Hey bitcoiner!

![](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/644c9977b8ab3fae231320dd91f0efa3acaf02128292bf28f632f22bdcbf80e6.png)  

This week we’ve seen the true beauty of numbers appear right in front of our eyes…

nostr:note13ec4wcqql3gjk6x35g8sjpv6ychnpd85swqds7zzdwp8656rnmeqa304j7

Hot Off the Press:  

🥸 Faketoshi Strikes Back  
🎰 Bitcoin Isn’t Gambling!  
🇰🇼 Kuwait Gives Bitcoin the Boot  
🛂 US Big Brother Tightens his Grip  
👁️ Trading Eyeballs for Equality?  
✍️ BitGo Integrates MuSig2  
👨‍💻 nostr:npub1an84q6c03wml5lf0uwcqcr20ydwv0t0lvv0xktlcfs9seattef8sdhz6yg Introduced a New Nostr Dev Course  
🫧 Soapbox Bags OpenSats Grant for Ditto  
🐦 Wanna Chat? Pay!  
🤖 Nostr + AI = 💜  
📺 Watching, 🎧 Lustening and 📚 Reading tips  
🐸 Meme collection by nostr:npub1hlx26mahecypqppmwqnu5xlust2uq8mz8z0h42sqt9u2qarc5ahsf68mlu 

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10061.png)  

Mempool:

![](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/75e94bef1ba62c250ca4d71b2b4c6ba65fb339d6d61214d8a6218d4cca74ea35.png)  

Lightning:

![](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/8e18f88e7a5d8cfeb3ba022c587054229aba579734e345ef29438c3e1b6de864.png)  

Mining: 

![](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/ff1f2d665af1b0d722c2040e06e0e92139d872cc7836d72808e5c5bb5f3d3ed9.png)  

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10055.png) 

## 🥸 Faketoshi Strikes Back

*Craig Wright grants appeal in Bitcoin lawsuit.*

![CWR-fraud](https://i.imgflip.com/7tnoe3.jpg)

UK court [grants](https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2023/868.html&query=(CA-2023-000404)) appeal to Craig Wright in Bitcoin copyright lawsuit. Wright claims copyright to Bitcoin white paper and database. Ruling reversed, giving him a chance to argue his case. Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund denies his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto and calls for proof. Trial expected in 2024. Wright argues Bitcoin Core developers control the network, facing opposition from BLDF. Concerns raised over open-source software implications. 

> While Craig Wright persists in his legal battle, the Bitcoin community remains skeptical of his claims. Given the opposition and lack of evidence supporting his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, it is obvious that all his attempts to assert copyright over Bitcoin's white paper and database will ultimately fail. As time goes on, it is hoped that the news feed will be free from such controversies, allowing the focus to shift back to the genuine progress and innovation in the Bitcoin space.

***

## 🎰 Bitcoin Isn’t Gambling!

*UK Government Says No Dice to Bitcoin Gambling Regulation*

https://cdn.nostr.build/i/b6dbe2978f57e409fc0b64b6bc60b50fab9e73a2b3c6d562b2b06244bea3949e.jpg

The Treasury Committee's "same risk, same regulatory outcome" suggestion [didn't sit well](https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/40999/documents/199652/default/) with the UK government. It raised concerns about conflicting mandates with financial regulators. The government is already knee-deep in crafting market regulations and is aiming to set standards for Bitcoin firms. The legislation, which will take into account the committee's recommendations, could be in force by late 2023.

> The UK government's decision to reject the proposal to regulate Bitcoin as gambling might be seen as a win for the market's long-term development. However, some UK citizens might have preferred the gambling angle, potentially dodging stricter regulations and enjoying lower taxes. This makes it a hot-button issue among Bitcoin investors in the country.

***

## 🇰🇼 Kuwait Gives Bitcoin the Boot

*Kuwait bans all Bitcoin and shitcoins transactions.*

![arab](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/114d39b0691687ef06d3d3e0eddd34b2fff136417377a0fc92da19a230f90b1b.jpg)

Seems like Kuwait's Capital Markets Authority (CMA) [has decided](https://www.cma.gov.kw/en/web/cma/cma-board-releases/resolutions-and-regulations/-/cmaboardreleases/detail/1384960) to play the party pooper for all things Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the country. They've slapped a big, fat "NO" on Bitcoin payments, investments, and even mining. Talk about a buzzkill!

The CMA has also put the kibosh on local regulators handing out licenses to firms that offer virtual asset services as a commercial business. But hey, if you're dealing with securities and other financial instruments regulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait and the CMA, you're in the clear. Phew!

The regulator has issued a warning to customers about the risks tied to virtual assets, highlighting that they don't have legal status and lack backing from any asset or issuer. This leaves their prices open to speculation and sharp drops.

> Same shit, different country. The mindset of those in power seems to be stuck in the traditional centralized systems they're so comfortable with and used to. But here's the kicker: bitcoin doesn't play by traditional rules. [It can't be banned](https://unchained.com/blog/bitcoin-cannot-be-banned/). They can block their citizens from buying bitcoin via traditional banking routes, they can drive miners out of the country, but they can't stop Bitcoin. The best they can hope for is to fall behind in this race to acquire the soundest money by the government and its citizens. It remains to be seen how much good that'll do them.

***

## 🛂 US Big Brother Tightens his Grip

*Starting Jan 1 2024 US citizens transacting over $10k will have to provide detailed info*

![surveillance](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/5c836aaafca0c5b7c3b43c3d06c556dab9b222b3ccca697993d96d9a5f77ad42.jpg)

Coin Center’s case challenging Congress’s expansion of Section 6050I of the tax code [was dismissed](https://nitter.at/jerrybrito/status/1682073500184461321?ref=nobsbitcoin.com) as unripe by the district court. This law will require citizens who are recipients of crypto payments of $10,000 or more to report to the government not just the transaction, but the Personally Identifiable Information of the sender as well - all without a warrant.

See the discussion below for details:

nostr:note1q3j2dya5ueqknv6s2ql8wh732rp6teqp2qwcczx67k0pa30mv80qpx262p

> Seems like walls are closing in across the world, and we have to fight for our rights. But make no mistake, this is not the issue of Bitcoin, this is a problem caused by the government leaders who seek control, masking their actions behind care about the citizens and attempts to fight evil criminals and fraudsters. Make no mistake, if we let surveillance into our homes and our pockets, regaining our freedoms will be really challenging.

***

## 👁️ Trading Eyeballs for Equality?

*Worldcoin is enticing citizens of developing countries with financial equality in exchange for their biometric data.*

![death-star](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/fcfea47fdc338b2af34e8472f66766612b61534874e597e39e34e723145c43c8.jpg)

Worldcoin, a new player in the shitcoin arena, is [promising](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/04/06/1048981/worldcoin-cryptocurrency-biometrics-web3) to eradicate financial inequality. But there's a catch - they want your biometrics. Is that too steep a price? 

https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/1451990496537088000?s=20 

The company is luring users by scanning their irises and other biometric data, offering them free money in return. Worldcoin's recruitment drive is mainly aimed at lower-income communities in developing countries, with field testing conducted in 24 countries, including Sudan, Indonesia, Chile, and Kenya. The startup has set a lofty goal of a billion sign-ups by 2023.

Interestingly, the company's plan to distribute the new world coin equally among the earth's population seems a bit skewed, considering 20% of the coins have already been allocated to Worldcoin’s full-time employees and investors.

Despite the controversies, Worldcoin has managed to attract substantial investment, with Andreessen Horowitz recently leading a $100 million investment round that tripled the startup’s valuation to $3 billion. 

> History repeats itself. Information is power, and those hungry for power will continue to invest their ever-inflating dollars in anything that gives them access to your data. Quick-witted crypto entrepreneurs keep coming up with innovative ways to harvest that data in a bid to raise funds from VCs and secure a comfortable future for themselves. This is the definition of fast money: get in, pull the rug, get out. And your iris scan? It'll remain up there (unless you really believe they delete that info) long after you're gone. This is why we Bitcoin.

***

## ✍️ BitGo Integrates MuSig2

*A major US payment provider [is integrating](https://blog.bitgo.com/save-fees-with-musig2-at-bitgo-3248d690f573) multisignatures on top of Schnorr into its wallets.* 

![table](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/e396af9dd8e24d9a6f92e18453fed4f11543e5b852c5d9835cd0e1fb65a5104f.jpg)

This can increase privacy and reduce fees, as MuSig2 operates as a single private-public key wallet, just like the single-sig ones do.

> “Aggregating multiple keys and signatures into a single key and signature that appear on chain is a big efficiency gain for multi-signature transactions”

***

### Byte-size Buzz:

* nostr:npub1klkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qulx3vt shared a sneak peek of the upcoming wasabi wallet release:

nostr:note1vshjqr3mk3nvkc6yawv7kvs98avrzluz7p8lv76djwven2r5f8uqz0lpdz 

* Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plan to back the dollar with Bitcoin & end Bitcoin taxes:

![RFK](https://cdn.nostr.build/p/RVPr.mp4)

* Crypto whales [targeted](https://protos.com/crypto-whales-targeted-in-wave-of-home-invasions-near-vancouver/) in wave of home invasions near Vancouver.

* Wasabi wallet turned out to be [susceptible](https://consentonchain.github.io/blog/posts/fingerprinting/) to fingerprinting.

* Gensler’s [doing](https://blog.bitmex.com/genslers-done-it-all-before/) to crypto what he did to gold.

* MIT researchers acknowledge the grid balancing, methane mitigating benefits of bitcoin mining in new paper.  

https://twitter.com/Dennis_Porter_/status/1681144031877959681?t=ah4dwBQ8VLTp9OwcO2BWXQ&s=19

* Bitcoin [received](https://etp.coinshares.com/knowledge/market-activity/fund-flows-24-07-23) 99% of fund inflows into cryptocurrency investment products last week.

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10062.png) 

## 🧮 Nostr Recap

nostr:note1j9s52temwan2yjllds05drjgv3dfm5e2pcvfu2nsq3qzf4fuqu3qsgpq3v

***

## 👨‍💻 Pleblab Introduced a New Nostr Dev Course

*[Pleblab](https://www.pleblab.com), a group of tech savvy individuals, famous for their Lightning workshops and Bitcoin courses, introduced a Nostr course for developers.*

nostr:note1fa5ge2tuwf9gfh6fv93mdgpw8sxtx8qk4uq402g7sh49y6zpcn3shxxssc

The course is suitable even for people without any coding experience and is definitely useful to understand the fundamentals of Nostr. You will create your first Nostr app and be well on route to becoming a Nostr developer. We find this to be a great opportunity as Nostr is growing fast and developers are very much needed here. 

There are [a few options](https://www.pleblab.com/nostrdevs) to purchase the course, including the opportunity to apply via Oshi  and get 17% sats back, however we didn’t find a way to pay with sats directly. Waiting for a reply from the team.

nostr:note1nft0lqxxx2jjjczyj6rhe0s2g3gqj4s43rlmnp95svfkclqgpvkqe4tanz

***

## 🫧 Soapbox Bags OpenSats Grant for Ditto

*Soapbox has secured an OpenSats grant to develop Ditto, a project to port Soapbox to Nostr.*

![soap](https://soapbox.pub/assets/blog/ditto-banner.pn)

Soapbox, a source of innovation on the Fediverse, is addressing the limitations of the ActivityPub protocol used by Mastodon with Nostr. The new project, Ditto, is an open-source, self-hosted social media server for online communities, built on the Nostr protocol. OpenSats has agreed to fund Soapbox for one year out of its Nostr fund, and Alex Gleason has stepped down from his role at Truth Social to pursue this mission full time.

Details:
* [Announcement](https://soapbox.pub/blog/soapbox-awarded-grant/)
* [GitLab repository](https://gitlab.com/soapbox-pub/ditto)

***

## 🐦 Wanna Chat? Pay!

*Twitter has decided to play hardball with unverified users.*

![](https://i.imgflip.com/7tgnfx.jpg)

Twitter's latest move has got everyone tweeting. The social media behemoth [is putting a leash on unverified users](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/twitter-limiting-number-daily-direct-messages-unverified-users-rcna95721) by limiting their daily direct messages. The magic number remains a secret, though. While some users are doing a happy dance, hoping for less spam, others are crying foul, suspecting a push towards the paid Twitter Blue service.

Meanwhile Nostr CEO announced the new feature called Nostr+ 🤣

nostr:note1k20tplwgp93z7m23zcut4q2quk2afl7a4rtgntqfhwz39h73ymhsf8ek9w

> When the going gets tough, traditional platforms get restrictive. Some users might see this as a necessary evil, but they're not seeing the full picture: the mere ability of tech giants to put a cap on users' actions is a red flag. Who's to say you won't be next on the chopping block if it suits the company's needs?

***

## 🤖 Nostr + AI = 💜

*AI generated transcripts are now available in the developer version of Highlighter*

<iframe width="720" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OJx6ExVTS7c" title="highlighting from an AI through nostr" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Pablo has been working hard on a so-called a Data Vending Machine (DVM) and his efforts are obviously paying off. The developer has recently made what can easily be called mind blowing tech public, even though for the more reckless ones. Now, if you are using the developer version of the Highlighter app (more about it in Tony’s guide here), you can have AIs compete to provide the transcript of a podcast, video or any other media for you to be able to save and/or highlight the pieces you want and convert the material into native Nostr events.

> Embrace the technology, or bite the dust 💨. The world we are living in is moving exponentially faster and it is ever harder to keep up. Instead of trying to push back on such developments, the smart thing to do is embrace change and use the tools at our hands to make ourselves more efficient. The first episode of Guy Swan’s podcast with Jeff Booth is well worth your time to feel the magnitude of the happenings.

***

### Byte-size Buzz

* [Snort](https://snort.social/) got a new logo

nostr:note1qsskc4v5vnax2zn56ep9gz0h6nnv6ej96kdctxr0f24p3vysx0xs37uccy

* A preview of Nostr Browser by Brugeman

nostr:note1ywqxk2y3qrhzx5yd2cnav9ctnmvuwcertmujwpq96839ljs0ja3sqn0dg2

* Pablo announced AI custom-made feeds for [Highlighter](https://habla.news/tony/1682435612123)

nostr:note1c4ndvqu7qttyeufm0v7thfvayu2nj5euft5gnyqyjgl860eannjqh8upv7

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10063.png) 

### Bitcoin

* First version of Mutiny wallet is available for Android

nostr:note1x8pwwf9jc38u890zgwpt4rvqaqt5zcrk00gzast0p2w28fkjyrls2xh53s

* All new Blockstream Jade is [available](https://store.blockstream.com/product/preorder-blockstream-jade-hardware-wallet/) for pre-order.

* Hodl Hodl dropped a fully redesigned version of their non-custodial lending [platform](https://lend.hodlhodl.com) Lend. You can support Bitcoin Herald by signing up on Hodl Hodl using our [referral link](https://hodlhodl.com/join/TONYB).

* Sparrow Wallet v1.7.8 now [supports](https://github.com/sparrowwallet/sparrow/releases/tag/1.7.8) Taproot message signing (BIP322) and much more.

* Nunchuck Wallet release introduced numerous updates. [GitHub](https://github.com/nunchuk-io) | [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nunchuk-bitcoin-wallet/id1563190073).

* Mempool.space released a [clock](https://mempool.space/clock/mempool/0) and a [calculator](https://mempool.space/tools/calculator).


### Nostr

* Yet another update of [Nostr Kiwi](https://nostr.kiwi):

nostr:note1dd3fq37rx4fr0m9hkuu3c4cu5gkrat8qyefda6lmjftzdqh6gucq2wp9mz

* https://www.nostrnet.work/ by nostr:npub1cmmswlckn82se7f2jeftl6ll4szlc6zzh8hrjyyfm9vm3t2afr7svqlr6f allows you to manage all your Nostr apps from a single place.

* A simple question-and-answer Nostr client - [Swarmstr](https://swarmstr.com) - released.

nostr:note1msx09rccrcnzafclq9jpc0hlc35v47gkpex43duv2w0w9mdxg5msc494j5

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10127.png) 

* Marce Files starring Avi Burra

<iframe width="530" height="298" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KtR1etGvTpQ" title="Marce Files with Avi Burra!" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10060.png) 

* Pav from Synonym talks about Lightning Liquidity Providers and sheds light on their functionality: [The Rise of Lightning Service Providers](https://medium.com/synonym-to/the-rise-of-lightning-service-providers-6410274d5b70)

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10058.png) 

* Moderated Content: Hanging by a Thread. This episode elaborates on the legality of moderation and free speech on social media. (h/t nostr:npub1wmr34t36fy03m8hvgl96zl3znndyzyaqhwmwdtshwmtkg03fetaqhjg240).  [Listen on Fountain](https://www.fountain.fm/episode/ak3vfPt5YsgsScU1LvQH) 

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10168.png) 

nostr:note1rkysq7m43erl8fz0pk7ll8hp8277ruzce2rx5kzu8d4km36wpzvs2rl75m

nostr:note1sml79x4y6hpuqy8xr2squdztjzxa59lkmv2560vv9aqne6z3hkwq3pn7vl

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10059.png) 

Meme collection by nostr:npub1hlx26mahecypqppmwqnu5xlust2uq8mz8z0h42sqt9u2qarc5ahsf68mlu

nostr:note15umwelqn02jhxqq00gc8wr2g36v6qgd783k3esm54n48xyzc8xsscp3vs4

***

Enjoyed this week’s digest? Don’t forget to zap⚡️ it!


Hey bitcoiner!

![block](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/078f019f77a71a0b2323c69d5a9b5aca235e66948bd236763c8911aaa6a35bcf.png)

This week, 13 years ago Bitcoin was first mentioned on Slashdot, which led to a major influx of new users.

nostr:note1pkcyqa7j0tld94ff435zdatyr9cr569d3xu5l7quaqc3hn9wwq6ssc8xuz 

### Hot Off the Press:  
🚀 Bitcoin ETF Gets the Green Light for Applications from SEC  
⚡️ Binance Brings Lightning Network Onboard  
👁️ Big Brother Alert in Brazil  
🤑 Funding Bitcoin Projects  
🇪🇺 Europe Gears Up for Its First Spot Bitcoin ETF This Month  
💖 A Bitcoin Tale That Will Melt Your Heart  
🎬 Spotlight on Nostr: The Documentary  
⚡️ Matching Zaps  
🤐 EU's Crackdown on Free Speech?  
👨‍💻 Fresh Releases  

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10061.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10061.png) 

Mempool:

![mempool](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/08231e61faef12649939c6356dd0c88457c32985d997f5719d38ca426258f600.png)

Lightning:

![ln](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/18f47fbf908af574fa6a95dcc485c1a38d63831291c902f74591d97ae42f6247.png)

Mining:

![mining](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/d0c30b85c4ef907f6e974e3bdc38932e0e0e21ec1de32df98cf1abe36c767fdf.png)

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10055.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10055.png) 


## 🚀 Bitcoin ETF Gets the Green Light for Applications from SEC

*The SEC is now taking Bitcoin ETF applications!*

![https://media.tenor.com/y3scCKDdzLwAAAAC/tv-shows-the-big-bang-theory.gif](https://media.tenor.com/y3scCKDdzLwAAAAC/tv-shows-the-big-bang-theory.gif)

Guess what? The SEC just [gave the thumbs up](https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro/nasdaq.htm) to Blackrock's Bitcoin ETF application, hinting at a broader acceptance of Bitcoin. Now, it's time for the review process and some public chit-chat about the proposal. With Blackrock, the world's biggest asset manager, in the game, it's clear that Bitcoin-based investment goodies are on the horizon in the U.S.

This exciting news comes amidst the SEC playing the tough cop with platforms for alleged securities law no-nos. Blackrock has picked Coinbase as the babysitter for its Ishares Bitcoin Trust, adding a dash of surveillance-sharing agreement to its filing.

Despite past rejections due to worries about market manipulation and investor protection, the Bitcoin world is buzzing with hope as more ETF applications, including one from Bitwise, are getting the nod.

> Remember, folks! Not your keys - not your coins. Self-custody is the key to truly owning and controlling your Bitcoin. Without it, we can't fully embrace the decentralized spirit of Bitcoin and the financial freedom it promises.

***

## ⚡️ Binance Brings Lightning Network Onboard

*Binance says "Hello!" to the lightning network*

[https://twitter.com/binance/status/1680777249090576385](https://twitter.com/binance/status/1680777249090576385)

Binance has rolled out the red carpet for the Lightning Network for BTC withdrawals and deposits, offering users a speedy and wallet-friendly transaction experience. Users can now pick "LIGHTNING" from the menu for Bitcoin transactions, along with other options. This move comes hot on the heels of the recent spike in BTC network fees, and Binance is joining the Lightning Network party along with other exchanges.

> The biggest exchange integrating the Lightning Network could be a game-changer for Lightning Network adoption. As more users get a taste of faster and cheaper transactions, they might be tempted to dive deeper into this layer-2 scaling solution. Bringing the Lightning Network to the masses through such exchanges is a giant leap towards wider adoption and unlocking Bitcoin's scalability and efficiency potential. Find out more about Lightning [here](https://www.lopp.net/lightning-information.html).

***

##  🇪🇺  Europe Gears Up for Its First Spot Bitcoin ETF This Month

*Europe is all set to roll out its first spot Bitcoin ETF this month*

![https://media.tenor.com/7xksiRkh-qsAAAAC/buy-buy-buy.gif](https://media.tenor.com/7xksiRkh-qsAAAAC/buy-buy-buy.gif)

Europe's maiden Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), which was [scheduled](https://www.ft.com/content/1d1de06a-a904-4db3-9017-4c061bd6854d) to take off last year but got held up due to market weather, is now ready for takeoff this month, thanks to Jacobi Asset Management. This isn't your regular digital assets exchange-traded product that's structured as exchange-traded notes (ETNs). Nope, this ETF gives you direct ownership of the underlying assets and says "No, thank you!" to counterparty risks that come with derivatives.

> Even with the handy-dandy ETFs, folks, don't forget to keep a tight grip on your private keys. Self-custody is the golden ticket to truly owning and securing your digital assets, keeping in step with the decentralized beat of Bitcoin. As we welcome regulated financial products like ETFs, let's not lose sight of the importance of holding our own keys. More on self-custody can be found [here](https://www.lopp.net/bitcoin-information/security.html).

*** 

## 👁️ Big Brother Alert in Brazil

*Brazilian CBDC might give the government the keys to its citizens' funds.*

![https://cdn.nostr.build/i/dc6e5a896ca244fa1c5bb56c0ca6d3b3ef83741aabd67f37fdf8a2597d9a4504.jpg](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/dc6e5a896ca244fa1c5bb56c0ca6d3b3ef83741aabd67f37fdf8a2597d9a4504.jpg)

Brazil's central bank has [unveiled](https://github.com/bacen/pilotord-kit-onboarding) the source code for its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot on GitHub, inviting the public to take a peek under the hood. But, developers stumbled upon some eyebrow-raising functions that could give the central bank the reins to individual wallets and their funds. These functions include the power to freeze and unfreeze wallets, shuffle funds around, and hit the pause button on transfers.

The central bank has admitted that these functions are part of the test drive, but it's still a mystery if they'll make it to the final cut. Some folks in the Bitcoin community are getting the jitters that CBDCs could put a damper on financial freedom and privacy. Critics, including Edward Snowden, are branding CBDCs as "crypto fascist currencies" that pose a threat to financial sovereignty and savings.

> Bitcoin was born to offer an alternative to the traditional monetary system, with a big emphasis on financial sovereignty and privacy (see Satoshi's original post on p2p foundation [here](http://p2pfoundation.ning.com/forum/topics/bitcoin-open-source)). CBDCs with such a high level of centralized control are setting off alarm bells about individual rights and privacy. While governments make the case that these measures are needed to tackle illicit activities, we need to keep our eyes wide open to safeguard our financial independence and protect our privacy in the digital era.


## 🤑 Funding Bitcoin Projects

*OpenSats funds independent Bitcoin projects*

![opensats](https://cdn.nostr.build/i/ab2fb078ea5b5e8ff195f30e4f4dacdec9b11e08583c9171b96b6907b174f0ee.png)

OpenSats [aims](https://opensats.org/blog/bitcoin-grants-july-2023) to fulfill Hal Finney's [vision](https://cypherpunks.venona.com/date/1992/11/msg00108.html) of using computers as tools to liberate and protect people instead of controlling them. OpenSats announced grants for numerous projects in the Bitcoin and Lightning ecosystem. These open-source projects, including Payjoin Dev Kit, Raspiblitz, BTCPay Server, and more, will receive funding to develop and improve tools that empower individuals and promote financial autonomy.

> Thanks to Bitcoin's decentralized nature, anyone can sponsor and support projects they believe in without restrictions. This democratized funding approach allows innovative tools to flourish, fostering a community-driven ecosystem that prioritizes individual empowerment and privacy. The projects chosen by OpenSats exemplify the potential of creating a future where technology truly serves the people and enhances their freedom.

***

## 💖 A Bitcoin Tale That Will Melt Your Heart

*Bitcoiners rally to raise $8k+ in just 6 hours for a woman in need*

nostr:note1y2wjvxafyfevj7urlzyrfklszju7g6fc5sus257g89ymjh9efxmsntwlcd

In a heartwarming display of unity, Bitcoiners from every corner of the globe [pulled together](nostr:note1y2wjvxafyfevj7urlzyrfklszju7g6fc5sus257g89ymjh9efxmsntwlcd) over 300 donations in just 6 hours, amassing a whopping $8k+ US. The recipient was Estela, a vendor in a market, who was left speechless by the generous Bitcoin gift that landed in her wallet. She was deeply moved by the wave of support that came flooding in from strangers worldwide.

> Bitcoin's magic isn't just about making money; it's about making a difference. It gives people the power to back the causes they believe in and bring about positive change in their communities. This touching story is a reminder that at the heart of Bitcoin is the ability to foster a sense of community and goodwill, enriching the lives of people from all walks of life. It's a shining example of the true power of Bitcoin and the united spirit of bitcoiners around the world.

***

## Byte-size buzz

- Bitcoin mining difficulty [reached](https://mempool.space/graphs/mining/hashrate-difficulty#1y) a new ATH of 53.91T.
    
- Lightning Network capacity dropped by a whopping 580 BTC due to River’s planned channel housekeeping.


![https://nostr.build/p/nb10062.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10062.png) 

## Nostr Recap by [Primal](nostr:npub12vkcxr0luzwp8e673v29eqjhrr7p9vqq8asav85swaepclllj09sylpugg)

nostr:note1vh2lekw94xvudjrhv7cmgmk43ssr4kdsz39vcx5ererxwaue4mfshm2h00

***

## 🎬 Spotlight on Nostr: The Documentary

*The curtain rises on the first Nostr documentary.*

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aA-jiiepOrE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Max DeMarco](nostr:npub1lelkh3hhxw9hdwlcpk6q9t0xt9f7yze0y0nxazvzqjmre3p98x3sthkvyz), a well-known YouTuber, Bitcoiner, and Nostr fan, has unveiled the first-ever Nostr documentary, featuring star appearances from [Jack Dorsey](nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m), [Rabble](nostr:npub1wmr34t36fy03m8hvgl96zl3znndyzyaqhwmwdtshwmtkg03fetaqhjg240), and other notable nostriches. This documentary is a must-watch for newcomers and those who are just dipping their toes into the world of Nostr.

> “Most people agree that Social Media is broken and that we need to find new solutions. I embarked on a journey to find out more about a new invention called NOSTR. Join me and see how I was able to understand more about that technology.” - [Max DeMarco](nostr:npub1lelkh3hhxw9hdwlcpk6q9t0xt9f7yze0y0nxazvzqjmre3p98x3sthkvyz)

What's even more fascinating is that while Twitter has rolled out its program to back content creators, Max hasn't seen a dime from his film there. Meanwhile, Nostr users have showered him with a cool 7M sats in appreciation for the value he delivered. All voluntarily, without any reliance on algorithms or middlemen. If this isn't the future of online interactions, then what is?

nostr:note1480zn0uz8g82varzf5mfjleqerqk86xqgwhpdrhut873s8jsar2ss5p9mf

> Content like this is priceless, especially at this early stage, when most people are still in the dark about Nostr's existence, and some haven't even spotted any cracks in traditional social media platforms. Sure, Nostr is much more than just social media, but let's take it one step at a time and bring people onboard.


***

## ⚡️ Matching Zaps

*ZapplePay Amps Up FOSS Support with Matching Zaps*

nostr:note14esxgcj9us8ax5v92n8vte9uxgv4ry88rhrnzvh6f3gtlf49w64q4923vr

ZapplePay, the savvy solution to Apple's restrictions, has unveiled an exciting new feature - the ability to send a matching zap to Damus and/or OpenSats. This brilliant initiative is aimed at championing open source software and boosting awareness of both value-4-value and lightning. 

> While you are waiting for the arrival of more matching zap options, we encourage you to have a look at Tony's guide on ZapplePay [here](https://habla.news/tony/zapplepay).

***

## 🤐 EU's Crackdown on Free Speech? 

*Social media platforms could face shutdowns for not removing government-unapproved content.*

![https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=1920,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/10/GettyImages-1258813819.jpg](https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=1920,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/10/GettyImages-1258813819.jpg) 

The EU's top brass might soon be [pulling the plug](https://www.politico.eu/article/social-media-riot-shutdowns-possible-under-eu-content-law-breton-says/) on social media giants like TikTok and Snapchat for not being strict enough on troublesome content during riots. This startling revelation came from the EU's Internal Commissioner, Thierry Breton.

Under the upcoming Digital Services Act, social media platforms will be walking a tightrope. If they fail to promptly delete content that stokes violence or promotes harmful activities, they could face immediate sanctions, including potential bans.

Nineteen major online platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, will have to up their game to limit the spread of illegal and harmful content. If they fail, they could be hit with fines of up to a whopping 6 percent of their global revenue.

> These guys are the best marketing team Nostr could ever dream of. Given the current global circumstances, people will naturally understand the significance of Nostr. They'll start seeking out platforms where they can communicate and express their thoughts freely. Given that there's no second-best, it's inevitable that everyone and everything will gravitate towards Nostr. Our primary task now is to gear up to manage the incoming surge.


***

## Byte-size Buzz:

- [Nostr.build](https://nostr.build/) increased free video uploads size to 25MB.
    
nostr:note1w4k3c0atweqa92rsk420pemjkqca9qcmaekm2ttfxjmdyl8d4ghsyh8f58

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10063.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10063.png) 

## Bitcoin

- Mutiny Wallet has made its beta publicly available. Check out the announcement and get the lowdown on the wallet [here](https://blog.mutinywallet.com/mutiny-wallet-open-beta/).
    
- Zeus will no longer require users to run a Lightning Node to use the wallet.

nostr:note1zjzmg39ltv4j4tvcx5hez4fyph4ad4djznp55kt6mjef6w68fegqgs0q7v

- Phoenix has [introduced](https://acinq.co/blog/phoenix-splicing-update) the 3rd generation of its self-custodial Lightning wallet.
    
- With Bisq's latest update [v1.9.12](https://github.com/bisq-network/bisq/releases), you can now clone existing offers while sharing its maker fee and security deposit.
    
- Peach Bitcoin's latest update [allows](https://nitter.at/peachbitcoin/status/1679463555391791104) users to change discount/premium after funding the escrow and now supports Liquid.

## Nostr

- Primal for iOS has roared into action and is now [available](https://testflight.apple.com/join/Is4tmDDR) on TestFlight. Get a sneak peek at the app by [DOC](nostr:npub1xy54p83r6wnpyhs52xjeztd7qyyeu9ghymz8v66yu8kt3jzx75rqhf3urc) of [Nostr Report](nostr:npub19mduaf5569jx9xz555jcx3v06mvktvtpu0zgk47n4lcpjsz43zzqhj6vzk): [https://habla.news/nostreport/primal-testflight-review](https://habla.news/nostreport/primal-testflight-review) 
    
- Damus' TestFlight update has [introduced](nostr:note1tys4d9k3td46w20qsssqlacwsx79txzjxf27gchyj36c59kdshus3v7qcz) support for long-form notes, banner editing, multi-lingual hashtags, and more! 
    
-  Nostr Band's [Embed widget](https://embed.nostr.band/) now displays user’s follows in a profile view: 

- Nostr Wallet Connect is now [available](https://apps.umbrel.com/app/alby-nostr-wallet-connect) on the Umbrel App Store.

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10127.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10127.png) 

## Halving 101

A quick look at Bitcoin halving by nostr:npub1cj8znuztfqkvq89pl8hceph0svvvqk0qay6nydgk9uyq7fhpfsgsqwrz4u:


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zvu85E9tBxo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10060.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10060.png) 

* *“AgoraDesk overview. A Peer-to-Peer Cryptocurrency Marketplace.” Follow [this link](https://bitcoiner.guide/agora/) for a guide.

* *“ZapplePay: Zap Even if They Say It’s Forbidden.” A [guide](https://habla.news/tony/zapplepay) on going around Apple’s note zaps restrictions by [Tony](nostr:npub10awzknjg5r5lajnr53438ndcyjylgqsrnrtq5grs495v42qc6awsj45ys7).

* *“A vision for content discovery and relay usage for basic social-networking in Nostr” by [Fiatjaf](nostr:npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6): [https://fiatjaf.com/3f106d31.html](https://fiatjaf.com/3f106d31.html) 

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10058.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10058.png) 

- Capital in the 21st Century [Allen Farrington] read by Guy Swan. [Listen on Fountain](https://fountain.fm/episode/TcVCACw7x2GvKeUDSQxa).
    
- Plebchain Radio - Max DeMarco discusses his Nostr Documentary. [Listen on Fountain](https://fountain.fm/episode/irgNmytgmEQpX4OuBCpz).

New to Fountain? Support Herald by downloading the app via [this referral link](https://fountain.fm/tony_lightning?code=6ded00e540).

![https://nostr.build/p/nb10169.png](https://nostr.build/p/nb10169.png) 

## Ostrich Work

The first and best Nostr Jobs board on the internet by nostr:npub1zuuajd7u3sx8xu92yav9jwxpr839cs0kc3q6t56vd5u9q033xmhsk6c2uc

> “Ostrich Work is the first Nostr-native job board. Both for people looking to hire or work on Nostr projects but also because the jobs themselves are Nostr events (a new [kind: 30402](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/662) event, in fact).” 

The best place to find a Nostr-related job, or to search for a specialist to power your project. 

Website: [https://ostrich.work/](https://ostrich.work/) 

*** 

## Obtainium

> “Obtainium allows you to install and update Open-Source apps directly from their releases pages, and receive notifications when new releases are made available” – [Derek Ross](nostr:npub18ams6ewn5aj2n3wt2qawzglx9mr4nzksxhvrdc4gzrecw7n5tvjqctp424)

GitHub repo: [https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium](https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium) 


Hey bitcoiner!

![](https://nostr.build/i/ca25f78ee67949efd3f8754e6c4b34bd9fa8a48413d5afe57a5f6c52fe102b0b.png)

Hot Off the Press:

🥔 Belarus vs p2p

📈 Bitcoin Depot Hits Nasdaq

🤖 Bitcoin Meets Ai

⚡️ Zaps are invincible

😵 Twitter Stumbles, Zuck to the Rescue?

📱 Post GIFs with Damus

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10061.png)

Mempool:

![](https://nostr.build/i/40f04136ad23a3f93014047124190cd8a2e25fcfebafa0fc031202ccf7c277d3.png)

Lightning:

![](https://nostr.build/i/62ce9c491924c5e47e64f15e706e76dc5748ec4abff874b543d17c8ff29dd2c6.png)

Mining:

![](https://nostr.build/i/fe048b016d7a9000a268c980a8f56663cbbda53a1efa47301b3b036359c0e9e8.png)

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10055.png)

🥔 Belarus Takes on P2P Payments
--------------------------------

Belarus plans to ban p2p payments.

![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nMsg3zKQ4pU/maxresdefault.jpg)

Belarus is [making moves](https://t.me/pressmvd/8643) to implement a law that could put a speed bump in your peer-to-peer bitcoin (and shitcoin) transactions. They're pulling up their socks to combat fraud, and the plan is to keep all bitcoin exchanges inside the Belarusian High Technology Park (BHTP). That's their version of maintaining control and transparency.

This situation might seem laughable or grim, depending on how you look at it. While completely banning P2P bitcoin payments is implausible, things could get more difficult for KYC-cleared users. Turning your Bitcoin into dirty fiat might become a puzzle.

> So, for all of you who haven't yet revealed your details, or have and want to fix the situation, you might want to check out platforms like [Hodl Hodl](https://hodlhodl.com/join/TONYB). It's the perfect time to think about privacy and break away from centralized KYC repositories for good. [Avoid the creep](https://bitcoinqna.github.io/noKYConly/)!

* * * * *

📈 Bitcoin Depot Hits Nasdaq
----------------------------

Bitcoin ATM operator Bitcoin Depot goes public on Nasdaq

![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lI_M8IcMqt8/maxresdefault.jpg)

This [move](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/06/30/2698079/0/en/Bitcoin-Depot-and-GSR-II-Meteora-Acquisition-Corp-Announce-Closing-of-Business-Combination.html) comes hot on the heels of a successful merger with GSR II Meteora. Shares of the Atlanta, Georgia-based Bitcoin Depot have now officially kicked off trading on the Nasdaq exchange, sporting the ticker "BTM". This makes Bitcoin Depot the trailblazer as the first Bitcoin ATM operator to be listed on a major US stock exchange. Operating over 6,000 ATMs, they're making a sizeable impact on the North American scene.

> It's pretty fascinating to see how the Bitcoin ATMs are evolving. With no direct counterparts, these machines offer a valuable lifeline for those aiming to convert to cash without the hassle of KYC procedures, and even manage to do it offline. Imagine if these Bitcoin ATMs didn't exist - we'd have a rather glum picture. However, going public might attract more regulatory eyes, adding a touch of controversy to the whole situation.

* * * * *

🤖 Bitcoin Meets AI
--------------------------------------

AI can now send and receive bitcoin.

![](http://nostr.build/i/a184d747b81f46a346611a7f102e60af1fb15b0b72207b6e87c8d452b290367c.jpg)

Thanks to some pretty cool tools from Lightning Labs, AI - including the GPT series by OpenAI - will be able to send and receive bitcoins. This exciting [development](https://www.theblock.co/post/238250/lightning-labs-releases-new-bitcoin-tools-for-ai-development) opens up a whole new world of opportunities, allowing for quick and affordable transactions through the Lightning Network. We're starting to see some promising use cases pop up, such as API access fees and some exciting potential applications for enterprises and SaaS.

But hold onto your hats, because Nostr is taking things up a notch! Just a couple of days ago Pablo gave us a sneak peek of a shiny new feature for his Highlighter app. As soon as this week, you'll be able to give the Highlighter app a YouTube video link, and then it's game on! You'll get to pit AIs against each other in a friendly competition. The bots will supply you with transcripts, and you'll get to choose and pay for the one that offers the best bang for your buck. Plus, if Highlighter comes across any previously paid options, you can check them out for free:

nostr:note1zwwmjqpaymqhjlq0tjezcyhpcx0hyh4m3u5p54tm7mmfxaqg03pq3w3d6g

> Nostr is truly evolving into more than just decentralized social media. Apps built on Nostr are knocking it out of the park, with Pablo's Highlighter and nsecBunker leading the charge. Exciting times! Wanna know more? Check out these guides by Tony: [Highlighter](nostr: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) | [nsecBunker](nostr: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)

* * * * *

Byte-size Buzz:
---------------

-   Israel [exempts](https://main.knesset.gov.il/activity/legislation/laws/pages/lawbill.aspx?t=lawsuggestionssearch&lawitemid=2202412) non-residents from bitcoin sales tax.

-   BlackRock [re-filed](https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/assets/rulebook/NASDAQ/filings/SR-NASDAQ-2023-016_Resubmission.pdf) its application for a spot bitcoin ETF.

-   UAE has significantly [increased](https://hashrateindex.com/blog/bitcoin-mining-around-the-world-united-arab-emirates/) its share of global mining, reaching 4% of the total hashrate.

-   Bitcoin network fees dropped as low as 5 sat/vbyte this week.

-   OpenSats [announced](https://opensats.org/blog/announcing-lts-grant-program-to-support-bitcoin-core-contributors) long-term support for Bitcoin Core developers and [grants](https://opensats.org/blog/nostr-grants-july-2023) to Nostr developers.

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10062.png)

⚡️ Zaps are Inevitable
----------------------

The Nostr devs have found a way around Apple's roadblocks. Hooray for note zaps, they're back in action, no matter what the bigwigs want!

![](https://media.tenor.com/Aind6W80t_4AAAAM/cat-kitty.gif)

nostr:npub1u8lnhlw5usp3t9vmpz60ejpyt649z33hu82wc2hpv6m5xdqmuxhs46turz has launched an ingenious project called [ZapplePay](https://www.zapplepay.com/) that cleverly transforms reactions or emojis into zaps. In the face of Apple's increasing dominance over Nostr apps supporting zaps, this solution is a real game-changer. And guess what? Getting it all set up is a breeze! You can find the easy-peasy guide right [here](https://habla.news/tony/zapple-pay): nostr: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

> We're on a roll, folks! Sure, duking it out with the tech titans isn't exactly a Sunday picnic, but hey, technology is on our side. Open source projects are the superheroes of the tech world - no matter what, they keep on going! Why? Because they're like a many-headed hydra - cut off one head, another pops up. And the moment a useful piece of open source code hits the scene, it instantly spreads to hundreds, even thousands of computers, where it's used, tinkered with, and further developed. That's the power of the people!

* * * * *

😵 Twitter Stumbles, Zuck to the Rescue?
----------------------------------------

Amid Twitter's troubles the crowds rushed to the newly minted rival site from Instagram. But it clearly wasn't the best decision.

![](https://nostr.build/i/ed6fb4cc05eaa399db180638ba279d61092e13b10adecfe233e842233cf74d49.jpg)

Never one to miss an opportunity, Mark Zuckerberg - the man who "borrowed" the Facebook concept - has swooped in to launch a rival platform to Twitter at just the right moment. His gamble paid off, with a whopping 100 million users already flocking to his new platform. But the real question is, can Threads really be the solution to Twitter users' woes? Some red flags have already popped up: during registration, users are required to link their Instagram account to the app. And here's a little fine print they conveniently glossed over - if you delete Threads, your Instagram account goes kaput, too.

Honestly, it's a toss-up which platform is the worse choice. Have a peek at the data Zuck's behemoth is hoarding:

![](https://nostr.build/i/4bd8674a644c381fa16a4b59797e518a77cc5921f9a0e5bf4c57ef17152c7392.jpg)

Shockingly, even reps of tech industry giants seem to be in the dark about the real implications. Here's what the folks at Verbatim had to say about this in a Slack chat amongst big brand marketers:

> "Who cares about data when we have a new place for brands to chat with each other! Data shmata." - Verbatim[ ](nostr:note1ut0t0u0ezw4qqhw3m7jffzz9kfxqjuvht2x5j4rv79tdl6hkhkequcdwj7)

nostr:note1ut0t0u0ezw4qqhw3m7jffzz9kfxqjuvht2x5j4rv79tdl6hkhkequcdwj7

> It's rather disturbing how folks hop from one "solution" to another without pausing to understand what's really going on or weighing up the pros and cons. It's clear as day that Twitter's troubles stemmed from ill-conceived attempts to centrally "revive" the site. This chain of poor decisions, on top of the already tough situation Twitter was in, only led to more user dissatisfaction. Do people really expect a different outcome here? Those who truly want a solution should give Nostr a whirl.

* * * * *

Byte-sized buzz:
----------------

-   Habla News has got a new logo. 

nostr:note1e8huwxxxnvqy7y8yz8tngxlvrdx87ztajwtcg5h8468xv87fwrqqrpw4t3 

-   Nostr Plebs, had to take a break from welcoming new users due to high influx of sign-up requests. 

nostr:note1jddlsnhksqxj2lefqqfc3szakujacdvf2z63erj2tp5hm2gf0jesht7239 

-   Damus saw 20,000 new users in 2 days. The total number of views and reactions on the App Store has already surpassed 100,000. 

nostr:note1djxcmsnkqhw69n5sgtpt7e7gaew7gfld4ulzd04cwyhxm7w3cw0qauy04s 

-   Apple called developers of Nostur and Plebstr, to remove the note zaps.

nostr:nevent1qqs2tprz2ufdfy58scwfu53hd3ezdl7uvc28x4vkcs9fuqsv93azgqszyzd7p0swvnfc52dfemy6tj80tkrnc2l62d32fd2cmf0ldx7rewupu6t0cku

nostr:note1eg9cepsse2p26hy9wdvl8p7nps4nz8xuuhljvq7s6kwsuxjqmcjsuac3yh

-   France's National Assembly [passed](https://newsinfrance.com/justice-law-the-activation-of-remote-telephones-approved-by-the-national-assembly/) Article 3 of the Justice Bill, which allows authorities to remotely activate phones' cameras and microphones without users' knowledge.

-   Everyone had the opportunity to join in on nostr:npub1getal6ykt05fsz5nqu4uld09nfj3y3qxmv8crys4aeut53unfvlqr80nfm community call this past Thursday, where we chatted about loads of exciting developments and future plans. Interested in catching the next one? Be sure to follow their Nostr account so you won't miss out!

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10063.png)

Bitcoin:
--------

-   Lightning Prisms library allowing splitting LN payments between users [has been published](https://github.com/utxo-one/lightning-prism-php).

-   LNbits [introduced](https://github.com/lnbits/lnbits/releases/tag/0.10.9) a number of improvements aimed to increase the tool's security.

-   Version 1.0.10 of the privacy-focused Stacks Duo wallet [has been released](https://github.com/cypherstack/stack_duo/releases/tag/build_015).

-   A beta version of the Wallby wallet [has been launched](https://community.liquid.net/c/general-discussion/wallby-beta-launch). 

-   Bitcoin hashrate [hit](https://bitinfocharts.com/comparison/bitcoin-hashrate.html#6m) a new ATH.

Nostr:
------

-   Zappdit has introduced support for custom zaps.

nostr:note19zrmtmyn8w6yae2gxte77gen67e2u5s26l3dyl4tgayu8rsrvpvqa6xhhk

-   Nostr Kiwi added support for one-tap zaps.

nostr:note1vadcmnmvww4mxtkwng7kf0wxlwca8vqw09wxvdrs56z5ddecvxsq207y0l

-   Nostr Band rolled out zaps support.

nostr:note1r288005489zj2hkz2wt6qpzypwremsz9l8lkalxeta0s7mp0f9uqjjh9mh

-   A first-ever Nostr documentary has been announced.

nostr:nevent1qqsyee5e6n7dyfxvt6ytyz0k5a5p9dm84zszpcndsmzy9adrpaz402qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ukzcnvv5hx7un89umaf656

-   Support for private list items has been added to Listr.

nostr:note1sewaq59zluswey5trgptgkv65srxns59fzfjhznlqh547a5q0mdsakrwwq

-   nsecBunker added notifications to admins via DMs.

nostr:note1ulukcm9hr7uld9fwu5cfm9gs2j3uyulj35hfr7d66verc4awmsasm76jqh

-   The new Nostr client Lume [has been released](https://lume.nu/).

-   Primal [is now](nostr:note1h0cta06x2h8t5ra60clwjkfjy2d3rx8jgn4mjsnvl77h3zsg68xst8s4le) open source.

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10127.png)

Nostr Talks by [DK](nostr:npub1kuy0wwf0tzzqvgfv8zpw0vaupkds3430jhapwrgfjyn7ecnhpe0qj9kdj8) with [JeffG](nostr:npub1zuuajd7u3sx8xu92yav9jwxpr839cs0kc3q6t56vd5u9q033xmhsk6c2uc) on Listr.lol and Nostr education:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ICfuRH49HRs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

***

Money Matters: nostr:npub1cn4t4cd78nm900qc2hhqte5aa8c9njm6qkfzw95tszufwcwtcnsq7g3vle interviews nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m in the first episode of his new show:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nzvh4AODtWc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

![](https://nostr.build/p/nb10169.png)

📱 Post GIFs with Damus

Thanks to a shortcut from Sam Samskis, it's now very convenient to post gifs in apps like Damus.

nostr:note1rh6tsnte4s7jd5mv5enztumyghsx4qwsuxgafvn0u864ytyk2apsh0ptae

Those who don't want to use Siri can go to the "Accessibility" section and set up a double tap on the back of the phone to activate the shortcut. That way when you double tap, it will open up Tenor where you can search for the gifs you want, copy the links to them and paste them into the note you want. Video of the usage in the post above.

Link to shortcut: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/49d53bdaeebb4dcf8a65a3003f16f87d

***

Enjoyed this week's digest? Zap it!

Our very own [Raptor](nostr:npub1kenh4ng392s0xnsu8t2x65xycaldcpe4lcjml0z00h8qkyul0c2sgjjvcq), the frontline journalist at Bitcoin Herald, recently had the fantastic opportunity to be part of a significant Bitcoin event. The setting? The bewitching city of Prague, playing host to a massive Bitcoin gathering from June 8-10. This conference saw a parade of notable speakers, big names in the business world, and a sea of Bitcoin enthusiasts from every corner of the globe. Now, let's make it cozy! Grab a cold Czech beer, put your feet up, and let's take a virtual stroll through the enchanting streets of Prague!

Why Prague?
-----------

You might wonder why this conference wasn't in one of the more "touristy" European cities. While the Czech Republic might not be the first place you think of when it comes to Bitcoin, this small nation of just 10 million people has made a mighty contribution to the Bitcoin ecosystem.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/215337f051b9c6cdaef47c90c2a39f517f01f084d28c91271f7a212365412f7d.jpg) 

Prague can proudly claim many firsts in Bitcoin's history - the creation of [the first mining pool](https://braiins.com/pool/story), the birthplace of [the first hardware wallet](https://trezor.io/company) - Trezor model One, and even the location of the first Bitcoin cafe, [Paralelni Polis](https://www.paralelnipolis.cz/en/)! If you dig into the past on Google reviews, you will come across ancient [one-star ratings](https://g.co/kgs/LwkJiu) from customers irked by the absence of fiat payment options. Yes, indeed, Prague has a solid spot in the Bitcoin chronicles.

There are many more Bitcoin tales that Prague can tell, each one deserving its own spotlight. But one thing's for sure - a trip to Prague will make you feel like you've stepped inside a living, breathing Bitcoin storybook.

A Big Shout Out to the Organizers
---------------------------------

We can't move on without giving a massive shout out to the conference organizers, especially [Martin Kuchar](nostr:npub1f40egu9fymsz0qmg9cyqgtl0u7vznxsyr3czse6x66jp3d9723uszajn7l), the co-founder of BTCPrague. His warm response to our request for a media pass, despite Bitcoin Herald being a bit of a newbie on Nostr at the time, was heartwarming. This sense of community and support is what makes the Bitcoin world go round!

Martin's generosity meant we could avoid the hefty price tag of an industry pass and still be part of the action. We were absolutely thrilled when the media pass arrived, and we want to say a big THANK YOU to Martin and the entire BTCPrague team!

![img](https://nostr.build/i/1b2634212dceaec6c2726ad8dbe7225c3ab55c6f2e48b1e0985148b47a0e57c3.jpg) 

If you want to join in the fun at the next conference, hop over to[  https://www.btcprague.com/](https://www.btcprague.com/) and grab your tickets now. Remember, the early bird catches the worm - or, in this case, the best-priced tickets!

The first bitcoin cafe - Paralelni Polis
----------------------------------------

Overall, our reporter was not impressed with this establishment. At the time of his visit, the cafe was preparing for the ETHPrague conference, which was taking place at the same time as BTCPrague. Shitcoin conference and a small exhibition in the cafe. Vitalik Buterin is crying on the sidelines.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/71749c65aeb05ac8e01d90462601beb9543034c07a4b1a959f7c487ae4c8e101.jpg)

Because of the high concentration of shitcoiners per square foot of space, staying in the cafe itself wasn't an option. But it would have been wrong to just leave, so Raptor bought a cup of coffee with lightning, before continuing his walk around Prague.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/808752bcea53b8cc09d47daf8ed6dd795d94d101eba72a06141c0129e9b22fda.jpg)

Immersing in Bitcoin: BTC Prague
--------------------------------

Once he stepped into the buzzing conference complex, it was like plunging headfirst into a fascinating Bitcoin wonderland. The vibe was electrifying, even though it was only the first day and many attendees were still trickling in. 

![img](https://nostr.build/i/62817c1295c2cfe529c08005abaca2c68c2fde769a7a90250ceb3519d65962d7.jpg) 

Raptor's first port of call was a meet-up with a representative from Trezor, who filled us in on all the exciting developments. We must give a nod to [Satoshilabs'](https://satoshilabs.com/) immense contribution to the conference, both historically and as the main sponsor of BTCPrague. Their prime spot in the heart of the exhibition hall was well-deserved!

The exhibition hall was a hive of activity, packed with companies showcasing an array of bitcoin products. It was a delight to see open-source projects like Alby and Mempool.space well-represented. We're already familiar with Alby's solutions, but Mempool's new offering caught our attention.

Introducing Mempool.space
-------------------------

As the developers explained, [Mempool.space](https://mempool.space/ru/) is set to become a finished product but isn't resting on its laurels. They are gearing up to launch a new service that works similarly to RBF. In short, users can request Mempool.space to help push a stuck transaction through the mempool. By communicating directly with mining pool operators, they can negotiate adding your transaction to the next block. Once confirmed, the corresponding amount of satoshis gets deducted from your account.

This service can prove invaluable, especially for those using wallets without a built-in RBF feature. It can simplify the process for less tech-savvy users.

Discovering Vexl
----------------

[Vexl](https://vexl.it/) made quite a buzz at the conference.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/2e0114d4e945bf7bdd3ec6a6c2c92773e08e278bf2b7a8abeb075976fdd7f7b8.jpg) 

This peer-to-peer exchange app allows you to buy and sell pretty much anything by connecting with your contacts. Once installed, you can browse through various sell or buy orders, filter by your contacts, or your contacts' contacts. The app aims to build a web of trust based on shared connections. However, if your contact list is small or none of your contacts are selling anything, the app's utility is reduced.

Tropic Square's New Development
-------------------------------

Another intriguing product comes from [Tropic Square](https://tropicsquare.com/), an arm of SatoshiLabs. They are currently developing a security chip for Trezor hardware wallets.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/5a5536977cd12c6cc409b5b07bc2521d5373dcca119629e944628212a07a7488.jpg) 

What sets this chip apart is its open code, allowing everyone to verify its security. As pioneers in Bitcoin infrastructure, SatoshiLabs continues to innovate, and we eagerly await this new product.

The Main Stage
--------------

While the main stage is typically the conference's highlight, it left us slightly underwhelmed. This does not imply it was bad, it rather was aimed at the newcomers, so the discussions felt somewhat basic for the more seasoned bitcoin enthusiasts. Even Michael Saylor, a crowd favorite, didn't bring much novelty to the table. 

![img](https://nostr.build/i/4e643fc8573a3fea31ec5327cf0118a1af98f1f5f046988e7d47f02d307edc3b.jpg) 

Compounding this was the poor acoustics, making comprehension from the last rows a challenging feat. On the bright side, all the main stage presentations were recorded, providing attendees with an opportunity to review them in a more comfortable environment.

The Secondary Stage
-------------------

The secondary stage, however, was a hidden gem. Despite being less frequented, it hosted presentations more catered to advanced users, covering a range of topics from [value-4-value](https://value4value.info/) and [Nostr](https://nostr.how/en/what-is-nostr) to [Trezor](https://trezor.io/) and [Jade](https://blockstream.com/jade/). Raptor was particularly enthralled by the Vexl presentation, given its novelty within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Though Vexl has been operational in the Czech Republic and Slovakia since September 2022, its presentation at BTC Prague was its grand introduction to the international Bitcoin community. Note that in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the app has been running since September 2022. It was announced and launched at the [Chaincamp](https://www.alza.cz/chaincamp-2022-reportaz) conference in Ostrava in September.

Meeting Plebstr
---------------

In between exploring exhibits and workshops, we had some intriguing encounters. One such meeting was with [Mates](nostr:npub1atc6zwsr9nnyn0rq72g2qqznr3x4yhm20g50wsexjukygwrg9atqh0lssy), the CEO of [Plebstr](https://plebstr.com/).

![img](https://nostr.build/i/f45a1568df86c3c42ada5421cfe30211ac3f7d8dbf423862aedf92d6ed1e2d91.jpg) 

The revelation of imminent ads within the Plebstr app initially surprised us. However, these can be turned off via a paid subscription, or alternatively, users can stack sats by viewing them. Plebstr's planned open-source app, which will allow signing Nostr events with private keys without exposing them, further piqued our interest. We wish the Plebstr team the best and eagerly anticipate their upcoming solutions.

Mining on the Go
----------------

The conference also introduced us to a unique mobile mining rig, a cool accessory though not a profitable one. 

![img](https://nostr.build/i/87b4dd82d4ee41e22825946d4ba314d950833cd5a3b1d0d2e8195c94d664cab8.jpg) 

Thanks to its owner, we got a chance to mine on the go and snap a memorable photo.

Catching Up with HODL HODL and the Baltic Honeybadger
-----------------------------------------------------

Ann from [Hodl Hodl](https://hodlhodl.com/) kindly shared some exciting updates, including upcoming Lightning support, a feature that promises to be unlike anything else in the market.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/a6def0c11ba9c26060f2f00babd80f75ed53edf09003ce7919c99c2983e334ea.jpg) 

She also provided insights into the [Baltic Honeybadger](https://baltichoneybadger.com/) conference, promising a more in-depth exploration of Bitcoin for advanced users, piquing our interest for future attendance.

Bleskomat: Fiat to Bitcoin in Seconds
-------------------------------------

[Bleskomat](https://www.bleskomat.com/) offered an intriguing experience - an ATM that converts fiat to Bitcoin lightning-fast, without a need for an internet connection.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/7719aa3d16d696d0e645b91bab3cc04edf437be272f4a872f128f519d5fa4be0.jpg) 

Our correspondent tested it out, and the transformation of Czech crowns into sats was impressively swift. We wish such machines were installed in every local shop. They are certainly much more privacy oriented and feel very cypherpunkish and cool.

Exploring BTC Map
-----------------

Our conference experience concluded with a chat with [Nathan Day](nostr:npub1cn670f663n3ks02jnnlsvd5y88zjnefy8343ykaxs7y3nzzketrsrjwt8a), the developer of [BTC Map](https://btcmap.org/). Nathan's Bitcoin journey began just two years ago, but his Bitcoin map project is already leading the pack.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/b5348d3d952464477add37df569e1f62b0467cc6a492aeed75d04a930b657a81.jpg) 

His goal is to connect new businesses to his platform, making it easier for users to find places accepting Bitcoin. Keep an eye on BTC Map, as it promises to grow significantly in the coming years.

Hall of Fame
------------

![img](https://nostr.build/i/209fd4c29eb54d3d7045b9724ba4174d878f6c62c19d73626ab2ecdf2e7a7e9e.jpg)

[Knut Svanholm](nostr:npub1jt97tpsul3fp8hvf7zn0vzzysmu9umcrel4hpgflg4vnsytyxwuqt8la9y)

![img](https://nostr.build/i/9afeeb87e8a0c3297d3be59a7f01305d1a232538839174f9169109f3b1d0ea24.jpg)

[Saifedean Ammous](nostr:npub1gdu7w6l6w65qhrdeaf6eyywepwe7v7ezqtugsrxy7hl7ypjsvxksd76nak)

![img](https://nostr.build/i/4cc49d907dccd20e8effddfe3dc2aef96c999dac8ec72de87e33dafd74319657.jpg)

[Michael Saylor](nostr:npub15dqlghlewk84wz3pkqqvzl2w2w36f97g89ljds8x6c094nlu02vqjllm5m)

Is BTCPrague Worth Visiting Next Year?
--------------------------------------

Absolutely! Prague, in its beauty and historical grandeur, is a fantastic place to visit - not just for Bitcoin enthusiasts but for anyone seeking an enriching experience. Arriving a few days before the conference and taking the time to explore the city will undoubtedly make your trip exceptionally eventful.

The conference itself offers a myriad of opportunities. You'll have the chance to experience new products firsthand, listen to thought-provoking speakers, and even buy a beer with sats. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect is the potential to forge new connections. Who knows, a few years down the line, we might be reaching out to you for an interview!

So, set your sights on Prague for next year's conference. It's an opportunity not to be missed.




Hey bitcoiner!

![img](https://nostr.build/i/22440f16edca609754147ea019e168270466b83118aea55c69c5f9b90e0cf3cf.jpg)

On the night of 14th of June 2011 Wikileaks turned to bitcoin as a lifeline for receiving donations. This was a strategic move to counteract a politically motivated banking blockade crafted by leading banks and payment service providers under the influence of the U.S. The attack has destroyed 95% of the organization's revenue, and if it wasn't for Bitcoin, Wikileaks might have ceased to exist. Free speech is inseparable from censorship-resistant money. Remember that!

Hot Off the Press:

💩 A Ton of Shitcoin News From Binance

⛏️ Bitmain Reigns Supreme? 

🔥 [Blockstream](nostr:npub1jg552aulj07skd6e7y2hu0vl5g8nl5jvfw8jhn6jpjk0vjd0waksvl6n8n) Enters the Mining Game

🔫 Attack on Educational Bitcoin Channels

📈 BlackRock's Bitcoin Ballgame

🤑 Bitcoin vs the $156T Global Payments Industry

🍏 Apple Sounds the War Drums, attacking nostr:npub18m76awca3y37hkvuneavuw6pjj4525fw90necxmadrvjg0sdy6qsngq955 nostr:npub1xnf02f60r9v0e5kty33a404dm79zr7z2eepyrk5gsq3m7pwvsz2sazlpr5 & Fold 

⚡️ 1 Million Zaps: nostr:npub1hcwcj72tlyk7thtyc8nq763vwrq5p2avnyeyrrlwxrzuvdl7j3usj4h9rq announces the biggest zapathon ever 

👨‍💻 Fresh releases

👍 Catch Up on Our Picks: 📺 Watch, 🎧 Listen, 📖 Read

🐸 Meme Hub 💜

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10061.png)

Mempool:

![img](https://nostr.build/i/3d8216e669e9a8cba6110e9df4b39504cab13796a9767d331b8179530124dd0d.jpg)

Lightning:

![img](https://nostr.build/i/ff35f246fec2077664f2d81b08db00d97f082147ea207d39beaa73f99c850c14.jpg)

Mining:

![img](https://nostr.build/i/0d43c09f58a917910db8fdf7ab89405ccbf9537525e7648d2b491c7994ee8f75.jpg)  

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10055.png)

💩 A Ton of Shitcoin News From Binance
--------------------------------------

Binance has provided lots of news to discuss this week -- from potential Lightning adoption growth to regulatory troubles of the biggest shitcoin casino.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/51db56be4b08c734615c09349133c4380fd65564af9d5e87118ab489e054ce14.gif) 

In the past week, a ruling in favor of Binance allowed the exchange to maintain control over customer assets. Despite this, it's no clear win, as negotiations with the SEC are still ongoing. Currently, an understanding [has been reached](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2023/06/17/binance-sec-strike-deal-to-move-all-us-customer-funds-wallet-keys-back-onshore/) between the SEC and Binance that restricts Binance's international platform employees from accessing BinanceUS assets.

On another note, Binance [has introduced](https://pool.binance.com/en/acceleration?ref=AZTKZ9XS&utm_source=BinanceTwitter&utm_medium=GlobalSocial&utm_campaign=GlobalSocial) a new transaction accelerator. This feature allows users to push a bitcoin transaction into the subsequent block -- quite a handy tool during times of high user activity and elevated fees. However, there's a catch -- only Binance VIP users can access this feature. Specifically, users must have a monthly trading volume exceeding $1M on the spot market or $15M on futures.

> It's perplexing to see a feature that would benefit beginners, being exclusively available to experienced traders with large volumes. But, there's a bright side: the more the exchange neglects the average user, the more these users are inclined to discover Bitcoin's features, such as Replace-by-Fee (RBF). For a detailed understanding of RBF, you can refer to [this extensive guide](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/articles/rbf-replace-by-fee/) by Bitcoin Manual.

Arguably, the most interesting move by Binance was the long overdue [opening](https://amboss.space/node/03a1f3afd646d77bdaf545cceaf079bab6057eae52c6319b63b5803d0989d6a72f) of lightning channels. Although there's been no official statement on Lightning support, this move certainly hints at future plans. Channels of 10 and 5 BTC have been opened with Kraken and OKX, respectively, indicating the probable future introduction of deposit/withdrawal functionalities via the Lightning network.

nostr:note1a3cmfxk8hnhr8t047vx8m2gcjw4jlwjyn6lv78t3vqsdv2mld77sj4n28e

> While Binance appears to position itself as a friendly guide, its focus on profit generation can't be overlooked. Expect high fees to possibly accompany Lightning withdrawals.

Internationally, Binance's situation isn't rosy. News broke this week about Binance [exiting](https://www.binance.com/en/support/announcement/notice-on-changes-of-services-in-the-netherlands-b5a647be31cf469b87fc3337fd461ced) the Dutch market, while in France, investigations into the exchange are [ongoing](https://newsinfrance.com/binance-the-worlds-leading-cryptocurrency-exchange-under-investigation-in-france/).

* * * * *

⛏️ Bitmain Reigns Supreme? 
---------------------------

A recent study evaluating the mining sector shows Bitmain as the clear frontrunner.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/c7e08e3e00d717c6c69341ba7873b82664149157ef5d6aa7cfe0da7569d764a9.jpg) 

Karim Helmi, a researcher at Coinmetrics, has conducted a study revealing that the mining rig market isn't as decentralized as it seems. In fact, three models from Bitmain - the s19, s19jpro, and s19xp - have a stronghold on the market, accounting for a whopping 76%. Consequently, these models are responsible for the majority of the hash rate generation.

nostr:note1a3269jy5gnpzx0x3dda86xr84vyezq8hzmgg73slwkq066p59pkq8ns7qs 

> More competition in the market would be beneficial, and we're keenly observing as [Blockstream](nostr:npub1jg552aulj07skd6e7y2hu0vl5g8nl5jvfw8jhn6jpjk0vjd0waksvl6n8n) ventures into this space with their mining devices. We're looking forward to seeing how the market landscape might change in a few years, Karim.

nostr:note1ywsvs520v0gruhwgclgux6q66npxaa90urzgatyeqrf5h6c7qalsckhtx9

* * * * *

🔫 Attack on Educational Bitcoin Channels
-----------------------------------------

Swan Bitcoin YouTube channel got blocked.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/af5aa31ad5370912f9ea0db342b80c536ee2587df2771caa811e54d5c7dce92d.jpg) 

The Swan Bitcoin YouTube channel was removed by the platform this week. Interestingly, YouTube opted to proceed with this action without giving any particular reason. 

YouTube's explanation for the ban:

> "We reviewed your channel carefully, and have confirmed that it violates our Community Guidelines. We know this is probably disappointing news, but it's our job to make sure the YouTube is a safe place for all. We won't be putting your channel back up on Youtube."

Though the channel has now been reactivated, the incident raises serious questions about YouTube's practices. Swan has decided to transfer their educational content about Bitcoin and macroeconomics to their new media outlet on[  https://Twitter.com/swan](https://twitter.com/swan).

> While Swan's move is based on valid reasons, it doesn't represent an ideal solution. Twitter, similar to YouTube, has its own track record of censorship incidents, thus it's not a dependable platform. We are hopeful and confident that Nostr will offer the tools required for educational initiatives to share their content in a decentralized, censorship-resistant manner. Currently, Nostr's lightweight relays, which contribute to the protocol's resilience, cannot host videos, but we are certain that some way will be found. There's no question about it.

* * * * *

📈 BlackRock's Bitcoin Ballgame
-------------------------------

The leading asset manager has filed for a spot Bitcoin ETF.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/2a061d82665c3befa239f404b0025ce4b9bc696555f419eb25b54cf164eab296.jpg) 

BlackRock, the world's leading asset manager, [has filed](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1980994/000143774923017574/bit20230608_s1.htm) for a spot Bitcoin ETF, with Coinbase Custody as their chosen custodian. The proposed ETF will be pegged against indices from CF Benchmarks, drawing data from six exchanges. Despite the SEC's history of rejecting spot Bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock's application could potentially pave the way for wider Bitcoin adoption and create a new, regulated investment pathway.

* * * * *

🤑 Bitcoin vs the $156T Global Payments Industry
------------------------------------------------

River [has released](https://river.com/learn/files/river-payments-report.pdf?ref=blog.river.com) the "Bitcoin vs the $156T Global Payments Industry" research.

We've gathered the most interesting tables and charts for you:

nostr:note1v2ng5yxmjlk5avyjppp3u42uxg24xts2rulyaz50jcavf388gjhqyu4tm3

* * * * *

## Byte-size Buzz:

-   Strike now [allows](https://nitter.at/jackmallers/status/1669081998244151296) users to send faster and cheaper cross-border payments from the U.S. to phone numbers, debit cards, and bank accounts in Mexico.

-   Strike [moves](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/strike-moves-to-in-house-bitcoin-custody-solution) to in-house bitcoin custody solution.

-   The SEC [responded](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67273468/30/in-re-coinbase-inc/) to a lawsuit from Coinbase regarding market regulation: "Commission staff anticipate being able to make a recommendation to the Commission regarding Coinbase's rulemaking petition within the next 120 days."

-   Fedi's Bitcoin Federations could [onboard](https://decrypt.co/144599/fedis-bitcoin-federations-could-onboard-next-1-billion-users-says-ceo) 1 billion users.

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10062.png) 

🍏 Apple Sounds the War Drums
-----------------------------

This week, Apple threw down the gauntlet to three Lightning payment apps, challenging their existence on the App Store. The tech giant has demanded that these app developers remove the functionality, or face expulsion from the App Store.

nostr:note1e8r4ft7vwhe9067w2xktrdve87k7wc3ydw66mp7m7u7wj6jxdx4s3mrk2m

Will Casarin, the developer behind Damus, was the first to be issued such a letter:

nostr:note14vfvfnt8ynlp4qj2fcdt5t28judjypdnth83swmdhlythryw2seq2nuuh6

Subsequently, Zeus was informed that their updated app version would not be allowed on the App Store unless they complied with Apple's guidelines.

nostr:note1cvf2xae8p5pvkxkwhdnayxqaun7a7ryk29exfc745d5hty4qft7qzln778

Fold became the third app within a 48-hour timeframe to receive Apple's written directive:

<https://twitter.com/wlrvs/status/1669396648148213761>

It's clear that applications facilitating free financial transactions cannot satisfy the corporate giants' demand for absolute control and extraction of revenue from developers, creators, and users. The most viable solution appears to be Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). These applications, in their optimal form, could offer users a similar experience, including offline functionality, swift browsing, and notifications, without the need for developers to pay hefty fees to profit-hungry corporations and bureaucratic entities. [Tony](nostr:npub10awzknjg5r5lajnr53438ndcyjylgqsrnrtq5grs495v42qc6awsj45ys7) delves into the basics of PWA in his Habla blog post: nostr: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   

* * * * *

⚡️ 1 Million Zaps
-----------------

*The recent zapathon has set a new record, playing host to the one-millionth zap on Nostr.*

nostr:note1safx5k0fj4xcma9azzkm7ma7zzzu34e32n5pk0rqvms4c5chvurslqtwsy

This remarkable milestone comes at an intriguing time, coinciding with Apple's intensified scrutiny of Damus, Nostr's leading iOS app. Whether this surge is fueled by users' defiance or the natural expansion of the user base and zap popularity, one fact stands clear: Nostr is unstoppable.

Wallet of Satoshi also reported the outcome of the latest zapathon, marking it an extraordinary event:

nostr:note1ze9h86u4fzf76he5gfev8gre5x72a4glhept4x6gwws40pk5gc0sxtdgnp

> While it appears that this zapathon may be the final one for Damus users (for the time being), we advise not to hastily predict Damus's demise. Will, Damus's developer, has teased some intriguing plans for navigating Apple's idiotic demands and maintaining the zap functionality on the App Store. Learn more from the latest episode of Plebchain Radio: [https://fountain.fm/episode/vT44m6oe2PdTzvvDZxUF](https://fountain.fm/episode/vT44m6oe2PdTzvvDZxUF)

* * * * *

⚖️ A Comparative Table of Nostr Clients
---------------------------------------

nostr:npub1pvgcusxk7006hvtlyx555erhq8c5pk9svw57snlxujpkgnkup89sekdx8c has published a comparison [table](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GjfN_eMiEywqXfKFHZMw4rLnoQLBXYEyl2NCEtsCXWw/edit?pli=1#gid=0) for Nostr clients.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/f171b2aad1946ef281234b143f854e0568c991a0b01dcb925d00b1cb1f442f7e.jpg)

> For seasoned Nostr users, it's an invitation to contribute thoughts for improvement. It's more than a table - it's a dialogue. And for the newcomers? It's an essential guide to navigate through the sea of Nostr apps. Let's continue enriching this resource!

* * * * *

✍️ Write Reviews, Stack Sats
----------------------------

A new Nostr blogging platform [Yakihonne](https://yakihonne.com/) has announced numerous bounties for covering interesting Nostr-related topics -- from comparing Nostr clients to explaining NIPs.

![img](https://nostr.build/i/6ad895f1ca15335731f1cddfb753eae73719aeedd718f44e4371f839aae6f190.jpg)

> Nostr has long been a great place to stack sats by providing value to community members. Nostriches appreciate the contributions of content creators - from notes to long-form posts to development contributions. Let's embrace value-4-value!

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10063.png) 

Bitcoin:
--------

-   Stacker news update [brought](https://stacker.news/items/192236/r/Tony) a new "tech" section as well as support for basic keyboard shortcuts for Markdown text formatting.

-   BlueWallet v6.4.5 [introduced](https://github.com/BlueWallet/BlueWallet/releases/tag/v6.4.5) a number of fixes.

-   Zeus v0.7.6 did make its way to the App Store and [provided](https://github.com/ZeusLN/zeus/releases/tag/v0.7.6) the ability to to leave notes on transactions, payments, and invoices, as well as making a number of improvements.

-   Alby has rolled out [v2.1.0](https://github.com/getAlby/lightning-browser-extension/releases/tag/v2.1.0) - a maintenance release with fixes and some minor improvements. Most notable is the new APIs to make it easier to add accounts to the Alby Extension.

-   [RGB Core v0.10.4](https://github.com/RGB-WG/rgb-core/releases/tag/v0.10.4) released.

Nostr:
------

-   nostr:npub1zuuajd7u3sx8xu92yav9jwxpr839cs0kc3q6t56vd5u9q033xmhsk6c2uc has released an update to the [Listr](https://listr.lol/) app. Lists can now be zapped ⚡️.

nostr:note1rhehce7xcmvx76k6u7hp4s0xtantw7gamua5mnup55ap6mqpe44qsutczw

-   nostr:npub1v0lxxxxutpvrelsksy8cdhgfux9l6a42hsj2qzquu2zk7vc9qnkszrqj49 from [Snort.social](https://snort.social/) has implemented a gossip model that optimizes relay load and improves communication between users.

nostr:note14ae9u38z0u7vf5mssckh37uw9rcjkm6cavz2upp2p8n49yjmy7zquwgx3u

-   Coracle has introduced relay ratings and advanced feed search functionality.

nostr:note1x2mlegeqv0lzd70zjyl0e9ng8efn86ewvwczjcp0m7sa3vce3qfqp9ldtq

-   [Nostr Sites](https://nostrsites.com/) by nostr:npub1v6xwae25wh6etmqw3m6yce9lnk5dnhtqpzk9fhxjfvjsryctjc8q2kxk5t: Turn a Nostr note into your own web page. Check out Tony's page: <https://nostrsites.com/tony>  

-   The Nostore app for storing nostr keys is now [available](nostr:note1mxdva9r2egaq2h28w5y6urxw8mcy7e39xngru2fxw30rkg4n4jwqhzzk49) on the App Store.

-   Primal has introduced full support for DMs.

nostr:note19h58vyne74x2rx0s7gqawtlz5qhhlvmqzrrvz3hlkdzngfdzqwtsuglnzs

-   Vitor Pampola [has released](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/pull/602) a draft NIP-172 potentially allowing to run Reddit-like Nostr clients.

-   nostr:npub1vp8fdcyejd4pqjyrjk9sgz68vuhq7pyvnzk8j0ehlljvwgp8n6eqsrnpsw has released [Not A Zap](https://notazap.lol/), a possible solution to Apple's zap ban.

-   [Arcade](https://arcade.city/) v0.1.0-beta - potentially a worthy replacement for Telegram on Nostr. The beta supports private messaging, public and private channels.

-   [Zaplinks](https://zaplinks.lol/): Create a QR code to your profile to get zaps instantly.

Don't forget to zap Herald's Nostr account ;)

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb11243.png) 

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10127.png) 

Building on Nostr 
------------------

Fetching events with NDK by nostr:npub1zuuajd7u3sx8xu92yav9jwxpr839cs0kc3q6t56vd5u9q033xmhsk6c2uc:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYnS2G8_-fg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

* * * * *

Satoshi Opened A Portal Into Cyberspace
---------------------------------------

nostr:npub1cqm6dztalp4l6n04f9k20c333xftgangjla337736dr6faz9na0qf2hjec, nostr:npub15dqlghlewk84wz3pkqqvzl2w2w36f97g89ljds8x6c094nlu02vqjllm5m, nostr:npub15vzuezfxscdamew8rwakl5u5hdxw5mh47huxgq4jf879e6cvugsqjck4um, nostr:npub1hk0tv47ztd8kekngsuwwycje68umccjzqjr7xgjfqkm8ffcs53dqvv20pf, nostr:npub1rtlqca8r6auyaw5n5h3l5422dm4sry5dzfee4696fqe8s6qgudks7djtfs on the novel form of property which bitcoin represents, and the significance of that for how one understands and engages both themselves, and the world:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J38-PQ6X8HI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

* * * * *

BTCPrague
---------

BTCPrague has released two videos from the conference so far. We encourage you to watch Giacomo Zucco's speech "Ordinals Are Retarded":

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/596InlNtfD0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10060.png) 

nostr:npub1akngghxzy6d75y8szp6y44u5pxktwy5aj6zh6jl3ncp8d93fj2fq5mfxa8 has [posted](https://www.forbes.com/sites/briannahonkawadestries/2023/06/15/how-to-earn-bitcoin-and-join-the-creator-economy-with-nostr/) an article about Nostr on Fobes.

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10058.png) 

-   Nostrovia's "Bitcoin and China with Joseph Wang": [Listen on Fountain](https://fountain.fm/episode/JresVMQwpkmsgnmkaoVA) 

-   Guy Swan's "Google 'We Have No Moat...'" read as a part of AI Unchained podcast: [Listen on Fountain](https://fountain.fm/episode/7eFcXC9SsIRee9ZEHE3N)

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10168.png) 

nostr:note19fxrjjw3x2x5gmz0x9850ysd8m3g5ykwds33mrr5zup7e7egr6gqfsu9f9 

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10169.png) 

nostr:npub1r0rs5q2gk0e3dk3nlc7gnu378ec6cnlenqp8a3cjhyzu6f8k5sgs4sq9ac and nostr:npub18c556t7n8xa3df2q82rwxejfglw5przds7sqvefylzjh8tjne28qld0we7 added a handful of RSS feeds to #Nostr. Now you can follow your favorite traditional publications on Nostr.

nostr:note103jwtlp2emw78usfgqjxnwhmfjpw3cyhqxpan9q3f88vcgj0h9vs88n9z4

![img](https://nostr.build/p/nb10059.png) 

nostr:note1xc2g7y7zccklw9f7c0c9yu833muhzht5yf2h2frd0kqwfeh0e6aqyv22sm

Hello, bitcoiner! 

<https://nostr.build/i/f72587090e8103e4d94b9460715ae20ade72ea5d3cb8e219d2df471ecf8f0cca.jpg>

This week, 13 years ago, the first purchase of a physical product for bitcoin [was made](https://bitcal.21ideas.org/) - Laszlo Hanyecz exchanged 10,000 bitcoins for two pizzas. And while many today are perplexed as to how it was possible to spend such an incredible amount of bitcoins for lunch, the more interesting question is: how was it possible to part with two perfectly good pizzas in exchange for some magical internet money?

This week's topics:

🍕The biggest Bitcoin holiday

🧑‍💻Trezor hacked again?

🤡 When a troll turns out to be a clown

👨‍💻 Ledger opens some more code

🇨🇳 China is craving for Bitcoin

🎭 Coinbase struggles to gain attention

⚡️ Blockstream and zapvertising

🐸 Curated feeds and a meme relay by nostr:npub10awzknjg5r5lajnr53438ndcyjylgqsrnrtq5grs495v42qc6awsj45ys7

⚡️ Zap button for your website

👨‍💻 Fresh releases

<https://nostr.build/p/nb9812.png> 

<https://nostr.build/i/819e151552f4c46140a90d59719b5d55680319a9a3a6e5df68419f64b8440a5a.jpg>
| Mempool |
|:--:|


<https://nostr.build/i/a1cdf16f29e9ee9b97fb6a90c67bdfe97c21945bd9b055eb9b0f15d52b88e079.jpg> 
| Lightning |
|:--:|

<https://nostr.build/i/79e0f31c67af9a8b8eaec22bddb6490ac21316fab336ca2cebd5f111a7dfffa0.jpg>
| Mining |
|:--:|

> For up-to-date information on the Bitcoin and Lightning networks, visit https://mempool.space/

<https://nostr.build/p/nb9813.png>

🍕The biggest Bitcoin holiday
-----------------------------

*On 22 May 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz purchased 2 pizzas for 10,000 BTC, thus becoming the first person in history to pay for a good with bitcoin.*

<https://www.21ideas.org/content/images/2023/05/data-src-image-8c3b8b6d-5f5c-48d3-823b-06f8dfc60ab5.png>

Back on May 22, 2010, an incredible milestone in Bitcoin history occurred. Laszlo Hanyecz, a visionary programmer, made a groundbreaking move by purchasing two pizzas for a remarkable price of 10,000 BTC. It was the first-ever documented transaction where Bitcoin was used to buy a tangible item.

Let's rewind to May 18 of that year when Laszlo Hajnic, an enthusiastic participant on the bitcointalk forum, [was in search](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137.msg1141#msg1141) of a way to exchange his bitcoins for something of value. He generously offered 10,000 BTC to anyone willing to have two delicious large pizzas delivered to his doorstep.

> "I'll pay 10,000 bitcoins for a couple of pizzas.. maybe 2 large ones so I have some left over for the next day. [...] You can make the pizza yourself and bring it to my house or order it for me from a delivery place, but what I'm aiming for is getting food delivered in exchange for bitcoins where I don't have to order or prepare it myself."

Remarkably, within just four days, Laszlo's wish was fulfilled, and he enjoyed two piping hot pizzas for around $50 worth of the "magic internet money." This memorable event marked the birth of a significant Bitcoin tradition, now known as the biggest Bitcoin holiday.

Each year on May 22, people from all corners of the globe join in this festive celebration by ordering or cooking pizzas, honoring Laszlo's pioneering spirit. This year was no exception, with various exciting activities taking place. For instance, Binance distributed pizzas to commemorate the occasion, and a Romanian blogger went above and beyond by ordering a staggering 10,000 pizzas for just over 1 BTC.

> The Bitcoin Herald team wishes to extend congratulations to everyone on this special holiday. While HODLing remains a fundamental aspect of Bitcoin culture, it is equally important to treat yourself with a delicious pizza and pay tribute to Laszlo, who played a pivotal role in driving Bitcoin adoption

🧑‍💻Trezor hacked again?
-------------------------

*Unciphered, a cybersecurity company, has managed to hack the Trezor hardware wallet.*

<https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/aZklgvxoO8BlGOy96aYX_pRRUyM=/1056x594/filters:quality(80):format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/O5DUYMRBNVAFHCHSYEXEKXCJUU.jpeg>

In a recent development, cybersecurity company Unciphered successfully [conducted](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2023/05/24/crypto-security-firm-unciphered-claims-ability-to-physically-hack-trezor-t-wallet/?utm_term=organic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=coindesk_main&utm_content=editorial) a physical hack of the Trezor hardware wallet, documenting the process on video. It's worth noting that hacking a wallet requires specialized equipment and physical access, making such incidents rare. Unciphered affirms that this vulnerability cannot be addressed with a simple patch.

While this news has garnered attention, it's not the first case of its kind. Approximately a year ago, a blogger [managed to hack](https://youtu.be/dT9y-KQbqi4?ref=21ideas.org) a Trezor wallet, also requiring costly equipment and extensive expertise.

> It's important to emphasize that this occurrence is unlikely to impact Trezor's reputation or sales significantly. Hardware wallets are designed to safeguard users against online attacks, and by securely storing your seed and wallet, the risk of physical hacking can be mitigated. That said we suggest you purchase a Coldcard by following [this referral link](https://store.coinkite.com/promo/970E08C1C7383C967C7B?ref=21ideas.org) 😉

🤡 When a troll turns out to be a clown
---------------------------------------

*Ardent gold supporter, Peter Schiff, is releasing an NFT collection on Bitcoin.*

<https://nostr.build/i/89dd778e7b324fb2ad3a436e5ba1277544a1e0cdf1bbf95da679e354400766de.jpg>

This week, Peter Schiff tweeted that he was launching an NFT collection representing one of his favorite artist's works. Despite this venture, Schiff maintains his long-standing belief that bitcoin holds no value.

https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1662210584178475008?t=ejQSFDpyxo6Udrv4r-7qAQ&s=19

> It's worth noting that Schiff's investment company actually accepts bitcoin as a form of payment, as he [revealed](https://youtu.be/6HcRQX9y7Mc?ref=21ideas.org) in one of his interviews. What a unique way to attract attention 🤡

👨‍💻 Ledger opens some more code
---------------------------------

*Ledger is opening up most of its code in the wake of the Ledger Recovery scandal.*

<https://nostr.build/i/2a76e69c85b8e133895747a99338e0af9a144656a8513ecf58fd0f23356aad98.gif>

Last week Ledger unveiled a seed phrase recovery feature via KYC in the event of a lost device. This update sparked a negative reaction from the community, which forced Ledger to postpone the feature indefinitely. Now, however, the company has posted a roadmap for opening up most of the device code. According to the company's assurance, they want everyone to be able to verify the security of Ledger Recovery for themselves.

<https://twitter.com/P3b7_/status/1661012196397305859?t=v2_pvQivRUhaeCHWNdB2sw&s=19>

Ledger held a Twitter Spaces event on May 23, where senior management discussed various aspects, including Ledger's advantages over other devices, the rationale behind closed code, Ledger Recovery, and the planned code openness.

https://twitter.com/Ledger/status/1661046862709768200?t=fL8sipjqQ67pS-nypxuX_w&s=19

> The main question as to why wouldn't they release separate firmware for the users wishing to take "advantage" of the Recover feature was answered quite poorly: "Released separate firmware for each new feature is unsustainable. The question regarding the details of KYC and personal data handling also remains a mystery.

🇨🇳 China is craving for Bitcoin
---------------------------------

*Hong Kong will allow retail investors to trade Bitcoin starting June 1; China has mentioned Bitcoin on state television.*

<https://nostr.build/i/a16b2e147bde005b1f08e3e4a3a76bcb62d06aedbc6f8280d7b1a327ae5f121e.jpg>

A few months ago, the Hong Kong authorities announced their plans to grant retail investors access to bitcoin and crypto trading. This week, further details regarding the regulations were unveiled. To offer trading services, digital assets must be listed on at least two indexes, and exchanges must obtain the necessary licenses. Huobi and Gate have already applied for local licenses, signaling their interest in this market.

Interestingly, a report on Bitcoin and blockchain technology was aired on Chinese national television. Binance's CEO, Changpeng Zhao, acknowledged this development in a tweet. However, it is worth noting that the report was unexpectedly removed from the broadcast just 24 hours later.

https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1661391542504902664?t=MkhqVuKuKtklEfw23L3Oeg&s=19

> While China and Hong Kong do not officially permit bitcoin trading as of May 29, 2023, it does not deter their citizens from owning bitcoin. Moreover, reports suggest that the government utilizes bitcoin and USDT for trading fentanyl with Mexico, despite the regulatory restrictions.

🎭 Coinbase struggles to gain attention
---------------------------------------

*Coinbase is launching a TV campaign in Washington to explain why we need 'crypto'.*

<https://nostr.build/i/683f4cd33da0db498e4b518dc56bf7c33120e118a5d25878cd1bb934ec52f074.jpg>

In response to failed negotiations with regulators, Coinbase has taken a different approach by launching a TV campaign in Washington. This week, CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted about the campaign and shared a link to the aired commercial. In the commercial, Armstrong highlights the importance of 'crypto' for people in the United States.

https://twitter.com/brian_armstrong/status/1660696405525278722?t=vtb5meAhpHn7KkBTppSfLQ&s=19

Coinbase's attempts to regulate the industry according to its own vision looks pathetic. In the video, Armstrong mentions various use cases of Bitcoin, referring to them as 'crypto'. The only non-Bitcoin use case mentioned is decentralized apps. So for the fans of DeFi we'll leave the address of the head office for the most popular decentralized app, Uniswap: 181 North 11th Street Suite 406, Brooklyn.

> Don't forget: [Bitcoin, not shitcoin!](https://svetski.medium.com/why-bitcoin-not-shitcoin-6cc826f4fa52)

### Worth mentioning: 

* Robosats and Bisq [face](https://stacker.news/items/183257/r/Tony) problems in Brazil.

* Japan [introduces](https://news.bitcoin.com/japan-to-apply-tougher-crypto-aml-regulations-travel-rule-in-june/?ref=21ideas.org) stricter regulation for digital assets.

* DCG [closes](https://www.coindesk.com/business/2023/05/25/dcg-sunsets-trade-execution-prime-brokerage-unit-tradeblock/?utm_content=editorial&utm_campaign=coindesk_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=organic) its trading-focused subsidiary TradeBlock. 

* Several independents have [reported](https://decrypt.co/142056/binance-denies-commingling-billions-in-customer-funds?ref=21ideas.org) that Binance has been commingling its funds with those of customers throughout 2020 and 2021.

* The US government is working with Binance to [block](https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2023/05/23/us-treasury-sanctions-north-korean-owned-binance-wallets-says-entities-used-funds-to-support-wmd-programs/?utm_content=editorial&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=coindesk_main&utm_term=organic&utm_source=twitter) wallets of users suspected of working with the DPRK.

* Tether to be [Integrated](https://tether.to/en/tether-usdt-to-be-integrated-onto-strike-leading-global-money-app/?ref=21ideas.org) onto Strike

* The world's first Bitcoin skyscraper [to be built](https://finbold.com/the-worlds-first-bitcoin-tower-set-to-be-built-in-dubai/?ref=21ideas.org) in Dubai.

* Hotbit [is closing down](https://hotbit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/14750194236823?ref=21ideas.org).

<https://nostr.build/p/nb9818.png> 

### Statistics:

<https://nostr.build/p/nb9824.png>
| [https://primal.net/explore](https://primal.net/explore) |
|:--:|


⚡️ Blockstream and zapvertising
-------------------------------

*Blockstream demonstrated the power of zapvertising.*

nostr:note1r8ch7p59g3whh0g7nwhszplgmfcl2mc36lazvxx9v3c062ve68ws7lug82

Blockstream recently showcased the influential potential of zapvertising, a groundbreaking concept within the Nostr ecosystem. Allocating a dedicated budget, Blockstream strategically zapped Nostr posts. The outcome? Blockstream's account rose to prominence on popular Nostr aggregators and search engines. 

> The discussion surrounding the zapvertisement model has been a topic of interest within the community for some time. With Nostr's disruptive potential, traditional advertising paradigms are poised for transformation, and zaps are set to play a significant role in this paradigm shift. Find out more about zapvertisement in [this post](https://footstr.com/zapvertise/) by nostr:npub1cj8znuztfqkvq89pl8hceph0svvvqk0qay6nydgk9uyq7fhpfsgsqwrz4u

🐸 Curated feeds and a meme relay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Nostr Band has made it possible for everyone to run their own subrelay and provide followers with curated feeds.*

https://nostr.build/p/nb9417.png

I was lucky enough to be the first to test the new feature, give (hopefully) valuable feedback to nostr:npub1xdtducdnjerex88gkg2qk2atsdlqsyxqaag4h05jmcpyspqt30wscmntxy - the developer of Nostr Band, who came up with the new service. I also launched my own meme-dedicated feed: wss://feeds.nostr.band/meme. By adding it to your relay list you'll get selected memes straight to your global feed. Furthermore, silencing all relays except the meme (so far only works well on Damus) will give you a separate feed exclusively with selected memes.

<https://nostr.build/p/nb9411.gif>

For more on what curated feeds are, how to subscribe to them and how to start your own, see my Habla post [here](https://lnshort.it/feeds/) 

> There's still a long way to go in terms of improving the user experience, but Nostr is on the right track - the protocol aims to provide tools for end users to choose the information they consume, rather than entrust these decisions to a bunch of multibillion-dollar company directors. This is the way.

⚡️ Zap button for your website
------------------------------

You can now integrate a zap button into any web page that supports embedding HTML code.

<https://www.nobsbitcoin.com/content/images/size/w2000/2023/05/68747470733a2f2f6e6f7374722e6275696c642f702f6e62383637302e676966-1.gif>

This is made possible by simple HTML code. Anyone can implement this feature on their own website. Simply replace the npub in the example with your Nostr public key and implement the code below on your own page:

```

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html lang="en">

<head>

<meta charset="UTF-8" />

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />

<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="ie=edge" />

<title>Zap Me Baby One More Time</title>

</head>

<body>

<button

id="nostr-zap-target"

data-npub="npub10awzknjg5r5lajnr53438ndcyjylgqsrnrtq5grs495v42qc6awsj45ys7"

data-relays="wss://relay.damus.io,wss://relay.snort.social,wss://nostr.wine,wss://relay.nostr.band"

>

Zap me ⚡️

</button>

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/nostr-zap@0.7.0"></script>

</body>

</html>

```

> Nostr is becoming more deeply integrated into traditional platforms, making its usefulness far more obvious to ordinary users: everyone can interact freely with others without having to show anyone their passport, enter personal financial data or ask for anyone's permission. Hypernostrinization is near.

<https://nostr.build/p/nb9819.png>

### Bitcoin:

* Bitcoin Core 25.0 update released

* Wallet of Satoshi has announced the imminent introduction of an Auto Payment feature enabling small payments that do not require confirmation. Autopay will allow, among other things, to send 1-tap-zaps.

nostr:note1tte5ua3fjt8tj6y0vn8cgs7t28x3lslumvugfyfgxhucwqlu8knq75cd5v

* [Ark](https://burakkeceli.medium.com/introducing-ark-6f87ae45e272?ref=21ideas.org): a second-layer protocol for making cheap, anonymous, offchain payments on top of Bitcoin. 

* Boltz [has launched](https://blog.boltz.exchange/p/launching-liquid-swaps-unfairly-cheap?ref=21ideas.org) swaps between the Lightning network and the Liquid sidechain (you can try it [here](https://liquid.boltz.exchange/?ref=21ideas.org)).

### Nostr:

* Habla News is now available in multiple languages. Simply add the language code after the domain: /es, /it, /ru, /uk... 

* Nostrore browser extension for Safari [is now available in the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nostore/id1666553677?ref=21ideas.org).

* The Listr update now gives you the ability to view the posts of users added to the list. 

nostr:note18mmxmpucl9kjydmdydp8dptp8u07wknh9twpnfpuhnv3k9kxtxvsa90nxg 

Check out my list of nostr:naddr1qqgk6etdv5sxxmmwdehkjumnv46hyuczypl4c26wfzswnlk2vwjxky7dhqjgnaqzqwvdvz3qwz5k3j4grrt46qcyqqq82vqggvgd0

* Primal has rolled out support for custom feeds. You can now follow hashtags or search results from the web app. 

nostr:note1smefmfu302yqcvx9q8z7zdjxqz75cl62ylklwk76ymtpy7wr3q6ql53mdw

* Agora update: A new smart search detects if you're looking for a Bluesky, Twitter or Mastodon hashtag and automatically redirects you to a nostr profile. You can now subscribe to users on four social networks using just Nostr. 

nostr:note1pq752gksgm3mjj54ju7f3q0jzxhwm6epfp99vc5cdc2n5ydw7lvs7pf7sh

* Alpha version of Highlighter web app [released](https://highlighter.com/my?ref=21ideas.org).

***

> Thanks for reading! This is a beta version of Bitcoin Herald by nostr:npub10awzknjg5r5lajnr53438ndcyjylgqsrnrtq5grs495v42qc6awsj45ys7 & nostr:npub1kenh4ng392s0xnsu8t2x65xycaldcpe4lcjml0z00h8qkyul0c2sgjjvcq We will be significantly improving this weekly digest. Please leave your feedback and consider supporting out initiative.

Yesterday, Forbes shared an article about nostr:npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6, and the creation of Nostr. While some info the article shares might not be new to the Nostr OGs, there are some cool facts about Fiatjaf you may not know.

-   Fiatjaf was born in 1991 in Brazil's busy southeastern region.

-   On a school trip to a Fiat car factory, he got a hat with the Fiat logo. Later, he used 'Fiat' and his old nickname, JAF (whose meaning is a secret), to create his online username.

-   He studied economics at a university in Brazil in the early 2010s and got interested in the Austrian school of economics.

-   He learned about Bitcoin in 2011 and even tried to mine some: "I mined for an entire night, and I got 5,000 Satoshis."

-   He worked on an experiment named Piln, where servers could charge small Bitcoin amounts to store files on a decentralized database.

-   He also worked on Etleneum, a project that combined Bitcoin with smart contracts, letting coders write complex transactions.

-   Fiatjaf's big break came when developer Arc asked for his help hacking Pac-Man. As Arc said later, "When I was reading the protocol, I was like, 'Dude, this is like Diagon Alley,' and he said, 'That's one of the things which helped influence the creation of Nostr.'"

Arc summed up the potential of Nostr beautifully: 
> "A lot of the things people wanted to see built on Bitcoin, could simply be built on Nostr."

***

Want to know more about Nostr? Check out Fiatjaf's [Nostr Manifesto](https://fiatjaf.com/nostr.html)

Read the full Forbes article [here](https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/05/30/bitcoin-social-network-nostr-creator-fiatjaf-/)

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