⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 941,149
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 18Mar2026
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US Navy Escorts Tankers / US Allies Refuse to Help / Iran Intel Chief Killed / Trump Postpones Xi Meeting / House Committee Approves AI-Defense Fund / Director of US Counter Terrorism Center Resigns / Shooting At Holloman AF Base / SEC New Guidance Clarifies Crypto Designations / BlackRock Transfers On-Chain Bitcoin / Fidelity Lends Against Bitcoin Stack / MSTR To Reach 1M BTC This Year / Mortgage Rates Up, Stocks Up / UK Authorizes Home Devices to Spy on Owners / Apple Deploys Silent Security Updates / Bitrefill Hacked / Sam Altman's World Uses Coinbase Protocol for Digital IDs

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $72,936, 14.79 oz Gold, 5.9 BTC/Median US House
24hr Hi: $74,872 / Lo: $72,820
Volume: $37B (Down 33%)
Mkt Cap: $1.45T (Down 1%)
Hashrate: .931 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1.0 sats/byte (Down 1 sat)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US Navy Completes First Armed Escort of Commercial Tanker Through Strait of Hormuz: The USS Arleigh Burke destroyer and two MH-60R helicopters provided continuous overwatch for the Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million barrels of Saudi crude. Iranian IRGC fast-attack craft maintained 4.5 nautical mile standoff while broadcasting radio challenges. (Reuters)

2. US Allies Reject Trump's Call for Joint Strait of Hormuz Patrols: European nations including the UK and Germany declined participation in a US-led coalition to secure shipping lanes, citing concerns over escalation and lack of UN mandate. Trump publicly criticized allies on social media, threatening trade repercussions. Oil tankers rerouted around Africa, adding 14 days to transit times and increasing shipping costs by 35%. (NYTimes)

3. Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib killed, Israel defense minister says: Israel’s defense minister said Wednesday that the Israeli military killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. The Intelligence Ministry, under Khatib, “has also aggressively persecuted individuals reporting on human rights abuses and violations in Iran, as well as their families, and subjected detainees to torture in secret detention centers during his tenure.” (AP)

4. Trump Postpones Meeting in China with Xi Jinping for a ‘Month or So’: “We’ve got a war going on. I think it’s important that I be here. So it could be that we delay a little bit, not much,” Trump said. (Breitbart)

-US Events-
1. House Armed Services Committee Approves $950 Million | 12,775 BTC for AI-Powered Missile Defense Upgrades: The committee passed the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Modernization Act directing funds to THAAD and Aegis systems for real-time AI target discrimination algorithms. Allocation includes 120 new interceptor missiles and sensor fusion upgrades at three Pacific bases. Floor vote is scheduled for next week. (Fox)

2. Top US Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran War Policy: Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, submitted his resignation citing President Trump's decision to engage in war with Iran as influenced by Israeli lobbying and lacking evidence of an imminent threat. In his letter, Kent urged a reversal of course to prevent further escalation and loss of American lives. The White House has not commented, but congressional Democrats called for immediate hearings on the intelligence justifying the conflict. (BBC)

3. 1 dead and another wounded in shooting at US Air Force base in New Mexico: The Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, in southern New Mexico, was put on lockdown at about 5:30 p.m. because of reports of an active shooter near the base convenience store, according to a statement released by the 49th Wing. The person wounded has been taken for medical treatment, according to the statement. Security officials confirmed the base is safe and the lockdown was lifted. (AP) (AC-Details are sparse on this one.)

-Regulatory and Legal-
1. SEC Declares 'Most Crypto Assets' Not Securities, Including Staking, Airdrops and Bitcoin Mining: SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the new securities guidance, which impacts "most crypto assets," provides "clear lines in clear terms." “After more than a decade of uncertainty, this interpretation will provide market participants with a clear understanding of how the Commission treats crypto assets under federal securities laws. Atkins indicated that the SEC’s reliance on the Howey Test for assessing the classification of digital assets amounted to a “persistent failure to provide clarity on this question” of whether certain cryptocurrencies should be regulated by different agencies. (Decrypt)

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
NSTR

-Institutional Concerns-
1. BlackRock Begins On-Chain Transfers for Spot Bitcoin ETF Redemptions: BlackRock executed the first authorized participant redemption of 4,200 BTC directly from ETF cold-storage wallets to institutional custodians under SEC Rule 6c-11 amendments. Each transfer included cryptographic proof-of-reserves signed by Deloitte. Total redeemed value settled in under 90 minutes. (CoinDesk)

2. Fidelity Investments Activates Bitcoin-Backed Margin Lending for Institutional Clients: Fidelity launched a program allowing qualified clients to borrow up to 50 percent of Bitcoin holdings value at 4.25 percent annual interest with assets held in segregated, audited custody. Daily on-chain verification is performed by a third-party oracle. Initial credit lines total $1.1 billion | 14,792 BTC across 87 participants. (CoinDesk)

3. Strategy on course to hit 1 million BTC this year — and STRC is the clearest reason why: STRC expands the bitcoin-backed model by bringing in a different buyer base, one centered on income-oriented investors seeking yield and principal stability rather than only high-beta Bitcoin exposure. The preferred stock pays an annualized dividend of 11.50%, distributed monthly in cash, and is structured to trade near its $100 | 136,900 sats par value. (CryptoSlate)

-Economic Indicators-
1. US 30-Year Mortgage Rates Rise to 6.30%: The average contract rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for conforming loans of $806,500 or less in the US increased to 6.30% in the week ending March 13, 2026, up from 6.19% the previous week. (TradingEconomics)

2. US Stocks Gain for 2nd Session: US equity indices closed higher on Tuesday, extending the rebound from four-month lows last week on fresh optimism that the halt in energy exports from the Persian Gulf will not translate to stagflation. The S&P 500 gained 0.3%, the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.5%, and the Dow rose a softer 0.1%. (TradingEconomics)

-Security Concerns-
1. UK Signals Intelligence Agency Expands Bulk Data Collection from Smart Home Devices: GCHQ activated new warrants covering IoT telemetry from 28 million UK households under the Investigatory Powers Act. Data streams include location pings and voice metadata routed through secure central repositories. (BBC) (AC-So in the UK, your TV will spy on you for the government. Sounds like a book.)

2. Apple Deploys First Automatic Background Security Patch for Devices: Apple pushed an over-the-air update to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS fixing a zero-day vulnerability in Safari that allowed remote code execution on 1.2 billion devices. The patch was applied silently without user intervention, marking the debut of Apple's new Rapid Security Response system. No exploits were detected in the wild, but the flaw affected versions released since September 2025. (TechCrunch)

3. Bitrefill Discloses Cyberattack, Points to North Korea’s Lazarus Group: Crypto e-commerce platform Bitrefill said it was the target of a cyberattack earlier this month that resulted in stolen funds and limited exposure of customer data, with indicators pointing to the North Korean-linked Lazarus Group as a likely perpetrator. Bitrefill said the attackers drained an undisclosed amount of funds from its hot wallets while also exploiting its gift card inventory systems to place suspicious purchases with vendors. (BitcoinMag)

-Technology and Science-
1. Sam Altman’s World Taps Coinbase’s Open Protocol to Verify Humans Behind AI Agents: Launching today in beta, AgentKit integrates World’s World ID identity system with x402, an open protocol started by Coinbase and Cloudflare. The system allows AI agents to carry cryptographic proof that they represent a unique human while interacting with websites, APIs, and online services. (Decrypt)

-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 26/100 (Down 2 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 940,887
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 16Mar2026
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Trump Asks for Help in Securing Hormuz Strait / UAE Oil Alternate Hit by Drone / Two Oil Tankers Sunk Near Strait / Iran Asylum Seekers Recant / Airlines Fuming Over DHS/TSA Shutdown / Marine Amphib Deploying to Gulf / Dollar Up, Gas Up / Meta to Cleanup Scammers / New Prepper Device / Study Shows Bitcoin Network Resilient Against Cut Cables

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $73,621, 14.72 oz Gold, 5.85 BTC/Median US House
24hr Hi: $74,395 / Lo: $71,282
Volume: $42B (Up 100%)
Mkt Cap: $1.47T (Up 3%)
HashRate: .936 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3.0 sats/vBtye (Up 1 sat)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Trump warns of ‘very bad future’ for NATO if countries do not help secure Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump urged China and US allies to help to resolve disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, warning NATO faces a “very bad” future if allies fail to assist. No countries have yet committed to sending warships. (CNN)

2. Fire breaks out at major UAE oil hub that bypasses Hormuz: An “advanced fire” broke out in the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah petroleum industrial zone after it was targeted in a drone attack. (CNN)

3. Iranian Forces Sink Two Greek-Owned Tankers in Strait of Hormuz: Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps speedboats and coastal batteries sank the Liberian-flagged tanker Aegean Spirit and the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Poseidon 40 nautical miles inside the Strait at 0215 UTC. Both vessels carried 1.8 million barrels of crude destined for Europe; 18 crew members were rescued by US Navy helicopters while 12 remain missing. (Reuters)

4. Fifth member of Iran women's soccer team withdraws asylum claim: The latest withdrawal leaves only two people of the original six players and one support staff member who sought asylum in Australia last week fearing possible persecution if ​they returned home. The five who withdrew their claims ⁠are expected to join the rest of the team in Kuala Lumpur where the squad has been staying ​since departing from Sydney last week. (Reuters) (AC-It's amazing how holding families hostage keeps people in line. Modern slavery continues.)

-US Events-
1. CEOs of top airlines demand Congress restore funding to Homeland Security and pay airport workers: The CEOs of the nation’s top airline companies, including American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue, are imploring Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and embrace a bipartisan solution to pay federal aviation workers including airport security officers during the partial government shutdown. Homeland Security posted on its X account last week that more than 300 TSA agents have quit since the start of the shutdown. (AP)

2. Pentagon Deploys 2,500 Marines and USS Tripoli to Middle East Amid Iran Conflict: Pete Hegseth approved a U.S. Central Command request to deploy roughly 2,500 Marines and the Japan-based USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship to the Middle East as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Officials say the deployment expands commanders' military options without committing to ground invasion. Sailing from Sasebo, Japan, the USS Tripoli remains over a week away from Iranian waters, accompanied by a combat logistics battalion capable of sustaining operations for up to 15 days amid reported contingency planning for raids or seizing Kharg Island. (GroundNews)

-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
NSTR

-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR

-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar at 100.3, Highest Since May: The dollar index climbed above 100.3 on Friday, its highest level since mid-May 2025, and was on track for a second consecutive weekly gain as traders continued to favor the greenback as a safe haven amid the escalating conflict with Iran and the lack of prospects for an imminent resolution.

-Security Concerns-
1. Meta Launches Major AI Crackdown on Facebook, Instagram Scams After Removing 159 Million Fraud Ads: Just last year, Meta removed more than 159 million scam-related ads and disabled 10.9 million accounts linked to organized fraud networks across Facebook and Instagram. This new effort is designed to verify advertisers and protect customers. (TechTimes)

-Technology and Science-
1. The Ark: Rugged Offline AI Survival Device Draws Crowds: Scorpio Devices Inc. created The Ark, a waterproof, drop-proof handheld packed with AI survival tips from manuals like the SAS Survival Handbook, plus GPS maps and 50-mile LoRa texting for off-grid networks. It evolved from their top-rated iOS app with 14k users, now in a 3-pound rugged case priced at $699 | 948,568 sats for preppers and campers. Fans call it a futuristic cyberdeck, while skeptics say a smartphone or paper book does the job cheaper and lighter. (X)

-Bitcoin Community-
1. 72% of Undersea Cables Would Need to Fail Simultaneously to Significantly Affect the Bitcoin Network: A new study finds the Bitcoin network boasts strong resilience to global internet infrastructure failures. The study draws on Bitcoin peer-to-peer (P2P) network data from 2014 to 2025 and 68 verified submarine cable outages. The team built a national-level cascading model to evaluate the Bitcoin network’s shock resilience. The study also notes that using the Tor (The Onion Router) anonymous network drastically boosts the Bitcoin network’s ability to resist interference. Roughly 64% of Bitcoin nodes hide their real locations via Tor. (LookonChain)

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 23/100 (Up 8 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): It's a slow news Monday morning, so far.

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 937,537
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 20Feb2026
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Trump Gives Iran Timetable / Japanese PM Warns Over China / S. Korean Ex-President Jailed for Life / Trump Orders Release of All UFO Files / SCOTUS To Rule on Tariff Powers / VA Backpeddles on Dumb Ruling / Trump EO on Glyphosate Riles Base, RFK Backs Trump / BTC ETFs Continue to Bleed / Metaplanet Say We Will Not Sell / Yields Down, Stocks Down / S. Korean Hacker Returns $21M in Bitcoin / Malaysia Arrests 12 Police Officers Over Crypto Extortion / Fed Economists Like Prediction Markets / Bitcoin is Dead, Again, Says Google Searches / Bitcoin Lightning Network Continues to Grow

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $67,144, 13.42 oz Gold, 6.39 BTC/Median US House
24hr Hi: $68,269 / Lo: $65,637
Volume: $35B (Up 5%)
Mkt Cap: $1.35T (Up 1%)
HashRate: 1.0 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2.0 sats/vBtye (Up 1 sat)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Trump Issues Warning to Iran Amid Nuclear Negotiations: US President Donald Trump warned that the world has 10 days to determine if a deal is reached with Iran over its nuclear program, stating that "bad things" could happen otherwise. The US is increasing its military presence in the Middle East, with a second aircraft carrier approaching the region and discussions of potential strikes as early as Saturday. Trump has reviewed attack options with advisers, while Iran conducted military drills with Russia in the Strait of Hormuz. (BBC)

2. Japan PM Addresses China Relations: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of China's growing "coercion" in the East and South China Seas during her policy speech to parliament yesterday. She pledged to overhaul Japan's defense strategy, including easing military export rules to cover non-lethal equipment and establishing a national intelligence council to consolidate information across agencies. Takaichi also announced plans for a foreign investment screening mechanism and efforts to strengthen supply chains in response to perceived threats from China. (Reuters) (AC-PM Takaichi is showing some real backbone in the face of Chinese cooercion. It'll be a key test for the US.)

3. South Korea's ex-president jailed for life over martial law attempt: Yoon attempted to subvert the constitution by deploying military troops to seal off the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of politicians on 3 December 2024, a Seoul court ruled. His actions fundamentally damaged South Korea's democracy and deserves a harsh punishment, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon told the court. (BBC)

-US Events-
1. Trump Directs Release of UFO and Alien Files: President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he is directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other agencies to identify and release government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). This directive follows Trump's criticism of former President Barack Obama's podcast comments affirming the existence of aliens, which he claimed involved sharing classified information. (NBC)

2. Trump's tariffs near their fate before the Supreme Court: Small businesses sued to block Trump's tariffs last spring. Analysts had initially expected a swift ruling from the highest court, but the uncertainty has dragged on for longer than expected. If the Supreme Court rejects the legality of part or all of the tariffs, it could kick off a chaotic process of refunds to companies that have paid the overturned tariffs. (Axios)

3. VA backs off rule that would have cut benefits amid outrage: The rule said a veteran’s disability level would be based on how well they function while on medication for an injury or illness and not simply having the impairment itself. But the VA said Thursday it will halt enforcement of the rule after veterans quickly and loudly opposed it. (CNN) (AC-Kudos to the SECVA on his quick reaction to the ruling and transparency, also to the veteran community for speaking out so powerfully.)

4. Kennedy defends Trump glyphosate order; MAHA erupts as midterms approach: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended President Donald Trump’s executive order spurring the domestic production of the weed killer glyphosate, as his MAHA movement reels from the president’s embrace of the chemical they despise. Trump on Wednesday night signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to compel the domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. Now, the executive order threatens to unravel that coalition ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that could loosen the president’s grip on Washington. (CNBC) (AC-This is a situation where the admin should backpedal, just like the VA report above. This key issue has serious potential to unravel MAHA and MAGA unity quickly, and an EO implies National Security inputs, which may or may not be true in the first place. RFK is simply following orders publicly, but his history is anti-glyphosate.)

-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
NSTR

-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETFs Lose Another $166M as Five-Week Withdrawals Near $4B: Bitcoin ETF outflows near $4 billion over the past five weeks, as experts debate whether the streak signals a reset or structural weakness. (Decrypt)

2. ‘We will never sell’: Metaplanet stands firm as Bitcoin losses top $1.2B: Simon Gerovich, the CEO of Japan-based Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet, has acknowledged that the ongoing crypto rout has been painful. “Our strategy remains unchanged. We exist to accumulate Bitcoin and grow Bitcoin per share, which we increased by over 500% in 2025. We will never sell our Bitcoin.” he said. (AMbCrypto)

-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Slips on Geopolitical Risks: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note eased to around 4.07% on Friday, paring gains from earlier in the week as escalating tensions between the US and Iran fueled safe-haven demand for Treasuries. (TradingEconomics)

2. Wall Street Slips on Hawkish Fed Signals: The S&P 500 closed down 0.3%, the Nasdaq fell 0.4%, and the Dow lost 0.6% as investors pared risk after the FOMC minutes signaled that disinflation may take longer and that higher rates could be needed. (TradingEconomics)

-Security Concerns-
1. Hacker returns $21 million in stolen bitcoin to South Korean authorities: Last December, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office discovered that they had lost the bitcoin seized from a raid on a gambling platform. On Tuesday, the hacker returned 320.8 BTC to the wallet held by authorities, local news outlet Digital Asset reported. The hacker’s identity remains unknown. (TheBlock)

2. Malaysian authorities arrest 12 police officers over alleged crypto extortion: Malaysian authorities have arrested 12 police officers accused of extorting about 200,000 ringgit ($51,000 | 0.77 BTC) in cryptocurrency from a group of Chinese nationals during a midnight raid on a house near Kuala Lumpur, according to local officials. (TheBlock) (AC-The traceability of crypto and Bitcoin are a feature, sometimes.)

-Technology and Science-
1. Fed Economists Praise Prediction Markets as States Step Up Enforcement: Federal researchers are embracing prediction markets as policy-relevant tools just as state regulators move to curtail them. The researchers say macro-focused prediction markets can provide policymakers with a real-time, market-based gauge of inflation and interest-rate expectations. The authors found that the models closely match, and even exceed, forecasts from traditional benchmarks while providing continuously updated probability distributions around key data releases and policy meetings. (Decrypt) (AC-It's well known in intelligence circles that crowd-based forecasting is a very useful tool, though not perfect.)

-Bitcoin Community-
1. 'Bitcoin Going to Zero' Google Searches Rise With Crypto Sentiment in the Dumps: Data from Google Trends shows that worldwide queries for “Bitcoin going to zero” and “Is Bitcoin dead?” have spiked to their highest levels since 2022, as a viral X post pointed out this week. (Decrypt) (AC-Bitcoin is dead, again. BTW, Peter Schiff is calling for $20K Bitcoin, which may have some impact on these searches.)

2. Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Surpasses $1 Billion in Monthly Volume As Adoption Grows: Bitcoin’s Lightning Network topped $1.17 billion in November monthly volume across 5.22 million transactions, according to River Financial, which says the milestone reflects growing adoption despite flat price action. (BitcoinMag)

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 7/100 (Down 2 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 937,084
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 17Feb2026
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: US-Iran Continue Negotiation While Positioning Forces / Chinese Year of the Horse Begins / DHS Shutdown Continues / Highest Retirement Seen in Congress This Year / Rhode Island Shooter Was Transitioner and Shot Ex-Wife / EU To Ban Russian Crypto Transactions / Bitcoin Mining Uses Only .23% of Global Power / Metaplanet Takes Bitcoin Hit to Earnings / Major Lowery Voices Bitcoin POW as Key Defense / Russian Starlink Shut Down in Ukraine / Ireland Targets X Too

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $68,898, 13.81 oz Gold, 4.162 BTC/Median US House
24hr Hi: $70,067/ Lo: $67,301
Volume: 33B (Down 8%)
Mkt Cap: $1.36T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 1.1 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1.0 sats/vBtye (Down 2 sats)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. US and Iran Begin Second Round of Nuclear Talks in Geneva Amid Heightened Tensions: US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Iranian officials in Geneva for the second round of nuclear negotiations, focusing on potential compromises including energy and mining deals. President Trump stated he would be indirectly involved and warned of severe consequences if no agreement is reached, while Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei remained defiant. Iranian forces conducted live-fire military drills in the Strait of Hormuz just ahead of the talks, escalating regional concerns. (CNN)

2. Global Celebrations Mark Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse: Billions worldwide celebrated Lunar New Year with temple visits, dragon dances, and family gatherings, ushering in the Year of the Horse. (CNN)

-US Events-
1. Partial DHS Shutdown Enters Third Day Over Immigration Disputes: The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement, impacting non-essential operations amid debates over face mask bans and immigration tactics. (WaPo)

2. Congress Sees Highest Retirement Rate in Modern Era Ahead of Midterms: A record number of members of Congress are choosing not to run for re-election ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with departures reaching the highest combined total this century. 30 House Republicans and 21 House Democrats are not seeking re-election. In the Senate, the split is closer, with five Republicans and four Democrats retiring. (IBTimes) (AC-Change is in the air.)

3. Rhode Island Police: Man Who Shot His Family at Ice Rink Went by ‘Roberta’: The shooting “stemmed from a domestic violence incident and turned into a murder-suicide.” It occurred during a high school hockey game. WPRI identified the alleged gunman as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, noting that he changed his gender identification years ago. (Breitbart) (AC-Again, other media outlets focus on gun control to distract from the real issue.)

-Regulatory and Legal-
1. EU Moves to Ban All Crypto Transactions with Russian Entities: The proposed ban would prohibit any EU-based individual or entity from transferring cryptocurrencies to and from a Russia-based counterparty. (Decrypt)

2. Paradigm: ‘Bitcoin mining should be seen as a tool, not a threat’: While public anger targets Bitcoin [BTC], most grid pressure now comes from fast-growing AI data centers. Bitcoin uses only about 0.23% of global electricity and produces around 0.08% of global emissions, far less than many industries. AI centers need constant power and cannot afford outages. Bitcoin miners, however, use cheap electricity and shut down when prices rise. (ambcrypto)

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
NSTR

-Institutional Concerns-
1. Metaplanet Reports $619 Million Loss as Bitcoin Holdings Take Hit: Tokyo-based bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet reported a fiscal 2025 net loss of 95 billion yen ($619 million), largely due to a 102.2 billion yen ($666 million) drop in the value of its bitcoin holdings. (BitcoinMag)

-Economic Indicators-
1. US 10-Year Yield Hits 2-½-Month Low: The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note fell toward 4% on Tuesday, reaching its lowest level since early December as soft inflation data from last week reinforced expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. (TradingEconomics)

-Security Concerns-
1. Space Force Major Proposes Bitcoin Proof-of-Work as AI Defense for Internet: In a widely shared post, U.S. Space Force engineer and 'Softwar' author Jason P. Lowery argues that Bitcoin's Proof-of-Work system can act as 'digital castle walls' by requiring energy proof for every online action, from logins to API calls. He warns that without such physical barriers, autonomous AI will dominate cyberspace, drawing on his MIT thesis that frames Bitcoin as a national security tool against cyber threats. Supporters praise it as a path to cyber sovereignty, while critics like Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp call the ideas flawed and question scalability, noting Bitcoin handles just 7 transactions per second. (Various, X)

2. Starlink restrictions hit Russian forces as Moscow seeks workarounds: Under the new rules, only registered and verified devices can operate in Ukrainian-controlled territory, with all others automatically disconnected. Kyiv says the move was necessary after confirming that Russian forces had begun installing Starlink technology on attack drones, allowing them to operate in real time via satellite connections — making the unmanned aerial vehicles harder to jam, track or shoot down. (RecordedFuture)

-Technology and Science-
1. Ireland's Data Watchdog Joins Global Regulators Probing X Over AI Image Risks: Ireland’s privacy regulator has opened a formal investigation into X over whether Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot helped generate and spread non-consensual sexualized images. The investigation comes as Ireland, which serves as the EU's lead supervisory authority for most major American tech platforms, giving its rulings binding weight across the bloc, joins a widening international response to Grok's role in generating non-consensual deepfakes at scale. (Decrypt) (AC-The knives are out. EU, UN, UK, California, and now Ireland mount attacks against Musk and X.)

-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 10/100 (Down 2 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): The battle for control over distributed sovereign power continues, but it seems today's reports highlight the fight. World powers attack free speech from X, Ukraine shuts down Starlink, AI agents are digitally coming for you, and EU Bans (Russian) crypto transactions; and this is just one day's reporting. Tyranny verus liberty is indeed one of the oldest wars still being fought and some days it seems tyranny has the upper hand.

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 936,903
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 16Feb2026
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Rubio Give Historic Speech to Europe / Worldwide Iran Protests Support Change / Iran Meets With IAEA / DHS Funding Still Shutdown / HHS To Review Processed Foods / CLARITY Act Battle is Poignant / X To Launch Crypto Payments / BTC ETF Outflows Continue / Strategy Says They Can Weather Any Storm / Markets Closed Today / Binance France CEO Targeted / OpenAI Coopts OpenClaw / Silent Link Gives Phone Privacies / BIP 360 Addresses Quantum

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,431, 13.94 oz Gold, 4.162 BTC/Median US House
24hr Hi: $70,067/ Lo: $68,052
Volume: 35B (Down 8%)
Mkt Cap: $1.38T (Even)
HashRate: 1 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3.0 sats/vBtye (Even)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Marco Rubio Reassures European Allies While Advancing Trump's NATO Vision: In a Munich Security Conference speech, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed US-Europe ties but echoed Trump's call for a reshaped alliance with increased defense spending. European leaders pushed back against claims of "civilizational erasure," emphasizing shared values. Rubio's address aimed to ease tensions amid shifting global dynamics. (AP) (AC-This speech has historical implications, worth listening to: https://tinyurl.com/y6uh6768)

2. Hundreds of thousands join Iran protests around the world: Hundreds of thousands of people took part in demonstrations around the world against the Iranian government on Saturday, following calls from the exiled son of the late shah for a "global day of action". Munich, Los Angeles and Toronto saw the largest crowds, with smaller protests in cities including Tel Aviv, Lisbon, Sydney and London. (BBC)

3. Iran's Foreign Minister Meets IAEA Chief Ahead of Second Round of Nuclear Talks with US: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva for discussions with the IAEA director, emphasizing Iran's willingness to dilute enriched uranium if US sanctions are lifted. (Reuters) (AC-Delay tactics. Iran has a skill of delaying hawks until doves come into office in the US.)

-US Events-
1. Partial US Government Shutdown Persists Amid Immigration Disputes: The Department of Homeland Security remains shuttered due to ongoing congressional battles over immigration oversight and funding. Impacts include disrupted travel and reduced operations, with no resolution in sight as Democrats and Republicans clash on policy. (PBS) (AC-This would be considered a democrat win.)

2. RFK Jr. Announces US Review of Processed Food Ingredient Safety: US health regulators, under RFK Jr.'s influence, will reassess the safety status of processed ingredients amid public health concerns. The initiative targets additives in ultra-processed foods, potentially leading to new guidelines. (Reuters)

-Regulatory and Legal-
1. CLARITY Act is turning into a proxy war over who pays Americans for holding “digital dollars”: Post-meeting, banks are reluctant to engage in dealmaking, with the conversation still centered on stablecoin rewards and yield. The mood reads like two groups speaking past each other. One side treats rewards as innovation; the other treats them as a threat to deposits. (CryptoSlate) (AC-This is the fiat system making it's front guard defense against creative destruction. More of these fights to come.)

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. X to launch 'Smart Cashtags' for in-timeline crypto and stock data within 'a couple weeks': "We are launching a number of features in a couple weeks, including Smart Cashtags that will enable you to trade stocks and crypto directly from timeline," X head of product Nikita Bier confirmed. (TheBlock)

-Institutional Concerns-
1. Bitcoin ETF outflows and crowded shorts leave market primed for volatility: Bitcoin is struggling to reclaim $70,000 | 1.01 BTC even as inflation data cools and onchain metrics hint at quiet accumulation in a market caught between macro relief and structural fragility. (THeBlock)

2. MicroStrategy Withstands BTC Crash to $8,000: MicroStrategy announced it can withstand an 88% Bitcoin price crash to $8,000, maintaining full debt coverage. Michael Saylor plans debt-to-equity conversion if needed. (CoinGecko)

-Economic Indicators-
1. Dollar Holds Steady in Thin Holiday Trade; The dollar index held just below 97 on Monday, moving sideways in holiday-thinned trading as US markets were closed for the Presidents’ Day holiday. (TradingEconomics)

2. US Stocks Finish Mostly Flat: The S&P 500 and the Dow were little changed on Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.2%, leaving the major averages around 1.5% lower for the week, as a softer-than-expected January inflation report failed to revive risk appetite amid persistent AI-related volatility. (TradingEconomics)

-Security Concerns-
1. Binance France CEO Targeted in Home Invasion Attempt: A trio of criminals attempted to rob the CEO of Binance France, but only made away with two cell phones before being arrested later that day. The executive was not home when the intruders entered his residence, and they fled shortly thereafter. (Decrypt)

-Technology and Science-
1. OpenAI Taps OpenClaw Founder to Lead Push Into Personal AI Agents: OpenAI has brought on OpenClaw founder Peter Steinberger to lead its push into personal AI agents, as CEO Sam Altman positions multi-agent systems at the center of the company’s next product phase. Altman said OpenClaw would become a foundation-run open-source project supported by OpenAI, reflecting the company’s belief in an “extremely multi-agent” AI future. (Decrypt)

2. How Silent(.)Link Solves SIM-Swap Risks and Roaming Hassles for Traveling Bitcoiners: Silent Link, a Bitcoin native SMS and mobile data company, has quietly grown into an international service provider for privacy-oriented users worldwide, at competitive rates. The company offers eSIM-only services globally, with no physical sim card support, making it an entirely digital business. (BitcoinMag) (AC-More to this story here, and worth researching.)

-Bitcoin Community-
1. Bitcoin Takes Step Towards Quantum Fix as Experts Diverge on Urgency of Threat: Developers merge BIP 360 into the Bitcoin's GitHub improvement repository, advancing a post-quantum framework. Caltech President Thomas Rosenbaum said fault-tolerant quantum systems could arrive within five to seven years, while other researchers and NIST guidance suggest cryptographically relevant machines may remain years or decades away. (Decrypt)

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 12/100 (Up 3 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 935,120
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 05Feb2026
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: START Expires After 50 Years / Trump-XI Phone Call Looks to Isolate Iran / Gaza Reignites / ICE Pullback From Minnesota / Ryan Routh Sentenced to Life / Wildfire Smoke Kills 24K Per Year in US / House Investigates World Liberty Over UAE Money / Russian Bank Makes Bitcoin-Backed Loans / SECTREAS Says He Cannot Bailout Bitcoin / BTC ETFs Continue Outflows / MSTR Stock Hurting / US Jobs Cuts Spike / Stocks Sink on AI Fear / FCC Reviews SpaceX Orbit Plans /

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $69,556, 14.28 oz Gold, 4.162 BTC/Median US House
24hr Hi: $76,075/ Lo: $69,062
Volume: 90B (Up 33%)
Mkt Cap: $1.39T (Down 9%)
HashRate: .912 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3.0 sats/vBtye (Up 2 sats)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. START Expires: The last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, known as New START, expired today, removing limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems for the first time in over five decades. U.S. officials confirmed no extension was negotiated, citing Russia's suspension of inspections and data sharing since 2023 amid the Ukraine conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Moscow would not initiate a new arms race but warned of potential escalation if the U.S. deploys new missiles in Europe. (AP)

2. Trump pushes Beijing to break from Tehran in phone call with Xi: Trump said he held an “excellent” phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Wednesday where the pair discussed many things, from trade to the war in Ukraine. Topping the agenda of their talks was the situation in Iran, as Washington continues to urge countries to isolate Tehran. (EuroNews)

3. Israel strikes across Gaza, killing 24, and says militants attacked its soldiers: Israeli strikes pounded Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including two babies, according to health officials in the territory, where a fragile ceasefire is under increasing strain. Israel said it killed three militant leaders and others who posed a threat to its forces, and that some strikes came in response to a Hamas attack that seriously wounded one of its soldiers. (AP)

-US Events-
1. ICE Drawdown in Minnesota: U.S. ICE announced the immediate withdrawal of 700 officers from Minnesota on February 4, 2026, following state and local cooperation in turning over arrested immigrants. Border Czar Tom Homan stated the move allows redeployment to non-compliant areas, amid a surge in detentions under Operation Metro Surge. (USNews)

2. Man who tried to shoot Trump at a Florida golf course gets life in prison: U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh’s fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts. (AP)

3.Study ties particle pollution from wildfire smoke to 24,100 US deaths per year: The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, found that from 2006 to 2020, long-term exposure to tiny particulates from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states. (AP) (AC-This is one of those 'studies' that requires discernment and grounding.)

-Regulatory and Legal-
1. House launches probe into $500 Million UAE deal linked to World Liberty Financial: Rep. Ro Khanna has launched a probe into Donald Trump-linked crypto project World Liberty Financial (WLFI) over a reported $500 million investment from an entity tied to the United Arab Emirates royal family. (TheBlock)

2. Russia’s Banking Sector Opens the Door to Bitcoin-Backed Corporate Loans: Sovcombank’s new campaign focuses on making day-to-day operations cheaper and simpler for mining companies. Eligible businesses receive free account servicing, full online banking access, and more flexible foreign exchange oversight. The more consequential step, however, is the launch of loans secured by bitcoin holdings. (CoinDoo)

3. U.S. Treasury confirms it has no authority to bail out Bitcoin: During a House Financial Services Committee hearing, California Representative Brad Sherman pressed Sec. Bessent on whether the Treasury Department could use taxpayer funds to support Bitcoin during a downturn. Bessent replied unequivocally that neither he nor the council holds that authority. (CryptoNews) (AC-Sometimes the obvious has to be said.)

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
NSTR

-Institutional Concerns-
1. Spot bitcoin ETFs register second consecutive day of outflows totaling $545 million: Despite the recent outflows, the structural footprint of the funds remains substantial. Since their launch two years ago, U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs have accumulated $54.75 billion in total net inflows. Their aggregate net assets currently represent 6.36% of bitcoin's total market capitalization. (TheBlock)

2. Strategy ($MSTR) Shares Sink Over 20% in 5 Days as Bitcoin Crashes to $72,000: MSTR shares tumbled roughly 9% on the session, dipping to intraday lows near $121.19. At current levels the stock is down roughly 15% year‑to‑date and a staggering 72% from its November 2024 peak. (BitcoinMag)

-Economic Indicators-
1. US January Job Cuts Highest Since 2009: US-based employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January 2026, the highest level since October and the largest January total since 2009, compared to 33,553 cuts announced in December. (TradingEconomics)

2. US Stocks Sharply Lower on AI Fears: US stocks sold off on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 down about 1%, the Nasdaq sliding 2.3%, and the Dow slightly higher, as technology led a broad risk-off move tied to renewed AI disruption fears and weak guidance. (TradingEconomics)

-Security Concerns-
NSTR

-Technology and Science-
1. FCC Opens Review of Elon Musk's SpaceX Plan for Orbital AI Data Centers: The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday opened public review of a SpaceX proposal to build a non-geostationary satellite system that would move energy-intensive AI computing into orbit, potentially allowing the company to deploy up to one million data-center-style satellites to train xAI models, including Grok. (Decrypt)

2.Anthropic’s AI Tools Rattle Software Stocks, Prompt Rethink of Sector Valuations: Shares of several information and professional-services companies slid sharply this week amid Anthropic's unveiling of a legal-automation tool that rattled investors’ confidence in the sector’s long-term pricing power. The panic began after Anthropic announced 11 open-source plugins for Claude Cowork on January 30, but focused on one in particular. That included a legal plugin, which automates contract review, NDA triage, and compliance workflows. In a nutshell, it does the grunt work that keeps thousands of paralegals and junior associates employed. (Emerge)

-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 12/100 (Down 5 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): For those not used to pullbacks like this in Bitcoin, perspective and deep study help the psychological pressure ease. These are the times to stack more, but to also focus on what makes life meaningful.

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
Watch us on YouTube and X Spaces: Tuesdays at 9pmEST/6pmPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

⁨📷⁩ ⁨BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 927,133
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 09Dec2025
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Earthquake Hit Northern Japan / Zelenskyy Meets Pope / Nigerian Organ-Harvesting Ring Discovered / New Aid to US Farmers / Florida Designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood Terror Orgs / Palantir To Help ICE / CEOs Meet Lawmakers Over CLARITY Act / Islamic Bank Offers Bitcoin / Nunchuk Secures $1B BTC in Custody / All Eyes on Fed This Week / Crypto's 'Oceans 11' Team Convicted / Snapchat to Verify Age (and more) / Cloudfare Has 2nd Outage / ChatGPT Removed 'Share' Feature

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $90,553, 21.52 oz Gold, .21 Median US House
24hr Hi: $92,099 / Lo: $89,586
Volume: 56B (Down 2%)
Mkt Cap: $1.8T (Down 1%)
HashRate: 1 ZH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1 sats/vBtye (Down 50%)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Strikes Northern Japan: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit northern Japan on December 09, 2025, injuring at least 23 people and triggering a 2-foot tsunami that affected coastal areas. Authorities issued warnings for potential aftershocks, advising residents to stay alert as stronger tremors could occur within the coming days. No fatalities were reported, but infrastructure assessments are ongoing in the affected regions. (BBC)

2. Zelenskyy Meets Pope Amid Ukraine Peace Preparations: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis yesterday to discuss ongoing peace efforts as Ukraine prepares to send updated proposals to the U.S. The meeting focused on humanitarian concerns and ceasefire violations in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Zelenskyy emphasizing the need for international support. (NBC)

3. Nigeria Investigates Organ-Harvesting Ring After Discovering Mutilated Corpses: The horror is an especially grim example of Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic, in which every sort of malevolent group — from Islamic State jihadis to huge bandit gangs and small groups of petty criminals — kidnaps vulnerable people. Over a hundred bodies were found at the “organ-harvesting slaughterhouse.” Both the hotel and mortuary were sealed by police while forensic teams examined the scene. (Breitbart)

-US Events-
1. Trump Announces $12 Billion Aid Package for Farmers: President Trump unveiled a $12 billion bailout for U.S. farmers yesterday, during a round-table meeting, aimed at offsetting losses from ongoing trade wars with China. The aid includes direct payments to affected producers, following China's boycott of American agricultural products. Farmers in key states like Iowa and Ohio are expected to receive the bulk of the funds through federal programs. (NYTimes)

2. Florida designates CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist groups: Florida has designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations, "EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Monday evening — prompting CAIR to vow it'll sue his administration. (Axios)

3. Palantir Building ICE "ImmigrationOS" To Track Migrants: A contract first reviewed by Business Insider stated that ICE and Palantir are working to deploy the Immigration Lifecycle Operating System — or ImmigrationOS — to support ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in response to urgent deportation national security goals outlined in President Trump's Executive Orders. (ZeroHedge)

-Regulatory and Legal-
1. CEOs Of Leading Banks To Discuss Crypto Market Structure With US Senators This Week: In the wake of the GENIUS Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in July, attention is now turning to the CLARITY Act, commonly known as the crypto market structure bill. This legislation has encountered substantial delays, exacerbated by the recent government shutdown and a lack of consensus in Congress. This week, the CEOs of Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America are scheduled to meet with both Republican and Democratic senators to discuss the evolving legislation. (Bitcoinist)

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. Bitcoin's Weakest November Since 2018: Bitcoin recorded its weakest November since 2018, with significant selling pressure originating from the European market. BTC and ETH declined 20-25%. (CoinGecko)

-Institutional Concerns-
1. UAE Islamic Bank Makes History With Bitcoin Access: An Islamic bank is now letting clients buy and sell Bitcoin inside its mobile app. The bank partnered with Fuze to ensure security and Sharia compliance. Crypto inflows to the UAE have surged, encouraging regulated institutions to participate. (CoinDoo)

2. Nunchuk: The Open-Source Mobile Multi-Sig Wallet Now Securing Over $1 Billion | 11,073 BTC in Bitcoin: Nunchuk Inc. is an open source, multi-signature mobile wallet for advanced bitcoin security, self-custody, and inheritance. Launched in 2020, the app offers users a feature-rich toolkit to set up high-security bitcoin wallets, with little competition on the mobile app market, as most other mobile wallets do not support multi-signature functionality at all. (BitcoinMag)

-Economic Indicators-
1. US Stocks Start the Week in the Red: US stocks extended losses to close lower on Monday, with the S&P 500 down 0.3%, the Dow Jones off 0.4% and the Nasdaq slipping 0.2% as investors reassessed the 2026 Fed policy path. A Wednesday cut remains priced in at roughly 90% yet firmer inflation signals have kept expectations tethered to a cautious stance. (TradingEconomics)

-Security Concerns-
1. Ninth Defendant Pleads Guilty in $263M | 2,909 BTC Crypto Social-Engineering Scheme: A 22-year-old California man has become the ninth defendant to plead guilty in a RICO-style crypto theft ring that drained roughly $263 million in Bitcoin from a single Washington, D.C. victim, and hundreds of millions more from other targets across the U.S. Prosecutors say the crew laundered the stolen crypto by first converting portions into privacy coin Monero, then routing funds through opaque exchanges and “crypto-to-cash” brokers, all while spending the proceeds on opulence. (Decrypt) (AC-This crew built a 'Oceans 11' style system to go after known crypto holders, but didn't have the same genius of movie crew to not stay out of jail. It certainly worked though.)

2. Snapchat Introduces Age Verification Amid Social Media Ban Concerns: Snapchat announced on December 09, 2025, that users under 16 can verify age via selfies for account access, raising privacy issues as Australia's social media ban for minors takes effect. The process involves facial analysis without storing images long-term, according to company statements. (ABC)

-Technology and Science-
1. Banks, Shopify, Zoom Hit Again as Cloudflare's Second December Outage Reveals The Internet's Fragility: A wave of 500 Internal Server Errors swept across the internet on 5 December 2025, knocking offline major banks, stock trading platforms, e-commerce giants, and video conferencing tools — marking Cloudflare's second significant outage within three weeks. (IBTimes)

2. OpenAI Removes ChatGPT Share Tool Due to Privacy Risks: OpenAI discontinued the ChatGPT conversation-sharing feature on December 05, 2025, after reports of privacy vulnerabilities, including Google indexing shared links. The tool allowed users to export chats but exposed sensitive data without adequate safeguards. Company engineers are reviewing alternatives to prevent future breaches. (BusinessStandard)

-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 22/100 (Up 2 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): NSTR

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
Watch us on YouTube and X Spaces: Tuesdays at 9pmEST/6pmPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report⁩

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 920,250
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 22OCT2025
Precedence: Routine FNG (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
__________________________
BLUF: Ukraine: Overnight strikes and air defenses/ Zelenskiy on cease-fire proposal/ Gaza: ICJ to opine on aid access obligations/ Taiwan to deepen U.S. defense ties/ North Korea test-fires ballistic missiles/ Government shutdown impact/ U.S. offshore wind rollback/ FAA staffing delays at major hubs/ Protests erupt as ICE agents raid NYC Chinatown/ FalconX to acquire 21Shares/ Global markets mixed; gold pulls back/ U.K. inflation and BoE bets/ Oil prices rise on supply risk/ Japan’s new PM prepares large stimulus/ Apple spyware alert/ YouTube likeness‑detection tool launch/ WhatsApp & Messenger anti‑scam warnings/ Japan energy policy: nuclear restarts

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $107,943 26.68 oz Gold, .25 Median US House
24hr Hi: $114,082 / Lo: $106,800
Volume: $73.25 B
Mkt Cap: $2.15 T
HashRate: 1,117.25 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 1 sats/vBtye (Even)

---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Ukraine: Overnight strikes and air defenses — Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 28 missiles, 405 Shahed-type drones and 1,152 glide bombs since Oct. 1, with overnight attacks including cruise and ballistic missiles aimed at energy and military infrastructure. Ukrainian air defenses reported multiple intercepts; authorities tallied power disruptions in several regions. Kyiv reiterated requests for additional Patriot-class systems and missiles. (Reuters)


2. Zelenskiy on cease-fire proposal — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to freeze the conflict at current front lines would be a “good compromise,” while doubting Moscow would accept. The comment came during Zelenskiy’s visit to Nordic countries. No date has been set for Trump–Putin talks after recent scheduling signals. Kyiv maintained it seeks the restoration of internationally recognized borders. (Reuters)

3. Gaza: ICJ to opine on aid access obligations — The International Court of Justice said it will issue, on Wednesday, a legal opinion on states’ obligations to ensure humanitarian aid access into Gaza under international law. The proceeding was requested by U.N. organs amid ongoing hostilities and aid constraints. The advisory opinion, while nonbinding, can influence state conduct and U.N. action. The court outlined the scope as obligations to facilitate relief operations and protect civilians. (Reuters)

4. Taiwan to deepen U.S. defense ties — Taiwan’s defense ministry announced plans to expand military cooperation with the U.S., including higher-level dialogues, reciprocal visits and exercise observation. Taipei cited increased PLA activity around the island as a driver for enhanced early-warning and intelligence-sharing channels. Taiwan reiterated that its future is determined by its people. Beijing has not commented on the new cooperative elements announced today. (Reuters)

5. North Korea test-fires ballistic missiles ahead of Trump’s Asia trip - North Korea performed its first ballistic missile tests in five months Wednesday, days before President Trump and other leaders are expected to meet in South Korea. South Korea’s military said it detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles that were launched from an area south of Pyongyang and flew about 350 kilometers (220 miles) toward the northeast. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff didn’t release more specific flight details but said the missiles didn’t land in the sea. (AP)


-US Events-
1. Government shutdown impact: aviation workforce — About 60,000 U.S. air-safety workers, including ~13,000 air traffic controllers and ~50,000 TSA officers, are unpaid as the federal shutdown enters a third week. Interviews documented workers resorting to loans and side jobs; some airports are arranging food support. DOT issued guidance related to donations. Political negotiations continue without a funding deal. (Reuters)

2. U.S. offshore wind rollback: industrial effects — U.S. shipbuilders and ports reported lost orders and canceled grants amid federal actions halting or reviewing offshore wind projects. Reuters tallied cancellations exceeding $679 million in port funding and a $475 million vessel order affected by delays. Some developments, like Equinor’s South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, continue, while others face prolonged pauses. Industry group estimates place billions in port and vessel investments at risk. (Reuters)

3. FAA staffing delays at major hubs — The FAA reported significant delays at Houston’s Bush and Hobby airports and at Newark Liberty, citing staffing shortages aggravated by shutdown-related absences. Ground stops were implemented in Houston at points on Oct. 21. By 7 p.m. ET, 12% of Bush flights, 8% at Hobby, and 15% at Newark were delayed. The FAA’s controller deficit predates the shutdown and is now strained by unpaid work. (Reuters)

4. Protests erupt as ICE agents raid NYC Chinatown
A federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown targeting criminal activity tied to the alleged sale of counterfeit goods turned chaotic Friday as protesters clashed with ICE agents, prompting city officials to say they had no role in the operation. Rioters who were shouting obscenities, became violent and obstructed law enforcement duties, including blocking vehicles and assaulting law enforcement, one rioter has been arrested for assault on a federal officer. (Fox)



-Regulatory and Legal-
NSTR

-CBDCs/World Currencies/Strategic Reserves-
1. FalconX to acquire 21Shares — Prime broker FalconX agreed to acquire crypto ETP issuer 21Shares, according to the Wall Street Journal as cited by CoinDesk; terms were not disclosed. The move would expand FalconX from liquidity services into ETF issuance. 21Shares recently reached the milestone of listing 50 crypto ETPs in Europe. Both firms declined immediate comment to CoinDesk. (Coindesk)

-Institutional Concerns-
NSTR

-Economic Indicators-
1. Global markets mixed; gold pulls back — Global equities traded mixed with profit‑taking after strong year‑to‑date moves, while gold retreated after a >5% drop Tuesday. Nasdaq futures were slightly higher; Netflix fell after earnings while GM jumped on guidance. Japan’s Nikkei rebounded on expectations of fiscal stimulus under the new cabinet. Oil advanced amid supply concerns tied to sanctions. (Reuters)

2. U.K. inflation and BoE bets — U.K. CPI for September held at 3.8% year‑on‑year, unchanged and below expectations, with core measures also steady. Rate‑futures pricing shifted to imply ~75% odds of a 25 bps cut to 3.75% at the Dec. MPC meeting (from ~46% pre‑data). Two‑ and 10‑year gilt yields fell to multi‑month lows in early trade. Markets now price roughly 66 bps of cuts by end‑2026. (Reuters)

3. Oil prices rise on supply risk — Brent and WTI rose more than 1% for a second day on supply‑risk signals and optimism around U.S.–China trade discussions. Reuters noted U.S. plans to add ~1 million barrels to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and cited reported declines in U.S. crude and product inventories. Geopolitical tensions involving Russia and Venezuela were also cited in price support. The rally extended Tuesday’s gains.(Reuters)

4. Japan’s new PM prepares large stimulus — Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing a stimulus package expected to exceed last year’s ¥13.9 trillion ($92B) to address inflation and support growth sectors like AI and semiconductors. Measures under discussion include abolishing the provisional gasoline tax and increasing SME support grants. Funding may involve a supplementary budget and deficit-covering JGBs. Announcement timing could be as early as next month. (Reuters)

-Security Concerns-
1. Apple spyware alert — Apple notified an exploit developer that his iPhone was targeted with government‑grade spyware; the alert followed Apple’s existing practice of issuing “threat notifications” to selected users. The recipient shared details publicly; Apple did not attribute the actor. The incident adds to Apple’s prior advisories on mercenary spyware risks. The report was published within the last 24 hours. (TechCrunch)

-Technology and Science-
1. YouTube likeness‑detection tool launch — YouTube launched a likeness‑detection technology designed to help users report content that misuses their face or voice. The feature expands existing privacy complaint processes and addresses deepfake-style content. YouTube said it will review flagged videos for policy violations and potential removal. The rollout was confirmed by the platform on Oct. 21. (TechCrunch)

2. WhatsApp & Messenger anti‑scam warnings — Meta added in‑app warnings in WhatsApp and Messenger tailored to help older users identify scam patterns and high‑risk interactions. The notices surface in specific contexts (e.g., urgent money requests) to encourage verification steps. The change is part of ongoing anti‑fraud product updates. Meta said the features are starting to roll out globally. (TechCrunch

3. Japan energy policy: nuclear restarts — Takaichi’s government is prioritizing nuclear power restarts to reduce reliance on imported fuels that account for roughly 70% of electricity generation. Only 14 of 33 operable reactors have been restarted since Fukushima; the administration appointed Ryosei Akazawa as trade and industry minister to accelerate the shift and deepen U.S. LNG ties. The policy also highlights perovskite solar and advanced nuclear. The trade ministry emphasized secure, decarbonized power sources. (Reuters)




-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 29/100 (down 4)

Analyst Comments NSTR

Follow us on NOSTR: @Bitcoin Veterans
Listen to us daily on X discuss the DIB and more: X Spaces, Bitcoin Veterans, 10amEST/7amPST
Watch us on YouTube and X Spaces: Tuesdays at 9pmEST/6pmPST
____________________
Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
NNNN
*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report