Greetings Bitcoiner,

Welcome to issue #71 of the Bitcoin Breakdown, where we're enjoying a much-needed respite after BTC transaction fees soared post-halving, only to soon plummet.

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🏆 FEATURE STORIES

• Jimmy Song discusses the unusually high fees caused by the implementation of the new Runes protocol post-halving that led to an apparent game-theoretic battle of increasing fees, congestion, and unsustainable Runes issuance (Apr 20 | 3 min read).

• Derek Pew, the executive chairman of HashWatt, discusses the threat posed to US dollar dominance by ‘new digital-based currencies’, which provide alternatives that operate outside US oversight, potentially impacting global financial transactions and US control over the international monetary landscape (Apr 10 | 6 min read).

• BTC Gandalf discusses why this Bitcoin halving is different, and how the launch of the Runes protocol has increased blockspace demand on the network (Apr 20 | 6 min read).

• Shinobi critically discusses CatVM, a proposal by Taproot Wizards that aims to address scaling issues with the Bitcoin ecosystem by introducing a mechanism for moving in and out of scaling layers built on top of Bitcoin (Apr 17 | 7 min read).

• Sam Callahan, a senior analyst at Swan Bitcoin, breaks down three major takeaways from the IMF's recently published paper on Bitcoin’s growing role in cross-border payment flows (Apr 17 | 2 min read).

• The New York Times covers the story of Tigran Gambaryan, a compliance officer at Binance, who was detained in Nigeria following accusations of tax evasion and money laundering leveled against them and Binance (Apr 19 | 9 min read) (Archived link).

• MacKenzie Sigalos of CNBC reports on the Jack Dorsey-backed bitcoin miner, Gridless' operations in Kenya, where they are utilizing volcanoes, among other renewable energy sources, to power Bitcoin mining (Apr 20 | 7 min read).

• 0xB10C, a pseudonymous Bitcoin developer and data analyst, publishes new research indicating AntPool appears to be acting as a 'pool of pools' for a variety of smaller mining pools, a potential vector for increased mining centralization (Apr 17 | 2 min read).

• Joe Burnett of Unchained Capital publishes a report explaining how Bitcoin serves as a crucial safeguard for your portfolio, offering protection against the risk of wealth erosion in a volatile market (Apr | 29 min read).

• Tho Bishop of the Mises Institute encourages the renewed study of Austrian-American economist, Ludwig von Mises's contributions to economics and his critical perspective on government interventions in light of UFC fighter Renato Moicano's recent reference to the economist (Apr 16 | 6 min read).

OTHER NEWSLETTERS TO CHECK OUT*

• Simple.ai: The Magic of AI Made Simple For Mere Mortals.

• CramHacks helps you stay ahead of the curve in cybersecurity.

• AI Tool Report teaches you how to save time and earn more with AI by curating trending tools, productivity-boosting prompts, and more.

• TLDR is a free 5 min daily newsletter read by 1,000,000+ bitcoiners, software engineers, founders, and tech workers.

• The Publish Press breaks down the business of creators three times a week.

*You can find more here.

🛠️ TOOLS & PROJECTS

• Joltz releases the first non-custodial Taproot Assets wallet.

• Bitcoin Well now offers the option to use 'Cash Vouchers' when buying BTC to tackle privacy issues and circumvent banking transaction difficulties.

• Bitcoin Lightning Masterclass, an initiative that trains tech students in South Africa how to build on the Lightning Network, launches a Geyser page and is in need of funding.

• ₿itcoin Startup Lab is still accepting late applications for their upcoming cohort if you’re looking to raise capital for your Bitcoin startup or connect with potential co-founders and developers.

• Malwaretips covers how Pooblx dot com ensnares victims in a deepfake celebrity Bitcoin scam.

• Onramp expands in the Middle East and North Africa with a unique Bitcoin custody service tailored to local needs.

• Fountain V1.0.12 upgrades content page design as well as finally enables one to import a longer list of podcasts via OPML.

• Lightning Cats enables you to feed some random cats in Switzerland by donating funds via Lightning.

• Bitcoin Facts is the new ultimate Bitcoin fact page (just for fun).

• The New Age of Intelligence, a book about surveillance, has been released freely for privacy and cypherpunk enthusiasts.

• Satoshi Nakamoto Institute launches a website redesign fundraiser.

• SafeMiner, a hardware design project by BeeEvolved, aims to increase the safety of Bitcoin mining operations by incorporating a fire detection system and an automatic shutdown feature.

• The War Standard could potentially be the title of his next book, rounding out Saefedean Ammous' trilogy.

• Slice revamps its rewards program with new partners, bringing you an even wider selection of ways to earn sats rewards.

• Wasabi Wallet, an open-source, non-custodial, privacy-focused Bitcoin desktop wallet, integrates support for the Trezor Safe 3 hardware wallet.

• Voltage now offers Mutinynet integration, a free tool simplifying Bitcoin application testing with fast block times, real-world simulations, and enhanced collaboration within the Bitcoin community.

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CLASSIFIEDS & AFFILIATES

• BitBox is one of the top hardware wallets we recommend. It's crafted in Switzerland, entirely open-source, and supported by a fantastic team.

• Bringin offers a secure platform for buying, selling, and converting Bitcoin to Euros, with direct transfers to bank accounts or virtual debit cards, featuring unique off-ramping options and preventing account freezes with dedicated IBANs for each user.

• Bitcoin Well offers the fastest and easiest way to secure Bitcoin in self-custody, offering non-KYC sells and bill payments with a transparent 1% spread, no hidden or withdrawal fees.

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Until our next transmission,

Naiw

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