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Greetings Bitcoiner,
Welcome to Issue #491 of Bitcoin Breakdown, where it’s OPSEC Wednesday special, followed by the latest Quick Bits snippets.
But first, today’s Top Stories:
🔪 Fake Cops Rob French Couple of $1M in Bitcoin at Knifepoint
⚖️ US Wants a Do-Over on Tornado Cash Developer Roman Storm
⚡ Blockstream Jade Brings Lightning to Cold Storage via Atomic Swaps
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🔪 Fake Cops Rob French Couple of $1M in Bitcoin at Knifepoint
Three men posing as police officers invaded a home in Le Chesnay, near Versailles, and held a couple in their late 50s at knifepoint. The attackers forced a transfer of approximately €900,000 ($1 million) in bitcoin to a criminal-controlled wallet before fleeing in a white van.
Why it matters: France now ranks highest in reported wrench attacks on Bitcoin and crypto holders. Researcher Jameson Lopp documented roughly 70 physical attacks worldwide in 2025. Do not make your holdings public. If someone posing as law enforcement tries to enter your property, ask for a warrant. We publish opsec guides weekly for exactly this reason. Stay safe. Read more→
On the legal front...
⚖️ US Wants a Do-Over on Tornado Cash Developer Roman Storm
Federal prosecutors requested an October retrial for Roman Storm on two unresolved counts, money laundering and sanctions violations, after a jury deadlocked on both charges in August 2025. Storm was convicted on one count of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and faces up to 40 years if convicted on the remaining charges.
Why it matters: Storm said it plainly: "The government's response? Try again to make writing code a crime." While institutions pile into bitcoin, the developers who built the tools that make it possible face prosecution. Code is speech. Privacy is a right. Public pressure must be maintained, regardless of which ecosystem the developer comes from. Read more→
Shifting to tech...
⚡ Blockstream Jade Brings Lightning to Cold Storage via Atomic Swaps
Blockstream released version 5.2.0 of its app, making Jade the first hardware wallet to interact with the Lightning Network. Incoming Lightning payments are atomically swapped into Liquid Bitcoin and deposited into the Jade-secured wallet while the device stays offline.
Why it matters: Atomic swaps between Lightning and Liquid are quietly reshaping how wallets approach Bitcoin payment scaling. The tradeoff: funds sit on the Liquid sidechain, not fully trustless but not fully custodial either. Bull Bitcoin and Aqua use the same model. Do your own research on the tradeoffs before using any wallet. Read more→
Poll #491: Biggest risk to your bitcoin in 2026?
Two data brokers were breached in the same week in March 2026, spilling 680 million records including SSNs, dates of birth, and phone numbers - the exact data attackers need to SIM swap a Bitcoiner's phone, hijack their email, and drain their exchange accounts in under ten minutes.
This week's OPSEC Feature Article shows you how to check if your identity is in these databases, opt out of the data brokers that feed KYC platforms, and lock down the personal data trail that self-custody alone can't protect.
Get instant access to this special feature by becoming a premium supporter here.
Proton Mail, a Swiss privacy-focused email provider, shared payment data of an anonymous 'Stop Cop City' protester account with Swiss authorities, who passed it to the FBI, raising concerns about user privacy guarantees.
Bhutan's sovereign wealth fund has sold over half its BTC reserves, reducing holdings from 13,000 BTC to roughly 5,400 BTC to fund public services.
Paraguay's state electricity utility ANDE signs an MoU with Bitcoin mining advisory firm Morphware to launch the country's first government-led Bitcoin mining pilot using 1,500 seized miners.
Strategy purchases 17,994 BTC for $1.28B, bringing total holdings to 738,731 BTC worth around $50B.
The Cypherpunk's Manifesto turns 33, as Eric Hughes' landmark 1993 privacy treatise remains a foundational text shaping Bitcoin's philosophy.
B. Riley, an investment bank, enters the corporate bitcoin treasury sector for the first time, initiating coverage of Strategy and Strive with Buy ratings as both stocks trade at significant discounts to their bitcoin holdings.
Ethereum's 'ultrasound money' narrative faces scrutiny as ETH drops 65% against BTC since the 2022 shift to Proof-of-Stake.
Netflix censored Bitcoin sponsor logos from welterweight boxer Justin Cardona's trunks during the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua undercard broadcast, despite approving gambling and insurance sponsors.
South Korea's Gwangju Prosecutors' Office sells 320.8 BTC worth $21.5M, previously seized from a gambling raid and recovered after a hacker returned the funds following a theft through a phishing attack.
Kennewick, Washington city council considers an ordinance to remove Bitcoin ATMs after 36-plus residents lost over $920,000 to overseas scammers since 2023.
Bitcoin's order book shows $1.57B in sell-side liquidity above price versus $1.125B in bids below, mirroring January's bull trap setup near $70K.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute, a nonprofit Bitcoin research organization, names Sam Lyman, former Treasury senior advisor under Secretary Scott Bessent, as its new Head of Research.
Glassnode, a blockchain analytics firm, reports that nearly 600,000 BTC changed hands in the $60,000 to $70,000 range during bitcoin's recent correction, signaling strong demand at those levels.
US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds record $167M in inflows on Monday, snapping a two-day outflow streak, while altcoin ETFs extend losses for a third consecutive session.
Nigel Farage, UK Reform Party leader, acquires a 6.3% stake in Stack BTC, a London-listed bitcoin treasury firm.
Coinbase launches regulated bitcoin and crypto futures trading across 26 European countries, offering leverage up to 10x via its MiFID-compliant platform.
Thank you for reading!
