@ 05a0f81e:fc032124

People often say that money is the Root of all evil 😈 i have been hearing it since my tender age. I have grown to know what Money is, and realized that money is actually a solution rather than being evil or the root of everything evil.

Humans that believe that money is the Root of evil only see money from a wrong view, meaning that money is the reason for stealing, for kidnapping for killing and so many other evil acts. Moreover, human acts according to the decision he or she made in the mind!, so, the urge to steal, kill and kidnapp for monetary sake comes from the state of mind an individual is having at some point. Your state of mind exhibits your actions and achievements. People that invent and innovate also do it for monetary sake but with the right state of mind.

So, what is money?

Money is a powerful tool that supports modern civilization by enabling efficient trade and economic growth. This means that money can be anything, your knowledge and ideas can also serve as money. A person that have great ideas of invention and innovation is a great tool that we aid the economy growth of a country. So money in this contest is not just a buying and selling materials.

Individuals need to develop there mind to become a form of money that will aid the economy growth rather than planning on strategies to embark on a successful kidnapping mission or killing without being traced. When man failed to develop his mind, he will end up in evil act that will justify that saying that "money is the Root of all evil", but people that develop there minds state prove that money is a great and powerful tools ever.

@ f0fd6902:a2fbaaab

Round 1 In Austria is now officially ON !! Head over to our website and sign up for the first 3 events of the 2025 season. The season will kick off at the ski resort of Axamer-Lizum, 20 minutes from the town of Innsbruck in Austria. This will be a very high speed course, with decent surface that will test riders’ nerves. There are two big straights both culminating in two big hairpin turns. The track is wide where drafting and overtaking opportunities will be plenty. The event race village will be located at the top of the hill in the big car park of the ski resort, where there will be food, drinks and toilets available. Accommodation will also be provided at the resort, making this will be a compact event set up, with the start line a kilometre or so down the road which can be accessed by car, skate or on foot.

TRACK INFO: Round 1 in Austria is now officially ON !! Head over to our website and sign up for the first 3 events of the 2025 season. The course runs down Hoadlstraße, the access road to the Axamer Lizum ski resort, the largest ski resort near Innsbruck. The course starts, about 1 kilometer from the ski resort, on a steep, straight section. After building up speed there is a long right hand sweeper bringing the racers to the first of three hairpins. The course will finish 3 kilometers later shortly after the final hairpin. Length: 3.3 kilometers Hairpins: 3 Average Grade: 9.2% Steepest Grade: 21.8% https://maps.app.goo.gl/cuQaAbie7zH2Zhjn7

Full Event :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHWnaQHcH74&ab_channel=WDSC

Results Women and Men in Stand up & Streetluge :

Link WDSC: https://worlddownhillskateboardingchampionship.com/

https://stacker.news/items/1007568

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin: How To Solve the Student Loan Crisis

Student loans continue to trouble millions of Americans, with a total of $1.77 trillion already owed. This crisis has been a major political issue for a while, especially after former President Biden promised to wipe out all of the student loan debt and ended up only fulfilling half of the promise. These billions of dollars are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent people who repay their debt, every month, year in and year out. While the standard repayment plan spans 10 years, the reality is far more daunting: The average borrower takes 20-30 years to repay their loans. 

There are over two million new undergraduates every year, and, on average, they graduate with $29,400 in debt. Some, like medical students, surpass $250,000 in debt — a mortgage-sized pile. Almost $100 billion in new debt is created every year, piled upon the already unsustainable student debt pile. Similar to how we have (haven’t) dealt with public pensions, instead of dismantling a failed system we keep feeding the machine and crushing people’s lives and dreams underneath its weight. But perhaps there’s a way for future generations to avoid this dreadful fate — by borrowing new ideas from similar fields.

Real Estate: The Store of Value (SoV) Since Nixon

The real estate market is another system that heavily relies on debt to keep functioning, and like student loans, it’s not working too well. 

Real estate is a market where it’s completely normal to go 10x levered long on a single asset while putting all of your savings into it. Talk about idiosyncratic risk. The entire market has been in deep pain worldwide, not necessarily because of the debt, but due to how the fiat system has turned real estate into an investment-and-savings mechanism. In turn, the great investment of one generation becomes the unaffordable housing for the next. But a subset of the population has been divesting from the asset in favor of a better savings vehicle: bitcoin. 

Part of their thesis in divesting from real estate and moving to bitcoin is that they predict that bitcoin’s superior SoV function will drive real estate prices down, wreaking havoc on a fragile and overpriced asset class. This makes quite a bit of sense, especially to those individuals who invested in real estate in search of those SoV properties in the first place; they now have to contend with increasing risk all over the world, putting in peril what was once a “safe SoV” asset class. From wildfires all over the place to floods, expropriations, new taxes, and wars breaking out in places previously unimaginable, some investors are just fed up.

But housing is still necessary, and we still need to build a massive amount of new houses. In almost all major cities in the world, there’s a housing crisis driven in large part by shortages. This is due to lackluster housing buildouts following the 2008 great financial crisis, driven directly by housing debt. Thus, even if all of the real estate owners put all of their stock of housing into the market, we would still have to develop and construct new ones. But it’s hard to convince real estate developers to do so when you also tell them that, in bitcoin terms, the houses they are building will be worth less by the time they sell them.

Bitcoin Replaces Real Estate

That’s where a German Bitcoiner and real estate developer named Leon Wankum steps in and turns the problem into a solution. You may even say he used financial jiu-jitsu because his idea is to bundle new, debt-heavy real estate projects with a bitcoin fund. This way, a $10 million project — of which $9 million is debt-financed — would allocate a small percentage of the financing to bitcoin, in order to hedge the depreciation and devaluation of the main asset and thereby benefit from the appreciation of bitcoin. This way, real estate developers can leverage the debt-heavy nature of the real estate market to cover the demand for housing while also hedging themselves from any SoV risk that bitcoin may pose to that asset.

This seemed like a crazy idea. Bitcoin and real estate: a super conservative mainstream infrastructure investment combined with a hyper-volatile digital savings vehicle — an unlikely marriage. Yet, polar opposites attract, and an idea is only crazy until someone replicates it and makes it work. 

To everyone’s surprise, that’s exactly what happened last year, when Andrew Hohns of Newmarket Capital went on TV to announce they had started applying Wankum’s model to offer a loan to a real estate developer. They had provided financing for a real estate project with a few special conditions: 

• the developer had to use a small proportion to buy bitcoin, which was placed in escrow.
• the bitcoin is inextricably tied with the real estate asset.
• and the bitcoin has to be held for four years minimum.

The experiment was off to the races. If the past serves as a guide, this new investment structure will greatly reduce the burden of the loan.

Bitcoin and Student Debts, Rescuing the Next Generation

At this point, the parallels to student loans should be pretty clear. When 18-year-olds take out a mortgage-sized loan to bet on their education, their future human capital is effectively becoming the real estate (collateral) that backs the debt. Their capacity to make extra income from the knowledge and certificates they acquired by going into debt will help them pay it off (given that all goes well). Investment margins become very sensitive and risk increases immensely when huge amounts of leverage are added to any investment — be it trading stocks, real estate, or your future. Your room for maneuvering decreases, and you get trapped in the path you choose.

Thus, if you yourself become the real estate securing this mortgage-sized student debt, perhaps you could also secure that loan and reduce the burden on the main asset (you) by integrating bitcoin into the mix. This could have great benefits for all parties involved: decreasing the risk for the lender and giving increased peace of mind and opportunities for the borrower (you, the student).

One of the main advantages of adding bitcoin to your student debt structure is that there are now two assets rowing against the financial repayment current: yourself and bitcoin. By going to university, learning new skills and getting certificates, you open up the path to better-paid jobs and higher earning potentials, aka higher salaries. The more intriguing component is the bitcoin tied to your student debts. As a teenager itself, bitcoin has had an incredible CAGR over its lifespan. Even conservative numbers indicate that bitcoin will return about 60% annually for the foreseeable future. When compared with the 10-15% usually provided by the S&P 500, bitcoin looks like a Ferrari competing against horses. 

The other advantage is one that frustrates most students, and it has to do with acquiring bitcoin once they understand it. Unlike most adults, undergrads have barely had any time to build up savings, and are therefore unable to exchange much fiat for hard bitcoin. This can become incredibly frustrating, especially because you know that if you were a decade older, you could have aped into bitcoin and retired your entire bloodline. But now you are stuck being 16, saving up pennies, and sacrificing your younger years for trifling amounts of bitcoin that won’t make a difference in your lifetime. So close, yet so far away.

But what is debt if not a way to bring future purchasing power into the present? Debt is a time-traveling machine that allows people to buy assets by leveraging their future earnings, revenues, or salaries. And thankfully, the current system is created so that the moment you can legally go to jail or go to war, you can also indebt yourself up to your eyeballs with the promise of future wages as a doctor, engineer, lawyer, or another profession.

Funnily enough, bitcoin’s recommended minimum holding time is also the number of years for an average college degree — four years. This means that, as long as you create a similar structure as the one proposed by Newmarket Capital, where the bitcoin has a four-year holding period, you’ll be using financial jiu-jitsu. The four-year holding period, however, does not mean that the student needs to sell at that point. The question of how to manage your finances between repaying the student loans, selling the bitcoin, or acquiring more is a more complex and personal issue. Regardless of what any student does, with this hybrid method, student debts can help young Bitcoiners leap forward instead of taking a step back.

With this new method, students — and their families — now have another thing to celebrate when they walk onto the graduation stage. And if you drop out of school, for any set of reasons that life may hit you with, your student loan now comes with a fail-safe met

@ 70c48e4b:00ce3ccb

Hello all :)

Something pretty exciting just happened in the world of decentralized tech.

A new social network project called Nostria successfully wrapped up its pre-seed funding round. It raised the funds through Angor, a crowdfunding platform built on Bitcoin and Nostr that aligns perfectly with the project’s decentralized mission.This post is all about what Nostria is doing, why it matters, and how Angor made it all possible.

What is Nostria?

nostr:npub16x7nxvehx0wvgy0sa6ynkw9c2ghuph3z0ll5t8veq3xwm8n9tqds6ka44x is a social network app that’s built to make the Nostr protocol easy to use. If you're not familiar with Nostr, it's an open protocol for decentralized social networking. It gives users more control and privacy, without relying on big platforms.

Nostria makes all that feel less like a tech experiment and more like a real social network. The app is simple, elegant, and beginner-friendly. It is available across iOS, Android, and web so you can jump in from anywhere.

Think of it as the easiest way to start using Nostr without needing to understand all the technical stuff under the hood.

https://www.nostria.app/assets/screenshots/nostria-01.jpg

The Problem Nostria is Solving:

One of the challenges Nostr faces right now is scaling. The network relies on relays to pass messages around, but many of these are centralized and getting overloaded. That creates serious bottlenecks and makes the whole experience less reliable. Just to give you an idea:

• Damus relay has around 646,000 users
• Nos relay has 601,000 users
• Snort sits at 417,000 users

When so many users depend on just a few relays, it puts a huge strain on the system and limits how far the network can grow.

Nostria’s Clever Fix

Nostria introduces a smarter way to scale Nostr without losing its decentralized core. Instead of relying on a few overloaded relays, it uses:

• Regionally deployed Discovery Relays – Think of these as local hubs placed in different parts of the world. When users connect, they are matched with a nearby relay, which keeps things faster and spreads the traffic out so no single relay gets overwhelmed.

• Pooled User Relays – Instead of each person depending on just one relay, users are connected through a shared pool. This means messages are sent and received more efficiently, especially when more people join the network.

All of this happens behind the scenes. The app keeps things simple and intuitive, with automation that handles the complexity for you. Whether you're posting, reading, or connecting with others, the experience stays smooth.

Nostria has bold ambitions. Here’s what they’re going for:

• A goal of 1 million daily active users
• Competing with platforms like Bluesky, Mastodon, and even X (formerly Twitter)
• A long-term plan to support both free and premium services to drive adoption

As of now, the Nostr network as a whole has:

• 15,000 daily active users
• 42.7 million total users
• 552 million total events

So the market is already there. It just needs the right tools to grow.

https://www.nostria.app/assets/screenshots/nostria-02.jpg

Meet the Team

Nostria is led by nostr:npub1zl3g38a6qypp6py2z07shggg45cu8qex992xpss7d8zrl28mu52s4cjajh, a software engineer with deep experience in distributed systems. He has been involved with the Nostr protocol since its early days in 2021 and is deeply passionate about decentralization and open-source tech.

https://www.nostria.app/assets/team/sondre.jpg

He’s joined by nostr:npub1e0krp2gr3l5nfd2jw2cydh68adxjpmcqdhs2e0jxkrqd4crwt4dslwrk0k, a thoughtful full-stack developer focused on simplicity and sovereignty, and nostr:npub10c4sn723akd7fqegfe6xntpq43p86vnyvv7j2ryaq8jzvhyea4pq72c5ul, a junior dev who’s already contributed to open source and is finishing up her studies.

https://www.nostria.app/assets/team/kosta.jpg https://www.nostria.app/assets/team/lu.jpg

The Funding Round

To bring Nostria to life, the team aimed to raise $30,000 during their pre-seed round. This funding would help them:

• Complete their MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
• Deploy global infrastructure
• Start building their user base
• Get ready for a full Seed round in late 2025

How Angor Helped?

Angor is a decentralized crowdfunding platform built on Bitcoin and the Nostr protocol. It’s designed exactly for projects like this. The team at Nostria launched their campaign on Angor between May 12 and May 31, and it was a success.

What made the campaign stand out?

1. The whole process was decentralized and transparent.
2. Backers could fund the project directly, without intermediaries.
3. Nostria aligned perfectly with Angor’s vision of empowering projects that push decentralization forward.

The campaign served as both a fundraiser and a real-world example of how decentralized infrastructure can power decentralized ideas. And it worked.

Inside the Funding Terms

As part of this funding round, Nostria offered contributors a post-money SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). This is a modern, flexible way for startups to raise money early without the complexity of traditional equity rounds.

In simple terms:

•Investors contributed funds now, and in return, they will receive equity in Nostria during a future priced equity round. When Nostria raises its next round, most likely a Seed round, then those SAFE contributions will convert into actual shares.

•The SAFE includes a valuation cap, which sets a maximum company valuation for conversion. This guarantees that early backers receive shares at a better rate than future investors. While the exact cap isn't publicly listed, this feature ensures early supporters are rewarded for their trust.

•There is no interest or maturity date, which is a major benefit over traditional convertible notes. There’s no ticking clock or repayment obligation. Investors simply wait until the next funding event.

•The SAFE also features a Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause. This ensures that if the company issues another SAFE later with better terms, early investors will automatically receive the same improved terms. It’s designed to keep things transparent and equitable.

•Jurisdiction and legal terms: While the full legal text isn’t included in the note, SAFEs typically specify the legal jurisdiction governing the agreement. Nostria’s approach suggests a commitment to following standard legal frameworks, further underlining their seriousness and professionalism.

You can read Nostria’s public SAFE summary here: nostr:npub16x7nxvehx0wvgy0sa6ynkw9c2ghuph3z0ll5t8veq3xwm8n9tqds6ka44x

And you can view the full campaign hosted on Angor here: https://hub.angor.io/project/angor1qwdgxjuzhjykgpn5q8p3l2q9vyrgqdlrkfp5sjr

By sharing these details openly, the team added a strong layer of transparency and trust to the entire campaign. It is a clear signal that they are building something serious and thoughtful, with long-term commitment and care instead of shortcuts.

What’s Next?

With the funding secured, Nostria is sprinting ahead. The roadmap includes:

• June: Deploying media and relay servers
• July: Adding premium features and full cross-platform support
• August: Growing the user base and preparing for the next funding round

If all goes well, Nostria is on track to become one of the most accessible and user-friendly Nostr based platforms out there. With a clear roadmap and a team focused on long-term decentralization, the journey is just getting started...

Got an idea of your own? You can launch your project on Angor, just like Nostria did, and start your own funding round with the support of a like-minded community.

Thanks for reading. See y’all next week with another story from the world of open, decentralized innovation. Ciao

@ f0fd6902:a2fbaaab

https://stacker.news/items/1007564

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Der Münchner Pianist und "Musikdurchdringer" Jürgen Plich stellt jeden Dienstag um 20 Uhr große klassische Musik vor. Er teilt seine Hör- und Spielerfahrung und seine persönliche Sicht auf die Meisterwerke. Er spielt selbst besondere, unbekannte Aufnahmen, erklärt, warum die Musik so und nicht anders klingt und hat eine Menge aus dem Leben der Komponisten zu erzählen.

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/eine-stunde-klassik-liebesfreud-und-liebesleid?

Sonntags um 10 Uhr in der Wiederholung.

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

Wo läßt es sich trefflicher plaudern als am Küchentisch. Es muß ja nicht unbedingt der eigene sein. Hauptsache, es sitzen vergnügte Menschen reinen Herzens daran, wie zum Beispiel die Herren Helmut Schleich und Franz Esser.

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/karlspreis-katzeklo-am-kuchentisch-mit-schleich-esser?

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

All diese politischen Themen! Dauernd schreit einer lauter als der andere, um DIE WAHRHEIT über Geschehnisse zu verkünden, bei denen er allermeist gar nicht anwesend war. Längst spüren wir, dass die übermäßige Beschäftigung mit dem Außen nicht gut tut und weder zur Ruhe, noch zum inneren Frieden beiträgt. Bei Radio München wird es ab 20. Juni eine neue Sendereihe geben, mit dem Titel „Böttchers innere Reisen“, hier soll der Fokus mehr auf das Seelenheil in unheilen Zeiten gehen, oder heißt es unheilige Zeiten?

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/innere-reisen-mit-jens-bottcher-ein-interview-von-andreas-geltinger?

Jens Böttcher, ist Musiker, Schriftsteller und Lebensberater, ausgezeichnet mit dem Kulturpreis „Blauer Löwe“ und dem renommierten Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. In seinem Gesprächsformat namens Licht.Spiel.Haus, zu dem er immer wieder interessante Gäste einlädt, spricht er, wie auch in seinen Büchern und Liedtexten, vom Scheitern, vom Leiden, vom Aufstehen, von der Freude und von der Liebe … und dass alles irgendwie zusammenhängt in unserem Leben, das er als spirituelle Reise begreift.

Unser Autor Andreas Geltinger stellt uns heute unseren neuen Kollegen Jens Böttcher im Rahmen eines Interview vor.

@ 2b24a1fa:17750f64

„Die Technologie neigt dazu, alle Attribute des religiösen Denkens, der magischen und animistischen Vernunft und des künstlerischen Schaffens sich allein einzuverleiben. Es ist noch nicht lange her, als angenommen wurde, das künstliche Objekt entferne den Menschen von der Welt. Heute ist es keine Frage der Entfernung mehr, sondern die Frage einer möglichen Verschmelzung, da die Welt selbst dazu neigt, künstlich zu werden.“

https://soundcloud.com/radiomuenchen/die-terrestrische-gemeinschaft-ein-buch-von-achille-mbembe?

\ Das schreibt Achille Mbembe, Historiker und Politikwissenschaftler aus Kamerun, in seinem Buch „Die terrestrische Gemeinschaft. Technik, Animismus und die Erde als Utopie“. Inspiration und Hoffnung findet der Autor in Afrika. Jenem Kontinent, den unsere – je nach Blickwinkel westliche oder nördliche – Zivilisation gerne reduziert auf Schlagwörter wie Krieg, Hunger, Despotie, Überbevölkerung und Aberglaube. In den alten Stammeskulturen findet Mbembe eine ganz andere Haltung, ein ganz anderes Verständnis der Welt. Das könnte uns helfen, die Natur nicht als Feind zu betrachten, den es zu bezwingen gilt, sondern als Ort, an dem alles mit allem verbunden ist und niemand sich zum Herrscher aufschwingen kann, ohne den anderen und letztlich auch sich selbst zu schaden:\ „Dieser Gemeinschaft der Erde entspricht die grundlegende Universalität aller ihrer Bewohner. Weder die menschlichen Personen noch die anderen Wesen zusammengenommen sind die Eigentümer der Erde. Sie sind dort Erdenbürger, insofern sie alle in den Genuss eines unbestreitbaren Platzes auf ihr kommen.“\ Unser Autor Jonny Rieder hat Mbembes Buch gelesen und darüber nachgedacht.

Sprecher: Ulrich Allroggen

Bild: Verlag Matthes & Seitz Berlin / Dirk Lebahn

@ 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!

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

The night the storm swallowed their village, fear ran like fire in every heart.

Children clung to their mothers. Old men stared at the cracking trees outside. Even the bravest men stayed indoors, muttering prayers and counting lightning.

But in a small hut near the edge of the forest, a boy named Ezekiel lit a single candle.

His sister, Clara , not older than ten, asked in a whisper, “Why are you lighting that? The storm will blow it out.”

Ezekiel smiled softly. “Because if I don’t, the darkness wins.”

Clara trembled. “But the storm is so loud. What if the roof falls? What if the forest floods?”

Ezekiel knelt beside her and held her hand. “Then we listen, and we run. But until then, we keep the light on. Someone might be looking for it.”

Just as he spoke, a frantic knock came at the door. A woman drenched and shivering had seen their tiny flame through the chaos. She wasn’t from the village, but had lost her way when her cart overturned on the muddy road.

They wrapped her in a blanket. Made space by the fire. Shared what little food they had.

Later that night, Clara looked at the still-burning candle and whispered, “You were right.”

Ezekiel looked at her. “About what?”

She smiled. “Light doesn’t stop the storm. But it helps people find each other.”

Moral: In the face of overwhelming fear, even the smallest courage can become a beacon.

@ 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.

@ 90c656ff:9383fd4e

The history of Bitcoin is marked by symbolic milestones that represent not only the technical evolution of the digital currency but also its journey toward economic and political legitimacy. In this article, we revisit some of the most iconic moments that have defined Bitcoin’s adoption from its first use in a simple transaction to its recognition as an official currency by sovereign nations.

The Most Expensive Pizza in History

On May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made history by paying 10,000 BTC for two pizzas. At the time, this amount was worth about $40. Today, those same coins would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, making it the most expensive meal ever recorded. More than a curiosity, this transaction marked the first time Bitcoin was used in a real commercial exchange, proving its potential as a payment method.

Silk Road and the Dark Side of Early Adoption

Although controversial, Bitcoin’s use on the Silk Road marketplace demonstrated to the world that the digital currency was functional as a large-scale medium of exchange. The platform operated between 2011 and 2013 and acted as a catalyst for the development of infrastructure around BTC, despite the negative impact it had on the cryptocurrency’s public image.

Mt. Gox and the First Major Crisis

In 2014, the exchange Mt. Gox—responsible for about 70% of all Bitcoin transactions at the time—declared bankruptcy after losing approximately 850,000 BTC. The scandal shook confidence in the ecosystem but also triggered a period of maturation, driving the pursuit of better security practices, regulatory frameworks, and professionalization within the industry.

El Salvador and Official Recognition

In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender. The measure, championed by President Nayib Bukele, was met with enthusiasm by Bitcoin advocates and skepticism by international financial institutions. El Salvador’s experiment placed Bitcoin at the center of the geopolitical debate and set a precedent for other nations to consider following the same path.

In summary, each of these moments represents a distinct phase in Bitcoin’s evolution—from experimentation to institutional adoption. By revisiting these iconic cases, we gain a deeper understanding not only of Bitcoin’s technical progress but also of how its narrative has become embedded in contemporary financial history. If the pizza purchase symbolized BTC’s practical birth, the official recognition by entire nations suggests a future where digital currency could play a leading role in new forms of global economic organization.

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!

@ 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/

@ 88cc134b:5ae99079

content

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.

UI Improvements

You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.

Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.

The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.

Terms of Service Summarizer

A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.

Nostr Comments

I've integrated a comment section for each service using Nostr. For guidance on using this feature, visit the dedicated how-to page.

Database

The backend database has transitioned to pocketbase, an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at pluja/pocketbase.

Scoring

The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available open source.

Listings

Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.

API

The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, check here.

About Page

The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.

Other Changes

Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

@ 8bad92c3:ca714aa5

Key Takeaways

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

Best Quotes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Only a whale can be magnificent.”

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

Conclusion

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

Timestamps

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

Transcript

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

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

News

• Spiral welcomes Ben Carman. The developer will work on the LDK server and a new SDK designed to simplify the onboarding process for new self-custodial Bitcoin users.
• Spiral renews support for Dan Gould and Joschisan. The organization has renewed support for Dan Gould, who is developing the Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK), and Joschisan, a Fedimint developer focused on simplifying federations.
• The Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation announced new corporate members for 2025, including AnchorWatch, CleanSpark, and Proton Foundation. The annual dues from these corporate members fund the small team of open-source developers responsible for maintaining the core BDK libraries and related free and open-source software (FOSS) projects.
• The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA), just months after its implementation. According to Politico's report on Tuesday, the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
• Slovenia is considering a 25% capital gains tax on Bitcoin profits for individuals. The Ministry of Finance has proposed legislation to impose this tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions, though exchanging one cryptocurrency for another would remain exempt. At present, individual 'crypto' traders in Slovenia are not taxed.
• The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya. The new legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
• Circle, BitGo, Coinbase, and Paxos plan to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, major crypto companies are planning to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. These firms are pursuing limited licenses that would permit them to issue stablecoins, as the U.S. Congress deliberates on legislation mandating licensing for stablecoin issuers.

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

• Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the George W. Bush administration. He has committed to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
• Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.' The U.S. Federal Reserve withdrew guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as announced by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.

"As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.

• Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange. The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank announced plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
• Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury. This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is planned to go public via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by Jack Mallers, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a report by the Financial Times, the company aims to replicate the model of Michael Saylor with his company, MicroStrategy.
• Strategy increases Bitcoin holdings to 538,200 BTC. In the latest purchase, the company has spent more than $555M to buy 6,556 coins through proceeds of two at-the-market stock offering programs.
• Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC. The Tokyo-listed company has purchased an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
• Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC. The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a press release.
• Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin. According to the automaker's latest earnings report, the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
• Spar supermarket experiments with Bitcoin payments in Zug, Switzerland. The store has introduced a new payment method powered by the Lightning Network. The implementation was facilitated by DFX Swiss, a service that supports seamless conversions between bitcoin and legacy currencies.

• Charles Schwab to launch spot Bitcoin trading by 2026. The financial investment firm, managing over $10 trillion in assets, has revealed plans to introduce spot Bitcoin trading for its clients within the next year.
• Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM" and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as announced on Tuesday.
• Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet. The bridge utilizes the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
• UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing. The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, per Bitcoin Magazine.
• Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners, adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.

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

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

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dirty Coin debut ceremony at the Marché du Film

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dirty Coin at the Cannes Film Festival

Watch the Trailer + Access Press Materials

📂 EPK
🎬 Screener
🌍 Host a Screening

Follow the Movement

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

@ 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.

@ 0403c86a:66d3a378

Exciting news for FOOTBALL fans ⚽! Global Sports Central 🌐 is teaming up with Predyx, a leading prediction market in the Bitcoin ecosystem, to bring you comprehensive coverage of the very first Club World Cup directly on Nostr. This partnership is all about enhancing your experience with the latest news, insights, and interactive features!

The Club World Cup will showcase the best clubs from around the globe, and with our collaboration, you’ll be fully engaged in the action. Predyx focuses on long-term outcomes, allowing you to make predictions on who will win it all. Plus, if you’re not happy with your predictions, you can sell your shares at any time and switch allegiance—after all, it’s a free market!

What You Can Expect:

• Latest News and Match Reports: Stay updated with the latest news, in-depth match reports, and insights from the tournament, ensuring you never miss a moment.

• Market Odds Tracking: Follow the shifts in market odds in real-time, giving you the edge when making predictions and engaging with the action.

• Player of the Day Card: Celebrate standout performances with our Daily Player of the Day card, highlighting the top players from the tournament.

• Game oN Frontpage: Each day, we’ll feature the frontpage of the day, showcasing the most historical matchups and capturing the feel of the game.

• Best Moments Replays: Relive the excitement with replays of the best moments from the Cup, so you can catch all the highlights and unforgettable plays.

• Long-Term Predictions: Engage with Predyx to forecast who will win the tournament and who will take home the MVP award, allowing you to make strategic predictions as the tournament unfolds.

• Easy Login System: Getting started is a breeze! All you need is a Lightning wallet to log in and participate, making it simple for everyone to join in on the fun.

• Lightning-Fast Bitcoin Payments: With the Lightning Network, placing your bets and making predictions is faster and easier than ever. Enjoy seamless transactions while you cheer for your favorite teams!

"Predyx is excited to be part of this innovative partnership," said Derek. "We’re bringing fans a new way to interact with the game they love, all while using the fast and secure Lightning Network."

Predyx is a Bitcoin-native prediction market platform running on the Lightning Network. We’re building the fastest, most trust-minimized betting engine in the world — no deposits, instant payouts, sats-native, and degen-friendly.

Global Sports Central 🌐 Your daily spin around the sports world 🔄 Stay in the loop with the latest scores, stories, and stats.

GSC360 - Where Every Angle Matters

@ 95543309:196c540e

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2/2} \, dx = \sqrt{2\pi}$$$$\sum_{k=1}^n k^2 = \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}$$$$\lim_{x \to \infty} \left(1 + \frac{1}{x}\right)^x = e$$$$\begin{vmatrix}a & b \\c & d\end{vmatrix} = ad - bc$$$$\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{x^2 + 1}{x - 1}\right)$$$$\iiint_V (\nabla \cdot \mathbf{F}) \, dV = \oint_{\partial V} \mathbf{F} \cdot d\mathbf{S}$$$$\binom{n}{k} = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}$$$$\ln\left(\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}\right) = \ln f(x) - \ln g(x)$$$$\forall x \in \mathbb{R}, \exists y \in \mathbb{R} \text{ such that } x + y = 0$$$$\sqrt{\frac{x^2 + y^2}{x^2 - y^2}}$$$$\begin{array}{c|c}A & B \\hlineC & D\end{array}$$$$\sum_{i=1}^n \sum_{j=1}^n a_{ij}x_i x_j$$$$\mathcal{L}{f(t)}(s) = \int_0^\infty e^{-st}f(t)\,dt$$$$\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial t^2} = c^2 \frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2}$$$$\mathbf{A} = \begin{pmatrix}a_{11} & a_{12} \\a_{21} & a_{22}\end{pmatrix}, \quad\mathbf{B} = \begin{pmatrix}b_{11} & b_{12} \\b_{21} & b_{22}\end{pmatrix}$$$$\underbrace{a + b + \dots + z}{26}$$$$\left(\frac{a}{b}\right)^n = \frac{a^n}{b^n}$$$$\langle \psi | \phi \rangle = \int{-\infty}^{\infty} \psi^*(x)\phi(x) \, dx$$$$\oint_C \mathbf{F} \cdot d\mathbf{r} = \iint_S (\nabla \times \mathbf{F}) \cdot d\mathbf{S}$$$$\prod_{k=1}^n \left(1 + \frac{1}{k}\right) = \frac{(n+1)}{1}$$$$S(\omega)=1.466\, H_s^2 \frac{\omega_0^5}{\omega^6} \exp\Bigl[-3^{\frac{\omega}{\omega_0}}\Bigr]^2$$

@ c9badfea:610f861a

🤖️ AI Articles

• 🗨️ Using LLMs for OPSEC

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📱 Android Articles

• 🥩 Tracking Food Intake
• ✍️ Taking Handwritten Notes
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• 🌠 Offline Planetarium
• 📥 Downloading Media From 1000+ Sites
• 🔥 Blocking Ads and Trackers
• ⛅ Getting Detailed Weather Information
• 📦 Installing Apps Directly From Source
• 🎮 Playing Retro Games
• 🖼️ Generating AI Images Locally
• 📖 Reading PDF Documents and EPUB Books
• 🔒 Storing Passwords Safely
• 🗺️ Using Offline Maps
• 🎵 Producing Music On-Device
• 💾 Writing ISO Images to USB Drives
• 💻 Coding On-Device
• 🎬 Watching and Downloading Videos from YouTube, Rumble, Odysee, Bitchute, and More
• 🔤 Upgrading the Typing Experience
• 📰 Reading RSS Feeds
• 📥 Downloading Torrents
• 📺 Watching IPTV Channels for Free
• 🔒 Easily Verifying File Checksums
• 🗣️ Offline Translator
• 🗣️ Offline Text-to-Speech Engine
• 🤖 Running LLMs Locally
• 🌐 Browsing Entire Websites Offline
• 🔐 Quickly Encrypting Files

---

✏️ Other Articles

• 🔠 Unicode Fonts
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@ 97c70a44:ad98e322

Vibe coding is taking the nostr developer community by storm. While it's all very exciting and interesting, I think it's important to pump the brakes a little - not in order to stop the vehicle, but to try to keep us from flying off the road as we approach this curve.

In this note Pablo is subtweeting something I said to him recently (although I'm sure he's heard it from other quarters as well):

nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzp75cf0tahv5z7plpdeaws7ex52nmnwgtwfr2g3m37r844evqrr6jqy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qghwaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8qunfd4skctnwv46z7qg6waehxw309ac8junpd45kgtnxd9shg6npvchxxmmd9uqzq0z48d4ttzzkupswnkyt5a2xfkhxl3hyavnxjujwn5k2k529aearwtecp4

There is a naive, curmudgeonly case for simply "not doing AI". I think the intuition is a good one, but the subject is obviously more complicated - not doing it, either on an individual or a collective level, is just not an option. I recently read Tools for Conviviality by Ivan Illich, which I think can help us here. For Illich, the best kind of tool is one which serves "politically interrelated individuals rather than managers".

This is obviously a core value for bitcoiners. And I think the talks given at the Oslo Freedom Forum this year present a compelling case for adoption of LLMs for the purposes of 1. using them for good, and 2. developing them further so that they don't get captured by corporations and governments. Illich calls both the telephone and print "almost ideally convivial". I would add the internet, cryptography, and LLMs to this list, because each one allows individuals to work cooperatively within communities to embody their values in their work.

But this is only half the story. Illich also points out how "the manipulative nature of institutions... have put these ideally convivial tools at the service of more [managerial dominance]."

Preventing the subversion and capture of our tools is not just a matter of who uses what, and for which ends. It also requires an awareness of the environment that the use of the tool (whether for virtuous or vicious ends) creates, which in turn forms the abilities, values, and desires of those who inhabit the environment.

The natural tendency of LLMs is to foster ignorance, dependence, and detachment from reality. This is not the fault of the tool itself, but that of humans' tendency to trade liberty for convenience. Nevertheless, the inherent values of a given tool naturally gives rise to an environment through use: the tool changes the world that the tool user lives in. This in turn indoctrinates the user into the internal logic of the tool, shaping their thinking, blinding them to the tool's influence, and neutering their ability to work in ways not endorsed by the structure of the tool-defined environment.

The result of this is that people are formed by their tools, becoming their slaves. We often talk about LLM misalignment, but the same is true of humans. Unreflective use of a tool creates people who are misaligned with their own interests. This is what I mean when I say that AI use is anti-human. I mean it in the same way that all unreflective tool use is anti-human. See Wendell Berry for an evaluation of industrial agriculture along the same lines.

What I'm not claiming is that a minority of high agency individuals can't use the technology for virtuous ends. In fact, I think that is an essential part of the solution. Tool use can be good. But tools that bring their users into dependence on complex industry and catechize their users into a particular system should be approached with extra caution. The plow was a convivial tool, and so were early tractors. Self-driving John Deere monstrosities are a straightforward extension of the earlier form of the technology, but are self-evidently an instrument of debt slavery, chemical dependency, industrial centralization, and degradation of the land. This over-extension of a given tool can occur regardless of the intentions of the user. As Illich says:

There is a form of malfunction in which growth does not yet tend toward the destruction of life, yet renders a tool antagonistic to its specific aims. Tools, in other words, have an optimal, a tolerable, and a negative range.

The initial form of a tool is almost always beneficial, because tools are made by humans for human ends. But as the scale of the tool grows, its logic gets more widely and forcibly applied. The solution to the anti-human tendencies of any technology is an understanding of scale. To prevent the overrun of the internal logic of a given tool and its creation of an environment hostile to human flourishing, we need to impose limits on scale.

Tools that require time periods or spaces or energies much beyond the order of corresponding natural scales are dysfunctional.

My problem with LLMs is:

• Not their imitation of human idioms, but their subversion of them and the resulting adoption of robotic idioms by humans
• Not the access they grant to information, but their ability to obscure accurate or relevant information
• Not their elimination of menial work, but its increase (Bullshit Jobs)
• Not their ability to take away jobs, but their ability to take away the meaning found in good work
• Not their ability to confer power to the user, but their ability to confer power to their owner which can be used to exploit the user
• Not their ability to solve problems mechanistically, but the extension of their mechanistic value system to human life
• Not their explicit promise of productivity, but the environment they implicitly create in which productivity depends on their use
• Not the conversations they are able to participate in, but the relationships they displace

All of these dysfunctions come from the over-application of the technology in evaluating and executing the fundamentally human task of living. AI work is the same kind of thing as an AI girlfriend, because work is not only for the creation of value (although that's an essential part of it), but also for the exercise of human agency in the world. In other words, tools must be tools, not masters. This is a problem of scale - when tool use is extended beyond its appropriate domain, it becomes what Illich calls a "radical monopoly" (the domination of a single paradigm over all of human life).

So the important question when dealing with any emergent technology becomes: how can we set limits such that the use of the technology is naturally confined to its appropriate scale?

Here are some considerations:

• Teach people how to use the technology well (e.g. cite sources when doing research, use context files instead of fighting the prompt, know when to ask questions rather than generate code)
• Create and use open source and self-hosted models and tools (MCP, stacks, tenex). Refuse to pay for closed or third-party hosted models and tools.
• Recognize the dependencies of the tool itself, for example GPU availability, and diversify the industrial sources to reduce fragility and dependence.
• Create models with built-in limits. The big companies have attempted this (resulting in Japanese Vikings), but the best-case effect is a top-down imposition of corporate values onto individuals. But the idea isn't inherently bad - a coding model that refuses to generate code in response to vague prompts, or which asks clarifying questions is an example. Or a home assistant that recognized childrens' voices and refuses to interact.
• Divert the productivity gains to human enrichment. Without mundane work to do, novice lawyers, coders, and accountants don't have an opportunity to hone their skills. But their learning could be subsidized by the bots in order to bring them up to a level that continues to be useful.
• Don't become a slave to the bots. Know when not to use it. Talk to real people. Write real code, poetry, novels, scripts. Do your own research. Learn by experience. Make your own stuff. Take a break from reviewing code to write some. Be independent, impossible to control. Don't underestimate the value to your soul of good work.
• Resist both monopoly and "radical monopoly". Both naturally collapse over time, but by cultivating an appreciation of the goodness of hand-crafted goods, non-synthetic entertainment, embodied relationship, and a balance between mobility and place, we can relegate new, threatening technologies to their correct role in society.

I think in all of this is implicit the idea of technological determinism, that productivity is power, and if you don't adapt you die. I reject this as an artifact of darwinism and materialism. The world is far more complex and full of grace than we think.

The idea that productivity creates wealth is, as we all know, bunk. GDP continues to go up, but ungrounded metrics don't reflect anything about the reality of human flourishing. We have to return to a qualitative understanding of life as whole, and contextualize quantitative tools and metrics within that framework.

Finally, don't believe the hype. Even if AI delivers everything it promises, conservatism in changing our ways of life will decelerate the rate of change society is subjected to and allow time for reflection and proper use of the tool. Curmudgeons are as valuable as technologists. There will be no jobspocalypse if there is sufficient political will to value human good over mere productivity. It's ok to pump the breaks.

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

In a village nestled between cliffs and sea, lived a girl named Rita who had never spoken a word. She wasn’t mute but ever since her mother passed during a storm, her voice had locked itself deep within.

The villagers called her “the silent one.” Some pitied her. Others ignored her.

But every morning, Rita climbed the cliffs, sat with the rising sun, and played a handmade flute. Her melodies echoed through the valley, haunting, beautiful, alive.

One day, a merchant visited the village. He brought riches, spices, and tales but no joy. His heart was heavy with the loss of his son, and he walked through life with a scowl and silence of his own.

That morning, as he walked near the cliffs, he heard Rita’s song. He froze.

Something about the tune loosened the knot in his chest. It reminded him of lullabies he’d forgotten… of hope he thought had died.

Each day, he returned to hear her play. And though Rita said nothing, her music became his healing.

Soon, others began gathering. A boy with no father. An old widow. A girl who stuttered. They listened. They wept. They smiled.

Rita never spoke.

She didn’t need to.

Her silence became a voice louder than any words one that taught the village: “You don’t have to shout to be heard. Sometimes, healing sings quietly.”

Moral: Quiet doesn’t mean weak. There’s power in peace, and strength in stillness.

@ bd982176:8b2599a7

Bitcoin Pizza Day at Kimbo: A Memorable Event with Lessons Learned

On May 22nd, Bitcoin Babies hosted a lively Bitcoin Pizza Day celebration in Kimbo, honoring the historical milestone when Laszlo Hanyecz purchased two pizzas with 10,000 BTC back in 2010. Our aim was to bring the spirit of Bitcoin to the local community, share the excitement of Bitcoin adoption, and of course — enjoy some great pizza!

We had been preparing for the event for weeks. Our team held several productive meetings beforehand, discussing logistics, assigning roles, and ensuring everyone was on the same page. These planning sessions filled us with confidence, and as the day approached, we were eager to see everything come together.

While the event presented a few unexpected challenges, it ultimately turned out to be a vibrant, educational, and inspiring experience for everyone involved.

One hurdle we faced was a delay in receiving the payment receipt for the pizzas, which caused a late start in serving. Technical issues also impacted our Lightning wallet transactions, slowing down payments and extending wait times. Still, the use of Bitcoin’s Lightning Network sparked interest and curiosity among many attendees, providing a real-time look at this powerful technology.

Our pizza chefs encountered some delays and equipment issues that required quick thinking and problem-solving from the team. Meanwhile, the turnout exceeded our expectations, which — though exciting — led to some confusion in managing orders and coordinating among team members.

Yet despite the pressure, what truly stood out was the community’s enthusiasm and our team’s resilience. Most importantly, we were able to educate a significant number of people about Bitcoin — what it is, how it works, and how it can positively impact lives. While we may not have reached everyone as deeply as we had hoped, many attendees walked away with new knowledge and curiosity sparked.

One last-minute complication was seeking permission from the area chief on the same day as the event. Although it added stress, it was a valuable reminder of the importance of early and clear communication with local authorities.

Looking ahead to next year, we’re excited to implement the lessons learned. We’ll secure permissions well in advance, test all technical tools thoroughly, and work even more closely with vendors to ensure smooth logistics. We’ll also set up clearer systems for order handling and team coordination to prevent overload and confusion.

Most importantly, we’ll maintain a strong focus on our mission: not just selling pizza but sharing the promise and potential of Bitcoin with our community. By creating space for both enjoyment and education, we’ll ensure that everyone leaves inspired.

Bitcoin Pizza Day at Kimbo in 2025 was a meaningful experience. We’re proud of what we accomplished, grateful for the lessons learned, and determined to make next year’s celebration even more impactful and memorable.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

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

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

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

Okay, jokes aside.

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

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

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

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

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

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

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

About Flash

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

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

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

Media Contact:

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

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

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

Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

Use the tools

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

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

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Ukraine is opening the door to Bitcoin in its national reserves with a draft bill that would give the Central Bank the right to purchase digital assets.

Ukrainian lawmakers have introduced a legislative proposal that could allow the country’s Central Bank to include Bitcoin and other digital currencies in its national reserves.

The bill, filed on June 10 and registered as No. 13356, was put forward by a group of deputies led by Yaroslav Zheleznyak from the Holos party. The proposal calls for amendments to the Law on the National Bank of Ukraine, aiming to authorize the NBU (National Bank of Ukraine) to hold digital assets alongside gold and foreign currencies.

Source: Verkhovna Rada

The bill doesn’t require the Central Bank to invest in cryptocurrencies — it simply grants it the authority to do so. Zheleznyak stated:

“With this bill, we authorize the National Bank of Ukraine to include digital assets in the country’s reserves. However, decisions regarding the timing, methods, and volumes of such inclusion are left entirely at the discretion of the Central Bank.”

According to Zheleznyak, “proper management of crypto reserves will help strengthen macroeconomic stability and create new opportunities for the digital economy’s development.”

In a video discussion with Kirill Khomyakov, regional head of Binance for Central and Eastern Europe, Zheleznyak highlighted the growing international interest in cryptocurrencies as reserve assets, citing countries like the United States, El Salvador, Switzerland, and Brazil as examples of jurisdictions moving toward strategic bitcoin reserves.

The draft bill has been submitted to the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and is now awaiting further consideration. If approved, Ukraine could become the first European country to officially hold bitcoin as a state asset.

The post Ukraine: draft bill to include bitcoin in Central Bank reserves appeared first on Atlas21.

@ f0fd6902:a2fbaaab

Wolves can swim great distances of over seven miles. How? It’s due to special webbing between their toes. Many wolves, including the red wolf, will hunt in the water. They’ll slowly and silently swim up to their prey, and at the right time, they lunge forward and nab their victim with their powerful jaws. The webbing between their toes also helps them to maintain traction when walking across slick surfaces, like wet rocks.

https://stacker.news/items/1007519

@ 044da344:073a8a0e

Im September starten wir an der Freien Akademie für Medien & Journalismus eine Veranstaltungsreihe im Vorderen Bayerischen Wald und laden alle ein, live dabei zu sein, wenn Menschen interviewt werden, die etwas zu sagen und spannende Geschichten zu erzählen haben. Nach etwa einer Stunde werden die Kameras ausgeschaltet, sodass genug Raum bleibt für Fragen, für das Kennenlernen, für den Austausch mit Gleichgesinnten.

Die ersten Gäste ab dem 8. September: Jürgen Fliege, Joana Cotar, Gerd Reuther und Gabriele Gysi. Es gibt eine zweite Gesprächsreihe, die am 13. Oktober mit Jörg Bernig startet. Die Aufzeichnungen beginnen jeweils um 18 Uhr in einer Gaststätte im Raum Sankt Englmar. Wer eine weitere Anreise hat: Die Gegend ist wunderschön, lädt zum Entspannen ein (Wandern, hervorragende Gastronomie, Unterkünfte für jeden Geldbeutel) und verfügt über alles, was das Urlauberherz begehrt. Organistorisches und Anmeldung

8. September 2025: Jürgen Fliege – Glaube, Kirche, Hoffnung

Eine Talkshow im Ersten, präsentiert von einem Pastor, der alles mitbringt, was man braucht, um Menschen zu gewinnen: Einen besseren Werbeträger hätte sich die evangelische Kirche nicht wünschen können. Jürgen Fliege war von 1994 bis 2005 Stammgast in den Wohnzimmern und ist trotzdem oder gerade deshalb schon damals immer wieder in Konflikt geraten mit Amtsträgern aller Art. Ab 2020 hat er sich in Sachen Corona öffentlich klar positioniert und dabei auch auf die Bibel verwiesen.

9. September 2025: Joana Cotar – Acht Jahre Bundestag. Wie weiter mit der Demokratie?

Ganz stimmt das mit den acht Jahren nicht: Die zweite Legislaturperiode ist vor der Zeit zu Ende gegangen. Joana Cotar wurde zweimal über die AfD-Landesliste in Hessen in den Bundestag gewählt, war dabei 2021 auch als Spitzenkandidatin im Gespräch und zwei Jahre im Bundesvorstand. Ende 2022 hat sie Partei und Fraktion verlassen, im Parlament aber weitergemacht und immer wieder den Finger in die Wunde gelegt, wenn es um das Parteiensystem ging oder um den Spielraum der Volksvertreter.

10. September 2025: Gerd Reuther – Tatort Vergangenheit

Gerd Reuther hat sich als Medizinaufklärer ohne Tabus einen Namen gemacht – ein Radiologe, der an drei Kliniken Chefarzt war, dann aber mit 55 aufgehört hat. Sein Buch „Der betrogene Patient“ war 2017 ein Bestseller. Danach hat er die Geschichte der Medizin gegen den Strich gebürstet („Heilung Nebensache“) und in „Hauptsache Panik“ die europäische Seuchengeschichte demontiert. Jetzt nimmt er sich unsere gesamte Geschichte vor und stellt von den Römern bis in die Neuzeit unser „Wissen“ über die Vergangenheit in Frage.

11. September 2025: Gabriele Gysi – Gibt es noch eine deutsche Frage?

Niemand kann das besser beantworten als diese Künstlerin, Spross einer Politikerfamilie und Zeitzeugin für alle drei deutschen Nachkriegsstaaten – für die DDR sowieso, nach ihrer Ausreise 1984 aber auch für die alte Bundesrepublik und dann natürlich für die neue, wo sie unter anderem Chefdramaturgin der Berliner Volksbühne war. Gabriele Gysi sagt: Solange wir keine gesamtdeutsche Geschichte haben, bleibt die große Frage offen.

Michael Meyen: Videos

Freie Akademie für Medien & Journalismus

Unterstützen

@ 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

@ 6f26dd2b:f2824b88

To mitigate the negative effects of cognitive load on decision-making in forex trading, traders can adopt several strategies, such as breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, focusing on relevant information and reducing distractions, using checklists and decision-making frameworks, and taking breaks to recharge mental resources. Traders can also use tools and technologies that automate or simplify certain aspects of the trading process, such as algorithmic trading and risk management software.

To avoid the dangers of overconfidence, traders must remain humble, maintain discipline, and approach the market with a healthy respect for its complexity and unpredictability. By doing so, they can develop strategies that are more likely to result in success.

To avoid making impulsive decisions based on emotion, traders must develop a well-defined trading plan, manage their risk effectively, and maintain discipline. They must also remain focused on their long-term goals and avoid becoming overly focused on short-term gains or losses. By doing so, they can develop strategies that are more likely to result in success in the financial markets.

To avoid the pitfalls of trading to prove oneself to others, traders must develop a clear understanding of their motivations and goals. They must focus on developing a solid trading plan and approach the markets with a long-term perspective. By doing so, they can avoid making impulsive decisions and can manage their risks effectively.

Realistic goals can also help traders stay focused and disciplined, as they provide a clear direction for their trading activities. By setting realistic goals, traders can increase their chances of success and avoid falling victim to unrealistic expectations or pressure.

traders must adhere to the rule of only trading with money that they can afford to lose. By doing so, they can approach trading with a disciplined and rational mindset, which is essential for success in the financial markets.

It is important to conduct proper research and analysis, set realistic goals, and use proper risk management techniques to avoid falling victim to the rich quick mentality.

To avoid losing money due to greed, traders need to be disciplined and have a solid trading plan. This plan should include risk management strategies that help to control the amount of risk that is taken on in each trade. Traders should also use leverage responsibly and avoid overtrading. Finally, traders need to be able to control their emotions and make rational decisions based on analysis rather than emotions.

Being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses can help you develop a trading strategy that works for you.

To practice disciplined trading, you should develop a trading plan and stick to it. This plan should include your entry and exit points, stop-loss levels, and profit targets. It should also include your risk management strategy. By sticking to your trading plan, you can avoid impulsive decisions and ensure that your trades are based on analysis rather than emotions. By practicing disciplined trading and managing your risk carefully, you can improve your chances of success in the markets.

Being patient and persistent requires putting in the time and effort required to succeed. This means dedicating time each day to study the markets, analyze your trades, and refine your strategy. It also means being willing to learn from your mistakes, seek out feedback and guidance from other traders, and continuously improve your skills. By putting in the time and effort required to succeed, you can build the knowledge, experience, and discipline needed to achieve consistent profits over the long-term.

In addition, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important for avoiding burnout and maintaining mental and physical well-being. This can include strategies such as setting aside time for hobbies and other activities outside of trading, taking breaks when needed, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• The newest LND release brings upgrades that empower developers with better on-chain management, significantly boost backend scalability for expanding services, and ensure a more seamless and dependable payment experience.

"We are excited to announce the release of LND v0.19.0 beta! This new release focuses on making LND more secure, scalable, and reliable for powering global bitcoin and stablecoin transactions," was announced in a blog post.

• Some highlights of this release include a Replace-By-Fee Cooperative Close for flexible channel closure fees, migration of invoices to SQL for faster startups, enhanced payment reliability through improved pathfinding, transaction sweeper improvements, the addition of Testnet4 support for stable testing, among other things.

"As always, we are grateful for the ongoing support of our external contributors across development, review, and testing. A total of 51 developers contributed to this release. For the complete list of changes included in this release, check out the full release notes."

What's new

• New RBF cooperative close flow. It uses RBF to enable either side to increase their fee rate using their own channel funds. Channel peers must support the option_simple_close for this new protocol to work. This new feature can be activated with a new config flag: --protocol.rbf-coop-close.
  • This feature isn't compatible with older LND versions; fee bumping with them uses CPFP. It already works with Eclair v0.12.0 or up, and should work with other implementations as they roll out support for this protocol. The protocol currently does not support Taproot channels and Taproot asset channels.
• Support for archiving channel backups in a specific folder for future reference. It comes with a new config option, disable-backup-archive (default: false), to control whether previous backups are archived.
• Support for experimental endorsement signal relay. Deployed experimentally to assist ongoing channel jamming research, it has no impact on routing.
• Initial support for quiescence. This protocol gadget is required for upcoming Dynamic Commitments and Splicing features.
• Historical Sync: Fixed a race condition blocking initial sync due to syncer's internal state handling.
• Max Fee Rate is now respected during cooperative close initiation for both parties, not just the remote party.
• Lots of other bug fixes.

• Performance Improvements:

  • Limit outbound gossip traffic bandwidth with --gossip.msg-rate-bytes and --gossip.msg-rate-burst. Set burst to the maximum bytes transmittable without rate limiting, and rate to the ongoing permitted rate.

• Ability to use ZSTD for log rotation.

• Remove redundant iteration over a node's persisted channels when updating the graph cache with a new node or node update.

• Functional Enhancements:

  • Add pagination for wallet transactions.
  • Make MaxWaitNumBlocksFundingConf configurable for faster test timeouts, with a default of 2016 blocks for production.
  • Change sweeper to attempt sweeps if the budget is partially covered, preventing delays and high fees.
  • Validate MPP parameters before payment to avoid path finding loops and timeouts.
• Functional Updates:
  • Enable log compression with ZSTD using the logging.file.compressor argument.
  • Enhance SCB file with more data for last-resort rescue when a peer is unavailable.
  • Update channel.backup file at shutdown in LND.
  • Introduce chainio subsystem to sync subsystems with the current best block, fixing delays in HTLC sweeping due to block height discrepancies in ChainArbitrator, UtxoSweeper, and TxPublisher. Click here to learn more.
  • Sweeper now uses configured budget values for HTLCs with --sweeper.budget.deadlinehtlcratio and --sweeper.budget.deadlinehtlc.
  • Consider blockbeat dispatcher height when checking if lnd is synced to chain.
  • Allocate restricted slots for peers via --num-restricted-slots.
  • Added support for bitcoin testnet4.
  • Removed x/exp/maps dependency.
  • Add --no-disconnect-on-pong-failure option (default: false) to manage peer disconnection on pong failure or mismatch.

• RPC Additions and Updates. Some RPCs that previously returned an empty response now provide a short status message to help command line users confirm successful execution or background initiation. The following CLI commands no longer return an empty response ({}):

  • lncli wallet releaseoutput (WalletKit.ReleaseOutput RPC)
  • lncli wallet accounts import-pubkey (WalletKit.ImportPublicKey RPC)
  • lncli wallet labeltx (WalletKit.LabelTransaction RPC)
  • lncli sendcustom (Lightning.SendCustomMessage RPC)
  • lncli connect (Lightning.ConnectPeer RPC)
  • lncli disconnect (Lightning.DisconnectPeer RPC)
  • lncli stop (Lightning.Stop RPC)
  • lncli deletepayments (Lightning.DeleteAllPaymentsResponse RPC)
  • lncli abandonchannel (Lightning.AbandonChannel RPC)
  • lncli restorechanbackup (Lightning.RestoreChannelBackups RPC)

  • lncli verifychanbackup (Lightning.VerifyChanBackup RPC)

  • The ForwardInterceptor's MODIFY option now merges custom range TLVs with existing HTLC records, overwriting conflicting values with API-supplied ones.

  • Make ProofMatureDelta in gossip configurable via --gossip.announcement-conf, defaulting to 6.
  • Add LockedIn boolean field to lnrpc.HTLC to show if an HTLC is locked in by the remote peer.
  • Allow custom lock ID and duration in FundPsbt RPC.
  • Extend lnrpc.RPCMiddlewareRequest to include gRPC metadata pairs from the initial request's context.Context.
  • Updated PendingSweeps to return all registered outputs in the RPC response, regardless of future locktime, enabling planning for upcoming sweeps and custom aggregation logic. Added MaturityHeight field to PendingSweep for absolute locktime value.
  • Add BumpForceCloseFee RPC endpoint, moving lncli functionality to LND for broader accessibility.
  • Enhance walletrpc.FundPsbt with an option to set fees as sat_per_kw for greater precision.
  • Add a new option in walletrpc.FundPsbt to specify the maximum fee-to-output amounts ratio.
  • Sort lnrpc.Invoice.Htlcs by InvoiceHTLC.HtlcIndex in the list invoices RPC response.
  • Set a default 60-second timeout for routerrpc.SendPaymentV2 when timeout_seconds is unset or 0.
  • Include custom_channel_data for custom channels in lnrpc.ClosedChannels response.
  • lncli updates and additions:
  • Allow pre-generated macaroon root key in lncli create and lncli createwatchonly for deterministic macaroon generation.
  • Add --sat_per_kw flag to lncli wallet fundpsbt for precise fee rate specification.
  • Include --max_fee_ratio argument in lncli wallet fundpsbt to set maximum fee-to-output amounts ratio.
  • Enhance lncli listchannels and lncli closedchannels output with human-readable short channel ID and BOLT02 channel ID; rename chan_id to scid for accuracy.
  • Initiate cooperative close flow in coop close case even with active HTLCs, disabling the channel for new HTLCs and starting the flow when no HTLCs remain.
  • Introduce macaroon constraint for IP range-based access restriction, expanding beyond spe

@ 3eab247c:1d80aeed

Global Metrics

Here are the top stats from the last period:

• Total Bitcoin-accepting merchants: 15,306 → 16,284
• Recently verified (1y): 7,540 → 7,803 (the rest of our dataset is slowly rotting; help us before it's too late!)
• Avg. days since last verification: 398 → 405 (more mappers, please)
• Merchants boosted: 22 (for a total of 4,325 days, someone is feeling generous)
• Comments posted: 34

Find current stats over at the 👉 BTC Map Dashboard.

Merchant Adoption

Steak n’ Shake

The US 🇺🇸 is a massive country, yet its BTC Map footprint has been lagging relative to other countries ... that is until now!

In what came as a nice surprise to our Shadowy Supertaggers 🫠, the Steak ’n Shake chain began accepting Bitcoin payments across hundreds of its locations nationwide (with some international locations too).

According to CoinDesk, the rollout has been smooth, with users reporting seamless transactions powered by Speed.

This marks a significant step towards broader Bitcoin adoption in the US. Now to drop the capital gains tax on cheesburgers!

SPAR Switzerland

In other chain/franchise adoption news, the first SPAR supermarket in Switzerland 🇨🇭 to begin accepting Bitcoin was this one in Zug. It was quickly followed by this one in Rossrüti and this one in Kreuzlingen, in what is believed to be part of a wider roll-out plan within the country powered by DFX's Open CryptoPay.

That said, we believe the OG SPAR crown goes to SPAR City in Arnhem Bitcoin City!

New Features

Merchant Comments in the Web App

Web App users are now on par with Android users in that they can both see and make comments on merchants.

This is powered by our tweaked API that enables anyone to make a comment as long as they pass the satswall fee of 500 sats. This helps keep spam manageable and ensure quality comments.

And just in case you were wondering what the number count was on the merchant pins - yep, they're comments!

Here is an 👉 Example merchant page with comments.

Merchant Page Design Tweaks

To support the now trio of actions (Verify, Boost & Comment) on the merchant page, we've re-jigged the design a little to make things a little clearer.

What do you think?

Technical

Codebase Refactoring

Thanks to Hannes’s contributions, we’ve made progress in cleaning-up the Web App's codebase and completing long overdue maintenance. Whilst often thankless tasks, these caretaking activities help immensely with long-term maintainability enabling us to confidently build new features.

Auth System Upgrades

The old auth system was held together with duct tape and prayers, and we’re working on a more robust authentication system to support future public API access. Updates include:

• Password hashing
• Bearer token support
• Improved security practices

More enhancements are in progress and we'll update you in the next blog post.

Better API Documentation

Instead of relying on tribal knowledge, we're finally getting around to writing actual docs (with the help/hindrance of LLMs). The "move fast, break everything" era is over; now we move slightly slower and break slightly less. Progress!

Database Improvements

We use SQLite, which works well but it requires careful handling in async Rust environments. So now we're untangling this mess to avoid accidental blocking queries (and the ensuing dumpster fires).

Backup System Enhancements

BTC Map data comes in three layers of fragility:

• Merchants (backed up by OS - the big boys handle this)
• Non-OSM stuff (areas, users, etc. - currently stored on a napkin)
• External systems (Lightning node, submission tickets - pray to Satoshi)

We're now forcing two core members to backup everything, because redundancy is good.

Credits

Thanks to everyone who directly contributed to the project this period:

• Comino
• descubrebitcoin
• Hannes
• Igor Bubelov
• Nathan Day
• Rockedf
• Saunter
• SiriusBig
• vv01f

Support Us

There are many ways in which you can support us:

• Become a Shadowy Supertagger and help maintain your local area or pitch-in with the never-ending global effort.

• Consider a zapping this note or make a donation to the to the project here.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha is now available!

NOTE: "This version of clients is not compatible with older versions of coordinators. Coordinators must upgrade first, make sure you don't upgrade your client while this is marked as pre-release."

• This version brings a new and improved coordinators view with reviews signed both by the robot and the coordinator, adds market price sources in coordinator profiles, shows a correct warning for canceling non-taken orders after a payment attempt, adds Uzbek sum currency, and includes package library updates for coordinators.

Source: RoboSats.

• siggy47 is writing daily RoboSats activity reviews on stacker.news. Check them out here.
• Stay up-to-date with RoboSats on Nostr.

What's new

• New coordinators view (see the picture above).
• Available coordinator reviews signed by both the robot and the coordinator.
• Coordinators now display market price sources in their profiles.

Source: RoboSats.

• Fix for wrong message on cancel button when taking an order. Users are now warned if they try to cancel a non taken order after a payment attempt.
• Uzbek sum currency now available.
• For coordinators: library updates.
• Add docker frontend (#1861).
• Add order review token (#1869).
• Add UZS migration (#1875).
• Fixed tests review (#1878).
• Nostr pubkey for Robot (#1887).

New contributors

• @hexlorn made their first contribution in #1858.
• @umk0m1qk made their first contribution in #1864.

Full Changelog: v0.7.6-alpha...v0.7.7-alpha

GitHub Repo

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

The Russian government is preparing sanctions against those who violate mining regulations, with fines of up to $25,000.

The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation has drafted a bill introducing financial penalties and the seizure of cryptocurrencies for miners operating illegally.

The ministerial proposal, currently under interdepartmental review according to Forbes Russia, would grant judicial authorities extraordinary powers over the mining sector. Courts would be able not only to impose financial penalties but also to directly confiscate illegally mined bitcoins.

Fines will follow a progressive scale:

• private individuals: 100,000 to 200,000 rubles ($1,272–$2,544);
• individual entrepreneurs and public officials: 200,000 to 400,000 rubles ($2,544–$5,088);
• companies and corporations: 1 million to 2 million rubles ($12,728–$25,456).

Crackdown on mining pools

Another aspect of the proposed legislation concerns mining pools. If approved, the bill would introduce penalties for those participating in such groups illegally. The government strategy aims to amend the Code of Administrative Offenses, effectively turning illegal mining into a criminal offense with harsher consequences than current administrative fines.

Crypto payments under scrutiny

Beyond mining operations, the new provisions would also target the use of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment outside the official sandbox managed by Russia’s Central Bank. Sanctions for this violation could reach 1 million rubles ($12,728).

Andrey Medvedev, Head of the Legal Department at the Central Bank, emphasized during the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that “[crypto] illegally used as a means of payment will be confiscated.”

Regional restrictions on mining

Under current Russian regulations, unregistered citizens are allowed to mine domestically provided their energy consumption does not exceed 6,000 kWh per month. However, about ten Russian regions and territories under Russian control maintain specific restrictions.

Operators of mining infrastructures — primarily data center and hosting service providers — will be required to report operational details to Rosfinmonitoring, the national financial intelligence agency, including wallet addresses used at their facilities.

While penalties are tightening, the government recently chose not to extend mining bans to new regions. The government’s energy commission, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, rejected a proposal to ban mining in Khakassia and postponed annual restrictions in Zabaikalsky Krai and Buryatia. However, Moscow has approved a one-year mining ban in the southern part of the Irkutsk region, widely considered the de facto capital of Russian mining.

The post Mining in Russia: fines and asset seizures for illegal operations appeared first on Atlas21.

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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.

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Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations.

Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms.

Rights for Illusions

KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks?

The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors."

However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% ^1 – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service.

Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy.

To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% ^1 of less-than-careful criminals.

KYC? Not you.

KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. ^2

KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible.

For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded.

Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether.

It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms.

You're not welcome

Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right?

This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to.

Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely.

Your identity has been stolen

KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets^3. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain very sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it?

As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. ^3

In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised.

(they) Know Your Coins

You may already know that Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded forever. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced.

If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with.

Conclusions

To sum up, KYC does not protect individuals; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred.

The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies.

The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable.

Edited 20/03/2024 * Add reference to the 1% statement on Rights for Illusions section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity ^1

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“The future is there... staring back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.” — William Gibson.

This month is the 4th anniversary of kycnot.me. Thank you for being here.

Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system: a decentralized currency free from government and institutional control. Nakamoto's whitepaper showed a vision for a financial system based on trustless transactions, secured by cryptography. Some time forward and KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations started to come into play.

What a paradox: to engage with a system designed for decentralization, privacy, and independence, we are forced to give away our personal details. Using Bitcoin in the economy requires revealing your identity, not just to the party you interact with, but also to third parties who must track and report the interaction. You are forced to give sensitive data to entities you don't, can't, and shouldn't trust. Information can never be kept 100% safe; there's always a risk. Information is power, who knows about you has control over you.

Information asymmetry creates imbalances of power. When entities have detailed knowledge about individuals, they can manipulate, influence, or exploit this information to their advantage. The accumulation of personal data by corporations and governments enables extensive surveillances.

Such practices, moreover, exclude individuals from traditional economic systems if their documentation doesn't meet arbitrary standards, reinforcing a dystopian divide. Small businesses are similarly burdened by the costs of implementing these regulations, hindering free market competition^1:

How will they keep this information safe? Why do they need my identity? Why do they force businesses to enforce such regulations? It's always for your safety, to protect you from the "bad". Your life is perpetually in danger: terrorists, money launderers, villains... so the government steps in to save us.

‟Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm” — Mother, Pink Floyd

We must resist any attack on our privacy and freedom. To do this, we must collaborate.

If you have a service, refuse to ask for KYC; find a way. Accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. Commit to circular economies. Remove the need to go through the FIAT system. People need fiat money to use most services, but we can change that.

If you're a user, donate to and prefer using services that accept such currencies. Encourage your friends to accept cryptocurrencies as well. Boycott FIAT system to the greatest extent you possibly can.

This may sound utopian, but it can be achieved. This movement can't be stopped. Go kick the hornet's nest.

“We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any. We must come together and create systems which allow anonymous transactions to take place. People have been defending their own privacy for centuries with whispers, darkness, envelopes, closed doors, secret handshakes, and couriers. The technologies of the past did not allow for strong privacy, but electronic technologies do.” — Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto

The anniversary

Four years ago, I began exploring ways to use crypto without KYC. I bookmarked a few favorite services and thought sharing them to the world might be useful. That was the first version of kycnot.me — a simple list of about 15 services. Since then, I've added services, rewritten it three times, and improved it to what it is now.

kycnot.me has remained 100% independent and 100% open source^2 all these years. I've received offers to buy the site, all of which I have declined and will continue to decline. It has been DDoS attacked many times, but we made it through. I have also rewritten the whole site almost once per year (three times in four years).

The code and scoring algorithm are open source (contributions are welcome) and I can't arbitrarly change a service's score without adding or removing attributes, making any arbitrary alterations obvious if they were fake. You can even see the score summary for any service's score.

I'm a one-person team, dedicating my free time to this project. I hope to keep doing so for many more years. Again, thank you for being part of this.

@ f0fd6902:a2fbaaab

Bettylou Sakura Johnson vs Molly Picklum | Lexus Trestles Pro presented by Outerknown 2025 - Final:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nfXUpcbxmA&ab_channel=WorldSurfLeague

Yago Dora vs Kanoa Igarashi | Lexus Trestles Pro presented by Outerknown 2025 - Final:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGIdse7cT4s&ab_channel=WorldSurfLeague

Ranking WSL Women and Men:

All the Highlights: Lexus Trestles Pro presented by Outerknown 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KudyJghs2E4&ab_channel=WorldSurfLeague

Every Excellent Wave - Lexus Trestles Pro presented by Outerknown 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvQU7o83l3Q&ab_channel=WorldSurfLeague

https://stacker.news/items/1007486

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Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.

UI Improvements

You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.

Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.

The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.

Terms of Service Summarizer

A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.

Nostr Comments

I've integrated a comment section for each service using Nostr. For guidance on using this feature, visit the dedicated how-to page.

Database

The backend database has transitioned to pocketbase, an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at pluja/pocketbase.

Scoring

The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available open source.

Listings

Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.

API

The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, check here.

About Page

The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.

Other Changes

Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

The Innovator's Algorithm: A Deep Dive into Elon Musk's First Principles Thinking

Introduction

In the landscape of modern industry, progress often appears as a steady, predictable march forward. Companies refine their products, optimize their processes, and achieve incremental gains. Yet, periodically, an individual or an organization emerges that does not simply take the next step, but redefines the path entirely. They achieve non-linear breakthroughs that leave competitors years, or even decades, behind. Elon Musk, through ventures like SpaceX and Tesla, has become the modern archetype of this kind of innovator, repeatedly solving problems long considered impossible or impossibly expensive, from mass-market electric vehicles to affordable, reusable rockets.
The question that naturally arises is: how? Is it a matter of unique genius, unlimited resources, or sheer luck? The evidence suggests something more fundamental and, crucially, more systematic. The engine driving these revolutionary leaps is a mental model known as First Principles Thinking.
This is not a new concept, but its application by Musk has thrust it into the spotlight as a powerful tool for innovation. At its core, first principles thinking is a method of deconstruction and reconstruction. It involves a conscious rejection of the most common form of human reasoning—reasoning by analogy—where we do things because they are like things that have been done before. Instead, it demands that we break down a problem into its most fundamental, irreducible truths—the "first principles"—and reason up from that solid foundation to create entirely new solutions.
This report provides a comprehensive and actionable deconstruction of this powerful mental model. The analysis will journey from its ancient philosophical roots to its modern application in the high-stakes worlds of aerospace and automotive manufacturing. It will offer detailed, data-driven case studies of how first principles thinking has been deployed at SpaceX and Tesla to shatter industry dogma. Finally, it will synthesize these lessons into a practical, step-by-step framework, equipping leaders, entrepreneurs, and ambitious professionals with a blueprint to apply this innovator's algorithm to their own most significant challenges.

Section 1: Deconstructing the Idea: The Philosophical and Scientific Origins

To fully grasp the power of first principles thinking, one must understand that it is not a modern business-school fad or a Silicon Valley buzzword. It is a rigorous method of inquiry with a rich intellectual lineage stretching back over two millennia, used by many of history's most profound thinkers, from Aristotle to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Its power lies in its timeless, disciplined approach to establishing true knowledge.

1.1 The Search for the Archê: From Ancient Greece to Modern Physics

The origins of this mental model lie in the philosophical inquiries of ancient Greece. Philosophers like Thales, Anaximander, and Heraclitus were engaged in a search for the archê—a Greek term meaning the "first principle," "origin," or "ultimate underlying substance" from which everything else is derived. They sought to understand the world not by accepting myths or surface appearances, but by identifying the most fundamental reality that could explain everything else.
This ancient quest for foundational truths laid the groundwork for a systematic approach to knowledge that would be formalized and championed by one of history's greatest thinkers.

1.2 Aristotle's Blueprint: Knowledge from Primary Causes

It was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who first popularized and structured the concept of first principles. He defined a first principle as “the first basis from which a thing is known”—a foundational proposition or assumption that is self-evident and cannot be deduced from any other proposition. For Aristotle, true scientific knowledge, or episteme, was not possible without understanding these primary causes. In his Metaphysics, he wrote, "in every systematic inquiry...knowledge and science result from acquiring knowledge of these; for we think we know something just in case we acquire knowledge of the primary causes, the primary first principles, all the way to the elements".
The common modern interpretation of first principles thinking as simply "breaking a problem down" is a significant oversimplification of the Aristotelian method. Aristotle provided a more structured framework for this deconstruction through his concept of the Four Causes, a diagnostic tool for understanding the fundamental nature of any object or problem :

1. The Material Cause: What is it made of? This refers to the physical matter or raw materials from which something is composed. For a statue, it is the marble; for a rocket, it is the aerospace-grade aluminum alloys.
2. The Formal Cause: What is its form, essence, or design? This is the pattern or blueprint that shapes the material. For the statue, it is the figure the sculptor carves; for a battery, it is the specific cell architecture.
3. The Efficient Cause: What agent or process brings it into being? This is the primary source of the change or creation. It is the sculptor's hands and tools, or the automated assembly line in a factory.
4. The Final Cause: What is its purpose or end goal (telos)? This is the ultimate reason for its existence. The statue's purpose might be aesthetic beauty; the rocket's purpose is to achieve affordable access to space.

By analyzing a problem through these four causal lenses, one moves beyond simple deconstruction into a comprehensive causal analysis. This framework provides a far more robust method for identifying the true, fundamental components of a problem, which, as will be shown, maps directly onto how modern innovators like Musk approach complex challenges.

1.3 The Scientific Revolution: From Philosophy to Physics

The thread of first principles thinking runs directly from Aristotle through the Scientific Revolution. Thinkers like René Descartes, the 17th-century French philosopher and scientist, embraced this approach through his method of "Cartesian Doubt." Descartes resolved to "systematically doubt everything he could possibly doubt until he was left with what he saw as purely indubitable truths". His famous conclusion, "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), was his first principle—the one truth he could not doubt, from which he could begin to reconstruct knowledge.
This method had a profound impact on the development of the modern scientific method, which is fundamentally a first-principles approach. Science does not advance by simply accepting existing theories as dogma. It advances by testing hypotheses against empirical evidence and reasoning up from the foundational, established laws of nature.
This brings us to why Elon Musk often describes his approach as a "physics way of looking at the world". This is not a casual metaphor; it is a literal description of his methodology. Physics seeks to understand reality by identifying the most fundamental, non-negotiable laws (like gravity, conservation of energy, and the speed of light) and using them as the axioms from which to build models of the universe. When a model (like Newtonian mechanics) is found to be incomplete, physicists do not just tweak it; they develop a new model (like Einstein's relativity) from more fundamental principles that better explains reality.
Musk applies this same intellectual rigor to business and engineering. He views an industry's "best practices" and conventional wisdom as a flawed model of reality. His goal is to discard that model, identify the fundamental truths of the situation—the "laws of physics" for that particular problem, which might be the commodity cost of raw materials or the physical limits of a manufacturing process—and build a new, more effective solution from that foundation. This is why the method is so disruptive: it treats business challenges with the same intellectual honesty and rigor that a physicist applies to understanding the cosmos.

Section 2: The Cognitive Fork in the Road: First Principles vs. Reasoning by Analogy

To fully appreciate the power of first principles thinking, one must understand its opposite: reasoning by analogy. This is the default mode of human cognition, the well-worn path our minds naturally follow. First principles thinking is the conscious, deliberate choice to leave that path and forge a new one, a decision that requires significant mental effort but unlocks vastly different outcomes.

2.1 The Path of Least Resistance: Why We Reason by Analogy

Reasoning by analogy means making decisions and solving problems by looking for a precedent. As Musk explains, it means "copying what other people do with slight variations". We do something because it is like something else that was done, or it is what everyone else is doing.
This cognitive shortcut is not a flaw; it is a feature of an efficient brain. Our minds have evolved to conserve energy, and re-deriving every solution from scratch every day would be mentally exhausting. Analogy allows us to navigate the world quickly by leveraging the accumulated knowledge and experience of others. However, while this efficiency is useful for most daily tasks, it becomes a severe limitation when the goal is not just to function, but to innovate.
The distinction between these two modes of thought is powerfully illustrated by several metaphors found in the works of thinkers who study this topic :

• The Chef vs. The Cook: The cook reasons by analogy. They follow a recipe, a pre-existing solution, to create something that has been made before. Their knowledge is effective but fragile; if the recipe is lost, the cook is "screwed". The chef, in contrast, reasons from first principles. They understand the fundamental properties of ingredients, the chemistry of heat, and the principles of flavor combination. They can invent new recipes because they possess true, foundational knowledge.
• The Coach vs. The Play-Stealer: The play-stealer reasons by analogy. They copy plays from other teams, running them without a deep understanding of their design. The coach reasons from first principles. They understand the rules of the game, the physics of motion, and the specific capabilities of their players. They design novel plays from this foundational knowledge. When a play fails, the play-stealer is lost, but the coach understands why it failed and can adjust it, because they designed it from its core components.

In both cases, the analogical thinker is dependent on the work of others, while the first-principles thinker is capable of generating original solutions.

2.2 The Traps of Analogical Thinking

Relying on analogy as the primary tool for solving complex problems creates several cognitive traps that stifle innovation.
Trap 1: Optimizing Form Over Function Reasoning by analogy often leads us to optimize the existing form of a solution, rather than rethinking its essential function. A powerful example of this is the rolling suitcase. For thousands of years, humans had bags (form) and wheels (form), yet the rolling suitcase was not invented until 1970. For centuries, innovation focused on making better bags (new materials, zippers, more pockets), optimizing the existing form. The breakthrough came only when Bernard Sadow, observing a worker rolling a heavy machine on a wheeled skid, shifted his focus from the form ("a better bag") to the function ("a better way to move belongings").
A similar modern example is the perennial question, "Where are the flying cars?". This question reveals a fixation on a specific form (a car that flies) while completely overlooking that the function (personal air transportation) has been solved, just in a different form (airplanes). Analogical thinking gets stuck on the car, while first principles thinking focuses on the flying.
Trap 2: The Prison of Dogma and Convention Analogy is the mechanism by which dogma and convention are perpetuated. Phrases like "we do it this way because it's how it's always been done" are the hallmark of analogical reasoning. This mode of thought prevents us from questioning the shared beliefs that underpin our industries and societies. As thinkers like Shane Parrish of Farnam Street note, everything that is not an immutable law of nature—from the value of money to the existence of national borders—is ultimately just a shared belief. Analogy reinforces these beliefs, while first principles thinking gives us permission to question them.
Trap 3: The Illusion of Progress Reasoning by analogy is the engine of incremental improvement. It allows for continuous, linear progress within the boundaries of an existing vision. However, it rarely, if ever, leads to breakthrough innovation. It sets a company on a trajectory of making a slightly better version of what already exists. As author James Clear puts it, without first principles, "you spend your time making small improvements to a bicycle rather than a snowmobile". The trajectory is different from the very beginning.

2.3 First Principles as the Escape Route

First principles thinking is the conscious and disciplined act of escaping these cognitive traps. It requires abandoning our allegiance to previous forms and inherited conventions. It forces a shift in focus from "how can we make this existing thing 10% better?" to the more fundamental questions: "What are we actually trying to accomplish? What is the functional outcome we seek? And what is the most direct, physically possible way to achieve it?" By starting from this clean slate, built only on a foundation of verified truths, we open up a new, unconstrained solution space where true innovation can occur.

Section 3: Case Study I - The SpaceX Revolution: Deconstructing the Cost of Reaching for the Stars

Perhaps no example better illustrates the raw, disruptive power of first principles thinking than the story of SpaceX. By applying this mental model to an industry ossified by decades of convention and cost-plus government contracting, Elon Musk did not just create a new rocket company; he fundamentally altered humanity's economic relationship with space.

3.1 The "Impossible" Problem: The Astronomical Cost of Rockets

The story begins in 2002. After selling PayPal, Musk turned his attention to his goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species, starting with a mission to Mars. His initial plan was not to build rockets, but to buy them. However, after inquiries in the United States and Russia, he discovered that the cost was astronomical, with prices as high as $65 million for a single launch. The aerospace industry operated on a deeply entrenched assumption: rockets are, and always will be, incredibly expensive.
The prevailing analogy governing the industry was that rockets were like ammunition—complex, high-performance machines designed for a single, fiery use before being discarded. This dogma had gone largely unchallenged for half a century, leading to a culture of inefficiency and a lack of financial incentive to innovate on cost.

3.2 Applying the "Physics Framework": Deconstructing the Rocket

Faced with this "impossible" price tag, Musk did not try to negotiate a 10% discount or find a slightly cheaper supplier. He rejected the analogy and instead applied his "physics framework". He began a first principles deconstruction of the rocket, starting with Aristotle's Material Cause. He asked the simple, foundational question: "What is a rocket made of?".
The answer was not some unobtainable, magical substance. It was a list of industrial commodities: aerospace-grade aluminum alloys, titanium, copper, and carbon fiber. His next step was to determine the cost of these materials on the open commodity market. The result of this analysis was the critical insight that ignited the SpaceX revolution: the raw material cost of a rocket was only about 2% of the typical sale price.
This single data point was transformative. It proved that the high cost of rockets was not a fundamental truth of physics or economics. It was a man-made artifact, a consequence of the industry's Efficient Cause—the accumulated inefficiencies of bloated supply chains, legacy manufacturing processes, and cost-plus contracting models that rewarded complexity rather than simplicity. The discovery that 98% of the cost was not in the "what" but in the "how" revealed the true problem to be solved: inefficiency.

3.3 Rebuilding from the Ground Up: Vertical Integration and Reusability

With the fundamental problem identified, the solution path became clear. The strategy had to be about attacking the 98% inefficiency gap. This led to two core strategic pillars for SpaceX, both direct consequences of first principles thinking.
The Logic of Vertical Integration: If the exorbitant cost was embedded in the traditional aerospace supply chain, the only way to escape it was to build a new one. This led to SpaceX's strategy of extreme vertical integration. By designing and manufacturing over 70-90% of its rocket components in-house, SpaceX could control the entire process, re-engineer it for efficiency, and bypass the layers of middlemen and legacy contractors that defined the old way of doing business.
The Reusability Revolution: The most radical innovation was to challenge the foundational analogy of the expendable rocket. Musk asked the quintessential first principles question: "Why can't rockets be reused?". Reasoning by analogy provided a simple answer: because it's too hard; NASA and the Soviet Union never achieved it, so it must be nearly impossible. But reasoning from the first principles of physics and engineering provided a different answer: while difficult, there was no law of physics preventing a rocket from taking off and landing again. It was a solvable engineering challenge. This led to the decade-long development of the Falcon 9, the first orbital-class rocket capable of landing its first stage for rapid reuse, a feat that has fundamentally changed the economics of spaceflight.

3.4 The Staggering Results: Quantifying the Disruption

The impact of this first-principles-driven approach is not theoretical; it is starkly visible in the numbers. The cost of access to space has plummeted, creating a paradigm shift in the industry.
Table 1: The Economics of Space Access - A Comparative Analysis

| Launch System | Operator | Era | Cost per Launch (Approx. USD) | Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (kg) | Cost per kg to LEO (Approx. USD) | | :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- | | Space Shuttle | NASA | 1981-2011 | $1.5 Billion | 27,500 | $54,500 | | Delta IV Heavy | ULA | 2004-2024 | $400 Million | 28,790 | $13,900 | | Ariane 5 | Arianespace | 1996-2023 | $200 Million | 21,000 | $9,500 | | Falcon 9 (Reusable) | SpaceX | 2015-Present | $67 Million | 17,500 | $3,800 | | Falcon 9 (Expended) | SpaceX | 2015-Present | $90 Million | 22,800 | $3,950 | | Starship (Target) | SpaceX | Future | $10 Million (Target) | 150,000 | \<$100 (Target) |

Sources:
The data in Table 1 reveals the scale of the disruption. Prior to SpaceX, launch costs had remained stubbornly high for decades, with the Space Shuttle costing over $54,000 per kilogram to orbit. SpaceX's Falcon 9 reduced that cost by a factor of nearly 20. With Starship, the company's next-generation fully reusable vehicle, the target is a further reduction of more than 100-fold, potentially driving the cost below $100 per kilogram. This is not incremental improvement. This is a complete re-writing of the rules of an industry, born directly from the process of deconstructing a problem to its fundamental truths and reasoning up from there.

Section 4: Case Study II - The Tesla Disruption: Rebuilding the Automobile from the Atom Up

The application of first principles thinking within Musk's ventures did not stop at the edge of space. At Tesla, the same mental model has been systematically applied to disrupt the century-old automotive industry, first by deconstructing the economics of the electric vehicle's most critical component, and now by deconstructing the very process of manufacturing itself. This demonstrates a clear evolution in the application of the framework, moving from a single component to an entire system of production.

4.1 Part A: The Battery Cost Problem

When Tesla began its mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy, it faced a monumental obstacle: the prohibitive cost of lithium-ion batteries. The prevailing analogy in the automotive and electronics industries was simple and seemingly unbreakable: "Battery packs are expensive, and they always will be".
The Prevailing Analogy: Industry experts and analysts pointed to the historical cost, which hovered around $600 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and projected only slow, incremental improvements. This single data point was the foundation of the argument that affordable, long-range electric vehicles were not commercially viable for the mass market.
Musk's Deconstruction: Mirroring his approach at SpaceX, Musk rejected the industry's top-down price and instead began a bottom-up analysis from first principles. He asked the fundamental question of Material Cause: "What are the material constituents of the batteries?". He publicly listed the core components: cobalt, nickel, aluminum, carbon (for the anode), lithium, polymers for the separator, and a steel can for the cell housing.
The Commodity Market Truth: The next step was to price these raw materials on the commodity markets, such as the London Metal Exchange. This analysis revealed a staggering discrepancy. The fundamental cost of the raw materials required to make a battery was not $600/kWh, but closer to $80/kWh.
Table 2: Deconstructing the Battery - Market Price vs. Material Truth (Illustrative)

| Component Material | Function | Illustrative Material Cost per kWh (USD) | | :---- | :---- | :---- | | Nickel | Cathode Material | $25 | | Graphite (Carbon) | Anode Material | $10 | | Lithium | Charge Carrier | $15 | | Cobalt | Cathode Stabilizer | $8 | | Aluminum | Cathode Conductor / Casing | $5 | | Copper | Anode Conductor | $7 | | Polymers & Electrolyte | Separator & Ion Transport | $5 | | Steel Can & Assembly | Housing & Manufacturing Overhead | $5 | | Sum of Material & Basic Processing Costs | | \~$80 | | Historical Industry Price (c. 2012) | | \~$600 | | The "Inefficiency Gap" | | \~$520 |

Note: The costs in this table are illustrative, based on public statements by Musk and general market conditions around 2012 to demonstrate the principle of the analysis. Actual costs vary with chemistry and market fluctuations. Sources:
The conclusion from this analysis was identical to the one for rockets: the high cost was not a law of physics, but an artifact of inefficient processes. As Musk stated, "Clearly you just need to think of clever ways to take those materials and combine them into the shape of a battery cell, and you can have batteries that are much, much cheaper than anyone realizes". This insight drove Tesla's massive investment in battery R\&D and manufacturing, leading to innovations in the Formal Cause (the design of the larger, tabless 4680 cell) and the Efficient Cause (pioneering a more efficient dry-electrode manufacturing process) to systematically attack the "inefficiency gap" and drive down costs.

4.2 Part B: The Factory as the Product - The "Unboxed" Revolution

Having applied first principles to the car's key components, Tesla is now applying the same thinking to the entire system of production. The new guiding principle is that the factory itself is the ultimate product, and that the "machine that builds the machine" must be designed for maximum physical efficiency.
Deconstructing the Assembly Line: The target for deconstruction is the century-old automotive assembly line, an invention of Henry Ford that has become the unquestioned analogy for mass manufacturing. A first principles analysis reveals its fundamental limitation: it is a linear, sequential process. A car body moves down a line, and parts are added one after another. This creates a physical bottleneck; only a limited number of people or robots can work on a five-meter-long object at any given time, limiting the speed and density of the operation.
The "Unboxed" Solution: Tesla's proposed solution, known as the "Unboxed Process" or Global Automotive Modular Evolution (GAME), is a complete reconstruction of the manufacturing process from the ground up.

• Core Idea: Instead of building a car body and moving it down a line, the new method involves building the car in large, separate modules—such as the front body, rear body, structural battery pack, and side panels—in parallel sub-assembly lines. These fully completed and even painted modules only come together for final assembly at the very end.
• Enabling Technology: This radical rethinking of the Efficient Cause is made possible by a corresponding innovation in the Material and Formal Causes: "giga-casting." Tesla uses enormous high-pressure die-casting machines to produce huge sections of the car's underbody as a single piece. This one innovation eliminates hundreds of individual stamped metal parts and the complex welding and joining processes they required.
• The Result: This parallel process allows more people and robots to work on the vehicle simultaneously in an open, accessible space before it is "boxed" up. Tesla projects this will reduce manufacturing costs by as much as 50% and shrink the required factory footprint by over 40%. It represents a step-change in operator density and space-time efficiency, moving car manufacturing closer to the efficiency of assembling consumer electronics like Lego blocks.

This journey from deconstructing a battery to deconstructing a factory shows a powerful co-evolution. The first principles analysis of vehicle structure identified part-count and assembly complexity as a primary inefficiency. This created the demand for a new technology—giga-casting—to solve that fundamental problem. The existence of giga-casting, in turn, enabled a completely new and more efficient manufacturing process—the unboxed factory. This demonstrates a virtuous cycle where first principles thinking drives technological innovation, which then unlocks the possibility for even more radical process innovation.

Section 5: Your Blueprint for First Principles Thinking: A Practical Guide

Understanding the philosophy and seeing its effects in high-profile case studies is inspiring, but the true value of a mental model lies in its application. First principles thinking is not an esoteric art reserved for billionaire entrepreneurs; it is a disciplined, systematic process that can be learned and applied to any significant challenge, professional or personal. The goal is to move from passively accepting the world "as is" to actively imagining it "as it could be," constrained only by fundamental, evidence-based truths.
This section synthesizes the various practical methodologies described by practitioners and analysts into a single, robust, four-step framework for deconstruction and reconstruction.

5.1 The Four-Step Framework for Deconstruction and Reconstruction

This framework is an algorithm for converting unexamined assumptions into innovative solutions built on a foundation of truth.
Step 1: Identify and Isolate the Problem & Your Assumptions Before you can deconstruct a problem, you must define it with precision and make your implicit beliefs about it explicit.

• Pinpoint the Problem: Clearly articulate the specific challenge you are trying to solve. Vague problem statements lead to vague solutions. Be sharp and focused. For example, instead of "I want to be more successful," a better problem statement is "I need to increase my project's user acquisition by 50% in the next six months".
• List Your Assumptions: This is the most critical part of the first step. List every assumption, convention, and "best practice" you hold about the problem. Ask yourself: What do I believe to be true about this situation? Why do I believe it? What does my industry or community accept as gospel? For example, if the problem is growing a business, an assumption might be, "Growing my business will require a large marketing budget". The goal is to create a comprehensive inventory of the beliefs that are currently constraining your thinking.

Step 2: Deconstruct to Fundamental Truths with Rigorous Questioning This is the analytical core of the process, where you systematically test the validity of the assumptions you listed in Step 1. The goal is to break the problem down until you are left with only irreducible, evidence-based components—the first principles. Two powerful techniques are central to this step.

• Technique A: Socratic Questioning This disciplined, systematic questioning process, named after the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, is designed to uncover truths, reveal underlying assumptions, and separate knowledge from ignorance. It is a dialogue with yourself or your team, guided by a series of probing questions :
• Clarifying Your Thinking: What exactly do I mean by [concept]? Why do I think this is important?
• Challenging Assumptions: How do I know this is true? What if I thought the opposite? What if this assumption is no longer valid?
• Looking for Evidence: What is the source for this belief? How can I back this up with data? Is this a universal fact or a shared opinion?
• Considering Alternative Perspectives: What might others think? How would an expert in a different field view this? How do I know I am correct?
• Examining Consequences and Implications: What are the consequences if I am wrong? What are the logical implications of this belief?
• Questioning the Original Question: Why did I ask that question in the first place? Was it the right question to ask?
• Technique B: The Five Whys This technique, popularized by the Toyota Production System, is a simpler, more intuitive method for drilling down to the root cause of a problem. It mirrors the relentless curiosity of a child. You start with your problem and ask "Why?" repeatedly until you can no longer provide a factual answer. That final, unanswerable point often reveals the true, fundamental issue.
• Example: Declining Sales Revenue
  1. Problem: Sales revenue declined last quarter. Why?
  2. Answer 1: Because our customer acquisition rate dropped. Why?
  3. Answer 2: Because our website traffic has decreased. Why?
  4. Answer 3: Because our search engine ranking for key terms has fallen. Why?
  5. Answer 4: Because a competitor has published more comprehensive, helpful content that now outranks ours. Why?
  6. Answer 5: Because our content strategy has not adapted to meet the evolving needs and search intent of our target audience. This process peels back the layers of symptoms to reveal the root cause, which is a strategic issue with content, not just a tactical sales problem.

Step 3: Rebuild Your Approach from a New Foundation Once you have broken the problem down to its fundamental truths, the final step is to reconstruct a solution from these new building blocks, free from the constraints of your original assumptions.

• Focus on Function: Begin by stating the core function you are trying to achieve. Ignore the form of previous solutions. In the sales example, the function is not "to run more ads" but "to provide the most valuable information to our target audience to attract and convert them."
• Brainstorm from Scratch: Working from your newly established first principles, generate novel solutions. How can you achieve the desired function in the most direct and effective way? This is the stage for creativity and "out-of-the-box" thinking.
• Combine and Synthesize: Look for opportunities to combine ideas and components from different domains, just as the snowmobile was conceived by combining parts from a bicycle, a tank, and a boat.

Step 4: Implement, Test, and Iterate (The Role of Failure) A solution derived from first principles is, by its nature, a new theory about how to solve a problem. Like any scientific theory, it must be tested against reality.

• Frame as an Experiment: Treat the implementation of your new solution not as a final deployment, but as an experiment designed to test a hypothesis. This reframes the entire endeavor and manages expectations.
• Embrace Failure as Data: In this framework, failure is not an endpoint or a mark of defeat; it is a critical form of data collection. When an experiment fails, it provides invaluable information about how your reconstructed model deviates from reality. It is the feedback loop that allows you to refine your understanding of the first principles and iterate on your solution.
• Cultivate a "Fail-Fast, Learn-Fast" Culture: This contrasts sharply with an analogical system, where failure is often seen as a deviation to be punished. In a first-principles-driven system, the goal is to accelerate the rate of learning by accelerating the rate of (controlled) failure. This iterative process of building, testing, failing, and learning is what ultimately leads to a robust and revolutionary solution. The implementation and testing phase is not merely a follow-on activity; it is the crucial verification mechanism for the entire thinking process.

Section 6: The Innovator's Edge and Its Burdens: A Nuanced View

Adopting first principles thinking offers a profound competitive advantage, but it is not a panacea. It is a mentally demanding and often difficult process, fraught with its own unique challenges and risks. Acknowledging both the immense benefits and the significant burdens is essential for its successful application.

6.1 The Benefits: Why It's Worth the Effort

The reasons to undertake this cognitively expensive process are compelling, as they offer rewards that are often non-linear and transformative.

• Unlocking True Innovation: This is the most significant benefit. First principles thinking is the most reliable path from making incremental improvements on existing ideas to generating genuine, breakthrough solutions. It allows individuals and organizations to move from linear to non-linear results, creating entirely new categories or fundamentally reshaping existing ones.
• Developing a Defensible Moat: Solutions built from a unique understanding of fundamental truths are inherently difficult for competitors to copy. A competitor reasoning by analogy will only see the surface-level product or strategy; they will not understand the deep, first-principles reasoning that led to its creation, making their attempts to replicate it shallow and ineffective.
• Achieving Unparalleled Clarity and Efficiency: By stripping away the noise of convention, historical baggage, and flawed assumptions, this method allows a thinker to focus on the true root cause of a problem. This prevents wasted time, energy, and resources on addressing mere symptoms, leading to more direct and efficient strategies.
• Thinking for Yourself: Ultimately, reasoning from first principles is one of the best ways to learn how to think for yourself. It breaks the dependency on the ideas and frameworks of others, fostering intellectual independence and the confidence to tackle problems that have never been solved before.

6.2 The Burdens: The Challenges and Risks of Thinking from Scratch

Despite its power, first principles thinking is difficult and comes with significant risks that must be managed.

• High Cognitive Load: As Musk and others have noted, it takes far more mental energy and time to reason from first principles than to reason by analogy. It is a deliberate, slow, and analytical process that is not practical or necessary for every decision.
• The Expertise Paradox: This is perhaps the central challenge of applying the method effectively. On one hand, it requires deep domain expertise to correctly identify the true, fundamental principles of a complex field. A novice attempting to deconstruct a problem in particle physics or automotive engineering without sufficient knowledge is likely to arrive at naive and incorrect conclusions. On the other hand, that very expertise can be a trap, creating dogma and blind spots that prevent the expert from questioning the conventions of their own field. The solution to this paradox lies in cultivating a "beginner's mind" while possessing expert knowledge, or in building teams with diverse perspectives that can challenge the expert's ingrained assumptions.
• The Risk of Overconfidence: Successfully deconstructing a problem and arriving at a contrarian conclusion through what feels like impeccable logic can lead to a dangerous sense of overconfidence. This is especially risky if the analysis has missed a single, crucial piece of information that the "experts" knew all along. The history of innovation is littered with individuals who were certain they had reinvented the wheel, only to discover their reasoning was flawed.
• The "Wrong Set of True Principles" Failure: The most subtle and pernicious failure mode occurs when the reasoning process is logically sound and every base axiom used is, in fact, true. Failure can still occur if the thinker has selected the wrong set of true principles to build their argument upon. For example, one could build a perfectly logical business model based on the true principles of user engagement and viral growth, only to find it fails because it ignored the more relevant (and equally true) principles of unit economics. The elegance of a logical argument is no substitute for its utility in the real world. This highlights a critical point: the ultimate arbiter of a first-principles analysis is not its internal logical consistency, but its effectiveness when tested against reality.

Conclusion: Answering Your Challenge

First principles thinking is more than a problem-solving technique; it is a disciplined and rigorous mindset for engaging with reality. It represents the fundamental difference between following a map created by others and learning to read the terrain to draw your own. The former is a process of analogy, efficient and reliable on well-trodden paths. The latter is a process of deconstruction and discovery, demanding but essential for navigating uncharted territory and finding new destinations.
The case studies of SpaceX and Tesla are not just stories of entrepreneurial success; they are powerful demonstrations of this mental algorithm in action. At SpaceX, deconstructing the cost of a rocket to its raw materials revealed that 98% of the price was not a physical necessity but a human-created inefficiency, paving the way for the revolution of reusability. At Tesla, the same process exposed the gap between the market price of batteries and their fundamental material cost, unlocking the path to the mass-market electric vehicle. Now, with the "unboxed" manufacturing concept, this thinking is being applied to the factory itself, treating the century-old assembly line as just another assumption to be questioned and rebuilt from the ground up.
This brings us to the ultimate application of this framework: using it to address your own most significant challenges. The prompt for deeper learning asks: “What are the fundamental truths behind my biggest challenge today, and how can I rebuild my strategy from scratch like Elon Musk would?”
To answer this question is to begin the first principles process yourself.
Start by isolating your biggest challenge—be it a business goal, a career path, or a personal ambition. Then, apply the first step of the framework: identify and list every single assumption you hold about it. What are the "rules" you believe are unbreakable? What is the conventional wisdom you have accepted without question?

• "To have a secure career, I must follow a traditional corporate path."
• "My industry has always operated this way, so it must continue to do so."
• "I don't have enough capital/time/experience to pursue my real goal."
• "This problem is too complex to be solved."

These are the analogies and dogmas that define the boundaries of your current thinking. The next step is to take each one and subject it to the rigorous questioning of the Socratic method or the Five Whys. How do you know it's true? What is the evidence? What if the opposite were true? Deconstruct these beliefs until you are left only with what you can prove to be a fundamental, unshakeable truth.
From that new, solid foundation of truth, you can begin to rebuild. You can construct a new strategy, a new path, a new solution—one that is not constrained by the inherited limitations of others, but is based on what is actually possible.
The process is difficult. It requires more mental energy than simply following the crowd. It demands intellectual honesty and the courage to discard long-held beliefs. But it is this very process that separates incremental improvement from non-linear breakthroughs. The first step to thinking like an innovator is not to conjure a brilliant idea out of thin air, but to have the courage to fundamentally question what you already believe to be true. In doing so, you can begin to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be.

@ 1c5ff3ca:efe9c0f6

Just calling it Open is not enough - Herausforderungen öffentlicher Bildungsinfrastrukturen und wie Nostr helfen könnte

Ich möchte gerne mit euch teilen, an welchen Konzepten ich arbeite, um die öffentliche Bildungsinfrastruktur mit Hilfe von Nostr zugänglicher und offener zu gestalten. Ich arbeite im Bereich öffentlicher Bildungsinfrastrukturen, besonders im Feld von Open Educational Resources (#OER). OER sind offen lizenzierte Bildungsmaterialien, die mit einer offenen Lizenz, meist einer Creative Commons Lizenz, versehen sind (CC-0, CC-BY, CC-BY-SA). Durch die klare und offene Lizenzierung ist es leicht möglich, die Lernmaterialien auf die individuellen Bedarfe anzupassen, sie zu verbessern und sie erneut zu veröffentlichen.

Seit vielen Jahren wird einerseits die Entwicklung freier Bildungsmaterialien gefördert, andererseits werden Plattformen, insbesondere Repositorien gefördert, die diese Materialien verfügbar machen sollen. Denn irgendwo müssen diese Materialien zur Verfügung gestellt werden, damit sie auch gefunden werden können.

Das klappt allerdings nur so mittelgut.

Herausforderungen

Nach vielen Jahren Förderung kann die einfache Frage: "Wo kann ich denn mein OER-Material bereitstellen" nicht einfach beantwortet werden. Es gibt Services, bei denen ich mein OER hochladen kann, jedoch bleibt es dann eingeschlossen in dieser Plattform und wird nicht auf anderen Plattformen auffindbar. Außerdem sind diese Services häufig an bestimmte Bildungskontexte gebunden oder geben Content erst nach einer Qualitätsprüfung frei. Dies führt dazu, dass ein einfaches und gleichzeitig öffentliches Teilen nicht möglich ist.

Diese und weitere Herausforderungen haben ihren Ursprung darin, dass Service und Infrastruktur in der Architektur öffentlichen Bildungsarchitektur ungünstig vermischt werden. Als Infrastruktur verstehe ich hier die Bereitstellung einer öffentlichen und offen zugänglichen Bildungsinfrastruktur, auf der Daten ausgetauscht, also bereitgestellt und konsumiert werden können. Jedoch existiert eine solche Infrstruktur momentan nicht unabhängig von den Services, die auf ihr betrieben werden. Infrastrukturbetreiber sind momentan gleichzeitig immer Servicebetreiber. Da sie aber die Hand darüber haben wollen, was genau in ihrem Service passiert (verständlich), schränken sie den Zugang zu ihrer Infrastruktur mit ein, was dazu führt, dass sie Lock-In Mechanismen großer Medienplattformen in der kleinen öffentlichen Bildungsinfrastruktur replizieren.

Es ist in etwas so, als würde jeder Autobauer auch gleichzeitig die Straßen für seine Fahrzeuge bauen. Aber halt nur für seine Autos.

Anhand einiger beispielhafter Services, die bestehende Plattformen auf ihren Infrastrukturen anbieten, möchte ich die Herausforderungen aufzeigen, die ich im aktuellen Architekturkonzept sehe:

• Upload von Bildungsmaterial
• Kuration: Zusammenstellung von Listen, Annotation mit Metadaten
• Crawling, Indexierung und Suche
• Plattfformübergreifende Kollaboration in Communities -> Beispiel: Qualitätssicherung (was auch immer das genau bedeutet)
• KI- Services -> Beispiel: KI generierte Metadaten für BiIdungsmaterial

Material Upload

Der Service "Material-Upload" oder das Mitteilen eines Links zu einem Bildungsmaterial wird von verschiedenen OER-Pattformen bereitgestellt (wirlernenonline.de, oersi.org, mundo.schule).

Dies bedeutet konkret: Wenn ich bei einer der Plattformen Content hochlade, verbleibt der Content in der Regel auch dort und wird nicht mit den anderen Plattformen geteilt. Das Resultat für die User: Entweder muss ich mich überall anmelden und dort mein Material hochladen (führt zu Duplikaten) oder damit leben, dass eben nur die Nutzer:innen der jeweiligen Plattform meinen Content finden können.

Der "Open Educational Resource Search Index" (OERSI) geht diese Herausforderung an, indem die Metadaten zu den Bildungsmaterialien verschiedener Plattformen in einem Index bereitgestellt werden. Dieser Index ist wiederum öffentlich zugänglich, sodass Plattformen darüber auch Metadaten anderer Plattformen konsumieren können. Das ist schon sehr gut. Jedoch funktioniert das nur für Plattformen, die der OERSI indexiert und für alle anderen nicht. Der OERSI ist auf den Hochschulbereich fokussiert, d.h. andere Bildungskontexte werden hier ausgeschlossen. Der Ansatz für jeden Bildungsbereich einen passenden "OERSI" daneben zustellen skaliert und schlecht und es bleibt die Herausforderung bestehen, dass für jede Quelle, die indexiert werden soll, ein entsprechender Importer/Crawler geschrieben werden muss.

Dieser Ansatz (Pull-Ansatz) rennt den Materialien hinterher.

Es gibt jedoch noch mehr Einschränkungen: Die Plattformen haben sich jeweils auf spezifische Bildungskontexte spezialisiert. D.h. auf die Fragen: Wo kann ich denn mein OER bereitstellen, muss immer erst die Gegenfrage: "Für welchen Bildungsbereich denn?" beantwortet werden. Wenn dieser außerhalb des allgemeinbildendenden Bereichs oder außerhalb der Hochschule liegt, geschweige denn außerhalb des institutionellen Bildungsrahmens, wird es schon sehr, sehr dünn. Kurzum:

• Es ist nicht einfach möglich OER bereitzustellen, sodass es auch auf verschiedenen Plattformen gefunden werden kann.

Kuration

Unter Kuration verstehe ich hier die Zusammenstellung von Content in Listen oder Sammlungs ähnlicher Form sowie die Annotation dieser Sammlungen oder des Contents mit Metadaten.

Einige Plattformen bieten die Möglichkeit an, Content in Listen einzuordnen. Diese Listen sind jedoch nicht portabel. Die Liste, die ich auf Plattform A erstelle, lässt sich nicht auf Plattform B importieren. Das wäre aber schön, denn so könnten die Listen leichter auf anderen Plattformen erweitert oder sogar kollaborativ gestaltet werden, andererseits werden Lock-In-Effekte zu vermieden.

Bei der Annotation mit Metadaten treten verschiedene zentralisierende Faktoren auf. In der momentanen Praxis werden die Metadaten meist zum Zeitpunkt der Contentbereitstellung festgelegt. Meist durch eine Person oder Redaktion, bisweilen mit Unterstützung von KI-Services, die bei der Metadateneingabe unterstützen. Wie aber zusätzliche eigene Metadaten ergänzen? Wie mitteilen, dass dieses Material nicht nur für Biologie, sondern auch für Sport in Thema XY super einsetzbar wäre? Die momentanen Ansätze können diese Anforderung nicht erfüllen. Sie nutzen die Kompetenz und das Potential ihrer User nicht.

• Es gibt keine interoperablen Sammlungen
• Metadaten-Annotation ist zentralisiert
• User können keine eigenen Metadaten hinzufügen

Crawling, Indexierung und Suche

Da die Nutzer:innen nicht viele verschiedene Plattformen und Webseiten besuchen wollen, um dort nach passendem Content zu suchen, crawlen die "großen" OER-Aggregatoren diese, um die Metadaten des Contents zu indexieren. Über verschiedene Schnittstellen oder gerne auch mal über das rohe HTML. Letztere Crawler sind sehr aufwändig zu schreiben, fehleranfällig und gehen bei Design-Anpassungen der Webseite schnell kaputt, erstere sind etwas stabiler, solange sich die Schnittstelle nicht ändert. Durch den Einsatz des Allgemeinen Metadatenprofils für Bildungsressourcen (AMB) hat sich die Situation etwas verbessert. Einige Plattformen bieten jetzt eine Sitemap an, die Links zu Bildungsmaterial enthalten, die wiederum eingebettet script-tags vom Typ application/ld+json enthalten, sodass die Metadaten von dort importiert werden können.

Beispiel: e-teaching.org bietet hier eine Sitemap für ihre OER an: https://e-teaching.org/oer-sitemap.xml und auf den jeweiligen Seiten findet sich ein entsprechendes script-Tag.

Das ist schon viel besser, aber da geht noch mehr:

Zunächst ist dieser Ansatz nur für Plattformen und Akteure praktikabel, die über IT-Ressourcen verfügen, um entsprechende Funktionalitäten bei sich einbauen zu können. Lehrende können dies nicht einfach auf ihrem privaten Blog oder ähnliches umsetzen. Zum anderen besteht immer noch ein Discovery Problem. Ich muss nach wie vor wissen, wo ich suchen muss. Ich muss die Sitemaps kennen, sonst finde ich nichts. Statt eines Ansatzes, bei dem Akteure eigenständig mitteilen können, dass sie neuen Content haben (Push-Ansatz), verfolgen wir derzeit einen Ansatz, bei dem jede Plattform für sich Content im Pull-Verfahren akquiriert. Dies führt an vielen Stellen zu Doppelarbeiten, ist ineffizient (mehrere Personen bauen genau die gleichen Crawler, aber halt immer für ihre Plattform) und schliesst vor allem kleine Akteure aus (lohnt es sich einen Crawler zu programmieren, wenn die Webseite "nur" 50 Materialien bereitstellt?).

Anstatt erschlossene Daten zu teilen, arbeiten die Plattformen für sich oder stellen es höchstens wieder hinter eigenen (offenen oder geschlossenen) Schnittstellen bereit. Das ist wohl nicht das, was wir uns unter einer offenen und kollaborativen Gemeinschaft vorstellen, oder?

Bei der Suche stehen wir vor ähnlichen Herausforderungen, wie bereits oben geschildert. Obwohl verschiedene OER-Aggregatoren in Form von Repositorien oder Referatorien bereits viele der "kleineren" Plattformen indexieren und somit eine übergreifende Suche anbieten, ist es nicht möglich, diese Aggregatoren gemeinsam zu durchsuchen. Dies führt im Endeffekt dazu, dass die User wieder verschiedene Plattformen ansteuern müssen, wenn sie den gesamten OER-Fundus durchsuchen wollen.

• An vielen Stellen wird Content doppelt erschlossen, aber immer für die eigene Plattform
• Es gibt keinen geteilten Datenraum, in den Akteure Content "pushen" können
• Es gibt keine plattformübergreifenden Suchmöglichkeiten

Plattformübergreifende Kollaboration

Das wäre schön, oder? Mir ist schleierhaft, wie #OEP (Open Educational Practices, genaue Definition durch die Community steht noch aus) ohne funktionieren soll. Aber es gibt meines Wissens nach nicht mal Ansätze, wie das technisch umgesetzt werden soll (oder doch? let me hear).

Ein Szenario für solche plattformübergreifende Kollaboration könnte Qualitätssicherung sein. Gesetzt, dass sich zwei Plattformen / Communities auf etwas verständigt haben, dass sie als "Qualität" bezeichnen, wie aber dieses Gütesiegel nun an den Content bringen?

Plattform A: Na, dann kommt doch alle zu uns. Hier können wir das machen und dann hängt auch ein schönes Badge an den Materialien.

Plattform B: Ja, aber dann hängt es ja nicht an unseren Materialien. Außerdem wollen/müssen wir bei uns arbeiten, weil welche Existenzberechtigung hat denn meine Plattform noch, wenn wir alles bei dir machen?

• Obwohl nun #OEP in aller Munde sind, gibt es keine technischen Ansätze, wie (plattformübergreifende) Kollaboration technisch abgebildet werden kann

KI-Services

Was ist heute schon komplett ohne das Thema KI zu erwähnen? Mindestens für den nächsten Förderantrag muss auch irgendetwas mit KI gemacht werden...

Verschiedene Projekte erarbeiten hilfreiche und beeindruckende KI-Services. Beispielsweise, um die Annotation von Content mit Metadaten zu erleichtern, Metadaten automatisch hinzuzufügen, Content zu bestimmten Themen zu finden oder (halb-)automatisch zu Sammlungen hinzuzufügen. Aber (vielleicht habt ihr es schon erraten): Funktioniert halt nur auf der eigenen Plattform. Vermutlich, weil die Services nah am plattformeigenen Datenmodell entwickelt werden. Und da die Daten dieses Silo nicht verlassen, passt das schon. Das führt dazu, dass an mehreren Stellen die gleichen Services doppelt entwickelt werden.

• KI-Services funktionieren oft nur auf der Plattform für die sie entwickelt werden

Zusammenfassung der Probleme

Wir machen übrigens vieles schon sehr gut (Einsatz des AMB, Offene Bidungsmaterialien, wir haben eine großartige Community) und jetzt müssen wir halt weiter gehen.

(Die OER-Metadatengruppe, die das Allgemeine Metadatenprofil für Bildungsressourcen (AMB) entwickelt hat, bekommt für ihre Arbeit keine direkte Förderung. Gleichzeitig ist sie eine zentrale Anlaufstelle für alle, die mit Metadaten in offenen Bildungsinfrastukturen hantieren und das Metadatenprofil ist eines der wenigen Applikationsprofile, das öffentlich einsehbar, gut dokumentiert ist und Validierungsmöglichkeiten bietet.)

Betrachten wir die gesamten Plattformen und die beschriebenen Herausforderungen aus der Vogelperspektive, so lassen sich drei ineinander verschränkte Kernbestandteile unterscheiden, die helfen, die beschriebenen Probleme besser zu verstehen:

• User
• Service
• Daten

User: Auf (fast) allen Plattformen agieren User. Sie laden Material hoch, annotieren mit Metadaten, sind in einer Community, suchen Content usw. Egal, ob sie sich einloggen können/müssen, irgendetwas bieten wir unseren Usern an, damit sie daraus hoffentlich Mehrwerte ziehen

Service: Das ist dieses irgendetwas. Die "Webseite", die Oberfläche, das, wo der User klicken und etwas tun kann. Es ist das, was den Daten oft eine "visuelle" Form gibt. Der Service ist der Mittler, das Interface zwischen User und Daten. Mithilfe des Services lassen sich Daten erzeugen, verändern oder entfernen (Es gibt natürlich auch viele nicht-visuelle Services, die Interaktion mit Daten ermöglichen, aber für die meisten normalen Menschen, gibt es irgendwo was zu klicken).

Daten: Die Informationen in strukturierter maschinenlesbarer Form, die dem User in gerenderter Form durch einen Service Mehrwerte bieten können. Ungerenderte Daten können wir schwieirg erfassen (wir sind ja nicht Neo). Das können entweder die Metadaten zu Bildungmaterialien sein, die Materialien selbst, Profilinformationen, Materialsammlungen o.ä.

Meines Erachtens nach haben viele der oben beschriebenen Herausforderungen ihren Ursprung darin, dass die drei Kernbestandteile User, Service, Daten ungünstig miteinander verbunden wurden. Was kein Vorwurf sein soll, denn das ist genau die Art und Weise, wie die letzten Jahre (Jahrzehnte?) Plattformen immer gebaut wurden:

• User, Service und Daten werden in einer Plattform gebündelt

Das heisst durch meinen Service agieren die User mit den Daten und ich kann sicherstellen, dass in meiner kleinen Welt alles gut miteinander funktioniert. Sinnvoll, wenn ich Microsoft, Facebook, X oder ähnliches bin, weil mein Geschäftsmodell genau darin liegt: User einschließen (lock-in), ihnen die Hohheit über ihren Content nehmen (oder kannst du deine Facebook Posts zu X migrieren?) und nach Möglichkeit nicht wieder rauslassen.

Aber unsere Projekte sind öffentlich. Das sind nicht die Mechanismen, die wir replizieren sollten. Also was nun?

Bildungsinfrasstrukturen auf Basis des Nostr-Protokolls

Nostr

Eine pseudonyme Person mit dem Namen "fiatjaf" hat 2019 ein Konzept für ein Social Media Protokoll "Nostr - Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted By Relays" wie folgt beschrieben:

It does not rely on any trusted central server, hence it is resilient, it is based on cryptographic keys and signatures, so it is tamperproof, it does not rely on P2P techniques, therefore it works.

Fiatjaf, 2019

Die Kernbestandsteile des Protokolls bestehen aus:

• JSON -> Datenformat
• SHA256 & Schnorr -> Kryptographie
• Websocket -> Datenaustausch

Und funktionieren tut es so:

User besitzen ein "Schlüsselpaar": einen privaten Schlüssel (den behälst du für dich, nur für dich) und einen öffentlichen Schlüssel, den kannst du herumzeigen, das ist deine öffentliche Identität. Damit sagst du anderen Usern: Hier schau mal, das bin ich. Die beiden Schlüssel hängen dabei auf eine "magische" (kryptografische) Weise zusammen: Der öffentliche Schlüssel lässt sich aus dem privaten Schlüssel generieren, jedoch nicht andersherum. D.h. falls du deinen öffentlichen Schlüssel verlierst: Kein Problem, der lässt sich immer wieder herstellen. Wenn du deinen privaten Schlüssel verlierst: Pech gehabt, es ist faktisch unmöglich, diesen wieder herzustellen.

Die Schlüsselmagie geht jedoch noch weiter: Du kannst mit deinem privaten Schlüssel "Nachrichten" signieren, also wie unterschreiben. Diese Unterschrift, die du mit Hilfe des privaten Schlüssels erstellst, hat eine magische Eigenschaft: Jeder kann mithilfe der Signatur und deinem öffentlichen* Schlüssel nachprüfen, dass nur die Person, die auch den privaten Schlüssel zu diesem öffentlichen Schlüssel besitzt, diese Nachricht unterschrieben haben kann. Magisch, richtig? Verstehst du nicht komplett? Nicht schlimm, du benutzt es bereits vermutlich, ohne dass du es merkst. Das ist keine fancy neue Technologie, sondern gut abgehangen und breit im Einsatz.

Merke: User besitzen ein Schlüsselpaar und können damit Nachrichten signieren.

Dann gibt es noch die Services. Services funktionieren im Grunde wie bereits oben beschrieben. Durch sie interagieren die User mit Daten. Aber bei Nostr ist es ein kleines bisschen anders als sonst, denn: Die Daten "leben" nicht in den Services. Aber wo dann?

Wenn ein User einen Datensatz erstellt, verändert oder entfernen möchte, wird dieses "Event" (so nennen wir das bei Nostr) mit deinem privaten Schlüssel signiert (damit ist für alle klar, nur du kannst das gemacht haben) und dann mehrere "Relays" gesendet. Das sind die Orte, wo die Daten gehalten werden. Wenn ein User sich in einen Service einloggt, dann holt sich der Service die Daten, die er braucht von diesen Relays. User, Service und Daten sind also entkoppelt. Der User könnte zu einem anderen Service wechseln und sich dieseleben Daten von den Relays holen. Keine Lock-In Möglichkeiten.

Merke: User, Service und Daten sind entkoppelt.

Zuletzt gibt es noch die Relays. Relays sind Orte. Es sind die Orte, zu denen die Events, also die Daten der User, ihre Interaktionen, gesendet und von denen sie angefragt werden. Sie sind sowas wie das Backend von Nostr, allerdings tun sie nicht viel mehr als das: Events annehmen, Events verteilen. Je nach Konfiguration dürfen nur bestimmte User auf ein Relay schreiben oder davon lesen.

Das Protokoll ist von seinem Grunddesign auf Offenheit und Interoperabilität ausgelegt. Keine Registrierung ist nötig, sondern nur Schlüsselpaare. Durch kryptografische Verfahren kann dennoch die Authentizitität eines Events sichergestellt werden, da nur die Inhaberin des jeweiligen Schlüsselpaares dieses Event so erstellen konnte. Die Relays sorgen dafür die Daten an die gewünschten Stellen zu bringen und da wir mehr als nur eines benutzen, haben wir eine gewisse Ausfallsicherheit. Da die Daten nur aus signierten JSON-Schnipseln bestehen, können wir sie leicht an einen anderen Ort kopieren, im Falle eines Ausfalls. Durch die Signaturen ist wiederum sichergestellt, dass zwischendurch keine Veränderungen an den Daten vorgenommen wurden.

Beispiel: Ein Nostr Event

Hier ein kleiner technischer Exkurs, der beschreibt, wie Nostr Events strukturiert sind. Falls dich die technischen Details nicht so interessieren, überspringe diesen Abschnitt ruhig.

Jedes Nostr Event besitzt die gleiche Grundstruktur mit den Attributen:

• id: Der Hash des Events
• pubkey: Der Pubkey des Urhebers des Events
• created_at: Der Zeitstempel des Events
• kind: Der Typ des Events
• tags: Zusätzliche Metadaten für das Event können in diesem Array hinterlegt werden
• content: Der textuelle Inhalt eines Events
• sig: Die Signatur des Events, um die Integrität der Daten zu überprüfen

json { "id": <32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded sha256 of the serialized event data>, "pubkey": <32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>, "created_at": <unix timestamp in seconds>, "kind": <integer between 0 and 65535>, "tags": [ [<arbitrary string>...], // ... ], "content": <arbitrary string>, "sig": <64-bytes lowercase hex of the signature of the sha256 hash of the serialized event data, which is the same as the "id" field> }

Die verwendeten Eventtypen sowie die existierenden Spezifikationen lassen sich unter https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/ einsehen.

Wichtig ist auch: Du kannst einfach anfangen, Anwendungen zu entwickeln. Die Relays werden alle Events akzeptieren, die dem o.g. Schema folgen. Du musst also niemanden um Erlaubnis fragen oder warten, bis deine Spezifikation akzeptiert und hinzugefügt wurde.

You can just build things.

Exkurs: Nostr für Binärdaten - Blossom

Ja, aber... das ist doch nur für textbasierte Daten geeignet? Was ist denn mit den Binärdaten (Bilder, Videos, PDFs, etc)

Diese Daten sind oft recht groß und es wurde sich auf das Best-Practice geeignet, diese Daten nicht auf Relays abzulegen, sondern einen besser geeigneten Publikationsmechanismus für diese Datentypen zu finden. Der Ansatz wird als "Blossom - Blobs stored simply on mediaservers" bezeichnet und ist recht unkompliziert.

Blossom Server (nichts anderes als simple Medienserver) nutzen Nostr Schlüsselpaare zur Verwaltung Identitäten und zum Signieren von Events. Die Blobs werden über ihren sha256 Hash identifiziert. Blossom definiert einige standardisierte Endpunkte, die beschreiben wie Medien hochgeladen werden können, wie sie konsumiert werden können usw.

Die Details, wie Authorisierung und die jeweiligen Endpunkte funktionieren, werden in der genannten Spezifikation beschrieben.

Nostr 🤝 Öffentliche Bildungsinfrastrukturen

Wie könnten Herausforderungen gelöst werden, wenn wir Nostr als Basis für die öffentliche Bildungsinfrastruktur einsetzen?

Material-Upload

• Es ist nicht einfach möglich OER bereitzustellen, sodass es auch auf verschiedenen Plattformen gefunden werden kann.

Mit Nostr als Basis-Infrastruktur würden die Metadaten und die Binärdaten nicht an den Service gekoppelt sein, von dem aus sie bereitgestellt wurden. Binärdaten können auf sogenannten Blossom-Servern gehostet werden. Metadaten, Kommentare und weitere textbasierte Daten werden über die Relay-Infrastruktur verteilt. Da Daten und Service entkoppelt sind, können die OER Materialien von verschiedenen Anwendungen aus konsumiert werden.

Kuration

• Es gibt keine interoperablen Sammlungen
• Metadaten-Annotation ist zentralisiert
• User können keine eigenen Metadaten hinzufügen

Sammlungen sind per se interoperabel. Auf Protokollebene ist definiert, wie Listen funktionieren. Die Annotation mit Metadaten ist an keiner Stelle zentralisiert. Das Versprechen der RDF-Community "Anyone can say anything about any topic" wird hier verwirklicht. Ich muss mir ja nicht alles anhören. Vielleicht konsumiere ich nur Metadaten-Events bestimmter Redaktionen oder User. Vielleicht nur diejenigen mit einer Nähe zu meinem sozialen Graphen. Jedenfalls gibt es die Möglichkeit für alle User entsprechende Metadaten bereit zu stellen.

Crawling, Indexierung und Suche * An vielen Stellen wird Content doppelt erschlossen, aber immer für die eigene Plattform * Es gibt keinen geteilten Datenraum, in den Akteure Content "pushen" können * Es gibt keine plattformübergreifenden Suchmöglichkeiten

Keine Doppelerschließungen mehr. Wenn ein User im Netzwerk ein Metadatenevent veröffentlicht hat, ist es für alle konsumierbar. Der Datenraum ist per se geteilt. Plattformübergreifende Suche wird durch die Kombination aus Relays und NIPs ermöglicht. In den NIPs können spezielle Query-Formate für die jeweiligen NIPs definiert werden. Relays können anzeigen, welche NIPs sie untersützten. Eine plattformübergreifende Suche ist im Nostr eine relay-übergreifende Suche.

Plattformübergreifende Kollaboration

• Obwohl nun #OEP in aller Munde sind, gibt es keine technischen Ansätze, wie (plattformübergreifende) Kollaboration technisch abgebildet werden kann

Nostr ist der technische Ansatz.

KI-Services

• KI-Services funktionieren oft nur auf der Plattform für die sie entwickelt werden

Es gibt im Nostr das Konzept der Data Vending Machines (s. auch data-vending-machines.org). Statt also einfach nur eine API zu bauen (was auch schon sehr schön ist, wenn sie offen zugänglich ist), könnten diese Services auch als Akteure im Nostr Netzwerk fungieren und Jobs annehmen und ausführen. Die Art der Jobs kann in einer Spezifikation beschrieben werden, sodass die Funktionsweise für alle interessierten Teilnehmer im Netzwerk einfach nachzuvollziehen ist.

Die Services könnten sogar monetarisiert werden, sodass sich hier auch Möglichkeiten böten, Geschäftsmodelle zu entwickeln.

Fazit

Die Open Education Community ist großartig. Es sind einzigartige und unglaublich engagierte Menschen, die sich dem hehren Ziel "Zugängliche Bildung für Alle" -> "Offene Bildung" verschrieben haben. Wir verwenden Creative Commons Lizenzen -> Commons -> Gemeingüter. Es ist okay, dass viele Projekte von Sponsoren und Förderungen abhängig sind. Was wir machen, ist im Sinne eines Gemeingutes: Öffentliche Bildung für alle. Also zahlen wir als Gemeinschaft alle dafür.

Was nicht okay ist: Dass das, wofür wir alle gezahlt haben, nach kurzer Zeit nicht mehr auffindbar ist. Dass es eingeschlossen wird. In öffentlich finanzierten Datensilos. Es muss für alle auch langfristig verfügbar sein. Sonst ist es nicht zugänglich, nicht offen. Dann ist das O in OER nur ein Label und Marketing, um für eine ABM-Maßnahme 3 Jahre Geld zu bekommen. Denn nichts anderes ist Content-Entwicklung, wenn der Content nach drei Jahren weggeschmissen wird.

Und dasselbe gilt für OEP. Offene Lernpraktiken, sind auch nur eine Phrase, wenn wir die passende technische Infrastruktur nicht mitdenken, die wirkliche Offenheit und Kollaboration und damit die Umsetzung offener Lernpraktiken ermöglicht.

Und wenn wir uns jetzt nicht Gedanken darüber machen, die Infrastruktur für offenes Lernen anzupassen, dann werden wir vermutlich in einigen Jahren sehen können, was bei politischen Umorientierungen noch davon übrig bleiben wird. Wenn die Fördertöpfe komplett gestrichen werden, was bleibt dann übrig von dem investierten Geld?

Wir brauchen Lösungen, die engagierte Communities weiter betreiben können und denen kein Kopf abgeschlagen werden kann, ohne dass wir zwei neue daneben setzen könnten.

Wir müssen uns jetzt Gedanken darüber machen.

Wie offen will öffentliche Bildungsinfrastruktur sein?

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Connecticut halts all public investment in digital assets while other U.S. states move toward strategic bitcoin reserves.

Connecticut has taken a firm stance against digital assets by approving legislation that categorically prohibits all levels of state and local government from investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

On June 10, the Connecticut General Assembly published the final text of bill H.B. 7082, which has now become Public Act No. 25-66. The legislation was passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate, signaling bipartisan agreement on the need to keep public finances away from the cryptocurrency market.

The new law establishes an outright ban on government entities purchasing, holding, or investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It also prohibits the creation of any “virtual currency reserve” and the acceptance of crypto payments.

In addition to restrictions on the public sector, the State’s legislation introduces consumer protection measures for private individuals. Crypto businesses operating as Money Service Businesses will now be required to disclose all material risks associated with cryptocurrencies through “clear, conspicuous and legible writing in the English language.”

Another provision addresses the protection of minors: the new law mandates legal guardian verification for all users under the age of 18.

While Connecticut adopts a restrictive position toward digital assets, several other U.S. states are moving in the opposite direction. New Hampshire became the first state to pass a bill for a strategic bitcoin reserve, followed by Arizona.

The post Connecticut says no to Bitcoin: law approved banning state crypto reserves appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dirty Coin debut ceremony at the Marché du Film

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dirty Coin at the Cannes Film Festival

Watch the Trailer + Access Press Materials

📂 EPK
🎬 Screener
🌍 Host a Screening

Follow the Movement

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

@ 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.

@ 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/

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

The Blockchain Group, Europe’s first publicly listed bitcoin treasury company, has received the green light from its shareholders to raise more than €10 billion (approximately $11 billion) to buy more bitcoin.

This is one of the biggest bitcoin treasury plays in Europe as the company wants to speed up its bitcoin accumulation and become a major institutional buyer.

At the Annual General Meeting held on June 10, 39% of the voting rights represented by shareholders voted in favor of the financing plan, with over 95% of the votes cast in favor.

The approval gives the board of directors broad financial powers to issue shares and other securities to raise capital, either with or without preferential subscription rights.

This will allow the company to raise funds quickly in public or private markets to buy bitcoin when the time is right.

CEO Jean-Philippe Casadepax-Soulet said:

“I would like to thank our shareholders for the trust they have placed in us with the approval of these new financial authorizations, that will enable us to accelerate our Bitcoin Treasury strategy, focused on increasing the number of bitcoins per share on a fully diluted basis over time.”

The Blockchain Group’s strategy is to increase the number of bitcoin per share. This means that the company aims to buy more bitcoin without diluting existing shareholders’ ownership, and provide exposure to a growing hard-asset reserve within the company’s equity.

According to Bitcoin Treasuries, the company already holds 1,471 BTC, worth around €160 million.

Earlier this month, it added 624 BTC, worth around €69 million, to its treasury. These are just the beginning of a much bigger accumulation effort funded by the recent shareholder-approved capital increase.

Alongside ordinary shares, the financial powers granted to the board include the ability to issue preferred shares, warrants and convertible bonds. This gives the company the tools to optimize funding costs and respond to market demand.

This is on top of the €300 million at-the-market (ATM) facility announced earlier with asset manager TOBAM, where the company can issue new shares at market price. TOBAM is the sole subscriber under this ATM and can buy up to 39% of the company if the facility is fully used.

In addition to the capital raise, shareholders elected Alexandre Laizet as a board member and appointed him Deputy CEO in charge of the Bitcoin strategy. Laizet’s 6-year term will end in 2030, which shows the long-term vision for digital assets.

The appointment highlights the importance of bitcoin within the company’s overall structure which also includes subsidiaries in data intelligence, AI consulting and decentralized technology.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

“The future is there... staring back at us. Trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become.” — William Gibson.

This month is the 4th anniversary of kycnot.me. Thank you for being here.

Fifteen years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system: a decentralized currency free from government and institutional control. Nakamoto's whitepaper showed a vision for a financial system based on trustless transactions, secured by cryptography. Some time forward and KYC (Know Your Customer), AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations started to come into play.

What a paradox: to engage with a system designed for decentralization, privacy, and independence, we are forced to give away our personal details. Using Bitcoin in the economy requires revealing your identity, not just to the party you interact with, but also to third parties who must track and report the interaction. You are forced to give sensitive data to entities you don't, can't, and shouldn't trust. Information can never be kept 100% safe; there's always a risk. Information is power, who knows about you has control over you.

Information asymmetry creates imbalances of power. When entities have detailed knowledge about individuals, they can manipulate, influence, or exploit this information to their advantage. The accumulation of personal data by corporations and governments enables extensive surveillances.

Such practices, moreover, exclude individuals from traditional economic systems if their documentation doesn't meet arbitrary standards, reinforcing a dystopian divide. Small businesses are similarly burdened by the costs of implementing these regulations, hindering free market competition^1:

How will they keep this information safe? Why do they need my identity? Why do they force businesses to enforce such regulations? It's always for your safety, to protect you from the "bad". Your life is perpetually in danger: terrorists, money launderers, villains... so the government steps in to save us.

‟Hush now, baby, baby, don't you cry Mamma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you Mamma's gonna keep you right here, under her wing She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing Mamma's gonna keep baby cosy and warm” — Mother, Pink Floyd

We must resist any attack on our privacy and freedom. To do this, we must collaborate.

If you have a service, refuse to ask for KYC; find a way. Accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero. Commit to circular economies. Remove the need to go through the FIAT system. People need fiat money to use most services, but we can change that.

If you're a user, donate to and prefer using services that accept such currencies. Encourage your friends to accept cryptocurrencies as well. Boycott FIAT system to the greatest extent you possibly can.

This may sound utopian, but it can be achieved. This movement can't be stopped. Go kick the hornet's nest.

“We must defend our own privacy if we expect to have any. We must come together and create systems which allow anonymous transactions to take place. People have been defending their own privacy for centuries with whispers, darkness, envelopes, closed doors, secret handshakes, and couriers. The technologies of the past did not allow for strong privacy, but electronic technologies do.” — Eric Hughes, A Cypherpunk's Manifesto

The anniversary

Four years ago, I began exploring ways to use crypto without KYC. I bookmarked a few favorite services and thought sharing them to the world might be useful. That was the first version of kycnot.me — a simple list of about 15 services. Since then, I've added services, rewritten it three times, and improved it to what it is now.

kycnot.me has remained 100% independent and 100% open source^2 all these years. I've received offers to buy the site, all of which I have declined and will continue to decline. It has been DDoS attacked many times, but we made it through. I have also rewritten the whole site almost once per year (three times in four years).

The code and scoring algorithm are open source (contributions are welcome) and I can't arbitrarly change a service's score without adding or removing attributes, making any arbitrary alterations obvious if they were fake. You can even see the score summary for any service's score.

I'm a one-person team, dedicating my free time to this project. I hope to keep doing so for many more years. Again, thank you for being part of this.

@ e5de992e:4a95ef85

Stop Chasing Goals, Start Building Systems: The Mindset Shift That Unlocks Sustainable Success

We’ve all been there. Fired up with a new resolution, a bold ambition, a tantalizing goal shimmering on the horizon. "I want to get 1,000 new customers." "I'm going to lose 20 pounds." "This is the year I finally write that novel." We pour our energy into the chase, fueled by visions of a triumphant finish line. But more often than not, this pursuit leads to a familiar cycle of burnout, frustration, and the dispiriting feeling of falling short.
What if the finish line is the problem? What if the relentless focus on a fixed outcome is the very thing holding us back?
This is the core of a powerful mindset shift championed by thinkers like Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, and embodied in the relentless innovation of entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. The alternative? Think in systems, not goals. This approach liberates you from the all-or-nothing pressure of a single target and instead focuses on building repeatable processes that generate progress, foster resilience, and compound results over time.
Instead of the goal to “get 1,000 customers,” you design a system: “Publish one valuable blog post every day to drive inbound leads.” The former is a destination; the latter is a continuous engine. And in the long game of life and business, it’s the quality of your engine that matters most.

The Hidden Pitfalls of a "Goals-Only" Mindset

At first glance, shunning goals feels counterintuitive. They provide direction, after all. But as James Clear, bestselling author of Atomic Habits, points out, a myopic focus on goals has several inherent flaws:

• Winners and Losers Share the Same Goals: Every Olympian wants to win gold. Every startup founder wants to be a unicorn. If successful and unsuccessful people share the same goals, then the goal itself cannot be the differentiating factor. The true differentiator is the consistent system of training, practice, and improvement that the winner implements.
• Goals Are a Fleeting Moment of Change: Imagine you’ve worked for months to clean a cluttered room. You achieve the goal, and for a moment, it’s a triumph. But if you haven’t changed the underlying system of accumulating and not tidying, the clutter will inevitably return. As Clear says, "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
• Goals Restrict Your Happiness: The goal-oriented mindset operates on a "deferred happiness" model: "I'll be happy when I reach my sales target." or "I'll be satisfied when I get that promotion." This creates a perpetual state of pre-success failure. By contrast, a systems-based approach allows for satisfaction every time you execute your system. You wrote your daily blog post? That's a win. You did your 30 minutes of exercise? A victory. You're no longer waiting for permission to feel good about your efforts.
• Goals Can Undermine Long-Term Progress: What happens after you cross the finish line? For many marathon runners, the weeks after the race are a void, as the singular goal that drove them is now gone. A system, however, is infinite. A system of "being a person who runs regularly" has no end date. It encourages continuous engagement and improvement, long after a specific milestone is passed.

The Unrivaled Power of Systems: Consistency, Adaptability, and Compounding Progress

So, what does it mean to "think in systems"? A system is a process, a habit, a routine that you control and that you can perform consistently. It's the architecture of your ambition.
Scott Adams famously articulated this distinction on his blog. He didn’t have a goal to become a syndicated cartoonist. Instead, he built a system: he would draw and write every single day. This system, this relentless practice, not only honed his skills but also generated a constant stream of output that dramatically increased his odds of success. "Goals are for losers," he provocatively wrote. "Systems are for winners."
The beauty of this approach lies in its key benefits:

• It Reduces Burnout: Chasing a distant, high-stakes goal is mentally and emotionally taxing. Every day you haven't achieved it can feel like a failure. A system, however, focuses your energy on the immediate, controllable present. Did you follow your process today? If so, you succeeded. This reframing is a powerful antidote to burnout.
• It Creates Sustainable Habits: Systems are the fertile ground from which habits grow. By focusing on a daily or weekly process—writing 500 words, making 10 sales calls, meditating for 10 minutes—you are laying down the neurological pathways for these actions to become automatic. The system is the scaffolding for the habit.
• It Increases Adaptability and Long-Term Results: A rigid goal can shatter in the face of unexpected change. What if the market shifts and your initial customer acquisition target becomes irrelevant? A person fixated on the goal might be lost. A person with a system of "consistently creating valuable content and engaging with my community" can pivot. Their engine is still running, and they can direct its power toward new opportunities. This adaptability is crucial for long-term relevance and success.

Systems Thinking in Action: Lessons from the Titans of Industry

This isn't just a theory for personal development; it's the operating manual for some of the most successful enterprises in modern history.
Jeff Bezos and the Amazon Machine: Amazon is a breathtaking collection of interlocking systems. A prime example is the "Day 1" philosophy. Bezos has long advocated that Amazon must always operate with the urgency, customer-centricity, and inventive spirit of a startup on its very first day. This isn't a goal; it's a cultural system designed to ward off the complacency that often comes with success. From the "two-pizza teams" designed to keep innovation agile to the institutionalized practice of "working backwards" from a customer's needs, Amazon is a testament to the power of systemic thinking.
Elon Musk and First Principles: When Elon Musk set out to build rockets, he didn't have the goal of "making cheaper rockets." He employed a system of thinking known as "first principles." Instead of accepting the high cost of existing rockets, he asked, "What are the fundamental material components of a rocket?" By breaking down the problem to its physical truths and rebuilding from there, SpaceX was able to create a far more efficient and cost-effective system of manufacturing and launch. This first-principles approach is Musk's system for tackling seemingly insurmountable problems, and he has applied it across his ventures, from Tesla's battery technology to Neuralink's brain-computer interfaces.

Your Turn: How to Redesign Your Goals into Powerful Systems

The shift from goals to systems is a practical one that you can begin implementing today. The key is to reframe your desired outcome as a consistent process that you can control.
Here’s a look at how to transform common goals into robust systems:

| Instead of this Goal... | Build this System... | | :---- | :---- | | "Get 1,000 customers." | "Publish one valuable blog post every weekday to drive inbound leads and spend 30 minutes daily engaging with potential customers on social media." | | "Lose 20 pounds." | "Focus on eating whole foods for every meal and engage in 30 minutes of enjoyable physical activity five times a week." | | "Write a bestselling novel." | "Write 500 words every morning before checking email and read one book in my genre every two weeks." | | "Become fluent in Spanish." | "Complete one lesson on a language app every day during my commute and have a 15-minute conversation with a language partner twice a week." | | "Raise $1 million in funding." | "Identify and reach out to five potential investors every single day and refine my pitch deck for one hour each week based on feedback." |

Now, it's time for you to reflect. Look at the ambitions currently driving you. Ask yourself:
“How can I redesign my current goals into daily or weekly systems that deliver value regardless of the outcome?”
By shifting your focus from the distant prize to the daily process, you are not giving up on your ambitions. On the contrary, you are building a more reliable, resilient, and ultimately more powerful path to achieving them. You are trading the anxiety of the chase for the quiet confidence of the craftsman. You are playing the long game.
Stop waiting for the finish line to feel successful. Build a system, execute it with consistency, and start winning today.

@ a8d1560d:3fec7a08

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

After the wave of word-scrambling spam bots, a new and very problematic kind of spam has arrived in the Nostr. Whenever you post something now, you will get gay porn videos as an automated answer (No, being gay itself is not problematic!!!). To get rid of all the automated spam, remove the following relays from your inbox and outbox relay list: - nos.lol - relay.damus.io - nostr.oxtr.dev - relay.primal.net

As long as you have even one of these relays in your inbox and outbox lists, you and your followers will be spammed whenever posting something.

It is unknown if the bots only reply to kind 1 events or to all events.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

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

Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

Use the tools

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

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

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

I'm launching a new service review section on this blog in collaboration with OrangeFren. These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Reviews are done in advance, then, the service provider has the discretion to approve publication without modifications.

Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing.

---

The review

WizardSwap is an instant exchange centred around privacy coins. It was launched in 2020 making it old enough to have weathered the 2021 bull run and the subsequent bearish year.

| Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Tor-friendly | Limited liquidity | | Guarantee of no KYC | Overly simplistic design | | Earn by providing liquidity | |

Rating: ★★★★★ Service Website: wizardswap.io

Liquidity

Right off the bat, we'll start off by pointing out that WizardSwap relies on its own liquidity reserves, meaning they aren't just a reseller of Binance or another exchange. They're also committed to a no-KYC policy, when asking them, they even promised they would rather refund a user their original coins, than force them to undergo any sort of verification.

On the one hand, full control over all their infrastructure gives users the most privacy and conviction about the KYC policies remaining in place.

On the other hand, this means the liquidity available for swapping isn't huge. At the time of testing we could only purchase at most about 0.73 BTC with XMR.

It's clear the team behind WizardSwap is aware of this shortfall and so they've come up with a solution unique among instant exchanges. They let you, the user, deposit any of the currencies they support into your account and earn a profit on the trades made using your liquidity.

Trading

Fees on WizardSwap are middle-of-the-pack. The normal fee is 2.2%. That's more than some exchanges that reserve the right to suddenly demand you undergo verification, yet less than half the fees on some other privacy-first exchanges. However as we mentioned in the section above you can earn almost all of that fee (2%) if you provide liquidity to WizardSwap.

It's good that with the current Bitcoin fee market their fees are constant regardless of how much, or how little, you send. This is in stark contrast with some of the alternative swap providers that will charge you a massive premium when attempting to swap small amounts of BTC away.

Test trades

Test trades are always performed without previous notice to the service provider.

During our testing we performed a few test trades and found that every single time WizardSwap immediately detected the incoming transaction and the amount we received was exactly what was quoted before depositing. The fees were inline with what WizardSwap advertises.

• Monero payment proof
• Bitcoin received
• Wizardswap TX link - it's possible that this link may cease to be valid at some point in the future.

ToS and KYC

WizardSwap does not have a Terms of Service or a Privacy Policy page, at least none that can be found by users. Instead, they offer a FAQ section where they addresses some basic questions.

The site does not mention any KYC or AML practices. It also does not specify how refunds are handled in case of failure. However, based on the FAQ section "What if I send funds after the offer expires?" it can be inferred that contacting support is necessary and network fees will be deducted from any refund.

UI & Tor

WizardSwap can be visited both via your usual browser and Tor Browser. Should you decide on the latter you'll find that the website works even with the most strict settings available in the Tor Browser (meaning no JavaScript).

However, when disabling Javascript you'll miss the live support chat, as well as automatic refreshing of the trade page. The lack of the first means that you will have no way to contact support from the trade page if anything goes wrong during your swap, although you can do so by mail.

One important thing to have in mind is that if you were to accidentally close the browser during the swap, and you did not save the swap ID or your browser history is disabled, you'll have no easy way to return to the trade. For this reason we suggest when you begin a trade to copy the url or ID to someplace safe, before sending any coins to WizardSwap.

The UI you'll be greeted by is simple, minimalist, and easy to navigate. It works well not just across browsers, but also across devices. You won't have any issues using this exchange on your phone.

Getting in touch

The team behind WizardSwap appears to be most active on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io

If you have any comments or suggestions about the exchange make sure to reach out to them. In the past they've been very receptive to user feedback, for instance a few months back WizardSwap was planning on removing DeepOnion, but the community behind that project got together ^1 and after reaching out WizardSwap reversed their decision ^2.

You can also contact them via email at: support @ wizardswap . io

Disclaimer

None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

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

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

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

What's new

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

Other changes

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

#FREESAMOURAI

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

Announcement / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mining Economic Factor

Precise Value (April 2025)

Direct Impact on Profitability

Smartphone sustained hash rate

20-35 MH/s

0.00000024% contribution to global hashrate

Daily power consumption

3.2-4.8 kWh (4-6 full charges)

$0.38-0.57 at average US electricity rates

Expected daily BTC earnings

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

Revenue covers only 0.9% of electricity costs

CPU/GPU wear cost

$0.68-0.92 daily accelerated depreciation

Reduces smartphone lifespan by 60-70%

Annual profit projection

-$386 to -$412 per year

Guaranteed negative return on investment

Source: PocketOption

Bitcoin’s 2025 Network: Harder Than Ever

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

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

The math is unforgiving:

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

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

The 2025 Scam Evolution: More Sophisticated, More Dangerous

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

New 2025 scam tactics include:

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

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

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

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

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

Red flags that scream “scam” in 2025:

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

The 2025 Professional Mining Landscape

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

Cutting-edge hardware:

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

Infrastructure requirements:

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

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

2025’s Legitimate Mobile Bitcoin Strategies

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bottom Line

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

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

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

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

@ dd664d5e:5633d319

The importance of being lindy

I've been thinking about what Vitor said about #Amethyst living on extended time. And thinking. And doing a bit more thinking...

It's a valid point. Why does Amethyst (or, analog, #Damus) still exist? Why is it as popular as it is? Shouldn't they be quickly washed-away by power-funded corporate offerings or highly-polished, blackbox-coded apps?

Because a lot of people trust them to read the code, that's why. The same way that they trust Michael to read it and they trust me to test it. And, perhaps more importantly, they trust us to not deliver corrupted code. Intentionally, or inadvertently.

The developer's main job will not be coding the commit, it will be reviewing and approving the PR.

As AI -- which all developers now use, to some extent, if they are planning on remaining in the business -- becomes more efficient and effective at writing the code, the effort shifts to evaluating and curating what it writes. That makes software code a commodity, and commodities are rated according to brand.

Most of us don't want to make our own shampoo, for instance. Rather, we go to the store and select the brand that we're used to. We have learned, over the years, that this brand won't kill us and does the job we expect it to do. Offloading the decision of Which shampoo? to a brand is worth some of our time and money, which is why strong, reliable brands can charge a premium and are difficult to dislodge.

Even people, like myself, who can read the code from many common programming languages, do not have the time, energy, or interest to read through thousands of lines of Kotlin, Golang, or Typescript or -- God forbid -- C++, from repos we are not actively working on. And asking AI to analyze the code for you leaves you trusting the AI to have a conscience and be virtuous, and may you have fun with that.

The software is no longer the brand. The feature set alone isn't enough. And the manner in which it is written, or the tools it was written with, are largely irrelevant. The thing that matters most is Who approved this version?

The Era of Software Judges has arrived

And that has always been the thing that mattered most, really.

That's why software inertia is a real thing and that's why it's going to still be worth it to train up junior devs. Those devs will be trained up to be moral actors, specializing in reviewing and testing code and confirming its adherance to the project's ethical standards. Because those standards aren't universal; they're nuanced and edge cases will need to be carefully weighed and judged and evaluated and analysed. It will not be enough to add Don't be evil. to the command prompt and call it a day.

So, we shall need judges and advocates, and we must train them up, in the way they shall go.

@ 99556507:a6cf5c08

El paradigma del trabajador común aceptado en nuestra era es trabajar duro durante 40 años por un salario para tener derecho a una jubilación los últimos 20 o con suerte 25 años de vida.

Pero ¿es ésto lo más rentable? ¿Hay otras alternativas?

Vamos a ponernos en la piel de un asalariado o un autónomo que ha cotizado durante 30 años por la base máxima y está a una década todavía de poder jubilarse. ¿Le conviene trabajar esa década para tener derecho a la pensión estatal? ¿O es una estafa?

Hagamos números: La cotización máxima del autónomo o la del empresario a cuenta del trabajador hoy en día es de 1.472€/mes, 12 pagas al año, o 17.664€/año. En 10 años, y considerando una inflación del 4% anual, pagará 202.075€ en cotizaciones sociales.

El cotizante que haya pagado esto durante toda su vida laboral tiene derecho a la jubilación máxima, que hoy es de 3.267€/ mes, 14 pagas al año, o 45.746,40€/año. Si pensamos que la esperanza de vida en España es de 83 años y se tiene derecho a la jubilación a los 67, significa que un pensionista medio recibirá la pensión durante 16 años. Pero vamos a a hacer las cuentas para Matusalén, el pensionista pesadilla para el gobierno y las aseguradoras, que llegará a cumplir los 92 años, recibiendo la pensión durante 25 años.

Asumamos que el gobierno, que necesita imperiosamente los votos de los 7 millones de pensionistas, seguirá revalorizando las pensiones con el IPC oficial, es decir, a una media del 4% anual.

Matusalén se jubilará a los 67 y recibirá a lo largo de sus 25 años de pensionista la cantidad de 1.905.000€(1), de los cuales tendrá que pagar alrededor de un 28% de impuestos.

[(1) 45.746,40*(1-1,0425)/(1-1.04)] = 1.905.150

Es decir, Matusalén pagará 202.000€ en total a lo largo de 10 años para recibir 1.905.000€ distribuidos durante los siguientes 25. Parece un buen negocio, ¿no?

Pero, y si Matusalén, que es una persona cabal y ahorradora, ha ido haciendo una hucha durante sus 30 años de vida laboral a razón de 1000€ al mes, de manera que ahora ya dispone de esos 202.075€ necesarios para pagar sus cotizaciones hasta la edad de jubilación, y además le sobran 160.000€ para sus gastos la próxima década, a razón de 16.000€/año, que deberían de ser suficiente para vivir, puesto que esta cantidad es justo el salario mínimo interprofesional actual. ¿Le merece la pena seguir trabajando o puede plantearse dejar de hacerlo y usar esos ahorros para pagar sus cotizaciones de los siguientes 10 años, y tener derecho a la jubilación cuando cumpla 67 años?

O ya puestos a hacer cuentas, dado que tiene un capital disponible de 202.000€ en el banco, ¿podría pensar en alguna inversión alternativa que revalorizara su dinero de manera que mejorase las prestaciones de su jubilación (los 1.905.000€ calculados antes)?

Aquí es donde sale a jugar la fórmula del interés compuesto: Cf = Ci * (1+Rn), donde: Cf: capital final (queremos llegar a 1.905.000€) Ci: capital inicial (los 202.075€ de Matu) R: tasa de interés anual (CAGR) n: numero de años de la inversión (10)

¿Qué crecimiento anual compuesto (CAGR) necesitaría Matu para obtener el total de lo que nos daría su pensión tras 25 años, pero en tan solo 10 años, de manera que pudiera disponer de todo ese capital incluso antes de jubilarse? Haciendo las cuentas, R = (Cf/Ci-1)(1/n) = 23.09 %

Por si has llegado hasta aquí pero te has perdido por el camino, acabamos de concluir que una persona que invierta hoy 202.075€ en un producto que rente un 23,09% anual, obtendrá 1.905.000€ en 10 años, el equivalente a toda su jubilación.

Pues esto parece incluso mejor que la alternativa anterior, ¿no? Pero claro, hay que encontrar un producto que garantice esta rentabilidad sostenida durante una década. ¿Qué podría ser? A esta alturas, si sigues por aquí, ya habrás podido intuir por dónde van los tiros. Lo único que ha garantizado esta revalorización hasta la fecha es #bitcoin.

Éste el el cuadro del CAGR de Bitcoin tabulado por años. Se lee de la siguiente manera: A finales de 2024, la columna "CAGR 2024" da el CAGR (rendimiento anual compuesto) para la diferencia de años entre 2024 y el año de la cifra que estemos mirando. Por ejemplo, el CAGR a 31/12/2024 de una inversión realizada el 31/12/2023, es decir de 1 año, es del 276,92%. Si la inversión se realizó el 31/12/2016, el CAGR 8 años después, a final de 2024, es del 78,22% ANUAL

(Ver imagen 1)

El tío Matusalén está buscando algo que le dé un mínimo del 23,09% anual, ¿recordáis?. Pues da igual cuándo haya invertido y cuánto tiempo mantenga la inversión. BTC siempre supera ese umbral, por mucho.

"Ya Manolito, pero estás mirando rendimientos desde finales de 2024, cuando Bitcoin hizo un precio máximo histórico. Esto no asegura que haya ocurrido esto cada año, ¿no?"

El siguiente cuadro muestra los CAGR calculados a finales de cada año, los últimos 6 años. Las cifras El siguiente cuadro muestra los CAGR calculados a finales de cada año, los últimos 6 años. Las cifras en verde corresponden a los rendimientos de inversiones mantenidas 10 años. No podemos ir más para atrás porque Bitcoin acaba de cumplir 16 años. Las cifras en amarillo son inversiones mantenidas 5 años. El peor de los casos es elegir un período de 4 años para la inversión, y aún así el rendimiento medio en este intervalo de tiempo los últimos 6 períodos de 6 años es del 38,30%.

(ver imagen 2)

No es difícil comprobar que a 10 años vista, bitcoin siempre ha superado de largo la tasa de crecimiento del 23,09% necesaria para el caso de Matusalén.

*Consideraciones fiscales ** La pensión máxima devenga impuestos sobre la base de rentas del trabajo a razón del 28% anual, mientras que las inversiones tributan a un máximo del 26% sobre la base de las rentas de capital, suponiendo que se recupere todo el mismo año. Si se distribuyen los rendimientos plurianualmente, ese 26% puede reducirse entono al 21%, suponiendo otro 7% anual de ventaja neta sobre la pensión. En el caso particular de Matusalén, los 45.746,40€ anuales de su pensión tributarían íntegros al 28%, por lo que los 1.905.150 se quedarían netos en 823.435,20€ al cabo de 25 años. Si hubiese optado por invertir los 202.075€ en Bitcoin, y suponiendo que la rentabilidad obtenida es solo la necesaria para conseguir los 1.905.150€, tributaría al 26% sobre la ganancia si decide convertirlos en € de una vez, es decir, pagaría 26%(1.905.150-202.075)=442,800€, con lo que le quedarían netos 1.462.350€. Si decide por el contrario vender solo bitcoins cada año por valor de 45,746€, y suponiendo que mantienen el mismo valor en € durante los 25 años, pagaría el 21% sobre la plusvalía, es decir 357.645€ a lo largo de los 25 años por lo que le habrá quedado neto 1.547.504€.

Resumiendo: Renta neta con la pensión estatal tras 25 años: 823.435€ Renta neta con el plan de inversión en bitcoin, con rescate en una vez, el año 0: 1.462.350€ Renta neta con el plan de inversión en bitcoin, con rescate a lo largo de 25 años: 1.547.504€

Hay que recordar que todo el ejercicio está realizado para el mejor caso del pensionista estatal, que vivirá muy por encima de la media. Cualquier número de años inferior mejorará la rentabilidad del plan de bitcoin respecto al estatal.

Conclusión: Al bueno de Matu más le vale comprar bitcoins hoy mismo con ese dinero ahorrado. No solamente no necesitará una pensión sino que lo más probable es que sus ahorros valgan 5 veces más que lo que conseguiría de pensionista, pero 25 años antes.

@ 93bfc86d:fc8e91f5

M of N 분산

이번 5월 BSL 컨퍼런스와 비트코인 서울 2025 컨퍼런스에서 펜락(Penlock) 프로젝트에 참여하고 있는 한 분을 만났다. 아마 이 분을 만난 한국인 분들이 더 있을 텐데, 현재는 익명을 원하시므로 프라이버시 보호를 위해 실명을 언급하는 것은 주의하는 것이 좋겠다.

키를 M of N으로 분산하는 방식 중 내가 알고 있는 건 멀티시그와 샤미르 분산이다.

멀티시그는 각자가 키를 생성하지만,

1. 스크립트 길이가 길어지고, 스크립트를 해시로 감싼다고 해도 일반 주소보다 길다.

2. 일반적인 P2MS는 공개키가 드러나므로 프라이버시 보장이 안 되고, P2SH로 감싸도 서명할 때 각자의 공개키가 드러난다(리딤 스크립트가 드러나므로).

이런 특징을 갖고 있다.

샤미르 분산은 하나의 키를 분산하는 방식이므로,

1. 키를 복원했을 때는 결국 하나의 키가 생성되므로 키가 복원되었을 때 보안에 매우 주의해야 한다.

2. 하지만 외부에서 볼 때는 어떤 방식으로 분할이 되었는지 알 수가 없으므로 프라이버시에 좋다.

이런 특징을 갖고 있다.

M of N은 회사에서의 권한 분산, 상속, 위험 지점 분산, 신뢰 지점 분산 등에 사용할 수 있을 것이다. 하지만 나는 멀티시그와 샤미르 분산이 둘 다 M of N을 구현하지만 그 특성이 약간 다르기 때문에 적합한 용처도 다르다고 생각한다. 만약 한 기업이 여러 이사진의 의사결정 과정에서 권한을 분산해야 한다면 멀티시그 방식이 훨씬 나을 것이다. 이사 각각이 서명하면 되기 때문이다. 여기다가 샤미르 분산을 쓴다면 이사 몇 명이 모여 키 하나를 생성했을 때 쪼개기 전의 원래 하나의 키가 생기므로 권한 분산에 차질이 생길 수 있다. 그 키를 갖는 사람이 갑자기 모든 권한을 가질 수 있게 되기 때문이다. 거꾸로 한 개인이 키를 백업하고자 하는데 키를 분실하거나 화재나 기타 재난 등의 이유로 파괴될 것에 대비하여 여러 장소에 분산하여 보관하고 싶다면 샤미르 분산이 더 적합할 것이다. 키 조각들을 합쳐서 원래 키가 생겼을 때 그 키는 어차피 한 개인이 쓰는 것이므로 권한 구조가 갑자기 한 곳으로 몰리는 것에 대해 걱정할 필요가 없기 때문이다.

그런데 샤미르 분산은 멀티시그보다 직관적이진 않은 것 같다. 멀티시그는 스크립트 구조를 보면 바로 어떤 구조인지 알 수 있다. 손으로 따라 쓸 수도 있는 수준이다. 하지만 트레저가 도입한 샤미르 분산인 SLIP-0039 같은 형식은 직관적이지가 않다. 일단 샤미르 분산이 다항함수를 통한 비밀 분산을 쓰는 원리라는 걸 이해해야 하고(키 조각이 부족하면 부정방정식이 되어서 복구 불가), 그걸 통해 복구하는 과정에서 사용하는 라그랑주 보간법이 인간이 손으로 계산하기에는 너무 어렵다. 키를 분할하고 복구하는 과정이 수학적인 함수 공간에서 정의되고, 사용자는 키 조각들만 보게 되므로 내부 구조에 대해 직관적으로 이해하기가 어렵다.

오프라인 손 계산과 직관적 이해

조금 다른 주제로 넘어가보자. 나는 기술의 사용자들이 그 기술을 '직관'적으로 이해할 수 있는 지가 매우 중요하다고 생각한다. 비트코인 경험에는 특히 '검증'이 중요한데 어떤 기술을 직관적으로 이해할 수 없다면 검증은 전문가들만의 전유물이 되기 때문이다.

예를 들어보자. 앨리스, 밥, 캐롤이 각각 니모닉을 만들었다.

1. 앨리스는 기계가 생성해준 니모닉을 사용한다. 기계는 SE칩 내부에 있는 전자의 브라운 운동 등을 엔트로피로 이용해 랜덤한 엔트로피를 생성했다. 하지만 앨리스는 이 사실을 모르고, 따라서 기계를 신뢰해야 한다. 앨리스는 기계가 생성해 준 엔트로피가 충분히 랜덤하고 안전하다고 "믿고 있다." 사실이 그런지 아닌지와는 별개로 말이다.

2. 밥은 주사위를 던져서 만든 니모닉을 사용한다. 하지만 주사위를 던졌을 때 나온 값이 어떻게 니모닉으로 변환되는지는 모른다. 기계는 주사위를 던져 나온 숫자를 유니코드 문자열로 인식하여 SHA256을 한 번 돌린 뒤, 그 해시값을 엔트로피로 사용한다. 밥은 자신이 직접 주사위를 던졌으므로 엔트로피가 랜덤하게 생성되었다는 것은 직관적으로 알지만, 그 숫자가 어떻게 니모닉으로 계산된 건지는 모른다.

3. 캐롤은 직접 동전을 던져 0, 1을 기록하고 자신이 직접 니모닉 표를 보며 니모닉을 대응시켰다. 따라서 캐롤은 자신이 사용하는 니모닉이 랜덤하다는 것도 이해하고 있으며, 랜덤한 엔트로피를 어떻게 니모닉에 대응시키는지도 알고 있다.

세 가지 경우 중 누가 니모닉에 대해 가장 잘 직관적으로 이해하고 있겠는가? 당연히 3번 캐롤이다. 이렇듯 오프라인에서 동전을 던져 직접 엔트로피를 생성하고, 표를 보며 손으로 직접 니모닉에 대응시키는 과정은 니모닉을 직관적으로 이해하는 데 매우 중요하다.

솔직히 3번의 경우도 완전히 신뢰 지점이 없진 않다. 왜냐하면... 니모닉의 체크썸을 계산하는 과정에서 해싱을 해야 하기 때문이다. 손으로 SHA256 함수를 계산할 수 있는 게 아니라면... 캐롤은 어떤 기계에게 체크섬 생성을 맡길 수밖에 없다. 그러면 적어도 그 과정에 대한 이해의 폭은 제한될 수밖에 없다.

오프라인에서 계산하는 경험들이 왜 직관적인 이해에 더 도움이 될까? 그 과정들을 자신이 온전히 통제하기 때문이다. 기계에 맡겨야 하는 순간에는 그 기계 안에서 무엇이 일어나는지 알 수 없으며 따라서 자신의 통제 밖에 있다.

펜락 프로젝트

서론이 길었다! 다시 샤미르 분산 이야기로 돌아오겠다. 샤미르 분산을 '손으로 계산'해 키 조각을 만들고, 키 조각들을 모아 다시 오프라인에서 '손으로 계산'해 하나로 만들 수 있을까? 거의 불가능에 가까울 것이다!

그런데 이번에 BSL 컨퍼런스에서 펜락 프로젝트에 참여하고 있는 한 분을 우연히 만나 인사를 나눴고, 며칠 뒤 있는 비트코인 서울 컨퍼런스에서 그 분이 나한테 선물을 주셨다. 바로... 아래 사진의 회전판이다. 직접 가위로 자르고 핀을 꽂는 것까지 봤다(컨퍼런스 강연 중에 뒷자리에서 가위로 자르고 있어서 웃음을 참을 수가 없었다ㅋㅋㅋ). 나는 이 귀엽고 조악한 회전판을 처음 봤을 때 이 위력에 대해 알지 못했다...

이 펜락 프로젝트 회전판은... 샤미르 분산처럼 하나의 키를 키 조각으로 나누고, 그 키 조각들을 오프라인에서 원래 키로 복구할 수 있게 만들어준다. 이게 작동하는 걸 처음 봤을 때 나는 정말 정말 x21 엄청나게 놀랐다.

사용 방법을 간단히 말해보자면, 메인 키(니모닉)가 있으면 니모닉 한 단어의 앞 4개 문자만 적는다(이유는 다들 아실 거라 생각... 니모닉은 앞 4글자가 겹치는 경우가 없기 때문). 그 다음에 두 숫자를 뽑는다. 1–32까지의 숫자 한 장, 그리고 1–32까지의 숫자인데 흰 동그라미/검은 동그라미 나눠져있는 걸로 한 장(그러면 총 64가지 경우일 것이다). 그러면 32*64 = 2,048가지 경우가 나온다. 그리고 체크섬을 표에서 찾아 적는데, 솔직히 추가 체크썸이 왜 필요한 건지는 아직 이해를 못했다. 진짜로 이 오프라인 과정을 해보며 생길 수 있는 오류를 잡기 위한 체크썸인 것으로 이해된다.

어쨌든 하이라이트는 지금부터인데... 자, 니모닉에서 'F'라는 단어가 있다고 해보자. 그러면 아래 사진처럼 눈금을 F에다 둔다. 그 다음 랜덤한 숫자를 뽑는다. 그렇게 뽑은 숫자가 22이라고 해보자. 그러면 회전판 내부에서 22, 23, 24에 있는 문자를 각각 아래에 적는다. 이게 키 조각이다... F가 ① V, ② P, ③ J 이렇게 세 가지 조각으로 분할 된 거다.

이제 세 개의 키 조각 ① V, ② P, ③ J로 키를 복구하는 상황을 생각해보자. 만약 ③번 키 조각인 J가 화재로 날아가버렸다. 2 of 3이니 그래도 키 조각이 두 개만 있어도 복구할 수 있다. ①번 키 조각인 V와, ②번 키 조각인 P를 조합해 키를 복구해보겠다. 그러면 회전판을 움직여... P가 V를 바라보게 하면 된다. 사진에서 빨간 박스로 표시한 부분이다. 그러면 큰 눈금이 원래 키인 F를 가리키게 된다. 정말 미쳤다! 만약, ②번 키 조각 P와, ③번 키 조각 J가 있다면 J가 P를 바라보게 하면 된다. 만약 ③번 키 조각 J와, ①번 키 조각 V로 키 복구를 시도한다면 J가 V를 바라보게 하고, 대신 ③번이 ①번을 바라보게 하는 것처럼 순환하는 상황에는 큰 눈금이 아니라 내부 1번 네모칸을 읽어야 한다.

펜락 회전판의 뒷면을 보면 이걸 어떻게 구현했는지 대강 알 수가 있다. 펜락 프로젝트는 반지름을 조금씩 다르게 하고, 회전 각도를 서로소인 두 숫자를 이용해 글자들이 겹치지 않도록 구현한 걸로 보인다. 말로 설명했지만, 직접 해봐야 "미쳤다!" 소리가 저절로 나온다. 이거 직접 해보면 ~비속어가 나올 정도로~ 놀란다. 정말로.

펜락 프로젝트는 오픈 소스라고 하고, 최고 개발자는 ganrama이다(사이트는 아직 베타라서 내용들이 채워지고 있는 걸로 보인다ㅎㅎ).

https://github.com/ganrama

https://beta.penlock.io/

나는 비트코인에서 나오는 프로젝트들을 일단 의심부터 하고 보는 편이다. 그런데 펜락은 직관적으로 다 이해가 되기 때문에 현재는 우려할만한 점이 생각나지 않는다. 비트코인 프로젝트들 중에는 편리함, 보안, 프라이버시 중 무언가를 희생시키고 그걸 교묘히 감추려고 하거나 비즈니스 모델을 만들다가 초기의 정신을 잊는 경우가 많다. 그런데 이 프로젝트는 그에 해당할 만한 게 없는 것 같아서 일단 의심의 눈초리를 거두고 응원한다. 내가 오프라인에서 직접 키를 분할해보고, 조합해본 경험이 너무 강렬하게 작용했기 때문인 것 같다. 펜락 대표 개발자가 올해 하반기에 기회가 된다면 한국에서도 소개하고 싶다고 하니 계속 관심을 갖고 지켜보려고 한다.

@ 866e0139:6a9334e5

Autor: Tina Marie. Dieser Beitrag wurde mit dem Pareto-Client geschrieben. Sie finden alle Texte der Friedenstaube und weitere Texte zum Thema Frieden hier. Die neuesten Pareto-Artikel finden Sie in unserem Telegram-Kanal.

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

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Solange wir mit uns selbst im Krieg stehen, bleibt der Ruf nach Weltfrieden hohl.\ Ein Text über Selbstoptimierung, innere Leere – und die Möglichkeit, Frieden dort zu beginnen,\ wo wir ihn am wenigsten suchen: im eigenen Körper.

Es beginnt oft leise.\ Mit dem Wunsch, mehr aus sich zu machen.\ Dich zu entwickeln, Dich zu verbessern, das Beste aus Deinem Leben herauszuholen.

Manche nennen es Wachstum.\ Doch oft wird daraus etwas anderes:\ Ein ständiger Druck, ein inneres Getriebensein.\ Ein subtiler Krieg gegen alles, was noch nicht „gut genug“ ist.

Vielleicht kennst Du das auch:\ Du funktionierst, erreichst viel, bist stark.\ Aber tief innen wächst eine Leere.\ Eine Erschöpfung, die nicht vom Tun kommt –\ sondern vom dauerhaften Versuch, Dich selbst zu übertreffen.

„Wer nach außen schaut, träumt. Wer nach innen blickt, erwacht.“\ – C.G. Jung

Was wäre, wenn Du gar nicht „mehr“ sein musst?\ Wenn in der Akzeptanz dessen, was jetzt in Dir lebt, bereits alles enthalten ist?\ Was, wenn Frieden genau dort beginnt,\ wo Du aufhörst, Dich selbst ständig neu zu optimieren?

„Du kannst nicht tief in Dein Herz hinabtauchen,\ wenn Du versuchst, das Wasser mit Gewalt klar zu machen.“\ – Virginia Woolf

Wir leben in einer Welt, die das Laute feiert –\ die Schnelligkeit, die Disziplin, den Aufstieg.\ Aber was geht dabei verloren?

Wie oft passen wir uns an –\ an Bilder, an Formate, an Erwartungen,\ bis wir kaum noch wissen, was in uns wirklich lebt?

Statt authentischer Individualität\ formt sich ein konformer Einheitsbrei:\ angepasst, glatt, kontrolliert – aber leer.

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DIE FRIEDENSTAUBE FLIEGT AUCH IN IHR POSTFACH!

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Perfektion ist eine Illusion.\ Sie wird genährt durch Ideale, die nie wirklich unsere waren.\ Was wir sehen, sind Körper, die nach den Maßgaben digitaler Vorbilder geformt wurden –\ glattgezogen, modelliert, mit immer gleichen Proportionen, gleichen Posen,\ gleichen Michelin-Männchen-Lippen.\ Einheitsästhetik statt Echtheit.

Und wir fragen uns:\ Was macht uns wirklich reich?\ Was erfüllt uns – jenseits von Normkörpern, Klickzahlen und Anerkennung im Außen?

Wann hast Du zuletzt gespürt,\ dass Du nicht schöner, sondern nur echter sein musst?

Die Lehren von Neville Goddard erinnern daran:\ Was wir in uns tragen – an Bildern, Gefühlen, innerer Wahrheit – formt unsere Realität.\ Frieden entsteht nicht im Außen.\ Er entsteht in uns –\ wenn wir aufhören, uns zu überfordern,\ und beginnen, uns zu halten.

„Glauben ist fühlbares Wissen aus der Tiefe des Seins.“\ – Neville Goddard

Vielleicht ist die wichtigste Friedensarbeit heute nicht laut.\ Nicht strategisch. Nicht politisch.\ Sondern verkörpert.\ Spürbar.\ Verwurzelt im Menschsein.

„Der wahre Friede beginnt, wenn wir aufhören, gegen uns selbst zu kämpfen.“\ – unbekannt

Ein Mensch, der sich selbst nicht länger bekämpft,\ verändert die Welt.\ Nicht durch Argumente, sondern durch seine stille Gegenwart.\ Durch das, was mitschwingt, wenn jemand in sich selbst angekommen ist.

Vielleicht fliegt genau deshalb eines Tages eine Taube los.\ Nicht als Bild, sondern als natürliche Folge von gelebtem Frieden.\ Mit einem Olivenzweig im Schnabel –\ nicht getragen aus Pflicht, sondern aus Kraft.\ Ein leiser Flug, der sichtbar macht,\ was möglich wird,\ wenn wir in uns selbst aufhören, Krieg zu führen.

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Tina Marie begleitet Menschen auf dem Weg aus dem inneren Kampf.\ Nach mehreren Ausbildungen – unter anderem als High Performance Coach (nach Brendon Burchard) und als Heroic Optimize Coach (nach Brian Johnson) – erkannte sie,\ dass das Streben nach Perfektion oft mehr erschöpft als befreit.\ Heute arbeitet sie mit Körperbewusstsein, innerer Präsenzarbeit und den Lehren Neville Goddards – als Einladung, Frieden zu verkörpern. Tina1031\@protonmail.com

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LASSEN SIE DER FRIEDENSTAUBE FLÜGEL WACHSEN!

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Headlines

• Spiral renews support for Dan Gould and Joschisan. The organization has renewed support for Dan Gould, who is developing the Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK), and Joschisan, a Fedimint developer focused on simplifying federations.
• Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC. The Tokyo-listed company has purchased an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
• Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC. The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a press release.
• The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya. The new legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
• Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange. The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank announced plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
• All virtual asset service providers expect to be fully compliant with the Travel Rule by the end of 2025. A survey by financial surveillance specialist Notabene reveals that 90% of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) expect full Travel Rule compliance by mid-2025, with all aiming for compliance by year-end. The survey also shows a significant rise in VASPs blocking withdrawals until beneficiary information is confirmed, increasing from 2.9% in 2024 to 15.4% now. Additionally, about 20% of VASPs return deposits if originator data is missing.
• UN claims Bitcoin mining is a "powerful tool" for money laundering. The Rage's analysis suggests that the recent United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report on crime in South-East Asia makes little sense and hints at the potential introduction of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures at the mining level.
• Riot Platforms has obtained a $100 million credit facility from Coinbase Credit, using bitcoin as collateral for short-term funding to support its expansion. The firm's CEO, Jason Les, stated that this facility is crucial for diversifying financing sources and driving long-term stockholder value through strategic growth initiatives.
• Bitdeer raises $179M in loans and equity amid Bitcoin chip push. The Miner Mag reports that Bitdeer entered into a loan agreement with its affiliate Matrixport for up to $200 million in April, as disclosed in its annual report filed on Monday.
• Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.' The U.S. Federal Reserve withdrew guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as announced by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.

"As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.

• UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing. The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, per Bitcoin Magazine.
• U.S. 'crypto' scam losses amounted to $9.3B in 2024. The US The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reported $9.3 billion losses in cryptocurrency-related scams in 2024, noting a troubling trend of scams targeting older Americans, which accounted for over $2.8 billion of those losses.

Source: FBI.

• North Korean hackers establish fake companies to target 'crypto' developers. Silent Push researchers reported that hackers linked to the Lazarus Group created three shell companies, two of which are based in the U.S., with the objective of spreading malware through deceptive job interview scams aimed at individuals seeking jobs in cryptocurrency companies.
• Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet. The bridge utilizes the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
• Hesperides University offers a Master’s degree in Bitcoin. Bitcoin Magazine reports the launch of the first-ever Spanish-language Master’s program dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin. Starting April 28, 2025, this fully online program will equip professionals with technical, economic, legal, and philosophical skills to excel in the Bitcoin era.
• BTC in D.C. event is set to take place on September 30 - October 1 in Washington, D.C. Learn more about this initiative here.

Use the tools

• Bitcoin Keeper just got a new look. Version 2.2.0 of the mobile multisig app brought a new branding design, along with a Keeper Private tier, testnet support, ability to import and export BIP-329 labels, and the option to use a Server Key with multiple users.
  • Earlier this month the project also announced Keeper Learn service, offering clear and guided Bitcoin learning sessions for both groups and individuals.
• Keeper Desktop v0.2.2, a companion desktop app for Bitcoin Keeper mobile app, received a renewed branding update, too.

The evolution of Bitcoin Keeper logo. Source: BitHyve blog.

• Blockstream Green Desktop v2.0.25 updates GDK to v0.75.1 and fixes amount parsing issues when switching from fiat denomination to Liquid asset.
• Lightning Loop v0.31.0-beta enhances the loop listswaps command by improving the ability to filter the response.
• Lightning-kmp v1.10.0, an implementation of the Lightning Network in Kotlin, is now available.
• LND v0.19.0-beta.rc3, the latest beta release candidate of LND is now ready for testing.
• ZEUS v0.11.0-alpha2 is now available for testing, too. It's nuts.
• JoinMarket Fidelity Bond Simulator helps potential JoinMarket makers evaluate their competitive position in the market based on fidelity bonds.
• UTXOscope is a text-only Bitcoin blockchain analysis tool that visualizes price dynamics using only on-chain data. The

@ 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

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

Jason Lowery’s thesis, Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin, reframes bitcoin not merely as digital cash but as a transformative security technology with profound implications for investors and nation-states alike.

For centuries, craft brewers understood that true innovation balanced tradition with experimentation—a delicate dance between established techniques and bold new flavors.

Much like the craft beer revolution reshaped a global industry, bitcoin represents a fundamental recalibration of how humans organize value and project power in the digital age.

The Antler in the Digital Forest: Power Projection

Lowery, a U.S. Space Force officer and MIT scholar, anchors his Softwar theory in a biological metaphor: Bitcoin as humanity’s “digital antler.” In nature, antlers allow animals like deer to compete for resources through non-lethal contests—sparring matches where power is demonstrated without fatal consequences. This contrasts sharply with wolves, who must resort to violent, potentially deadly fights to establish hierarchy.

The Human Power Dilemma: Historically, humans projected power and settled resource disputes through physical force—wars, seizures, or coercive control of assets. Even modern financial systems rely on abstract power structures: court orders, bank freezes, or government sanctions enforced by legal threat rather than immediate physical reality.

Lowery argues this creates inherent fragility: abstract systems can collapse when met with superior physical force (e.g., invasions, revolutions). Nature only respects physical power.

Bitcoin’s Physical Power Engine: Bitcoin introduces a novel solution through its proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Miners compete to solve computationally intense cryptographic puzzles, expending real-world energy (megawatts) to validate transactions and secure the network.

This process converts electricity—a tangible, physical resource—into digital security and immutable property rights. Winning a “block” is like winning a sparring match: it consumes significant resources (energy/cost) but is non-destructive.

The miner gains the right to write the next page of the ledger and collect rewards, but no participant is physically harmed, and no external infrastructure is destroyed.

Table: Traditional vs. Bitcoin-Based Power Systems

Power System

Mechanism

Key Vulnerability

Resource Cost

Traditional (Fiat/Banking)

Legal abstraction, threat of state force

Centralized points of failure, corruption, political change

Low immediate cost, high systemic risk

Military/Economic Coercion

Physical force, sanctions

Escalation, collateral damage, moral hazard

Very high (lives, capital, instability)

Bitcoin (Proof-of-Work)

Competition via energy expenditure

High energy cost, concentration risk (mining)

High energy cost, low systemic risk

Softwar Theory National Strategic Imperative: Governments Are Taking Notice

Lowery’s Softwar Theory has moved beyond academia into the corridors of power, shaping U.S. national strategy:

1. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Vice President JD Vance recently framed bitcoin as an instrument projecting American values—”innovation, entrepreneurship, freedom, and lack of censorship”. State legislation is now underway to implement this reserve, preventing easy reversal by future administrations.
2. Regulatory Transformation: The SEC is shifting from an “enforcement-first” stance under previous leadership. New initiatives include:
   • Repealing Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121), which discouraged banks from custodying digital currency by forcing unfavorable balance sheet treatment.
   • Creating the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to develop clearer crypto registration/disclosure rules.

The Investor’s Lens: Scarcity, Security, and Asymmetric Opportunity

For investors, understanding “Softwar” validates bitcoin’s unique value proposition beyond price speculation:

• Digital Scarcity as Strategic Depth: Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million makes it the only digital asset with truly inelastic supply, a programmed scarcity immune to political whims or central bank printing.

  This “scarcity imperative” acts as a natural antidote to global fiat debasement. As central banks expanded money supplies aggressively (Global M2), bitcoin’s price has shown strong correlation, acting as a pressure valve for inflation concerns. The quadrennial “halving” (latest: April 2024) mechanically reduces new supply, creating built-in supply shocks as adoption grows. * The Antifragile Security Feedback Loop: Bitcoin’s security isn’t static; it’s antifragile. The network strengthens through demand: * More users → More transactions → Higher fees → More miner revenue → More hashpower (computational security) → Greater network resilience → More user confidence.
  This self-reinforcing cycle contrasts sharply with traditional systems, where security is a cost center (e.g., bank security budgets, military spending). Bitcoin turns security into a profitable, market-driven activity. * Institutionalization Without Centralization: While institutional ownership via ETFs (like BlackRock’s IBIT) and corporate treasuries (MicroStrategy, Metaplanet) has surged, supply remains highly decentralized.

  Individuals still hold the largest share of bitcoin, preventing a dangerous concentration of control. Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone are projected to see over $20 billion in net inflows in 2025, demonstrating robust institutional capital allocation.

The Bitcoin Community: Building the Digital Antler’s Resilience

Lowery’s “Softwar” theory underscores why bitcoin’s decentralized architecture is non-negotiable. Its strength lies in the alignment of incentives across three participant groups:

1. Miners: Provide computational power (hashrate), validating transactions and securing the network. Incentivized by block rewards (newly minted BTC) and transaction fees. Their physical energy expenditure is the “muscle” behind the digital antler.
2. Nodes: Independently verify and enforce the protocol rules, maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Run by users, businesses, and enthusiasts globally. They ensure decentralized consensus, preventing unilateral protocol changes.
3. Users: Individuals, institutions, and corporations holding, transacting, or building on bitcoin. Their demand drives transaction fees and fuels the security feedback loop.

This structure creates “Mutually Assured Preservation”. Attacking bitcoin requires overwhelming its global, distributed physical infrastructure (miners/nodes), a feat far more complex and costly than seizing a central bank’s gold vault or freezing a bank’s assets. It transforms financial security from a centralized liability into a decentralized, physically-grounded asset.

Risks & Responsibilities

Investors and policymakers must acknowledge persistent challenges:

• Volatility: Bitcoin remains volatile, though this has decreased as markets mature. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is widely recommended to mitigate timing risk.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: While U.S. policy is increasingly favorable, global coordination is lacking. The EU’s MiCAR regulation exemplifies divergent approaches.
• Security & Custody: While Bitcoin’s protocol is robust, user errors (lost keys) or exchange hacks remain risks.
• Environmental Debate: Proof-of-Work energy use is scrutinized, though mining increasingly uses stranded energy/renewables. Innovations continue.

Jason Lowery’s “Softwar” theory elevates bitcoin from a financial instrument to a socio-technological innovation on par with the invention of the corporation, the rule of law, or even the antler in evolutionary biology. It provides a coherent framework for understanding why:

• Nations like the U.S. are looking to establish bitcoin reserves and embracing stablecoins—they recognize bitcoin’s role in projecting economic power non-violently in the digital age.
• Institutional Investors are allocating billions via ETFs—they see a scarce, secure, uncorrelated asset with antifragile properties.
• Individuals in hyperinflationary economies or under authoritarian regimes use bitcoin—it offers self-sovereign wealth storage immune to seizure or debasement.

For the investor, bitcoin represents more than potential price appreciation. It offers exposure to a fundamental reorganization of how power and value are secured and exchanged globally, grounded not in abstract promises, but in the unyielding laws of physics and mathematics.

Like the brewers who balanced tradition with innovation to create something enduring and valuable, bitcoin pioneers are building the infrastructure for a more resilient digital future—one computationally secured block at a time. The “Softwar” is here, and it is reshaping the landscape of p

@ 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

@ 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.

@ 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.”

@ a396e36e:ec991f1c

🎯 The Invisible Hands Behind Bitcoin: How Market Makers Quietly Control the Price If you’ve ever looked at the Bitcoin chart and thought, “This makes no sense” — you’re right. What looks like chaos is often orchestrated. While the crypto world celebrates decentralization and “free markets,” the reality is murkier. Behind many of Bitcoin’s wild swings are market makers, whales, and even exchanges themselves, subtly (or not so subtly) steering the price.

This isn’t a conspiracy theory. It’s a pattern. And it’s been happening for over a decade.

🧰 Classic Manipulation Tactics Let’s start with the usual suspects:

Spoofing: Fake buy or sell orders create false demand or panic. In 2017, an anonymous whale nicknamed Spoofy manipulated Bitfinex’s order books with massive spoof orders. No one knows who he was — but traders tracked his behavior for months.

Wash Trading: Exchanges faking volume by buying and selling to themselves. Bitwise reported in 2019 that 95% of crypto trading volume was fake. Yes, 95%.

Pump-and-Dump Schemes: Coordinated social hype, then a rug pull. Still common in altcoins, but BTC isn't immune.

Bear Raids: Dumping thousands of BTC to trigger cascading liquidations. In 2019, one 5,000 BTC market sell on Bitstamp led to $250M in liquidations on BitMEX.

Front-Running: Exchanges or insiders trading ahead of big orders — an invisible tax on every retail move.

🕳️ Down the Rabbit Hole: Advanced and Hidden Tactics What you don’t see is even worse.

Stop-Loss Hunting: Price pushed to obvious stop zones, liquidating small traders, then bouncing.

Long/Short Squeezes: Whales deliberately cause liquidation cascades by leveraging market structure.

Cross-Exchange Price Engineering: Manipulate BTC price on a small exchange that affects global indices.

Fake News & FUD Campaigns: Twitter rumors. Telegram raids. Even fake press releases.

Exchange Collusion or Insider Trading: Who polices the exchanges when they are the ones trading?

🐳 Case Studies That Should Scare You Mt. Gox Bots (2013): “Willy” and “Markus” bought BTC with fake money. Pushed price from $150 to $1,000.

Tether & Bitfinex (2017): Academic research shows newly printed USDT was used systematically to buy dips — possibly inflating BTC’s rally to $20k.

Upbit (Korea): Prosecuted for $226B in fake trades.

Operation Token Mirrors (2024): FBI sting revealed market makers offering wash-trading and pump services as a business.

🧠 This Isn’t Just Theory — Regulators Know It Too The SEC refused to approve a spot BTC ETF for years, citing manipulation risk.

The CFTC and DOJ have brought spoofing and wash trading cases — and are still investigating.

The EU’s MiCA law now treats crypto market abuse the same as securities fraud.

💣 And Retail? You're the Exit Liquidity While whales dump, retail buys the dip.

In both the Terra-LUNA crash (May 2022) and FTX collapse (Nov 2022), blockchain data showed whales exiting while small holders were buying. The net result? Whales got out. You got rekt.

Bitcoin’s volatility isn’t just “the market doing its thing.” Often, it’s someone making you believe it’s safe — until it isn’t.

🔍 The Good News: It’s Getting Harder to Hide Nasdaq’s SMARTS surveillance system is now used by major exchanges.

Proof-of-Reserves audits are more common post-FTX.

Whale alerts and on-chain tools let savvy traders track big moves.

EU regulations (MiCA) now criminalize manipulation across Europe.

But until enforcement is global and airtight, Bitcoin remains manipulable. The game is still tilted — and the house usually wins.

🧭 Final Thought: Don’t Be Naïve Bitcoin is powerful. It’s freedom tech. But its price is not pure. It’s not just a function of adoption and demand. It’s shaped, poked, prodded, and occasionally hijacked by entities with deeper pockets, faster bots, and better information than you.

Until transparency, regulation, and decentralization catch up, every trader should assume one thing:

The market is rigged — but sometimes you can still play the game.

@ df478568:2a951e67

How To Mine Your Own Vanity Nostr Key

note. This article works best on https://habla.news/u/marc@primal.net/how-to-mine-a-nostr-vanity-key-with-rana

Rana is a vanity npub generator.

I'll show you how to use it on Ubuntu.

If you're not Linux ninja and use Windows instead of Linux ninja weapons, you can still use Linux with Virtualbox, free ans open source virtualization software. Head over to

https://www.virtualbox.org/ to learn more. They also have an enterprise business if you need that sort of thing, you can learn more at https://shop.oracle.com/

Rana is a nostr vanity key mining program. The source code can be found here.

Rana Is On GitHub

https://github.com/grunch/rana

Since rana already has pretty good docs, I decided to make a video instead of write about this because It's easier to see rana in action than it is to write about Rana. I went off on some tangents, so I might edit this down later, but I hope it helps you mine your own nostr key.

nevent1qqsfk7a000m8zc3ptsuu4vytepqc9eedceclpt2ns9pzlech5cpaflceng5al

Show Notes

https://github.com/grunch/rana

https://virtualbox.org/

https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/getting-started/installation.html

cargo run --release -- --vanity-n-prefix=juxtap0se

☮️

nostr:npub1marc26z8nh3xkj5rcx7ufkatvx6ueqhp5vfw9v5teq26z254renshtf3g0

900,969

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mining Economic Factor

Precise Value (April 2025)

Direct Impact on Profitability

Smartphone sustained hash rate

20-35 MH/s

0.00000024% contribution to global hashrate

Daily power consumption

3.2-4.8 kWh (4-6 full charges)

$0.38-0.57 at average US electricity rates

Expected daily BTC earnings

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

Revenue covers only 0.9% of electricity costs

CPU/GPU wear cost

$0.68-0.92 daily accelerated depreciation

Reduces smartphone lifespan by 60-70%

Annual profit projection

-$386 to -$412 per year

Guaranteed negative return on investment

Source: PocketOption

Bitcoin’s 2025 Network: Harder Than Ever

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

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

The math is unforgiving:

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

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

The 2025 Scam Evolution: More Sophisticated, More Dangerous

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

New 2025 scam tactics include:

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

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

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

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

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

Red flags that scream “scam” in 2025:

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

The 2025 Professional Mining Landscape

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

Cutting-edge hardware:

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

Infrastructure requirements:

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

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

2025’s Legitimate Mobile Bitcoin Strategies

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bottom Line

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

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

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

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

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

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

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

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

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Today wasn't great from a ~HealthAndFitness perspective: poor sleep, junk food, no fast. At least I did get a decent amount of activity and take a cold shower.

How did other stackers fare on Father's Day?

https://stacker.news/items/1007373

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

Introdução

O princípio do sola scriptura, pedra angular da teologia protestante desde a Reforma do século XVI, estabelece que apenas a Escritura constitui a autoridade final e suprema em questões de fé e prática cristã. Este princípio, formulado inicialmente por Martinho Lutero e sistematizado pelos reformadores subsequentes, pretende oferecer um fundamento epistemológico sólido para a teologia, livre das supostas corrupções da tradição eclesiástica.

Contudo, uma análise rigorosa revela que o sola scriptura incorre em contradições lógicas fundamentais que comprometem sua viabilidade como sistema epistemológico coerente. Este artigo examina essas contradições através de três perspectivas complementares: filosófica, exegética e histórica.

A Contradição Performativa Fundamental

O Problema da Autorreferência

O sola scriptura enfrenta um dilema epistemológico insuperável: afirma que apenas a Escritura possui autoridade final em matéria de fé, mas essa própria regra não é explicitamente ensinada na Escritura. Trata-se de uma contradição performativa clássica, onde o enunciado viola suas próprias condições de possibilidade.

Esta situação configura uma falácia de petitio principii (círculo vicioso), pois exige que se aceite uma doutrina que não pode ser sustentada pelas premissas do próprio sistema. Para estabelecer o sola scriptura, seria necessário recorrer a uma autoridade externa à Escritura – precisamente aquilo que o princípio pretende rejeitar.

Fundacionalismo Mal Estruturado

Do ponto de vista epistemológico, o sola scriptura apresenta-se como um fundacionalismo defeituoso. Pretende funcionar como axioma supremo e auto-evidente, mas falha ao não fornecer a base textual que sua própria metodologia exige. Um verdadeiro fundacionalismo escriturístico deveria ser capaz de demonstrar sua validade através de uma prova explícita nas próprias Escrituras.

O Testemunho Contrário das Escrituras

Limitações do Registro Escrito

A própria Escritura reconhece as limitações do registro textual. João 21:25 declara explicitamente: "Jesus fez também muitas outras coisas. Se cada uma delas fosse escrita, penso que nem mesmo no mundo inteiro haveria espaço suficiente para os livros que seriam escritos."

Este versículo é particularmente problemático para o sola scriptura, pois reconhece que nem todos os ensinamentos de Cristo foram preservados por escrito. Como pode a Escritura ser suficiente se ela própria admite sua incompletude?

A Valorização da Tradição Oral

Paulo, em 2 Tessalonicenses 2:15, oferece uma instrução que contradiz frontalmente o sola scriptura: "Assim, pois, irmãos, ficai firmes e conservai os ensinamentos que de nós aprendestes, seja por palavras, seja por carta nossa."

O apóstolo valoriza inequivocamente tanto a tradição oral ("por palavras") quanto a escrita ("por carta"), estabelecendo um modelo de autoridade dual que o protestantismo posterior rejeitaria.

A Necessidade de Autoridade Interpretativa

A narrativa do eunuco etíope em Atos 8:30-31 demonstra a inadequação da Escritura isolada como autoridade final. Quando Filipe pergunta se o eunuco entende o que lê, a resposta é reveladora: "Como poderei entender, se alguém não me ensinar?"

Este episódio ilustra que a mera posse do texto bíblico não garante compreensão adequada. É necessária uma autoridade interpretativa externa – no caso, representada por Filipe, que age com autoridade apostólica.

A Complexidade Hermenêutica

Pedro, em sua segunda epístola (3:16-17), reconhece a dificuldade interpretativa inerente às Escrituras: "Suas cartas contêm algumas coisas difíceis de entender, as quais os ignorantes e instáveis torcem, como também o fazem com as demais Escrituras, para a própria destruição deles."

Esta passagem não apenas reconhece a complexidade hermenêutica dos textos sagrados, mas também alerta sobre os perigos da interpretação inadequada. Implicitamente, sugere a necessidade de uma autoridade interpretativa confiável para evitar distorções doutrinárias.

O Paradoxo Histórico da Canonização

A Dependência da Tradição Eclesiástica

Um dos argumentos mais devastadores contra o sola scriptura emerge da própria história da formação do cânon bíblico. Os concílios de Hipona (393 d.C.) e Cartago (397 d.C.) foram responsáveis pela definição oficial do cânon das Escrituras tal como conhecemos hoje.

Este fato histórico cria um paradoxo insuperável: aceitar a Bíblia como autoridade única requer aceitar a autoridade da tradição eclesiástica que a definiu. O próprio cânon bíblico é produto da tradição apostólica e da deliberação conciliar, não de autodefinição escriturística.

A Circularidade da Autopistia

Tentativas protestantes de resolver este dilema através do conceito de "autopistia" – a suposta capacidade das Escrituras de se auto-autenticar – apenas aprofundam o problema circular. Como determinar que as Escrituras possuem esta propriedade sem recorrer a critérios externos? A própria doutrina da autopistia não é explicitamente ensinada na Escritura.

Implicações Teológicas e Epistemológicas

A Fragmentação Interpretativa

A história do protestantismo oferece evidência empírica das consequências práticas do sola scriptura. A multiplicação de denominações e interpretações divergentes sugere que o princípio, longe de fornecer clareza doutrinária, pode na verdade contribuir para a fragmentação teológica.

Se a Escritura fosse verdadeiramente suficiente e auto-interpretativa, seria razoável esperar maior convergência hermenêutica entre aqueles que aderem ao sola scriptura. A realidade histórica sugere o contrário.

A Alternativa Católica e Ortodoxa

As tradições católica e ortodoxa, embora enfrentando suas próprias tensões epistemológicas, mantêm pelo menos coerência interna ao reconhecer explicitamente múltiplas fontes complementares de autoridade: Escritura, Tradição e Magistério (no caso católico) ou Escritura e Tradição (no caso ortodoxo).

Estas posições evitam a contradição performativa do sola scriptura ao não reivindicar que sua própria metodologia epistemológica seja derivada exclusivamente da Escritura.

Conclusão

A análise crítica do sola scriptura revela contradições estruturais que comprometem fundamentalmente sua viabilidade como princípio epistemológico. O princípio incorre em contradição performativa ao estabelecer uma regra que não pode ser derivada de suas próprias premissas, configura um fundacionalismo mal estruturado ao carecer de base textual explícita, e enfrenta o testemunho contrário da própria Escritura, que reconhece suas limitações e a necessidade de autoridades interpretativas externas.

O paradoxo histórico da canonização – onde o próprio cânon bíblico depende da autoridade tradicional que o sola scriptura pretende rejeitar – representa talvez o golpe mais decisivo contra o princípio protestante.

Isso não implica necessariamente a falsidade do protestantismo como sistema teológico, mas sugere que seus fundamentos epistemológicos requerem reformulação substancial. Uma teologia protestante intelectualmente honesta precisaria reconhecer as limitações do sola scriptura e desenvolver uma epistemologia mais nuançada que leve em conta a complexidade das fontes de autoridade religiosa.

A busca pela verdade teológica, independentemente de compromissos confessionais, exige o reconhecimento rigoroso das limitações e contradições inerentes aos nossos sistemas epistemológicos. No caso do sola scriptura, essa honestidade intelectual revela um princípio que, por mais central que seja para a identidade protestante, não pode sustentar o peso epistemológico que tradicionalmente lhe foi atribuído.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

While most Bitcoin companies chase quick wins with flashy marketing and complex trading features, Coinfinity is taking a different path. The Austria-based company has built their entire business model around something most brokers treat as an afterthought: education.

Founded on the principle that Bitcoin adoption requires understanding, not just access, Coinfinity offers something great in the Bitcoin space: a broker that actually wants you to take your bitcoin off their platform.

Their Bitcoin Blinks educational series provides a self-custody-first approach, and Austrian economics foundation make them stand out in a crowded field of crypto casinos.

Coinfinity’s HQ in Graz, Austria

At the heart of this educational mission is Fab, Coinfinity’s Head of Bitcoin Education, whose journey to Bitcoin mirrors that of many who’ve found their way to Austrian economics through pure instinct.

“I always had the feeling that something in the world just doesn’t add up,” he told Bitcoin News when he sat down with us. “Something’s wrong, I don’t know what, but I felt like the foundation of our society isn’t quite fair, I just never knew what it was.”

Sound familiar?

That hunch eventually led him down a rabbit hole of geopolitics, monetary systems, and finally to Andreas Antonopoulos videos on YouTube.

“I basically disappeared from life for about a week, just watching those videos,” Fab recalled. But it wasn’t until he read The Bitcoin Standard that everything clicked.

“I remember it like it was yesterday, I closed the book and thought ‘Holy s***, now I get it.’ That was the moment. From then on, I was Bitcoin-only.”

Many of the best Bitcoin books are in English and translating them is important

Now as Head of Bitcoin Education at Coinfinity and co-founder of Aprycot Media (a German publishing house focused exclusively on Bitcoin), Fab spends his days helping others find that same spark.

And unlike most “crypto” companies, Coinfinity’s strategy isn’t driven by marketing gimmicks or token launches, it’s driven by teaching.

“Our goal is to create educational content that’s so easy to understand that people love sharing it,” Fab explained. “When they share it, they connect with us. Once they start understanding Bitcoin, they choose us to buy it.”

Most companies buy Google ads. Coinfinity builds minds. With their Bitcoin Blinks, 42 short, clear lessons covering everything from subjective value to seed phrases, they’re offering what most brokers won’t: context. Meaning. Philosophy.

“It became quite popular, and we think it’s way more effective for our brand than just buying ads,” Fab said.

And they don’t stop there. When it comes to custody, Coinfinity takes a radically different approach than most Bitcoin brokers.

“When you buy bitcoin from us, you always take custody, either in our in-app wallet where you control the seed, or your own hardware wallet,” Fab emphasized. “Even our lightning feature works the same way you always buy into your own wallet.”

That’s not just a slogan. It’s a core value of the company that runs so deep they’re willing to sacrifice user experience for it. “We never custody your bitcoin,” Fab said. “It’s one of the core values that you custody them yourself.”

Even as fees rise and UTXO management gets harder, Coinfinity stays committed to self-custody. They are open to optional custodial tools in the future, but always paired with education, and always encouraging users to take their bitcoin off-platform when the time is right.

“If we ever offer custodial services, it would only be to help users stack small amounts until they reach a meaningful UTXO size,” Fab explained.

The plan would involve accumulating smaller purchases monthly or weekly until users hit a threshold, maybe a million sats, then withdrawing to self-custody. “We don’t want to play games with your bitcoin. We don’t want to lend it out or earn interest on it.”

Coinfinity emphasizes on self-custody and education, even in its app

The challenge is real though. When new users first encounter Bitcoin, the technical barriers can be overwhelming. “Often causes problems with people just getting into Bitcoin who don’t understand what self custody is” Fab notes.

That’s why they built their in-app wallet, to smooth the onboarding while maintaining their self-custody values. “The in-app wallet was our first step toward optimizing user experience without compromising our core value of bringing bitcoin into self-custody,” he said.

“One of our taglines is ‘bringing Bitcoin to the people’ and we literally mean that. We want to bring bitcoin to them, not keep it from them.”

Another promising thing the company is doing in their operations is using AI to create more content, faster. Podcast scripts, educational summaries, internal tools, Fab’s even feeding Austrian economics PDFs into models to keep the tone on-brand and Bitcoin-only.

“We’re using these tools in our business development and marketing teams to generate more output with the same number of people,” he said. But the future looks even more exciting.

“Maybe one day we’ll have a tutor in the app where you can do a video call and ask ‘What is a Bitcoin address?’ and it will talk back to you naturally, going deeper as you ask more questions,” Fab explained. “That’s absolutely possible.”

The technology isn’t quite there yet for mainstream deployment in their app, but Fab is optimistic. “I’m sure that in the future, this won’t just be used for improving our internal workflow, but for enhancing the content itself,” he said.

It’s not a pipe dream. The tech is already close. The only thing missing is more Bitcoin-native data and companies like Coinfinity are quietly building that layer.

One of the favorite parts of these interviews is asking the builders in the space what they would ask Satoshi if given one question. When I asked Fab what he’d ask Bitcoin’s creator, he didn’t hesitate:

“Did you purposely build Bitcoin based on Austrian economics, or did it just happen by accident?

“All this monetization theory, Bitcoin being a store of value first, is this something you actually thought was possible and had in mind? Or was it just a lucky shot that accidentally gave us the best monetary properties?”

Because if Satoshi had built Bitcoin with a 2% inflation rate, like some other projects, it might’ve worked. But it wouldn’t have lasted.

“He could have made it with 2% tail emission, it still would have been decentralized. But then today, someone might introduce a coin with a fixed supply that could kill Bitcoin,” Fab noted.

Fab suspects the fixed supply wasn’t an accident. And thank God for that.

What’s remarkable about Coinfinity isn’t just their Austrian approach or their self-custody obsession, it’s how they’re proving that education-first Bitcoin companies can compete with the flashy crypto casinos dominating the space.

Coinfinity doesn’t serve U.S. customers. They’re focused on Europe, operating within EU regulations. But what they’re building, honest Bitcoin education, smart tools, and a relentless push for financial sovereignty, matters everywhere.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

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

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

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

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

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

Net na de echte regen

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

1. Introduction

The 21st century is marked by a rare confluence of demographic, technological, and monetary regime shifts. As birth rates fall below replacement levels across advanced and many emerging economies, global population growth slows and begins to reverse. At the same time, automation, AI, and robotics are increasing productivity at an accelerating pace. Simultaneously, trust in central banks and fiat currencies is waning, giving rise to calls for a return to hard currencies (e.g., gold, Bitcoin) and decentralized monetary systems.

These trends pose stark challenges to existing economic theories and institutions. This paper explores their implications through two opposing lenses: Keynesian economics and Austrian (Misesian) economics.

---

2. The Keynesian Reaction: Deflation, Demand Collapse, and the Paradox of Thrift

2.1. Demand-Side Fragility in a Shrinking Population

Keynesian theory is rooted in the principle that aggregate demand drives output and employment. A declining population implies a falling consumption base, which directly reduces aggregate demand. Combined with increased longevity, this trend leads to a larger retired population disinclined to spend, creating persistent demand shortfalls.

2.2. Technological Unemployment and Reduced Income Velocity

Rapid productivity gains from AI and robotics may displace large segments of labor, leading to unemployment or underemployment. With fewer wage earners and heightened uncertainty, consumption slows further. Even if goods become cheaper, widespread income insecurity constrains the ability to buy them.

2.3. The Paradox of Thrift

In times of uncertainty, both individuals and businesses tend to save more. Keynes argued that if everyone saves, aggregate demand collapses because one person’s spending is another’s income. Thus, increased saving leads to lower incomes, which reduces saving in aggregate—a self-reinforcing contraction.

2.4. Retreat from Fiat and Central Banking: A Catastrophic Constraint

Abandoning fiat currency and central banking removes the government’s ability to perform countercyclical policy. Interest rates cannot be lowered below zero; money supply cannot be expanded to fill demand gaps. In such a regime, deflation becomes chronic, debt burdens rise in real terms, and recovery mechanisms are neutered.

Conclusion (Keynesian):
The combined effect of declining population, rising productivity, and a hard money transition is catastrophic. It leads to a deflationary spiral, mass unemployment, debt crises, and secular stagnation unless aggressively offset by expansive fiscal and monetary policy—tools unavailable in a hard currency system.

---

3. The Misesian Rebuttal: Market Coordination and the Natural Order of Decline

3.1. Savings as Capital Formation

Mises and the Austrian School reject the paradox of thrift. Savings are not lost demand; they are deferred consumption that funds capital investment. Increased saving, in a free market, lowers interest rates and reallocates resources toward longer-term, higher-order production.

3.2. Deflation as a Signal of Progress

Falling prices due to productivity gains are not a crisis but a benefit. Consumers gain real wealth. Entrepreneurs adjust cost structures. As long as wages and prices are flexible, deflation reflects abundance, not failure.

3.3. Population Decline as Economic Recalibration

A shrinking population reduces demand, yes—but it also reduces the labor supply. Wages rise in real terms. Capital intensity per worker increases. There is no systemic unemployment if labor markets are free and responsive.

3.4. Hard Currency as Restoration of Market Coordination

Transitioning to a hard currency purges fiat-induced malinvestment and restores the price mechanism. With no artificial credit expansion, capital is allocated based on real savings. Booms and busts are mitigated, and long-term planning becomes reliable.

Conclusion (Misesian):
There is no crisis. A hard currency, high-productivity, low-population economy stabilizes at a new equilibrium of lower consumption, higher capital intensity, and rising real wealth. Deflation is natural. Savings are the seed of future prosperity. Government interference, not market adaptation, is the threat.

---

4. Final Synthesis

The Keynesian and Misesian views diverge on first principles: Keynes sees demand shortfalls and rigidities requiring top-down correction, while Mises sees market-coordinated adaptation as sufficient and self-correcting. As the 21st century evolves, this ideological conflict will shape whether the transition leads to depression or renewal.

---

References

• Keynes, J.M. The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money
• Mises, L. Human Action
• Hayek, F.A. Prices and Production
• Böhm-Bawerk, E. Capital and Interest
• Friedman, M. A Program for Monetary Stability

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

ไม่มีใครเถียงว่าภาพคลาสสิกของอาหารเช้าชาวอเมริกันยุคหนึ่งคือ “ซีเรียลในชามนม” วางอยู่บนโต๊ะไม้ที่มีแดดยามเช้าส่องผ่านหน้าต่างพร้อมรอยยิ้มเด็กชายหญิงในชุดนอนสะอาดสะอ้าน แต่น้อยคนนักจะรู้ว่าเบื้องหลังภาพนี้ไม่ได้มาจากความน่ารักของครอบครัว หากแต่คือผลพวงของ “สงคราม การตลาด และรัฐ” ที่จับมือกันผลักดัน “นม” ให้กลายเป็นของขาดไม่ได้ในมื้อเช้า ตั้งแต่ครอบครัวธรรมดาไปจนถึงโรงเรียนทั่วสหรัฐฯ

เรื่องมันเริ่มจริงจังในช่วงปลายศตวรรษที่ 19 เมื่อหมอ John Harvey Kellogg แห่ง Battle Creek Sanitarium คิดค้นอาหารเช้าไร้เนื้อสัตว์เพื่อคนไข้ตามความเชื่อของศาสนา Seventh-day Adventist ซึ่งย้ำว่าวิถีชีวิตที่ดีต้องสะอาดทั้งกายและใจ เขาจึงสร้างอาหารประเภทธัญพืบอบกรอบที่ภายหลังกลายเป็น "ซีเรียล" โดยมีน้องชาย Will Keith Kellogg เป็นคนเห็นโอกาสทำตลาดใหญ่ เติมน้ำตาลลงไปเพื่อให้รสชาติถูกใจมหาชน แล้วกลายเป็นแบรนด์ซีเรียล Kellogg’s ในปี 1906

ปัญหาก็คือ กินซีเรียลเปล่าๆ มันแห้งติดคอ เด็กๆ ไม่ปลื้ม แม่บ้านก็ไม่สะดวกจะต้มน้ำซุปมาราดทุกเช้า นั่นแหละคือจุดเปลี่ยนที่ทำให้ “นม” โผล่เข้ามาในภาพ เพราะมันเย็น สด และเทใส่ชามได้ง่ายในไม่กี่วินาที พอซีเรียลฮิต นมเลยพ่วงขึ้นรถไฟความนิยมไปด้วยโดยไม่ต้องออกแรงมาก เรียกได้ว่าซีเรียลคือประตูทองที่พานมเข้าไปนั่งอยู่บนโต๊ะอาหารเช้าของคนอเมริกันทุกบ้าน

แต่นั่นแค่จุดเริ่มต้น เพราะหลังจากนั้น สงครามโลกก็เข้ามาเปลี่ยนทุกอย่างอีกขั้น

ช่วงสงครามโลกครั้งที่หนึ่งและสอง รัฐบาลสหรัฐฯ ต้องการอาหารที่เก็บได้นาน มีพลังงานสูง และขนส่งง่ายเพื่อป้อนให้ทหารในแนวหน้า นมสดไม่ตอบโจทย์ แต่นมข้นหวานและนมผงกลับเป็นพระเอก ด้วยการสนับสนุนจากรัฐ ฟาร์มโคนมทั่วประเทศถูกกระตุ้นให้ผลิตนมจำนวนมหาศาล เกินความต้องการของคนในประเทศ โดยหวังว่าจะส่งออกไปเลี้ยงกองทัพทั่วโลก

ปัญหาคือ เมื่อสงครามจบ ฟาร์มวัวก็ยังอยู่ โรงรีดนมยังเปิด คนงานยังทำงาน แต่นมกลับล้นตลาด จะทุบทิ้งก็ไม่ได้ เพราะมันคือ “ธุรกิจที่รัฐสร้างขึ้นเอง” รัฐบาลเลยจำเป็นต้อง “สร้างความต้องการขึ้นมาใหม่” ด้วยกลยุทธ์ทางโภชนาการและการศึกษา

องค์การ USDA (กระทรวงเกษตร) และ National Dairy Council ถูกระดมทุนให้ทำวิจัยสนับสนุนว่านมคือสิ่งจำเป็นกับร่างกายมนุษย์ โดยเฉพาะเด็ก ผลลัพธ์ที่ออกมาก็มักจะสรุปในทำนองว่า “เด็กที่ดื่มนมสูง โตไว แข็งแรงกว่าคนที่ไม่ดื่ม” ทั้งที่ความจริง ไข่ไก่ก็ให้โปรตีนสูงกว่า และดูดซึมง่ายกว่าหลายเท่า แต่ไข่ไม่มีอุตสาหกรรมเบื้องหลังที่แข็งแกร่งเท่า “นม”

ในขณะเดียวกัน ระบบการศึกษาก็ถูกดึงเข้ามามีบทบาท โรงเรียนหลายแห่งเริ่มมี “โครงการดื่มนม” ที่รัฐจัดสรรงบประมาณให้ โดยบังคับใช้กับนักเรียนทั่วประเทศ พ่อแม่บางคนที่ไม่เคยให้นมลูกเลยในบ้าน ยังต้องยอมให้ลูกดื่มนมในโรงเรียน เพราะมันกลายเป็นมาตรฐานสาธารณสุขแห่งชาติ และภาพลักษณ์ของ “พ่อแม่ที่ดี” คือคนที่เลี้ยงลูกด้วยนมวัว

เมื่อรัฐผลักนมเข้ามาในชีวิตผู้คนจนลึกซึ้งขนาดนี้ ขั้นต่อไปคือการปลูกฝังทางวัฒนธรรม

เข้าสู่ยุค 1980s-1990s สมรภูมิการตลาดก็กลายเป็นแนวหน้าใหม่ของอุตสาหกรรมนม แคมเปญระดับตำนาน “Got Milk?” ถือกำเนิดขึ้นในปี 1993 โดย California Milk Processor Board ร่วมกับบริษัทโฆษณา Goodby Silverstein & Partners พวกเขาไม่ได้ขายแค่นม แต่ขาย “ภาพลักษณ์ของคนมีสุขภาพดีที่ดื่มนม” โฆษณาหลายตัวมีดารา นักกีฬา หรือคนดังยืนยิ้มพร้อมคราบนมที่ริมฝีปาก คำโปรยง่ายๆ แต่ฝังลึกในจิตใจคือ “Got Milk?”

มันไม่ได้แค่เปลี่ยนพฤติกรรมผู้บริโภค แต่สร้าง “จิตสำนึกทางโภชนาการแบบจอมปลอม” ขึ้นมาทั้งรุ่น ทุกคนเชื่อว่าการไม่มีนมในชีวิตเท่ากับขาดอะไรบางอย่างอย่างร้ายแรง

ในฝั่งซีเรียลเองก็ไม่ได้อยู่นิ่ง ผู้ผลิตพยายามขยายตลาดให้เข้าถึงเด็กๆ มากขึ้น ตั้งแต่กล่องลายการ์ตูน ไปจนถึงของเล่นแถมในกล่อง ทุกอย่างออกแบบให้ “ชวนเทนมลงซีเรียล” ได้ทุกเช้า แล้วแถมความหวาน ความกรุบกรอบ และความสะดวกสบายที่แม่บ้านสมัยนั้นต้องการ

นักประวัติศาสตร์อย่าง E. Melanie DuPuis เคยตั้งข้อสังเกตไว้อย่างคมคายในหนังสือ Nature’s Perfect Food: How Milk Became America’s Drink ว่าความสำเร็จของ “นม” ในสังคมอเมริกัน ไม่ใช่เพราะมันดีกว่าสิ่งอื่น แต่เพราะมันถูกผลักดันด้วยการเมือง นโยบายรัฐ และวัฒนธรรมที่บงการผ่านระบบอาหารอย่างแยบยล

การกินนมกับซีเรียลตอนเช้าจึงไม่ใช่เรื่องธรรมชาติ แต่มันคือ “ผลผลิตของการจัดการความเชื่อ” ที่ต่อเนื่องมานานกว่าร้อยปี เราไม่ได้เลือกดื่มนมเพราะร่างกายต้องการ แต่เพราะระบบที่ใหญ่กว่าเราบอกว่าต้องดื่ม แล้วทุกคนก็เชื่อไปตามนั้นโดยไม่เคยตั้งคำถาม

และนั่นแหละเฮียว่า คือความเก่งของ “Fiat Food” ที่ทำให้อะไรบางอย่างที่เคยเป็นแค่ของเหลวจากวัว อาหารธรรมดาชนิดหนึ่งที่ดื่มกินกันมาหลายพันปีตั้งแต่สมัยมนุษย์เริ่มเลี้ยงแพะ แกะ วัว อาหารที่ดีชนิดหนึ่ง กลับกลายเป็น “พระเอกของมื้อเช้า” เป็นสิ่งจำเป็นยิ่งยวด ถ้าไม่ได้ดื่มแล้วจะไม่แข็งแรง และอาจจะป่วยได้ เป็นการก้าวข้ามไปสู่อาหารเทพ โดยไม่ต้องแข่งขันด้วยรสชาติ หรือคุณค่าทางโภชนาการเลยแม้แต่นิดเดียว

จับประเด็นดีๆนะครับคนรักนมอย่าเพิ่งหัวร้อน ใครๆก็ชอบนม ผลิตภัณฑ์จากนมก็อร่อย ทั้งวิป ชีส เนย บลาบลาบลา ดังนั้น นม ไม่ใช่ไม่ดี นมมีดีพอที่จะเป็น just a good food ชนิดหนึ่ง เป็นสิ่งที่มีสารอาหารดีพอจะเลี้ยงให้ลูกของสัตว์นั้นๆแข็งแรงเติบโตมาสู้โลกใบนี้ได้ แต่นมไม่ใช่อาหารที่ขาดไม่ได้ หรือ ไม่ได้กินแล้วจะไม่แข็งแรง การตีกรอบความเชื่อนี้มาจากระบบ ที่ต้องการจะจำหน่ายนมให้มากตามการผลิตนม ที่สร้างมามากมาย ในช่วงสงครามตามประวัติศาสตร์ที่ปรากฎ

นมถูกเพิ่มมูลค่าขึ้นไปมากกว่าที่เป็นจริง จากรัฐ โดยไม่ได้มีพื้นฐานมาสนับสนุนมูลค่าโภชนาการได้เท่ากับมูลค่าที่เพิ่มขึ้นไป และถ้าเทียบกับอาหารอื่นอย่างไข่ ปลาตัวเล็กที่กินทั้งกระดูก ที่มีมูลค่าการตลาดน้อยกว่านมหลายเท่านั้น มันกลับมีมูลค่าโภชนาการไม่แตกต่างกันอย่างมีนัยยะสำคัญ จนพอที่จะสรุปให้ประโยคที่ว่า "หากไม่ดื่มนมจะไม่สูงไม่แข็งแรง" ให้เป็นจริงได้

ถ้าจะยกเหตุผลอื่นๆที่ไม่ได้อยู่ในกรอบ การเพิ่มมูลค่า ปริมาณสารอาหาร ความสะดวกสบาย ความชอบ นานาจิปาถะตามรสนิยม แต่ให้อยู่ในกรอบ ความเป็นอาหารเทพชั้นยอดที่ขาดไม่ได้เด็ดขาดแล้วนั้น คำถามก็คือ เราต้องกลัวการไม่ได้ดื่มนมเพราะจะไม่แข็งแรง หรือเปล่า

ใคร ทำให้เกิดความกลัวนั้น และความกลัวมักทำให้เกิดอะไร

นั่นคือแก่นของเรื่องนี้ครับ #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has become the fastest exchange-traded fund (ETF) to ever reach $70 billion in assets under management (AUM).

The fund, which launched in January 2024, hit this milestone in just 341 trading days—five times faster than the previous record-holder, the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), which took 1,691 days to reach the same mark.

IBIT now holds over 662,000 BTC — iShares

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas tweeted on June 9, “IBIT just blew through $70 billion and is now the fastest ETF to ever hit that mark in only 341 days.” This is a big deal and shows bitcoin is going mainstream.

IBIT has beaten fastest growing ETFs in history — Eric Balchunas on X

The fund’s rapid growth means institutional investors are embracing bitcoin at scale.

The fund has $71.9 billion in AUM and holds over 662,000 bitcoin. This makes BlackRock the largest institutional bitcoin holder in the world. To put that in perspective, the fund holds more bitcoin than Binance or Michael Saylor’s Strategy.

“IBIT’s growth is unprecedented,” said Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart. “It’s the fastest ETF to reach most milestones, faster than any other ETF in any asset class.”

BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF isn’t just big. It’s also greatly outperforming other spot bitcoin ETFs launched at the same time. BlackRock’s brand and global client base gave the fund instant credibility.

Many institutional investors want a regulated and convenient way to get into bitcoin without holding the asset directly, and this fund has made it easy for them to invest.

Robert Mitchnick, BlackRock’s head of digital assets, told Yahoo Finance that bitcoin’s rising status as an inflation hedge and alternative store of value is driving IBIT’s popularity.

He explained bitcoin is becoming an inflation hedge and alternative store of value and that’s what’s driving the growth.

Eric Balchunas also noted that when BlackRock filed for IBIT, bitcoin was at $30,000 and there was still skepticism after the FTX blowup. Now that bitcoin is at $110,000, it is “seen as legitimate for other big investors.”

Institutional demand for bitcoin has never been stronger, with IBIT making up nearly 20% of all bitcoin held by public companies, private firms, governments, exchanges and decentralized finance platforms.

That dominance may soon be challenged as public companies prepare to buy more bitcoin and shake up the current supply distribution.

Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s head of digital assets research, shared data that six public companies plan to raise, or have raised, up to $76 billion to buy bitcoin. That’s more than half of the spot Bitcoin ETF industry’s current AUM, so there’s clearly interest beyond ETFs.

On the broader market, IBIT’s rise coincided with bitcoin’s price surge to new highs above $110,000. The inflows reflect investors’ confidence in Bitcoin’s future and desire for regulated exposure through traditional products.

It’s worth mentioning that IBIT also had over $1 billion in volume on its first day of trading. It’s now the largest ETF in BlackRock’s lineup, even bigger than gold funds and other popular ETFs tracking international equities.

@ 86184109:de238b47

Greetings! If you're reading this, you might be asking yourself "how do I start hiding things?", or maybe you're asking something more akin to...

What is a geocache? What is Treasures?!

Geocaches

Excellent question, dear reader! Geocaching is a hobby that has been around since at least the 2000's, with its roots in the even older hobby of letterboxing. In short, geocaching is a type of real world 'treasure hunt', in which 'caches' are hidden for others to find. These caches may range from a small container with a log entry book, multiple caches with coordinates to the next location leading to a destination, or even something hidden behind an elaborate puzzle or riddle.

Traditional geocaches are typically containers hidden from prying eyes - usually off a park, hiking, or natural trail of some sort. The intent and fun of geocaching is to find these hidden caches, log your success in finding them (either digitally or through a log book), and perhaps even trading trinkets between yourself and the cache's container.

Treasures

Treasures is a decentralized geocaching application, which acts as a client-side interface for displaying user-submitted geocache listings to nostr relays. In short, users submit geocache listings (kind 37515 events) to the relays and Treasures acts as a software on your device to display these items.

If you're new to nostr, I'd suggest reading through this guide for a proper introduction to the topic.

Okay okay, how do I start hiding stuff?

Ah, the exciting part! At this stage, the two most important items are creating the geocache and finding a proper place to hide it.

Creating a geocache

There isn't too much to creating the geocache itself, but some small considerations are required.

Sizing

Geocaches typically come in the following sizes: * Micro - The size of a film roll canister or smaller. * Small - The size of a sandwich container or bento box. * Regular - The size of a shoebox, roughly. * Large - An ammo box, treasure chest, small cooler, or similar.

For starting out, I would suggest a small container to keep things simple.

Container material

Geocaches can exist in many forms, ranging from a small tube, a fake rock, a snap-lid box, or even a literal treasure chest. However, in most cases, you are looking for a container that can weather the elements. Something that can survive a bit of wilderness, especially external moisture.

For a container, I would suggest anything that has a snap or 'locking' seal, as well as some type of rubber o-ring seal on the lid.

Your local stores may vary, but here are few examples of containers that would meet this criteria: * MTM Survivor Dry Box with O-Ring Seal * Cabela's Ammo Can Field Box * Snapware Plastic Food Storage Containers * Target Twist & Store Food Storage Containers

All of these items (with the exception of the last, which uses a twist seal) matches the above criteria. They also share another important criteria - green, muted, and translucent coloring.

Container color

You're hiding something, likely within nature or near it, so blending into the environment is a key variable here. Try to find containers that are a natural green or brown, or even simply translucent. Avoid colors that would contrast against the environment, such as bright pastels, neons, primary colors, and so on.

Container contents

So now you've selected your container; it's durable and will be very hard to find, but... what do you put in it?

The log entry

A geocache's contents, at minimum, should include a log entry book (or paper) so that the finder can record their record of being there.

Treasures includes an additional item you can place within your geocache - a scannable QR code:

This optional QR code, if scanned, allows you to post a verified log entry. This allows the finder to provide a simple cryptographic proof of being at the cache location. Verified logs have a neat 'verified' badge next to the entry:

A finder can still post a normal log entry, of course. They just won't have the cool, shiny badge next to it.

Other trinkets

A log entry is often more than enough to satisfy the conditions of a successful geocache treasure hunt, but you are also welcome to include additional items and prizes for the finder to enjoy.

Geocache contents can also include cool memorabilia, coins, trading cards, badges, toys, or any other item that might make for a good trade. In this scenario, the finder is encouraged to trade an existing item within the cache with something that they treasure as well, something that would be an awesome find for the next person.

For example, one of the coolest things I found in a geocache was a foil trading card:

Now that you have an idea of how to build a cache, let's move on to the other important half - where to hide it.

Hiding a Geocache

Most of the fun in a geocache is the act of finding it, and finding a great hiding location is an crucial part of building that experience.

Difficulty and Terrain

The complexity of finding a geocache is scored on a 1-5 scale by difficulty (D) and terrain (T); these are the mental and physical obstacles to finding the cache. These challenges can range from walking up to a location and immediately finding the cache, to requiring some tricky puzzle solving, or potentially having to physically travel a great distance and through potentially-hazardous terrain to find the geocache's location.

For this guide, we will focus on hiding a simple geocache with a difficulty and terrain rating of 1-2. The location may require some walking and potential cleverness to find the geocache.

Picking a good location

The basics

A "good location" is likely subjective, but for this guide, it means "a mostly-accessible area in a forested park or trail that doesn't receive a ton of foot traffic".

You will want to find somewhere that is not dangerous or difficult to reach, but is also not a place that people would go normally. Such examples may include:

• A small clearing adjacent to the main path.
• A slim walk path that clearly detours from a primary walking path in a park, but is still possible to navigate through.
• An area that requires a bit of walking to get to normally, but is often not sought after by park or trail goers.

Leave No Trace

You should be mindful of the location you pick, ensuring that the path and action of finding the cache follows Leave No Trace principles. Specifically, that you aren't causing harm to the nature around you via actions such as littering or damaging the wildlife.

Such examples would include: * Avoiding putting disposable wrappers or throwaway material in your geocache container. * Using a container with a snap or locking mechanism to keep the geocache contents from being potentially littered. * Picking locations that do not require trampling on or destroying existing flora to reach the geocache location. * Picking locations with clear, established, and stable paths.

Hiding spots

"Where do I actually hide this thing?", you might be asking about now. Well, if you've found a good spot, then this part requires some imagination. Try to find a place that your cache won't be easily seen by others.

Some common examples might include: * Behind a large tree that faces a trail. * Within a shrub or bush. * Behind tall grass or a fence that is normally not visible when walking past the area.

Safety considerations

As with any hobby that involves leaving your house, there is always an innate risk of danger or injury. That being said, you should hide your geocache in a place that will not further incur such risks for those trying to find it.

These guidelines are somewhat outlined already above, but the key things to look out for are: * Stable ground - make sure that the path to reach your geocache follows level ground with no drastic shifts in elevation. * Part of an existing park, nature trail, or hiking trail - your geocache should be possible to find by starting with an established location, such as the entrance of a park. * Keep your cache within public property - your geocache should be somewhere that everyone is allowed to be.

Posting your geocache to Treasures

Now comes the easier part, hopefully! To create your geocache listing on Treasures, log in with your nostr private key (or sign up to obtain one on Treasures if you're new), then go to the Create page.

This page will walk you through the key details of your geocache listing, such as the title, description, hints, difficulty and terrain scores, the container size, and additional images you may or may not wish to add to your listing.

Upon submitting your listing, the following will occur:

• An event will be published to the nostr relay(s).
• The optional QR code will be generated for your listing. (Download it now, as it's not possible to generate the same QR code twice!)

...and that's it! Your geocache listing is now present to the public - congrats. :)

Additional Considerations

• Double-check the location you're using for your cache. Is it accurate? Is it in within 10~ ft of the destination (or starting point) of your cache location?
• If you don't want to bring the QR code back to your geocache container later, you can create the cache listing in advance - just mark it as a 'hidden from public view' to keep the cache unlisted in the UI.
  • The relay event is still public, and you can still share the link for those that might need to review it, but it won't appear in listings for anyone using Treasures directly.
• Take some good pictures of the surrounding location! These are good ways to provide context and hints to those looking for your geocache.
  • Images are blurred by default to avoid spoilers, so feel free to provide anything that might be helpful for those who might need assistance.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read through everything! I may update this guide as new or helpful information comes up, but I hope that this information serves you well as you start your treasure hiding adventure.

If you have any questions, you can find me at @chad@chadwick.site on Ditto.

Good luck, and may the winds of adventure carry you forward!

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

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

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

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

For there are no shortcuts

Many people die\ And never make it Home

They will have to wait\ For another chance to die

Another chance to live fully\ And die totally

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

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

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

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

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

It lies beyond that door\ That keeps everything in check

Where only can go through\ Which is forever true

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supporters argue that the high volatility of bitcoin makes it a risky investment for public money like pension funds and state reserves.

The law also looks to bring bitcoin businesses under tighter control, to make them follow the same rules as the traditional financial system.

While Connecticut is cracking down on digital assets, other states are going the other way.

States like Texas, New Hampshire and Arizona have already passed laws or proposed bills to create a bitcoin reserve, which allows public funds to be invested in bitcoin.

Texas has even described bitcoin as a “forward-thinking investment opportunity” and a long-term store of value.

The new law has caused mixed reactions in the financial world. Some think it’s too cautious, others think it’s part of a bigger plan.

Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise, responded with sarcasm, “The hedge fund managers got so upset they couldn’t beat Bitcoin…”

Matt Hougan on X

Some states like Florida, South Dakota and Oklahoma have either killed or vetoed Bitcoin bills this year. Others like Louisiana are still exploring the tech. Louisiana just announced it would create a special committee to study AI, blockchain and digital assets.

@ b1ddb4d7:471244e7

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

Bitcoin Buys Beer Thanks to Flash!

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

Okay, jokes aside.

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

The first… pic.twitter.com/G7TWhy50pX

— Pierre Corbin (@CierrePorbin) June 3, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Bitcoin payment usage is growing thanks to Lightning

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

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

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

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

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

About Flash

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

About Bitcoin Only Brewery

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

Media Contact:

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

How Flash Enables Interoperable, Self-Custodial Bitcoin Commerce

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

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

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

When Richard Scotford moved to Costa Rica in 2018, he had no idea he would become a key figure in a thriving Bitcoin economy.

A longtime Bitcoin holder who initially saw it through the lens of speculation, Scotford’s journey led him to embrace Bitcoin’s deeper purpose and spearhead Bitcoin Jungle — a grassroots movement bringing real-world Bitcoin adoption to Costa Rica.

Bitcoin circular economies create holistic value for Bitcoiners

Bitcoin Jungle is inspired by Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador but uniquely adapted to Costa Rica’s economic landscape. Unlike El Salvador, where Bitcoin was positioned as a tool for financial inclusion, Costa Rica already has a fairly stable banking system.

The real issue? The friction of moving money. Expats, business owners, and tourists struggle with high fees, banking red tape, and slow transactions. Bitcoin helped solve a lot of these problems.

The Birth of Bitcoin Jungle

Scotford and his team launched Bitcoin Jungle in late 2021 with a simple goal: get bitcoin into people’s hands and make it usable. However, there was one challenge — he had no technical background.

Determined to create a circular bitcoin economy, Scotford networked aggressively. He attended the first Adopting Bitcoin conference in El Salvador, approaching strangers with his vision:

“I was just walking around trying to find people who could help me make this economy, going up to random people saying ‘Hey, what can you do? We’re trying to make a circular economy in Costa Rica, can you help us?’ They all thought I was crazy.”

The breakthrough came when he turned to Bitcoin Twitter. Nicolas Burtey from Galoy encouraged him to create a wallet, and developer Lee Salminen forked the Bitcoin Beach wallet for their project. 

“Within two weeks of Adopting Bitcoin, Lee forked the Galoy Bitcoin Beach wallet, which took Galoy by surprise. Even though they made their wallet to be forked if necessary, I don’t think they were expecting people to do it so fast and, I’d like to say, so well. They were like, ‘Okay, cool, who are these guys doing this?’”

Finally Bitcoin Jungle had its own working wallet, surprising even the Galoy team with the speed of execution.

Grassroots Adoption: One Vendor at a Time

How do you build a bitcoin economy from scratch? Scotford’s answer was simple: start at the farmers’ markets.

“We were like, okay, we’re going to get all the bespoke niche market sellers who are in this area. We have all these beautiful farmers markets, and we decided to approach these people first,” Scotford explained.

His team took a strategic approach, targeting market gatekeepers first.

“If you want to talk to every individual person, it’s really difficult. But if you can talk to the person who is the owner of the market, and then they can introduce you to their market stores, you’re already halfway there.”

Going stall by stall, they pitched Bitcoin’s advantages — no bank fees and better payment options. But adoption didn’t happen overnight, so Bitcoin Jungle initially offered a safety net — vendors could cash out at the end of the day.

“We would say to the vendors, ‘Look, accept bitcoin, and at the end of the day, if you don’t want to keep the bitcoin, we’ll buy it off you,’” Scotford recalled.

“When we first started, maybe 30–40% of the vendors were cashing up every day or at the weekends. Lee would be walking around with big fistfuls of money, cashing out vendors.”

But over time, something shifted — they started keeping their bitcoin.

“Eventually, the vendors started to learn themselves that, ‘Oh, actually it’s better to keep it.’ They would then pay for their tables in the markets using bitcoin. They thought, ‘Well, I don’t want to keep this bitcoin, I don’t really know what to do with it, but I can pay for my table.’ So there, the circular economy starts to happen.”

Today, Bitcoin Jungle runs with minimal intervention, and Scotford takes pride in their reliability.

“When you come here to Costa Rica, what we really pride ourselves on is that if someone says they accept bitcoin, 99% of the time, they will. And if they’re part of Bitcoin Jungle, they will 100% accept bitcoin and you will have a fluid experience with it.”

By mid-summer 2024 over 380 locations in Costa Rica accepted bitcoin

The Bitcoin Jungle Wallet and Real Usage

Bitcoin Jungle is an open-source community project built on the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

Acting as a community bank, the project processes a large number of transactions daily. To encourage proper security practices, Scotford’s team alerts their peers, reminding users to move their bitcoin to cold storage.

“If you’ve got too much bitcoin on your wallet, we send you a message telling you to move it to cold storage,” he explained. For larger businesses, they even offer hands-on assistance to secure funds properly.

Unlike the HODL-only philosophy that many Bitcoiners advocate, Bitcoin Jungle encourages spending.

“Michael Saylor says don’t spend your bitcoin. We say the opposite,” Scotford laughed. “We’re the antithesis of that. You need to spend it.”

Bitcoin Jungle’s Unique Approach to Costa Rica

Bitcoin Jungle isn’t just another Bitcoin adoption effort; it’s tailored to Costa Rica’s economy. The wallet operates in Costa Rican colónes, making transactions feel familiar to residents while ensuring tourists and expats can still interact easily.

The team has also introduced low-fee bitcoin ATMs, point-of-sale integrations, and partnerships that allow users to pay in bitcoin while the recipient receives local currency.

A major breakthrough came when Francis Pouliot from Bull Bitcoin joined forces with Bitcoin Jungle, bringing his expertise in banking infrastructure to the project.

This collaboration enabled seamless bitcoin payments that integrate directly with Costa Rica’s financial system, allowing users to pay anyone, even businesses that don’t directly accept bitcoin, while the recipient receives funds in colónes or dollars.

“I can go to a hardware store, order steel for my new basketball court, pay in bitcoin, and the store gets dollars,” Scotford said. “For a non-tech guy like me, it’s magical.”

Why Aren’t There More Bitcoin Jungles?

Scotford sees an opportunity for more localized bitcoin economies.

“There should be a Bitcoin Harbor, a Bitcoin Mountain, a Bitcoin Driveway,” he joked. “But instead of waiting for permission or corporate funding, people need to take action themselves.”

He emphasizes that building a circular bitcoin economy doesn’t require deep pockets. “I probably gave away $600 worth of bitcoin when we started — just $3 here, $4 there — to get people using it.”

The Future of Bitcoin Jungle

Bitcoin Jungle continues to grow, recently hosting events like the Bitcoin Freedom Festival and integrating bitcoin into community projects, including a school where tuition can be paid in bitcoin.

“The institutions have come in, but the grassroots projects haven’t caught up,” Scotford observed. “It’s time for people to stop sitting on their hands and start building.”

Bitcoin is permissionless, no one has to wait for approval to start using it. Bitcoin Jungle proves that with vision and persistence, anyone can build a thriving Bitcoin economy, one market stall at a time.

Get the latest from Bitcoin Jungle: follow them on X

@ 4fe14ef2:f51992ec

Let's support Bitcoin merchants! I'd love to hear some of your latest Lightning purchases and interesting products you bought. Feel free to include links to the shops or businesses you bought from.

Who else has a recent purchase they’re excited about? Bonus sats if you found a killer deal! ⚡

If you missed our last thread, here are some of the items stackers recently spent and zap on.

Like and repost: X: https://x.com/AGORA_SN/status/1934193660796780660 N: https://njump.me/nevent1qqsdaqz3qjmgta88a4wnzyh7vujla7ecsc7luatrtl0a2k7xq43thhq337lj2

https://stacker.news/items/1006838

@ 58537364:705b4b85

ในร่างกายที่มันมีสิ่งที่เรียกว่า… ระบบประสาท ทีนี้มีอะไรเข้ามากระทบร่างกาย คือกระทบระบบประสาท ปฏิกิริยามันก็เกิดขึ้น เป็นเหตุการณ์ อย่างใดอย่างหนึ่งขึ้น

เหตุการณ์นั้นแหละสำคัญ ถ้าให้เกิดความรู้สึกที่ถูกใจมันจะเป็นบวก เหตุการณ์นั้นไม่รู้สึกถูกใจแก่จิต มันก็จะเป็นลบ #ตัวกูเพิ่งเกิดเมื่อมีการกระทบแล้ว

ถ้าเหตุการณ์ที่เป็นบวกเกิดขึ้น ตัวกูบวกก็เกิดขึ้น เหตุการณ์ที่เป็นลบเกิดขึ้น ตัวกูที่เป็นลบเกิดขึ้น #ตัวกูนี้เกิดหลังเหตุการณ์ ขอให้เข้าใจดีๆ ไม่ใช่เกิดอยู่ก่อน

ตัวกูคลอดออกมาจาก situation ที่มากระทบระบบประสาท เช่นว่า… ไม่ได้กินอาหาร ขาดอาหาร มันหิว ความหิวเกิดขึ้นแก่ระบบประสาท ต่อมาจึงเกิด concept ว่า กูหิว, มีการกินแล้วจึงเกิด concept ว่า กูกิน

ถ้ามีอาการอร่อยแก่ลิ้น มันจึงเกิด concept ว่า… กูอร่อย หรือ มาทีหลังเหตุการณ์เสมอ จะถือว่าเป็น product ของเหตุการณ์นั้น ๆ ก็ได้

นี่คือความที่ไม่มีตัวจริง มิใช่ของจริง ของสิ่งที่เรียกว่าตัวกู #ขอให้รู้จักว่าตัวกูนี้มันเป็นมายาถึงขนาดนี้

ฟังดูการพูดอย่างนี้ มันเป็น logic แต่ความจริงของธรรมชาติมันเป็นอย่างนั้น ถือตามกฎ logic ธรรมดาสามัญ ที่พูดกันอยู่นี้ไม่ได้ ต้องถือตามความเป็นจริงที่ว่า มันเป็นอยู่อย่างไร

จิตก็เป็นธาตุชนิดหนึ่ง สิ่งแวดล้อมต่างๆ ที่เป็นธาตุชนิดหนึ่ง พอมาถึงกันเข้า ก็เกิดปฏิกิริยาออกมาอย่างนั้นอย่างนี้ ความรู้สึกที่เรียกว่า… #จิตคิดนึกได้นี้_ก็เป็นปฏิกิริยาที่เกิดขึ้นเท่านั้น แล้วความรู้สึกว่าตัวกู ตัวนี้ก็เป็นเพียงปฏิกิริยาที่เกิดขึ้นเท่านั้น.

มันฟังยากสำหรับท่านทั้งหลายที่ว่า ผู้กระทำนั้นเกิดทีหลังการกระทำ มันผิด logic อย่างนี้

แต่ความจริงเป็นอย่างนั้น self หรือ ego ผู้กระทำจะเกิดทีหลังการกระทำ เป็นปฏิกิริยาของการกระทำ

ความคิดอย่าง ตรรกะ หรืออย่างปรัชญา เอามาใช้กับสิ่งนี้ไม่ได้ ขอยืนยันไว้อย่างนี้

ถ้าท่านยังไม่เชื่อ ท่านก็ไปคิดดูเรื่อย ๆ ไปเถอะ ท่านจะพบว่ามันไม่เป็นอย่างกฎเกณฑ์ทางตรรกะหรือทางปรัชญา ที่เรามีๆ กันอยู่

ผู้กระทำเป็นเพียง concept ไม่ใช่ตัวจริง ส่วนการกระทำมันเป็นเหตุการณ์ของธรรมชาติ พอเข้ามาถึงจิตแล้ว ก็เกิดความคิด ความเชื่อ ความยึดว่าตัวกู

ตัวกูซึ่งเป็นเพียง concept ไม่ใช่ของจริง

พุทธทาสภิกขุ

อตัมมยตาประทีป

ชีวิตใหม่และหนทางเข้าถึงชีวิตใหม่

หน้า_๒๙๕-๒๙๖

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha is now available!

NOTE: "This version of clients is not compatible with older versions of coordinators. Coordinators must upgrade first, make sure you don't upgrade your client while this is marked as pre-release."

• This version brings a new and improved coordinators view with reviews signed both by the robot and the coordinator, adds market price sources in coordinator profiles, shows a correct warning for canceling non-taken orders after a payment attempt, adds Uzbek sum currency, and includes package library updates for coordinators.

Source: RoboSats.

• siggy47 is writing daily RoboSats activity reviews on stacker.news. Check them out here.
• Stay up-to-date with RoboSats on Nostr.

What's new

• New coordinators view (see the picture above).
• Available coordinator reviews signed by both the robot and the coordinator.
• Coordinators now display market price sources in their profiles.

Source: RoboSats.

• Fix for wrong message on cancel button when taking an order. Users are now warned if they try to cancel a non taken order after a payment attempt.
• Uzbek sum currency now available.
• For coordinators: library updates.
• Add docker frontend (#1861).
• Add order review token (#1869).
• Add UZS migration (#1875).
• Fixed tests review (#1878).
• Nostr pubkey for Robot (#1887).

New contributors

• @hexlorn made their first contribution in #1858.
• @umk0m1qk made their first contribution in #1864.

Full Changelog: v0.7.6-alpha...v0.7.7-alpha

GitHub Repo

@ 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

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

I am the space\ In which your experience takes place

You could never meet me\ For I hold no identity

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

@ 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

@ 57d1a264:69f1fee1

From designer Anna Cairns, the workhorse monospace typeface is rooted in feminist theory.

Across CMM Coda’s subtly imperfect, analogue-inspired letterforms – based on the IBM Selectric typewriter’s typeface, Dual Basic – Anna practically and conceptually brings together the feminist legacy of software and typewriters with the aesthetic sensibilities of the genre associated with the industry. Additionally, CMM Coda enables Anna to explore her intrigue in the blurry terminology used in text production, such as typing, coding and writing, “especially now that most text is created digitally,” Anna says, with typefaces being software in their own right. “We also associate a certain look with each of these modalities,” she continues, “so my idea was to create a typeface that can jump all of these genres simply through a play with white space,” an approach that resulted in CMM Coda’s multiple styles.

Learn more about Comma at https://commatype.com/, a new foundry founded by the Berlin-based type designer Anna Cairns.

Continue reading at https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/comma-type-cmm-coda-graphic-design-project-110625

https://stacker.news/items/1004142

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Love, I thank you for your warmth\ Ever lifting

You keep me charmed\ Ever drifting

May I be me\ And you be you

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

@ f7d424b5:618c51e8

GAMERS, we're back in the virtual studio for another sophisticated and gentlemanly discussion on the most important topic in the media landscape: huge anime tiddies on the best and baddest Bodytype Bs you've ever seen. I think the VA strike ended too or something.

Stuff cited:

• SB steam charts
• Commentary by Megan Shipman
• Mujin video that shows the leaked discord messages from the SAG discord

Obligatory:

• Listen to the new episode here!
• Discuss this episode on OUR NEW FORUM
• Get the RSS and Subscribe (this is a new feed URL, but the old one redirects here too!)
• Get a modern podcast app to use that RSS feed on at newpodcastapps.com
• Or listen to the show on the forum using the embedded Podverse player!
• Send your complaints here

Reminder that this is a Value4Value podcast so any support you can give us via a modern podcasting app is greatly appreciated and we will never bow to corporate sponsors!

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Coinbase is launching its first-ever credit card — the Coinbase One Card — with up to 4% back in bitcoin on everyday purchases.

The announcement was made at the 2025 State of Crypto Summit in New York and marks a big step towards making bitcoin more accessible and rewarding for everyday use.

The card is being released in partnership with American Express and will roll out in the U.S. this fall. It’s only available to Coinbase One members, the company’s growing subscription service.

“Whether you’re buying groceries or booking a trip, the Coinbase One Card lets you earn rewards in Bitcoin — making everyday spending more rewarding than ever,” Coinbase said in a blog post.

The Coinbase One Card lets you earn 2-4% back in bitcoin, depending on how much you have in assets on the Coinbase platform. All cardholders will start at 2%, but those with more assets can unlock higher cashback rates.

The card also has a metal design with text from Bitcoin’s original Genesis Block engraved on it, representing its connection to the birth of the scarce digital asset.

Coinbase One Card

The bitcoin rewards are a first for Coinbase, which previously only released a prepaid debit card with Visa in 2020. The new card is a shift from traditional digital asset trading tools to everyday financial products that integrate with the blockchain.

The card is on the American Express Network, which provides access to travel protections, exclusive offers, personalized experiences and the secure infrastructure of one of the most trusted brands in payments.

Will Stredwick, SVP of Global Network Services at American Express said:

“We see real potential in the combination of Coinbase and crypto with the powerful backing of American Express, and what the card offers is an excellent mix of what customers are looking for right now.”

Luke Gebb, Executive Vice President of Amex Digital Labs added that Amex is committed to “practical, compliant applications” of the blockchain and Bitcoin technology.

The Coinbase One Card is issued by First Electronic Bank and offered through a partnership with fintech company Cardless. A waitlist is open now on Coinbase’s website and more info will be shared as the fall launch approaches.

To use the card, you need to be enrolled in Coinbase One, a subscription program launched in 2023. There are now two options:

• Standard Coinbase One: $29.99/month, with zero trading fees, priority customer support and enhanced staking rewards.
• Coinbase One Basic: $4.99/month or $49.99/year, to make it more affordable. Basic members also get the card and the same bitcoin rewards.

Both tiers get up to 4% bitcoin back, zero-fee trading on eligible assets (up to $500/month for Basic), and 4.5% APY on the first $10,000 in USDC holdings.

“Our customers are graduating from just creating [accounts] to now using Coinbase as a primary financial account,” said Max Branzburg, Coinbase’s VP of Product.

The Coinbase One Card launch comes as more digital asset platforms are entering the credit and debit card space. Rivals like Gemini have launched cards with similar cashback features and payments giants like Mastercard are exploring bitcoin integrations.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Digital assets entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano is about to make a big move into bitcoin, with plans to raise $750 million through a public investment vehicle called ProCapBTC.

The company will buy bitcoin and make the digital asset more accessible to institutional and traditional investors.

According to the Financial Times, Pompliano will be CEO of ProCapBTC, a Bitcoin-focused company that will go public by merging with Columbus Circle Capital 1, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) backed by Cohen & Company, a publicly traded investment bank.

The plan is to raise $500 million in equity and $250 million in convertible debt. If successful, ProCapBTC could be one of the largest corporate buyers of bitcoin, potentially putting it in the top 10 holders of the digital currency.

This is not a fund with a little bitcoin exposure — it’s a company centered around the asset.

The deal is still in negotiations but sources close to the matter say it could be announced as soon as next week. If so, ProCapBTC will merge with Columbus Circle Capital 1, get public market access and be able to raise further capital for bitcoin purchases.

Columbus Circle Capital 1 went public and completed a $250 million IPO in May 2025 and was formed to acquire or merge with high-growth companies.

It’s sponsored by Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Cohen & Company has been getting more involved in the Bitcoin space. The firm has offered advisory, tax and audit services to digital asset companies, including NFT marketplaces, decentralized finance projects and token issuers.

Its backing gives the ProCapBTC initiative credibility in both traditional finance and digital assets.

Anthony Pompliano, known as “Pomp” in the digital assets community, is a well-known Bitcoin advocate, investor and podcast host. He co-founded Morgan Creek Digital Assets and also leads Pomp Investments, a firm focused on digital assets and fintech.

This isn’t Pompliano’s first SPAC. He led ProCap Acquisition, a fintech-focused SPAC that raised $250 million through a Nasdaq IPO in April.

Pompliano has been saying for years that bitcoin should be included in strategic reserves for governments and corporations. He thinks bitcoin will keep going up until governments stop printing money.

With ProCapBTC he’s putting his money where his mouth is — but this time through a big, public vehicle to buy bitcoin.

ProCapBTC is launching at a time of renewed interest in bitcoin, with governments and numerous companies announcing the creation of bitcoin reserves.

President Donald Trump being pro-Bitcoin is a big deal. His administration’s lighter regulatory approach has encouraged more companies to go public and expand in the space.

This is a new way for investors to get exposure to bitcoin without buying and holding the actual asset. A public company solely focused on bitcoin could be attractive to institutional investors with stricter investment guidelines.

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Look and see\ Look and see

You look like how you look at me

Look and see\ Look and see

The colorless through the color TV

Look and see\ Look and be

The unborn identity

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

Jaren tellen\ Hoeft voor mij niet

Verhalen vertellen\ Over geluk en verdriet

Een warme haven\ Veilig en fijn

Dromen voorgedragen\ Onschuldig en rein

Momenten ervaard, geleerd\ En geïntegreerd

Ideeën, geloven en gevoelens\ Gevormd en gecreëerd

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

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

@ dfa02707:41ca50e3

Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.

• This release introduces Payjoin v2 functionality to Bitcoin wallets on Cake, along with several UI/UX improvements and bug fixes.
• The Payjoin v2 protocol enables asynchronous, serverless coordination between sender and receiver, removing the need to be online simultaneously or maintain a server. This simplifies privacy-focused transactions for regular users.

"I cannot speak highly enough of how amazing it has been to work with @bitgould and Jaad from the@payjoindevkit team, they're doing incredible work. None of this would be possible without them and their tireless efforts. PDK made it so much easier to ship Payjoin v2 than it would have been otherwise, and I can't wait to see other wallets jump in and give back to PDK as they implement it like we did," said Seth For Privacy, VP at Cake Wallet.

How to started with Payjoin in Cake Wallet:

1. Open the app menu sidebar and click Privacy.
2. Toggle the Use Payjoin option.
3. Now on your receive screen you'll see an option to copy a Payjoin URL

• Bull Bitcoin Wallet v0.4.0 introduced Payjoin v2 support in late December 2024. However, the current implementations are not interoperable at the moment, an issue that should be addressed in the next release of the Bull Bitcoin Wallet.

• Cake Wallet was one of the first wallets to introduce Silent Payments back in May 2024. However, users may encounter sync issues while using this feature at present, which will be resolved in the next release of Cake Wallet.

What's new

• Payjoin v2 implementation.
• Wallet group improvements: Enhanced management of multiple wallets.
• Various bug fixes: improving overall stability and user experience.
• Monero (XMR) enhancements.

Learn more about using, implementing, and understanding BIP 77: Payjoin Version 2 using the payjoin crate in Payjoin Dev Kit here.

Announcement
Blog Post / Archive
GitHub Repo

@ 91117f2b:111207d6

Father's Day is a special holiday celebrated annually to honor fathers, father figures, and the significant role they play in shaping our lives. This year, Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 15, 2025, in many countries around the world.

A Brief History of Father's Day

The concept of Father's Day was first introduced by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909, inspired by the success of Mother's Day. Dodd's father, William Jackson Smart, had raised her and her five siblings alone after their mother's death, and she wanted to honor his sacrifices and dedication. The first Father's Day celebration was held on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, and it wasn't until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed a law declaring the third Sunday in June as the permanent date for Father's Day.

Celebrating Father's Day Around the World

While many countries celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday in June, others observe it on different dates. Some notable exceptions include : - Spain, Italy, and Portugal: March 19, St. Joseph's Day - Germany: Ascension Day - Scandinavian countries: Second Sunday in November - Taiwan: August 8 - Australia and New Zealand: First Sunday in September

Ways to Celebrate Father's Day

If you're looking for ideas to make Father's Day special, consider these activities ¹: - Outdoor activities: Plan a camping trip, barbecue, or beach day - Cooking: Try out delicious recipes like grilled flank steak, country-style ribs, or bourbon-glazed salmon - Quality time: Spend the day doing something your dad enjoys, like watching a game or playing a sport together

Honoring Fathers and Father Figures

Father's Day is an opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation for the men who have made a positive impact in our lives. Whether it's a biological father, stepfather, grandfather, or father figure, this holiday is a chance to show love, respect, and admiration for their guidance, support, and sacrifices.

We say thank U to all the fathers out there in the world who have sacrificed and will continue to sacrifice for the benefit and success of their children. 💝♥️♥️

@ 5627e59c:d484729e

The world around me\ Is assumed to be

Through sensory observations\ This appears to me

What I experience\ Is for me

But the ultimate experience\ Is for me\ To be

@ f85b9c2c:d190bcff

To all the dads, pops, uncles, big brothers, grandpas that are doing the father role.

I am sitting here during father’s day afternoon thinking about all the children across the world that for various reasons are not able to tell their dads happy father’s day. Before anyone thinks I mean anything negative by the above statement, I DON’T. I just want to shed light on all the male figures that step in to that role to help raise children.

Sending a big thank you to all the men who step up and help as a father figure despite their status.