Have you ever tried to pay via Lightning with your BoltCard, but the merchant's Point-of-Sale doesn't support it? With this simple app, you can scan his invoice with your phone, tap your BoltCard on your phone, to pay him directly, in Peer-2-Peer, from your node to his node.
BoltCard Terminal -This solution lets you pay the merchant using the BoltCard by using an app as a go-between.
In essence, you’re using your phone as the translator between your card and the merchant who’s posting an invoice.
https://github.com/SwissBitcoinPay/boltcard-tools-terminal?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Have you ever tried to pay via Lightning with your BoltCard, but the merchant's Point-of-Sale doesn't support it? With this simple app, you can scan his invoice with your phone, tap your BoltCard on your phone, to pay him directly, in Peer-2-Peer, from your node to his node.
BoltCard Terminal -This solution lets you pay the merchant using the BoltCard by using an app as a go-between.
In essence, you’re using your phone as the translator between your card and the merchant who’s posting an invoice.
https://github.com/SwissBitcoinPay/boltcard-tools-terminal?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Elon should deploy @Starlink satellites running #bitcoin / #BitcoinLayer2 node to the moon using @SpaceX, so we can have constant communication and value transfer capabilities even on the dark side of the moon.
Fiat inflation not only acts as a concealed tax on the general population but also serves as the catalyst for the most negative aspects of our system, fueling both the war machine abroad and the growth of a surveillance state at home.
It promotes a culture that rewards reckless and detrimental decisions, while penalizing those who live prudently and prepare for the future. It is a force that robs us of our wealth, our principles, and our resilience.
Great book to read
“The foregoing considerations are by no means an exhaustive account of the cultural and spiritual legacy of fiat inflation. But they should suffice to substantiate the main point: that fiat inflation is a powerhouse of social, economic, cultural, and spiritual destruction.” --Guido Jorg
How Inflation Destroys Civilization
by Hulsmann, Guido Jorg
Inflation doesn’t only make us poorer. It harms our culture, mental well-being, and the moral foundations of civilization itself.
https://store.mises.org/How-Inflation-Destroys-Civilization-P11279.aspx
This tiny, tamper-proof ID tag can authenticate almost anything
MIT engineers developed a tag that can reveal with near-perfect accuracy whether an item is real or fake. The key is in the glue on the back of the tag.
https://news.mit.edu/2024/tiny-tamper-proof-id-tag-can-authenticate-almost-anything-0218
This new tag ID tech shared a major security vulnerability with traditional RFIDs: A counterfeiter could peel the tag off a genuine item and reattach it to a fake, and the authentication system would be none the wiser.
To solve this the researchers have developed an antitampering ID tag that still offers the benefits of being tiny, cheap, and secure by mixing microscopic metal particles into the glue that sticks the tag to an object, and then use new ID tech to detect the unique pattern those particles form on the item’s surface. Akin to a fingerprint.
The future of encrypted email!
The Death of Decentralized Email
A historical review of the multi-decade centralization and capture of the email protocol.
https://blog.lopp.net/death-of-decentralized-email/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=hs_email
Every day, law-abiding citizens leverage encrypted email to safeguard their privacy. This widespread adoption strengthens the concept of decentralized email, a crucial defense against the concerning trend of email centralization, as Jameson highlights in his blog post.
If we all encrypt we cannot be targeted.
How to Set Up and Use the Start9 Embassy Personal Server
The Start9 Embassy is a personal server that allows individuals to reclaim privacy, data, and monetary sovereignty by running their own Bitcoin software stack. This guide will walk you through setting up, building, and using the Start9 Embassy from start to finish.
https://tftc.io/start9-embassy-guide/
Microsoft BitLocker Bypasses are Practical
The article “Microsoft BitLocker Bypasses are Practical” discusses the practicality of bypassing Microsoft's default BitLocker implementation. The authors attended a security training that provided them with the skills and knowledge to bypass a default BitLocker configuration on a T470 ThinkPad, which can be applied to most modern business machines. The article emphasizes the potential risks and consequences associated with this attack technique, targeting businesses and individuals looking to safeguard sensitive data on their Windows devices. It also highlights the importance of understanding the limitations and operational considerations of BitLocker, as well as the potential solutions and challenges associated with bypassing or recovering the BitLocker key. The article provides technical insights, practical scenarios, and potential solutions for bypassing BitLocker, while also cautioning against the risks and ethical considerations involved in using third-party tools or bypass options without the recovery key.
For more details, you can access the full article through the following link:
https://blog.compass-security.com/2024/02/microsoft-bitlocker-bypasses-are-practical/
Another reason to minimize your attack surface specially when trusting black boxes like Microsoft.
“NWC is useful for far more than simply integrating Lightning into Nostr applications as well. The entire design philosophy of Nostr itself as a protocol was centered around keeping it simple enough that the entire protocol could be easily implemented correctly by any developer with minimal time and resources. Applications that have nothing to do with Nostr can easily integrate NWC or similar protocols with almost no overhead or complexity to address the underlying issues of how to connect a Bitcoin wallet with their application without having to build it directly into the app.” --Shinobi
Imagine unlocking major advancements in security, decentralization, and the potential of Bitcoin's app ecosystem, not through a new Bitcoin feature, but with something entirely different. What if we leveraged decentralized protocols like Nostr to create a communication and coordination layer for Bitcoin apps? This would allow new applications to seamlessly connect with devices and wallets, bypassing the usual complexity and burden. That's the power of Nostr Wallet Connect.
Here is the article:
NOSTR WALLET CONNECT: A BITCOIN APPLICATION COLLABORATION LAYER
As the complexity of Bitcoin software and applications using Bitcoin grows, the need for a simple coordination mechanism for different applications to interact grows as well.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/nostr-wallet-connect-a-bitcoin-application-collaboration-layer
“For too long, the world has had to endure the fallout of subpar academic research on bitcoin mining’s energy use and environmental impact. The outcome of this bullshit research has been shocking news headlines that have turned some well-meaning people into angry politicians and deranged activists. So that you never have to endure the brutality of one of these sloppy papers, I’ve sacrificed my soul to the bitcoin mining gods and performed a full-scale analysis of a study from the United Nations University, published recently in the American Geophysical Union’s Earth’s Future. Only the bravest and hardest of all bitcoin autists may proceed to the following paragraphs, the rest of you can go back to watching the price chart.” --Margot Paez
Finding a universally accepted approach to regulating Bitcoin and fully understanding its environmental impact might be elusive. However, in the fight against flawed research, insightful and critical pieces like Margot Paez's, which dissect flawed methods, can have valuable contributions.
Here is this great read:
MINING MISINFORMATION: HOW THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY MISREPRESENTS BITCOIN’S ENERGY USE
Revealing the junk science used by the United Nations University to attack bitcoin mining. The first report from the “FUD Fighters” series.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/sponsored/mining-misinformation-how-the-united-nations-university-misrepresented-data-to-exaggerate-bitcoins-environmental-footprint
33,000 new immersion-cooled #bitcoin mining computers connect online today. This 100 megawatt facility is now the largest electricity user in Sadersville, Georgia.
Why are we not doing this?
The main promise of quantum computing is the ability to solve problems far faster than classical computers, but exactly how much faster varies. There are two applications where quantum algorithms appear to provide an exponential speed up, says Troyer. One is factoring large numbers, which could make it possible to break the public key encryption the internet is built on. The other is simulating quantum systems, which could have applications in chemistry and materials science." --Edd Gent
Will quantum computers shatter Bitcoin's foundations? Is the core encryption vulnerable now, in the next decade, or even in our lifetime? Separating hype from reality: What does the current state of quantum computing tell us about its ability to fulfill its promises, and its potential impact on Bitcoin's security?
Quantum Computing’s Hard, Cold Reality Check Hype is everywhere, skeptics say, and practical applications are still far away https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-computing-skeptics
I set my domain as my Bluesky handle @wksit.com https://bsky.app/profile/wksit.com
This is one a major difference between X and Bluesky which is more decentralized than X and harder to censor and could become a global form of DID
Good article form 2010 great read.
"One of the amazing things about the internet economy is how different the list of top internet properties today looks from the list ten years ago. It wasn’t as if those former top companies were complacent – most of them acquired and built products like crazy to avoid being displaced.
The reason big new things sneak by incumbents is that the next big thing always starts out being dismissed as a “toy.” --Chris Dixon
Why do so many miss the biggest innovations and most revolutionary technologies sitting right in front of their eyes? Sometimes, like Bitcoin, it is such a drastic change, or solves something so fundamental, that many aren't even aware of the problem.
The next big thing will start out looking like a toy
https://cdixon.org/2010/01/03/the-next-big-thing-will-start-out-looking-like-a-toy
Banco
This is a protocol on top of Liquid to do non-interactive atomic swaps.
A decentralized exchange that uses this protocol, allowing any liquidity provider to fulfill the offer.
Non-interactive swapping paves the way for KYC-less trades.
Banco: Non-Interactive Swaps
https://vulpem.medium.com/banco-non-interactive-swaps-00d042791e06
The Seven Characteristics of Money
Characteristics that a good currency must be and call itself sound money.
1. Acceptable (Lightning-Liquid)
2. Divisible (divisible by 8 decimal points, It must be divisible. Money should be relatively easy to separate and recombine without affecting its fundamental characteristics. An extension of this idea is that the item should be 'fungible')
3. Durable (15 years uptime, It must be durable. Money must stand the test of time and the elements. It must not fade, corrode, or change through time)
4. Limited Supply (Finite scarcity only 21 Million)
5. Portable (It must be portable. Money hold a high amount of 'worth' relative to its weight and size)
6. Uniform (Fungible, Being of such nature or kind as to be freely exchangeable or replaceable, in whole or in part, for another of like nature or kind)
7. Stable
Finally, it must have intrinsic value. This value of money should be independent of any other object and contained in the money itself.
Phishing emails circulating after Trezor support portal breach
Trezor support site breach exposes personal data of 66,000 customers
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/trezor-support-site-breach-exposes-personal-data-of-66-000-customers/
Most scams have these two signs. You'll receive some sort of offer or request regarding assets, and there will be some sense of urgency. Don't trust an email and never type a seed phrase into an internet-connected computer.
“Bitcoin appears to be a decentralized Ponzi scheme not a decentralized currency. People don't spend it because they want it to go up. The dollar works because of inflation. It keeps velocity up like hot potato. If you want to store value silver gold and land. Because it's beautiful useful and valuable.
Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme without an individual attached to it to go to prison. So the media can control swings for profit. That's my opinion about bitcoin. The purpose isn't currency the purpose is to make dollars. The dollars "weakness" is actually why it won't be replaced. Velocity.”— Owen Benjamin
Great article from Robert P Murphy that challenges the notion that a currency must be “weak,” in order for it to work as money. And while in some sense bitcoin is not yet money when it comes to widespread acceptance, is it possible, that it one day could be.
CAN AN APPRECIATING BITCOIN BE A GOOD MONEY?
https://www.infineo.ai/articles/can-an-appreciating-bitcoin-be-a-good-money
"This decision, which is legally sound, has the effect of declaring all private mortgages on real and personal property, and all U.S. and State bonds held by the Federal Reserve, National, and State banks to be null and void. This amounts to the emancipation of this Nation from personal, national, and state debt purportedly owed to this banking system. Every American owes it to himself to study this decision very carefully, for upon it hangs the question of freedom or slavery."~ Jerome Daly
"Usury, Your Bank, and You."Check out the original article at Usury, Your Bank, And You. https://konsensus.network/blog/Usury_Bank_You/
May your blockchain be strong and secure, your hodl be steady, and your store of value be plentiful in the new year! Happy New Year, cryptocurrency nomads!
Bitcoin—Benefits for Business Owners Merchants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icMIuesvYbs
“Discord, the once niche platform for gamers, has risen to prominence as a multifaceted communication hub. While its strengths in community building and real-time interaction are undeniable, a shadow of concern looms when considering its approach to user privacy. Despite Discord's efforts to balance functionality with privacy, several challenges remain, leaving users grappling with the true cost of convenience.
While Discord offers undeniable value for certain communities, its inherent informality, shifting demographics, security limitations, lack of business-centric features, and rampant identity theft make it risky for enterprises and businesses seeking to build and engage professional online communities.”
Gaming the System: How Discord's Sinister Sino-Controlled Algorithmic Symphony Plays a Discordant Tune
https://polynom.app/blog/review-of-discord-malware-and-sinister-algorithms
"This makes Bitcoin miners uniquely symbiotic with energy grids serving as “demand response” partners. If energy is ever in short supply, people get priority over Bitcoin miners. However whenever there is excess energy, it gets monetized. This symbiotic relationship leads to more energy abundance generally." -- Brandon Quittem
Bitcoin is a Pioneer Species
Exploring Bitcoin Mining Through the Lens of Ecology
https://medium.com/the-bitcoin-times/bitcoin-is-a-pioneer-species-38f42ecdbb88
This iMessage exploit is crazy. TrueType vulnerability that has existed since the 90s, 2 kernel exploits, a browser exploit, and an undocumented hardware feature that was not used in shipped software:
Operation Triangulation: The last (hardware) mystery
https://securelist.com/operation-triangulation-the-last-hardware-mystery/111669/
The malware it dropped looks like it has existed for 10 years, collects everything, and uses Apple's client-side image recognition.
"We’re less than a year from another halving, awaiting systemic implications from federal regulation and institutional adoption, standing at the precipice of an American primary election into which Bitcoin has irrevocably inserted itself."
There is no civil war when the barbarians are at the door.
THE DIFFICULT ADJUSTMENT
A call to arms for innovation, cooperation and a change in Bitcoin’s discourse to create the means for Bitcoin to fulfill its potential. From “The Primary Issue”.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/the-difficult-adjustment
“There is a Remnant there that you know nothing about. They are obscure, unorganized, inarticulate, each one rubbing along as best he can. They need to be encouraged and braced up because when everything has gone completely to the dogs, they are the ones who will come back and build up a new society; and meanwhile, your preaching will reassure them and keep them hanging on. Your job is to take care of the Remnant, so be off now and set about it.”
What is a remnant?
The Remnant are those who by force of intellect are able to apprehend these *principles, and by force of character are able, at least measurably, to cleave to them. The masses are those who are unable to do either.
*The line of differentiation between the masses and the Remnant is set invariably by quality, not by circumstance.
Isaiah's Job
https://mises.org/library/isaiahs-job
Xfinity suffers data breach, 35 million people affected
"Xfinity discloses data breach affecting over 35 million people"
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/xfinity-discloses-data-breach-affecting-over-35-million-people/
How do everyday breaches affect your exchange accounts? Exposed data can be used to triangulate accounts on other sites. This can be especially problematic if you use the same password across multiple sites. Create unique passwords for each online account, and using a password manager can help.
Giving someone bitcoin for the holidays? Make sure it's a spendable amount.
Economically Unspendable Bitcoin UTXOs
UTXO management guidance for avoiding footguns (*A “footgun” is a feature designed in such a way as to be extremely likely to cause problems. It's a great word because it puts blame on the design, not on users.) that can cause issues during times of high transaction fees.
https://blog.lopp.net/economically-unspendable-bitcoin-utxos/
Market conditions fluctuate. Eventually, people willing to overpay transactions run out of sats. If you plan on giving BTC over the holidays, it's best to give at least 0.01 BTC (Current market price ($437.29) for viable spending in the future.
Shamir’s Secret Sharing is an underutilized technique for Bitcoiners and this is a great explanation of how it works.
How to Share a Secret (Shamir Secret Sharing)
https://www.vicyyn.com/blog/shamir-secret-sharing
This document provides a critical examination of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) recent proposal 2023-016, pinpointing potential infringements on individual rights and freedoms. The analysis delves deep into the implications of the proposal on freedom of expression, anonymity, privacy, and association, drawing from a wealth of legal precedents to underscore the gravity of these concerns.
"I’ve done an overall analysis of the proposal by addressing seven different sections of where FinCEN is attempting to infringe on your rights. From violating the sanctity of your personal information and restricting your financial autonomy, to stifling your freedom of speech and association, I’ll unpack each area. This is about shining a light on the fine print, connecting the dots, and equipping you with the knowledge you need to stand up against these intrusive measures. It’s time to draw a line in the sand and protect the liberties that define us." -- Preston Pysh
How FinCEN May Be Violating Your Rights
Written By Preston Pysh
A call to action against FINCEN proposal 2023-0016A
https://egodeath.capital/blog/fincen-may-be-violating-your-rights-bitcoin
This is a good read for all regulators
User claims hack behind record 83 BTC transaction fee
The same account also produced a cryptographic signature to prove they had the key behind the transaction. This indicates whoever is behind the user account had the key in question, but it's possible a bad actor had access as well.
Bitcoin user claims to be victim of hack which led to record $3 million transaction fee
https://www.theblock.co/post/264744/bitcoin-hack-victim-record-3-million-transaction-fee
Instances such as this are why it's important to generate fresh keys and ensure devices have not been tampered with.
Will someone win the bitcoin ETF sweepstakes?
Lucky 13? Where spot bitcoin ETF proposals stand ahead of judgment day
The SEC is mulling over 13 bitcoin ETF proposals that are continuously being updated ahead of expected rulings next month
https://blockworks.co/news/spot-btc-etf-applicants-status-update
Will there be reason to hold bitcoin yourself if an ETF exists? Yes, self-custody will continue to be the ideal way to secure bitcoin without reliance on trusted third parties.
LIGHTNING IS DOOMED
A reality check on the limitations of Lightning Network, and what that means in terms of its long term viability. No, it's not doomed, but it probably won't be used the way you expected it to be.
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/lightning-is-doomed
Secretive White House Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to Trillions of US Phone Records
A WIRED analysis of leaked police documents verifies that a secretive government program is allowing federal, state, and local law enforcement to access phone records of Americans who are not suspected of a crime.
https://www.wired.com/story/hemisphere-das-white-house-surveillance-trillions-us-call-records/
"This is a long-running dragnet surveillance program in which the White House pays AT&T to provide all federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies the ability to request often-warrantless searches of trillions of domestic phone records." -- Ron Wyden United States Senator
Bitcoin Is Digital Scarcity
"The difference between the Linden Dollar, World of Warcraft Gold, Fortnite V-Bucks, the Euro, and the U.S. dollar is in scale, not in nature. While V-Bucks are created and controlled by Epic Games (the company that created Fortnite), the U.S. dollar is created and controlled by the Fed. One impacts millions of people, the other billions. The mechanism that keeps these monies in check—the rules of the game, if you will—is the same in both cases: central decree."
https://dergigi.com/2022/10/02/bitcoin-is-digital-scarcity/
Worried about PRIVACY? Choose a SECURE email service.
Best Secure Email Services For Privacy Concerned People
Explore some of the best privacy-friendly email services to take control of your data and fight away from big tech.
https://itsfoss.com/secure-private-email-services/
Great morning read ☕
The recurring cycle of economic booms followed by inevitable busts has remained a puzzle for generations of observers. While mainstream Keynesian and monetarist theories propose monetary interventions to smooth these fluctuations, the Austrian School offers a compelling and alternative perspective. -- Michael Matulef
The Inevitable Bust: Why Economic Booms Contain the Seeds of Their Own Destruction
https://mises.org/wire/inevitable-bust-why-economic-booms-contain-seeds-their-own-destruction
My friend forgot his CC, and it was his turn to buy a round of drinks.
So he then continued to orange pill the owner to accept #bitcoin #LightningNetwork
Friends restaurant, Curaçao.
https://x.com/BtcCuracao/status/1726592019576045836?s=20
Fake BlackRock XRP Filing Referred to Delaware Department of Justice
A check of the process for registering a trust in the state apparently leaves a ready opening for bad actors.
https://www.coindesk.com/business/2023/11/14/fake-blackrock-xrp-filing-referred-to-delaware-department-of-justice/
Misinformation pops up in crypto from time to time. One perk of having assets in a multisig wallet is it can prevent you from overreacting to bad information or outright scams by giving more time to think and process. Even when it's good news, don't trust, verify.
Justin Sun-Owned Exchange Poloniex Hacked for At Least $126 Million
Poloniex owner Justin Sun stated that the exchange is collaborating with other crypto exchanges in a bid to recover the apporpriated
https://decrypt.co/205465/justin-sun-owned-crypto-exchange-poloniex-hacked-60m
When bull markets come, hackers come too. Criminals are less inclined to take on the risk of stealing an asset when its value is perceived to be going down. If you were putting off taking self-custody during the bear market and high fee markets, now's a good chance to claim your assets.
Justin Sun-Owned Exchange Poloniex Hacked for At Least $126 Million
Poloniex owner Justin Sun stated that the exchange is collaborating with other crypto exchanges in a bid to recover the apporpriated
https://decrypt.co/205465/justin-sun-owned-crypto-exchange-poloniex-hacked-60m
When bull markets come, hackers come too. Criminals are less inclined to take on the risk of stealing an asset when its value is perceived to be going down. If you were putting off taking self-custody during the bear market and high fee markets, now's a good chance to claim your assets.
Push notifications to your phone or desktop via PUT/POST
Push notifications made easy
ntfy (pronounced notify) is a simple HTTP-based pub-sub notification service. It allows you to send notifications to your phone or desktop via scripts from any computer, and/or using a REST API
https://ntfy.sh
"The Bank Secrecy Act is likely unconstitutional. It is either (A) so broad as to criminalize everyday life, (B) so ambiguous as to make uncertain its application to millions of Americans, or (C) spared from being so broad or so ambiguous by the exercise of legislative authority delegated by Congress to the Treasury Department." -- Peter Van Valkenburgh
It’s time to have the conversation: Is the Bank Secrecy Act unconstitutional?
Beyond the speech and privacy issues, the BSA is a sweeping delegation of law making power
https://www.coincenter.org/its-time-to-have-the-conversation-is-the-bank-secrecy-act-unconstitutional/
"The Bank Secrecy Act is likely unconstitutional. It is either (A) so broad as to criminalize everyday life, (B) so ambiguous as to make uncertain its application to millions of Americans, or (C) spared from being so broad or so ambiguous by the exercise of legislative authority delegated by Congress to the Treasury Department." -- Peter Van Valkenburgh
It’s time to have the conversation: Is the Bank Secrecy Act unconstitutional?
Beyond the speech and privacy issues, the BSA is a sweeping delegation of law making power
https://www.coincenter.org/its-time-to-have-the-conversation-is-the-bank-secrecy-act-unconstitutional/
EU Parliament made the correct decision on Chat Control today https://proton.me/blog/eu-parliament-chat-control "members of the European Parliament adopted a position that removes the attacks on encryption and takes a definitive stand for privacy and security"
Former Dutch central bank president Nout Wellink discussing the possibility of putting bitcoin on the balance sheet, comparing it to gold.
Check it out
@TuurDemeester
Whole video (in Dutch) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWA5uAPA_Ag&themeRefresh=1
Former Dutch central bank president Nout Wellink discussing the possibility of putting bitcoin on the balance sheet, comparing it to gold.
Check it out
@TuurDemeester
Whole video (in Dutch) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWA5uAPA_Ag&themeRefresh=1
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