especially vulnerable, accounting for $3 billion in crypto-related financial fraud losses on their own.

The post Kraken study: 48% of users fear themselves in managing and securing their funds appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

Jennifer checked into the CUBANA Hotel just after midnight. Her reservation was for Room 21 but the receptionist, a frail woman with shaking hands, handed her a different key.

“Room 39,” she said quietly. “It’s better.”

Jennifer hesitated. “But I booked”

“Trust me,” the woman interrupted, not meeting her eyes. “Don’t go near Room 21 tonight.”

Chilled by her tone, Jennifer took the key.

As she walked through the long corridor, dimly lit and lined with dusty paintings, she passed Room 21. Its door was slightly ajar. A draft whispered from it, carrying the faint sound of piano music, though no one had checked in for days.

Jennifer entered Room 39 and locked the door behind her.

That night, she couldn’t sleep. The music continued soft, broken, sorrowful. She finally crept into the hallway. The corridor was darker now. Room 21’s door had swung open wide.

Drawn by a strange force, Jennifer stepped inside.

The room was pristine. An old piano stood in the corner, keys moving on their own. On the wall hung a photo of a young couple, one of them was her.

It was a photo she'd never taken.

On the piano was a letter:

To Jennifer, If you are reading this, you’ve come searching for answers. Room 21 holds what you lost. Your memories, your truth. You left them here seven years ago when you fled. But the past doesn’t stay buried. Tonight, you must choose to remember or keep running.

Jennifer turned and saw the mirror. In it, her reflection wore a wedding dress... bloodstained.

Moral: What we fear most is often the key to the truth we need most.

@ 2cde0e02:180a96b9

The Dutch government recently implemented a new law regarding the recycling on tin cans that has monetized this form of trash. You can now hand in most coca cola, 7-up, or whatever brand tin at your local supermarket for 0.15 eurocent per piece.

This new incentive has people now opening up trashcans everywhere around the city and scavenging them for this monetary reward. Some guys are even using grapples and magnets to reach the hard to get cilinders. It appears that for some this has become their new job and they hand in full cart loads of this trash for the reward.

The receipts for this collection effort can only be exchanged for food, i.e. it is a discount on your grocery bill.

I wonder whether the best of them even exchange the receipts for a discount but to receive cash, as they've gone beyond their sustenance needs and require something more liquid. Or they might stack some kind of food item that maintains its value over time... who knows what this new economy is creating for interesting kinds of behavior.

https://stacker.news/items/1009306

@ e3ce5265:4bb9f609

...

@ 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.

---

If you have never used lightning before, use this guide to get started on your phone.

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

There must be a limit to how much data is transferred across the bitcoin network in order to keep the ability to run and use your own node accessible. A node is required to interact with the global bitcoin network - if you do not use your own node then you must trust someone else's node. If nodes become inaccessible to run then the network will centralize around the remaining entities that operate them - threatening the censorship resistance at the core of bitcoin's value prop. The bitcoin protocol uses three main mechanisms to keep node operation costs low - a fixed limit on the amount of data in each block, an automatic difficulty adjustment that regulates how many blocks are produced based on current mining hash rate, and a robust dynamic transaction fee market.

Bitcoin transaction fees limit network abuse by making usage expensive. There is a cost to every transaction, set by a dynamic free market based on demand for scarce block space. It is an incredibly robust way to prevent spam without relying on centralized entities that can be corrupted or pressured.

After the 2017 bitcoin fee spike we had six years of relative quiet to build tools that would be robust in a sustained high fee market. Fortunately our tools are significantly better now but many still need improvement. Most of the pain points we see today will be mitigated.

The reality is we were never going to be fully prepared - pressure is needed to show the pain points and provide strong incentives to mitigate them.

It will be incredibly interesting to watch how projects adapt under pressure. Optimistic we see great innovation here.

---

_If you are willing to wait for your transaction to confirm you can pay significantly lower fees. Learn best practices for reducing your fee burden here.

My guide for running and using your own bitcoin node can be found here._

---

If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

https://iai.tv/articles/water-not-silicon-has-to-be-the-basis-of-true-ai-auid-3200

https://stacker.news/items/1009213

@ 57c631a3:07529a8e

Introducing: Reader Stories — A New Page for Your Journey

https://connect-test.layer3.press/articles/1acb1809-49c3-4559-902b-01909d49c50f

@ 93bfc86d:fc8e91f5

다무스 앱 설치 및 개인키-공개키 쌍 생성

아이폰과 같은 iOS 기기나 맥OS에서는 다무스Damus를 사용하는 것도 좋다. 다무스에서는 자신이 사용하는 라이트닝 지갑을 이용해 잽을 날리는 것이 가능하다.

먼저 앱을 설치해보자. 앱스토어에 'Damus' 또는 'Damus nostr'를 검색하고 앱을 다운로드 받는다. 이미 노스터 개인키인 nsec이 있다면 [Sign In]을 선택하고, 새 계정을 만들 거라면 [Create Account]를 누른다. 필자는 [Create Account]를 눌러 새 키 쌍을 생성해보겠다.

'Name'에 닉네임을 적고 [Next]를 누른다.

[저장하기]를 누르면 키 쌍을 아이폰 암호 앱에 저장할 수 있다. 원하지 않는다면 [Not now]를 눌러 넘어가면 된다.

메인 화면에 들어오면 왼쪽 상단 프로필 모양의 원을 누른다. 그 다음 [설정]을 누른다.

[키]룰 눌러 들어가면 개인키 nsec을 볼 수 있다. [보기]를 눌러 종이에 적는 등 물리적으로 백업하거나, 복사 버튼을 눌러 암호화된 파일로 저장할 수 있다.

다른 사람들에게 npub 알려주기

누군가에게 자신의 노스터 계정을 알려줄 때는 노스터 공개키인 npub을 알려주면 된다. 다무스 메인 화면에서 좌측 상단 원 모양의 프로필을 누른 뒤, 프로필 오른쪽에 있는 QR코드 모양의 버튼을 누른다. 그러면 QR코드가 나오는데, 이 화면을 보여주거나 캡처해서 상대방에게 공유하면 된다.

혹은 [프로필]을 눌러 자신의 프로필 화면으로 들어가고, 아이디 밑에 있는 npub을 복사해 상대방에게 보내주면 된다.

팔로우 추가

처음에는 다무스 운영자의 계정만 팔로우가 되어있을 것이다. 다른 계정들을 팔로우하는 방법을 알아보자.

하단 탭에서 돋보기 모양의 버튼을 눌러 검색 창으로 진입한다. 검색 창에 상대방이 공유한 npub을 붙여넣으면 그 사람의 프로필이 뜰 것이다.

예를 들어 필자의 공개키는 아래와 같다.

npub1jwlusmv555g5ytdwxeds6k3e8u9dgyf75fscznc2eqpemlywj86st0nf2k

필자의 계정을 팔로우하는 과정을 알아보자. 검색창에 npub을 붙여넣고 프로필이 나오면 프로필을 누른다. 다음에 나오는 화면에서 오른쪽의 [팔로우] 버튼을 누르면 필자를 팔로우할 수 있다. 혹은 그 아래에 있는 [팔로우] 또는 [팔로워] 목록을 보고 마음에 드는 프로필을 찾아 들어가 팔로우를 할 수 있다. 이런 방식으로 관심이 있는 계정을 팔로우하면 피드에 글이 뜨기 시작한다.

잽 받기 위한 라이트닝 주소 연결

잽을 받으려면 프로필에 라이트닝 주소를 연결해놓아야 한다. 좌측 상단 원 모양의 프로필을 누르고 [프로필]에 들어간다. 그 다음 [수정하기]를 누른다. 여기서 닉네임을 설정할 수 있다. 스크롤을 아래로 내려서 '비트코인 라이트닝 팁' 필드로 내려간다.

여기에 라이트닝 주소를 입력하고, [저장하기]를 누른다. 프로필 옆에 번개 표시가 뜬 것을 볼 수 있다. 번개 표시가 뜨면 다른 사람들이 나에게 잽을 보낼 수 있다.

다른 사람에게 잽 보내기

받기만 하는 사람이 되는 것은 유쾌하지 않다. 이번에는 다무스에서 잽을 보내는 방법에 대해 알아보자.

좌측 상단 원 모양의 프로필을 누르고 [설정]에 들어간다. 그 다음 [잽]을 누른다.

여기서 [지갑 선택 창 보기] 토글을 켜면 잽을 보낼 때마다 어떤 지갑에서 보낼지 선택할 수 있다. 그 아래 '기본 지갑 선택하기' 옆의 [기기 기본 앱]을 눌러 자신이 사용하고 있는 지갑 앱을 선택할 수 있다.

아래에서 '잽 기본 Sats 수량'을 설정할 수도 있다.

이렇게 설정했으면 이제 설정 창에서 빠져나오자. 잽을 날리고 싶은 프로필이나 포스트에 간다. 거기서 번개 모양의 버튼을 누른다. 그러면 잽을 보내는 창이 뜰 것이다. 금액을 설정하고 [사용자에게 잽 날리기]를 누른다. 그러면 설정한대로 어떤 지갑을 통해 보낼지 선택하는 창이 나온다. 필자는 스트라이크 앱을 통해 진행해보겠다.

스트라이크를 열지 물어보는 창이 나오면 [열기]를 누르고, 스트라이크에서는 [Bitcoin]을 선택한다.

이어서 [Confirm]을 누르고 [Ok]를 누르면 상대방에게 잽이 날아간다.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Fold Holdings Secures $250 Million Equity Deal to Expand Bitcoin Treasury

Today, Fold Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLD), the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, has announced a $250 million equity purchase agreement to significantly increase its bitcoin holdings.

JUST IN: Publicly traded Fold secures $250 million equity facility to buy more #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/M7E3fzwAsT

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 17, 2025

Fold Holdings has the option, but not the obligation, to issue and sell up to $250 million in new common stock. The ability to access the funds is subject to certain conditions, including the requirement that a registration statement covering the resale of the stock be filed with and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“The Company is not required to use the Facility and controls the timing and amount of any drawdown on the Facility, subject to certain restrictions under the Facility,” said the press release. “The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Facility, if any, primarily to acquire additional bitcoin for Fold’s corporate treasury.”

The shares offered under the facility will be issued through a private placement, relying on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and Regulation D. Fold noted that it “plans to file with the SEC a registration statement relating to the resale of the Common Stock issuable under the Facility.”

“The offers and sales of the Common Stock issuable under the Facility will be made in a private placement in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,” according to the press release. “The Company cannot draw on the Facility, and the Common Stock may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time that the registration statement covering the resale of the Common Stock is declared effective by the SEC.”

On May 19, Fold also announced the launch of its Bitcoin gift card, marking its entry into the $300 billion U.S. retail gift card market. This new product allows consumers to purchase and gift bitcoin through familiar retail channels, with plans to expand to major retailers nationwide throughout the year.

“This gift card gives us distribution directly to millions of Americans who may not be buying Bitcoin because they haven’t downloaded a new app, don’t have a brokerage account, or haven’t seen the ETF,” said the Chairman and CEO of Fold Will Reeves.

“I think there’s a real chance by the end of 2025 that Bitcoin becomes the most popular gift in America because of this card,” stated Reeves.

This post Fold Holdings Secures $250 Million Equity Deal to Expand Bitcoin Treasury first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

เครื่องดื่ม Tang ไม่ได้ถือกำเนิดมาบนดาวอังคาร แต่กลับโด่งดังเพราะคนที่ไปใกล้ดาวอังคารที่สุดในยุคนั้นต่างดื่มมันแทนน้ำผลไม้...ใช่แล้วจ้ะ เรากำลังพูดถึง "NASA" และภารกิจอวกาศที่เปลี่ยน Tang จากเครื่องดื่มสังเคราะห์ธรรมดา ให้กลายเป็นไอคอนของอนาคต ที่บางครั้ง...ดูดีเกินกว่าความจริง

ย้อนกลับไปปี 1957 สหรัฐฯ กำลังแข่งขันในสงครามอวกาศกับโซเวียต บริษัท General Foods (ถ้าจำได้บริษัทนี้เขาผลิต ซีเรียล Grape-Nuts โดย Charles William Post หรือ C.W. Post ชายหนุ่มที่เคยเข้ารับการรักษาตัวที่ Battle Creek Sanitarium ของหมอ John Harvey Kellogg นั่นไงครับ) บริษัทนี้เป็นผู้ผลิต Tang ได้พัฒนาเครื่องดื่มผงสังเคราะห์นี้ขึ้นมาในปี 1957 โดยนักเคมีชื่อ William A. Mitchell ซึ่งเขาไม่ได้แค่คิดค้น Tang เท่านั้น แต่เขายังคิดค้น Cool Whip, Pop Rocks, Jell-O ที่เซ็ตตัวเร็ว, ไข่ขาวผง และผลิตภัณฑ์ทดแทนมันสำปะหลังยอดนิยม รวมถึงผลิตภัณฑ์อื่นๆ อีกมากมาย (รวมสิทธิบัตรทั้งหมด 70 ฉบับ) แต่ละตัวนี่ทุกวันนี้ยังขายในซุปเปอร์อยู่เลยครับ ผลิตภัณฑ์หลักชิ้นแรกที่มิตเชลล์คิดค้นคือผลิตภัณฑ์ทดแทนมันสำปะหลังซึ่งได้รับการพัฒนาเพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงการขาดแคลนมันสำปะหลังอันเป็นผลจากสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2 ซึ่งเป็นเหตุผลว่าทำไมมันสำปะหลังจึงบางครั้งถูกเรียกว่า “Mitchell’s Mud”

Tang นั้นตอนแรกกลับขายไม่ค่อยออก เพราะคนยุคนั้นยังเชื่อใน “น้ำส้มสด” ที่บีบจากผลไม้มากกว่าอะไรที่ชงจากผง แน่นอนมันเหมือนที่ทุกวันนี้เราพร่ำบอกว่า "ฉันเลือกอาหารธรรมชาติ" นั่นแหละครับ แทบไม่ต่างกันเลย

จนกระทั่ง NASA เข้ามา

ปี 1962 องค์การ NASA ต้องเผชิญปัญหาใหญ่ที่คนทั่วไปนึกไม่ถึง นั่นคือ น้ำในอวกาศรสชาติ “แย่มาก” เพราะระบบกรองน้ำรีไซเคิลทำให้น้ำมีรสโลหะอ่อนๆ ปนน้ำยาฆ่าเชื้อ จะให้มนุษย์อวกาศดื่มแบบนั้นทุกวันคงทำให้ภารกิจเสียสมาธิได้ง่ายกว่าการหลุดวงโคจรเสียอีก

นั่นคือจุดที่ Tang ถูกนำมาใช้ครั้งแรกโดย John Glenn ในภารกิจ Mercury-Atlas 6 ซึ่ง Tang ถูกเพิ่มไว้ในเมนูของภารกิจ Mercury ของ John Glenn ในปี 1962 ซึ่งเขาได้โคจรไปรอบโลกและทำการทดลองรับประทานอาหารในอวกาศ Mercury-Atlas 6 เป็นภารกิจที่ให้ข้อมูลสำคัญเกี่ยวกับการเปลี่ยนแปลงทางกายภาพของมนุษย์เมื่ออยู่ในสภาวะไร้น้ำหนัก ภารกิจนี้ช่วยสร้างความมั่นใจให้กับ NASA ว่าเทคโนโลยีของตนพร้อมก้าวต่อไปสู่ภารกิจที่ซับซ้อนยิ่งขึ้น นำไปสู่ โครงการ Gemini และ โครงการ Apollo ตามลำดับ

เมื่อ NASA ตัดสินใจเติมผง Tang ลงในน้ำเพื่อปรับรสชาติให้น่าดื่มขึ้น กลายเป็นจุดเริ่มต้นของการตลาดที่แทบจะ “ยึดโลก” ได้ในชั่วข้ามคืน เพราะหลังภารกิจนั้น Tang โฆษณาโดยใช้คำว่า “เครื่องดื่มที่นักบินอวกาศดื่มจริง” เห็นไหมครับว่านั่นแหละคือพลังของวาทกรรม

ทีนี้หล่ะพี่เอ้ยยยย เด็กๆ แห่กันดื่ม Tang กันทั่วอเมริกา เพราะรู้สึกว่าการชงน้ำส้มผงในบ้านทำให้ตัวเองเข้าใกล้ดวงจันทร์ได้สักนิด ผู้ปกครองก็สบายใจ เพราะฉลากเขียนว่ามีวิตามิน C และ “ไม่ต้องแช่เย็น” เหมาะกับยุคโมเดิร์นที่ตู้เย็นก็ยังแพงอยู่ ใครจะไปนั่งทำน้ำส้มคั้นกันให้ลำบาก เห็นไหมครับว่าวัฒนธรรมการพึ่งพา “อาหารสำเร็จรูปเพื่ออนาคต” ก็เริ่มตั้งไข่จากตรงนี้อีกจุดนึง

ถ้าหากเราลองส่องลึกลงไปในสูตรของ Tang จะพบว่ามันคือของผสมของ น้ำตาล, กลิ่นแต่งสังเคราะห์, วิตามิน C ที่เติมเข้าไปภายหลัง และกรดซิตริกเพื่อเลียนแบบความเปรี้ยวของผลไม้ เรียกง่ายๆ ว่า “ไม่มีอะไรที่่ได้คุณค่าแบบส้มธรรมชาติเลย” ยกเว้นจินตนาการ

ถึงกระนั้น ผู้บริโภคก็ไม่ได้โวยวายอะไรแถมยังโห่ร้องตอบรับ Tang เป็นอย่างดี เพราะอิทธิพลของ NASA ทำให้คนรู้สึกว่า "ต้องดีแน่ๆ ถ้าแม้แต่ NASA ยังใช้" แม้ว่า NASA เองจะไม่เคยพูดว่า Tang ดีต่อสุขภาพและมันเป็นเครื่องมือชั่วคราวเพื่อทำให้น้ำดื่มได้ ไม่ได้ใช้เพราะว่า Tang ดีกว่าน้ำส้ม...แต่นั่นแหละ ความเงียบของ NASA ถูกตลาดตีความจนเกินจริงไป เพราะการไม่ปฎิเสธนั่นหมายถึงการตอบรับ การตลาดและผู้บริโภคจึงตีความไปในทางเดียวกันว่า มันวิเศษกว่าส้มธรรมดา เพราะมันคือเครื่องดื่มระดับอวกาศเลือกใช้

หลายปีต่อมา เมื่อนักโภชนาการหลายคนเริ่มออกมาเตือนว่า Tang คือน้ำตาลล้วน ไม่มีเส้นใย ไม่มีประโยชน์ใดที่เทียบได้กับผลไม้จริง ผู้ผลิตก็หันมาใส่ "วิตามินเสริม" เพิ่มอีกให้แทนเพื่อล้างภาพลักษณ์เดิมประมาณว่า อ่ะอยากได้วิตามินอะไรเราเติมให้เทผสมในสูตร กลายเป็นสคริปต์ซ้ำของอาหารยุค “อาหารอนาคตปลอม” ที่เอาสารอาหารเดี่ยวๆ มาเติมแล้วโฆษณาว่า “เหมือนธรรมชาติ” หรือดีกว่าเสียอีก

เราอ่านถึงตรงนี้ก็ไม่ต้องตลกหรือขำเลยครับ หันมามองอาหารปัจจุบัน ของบางอย่างมีวิตามินสูงเพราะเทวิตามินผงลงไปผสม เช่นนมพืชต่างๆ ที่อยู่ดีๆก็มีวิตามินระดับซุปเปอร์ฟู้ดขึ้นมาเฉยเลย หรือแม้แต่พืชบางชนิดที่อุ้มน้ำได้ดี ก็มีวิตามินสูงระดับหลายสิบถึงร้อยเท่าของธรรมชาติของมัน ด้วยการเติมวิตามินลงไปในอาหารพืช ที่เพาะเลี้ยงกัน และยิ่งถ้ามองแบบเตรียมพร้อมไปถึงอนาคต อยู่ที่ใครแล้วครับว่าจะมองเห็นใส้ในของอาหารเหล่านี้ไหม เชื่อไหมว่าหลายต่อหลายคนมองว่ามันดี มันงาม มันซุปเปอร์ฟู้ด แล้วหันกลับไปมอง Tang ครับ อดีตมันเคยเป็น Super Orange Juice มาก่อน แล้ววันนี้คุณตลกกับมันไหม? แล้วคุณตลกกับวันนี้ไหม? แล้วคุณตลกกับอนาคตที่กำลังจะมาไหม? นั่นคือคำตอบที่คุณต้องเอาภาพร่างเหล่านี้ มาวางทับกัน แล้วตั้งคำถามกับซุปเปอร์ฟู้ดหรือฟิวเจอร์ฟู้ด ที่คุณกำลังเทิดทูนว่า "ดีต่อสุขภาพ" แล้วไหม?

Tang คือผลผลิตของยุคที่ความสะดวก = ความดี และความโมเดิร์น = ความน่าเชื่อถือ เราจึงเห็นว่าสิ่งที่เคยเกิดขึ้นกับซีเรียล, นม, หรือแม้แต่ Spam ก็ล้วนมีแก่นเดียวกันคือ "ทำให้ง่ายขึ้น ถูกลง เก็บได้นานขึ้น แล้วสร้างภาพว่าเหนือกว่าของเดิม"

Tang ไม่ใช่ผู้ร้าย แต่มันคือตัวละครสำคัญในยุคที่วิทยาศาสตร์กลายเป็นเครื่องมือของตลาด ไม่ใช่เพื่อค้นหาความจริง แต่เพื่อผลิตความรู้สึกปลอดภัยแบบสังเคราะห์ให้กับสังคม

และทั้งหมดนี้...เริ่มจากความพยายามทำให้น้ำอวกาศดื่มได้ ไม่มีกลิ่นเหล็กๆ เท่านั้นเอง

#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ e3ce5265:4bb9f609

The TENEX prompting system is a sophisticated, distributed architecture that enables AI agents to construct, process, and execute complex prompts with integrated tool support, context management, and conversation orchestration. Unlike traditional prompt systems that focus on single interactions, TENEX implements a multi-agent conversational framework with dynamic prompt building, real-time typing indicators, and sophisticated context preservation.

Architecture Overview

Core Design Philosophy

The TENEX prompting system follows a context-first, agent-centric approach where prompts are: - Dynamically constructed based on agent roles, project context, and available tools - Conversation-aware with signal-based state management - Tool-integrated with automatic prompt enhancement for available capabilities - Multi-agent orchestrated with team formation and collaborative prompt execution

Key Components

TENEX Prompting System Architecture ├── Agent Layer (tenex/src/agents/domain/) │ ├── Agent.ts - Core prompt building and response generation │ ├── TeamLead.ts - Enhanced prompts for orchestration │ └── Team.ts - Multi-agent conversation management ├── Orchestration Layer (tenex/src/agents/application/) │ ├── EventRouter.ts - Prompt routing and agent selection │ └── TeamOrchestrator.ts - Dynamic team formation prompts ├── Tool Integration (tenex/src/utils/agents/tools/) │ ├── ToolRegistry.ts - Dynamic tool prompt generation │ ├── ToolEnabledProvider.ts - Tool-enhanced prompt execution │ └── Individual Tools (readSpecs.ts, updateSpec.ts, etc.) ├── LLM Providers (tenex/src/llm/) │ ├── BaseLLMProvider.ts - Core prompt processing │ ├── AnthropicProvider.ts - Claude-specific prompt handling │ └── ToolEnabledProvider.ts - Tool-aware prompt execution └── Infrastructure ├── RulesManager.ts - Project rule integration ├── SpecCache.ts - Living documentation access └── LLMProviderAdapter.ts - Typing indicator integration

Prompt Construction System

1. Core Agent Prompt Building

Location: tenex/src/agents/domain/Agent.ts:133-162

``typescript protected buildSystemPrompt(): string { let prompt =You are ${this.config.name}, ${this.config.role}.

Instructions: ${this.config.instructions} `;

// Add tool instructions if agent has tools
if (this.toolRegistry) {
    const toolPrompt = this.toolRegistry.generateSystemPrompt();
    if (toolPrompt) {
        prompt += `

${toolPrompt} `; } }

prompt += `

When responding, you should indicate the conversation state using one of these signals: - continue: You have more to say in this conversation phase - ready_for_transition: You've completed your part and are ready for the next phase - need_input: You need input from another team member - blocked: You're blocked and need help - complete: The entire task/conversation is complete

Format your response as: [Your response content]

@ df478568:2a951e67

It can already be used for pay-to-send e-mail. The send dialog is resizable and you can enter as long of a message as you like. It's sent directly when it connects. The recipient double-clicks on the transaction to see the full message. If someone famous is getting more e-mail than they can read, but would still like to have a way for fans to contact them, they could set up Bitcoin and give out the IP address on their website. "Send X bitcoins to my priority hotline at this IP and I'll read the message personally." -- Satoshi Nakamoto, January 17, 2009

"It might make sense just to get some in case it catches on. If enough people think the same way, that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Once it gets bootstrapped, there are so many applications if you could effortlessly pay a few cents to a website as easily as dropping coins in a vending machine." -- Satoshi Nakamoto, January 17, 2009

"Forgot to add the good part about micropayments. While I don't think Bitcoin is practical for smaller micropayments right now, it will eventually be as storage and bandwidth costs continue to fall. If Bitcoin catches on on a big scale, it may already be the case by that time. Another way they can become more practical is if I implement client-only mode and the number of network nodes consolidates into a smaller number of professional server farms. Whatever size micropayments you need will eventually be practical. I think in 5 or 10 years, the bandwidth and storage will seem trivial." -- Satoshi Nakamoto, August 10, 2010

"It can already be used for pay-to-send e-mail. The send dialog is resizable and you can enter as long of a message as you like. It's sent directly when it connects. The recipient double-clicks on the transaction to see the full message. If someone famous is getting more e-mail than they can read, but would still like to have a way for fans to contact them, they could set up Bitcoin and give out the IP address on their website. "Send X bitcoins to my priority hotline at this IP and I'll read the message personally." -- Satoshi Nakamoto, January 17, 2009

"It might make sense just to get some in case it catches on. If enough people think the same way, that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Once it gets bootstrapped, there are so many applications if you could effortlessly pay a few cents to a website as easily as dropping coins in a vending machine." -- Satoshi Nakamoto, January 17, 2009

"Forgot to add the good part about micropayments. While I don't think Bitcoin is practical for smaller micropayments right now, it will eventually be as storage and bandwidth costs continue to fall. If Bitcoin catches on on a big scale, it may already be the case by that time. Another way they can become more practical is if I implement client-only mode and the number of network nodes consolidates into a smaller number of professional server farms. Whatever size micropayments you need will eventually be practical. I think in 5 or 10 years, the bandwidth and storage will seem trivial." -- Satoshi Nakamoto, August 10, 2010

Bitcoin Is Winning Fast AF

I began writing about using the lightning network about 150,000 blocks ago because I got tired of hearing that bitcoin can't make more than 7 transactions a minute. That was true 565,000 blocks ago, but is no longer true since the inception of the lightning network. For example:

• We sent 4,187 bitcoin payments over an 8-hour period at Bitcoin 2025, a Guinness Book of World Record winning achievement.
• Nostr is the biggest bitcoin circular economy in the world.
• Shake N Steak, a U.S.-based Hamburger franchise, accepts bitcoin over the Lightning Network at all of its locations.
• We can pay our credit cards with fractions of bitcoin (sats).
• We can use bitcoin over the lightning network to pay AI agents to do vibe coding using tools like Stacks and Goose.
• Bitcoin Helped Secure An Election In A County In Georgia.

I pay for Protonmail with bitcoin on-chain.

I can also use this email to send it to other people who do the same. I've only done this once to test it out, but it works. This is not new. The time chain uses Hashcash (with a double SHA256 algorithm instead of SHA1) for its famous proof-of-work. Hashcash was originally intended to prevent spam. Now you can use bitcoin to do the same.

I ran the numbers. Our world record is an average of 8.72 bitcoin transactions per second. This is just in one place, but bitcoin is a global monetary network. Bitcoin over the lightning network makes it possible to send value at the speed of light, anywhere in the world.

We won a world record. We are winning. We use money that we know works better than gold.

"If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry." -- Satoshi Nakamoto

☮️ nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0

901,672

Zap This Blog would like to think The Nakamoto Institute for making it easy to find these awsome Satoshi quotes. If you like this article, please Zap The Nakamoto Institute!

@ a53364ff:e6ba5513

The internet is filled with countless social media platforms, all built on centralized servers and proprietary algorithms. However, in the world of decentralized technologies, a new contender is rising. Nostr is a simple, open protocol that promises to bring decentralized, censorship-resistant communication to the masses. In this article, we will explore what Nostr is, how it works, and why it might be the next big thing in the social media space.

1. How Did the Nostr Protocol Come About?

Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) was first conceived as a solution to the growing control centralized entities exert over online communications. Most social media platforms today are controlled by corporations, which have the power to censor, ban users, or manipulate what people see in their feeds. These issues, combined with growing concerns about privacy and data collection, inspired the creation of Nostr in 2020 by an anonymous developer named “fiatjaf”. The protocol aims to provide a decentralized alternative where users have control over their own content and identities.

2. What is Nostr?

Nostr is an open, decentralized communication protocol that allows users to send and receive messages in a censorship-resistant manner. It’s not a social network by itself but a foundation for building decentralized applications (DApps), such as social networks, chat apps, and other forms of communication platforms. Unlike traditional platforms, where all data is stored and managed by a single company, Nostr allows users to control their own data and interact directly without intermediaries.

3. Why is Nostr Different from Other Social Networks?

Traditional social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are centralized, meaning all of your posts, messages, and data are controlled by a single company. These platforms have the power to suspend accounts, remove content, or alter algorithms in ways that impact your online presence. Nostr, on the other hand, is decentralized and open-source. There is no central authority, meaning your posts cannot be censored or deleted by a single entity. Each user owns their data, and communication happens directly between users and servers (called relays), reducing the potential for manipulation or surveillance.

4. Similarities of Nostr with Bitcoin

Nostr shares a similar ethos with Bitcoin, in that both are decentralized, censorship-resistant, and permissionless. Just as Bitcoin allows people to transfer value without intermediaries, Nostr enables communication without relying on a central authority. Both projects promote the idea of individual sovereignty—whether that’s over your money or your communication.

Another connection is the use of public and private keys for identity management. Like Bitcoin wallets, Nostr uses cryptographic keys, meaning that users “log in” by signing messages with their private key. This ensures that only the true owner of the key can send messages from a specific identity.

5. Bitcoin Integrations

Bitcoin and Nostr are increasingly integrated, especially through Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, which is designed for fast, low-fee transactions. Nostr and Bitcoin are a natural fit. By integrating Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, Nostr allows users to send and receive micropayments seamlessly. This is particularly useful for tipping or rewarding content creators within the network. Satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin) can be sent across Nostr’s network almost instantly and with minimal fees. On Nostr, users can send Bitcoin micropayments, often referred to as “zaps.” This enables tipping and rewarding users directly within the network, providing a seamless way for content creators to monetize their work without the need for third-party platforms. For example, if you appreciate a post, you can “zap” the creator a small amount of Bitcoin, creating a new way to support online communities.

6. How Does Nostr Work? What are Clients and Relays?

Nostr operates through two main components: Clients and Relays.

– Clients are applications that allow users to create accounts, post messages, and interact with others. These clients can be web apps, mobile apps, or desktop apps that interact with the Nostr network.

– Relays are servers that store and transmit the messages between clients. When you post a message on Nostr, it is sent to a relay, and other users’ clients pull that message from the relay. You are not tied to any single relay, so even if one relay is down or blocks your content, you can still interact with others using different relays.

This relay-client model ensures that the network remains decentralized and difficult to censor.

7. Difference Between Today’s Internet and Nostr’s

Today’s internet is heavily centralized. Most of our communication, from emails to social media, is managed by large corporations with access to vast amounts of data about their users. This leads to issues like censorship, surveillance, and data harvesting. Nostr seeks to change this by decentralizing communication. It puts control back into the hands of users, allowing for a more private and open internet experience. There’s no need for trust in any single company—users own their data and decide which relays to trust or use.

8. How Do Bitcoin Zaps and Micropayments Work on Nostr?

One of the most exciting features of Nostr is its integration with Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. Through this integration, users can send Bitcoin zaps, which are small amounts of Bitcoin transferred instantly over the Lightning Network. Zaps function like “likes” on traditional social media platforms, but with the added benefit of rewarding users with real monetary value.

To send a zap, users link their Nostr profile to a Lightning wallet. Once connected, they can zap others by sending small amounts of Bitcoin, typically for content they enjoy or want to support. These zaps are fast, inexpensive, and work seamlessly within the Nostr ecosystem, making it easy for users to monetize content and interact with Bitcoin in a meaningful way.

Conclusion

Nostr is an exciting protocol that promises to reshape how we think about online communication. Its decentralized, censorship-resistant nature, along with its integration with Bitcoin, creates a platform where users have control over their data and interactions. Whether you’re looking for a more private social media experience or want to explore new ways to integrate Bitcoin into everyday interactions, Nostr is a protocol worth watching. With its growing ecosystem of clients and relays, Nostr might just be the future of decentralized communication.

Nostr is more than just a social network; it represents a shift towards user autonomy, privacy, and decentralized control. By combining cutting-edge technology with a solid ideological foundation, Nostr offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream social platforms. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just curious about new innovations, Nostr is worth exploring. And with various clients making it easily accessible, there’s no reason not to dive in and experience the future of decentralized social networking for yourself!

@ 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

@ 5ea46480:450da5bd

When considering the concept of "smart clients and dumb relays," it is crucial to clearly define what "smart" and "dumb" represent in this context. The term "dumb" does not imply that relays lack control, complexity, or sophisticated policies regarding storage and distribution. Relays actively select what information to store, how long they store it, and under what conditions they provide access. Their decisions may differ significantly, allowing specialization that enriches the ecosystem.

Instead, the "dumb" attribute specifically describes the simplicity and universality of queries that relays support. Dumb relays provide a standardized interface rather than specialized queries serving individual client needs. This simplicity ensures interoperability; a client can interact with any relay without compatibility issues. The client side is "smart," equipped with all the logic necessary for determining what data to request, where to find it, how to interpret and present it. The client is responsible for the complexity and specificity of interactions.

This paradigm achieves clear separation; relays generalize data delivery, while clients handle intelligent interpretation and functionality. As a result, users remain free to switch between different clients, confident that basic connections remain intact across a diverse relay landscape. Differences in relay behavior—such as acceptance criteria or data availability—do not compromise this fundamental interoperability. Rather, its the interoperability that allows relays freedom from any obligation to represent a global network viewpoint.

Therefore, maintaining a simple relay query interface preserves interoperability, encourages client diversity, and allows relays to specialize according to their own preferences and policies. This setup captures the complementary principles behind smart clients and dumb relays.

@ 4c96d763:80c3ee30

Changes

Fernando López Guevara (2):

• fix: skip blurring for user's own images
• fix(search): make input background gray in light mode

William Casarin (24):

• clippy: fix large enum.
• clippy: fix large enum.
• scroll: simple fix
• note: cleanup wide/standard implementation
• android: hover post button when narrow
• fix note response regression
• nix: emulator
• log: less verbose unknown id logging
• chrome: collapsible side panel
• dave: small cleanup
• dave: add chrome toggle button
• chrome: extract method to function
• chrome: extract more non-methods
• Initial tab bar
• chrome: hook up toolbar actions
• toolbar: process actions
• nix: add $ANDROID_JAR helper to shell
• add input context menu helper
• thread: enable selectable text in threads
• universe: add full tabs
• android: fix build
• dave: initial android fixes
• android: arboard clipboard support
• android: add initial ci

alltheseas (1):

• Update README.md with deepwiki badge (#875)

kernelkind (1):

• bugfix: txn failed

pushed to notedeck:refs/heads/master

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

The signs started appearing everywhere for Will Reeves long before he founded Fold. In Argentina, a friend showed him how families preserved wealth through Bitcoin during runaway inflation.

In Sonoma County, where his family worked in the wine industry, he watched migrant workers get gouged by traditional remittance providers who charged usurious fees for sending money home.

During Occupy Wall Street in Oakland, he witnessed PayPal donations getting shut down while bitcoin donations flowed through unimpeded.

“I had all these touch points with Bitcoin all representing an incredibly powerful aspect of it,” noted Will. Each interaction revealed another superpower: wealth preservation, efficient remittances, censorship resistance, technological innovation.

But even with all these glaring signs, it took years before he made the leap.

The Silicon Valley Disconnect

Will had spent over a decade in Silicon Valley’s corporate machine, bouncing between major tech companies and launching consumer payment products. He was good at building things, it was his calling, but something felt off.

“Even despite doing this in Silicon Valley with a bunch of incredible opportunities and projects I got to work on, I never truly felt like I was completely aligned with what I was bringing to market,” he explained.

“I thought it was cool to build, I thought there was a great opportunity and I thought I could make something the world would love, but the alignment wasn’t there.”

The breakthrough came around 2015 when he met his co-founder, who was working on a Bitcoin side project. For the first time, Will saw how he could merge his two worlds: building exceptional products and supporting something he genuinely believed in.

“That was truly inspiring where I could actually finally say I could bring my worlds together building things and things that I care about,” he said. “That was a complete unlock.”

Solving the Wrong Problem First

Fold’s early iteration focused on spending bitcoin, converting it to gift cards or cash so people could shop at places that didn’t accept it directly. The logic seemed sound: Bitcoin holders needed ways to spend their digital money in the real world.

But Will quickly realized they were solving the wrong problem.

“The problem was not enough people had bitcoin,” he said. “We were solving a problem that didn’t quite exist or wasn’t even really ready for it.”

The insight that changed everything came from connecting two observations: not enough people own bitcoin because it’s a superior savings asset, and not enough people have savings period, regardless of where they are from.

“Those two insights brought together this idea of wait, how can we build a product that allows people to passively build savings that will be denominated in Bitcoin?” Will explained.

That’s when Fold pivoted to rewards. Instead of asking people to spend bitcoin, they would help people earn it through everyday purchases.

Building the Bitcoin Financial Stack

Today’s Fold bears little resemblance to that early gift card conversion service. The platform has evolved into a comprehensive financial services suite designed around one core principle: helping users end up with more bitcoin than they started with each day.

The Fold debit card rewards users with bitcoin on every purchase. Premium Fold+ members get higher cashback rates, boosted spins, and exclusive giveaways.

Users can direct deposit paychecks, set up automatic bitcoin purchases through dollar-cost averaging, enable round-ups on purchases, and even get paid directly in bitcoin.

“Fold is a platform where you can fully port your personal financial activity to, but to a platform that is there specifically designed to make sure that you end up with more bitcoin than you started with each day,” Will said.

The platform serves everyone from Bitcoin newcomers earning rewards on Uber rides and Amazon purchases to maximalists “living 100% of my life in Bitcoin and living in a parallel financial reality to the rest of the world.”

Most importantly, Fold provides the tools to move along that spectrum at your own pace.

“Maybe it’s not 100% conversion of your paycheck right now. Maybe it’s 10%. Okay, let’s dial up the paycheck conversion there. Let’s increase your roundups,” Will explained. “It gives you this toolkit that follows your education into Bitcoin as you develop confidence.”

Surviving Bitcoin’s Volatility Cycles

Building a Bitcoin company means accepting an additional layer of difficulty that most entrepreneurs never face.

Will describes it as “building on a moving foundation” not just responding to customer needs, but adapting to an entire industry figuring out its own product-market fit.

“When you have 50% drawdowns in incredibly short periods of time… that adds a whole new difficulty factor,” he said, noting the “absolute trail of Bitcoin company bodies that got pushed through that meat grinder and didn’t make it out.”

The key to survival? Conservative growth and what Will calls “cockroach mode.”

“Growth at all costs will destroy you in Bitcoin,” he warned. “You need to be extraordinarily resilient, very conservative in how you’re building your company… and be prepared to go into cockroach mode for years on end.”

But those who survive the volatility cycles emerge stronger. Fold now holds over 1,000 BTC in its treasury and went public on NASDAQ in February 2025.

Neil Jacobs on X

The Gift Card Revolution

Fold’s newest innovation might be its most significant: Bitcoin gift cards appearing in physical retail locations across America. While most people discover Bitcoin through brokerage accounts or mobile apps, Will sees a much larger distribution opportunity.

“When you think of where financial services are distributed today, it is not just an app store. It’s not just a brokerage account. It’s literally in every store you shop in,” he explained.

Gift cards represent the perfect Trojan horse. They’re familiar to consumers “gift cards are the number one gift in America” and retailers already have dedicated sections for them. More importantly, retailers want Bitcoin customers.

“These retailers know that Bitcoin is able to draw very valuable customers who are high earners… Many of them have families. They want these customers,” Will said, pointing to Costco’s $200 million monthly gold sales as proof that Americans want alternative assets.

“You’re going to see this in 2025 get rolled out. Big orange Bitcoin B’s are going to be gracing the checkout lines of the largest retailers in America where millions of people shop and trust already.”

Building Partnerships Beyond Traditional Finance

One of Fold’s most interesting developments is its integration with different companies, such as Crowd Health, a peer-to-peer healthcare funding company that helps people avoid traditional insurance. Will sees these partnerships as representative of a broader shift.

“We’re talking with life insurance companies, lending companies, mortgage companies,” he said. “I think this is a vision that is going to replicate across Crowd Health into a bunch of other adjacent services I think Bitcoiners are going to love.”

These integrations matter because they make Bitcoin part of everyday financial life rather than a separate investment category.

When someone can contribute to their health coverage with bitcoin or earn bitcoin rewards on insurance payments, it becomes truly integrated into their financial routine.

The Human Impact

Beyond the business metrics and technical innovations, one of the things Will loves to see is his customers doing better financially than their peers.

“Our customers are more confident, more stable and more optimistic about their financial future,” he said. “Part of it is they’re genuinely doing better than their peers. They are outpacing their peers.”

Will sees this success against a troubling backdrop. “Everyone else is living in a world where the tools that they rely on are actually counterproductive to their end financial goals, that’s a really f****** big story,” he said.

It’s a meaningful achievement when hundreds of thousands of people have earned bitcoin through Fold, with thousands now living primarily on bitcoin, especially in a financial system where traditional tools often work against people’s long-term interests.

Looking Forward

When I asked Will what he’d want to ask Satoshi Nakamoto if given the chance, his answer revealed his perspective on Bitcoin’s evolution.

“I would ask him what surprises him most about where Bitcoin is today versus what he envisioned,” he said. “Bitcoin has been unleashed into the world. It is a virus that is taking over people to achieve its ends at this point.”

Will sees Bitcoin as having “taken a life of its own” far beyond what any single person, even Satoshi, could have predicted. The technical developments, social adoption, and financial integration have all exceeded early expectations.

Fold’s role in that evolution is clear: making Bitcoin accessible to anyone willing to start small. Whether you’re earning your first satoshis on coffee purchases or converting your entire paycheck, Fold provides the infrastructure.

“Are we achieving a better world for those that are adopting Bitcoin and can we be a good tool to support that transition?” Will asked. For thousands of Fold users [stacking

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Flash Releases Free Bitcoin Invoicing Tool with No Fees, KYC, or Custody

Flash, a Bitcoin payment platform, just announced it has launched Flash Invoicing, a completely free, non-custodial, and KYC-free Bitcoin invoicing tool. Designed for freelancers, the platform allows users to send professional invoices without platform fees, identity checks, or third party custody.

According to Deel, a crypto payments company for freelancers, Bitcoin is the most used cryptocurrency in the world for payments. Despite this growth, many freelancers continue to use basic methods such as pasting Bitcoin addresses into PDFs or emails. Some rely on custodial platforms that deduct fees or require identity verification, which can affect both earnings and data privacy.

“We’ve seen too many people paste BTC addresses into documents and call it invoicing,” said the CEO of Flash Pierre Corbin. “It’s messy. It’s risky. And it’s time for something better.” 

Flash Invoicing Features:

• 0% platform fees: no subscriptions or commission
• Non-custodial: Bitcoin goes straight to the user’s wallet
• No KYC: users maintain full privacy
• Professional output: branded PDFs and secure payment links
• Integrated dashboard: manage payments, clients, and revenue
• Works with Flash ecosystem: including Stores, Donations, Paywalls, and POS

Many Bitcoin invoicing tools charge a percentage per transaction or require a subscription. As a result, freelancers often lose part of their income simply to issue an invoice and receive payment. Flash is aiming to solve this issue.

“Freelancers work hard enough. The last thing they need is a platform skimming off their earnings,” said Corbin. “That’s why we dropped our fee from 1.5% to 0% — and launched the first invoicing tool that’s truly free, without compromising on privacy or control.”

Flash Invoicing allows users to accept Bitcoin payments without relinquishing control, privacy, or revenue. It is integrated with the broader Flash suite, enabling users to manage invoicing alongside features such as setting up stores, receiving donations, or gating premium content.

“As a freelancer myself, I love using the Flash invoicing feature,” stated a freelancer & Flash user. ”It keeps all my clients in one place, allows me to easily edit invoices and track payments. Much more professional than sending a lightning address in the footer of a PDF invoice.”

This post Flash Releases Free Bitcoin Invoicing Tool with No Fees, KYC, or Custody first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

Autor: Mathias Bröckers. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben und erschien zuerst auf dem Blog des Autors. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier.**

Die neuesten Pareto-Artikel finden Sie in unserem Telegram-Kanal.

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Die neuesten Artikel der Friedenstaube gibt es jetzt auch im eigenen Friedenstaube-Telegram-Kanal.

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Im September 2001 fiel dem gerade pensionierten Vier-Sterne-General Wesley Clark, der bis 2000 die NATO-Streitkräfte in Europa befehligt hatte, der Unterkiefer nach unten, als er kurz nach den Anschlägen das Pentagon besuchte und ein alter Kollege aus dem »Joint Chiefs Of Staff« ihn in sein Zimmer zog:

»Ich habe gerade diesen Merkzettel aus dem Büro des Verteidigungsministers bekommen, und hier steht, wir werden sieben Länder angreifen und deren Regierungen innerhalb von fünf Jahren stürzen. Wir werden mit dem Irak beginnen und dann nehmen wir uns Syrien, Libanon, Libyen, Somalia, den Sudan und den Iran vor, sieben Länder in fünf Jahren.«

Dass der ehrgeizige Zeitplan durchaus ins Stocken geraten könnte, hatte Bushs Vize Dick Cheney mit seiner Ankündigung klar gemacht, dass „dieser Krieg länger als eine Generation dauern wird“. 9/11 hatte dem neo-konservativen „Project New American Century“ (PNAC) das „katalysierende Ereignis“ geliefert, das dieser Think-Tank mit vielen Mitgliedern der Bush-Regierung 1999 als erforderlich angesehen hatte, um massive militärische Aufrüstung für eine globale „Full Spectrum Dominance“ durchzusetzen.

Nach dem Abhandenkommen des Großfeinds Sowjetunion drohten dem militärisch-industriellen Komplex erhebliche Umsatzeinbußen, die ohne eine neue Großbedrohung nicht wettzumachen waren. Bushs massive Aufrüstung bis 2009 wurde dann von seinen Nachfolgern noch einmal verdoppelt. Diese Anstrengungen im sogenannten „War On Terror“ haben seitdem Millionen Menschen das Leben gekostet oder in die Flucht getrieben und zahlreiche Länder verwüstet. Mit der Bombardierung des Iran am Wochenende nun wurde das “Sahnehäubchen” in diesem Eroberungsplan des US-Imperiums in Angriff genommen.

Dabei werden wie im Krieg gegen Irak angebliche “Massenvernichtungswaffen” als Begründung propagiert, die freilich in Teheran genauso wenig vorhanden sind wie 2002/2003 in Bagdad. Was Englands Tony Blair seinerzeit aber nicht von der Behauptung abhielt, sie könnten “in 45 Minuten” London erreichen und Europa erfolgreich  zur Unterstützung des Kriegs zu treiben. So wie Israels Netanyahu und die US-Neocons seit 30 Jahren erzählen, dass iranische Atomwaffen in 3 Jahren…/3 Monaten/…3 Tagen einsatzbereit wären und man das Land deshalb “präventiv” angreifen müsse. Dazu schreibt der Nahost-Korrespondent und Pulitzer-Preisträger  Chris Hedges :

"Warum also in den Krieg mit dem Iran ziehen? Warum aus einem Atomabkommen aussteigen, gegen das der Iran nicht verstoßen hat? Warum eine Regierung dämonisieren, die der Todfeind der Taliban ist, zusammen mit anderen Takfiri-Gruppen, einschließlich Al-Qaida und Islamischer Staat in der Levante (ISIL)? Warum eine Region weiter destabilisieren, die bereits gefährlich instabil ist?Die Generäle, Politiker, Geheimdienste, Neocons, Waffenhersteller, so genannten Experten, prominenten Experten und israelischen Lobbyisten wollen nicht die Schuld für zwei Jahrzehnte militärischer Fiaskos auf sich nehmen. Sie brauchen einen Sündenbock. Das ist der Iran.

Die demütigenden Niederlagen in Afghanistan und im Irak, die gescheiterten Staaten Syrien und Libyen, die Ausbreitung extremistischer Gruppen und Milizen, von denen viele ursprünglich von den USA ausgebildet und bewaffnet wurden, sowie die anhaltenden weltweiten Terroranschläge, müssen die Schuld eines anderen sein.Das Chaos und die Instabilität, die wir vor allem im Irak und in Afghanistan ausgelöst haben, haben dazu geführt, dass der Iran das dominierende Land in der Region ist. Washington hat seinen Erzfeind gestärkt. Es hat keine Ahnung, wie es das rückgängig machen kann, außer es anzugreifen.

Das Völkerrecht und die Rechte von fast 90 Millionen Menschen im Iran werden ignoriert, genauso wie die Rechte der Menschen in Afghanistan, Irak, Libyen, Jemen und Syrien ignoriert wurden. Die Iraner sehen die Vereinigten Staaten nicht als Verbündete oder Befreier an, egal was sie von ihrer Führung halten. Sie wollen nicht angegriffen oder besetzt werden. Sie werden Widerstand leisten. Und die USA und Israel werden dafür bezahlen."

Der Zahltag ist schon gekommen, die ersten Wohngebiete in Tel Aviv  sehen  bereits aus wie in Gaza, auch in vielen anderen Städten schlugen Raketen ein, der  viel gepriesene “Iron Dome”, Israels Luftabwehrschild, ist ein Papiertiger und gegen die iranischen Raketen weitgehend machtlos, wie der Einschlag von zwei hypersonischen Raketen in einem Kraftwerk in Haifa zeigt. Die am Freitag vermutlich per Sabotage ausgeschaltete iranische Luftabwehr war nach 8 Stunden wieder in Takt und meldete den Abschuss von mittlerweile drei israelischen F-35-Jets. Über Teheran war es in der Nacht zum Montag weitgehend ruhig, während es in Israel überall Drohnen und Bomben hagelte und der iranische Revolutionsrat mitteilte, dass diese Angriffe unvermindert weitergehen werden. Da der Iran über 20.000 Cruise Missiles verfügt ist das keine leere Drohung. Auch wenn Israel mit seinem unprovozierten Angriff weiterhin großen Schaden im Iran anrichten kann, sind die Gegenschläge weitaus effektiver, denn der Iran ist fast so groß wie ganz West-Europa, Israel inklusive der besetzten Gebiete hingegen kaum größer als Hessen. Und so geht der große zionistische Jammer schon nach drei Tagen los, fliegender Kostümwechsel vom Täter zum Opfer, vom Völkermörder zum Unschuldslamm, nach bewährter Dramaturgie: “There`s No Business Like Shoa-Business”.\ \ Wie weit sich Donald Trump weiter in das Drama hineinziehen lässt, ist im Moment noch unklar. Aktuell könnte er sich noch mit der Ausrede “Ich habe Bibi davor gewarnt anzugreifen, aber er wollte nicht hören” aus der Affäre ziehen, wenn aber jetzt US-Flugzeugträger und NATO-Tankflugzeuge anrücken, um Israels Angriffskrieg zu unterstützen, ist es sein Krieg. Und der zweite, den er militärisch nicht gewinnen kann. Die tapferen Houthis im Jemen konnten die USS “Eisenhower” mit ihren Drohnen nur aus dem Roten Meer verjagen, die iranische “Fattah-2” indessen könnte solch ein Dickschiff mit einem Schlag versenken. Und dann?

USA und NATOstan haben keine zwei Millionen Truppen für eine Invasion des Iran parat und Israel kann seine “Samson-Option” – einen Nuklearschlag – nur um dem Preis des eigenen Untergangs wählen, denn Pakistan hat für diesen Fall bereits zugesichert, dem iranischen Nachbarn mit einem nuklearen Gegenschlag beizustehen. Also bleibt nur, einen regime change mit Raketen auf die Zivilbevölkerung Teherans herbei zu bomben – wie in Beirut versucht, allerdings  mit dem Unterschied, dass man es aufgrund der iranischen Verteidigungs-und Angriffsfähigkeit mit einem Gegner auf Augenhöhe zu tun hat, der zudem mit Russland und China zwei Supermächte im Rücken hat. Und einem Abnutzungskrieg weitaus gelassener entgegensehen kann als Israel, das weiter auf Teheran feuert und weiter von iranischen Raketen getroffen wird.

https://x.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1934355463920873736

Kann Trump wie gegen Russland “bis zum letzten Ukrainer” nun im nächsten Proxy-Krieg bis zum letzten Israeli kämpfen lassen, ohne aktiv einzugreifen? Oder hat er die vor der Pensionierung stehende USS Nimitz Richtung Israel geschickt, um sie als  Protagonisten für ein neues Pearl Harbor zum Abschuss freizugeben – durch Israel für eine “false flag”? – und dann TV-gerecht in einen “full blown war” gegen ein “Terrorregime”  mit “Massenvernichtungswaffen” einzusteigen?\ Wo Psychopathen agieren, wie der fanatische Führer eines Schurkenstaats und der schizoide “Heute Will Ich Frieden/Morgen Will Ich Krieg”-Rumpelstilzchen-Herrscher eines niedergehenden Imperiums, sind rationale Prognosen schwierig. Iran scheint, ähnlich wie Russland, auf die Provokation nicht mit einem Donnerschlag zu reagieren, sondern mit fortgesetzten Nadelstichen auf Demilitarisierung des Gegners zu setzen – denn es ist nur eine Frage von Tagen oder Wochen, bis diesem die Abwehrraketen ausgehen. Was Netanjahu heute den Bürgern Teherans empfahl – sich gegen ihre Regierung zu erheben – wird ihm dann eher selbst geschehen, und auch Trump kann einen weiteren ungewinnbaren Krieg politisch nicht überleben.

Das Jahrtausende alte persische Reich gilt historisch als Friedhof der Imperien, seit Alexander dem Großen haben sich alle Kolonisatoren die Zähne daran ausgebissen, das Volk der Perser zu unterwerfen. Zuletzt hatte es das anglo-amerikanische Imperium 1953 versucht, als man den demokratischen Präsidenten durch den Marionetten-Diktator Reza Pahlevi ersetzte, der aber 1979 (samt BP, Chevron & Co.) von der islamischen Revolution wieder verjagt wurde. Seit damit der  Ölreichtum des Landes wieder der Bevölkerung zu Gute kommt stehen die politischen und religiösen Führer ganz oben auf den Abschusslisten von CIA, MI6 und Mossad, Regime change im Iran ist seit 30 Jahren der feuchte Traum der US-Neocons, von denen einige wie “The Onion” meldet, nach Israels Überraschungsangriff wegen Dauererrektion im Krankenhaus behandelt werden mussten. Wenn der wahnsinnige Traum aber mit der Realität kollidiert und eskaliert – mit einem Hiroshima hoch x im Mittleren Osten – wird Persien einmal mehr zum Friedhof für imperiale Eroberer.

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Der “Shock & Awe”-Überaschungsangriff Israels hat nicht dazu geführt, dass die Iraner gegen ihre Regierung aufstehen oder gar den im Exil lebenden Sohn des Ex-Diktators Pahlevi als Marionette zurück wünschen, sondern im Gegenteil zu allgemeiner Unterstützung der Bevölkerung; geschockt und erschrocken sind dagegen die Israelis über die permanent einschlagenden Raketen. Bei den ersten Gegenschlägen hatte der Iran noch eher altes Material zum Einsatz gebracht, von dem ein großer Teil von der Luftverteidigung abgefangen werden konnte, am Dienstag aber schlugen bereits 5 Raketen in Tel Aviv ein, am helllichten Tag, auch das Mossad Hauptquartier scheint getroffen worden zu sein.

Und was empfiehlt der Schizo-Commander in Chief? Teheran (12 Mio. Einwohner) evakuieren! Denn: “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon!” Dass Iran solche Waffen gar nicht hat und auch nicht produziert, hatte Geheimdienstdirektorin Tulsi Gabbard zuletzt Ende März bekannt gegeben, was Generalisimo Donald jetzt aber vergessen hat und zusammen mit Herodes 2.0 aka “Bibi Satanjahu” im Heiligen Land auf dem Highway To Hell durchstartet…

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Mathias Bröckers, Jahrgang 1954, ist Autor und freier Journalist. Er gehörte zur Gründergeneration der taz, war dort bis 1991 Kultur- und Wissenschaftsredakteur und veröffentlichte seit 1980 rund 600 Beiträge für verschiedene Tageszeitungen, Wochen- und Monatszeitschriften, vor allem in den Bereichen Kultur, Wissenschaft und Politik. Neben seiner weiteren Tätigkeit als Rundfunkautor veröffentlichte Mathias Bröckers zahlreiche Bücher. Besonders bekannt wurden seine internationalen Bestseller „Die Wiederentdeckung der Nutzpflanze Hanf“ (1993), „Verschwörungen, Verschwörungstheorien und die Geheimnisse des 11.9.“ (2002) und „Wir sind immer die Guten – Ansichten eines Putinverstehers“ (2016, mit Paul Schreyer) sowie "Mythos 9/11 - Die Bilanz eines Jahrhundertverbrechens" (2021). Mathias Bröckers lebt in Berlin und Zürich und bloggt auf broeckers.com.

Sein aktuelles Buch "Inspiration, Konspiration, Evolution – Gesammelte Essays und Berichte aus dem Überall" – hier im Handel.

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라이트닝 네트워크

풀 노드가 비트코인 네트워크의 분산화 속성을 강화한다면 온-체인 위에 올려질 다중 레이어들은 비트코인의 확장성을 강화한다. 이러한 제2레이어에는 대표적으로 라이트닝 네트워크가 있다.

라이트닝 네트워크 백서는 조셉 푼Joseph Poon과 타데우스 드리야Thaddeus Dryja가 공동 저술했으며, 2016년 1월 14일에 처음 공개되었다. 라이트닝 네트워크 백서의 제목은 「비트코인 라이트닝 네트워크: 확장 가능한 오프-체인 즉시 결제」이다.

라이트닝 네트워크는 백서 이름대로 현재까지 비트코인의 확장성 강화에 핵심적인 역할을 하고 있다. 라이트닝 네트워크는 채널을 만들고, 유동성을 공급하며, 결제를 중개하는 수많은 자발적인 라이트닝 노드가 있기 때문에 작동된다.

단순히 라이트닝 지갑 수탁 서비스—스트라이크, 월렛 오브 사토시, 블링크, 피닉스 등—를 이용하는 것과 직접 라이트닝 노드를 운영하는 것에는 매우 큰 차이가 있다. 수탁 서비스 이용자들은 라이트닝 지갑 기업이 이미 열어놓은 채널을 이용해 결제를 주고받지만 라이트닝 노드 운영자는 직접 채널을 열고 닫으며, 때로는 타인의 결제를 중개하고, 수수료를 직접 설정하며 전체 라이트닝 네트워크의 일부가 된다.

라이트닝 채널의 원리

라이트닝 네트워크의 원리를 이해하려면 먼저 채널이라는 개념을 이해해야 한다. 두 라이트닝 노드가 채널을 열면, 그들은 여러 번의 결제를 오프-체인 상에서 빠르고 저렴하게 주고받을 수 있다. 채널을 열 때는 온-체인 거래를 통해 자금을 예치해야 한다.

만약 앨리스와 밥이 자주 결제를 하는 사이라고 해보자. 둘의 거래를 매번 온-체인에 기록하는 것은 번거로운 일이다. 온-체인 거래는 정산 관점에서는 매우 빠르지만, 결제 관점에서는 느리기 때문이다. 일상적인 소액 결제를 하는데 결제할 때마다 10분 정도를 기다려야 하고, 700 SATS 정도의 수수료를 매번 내야 한다고 생각해 보자. 매우 불편한 일일 것이다. 라이트닝 네트워크에서 채널을 개설할 때만 온-체인에 거래를 기록하고, 이후에 일어나는 자잘한 거래는 온-체인에 기록하지 않고 보관해 두다가 채널을 닫을 때 최종 거래 결과만을 기록하면 매우 저렴하고 빠르게 거래할 수 있다.

채널은 쉽게 말해 ‘공동 금고’라고 생각하면 쉽다. 앨리스와 밥의 공동 금고에 총 20만 SATS가 있고, 앨리스와 밥은 이 금고에서 각각 10만 SATS의 청구권이 있는 상태라고 해보자. 앨리스가 밥의 카페에서 5,000 SATS짜리 커피를 3번 사 마셨다면 앨리스의 최종 청구권은 85,000 SATS로 변하고, 밥의 최종 청구권은 115,000 SATS로 변하는 것이다. 이렇게 거래하면 앨리스와 밥 사이에서 일어났던 수많은 거래가 실행되기 위해 한 번의 최종 거래 결과만을 메인 네트워크에 전송하면 되므로, 1회 거래당 거래 수수료는 매우 저렴해진다. 라이트닝 네트워크는 채널을 개설할 때, 채널을 종료할 때 총 2번만 온-체인에서 수수료를 지불한다.

라이트닝 네트워크의 놀라운 점은 직접 채널을 열지 않은 다른 대상과도 거래가 가능하다는 것이다. 만약 앨리스가 밥과 채널을 개설하고, 밥이 캐롤과 채널을 개설했다고 해보자. 앨리스는 캐롤과 직접적인 채널이 개설되어 있지 않다. 이 상황에서 앨리스가 캐롤에게 돈 10,000 SATS를 보내고 싶다면 어떻게 해야 할까? 앨리스가 밥에게 돈 10,000 SATS를 보내고, 밥이 10,000 SATS를 캐롤에게 보내면 된다. 이러한 거래는 당연히 공동 금고에 있는 금액 청구권으로 하는 것이다. 그리고 앨리스가 캐롤에게 돈을 보내는데 밥이 매개해 줬으므로 앨리스는 밥에게 적정한 수수료를 지급하면 된다. 5 SATS를 수수료로 지급하고 싶다면 밥에게 10,005 SATS를 보내고, 밥은 캐롤에게 10,000 SATS를 보내면 된다. 그러면 앨리스는 거래의 중간 매개자인 밥에게 5 SATS를 보낸 셈이 된다.

밥은 중간 매개 역할을 하면서 수수료를 챙겼다. 이렇게 송금 경로 중 중간에 지나가는 각 노드를 홉hop이라고 부른다. 기존에는 거래의 중개를 누가 맡았는가? 은행과 같은 금융기관이 독점했다. 라이트닝 네트워크는 기존 금융 시스템의 중앙화된 중개자 역할을 개인들에게 분산시킨 혁신적인 모델이다. 누구나 채널을 개설하고 다른 사람들과 거래할 수 있으며, 중개 역할을 하면서 수수료를 받을 수도 있다. 기존에는 중개자가 되기 위해서 거대한 자본이 필요했으며, 정부의 허락을 받아야만 은행업을 할 수 있었다. 기존 은행이 커다란 중앙 금고를 두고 은행 직원들이 모든 거래를 처리하고 기록했다면, 라이트닝 네트워크는 개인들이 서로 작은 금고를 만들어 거래하고 필요한 경우 중간 경로를 통해 서로 연결되는 방식이다. 이는 은행의 권한이 개인들에게 분산된 것과 같다.

참고로 앨리스나 캐롤은 중개자인 밥을 신뢰할 필요는 없다. 밥이 앨리스에게서 확실히 돈을 받으려면 캐롤이 밥에게서 돈을 가져갈 때 공개되는 데이터(해시값의 평문)가 있어야만 한다. 즉, 밥이 캐롤에게 돈을 확실히 보내야만 밥은 앨리스에게 받은 돈을 가져갈 수 있다.

라이트닝 네트워크에서는 노드들의 역할이 중요하다. 많은 노드들이 채널을 열어야 더 빠르고 다양한 경로가 열릴 수 있고, 수수료 경쟁이 일어나 엄청나게 낮은 수수료로도 거래할 수 있다. 기존 비트코인 시스템은 수수료를 내는 사람들끼리 경쟁했다. 더 높은 수수료를 내지 않으면 느린 속도를 감내할 수밖에 없었다. 그런데 라이트닝 네트워크에서는 수수료를 받는 사람들끼리 경쟁한다.

인바운드 유동성과 아웃바운드 유동성

앞의 비유적인 예시로 돌아가 보자. 밥과 앨리스가 공동 금고를 만들 때 10만 SATS씩 금고에 넣었다. 이런 경우 앨리스와 밥은 서로에게 라이트닝 네트워크상에서 비트코인을 보낼 수 있다. 이제 앨리스 입장에서만 보자. 앨리스는 공동 금고에 10만 SATS를 보냈다. 이렇게 앨리스가 보낸 10만 SATS를 ‘아웃바운드 유동성’이라고 한다. 그리고 밥이 앨리스 자신과 개설한 채널(공동 금고)에 보낸 10만 SATS는 ‘인바운드 유동성’이라고 한다. 정리하면 자기가 라이트닝 채널에 보낸 비트코인 금액을 아웃바운드 유동성이라고 하며, 상대방이 라이트닝 채널에 보낸 비트코인 금액을 인바운드 유동성이라고 한다.

앨리스가 처음에 밥과 채널을 개설하는 상황을 생각해 보자. 채널을 개설한 앨리스가 공동 금고(채널)에 10만 SATS의 돈을 보냈다. 공동 금고에는 10만 SATS가 들어있지만, 이것은 모두 앨리스가 청구할 수 있는 상태다. 이런 상태에서는 오프-체인에서 앨리스가 밥에게 돈을 보낼 수는 있지만, 앨리스가 밥에게 돈을 받을 수는 없다. 즉 지금은 앨리스에게 아웃바운드 유동성만 있고, 인바운드 유동성은 없다. 인바운드 유동성이 없으면 돈을 상대한테 받을 수가 없다.

유동성에 대한 좋은 예시가 있다. 빨대 양 끝에 풍선이 달려있다고 생각하는 것이다. 내가 돈을 보내 채널을 개설하면 내 쪽의 풍선만 빵빵한 상태다. 상대측의 풍선에는 공기가 전혀 없다. 따라서 상대 풍선으로부터 내 풍선으로 공기가 이동할 수가 없다. 내 풍선에서 상대 풍선으로만 공기가 이동할 수 있다.

유동성 관리는 라이트닝 채널을 운영할 때 매우 중요한 문제다. 만약 라이트닝 노드를 운영하고, 이를 통해 결제를 받는다면 인바운드 유동성이 말라버렸을 때 결제를 받을 수가 없기 때문이다. 따라서 채널 개설, 라우팅을 통한 유동성 이동, 리밸런싱 서비스 사용 등의 다양한 방법으로 유동성을 확보하고 조정해야 한다.

협력적 종료와 비협력적 종료, CSV, 페널티

앨리스와 밥이 채널을 개설한 상황을 생각해 보자. 앨리스와 밥 각각 10만 SATS의 청구권이 있었는데 앨리스가 밥의 카페에서 5,000원 커피를 3번 사 마신 경우를 생각해 보자. 이제 앨리스의 금액이 85,000 SATS, 밥의 금액이 115,000 SATS가 적힌 장부가 있을 것이다. 앨리스와 밥이 둘 다 채널 종료에 합의하면 채널의 최종 장부 거래가 온-체인에 기록되는 즉시(블록에 실려 컨펌되는 즉시) 둘은 채널에 있던 자금을 돌려받는다. 공동 금고(돼지저금통)를 깨는 것이다. 이런 종료를 ‘협력 적 종료’라고 한다.

자, 앨리스에게 악마 맬러리의 망령이 들었다고 생각해 보자. 앨리스는 밥 몰래 오프-체인의 장부를 온-체인에 제출하고 채널을 종료하고 싶다. 그러면 앨리스는 굳이 자신이 85,000 SATS를 받을 수 있는 장부를 제출하지 않고 10만 SATS를 받을 수 있는 이전 장부를 온-체인에 제출하려고 하지 않을까? 이런 상황을 ‘비협력적 종료’라고 한다.

비협력적 종료는 꼭 앨리스처럼 악의를 품고 하는 것뿐만 아니라 여러 상황이 있을 수 있다. 예를 들면 상대 노드가 오랫동안 연결이 안 되어 채널을 유지할 수 없는 경우 내 쪽에서 채널을 강제 종료할 수 있다. 이런 비협력적 종료 상황에서는 누군가가 배신을 하고 최신 장부를 제출하지 않고 자신에게 이득이 되는 이전 장부를 제출할 가능성이 있다.

그래서 비협력적 종료 상황에서는 자금을 바로 돌려받을 수가 없다. 비협력적 종료 상황에서 자금은 CSV, CheckSequenceVerify라는 상대 시간 잠금으로 묶인다. 무슨 뜻이냐면 거래가 온-체인에 제출된 시점으로부터 통상 1,000블록 간 잠긴다. 1,000블록이면 대략 일주일이다. 즉, 비협력적 종료를 하면 자금을 받기 위해서 일주일을 기다려야 한다.

그럼 비협력적 종료를 할 때 왜 일정 기간을 기다리게 했을까? 만약 상대가 최신이 아닌 자신에게 이득이 되는 이전 장부를 제출하는 경우 페널티를 줄 시간이 필요하기 때문이다. 이 페널티는 채널 자금 몰수다. 오프-체인에서 서로 장부를 교환할 때는 자신이 가져갈 수 있는 금액이 적혀있는 장부만 교환하는 것이 아니다. 상대방이 이전 거래를 제출할 경우 내가 채널에 있는 모든 금액을 몰수할 수 있는 페널티 거래도 교환한다. 처음에 A 상태가 있었다고 해보자. B 상태가 진행되어 B 상태가 적혀있는 거래가 적혀있는 장부를 교환할 때 A 장부 제출에 대한 페널티 장부도 교환하는 것이다.

다시 돌아와서 앨리스가 85,000 SATS를 받을 수 있는 장부가 아니라 100,000 SATS를 받을 수 있는 이전 거래를 온-체인에 제출했다고 해보자. 앨리스는 일주일간 자금을 가져갈 수 없다. 밥이 만약 페널티 거래를 제출하면 밥은 채널에 있던 앨리스의 몫 85,000 SATS 모두를 즉시 압수할 수 있다.

라이트닝 노드의 유형

라이트닝 노드는 다양한 기준에 따라 다양하게 분류할 수 있다. 유동성이 이동하는 방식에 따라 분류한 라이트닝 노드의 몇 가지 유형을 살펴보자.

드레인 노드drain node는 유동성이 한쪽으로만 흐르는 노드를 말하는데, 주로 자금을 빨아들이는 노드를 말한다. 만약 비트코인 결제를 받기만 하는 상점이라면 채널의 유동성이 주로 그 상점으로 빨려 들어갈 것이다. 이런 드레인 노드는 시간이 지나면 모든 유동성이 상점의 노드 쪽으로 쏠려버리기 때문에 유동성을 관리하지 않으면 더 이상 결제를 받을 수 없게 된다. 그래서 이런 노드는 리밸런싱(인바운드 유동성과 아웃바운드 유동성의 균형을 맞추는 것)을 통해 유동성을 관리하는 것이 특히 중요하다. 리밸런싱을 하는 방법은 온-체인과 연계해 유동성 방향을 바꾸거나 순환 경로를 만들어 리밸런싱하는 방법 등이 있다. 만약 거래소 노드와 채널이 개설되어 있다면 거래소 노드로 비트코인을 보내고, 거래소에서 온-체인으로 비트코인을 빼는 간단한 방법도 있다.

라우팅 노드routing node는 주로 중간에서 결제를 라우팅하는 노드를 말한다. 이들은 거래를 중개하면서 수수료 수익을 얻는 것을 목표로 한다. 이런 노드를 운영하려면 노드가 항상 온라인 상태로 잘 연결되어 있어야 하고 수수료도 잘 관리해야 한다. 수수료가 너무 높으면 경로에서 제외되고, 수수료가 너무 낮으면 드레인 노드에게 유동성이 다 빨릴 수 있기 때문이다. 또한 다수의 채널을 열고, 다양한 다른 노드와 연결을 하여 네트워크 내에서 경로로 자주 선택되도록 전략을 짜야 한다.

거래소나 지갑 회사 노드도 있다. 이들은 자신들의 서비스 사용자들을 위해 여러 채널을 개설하고 대규모 유동성을 보유하고 있다. 이런 노드와 채널을 개설하면 인바운드 유동성 확보가 쉬워진다. 따라서 이런 노드들은 주로 입구 역할을 하며, 많은 노드와 연결되어 있으므로 허브 역할을 하기도 한다.

라이트닝 노드를 운영할 때는 어떤 목적으로 운영할 것인지 꼭 생각해 보는 것이 좋다. 만약 비트코인으로 결제를 받기 위한 것이라면 인바운드 유동성을 많이 확보해 놓아야 할 것이다. 거꾸로 비트코인 결제 매장 등에 가서 일상적인 결제를 하거나, 라이트닝 네트워크를 이용한 P2P 거래로 비트코인을 판매할 것이라면 주로 아웃바운드 유동성을 확보하면 되니 상대적으로 유동성 관리가 쉽다. 유동성이 마르면 채널을 종료하고 다시 열기만 하면 자동으로 아웃바운드 유동성이 확보되기 때문이다. 수수료 수익을 보고 라우팅 노드를 운영하고 싶다면 상당히 많은 경험과 지식이 필요하니 신중하게 결정하는 것이 좋다.

라이트닝 노드를 직접 돌리는 것은 간단하지만은 않지만 여전히 매력적이다. 라이트닝 수탁 서비스를 이용하는 경우 해당 서비스 운영자를 신뢰해야 하는 문제가 생기기 때문에 KYC나 자금 동결 등의 문제로부터 완전히 자유롭지 않다. 하지만 라이트닝 네트워크에 직접 참여하면 신뢰받는 제3자 없이 비트코인의 확장성을 경험할 수 있다.

@ 4ba8e86d:89d32de4

A sede do ProtonMail está localizada na Suíça, um país conhecido por suas leis rigorosas de privacidade, embora a empresa tenha enfrentado alguns desafios, como ataques DDoS e pressão do governo suíço, ela continua comprometida em fornecer um serviço seguro e privado aos seus usuários.

O ProtonMail foi fundado em 2014 por um grupo de cientistas do CERN (Organização Europeia para Pesquisa Nuclear) que queriam criar uma plataforma de e-mail segura e privada que usasse criptografia de ponta a ponta. O objetivo era oferecer aos usuários uma alternativa aos serviços de e-mail tradicionais que frequentemente violam a privacidade dos usuários.A equipe fundadora incluía Andy Yen, Jason Stockman e Wei Sun, todos com formação em física e matemática.

Ao longo dos anos, o ProtonMail lançou vários recursos adicionais, incluindo aplicativos móveis para iOS e Android, integração com Tor e a possibilidade de enviar e-mails criptografados para usuários de outros provedores de e-mail. O ProtonMail também lançou uma VPN (rede privada virtual) chamada ProtonVPN, que segue o mesmo compromisso com a privacidade e segurança dos usuários.

A criptografia de ponta a ponta utilizada pelo ProtonMail assegura a proteção de todas as mensagens de seus usuários. O processo de criptografia ocorre no dispositivo do remetente antes do envio das mensagens aos servidores da ProtonMail, onde elas são armazenadas em formato criptografado. Quando o destinatário abre a mensagem, ela é descriptografada no dispositivo do destinatário, garantindo que somente o destinatário possa ler o conteúdo da mensagem. Isso significa que, mesmo que os servidores da ProtonMail sejam violados, as mensagens dos usuários permanecerão seguras e protegidas.

O ProtonMail oferece suporte à autenticação de dois fatores usando chaves de segurança YubiKey. Isso adiciona uma camada extra de segurança ao login da conta do ProtonMail, pois um invasor precisaria não apenas da senha, mas também da chave física para acessar a conta do usuário. A YubiKey é uma opção popular para autenticação de dois fatores, pois é fácil de usar e oferece proteção adicional contra-ataques de phishing e keylogging. O ProtonMail também suporta outras opções de autenticação de dois fatores, aplicativos de autenticação, como o Aegis Authenticator.

Outra funcionalidade importante é a proteção contra phishing e spam. O ProtonMail utiliza algoritmos avançados de filtragem para identificar e bloquear mensagens maliciosas antes que elas cheguem à caixa de entrada do usuário. Isso ajuda a reduzir a quantidade de spam recebida e a proteger contra-ataques de phishing, que tentam enganar o usuário a fornecer informações pessoais.

Passo a passo instalação do aplicativo protonmail no Android:

1. Baixe e instale o aplicativo protonmail em seu dispositivo móvel no F-droid ou obtainium.

2. Clique em "Criar nova conta" se você ainda não tiver uma conta ProtonMail, ou clique em "Fazer login" se já tiver uma conta.

3. Se você está criando uma nova conta, preencha os campos de registro, incluindo seu endereço de e-mail desejado e uma senha forte.

4. Depois de criar ou fazer login em sua conta, você pode usar o ProtonMail em seu dispositivo Android para enviar e receber e-mails seguros e protegidos.

Lembre-se de que, para garantir a privacidade e a segurança de suas informações, é importante usar uma senha forte e habilitar a autenticação de dois fatores. Utilize o Tor para acessar seu e-mail no site onion e considere usar uma VPN.

No Relatório de Transparência do ProtonMail, em muitos casos, a única informação que eles puderam fornecer foi um e-mail de recuperação (opcional na criação da conta) ou o IP que acessou o e-mail.

A própria ProtonMail recomenda o uso do Tor para acesso anônimo ao serviço. Se um juiz exigir a coleta do seu IP, a Proton não terá essa informação se você acessar seu e-mail via o site onion pelo Tor.

Se você é uma pessoa em situação de risco, como um ativista ou alguém que pode ser perseguido por diversos motivos, é essencial tomar medidas excepcionais: 1. Pague pelo serviço com Bitcoin. 2. Não use informações que possam identificá-lo ao se registrar. 3. Utilize o Tor, ou uma VPN, sempre que acessar o ProtonMail.

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

A mineração de Bitcoin é um processo crucial para o funcionamento e a segurança da rede. Ela tem um papel importante na validação de transações e na geração de novos bitcoins, garantindo a integridade do sistema baseado em blockchain ou timechain. Esse processo envolve resolver cálculos matemáticos complicados, exigindo grande poder computacional. Além disso, a mineração tem efeitos econômicos, ambientais e tecnológicos que devem ser analisados de forma detalhada.

A mineração de Bitcoin é o procedimento pelo qual novas unidades da moeda são criadas e adicionadas à rede. Ela também é responsável por verificar e registrar transações no blockchain ou timechain. Esse sistema foi criado para ser descentralizado, eliminando a necessidade de uma autoridade central para controlar a emissão ou validar operações.

Os participantes do processo, chamados de mineradores, competem para resolver problemas matemáticos difíceis. Aquele que achar a solução primeiro ganha o direito de adicionar um novo bloco ao blockchain ou timechain e recebe uma recompensa em bitcoins, além das taxas de transação que estão no bloco. Esse mecanismo é chamado de prova de trabalho (Proof of Work - PoW).

O processo de mineração é muito técnico e segue uma série de etapas:

Agrupamento de transações: as transações enviadas pelos usuários são reunidas em um bloco pendente, que aguarda validação.

Resolução de problemas matemáticos: os mineradores devem encontrar um número específico, chamado nonce, que, quando combinado com os dados do bloco, gera um hash criptográfico dentro de um padrão exigido. Esse processo requer tentativa e erro, consumindo alto poder computacional.

Validação do bloco: quando um minerador encontra a solução correta, o bloco é validado e adicionado ao blockchain ou timechain. Todos os nós da rede verificam a autenticidade do bloco antes de aceitá-lo.

Recompensa: o minerador que vencer recebe uma recompensa em bitcoins, além das taxas pagas pelas transações que estão no bloco. Essa recompensa diminui ao longo do tempo em um evento chamado halving, que acontece aproximadamente a cada quatro anos.

A mineração de Bitcoin tem um impacto econômico grande, pois cria oportunidades de renda para pessoas e empresas. Ela também estimula o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, como processadores especializados (ASICs) e sistemas de resfriamento modernos.

Além disso, a mineração apoia a inclusão financeira ao manter uma rede descentralizada, permitindo transações rápidas e seguras em nível global. Em áreas com economias instáveis, o Bitcoin oferece uma alternativa viável para preservação de valor e transferências financeiras.

Apesar de seus benefícios econômicos, a mineração de Bitcoin é frequentemente criticada por seu impacto no meio ambiente. O processo de prova de trabalho consome grandes quantidades de eletricidade, especialmente em áreas onde a matriz energética depende de fontes fósseis.

Estima-se que a mineração de Bitcoin consuma tanta energia quanto alguns países inteiros, levantando preocupações sobre sua sustentabilidade. No entanto, há esforços contínuos para reduzir esses impactos, como o uso crescente de fontes de energia renovável e soluções alternativas, como redes baseadas na prova de participação (Proof of Stake - PoS) em outros sistemas descentralizados.

A mineração também enfrenta desafios ligados à escalabilidade e à concentração de poder computacional. Grandes empresas e pools de mineração dominam o setor, o que pode afetar a descentralização da rede.

Outro desafio é a complexidade crescente dos cálculos matemáticos, que exige hardware mais avançado e consome mais energia com o tempo. Para enfrentar esses problemas, pesquisadores estudam soluções que otimizem o uso de recursos e mantenham a rede sustentável por um longo período.

Resumindo, a mineração de Bitcoin é um processo essencial para manter a rede e para a criação de novas unidades da moeda. Ela garante segurança, transparência e descentralização, sustentando o funcionamento do blockchain ou timechain.

No entanto, a mineração também traz desafios, como o alto consumo de energia e a concentração de recursos em grandes pools. Apesar disso, a busca por soluções sustentáveis e inovações tecnológicas indica um futuro promissor, onde o Bitcoin continuará a ter um papel central na economia digital.

Muito obrigado por teres lido o texto até aqui, espero que esteja tudo bem contigo e um abraço enorme do teu madeirense bitcoiner maximalista favorito. Viva a liberdade!

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

The Brazilian government has abolished the Bitcoin tax exemption for small investors and introduced a flat 17.5% tax rate on all crypto capital gains.

Brazil has officially ended the tax-free period for small digital asset investors, introducing a flat 17.5% rate on all profits from cryptocurrency sales. The decision was formalized through Provisional Measure 1303, part of the government’s strategy to increase tax revenues from financial markets.

Until now, Brazilian residents selling up to 35,000 Brazilian reais (around $6,300) in cryptocurrencies per month were completely exempt from income tax. Profits exceeding this threshold were subject to progressive taxation, starting at 15% and reaching up to 22.5% for amounts over 30 million reais.

The new flat rate, which took effect on June 12, removes all exemptions and applies uniformly to every investor, regardless of the size of their transactions, according to local outlet Portal do Bitcoin.

While small-scale investors will now face a higher tax burden, high-net-worth individuals might actually benefit. Under the previous system, large transactions were taxed between 17.5% and 22.5%. With the new flat 17.5% rate, many high-profile investors will see their effective tax liability reduced.

Under the new rules, taxes will be calculated quarterly, with investors allowed to offset losses from the previous five quarters. However, starting in 2026, the time frame for claiming losses will be shortened.

Last March, Brazilian lawmakers also proposed a bill allowing employers to partially pay workers in cryptocurrency. According to the draft, crypto payments could not exceed 50% of an employee’s salary.

Full payment in cryptocurrencies would only be allowed for foreign workers or contractors, and only under specific conditions set by the Brazilian Central Bank. The bill prohibits full crypto payment for standard employees.

The post Brazil scraps crypto tax exemption: new 17.5% flat tax appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

In a move that diverges from many other U.S. states, Connecticut has passed a new law that bars state and local governments from investing in bitcoin or any other digital currency.

The bill, HB7082, passed unanimously in both the House and Senate with zero opposing votes.

The law, officially titled “An Act Concerning the Regulation of Virtual Currency and State Investments,” was signed into law recently and is causing a stir in the Bitcoin and financial communities.

HB7082 prohibits the state of Connecticut and its political subdivisions from accepting, holding or investing in digital currencies. This includes bitcoin, ethereum and other digital assets. It also bars the state from creating a bitcoin reserve, a concept being explored by other states.

The law goes further by imposing strict rules on digital asset businesses operating in the state. These rules enforce anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and parental consent verification for digital asset users under 18.

It also requires 1:1 reserve requirements for bitcoin custodians.

Businesses that handle Bitcoin transactions must now provide users with clear information about risks and fees and provide receipts with full transaction details.

No business can let a minor use a money-sharing app without first getting proof of consent from a parent or guardian.

Lawmakers in Connecticut say it’s about protecting public funds and minimizing financial risk. They say Connecticut’s new law bars state investments in bitcoin to protect its financial assets from market risk.

Supporters argue that the high volatility of bitcoin makes it a risky investment for public money like pension funds and state reserves.

The law also looks to bring bitcoin businesses under tighter control, to make them follow the same rules as the traditional financial system.

While Connecticut is cracking down on digital assets, other states are going the other way.

States like Texas, New Hampshire and Arizona have already passed laws or proposed bills to create a bitcoin reserve, which allows public funds to be invested in bitcoin.

Texas has even described bitcoin as a “forward-thinking investment opportunity” and a long-term store of value.

The new law has caused mixed reactions in the financial world. Some think it’s too cautious, others think it’s part of a bigger plan.

Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, responded with sarcasm, “The hedge fund managers got so upset they couldn’t beat Bitcoin…”

Matt Hougan on X

Some states like Florida, South Dakota and Oklahoma have either killed or vetoed Bitcoin bills this year. Others like Louisiana are still exploring the tech. Louisiana just announced it would create a special committee to study AI, blockchain and digital assets.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

When Joao Almeida talks about Lightning, his facial expressions and tone occasionally can resemble that of a parent describing his son pronouncing his first word or his daughter graduating from college. Joao is not the creator of the Lightning Network, but he definitely contributed to its success, building on top of it during every phase of its growth.

The Co-Founder of Opennode and the mind behind Zap (which later evolved into its custodial version Strike), Joao is now shifting his focus beyond payments and the Lightning Network. Instead, he built a simple tech solution that lets businesses automatically convert a portion of their sales into BTC.

Getting into Bitcoin and Lightning

• *How did your Bitcoin journey start?*

I got into the space with Zap. At the time, it was the only project where you could actually interact with Lightning. Everything else was very theoretical. It was only academic papers—it wasn’t really about applications. That’s why Jack Mallers also became pretty popular with Zap—it was the first thing where you could actually experience Lightning.

Following on that, I created a plugin for e-commerce. 60% of websites on the internet are powered by WordPress—it’s a CMS system. WooCommerce is their e-commerce plugin that you add to WordPress websites. So, back in 2017, I built the first Lightning Network plugin for WooCommerce.

• *Wasn’t that right after the Lightning Network whitepaper was proposed?*

Yeah, everything was still in beta. But Jack, me, and a few other pioneers were like, “Screw it, we’re going to risk it.” It was risky, but at some time, you have to take risks to get the reward. So I built the plugin, and it went pretty viral on social media.

Welcome to the future boys @lightning @WooCommerce @acinq_co @ln_zap pic.twitter.com/kKPyWbQvir

— João Almeida — ₿/acc (@joaodealmeida_) December 10, 2017

What started as just an e-commerce plugin turned into something more. The team working on Zap at the time came from different backgrounds, different cities—I’d never met most of them in person. We started to work on some side projects, and eventually, part of that team created what became OpenNode.
I’d say it was the first commercial solution that actually leveraged the Lightning protocol—building on the idea of making tools that allow you to interact with the tech without having to fully understand it. So that first plugin became the foundation for OpenNode.

We started building products—POS systems, donation pages—and figured out how to enter the market. There wasn’t much competition at the time; we were probably the only ones doing it.

• *Who were your first customers?*

We actually worked with Coin Center. They do great work in Bitcoin policy. Our first demo was a donation-based platform where all proceeds went to Coin Center. It was a way for people to try out the technology while also contributing to something good that supports the ecosystem.

Initially, the e-commerce plugin was our most popular product, and that was by design. We didn’t have any physical POS solution at first. I would say the big breakthrough came with El Salvador, two years in. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and other multinationals started using our product to accept payments. That’s when we began to grow significantly and gain brand awareness. Our user base became more diverse and mainstream.

We found especially strong product-market fit in high-risk industries—pharmacies, CBD stores, things that are legal and follow all the rules, but are still shut out of the traditional financial system. That’s been changing a bit. Companies like Square are beginning to serve those markets. But smaller shops still don’t have access, and they became our early adopters.

The Current State of Lightning

• Some people today feel Lightning was over-hyped. It was supposed to be the scaling solution, but many now think it hasn’t lived up to that promise. Do you agree?

Yeah, Lightning is definitely a complex protocol. The reason it’s complex is that for it to be truly decentralized, you need unilateral exits. That’s the benchmark. A lot of Layer 2s and other currencies wear “decentralization” as lipstick, but if you can’t exit unilaterally, it’s not truly decentralized.

That complexity introduces trade-offs—liquidity being one of the major ones. That’s probably the biggest barrier to why adoption hasn’t happened faster. But like anything worth building, it takes time to do it right. People were really excited and wanted fast results because Lightning looked like the most promising solution.

But I don’t think the issue is the tech itself. The problem is behavioral. In the U.S., there’s no strong incentive to use Bitcoin as a payment method—it’s a taxable event, and people see more upside in holding. So I wouldn’t blame Lightning. It’s more about how people behave.

In emerging markets, the situation is different. That’s why we saw stickier adoption in places like El Salvador—especially for remittances. Because of liquidity limitations, I think Lightning is actually a great upgrade for B2B—say, between exchanges. There’s a degree of trust, but you retain custody and still transact.

So no, I don’t think the limitation is technological. People don’t want to spend Bitcoin unless they have to. Even if Lightning worked perfectly tomorrow, we wouldn’t suddenly be on a Bitcoin standard. That’s not how it works.

• *So, is Bitcoin still a medium of exchange?*

Great question. I think Bitcoin is money and a network. It’s proven itself as a store of value. It’s the best-performing asset of the past 16 years. And when it comes to sending wires or cross-border value, Bitcoin is still the better alternative.

It might not make sense for everyday coffee purchases yet, but for borderless transactions, it’s still the best option.

So yeah, it’s money. Maybe people haven’t fully realized it yet, but it is better money. That’s on the record—something Michael Saylor would probably be proud of.

Orqestra and Onboarding Small and Medium Businesses

• *What are you working on right now?*

OpenNode is still operating, but I left the company last year. I left with the same realization I just mentioned: there are only certain industries where Bitcoin is a necessity. There’s activity there, but broadly, we’re still early for Bitcoin as a true medium of exchange.

That said, it’s important to have the option to spend Bitcoin. Projects like OpenNode and BTCPayServer are critical because if Bitcoin isn’t transactable, it loses part of its purpose. It just becomes a pet rock.

So my next mission was: how can I help people and businesses accumulate Bitcoin more easily? I’ve been working on a Bitcoin treasury solution—software that helps small and medium businesses do what big public companies do when they buy Bitcoin, but without needing a finance team or issuing debt.

How do you take that to scale? How do we democratize access to that kind of savings vehicle?

The software lets you connect your QuickBooks, Stripe, or Square account and say, “I want 2% of my revenue to go into Bitcoin.” You don’t have to think about where to buy or how to custody it—we provide that. The option is there if you want to do it manually, but the platform brings it all together.

• *So it’s really a plug-and-play solution for small and medium-sized businesses?*

Yes. We’re not trying to orange-pill them or say, “Put 100% of your profits in Bitcoin.” But we help them get off zero and choose whatever exposure they’re comfortable with—from 0% to 100%.

Over time, once they’re exposed, they start to see the benefits. A great example is the Tahini’s restaurant chain. They started doing this in 2020 with just a few locations. Because they saved in Bitcoin, they now have 30–40 locations. That growth was fueled by the purchasing power Bitcoin gave them.

So the idea is: how do we replicate that story across the 33 million small businesses in the U.S.? That’s the mission.

• *So what’s your target? You’ve already launched, right?*

Yes, we’re in private beta. It’s still very curated—you can request access, but we’re onboarding selectively to maintain a tight feedback loop. We want to make sure the product really works and delivers value before a full release.

Our sweet spot is cashflow-positive businesses, where you have excess cash in the bank or sitting in high-yield savings accounts, and you’re trying to allocate maybe 0.5% or 1% to Bitcoin. As you get more comfortable, you can increase that. Businesses typically start with 1–2% and end up at 10%. They start to see the long-term benefits—what being able to save in Bitcoin can do to help a business grow.

We’re ideally targeting Bitcoin-curious businesses where you don’t have to pitch Bitcoin. That’s the first fit.

Another business owner upg

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