Cambridge Study: Bitcoin Shows Strong Resilience to Submarine Cable Failures Over 11 Years. Source: arxiv.org/pdf/2602.14372

This recent SEC-CFTC MOU is overwhelmingly positive for #Bitcoin medium-to-long term. It ends jurisdictional turf wars, enables coordinated oversight, data sharing, joint exams/enforcement, and reinforces BTC's commodity status under CFTC.

PROS:

-Major regulatory clarity: Removes uncertainty/overlaps that deterred institutions; BTC's commodity treatment is solidified with less SEC interference risk.

-Accelerates institutional inflows: Unlocks sidelined capital (potentially trillions) via easier ETF expansions, custody, derivatives, and TradFi integration.

-Faster product innovation/approvals: Streamlined coordination for new BTC-related products, better surveillance, and reduced duplicative rules.

-Boosts U.S. market competitiveness: Helps reverse offshoring; aligns with pro-crypto momentum for mainstream adoption.

-Bullish long-term sentiment: Viewed as foundational de-risking event, supporting stronger price foundations.

CONS:

-Short-term muted impact: Mostly structural (not immediate catalyst); macro factors (e.g., geopolitics, oil shocks) can still dominate near-term price.

-Stronger unified enforcement: Coordinated crackdowns on fraud/manipulation could hit gray-area BTC services or bad actors harder.

-No full deregulation: Compliance burdens remain heavy for intermediaries; overly conservative joint rules could slow niche BTC innovation.

-Implementation delays possible: Benefits depend on execution speed of working groups and harmonization, bureaucracy could frustrate timelines.

https://www.moneyforai.org/

New Study from BPI: Frontier AI agents prefer bitcoin over stablecoins and other forms of money.

BPI tested 36 models over 9000+ conversations, and the AIs overwhelmingly chose to use Bitcoin for their economic activity.

Yesterday, Feb 25, the Illinois Bitcoin Council hit the state capitol in Springfield, IL for a full day of advocacy during the February legislative session. We focused on educating policymakers about #Bitcoin's potential for economic empowerment and fiscal resilience in #Illinois. It was a productive day of meetings, workshops, and real conversations! 🟠

Huge shoutout to our amazing team of #Bitcoin-ers who made this happen: Tolbyus Shephard (Founder of Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve), Yan Pritzker (Co-Founder, Swan Bitcoin), Andrew Tilmann (Bitcoin Scholarship Foundation & Midwest Bitcoin Summit), Brady Pugliese (Unchained Capital), Tim Niemeyer (our President), Mark Hurley (IBC Advocacy Coordinator), and Emmanuel (tech & media support).

Grateful for the time with key policymakers who engaged thoughtfully. Special thanks to Senator Steve McClure for sponsoring SB3672 (Local Digital Asset Invest Act), which creates a clear framework for digital asset investments at the state level.

In addition to SB3672, we advocated for SB3743 (Community Bitcoin Reserve Act) sponsored by Sen Emil Jones III, which designates the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve as a state-recognized pilot for community treasuries—the nation's first! These bills aren't competing; they complement each other to clear regulatory gray areas and protect communities, allowing them to build a path towards self-sufficiency. Bills are in assignments now; energy committee next. House & Senate schedules are tricky, but we're pushing forward.

The afternoon workshop for the Illinois House GOP was a crucial step to building a sustainable future. A HUGE shout out to Rep. John Cabello for hosting this event! We addressed questions, emphasized long-term horizons, and highlighted how #Bitcoin fixes many of the issues facing our great state. Shout out to Lawrence Lepard for the copies of "The Big Print"!

On the federal side, we met with Congresswoman Mary Miller to advocate incorporating similar community reserve and digital asset language into the Clarity Act.

What can you do?
- Contact your IL legislators to support SB3743 & SB3672; get them moving through committees!
- Support the Illinois Bitcoin Council; volunteer your time and/or resources so we can reach our potential.

Together, we can paint #Illinois orange! 🟠

Learn more and join us: illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership

#Bitcoin is for criminals lol

https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2026-crypto-crime-report-introduction/

The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve is bringing financial sovereignty to one of Chicago's most underserved communities. Altgeld Gardens has been ignored by the legacy system for decades, Tolbyus Shephard's ABR is changing that with Bitcoin education, savings tools, and on-the-ground empowerment. Help us grow this movement:
Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/eVq9AMeWw3t73Yz1S40x201
Square: https://checkout.square.site/.../BQTEFWZ3ZAXBA3RK2Z3HQWJ2
By funding the ABR, you're funding hope. ⚡️
📚 https://altgeldbitcoinreserve.com/

We stand at a crossroads in Illinois. Our state's unfunded pension liabilities exceed $140 billion. Year after year, we're promised solutions while debasing the currency that working families depend on. The same forces that inflated away your grandparents' savings are now targeting your children's future.

But there is an alternative...

The Illinois Bitcoin Council exists to advance honest money in a state addicted to monetary fiction. We are business owners, developers, educators, and citizens who refuse to accept that the best we can hope for is a slower decline.

Sound money discipline respects property rights. It lowers time preference. It rewards savings over speculation. It does not ask permission from politicians.

If you believe Illinois can lead rather than follow, if you want to build systems that outlast the next election cycle, then you belong here. We are building the educational infrastructure, the policy frameworks, and the professional networks that will define #Bitcoin's role in this state's economic future.

The exit from monetary tyranny is being constructed one block at a time. Join us. Not to speculate. To build.

👉 illinoisbitcoincouncil.org/membership

Hey #Bitcoin-ers, help us spread the word! It's early, but #Illinois has two new pieces of legislation introduced...

-Community Bitcoin Reserve Act (SB3743) https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3743&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=167046&SessionID=114
-Digital Asset Investment Act (SB3672) https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3672&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=166866&SessionID=114

IYKYK; Illinois has a bad rap for being hostile to Bitcoin, but that is changing!

The Digital Asset Investment Act has been introduced allowing #Illinois to invest in #Bitcoin and associated products! https://ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/104/SB/10400SB3672.htm

#Bitcoin history is being made in Illinois.

The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve just became the nation's first community-run Bitcoin treasury to gain formal state recognition.

Here's the story of how a public housing community built in 1945 is becoming a model for financial sovereignty

The Backdrop:

Altgeld Gardens was built for African American WWII veterans.

It became a stark example of environmental racism:
• Surrounded by toxic waste
• Highest cancer rates in Illinois
• Poverty below $12k per capita
• 90% African American population

This is where the environmental justice movement was born in 1979.

The Pivot:

In March 2025, IBC member Tolbyus Shephard founded the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve.

The mission: transform 80 years of economic injustice into generational wealth through a community-controlled Bitcoin treasury.

How it works:

1. Acquire and hold Bitcoin in transparent DAO treasury
2. Run revenue programs (financial literacy, trucking ownership)
3. Reinvest 50% of profits to grow the reserve
4. Distribute benefits to residents
The Momentum

August 2025: IL Rep John Cabello meets with Altgeld leaders

October 2025: Illinois House Resolution 0446 recognizes ABR as the nation's first community Bitcoin reserve

January 2026: Tolbyus meets with IL House Minority Leader Tony McCombie at the State Capitol

February 2026: Senate Bill 3743 introduced — the Community Bitcoin Reserve Act

Why This Matters:

In communities like Altgeld, Bitcoin is a tool for:
• Economic transformation
• Financial sovereignty
• Community-led development
• Breaking cycles of exclusion

The Lesson:

When traditional institutions have failed a community for 80 years, Bitcoin offers an alternative.

The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve proves it.

Credit to Tolbyus Shephard for the vision and relentless advocacy.

Proud that the Illinois Bitcoin Council supports this work.