Bitcoin Veterans on Nostr: BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB) Block: 878,091 DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 06Jan25 ...
BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 878,091
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 06Jan25
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: PM Trudeau May Quit This Week / Hamas Willing to Release Some Hostages / Austria Coalition Government Collapsed / Jan 6th, Again / Biden To Ban Offshore Drilling / Johnson Elected House Speaker / Chokepoint 2.0 Draws Investigations / Russia CBDC Project Continues / Luke Gromen Says 'Be Smart' on BTC Reserve / BTC ETFs Inflows Back / MSTR Wants More / Tariff Talk Bounces USD / Criminals Target Ethereum / TVs to Have AI This Year / MARA Loans Out BTC for Yield
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $99,126, 37.52 oz Gold, .23 Median US House
24hr Hi: $99,853 / Lo: $97,291
Vol: $31B (Up 57%)
Mkt Cap: $1.96T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 809 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 20%)
Nodes: 21,084
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Canadian PM Trudeau set to resign as party leader as polls plummet: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce as early as Monday that he will step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, Canadian media reports, ahead of a general election to be held later this year that he is widely expected to lose. Trudeau will likely announce his resignation before a key national caucus meeting on Wednesday. However, the sources stressed Trudeau has not made a final decision. (CNN)
2. Hamas says it’s ready to free 34 captives under ceasefire deal, reports say: The Palestinian group, which governs the Gaza Strip, has approved the release of the captives “as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal”, the AFP reported on Sunday. The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency is scheduled to travel to Qatar for the discussions. More than 45,800 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on the country. (AlJazeera, CNN)
3. Austrian far-right leader meets president, seeking coalition mandate: The leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) met President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday expecting to be tasked with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to assemble one without the FPO collapsed over the weekend. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Winter storm will not delay Trump election certification in Congress, House leader says: Congress is meeting to certify President-elect Donald Trump's election win amid a winter storm, with the legacy of January 6 lingering over the event. No violence, protests, or procedural objections are expected during the certification process this time. Security is extremely tight, comparable to that of the Super Bowl or the Olympics, with law enforcement on high alert for intruders. (GroundNews)
2. Biden to ban offshore oil, gas drilling in vast areas ahead of Trump term: U.S. President Joe Biden will ban new offshore oil and gas development along most U.S. coastlines, a decision that President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to boost domestic energy production, may find difficult to reverse. An oil and gas industry trade group said the decision would harm American energy security and should be reversed by Congress. (Reuters)
3. Mike Johnson narrowly reelected House speaker on first ballot: Mike Johnson has been narrowly reelected as House Speaker on the first ballot, with support from President-elect Donald Trump and House Republicans, despite three votes against him. Following the election, cheers erupted in the House chamber as lawmakers were sworn in for the 119th Congress, with Johnson officially taking the Speaker's gavel. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Former Special U.S. Assistant Attorney Volunteers to Lead Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Investigation: Former Special U.S. Assistant Attorney John Deaton has said it would be “both an honor and a privilege” to lead a federal investigation into Chokepoint 2.0, an alleged government plot to suffocate the crypto industry. Deaton, who is willing to perform this role without compensation, added that this opportunity would allow him to continue his long running fight against the U.S. SEC overreach. (BitcoinCom)
2. Coinbase shares unredacted FDIC letters urging banks to avoid offering basic Bitcoin services: The letters are unredacted versions of documents shared by legal officer Grewal on Dec. 6, 2024. They were dubbed “pause letters” because they repeatedly recommend suspending or refraining from using crypto services. “They show a coordinated effort to stop a wide variety of crypto activity — everything from basic BTC transactions to more complex offerings.”, Grewal said. (CryptoSlate)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. Russia's New Ruble Gets Boost Against Economic Problems: Russia's Central Bank announced that Sberbank, as well as two other financial institutions—Tbank and Tochka Bank, had officially joined the country's digital ruble pilot program. The pilot program for the digital ruble was launched in August 2023 with 12 organizations, including VTB, Gazprombank, and Alfa-Bank. A CBDC for Russia could facilitate payments for exports, reduce transaction costs and provide an alternative to SWIFT. (Newsweek)
2. Luke Gromen Highlights Trump’s Strategic Delay on Bitcoin Reserves to Navigate Market Dynamics: Gromen indicated that announcing Trump’s Bitcoin reserve plans on the first day of his term would create an immediate impact on investors. He believes this could lead to a surge in Bitcoin purchases, driving prices upward rapidly. Gromen stated, “From an optics and narrative standpoint, it is more sensible not to announce such a decision immediately,” suggesting it could position the administration advantageously in managing market dynamics. (CoinTurk) (AC-This is the 'stay humble (or quiet) and stack sats' perspective. For Trump to accomplish this might be a challenge.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs Drive Market Recovery with $908M Inflows: Spot Bitcoin funds have rebounded to positive net flows after almost a week of withdrawals. On January 3rd—all Bitcoin ETFs registered inflows, causing the sum of all investment funds to register nearly a billion dollars. (BitcoinSensus) (AC-the wash sales and rebalancing seems to have driven the BTC price over the last few weeks.)
2. MicroStrategy's Saylor posts BTC tracker, hints at Monday purchase: MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor posted the Bitcoin chart from the SaylorTracker website on Jan. 5 — the same chart Saylor typically posts on Sunday before purchasing Bitcoin on the following day. On Jan. 4, MicroStrategy announced it was seeking a $2 billion raise, through a perpetual preferred stock offering. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar Falls 1%: The dollar index extended losses, falling about 1% to trade around 108 on Monday, retreating from the two-year highs reached late last year. The decline comes amid reports that the new Trump administration is considering softer tariff measures. (TradingEconomics)
2. ISM Manufacturing PMI Rises More than Expected: The ISM Manufacturing PMI rose by 0.9 points from the previous month to 49.3 in December of 2024, ahead of market expectations of 48.4. The result reflected the softest pace of contraction in the US manufacturing sector since the 50.3 recorded in March, which was the sole period of expansion in the industry since September of 2022. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Cybercriminals Target Ethereum Developers with Fake Hardhat npm Packages: Cybersecurity researchers have revealed several malicious packages on the npm registry that have been found impersonating the Nomic Foundation's Hardhat tool in order to steal sensitive data from developer systems. Hardhat is a development environment for Ethereum software, incorporating various components for editing, compiling, debugging and deploying smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps). (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
1. LG and Samsung are adding Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant to their TVs: Both TV manufacturers are chasing the artificial intelligence hype train with dedicated AI sections on their smart TVs that include a shortcut to a Copilot web app. (TheVerge) (AC-Dystopian level 10 achieved.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. MARA Holdings Loans 7,377 BTC to Third Parties Amid Bold Yield Strategy: According to an operations and production update from MARA Holdings, a publicly traded bitcoin mining company, the firm has extended 7,377 BTC in loans to third parties to achieve a modest yield. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Interesting strategy with many variables.)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 76/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
Block: 878,091
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 06Jan25
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: PM Trudeau May Quit This Week / Hamas Willing to Release Some Hostages / Austria Coalition Government Collapsed / Jan 6th, Again / Biden To Ban Offshore Drilling / Johnson Elected House Speaker / Chokepoint 2.0 Draws Investigations / Russia CBDC Project Continues / Luke Gromen Says 'Be Smart' on BTC Reserve / BTC ETFs Inflows Back / MSTR Wants More / Tariff Talk Bounces USD / Criminals Target Ethereum / TVs to Have AI This Year / MARA Loans Out BTC for Yield
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $99,126, 37.52 oz Gold, .23 Median US House
24hr Hi: $99,853 / Lo: $97,291
Vol: $31B (Up 57%)
Mkt Cap: $1.96T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 809 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 4 sats/vBtye (Down 20%)
Nodes: 21,084
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Canadian PM Trudeau set to resign as party leader as polls plummet: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce as early as Monday that he will step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, Canadian media reports, ahead of a general election to be held later this year that he is widely expected to lose. Trudeau will likely announce his resignation before a key national caucus meeting on Wednesday. However, the sources stressed Trudeau has not made a final decision. (CNN)
2. Hamas says it’s ready to free 34 captives under ceasefire deal, reports say: The Palestinian group, which governs the Gaza Strip, has approved the release of the captives “as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal”, the AFP reported on Sunday. The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency is scheduled to travel to Qatar for the discussions. More than 45,800 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on the country. (AlJazeera, CNN)
3. Austrian far-right leader meets president, seeking coalition mandate: The leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) met President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday expecting to be tasked with forming a coalition government after a centrist bid to assemble one without the FPO collapsed over the weekend. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Winter storm will not delay Trump election certification in Congress, House leader says: Congress is meeting to certify President-elect Donald Trump's election win amid a winter storm, with the legacy of January 6 lingering over the event. No violence, protests, or procedural objections are expected during the certification process this time. Security is extremely tight, comparable to that of the Super Bowl or the Olympics, with law enforcement on high alert for intruders. (GroundNews)
2. Biden to ban offshore oil, gas drilling in vast areas ahead of Trump term: U.S. President Joe Biden will ban new offshore oil and gas development along most U.S. coastlines, a decision that President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to boost domestic energy production, may find difficult to reverse. An oil and gas industry trade group said the decision would harm American energy security and should be reversed by Congress. (Reuters)
3. Mike Johnson narrowly reelected House speaker on first ballot: Mike Johnson has been narrowly reelected as House Speaker on the first ballot, with support from President-elect Donald Trump and House Republicans, despite three votes against him. Following the election, cheers erupted in the House chamber as lawmakers were sworn in for the 119th Congress, with Johnson officially taking the Speaker's gavel. (TheHill)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Former Special U.S. Assistant Attorney Volunteers to Lead Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Investigation: Former Special U.S. Assistant Attorney John Deaton has said it would be “both an honor and a privilege” to lead a federal investigation into Chokepoint 2.0, an alleged government plot to suffocate the crypto industry. Deaton, who is willing to perform this role without compensation, added that this opportunity would allow him to continue his long running fight against the U.S. SEC overreach. (BitcoinCom)
2. Coinbase shares unredacted FDIC letters urging banks to avoid offering basic Bitcoin services: The letters are unredacted versions of documents shared by legal officer Grewal on Dec. 6, 2024. They were dubbed “pause letters” because they repeatedly recommend suspending or refraining from using crypto services. “They show a coordinated effort to stop a wide variety of crypto activity — everything from basic BTC transactions to more complex offerings.”, Grewal said. (CryptoSlate)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. Russia's New Ruble Gets Boost Against Economic Problems: Russia's Central Bank announced that Sberbank, as well as two other financial institutions—Tbank and Tochka Bank, had officially joined the country's digital ruble pilot program. The pilot program for the digital ruble was launched in August 2023 with 12 organizations, including VTB, Gazprombank, and Alfa-Bank. A CBDC for Russia could facilitate payments for exports, reduce transaction costs and provide an alternative to SWIFT. (Newsweek)
2. Luke Gromen Highlights Trump’s Strategic Delay on Bitcoin Reserves to Navigate Market Dynamics: Gromen indicated that announcing Trump’s Bitcoin reserve plans on the first day of his term would create an immediate impact on investors. He believes this could lead to a surge in Bitcoin purchases, driving prices upward rapidly. Gromen stated, “From an optics and narrative standpoint, it is more sensible not to announce such a decision immediately,” suggesting it could position the administration advantageously in managing market dynamics. (CoinTurk) (AC-This is the 'stay humble (or quiet) and stack sats' perspective. For Trump to accomplish this might be a challenge.)
-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs Drive Market Recovery with $908M Inflows: Spot Bitcoin funds have rebounded to positive net flows after almost a week of withdrawals. On January 3rd—all Bitcoin ETFs registered inflows, causing the sum of all investment funds to register nearly a billion dollars. (BitcoinSensus) (AC-the wash sales and rebalancing seems to have driven the BTC price over the last few weeks.)
2. MicroStrategy's Saylor posts BTC tracker, hints at Monday purchase: MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor posted the Bitcoin chart from the SaylorTracker website on Jan. 5 — the same chart Saylor typically posts on Sunday before purchasing Bitcoin on the following day. On Jan. 4, MicroStrategy announced it was seeking a $2 billion raise, through a perpetual preferred stock offering. (CoinTelegraph)
-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar Falls 1%: The dollar index extended losses, falling about 1% to trade around 108 on Monday, retreating from the two-year highs reached late last year. The decline comes amid reports that the new Trump administration is considering softer tariff measures. (TradingEconomics)
2. ISM Manufacturing PMI Rises More than Expected: The ISM Manufacturing PMI rose by 0.9 points from the previous month to 49.3 in December of 2024, ahead of market expectations of 48.4. The result reflected the softest pace of contraction in the US manufacturing sector since the 50.3 recorded in March, which was the sole period of expansion in the industry since September of 2022. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Cybercriminals Target Ethereum Developers with Fake Hardhat npm Packages: Cybersecurity researchers have revealed several malicious packages on the npm registry that have been found impersonating the Nomic Foundation's Hardhat tool in order to steal sensitive data from developer systems. Hardhat is a development environment for Ethereum software, incorporating various components for editing, compiling, debugging and deploying smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps). (HackerNews)
-Technology and Science-
1. LG and Samsung are adding Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant to their TVs: Both TV manufacturers are chasing the artificial intelligence hype train with dedicated AI sections on their smart TVs that include a shortcut to a Copilot web app. (TheVerge) (AC-Dystopian level 10 achieved.)
-Bitcoin Community-
1. MARA Holdings Loans 7,377 BTC to Third Parties Amid Bold Yield Strategy: According to an operations and production update from MARA Holdings, a publicly traded bitcoin mining company, the firm has extended 7,377 BTC in loans to third parties to achieve a modest yield. (BitcoinCom) (AC-Interesting strategy with many variables.)
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 76/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR
Follow us on NOSTR: npub1qktts9naunvjdwsktq5xjdhwh539xt4x0mqj4yxq0q9dvm03ljvs6sms0r
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report