tags: The South Korean tax agency warns: inspectors are authorized to search homes to seize non-custodial wallets. The post South Korea: cold wallets at risk of seizure for unpaid taxes appeared first on Atlas21.

content:
**_The South Korean tax agency warns: inspectors are authorized to search homes to seize non-custodial wallets._**
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**South Korea’s National Tax Service** (NTS) has issued a warning to digital asset holders: those who fail to settle their tax debts risk having their cold wallets seized directly from their homes. The announcement, [reported](https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2025100116070001575) by _Hankook Ilbo_ on October 9, came directly from the NTS.

South Korean tax authorities have long been running campaigns against tax evaders who hold cryptocurrencies on local exchanges. In recent weeks, several national agencies have expanded these operations to include citizens **in default on utility bills and traffic fines**.

However, the NTS’s statement marks a clear escalation. The agency confirmed that it is fully aware that many investors store their digital assets offline using self-custody solutions. An NTS spokesperson stated:

> > “We can now monitor a non-compliant taxpayer’s crypto transaction history using \[blockchain protocol\] tracking programs. And if we suspect they are hiding their coins offline, we can conduct searches at their homes, confiscating \[hard drives or PCs\].”

Despite the NTS’s expanded powers, a gray area remains. As highlighted by the newspaper:

> > “Problems occur in cases where non-compliant taxpayers use overseas crypto exchanges. Since domestic law does not apply overseas, the \[NTS\] must rely on the cooperation of foreign governments to determine the nature of a delinquent taxpayer’s assets.”

Although the **Multilateral Tax Administration Cooperation Agreement** allows Seoul to cooperate with **74** countries on tax matters, this network may not be sufficient. South Korea does not have such agreements with the **United States, China,** or **Russia**.

There is also evidence suggesting that a growing number of South Korean traders are abandoning domestic platforms in favor of foreign or decentralized alternatives. Data from the **Financial Supervisory Service** (FSS) shows that in the first half of this year, **78.9 trillion won** (about **$55.6 billion**) worth of crypto assets were transferred from domestic exchanges to foreign companies or wallets.

### **How the NTS operates on domestic exchanges**

Under the **National Tax Collection Act**, the tax agency can issue “right of inquiry and inspection” orders on individual accounts. The NTS typically issues these orders to exchanges in cases of repeated non-payment, especially when suspected tax evaders claim they cannot settle their outstanding debts.

Once NTS investigations confirm that an individual holds crypto assets, the exchange responds by freezing the relevant wallets. All assets in the account are then transferred to NTS-controlled wallets. Some local tax offices also send ultimatums to crypto holders, warning that the agency will liquidate their assets if they do not settle their tax obligations.

If no response is received, the agency proceeds immediately with the sale of the cryptocurrencies, converting them into fiat currency at market price.

According to NTS data presented to the office of Democratic Party lawmaker **Kim Young-jin**, the tax service _“has seized and collected digital assets from 14,140 delinquent taxpayers over the past four years.”_ This has led the NTS and its regional affiliates to liquidate cryptocurrencies worth **146.1 billion won** (about **$103 million**) during the same period.

The post [South Korea: cold wallets at risk of seizure for unpaid taxes](https://atlas21.com/south-korea-cold-wallets-at-risk-of-seizure-for-unpaid-taxes/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


tpqSMDDBLsiAvwqjZe+dfYw7qw/um+ExAVk2OiZ3IYIBbphDPTmAxp/gwR4zwIKB?iv=JQeWmLuQGOBkiJNGaf3ieA==


tags: The P2P Bitcoin trading platform is now available on Android with native Tor support. The post Bisq Easy: the decentralized exchange arrives on Android appeared first on Atlas21.

content:
**_The P2P Bitcoin trading platform is now available on Android with native Tor support._**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Bisq**, one of the best-known peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchanges, has officially launched its mobile application for **Android** devices. **Bisq Easy** is now available for download both as a direct **APK file** and via the **Google Play Store**.

The app preserves the project’s original philosophy: private **peer-to-peer** transactions without the need for **KYC** (Know Your Customer) or any registration that could compromise user anonymity.

![bisq](https://i0.wp.com/atlas21.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/G2_MsrgaQAAV-Gy.jpeg?resize=1024%2C532&ssl=1)

One of Bisq Easy’s key features is the ability to run a **P2P node directly from the Android device**. The app automatically connects to the **Tor** network, ensuring privacy and secure communications. This implementation replicates the desktop experience: the smartphone becomes a node on the Bisq network, communicating through the integrated Tor network with full encryption.

Attention has also been given to **resource optimization**: when the app runs in the background, network connectivity generally remains active for a variable period depending on system usage and available resources. If the connection is interrupted, the system is designed to automatically reconnect within a few seconds as soon as the user reopens the app.

In addition, the development team is working on **Bisq Connect**, a companion app that will act as a “remote control” for a Bisq desktop node or one hosted on a VPS. This solution will allow users to manage their main node via a secure Tor connection and will be available for both Android and iOS.

The developers encourage users to try the app and share feedback to further improve the service.

The post [Bisq Easy: the decentralized exchange arrives on Android](https://atlas21.com/bisq-easy-the-decentralized-exchange-arrives-on-android/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


tags: The upgrade to version 30 brings both improvements and controversy with the increase of the OP_RETURN limit from 80 to 100,000 bytes. The post Bitcoin Core v30 is here: the OP_RETURN issue splits the community appeared first on Atlas21.

content:
**_The upgrade to version 30 brings both improvements and controversy with the increase of the OP\_RETURN limit from 80 to 100,000 bytes._**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bitcoin community finds itself divided after the official launch of the **Bitcoin Core v30** update. The release, which introduces changes to node architecture, performance, and security, has sparked mixed reactions among developers, miners, and users.

### **Key updates**

The Bitcoin Core development team has implemented several new features designed to enhance the user experience on the network. One notable addition is **optional encrypted node-to-node connections**, aimed at ensuring greater privacy for users.

The [official announcement](https://bitcoincore.org/en/releases/30.0/) on October 12 also clarified that with the release of this new major version, **all versions prior to 27.x have reached End of Life** and will no longer receive security or maintenance updates.

One of the main changes is the **reduction of default transaction fees**. Nodes can relay transactions with fees as low as **0.1 sat/vB**, while miners will be able to include them in the next block with a minimum fee of **0.001 sat/vB**.

The most hotly debated change concerns the **expansion of the OP\_RETURN limit**, which has increased from around 80 bytes to **100,000 bytes**. This adjustment allows for much larger amounts of **non-financial data** to be stored within Bitcoin transactions.

Although the update also includes bug fixes and performance improvements, it is the OP\_RETURN limit increase that has captured most of the attention and divided the community.

### **Reactions**

**Alex Bergeron**, Ecosystem Lead at Ark Labs, [expressed](https://x.com/bergealex4/status/1976472388104749178) excitement about Bitcoin Core v30 on X, stating his intention to _“use all of the additional OP\_Return space and will use it to make Bitcoin more like Ethereum, except better.”_

**Pavol Rusnak**, co-founder of Satoshi Labs, [said](https://x.com/PavolRusnak/status/1977366567840084219) he chose Bitcoin Core v30 for its _“great development team, peer reviewed code, sane engineering decisions_.”

Critics of the update argue that this change violates Bitcoin’s core principles as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Concerns include the potential growth of the blockchain’s size, higher operational costs for nodes, and legal risks.

Last week, **Nick Szabo**, a well-known cypherpunk, recommended on X:

> As a (hopefully) temporary measure, run Knots. I strongly recommend not upgrading to Core v30.[https://t.co/d9HFi7T59H](https://t.co/d9HFi7T59H)
>
> — Nick Szabo (@NickSzabo4) [October 8, 2025](https://twitter.com/NickSzabo4/status/1975805206031179831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Earlier in October, Szabo [had already raised concerns](https://atlas21.com/bitcoin-core-v30-incoming-nick-szabo-breaks-silence-after-five-years/) about the legal implications of increasing the OP\_RETURN limit. According to him, node operators risk hosting “_illegal data_” for which they could be held criminally liable.

In recent months, in response to Bitcoin Core’s decisions, a significant number of node operators have adopted the alternative implementation **Bitcoin Knots**, which allows for strict data size limits to be applied. [Data](https://bitcoin.clarkmoody.com/dashboard/) from **Clark Moody Bitcoin** shows that there are currently **nearly 5,000** active Knots nodes, representing about **20%** of all nodes.

The post [Bitcoin Core v30 is here: the OP\_RETURN issue splits the community](https://atlas21.com/bitcoin-core-v30-is-here-the-op_return-issue-splits-the-community/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


tags: The “Bitcoin Jesus” nears closure of his tax case after months of legal battles in the United States. The post Roger Ver reaches provisional deal with the Department of Justice appeared first on Atlas21.

content:
**_The “Bitcoin Jesus” nears closure of his tax case after months of legal battles in the United States._**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pioneering Bitcoin investor **Roger Ver** has reportedly reached a _“provisional agreement”_ with the **U.S. Department of Justice** (DOJ) to resolve criminal tax charges, [according](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/technology/roger-ver-bitcoin-justice-department-deal.html) to the _New York Times_.

Ver, known in the community as “Bitcoin Jesus,” was arrested in April 2024 on charges of **mail fraud**, **tax evasion**, and filing **false tax returns**. At the time of his arrest, federal prosecutors claimed Ver had hidden his ownership of bitcoin from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), allegedly causing a loss of **$48 million** in tax revenue.

After living in Santa Clara, California, Ver renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 following the acquisition of citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis.

According to the DOJ, even though Ver was no longer a U.S. citizen at the time, he was still legally required to report to the IRS and pay an “exit tax” on certain earnings, such as dividends from MemoryDealers.com Inc. and Agilestar.com Inc., both U.S.-based companies. Prosecutors allege that Ver failed to inform his accountant that he had received and sold bitcoin from MemoryDealers.com Inc. and Agilestar.com Inc. that year. As a result, his 2017 individual tax return did not report any gains nor did it include any taxes related to the distribution of bitcoin from those companies to him.

According to the _New York Times_, citing sources close to the matter, Ver is willing to pay a sum close to **$48 million** to the federal government. In exchange, criminal charges could be dropped if the entrepreneur accepts all terms of the deal.

### **The political context**

Since President **Donald Trump** returned to the White House this year, his administration has adopted a series of more favorable measures toward the digital asset sector. Among these actions are the shelving of investigations into companies like **Coinbase** and **Binance**, as well as the appointment of crypto-friendly figures to key federal agencies.

Trump [also pardoned](https://atlas21.com/trump-pardons-ross-ulbricht-the-silk-road-founder-is-free/) **Ross Ulbricht**, founder of Silk Road, during his first days in office. Later, Ulbricht himself joined the campaign to “free” Ver as well.

_“Roger Ver was there for me when I was down and needed help. Now Roger needs our support. No one should spend the rest of their life in prison over taxes,”_ Ulbricht wrote on X in February.

The post [Roger Ver reaches provisional deal with the Department of Justice](https://atlas21.com/roger-ver-reaches-provisional-deal-with-the-department-of-justice/) appeared first on [Atlas21](https://atlas21.com).


GN! 🌜🐕💤


RSS-to-Nostr of Declassified UK

about:
RSS-to-Nostr feed of Declassified UK
More RSS-To-Nostr can be found in my following list


0VCAB+ViPCCPcHfxt0lgWPzQ+ZBxtgm/Kav24eyfBnvJfFvfFOOMS3eMZ8SgfRVn?iv=86d4HBqdJ1gT1FXLfbDXow==


リセットコマンドを実装するまでの命。


S25FJUSLqMNlqMsumRKVTS0PNfrQOwK2KWY1n8gesh2m3RcUK8Q/zqDmxklafSu6cgvm5IYuPPhdI4yu93SrLQ==?iv=jSasY9I9hJQutluN5e3P5w==


JoU/H93TQYMhqCtpe3CWIMdtbvb1+zNKp2XIsQJeGC/dX9+j99YzPzjaT8fbBcdS?iv=4HLIqVTwm1Wo8ZPIHeVetw==


DVWoGuMKUeG58lxYoNS8GwLmYlv559bOb/p6VAwGZMP82ioN7+Pdzc5HeV7q6f4e?iv=SaM3mfyGkK04FIUrn8iL5g==


OjaVewriTI/cY1Rl5y+ej9ZxcabPf/mhOHqQtqqENoN91aj4Ko0dzfiwo+dV/mVD10EX5f/VulxWk7k0yTBUkKWtrTzJXddWRfa3CII1FH07SyM7gFEDVbXK/j3NL/RXLFhgi0LXZqaLjAkPUKhH7A==?iv=6L9HGb1En6+3YDqvCB8tag==


ePawjGAS9GXDEhfMdcyiz3S43MNUg4fbDlwePmFndONhhRQGgJxJmcd6BFCBrJOk?iv=4vkdGK/MVjoNwr7taFwt1w==


tags: There are going to be many more bank failures as this ponzi system unravels. Unlike 2008, we have the ability to opt out of these broken and corrupt institutions by using bitcoin.

content:
![More Banks Will Fail](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/05/bankfailures.jpg)

People forget Bear Stearns failed March 2008 - months of denial followed before the public realized how bad the situation was under the surface.

Similar happening now but much larger scale. They did not fix fundamental issues after 2008 - everything is more fragile.

The Fed preemptively bailed out every bank with their BTFP program and First Republic Bank still failed. The second largest bank failure in history.

There will be more failures. There will be more bailouts. Depositors will be "protected" by socializing losses across everyone.

Our President and mainstream financial pundits are currently pretending the banking crisis is over while most banks remain insolvent. There are going to be many more bank failures as this ponzi system unravels.

**Unlike 2008, we have the ability to opt out of these broken and corrupt institutions by using bitcoin.** Bitcoin [held in self custody](https://werunbtc.com/coldcard?ref=discreetlog.com) is unique in its lack of counterparty risk - you do not have to trust a bank or other centralized entity to hold it for you. Bitcoin is also incredibly difficult to change by design since it is not controlled by an individual, company, or government - the supply of dollars will inevitably be inflated to bailout these failing banks but bitcoin supply will remain unchanged. **I do not need to convince you that bitcoin provides value - these next few years will convince millions.**

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![More Banks Will Fail](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


> ![Nostr: A Revolutionary Communication Protocol](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/04/nostr.webp)
>
> [@matt\_odell](https://twitter.com/MATT_ODELL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com) don't you even dare not ask about nostr!
>
> — Kukks (Andrew Camilleri) (@MrKukks) [May 18, 2021](https://twitter.com/MrKukks/status/1394638825675177986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com)

Nostr first hit my radar spring 2021: created by fellow bitcoiner and friend, [fiatjaf](https://twitter.com/fiatjaf?ref=discreetlog.com), and [released](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr?ref=discreetlog.com) to the world as free open source software. I was fortunate to be able to host a [conversation with him on Citadel Dispatch](https://www.podpage.com/citadeldispatch/cd63-building-nostr-a-censorship-resistant-alternative-to-twitter-with-fiatjaf-jb55-and-mrkukks/?ref=discreetlog.com) in those early days, capturing that moment in history forever. Since then, the protocol has seen explosive viral organic growth as individuals around the world have contributed their time and energy to build out the protocol and the surrounding ecosystem due to the clear need for better communication tools.

_**nostr is to twitter as bitcoin is to paypal**_

As an intro to nostr, let us start with a metaphor:

_**twitter is paypal** - a centralized platform plagued by censorship but has the benefit of established network effects_

_**nostr is bitcoin** - an open protocol that is censorship resistant and robust but requires an organic adoption phase_

**Nostr is an open communication protocol that can be used to send messages across a distributed set of relays in a censorship resistant and robust way.
** - Anyone can run a relay.
 - Anyone can interact with the protocol.
 - Relays can choose which messages they want to relay.
 - Users are identified by a simple public private key pair that they can generate themselves.

Nostr is often compared to twitter since there are nostr clients that emulate twitter functionality and user interface but that is merely one application of the protocol. **Nostr is so much more than a mere twitter competitor.** Nostr clients and relays can transmit a wide variety of data and clients can choose how to display that information to users. The result is a revolution in communication with implications that are difficult for any of us to truly comprehend.

Similar to bitcoin, nostr is an open and permissionless protocol. **No person, company, or government controls it.** Anyone can iterate and build on top of nostr without permission. Together, bitcoin and nostr are incredibly complementary freedom tech tools: censorship resistant, permissionless, robust, and interoperable - money and speech protected by code and incentives, not laws.

As censorship throughout the world continues to escalate, freedom tech provides hope for individuals around the world who refuse to accept the status quo. This movement will succeed on the shoulders of those who choose to stand up and contribute. We will build our own path. A brighter path.

* * *

**My Nostr Public Key:** [npub1qny3tkh0acurzla8x3zy4nhrjz5zd8l9sy9jys09umwng00manysew95gx](https://primal.net/odell?ref=discreetlog.com)

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Nostr: A Revolutionary Communication Protocol](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


tags: PacWest is the first of many small regional banks that will go under this year. Most will get bought by the big four in gov orchestrated sales. This has been the playbook since 2008.

content:
> ![Bank Consolidation Then CBDC](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/05/banks-1.jpg)
>
> Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.
>
> — ODELL (@ODELL) [December 14, 2022](https://twitter.com/ODELL/status/1602838429447999491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com)

Good morning.

It looks like PacWest will fail today. It will be both the fifth largest bank failure in US history and the sixth major bank to fail this year. It will likely get purchased by one of the big four banks in a government orchestrated sale.

**March 8th - Silvergate Bank
March 10th - Silicon Valley Bank
March 12th - Signature Bank
March 19th - Credit Suisse
May 1st - First Republic Bank
May 4th - PacWest Bank?**

PacWest is the first of many small regional banks that [will go under](https://www.discreetlog.com/banking-crisis/) this year. Most will get bought by the big four in gov orchestrated sales. This has been the playbook since 2008. Follow the incentives. Massive consolidation across the banking industry. PacWest gonna be a drop in the bucket compared to what comes next.

First, a hastened government led bank consolidation, then a public/private partnership with the remaining large banks to launch a surveilled and controlled digital currency network. We will be told it is more convenient. We will be told it is safer. We will be told it will prevent future bank runs. All of that is marketing bullshit. **The goal is greater control of money. The ability to choose how we spend it and how we save it. If you control the money - you control the people that use it.**

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Bank Consolidation Then CBDC](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


tags: Wealth requires freedom: the ability to make decisions without coercion. Freedom requires privacy: the ability to selectively reveal yourself to the world. Rights are not granted: they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.

content:
* * *

![No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/04/freedom-1.webp)

_"Privacy is necessary for an open society in the electronic age. Privacy is not secrecy.  A private matter is something one doesn't want the whole world to know, but a secret matter is something one doesn't want anybody to know. Privacy is the power to selectively reveal oneself to the world."_ **\- Eric Hughes, [A Cypherpunk's Manifesto](https://www.activism.net/cypherpunk/manifesto.html?ref=discreetlog.com), 1993**

* * *

**Privacy is essential to freedom.** Without privacy, individuals are unable to make choices free from surveillance and control. Lack of privacy leads to loss of autonomy. When individuals are constantly monitored it limits our ability to express ourselves and take risks. Any decisions we make can result in negative repercussions from those who surveil us. Without the freedom to make choices, individuals cannot truly be free.

**Freedom is essential to acquiring and preserving wealth.** When individuals are not free to make choices, restrictions and limitations prevent us from economic opportunities. If we are somehow able to acquire wealth in such an environment, lack of freedom can result in direct asset seizure by governments or other malicious entities. At scale, when freedom is compromised, it leads to widespread economic stagnation and poverty. Protecting freedom is essential to economic prosperity.

The connection between **privacy, freedom, and wealth** is critical. Without privacy, individuals lose the freedom to make choices free from surveillance and control. While lack of freedom prevents individuals from pursuing economic opportunities and makes wealth preservation nearly impossible. **_No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth._**

_**Rights are not granted. They are taken and defended.**_ Rights are often misunderstood as permission to do something by those holding power. However, if someone can give you something, they can inherently take it from you at will. People throughout history have necessarily fought for basic rights, including privacy and freedom. These rights were not given by those in power, but rather demanded and won through struggle. Even after these rights are won, they must be continually defended to ensure that they are not taken away. **Rights are not granted - they are earned through struggle and defended through sacrifice.**

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![No Privacy? No Freedom. No Freedom? No Wealth.](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


![Patriot Act 2.0](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/03/restrictact.webp)

The newly proposed RESTRICT ACT - is being advertised as a TikTok Ban, but is much broader than that, carries a $1M Fine and up to 20 years in prison! It is unconstitutional and would create massive legal restrictions on the open source movement and free speech throughout the internet.

The [Bill](https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/3/f/3f2eaae6-09ad-49e1-b254-46289cf20cca/843D73B1823EA0D4122B4365262410D6.restrict-act-final-text.pdf?ref=discreetlog.com) was proposed by: Senator Warner, Senator Thune, Senator Baldwin, Senator Fischer, Senator Manchin, Senator Moran, Senator Bennet, Senator Sullivan, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Collins, Senator Heinrich, and Senator Romney. It has broad support across Senators of both parties.

Corrupt politicians will not protect us. They are part of the problem. We must build, support, and learn how to use censorship resistant tools in order to defend our natural rights.

> The RESTRICT Act, introduced by Senators Warner and Thune, aims to block or disrupt transactions and financial holdings involving foreign adversaries that pose risks to national security. Although the primary targets of this legislation are companies like Tik-Tok, the language of the bill could potentially be used to block or disrupt cryptocurrency transactions and, in extreme cases, block Americans’ access to open source tools or protocols like Bitcoin.

> The Act creates a redundant regime paralleling OFAC without clear justification, it significantly limits the ability for injured parties to challenge actions raising due process concerns, and unlike OFAC it lacks any carve-out for protected speech. [COINCENTER ON THE RESTRICT ACT](https://www.coincenter.org/the-restrict-act-creates-blanket-authority-with-few-checks-to-ban-just-about-anything-linked-to-a-foreign-adversary/?ref=discreetlog.com)

[**Full Text of Bill**](https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/3/f/3f2eaae6-09ad-49e1-b254-46289cf20cca/843D73B1823EA0D4122B4365262410D6.restrict-act-final-text.pdf?ref=discreetlog.com)

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Patriot Act 2.0](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


> ![Money Without Trust](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/03/rdogs.webp)
>
> Bank run on every crypto bank then bank run on every "real" bank.
>
> — ODELL (@ODELL) [December 14, 2022](https://twitter.com/ODELL/status/1602838429447999491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com)

The four main banks of bitcoin and “crypto” are Signature, Prime Trust, Silvergate, and Silicon Valley Bank. Prime Trust does not custody funds themselves but rather maintains deposit accounts at BMO Harris Bank, Cross River, Lexicon Bank, MVB Bank, and Signature Bank. Silvergate and Silicon Valley Bank have already stopped withdrawals. **More banks will go down before the chaos stops. None of them have sufficient reserves to meet withdrawals.**

Bitcoin gives us all the ability to opt out of a system that has massive layers of counterparty risk built in, years of cheap money and broken incentives have layered risk on top of risk throughout the entire global economy. If you thought the FTX bank run was painful to watch, I have bad news for you: every major bank in the world is fractional reserve. **Bitcoin held in self custody is unique in its lack of counterparty risk, as global market chaos unwinds this will become much more obvious.**

The rules of bitcoin are extremely hard to change by design. Anyone can access the network directly without a trusted third party by using their own node. Owning more bitcoin does not give you more control over the network with all participants on equal footing.

> _Bitcoin is:
> \- money that is not controlled by a company or government
> \- money that can be spent or saved without permission
> \- money that is provably scarce and should increase in purchasing power with adoption_

**Bitcoin is money without trust.** Whether you are a nation state, corporation, or an individual, you can use bitcoin to spend or save without permission. Social media will accelerate the already deteriorating trust in our institutions and as this trust continues to crumble the value of trust minimized money will become obvious. **As adoption increases so should the purchasing power of bitcoin.**

> _A quick note on "stablecoins," such as USDC - it is important to remember that they rely on trusted custodians. They have the same risk as funds held directly in bank accounts with additional counterparty risk on top. The trusted custodians can be pressured by gov, exit scam, or caught up in fraud. Funds can and will be frozen at will. **This is a distinctly different trust model than bitcoin, which is a native bearer token that does not rely on any centralized entity or custodian.**_

Most bitcoin exchanges have exposure to these failing banks. Expect more chaos and confusion as this all unwinds. Withdraw any bitcoin to your own wallet ASAP.

Simple Self Custody Guide: [https://werunbtc.com/muun](https://t.co/J61rFmeovE?ref=discreetlog.com)
More Secure Cold Storage Guide: [https://werunbtc.com/coldcard](https://t.co/LMTDzJ86Ec?ref=discreetlog.com)

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Money Without Trust](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


![KYC Bitcoin: Individuals are on Lists](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/02/binancekycleak.webp)

**_What is KYC/AML?_**

*   The acronym stands for Know Your Customer / Anti Money Laundering.
*   In practice it stands for the surveillance measures companies are often compelled to take against their customers by financial regulators.
*   Methods differ but often include: Passport Scans, Driver License Uploads, Social Security Numbers, Home Address, Phone Number, Face Scans.
*   Bitcoin companies will also store all withdrawal and deposit addresses which can then be used to track bitcoin transactions on the bitcoin block chain.
*   This data is then stored and shared. Regulations often require companies to hold this information for a set number of years but in practice users should assume this data will be held indefinitely. Data is often stored insecurely, which results in frequent [hacks and leaks](https://www.newsweek.com/binance-hack-telegram-kyc-data-extortion-changpeng-zhao-cryptocurrency-bitcoin-1452989?ref=discreetlog.com).
*   KYC/AML data collection puts all honest users at risk of theft, extortion, and persecution while being ineffective at stopping crime. Criminals often use [counterfeit, bought, or stolen](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2021/10/19/for-200-you-can-trade-crypto-with-a-fake-id/?ref=discreetlog.com) credentials to get around the requirements. Criminals can buy "verified" accounts for as [little as $200](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2021/10/19/for-200-you-can-trade-crypto-with-a-fake-id/?ref=discreetlog.com). Furthermore, billions of people are excluded from financial services as a result of KYC/AML requirements.

During the early days of bitcoin most services did not require this sensitive user data, but as adoption increased so did the surveillance measures. At this point, **most large bitcoin companies are collecting and storing massive lists of bitcoiners, our sensitive personal information, and our transaction history.**

**Lists of Bitcoiners**

KYC/AML policies are a direct attack on bitcoiners. Lists of bitcoiners and our transaction history will inevitably be used against us.

Once you are on a list with your bitcoin transaction history that record will always exist. Generally speaking, tracking bitcoin is based on probability analysis of ownership change. Surveillance firms use various heuristics to determine if you are sending bitcoin to yourself or if ownership is actually changing hands.  You can obtain better privacy going forward by using collaborative transactions such as coinjoin to break this probability analysis.

Fortunately, you can buy bitcoin without providing intimate personal information. Tools such as [peach](https://peachbitcoin.com/?ref=discreetlog.com), [hodlhodl](https://hodlhodl.com/?ref=discreetlog.com), [robosats](https://learn.robosats.com/?ref=discreetlog.com), [azteco](https://azte.co/?ref=discreetlog.com) and [bisq](https://bisq.network/?ref=discreetlog.com) help; mining is also a solid option: anyone can plug a miner into power and internet and earn bitcoin by mining privately.

You can also earn bitcoin by providing goods and/or services that can be purchased with bitcoin. Long term, circular economies will mitigate this threat: most people will not buy bitcoin - they will earn bitcoin - most people will not sell bitcoin - they will spend bitcoin.

**There is no such thing as KYC or No KYC bitcoin, there are bitcoiners on lists and those that are not on lists.**

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![KYC Bitcoin: Individuals are on Lists](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


> !['The Lightning Network' Does Not Exist](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/03/lightningnetwork.webp)
>
> The former seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
>
> The latter's future remains to be seen. Dependence on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.
>
> — ODELL (@ODELL) [October 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/ODELL/status/1585633149815377922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=discreetlog.com)

**The Basics**

*   Lightning is a protocol that enables cheap and fast native bitcoin transactions.
*   At the core of the protocol is the ability for bitcoin users to create a payment channel with another user.
*   These payment channels enable users to make many bitcoin transactions between each other with only two on-chain bitcoin transactions: the channel open transaction and the channel close transaction.
*   Essentially lightning is a protocol for interoperable batched bitcoin transactions.
*   It is expected that on chain [bitcoin transaction fees will increase](https://www.discreetlog.com/utxos/) with adoption and the ability to easily batch transactions will save users significant money.
*   As these lightning transactions are processed, liquidity flows from one side of a channel to the other side, on chain transactions are signed by both parties but not broadcasted to update this balance.
*   Lightning is designed to be trust minimized, either party in a payment channel can close the channel at any time and their bitcoin will be settled on chain without trusting the other party.

**There is no 'Lightning Network'**

*   Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise.
*   There are many lightning channels between many different users and funds can flow across interconnected channels as long as there is a route through peers.
*   If a lightning transaction requires multiple hops it will flow through multiple interconnected channels, adjusting the balance of all channels along the route, and paying lightning transaction fees that are set by each node on the route.

**Example:** You have a channel with Bob. Bob has a channel with Charlie. You can pay Charlie through your channel with Bob and Bob's channel with User C.

*   As a result, it is not guaranteed that every lightning user can pay every other lightning user, they must have a route of interconnected channels between sender and receiver.

**Lightning in Practice**

*   Lightning has already found product market fit and usage as an interconnected payment protocol between large professional custodians.
*   They are able to easily manage channels and liquidity between each other without trust using this interoperable protocol.
*   Lightning payments between large custodians are fast and easy. End users do not have to run their own node or manage their channels and liquidity. These payments rarely fail due to professional management of custodial nodes.
*   The tradeoff is one inherent to custodians and other trusted third parties. Custodial wallets can steal funds and compromise user privacy.

**Sovereign Lightning**

*   Trusted third parties are [security holes](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/trusted-third-parties/?ref=discreetlog.com).
*   Users must run their own node and manage their own channels in order to use lightning without trusting a third party. This remains the single largest friction point for sovereign lightning usage: the mental burden of actively running a lightning node and associated liquidity management.
*   Bitcoin development prioritizes node accessibility so cost to self host your own node is low but if a node is run at home or office, Tor or a VPN is recommended to mask your IP address: otherwise it is visible to the entire network and represents a privacy risk.
*   This privacy risk is heightened due to the potential for certain governments to go after sovereign lightning users and compel them to shutdown their nodes. If their IP Address is exposed they are easier to target.
*   Fortunately the tools to run and manage nodes continue to get easier but it is important to understand that this will always be a friction point when compared to custodial services.

**The Potential Fracture of Lightning**

*   Any lightning user can choose which users are allowed to open channels with them.
*   One potential is that professional custodians only peer with other professional custodians.
*   We already see nodes like those run by CashApp only have channels open with other regulated counterparties. This could be due to performance goals, liability reduction, or regulatory pressure.

[!['The Lightning Network' Does Not Exist](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/03/cashapp-2.webp)](https://mempool.space/lightning/node/02e1221434a21b8ce5818e92c6ec76301824dc87ed94b4628242e4b1f4a6ff445f?ref=discreetlog.com)

*   Fortunately some of their peers are connected to non-regulated parties so payments to and from sovereign lightning users are still successfully processed by CashApp but this may not always be the case going forward.

**Summary**

*   Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise. There is no singular 'Lightning Network' but rather many payment channels between distinct peers, some connected with each other and some not.
*   Lightning as an interoperable payment protocol between professional custodians seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
*   Lightning as a robust sovereign payment protocol has yet to be battle tested. Heavy reliance on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, the friction of active liquidity management, significant on chain fee burden for small amounts, interactivity constraints on mobile, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

* * *

_If you have never used lightning before, use_ [_this guide_](https://werunbtc.com/phoenix?ref=discreetlog.com) _to get started on your phone._

* * *

**_If you found this post helpful support my work with_** [**_bitcoin_**](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com)**_._**

!['The Lightning Network' Does Not Exist](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


pay_invoice make_invoice get_balance get_info list_transactions lookup_invoice


StUjMqpoqHyCXZTT40kEiQ==?iv=N1x12T7EvN92nOsMX9yU3A==


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

content:
News
----

*   **Bitcoin mining centralization in 2025.** According to a [blog post](https://b10c.me/blog/015-bitcoin-mining-centralization/) by _b10c_, Bitcoin mining was at its most decentralized in May 2017, with another favorable period from 2019 to 2022. However, starting in 2023, mining has become increasingly centralized, particularly due to the influence of large pools like Foundry and the use of proxy pooling by entities such as AntPool.

![Block 893376: Important News of the Week](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-21.png)

Source: [b10c's blog.](https://b10c.me/blog/015-bitcoin-mining-centralization/)

*   **OpenSats announces the eleventh wave of Nostr grants.** The [five projects in this wave](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/opensats-unveils-the-eleventh-wave-of-nostr-grants/) are the mobile live-streaming app [Swae](https://github.com/suhailsaqan/swae), the Nostr-over-ham-radio project [HAMSTR](https://github.com/LibertyFarmer/hamstr), [Vertex](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/vertex-web-of-trust-as-a-service/)—a Web-of-Trust (WOT) service for Nostr developers, [Nostr Double Ratchet](https://github.com/mmalmi/nostr-double-ratchet) for end-to-end encrypted messaging, and the [Nostr Game Engine](https://ngengine.org/) for building games and applications integrated with the Nostr ecosystem.
*   **New Spiral grantee:** [**_l0rinc_**](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1912176891609362505)**.** In February 2024, _l0rinc_ transitioned to full-time work on Bitcoin Core. [His efforts](https://github.com/l0rinc/bitcoin/tree/l0rinc/work?tab=readme-ov-file#bitcoin-core-contributions) focus on performance benchmarking and optimizations, enhancing code quality, conducting code reviews, reducing block download times, optimizing memory usage, and refactoring code.
*   **Project Eleven offers 1 BTC to break Bitcoin's cryptography with a quantum computer.** The quantum computing research organization [has introduced](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/project-eleven-to-award-1-btc-to-tackle-bitcoins-quantum-vulnerability) the [Q-Day Prize](https://www.qdayprize.org/), a global challenge that offers 1 BTC to the first team capable of breaking an elliptic curve cryptographic (ECC) key using Shor’s algorithm on a quantum computer. The prize will be awarded to the first team to successfully accomplish this breakthrough by April 5, 2026.
*   **Unchained has launched the Bitcoin Legacy Project.** The initiative [seeks](https://www.unchained.com/blog/introducing-the-bitcoin-legacy-project) to advance the Bitcoin ecosystem through a bitcoin-native [donor-advised fund platform](https://www.unchained.com/blog/bitcoin-donor-advised-funds) (DAF), investments in community hubs, support for education and open-source development, and a commitment to long-term sustainability with transparent annual reporting.
    *   In its first year, the program will provide support to Bitcoin hubs in Nashville, Austin, and Denver.
    *   Support also includes $50,000 to the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a $150,000 commitment at the University of Austin, and up to $250,000 in research grants through the Bitcoin Scholars program.

> "Unchained will **match grants 1:1** made to partner organizations who support Bitcoin Core development when made through the Unchained-powered bitcoin DAF, up to 1 BTC," was stated in a blog post.

*   **Block launched open-source tools for Bitcoin treasury management.** These [include](https://block.xyz/inside/block-releases-open-source-tools-for-bitcoin-treasury-management) a dashboard for managing corporate bitcoin holdings and provides a real-time BTC-to-USD price quote API, released as part of the [Block Open Source initiative](https://github.com/block/bitcoin-treasury). The company’s own instance of the bitcoin holdings dashboard is available [here](https://bitcoin.block.xyz).

[![Block 893376: Important News of the Week](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-14.png)](https://bitcoin.block.xyz/)

Source: block.xyz

*   **Bull Bitcoin expands to Mexico,** [enabling](https://www.bullbitcoin.com/blog/bull-bitcoin-launches-in-mexico) anyone in the country to receive pesos from anywhere in the world straight from a Bitcoin wallet. Additionally, users can now buy Bitcoin with a Mexican bank account.

> _"Bull Bitcoin strongly believes in Bitcoin’s economic potential in Mexico, not only for international remittances and tourism, but also for Mexican individuals and companies to reclaim their financial sovereignty and protect their wealth from inflation and the fragility of traditional financial markets," said Francis Pouliot, Founder and CEO of Bull Bitcoin._

*   **Corporate bitcoin holdings hit a record high in Q1 2025.** According to [Bitwise](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/corporate-bitcoin-holdings-hit-record-high-in-q1-2025-as-public-companies-accelerate-accumulation), public companies' adoption of Bitcoin has hit an all-time high. In Q1 2025, these firms collectively hold over 688,000 BTC, marking a 16.11% increase from the previous quarter. This amount represents 3.28% of Bitcoin's fixed 21 million supply.

![Block 893376: Important News of the Week](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-29.png)

Source: [Bitwise.](https://xcancel.com/BitwiseInvest/status/1911843925943337203)

*   **The Bitcoin Bond Company for institutions has launched** with the [aim of acquiring](https://xcancel.com/BitcoinPierre/status/1909229920447840602) $1 trillion in Bitcoin over 21 years. It utilizes secure, transparent, and compliant bond-like products backed by Bitcoin.
*   **The U.S. Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).** At his confirmation hearing, _Atkins_ [emphasized](https://cryptoslate.com/paul-atkins-confirmed-to-chair-sec-as-gary-genslers-long-term-replacement/) the need for a clear framework for digital assets. He aims to collaborate with the CFTC and Congress to address jurisdiction and rulemaking gaps, aligning with the Trump administration's goal to position the U.S. as a leader in Bitcoin and blockchain finance.
*   **Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith has been released from custody.** _Griffith_, whose sentence [was reduced](https://atlas21.com/former-ethereum-developer-virgil-griffith-released-from-custody/) to 56 months, is now seeking a pardon. He was initially sentenced to 63 months for allegedly violating international sanctions laws by providing technical advice on using cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to evade sanctions during a presentation titled 'Blockchains for Peace' in North Korea.
*   **No-KYC exchange eXch to close down under money laundering scrutiny.** The privacy-focused cryptocurrency trading platform [said](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=577207.msg65286839#msg65286839) it will cease operations on May 1. This decision follows allegations that the platform was used by North Korea's Lazarus Group for money laundering. eXch revealed it is the subject of an active "transatlantic operation" aimed at shutting down the platform and prosecuting its team for "money laundering and terrorism."
*   **Blockstream combats ESP32 FUD concerning Jade signers.** The company [stated](https://xcancel.com/Blockstream/status/1912468478025433244) that after reviewing the vulnerability disclosed in early March, Jade was found to be secure. Espressif Systems, the designer of the ESP32, has since [clarified](https://developer.espressif.com/blog/2025/03/esp32-bluetooth-clearing-the-air/?ref=btctimes.com) that the "undocumented commands" do not constitute a "backdoor."

[![Block 893376: Important News of the Week](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-30.png)](https://xcancel.com/Blockstream/status/1912468476200997138)

*   **Bank of America is lobbying for regulations that favor banks over tech firms in stablecoin issuance.** The bank's CEO _Brian Moynihan_ is working with groups such as the American Bankers Association to advance the issuance of a fully reserved, 1:1 backed "Bank of America coin." If successful, this could limit stablecoin efforts by non-banks like Tether, Circle, and others, [reports](https://www.theblock.co/post/350860/stablecoin-turf-wars-bank-of-america-tether-and-circle-battle-to-shape-us-rules) _The Block._
*   **Tether to back OCEAN Pool with its hashrate.** "As a company committed to financial freedom and open access, we see supporting decentralization in Bitcoin mining as essential to the network’s long-term integrity," [said](https://www.theminermag.com/news/2025-04-14/tether-ocean-pool-bitcoin) Tether CEO _Paolo Ardoino_.
*   **Bitdeer to expand its self-mining operations to navigate tariffs.** The Singapore-based mining company is advancing plans to produce machines in the U.S. while reducing its mining hardware sales. This response is in light of increasing uncertainties related to U.S. trade policy, as reported by [_Bloomberg_](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-15/crypto-firm-bitdeer-prioritizes-mining-to-weather-tariff-turmoil).
*   **Tether acquires $32M in Bitdeer shares.** The firm [has boosted](https://www.theminermag.com/news/2025-04-17/tether-bitdeer-acquire-bitcoin) its investment in Bitdeer during a wider market sell-off, with purchases in early to mid-April amounting to about $32 million, regulatory filings reveal.
*   **US Bitcoin miner manufacturer Auradine has raised $153 million** in a Series C funding round as it [expands](https://www.theminermag.com/news/2025-04-17/auradine-mara-bitcoin) into AI infrastructure. The round was led by StepStone Group and included participation from Maverick Silicon, Premji Invest, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Qualcomm Ventures, Mayfield, MARA Holdings, GSBackers, and other existing investors. The firm raised to over $300 million since its inception in 2022.
*   **Voltage has partnered with BitGo** to [enable](https://www.voltage.cloud/blog/bitgo-and-voltage-team-up-to-deliver-instant-bitcoin-and-stabl


tags: Good Morning, Bitcoin is your latest news roundup delivering key stories, project updates, new releases, guides, research, and all things related to Bitcoin and freedom tech.

content:
![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/1gm40.jpg)

_**Good morning** (good night?)!_ The No Bullshit Bitcoin [news feed](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/rss-feeds/) is now available on [Moody's Dashboard](https://dashboard.clarkmoody.com/)! A huge shoutout to sir [_Clark Moody_](https://njump.me/nevent1qqspy9hy5pxfza4tuhk5zx7zls3t6dd6nppp2v3l9ead53tx0x2a0mgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs7amnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wd4hk6q3q5n94rarp3n7dz6edx9cugeshn0kcuxtugwu9nzprkpx7yekw7ygq27sgqj) for integrating our feed.

[![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/a35b533e45a4fa2edbd0818cd6d0402fe007df98ac6c29c9262ff44aefcb6e20.jpg)](https://dashboard.clarkmoody.com/)

Headlines
---------

*   **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.

[![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-35.png)](https://xcancel.com/spiralbtc/status/1914334079387914435)

*   **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.
*   **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.
*   **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.

[![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-36.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7318277304881709057/)

*   **The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) wants to contain 'crypto' risks.** A report titled _"_[_Cryptocurrencies and Decentralised Finance: Functions and Financial Stability Implications_](https://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap156.htm)_"_ calls for expanding research into "how new forms of central bank money, capital controls, and taxation policies can counter the risks of widespread crypto adoption while still fostering technological innovation."
*   **"Global Implications of Scam Centres, Underground Banking, and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia."** According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) [report](https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2025/Inflection_Point_2025.pdf), criminal organizations from East and Southeast Asia are swiftly extending their global reach. These groups are moving beyond traditional scams and trafficking, creating sophisticated online networks that include unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges, encrypted communication platforms, and stablecoins, fueling a massive fraud economy on an industrial scale.
*   **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.
*   **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.

*   **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.

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

*   [**Bitcoin Safe v1.2.3**](https://github.com/andreasgriffin/bitcoin-safe/releases/tag/1.2.3) expands QR SignMessage compatibility for all QR-UR-compatible hardware signers (SpecterDIY, KeyStone, Passport, Jade; already supported COLDCARD Q). It also adds the ability to import wallets via QR, ensuring compatibility with Keystone's latest firmware (2.0.6), alongside other improvements.
*   [**Minibits v0.2.2-beta**](https://github.com/minibits-cash/minibits_wallet/releases), an ecash wallet for Android devices, packages many changes to align the project with the planned iOS app release. New features and improvements include the ability to lock ecash to a receiver's pubkey, faster confirmations of ecash minting and payments thanks to WebSockets, UI-related fixes, and more.
*   [**Zeus v0.11.0-alpha1**](https://github.com/ZeusLN/zeus/releases/tag/v0.11.0-alpha1) introduces Cashu wallets tied to embedded LND wallets. Navigate to Settings > Ecash to enable it. Other wallet types can still sweep funds from Cashu tokens. Zeus Pay now supports Cashu address types in Zaplocker, Cashu, and NWC modes.
*   [**LNDg v1.10.0**](https://github.com/cryptosharks131/lndg/releases/tag/v1.10.0), an advanced web interface designed for analyzing Lightning Network Daemon (LND) data and automating node management tasks, introduces performance improvements, adds a new metrics page for unprofitable and stuck channels, and displays warnings for batch openings. The Profit and Loss Chart has been updated to include on-chain costs. Advanced settings have been added for users who would like their channel database size to be read remotely (the default remains local). Additionally, the AutoFees tool now uses aggregated pubkey metrics for multiple channels with the same peer.
*   [**Nunchuk Desktop v1.9.45**](https://github.com/nunchuk-io/nunchuk-desktop/releases) release brings the latest bug fixes and improvements.
*   [**Blockstream Green iOS v4.1.8**](https://github.com/Blockstream/green_ios/releases) has renamed L-BTC to LBTC, and improves translations of notifications, login time, and background payments.
*   [**Blockstream Green Android v4.1.8**](https://github.com/Blockstream/green_android/releases) has added language preference in App Settings and enables an Android data backup option for disaster recovery. Additionally, it fixes issues with Jade entry point PIN timeout and Trezor passphrase input.
*   [**Torq v2.2.2**](https://github.com/lncapital/torq/releases/tag/v2.2.2), an advanced Lightning node management software designed to handle large nodes with over 1000 channels, fixes bugs that caused channel balance to not be updated in some cases and channel "peer total local balance" not getting updated.
*   [**Stack Wallet v2.1.12**](https://github.com/cypherstack/stack_wallet/releases/tag/build_226), a multicoin wallet by _Cypher Stack_, fixes an issue with Xelis introduced in the latest release for Windows.
*   [**ESP-Miner-NerdQAxePlus v1.0.29.1**](https://github.com/shufps/ESP-Miner-NerdQAxePlus/releases), a forked version from the NerdAxe miner that was modified for use on the [NerdQAxe+](https://github.com/shufps/qaxe), is now available.
*   [**Zark**](https://gitlab.com/1440000bytes/zark) enables sending sats to an npub using [Bark](https://codeberg.org/ark-bitcoin/bark).

![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-37.png)

*   [**Erk**](https://blog.second.tech/erk-update/) is a novel variation of the Ark protocol that completely removes the need for user interactivity in rounds, addressing one of Ark's key limitations: the requirement for users to come online before their VTXOs expire.
*   [**Aegis v0.1.1**](https://nostr.band/note1ljdczm267y648fv3jwv2jwn3mu4ae6jyzzpq4v0h8cthf020lyyss9ymde) is now available. It is a Nostr event signer app for iOS devices.
*   [**Nostash**](https://github.com/tyiu/nostash) is a NIP-07 Nostr signing extension for Safari. It is a fork of [Nostore](https://github.com/ursuscamp/nostore) and is maintained by [_Terry Yiu_](https://njump.me/nevent1qqsx028h0k8vfqge897kcapvgplymm8grx8wchhssza4gm4csrj3wggzyqnhnu7e7sk8mmsh7rnteh8cn28e6kfdr83mrw7j0mcullg607vdz7ytpj2)_._ Available on iOS [TestFlight](https://testflight.apple.com/join/8TFMZbMs).
*   [**Amber v3.2.8**](https://github.com/greenart7c3/Amber/releases/tag/v3.2.8), a Nostr event signer for Android, delivers the latest fixes and improvements.
*   [**Nostur v1.20.0**](https://github.com/nostur-com/nostur-ios-public), a Nostr client for iOS, adds


content:
[![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-42.png)](https://mempool.space/)

Headlines
---------

*   **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.
*   **Florida's SB 868 proposes a backdoor into encrypted platforms.** The bill and its House companion have [both passed](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/04/floridas-anti-encryption-bill-wrecking-ball-privacy-theres-still-time-stop-it) through their respective committees and are headed to a full vote. If enacted, [SB 868](https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/868/) would require social media companies to decrypt teens' private messages, ban disappearing messages, allow unrestricted parental access to private messages, and likely eliminate encryption for all minors altogether.
*   **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.
*   **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 for miners on OCEAN but also one of the best things for Bitcoin," [stated](https://xcancel.com/ocean_mining/status/1914943267319226620) the mining pool.

![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-40.png)

Source: [orangesurf](https://xcancel.com/OrangeSurfBTC/status/1914953456483291175)

*   **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.
*   **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.
*   **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.
*   **TABConf 2025 is scheduled to take place from October 13-16, 2025.** This prominent technical Bitcoin conference is dedicated to community building, education, and developer support, and it is set to return in October. Get your [tickets here](https://7.tabconf.com/).
*   **Kaduna Lightning Development Bootcamp.** From May 14th to 17th, the Bitcoin Lightning Developer Bootcamp will take place in Kaduna, Nigeria. Thisevent offers four dynamic days of coding, learning, and networking. Organized by Africa Free Routing and supported by Btrust, Tether, and African Bitcoiners, this bootcamp is designed as a gateway for African developers eager to advance their skills in Bitcoin and Lightning development. [Apply here](https://freerouting.africa/kaduna-bootcamp/).

![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/image-41.png)

Source: [African Bitcoiners.](https://bitcoiners.africa/bitcoin-newsletter/22nd-april-2025-bitcoin-is-coming-to-kaduna-%f0%9f%9a%80-126/)

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

*   [**Core Lightning (CLN) v25.02.2**](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning/releases/tag/v25.02.2) as been released to fix a broken Docker image. The issue was caused by an SQLite version that did not support an advanced query.
*   [**Blitz wallet v0.4.4-beta**](https://github.com/BlitzWallet/BlitzWallet/releases) introduces several updates and improvements, including the prevention of duplicate ecash payments, fixes for background ecash invoice handling, the ability for users to send payments to BOLT12 invoices from their Liquid balance, support for Blink QR codes, a lowered minimum amount for Lightning-to-Liquid payments to 100 sats, the option to initiate a node sync via a swipe gesture on the wallet's home screen, and the introduction of opt-in or opt-out functionality for newly implemented crash analytics via settings.
*   [**Utreexo v0.5.0**](https://github.com/utreexo/utreexo), a hash-based dynamic accumulator, is now available.
*   [**Specter v2.1.1**](https://stacker.news/items/954220) is now available on StartOS. "This update brings compatibility with Bitcoin Core v28 and incorporates several upstream improvements," said developer _Alex71btc._
*   [**ESP-Miner (AxeOS) v2.7.0b1**](https://github.com/bitaxeorg/ESP-Miner/releases/tag/v2.7.0b1) is now available for testing.
*   [**NodeGuard v0.16.1**](https://github.com/Elenpay/NodeGuard/releases), a treasury management solution for Lightning nodes, has been released.
*   The latest **stacker.news** [updates](https://stacker.news/items/953312) include prompts to add a receiving wallet when posting or making comments (for new users), an option to randomize poll choices, improved URL search, and a few other enhancements. A [bug fix for territories](https://stacker.news/items/953648) created after 9/19/24 has been implemented to reward 70% of their revenue to owners instead of 50%.

Other stuff
-----------

*   The April edition of the _256 Foundation_'s newsletter is [now available](https://256foundation.org/newsletters/256Foundation-Newsletter-2504_v2.pdf). It includes the latest mining news, Bitcoin network health updates, project developments, and a tutorial on how to update FutureBit's Apollo 1 to the Apollo 2 software.
*   _Siggy47_ [has posted](https://stacker.news/items/953178) a comprehensive RoboSats guide on stacker.news.
*   Learn how to run your own Nostr relay using Citrine and Cloudflare Tunnels by following [this step-by-step guide](https://yakihonne.com/article/dhalsim@dhalsim.github.io/-dPG4YzeV6cm0A2B2K2yo) by _Dhalism._
*   _Max Guise_ [has written](https://bitkey.build/building-better-bitcoin-self-custody/) a Bitkey roadmap update for April 2025.
*   _PlebLab_ [has uploaded](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2KDq4ohFXA) a video on how to build a Rust wallet with LDK Node by _Ben Carman_.

*   Do you want more? Subscribe and get No Bullshit GM report straight to your mailbox and [No Bullshit Bitcoin on Nostr](https://primal.net/news).
*   Feedback or tips? Drop it [here](https://simplex.chat/contact#/?v=2-7&smp=smp%3A%2F%2FZKe4uxF4Z_aLJJOEsC-Y6hSkXgQS5-oc442JQGkyP8M%3D%40smp17.simplex.im%2F5lAhCXwD4cOTh-mxg4k1Pj__qyFOq9GM%23%2F%3Fv%3D1-3%26dh%3DMCowBQYDK2VuAyEAGTT-YZp6tp3PhHey-nUOBn7Ig8wwdO8jeYCB3RACSmo%253D%26srv%3Dogtwfxyi3h2h5weftjjpjmxclhb5ugufa5rcyrmg7j4xlch7qsr5nuqd.onion).
*   [#FREESAMOURAI](https://freesamourai.com/)

Sign up for No Bullshit Bitcoin
-------------------------------

![Good Morning, Bitcoin - Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/04/1gm195.jpg)

No Bullshit Bitcoin Is a Bitcoin News Desk Without Ads, Paywalls, or Clickbait.

 Subscribe .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o{--animation-duration:0.8s} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o \*{opacity:.4;transform:scale(.75);animation:nc-loop-dots-4-anim var(--animation-duration) infinite} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o :nth-child(1){transform-origin:4px 12px;animation-delay:-.3s;animation-delay:calc(var(--animation-duration)/-2.666)} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o :nth-child(2){transform-origin:12px 12px;animation-delay:-.15s;animation-delay:calc(var(--animation-duration)/-5.333)} .nc-loop-dots-4-24-icon-o :nth-child(3){transform-origin:20px 12px} @keyframes nc-loop-dots-4-anim{0%,100%{opacity:.4;transform:scale(.75)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.


tags: Wasabi Wallet is a free and open-source, privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet for desktop.

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

*   Wasabi Wallet v2.6.0 "Prometheus" is a major update for the project, focused on resilience and independence from centralized systems.
*   Key features include support for [BIP 158](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0158.mediawiki) block filters for direct node synchronization, a revamped full node integration for easier setup without third-party reliance, SLIP 39 share backups for flexible wallet recovery (sponsored by Trezor), and a Nostr-based update manager for censorship-resistant updates.
*   Additional improvements include UI bug fixes, a new fallback for transaction broadcasting, updated code signing, stricter JSON serialization, and options to avoid third-party rate providers, alongside various under-the-hood enhancements.

> This new version brings us closer to our ultimate goal: ensuring Wasabi is future-proof," said the developers, while also highlighting the following key areas of focus for the project:

*   Ensuring users can always fully and securely use their client.
*   Making contribution and forks easy through a codebase of the highest quality possible: understandable, maintainable, and improvable.

> "As we achieve our survival goals, expect more cutting-edge improvements in Bitcoin privacy and self-custody. Thank you for the trust you place in us by using Wasabi," was stated in the release notes.

[![Wasabi Wallet v2.6.0: First Version to Sync & Operate Without a Central Server](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/05/image-1.png)](https://njump.me/nevent1qqsqqq8urpkd9t44fken7r6wfhjf4n9z9sp8nhy9gq04cgu00fd9ppszyz0rp62qywxdn6ltccegzakaf5gfsysjj3p09fkrsunlceh6065s5ytnjlx)

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

*   **Support for Standard BIP 158 Block Filters.** Wasabi now syncs using [BIP 158](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0158.mediawiki) filters without a backend/indexer, connecting directly to a user's node. This boosts sync speed, resilience, and allows full sovereignty without specific server dependency.
*   **Full Node Integration Rework.** The old integration has been replaced with a simpler, more adaptable system. It’s not tied to a specific Bitcoin node fork, doesn’t need the node on the same machine as Wasabi, and requires no changes to the node’s setup.
    *   "Simply enable the RPC server on your node and point Wasabi to it," said the developers. This ensures all Bitcoin network activities—like retrieving blocks, fee estimations, block filters, and transaction broadcasting—go through your own node, avoiding reliance on third parties.
*   **Create & Recover SLIP 39 Shares.** Users now create and recover wallets with multiple share backups using [SLIP 39](https://github.com/satoshilabs/slips/blob/master/slip-0039.md) standard.

> "Special thanks to Trezor (SatoshiLabs) for sponsoring this amazing feature."

*   **Nostr Update Manager.** This version implements a pioneering system with the Nostr protocol for update information and downloads, replacing reliance on GitHub. This enhances the project's resilience, ensuring updates even if GitHub is unavailable, while still verifying updates with the project's secure certificate.
*   **Updated Avalonia to v11.2.7**, fixes for UI bugs (including restoring Minimize on macOS Sequoia).
*   Added a **configurable third-party fallback for broadcasting transactions** if other methods fail.
*   Replaced Windows Code Signing Certificate with Azure Trusted Signing.
*   Many bug fixes, improved codebase, and enhanced CI pipeline.
*   Added the option to avoid using any third-party Exchange Rate and Fee Rate providers (Wasabi can work without them).
*   Rebuilt all JSON Serialization mechanisms avoiding default .NET converters. Serialization is now stricter.

![Wasabi Wallet v2.6.0: First Version to Sync & Operate Without a Central Server](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/05/wasabi260.jpg)

**Full Changelog**: [v2.5.1...v2.6.0](https://github.com/WalletWasabi/WalletWasabi/compare/v2.5.1...v2.6.0)

[**Announcement**](https://njump.me/nevent1qqsp8cvfcz9788lmhad6ckvqg52r9z8fsl9dk3tcx3exjucv5qlc8vgpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqzyzfm6rr08n96u3ec3vq6cm8qktqpxy2defxq34hzwyk5lac5qk3uxxetx9p) / [Archive](https://archive.is/V0VR4)
[**GitHub Repo**](https://github.com/WalletWasabi/WalletWasabi/releases/tag/v2.6.0)


tags: Ashigaru Whirlpool is a ZeroLink coinjoin implementation designed to sever all deterministic links between inputs and outputs, ensuring enhanced bitcoin transaction privacy.

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

*   The Ashigaru Open Source Project has released [Ashigaru Whirlpool](https://ashigaru.rs/news/announcement-whirlpool/), a version of Samourai Wallet’s Whirlpool, allowing users to join Zerolink coinjoins for enhanced Bitcoin transaction privacy.

> "This has been a huge undertaking and effort for the Ashigaru Open Source Project over the last 6 months, having to get familiar and comfortable with the extensive code base across multiple repositories. It is for this reason our development on Ashigaru mobile has been quieter and slower during this period, and for this we hope our users may now understand our justification as to why," was stated in a blog post.

*   Ashigaru Whirlpool retains the core coinjoin cycle design by Samourai’s TDevD, ZeroLeak, and OXT’s LaurentMT, with various protocol enhancements added by the Ashigaru Open Source Project.
*   Alongside the coordinator code, the [project has launched](https://ashigaru.rs/news/release-terminal-v1-0-0/) a desktop client terminal application (available on Linux, macOS, and Windows), forked from [Sparrow Terminal](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/sparrow-wallet-v1-7-0/).

[![Ashigaru Whirlpool and Terminal v1.0.0 Released](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/06/image-6.png)](news/release-terminal-v1-0-0/)

Source: [Ashigaru blog.](https://ashigaru.rs/news/release-terminal-v1-0-0/)

*   Ashigaru Terminal is a non-custodial Whirlpool client that lets users join chosen pools, enhance their transaction anonymity, and retain full control of funds during coinjoin cycles, without needing a personal Dojo server.

![Ashigaru Whirlpool and Terminal v1.0.0 Released](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/06/ashigarupool.jpg)

**NOTE:** _The_ [_Ashigaru.rs_](https://ashigaru.rs/) _website is the official home of the Ashigaru Open Source Project. The project does not maintain a presence on social media, and all second-hand information should be verified against the content on the official website._

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

*   **Tor-Only Implementation**: Ashigaru Whirlpool operates exclusively over Tor, preventing clearnet connections to protect against IP address linking and wallet clustering by malicious coordinators.
*   **Tor identity isolation** is built in to prevent coordinators from linking session IDs across coinjoin stages, ensuring user network anonymity.
*   **Enhanced decentralization strategy:** The Tor-only setup eliminates DNS dependency and hides coordinator locations, supporting rapid deployment of new instances.

> "Our coordinator has been further modularized by eliminating the dependency of RPC connections to a local full node. The coordinator can therefore be connected to any Dojo full node over Tor, enabling faster deployment and recovery, minimal hardware resource requirements, and greater jurisdictional flexibility."

*   **Anti-Sybil Measures**: An Anti-Sybil fee, fixed at 5% of pool size, is charged for Tx0 broadcasts to enter pools, with a cap of 20 UTXOs per Tx0 for added Sybil resistance.
*   **Vulnerability Fixes**: RSA keys for Chaumian blinding are not sent to clients, mitigating potential input-output linking risks and building trust as a new development team.
*   **Output Restrictions**: Multisig addresses are barred as mix-to outputs in coinjoin cycles to maintain anonymity and compatibility with post-mix tools like Ashigaru mobile and Sparrow.
*   **Code Improvements**: Numerous under-the-hood fixes and optimizations have been made to Samourai’s forked codebase, including updated dependencies, enhanced performance, and architectural adjustments.
*   **Ashigaru Terminal**: Forked from Sparrow, Ashigaru Terminal defaults to .onion Electrum servers for privacy, with options for private server connections via Tor or clearnet.
    *   Only native SegWit Whirlpool account paths are supported for hot wallets, with mandatory BIP39 passphrases; unsupported wallet types include Legacy, Wrapped SegWit, Taproot, and multisig scripts.
    *   Tx0 fee estimation targets next-block confirmation, advising users to wait for lower rates if block space competition is high.

> "Remote and automatic update of Tor URLs for connecting to both Ashigaru Whirlpool and for transaction broadcast using our “Hanzaki” feature will be coming in a future release," was stated in a blog post.

Quick guide
-----------

*   Check out this [quick overview](https://k3tan.com/ashigaru-whirlpool/) by _k3tan_ to learn how to use the new Ashigaru Terminal:

> "My advice is to take a measured approach to this. This is new software and there may still be bugs. Start small, get comfortable, then level up progressively. Don't expect mixes straight away. It's important to be patient. Randomness of time intervals between mixes plays a role in obfuscating chainalysis. You should find using the interface overall quite responsive," [writes](https://k3tan.com/ashigaru-whirlpool/) k3tan.

*   Ashigaru Terminal is optimized for use with Sparrow Wallet, Ashigaru Mobile, and Samourai Wallet. These wallets support Whirlpool's unique account derivation paths and include spending tools tailored to maintain privacy during transactions from the pool.

[![Ashigaru Whirlpool and Terminal v1.0.0 Released](https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/2025/06/image-7.png)](https://xcancel.com/_k3tan/status/1937124159588556916)

[**Blog Post (Terminal)**](https://ashigaru.rs/news/release-terminal-v1-0-0/) / [Archive](https://archive.is/7Iv0W)
[**Blog Post (Whirlpool)**](https://ashigaru.rs/news/announcement-whirlpool/) / [Archive](http://archive.today/OIL7T)
[Gitea Repository (.onion link)](http://ashicodepbnpvslzsl2bz7l2pwrjvajgumgac423pp3y2deprbnzz7id.onion/Ashigaru)
[**K3tan's Guide**](https://k3tan.com/ashigaru-whirlpool/) / [Archive](https://archive.is/PZgO9)
[Website](https://ashigaru.rs/)


This is the way!


tags: Chaos or Tyranny? Freedom tech fixes this.

content:
![Chaos, Order, and Freedom](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/10/flowchart.png)

**Humanity's Natural State Is Chaos**
Without order there is chaos. Humans competing with each other for scarce resources naturally leads to conflict until one group achieves significant power and instates a "monopoly on violence."

**Power Brings Stability**
Power has always been the key means to achieve stability in societies. Centralized power can be incredibly effective in addressing issues such as crime, poverty, and social unrest efficiently. Unfortunately this power is often abused and corrupted.

**Centralized Power Breeds Tyranny**
Centralized power often leads to tyrannical rule. When a select few individuals hold control over a society, they tend to become corrupted. Centralized power structures often lack accountability and transparency, and rely too heavily on trust.

**Distributed Power Cultivates Freedom**
New technology that empowers individuals provide us the ability to rebuild societies from the bottom up. Strong individuals that can defend and provide for themselves will help build strong local communities on a similar foundation. The result is power being distributed throughout society rather than held by a select few.

**In the short term, relying on trust and centralized power is an easy answer to mitigating chaos, but freedom tech tools provide us the ability to build on top of much stronger distributed foundations that provide stability while also cultivating individual freedom.**

**The solution starts with us. Empower yourself. Empower others. A grassroots freedom tech movement scaling one person at a time.**

* * *

**_If you found this post helpful support my work with [**_bitcoin_**](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com)._**

![Chaos, Order, and Freedom](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


tags: Chain data shows that binance bitcoin wallets are near all time highs with roughly 700k bitcoin currently valued at $18.2 Billion USD.

content:
![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/ev.webp)

Influencers would have you believe there is an ongoing binance bank run but bitcoin wallet data says otherwise.

\- binance wallets are near all time highs
\- bitfinex wallets are also trending up
\- gemini and coinbase are being hit with massive withdrawals though

**You should not trust custodians, they can rug you without warning.** It is incredibly important you learn how to hold bitcoin yourself, but also consider not blindly trusting influencers with a ref link to shill you.

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5130069278517734406-y-10.jpg)

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5130069278517734407-y.jpg)

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5130069278517734408-y.jpg)

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://www.discreetlog.com/content/images/2023/08/telegram-cloud-photo-size-1-5127877758570048404-y.jpg)

* * *

_**If you found this post helpful support my work with [bitcoin](https://geyser.fund/project/citadel?ref=discreetlog.com).**_

![Is there a bank run on Binance?](https://werunbtc.com/donate.png)


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

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

content:
[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


0oQZtoep9fi3feWRkrNCW2TDsVjmEAjYFgY0hDqH5e1BesfCqTb+uuZnOejCedJUkCWm81bh5MISL49I0xUYAQ==?iv=tq3+47XXh7nUeb8uo7XJYQ==


91a4Rt2OmXiCGLEV5FS2OxwWjqqC8myiXFEC2NRQuK1tw1vmm_h1CllRgUSXGt3le1vN-PrlsC-Qr1xrFMUFajz7lQZ_5D0?iv=B7c27KIrWhSKRiBND8WJUDVnYLdcA8dM