BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,845 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 22Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US Investigates Major Intelligence Leak / Skepticism Swirls Around Moldovan Vote / IDF Claims Hezbollah Hiding Cash, Gold / Musk's Giveaway Sparks Media Criticism / Harris Leads in 4 Swing States, Trump Ahead in 2 / India Favors CBDC, Leans Towards Crypto Ban / Most Russian Trade Has De-Dollarized / IMF Says Higher Prices Here to Stay / Crypto Payment Processor Transak Suffers Data Breach / Bitcoin ETFs See Heavy Outflows   Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,247, 24.52 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,395 / Lo: $66,581 Vol: $38.1B Mkt Cap: $1.3T HashRate: 714 EH/s Avg Fees: 3,424 sats/tx Nodes: 18,893   ---Reports---  -International Events- 1.  US Investigates Major Intelligence Leak: The U.S. Department of Defense and FBI are investigating a potential major intelligence leak involving classified information about Israel's plans to strike Iran. Two documents marked "top secret" surfaced on social media, purportedly showing U.S. military analysis of Israeli operations, including details about the movement of military equipment and munitions. The leaked documents, which appear to have been shared with the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, were posted on a Telegram channel called Middle East Spectator. While the source of the leak is unknown, investigators are focusing on individuals with access to the material, including those working for or with the U.S. government. The White House has expressed deep concern about the leak, and lawmakers are likely to have serious questions about how another major public disclosure of classified information could occur following the recent Jack Teixeira case. (ABC News)   2. Skepticism Swirls Around Moldovan Vote: The Kremlin has expressed skepticism about the results of Moldova's constitutional referendum on EU membership, where the "Yes" vote narrowly won with 50.31% after nearly all votes were counted. Previously, Western governments had accused Russia of spreading disinformation and interfering in the referendum. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned the sudden change in results, which had initially shown the "No" vote leading. In the presidential election held simultaneously, incumbent President Maia Sandu received about 42% of the votes, necessitating a runoff on Nov. 3 with Russia-friendly candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo, who earned around 26%. Peskov rejected Sandu's accusations of Russian interference in the election, challenging her to provide evidence and questioning her characterization of opposition voters. Earlier, Moldovan police had uncovered an alleged vote-buying scheme linked to a Russian-based businessman, involving millions of dollars sent from Russia to influence the election and referendum. (The Moscow Times)   3. IDF Claims Hezbollah Hiding Cash, Gold: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has claimed that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terror group, is hiding over $500 million in gold and cash in a secret bunker beneath the al-Sahel hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that while the Israeli Air Force is monitoring the vault, there are no plans to target the structure. The bunker, allegedly connected to the hospital, contains beds, rooms for extended stays, and operational command spaces. It was reportedly previously used by Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's deceased leader. Hagari appealed to Lebanese authorities to inspect the site and prevent Hezbollah from using the funds for terrorist activities. The IDF also detailed Hezbollah's financial operations, including transfers from Iran through oil sales in Syria and direct cash deliveries to the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. The hospital's director reportedly announced its evacuation following the IDF's statements. (Fox News)   -US Events- 1. Musk’s Giveaway Sparks Media Criticism: Elon Musk's $1 million daily giveaway for voters signing his free-speech and gun-rights petition has sparked media outrage and debate among legal experts about its potential violation of election laws. The promotion, which requires signers to be registered voters in key battleground states, has raised concerns about inducing voter registration, though some experts argue it falls into a legal gray area. Musk's America PAC, funded with at least $75 million from the billionaire, aims to play a significant role in mobilizing voters in crucial states. The media's response to this giveaway appears disproportionately critical, potentially reflecting bias against Musk's recent support for Republican causes and former President Donald Trump. While some officials have called for investigations, the lack of consensus among legal experts highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for careful consideration of election law boundaries. (Reuters)   2. Harris Leads in 4 Swing States, Trump Ahead in 2: Vice President Kamala Harris holds slim leads over former President Donald Trump in four critical battleground states (Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), while Trump is slightly ahead in Arizona and North Carolina, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. The two candidates are tied in Nevada, with 48 percent support each. The survey, conducted among 5,016 voters in seven swing states between September 29 and October 15, highlights the tight race in key states that will likely determine the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. With Election Day approaching, both candidates are focusing their efforts on these crucial battleground states, with Harris spending significant time in Georgia and Trump concentrating on winning back Arizona. (The Hill) AC: It is interesting that media organizations like The Washington Post would release a poll with data that is up to three weeks old, particularly when many indicators show the momentum has swung in the direction of the former president.   -Regulatory and Legal- NSTR   -Institutional Concerns- NSTR   -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. India Favors CBDC, Leans Towards Crypto Ban: Indian regulators are leaning towards banning private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, emphasizing the benefits of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as a safer alternative. The government's position aligns with the IMF-FSB synthesis paper, which allows for stricter measures including complete bans on cryptocurrencies. India's digital rupee (e₹) CBDC pilot has already reached over 5 million users, with 16 banks participating since its launch in late 2022. While cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in India, the country has established a tax framework for Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs), including a 30% tax on profits and a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on transactions exceeding INR 10,000 in a financial year. (Cryptopolitan)   -Economic Indicators- 1. Most Russian Trade Has De-Dollarized: Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized U.S. sanctions, stating they are driving global economies away from the U.S. dollar and leading to its declining use in international trade and reserves. Putin revealed that Russia now conducts 95% of its foreign trade in national currencies due to these sanctions. He emphasized the growing economic influence of BRICS nations, which now surpass the G7 in global GDP share and contribute significantly to global economic growth. Putin predicted this trend would continue, with BRICS countries' average economic growth rate projected at 4% this year, compared to 1.7% for G7 countries. Additionally, Russia and Iran have reportedly shifted to using national currencies for over 96% of their mutual payments. (Bitcoin com)   2. IMF Says Higher Prices Here to Stay: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says higher prices are likely to persist, adding to economic challenges stemming from slow growth and high debt levels. Georgieva emphasized that the pain from increased prices is here to stay, causing anger among people worldwide. While the global economy is performing reasonably well, with growth expected to be above 3%, concerns remain, including slightly slower trade growth compared to overall global growth. The IMF chief also claimed that climate risks are negatively impacting some countries' economic prospects. These statements were made ahead of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, where global economic challenges and potential solutions will be discussed among finance ministers, central bankers, and special interest groups. (Yahoo Finance)   -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Crypto Payment Processor Transak Suffers Data Breach: Transak, a cryptocurrency payment processor used by major platforms like Metamask and Binance, has reported a data breach affecting 93,000 users. The breach occurred when an employee used their work laptop for non-work activities, leading to the execution of a malicious script that compromised the system. While Transak claims the leaked data is limited to names and basic identity information, a ransomware group alleges they have obtained 300GB of sensitive data, including financial statements and user selfies. Transak's CEO, Sami Start, has stated that the company is not interested in negotiating with the ransomware group and has notified law enforcement and data regulators about the incident. (CoinDesk)   -Bitcoin Community- 1. ETFs See Heavy Outflows: Spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced their heaviest outflows in four months on Tuesday, with investors withdrawing over $287 million amid a broader market selloff and declining cryptocurrency prices. Fidelity led the redemptions with outflows of more than $162 million from its FBTC fund, while Grayscale, Ark 21Shares, and Bitwise also saw significant withdrawals. The total assets under management for spot bitcoin ETFs have fallen to around $52.6 billion, $10 billion below their peak, largely due to the recent decline in bitcoin's price from its March high of over $73,000 to about $58,400. Spot ether ETFs, launched in July, have also experienced a challenging period, with total assets down to approximately $6.7 billion from $10.2 billion at launch. (CNBC)   -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100   Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR   Follow us on NOSTR:  npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2B END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

SITREP: ECB Declares War on Bitcoin with @npub1d3f4...r4xv Greg Foss, Sam Callahan, Joe Carlasare and many others.

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Bitcoin Veterans • Bitcoin Veterans SITREP: ECB Declares War on Bitcoin with Lawerence Lepard, and Greg Foss • Listen on Fountain

Coleman, Lawrence Lepard, Greg Foss, Sam Callahan, Joe Carlasare and many others join us to talk about the ECB latest report about Bitcoin, how the...

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,701 DTG/ICOD: 0800EST 21Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon, Gaza Assault Continues / Cuban Power Grid Fails Amidst Hurricane Oscar, Protests Erupt Over Prolonged Outage / Putin Urges BRICS to Develop Alternative to SWIFT, Cautious on Unified Currency / Navy Declares F-18 Pilots Dead After Mount Rainier Crash / Bitcoin Surges Near $70K as Election Fuels Regulatory Optimism / ECB Warns Rising Bitcoin Prices Could Undermine Social Stability / US Fed Paper Calls for Taxes or Bans on Bitcoin to Protect Govt Debt / Eswatini's Central Bank Releases Detailed Plans for Retail CBDC / PBOC Cuts Rates Again to Stimulate China's Struggling Economy /   Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,161, 25 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $69,462/ Lo: $68,101 Vol: $27.4B Mkt Cap: $1.34T HashRate: 719 EH/s  Avg Fees: 2,084 sats/tx Nodes: 19,058   ---Reports---  -International Events- 1. Israeli Strikes Continue: Israeli forces conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon on Sunday, targeting branches of Al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial institution associated with Hezbollah. The Israeli military warned civilians near these targets to evacuate, causing widespread displacement. Simultaneously, Israel continued its assault in northern Gaza, with a major overnight airstrike in Beit Lahia reportedly killing or injuring dozens of Palestinians. Hezbollah retaliated by launching approximately 160 rockets or drones into Israel by Sunday afternoon. The conflict has escalated following the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in southern Gaza, with all parties signaling their intent to continue fighting despite international calls for de-escalation. (NYT)   2. Cuban Power Grid Collapses Again: Hurricane Oscar made landfall in eastern Cuba on Sunday, exacerbating the crisis for millions of Cubans already facing a nationwide power outage that has persisted for four days. The storm, which weakened to a tropical storm after landfall, is expected to bring heavy rainfall of up to 12 inches across eastern Cuba, potentially causing flooding and further complicating recovery efforts. Cuba's power grid collapsed for the fourth time since Friday, leaving most of the country's 10 million residents without electricity and struggling to maintain food supplies and access to water. Some Cubans have taken to the streets in protest, banging pots and pans and disrupting traffic, while President Miguel Diaz-Canel has criticized demonstrators for causing public disorder. The government has cancelled classes until Thursday and instructed non-essential workers to stay home, as officials blame the crisis on a combination of U.S. economic sanctions, recent hurricanes, and the poor state of the country's infrastructure. (CNN)   3. Putin Emphasizes Need for Independent Financial System: Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the need for BRICS nations to develop independent financial systems, particularly focusing on creating an alternative to the SWIFT messaging system for international settlements. While discussing the possibility of a unified BRICS currency, Putin urged caution, stating that the idea is not yet mature and requires a gradual, careful approach. The Russian leader highlighted ongoing efforts to expand the use of national currencies and create secure financial transaction tools within BRICS, aiming to strengthen financial partnerships while avoiding limitations imposed by existing global platforms. Putin's remarks suggest a strategic move towards financial independence for BRICS nations, with a focus on developing systems that can operate outside of Western-dominated financial structures. The cautious approach to a common BRICS currency, coupled with the emphasis on alternative financial systems, indicates a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on the US dollar and Western financial institutions while gradually building BRICS' economic influence. (Bitcoin com)   -US Events- 1. Navy Declares F-18 Pilots Dead: The U.S. Navy has officially declared two pilots dead following the crash of their EA-18G Growler jet near Mount Rainier, Washington, during a training flight on Tuesday. Search and rescue efforts, involving multiple agencies including U.S. Army Special Forces and Navy helicopters, transitioned to recovery operations on Sunday after crews reached the crash site at an elevation of 6,000 feet in a remote, heavily wooded area. The wreckage was initially spotted on Wednesday, but due to the challenging terrain, it took until Friday for teams to access the site. The identities of the pilots are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and the Navy plans to continue debris recovery and long-term salvage efforts in the area. (The Washington Post)   -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Election Optimism Contributes to Bitcoin’s Rise: Bitcoin is experiencing a surge, approaching the $70,000 mark, driven by significant inflows into US spot-Bitcoin ETFs and optimism surrounding potential regulatory changes in the United States. The upcoming US presidential election on November 5 is fueling speculation about a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, with both Republican and Democratic candidates showing varying degrees of support for the industry. Market sentiment is also being influenced by the election and the broader macroeconomic environment, with options markets indicating increased volatility around election day. Bitcoin's recent performance includes a nearly 10% increase in the past week, marking its best weekly performance in over a month. The market is closely watching political developments, as the outcome of the election could potentially lead to regulatory clarity and further price increases for Bitcoin. (Cointrust)   2. ECB Attacks Bitcoin: Economists from the European Central Bank (ECB) argue in a new paper that perpetually rising Bitcoin prices would lead to societal impoverishment, benefiting early adopters at the expense of latecomers and non-holders. The paper, titled "The distributional consequences of Bitcoin," contends that Bitcoin's narrative has shifted from a global payment system to a speculative investment asset, which does not generate cash flow or contribute to economic productivity. The authors claim that even without a "bursting bubble" scenario, Bitcoin's price appreciation would result in a zero-sum game, where early adopters' gains come at the cost of others' diminished consumption and wealth. The economists warn that this wealth redistribution could have detrimental consequences for society, potentially endangering cohesion, stability, and democracy. The paper has sparked criticism from Bitcoin holders, with analyst Tuur Demeester describing it as the most aggressive stance from authorities, suggesting that central banks now view Bitcoin as an existential threat. (The Block)   3. US Federal Reserve Attacks Bitcoin: A new paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis entitled “Unique Implementation of Permanent Primary Deficits?” argues that governments can sustain permanent deficits if consumers are risk-averse and do not react to alternative currencies like Bitcoin. However, when Bitcoin is traded, it introduces fiscal instability by creating multiple equilibria, making it difficult for the government to maintain a steady deficit and potentially forcing it to balance its budget. This disrupts the government's ability to uniquely implement its fiscal policies. To counteract this, the authors propose legal prohibitions or special taxes on Bitcoin to ensure government debt remains the only risk-free security in the market. By eliminating or taxing Bitcoin, the government can prevent its competition as a store of value and maintain control over the fiscal environment. These measures would help restore the government's capacity to implement permanent primary deficits without disruption from alternative currencies like Bitcoin. (U.S. Federal Reserve)   -Institutional Concerns- 1. NSTR   -Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)- 1. Nation of Eswatini Expands on CBDC Plans: The Central Bank of the Kingdom of Eswatini has published a paper outlining the design principles for its potential retail central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as the digital lilangeni, focusing on offline capabilities, interoperability with existing payment methods, and cross-border transfers. Stated motivations for exploring the CBDC include providing secure access to central bank money, fostering payments digitalization, boosting financial inclusion, and creating new opportunities. The design emphasizes accessibility, with offline payments available for hardware wallet users, while hosted wallets will require online access and offer value-added services from banks and payment providers. The CBDC will feature pseudo-anonymity balancing privacy and compliance, no interest payments, and a holding cap to prevent commercial bank disintermediation. Despite the detailed design recommendations, the central bank has not yet made a final decision on issuing the CBDC, mirroring the cautious approach of other central banks worldwide. (CoinGeek)   -Economic Indicators- 1. PBOC Cuts Interest Rates: China's central bank has cut its benchmark lending rates by 25 basis points, lowering the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) to 3.1% and the five-year LPR to 3.6%, a move that was anticipated following comments by PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng. This rate cut is part of a series of monetary stimulus measures, including potential further reductions in the reserve requirement ratio and cuts to other key rates, aimed at boosting China's economy amid ongoing challenges in the property sector and weak consumer sentiment. While the rate cuts were expected, economists argue that they alone are insufficient to address China's economic issues, with many calling for more substantial fiscal stimulus to tackle the lack of demand. The rate cuts come on the heels of China's recent GDP report showing 4.6% year-on-year growth in the third quarter, slightly better than expected but still below the official target of about 5% for 2024. Despite these monetary measures, experts suggest that China's real interest rates remain too high and anticipate further rate cuts in the coming year, especially as the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to lower its rates. (CNBC)   -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. NSTR   -Bitcoin Community- 1. NSTR   -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 72/100 (Down 1 pts)   Analyst Comments (AC): Central bank attacks on Bitcoin appear to be increasing, and their willingness to say the quiet part out loud indicates growing concerns among central planners regarding the ability of their citizens to opt out of faltering currencies and bad fiscal policies.   Follow us on NOSTR:  npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2B END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

HUGE UPDATE!! We just established a Meshtastic repeater on top of Big Bald Mountain on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. We had a @Starlink Mini in our pack and maintained connectivity the entire time. Big shout out to Elon Musk. The really amazing thing was the 194 nodes we have connected from Raleigh, to Knoxville, to Charlotte, to Greenville and all the way down to Atlanta!! The Freedom Tech Revolution is hitting another gear. #meshtastic

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,192 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 18Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: Hamas Leader Killed in Gaza / NK Troops Fight for Russia / Biden Announces Student Debt Relief / Father and Son Indicted for School Shooting / US Treasury Uses AI to Claw Back Payments / Tesla Moves $765M in BTC after 2 Years / BTC ETFs on 7-Day Tear / "Not Satoshi" Wright Heads to Court Against Bitcoin Core Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,740, 24.99 oz Gold, .16 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,334 / Lo: $66,647 Vol: $35B (Up 6%) Mkt Cap: $1.34T (Up 1%) HashRate: 668 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 37 sats/vBtye (Up 120%) Nodes: 19,094 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza: Soldiers stumbled across Sinwar during a routine ground patrol in Rafah, Israeli officials said. Drone footage released by the Israeli military showed what seem to be Sinwar’s final moments. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar marks “the beginning of the day after” for the militant group. He vowed that Israel would keep fighting in Gaza until all hostages are returned home. (CNN) 2. N Korea to send troops to fight with Russia: North Korea has started sending troops to fight with Russia in Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency has said as Seoul warned of a "grave security threat". The allegation comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed 10,000 North Korean soldiers could join the war, based on intelligence information. According to the spy agency, 1,500 troops have already arrived in Russia - with anonymous sources telling South Korean media the final figure could be closer to 12,000. (BBC) -US Events- 1. Biden-Harris administration announces $4.5bn in additional student debt relief: The Biden-Harris administration announced today an additional $4.5bn in student debt relief for over 60,000 public service workers. The latest round of relief has brought total student loan cancellation to over $175bn for nearly 5 million people since Biden took office in 2021, roughly 11% of all outstanding federal student loan debt, including 1 million public service workers holding $74bn in federal student debt. (TheGuardian) 2. Grand jury indicts Colt and Colin Gray for Apalachee High School mass shooting: A Barrow County grand jury has indicted Colt Gray, 14, and his father, Colin Gray, in connection with last month’s mass shooting at Apalachee High School. Colt’s father, Colin Gray, faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to children, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless conduct. Prosecutors allege that he saw warning signs of his son’s behavior but took no action and even purchased the firearm used in the shooting as a Christmas gift. (Fox5) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. The FBI arrested an Alabama man for allegedly helping hack the SEC’s X account: A 25-year-old Alabama man has been arrested by the FBI for his alleged role in the takeover of the Securities and Exchange Commission's X account earlier this year. The hack resulted in a rogue tweet that falsely claimed bitcoin ETFs had been approved by the regulator, which temporarily juiced bitcoin prices. The FBI has identified Eric Council Jr. as one of the people allegedly behind the exploit. Council was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud, according to the Justice Department. (Engadget) 2. US Treasury Taps Machine Learning AI To Recover $4 Billion In Fraud: This year's recovery of more than $4 billion is a threefold increase over the $652.7 million reported in fiscal 2023. The agency recovered $2.5 billion through identifying and prioritizing high-risk transactions and recovered $1 billion via expediting the identification of Treasury check fraud with machine learning AI. Treasury Department securely disburses approximately 1.4 billion payments valued at over $6.9 trillion dollars to more than 100 million people annually. With a wide range of payments, such as Social Security and Medicaid benefits, federal workers' paychecks, tax refunds, the U.S. Treasury is a prime target for fraudsters. (IBTimes) (AC-Its amazing that 1 in 3 Americans receive some form of payment from the US Treasury.) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- NSTR -Institutional Concerns- 1. Tesla moves $765 million in Bitcoin to unknown wallets, putting Musk’s crypto plans in the spotlight: the company has moved approximately $765 million worth of Bitcoin to unknown wallets. It’s unclear whether the EV maker, the fourth-biggest holder of Bitcoin among U.S public companies has plans to sell. (YahooFinance) 2. Global Bitcoin ETPs Register Biggest Seven-Day Inflow Since July: In the past four trading days, Bitcoin ETFs have purchased around 48 days of the mined bitcoin supply. On a seven-day basis, bitcoin ETPs have seen 25,675 BTC ($1.74 billion) in net inflows, the biggest since July. (CoinDesk) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Stocks Rise Boosted By Economic Data, Chip Stocks: Stocks in the US were higher on Thursday, following strong economic data. The S&P 500 added 0.5%, the Nasdaq rose 0.7% and the Dow Jones increased about 140 points after closing at a record level in the previous session. Retail sales rose more than expected last month, continuing to point to a robust consumer sector in the US. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. Historic bitcoin theft tied to Connecticut kidnapping, luxury cars, $500K bar bills: Two young men accused of swindling a Washington, D.C., resident out of $230 million in bitcoin went on a spending spree, buying exotic cars and a $2 million watch and renting mansions, prosecutors said. The Aug. 18 cyber heist swindled a Washington, D.C., resident out of $230 million in cryptocurrency. To date, at least $100 million in bitcoin stolen from the victim remains unaccounted for, prosecutors said in a recent court filing in District of Columbia federal court. (CNBC) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Craig Wright (Who Is Not Satoshi) Launches Bitcoin Core Legal Battle: Craig Wright, discredited in the UK High Court’s ruling against his claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto, has launched another legal action. Once again, he is targeting the Bitcoin Core developers. Wright claims that the Bitcoin Core developers have misrepresented BTC as the original bitcoin, while he insists that Bitcoin SV, also known as BSV, is the true version of bitcoin. (Forbes) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 73/100 (Up 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

When we arrived in western North Carolina there were ~2 meshtastic radios. Thanks to the efforts of multiple Bitcoin Veterans there are no less than 61 nodes some of which are airborne. This is a huge achievement in decentralized emergency communications. ✊ View quoted note →

OPN Gabriel Update: @npub1zx5c...wmqm gave a great breakdown on Mario’s Spaces of what Bitcoin Veterans and the Christian Rangers have been doing for Helene relief efforts

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 866,046 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 17Oct24 Precedence: Routine (RR) Controls: Public Release QQQQ __________________________ BLUF: US Bombs Houthi Targets / North Koreans Soldiers in Ukraine / Mexico Violence Rages / US Ties Arms to Israel to Gaza Aid / VP Harris Grilled on Fox / Trump PAC Takes in Crypto / $425M More To Ukraine From Biden / Warren Says Opponent Likes Crypto / Bitcoin Adoption Up, So Italy Ups Tax Rates For It / BRCIS Continue Financial Way Forward / Cash is King in Disaster Areas / Trumps Liberty Financial Flops / It is Common for Countries to Throttle Internet During Elections / El Salvador BTC Adoption Still Low Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $66,859, 24.91 oz Gold, .15 Median US House 24hr Hi: $68,266 / Lo: $66,795 Vol: $34B (Down 36%) Mkt Cap: $1.32T (Down 2%) HashRate: 671 EH/s Avg Fee Rate: 16 sats/vBtye (Down 72%) Nodes: 19,101 ---Reports--- -International Events- 1. US stealth bombers strike underground Houthi weapons sites in Yemen: The US said it carried out strikes on Wednesday against five underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, in a strike that used B-2 stealth bombers against the Iran-aligned group for the first time. (Reuters) 2. North Korean Troops Deserting Ukraine Frontline Days After Arrival: Some 18 North Korean soldiers are believed to have deserted the Russian frontline, with Kremlin fighters reportedly searching for them. The troops were deployed in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts, about four miles from the border with Ukraine, when they deserted, the public broadcasting company of Ukraine, Suspilne, reported. Intelligence officials said the Russian military is searching for the North Korean soldiers, while commanders are trying to conceal the desertion from their higher-ups. (Newsweek) 3. In the heartland of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, the old ways have changed and violence rages: Cartel gunmen stop youths on the street or in their cars and demand their phones. If they find a contact who’s a member of a rival faction, a chat with a wrong word or a photo with the wrong person, the phone owner is dead. Then, they’ll go after everyone on that person’s contact list, forming a potential chain of kidnapping, torture and death. That has left residents of Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, afraid to even leave home at night. Often, the first a driver knows is when a passing car tosses out a spray of bent nails to puncture his tires. Vehicles pull up front and rear to cut him off. The driver is bundled into another car. All that is left for neighbors to find is a car with burst tires, the doors open, the engine running, in the middle of the street. (AP) 4. Biden Administration Issues Warning to Israel on Gaza Aid: In a letter to senior Israeli officials signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the U.S. blamed Israel for a drastic drop in humanitarian aid into Gaza that contributed to starvation and widespread suffering, particularly in the enclave’s north where Israel launched a renewed ground operation nearly two weeks ago. The top American officials gave Israel 30 days to “reverse the downward humanitarian trajectory” or else it “may have implications” for future weapons transfers and funding under U.S. law. (WSJ) -US Events- 1. Harris grilled on Fox News on immigration, Biden's fitness for office: Harris and Baier frequently talked over each other and Harris grew visibly frustrated, but she delivered her message for the Nov. 5 election to a conservative audience that might not often hear it. Within minutes of the interview's end, the Trump campaign released a statement calling it a "train wreck." “We feel like we definitely achieved what we set out to achieve," said Brian Fallon, a Harris spokesperson. (Reuters) 2. Trump PAC has raised about $7.5 million in crypto donations since early June: Contributors to the Trump 47 joint fundraising committee donated bitcoin, ether and XRP, as well as the U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins tether and USDC, to the GOP presidential nominee’s campaign, according to a Federal Election Commission filing submitted on Tuesday. (CNBC) 3. White House approves $425 million in new Ukraine aid: The White House on Wednesday announced its latest package of military support for Ukraine, including $425 million worth of air defense, air-to-ground missiles, armored vehicles and other munitions. (DefenseNews) -Regulatory and Legal- 1. Warren Says Political Rival Deaton Will 'Fight for Crypto' if Elected to Replace Her in the Senate: The Massachusetts senator, a longtime advocate for tighter regulation on digital assets, claimed Deaton prioritized crypto interests over the needs of working-class Americans. “One candidate standing here gets 90% of their campaign funding from one industry—the crypto industry. One candidate has openly admitted that 80% of his personal worth is tied to crypto,” Warren said during the debate. “If John Deaton goes to Washington, his crypto buddies will expect a return on their investment,” the senator added. "He’s going to be there to fight for crypto." (Decrypt) 2. Italian Government Raises Crypto Tax Amid EU Regulatory Changes: The move coincides with the European Union’s preparation to implement its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which aims to create a unified regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies across the EU. Deputy Finance Minister Maurizio Leo emphasized the need for the tax increase during a conference call, citing the growing adoption of bitcoin as a key factor. “The phenomenon is spreading,” Leo stated, highlighting the government’s recognition of cryptocurrency’s increasing prominence in the financial landscape. (Bloomberg) -Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies- 1. Russia Mulls Commodity Trading Centers to Bolster BRICS Economic Sovereignty: Russia has just unveiled a plan to reduce its reliance on the US-dominated global financial system. The plan is seen as a response to crippling Western sanctions. The plan involves setting up mutual centers for trading commodity resources, which will allow Russia and its partners to bypass US sanctions and maintain economic sovereignty. This move is part of Russia’s broader efforts to develop alternative payment methods and decrease its dependence on the US financial system. (BitcoinCom) 2. Natural disasters wreck FinTech infrastructure, proving cash is still king: Hurricanes and other natural disasters remind us that our ambitious human efforts to build financial technologies and new forms of digital money can easily be rendered futile. Paying for Uber rides with a contactless card, trading Bitcoin, and using Venmo and Cash App to make purchases can often be a mechanical, effortless exercise. In a disaster zone, however, all of this is vanity. Surviving natural disasters requires citizens to spend money on food, water, and other basic necessities — and doing that without cash on hand is an unexpected and impossible dilemma. (CoinTelegraph) -Institutional Concerns- 1. Trump's Crypto Platform Falters On First Day Of Sales: Some 20 billion digital tokens, priced at 1.5 cents each, were offered by the company -- a total value of $300 million -- but just three percent had been purchased by Tuesday evening. The tokens can be used as cryptocurrencies and give buyers a vote on the platform's governance. (IBTimes) -Economic Indicators- 1. US Mortgage Rates at 2-Month High: The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) soared to 6.52% in the week ended October 11th 2024, the highest in about two months, compared to 6.36% in the previous week. (TradingEconomics) 2. US 10-Year Treasury Yield Muted at 4%: The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note held around 4% on Wednesday after sliding in the previous session as investors continued to assess the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy. (TradingEconomics) -Security Incidents and Concerns- 1. More than two dozen countries have used internet outages to sway elections: Forty-three governments worldwide have attacked or killed citizens for their online speech and 25 have cut off internet access during election periods, metrics which contributed to an overall decline in internet freedoms in 2024, a new report says. In at least 56 countries, internet users were arrested for their political, religious and social views, according to the report published Wednesday by Freedom House, a nonprofit promoting democratic values.Election-related censorship and disinformation is also a problem, according to the report, which found that at least 25 of 41 countries holding elections blocked internet and social media access or cut off websites allowing political, social and religious content. (RecordedFuture) -Technology and Science- NSTR -Bitcoin Community- 1. Low Use of Bitcoin in El Salvador Despite Being Legal: A recent survey by Francisco Gavidia University in San Salvador revealed that only 7.5% of Salvadorans use Bitcoin for transactions, despite it being legal tender. President Bukele's push for Bitcoin adoption has faced criticism from U.S. politicians and the International Monetary Fund. (Decrypt) 2. Marathon Digital explores strategic growth with $200 million loan collateralized with Bitcoin: According to the company, the credit facility is backed by a portion of its Bitcoin holdings and will be used to seize strategic opportunities and support general corporate initiatives. According to data from Bitcoin Treasuries, the company is the second-largest public holder of Bitcoin globally, with 26,842 BTC valued at approximately $1.8 billion. (CryptoSlate) -Bitcoin Sentiment- 1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 71/100 (Down 2 pts) Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r ____________________ Analyst: BV2A END REPORT NNNN *NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report

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