[![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Saturday, April 26th, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-50.png)](https://mempool.space/)

Headlines
---------

*   **Spiral renews support for Dan Gould and Joschisan.** The organization has renewed support for _Dan Gould_, who is developing the [Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK)](https://payjoindevkit.org/2025/03/18/the-evolution-of-payjoin), and [_Joschisan_](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1914363508126515567), a [Fedimint](https://github.com/fedimint/fedimint) developer focused on simplifying federations.
*   **Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC.** The Tokyo-listed company [has purchased](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/04/24/metaplanet-hits-5-000-btc-mark-amid-strategic-treasury-expansion) an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
*   **Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC.** The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a [press release](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/semler-scientific-announces-updated-btc--atm-activity-purchased-additional-111-btc-now-holds-3-303-btc-ytd-btc-yield-of-23-5-302438131.html).
*   **The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya.** The [new legislation](https://bitcoinke.io/2025/04/the-vasp-kenya-license-requirements/) aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
*   **Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange.** The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank [announced](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/russias-finance-ministry-and-central-bank-to-launch-crypto-exchange-for-super-qualified-investors) plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
*   **All virtual asset service providers expect to be fully compliant with the Travel Rule by the end of 2025.** A survey by financial surveillance specialist [Notabene](https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/04/23/travel-rule-compliance-surges-on-new-regs-stablecoin-payments-notabene-says) reveals that 90% of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) expect full Travel Rule compliance by mid-2025, with all aiming for compliance by year-end. The survey also shows a significant rise in VASPs blocking withdrawals until beneficiary information is confirmed, increasing from 2.9% in 2024 to 15.4% now. Additionally, about 20% of VASPs return deposits if originator data is missing.
*   **UN claims Bitcoin mining is a "powerful tool" for money laundering.** _The Rage_'s [analysis](https://www.therage.co/un-mining-money-laundering/) suggests that the recent United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report on crime in South-East Asia makes little sense and hints at the potential introduction of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures at the mining level.
*   **Riot Platforms has obtained a $100 million credit facility from Coinbase Credit**, using bitcoin as collateral for short-term funding to support its expansion. The firm's CEO, _Jason Les,_ [stated](https://www.riotplatforms.com/riot-platforms-announces-100-million-credit-facility-with-coinbase/) that this facility is crucial for diversifying financing sources and driving long-term stockholder value through strategic growth initiatives.
*   **Bitdeer raises $179M in loans and equity amid Bitcoin chip push.** _The Miner Mag_ [reports](https://www.theminermag.com/news/2025-04-22/bitdeer-bitcoin-loan-sealminer) that Bitdeer entered into a loan agreement with its affiliate Matrixport for up to $200 million in April, as disclosed in its [annual report](https://ir.bitdeer.com/static-files/fd6af83f-6142-48aa-b15d-5bc3bc83de96) filed on Monday.
*   **Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.'** The U.S. Federal Reserve [withdrew](https://www.theblock.co/post/351943/federal-reserve-retracts-guidance-discouraging-banks-from-engaging-in-crypto) guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as [announced](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20250424a.htm) by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.

> "As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.

*   **UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing.** The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, [per](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/ruya-becomes-first-islamic-bank-to-offer-bitcoin-and-virtual-asset-investments) _Bitcoin Magazine._
*   **U.S. 'crypto' scam losses amounted to $9.3B in 2024.** The US The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) [has reported](https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf) $9.3 billion losses in cryptocurrency-related scams in 2024, noting a troubling trend of scams targeting older Americans, which accounted for over $2.8 billion of those losses.

![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Saturday, April 26th, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-49.png)

Source: [FBI.](https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf)

*   **North Korean hackers establish fake companies to target 'crypto' developers.** Silent Push researchers [reported](https://www.silentpush.com/blog/contagious-interview-front-companies/) that hackers linked to the Lazarus Group created three shell companies, two of which are based in the U.S., with the objective of spreading malware through deceptive job interview scams aimed at individuals seeking jobs in cryptocurrency companies.
*   **Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet.** The bridge [utilizes](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2025/04/23/bitcoin-rollup-citrea-deploys-bridge-to-tackle-collateral-bottleneck-of-using-btc-in-defi) the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
*   **Hesperides University offers a Master’s degree in Bitcoin.** _Bitcoin Magazine_ [reports](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/university-of-the-hesperides-launches-first-spanish-language-masters-program-focused-exclusively-on-bitcoin) the launch of the first-ever Spanish-language Master’s program dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin. Starting April 28, 2025, this fully online program will equip professionals with technical, economic, legal, and philosophical skills to excel in the Bitcoin era.
*   **BTC in D.C. event** is set to take place on September 30 - October 1 in Washington, D.C. Learn more about this initiative [here](https://btcindc.com/).

[![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Saturday, April 26th, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-44.png)](https://xcancel.com/PavelTheCoder/status/1915592501546619163)

Use the tools
-------------

*   [**Bitcoin Keeper**](https://medium.com/bitbees/bitcoin-keeper-rebrand-new-logo-same-commitment-6009a88f7b49) just got a new look. [Version 2.2.0](https://github.com/bithyve/bitcoin-keeper/releases) of the mobile multisig app brought a new branding design, along with a [Keeper Private](https://medium.com/bitbees/introducing-keeper-private-where-wealth-meets-sovereignty-278e93332b32) tier, testnet support, ability to import and export [BIP-329](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0329.mediawiki) labels, and the option to use a Server Key with multiple users.
    *   Earlier this month the project also announced [Keeper Learn](https://medium.com/bitbees/introducing-keeper-learn-your-simple-expert-guided-path-to-understanding-bitcoin-be53470be069) service, offering clear and guided Bitcoin learning sessions for both groups and individuals.
*   [**Keeper Desktop v0.2.2**](https://github.com/bithyve/keeper-desktop/releases/tag/keeper-desktop-v0.2.2), a companion desktop app for Bitcoin Keeper mobile app, received a renewed branding update, too.

![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Saturday, April 26th, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-45.png)

The evolution of Bitcoin Keeper logo. Source: [BitHyve blog](https://medium.com/bitbees/bitcoin-keeper-rebrand-new-logo-same-commitment-6009a88f7b49).

*   [**Blockstream Green Desktop v2.0.25**](https://github.com/Blockstream/green_qt/releases) updates GDK to v0.75.1 and fixes amount parsing issues when switching from fiat denomination to Liquid asset.
*   [**Lightning Loop v0.31.0-beta**](https://github.com/lightninglabs/loop/releases/tag/v0.31.0-beta) enhances the `loop listswaps` command by improving the ability to filter the response.
*   [**Lightning-kmp v1.10.0**](https://github.com/ACINQ/lightning-kmp/releases), an implementation of the Lightning Network in Kotlin, is now available.
*   [**LND v0.19.0-beta.rc3**](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/tag/v0.19.0-beta.rc3), the latest beta release candidate of LND is now ready for testing.
*   [**ZEUS v0.11.0-alpha2**](https://github.com/ZeusLN/zeus/releases/tag/v0.11.0-alpha2) is now available for testing, too. It's nuts.
*   [**JoinMarket Fidelity Bond Simulator**](https://m0wer.github.io/joinmarket-fidelity-bond-simulator/) helps potential JoinMarket makers evaluate their competitive position in the market based on fidelity bonds.
*   [**UTXOscope**](https://github.com/Drew72-ita/UTXOscope) is a text-only Bitcoin blockchain analysis tool that visualizes price dynamics using only on-chain data. The


News. Updates. Research. Stats. Everything Important You Need to Know.

[Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.](https://geyser.fund/project/nobsbitcoin)

News
----

*   **Spiral welcomes _Ben Carman_.** The developer [will work](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1914334079387914435) on the LDK server and a new SDK designed to simplify the onboarding process for new self-custodial Bitcoin users.
*   **Spiral renews support for _Dan Gould_ and _Joschisan_.** The organization has renewed support for _Dan Gould_, who is developing the [Payjoin Dev Kit (PDK)](https://payjoindevkit.org/2025/03/18/the-evolution-of-payjoin), and [_Joschisan_](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1914363508126515567), a [Fedimint](https://github.com/fedimint/fedimint) developer focused on simplifying federations.
*   **The Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation announced new corporate members for 2025**, including [AnchorWatch](https://www.anchorwatch.com/), [CleanSpark](https://www.cleanspark.com/), and [Proton Foundation](https://proton.me/foundation). The annual dues from [these corporate members](https://bitcoindevkit.org/blog/_2025q1-new-foundation-members/) fund the small team of open-source developers responsible for maintaining the core BDK libraries and related free and open-source software (FOSS) projects.
*   **The European Central Bank is pushing for amendments to the European Union's Markets in Crypto Assets legislation (MiCA)**, just months after its implementation. According to _Politico_'s [report on Tuesday](https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-livid-ecb-warn-crypto-apocalypse-donald-trump/), the ECB is concerned that U.S. support for cryptocurrency, particularly stablecoins, could cause economic harm to the 27-nation bloc.
*   **Slovenia is considering a 25% capital gains tax on Bitcoin profits for individuals.** The Ministry of Finance [has proposed](https://www.gov.si/novice/2025-04-17-v-javni-obravnavi-zakonska-predloga-s-podrocja-kriptosredstev-in-izvedenih-financnih-instrumentov/) legislation to impose this tax on gains from cryptocurrency transactions, though exchanging one cryptocurrency for another would remain exempt. At present, individual 'crypto' traders in Slovenia are not taxed.
*   **The Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill 2025 introduced in Kenya.** The [new legislation](https://bitcoinke.io/2025/04/the-vasp-kenya-license-requirements/) aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and supervising virtual asset service providers (VASPs), with strict penalties for non-compliant entities.
*   **Circle, BitGo, Coinbase, and Paxos plan to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses.** According to a [report](https://archive.is/dxbWM) in _The Wall Street Journal_, major crypto companies are planning to apply for U.S. bank charters or licenses. These firms are pursuing limited licenses that would permit them to issue stablecoins, as the U.S. Congress deliberates on legislation mandating licensing for stablecoin issuers.

> "Established banks, like Bank of America, are hoping to amend the current drafts of \[stablecoin\] legislation in such a way that nonbanks are more heavily restricted from issuing stablecoins," people familiar with the matter [told](https://www.theblock.co/post/351402/circle-bitgo-to-apply-for-bank-charters-coinbase-paxos-may-follow-suit-wsj) The Block.

*   **Paul Atkins has officially assumed the role of the 34th Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).** This is a return to the agency for Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under the _George W. Bush_ administration. He has [committed](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/paul-atkins-sworn-us-sec-chair-2025-04-21/) to advancing the SEC’s mission of fostering capital formation, safeguarding investors, and ensuring fair and efficient markets.
*   **Federal Reserve retracts guidance discouraging banks from engaging in 'crypto.'** The U.S. Federal Reserve [withdrew](https://www.theblock.co/post/351943/federal-reserve-retracts-guidance-discouraging-banks-from-engaging-in-crypto) guidance that discouraged banks from crypto and stablecoin activities, as [announced](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20250424a.htm) by its Board of Governors on Thursday. This includes rescinding a 2022 supervisory letter requiring prior notification of crypto activities and 2023 stablecoin requirements.

> "As a result, the Board will no longer expect banks to provide notification and will instead monitor banks' crypto-asset activities through the normal supervisory process," reads the FED statement.

*   **Russian government to launch a cryptocurrency exchange.** The country's Ministry of Finance and Central Bank [announced](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/russias-finance-ministry-and-central-bank-to-launch-crypto-exchange-for-super-qualified-investors) plans to establish a trading platform for "highly qualified investors" that "will legalize crypto assets and bring crypto operations out of the shadows."
*   **Twenty One Capital is set to launch with over 42,000 BTC in its treasury.** This new Bitcoin-native firm, backed by Tether and SoftBank, is [planned to go public](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250423962305/en/Tether-SoftBank-Group-and-Jack-Mallers-Launch-Twenty-One-a-Bitcoin-native-Company-Through-a-Business-Combination-With-Cantor-Equity-Partners) via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will be led by _Jack Mallers_, co-founder and CEO of Strike. According to a [report](http://archive.today/3PoYZ) by the _Financial Times_, the company aims to replicate the model of _Michael Saylor_ with his company, MicroStrategy.
*   **Strategy increases Bitcoin holdings to 538,200 BTC.** In the [latest purchase](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/04/21/strategy-buys-usd555m-of-bitcoin-increases-total-stash-to-538-200-btc), the company has spent more than $555M to buy 6,556 coins through proceeds of two at-the-market stock offering programs.
*   **Metaplanet buys another 145 BTC.** The Tokyo-listed company [has purchased](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/04/24/metaplanet-hits-5-000-btc-mark-amid-strategic-treasury-expansion) an additional 145 BTC for $13.6 million. Their total bitcoin holdings now stand at 5,000 coins, worth around $428.1 million.
*   **Semler Scientific has increased its bitcoin holdings to 3,303 BTC.** The company acquired an additional 111 BTC at an average price of $90,124. The purchase was funded through proceeds from an at-the-market offering and cash reserves, as stated in a [press release](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/semler-scientific-announces-updated-btc--atm-activity-purchased-additional-111-btc-now-holds-3-303-btc-ytd-btc-yield-of-23-5-302438131.html).
*   **Tesla still holds nearly $1 billion in bitcoin.** According to the automaker's [latest earnings report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1318605/000162828025018851/exhbit991.htm), the firm reported digital asset holdings worth $951 million as of March 31.
*   **Spar supermarket experiments with Bitcoin payments in Zug, Switzerland.** The store [has introduced](https://bitcoinnews.com/adoption/spar-supermarket-switzerland-bitcoin/) a new payment method powered by the Lightning Network. The implementation was facilitated by DFX Swiss, a service that supports seamless conversions between bitcoin and legacy currencies.

[![Block 894207: Important News of the Week](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-36.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7318277304881709057/)

*   **Charles Schwab to launch spot Bitcoin trading by 2026.** The financial investment firm, managing over $10 trillion in assets, [has revealed](https://riabiz.com/a/2025/4/19/rick-wurster-puts-harder-date-on-schwab-spot-bitcoin-launch-after-key-hire-and-400-surge-in-visits-to-its-crypto-site-but-isnt-pulling-down-crypto-red-flags-quite-yet) plans to introduce spot Bitcoin trading for its clients within the next year.
*   **Arch Labs has secured $13 million to develop "ArchVM"** and integrate smart-contract functionality with Bitcoin. The funding round, valuing the company at $200 million, was led by Pantera Capital, as [announced](https://chainwire.org/2025/04/22/arch-labs-announces-13m-funding-round-to-launch-a-native-bitcoin-virtual-machine/) on Tuesday.
*   **Citrea deployed its Clementine Bridge on the Bitcoin testnet.** The bridge [utilizes](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2025/04/23/bitcoin-rollup-citrea-deploys-bridge-to-tackle-collateral-bottleneck-of-using-btc-in-defi) the BitVM2 programming language to inherit validity from Bitcoin, allegedly providing "the safest and most trust-minimized way to use BTC in decentralized finance."
*   **UAE-based Islamic bank ruya launches Shari’ah-compliant bitcoin investing.** The bank has become the world’s first Islamic bank to provide direct access to virtual asset investments, including Bitcoin, via its mobile app, [per](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/ruya-becomes-first-islamic-bank-to-offer-bitcoin-and-virtual-asset-investments) _Bitcoin Magazine._
*   **Solosatoshi.com has sold over 10,000 open-source miners,** adding more than 10 PH of hashpower to the Bitcoin network.

> "Thank you, Bitaxe community. OSMU developers, your brilliance built this. Supporters, your belief drives us. Customers, your trust powers 10,000+ miners and 10PH globally. Together, we’re decentralizing Bitcoin’s future. Last but certainly not least, thank you[@skot9000](https://x.com/skot9000) for not only creating a freedom tool, but instilling the idea into thousands of people, that Bitcoin mining can be for everyone again," [said](https://xcancel.com/SoloSatoshi/status/1912267232006070775) the firm on X.

*   **OCEAN's DATUM has found 100 blocks.** "Over 65% of OCEAN’s miners are using DATUM, and that number is growing every day. This means block template construction is making its way back into the hands of the miners, which is not only the most profitable


RoboSats offers a simple and private way for exchanging bitcoin for fiat currencies. It streamlines the peer-to-peer experience and utilizes Lightning hold invoices to minimize custody and trust requirements as deterministically generated avatars help users stick to the best security practices.

[Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.](https://geyser.fund/project/nobsbitcoin)

*   RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha is now available!

> NOTE: "This version of clients is not compatible with older versions of coordinators. Coordinators must upgrade first, make sure you don't upgrade your client while this is marked as pre-release."

*   This version brings a new and improved coordinators view with reviews signed both by the robot and the coordinator, adds market price sources in coordinator profiles, shows a correct warning for canceling non-taken orders after a payment attempt, adds Uzbek sum currency, and includes package library updates for coordinators.

![RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha: New Coordinators View (UPDATED)](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-54.png)

Source: RoboSats.

*   _siggy47_ is writing daily RoboSats activity reviews on stacker.news. Check them out [here](https://stacker.news/search?q=daily+robosats&sort=recent).
*   Stay up-to-date with RoboSats [on Nostr](https://njump.me/nprofile1qqsyx53h3h7ec4fwlspjq0kqec5gv54t7rc48xdtq6q4y94wsw4fnjqsg3jtv).

What's new
----------

*   New coordinators view (see the picture above).
*   Available coordinator reviews signed by both the robot and the coordinator.
*   Coordinators now display market price sources in their profiles.

![RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha: New Coordinators View (UPDATED)](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-55.png)

Source: RoboSats.

*   Fix for wrong message on cancel button when taking an order. Users are now warned if they try to cancel a non taken order after a payment attempt.
*   Uzbek sum currency now available.
*   For coordinators: library updates.
*   Add docker frontend ([#1861](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1861)).
*   Add order review token ([#1869](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1869)).
*   Add UZS migration ([#1875](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1875)).
*   Fixed tests review ([#1878](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1878)).
*   Nostr pubkey for Robot ([#1887](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1887)).

### New contributors

*   [@hexlorn](https://github.com/hexlorn) made their first contribution in [#1858](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1858).
*   [@umk0m1qk](https://github.com/umk0m1qk) made their first contribution in [#1864](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/pull/1864).

![RoboSats v0.7.7-alpha: New Coordinators View (UPDATED)](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/robosats-v0777.jpg)

**Full Changelog**: [v0.7.6-alpha...v0.7.7-alpha](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/compare/v0.7.6-alpha...v0.7.7-alpha)

[**GitHub Repo**](https://github.com/RoboSats/robosats/releases)


LND v0.19.0-beta: RBF Cooperative Close, Improved Payment Reliability & More

The Lightning Network Daemon (LND) is a complete implementation of a Lightning Network node developed by Lightning Labs.

[Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.](https://geyser.fund/project/nobsbitcoin)

*   The newest LND release brings upgrades that empower developers with better on-chain management, significantly boost backend scalability for expanding services, and ensure a more seamless and dependable payment experience.

> "We are excited to announce the release of LND v0.19.0 beta! This new release focuses on making LND more secure, scalable, and reliable for powering global bitcoin and stablecoin transactions," was announced in a blog post.

*   Some highlights of this release include a Replace-By-Fee Cooperative Close for flexible channel closure fees, migration of invoices to SQL for faster startups, enhanced payment reliability through improved pathfinding, transaction sweeper improvements, the addition of Testnet4 support for stable testing, among other things.

> "As always, we are grateful for the ongoing support of our external contributors across development, review, and testing. A total of 51 developers contributed to this release. For the complete list of changes included in this release, check out the [full release notes](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/tag/v0.19.0-beta)."

What's new
----------

*   [**New RBF cooperative close flow**](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9610)**.** It uses RBF to enable either side to increase their fee rate using their _own_ channel funds. Channel peers must support the `option_simple_close` for this new protocol to work. This new feature can be activated with a new config flag: `--protocol.rbf-coop-close`.
    *   This feature isn't compatible with older LND versions; fee bumping with them uses CPFP. It already works with Eclair v0.12.0 or up, and should work with other implementations as they roll out support for this protocol. The protocol currently does not support Taproot channels and Taproot asset channels.
*   **Support for archiving channel backups** **in a specific folder for future reference.** It comes with a new config option, `disable-backup-archive` (default: `false`), to control whether previous backups are archived.
*   [**Support**](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8390) **for** [**experimental endorsement**](https://github.com/lightning/blips/pull/27) **signal relay.** Deployed experimentally to assist ongoing channel jamming research, it has _no impact_ on routing.
*   **Initial support for** [**quiescence**](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8270)**.** This protocol gadget is required for upcoming Dynamic Commitments and Splicing features.
*   **Historical Sync**: Fixed [a race condition](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9424) blocking initial sync due to syncer's internal state handling.
*   **Max Fee Rate** is [now respected](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9491) during cooperative close initiation for both parties, not just the remote party.
*   Lots of other [**bug fixes**](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/docs/release-notes/release-notes-0.19.0.md#bug-fixes).
*   **Performance Improvements:**
    *   Limit outbound [gossip traffic bandwidth](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9607) with --gossip.msg-rate-bytes and --gossip.msg-rate-burst. Set burst to the maximum bytes transmittable without rate limiting, and rate to the ongoing permitted rate.

*   Ability to use ZSTD for log rotation.
*   [Remove redundant iteration](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9496) over a node's persisted channels when updating the graph cache with a new node or node update.

*   **Functional Enhancements:**
    *   [Add pagination](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8998) for wallet transactions.
    *   [Make](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9562) `MaxWaitNumBlocksFundingConf` configurable for faster test timeouts, with a default of 2016 blocks for production.
    *   Change sweeper to [attempt sweeps](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9627) if the budget is partially covered, preventing delays and high fees.
    *   [Validate](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9603) MPP parameters before payment to avoid path finding loops and timeouts.
*   **Functional Updates:**
    *   Enable [log compression](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9017) with ZSTD using the logging.file.compressor argument.
    *   [Enhance SCB file](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8183) with more data for last-resort rescue when a peer is unavailable.
    *   Update channel.backup file at shutdown in LND.
    *   Introduce [chainio subsystem](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9315) to sync subsystems with the current best block, fixing delays in HTLC sweeping due to block height discrepancies in ChainArbitrator, UtxoSweeper, and TxPublisher. Click [here](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/chainio/README.md) to learn more.
    *   Sweeper now uses [configured budget values](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9274) for HTLCs with `--sweeper.budget.deadlinehtlcratio` and `--sweeper.budget.deadlinehtlc`.
    *   Consider blockbeat dispatcher height [when checking](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9501) if lnd is synced to chain.
    *   Allocate restricted slots for peers via [\--num-restricted-slots](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9458).
    *   Added support for bitcoin [testnet4](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9620).
    *   [Removed](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9621) x/exp/maps dependency.
    *   Add [\--no-disconnect-on-pong-failure option](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9801) (default: false) to manage peer disconnection on pong failure or mismatch.
*   **RPC Additions and Updates.** Some RPCs that previously returned an empty response now provide a [short status message](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/7762) to help command line users confirm successful execution or background initiation. The following CLI commands no longer return an empty response ({}):

    *   `lncli wallet releaseoutput` (`WalletKit.ReleaseOutput` RPC)
    *   `lncli wallet accounts import-pubkey` (`WalletKit.ImportPublicKey` RPC)
    *   `lncli wallet labeltx` (`WalletKit.LabelTransaction` RPC)
    *   `lncli sendcustom` (`Lightning.SendCustomMessage` RPC)
    *   `lncli connect` (`Lightning.ConnectPeer` RPC)
    *   `lncli disconnect` (`Lightning.DisconnectPeer` RPC)
    *   `lncli stop` (`Lightning.Stop` RPC)
    *   `lncli deletepayments` (`Lightning.DeleteAllPaymentsResponse` RPC)
    *   `lncli abandonchannel` (`Lightning.AbandonChannel` RPC)
    *   `lncli restorechanbackup` (`Lightning.RestoreChannelBackups` RPC)
    *   `lncli verifychanbackup` (`Lightning.VerifyChanBackup` RPC)

    *   The ForwardInterceptor's MODIFY option now [merges](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9240) custom range TLVs with existing HTLC records, overwriting conflicting values with API-supplied ones.
    *   [Make](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9405) ProofMatureDelta in gossip configurable via --gossip.announcement-conf, defaulting to 6.
    *   [Add LockedIn boolean field](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9602) to lnrpc.HTLC to show if an HTLC is locked in by the remote peer.
    *   [Allow custom lock ID and duration in FundPsbt](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9724) RPC.
    *   Extend [lnrpc.RPCMiddlewareRequest](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9739) to include [gRPC metadata](https://grpc.io/docs/guides/metadata) pairs from the initial request's context.Context.
    *   [Updated](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9772) `PendingSweeps` to return all registered outputs in the RPC response, regardless of future locktime, enabling planning for upcoming sweeps and custom aggregation logic. Added `MaturityHeight` field to `PendingSweep` for absolute locktime value.
    *   [Add BumpForceCloseFee RPC endpoint](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8843), moving lncli functionality to LND for broader accessibility.
    *   Enhance walletrpc.FundPsbt with an option to [set fees as sat\_per\_kw](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9013) for greater precision.
    *   [Add a new option in walletrpc.FundPsbt](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8600) to specify the maximum fee-to-output amounts ratio.
    *   [Sort](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9337) lnrpc.Invoice.Htlcs by InvoiceHTLC.HtlcIndex in the list invoices RPC response.
    *   Set a [default 60-second timeout](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9359) for routerrpc.SendPaymentV2 when timeout\_seconds is unset or 0.
    *   Include [custom\_channel\_data for custom channels](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9504) in lnrpc.ClosedChannels response.
*   **lncli updates and additions:**
    *   Allow [pre-generated macaroon root key](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9172) in lncli create and lncli createwatchonly for deterministic macaroon generation.
    *   [Add --sat\_per\_kw flag](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9013) to lncli wallet fundpsbt for precise fee rate specification.
    *   Include [\--max\_fee\_ratio argument](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/8600) in lncli wallet fundpsbt to set maximum fee-to-output amounts ratio.
    *   [Enhance](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9390) lncli listchannels and lncli closedchannels output with human-readable short channel ID and BOLT02 channel ID; rename chan\_id to scid for accuracy.
    *   Initiate cooperative close flow in [coop close case](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9491) even with active HTLCs, disabling the channel for new HTLCs and starting the flow when no HTLCs remain.
    *   Introduce macaroon constraint for [IP range-based access restriction](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/pull/9546), expanding beyond spe


Sparrow is a free and open-source modern desktop Bitcoin wallet application supporting most hardware wallets and built on common standards such as PSBT, with an emphasis on transparency and usability.

[Contribute to keep No Bullshit Bitcoin news going.](https://geyser.fund/project/nobsbitcoin)

![Sparrow Wallet v2.2.1: Recent Blocks View, Improved Camera, Tor & P2A Updates](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/05/sparrow-wallet-v220.jpg)

This update brings key enhancements for clarity and usability:

*   **Recent Blocks View**: Added to the Send tab and inspired by Mempool's visualization, it displays the last 2 blocks and the estimated next block to help choose fee rates.
*   **Camera System Overhaul**: Features a new library for higher resolution detection and mouse-scroll zoom support when available.
*   **Vector-Based Images**: All app images are now vectorized and theme-aware, enhancing contrast, especially in dark mode.
*   **Tor & P2A Updates**: Upgraded internal Tor and improved support for pay-to-anchor (P2A) outputs.
*   **Linux Package Rename**: For Linux users, Sparrow has been renamed to sparrowwallet (or sparrowserver); in some cases, the original sparrow package may need manual removal.
*   Additional updates include showing total payments in multi-payment transaction diagrams, better handling of long labels, and other UI enhancements.

[![Sparrow Wallet v2.2.1: Recent Blocks View, Improved Camera, Tor & P2A Updates](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/05/image-12.png)](https://xcancel.com/SparrowWallet/status/1925130328697369071)

*   [**Sparrow v2.2.1**](https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases) is a bug fix release that addresses missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions, icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view, repackaged `.deb` installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression, and removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.

**Learn how to get started with Sparrow wallet:**

Release notes (v2.2.0)
----------------------

*   Added Recent Blocks view to Send tab.
*   Converted all bitmapped images to theme aware SVG format for all wallet models and dialogs.
*   Support send and display of pay to anchor (P2A) outputs.
*   Renamed `sparrow` package to `sparrowwallet` and `sparrowserver` on Linux.
*   Switched camera library to openpnp-capture.
*   Support FHD (1920 x 1080) and UHD4k (3840 x 2160) capture resolutions.
*   Support camera zoom with mouse scroll where possible.
*   In the Download Verifier, prefer verifying the dropped file over the default file where the file is not in the manifest.
*   Show a warning (with an option to disable the check) when importing a wallet with a derivation path matching another script type.
*   In Cormorant, avoid calling the `listwalletdir` RPC on initialization due to a potentially slow response on Windows.
*   Avoid server address resolution for public servers.
*   Assume server address is non local for resolution failures where a proxy is configured.
*   Added a tooltip to indicate truncated labels in table cells.
*   Dynamically truncate input and output labels in the tree on a transaction tab, and add tooltips if necessary.
*   Improved tooltips for wallet tabs and transaction diagrams with long labels.
*   Show the address where available on input and output tooltips in transaction tab tree.
*   Show the total amount sent in payments in the transaction diagram when constructing multiple payment transactions.
*   Reset preferred table column widths on adjustment to improve handling after window resizing.
*   Added accessible text to improve screen reader navigation on seed entry.
*   Made Wallet Summary table grow horizontally with dialog sizing.
*   Reduced tooltip show delay to 200ms.
*   Show transaction diagram fee percentage as less than 0.01% rather than 0.00%.
*   Optimized and reduced Electrum server RPC calls.
*   Upgraded Bouncy Castle, PGPainless and Logback libraries.
*   Upgraded internal Tor to v0.4.8.16.
*   Bug fix: Fixed issue with random ordering of keystore origins on labels import.
*   Bug fix: Fixed non-zero account script type detection when signing a message on Trezor devices.
*   Bug fix: Fixed issue parsing remote Coldcard xpub encoded on a different network.
*   Bug fix: Fixed inclusion of fees on wallet label exports.
*   Bug fix: Increase Trezor device libusb timeout.

**Linux users**: Note that the `sparrow` package has been renamed to `sparrowwallet` or `sparrowserver`, and in some cases you may need to manually uninstall the original `sparrow` package. Look in the `/opt` folder to ensure you have the new name, and the original is removed.

What's new in v2.2.1
--------------------

*   Updated Tor library to fix missing UUID issue when starting Tor on recent macOS versions.
*   Repackaged `.deb` installs to use older gzip instead of zstd compression.
*   Removed display of median fee rate where fee rates source is set to Server.
*   Added icons for external sources in Settings and Recent Blocks view
*   Bug fix: Fixed issue in Recent Blocks view when switching fee rates source
*   Bug fix: Fixed NPE on null fee returned from server

[**Announcement**](https://njump.me/nevent1qqszm2pjnt464tu242awrwkyvqgt590rvsf2lk7lgj0glpae0ts0epspp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqzyzl85553k5ew3wgc7twfs9yffz3n60sd5pmc346pdaemf363fuywv4yjku6) / [Archive](http://archive.today/V2tHL)
[**GitHub Repo**](https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases)


Operation British Freedom may be a necessary military endeavor if things continue at this pace.

Marty's Bent
------------

![England Has Gone Mad](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/martybent_a_british_police_officer_holding_his_billy_club_with__c09ed852-25f5-4801-b71c-246739dbe046-1.png)

If you're not paying attention to what is currently unfolding in England, you probably should be. The country is devolving into a complete dystopian hellscape as the government attempts to stifle speech as backlash against immigration policy, the handling of Pakistani rape gangs, inflation and an overall material decline in quality of life pushes British citizens to the edge.

Over the last couple of years the government has instituted hate speech laws that have led to British citizens being thrown in cages for speaking their minds. These efforts have escalated this Summer in the form of "Age Verification" requirements across the internet in an attempt to "save the children" from the dangers of being able to access information that is not government approved. In reality, age verification requirements aren't in place to protect the children, they're in place to identify every individual using the internet so that they can be tracked and easily brought to heel if they step out of line.

This is a gross infringement on the inalienable human right to speak your mind anonymously or pseudo-anonymously. There is no way to hold governments to account if you can't speak your mind openly and anonymously. Ideas should be able to stand on their own merit, no matter who is speaking them. Bringing ideas into a conversation anonymously is the best way to ensure that an idea stands on merit and is not accepted because of the individual that is sharing the idea. Conversely, if the idea is so good that people broadly agree with it and that idea happens to be in conflict with the narrative that authorities are spinning the only way they can stifle it and ensure that they get their way is to uncover who is behind the idea and make an example of them by throwing them in a cage. Ultimately, to send a chilling effect that prevents others from spreading the idea.

This is completely anti-human, authoritarian bullshit that should be met with vehement push back. Privacy is a human right and people should be able to anonymously hold their government to account if they so choose.

The British government is doubling down. Yesterday, England's "Children's Commissioner" (holy Orwellian naming!) joined the BBC to put forth the argument that age verification requirements should be levied on VPN providers. For those who are unaware, VPNs allow individuals to use the internet without doxxing their IP addresses to the websites and apps they visit. If you were to force VPNs to collect age verification information it would render their very valuable services moot. Any self-respecting and customer-conscious VPN provider would have to immediately reject any attempts by the UK government to force these verification requirements on them.

These age restriction requirements that the UK government is thrusting on companies is nothing more than lazy bullying tactics that turn companies into forced surveillance companies. honeypots and snitches that do nothing but harm their end users and empower a central government that has gone mad with power as it attempts to silence critics.

VPNs are critical to being able to browse the internet privately, which is an inalienable human right.

I pray that the people of England have the intestinal fortitude to fight back against these heinous encroachments on civil liberties and put their government in place.

### Supply Shock Could Drive Unprecedented Price Discovery

Tuur Demeester laid out a compelling case for why bitcoin faces an unprecedented supply squeeze. He explained how treasury companies like MicroStrategy are accumulating massive positions without any intention to sell, while long-term holders aren't moving their coins despite new all-time highs. The on-chain data he presented shows whales holding steady, with no significant distribution events exceeding 100,000 coins this cycle - a stark contrast to previous bull markets where we'd see 400,000 coin movements.

> "If you have more risk appetite, you can still stay in bitcoin. You go to the treasury companies" - [Tuur Demeester](https://x.com/TuurDemeester?ref=tftc.io)

I found his point about collateralized lending particularly fascinating. As Bitcoin becomes pristine collateral for multi-year structured credit products, these coins effectively disappear from liquid markets. Combine this with ETF flows creating persistent one-way demand and tax-advantaged strategies that discourage selling, and we're witnessing multiple forces simultaneously constraining supply. This isn't your typical four-year cycle anymore.

Check out the [full podcast here](https://youtu.be/bi9iMEetMK4?ref=tftc.io) for more on elongated cycles, gold parity targets and nation-state adoption strategies.

* * *

### Headlines of the Day

Trump Blasts Powell for Destroying Housing Market - via [X](https://x.com/WatcherGuru/status/1957936265489445276?ref=tftc.io)

SEC Chair to Implement Crypto Reforms Quickly - via [X](https://x.com/TFTC21/status/1957905605500563706?ref=tftc.io)

Harvard Economists Wrong by Six Figures - via [X](https://x.com/TFTC21/status/1957904767210119583?ref=tftc.io)

* * *

### Obscura – The World’s Best VPN Built by Bitcoiners

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[![England Has Gone Mad](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/Obsura-3.png)](https://obscura.net/?ref=tftc.io)

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* * *

_Ten31, the largest bitcoin-focused investor, has deployed $200M across 30+ companies through three funds. I am a Managing Partner at Ten31 and am very proud of the work we are doing. Learn more at_ [ten31.vc/invest](https://ten31.vc/invest?ref=tftc.io)_._

* * *

**Final thought...**

The relationship between big pharma companies, schools and the federal and state governments is absolutely abhorrent.

* * *

_Download our free browser extension, **Opportunity Cost**:_ [https://www.opportunitycost.app/](https://www.opportunitycost.app/?ref=tftc.io) start thinking in SATS today.

_Get this newsletter sent to your inbox daily:_ [_https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/_](https://www.tftc.io/bitcoin-brief/)

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[![England Has Gone Mad](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/yt.png)](https://youtube.com/@TFTC?feature=shared&ref=tftc.io)

[![England Has Gone Mad](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/insta.png)](https://www.instagram.com/tftc.io/?ref=tftc.io)

[![England Has Gone Mad](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/TFTC21?ref=tftc.io)

[![England Has Gone Mad](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/03/primall.png)](https://primal.net/tftc?ref=tftc.io)


Trump’s Fed clashes and rising deficits expose a politicized system, while Bitcoin stands as the only independent policy.

Key Takeaways
-------------

![Bitcoin Alpha - Trump & The Fed Just Triggered a Massive Bitcoin Move – 26 Days Left!](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/Bitcoin-Alpha-E010.jpg)

Trump’s public theatrics against the Fed, including pressuring Powell, targeting governors, and appointing Stephen Myron, show how monetary policy is now fully political. With U.S. interest costs surpassing $1 trillion and deficits at $2 trillion, the idea of an independent Fed is collapsing into a Treasury-Fed merger resembling a wartime economy. In this environment, Bitcoin stands alone as the only independent monetary policy, immune to political coercion, while institutions like Harvard signal its growing legitimacy by allocating to ETFs. At the same time, private innovation continues, Block’s new modular mining rig challenges the hardware duopoly and shows how Bitcoin infrastructure can advance regardless of state theatrics.

Best Quotes
-----------

“The global monetary system should not be beholden to the whims of theatrics between a sitting president and the Fed chair.”

“Bitcoin is the only truly independent monetary policy in the world right now, governed by math and physics, not politics.”

“Trump’s clearing house at the Fed shows us: meet the new boss, same as the old boss, different context, same consolidation of power.”

“There’s no Bitcoin CEO for the White House to bully. The U.S. government has to pay the market price like everyone else.”

“Harvard’s $100M ETF buy is a seismic signal. In the endowment world, Harvard is the BlackRock of higher education.”

“If Proto’s rigs really last 10 years with modular upgrades, that saves miners 20% on fleet refresh. That’s massive.”

Conclusion
----------

The U.S. is drifting toward empire-style finance, where deficits, consolidation of power, and politicized Fed decisions undermine any pretense of independence. Bitcoin remains the only monetary system resistant to manipulation, offering certainty in contrast to political chaos. Institutional adoption and hardware innovation show that while governments tighten control, Bitcoin continues to grow outside their grasp, positioning itself as the neutral anchor for the future.

Transcript
----------

(00:00) The following is forformational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. This discussion is a presentation by 1031, the leading institutional investor focused on the Bitcoin ecosystem. 1031 has over 10 years of experience in Bitcoin and has deployed nearly $150 million into the leading opportunities in the space. To learn more, visit 1031.vc.
(00:25) And uh it looks like it's about 3.1 billion. went up a little bit or a lot. Uh, so the 2.7 is now 3.1. I'm not aware of that. Yeah, it just came out. Yeah, I haven't heard that from anybody. Yeah, it just came out. Our about 3.1 as well. 31 3.2. This came from us. Yes. I don't know who does that. You're including the Martin renovation. You just added entire capital. Yeah, you just you just added in a third building is what that is.
(01:02) That's a third building. No, but it's it's a building that's being built. No, it's been it was built five years ago. We finished Martin 5 years ago. It's part of the overall work. It's not new. So, we're going to take a look. We're going to see what's happening. Uh, and it's got a long way.
(01:23) Do you expect any more additional costs? Don't expect them. Uh we're we're ready for them, but we we have a little bit of a reserve that we'll we may use, but no, we don't expect to be finished in 2027. Um I must admit, I saw a bunch of the clips on X and other parts of the internet. Never saw that part of the conversation. Didn't realize he was calling out line items of the renovation to him in person.
(01:48) Yeah. I I uh I gotta say some of the best whatever you think of Trump um and there there's a lot that can be said about Trump, the man has delivered some of the most iconic political moments of certainly this century. And I think that's that's a top fiverr for me without a doubt. It's so entertaining.
(02:12) I mean, I've I said before uh that I would have paid to see like big brother White House or something like when Joe Biden was in the the the White House just to like see what he was doing on a dayto-day basis. But I would probably pay more to see like big brother White House and just watch Trump all day. Brought in Tim Scott as the muscle to be like, "No, no, it's 3.1." Yeah. Right.
(02:37) who by the way doesn't have a hard hat on. Like the hard hats really make the whole thing that they're standing there in these hard hats and Tim Scott's right next to them with no hard hat. What's the what's the wardrobe choices? Like I mean the the theatrics behind it is uh you know it's something to behold. This is the setup for that.
(02:54) Like they're like okay we're going to we're going to put you on TV and just humiliate you in front of TV. So like get ready here here it comes. And we skip the part where he slaps his back at the end and says, "This guy's this guy's about to go lower interest rates." Um, some some really, you know, some some middle school uh hallway bully power games uh going on here.
(03:17) Well, it reminds me of the one there was one where he was in the was it was it the White House lawn where there was a lot of uh I think they were construction workers hanging around the background and uh they were going after Pal again or was that a different was that someone else? Yeah, we got uh I got lamb I think I talked about this I forget if it was here or RHR but I brought it up.
(03:41) We had cold opened with it on RHR and I made the uncou statement of why is uh why is Donald Trump asking construction workers about interest rate policy? It's probably not their core focus and had a bunch of construction workers on the YouTube comments saying, "Hey, I'm in construction and I understand interest rates." But yeah, that was a that was a scene as well.
(04:06) The fact that the fact that we can't even fully remember all the details of all the different times Trump has publicly uh limbasted or tried to humiliate or otherwise uh viciously critique the Fed chair. I think shows uh is a good indication of where we are right now with uh monetary policy in the US and its relationship to uh the rest of the government, the Treasury Department, etc.
(04:26) Yeah, it's a and just the news cycle, right? Because like when was this? This was It feels like forever ago. We put out our artisal alpha, you know, once every few weeks or once every month or we'll just see. But this seems like it was forever ago. I know it was it occurred since the last time we did Bitcoin Alpha. It was like, you know, a few a few days or maybe a week after the last episode of this.
(04:57) And I I remember um being very frustrated because I knew as soon as I saw it like that's the ultimate cold open and we just missed the chance to do it on the last one. So uh here we are back again and uh even though it's a few weeks old I think it's still it stands the test of time. It does and John I think you used the perfect word earlier theatrics.
(05:15) Uh and I think it's an incredible juosition of the world that we operate in and why we operate in this world. Many don't realize the global monetary system should not be beholden to the whims of the theatrics between a sitting president and sitting chairman of the Federal Reserve. That is essentially what we just witnessed was bullying tactics.
(05:39) For those who don't recall, they were there at the construction site as the government was trying to find a roundabout way to fire pal. Um, and I think at one point they were trying to pull the technicality of the Federal Reserve wasting money, taxpayer money with that that renovation they were doing on the reserve building in DC.
(05:58) Uh, theatrics, it's been happening between Powell and Trump since before Trump was even elected. And we're in the middle or tail end of the summer doldrums. I think this is like really the peak summer doldrums, but it ends next week. We've got Jerome Pal and others in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for their annual event.
(06:24) There will be no interest rate policy decisions made this month outside of some very extreme market volatility which doesn't look like it's going to materialize, but it's it's a pretty boring week. I think markets are down, Bitcoin's down, and I think it's just due to the overall uncertainty of the result of the theatrics that we've been seeing play out over the last 16 months.
(06:44) Yeah, I mean it's the theatrics word, you know, to stick with that. Um, I I do think is relevant to just kind of consider, you know, the the nature of where we are with the system. I think it's in some ways like instructive um for, you know, you could say Trump is violating norms and many people have made that um that case both in this in this term and his prior term.
(07:11) um and he's not, you know, respecting the the system and the way it's set up. Um, but I think it's it's interesting and notable that we this pulls back the curtain a little bit on the fact that this is a system where you know I think we have a it's easy to have a view especially coming from say mainstream academia from your college classroom um from working whether it's on Wall Street or corporate America a bunch of different kind of white collar jobs it's it's kind of very easy to imagine that the the men behind the curtain have uh
(07:42) have it all figured out And um you know they have all the dials properly calibrated and um you know they're they're sitting up there on uh you know Mount uh whatever Mount Olympus or Mount Marin Mariner Eckles building as the case may be in this in this situation and you know dispassionately evaluating every all the data flow that they're getting um and just making the the right decision at all the time or as right as possible based on the data they have with no kind


The Fed-Treasury merger unleashes unprecedented money printing.

### U.S. Government Will Consolidate Power Between Fed and Treasury to Enable Money Printing - Bitcoin Alpha Panel

![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/terribletrader_Abstract_visualization_of_wealth_transfer_gold_e7c8d092-c521-402a-af4a-5f814cf82096_3.png)

The Bitcoin Alpha team predicts the Trump administration will effectively merge Federal Reserve and Treasury functions to maintain fiscal dominance as deficits exceed 6% of GDP. With interest expense now exceeding $1 trillion annually and representing over 100% of receipts in some months, the government faces an impossible math problem without dramatic monetary intervention.

"They're trying to merge the Fed and the Treasury to make sure that they can achieve their economic goals," I observed during our discussion. The public feuding between Trump and Powell, including the bizarre construction site confrontation, represents theater masking a deeper reality - independent monetary policy cannot survive when the sovereign faces a funding crisis. History shows no government has chosen default over debasement when pushed to the brink. The team expects this consolidation to accelerate money printing beyond anything seen previously, making Bitcoin's fixed supply increasingly attractive.

### Bitcoin Will Reach $1 Million and Gold Parity Within This Cycle - Tuur Demeester

Tuur Demeester believes Bitcoin is heading toward $1 million per coin, which would represent approximately 11 kilograms of gold - the point at which Bitcoin's total market cap equals all the gold in the world. He argues this isn't just another four-year cycle but potentially an extended bull market lasting an additional year to 18 months beyond typical patterns.

"I think that's the next magnet," Tuur explained, borrowing David Bailey's term for psychological price targets that pull markets forward. The confluence of ETF adoption, treasury companies accumulating Bitcoin, and nation-state interest creates unprecedented demand drivers. With real inflation running between 10-15% annually according to his analysis, Bitcoin's role as pristine collateral is becoming undeniable. He notes that even after selling 80,000 Bitcoin recently, the market only dropped 4% - a sign of extraordinary buying strength that suggests this cycle has much further to run.

### Bitcoin Mining Will Become Fully Integrated With Energy Generation Within 10 Years - Phil Geiger

Phil Geiger predicts that Bitcoin mining will evolve from a standalone industry to become completely integrated with energy production at the source. He argues that mining ASICs will function more like demand response tools similar to batteries, but with zero energy loss in transmission and instant monetization capabilities.

"I view it more as Bitcoin mining is more of a component of the energy production industry or a tool that any energy producers can use," Phil explained on Center of Hash. He points to renewable energy operations where 20% of generated electricity goes to waste during peak production as the perfect use case. As the Bitcoin network continues to demand the cheapest possible electricity, miners will naturally migrate to these stranded energy sources. The permissionless nature of the network means any energy producer globally can immediately monetize excess capacity without negotiating contracts or building transmission infrastructure. This transformation will make Bitcoin mining less of an independent industry and more of a standard feature of energy infrastructure.

* * *

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Blockspace conducts cutting-edge proprietary research for investors.

The Big Difference Between Bitcoin and Crypto Treasury Companies
----------------------------------------------------------------

Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies—public firms existing solely to hold crypto on their balance sheets—are creating two distinct market structures. Bitcoin DATs show tight mNAV (market cap/treasury value) clustering around 1.3x average, while crypto DATs exhibit wild swings from 0.16x to 1.94x.

**Key Bitcoin DATs:**

*   MicroStrategy: 1.58x
*   Semler Scientific: 1.04x
*   Metaplanet: 1.14x

**Crypto DATs show extreme variance:**

*   ETH: BitMine (1.9x) vs Dynamix (0.16x discount)
*   SOL: UPEXI (1.2x) vs DFDV (1.8x)
*   SUI: Mill City Ventures (1.8x)

![This Week's Top Predictions](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/image-4.png)

The divergence reflects fundamental differences: Bitcoin DATs benefit from institutional flows and liquidity, while crypto DATs hold more volatile assets with questionable long-term value. Management compensation tied to AUM percentages incentivizes asset accumulation, particularly problematic for less liquid cryptos prone to reflexive price action.

The trend signals market maturation—Bitcoin treasuries evolving into predictable institutional vehicles while crypto treasuries remain speculative plays. As one critic notes: "Does anyone actually want to own SOL in 10 years?"

[_Link to Full Article_](https://blockspace.media/insight/the-big-difference-between-bitcoin-and-crypto-treasury-companies/?ref=tftc.io)

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Michael Howell warns the liquidity cycle is peaking, debt risks are rising, and gold and Bitcoin are key hedges against monetary inflation.

Key Takeaways
-------------

![TFTC - 40-Year Wall Street Vet Warns: 6 Months Before the Bubble Bursts (Bitcoin Next?) | Michael Howell](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/Michael-Howell.jpg)

Michael Howell warned that the global financial system is nearing the peak of its liquidity cycle, with debt refinancing risks mounting as trillions in cheap, long-dated obligations begin to roll over. The Fed and Treasury are effectively engaged in stealth yield curve control, suppressing volatility to keep the system stable, but this path risks “Japanification” and entrenched monetary inflation. With 80% of global lending collateral-based, stability in Treasury markets has become critical, while China’s aggressive liquidity injections and gold monetization signal a shift toward hard assets. Howell argued that gold and Bitcoin stand out as essential hedges, with Bitcoin’s strategic value rising as an independent, long-term safe asset outside government control.

Best Quotes
-----------

“Almost every financial crisis, if you look back, has been a debt refinancing crisis in some way.”

“In 4,000 years of recorded interest rate history, there’s no mention of zero rates, until COVID.”

“What they want is yield curve control. They can’t afford volatility in collateral markets because 80% of global lending now depends on collateral.”

“If I’m optimistic about gold, I have to be optimistic about Bitcoin.”

“What would happen if you could only invest in short-dated government debt or Bitcoin?”

“The U.S. may be the cleanest shirt in the laundry, but it’s still in the laundry.”

Conclusion
----------

Howell sees the system entering a dangerous phase where liquidity is peaking, debt pressures are intensifying, and policymakers have few tools left beyond suppressing volatility and monetizing debt. This will drive monetary inflation, erode real wealth, and make hard-asset hedges indispensable. Gold and Bitcoin, he argues, are positioned to benefit most, with Bitcoin in particular evolving from a liquidity-sensitive risk asset into a strategic safe haven in a world of accelerating debt cycles and weakening fiat credibility.

Timestamps
----------

0:00 - Intro
1:12- Big day at Jackson Hole
7:57 - Bessent’s contradictions
14:03 - Yield curve control
18:35 - Bitkey & Unchained
20:16 - AI and global liquidity cycle
35:01 - Stablecoins
38:44 - Obscura and Opportunity Cost
40:09 - Mechanics and future of liquidity cycles
46:42 - Questioning AI productivity
52:18 - China’s influence on liquidity cycle

Transcript
----------

(00:00) If you look at the last 5 to 10 years, we've labeled that the everything bubble. Fed liquidity was up 350 billion. The broad balance sheet fell by about 250. You've got liquidity and the balance sheet going in opposite directions. We're talking about taking 3 to400 billion out of money markets.
(00:18) Disconnection from financial markets and the real economy. Almost every financial crisis, if you look back, has been a debt refinancing crisis in some way. 80% of all lending worldwide now is collaterally based. Nowhere in that book is there any mention of zero interest rates. So in 4,000 years we haven't had it, but we did have it in CO. It's a form of yield curve control.
(00:37) What they'd like is JPAL to come interest rates. The US may well be the cleanest shirt in the laundry, but you know, hey, it's in the laundry. We are reaching a peak 6 months, 9 months time. We're clearly getting late in the cycle. Stable coin are a great mechanism to buy treasuries, but it basically creates a sort of virtual circle.
(00:53) So it's effectively printing money. What would happen in the world if you could only invest in shortdated government debt or you can invest in Bitcoin? Why was 2024 so depressed? The Chinese were trying to shadow a strong dollar and they couldn't do it. I'm very optimistic of gold. If I'm optimistic of gold, I got to be optimistic of Bitcoin.
(01:13) Michael How, thank you for joining me again. Big day. Yeah, big day today. Big day out in Jackson Hole. Everybody's waiting with uh baited breath to see what Jerome Pal is going to say. I was watching uh I couldn't sleep this morning. I woke up at 3:30 a.m. and just decided to get up and start working and have been watching CNBC and it's been funny watching their commentary.
(01:37) A lot of back and forth I think considering that this meeting is happening today. Um we'll post this on Monday and so I guess the pressure is on to sort of predict what Jerome Pal is going to do. How would you describe his current predicament and what he may or may not do later today? Well, I think it's it's it's clearly a difficult situation.
(02:01) You know, they uh they always say as an old Irish joke that um where they say to travelers, how do you get from here to Dublin? And the answer is uh well, if I was going to Dublin, I wouldn't be starting from here. And I think that, you know, that's pretty much what I would describe the Fed situation is.
(02:20) I mean Jerome Pal is in a difficult situation given the uh the sort of push back or aggressive push back he gets from the administration. Uh I mean that's for sure. U but I think the other thing is that they kind of painted themselves in a corner a bit. I mean on most on most counts rates should be lower than they are. I think he finds it difficult now to probably admit that.
(02:38) Um so there is some resistance but I think you can see within the FOMC uh there is a growing uh willingness I think to cut interest rates. I think given what's going on internationally and uh with rates and maybe as well what's happened lately to the dollar the rally uh the weakening in the US economy. I think there's grounds for for rates to be cut. That's for sure.
(03:01) I think the more difficult question, which is, you know, something I'm sure we're going to dig into, is really what happens to the Fed balance sheet, uh, the Fed operating system, you know, looking at longer term because they've been promising us some information about the new operating, uh, uh, procedures of the Fed for a long time now and nothing's come out. So I kind of expect or maybe maybe think that they're going to do something announce something at Jackson Hole about the new operating procedures that they've been talking and thinking about for some time now. Uh that that may come out in an
(03:31) announcement. But I think the the the more fundamental question is what happens to liquidity and really the size of the balance sheet. And I think that's relevant given the fact that if you look over the first six, seven months of the year, uh Fed liquidity, the amount of money that the Federal Reserve injects into money markets, actually was up 350 billion.
(03:59) Uh even though the overall balance sheet uh itself, the broad balance sheet fell by about uh 250 billion. So you've got liquidity and the balance sheet going in opposite directions. And that's kind of because uh there are you know other ways of injecting liquidity into the system apart from the headline balance sheet um you know number uh and that's things like the treasury general account the reverse repo program uh etc.
(04:19) And they've been actually positively buzzing and actually adding money to markets which is why risk assets have kind of done so well over the last few months. Uh the question is that if the Treasury is insisting on rebuilding that account, their account at the Fed, the Treasury General account which was forcibly run down because of the debt ceiling, if that now is rebuilt in the second half of the year, then a lot of liquidity is going to come out of markets.
(04:43) Now, that's what investors are fearing. I don't think it's going to come to that because I just don't think they're in a position where they can do that. And that's why I say I think the Fed has kind of painted itself into a corner a bit here. Yeah. in terms of choreographing or making the market aware of new operations.
(05:02) Can we dive into that in in terms of what they may or may not change or what the market is looking for them to change? Yeah, I think that a lot of the market talk is really about whether they're going to change, you know, average inflation targeting to, you know, maybe change the nuance of that.
(05:21) Could they, you know, change the symmetry in uh in that in that gold? That could be done. um you know for example I think that that's one of the things that is sort of high on the agenda as a change um there could be more technical things about um uh uh about how their operating procedures are changed I mean that that may be necessary but I would say you know one of the things that may come in and this has been mooted in terms of what the Fed has wanted to do is maybe they're going to announce that they're going to be uh a bigger buyer of Treasury bills in the market uh than
(05:52) they have been now one of the things that was suggested or has been suggested uh in speeches over recent months is that the makeup of the uh Federal Reserve's holdings of government debt the uh the SOM account, the so-called SO account is generally vested in longer duration treasuries. So things like 10-year notes for example, and that's not really um the sort of representative of the average mix of treasury debt uh out there in the market.
(06:23) uh there's as you know there's been a lot of very very short-term issuance uh operating particularly under Yelen but you know Scott Besson's continued that and so the treasury is slated to issue a lot more bills now on the one hand that's uh you know playing to this whole argument about stable coins being big buyers of treasuries in the future and they like bills sure I I go along with that but then the Federal Reserve should be matching if you like in it hold in its sr account u the average uh mix of debt in the market and the moment they're not
(06:55) uh their s account is too heavily weighted to longe


Miljan Braticevic argues Nostr and Bitcoin offer the only path to true online sovereignty.

Key Takeaways
-------------

![TFTC - Insider Reveals UK's Secret Plan to Freeze Your Savings & Censor You! | Miljan Braticevic](https://www.tftc.io/content/images/2025/08/Miljan-Braticevic.jpg)

The episode highlights the UK’s escalating internet controls, age verification laws, VPN bans, and censorship, and their implications for personal freedom, framing open protocols like Nostr as the only real alternative. Unlike closed platforms dominated by corporations, Nostr distributes power across thousands of relays, giving users sovereign control over their identity, money, and speech. Braticevic points to innovative use cases such as Jack Dorsey’s mesh-network “Bit Chat,” AI-driven app creation, and Bitcoin micropayments, arguing that Nostr’s openness, not just censorship resistance, is the true breakthrough. He likens the ecosystem’s small but passionate user base to Bitcoin’s early days, noting that its resilience and flexibility make it uniquely suited to outlast and outperform closed networks.

Best Quotes
-----------

“Once you go down this path of trying to control everything, where does it end? We want to be free.”

“Open protocols give us that chance to fight back and resist… with closed platforms, one rule change is the end of the story.”

“We’re not fighting the existing system, we’re building a new one and enabling people to join if they wish.”

“This type of architecture is extremely resilient and hard to stop… Nostr is about building an internet worth having.”

“Nostr in my mind has no competitors. If you want a truly sovereign network where users hold the keys to their existence, this is it.”

“The killer feature of Nostr isn’t censorship resistance, it’s openness. Data can be recombined in endless ways to build experiences impossible in closed silos.”

“AI, Bitcoin, and Nostr together form an extremely exciting intersection. AI agents will need sovereign money and open protocols to function.”

“We want Nostr to be the best place for creators of high-signal, long-form content… with open monetization models that work across clients.”

“The passion of Nostr’s early adopters reminds me of Bitcoin in the early days, it’s the strongest signal that this will endure.”

“If you’re in the UK or anywhere facing these policies, get on Nostr before you need it. You already need it.”

Conclusion
----------

This episode underscores the urgent stakes of today’s digital landscape. As Western governments like the UK pursue aggressive censorship and control, the choice becomes stark: submit to closed systems where accounts and speech exist at the mercy of authorities, or embrace open protocols that guarantee sovereignty. Miljan Braticevic presents Nostr as the foundation for a new internet, one built on openness, interoperability, and Bitcoin-backed incentives. Though adoption is still small compared to mainstream platforms, the passion, creativity, and steady infrastructure growth mirror Bitcoin’s own trajectory. The episode’s core message is clear: resilience and freedom must be built proactively. By adopting Nostr, supporting open-source tools, and experimenting with these systems now, individuals and creators can prepare for a future where sovereignty over money and speech is not optional but essential.

Timestamps
----------

0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Creating freedom apps
12:29 - Who runs the relays? Not comparable to Bluesky
17:53 - Bitkey & Unchained
19:34 - Boostrapped by bitcoiners
24:47 - Primal features tease
33:52 - Obscura & Opportunity Cost
35:17 - UK going full Orwell
42:00 - AI - open source models and open data
54:23 - Nostr as marketplace - also the Great Intersection
59:49 - Looking forward over the next year
1:04:32 - Fountain
1:14:45 - Primal publisher

Transcript
----------

(00:00) Once you go down this path of trying to control everything, where does it end? We want to be free. People who like to censor and all these monstrous organizations, they're doing their thing and we're doing our thing. We're just building a new system and enabling people to join them as they wish. The majority of the internet is controlled by five corporations.
(00:20) Open protocols give us that chance to kind of fight back and resist us. The bar for usability is being set by these multi-billion dollar companies who've been at it for, you know, 10 years plus. \[Music\] Million, is it me or is the world going crazy? I guess those two are not mutually exclusive, right? But uh the world's getting crazier by the day for sure.
(00:47) Yeah, more interesting, more chaotic. Yeah, it feels like uh feels like we're we're at like a hard not a hard fork, but like a fork in the road and there's things are incredibly exciting, powerful, and optimistic. And then you have other things like uh I originally reached out was like three or four weeks ago you were on a little vacation.
(01:21) So we scheduled it for this but it was talk about the UK aid verification laws censorship and the importance of open protocols like Noster but things have just escalated since then. They want to ban VPNs now. Totally. I mean once you go down this path of trying to control everything like where does it end? You you kind of really need to uh you know close all the exits as they like to say all the escape routes. Yeah.
(01:46) Well, I mean it ends uh I don't want to smirk here but it ends typically with campsuffering mass death if you continue continue down the path. That's why it's important to leverage the tools that we have today in terms of open protocols um and the communications technology to get the message out. That's the big agreed.
(02:13) That's the big question I have is like are we at a point in human history where we have all these tools at our fingertips? Can we actually use them to prevent at least in western society the devolution into pure Orwellian socialist communist authoritarian hellscape? Well, the open protocols give us that chance, right? Like if if we're clos if we're using the legacy closed systems, we just don't have a chance, right? Like because that's a single throat to choke.
(02:47) If uh any government uh makes any new rule that forbids uh you know certain type of speech um if you're dealing with a closed platform it's the end of the story you know they'll just have to tell X or whoever you know close this down and companies need to apply comply and that's the end of it that content already exists only exists behind their kind of wall in their walled garden since they fully control it they and they certainly can comply and the governments know that.
(03:22) Uh when it comes to open protocols, I don't think we automatically win by default just because we're using open protocols. Open protocols give us that chance to kind of fight back and resist this. But there's still quite a bit of work uh that needs to be done um by a lot of people to um to win, so to speak. And I'm not like super gloomy about all of these things that are, you know, that we're seeing everywhere.
(03:50) Um, I kind of look at it more from the point of view of, hey, this is, you know, this is a test for us. This is something that's uh that's giving us an opportunity to grow, to uh step up, assert our own sovereignty uh over our online lives, over our wealth, our money, our transactions, and so forth.
(04:15) Um there are a number of us who build tools uh for people who wish to step up and use them and uh like I said we we get that opportunity and it's up to us to see how we're going to use the tools uh to assert our our sovereignty. Yeah. Somebody on the the bleeding edge of the open protocol that is Noster, what are what are some of the unique ways you've observed people not only leveraging Primal but just leveraging Noster to really stick a eye in the or needle in the eye of sensors or creating cool applications that that leverage Nostra relays in some way to create
(04:57) robust applications that that are very hard to censor. Yeah. I don't even think it's about sticking a needle in the eye of anyone, you know. It's just like we we want to uh be free. uh we you know the people who out there who would like to censor and all these you know monstrous organizations they're doing their thing and we're doing our thing.
(05:20) We're we're not necessarily fighting the existing system. We're just building a new system and uh enabling people to join them as they wish. Right. And to answer your question, lots of new stuff being built all the time. Uh a lot of it is really exciting. Um, you know, not even talk about Primal.
(05:44) So, outside of Primal, the the cool things we've seen on Nostra recently, um, is, uh, for example, Jack Dorsey's Bit Chat, uh, app, which he vibe coded over a weekend, which uses uh, Bluetooth enabled mesh network to communicate with devices that are in close proximity to you.
(06:13) close proximity meaning you know 20 30 mters maybe 100 ft or so and then you know you can so you can kind of relay messages directly uh to one another without even needing an internet connection and then when any one of these users gets an internet connection they can you know upload those signed messages to any relay and then replicate them further.
(06:40) So this is a really neat use case which I think uh this kind of network topology I think is extremely um appropriate for Nostra. It's Noster is perfect for this because the protocol is so simple and it's comprised just out of signed messages and each of these signed messages exist can exist on its own. kind of has meaning just uh each individual message on its own kind of stands uh on the firm legs so to speak so to speak.
(07:13) Uh so the more of these messages you have the more you sense you can make out of the network and uh you can broadcast them you know to those that are close to you. You can broadcast them to relays. You can index them. Index them and so forth. If they get deleted from any relays, you can repost them to other relays. This t


Official clarifications follow community concerns: non-custodial wallets remain free from restrictions. The post Google Play excludes non-custodial wallets from the new crypto app rules appeared first on Atlas21.

**_Official clarifications follow community concerns: non-custodial wallets remain free from restrictions._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Google** recently backtracked on what initially seemed to be a significant policy update targeting all crypto wallets: for a moment, it appeared that the Play Store planned to ban unregistered **non-custodial wallets** in several countries, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, starting in October. After sparking a wave of concern in the crypto community, Mountain View officially clarified that **non-custodial wallets will remain exempt** from the new restrictions [introduced](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16329703) on the **Play Store**.

The confusion arose from the publication of the updated **Google Play** [guidelines](https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16329703), which will come into effect on October 29. Initially, many users and developers feared that non-custodial wallets might also be affected by the new rules. However, Google later [clarified](https://x.com/newsfromgoogle/status/1955743865144795581) the situation through its **Help Center**, specifying that _“non-custodial wallets are not in scope of Google Play’s Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets Policy.”_

### **The policy change**

The new rules are aimed exclusively at custodial digital asset service providers. **Custodial wallet** applications, such as those provided by exchanges, will now need to obtain specific licenses to operate in over 15 jurisdictions, including the **United States** and the **European Union**.

In the U.S., custodial wallet developers will have to register as a _“money services business”_ or _“money transmitter”_ with local regulators. In Europe, registration as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) will be required. Companies registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will need to implement **Anti-Money Laundering** (AML) and **Know Your Customer** (KYC) programs.

### **Community reactions**

Despite the official clarifications, the community was not entirely reassured. Bitcoin developer **Peter Todd** expressed skepticism in a post on X:

> Google claims this is a mistake. More likely a trial balloon to gauge response.
>
> Notice how this policy will still prohibit Cashu wallets like minibits, Zeus (cashu support), Wallet of Satoshi, and future wallets using cashu to build up funds to open a channel.
>
> Not good at all. [https://t.co/muHtVwSA9m](https://t.co/muHtVwSA9m)
>
> — Peter Todd (@peterktodd) [August 13, 2025](https://twitter.com/peterktodd/status/1955756676692500544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**Jacob Wittman**, legal counsel at the Plasma Foundation, [described](https://x.com/jakewittman/status/1955703181553623211) the controversy as a _“nothing burger,”_ while acknowledging that _“the policy change show that tech giants control distribution and we are still at their whim.”_

The relationship between Google Play and the digital asset sector has historically been turbulent. In 2020, the platform removed the Bitcoin Blast video game and several crypto news apps, including those from **Cointelegraph** and **Coindesk**, without providing any explanation.

The post [Google Play excludes non-custodial wallets from the new crypto app rules](https://atlas21.com/google-play-excludes-non-custodial-wallets-from-the-new-crypto-app-rules/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is preparing a reform to align crypto taxation with that of equities, paving the way for spot ETFs. The post Japan moves toward a 20% flat tax on cryptocurrencies appeared first on Atlas21.

**_Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is preparing a reform to align crypto taxation with that of equities, paving the way for spot ETFs._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The **FSA** is planning a tax reform that could reshape how Japanese investors approach digital assets. [According](https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUB216I60R20C25A8000000/) to the business daily _Nikkei_, the Japanese FSA intends to submit a proposal to revise the tax code for the 2026 fiscal year. The goal is to align the tax treatment of cryptocurrencies with that of listed **stocks**.

The official request for revision is expected to be submitted by the end of August, _Nikkei_ sources report. If approved, the reform would take effect in the 2026 fiscal year.

The reform introduces a **20% flat tax** on gains from cryptocurrency trading. Currently, crypto income is classified as _“miscellaneous income”_ and subject to a progressive rate that can reach **up to 55%,** excluding local taxes.

### **Industry requests**

Crypto companies have submitted specific proposals to make Japan’s tax environment more competitive. Among them is the introduction of a **three-year carry-forward mechanism** for losses, which would allow investors to offset future profits with past losses.

### **Outlook for spot ETFs**

The new framework goes beyond tax revisions. The FSA is also working to facilitate the launch of domestic **crypto ETFs** by Japanese firms, aiming to strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s digital asset industry.

In parallel with the tax reform, the agency is preparing a bill for 2026 that would bring cryptocurrencies under the supervision of the **Financial Instruments and Exchange Act**, classifying them as _“financial products”_ rather than _“means of payment”_ regulated by the Payment Services Act.

### **First regulated stablecoin**

In a broader context of openness toward digital assets, the FSA is also preparing to approve Japan’s first **yen-denominated regulated stablecoin**. **JPYC**, issued by the Tokyo-based fintech of the same name, plans to release stablecoins worth 1 trillion yen (about $6.78 billion) over three years. The approval, expected in the fall, represents another key step in Japan’s strategy to promote crypto adoption.

The post [Japan moves toward a 20% flat tax on cryptocurrencies](https://atlas21.com/japan-moves-toward-a-20-flat-tax-on-cryptocurrencies/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


The country’s bitcoin reserves come mainly from mining operations, not from seizures as initially speculated. The post UAE holds $700 million in bitcoin from mining appeared first on Atlas21.

**_The country’s bitcoin reserves come mainly from mining operations, not from seizures as initially speculated._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to an [analysis](https://x.com/arkham/status/1960002768703270959) conducted by blockchain analytics platform **Arkham Intelligence**, the **United Arab Emirates** (UAE) owns around **$700 million** in bitcoin. This sum was accumulated primarily through mining activities.

> BREAKING: THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES IS NOW ON ARKHAM
>
> The UAE’s $700M BTC holdings are now labeled on Arkham. These holdings come from Bitcoin mining operations carried out by Citadel, a public mining company majority owned by UAE Royal Group through IHC.
>
> Arkham is the first to… [pic.twitter.com/eIGut5pJXN](https://t.co/eIGut5pJXN)
>
> — Arkham (@arkham) [August 25, 2025](https://twitter.com/arkham/status/1960002768703270959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Unlike other nations such as the **United States** and the **United Kingdom**, the UAE’s bitcoins do not come from the confiscation of criminal assets. Arkham Intelligence revealed in a post on X that the government’s wallets contain roughly **6,300 BTC**, all obtained through legitimate mining operations.

The main source of these bitcoins is **Citadel Mining**, a company **85%** owned by **2pointzero**, which in turn belongs to International Holding Company (IHC). IHC is **61%** owned by **UAE Royal Group**, a conglomerate controlled by **Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan**, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family.

In total, Arkham estimates that through Citadel, the Emirates have mined approximately 9,300 BTC over the course of their operations.

According to **BitBo** [data](https://bitbo.io/treasuries/countries/), with these recently confirmed reserves the UAE ranks sixth among state-level bitcoin holders, behind Bhutan (10,565 BTC) and ahead of El Salvador (6,280 BTC).

BitBo estimates that governments collectively hold around **517,000 BTC**, representing **2.4%** of total supply with a value exceeding **$56 billion.**

The post [UAE holds $700 million in bitcoin from mining](https://atlas21.com/uae-holds-700-million-in-bitcoin-from-mining/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


The company introduces a modular mining system and open source management software. The post Block presents Proto Rig and Proto Fleet: new mining solutions appeared first on Atlas21.

_**The company introduces a modular mining system and open source management software.**_
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Proto**, a division of Block, Inc. led by Jack Dorsey, has announced the launch of two new products for the bitcoin mining sector: **Proto Rig**, a modular mining system, and **Proto Fleet**, free and open source management software. The presentation took place at **Core Scientific**‘s facility in Dalton, Georgia, where some Proto Rig devices are already operational.

Proto Rig differentiates itself from traditional mining hardware through a modular design that focuses on **durability** and **repairability**. Unlike classic miners, this system allows operators to replace individual hashboards without having to change the entire unit, the company stated.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/69.jpg?resize=693%2C473&ssl=1)

According to Block, this feature could extend hardware lifespan from 3-5 years to 10 years, with an estimated cost reduction of **15-20%** for each upgrade cycle. The system is designed to allow on-site repairs without the use of specialized tools, the company declared.

**Thomas Templeton**, Block’s hardware lead, explained:

> > “Machines break often, are hard to repair, expensive and time-consuming to upgrade, and don’t make the most efficient use of power or space. With Proto Rig, we set out to change all of that–and contribute to hardware decentralization in the process.”

From a performance standpoint, Proto Rig offers energy efficiency of **14.1 J/TH** and a hashrate of **819 TH/s**.

![](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/unnamed.jpg?resize=560%2C324&ssl=1)

### **Proto Fleet: management software**

Alongside the hardware, Proto presented **Proto Fleet**, a free software platform for managing mining operations. The software integrates **monitoring**, **diagnostic**, and **maintenance** functions into a single interface. Proto Rig and Proto Fleet will offer **Stratum V2** support from launch.

Proto Fleet is distributed as open source software, making it accessible to operators of any size in the sector.

The post [Block presents Proto Rig and Proto Fleet: new mining solutions](https://atlas21.com/block-presents-proto-rig-and-proto-fleet-new-mining-solutions/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


A short note: I just did a login with nostr pubkey. I still see ...

I just did a login with nostr pubkey. I still see a join waitlist option


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Someone who doesn’t own any #bitcoin just sent me this and said “to the moon” - you know what that means…
https://blossom.primal.net/0e10b7120f71701742b420426787c139962442b0ee7ebe55d7c10c6e8b0fc549.jpg


Ia there a paper on this. My intuition says reputation systems would "velvet rope" the wisdom of the markets, preventing new information from coming to the table... I'm intrigued though


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*know your why lol


Way to go that first thing is worth every deal. Keep it up


fresh testing. https://primal.net/qa the best place to test nostr!

USA vs. Serbia | Men's Basketball Semifinal | Paris 2024 Olympics


Serbia and Croatia treat their water‑polo matches like a high‑stakes pool party, where the only thing hotter than the competition is the amount of popcorn the fans sneak in for the “spectacular” splash‑downs.

Serbia vs. Croatia - Men's Water Polo Gold Medal Game - Paris 2024 Highlights - Olympics


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