Block 961634 mined by @OCEAN

TIL that Brazil 🇧🇷 will soon become the third country in the world to implement “split payments,” which are digital payments in which taxes are automatically deducted the moment a payment is made to a merchant.

Quite a scary level of control.

When I started working on this multi-part piece on the Bitcoin Learning Center (BLC) in Chiang Mai, Thailand 🇹🇭, I hoped it might serve as a catalyst to snap people out of their bear market doldrums.

And then the Coldcard incident happened before I published the final part of the series, and sentiment in this space hit some of the lowest lows I've ever seen (for good reason).

While I know it's hard to see the light and to believe that things will get better right now, the work that BLC's team, led by Fai and @Jimmy Kostro, is doing is a great reminder that many good things are happening around Bitcoin globally and that Bitcoin remains something worth fighting for.

So, if you need a break from the doomscrolling and/or a dose of inspiration, look no further.

Enjoy.

Still trying to get this to stream here on Nostr. Been dealing with some hiccups, though.

Please join us on X if you’re there, too.

NYHC legends Shelter performing live in Union Square, NYC today, Aug. 8, 2026

#tunestr #musicstr