Bitcoin Veterans on Nostr: BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 873,216 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 04Dec24 ...
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 873,216
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 04Dec24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: South Korea Martial Law Lasts 6 Hours / China Withholds Rare Earth Materials / Georgia Protests Continue / CA Flips House Seat After Month-Long Vote Count / Pete Hegseth Draws Fire as DoD Head Pick/ 2.6% Of US Budget Goes to Migrants / Debanking Highlighted as Weapon / Mayor Adams Gloats Over Bitcoin Paycheck / Missouri Says No to CBDC / Coinbase Integrates Apple Pay / BTC ETS Have Huge Day, Week, Month / More Job Openings / Stocks Stabilize / Global Surveillance Out of Control / CashApp Drops Free BTC Transactions / Virgin Voyages Taking Bitcoin Payments / Foundry Slims Down
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $95,730, 36.29 oz Gold, .22 Median US House
24hr Hi: $97,026 / Lo: $93,629
Vol: $68B (Up 8%)
Mkt Cap: $1.89T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 742 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Down 18%)
Nodes: 20,468
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. South Korea lifts president’s martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule: President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. (AP)
2. China Bans Key Materials Export to U.S. in Tech War Escalation: China has imposed a ban on the export of key high-tech materials including gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States. This decision follows U.S. restrictions on exporting semiconductor technology to China, escalating tensions in a tech trade war between the two nations. These materials are critical for the production of semiconductors, which have both civilian and military applications, potentially affecting various high-tech industries globally. (X)
3. Demonstrators again converge on Georgia’s parliament after the country’s EU bid was suspended: Like on five previous nights, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to push back the protesters, who threw fireworks at police officers and built barricades on the Georgian capital’s central boulevard. Opposition member Kordzaia voiced confidence that the protesters will achieve their goal of calling new elections and joining the EU. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Democrats flip final House seat of the 2024 elections, narrowing Republicans' majority: Democrat Adam Gray has defeated GOP Rep. John Duarte in a rematch in California’s 13th District in the Central Valley following weeks of ballot counting, NBC News projects, meaning Republicans won 220 House seats in the 2024 elections to Democrats’ 215. Thanks to Gray’s victory, Democrats netted one seat in the House elections, flipping nine Republican-held seats, mainly in blue states, as Republicans flipped eight Democratic-held seats. (NBC) (AC-If your count long enough, the race will eventually turn your way.)
2. Female Republican Senators Express Support for Pete Hegseth: Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) expressed full support for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth after meeting with him Monday amid an onslaught of hit pieces from the establishment media. Her support comes at a critical time, as Hegseth comes under attack from anonymous sources in reports about his alleged behavior when drinking or with women from as far back as 2014. (Breitbart) (AC-The onslaught against Hegseth is telling.)
3. Musks’s Department of Government Efficiency Highlights Current Spending of $150 Billion on Migrants: Illegal immigration has cost American taxpayers a blistering 2.6% of the entire U.S. government’s $6.1 trillion in federal spending for the entire 2023 fiscal year. (OAN)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Debanking Isn't New—It Was Happening Before Chokepoint 2.0: Operation Chokepoint has received a new wave of attention and scrutiny following a Joe Rogan interview during which Marc Andreesen claimed the government has purposefully debanked more than 30 tech founders. It's not just tech that's paying attention, the crypto industry has been keenly aware of it for years. (Decrypt)
2. New York Mayor Eric Adams gloats about his Bitcoin paychecks amid 129% surge: ‘Who’s laughing now?’: In January 2022, when Adams assumed office, he received his first three paychecks in Bitcoin and Ether. “Go look at my Bitcoin now,” Adams gloated to reporters on Tuesday. “You all mock me. ‘You’re taking your first three paychecks in Bitcoin. What’s wrong with you?’ Now you wish you would have done it.” The mayor is currently facing criminal charges of bribery and campaign finance violations. He has denied all wrongdoing. (DLNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. Missouri Senate introduces bill to disqualify CBDCs as legal tender: The Missouri Senate introduced SB 194 on Dec. 1, proposing to ban central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as legal tender within the state. The bill seeks to prohibit public entities from accepting or using CBDCs and modifies the definition of “money” under the Uniform Commercial Code to exclude these digital currencies. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Coinbase Integrates Apple Pay for Seamless Fiat to Crypto Transactions: According to Coinbase’s statement, the “Coinbase Onramp takes the hassle out of fiat-to-crypto conversions with lightweight KYC for eligible purchases, free USDC on and offramping, and access to the most popular payment methods.” The integration also offers free USD Coin (USDC) transactions for both crypto on and off-ramping, as well as access to over 60 fiat currencies, 100 cryptocurrencies, and more than 20 blockchains with regulatory compliance. (BitcoinCom)
2. Bitcoin ETFs Add $676 Million in One Day as Holdings Approach Satoshi’s: After a record-breaking November, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see "robust" inflows in the final stretch of the year. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Job Openings Rise More Than Expected: The number of job openings increased by 372,000 to 7.744 million in October 2024 from a downwardly revised 7.372 million in September and above market expectations of 7.48 million. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stock Rally Pauses: Stocks remained mostly flat on Tuesday as a rally to record levels paused. The S&P 500 hovered just below unchanged, while the Nasdaq fell by 0.3%. The Dow Jones gained more than 35 points. This followed strong performances on Monday, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new highs. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Europol Dismantles Criminal Messaging Service MATRIX in Major Global Takedown: Europol on Tuesday announced the takedown of an invite-only encrypted messaging service called MATRIX that's created by criminals for criminal purposes. The joint operation, conducted by French and Dutch authorities under the moniker Passionflower, comes in the aftermath of an investigation that was launched in 2021 after the messaging service was discovered on the phone of a criminal convicted for the murder of a Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries. (HackerNews) (AC-The global surveillance network in growing out of control. Expect every digital device, communication channel and software to be compromised and under nation-state and supra-national surveillance.)
-Technology and Science-
1. Cash App Has Dropped Its Zero Fee Bitcoin $Cashtag Transfers: “Cash App will no longer support sending and receiving Bitcoin between $cashtags,” starting on Dec. 20, a recent announcement reads. However, customers outside of New York can still use Lightning Network to receive or send Bitcoin. BusinessDasher data shows that the payment super-app currently has over 57 million active users on its platform. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Virgin Voyages Introduces 'Industry-First' Bitcoin-Payment Option for Cruises: Virgin Voyages has unveiled its Annual Pass, a bold first in the cruising world that allows cryptocurrency payments, including bitcoin (BTC). This offering brings a fresh twist to travel payments and aligns with the company’s forward-thinking ethos. (BitcoinCom)
2. Foundry Lays Off 16% of U.S. Employees as It Focuses on Core Business: Digital Currency Group (DCG) owned mining pool Foundry has laid off 16% of its U.S.-based employees and a "small team in India." "We recently made the strategic decision to focus Foundry on our core business – operating the #1 Bitcoin mining pool in the world and growing our site operations business – while we supported the development of DCG’s newest subsidiaries, including Yuma and the spinout of Foundry’s successful self-mining business." (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 78/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
Block: 873,216
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 04Dec24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: South Korea Martial Law Lasts 6 Hours / China Withholds Rare Earth Materials / Georgia Protests Continue / CA Flips House Seat After Month-Long Vote Count / Pete Hegseth Draws Fire as DoD Head Pick/ 2.6% Of US Budget Goes to Migrants / Debanking Highlighted as Weapon / Mayor Adams Gloats Over Bitcoin Paycheck / Missouri Says No to CBDC / Coinbase Integrates Apple Pay / BTC ETS Have Huge Day, Week, Month / More Job Openings / Stocks Stabilize / Global Surveillance Out of Control / CashApp Drops Free BTC Transactions / Virgin Voyages Taking Bitcoin Payments / Foundry Slims Down
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $95,730, 36.29 oz Gold, .22 Median US House
24hr Hi: $97,026 / Lo: $93,629
Vol: $68B (Up 8%)
Mkt Cap: $1.89T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 742 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 9 sats/vBtye (Down 18%)
Nodes: 20,468
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. South Korea lifts president’s martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule: President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. (AP)
2. China Bans Key Materials Export to U.S. in Tech War Escalation: China has imposed a ban on the export of key high-tech materials including gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States. This decision follows U.S. restrictions on exporting semiconductor technology to China, escalating tensions in a tech trade war between the two nations. These materials are critical for the production of semiconductors, which have both civilian and military applications, potentially affecting various high-tech industries globally. (X)
3. Demonstrators again converge on Georgia’s parliament after the country’s EU bid was suspended: Like on five previous nights, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to push back the protesters, who threw fireworks at police officers and built barricades on the Georgian capital’s central boulevard. Opposition member Kordzaia voiced confidence that the protesters will achieve their goal of calling new elections and joining the EU. (AP)
-US Events-
1. Democrats flip final House seat of the 2024 elections, narrowing Republicans' majority: Democrat Adam Gray has defeated GOP Rep. John Duarte in a rematch in California’s 13th District in the Central Valley following weeks of ballot counting, NBC News projects, meaning Republicans won 220 House seats in the 2024 elections to Democrats’ 215. Thanks to Gray’s victory, Democrats netted one seat in the House elections, flipping nine Republican-held seats, mainly in blue states, as Republicans flipped eight Democratic-held seats. (NBC) (AC-If your count long enough, the race will eventually turn your way.)
2. Female Republican Senators Express Support for Pete Hegseth: Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) expressed full support for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth after meeting with him Monday amid an onslaught of hit pieces from the establishment media. Her support comes at a critical time, as Hegseth comes under attack from anonymous sources in reports about his alleged behavior when drinking or with women from as far back as 2014. (Breitbart) (AC-The onslaught against Hegseth is telling.)
3. Musks’s Department of Government Efficiency Highlights Current Spending of $150 Billion on Migrants: Illegal immigration has cost American taxpayers a blistering 2.6% of the entire U.S. government’s $6.1 trillion in federal spending for the entire 2023 fiscal year. (OAN)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Debanking Isn't New—It Was Happening Before Chokepoint 2.0: Operation Chokepoint has received a new wave of attention and scrutiny following a Joe Rogan interview during which Marc Andreesen claimed the government has purposefully debanked more than 30 tech founders. It's not just tech that's paying attention, the crypto industry has been keenly aware of it for years. (Decrypt)
2. New York Mayor Eric Adams gloats about his Bitcoin paychecks amid 129% surge: ‘Who’s laughing now?’: In January 2022, when Adams assumed office, he received his first three paychecks in Bitcoin and Ether. “Go look at my Bitcoin now,” Adams gloated to reporters on Tuesday. “You all mock me. ‘You’re taking your first three paychecks in Bitcoin. What’s wrong with you?’ Now you wish you would have done it.” The mayor is currently facing criminal charges of bribery and campaign finance violations. He has denied all wrongdoing. (DLNews)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. Missouri Senate introduces bill to disqualify CBDCs as legal tender: The Missouri Senate introduced SB 194 on Dec. 1, proposing to ban central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as legal tender within the state. The bill seeks to prohibit public entities from accepting or using CBDCs and modifies the definition of “money” under the Uniform Commercial Code to exclude these digital currencies. (CoinDesk)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Coinbase Integrates Apple Pay for Seamless Fiat to Crypto Transactions: According to Coinbase’s statement, the “Coinbase Onramp takes the hassle out of fiat-to-crypto conversions with lightweight KYC for eligible purchases, free USDC on and offramping, and access to the most popular payment methods.” The integration also offers free USD Coin (USDC) transactions for both crypto on and off-ramping, as well as access to over 60 fiat currencies, 100 cryptocurrencies, and more than 20 blockchains with regulatory compliance. (BitcoinCom)
2. Bitcoin ETFs Add $676 Million in One Day as Holdings Approach Satoshi’s: After a record-breaking November, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see "robust" inflows in the final stretch of the year. (Decrypt)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Job Openings Rise More Than Expected: The number of job openings increased by 372,000 to 7.744 million in October 2024 from a downwardly revised 7.372 million in September and above market expectations of 7.48 million. (TradingEconomics)
2. US Stock Rally Pauses: Stocks remained mostly flat on Tuesday as a rally to record levels paused. The S&P 500 hovered just below unchanged, while the Nasdaq fell by 0.3%. The Dow Jones gained more than 35 points. This followed strong performances on Monday, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new highs. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Europol Dismantles Criminal Messaging Service MATRIX in Major Global Takedown: Europol on Tuesday announced the takedown of an invite-only encrypted messaging service called MATRIX that's created by criminals for criminal purposes. The joint operation, conducted by French and Dutch authorities under the moniker Passionflower, comes in the aftermath of an investigation that was launched in 2021 after the messaging service was discovered on the phone of a criminal convicted for the murder of a Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries. (HackerNews) (AC-The global surveillance network in growing out of control. Expect every digital device, communication channel and software to be compromised and under nation-state and supra-national surveillance.)
-Technology and Science-
1. Cash App Has Dropped Its Zero Fee Bitcoin $Cashtag Transfers: “Cash App will no longer support sending and receiving Bitcoin between $cashtags,” starting on Dec. 20, a recent announcement reads. However, customers outside of New York can still use Lightning Network to receive or send Bitcoin. BusinessDasher data shows that the payment super-app currently has over 57 million active users on its platform. (Decrypt)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. Virgin Voyages Introduces 'Industry-First' Bitcoin-Payment Option for Cruises: Virgin Voyages has unveiled its Annual Pass, a bold first in the cruising world that allows cryptocurrency payments, including bitcoin (BTC). This offering brings a fresh twist to travel payments and aligns with the company’s forward-thinking ethos. (BitcoinCom)
2. Foundry Lays Off 16% of U.S. Employees as It Focuses on Core Business: Digital Currency Group (DCG) owned mining pool Foundry has laid off 16% of its U.S.-based employees and a "small team in India." "We recently made the strategic decision to focus Foundry on our core business – operating the #1 Bitcoin mining pool in the world and growing our site operations business – while we supported the development of DCG’s newest subsidiaries, including Yuma and the spinout of Foundry’s successful self-mining business." (CoinDesk)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 78/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report