@ 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.

@ 4ba8e86d:89d32de4

O protocolo Matrix é um sistema de comunicação descentralizado de código aberto que fornece uma plataforma para mensageiros descentralizados. O Element foi lançado em 2014 como uma implementação do protocolo Matrix, originalmente conhecido como Riot.im , A ideia do Element nasceu quando Matthew Hodgson e Amandine Le Pape, dois desenvolvedores de software, decidiram criar uma plataforma de comunicação aberta e segura, que permitisse aos usuários terem total controle sobre suas informações. Eles acreditavam que a internet deveria ser um lugar onde as pessoas pudessem se comunicar livremente, sem se preocupar com a privacidade de suas informações.

O Element é um aplicativo de chat gratuito e de código aberto disponível em várias plataformas, incluindo desktop, web e aplicativos móveis. Ele oferece criptografia de ponta a ponta, o que significa que as mensagens são protegidas e só podem ser lidas pelo remetente e pelo destinatário. Além disso, o Element é descentralizado, o que significa que ele não é controlado por uma única entidade, mas sim por uma rede global de servidores.

O Element é amplamente utilizado por indivíduos e empresas que desejam ter uma comunicação segura e privada. É frequentemente usado por equipes de projetos, organizações sem fins lucrativos e grupos ativistas que precisam compartilhar informações confidenciais e se comunicar de forma segura. O Element também é conhecido por seu recurso de salas públicas, que permite que os usuários se juntem a grupos de discussão sobre vários tópicos de interesse.

Uma das principais vantagens do Element é sua arquitetura descentralizada. Ao contrário das plataformas de mensagens convencionais que centralizam os dados em seus próprios servidores, o Element utiliza uma rede descentralizada, distribuindo as informações em diversos servidores espalhados pelo mundo. Isso significa que os dados dos usuários são menos suscetíveis a ataques cibernéticos e invasões, já que não são centralizados em um único ponto vulnerável.

Para usar o Element, normalmente os usuários precisam se registrar em um servidor Matrix. Existem várias opções disponíveis, incluindo servidores públicos e privados. No entanto, outra opção é criar um servidor próprio para usar o Element.

O Element também utiliza criptografia de ponta a ponta para proteger as mensagens e arquivos trocados entre os usuários. Isso significa que apenas o remetente e o destinatário das mensagens podem ler o conteúdo, garantindo que as informações permaneçam seguras e privadas.

Outra vantagem do Element é sua ampla variedade de recursos, incluindo videochamadas criptografadas, compartilhamento de tela e integração com outros serviços, como calendários e aplicativos de produtividade. Isso torna o Element uma plataforma completa de comunicação e colaboração, adequada para uso pessoal e empresarial.

O Element também é fácil de usar e possui uma interface intuitiva e personalizável. Os usuários podem personalizar a aparência do aplicativo e acessar diferentes configurações e recursos com apenas alguns cliques.

https://element.io/

https://github.com/vector-im/element-android

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

The new website is finally live! I put in a lot of hard work over the past months on it. I'm proud to say that it's out now and it looks pretty cool, at least to me!

Why rewrite it all?

The old kycnot.me site was built using Python with Flask about two years ago. Since then, I've gained a lot more experience with Golang and coding in general. Trying to update that old codebase, which had a lot of design flaws, would have been a bad idea. It would have been like building on an unstable foundation.

That's why I made the decision to rewrite the entire application. Initially, I chose to use SvelteKit with JavaScript. I did manage to create a stable site that looked similar to the new one, but it required Jav aScript to work. As I kept coding, I started feeling like I was repeating "the Python mistake". I was writing the app in a language I wasn't very familiar with (just like when I was learning Python at that mom ent), and I wasn't happy with the code. It felt like spaghetti code all the time.

So, I made a complete U-turn and started over, this time using Golang. While I'm not as proficient in Golang as I am in Python now, I find it to be a very enjoyable language to code with. Most aof my recent pr ojects have been written in Golang, and I'm getting the hang of it. I tried to make the best decisions I could and structure the code as well as possible. Of course, there's still room for improvement, which I'll address in future updates.

Now I have a more maintainable website that can scale much better. It uses a real database instead of a JSON file like the old site, and I can add many more features. Since I chose to go with Golang, I mad e the "tradeoff" of not using JavaScript at all, so all the rendering load falls on the server. But I believe it's a tradeoff that's worth it.

What's new

• UI/UX - I've designed a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me. I think it looks pretty cool and cypherpunk. I am not a graphic designer, but I think I did a decent work and I put a lot of thinking on it to make it pleasant!
• Point system - The new point system provides more detailed information about the listings, and can be expanded to cover additional features across all services. Anyone can request a new point!
• ToS Scrapper: I've implemented a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices. This is still in development and it will improve for sure, but it works pretty fine right now!
• Search bar - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services. Looking for VPN services? Just search for "vpn"!
• Transparency - To be more transparent, all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab. I won't be answering any e-mails (an auto-reply will prompt to write to the corresponding Gitlab issue). This ensures that all service-related matters are publicly accessible and recorded. Additionally, there's a real-time audits page that displays database changes.
• Listing Requests - I have upgraded the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps. In the future, I plan to enable requests for specific changes to parts of the website.
• Lightweight and fast - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor!
• Tor and I2P - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on Tor and I2P!

How?

This rewrite has been a labor of love, in the end, I've been working on this for more than 3 months now. I don't have a team, so I work by myself on my free time, but I find great joy in helping people on their private journey with cryptocurrencies. Making it easier for individuals to use cryptocurrencies without KYC is a goal I am proud of!

If you appreciate my work, you can support me through the methods listed here. Alternatively, feel free to send me an email with a kind message!

Technical details

All the code is written in Golang, the website makes use of the chi router for the routing part. I also make use of BigCache for caching database requests. There is 0 JavaScript, so all the rendering load falls on the server, this means it needed to be efficient enough to not drawn with a few users since the old site was reporting about 2M requests per month on average (note that this are not unique users).

The database is running with mariadb, using gorm as the ORM. This is more than enough for this project. I started working with an sqlite database, but I ended up migrating to mariadb since it works better with JSON.

The scraper is using chromedp combined with a series of keywords, regex and other logic. It runs every 24h and scraps all the services. You can find the scraper code here.

The frontend is written using Golang Templates for the HTML, and TailwindCSS plus DaisyUI for the CSS classes framework. I also use some plain CSS, but it's minimal.

The requests forms is the only part of the project that requires JavaScript to be enabled. It is needed for parsing some from fields that are a bit complex and for the "captcha", which is a simple Proof of Work that runs on your browser, destinated to avoid spam. For this, I use mCaptcha.

@ 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

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Carl Rickertsen completely exits his position in Strategy as insiders sell $864 million worth of stock.

As reported by Protos, Carl Rickertsen, a member of Strategy’s board of directors, has fully liquidated his entire shareholding for over $10 million.

Rickertsen’s decision to completely exit his Strategy position marks a sharp shift from his previous investment stance. In 2022, the executive had shown confidence in the company by investing $700,000 in MSTR shares.

On June 13, 2022, Rickertsen purchased $608,000 worth of MSTR stock at $152 per share. Since then, the stock has rallied 152%. However, by 2023, the director had already sold half of his 4,000-share position.

Rickertsen’s approach to managing his holdings has become increasingly aggressive in recent years. Since joining the board in 2019, he has adopted a strategy of immediately liquidating any stock options received.

One example of this tactic occurred on June 2, when he acquired and sold 26,390 MSTR shares on the same day.

As of June 5 this year, Rickertsen reported zero vested Strategy shares, marking the end of his equity involvement with the company.

Rickertsen’s situation is not an isolated case within Strategy. Data from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reveals a controversial picture. According to information gathered by secform4.com, over the past five years, total insider sales have exceeded purchases by $864 million. This imbalance in insider transactions could raise questions about executives’ confidence in the company’s future.

The post Strategy director liquidates all his MSTR shares appeared first on Atlas21.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

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.

@ 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.

@ cbd044aa:090d5436

Pet Medical Services Surrey Got a pet in need of top-notch care? Cedar Hills Animal Hospital in Surrey has you covered! From wellness exams to advanced diagnostics like X-rays, our friendly team keeps your furry friend healthy. We offer vaccinations, surgeries, and even emergency care, all with a caring touch. Affordable, local, and trusted, we’re here to make pet parenting stress-free. Visit Cedar Hills Animal Hospital today for expert pet medical services in Surrey—your pet deserves the best, and we deliver!

@ 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.

@ 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

@ cbd044aa:090d5436

Pet Dental Care Services Langley Got a furry friend with funky breath? AVON Hospital in Langley offers top-notch pet dental care services to keep your pet’s smile sparkling! From professional cleanings to advanced treatments like dental X-rays, our caring team ensures your cat or dog stays healthy and happy. We use safe, modern techniques and provide at-home care tips too. Affordable, friendly, and local—trust AVON Hospital for your pet’s dental needs. Book today and give your pet the gift of a healthy mouth!

@ cbd044aa:090d5436

Pet Dental Care Services Langley Got a furry friend with funky breath? AVON Hospital in Langley offers top-notch pet dental care services to keep your pet’s smile sparkling! From professional cleanings to advanced treatments like dental X-rays, our caring team ensures your cat or dog stays healthy and happy. We use safe, modern techniques and provide at-home care tips too. Affordable, friendly, and local—trust AVON Hospital for your pet’s dental needs. Book today and give your pet the gift of a healthy mouth!

@ 5e5ab9f7:271774d7

Affordable 3D Rendering Looking for stunning 3D visuals without breaking the bank? HS3D Visualization offers affordable 3D rendering that’s perfect for small businesses, architects, or homeowners! Our budget-friendly services deliver high-quality renders for real estate, products, or interiors, all tailored to your needs. With fast turnarounds and expert support, we make your vision pop without the hefty price tag. Ready to bring your ideas to life? Contact HS3D Visualization today and see how affordable top-notch 3D rendering can be! 3D Residential House Rendering Dreaming of seeing your home design come to life? HS3D Visualization specializes in 3D residential house rendering that’s both realistic and affordable! Whether you’re a homeowner, architect, or realtor in Melbourne, our detailed renders showcase every angle of your property, from cozy interiors to stunning exteriors. Perfect for marketing or planning, we deliver fast, high-quality visuals with a personal touch. Let’s make your house shine—reach out to HS3D Visualization now for jaw-dropping 3D renders that sell or inspire!

@ 383c9882:72943781

Office Catering POS Systems Hey, running an office catering biz? Canteen POS has your back with top-notch office catering POS systems! Streamline orders, manage deliveries, and handle cashless payments like a pro. Our user-friendly setups integrate with corporate billing and track inventory, saving you time and hassle. Perfect for small startups or big contracts, we offer fast setup and local support. Ready to impress your office clients? Grab a Canteen POS system today and make catering smooth, efficient, and totally stress-free! School Catering POS School canteens, listen up! Canteen POS brings you school catering POS systems that make lunchtimes a breeze. From cashless payments to pre-order apps, we help you serve students faster while tracking inventory and dietary needs. Parents love our portal for easy top-ups and meal monitoring. With secure, scalable solutions, we’re perfect for any school size. Get started with Canteen POS now and turn your canteen into a smooth, modern operation that keeps everyone happy—students, staff, and parents alike!

@ 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.

---

Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben.

Noch nicht auf Nostr? Hier entlang zum leichten Einstieg!

---

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

@ 4ba8e86d:89d32de4

O protocolo Matrix é um sistema de comunicação descentralizado de código aberto que fornece uma plataforma para mensageiros descentralizados. O Element foi lançado em 2014 como uma implementação do protocolo Matrix, originalmente conhecido como Riot.im , A ideia do Element nasceu quando Matthew Hodgson e Amandine Le Pape, dois desenvolvedores de software, decidiram criar uma plataforma de comunicação aberta e segura, que permitisse aos usuários terem total controle sobre suas informações. Eles acreditavam que a internet deveria ser um lugar onde as pessoas pudessem se comunicar livremente, sem se preocupar com a privacidade de suas informações.

O Element é um aplicativo de chat gratuito e de código aberto disponível em várias plataformas, incluindo desktop, web e aplicativos móveis. Ele oferece criptografia de ponta a ponta, o que significa que as mensagens são protegidas e só podem ser lidas pelo remetente e pelo destinatário. Além disso, o Element é descentralizado, o que significa que ele não é controlado por uma única entidade, mas sim por uma rede global de servidores.

O Element é amplamente utilizado por indivíduos e empresas que desejam ter uma comunicação segura e privada. É frequentemente usado por equipes de projetos, organizações sem fins lucrativos e grupos ativistas que precisam compartilhar informações confidenciais e se comunicar de forma segura. O Element também é conhecido por seu recurso de salas públicas, que permite que os usuários se juntem a grupos de discussão sobre vários tópicos de interesse.

Uma das principais vantagens do Element é sua arquitetura descentralizada. Ao contrário das plataformas de mensagens convencionais que centralizam os dados em seus próprios servidores, o Element utiliza uma rede descentralizada, distribuindo as informações em diversos servidores espalhados pelo mundo. Isso significa que os dados dos usuários são menos suscetíveis a ataques cibernéticos e invasões, já que não são centralizados em um único ponto vulnerável.

Para usar o Element, normalmente os usuários precisam se registrar em um servidor Matrix. Existem várias opções disponíveis, incluindo servidores públicos e privados. No entanto, outra opção é criar um servidor próprio para usar o Element.

O Element também utiliza criptografia de ponta a ponta para proteger as mensagens e arquivos trocados entre os usuários. Isso significa que apenas o remetente e o destinatário das mensagens podem ler o conteúdo, garantindo que as informações permaneçam seguras e privadas.

Outra vantagem do Element é sua ampla variedade de recursos, incluindo videochamadas criptografadas, compartilhamento de tela e integração com outros serviços, como calendários e aplicativos de produtividade. Isso torna o Element uma plataforma completa de comunicação e colaboração, adequada para uso pessoal e empresarial.

O Element também é fácil de usar e possui uma interface intuitiva e personalizável. Os usuários podem personalizar a aparência do aplicativo e acessar diferentes configurações e recursos com apenas alguns cliques.

https://element.io/

https://github.com/vector-im/element-android

@ b64c3591:8c12a151

First Home Buyers Loans in Melbourne Ready to own your first home in Melbourne? Blacksmith Financial Group makes it easy! We guide first home buyers through tailored loans, low-deposit options, and Victoria’s First Home Owner Grant. Our expert brokers find you the best rates, whether for a city apartment or suburban gem. With pre-approval tips and personalized support, your dream home is closer than you think. Start your journey today with Blacksmith Financial Group—fast, friendly, and local expertise you can trust. Let’s unlock your Melbourne home! Investment Loans in Melbourne Looking to grow your wealth through property? Blacksmith Financial Group has you covered with investment loans in Melbourne! Our expert brokers secure competitive rates and flexible terms to suit your goals, whether it’s a rental property or a portfolio expansion. We simplify the process, from pre-approval to settlement, with personalized advice for Melbourne’s dynamic market. Maximize your returns with our tailored solutions and local insights. Ready to invest? Connect with Blacksmith Financial Group today and build your future with confidence!

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Bitcoin enthusiasts frequently and correctly remark how much value it adds to Bitcoin not to have a face, a leader, or a central authority behind it. This particularity means there isn't a single person to exert control over, or a single human point of failure who could become corrupt or harmful to the project.

Because of this, it is said that no other coin can be equally valuable as Bitcoin in terms of decentralization and trustworthiness. Bitcoin is unique not just for being first, but also because of how the events behind its inception developed. This implies that, from Bitcoin onwards, any coin created would have been created by someone, consequently having an authority behind it. For this and some other reasons, some people refer to Bitcoin as "The Immaculate Conception".

While other coins may have their own unique features and advantages, they may not be able to replicate Bitcoin's community-driven nature. However, one other cryptocurrency shares a similar story of mystery behind its creation: Monero.

History of Monero

Bytecoin and CryptoNote

In March 2014, a Bitcointalk thread titled "Bytecoin. Secure, private, untraceable since 2012" was initiated by a user under the nickname "DStrange"^1^. DStrange presented Bytecoin (BCN) as a unique cryptocurrency, in operation since July 2012. Unlike Bitcoin, it employed a new algorithm known as CryptoNote.

DStrange apparently stumbled upon the Bytecoin website by chance while mining a dying bitcoin fork, and decided to create a thread on Bitcointalk^1^. This sparked curiosity among some users, who wondered how could Bytecoin remain unnoticed since its alleged launch in 2012 until then^2^.

Some time after, a user brought up the "CryptoNote v2.0" whitepaper for the first time, underlining its innovative features^4^. Authored by the pseudonymous Nicolas van Saberhagen in October 2013, the CryptoNote v2 whitepaper^5^ highlighted the traceability and privacy problems in Bitcoin. Saberhagen argued that these flaws could not be quickly fixed, suggesting it would be more efficient to start a new project rather than trying to patch the original^5^, an statement simmilar to the one from Satoshi Nakamoto^6^.

Checking with Saberhagen's digital signature, the release date of the whitepaper seemed correct, which would mean that Cryptonote (v1) was created in 2012^7^, although there's an important detail: "Signing time is from the clock on the signer's computer" ^9^.

Moreover, the whitepaper v1 contains a footnote link to a Bitcointalk post dated May 5, 2013^10^, making it impossible for the whitepaper to have been signed and released on December 12, 2012.

As the narrative developed, users discovered that a significant 80% portion of Bytecoin had been pre-mined^11^ and blockchain dates seemed to be faked to make it look like it had been operating since 2012, leading to controversy surrounding the project.

The origins of CryptoNote and Bytecoin remain mysterious, leaving suspicions of a possible scam attempt, although the whitepaper had a good amount of work and thought on it.

The fork

In April 2014, the Bitcointalk user thankful_for_today, who had also participated in the Bytecoin thread^12^, announced plans to launch a Bytecoin fork named Bitmonero^13^.

The primary motivation behind this fork was "Because there is a number of technical and marketing issues I wanted to do differently. And also because I like ideas and technology and I want it to succeed"^14^. This time Bitmonero did things different from Bytecoin: there was no premine or instamine, and no portion of the block reward went to development.

However, thankful_for_today proposed controversial changes that the community disagreed with. Johnny Mnemonic relates the events surrounding Bitmonero and thankful_for_today in a Bitcointalk comment^15^:

When thankful_for_today launched BitMonero [...] he ignored everything that was discussed and just did what he wanted. The block reward was considerably steeper than what everyone was expecting. He also moved forward with 1-minute block times despite everyone's concerns about the increase of orphan blocks. He also didn't address the tail emission concern that should've (in my opinion) been in the code at launch time. Basically, he messed everything up. Then, he disappeared.

After disappearing for a while, thankful_for_today returned to find that the community had taken over the project. Johnny Mnemonic continues:

I, and others, started working on new forks that were closer to what everyone else was hoping for. [...] it was decided that the BitMonero project should just be taken over. There were like 9 or 10 interested parties at the time if my memory is correct. We voted on IRC to drop the "bit" from BitMonero and move forward with the project. Thankful_for_today suddenly resurfaced, and wasn't happy to learn the community had assumed control of the coin. He attempted to maintain his own fork (still calling it "BitMonero") for a while, but that quickly fell into obscurity.

The unfolding of these events show us the roots of Monero. Much like Satoshi Nakamoto, the creators behind CryptoNote/Bytecoin and thankful_for_today remain a mystery^17^, having disappeared without a trace. This enigma only adds to Monero's value.

Since community took over development, believing in the project's potential and its ability to be guided in a better direction, Monero was given one of Bitcoin's most important qualities: a leaderless nature. With no single face or entity directing its path, Monero is safe from potential corruption or harm from a "central authority".

The community continued developing Monero until today. Since then, Monero has undergone a lot of technological improvements, migrations and achievements such as RingCT and RandomX. It also has developed its own Community Crowdfundinc System, conferences such as MoneroKon and Monerotopia are taking place every year, and has a very active community around it.

Monero continues to develop with goals of privacy and security first, ease of use and efficiency second. ^16^

This stands as a testament to the power of a dedicated community operating without a central figure of authority. This decentralized approach aligns with the original ethos of cryptocurrency, making Monero a prime example of community-driven innovation. For this, I thank all the people involved in Monero, that lead it to where it is today.

If you find any information that seems incorrect, unclear or any missing important events, please contact me and I will make the necessary changes.

Sources of interest

• https://forum.getmonero.org/20/general-discussion/211/history-of-monero
• https://monero.stackexchange.com/questions/852/what-is-the-origin-of-monero-and-its-relationship-to-bytecoin
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monero
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=563821.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=233561
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=512747.0
• https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=740112.0
• https://monero.stackexchange.com/a/1024
• https://inspec2t-project.eu/cryptocurrency-with-a-focus-on-anonymity-these-facts-are-known-about-monero/
• https://medium.com/coin-story/coin-perspective-13-riccardo-spagni-69ef82907bd1
• https://www.getmonero.org/resources/about/
• https://www.wired.com/2017/01/monero-drug-dealers-cryptocurrency-choice-fire/
• https://www.monero.how/why-monero-vs-bitcoin
• https://old.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/u8e5yr/satoshi_nakamoto_talked_about_privacy_features/

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

Desde a sua criação em 2008, Bitcoin tem sido visto como um desafio direto ao sistema bancário tradicional. Desenvolvido como uma alternativa descentralizada ao dinheiro fiduciário, Bitcoin oferece uma forma de armazenar e transferir valor sem depender de bancos, governos ou outras instituições financeiras. Essa característica faz com que seja considerado um símbolo de resistência contra um sistema financeiro que, ao longo do tempo, tem sido marcado por crises, manipulações e restrições impostas aos cidadãos.

Crise financeira de 2008 e o nascimento de Bitcoin

Bitcoin surgiu em resposta à crise financeira de 2008, um colapso que revelou as falhas do sistema bancário global. Bancos centrais imprimiram grandes quantidades de dinheiro para resgatar instituições financeiras irresponsáveis, enquanto milhões de pessoas perderam as suas casas, poupanças e empregos. Nesse contexto, Bitcoin foi criado como um sistema financeiro alternativo, onde não existe uma entidade central com o poder de manipular a economia em benefício próprio.

No primeiro bloco da blockchain ou timechain de Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto incluiu a seguinte mensagem:

"The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks."

Essa frase, retirada de uma manchete de jornal da época, simboliza a intenção de Bitcoin de oferecer um sistema financeiro fora do controlo dos bancos e dos governos.

Principais razões pelas quais Bitcoin resiste ao sistema bancário

Descentralização: Ao contrário do dinheiro emitido por bancos centrais, Bitcoin não pode ser criado ou controlado por nenhuma entidade específica. A rede de utilizadores valida as transações de forma transparente e independente.

Oferta limitada: Enquanto os bancos centrais podem imprimir dinheiro sem limites, causando inflação e desvalorização da moeda, Bitcoin tem uma oferta fixa de 21 milhões de unidades, tornando-o resistente à depreciação artificial.

Impossibilidade de censura: Bancos podem bloquear contas e impedir transações a qualquer momento. Com Bitcoin, qualquer pessoa pode enviar e receber fundos sem pedir permissão a terceiros.

Autocustódia: Em vez de confiar os seus fundos a um banco, os utilizadores de Bitcoin podem armazenar as suas próprias moedas, sem risco de congelamento de contas ou falências bancárias.

Conflito entre bancos e Bitcoin

Ataques mediáticos: Grandes instituições financeiras frequentemente classificam Bitcoin como arriscado, volátil ou inútil, tentando desincentivar a sua adoção.

Regulação e repressão: Alguns governos, influenciados pelo setor bancário, têm criado restrições ao uso de Bitcoin, dificultando a sua compra e venda.

Criação de alternativas centralizadas: Muitos bancos centrais estão a desenvolver moedas digitais (CBDCs) que mantêm o controlo do dinheiro digital, mas sem oferecer a liberdade e a descentralização de Bitcoin.

Resumindo, o Bitcoin não é apenas uma moeda digital, mas um movimento de resistência contra um sistema financeiro que falhou repetidamente em proteger o cidadão comum. Ao oferecer uma alternativa descentralizada, transparente e resistente à censura, Bitcoin representa a liberdade financeira e desafia o monopólio dos bancos sobre o dinheiro. Enquanto o sistema bancário tradicional continuar a impor restrições e a controlar o fluxo de capital, Bitcoin permanecerá como um símbolo de independência e soberania financeira.

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!

@ 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

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

Bitcoin tem vindo a desempenhar um papel cada vez mais relevante em protestos e movimentos sociais em todo o mundo. Graças à sua natureza descentralizada, resistente à censura e independente do controlo governamental, Bitcoin tornou-se uma ferramenta valiosa para ativistas, organizações e cidadãos que lutam contra regimes opressivos ou sistemas financeiros restritivos.

Bitcoin como alternativa ao sistema financeiro tradicional

Nos últimos anos, governos e instituições bancárias têm utilizado restrições financeiras como uma forma de repressão política. Contas bancárias congeladas, doações bloqueadas e limitações a transações são algumas das estratégias utilizadas para enfraquecer movimentos sociais e protestos. Bitcoin oferece uma alternativa, permitindo que fundos sejam transferidos e armazenados sem a interferência de bancos ou governos.

Uma das principais vantagens de Bitcoin nestes contextos é a sua resistência à censura. Enquanto contas bancárias podem ser encerradas e serviços de pagamento centralizados podem ser pressionados a bloquear transações, Bitcoin funciona numa rede descentralizada, onde ninguém pode impedir que um utilizador envie ou receba fundos.

Exemplos do uso do Bitcoin em protestos

Hong Kong (2019-2020): Durante os protestos pró-democracia, ativistas enfrentaram restrições financeiras ao tentarem organizar manifestações e campanhas. Muitos recorreram a Bitcoin para evitar o rastreamento do governo chinês e garantir financiamento para as suas ações.

Canadá (2022): O movimento dos camionistas que protestavam contra restrições governamentais viu as suas contas bancárias congeladas. Como alternativa, doações em Bitcoin foram utilizadas para contornar a repressão financeira.

Bielorrússia (2020): Após as eleições presidenciais contestadas, manifestantes usaram Bitcoin para financiar atividades e ajudar aqueles que perderam os seus empregos devido à repressão estatal.

Nigéria (2020): Durante os protestos contra a brutalidade policial, conhecidos como #EndSARS, doações internacionais para os manifestantes foram bloqueadas. Bitcoin tornou-se um dos principais meios de financiamento do movimento.

Desafios do uso do Bitcoin em movimentos sociais

Educação e acessibilidade: Muitos ainda desconhecem como utilizar Bitcoin de forma segura e eficiente. A falta de conhecimento pode dificultar a sua adoção em larga escala.

Segurança digital: Movimentos sociais muitas vezes operam sob vigilância intensa. Se as medidas de segurança adequadas não forem seguidas, os fundos podem ser comprometidos.

Volatilidade: O preço de Bitcoin pode variar significativamente num curto período, o que pode afetar o valor das doações e dos fundos arrecadados.

Resumindo, o Bitcoin tem demonstrado ser uma ferramenta essencial para a resistência contra a censura financeira e a repressão governamental. Ao permitir que movimentos sociais e ativistas financiem as suas causas sem depender de intermediários, Bitcoin fortalece a luta pela liberdade e pela justiça. No entanto, a adoção eficaz da tecnologia exige conhecimento, segurança e adaptação às suas características únicas. À medida que mais pessoas aprendem a utilizar Bitcoin, o seu papel nos protestos e movimentos sociais continuará a crescer, reforçando a importância da soberania financeira na luta por direitos e liberdades.

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!

@ 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.”

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

After almost 3 months of work, we've completed the redesign of kycnot.me. More modern and with many new features.

Privacy remains the foundation - everything still works with JavaScript disabled. If you enable JS, you will get some nice-to-have features like lazy loading and smoother page transitions, but nothing essential requires it.

User Accounts

We've introduced user accounts that require zero personal information:

• Secret user tokens - no email, no phone number, no personal data
• Randomly generated usernames for default privacy and fairness
• Karma system that rewards contributions and unlocks features: custom display names, profile pictures, and more.

Reviews and Community Discussions

On the previous sites, I was using third party open source tools for the comments and discussions. This time, I've built my own from scratch, fully integrated into the site, without JavaScript requirements.

Everyone can share their experiences and help others make informed decisions:

• Ratings: Comments can have a 1-5 star rating attached. You can have one rating per service and it will affect the overall user score.
• Discussions: These are normal comments, you can add them on any listed service.

Comment Moderation

I was strugling to keep up with moderation on the old site. For this, we've implemented an AI-powered moderation system that:

• Auto-approves legitimate comments instantly
• Flags suspicious content for human review
• Keeps discussions valuable by minimizing spam

The AI still can mark comments for human review, but most comments will get approved automatically by this system. The AI also makes summaries of the comments to help you understand the overall sentiment of the community.

Powerful Search & Filtering

Finding exactly what you need is now easier:

• Advanced filtering system with many parameters. You can even filter by attributes to pinpoint services with specific features.

The results are dynamic and shuffle services with identical scores for fairness.

See all listings

Listings are now added as 'Community Contributed' by default. This means that you can still find them in the search results, but they will be clearly marked as such.

Updated Scoring System

New dual-score approach provides more nuanced service evaluations:

• Privacy Score: Measures how well a service protects your personal information and data

• Trust Score: Assesses reliability, security, and overall reputation

• Combined into a weighted Overall Score for quick comparisons

• Completely transparent and open source calculation algorithm. No manual tweaking or hidden factors.

AI-Powered Terms of Service Analysis

Basically, a TLDR summary for Terms of Service:

• Automated system extracts the most important points from complex ToS documents
• Clear summaries
• Updated monthly to catch any changes

The ToS document is hashed and only will be updated if there are any changes.

Service Events and Timelines

Track the complete history of any service, on each service page you can see the timeline of events. There are two types of events:

• Automatic events: Created by the system whenever something about a service changes, like its description, supported currencies, attributes, verification status…
• Manual events: Added by admins when there’s important news, such as a service going offline, being hacked, acquired, shut down, or other major updates.

There is also a global timeline view available at /events

Notification System

Since we now have user accounts, we built a notifiaction system so you can stay informed about anything:

• Notifications for comment replies and status changes
• Watch any comment to get notified for new replies.
• Subscribe to services to monitor events and updates
• Notification customization.

Coming soon: Third-party privacy-preserving notifications integration with Telegram, Ntfy.sh, webhooks...

Service Suggestions

Anyone with an account can suggest a new service via the suggestion form. After submitting, you'll receive a tracking page where you can follow the status of your suggestion and communicate directly with admins.

All new suggestions start as "unlisted" — they won't appear in search results until reviewed. Our team checks each submission to ensure it's not spam or inappropriate. If similar services already exist, you'll be shown possible duplicates and can choose to submit your suggestion as an edit instead.

You can always check the progress of your suggestion, respond to moderator questions, and see when it goes live, everything will also be notified to your account. This process ensures high-quality listings and a collaborative approach to building the directory.

---

These are some of the main features we already have, but there are many more small changes and improvements that you will find when using the site.

What's Next?

This is just the beginning. We will be constantly working to improve KYCnot.me and add more features that help you preserve your privacy.

Remember: True financial freedom requires the right to privacy. Stay KYC-free!

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

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.

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

Milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo ainda não têm acesso a serviços bancários básicos, seja por falta de infraestrutura, requisitos burocráticos ou instabilidade económica nos seus países. Bitcoin surge como uma solução inovadora para este problema, permitindo que qualquer pessoa com acesso à internet tenha controlo sobre o seu dinheiro, sem depender de bancos ou governos. Ao oferecer um sistema financeiro aberto e acessível, Bitcoin torna-se uma ferramenta poderosa para a inclusão financeira global.

O problema da exclusão financeira

Em muitos países em desenvolvimento, grande parte da população não possui conta bancária. Isto pode acontecer por diversas razões, como:

Falta de acesso a bancos: Muitas comunidades, especialmente em áreas rurais, não têm instituições financeiras próximas.

Exigências burocráticas: Alguns bancos exigem documentação específica ou um histórico de crédito que muitas pessoas não conseguem fornecer.

Custos elevados: As taxas bancárias podem ser proibitivas para quem ganha pouco dinheiro.

Instabilidade económica e política: Em países com alta inflação ou governos instáveis, os bancos podem não ser uma opção segura para guardar dinheiro.

Estas dificuldades deixam milhões de pessoas à margem do sistema financeiro, impossibilitadas de poupar, investir ou realizar transações de forma eficiente.

Bitcoin como alternativa

Bitcoin resolve muitos dos problemas da exclusão financeira ao oferecer um sistema acessível e descentralizado. Com Bitcoin, qualquer pessoa com um telemóvel e acesso à internet pode armazenar e transferir dinheiro sem necessidade de um banco. Entre as principais vantagens estão:

Acessibilidade global: Bitcoin pode ser usado em qualquer lugar do mundo, independentemente da localização do utilizador.

Sem necessidade de intermediários: Diferente dos bancos, que impõem taxas e regras, Bitcoin permite transações diretas entre pessoas.

Baixo custo para transferências internacionais: Enviar dinheiro para outro país pode ser caro e demorado com os métodos tradicionais, enquanto Bitcoin oferece uma alternativa mais rápida e acessível.

Proteção contra a inflação: Em países com moedas instáveis, Bitcoin pode ser usado como reserva de valor, protegendo o poder de compra da população.

Casos de uso na inclusão financeira

Bitcoin já tem sido utilizado para promover a inclusão financeira em diversas partes do mundo. Alguns exemplos incluem:

África e América Latina: Em países como Nigéria, Venezuela e Argentina, onde a inflação é elevada e o acesso a dólares é limitado, muitas pessoas usam Bitcoin para preservar o seu dinheiro e realizar transações internacionais.

Remessas internacionais: Trabalhadores que enviam dinheiro para as suas famílias no estrangeiro evitam as elevadas taxas das empresas de transferências tradicionais ao utilizarem Bitcoin.

Microeconomia digital: Pequenos comerciantes e freelancers que não têm acesso a contas bancárias podem receber pagamentos em Bitcoin de forma direta e segura.

Desafios da inclusão financeira com Bitcoin

Apesar das suas vantagens, a adoção de Bitcoin como ferramenta de inclusão financeira ainda enfrenta alguns desafios, tais como:

Acesso à internet: Muitas regiões pobres ainda não têm uma infraestrutura digital adequada.

Educação financeira: Para que mais pessoas utilizem Bitcoin, é necessário maior conhecimento sobre a tecnologia e as melhores práticas de segurança.

Volatilidade do preço: As oscilações de valor podem dificultar o uso de Bitcoin no dia a dia, especialmente em países onde as pessoas vivem com rendimentos instáveis.

Resumindo, o Bitcoin oferece uma solução viável para milhões de pessoas excluídas do sistema financeiro tradicional. Ao proporcionar acesso global, transações baratas e segurança contra a inflação, torna-se um instrumento poderoso para promover a inclusão financeira. No entanto, para que o seu potencial seja totalmente aproveitado, é essencial investir na educação digital e expandir a infraestrutura tecnológica, permitindo que mais pessoas tenham autonomia financeira através de Bitcoin.

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!

@ 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.

@ 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.

---

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

---

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

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

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

Download the report here

---

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

---

Final thought...

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

---

*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:

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

Bitcoin foi concebido como um sistema descentralizado, onde qualquer pessoa pode participar na rede, validar transações e garantir a segurança do sistema. no entanto, ao longo dos anos, a mineração de Bitcoin tornou-se cada vez mais concentrada em certas regiões do mundo, levantando preocupações sobre a sua descentralização e segurança. este debate tem gerado diversas opiniões, com alguns a argumentarem que a centralização da mineração pode comprometer os princípios fundamentais de Bitcoin.

Por que a mineração se tornou centralizada em alguns países?

A mineração de Bitcoin exige uma grande quantidade de energia e equipamentos especializados, conhecidos como ASICs. devido a fatores como custos de eletricidade, clima e regulamentação, algumas regiões tornaram-se polos de mineração, atraindo grandes operações. entre os principais motivos para essa concentração estão:

Custo da eletricidade: países com eletricidade barata, como a China (antes da proibição), Cazaquistão e algumas regiões dos Estados Unidos, tornaram-se centros de mineração porque os custos de operação são significativamente mais baixos.

Clima favorável: locais com temperaturas frias reduzem a necessidade de sistemas de refrigeração para os equipamentos de mineração, tornando a operação mais eficiente.

Regulamentação e incentivos fiscais: algumas nações criam ambientes favoráveis para a mineração, oferecendo benefícios fiscais ou políticas de incentivo ao setor energético.

Impactos da centralização da mineração

A centralização da mineração em certos países gera preocupações sobre o controlo da rede Bitcoin. entre os principais riscos, destacam-se:

Risco de censura: se um país com grande concentração de mineradores decidir regulamentar ou restringir a mineração, pode afetar temporariamente a rede, tornando-a mais vulnerável a ataques ou censura.

Ataque de 51%: um dos maiores receios é a possibilidade de um grupo de mineradores controlar mais de 50% do poder de hashing da rede, o que poderia permitir a manipulação de transações. embora improvável, este cenário preocupa a comunidade de Bitcoin.

Dependência de infraestruturas centralizadas: se a mineração estiver concentrada em poucas regiões, falhas em infraestruturas locais, como cortes de eletricidade ou desastres naturais, podem ter um impacto significativo na rede.

Medidas para descentralizar a mineração

Apesar da tendência de centralização, a rede Bitcoin continua resiliente e existem iniciativas para tornar a mineração mais distribuída. algumas soluções incluem:

Mineração caseira e comunitária: o incentivo à mineração em pequena escala pode ajudar a distribuir o poder de hashing de forma mais equilibrada.

Uso de energia renovável em várias regiões: à medida que mais mineradores adotam fontes renováveis, novas localidades estão a surgir como centros de mineração descentralizados.

Exodo de mineradores: após a proibição da mineração na China em 2021, muitas operações foram realocadas para diversos países, como Estados Unidos, Canadá e países da América Latina, ajudando a diversificar a rede.

Resumindo, a centralização da mineração em algumas regiões é um desafio para Bitcoin, mas não significa que a rede esteja em risco imediato. à medida que a indústria evolui, a tendência é que a mineração se torne cada vez mais distribuída, garantindo a segurança e a descentralização do sistema. embora seja essencial monitorizar esta questão, Bitcoin continua a demonstrar a sua resistência, adaptando-se constantemente às mudanças no setor da mineração.

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!

@ 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.

@ 2afadffc:ab95c71d

Egg Vibrator for Women Hey ladies, ready to elevate your pleasure? At Adult Junky, our egg vibrators for women are all about discreet, powerful fun! Perfect for solo adventures or spicing up couple time, these compact gems offer versatile vibes to hit all the right spots. With body-safe materials and whisper-quiet designs, you can explore confidently anywhere. Shop now for fast, private delivery across India and discover why our egg vibrators are a game-changer. Your next favorite moment is just a click away with Adult Junky! BDSM Sex Toys Kit Curious about BDSM? Dive into excitement with Adult Junky’s BDSM sex toys kits! Perfect for beginners or seasoned explorers, our curated kits include everything from soft restraints to teasing accessories, all crafted for safe, thrilling play. Designed with quality and comfort in mind, they’re your ticket to spicy adventures. Get yours now with discreet shipping across India and unlock new levels of intimacy. Ready to turn up the heat? Shop Adult Junky’s BDSM kits and let the fun begin!

@ 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.

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

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!

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

Desde a sua criação, Bitcoin tem sido alvo de debates sobre a sua utilização em atividades ilícitas. muitos críticos afirmam que Bitcoin facilita crimes como lavagem de dinheiro e financiamento de atividades ilegais, devido à sua natureza descentralizada e à possibilidade de realizar transações sem intermediários. no entanto, a realidade é mais complexa e muitas dessas alegações são exageradas ou baseadas em mitos. na verdade, a maioria das transações com Bitcoin são legítimas e até mais rastreáveis do que muitos imaginam.

O mito: Bitcoin é a principal moeda para criminosos

Um dos maiores mitos sobre Bitcoin é a ideia de que ele é amplamente utilizado por criminosos devido ao seu suposto anonimato. este argumento tornou-se popular principalmente devido a casos como o da Silk Road, um mercado negro online desmantelado pelas autoridades em 2013, onde Bitcoin era usado para transações ilegais. no entanto, os dados mais recentes mostram que apenas uma pequena fração das transações em Bitcoin está relacionada com atividades ilícitas.

Além disso, ao contrário do dinheiro em espécie, que é quase impossível de rastrear, todas as transações de Bitcoin são registadas publicamente na blockchain ou timechain. isto significa que qualquer pagamento feito com Bitcoin pode ser analisado e seguido, tornando mais difícil esconder transações suspeitas a longo prazo.

A realidade: Bitcoin é transparente e rastreável

Ao contrário do que muitos pensam, Bitcoin não é completamente anónimo, mas sim pseudónimo. todas as transações ficam registadas na blockchain ou timechain, permitindo que autoridades e analistas de dados consigam seguir os fluxos de dinheiro com precisão. várias empresas especializadas em análise forense de blockchain ou timechain já ajudaram a identificar e desmantelar redes criminosas que tentavam utilizar Bitcoin para fins ilícitos.

Governos e autoridades, como o FBI e a Europol, têm utilizado esta característica para combater crimes financeiros. na prática, criminosos que tentam usar Bitcoin acabam frequentemente por ser apanhados devido à transparência do sistema. por isso, a ideia de que Bitcoin é um refúgio seguro para criminosos não corresponde à realidade.

O uso ilícito de moedas fiduciárias é muito maior

Se compararmos Bitcoin com as moedas fiduciárias tradicionais, como o euro ou o dólar, percebemos que estas são muito mais utilizadas para atividades ilícitas. segundo relatórios de organizações internacionais, a lavagem de dinheiro e o financiamento de crimes organizados ocorrem predominantemente através de bancos, empresas fictícias e dinheiro em espécie.

Por exemplo, em escândalos financeiros globais, como o Panama Papers e o caso do banco HSBC envolvido em lavagem de dinheiro para cartéis, os meios tradicionais foram os preferidos para esconder fortunas ilegais. apesar disso, Bitcoin continua a ser injustamente associado ao crime, enquanto os verdadeiros mecanismos de financiamento ilícito continuam a operar dentro do sistema financeiro convencional.

Resumindo, o mito de que Bitcoin é um meio privilegiado para atividades ilícitas tem sido amplamente desmentido por dados e investigações. apesar de alguns criminosos terem tentado usá-lo no passado, a realidade é que Bitcoin é um sistema financeiro mais transparente e rastreável do que o dinheiro tradicional. a grande maioria das suas transações é legítima e, à medida que a adoção cresce, Bitcoin continua a provar o seu valor como um meio seguro e descentralizado para transações financeiras.

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!

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

O Bitcoin tem revolucionado a forma como as pessoas realizam transações financeiras em todo o mundo. Sendo uma moeda digital descentralizada, oferece novas oportunidades para pagamentos no comércio eletrónico e transferências internacionais de dinheiro. A sua rapidez, segurança e baixos custos tornam-no uma alternativa eficiente aos métodos tradicionais, eliminando intermediários e facilitando transações globais.

Bitcoin no comércio eletrónico

O comércio eletrónico tem crescido exponencialmente, e o Bitcoin surge como uma solução inovadora para pagamentos online. Grandes retalhistas e pequenas empresas estão a começar a aceitar Bitcoin como forma de pagamento, oferecendo benefícios tanto para os comerciantes como para os consumidores.

Vantagens do Bitcoin para o comércio eletrónico:

Baixas taxas de transação: ao contrário dos cartões de crédito e plataformas de pagamento que cobram taxas elevadas, as transações em Bitcoin apresentam, geralmente, custos mais reduzidos. Isto beneficia os comerciantes, que podem diminuir despesas e oferecer preços mais competitivos aos clientes.

Eliminação de chargebacks: no sistema tradicional, os chargebacks (reembolsos forçados pelos bancos ou operadoras de cartão) representam uma preocupação para os lojistas. Como as transações em Bitcoin são irreversíveis, os comerciantes evitam fraudes e disputas.

Acesso global: qualquer pessoa com acesso à Internet pode pagar com Bitcoin, independentemente da sua localização. Isto permite às empresas expandirem o seu mercado internacionalmente, sem depender de bancos ou sistemas de pagamento locais.

Privacidade e segurança: as transações em Bitcoin protegem a identidade do utilizador, oferecendo maior privacidade em comparação com pagamentos através de cartão de crédito ou transferências bancárias. Além disso, como não há necessidade de partilhar dados pessoais, o risco de roubo de informações é reduzido.

Desafios do Uso do Bitcoin no Comércio Eletrónico:

Volatilidade: o preço do Bitcoin pode oscilar rapidamente, o que dificulta a fixação de preços para produtos e serviços. No entanto, alguns comerciantes utilizam serviços de pagamento que convertem automaticamente Bitcoin em moeda fiduciária, minimizando esse risco.

Adoção limitada: apesar do crescimento, a aceitação do Bitcoin ainda não é universal. Muitas lojas e plataformas populares ainda não o adotaram, o que pode dificultar a sua utilização em compras diárias.

Tempo de confirmação: embora o Bitcoin seja mais rápido do que as transferências bancárias tradicionais, o tempo de confirmação pode variar consoante a taxa de rede paga. Algumas soluções, como a Lightning Network, estão a ser desenvolvidas para tornar os pagamentos instantâneos.

Bitcoin na remessa de dinheiro

O envio de dinheiro para o estrangeiro sempre foi um processo burocrático, dispendioso e demorado. Serviços tradicionais, como os bancos e empresas de transferência de dinheiro, cobram taxas elevadas e podem demorar dias a concluir uma transação. O Bitcoin, por outro lado, oferece uma alternativa eficiente para remessas globais, permitindo que qualquer pessoa envie e receba dinheiro de forma rápida e económica.

Benefícios do Bitcoin para remessas:

Custos reduzidos: enquanto os bancos e empresas como a Western Union cobram elevadas taxas para transferências internacionais, o Bitcoin permite o envio de dinheiro com custos mínimos, independentemente do montante ou do destino.

Velocidade nas transações: as transferências bancárias internacionais podem demorar vários dias a serem concluídas, especialmente em países com uma infraestrutura financeira limitada. Com o Bitcoin, o dinheiro pode ser enviado para qualquer parte do mundo em poucos minutos ou horas.

Acessibilidade global: em regiões onde o sistema bancário é restrito ou ineficiente, o Bitcoin possibilita que as pessoas recebam dinheiro sem depender de bancos. Isto é particularmente útil em países em desenvolvimento, onde as remessas internacionais são uma fonte essencial de rendimento.

Independência de intermediários: o Bitcoin opera de forma descentralizada, sem necessidade de recorrer a bancos ou empresas de transferência. Isto significa que as pessoas podem enviar dinheiro diretamente para amigos e familiares sem intermediários.

Desafios das remessas com Bitcoin:

Conversão para moeda local: apesar de o Bitcoin poder ser recebido instantaneamente, muitas pessoas ainda precisam de convertê-lo em moeda local para o utilizar. Isso pode envolver custos adicionais e depender da disponibilidade de serviços de câmbio.

Adoção e conhecimento: nem todos compreendem o funcionamento do Bitcoin, o que pode dificultar a sua adoção generalizada para remessas. No entanto, a crescente educação financeira sobre o tema pode ajudar a ultrapassar essa barreira.

Regulamentação e restrições: alguns governos impõem restrições ao uso do Bitcoin, tornando as remessas mais complicadas. A evolução das regulamentações pode afetar a facilidade de uso em determinados países.

Resumindo, o Bitcoin está a transformar o comércio eletrónico e as remessas de dinheiro em todo o mundo. A sua capacidade de eliminar intermediários, reduzir custos e oferecer pagamentos rápidos e seguros torna-o uma alternativa viável aos sistemas financeiros tradicionais.

No comércio eletrónico, proporciona benefícios para lojistas e consumidores, reduzindo taxas e melhorando a privacidade. No setor das remessas, facilita a transferência de dinheiro para qualquer parte do mundo, especialmente para aqueles que vivem em países com sistemas bancários pouco eficientes.

Apesar dos desafios, a adoção do Bitcoin continua a crescer, impulsionada por soluções inovadoras e pelo reconhecimento do seu potencial como meio de pagamento global. À medida que mais empresas e indivíduos aderirem a esta tecnologia, a sua presença no comércio eletrónico e nas remessas internacionais será cada vez mais relevante.

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!

@ 6ef65af3:8eb6e4fe

Egg Vibrator for Women Hey ladies, ready to elevate your pleasure? At Adult Junky, our egg vibrators for women are all about discreet, powerful fun! Perfect for solo adventures or spicing up couple time, these compact gems offer versatile vibes to hit all the right spots. With body-safe materials and whisper-quiet designs, you can explore confidently anywhere. Shop now for fast, private delivery across India and discover why our egg vibrators are a game-changer. Your next favorite moment is just a click away with Adult Junky! BDSM Sex Toys Kit Curious about BDSM? Dive into excitement with Adult Junky’s BDSM sex toys kits! Perfect for beginners or seasoned explorers, our curated kits include everything from soft restraints to teasing accessories, all crafted for safe, thrilling play. Designed with quality and comfort in mind, they’re your ticket to spicy adventures. Get yours now with discreet shipping across India and unlock new levels of intimacy. Ready to turn up the heat? Shop Adult Junky’s BDSM kits and let the fun begin!

@ 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.

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

O Bitcoin trouxe uma nova maneira de entender a economia monetária, rompendo com os modelos inflacionários das moedas tradicionais e apresentando uma estrutura deflacionária especial. Com uma oferta restrita e regras matemáticas claras, o Bitcoin proporciona previsibilidade, segurança e resistência a manipulações, características que atraem investidores e fãs ao redor do mundo.

Um dos aspectos mais importantes do Bitcoin é sua oferta limitada a 21 milhões de unidades, definida no código original por Satoshi Nakamoto. Essa característica separa o Bitcoin das moedas tradicionais, cuja oferta é ilimitada e muitas vezes aumentada por bancos centrais para atender a necessidades econômicas ou políticas.

A oferta limitada dá ao Bitcoin uma qualidade semelhante ao ouro, sendo frequentemente chamado de "ouro digital". Assim como o ouro, o Bitcoin é escasso e requer esforço para ser adquirido (por meio de mineração). A escassez programada cria uma dinâmica de oferta e demanda que tende a aumentar o valor do ativo à medida que a demanda cresce e a oferta se mantém constante.

A emissão de novos bitcoins acontece através da mineração, e as recompensas são reduzidas pela metade em eventos chamados halvings, que ocorrem aproximadamente a cada quatro anos. Essa diminuição gradual na emissão de novos bitcoins assegura que a quantidade total será alcançada por volta de 2140, tornando o Bitcoin previsível a longo prazo.

O modelo deflacionário do Bitcoin é definido pela diminuição na criação de novas unidades e pelo aumento potencial de seu valor com o tempo. Isso contrasta diretamente com o modelo inflacionário das moedas tradicionais, nas quais a oferta é constantemente aumentada, reduzindo seu poder de compra.

A deflação no Bitcoin acontece porque a oferta de novos bitcoins diminui enquanto a demanda global tende a aumentar. Em vez de perder poder de compra, como ocorre com moedas tradicionais, o Bitcoin tem potencial de valorização à medida que mais pessoas buscam guardá-lo como valor.

Economias que dependem de sistemas deflacionários enfrentam desafios, como a tendência dos consumidores de adiar gastos na expectativa de preços mais baixos. Contudo, no caso do Bitcoin, ele é visto principalmente como uma reserva de valor, diminuindo esse efeito negativo. Por outro lado, o modelo deflacionário estimula a poupança, protegendo a riqueza das pessoas contra desvalorizações arbitrárias.

O modelo inflacionário das moedas fiduciárias se baseia na ampliação da oferta monetária para impulsionar o crescimento econômico, o que, na prática, reduz o poder de compra das moedas ao longo do tempo.

Governos e bancos centrais frequentemente imprimem dinheiro para pagar dívidas ou estimular a economia, o que pode resultar em inflação descontrolada.

Esse aumento na quantidade de dinheiro diminui o valor do dinheiro já existente, prejudicando poupadores e pessoas com menos acesso a ativos que protejam contra a inflação.

Como o Bitcoin é descentralizado e funciona em uma rede pública, nenhuma entidade central pode mudar suas regras ou aumentar sua oferta.

Isso o torna um ativo confiável para quem quer proteger sua riqueza em economias instáveis ou inflacionárias.

De maneira resumida a economia do Bitcoin é principalmente movida pela interação entre oferta e demanda.

O aumento da aceitação global, tanto por investidores institucionais quanto por indivíduos, gerou maior demanda pelo Bitcoin.

Sua utilidade como reserva de valor e defesa contra inflação atrai pessoas de economias frágeis e investidores em busca de diversificação.

Cada halving reduz a criação de novos bitcoins, diminuindo a oferta no mercado. Historicamente, esses eventos têm sido seguidos por aumentos significativos no preço do Bitcoin, pois a oferta menor atende a uma demanda crescente.

Com a oferta limitada e um cronograma previsível de emissão, o Bitcoin funciona de maneira clara, evitando surpresas econômicas comuns em sistemas fiduciários manipulados por bancos centrais.

Com o tempo, o Bitcoin pode ter um papel cada vez mais importante na economia global. Seu modelo deflacionário é especialmente atraente em um contexto de crescente desconfiança em relação às moedas fiduciárias e aos sistemas financeiros tradicionais.

O Bitcoin está se estabelecendo como uma reserva de valor, parecido com o ouro, mas com vantagens em portabilidade e divisibilidade.

Em períodos de crise econômica, ele é visto como uma alternativa segura para proteger riquezas.

À medida que a recompensa pela mineração diminui, espera-se que as taxas de transação sustentem a rede, aumentando sua segurança sem afetar a economia dos usuários.

Resumindo, a economia do Bitcoin é uma inovação que desafia os conceitos estabelecidos pelas moedas fiduciárias. Com sua oferta limitada, modelo deflacionário e resistência à manipulação, ele oferece uma alternativa forte para proteger a riqueza contra os efeitos da inflação.

Apesar de enfrentar desafios, como volatilidade e aceitação global, o Bitcoin continua a se fortalecer como uma reserva de valor confiável e uma forma de dinheiro digital. Seu modelo econômico, baseado na escassez e na transparência, pode ter um impacto duradouro na forma como pessoas e instituições lidam com o armazenamento e a preservação de valor no século XXI.

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!

@ a205e40f:f487e7d5

Buy Masturbators for Men Discover the ultimate pleasure with top-quality masturbators for men at Adult Toys India! Our curated collection offers discreet, body-safe, and innovative designs to elevate your intimate moments. Whether you're exploring solo play or spicing things up, we’ve got options for every preference. Shop now for fast, confidential delivery across India and experience satisfaction like never before. Don’t wait—find your perfect match today and take your pleasure to the next level with Adult Toys India! Buy Penis Rings for Men in India Enhance your performance and pleasure with premium penis rings for men from Adult Toys India! Designed for comfort and durability, our range helps you last longer and intensify sensations. Perfect for beginners or seasoned users, we offer discreet packaging and swift delivery across India. Explore our high-quality, body-safe collection to find the ideal fit for your needs. Elevate your intimate experiences today—shop now at Adult Toys India and unlock a world of excitement with confidence!

@ 97e691db:de6b25b7

Cheap Silicone Sex Doll for Male Looking for a cheap silicone sex doll for male pleasure that doesn’t skimp on quality? At Get Pleasure, we’ve got you covered with budget-friendly options that feel incredibly real! Our affordable silicone dolls are crafted for maximum satisfaction, offering lifelike textures and durable designs. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or exploring new experiences, our curated selection fits every taste and wallet. Shop now for discreet shipping and unbeatable prices. Ready to spice things up? Discover your perfect companion at Get Pleasure today!

Penis Sleeves for Men Want to boost your confidence and pleasure? Penis sleeves for men from Get Pleasure are the game-changer you need! Our high-quality, affordable sleeves add length, girth, and exciting textures to enhance your intimate moments. Designed for comfort and durability, they’re perfect for solo play or spicing things up with a partner. Easy to use and clean, our sleeves cater to all experience levels. Curious to level up your game? Shop Get Pleasure’s collection now for discreet delivery and unbeatable value!

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

O Bitcoin é amplamente reconhecido como a primeira e mais importante inovação no campo das moedas digitais. Criado por Satoshi Nakamoto em 2009, ele estabeleceu as bases para um sistema financeiro descentralizado. Desde então, surgiram milhares de outras moedas digitais, muitas vezes referidas como criptomoedas ou até mesmo "shitcoins" por críticos que apontam sua volatilidade, falta de utilidade clara ou centralização. Essa comparação entre o Bitcoin e outras criptomoedas é essencial para entender os valores exclusivos que o Bitcoin representa.

O Bitcoin foi criado para ser uma alternativa ao sistema financeiro tradicional. Sua missão central é fornecer uma moeda descentralizada, resistente à censura e livre de intermediários como bancos ou governos.

Por outro lado, a maioria das outras criptomoedas/shitcoins surgiu com diferentes objetivos, que vão desde experimentos tecnológicos até planos de enriquecimento rápido. Muitas dessas moedas não têm a mesma descentralização e segurança do Bitcoin, sendo frequentemente geridas por equipes ou organizações centralizadas, o que as torna mais suscetíveis à manipulação e falhas de segurança.

Descentralização e segurança

Bitcoin: a rede Bitcoin é suportada por milhares de nós espalhados pelo mundo, garantindo verdadeira descentralização.

Seu algoritmo de consenso, Proof of Work (PoW), é amplamente testado e proporciona altos níveis de segurança contra ataques.

Não há controle centralizado, o que significa que nenhuma entidade pode alterar suas regras fundamentais.

Outras criptomoedas/shitcoins

Praticamente todas sacrificam descentralização em troca de velocidade ou funcionalidades adicionais.

Algumas utilizam mecanismos de consenso alternativos, como Proof of Stake (PoS), que, embora sejam mais eficientes em termos energéticos, são frequentemente criticados por favorecer a centralização e oferecer menor segurança.

Em muitos casos, há equipes de desenvolvimento centralizadas que podem modificar o código, criar mais unidades da moeda ou até encerrar o projeto, comprometendo a confiança dos usuários.

Oferta e escassez

Bitcoin: o Bitcoin tem uma quantidade limitada de 21 milhões de unidades, garantindo sua escassez.

Essa característica, junto com a crescente demanda, posiciona o Bitcoin como uma reserva de valor confiável, frequentemente comparado ao ouro digital.

Outras criptomoedas/shitcoins

Muitas não têm limites claros em sua oferta, resultando em inflação descontrolada.

Algumas “moedas” são intencionalmente inflacionárias, o que pode reduzir seu valor com o tempo.

Em muitos casos, essas “moedas” são pré-mineradas ou distribuídas de maneira desigual, favorecendo os criadores em detrimento da comunidade.

Finalidade e utilidade

Bitcoin: o Bitcoin é, acima de tudo, uma forma de dinheiro digital e reserva de valor.

Sua rede é confiável e simples, com o foco principal em ser um meio de troca e proteção contra a inflação.

Sua solidez o torna ideal para transações e armazenamento de valor a longo prazo.

Outras criptomoedas/shitcoins

Muitas shitcoins são apresentadas como soluções para casos específicos, como contratos inteligentes, jogos ou finanças descentralizadas.

Apesar de promessas ousadas, muitos falham em oferecer utilidade real ou em competir com soluções centralizadas já existentes.

Há um número considerável de projetos que não têm uma proposta clara e acabam sendo abandonados após um tempo de especulação.

Volatilidade e reputação

Bitcoin: embora o Bitcoin seja instável, ele é amplamente aceito como o padrão-ouro das moedas digitais.

Sua imagem foi construída ao longo de mais de dez anos de operação confiável e segurança comprovada.

Outras criptomoedas/shitcoins

Muitas shitcoins enfrentam alta volatilidade, frequentemente impulsionada por especulação ou manipulação de mercado.

A falta de clareza e as práticas duvidosas de alguns projetos prejudicam a imagem do setor como um todo.

Resistência à censura

Bitcoin: devido à sua descentralização e segurança, o Bitcoin é muito resistente à censura. Qualquer pessoa com acesso à internet pode participar da rede e fazer transações.

Outras criptomoedas/shitcoins

Muitas "shitcoins" dependem de estruturas centralizadas ou têm líderes identificáveis que podem ser pressionados por governos ou outros atores para censurar transações.

Resumindo, o Bitcoin continua sendo o líder indiscutível no mundo das moedas digitais devido à sua descentralização, segurança e escassez comprovada. Ele é um sistema feito para durar, oferecendo liberdade financeira e proteção contra a inflação.

Enquanto isso, muitas criptomoedas ou shitcoins não conseguem atingir os mesmos padrões de segurança e confiança, frequentemente priorizando velocidade, funções extras ou lucros especulativos rápidos. Para investidores e usuários, é importante distinguir entre o Bitcoin e os vários projetos alternativos, muitos dos quais podem não resistir ao teste do tempo.

O Bitcoin não só iniciou uma revolução financeira, mas continua sendo o padrão pelo qual todas as outras moedas digitais são medidas.

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!

@ a53364ff:e6ba5513

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.

@ 31a4605e:cf043959

No sistema Bitcoin, a proteção e a posse dos fundos são asseguradas por um modelo criptográfico que usa chaves privadas e públicas. Esses componentes são fundamentais para a segurança digital, permitindo que os usuários administrem e protejam seus ativos de maneira descentralizada. Esse processo elimina a necessidade de intermediários, assegurando que somente o legítimo proprietário tenha acesso ao saldo vinculado a um endereço específico na blockchain ou timechain.

Chaves privadas e públicas são partes de um sistema de criptografia assimétrica, onde dois códigos distintos, mas matematicamente ligados, são utilizados para garantir a segurança e a veracidade das transações.

Chave Privada = É um código secreto, normalmente apresentado como uma longa sequência de números e letras.

Funciona como uma senha que dá ao proprietário o controle sobre os bitcoins ligados a um endereço específico.

Deve ser mantida em total sigilo, pois qualquer pessoa que a tenha pode movimentar os fundos correspondentes.

Chave Pública = É matematicamente derivada da chave privada, mas não permite que a chave privada seja descoberta.

Funciona como um endereço digital, semelhante a um número de conta bancária, podendo ser compartilhada livremente para receber pagamentos.

Serve para confirmar a autenticidade das assinaturas geradas com a chave privada.

Juntas, essas chaves asseguram que as transações sejam seguras e verificáveis, dispensando a necessidade de intermediários.

O funcionamento das chaves privadas e públicas baseia-se na criptografia de curva elíptica. Quando um usuário quer enviar bitcoins, ele usa sua chave privada para assinar digitalmente a transação. Essa assinatura é exclusiva para cada operação e demonstra que o remetente possui a chave privada relacionada ao endereço de envio.

Os nós da rede Bitcoin checam essa assinatura utilizando a chave pública correspondente, garantindo que:

A assinatura é válida.

A transação não foi alterada desde que foi assinada.

O remetente tem a propriedade legítima dos fundos.

Se a assinatura for aceita, a transação é registrada na blockchain ou timechain e se torna irreversível. Esse procedimento protege os fundos contra fraudes e gastos duplicados.

A segurança das chaves privadas é um dos pontos mais importantes do sistema Bitcoin. Perder essa chave significa perder permanentemente o acesso aos fundos, pois não há nenhuma autoridade central capaz de recuperá-la.

Boas práticas para proteger a chave privada incluem:

Armazenamento offline: longe de redes conectadas à internet, diminuindo o risco de ataques cibernéticos.

Carteiras de hardware: dispositivos físicos dedicados para armazenar chaves privadas de forma segura.

Backup e redundância: manter cópias de segurança em locais seguros e distintos.

Criptografia adicional: proteger arquivos digitais que contêm chaves privadas com senhas fortes e criptografia.

Ameaças comuns incluem:

Phishing e malware: ataques que tentam enganar os usuários para obter acesso às chaves.

Roubo físico: no caso de chaves guardadas em dispositivos físicos.

Perda de senhas e backups: que pode resultar na perda definitiva dos fundos.

O uso de chaves privadas e públicas dá ao proprietário controle total sobre seus fundos, eliminando intermediários como bancos ou governos. Esse modelo coloca a responsabilidade de proteção nas mãos do usuário, o que representa tanto liberdade quanto risco.

Diferente de sistemas financeiros tradicionais, onde instituições podem reverter transações ou congelar contas, no sistema Bitcoin, a posse da chave privada é a única prova de propriedade. Esse princípio é frequentemente resumido pela frase: "Not your keys, not your coins" (Se não são suas chaves, não são suas moedas).

Essa abordagem fortalece a soberania financeira, permitindo que indivíduos guardem e movam valor de maneira independente e sem censura.

Apesar de sua segurança, o sistema de chaves também apresenta riscos. Se uma chave privada for perdida ou esquecida, não existe como recuperar os fundos associados. Isso já levou à perda de milhões de bitcoins ao longo dos anos.

Para reduzir esse risco, muitos usuários utilizam frases-semente (seed phrases), que são uma lista de palavras usadas para restaurar carteiras e chaves privadas. Essas frases devem ser guardadas com o mesmo cuidado, pois também podem ser usadas para acessar os fundos.

Resumindo, as chaves privadas e públicas são a base da segurança e da propriedade no sistema Bitcoin. Elas asseguram que somente os verdadeiros proprietários possam mover seus fundos, promovendo um sistema financeiro descentralizado, seguro e resistente à censura.

No entanto, essa liberdade acarreta grandes responsabilidades, exigindo que os usuários adotem práticas severas para proteger suas chaves privadas. A perda ou comprometimento dessas chaves pode levar a consequências irreversíveis, ressaltando a importância de educação e preparação ao usar o sistema Bitcoin.

Assim, o modelo de chaves criptográficas não apenas melhora a segurança, mas também representa a essência da independência financeira proporcionada pelo Bitcoin.

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!

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ 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

@ 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!

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

This article was originally published on dev.to by satshacker.

Alright, you’ve built a useful and beautiful website, tool or app. However, monetization isn’t a priority and you’d rather keep the project free, ads-free and accessible?

Accepting donations would be an option, but how? A PayPal button? Stripe? Buymeacoffe? Patreon?

All of these services require a bank account and KYC verification, before you can send and receive donations – not very convenient.

If we only could send value over the internet, with just one click and without the need of a bank account…

Oh, hold on, that’s bitcoin. The decentralized protocol to send value across the globe. Money over TCP/IP.

In this article, we’ll learn how anyone can easily add a payment button or donation widget on a website or app.

Let’s get into it.

Introduction

Bitcoin is digital money that you can send and receive without the need for banks. While bitcoin is extremely secure, it’s not very fast. The maximum transactions per second (TPS) the network can handle is about 7. Obviously that’s not useful for daily payments or microtransactions.

If you’d like to dig deeper into how bitcoin works, a great read is “Mastering Bitcoin” by Andreas Antonopoulos.

Bitcoin vs Lightning

If you’d like to receive bitcoin donations “on-chain” all you need is a bitcoin wallet. You simply display your bitcoin address on your site and that’s it. You can receive donations.

It would look something like this; 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa

Instead of showing the actual bitcoin address, you can also turn it into a QR code.

However, this is not a recommended solution. Using static on-chain addresses has two major downsides. It lowers privacy for you and your donnors and it’s a UTXO disaster because many small incoming transactions could beocme hard to consolidate in the future.

For donations and small transactions, the Lightning Network is the better option. Lightning allows for instant settlement with fees only a fraction of a cent.

Similar to bitcoin, you have the choice between non-custodial and custodial wallets. This means, either you have full control over your money or the wallet provider has.

Option 1: Lightning Address

With the lightning address feature, you an easily receive donations to an email like address.

It looks like this: yourname@wallet.com

Many wallets support lightning addresses and make it easy to create one. Then, you simple add the address to your donation page and you’re ready to receive tips.

You can also add a link link as in lightning:yourname@wallet.com and compatible lightning wallets and browser wallets will detect the address.

How to get a Lightning Address Fast

Option 2: Lightning Donation Widgets

If you like to take it a step further, you can also create a more enhanced donation checkout flow. Of course you could programm something yourself, there are many open source libraries you can build upon. If you want a simple plug-and-play solution, here are a couple of options:

Name

Type

Registration

SatSale

Self-hosted

No KYC

BTCPay Server

Self-hosted

No KYC

Pay With Flash

Widget

Email

Geyser Fund

Widget

Email

The Giving Block

Hosted

KYC

OpenNode

Hosted

KYC

---

SatSale (GitHub)

Lightweight, self-hosted Bitcoin/Lightning payment processor. No KYC.

Ideal for developers comfortable with server management. Simple to deploy, supports both on-chain and Lightning, and integrates with WooCommerce.

---

BTCPay Server

Powerful, open-source, self-hosted processor for Bitcoin and Lightning. No KYC.

Supports multiple currencies, advanced features, and full privacy. Requires technical setup and maintenance. Funds go directly to your wallet; great for those seeking full control.

---

Pay With Flash

Easiest for indie hackers. Add a donation widget with minimal code and no KYC. Payments go directly to your wallet for a 1.5% fee.

Setup Steps:

1. Sign up at PayWithFlash.com
2. Customize your widget in the dashboard
3. Embed the code:

1. Test to confirm functionality

Benefits:

• Minimal technical skills required
• Supports one-time or recurring donations
• Direct fund transfer, no intermediaries

---

Geyser Fund

Crowdfunding platform. Widget-based, connects to your wallet, email registration.Focused on Bitcoin crowdfunding, memberships and donations.

---

The Giving Block

Hosted, KYC required. Integrates with fiat and crypto, best for nonprofits or larger organizations.

---

OpenNode

Hosted, KYC required. Accept Bitcoin payments and donations; supports conversion to fiat, suitable for businesses and nonprofits.

---

Summary

• Fast, low-code setup: Use Pay With Flash or Geyser Fund.
• Privacy and control: Choose SatSale or BTCPay Server (requires technical skills).
• Managed, compliant solutions: The Giving Block or OpenNode.

Choose based on your technical comfort, privacy needs, and project scale.

I hope this article helped you. If you added bitcoin donations, share your link in the comments and I will send you a few satoshis maybe

@ 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

@ 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.

---

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

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

People forget Bear Stearns failed March 2008 - months of denial followed before the public realized how bad the situation was under the surface.

Similar happening now but much larger scale. They did not fix fundamental issues after 2008 - everything is more fragile.

The Fed preemptively bailed out every bank with their BTFP program and First Republic Bank still failed. The second largest bank failure in history.

There will be more failures. There will be more bailouts. Depositors will be "protected" by socializing losses across everyone.

Our President and mainstream financial pundits are currently pretending the banking crisis is over while most banks remain insolvent. There are going to be many more bank failures as this ponzi system unravels.

Unlike 2008, we have the ability to opt out of these broken and corrupt institutions by using bitcoin. Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk - you do not have to trust a bank or other centralized entity to hold it for you. Bitcoin is also incredibly difficult to change by design since it is not controlled by an individual, company, or government - the supply of dollars will inevitably be inflated to bailout these failing banks but bitcoin supply will remain unchanged. I do not need to convince you that bitcoin provides value - these next few years will convince millions.

---

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

@ 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

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ 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

@ e5cfb5dc:0039f130

はりまメンタルクリニック：GIDの大手そう。丸の内線ならパムくんちが近い。

わらびメンタルクリニック：GIDの大手そう？公式サイトには影もかたちも

ナグモクリニック：SRS手術までしてるところ。GID精神科外来が月1第1木曜日だけ？

狭山メンタルクリニック：距離・時間的にはまま近い。サイトの記述が思想的にちょとあやしげ。新患受付がだいぶ先。GIDは専門外か？

川島領診療所：オンライン診療あり！強迫性障害や美容皮膚科をやっている。雰囲気よさそうなところ。GIDは専門外か？

Jこころのクリニック：電車いっぽんなので楽。GIDは専門外か？

ハッピースマイルクリニック：オンライン診療あり！GIDは専門外か？

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• Version 1.3 of Bitcoin Safe introduces a redesigned interactive chart, quick receive feature, updated icons, a mempool preview window, support for Child Pays For Parent (CPFP) and testnet4, preconfigured testnet demo wallets, as well as various bug fixes and improvements.

• Upcoming updates for Bitcoin Safe include Compact Block Filters.

"Compact Block Filters increase the network privacy dramatically, since you're not asking an electrum server to give you your transactions. They are a little slower than electrum servers. For a savings wallet like Bitcoin Safe this should be OK," writes the project's developer Andreas Griffin.

• Learn more about the current and upcoming features of Bitcoin Safe wallet here.

What's new in v1.3

• Redesign of Chart, Quick Receive, Icons, and Mempool Preview (by @design-rrr).
• Interactive chart. Clicking on it now jumps to transaction, and selected transactions are now highlighted.

• Speed up transactions with Child Pays For Parent (CPFP).
• BDK 1.2 (upgraded from 0.32).
• Testnet4 support.
• Preconfigured Testnet demo wallets.
• Cluster unconfirmed transactions so that parents/children are next to each other.
• Customizable columns for all tables (optional view: Txid, Address index, and more)
• Bug fixes and other improvements.

Announcement / Archive
Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo
Website

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

content

@ 2e8970de:63345c7a

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

https://stacker.news/items/1009213

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ 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!

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• The latest firmware updates for COLDCARD devices introduce two major features: COLDCARD Co-sign (CCC) and Key Teleport between two COLDCARD Q devices using QR codes and/or NFC with a website.

What's new

• COLDCARD Co-Sign: When CCC is enabled, a second seed called the Spending Policy Key (Key C) is added to the device. This seed works with the device's Main Seed and one or more additional XPUBs (Backup Keys) to form 2-of-N multisig wallets.
  • The spending policy functions like a hardware security module (HSM), enforcing rules such as magnitude and velocity limits, address whitelisting, and 2FA authentication to protect funds while maintaining flexibility and control, and is enforced each time the Spending Policy Key is used for signing.
  • When spending conditions are met, the COLDCARD signs the partially signed bitcoin transaction (PSBT) with the Main Seed and Spending Policy Key for fund access. Once configured, the Spending Policy Key is required to view or change the policy, and violations are denied without explanation.

"You can override the spending policy at any time by signing with either a Backup Key and the Main Seed or two Backup Keys, depending on the number of keys (N) in the multisig."

• A step-by-step guide for setting up CCC is available here.

• Key Teleport for Q devices allows users to securely transfer sensitive data such as seed phrases (words, xprv), secure notes and passwords, and PSBTs for multisig. It uses QR codes or NFC, along with a helper website, to ensure reliable transmission, keeping your sensitive data protected throughout the process.

  • For more technical details, see the protocol spec.

"After you sign a multisig PSBT, you have option to “Key Teleport” the PSBT file to any one of the other signers in the wallet. We already have a shared pubkey with them, so the process is simple and does not require any action on their part in advance. Plus, starting in this firmware release, COLDCARD can finalize multisig transactions, so the last signer can publish the signed transaction via PushTX (NFC tap) to get it on the blockchain directly."

• Multisig transactions are finalized when sufficiently signed. It streamlines the use of PushTX with multisig wallets.
• Signing artifacts re-export to various media. Users are now provided with the capability to export signing products, like transactions or PSBTs, to alternative media rather than the original source. For example, if a PSBT is received through a QR code, it can be signed and saved onto an SD card if needed.
• Multisig export files are signed now. Public keys are encoded as P2PKH address for all multisg signature exports. Learn more about it here.
• NFC export usability upgrade: NFC keeps exporting until CANCEL/X is pressed.
• Added Bitcoin Safe option to Export Wallet.
• 10% performance improvement in USB upload speed for large files.
• Q: Always choose the biggest possible display size for QR.

Fixes

• Do not allow change Main PIN to same value already used as Trick PIN, even if Trick PIN is hidden.
• Fix stuck progress bar under Receiving... after a USB communications failure.
• Showing derivation path in Address Explorer for root key (m) showed double slash (//).
• Can restore developer backup with custom password other than 12 words format.
• Virtual Disk auto mode ignores already signed PSBTs (with “-signed” in file name).
• Virtual Disk auto mode stuck on “Reading…” screen sometimes.
• Finalization of foreign inputs from partial signatures. Thanks Christian Uebber!
• Temporary seed from COLDCARD backup failed to load stored multisig wallets.
• Destroy Seed also removes all Trick PINs from SE2.
• Lock Down Seed requires pressing confirm key (4) to execute.
• Q only: Only BBQr is allowed to export Coldcard, Core, and pretty descriptor.

Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo
CCC Guide
Key Teleport site

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ 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]

@ 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.

@ edeb837b:ac664163

On June 10th, 2025, four members of the NVSTly team traveled to New York City to attend the 2025 American Business Awards® ceremony, held at the iconic Marriott Marquis in Times Square. It was an unforgettable night as we accepted the Gold Stevie® Award for Tech Startup of the Year—this time, in person.

Meow (left), rich (center), MartyOooit (right)

Representing NVSTly at the event were:

• Rich, CEO & Founder
• Meow, CTO, Lead Developer, & Co-Founder
• MartyOooit, Investor
• Noob, Market Analyst (not shown in photos)

MartyOooit (left), rich (center), Meow (right)

While we shared the exciting news back in April when the winners were announced, being there in person alongside other winners—including eBay, AT&T, T-Mobile, HP Inc., and Fidelity Investments—made the achievement feel even more surreal. To be honored alongside billion-dollar industry leaders was a proud and humbling moment for our startup and a huge milestone in NVSTly’s journey.

---

🎤 Team Interview at the Event

During the event, our team was interviewed about the win. When asked:

“What does winning a Stevie Award mean for your organization?”
“How will winning a Stevie Award help your organization?”

Here’s what we had to say:
📺 Watch the video

---

A Big Win for Retail Traders

NVSTly was awarded Gold for Tech Startup of the Year in recognition of our work building a powerful, free social investing platform that empowers retail traders with transparency, analytics, and community-driven tools.

Unlike traditional finance platforms, NVSTly gives users the ability to:

• Share and track trades in real time
• Follow and receive alerts from top traders
• Compete on global leaderboards
• Access deep stats like win rate, average return, and more

Whether you're a beginner or experienced trader, NVSTly gives you the insights and tools typically reserved for hedge funds—but in a free, social format built for the modern investor.

---

Continued Recognition and Momentum

This award adds to a growing list of recognition for NVSTly:

• 🏆 People’s Choice Winner at the 2024 Benzinga Fintech Awards
• 🔁 Nominated again for Best Social Investing Product in the 2025 Benzinga Fintech Awards
• 🌟 Team members JustCoreGames and Lunaster are nominated for Employee of the Year (Information Technology – Social Media) in the 2025 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence

We’re beyond proud of what our small but mighty team has accomplished—and we’re just getting started. 🚀

---

Thanks to the Stevie Awards for an incredible night in New York, and to our community of 50,000+ traders who’ve helped shape NVSTly into what it is today.
This win is yours, too.

Stay tuned—more big things are coming.

— Team NVSTly

---

The event brought together some of the most respected names in tech, finance, and business.

@ df478568:2a951e67

@ 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

@ b9ff7cb5:a0e092a8

Bismillah

---

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

---

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.

@ 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

@ 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.

@ e1cde248:609c13b0

ในโลกของเกมออนไลน์ โดยเฉพาะเกมที่มีระบบแลกเปลี่ยนและการซื้อขายกันระหว่างผู้เล่น (player-to-player trading) มีสิ่งหนึ่งที่เกิดขึ้นซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าในแทบทุกเกม นั่นคือ "item หายาก" (rare item) ค่อยๆ กลายเป็นสื่อกลางในการแลกเปลี่ยน มันไม่ใช่แค่ของมีค่าในตัวเองเท่านั้น แต่ยังถูกใช้เสมือนเป็น “เงิน” (currency) ของโลกเสมือนนั้นด้วย

ลองจินตนาการว่าเรากำลังเล่นเกมที่มีระบบ economy ผู้เล่นสามารถหาของจากการล่ามอนสเตอร์ (monster hunting) หรือผ่านเควสต่างๆ สิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นคือบาง item มีโอกาสดรอป (drop rate) ต่ำมากๆ และมีความต้องการสูง สิ่งเหล่านี้แหละที่เริ่ม “มีมูลค่า” ในสายตาของผู้เล่น

เมื่อคนจำนวนมากเริ่มยอมรับว่า item นี้ “แลกของอื่นได้” หรือ “ใช้วัดมูลค่าได้” มันก็กลายเป็นเงินอย่างไม่เป็นทางการโดยอัตโนมัติ

Rare item = เงิน? ได้ไง?

คำตอบง่ายมาก: เพราะมัน หายาก (scarce), เป็นที่ต้องการ (demanded) และ เป็นที่ยอมรับในกลุ่มผู้เล่น (accepted)

ในระบบที่ไม่มีเงินกลางแบบ fix ผู้เล่นจะเริ่มหาสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่งมาทำหน้าที่แทน เช่น item ที่ทุกคนรู้ว่าหายากจริง หาไม่ได้ง่ายๆ และมีปริมาณจำกัดในตลาด ระบบนี้เกิดขึ้นเองโดยไม่มี dev หรือระบบของเกมไปบอกว่า "นี่คือเงินนะ"

สิ่งนี้ทำให้เกิด “เศรษฐกิจเสมือน (virtual economy)” ที่ผู้เล่นสร้างขึ้นเองโดยธรรมชาติ และมันคือบทเรียนสำคัญเรื่องเงินในโลกจริง

เศรษฐกิจที่เกิดจาก consensus (ฉันทามติ)

เงิน ไม่ว่าจะในโลกจริงหรือโลกเสมือน มีจุดเริ่มต้นมาจากสิ่งเดียวกันคือ ความเชื่อร่วมกัน (shared belief)

ในเกม ผู้เล่นหลายพันคนพร้อมใจกันเชื่อว่า item ชิ้นนี้ “มีค่า” จึงสามารถใช้แลกทุกอย่างได้ บางคนเอาไปจ้างช่วยผ่านบอส บางคนเอาไปซื้อชุดหรือของตกแต่ง ความน่าสนใจคือ item นั้นอาจไม่ใช่สิ่งที่มี "utility" สูงด้วยซ้ำ บางอันมีไว้โชว์เท่ๆ เท่านั้น แต่มันมี “มูลค่า” เพราะผู้เล่นเห็นว่ามันควรมี

นั่นคือพลังของ consensus และมันคือกลไกเดียวกับที่เงินกระดาษ หรือแม้แต่คริปโตอย่าง Bitcoin ใช้ในการสร้างมูลค่า

ระบบที่ไร้เสถียรภาพ (fragile system)

แต่ economy แบบนี้ไม่ได้สมบูรณ์แบบไปเสียหมด สิ่งหนึ่งที่มักเกิดขึ้นคือ ความเปราะบาง (fragility)

ถ้า item ที่เคยหายากอยู่ๆ กลายเป็นดรอปง่ายขึ้น หรือมี bug ให้ dup ได้ ความเชื่อในความขาดแคลนนั้นจะพังลงทันที และแน่นอนว่า value ที่เคยสูงลิ่วก็ร่วงตามไปด้วย

นอกจากนี้ ยังมีปัจจัยอื่นเช่น การที่ dev แก้กฎ เพิ่มหรือลด supply item โดยไม่แจ้งล่วงหน้า หรือปิด server แบบไม่คาดคิด สิ่งเหล่านี้ทำให้ economy ที่เคยดูมั่นคงต้องสลายไปเพียงชั่วข้ามคืน

นั่นคือจุดที่ virtual economy แตกต่างจาก real-world crypto economy ที่สร้างอยู่บนความโปร่งใสและโค้ดที่ทุกคนตรวจสอบได้

สิ่งที่เราเห็นในเกมไม่ใช่เรื่องบังเอิญ มันคือบทเรียนทางเศรษฐศาสตร์แบบเรียลไทม์ และเรียลฟีล

เรารู้ว่าเงินไม่จำเป็นต้องถูกสร้างโดยรัฐ เรารู้ว่าเงินไม่จำเป็นต้องมีตัวตนแบบธนบัตร และเรารู้ว่า สิ่งใดก็ตามที่หายาก ตรวจสอบได้ และได้รับการยอมรับร่วมกัน — มันสามารถเป็น “เงิน” ได้ แม้จะเป็นแค่ item ในเกมก็ตาม

โลกของเกมจึงเป็น sandbox ที่สอนเราว่า “value” คือสิ่งที่ถูกสร้างขึ้นจากฉันทามติ ไม่ใช่จากอำนาจ

สรุป: เกมคือโลกจำลองของเศรษฐกิจมนุษย์

ไอเทมหายากในเกมที่กลายเป็นเงินไม่ใช่แค่เรื่องบังเอิญ แต่มันคือภาพสะท้อนว่า ความขาดแคลน + ความต้องการ + ความยอมรับ = มูลค่า และนั่นคือหัวใจของระบบเงินทุกแบบ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นทองคำ เงินเฟียต หรือสินทรัพย์ดิจิทัลอย่าง Bitcoin

โลกของเกมไม่ใช่แค่ที่เล่นสนุก แต่มันคือห้องทดลองทางเศรษฐกิจ ที่เปิดเผยให้เราเห็นว่าผู้คนสามารถสร้างระบบเงินได้ด้วยตัวเอง โดยไม่ต้องพึ่งรัฐ ไม่ต้องมีธนาคารกลาง และไม่ต้องมีใคร “อนุมัติ”

มันเริ่มจาก item เล็กๆ ที่คนอยากได้ และจบลงด้วยระบบ economy ที่ทรงพลังยิ่งกว่าที่ dev เคยคาดคิด

@ 9dd283b1:cf9b6beb

Question is inspired by this post - https://stacker.news/items/1008610/r/Catcher

If you follow the link in the post and check the fund contributors along with their local currencies, you’ll notice something interesting:

1 unit of account in Bitcoin is actually worth more than 1 unit of account in the local currency. That makes sending 1 sat feel like it’s not a diminishingly small amount anymore, or it doesn't make any difference cause 1 SAT = 1 SAT? 😊

https://stacker.news/items/1009186

@ e1cde248:609c13b0

ในปี 1975 มหาวิทยาลัย Yale ได้ทำการศึกษาจากกลุ่มคนที่มีอายุตั้งแต่ 50 ปีจำนวน 660 คน ในหัวข้อ ความเห็นที่มีต่อ “การสูงวัยขึ้น(aging)”

กลุ่มที่หนึ่ง มีความเห็นและความเชื่อที่เป็นด้านบวก ทั้งในเรื่องสุขภาพ ความคิด ความคาดหวังที่ดี เมื่อแก่ตัวขึ้น

กลุ่มที่สอง มีความเห็นและความเชื่อที่เป็นด้านลบ ประมาณว่า “การออกกำลังกายไม่ได้ทำอะไรให้ดีขึ้นหรอก ยังไงก็ต้องป่วย ต้องตายอยู่ดี”

ปรากฎว่า เมื่อผ่านไป 23 ปี กลุ่มที่หนึ่งมีอายุขัยเฉลี่ยมากกว่ากลุ่มที่สอง ถึง 7.6 ปี ซึ่งเป็นตัวเลขที่แตกต่างกันมาก

การศึกษานี้ต้องการจะบอกอะไรกับเรา?

แน่นอนว่า ผลลัพธ์ทุกอย่าง เกิดขึ้นได้ จากการกระทำ เวลาที่เราวางแผนจะลงมือทำอะไร ล้วนแต่เริ่มต้นจาก การตั้งเป้าหมาย ทั้งสิ้น

แต่คำถามคือ เมื่อบรรลุเป้าหมายแล้ว ยังไงต่อ?

ข้อเสียอย่างหนึ่ง ของการตั้งเป้าหมายโดยมีรากฐานมาจากผลลัพธ์ที่ต้องการ คือ เรามีแนวโน้มที่จะ “หยุดทำ” เมื่อได้ผลลัพธ์ที่ต้องการแล้ว

ยกตัวอย่างเช่น การลดน้ำหนัก เราชอบมองเรื่องของการลดน้ำหนักเป็นเหมือน การจัดแคมเปญ โดยมีช่วงเวลาที่กำหนด และเมื่อบรรลุเป้าหมาย เราก็กลับมามีพฤติกรรมแบบเดิม ซึ่งทำให้น้ำหนักที่ลดลงไป กลับมา

James Clear ผู้เขียนหนังสือชื่อ Atomic Habits ได้กล่าวว่า แค่การวางแผน และลงมือทำ ไม่ได้นำมาซึ่งผลลัพธ์ที่ยั่งยืน

แต่สิ่งที่สำคัญกว่า ที่เราต้องทำคือ การกำหนดตัวตนของเราใหม่

เวลาที่เราต้องการลดน้ำหนัก 10 กิโล ให้เรามองลึกลงไปกว่าการวางแผนเรื่องการกิน และการออกกำลังกาย

แต่ให้ตั้งเป้าหมายว่า

“ต่อไปนี้ฉันจะเป็นคนที่ เลือกกินที่แต่ของที่มีประโยชน์ และจะออกกำลังกายสม่ำเสมอ” “ฉันไม่ใช่คนที่ชอบกินขนมและของที่มีน้ำตาลสูง” “ฉันเป็นนักกีฬาที่เข้มงวดต่อตารางฝึกซ้อม”

การกำหนดตัวตนของเราใหม่ เป็นเหมือนการปรับเปลี่ยน Mindset ถ้าเรา “โฟกัส” ลงไปที่แก่นของพฤติกรรมแล้ว “ผลลัพธ์” แบบที่เราต้องการจะมาเอง และยั่งยืนกว่า

การศึกษาของมหาวิทยาลัย Yale เป็นข้อพิสูจน์ของเรื่องนี้ได้อย่างดี เพราะกลุ่มคนที่มีความเชื่อที่เป็นด้านบวก จะให้ความสำคัญต่อการออกกำลังกายมากขึ้น หยุดกินเหล้า หยุดสูบบุหรี่ และใช้เวลาอยู่กับคนที่มีมุมมองเป็นบวกเหมือนกัน

เมื่อเราได้ติดสินใจแล้วว่า คนแบบไหนที่เราต้องการจะเป็น พฤติกรรมต่างๆในชีวิตประจำวันของเราจะค่อยๆ เปลี่ยนไป และจะยิ่งเห็นผลชัดเจนขึ้นเรื่อยๆในระยะยาว

เรา คือผลลัพธ์ของ สิ่งที่เราลงมือทำ

เรา คือผลลัพธ์ของ การตัดสินใจของเรา

@ 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!

@ e5cfb5dc:0039f130

はりまメンタルクリニック：GIDの大手そう。丸の内線ならパムくんちが近い。

わらびメンタルクリニック：GIDの大手そう？公式サイトには影もかたちも

ナグモクリニック：SRS手術までしてるところ。GID精神科外来が月1第1木曜日だけ？

狭山メンタルクリニック：距離・時間的にはまま近い。サイトの記述が思想的にちょとあやしげ。新患受付がだいぶ先。GIDは専門外か？

川島領診療所：オンライン診療あり！強迫性障害や美容皮膚科をやっている。雰囲気よさそうなところ。GIDは専門外か？

Jこころのクリニック：電車いっぽんなので楽。GIDは専門外か？

ハッピースマイルクリニック：オンライン診療あり！GIDは専門外か？

@ 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.

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

Will not live in a pod.
Will not eat the bugs.
Will not get the chip.
Will not get a blue check.
Will not use CBDCs.

Live Free or Die.

Why did Elon buy twitter for $44 Billion? What value does he see in it besides the greater influence that undoubtedly comes with controlling one of the largest social platforms in the world? We do not need to speculate - he made his intentions incredibly clear in his first meeting with twitter employees after his takeover - WeChat of the West.

To those that do not appreciate freedom, the value prop is clear - WeChat is incredibly powerful and successful in China.

To those that do appreciate freedom, the concern is clear - WeChat has essentially become required to live in China, has surveillance and censorship integrated at its core, and if you are banned from the app your entire livelihood is at risk. Employment, housing, payments, travel, communication, and more become extremely difficult if WeChat censors determine you have acted out of line.

The blue check is the first step in Elon's plan to bring the chinese social credit score system to the west. Users who verify their identity are rewarded with more reach and better tools than those that do not. Verified users are the main product of Elon's twitter - an extensive database of individuals and complete control of the tools he will slowly get them to rely on - it is easier to monetize cattle than free men.

If you cannot resist the temptation of the blue check in its current form you have already lost - what comes next will be much darker. If you realize the need to resist - freedom tech provides us options.

---

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

@ e3ce5265:4bb9f609

...

@ 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.

@ 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.

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ปี 1937 — บริษัท Hormel Foods Corporation ในเมืองออสติน รัฐมินนิโซตา สหรัฐฯ ชายคนหนึ่งชื่อ Jay C. Hormel ลูกชายของผู้ก่อตั้งบริษัท มีไอเดียแสนทะเยอทะยานว่า “อยากทำผลิตภัณฑ์จากหมู ที่เก็บได้นาน ไม่ต้องแช่เย็น และไม่แพง”

เพราะตอนนั้น หมูเหลือเยอะ โดยเฉพาะ “หัวไหล่หมู” ที่ขายไม่ออก เพราะมันไม่ใช่ชิ้นเนื้อพรีเมียมที่คนอยากซื้อไปทำอาหาร เจย์เลยทดลองบดเนื้อไหล่หมู เติมเกลือ น้ำตาล สารกันเสีย โซเดียมไนไตรต์ และสิ่งสำคัญสุดคือ เจลาตินจากน้ำต้มกระดูก เพื่อให้เนื้อเกาะตัว ไม่แห้ง และอยู่ได้นานโดยไม่ต้องแช่เย็น

ผลลัพธ์คือ หมูกระป๋อง 340 กรัมในกล่องสี่เหลี่ยม พร้อมเปิดฝาดึงด้วยมือ ไม่ต้องใช้ที่เปิดกระป๋อง ชูความ ราคาถูก เก็บง่าย พกพาสะดวก และไม่ต้องปรุงอะไรเพิ่มเติม ซ่อนความของเหลือเอาไว้เงียบๆ

และเพื่อให้คนจำได้ง่าย บริษัทจัดประกวดตั้งชื่อ และผู้ชนะเสนอคำว่า “Spam” = Spiced Ham (แต่ไม่มีใครรู้จริงๆ ว่าย่อจากอะไรแน่) แค่ “สั้น จัดจ้าน และจำง่าย” ก็พอ

เมื่อเกิดสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2 ในปี 1939 สหรัฐฯ ยังไม่เข้าสงครามเต็มตัว แต่เริ่มเตรียมเสบียงสนับสนุนพันธมิตร และ Spam กลายเป็นของขวัญจากพระเจ้า เพราะ เก็บได้นานหลายปี ไม่ต้องแช่เย็น น้ำหนักเบา เปิดง่าย ไม่เสียง่ายแม้เจอฝุ่น โคลน หรือไอร้อนจากปืนใหญ่

รัฐบาลสหรัฐฯ เริ่มจัดสั่ง Spam ให้กับกองทัพในสัดส่วนที่มากขึ้นเรื่อยๆ โดยเฉพาะทหารแนวหน้าในยุโรปและแปซิฟิก เช่น ฮาวาย, ฟิลิปปินส์, กวม, และเกาหลี ระหว่างสงคราม Hormel ผลิต Spam มากถึง 15 ล้านกระป๋องต่อสัปดาห์ และส่งออกไปมากกว่า 100 ล้านกระป๋อง ภายในเวลาไม่กี่ปี

Jay C. Hormel ถือว่ามีบทบาททางสังคมและการเมืองอยู่ไม่น้อย โดยเฉพาะช่วงก่อนสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2

เขาเคยเป็นสมาชิกของ America First Committee ซึ่งเป็นกลุ่มเคลื่อนไหวทางการเมืองที่มีอิทธิพลมากในช่วงก่อนสงครามโลกครั้งที่ 2 โดยกลุ่มนี้มีเป้าหมายคือ “ต่อต้านการที่อเมริกาจะเข้าไปร่วมสงครามในยุโรป” สมาชิกของกลุ่มนี้มีทั้งนักธุรกิจใหญ่ สื่อมวลชน นักวิชาการ รวมถึงชาร์ลส ลินด์เบิร์ก (นักบินชื่อดัง) เรียกได้ว่าเป็นกลุ่มที่มีอิทธิพลเชิงความคิดและการเมืองในช่วงปลายยุค 1930s

แม้ในตอนแรก Hormel จะมีแนวคิดไม่เห็นด้วยกับการเข้าสงคราม แต่พอสงครามเริ่มต้นจริง และสหรัฐฯ ต้องส่งทหารและเสบียงออกไปรบ เขาก็ “ปรับตัวทันที” และกลายเป็นหนึ่งในผู้จัดหาอาหารรายใหญ่ให้กองทัพ โดยเฉพาะ Spam ที่ผลิตส่งเป็นล้านกระป๋องต่อสัปดาห์ ซึ่งแน่นอนว่าไม่มีทางทำได้ถ้าไม่มีความสัมพันธ์และการประสานงานกับภาครัฐโดยตรง

หลังสงครามโลกสิ้นสุดในปี 1945 สิ่งที่รัฐบาลและภาคธุรกิจต้องเจอคือ จะทำยังไงกับโรงงานผลิตอาหารที่เคยทำเพื่อ “เลี้ยงทหารนับล้าน” แต่ตอนนี้ไม่มีสงครามแล้ว? Hormel ไม่ยอมให้ Spam หายไปจากโต๊ะอาหารโลกง่ายๆ แผนการตลาดที่ฉลาดมากของพวกเขาคือ 1. “Sell the nostalgia” ขายความทรงจำ! คนอเมริกันที่เป็นทหารผ่านศึก กลับมาใช้ชีวิตปกติ แต่ก็ยังคุ้นเคยกับ Spam อยู่แล้ว ก็ขายให้พวกเขานั่นแหละ 2. “ผูกกับอาหารเช้า” Hormel ทำสูตร “Spam and eggs” และโฆษณาว่าเป็นอาหารเช้าที่ให้พลังงาน ย่อยง่าย และเหมาะกับทุกครอบครัว 3. เจาะตลาดประเทศที่ได้รับ Spam ระหว่างสงคราม ฟิลิปปินส์, ฮาวาย, ญี่ปุ่น, เกาหลีใต้, อังกฤษ กลายเป็นตลาดหลัก บางประเทศพัฒนาเมนูท้องถิ่นกับ Spam เช่น ฟิลิปปินส์ Spam silog (Spam + ข้าว + ไข่ดาว), เกาหลี 부대찌개 (Budae-jjigae) หรือหม้อไฟทหาร, ญี่ปุ่น Spam onigiri, ฮาวาย Spam musubi (สแปมวางบนข้าว ปิดด้วยสาหร่าย) 4. สร้างแบรนด์ให้รัก Hormel สนับสนุนการจัดงานเทศกาล Spam (เช่น Spam Jam) และทำให้แบรนด์กลายเป็น Pop Culture ของอเมริกา เพื่อโปรโมตแบรนด์ให้เป็นของอเมริกันจ๋า ทั้งน่ารัก ทั้งเท่ ทั้งกินง่าย และกลายเป็นความภูมิใจของชนชั้นกลาง

ระหว่างปี 1937–1946 Spam สร้างชื่อให้ Hormel อย่างถล่มทลาย ถึงขั้นรัฐบาลโซเวียตยังเคยร้องขอให้สหรัฐฯ ส่ง Spam เข้าโซเวียตเพื่อเลี้ยงทหารแนวหน้า โดย นายพล Dwight D. Eisenhower (ต่อมาคือประธานาธิบดีสหรัฐฯ) เคยกล่าวว่า “I ate my share of Spam along with millions of other soldiers. I’ll even confess to a few unkind remarks about it—uttered during the strain of battle... But as former Commander in Chief, I believe I can still see Spam in my dreams.” (ฉันกิน Spam มากพอๆ กับทหารหลายล้านคน แม้จะเคยบ่นบ้าง แต่ในฐานะอดีตแม่ทัพใหญ่...ฉันยังฝันเห็นมันเลย)

Jay C. Hormel ไม่ใช่แค่คนขายหมู แต่เขาเป็นนักวางระบบอุตสาหกรรมขั้นเทพ สามารถยกระดับกิจการท้องถิ่นของพ่อให้กลายเป็นบริษัทอาหารที่ส่งออกระดับโลกได้ เขาเป็น early adopter ของสิ่งที่เรียกว่า vertical integration คือควบคุมทุกขั้นตอน ตั้งแต่ฟาร์ม โรงฆ่าสัตว์ โรงงาน บรรจุภัณฑ์ จนถึงการขนส่งและการตลาด

ในปี 1970s รายการตลกชื่อดังของอังกฤษอย่าง Monty Python’s Flying Circus ได้เอา Spam มาเล่นมุกในตอนหนึ่ง โดยฉากคือร้านอาหารที่ทุกเมนูมี Spam อยู่ในนั้น แล้วลูกค้าพยายามสั่งอาหารโดยไม่เอา Spam แต่ร้านไม่ยอม เพราะ “เมนูเรามี Spam ทุกอย่าง!” จนเสียงลูกค้ากับแม่ค้ากลายเป็นการโต้เถียงอันแสนตลก และมีนักแสดงแต่งเป็นไวกิ้งยืนร้อง “Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam...” ซ้ำๆ อยู่ด้านหลังแบบไม่รู้จบ https://youtu.be/anwy2MPT5RE?si=-68WQeng47lhJENJ

ฉากนั้นกลายเป็นตำนานในโลกตลก และคำว่า “Spam” ก็เริ่มถูกใช้เป็นคำสแลงหมายถึง “ของที่ซ้ำซาก ไร้สาระ รบกวน” ซึ่งต่อมาก็กลายเป็นคำที่เราใช้เรียกอีเมลหรือข้อความขยะนั่นเอง

จะว่าไปแล้ว Spam ถือเป็น “สินค้าที่ครอบงำและเปลี่ยนแปลงอาหารของโลกอีกตัวนึง” อย่างแท้จริง จากเศษหมูไร้คนซื้อ → สินค้าแห่งนวัตกรรมอาหาร → เสบียงสงคราม → อาหารเช้าคลาสสิก → วัฒนธรรมท้องถิ่น → Meme ตลก → และสุดท้ายก็กลายเป็นคำด่าบนอินเทอร์เน็ต

Jay C. Hormel ไม่ได้เป็นนักการเมือง แต่เขาเป็น “นักอุตสาหกรรมที่มีบทบาททางการเมือง” โดยเฉพาะในช่วงเปลี่ยนผ่านของประเทศจาก “ไม่เอาสงคราม” ไปสู่ “ต้องชนะสงคราม”

เขาอาจเริ่มจากแนวคิด “อย่ายุ่งเรื่องคนอื่น” แต่พอเห็นว่าโอกาสมา เขาก็เปลี่ยนโหมดทันที และทำให้ Spam กลายเป็นเสบียงระดับชาติ แบบนี้แหละเฮียถึงบอกว่า “สงครามทำให้คนธรรมดากลายเป็นตำนาน” ...หรือไม่ก็ “สงครามทำให้ธุรกิจธรรมดากลายเป็นธุรกิจผูกขาดที่ไม่มีใครเลิกกินได้อีกเลย”

Spam ไม่ใช่แค่อาหารกระป๋อง แต่เป็นเครื่องมือทางภูมิสงคราม อุตสาหกรรม และการตลาด จากห้องครัวทดลองเล็กๆ ในมินนิโซตา กลายเป็นไอเท็มในสนามรบระดับโลก และสุดท้าย…ก็กลายเป็นทั้ง อาหารในตู้, มุกในมุขตลก, และ คำด่าบนโลกออนไลน์ ทั้งหมดนี้เริ่มต้นจากคำเดียว... "หมูมันเหลือ"

#pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 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.