Block: 857,615
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 20Aug24
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
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BLUF: Israel Recover 6 Hostage Bodies / Russia Hunts Down Deserters / North Korean Soldier Defects / DNC Says Goodbye to Biden / Georgia Strengthens Ballot Rules / Harris, DNC Indicate Crypto Antagonism / China Rules Digital Assets Transactions Illegal / BTC ETFs Control Almost 1M BTC / US Stocks Continue Rise / Hack Takes 4,064 BTC From One Wallet / Space X to Send Civilians Deeper Into Space
Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $60,707, 24.02 oz Gold, .14 Median US House
24hr Hi: $61,396 / Lo: $58,109
Vol: $28B (Up 32%)
Mkt Cap: $1.2T (Up 4%)
HashRate: 626 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 3 sats/vBtye (Even)-Very Low!
Nodes: 19,155
---Reports---
-International Events-
1. Israeli military says it recovered the bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that troops recovered the bodies in an overnight operation in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The operation came as the United States, Egypt and Qatar pushed for a cease-fire deal that would end Israel’s monthslong offensive in Gaza and see the release of the hostages who remain held in the enclave. More than 100 hostages remain held in Gaza, with around a third of them believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials. (NBC)
2. Russia Hunts Down Deserters to Backfill Its Massive War Losses: Russia’s vast professional army has been hollowed out after 2½ years sending waves of men to break down Ukraine’s defenses with a warfare attrition strategy. Russia is now recruiting at least 25,000 men a month, though few have combat experience. The war has been deadly for both sides. At least half a million Russians have been killed or wounded in the conflict, according to a senior Western intelligence official. Kyiv has also struggled to raise enough troops to hold back the Russians, despite lowering the mobilization age and raising pay. (WSJ)
3. North Korean soldier defects to the South: A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea early on Tuesday crossing the militarized border in the eastern part of the Korean peninsula. The soldier crossed into Goseong county on the east coast which borders North Korea and was taken into custody by South Korean guards who had been monitoring his movements. (Reuters)
-US Events-
1. Biden hails Harris as DNC's future in emotional farewell speech: Biden's address in Chicago kicked off a four-day event fueled by enthusiasm for Harris and relief that Biden abandoned his own reelection bid and endorsed her to replace him. The president's reluctant decision to step aside on July 21 came after heavy pressure from party leaders who worried the 81-year-old incumbent was too old to win or serve four more years. (Reuters)
2. Georgia Election Board votes to add requirements before certification: The Georgia State Election Board passed a rule Monday giving local election officials additional power to investigate ballot counts before certifying the results, a move critics say could inject chaos into the 2024 election and delay the state’s official vote count. The “Rule for Reconciliation Prior to Certification” will allow for a hand recount of votes to ensure “the total number of ballots cast” does not exceed “the total number of persons who voted,” according to the language of the rule. County election officials will now be allowed to investigate any possible discrepancies. (CNN)
3. Two dead, state of emergency declared in Connecticut after historic rainfall: Governor Ned Lamont said that hundreds of people were evacuated with the worst of the flooding happening around Oxford and Southbury. Two women, 65-year-old Ethelyn Joiner and 71 Audrey Rostkowski, both of Oxford, were found dead on Monday after rushing flood waters carried them away from first responders. (WWLP)
-Regulatory and Legal-
1. Kamala Harris’s Alleged ‘Crypto Reset’ Absent in Democratic Agenda: While the Republican platform addresses the issue of cryptocurrency and bitcoin, the Democratic Party’s latest platform remained silent on the matter. Adding to the buzz, there are whispers that Kamala Harris’s campaign might be eyeing Gary Gensler, the current head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for the role of Treasury Secretary. (BitcoinCom)
2. China Classifies Crypto Transactions as Money Laundering in Update to AML Law: On Monday, Chinese authorities explicitly recognized “virtual asset” transactions as a method of money laundering, marking the first instance in the country that such a move has been made towards the asset class. The new legal interpretation classifies virtual asset transactions, including those conducted through crypto exchanges, as acts that "cover up and conceal the source and nature of the proceeds of crime.” (Decrypt)
-Central Bank Digital Currencies-
NSTR
-Institutional Concerns-
1. US Bitcoin ETFs on the Verge of Controlling 1 Million BTC: According to the latest data collected on Aug. 16, 2024, the 12 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) collectively hold around 910,153.83 BTC, which translates to over $53 billion at the current exchange rates. Leading the pack is Blackrock’s IBIT, holding the largest portion with 38.34% of the total BTC. (BitcoinCom)
2. US spot bitcoin ETFs see lowest daily trading volume since early February: U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw $61.98 million daily net inflows amidst a $779.87 million daily total trade volume on Monday, the lowest amount since Feb. 6 and the third lowest daily trade volume overall. (TheBlock)
-Economic Indicators-
1. US Futures Signal Pause After 8-Day S&P 500, Nasdaq Rally: US futures changed little in cautious trading on Tuesday as expectations for a September interest rate cut grew stronger ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at Jackson Hole. On Monday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended their winning streak to eight sessions, the longest this year. (TradingEconomics)
-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. Could Bitcoin Become a Bigger Privacy Threat Than CBDCs?: Privacy advocates in the crypto space are concerned about the lack of privacy on the Bitcoin network and believe that it poses a threat to financial privacy. They argue that the open and transparent nature of the Bitcoin blockchain allows governments to monitor citizens' spending and other activities. While some worry that Bitcoin could be used as a CBDC with broad oversight, others believe that Bitcoin's decentralized nature makes it difficult for governments to control. (Decrypt)
2. Crypto Hack Ends In $238M Bitcoin Heist, Lazarus Group Linked?: A massive crypto hack on August 19 has shaken the community, resulting in the theft of $238 million in Bitcoin. According to ZachXBT’s research, the victim lost 4,064 Bitcoin, worth approximately $238 million, in a suspicious transfer on Monday. The transaction hash associated with the theft, 4b277…, revealed that the stolen funds were quickly transferred across various platforms. These include ThorChain, eXch, KuCoin, ChangeNow, crypto mixer Railgun, and Avalanche Bridge. (CoinGape)
-Technology and Science-
1. SpaceX is about to send four people on a wild — and risky — mission into the radiation belts: Private citizens Isaacman, Menon, Gillis and Poteet will spend five days aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will soar to altitudes higher than any human has traveled since NASA’s Apollo program ended in the 1970s. Their orbital path will extend high enough to plunge the vehicle and crew into a radiation belt, adding another element of peril to the already treacherous experience of spaceflight. This crew of private citizens will also open the hatch of their spacecraft and expose themselves to the vacuum of space, marking the first time such a feat has been attempted by non-government astronauts. (CNN)
2. What does Bitcoin smell like? AI startup wants to ‘teleport’ digital scents: Artificial intelligence firm Osmo is working diligently to bring back the future we were promised in 1960 when Hans Laube introduced the world to “Smell-O-Vision.” Only this time, the goal is to improve the lives of humans everywhere by teaching computers how to interpret scent. The company hopes to build a system capable of superhuman feats of smell. These would include the ability to smell the presence of certain diseases, such as cancer, or symptoms associated with diabetes, such as low blood sugar.(CoinTelegraph)
-Bitcoin Community-
NSTR
-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 30/100 (Up 2 pts)
Analyst Comments (AC): Despite recent efforts to get Democratic support for digital assets, the deafening silence by the DNC and Harris is message enough. After release of the DNC policy platform yesterday, the lack of support for bitcoin and crypto ensures a hostile stance would be taken upon inauguration by the Harris camp, complete with rewarding SEC chair Gary Gensler as Treasury Secretary. This possible scenario has consequences for bitcoin holders, self-custody, centralization, and mining operations into the near future.
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Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
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*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report
