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U.S. Embraces Bitcoin ETFs: A New Chapter
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently made history by approving the country's first Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). This landmark decision includes an ETF from Brazilian firm Hashdex. This follows years of SEC rejections of Bitcoin ETF applications. BlackRock's proposal earlier in 2023 marked a turning point, generating widespread interest due to their market influence. Standard Chartered Bank predicts these ETFs could attract up to $100 billion in the first year.
Marcelo Sampaio, CEO of Hashdex, views the launch as a significant regulatory step in the U.S. and a victory for digital assets. Despite the approval, SEC Chair Gary Gensler cautions investors, clarifying that the SEC doesn't endorse Bitcoin. To lure investors, companies like BlackRock are cutting administration fees, with some even offering zero fees.
The anticipation of ETF approvals has already boosted Bitcoin's value significantly, with a more than 160% increase over the past year. However, after the announcement, Bitcoin's value momentarily dipped. Analysts predict the ETFs could drive Bitcoin's value to new heights, potentially reaching $50,000 soon and possibly its all-time high later in the year. They also anticipate a favorable impact from the upcoming Bitcoin halving event, which reduces its inflation rate. But there is caution about potential profit-taking once it reaches certain levels.
Nicole Dyskant from Fireblocks notes that the SEC's decision influences more than just market liquidity. It could transform the broader financial and capital markets. The days leading up to the ETF launch saw cybersecurity incidents and criticism. The SEC's Twitter account was hacked, falsely announcing the ETF approvals, which the SEC later denied and began investigating. Gensler has also warned about risks in the crypto market, emphasizing the importance of understanding risks and legal compliance.
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Yanis Varoufakis (former Greek Minister of Finance) describes AI as a new form of capital that produces not goods, but behavioral modification. This is achieved by engineering perceptions.
The answers provided by ChatGPT, or the images rendered by StableDiffusion — as these increasingly inform our perceptions, they in turn define the reality we experience.
This is what makes AI so powerful — he who controls the AI, defines the reality of tomorrow.
⚡️🇺🇸 Some more things coming out for the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Under the preliminary drafts of the bill, the USAF is requesting a release of $57,000,000 USD ($57.0 Million) to retire all remaining 162 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in current service. Apart of the 2023 NDAA, there was a clause for a few million dollars to be released every so often to gradually retire the (then) 250 airframes by 2034; however due to the push by the Dept of Defense to ‘shed’ obsolete or obsolescent airframes that cannot be overhauled or upgraded further without a whole new airframe, it appears the USAF wants to retire all 162 remaining A-10s by the end of 2026.
The USAF plans to fully divest the 340-total remaining A-10s entirely, including those that currently serve in a handful of Air National Guard units in some states; which will be replaced by F-15EX Eagle IIs (like what is already happening with the Michigan State Air National Guard’s A-10s), or F-35A/Bs.
Included ...
My older sister lives in the country in between Velma Oklahoma and Duncan Oklahoma near the Fuqua Lake area, this story was told by a rural mail delivery woman who delivers the mail in the country.
The incident happened while she was on her route, when she came upon to the mailbox a male Chinese nation came out brandishing a, AK-47 rifle being very hostile,
I don't know if he pointed it at her since it is against the law to do so but she was terrified and said she was never going back and that the location that had a guard tower. Was the sheriff department notified, I don't know, did she notify her supervisor, don't know. But word is from the country folk who live in the area they have seen the guard tower at the pot place;
I refuse to call it a farm because it is an insult to farmers.
And yes she was traumatized by that ordeal
