Bitcoin News Weekly #10

TLDR:

• Jan3 launches AQUA wallet, enabling Liquid/Lightning interoperability.

• 11 spot Bitcoin ETF applicants submit 19b-4 final amendments.

• Saylor to sell 315,000 MSTR shares to increase his personal Bitcoin stack.

• Marathon Digital mines a record 1,853 BTC in a month.

Hey, it's Bam! I’m excited to bring you another edition of Bitcoin News Weekly! Haven't subscribed yet? Click below to get the latest breaking Bitcoin News delivered directly to your inbox every Monday!

Bitcoin reached its 15th-anniversary last week, showcasing its ongoing adoption and steadfast asset protection with every new block. Let's explore this week's key insights to grasp why the upcoming seven days might stand as a significant milestone in Bitcoin's history.

LATEST NEWS

🙌 Adoption:

• Jan3 launches AQUA wallet, allowing users to receive Liquid BTC, even from Lightning txns, via swaps. Liquid capacity surges to new highs post-release.

• Bitcoiners at a hackerspace in Vancouver build a Lightning-powered soda machine.

• Satoshi's genesis wallet receives an anonymous 26.9 Bitcoin tip, tightening the available supply and raising the value of all circulating Bitcoin.

⚖️ Legal:

• Eleven Spot Bitcoin ETF applicants submit their final 19b-4 amendments, anticipating final approval by January 10th.

• Former Citi executives set to launch Bitcoin Depositary Receipts, securities backed by Bitcoin that bypass the need for SEC approval.

• VanEck pledges to donate 5% of their Bitcoin ETF profits to Bitcoin Core devs for at least the next 10 years.

📈 Markets:

• Michael Saylor begins selling 315,000 MSTR shares in 5,000-share batches daily until April 25th to boost his personal Bitcoin holdings.

• Numerous NASDAQ-traded funds amend prospectuses, enabling 15-50% AUM exposure to Spot Bitcoin ETFs.

• Goldman Sachs positions itself to become an authorized participant for BlackRock and Grayscale's spot Bitcoin ETFs.

⛏️ Mining:

• In December, monthly Bitcoin miner fee revenue hit a record high of $320 million.

• Marathon Digital achieves a record 1,853 BTC production in December, contributing to a total of 12,852 for 2023.

• SatStackingPleb begins converting a school bus into a mobile home with solar panels, planning to mine Bitcoin using power from the alternator while driving.

🗳️ Politics:

• Bondo, a cluster of remote villages in Malawi, receives electricity for the first time, courtesy of a newly installed Bitcoin mining facility.

• Nebraska introduces a bill safeguarding fundamental Bitcoin rights: self-custody, mining, and running a node.

• The SEC cautions investors against FOMOing into Bitcoin, amidst market-wide anticipation for ETF approval.

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Bam’s 2 Sats:

We're finally on the brink of the first spot Bitcoin ETF approval in the United States. If you've been following along, you've likely seen the various speculations running wild on Twitter—or should I say, X.

It's surreal to contemplate the potential approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs this week. From weathering a lengthy bear market to recalling the Winklevii twins' initial filing for a spot Bitcoin ETF in 2013 when Bitcoin was $100, this moment feels like a significant turning point in Bitcoin's history. The possibility of a substantial capital influx from some of the world's leading financial institutions into the Bitcoin ecosystem is undeniably mind-boggling.

Objectively, the ETF was an inevitability. Over the past year, a significant narrative shift started to occur once BlackRock filed its application to become an issuer in June. Since then, we've witnessed:

• Bitcoin labeled a 'flight to quality' by Larry Fink on national TV.

• KPMG acknowledged Bitcoin's positive contribution to ESG.

• Major news outlets like Forbes, Financial Times, and the Independent publishing favorable articles about Bitcoin.

• ETF filers' advertisements reaching a mainstream audience.

• Bitcoin becoming a daily discussion topic on CNBC and other financial networks.

• Investors who once declared Bitcoin's demise now foresee its mainstream breakthrough this year (Yes, Chamath, we see you).

• Even the SEC, recognizing the potential impact, attempts to calm down the FOMO.

Just this week, even the Financial Times advocated Bitcoin as a New Year's resolution in an opinion piece.

I understand if it feels "too good to be true" or "too easy." But consider, the ETF is inevitable, bringing a level of capital we've only dreamed of. It's highly probable that issuers are lining up major clients to invest substantial amounts right at the start of trading to demonstrate their lead in the winning assets under management competition.

It hasn't been an easy journey; it's had its ups and downs. Nonetheless, we've steadfastly continued stacking through both the highs and lows, standing firm in our belief that Bitcoin is indeed the best money that has ever existed.

The moment draws near to stand firm in our convictions. Let's safeguard our hard-earned sats as institutions attempt to tempt us with lucrative offers. Do not surrender your Bitcoin to the Wall Street suits. I reiterate, do not sell your Bitcoin to BlackRock. Someday, you'll proudly tell future generations that you led the charge, accumulating the hardest asset on Earth ahead of the institutions.

Stay Humble & Stack Sats,Bam

Are you a Bitcoiner or a Bitcoin company focused on promoting hyperbitcoinization? Reach out directly to [email protected] to discuss how we could work together.

P.S. … With the ETF approval looming, you might have friends asking about Bitcoin. Keep your loved ones in the loop with the latest Bitcoin updates by sharing this newsletter with them. Click below to spread the knowledge.👇