DIB 9 JAN 2025

BTC Daily Intelligence Bulletin (DIB)
Block: 878,483
DTG/ICOD: 1200Z 09Jan25
Precedence: Routine (RR)
Controls: Public Release
QQQQ
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BLUF: Yakuza Leader Trafficked Nuke Materials / Italian Journalist Released From Iran / SECDEF Want US Troops in Syria / LA Fire Is Huge / Pres. Carter’s Funeral Today in DC / Biden Mandates Medical Bills Dropped From Credit Scores / EU Has Army of Bureaucrats Ready to Fine, Arrest Musk / Oklahoma Bill May Allow Bitcoin as Legal Tender / USG Set to Sell Silk Road Bitcoin / El Salvador Increases Fitch Score, Buys More BTC / New Bitcoin Mining Heater Available / Long Term Hodlers Buy the Dips that Traders Sell

Market Data: Price: 1 BTC= $92,982, 34.76 oz Gold, .22 Median US House
24hr Hi: $95,983 / Lo: $92,525
Vol: $61B (Down 10%)
Mkt Cap: $1.83T (Down 2%)
HashRate: 778 EH/s
Avg Fee Rate: 2 sats/vBtye (Down 75%)
Nodes: 20,520

—Reports—
-International Events-
1. Alleged Yakuza leader admits trafficking nuclear materials from Myanmar: An alleged leader from Japan’s Yakuza crime syndicates has pleaded guilty to trafficking nuclear materials from Myanmar as part of a global web of trades in drugs, weapons and laundered cash, according to the US Department of Justice. During an undercover investigation by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2021, Takeshi Ebisawa tried to sell the materials – including uranium and weapons-grade plutonium – to someone he believed was an Iranian general who wanted them for a nuclear weapons program. The 60-year-old Japanese national on Wednesday pleaded guilty in a New York court to conspiring with a network of associates to traffic the nuclear materials out of Myanmar, it said. (CNN)

2. Italian journalist Sala freed from Iran prison, returns home: Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was freed by Iran on Wednesday and returned home, three weeks after she was detained in Tehran during a reporting trip. Sala, a writer and podcaster, had been working with a regular journalist visa when she was detained in Tehran on Dec. 19, accused of “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic”. The Italian government said in a statement that Sala, who had been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin jail, was freed “thanks to intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels”. She was arrested three days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was arrested in Milan on a U.S. warrant for allegedly supplying drone parts that Washington says were used in a 2024 attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan. (Reuters) (AC-Governments know how to pressure global relations with human lives.)

3. US troops need to stay in Syria to counter the Islamic State group, Austin says: Austin emphasized that if Syria is left unprotected, IS fighters would likely re-enter the mainstream, highlighting the need for continued U.S. Presence. (GroundNews)

-US Events-
1. 5 dead, more than 2,000 structures burned as new fire hits Hollywood Hills: At least 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders because of the wildfires burning across Los Angeles County. Red flag warnings remain in effect for L.A. County and much of Ventura County through Thursday. Santa Monica has issued an emergency curfew in neighborhoods ordered evacuated due to risk from the Palisades fire. (LATimes)

2. All 5 living presidents expected to attend Jimmy Carter’s National Cathedral funeral: Thursday’s event marks the final public tribute to Carter, following additional funeral services and ceremonies since Saturday at the U.S. Capitol, the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta and his hometown of Plains, Ga. (NPR)

3. 15 Million Americans’ Credit Scores Could See Major Boosts, Thanks To Biden’s New Rule: President Joe Biden’s administration has banned the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports, a move that could benefit 15 million Americans by removing $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from their records. (IBTimes)
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Regulatory and Legal-
1. Brussels will be watching whether Musk breaks EU law in far-right livestream: When tech tycoon Elon Musk interviews German far-right leader Alice Weidel on X on Thursday night, Europe’s powerful tech regulators will be watching closely for possible violations of EU law. In particular, they’ll be evaluating whether X gives an unfair campaign advantage to Weidel’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party over its rivals. A team of up to 150 European Commission officials in Brussels and Seville will help scrutinize whether Musk’s social media site plays by the European Union’s tech rules. They wield far-reaching investigative powers that allow them to visit X’s offices and request access to its algorithm and internal correspondence. (Politico) (AC-Freedom tech is sorely needed to grow worldwide.)

2. Bitcoin Freedom Act Proposed by Senator Deevers Seeks to Integrate the Asset Into Oklahoma’s Economy: The Bitcoin Freedom Act, introduced by Republican Senator Dusty Deevers, aims to integrate Bitcoin into Oklahoma’s economy by allowing transactions in the cryptocurrency. Deevers sees Bitcoin as a safeguard against inflation and a way to drive economic growth in the state. (decrypt)

-Central Bank Digital Currencies/World Currencies-
1. US government cleared to sell 69,370 #bitcoin worth $6.5 billion seized from Silk Road, a federal judge ruled. (BitcoinMag)

2. El Salvador Upgrades Credit Ratings While Buying More Bitcoin: On January 7th, El Salvador got its rating upgraded from ‘CCC+’ to today’s ‘B-’ rating. This new score puts the Central American country in front of some of the largest economies in Latin America, including Argentina and Bolivia. The IMF agreement hasn’t stopped President Bukele from continuing to add Bitcoin to El Salvador’s reserves. According to the live tracker, El Salvador added another 22 BTC on December 20, totaling over $2 million in value. (BitcoinSensus)

-Institutional Concerns-
1. US entities hold 65% more Bitcoin than offshore players: US entities’ Bitcoin reserve share reached an all-time high as of Jan. 9, with reserves 65% greater than those held by non-US entities, CryptoQuant data revealed. (CoinTelegraph)

-Economic Indicators-
1. Bitcoin, ether prices dip amid escalating macro fears of prolonged inflation: Bitcoin fell 5% to $96,527 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia after reaching above the $100,000 mark earlier this week. “Not just crypto, but both the NASDAQ and S&P 500 fell more than 1% yesterday, driven by concerns over inflation after ISM data revealed faster-than-expected growth in the U.S. economy,” Jung said. “This heightened fears of persistent inflation, [led] to a surge in bond yields, with the 10-year Treasury reaching its highest level since April.” (TbeBlock)

-Security Incidents and Concerns-
1. FCC Launches ‘Cyber Trust Mark’ for IoT Devices to Certify Security Compliance: “IoT products can be susceptible to a range of security vulnerabilities,” the U.S. FCC said. “Under this program, qualifying consumer smart products that meet robust cybersecurity standards will bear a label—including a new ‘U.S Cyber Trust Mark.'” (HackerNews)

-Technology and Science-
1. “CES 2025 Unveils Leap in Tech: CES 2025 has showcased a range of innovative technologies, with standout reveals including the Halliday Glasses, offering a 3.5-inch AI-powered display for augmented reality, and BYD’s Yangwang U9 supercar, which can jump 6 meters forward, demonstrating advancements in electric vehicle dynamics. Additionally, Honda introduced its 0 Series electric vehicles with the new Asimo operating system, signaling a significant step forward in automotive technology. These innovations highlight the convergence of AI, mobility, and smart living at this year’s event. (Grok)

-Bitcoin Community-
1. Canaan Introduces Bitcoin Mining Home Heaters at CES 2025: Canaan, a bitcoin application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mining rig manufacturer, unveiled the Avalon Mini 3 and Avalon Nano 3S, bitcoin mining devices that also function as home heaters, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. (BitcoinCom)

2. Bitcoin Veterans Are Quietly Stocking Up – Here’s What the Data Shows: On-chain data reveals Bitcoin long-term holders are gradually increasing their positions, indicating renewed confidence during the current market consolidation phase. The Long-Term Holder supply shows a slight increase following the peak sell-off at the 100K level compared to the Short-Term Holder supply. This indicates that coins purchased 155 days ago by STH have transitioned into the LTH cohort. (Blockonomi) (AC-Yes, we are.)

-Bitcoin Sentiment-
1. Fear(0)/Greed(100) Index: 69/100 (Down 1 pts)

Analyst Comments (AC): Macro events and the USG greenlighted to sell it’s bitcoin opens up a buying opportunity. Not financial advice.

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Analyst: BV2A
END REPORT
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*NSTR-Nothing Significant To Report