Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund

https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2022-January/019741.html
archive: https://archive.ph/F94Do

Bitcoin Optech #181

- an alternative proposal to slowly phase in full replace-by-fee
- series of meetings to review the proposed OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY soft fork
- Rust-Lightning v0.0.104

https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2022/01/12/
archive: https://archive.ph/QzFQA

Turks Pile Into Bitcoin and Tether to Escape Plunging Lira

https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/turks-pile-into-bitcoin-and-tether-to-escape-plunging-lira-11641982077
archive: https://archive.ph/U49YF

El Salvador: Amnesty International verifies use of Pegasus spyware for surveillance of journalists

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/01/el-salvador-pegasus-spyware-surveillance-journalists/
archive: https://archive.ph/EjrPd

https://citizenlab.ca/2022/01/project-torogoz-extensive-hacking-media-civil-society-el-salvador-pegasus-spyware/
archive: https://archive.ph/QivoA

UK Government plans publicity campaign to mobilize public opinion against encrypted communications with plans that include manipulative tactics

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/revealed-uk-government-publicity-blitz-to-undermine-privacy-encryption-1285453/
archive: https://archive.ph/GOGOt

BitMEX Group plans to acquire a 268-year-old German bank Bankhaus von der Heydt

https://blog.bitmex.com/bxm-operations-intends-purchase-german-bank-bankhaus-von-der-heydt/
archive: https://archive.ph/jaZ3y

Intel To Unveil Bitcoin-mining 'Bonanza Mine' Chip on February 23rd

- ultra-low-voltage energy-efficient bitcoin ASIC

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-to-unveil-bitcoin-mining-bonanza-mine-asic-at-chip-conference
archive: https://archive.ph/w9luxt

Bitcoin Optech #183

- legal defense fund for Bitcoin developers
- recent discussion about the proposed OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY soft fork
- changes to services and client software

https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2022/01/19/
archive: https://archive.ph/YMUBH

Taproot funds burned on the bitcoin blockchain

> I’m unsure if this output was an intentional test, or if the developer was unaware of how to build correct BIP340 public keys. Either way, I think it is prudent to put a warning out to the rest of the bitcoin developer ecosystem to be very careful that you are following BIP340, else your funds will be burned.

https://suredbits.com/taproot-funds-burned-on-the-bitcoin-blockchain/
archive: https://archive.ph/3FnzR

Suppressed By World Superpowers, Ethiopia Should Turn To Bitcoin

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/why-ethiopia-needs-bitcoin
archive: https://archive.ph/kDEbK

Bitcoin miner GRIID has already signed a purchase agreement with Intel for their upcoming bitcoin ASICs

- GRIID will be entitled to purchase at least one quarter of all Intel ASICs through May 2025

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/intel-closes-sale-for-its-upcoming-bitcoin-mining-chip
archive: https://archive.ph/4CbMF

Notable Software Releases this Week

- mempool v2.3.0: https://github.com/mempool/mempool/releases/tag/v2.3.0

- mercury wallet v0.5.9: https://github.com/layer2tech/mercury-wallet/releases/tag/v0.5.9

- onionshare v2.5: https://github.com/onionshare/onionshare/releases/tag/v2.5

- simple bitcoin wallet v2.4.27: https://github.com/btcontract/wallet/releases/tag/2.4.27

- lightning pool v0.5.4-alpha: https://github.com/lightninglabs/pool/releases/tag/v0.5.4-alpha

- umbrel v0.4.11: https://github.com/getumbrel/umbrel/releases/tag/v0.4.11

- tdex v1.2.4: https://github.com/tdex-network/tdex-app/releases/tag/v1.2.4-build56

Lightning Focused Bitcoin Company Voltage Raises $6M In Seed Round

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-company-voltage-raises-6m
archive: https://archive.ph/j6eX1

You will soon be required to provide a selfie to a third-party identity verification company to access certain tools and applications on IRS.gov

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/20/irs-will-soon-require-a-selfie-to-access-some-of-its-online-tools.html
archive: https://archive.ph/33fGp

Russia’s central bank on Thursday proposed banning the use and mining of bitcoin on Russian territory, citing threats to financial stability, citizens’ wellbeing and its monetary policy sovereignty

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/20/russian-central-bank-proposes-banning-cryptocurrencies-crypto-mining.html
archive: https://archive.ph/Cnq59

Robinhood Starts To Rollout Bitcoin Withdrawal Support

- the feature is rolling out in phases to those on the waitlist

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/robinhood-starts-to-allow-bitcoin-withdrawals
archive: https://archive.ph/idLth

Tax Breaks for Crypto Millionaires Stir Outrage in Puerto Rico

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-19/tax-breaks-for-crypto-millionaires-stir-outrage-in-puerto-rico
archive: https://archive.ph/HClbM