Bitcoin Veterans on Nostr: BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 878,349 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 08Jan25 ...
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 878,349
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 08Jan25
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Trump Warns Hamas / South Korean President Faces New Arrest Warrant / Fires in California Force Evacuations / US Ports May Strike Over Automation / GB Livelsberger Used ChatGPT to Plan / Texas Court Orders BTC Keys to be Handed Over / 20 More US States Look at Bitcoin Reserves / Ripple CEO, Legal Officer Dine With Trump / BRICS Expands Again / Bhutan City Sets Up Crypto Reserve / UK Court Seizes Criminal's Bitcoin / Tencent Blacklisted by DoD
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $95,224, 35.88 oz Gold, .22 Median US House
24hr Hi: $100,945 / Lo: $94,550
Vol: $68B (Up 38%)
Mkt Cap: $1.88T (Down 5%)
HashRate: 798 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 7 sats/vBtye (Up 133%)
Nodes: 21,136
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Trump says ‘all hell will break out’ if no hostage deal by inauguration: President-elect Donald Trump said in a news conference that “all hell will break out” and it will “not be good for Hamas” if a deal to release Israeli hostages held by the militant group is not done before his Jan. 20 inauguration. In response to Trump’s comments, Hamas official Osama Hamdan told reporters that “the U.S. president must make more disciplined and diplomatic statements,” Reuters reported. (WaPo)
2. South Korea's Yoon faces new arrest attempt in fortified compound: Acting president Choi Sang-mok urged on Wednesday authorities to "do their best to prevent any injuries to citizens or physical conflict between government agencies" while executing Yoon's arrest warrant. The Presidential Security Service (PSS) has been fortifying the compound this week with barbed wire and barricades using buses to block access to the residence, a hillside villa in an upscale district known as Korea's Beverly Hills. (Reuters) (AC-The relatively peaceful political struggle over this situation is impressive, but may not last long. The implications for the regional security and US troops in Korea are immense and has outsized potential to destabilize the region.)
-US Events-
1. California Wildfires: Palisades A Blazing Nightmare As Residents Forced To Flee Burning Homes: California has declared a state of emergency as authorities combat the wind-driven wildfire. Around 30,000 people, or over 10,000 households, were under evacuation orders throughout the day. Utility tracker Poweroutage.us has also revealed that there are over 120,000 customers without power in California due to the weather situation. No injuries or fatalities have been confirmed so far. (IBTimes)
2. US Port Labor Talks Intensify as Automation Debate Threatens New Strike: Over 45,000 longshoremen could strike by January 15 despite agreeing to a 62% pay raise over six years. The main conflict centers on automation policies, with the International Longshoremen's Association demanding a complete ban to protect jobs. West Coast ports are already seeing record container volumes as shippers redirect cargo due to East Coast uncertainty. A strike would affect major ports including Baltimore and Virginia, potentially disrupting U.S. supply chains during presidential transition. (GroundNews) (AC-Luddites in the AI and robotics era may not fare well.)
3. Green Beret who exploded Cybertruck in Las Vegas used AI to plan blast: Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a Tuesday news conference the soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, started using ChatGPT to get information on how to conduct his plot, calling it a “game changer.” OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, told CNN the company is “saddened by this incident and committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly.” (CNN) (AC-AI censoring and monitoring inbound.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Texas Court Orders Bitcoin Investor to Surrender Keys to $124 Million Stash: According to the order issued by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on Monday, Richard Ahlgren III must disclose all private keys and identify any devices that he used to store crypto, such as hardware wallets. The Austin, Texas resident faced three counts of filing false tax returns and four counts of illegal structuring of cash deposits. By December last year, Ahlgren was sentenced to two years in prison for falsely reporting capital gains he earned from selling $3.7 million worth of Bitcoin. (Decrypt) (AC-A key legal case to watch for hodlers. If the USG believes you withheld taxes from them, they will jail you and order you to share all your keys. It's unknown if Ahlgreen will comply.)
2. Satoshi Action Fund Says to Expect 20 More Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Bills at State Level: The Satoshi Action Fund plans to introduce up to 20 Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bills at the state level in the United States, aiming to double the number of states with pro-Bitcoin legislation by 2025. (Decrypt)
3. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse hails Donald Trump meeting as US crypto engagement grows: Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty attended a private dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida. In a Bloomberg interview, Ripple’s President Monica Long revealed plans to expand the RLUSD stablecoin to additional exchanges soon. (CryptoSlate) (AC-This meeting portends a centralized altcoin and stablecoin emphasis for the incoming administration versus a decentralized Bitcoin-based emphasis. Interpretations of these possibilities are varied.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. BRICS Expands Again – Indonesia Gains Full Membership in Historic Move: Indonesia’s accession to BRICS as a full member has been officially confirmed by Brazil’s government, with the announcement made on Jan. 6. Recent BRICS expansion brought in multiple new participants. In January 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were formally inducted into the bloc. A Russian official confirmed that Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan have joined as BRICS partners. (BitcoinCom) (AC-When viewing BRICS as an "anti-US hegemony" effort, the momentum and machinations point to an upcoming struggle for the economic, political, cultural and military "king of the hill" with the outcome far from assured. Pain will be the only sure thing.)
2. Bhutan economic hub to set up strategic crypto reserve: A new economic hub in Bhutan plans to set up a strategic cryptocurrency reserve comprising major crypto assets, including Bitcoin and Ether. Unlike other global jurisdictions exploring Bitcoin-only strategic reserves, Bhutan’s GMC seeks to stash several established cryptocurrencies as part of its potential crypto strategic reserve. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Services Activity Rises More than Expected: The ISM Services PMI rose to 54.1 in December 2024 from 52.1 in November, above market expectations of 53.3. The reading marked the 10th time the composite index has been in expansion territory this year. (TradingEconomics)
2. S&P 500 Rises for 3rd Session: Stocks in the US were mostly higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.4%, extending gains for a third session, the Dow Jones adding nearly 130 points and the Nasdaq trading around the flatline. All sectors were in the green but energy and real estate outperformed. (TradingEconomics)
3. US Imports 2nd Highest on Record in November: Imports of goods and services into the US rose 3.4% to $351.6 billion in November 2024, the largest increase since March 2022, as companies rushed shipments ahead of a potential dockworkers’ strike and anticipated Trump administration tariffs. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. UK Authorities To Seize $4.3 Million In Bitcoin From Fugitive Crime Boss: A UK judge has ordered the seizure of $4.3 million in Bitcoin (BTC) from a British crime lord known as “Don Car-Leone.” The ruling comes after the fugitive failed to prove the crypto holdings weren’t related to criminal activities. (Bitcoinist)
-Technology and Science-
1. US Blacklists Gaming Giant Over Chinese Military Ties: Tencent, no question, is among one of the biggest players in China for gaming. Without it, none of League of Legends, Pokemon Unite, or PUBG Mobile exist now. However, now the US is treating the company as a military firm. Blacklisting Tencent over suspects linked to the Chinese military, this step can lead towards a disastrous fate not only for Tencent but all its gaming ventures like Riot Games, Epic Games, and even Ubisoft. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Down 8 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
Block: 878,349
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 08Jan25
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Trump Warns Hamas / South Korean President Faces New Arrest Warrant / Fires in California Force Evacuations / US Ports May Strike Over Automation / GB Livelsberger Used ChatGPT to Plan / Texas Court Orders BTC Keys to be Handed Over / 20 More US States Look at Bitcoin Reserves / Ripple CEO, Legal Officer Dine With Trump / BRICS Expands Again / Bhutan City Sets Up Crypto Reserve / UK Court Seizes Criminal's Bitcoin / Tencent Blacklisted by DoD
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $95,224, 35.88 oz Gold, .22 Median US House
24hr Hi: $100,945 / Lo: $94,550
Vol: $68B (Up 38%)
Mkt Cap: $1.88T (Down 5%)
HashRate: 798 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 7 sats/vBtye (Up 133%)
Nodes: 21,136
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Trump says ‘all hell will break out’ if no hostage deal by inauguration: President-elect Donald Trump said in a news conference that “all hell will break out” and it will “not be good for Hamas” if a deal to release Israeli hostages held by the militant group is not done before his Jan. 20 inauguration. In response to Trump’s comments, Hamas official Osama Hamdan told reporters that “the U.S. president must make more disciplined and diplomatic statements,” Reuters reported. (WaPo)
2. South Korea's Yoon faces new arrest attempt in fortified compound: Acting president Choi Sang-mok urged on Wednesday authorities to "do their best to prevent any injuries to citizens or physical conflict between government agencies" while executing Yoon's arrest warrant. The Presidential Security Service (PSS) has been fortifying the compound this week with barbed wire and barricades using buses to block access to the residence, a hillside villa in an upscale district known as Korea's Beverly Hills. (Reuters) (AC-The relatively peaceful political struggle over this situation is impressive, but may not last long. The implications for the regional security and US troops in Korea are immense and has outsized potential to destabilize the region.)
-US Events-
1. California Wildfires: Palisades A Blazing Nightmare As Residents Forced To Flee Burning Homes: California has declared a state of emergency as authorities combat the wind-driven wildfire. Around 30,000 people, or over 10,000 households, were under evacuation orders throughout the day. Utility tracker Poweroutage.us has also revealed that there are over 120,000 customers without power in California due to the weather situation. No injuries or fatalities have been confirmed so far. (IBTimes)
2. US Port Labor Talks Intensify as Automation Debate Threatens New Strike: Over 45,000 longshoremen could strike by January 15 despite agreeing to a 62% pay raise over six years. The main conflict centers on automation policies, with the International Longshoremen's Association demanding a complete ban to protect jobs. West Coast ports are already seeing record container volumes as shippers redirect cargo due to East Coast uncertainty. A strike would affect major ports including Baltimore and Virginia, potentially disrupting U.S. supply chains during presidential transition. (GroundNews) (AC-Luddites in the AI and robotics era may not fare well.)
3. Green Beret who exploded Cybertruck in Las Vegas used AI to plan blast: Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a Tuesday news conference the soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, started using ChatGPT to get information on how to conduct his plot, calling it a “game changer.” OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, told CNN the company is “saddened by this incident and committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly.” (CNN) (AC-AI censoring and monitoring inbound.)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Texas Court Orders Bitcoin Investor to Surrender Keys to $124 Million Stash: According to the order issued by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on Monday, Richard Ahlgren III must disclose all private keys and identify any devices that he used to store crypto, such as hardware wallets. The Austin, Texas resident faced three counts of filing false tax returns and four counts of illegal structuring of cash deposits. By December last year, Ahlgren was sentenced to two years in prison for falsely reporting capital gains he earned from selling $3.7 million worth of Bitcoin. (Decrypt) (AC-A key legal case to watch for hodlers. If the USG believes you withheld taxes from them, they will jail you and order you to share all your keys. It's unknown if Ahlgreen will comply.)
2. Satoshi Action Fund Says to Expect 20 More Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Bills at State Level: The Satoshi Action Fund plans to introduce up to 20 Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bills at the state level in the United States, aiming to double the number of states with pro-Bitcoin legislation by 2025. (Decrypt)
3. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse hails Donald Trump meeting as US crypto engagement grows: Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty attended a private dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida. In a Bloomberg interview, Ripple’s President Monica Long revealed plans to expand the RLUSD stablecoin to additional exchanges soon. (CryptoSlate) (AC-This meeting portends a centralized altcoin and stablecoin emphasis for the incoming administration versus a decentralized Bitcoin-based emphasis. Interpretations of these possibilities are varied.)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. BRICS Expands Again – Indonesia Gains Full Membership in Historic Move: Indonesia’s accession to BRICS as a full member has been officially confirmed by Brazil’s government, with the announcement made on Jan. 6. Recent BRICS expansion brought in multiple new participants. In January 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were formally inducted into the bloc. A Russian official confirmed that Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan have joined as BRICS partners. (BitcoinCom) (AC-When viewing BRICS as an "anti-US hegemony" effort, the momentum and machinations point to an upcoming struggle for the economic, political, cultural and military "king of the hill" with the outcome far from assured. Pain will be the only sure thing.)
2. Bhutan economic hub to set up strategic crypto reserve: A new economic hub in Bhutan plans to set up a strategic cryptocurrency reserve comprising major crypto assets, including Bitcoin and Ether. Unlike other global jurisdictions exploring Bitcoin-only strategic reserves, Bhutan’s GMC seeks to stash several established cryptocurrencies as part of its potential crypto strategic reserve. (CoinTelegraph)
-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Services Activity Rises More than Expected: The ISM Services PMI rose to 54.1 in December 2024 from 52.1 in November, above market expectations of 53.3. The reading marked the 10th time the composite index has been in expansion territory this year. (TradingEconomics)
2. S&P 500 Rises for 3rd Session: Stocks in the US were mostly higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.4%, extending gains for a third session, the Dow Jones adding nearly 130 points and the Nasdaq trading around the flatline. All sectors were in the green but energy and real estate outperformed. (TradingEconomics)
3. US Imports 2nd Highest on Record in November: Imports of goods and services into the US rose 3.4% to $351.6 billion in November 2024, the largest increase since March 2022, as companies rushed shipments ahead of a potential dockworkers’ strike and anticipated Trump administration tariffs. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. UK Authorities To Seize $4.3 Million In Bitcoin From Fugitive Crime Boss: A UK judge has ordered the seizure of $4.3 million in Bitcoin (BTC) from a British crime lord known as “Don Car-Leone.” The ruling comes after the fugitive failed to prove the crypto holdings weren’t related to criminal activities. (Bitcoinist)
-Technology and Science-
1. US Blacklists Gaming Giant Over Chinese Military Ties: Tencent, no question, is among one of the biggest players in China for gaming. Without it, none of League of Legends, Pokemon Unite, or PUBG Mobile exist now. However, now the US is treating the company as a military firm. Blacklisting Tencent over suspects linked to the Chinese military, this step can lead towards a disastrous fate not only for Tencent but all its gaming ventures like Riot Games, Epic Games, and even Ubisoft. (TechTimes)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 70/100 (Down 8 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report