After attending Bitcoin events in Buenos Aires and Las Vegas, the author reflects on their journey into the world of Nostr and Bitcoin. They participated in the Oslo Freedom Forum, where they helped create the Nostr Lounge, a dedicated space for onboarding people to the platform. Despite being in "fiat land" Vegas, the Nostr community thrived, attracting curious individuals and highlighting the growing importance of freedom of speech and decentralized technology. The author expresses gratitude for the team and community that made the events successful, emphasizing the importance of these connections.

Texas bitcoin mining faced a challenging June 2025 due to intense heatwaves, power curtailments driven by the state's 4CP program, and devastating floods. These factors led to significant declines in bitcoin production for major mining companies like Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, and Cipher Mining, with drops ranging from 7% to 25%. The curtailments were largely voluntary, as miners sought to avoid high energy costs and support grid stability during peak demand. The challenges also impacted the broader Bitcoin network, causing a drop in global hashrate. However, some companies like CleanSpark bucked the trend, increasing their bitcoin production, and new companies continue to enter the market, signaling continued interest in bitcoin mining.