Bitcoin Optech #175

- information about the activation of taproot
- changes to services and client software
- LND v0.14.0-beta.rc4 release candidate

https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2021/11/17/
archive: https://archive.ph/NUG6L

Staples Center to become Crypto.com Arena for $700 million

- the downtown Los Angeles home of the NBA Lakers and Clippers, the NHL Kings and the WNBA Sparks
- 20 year deal

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32650662/staples-center-become-cryptocom-arena-rich-naming-rights-deal
archive: https://archive.ph/zp9hA

Tether announces new subsidiary 'Synonym' to bring tokens and other functionality to the lightning network

https://synonym.to/
archive: https://archive.ph/OvqpW

Notable Software Releases this Week

btcpayserver v1.3.5: https://github.com/btcpayserver/btcpayserver/releases/tag/v1.3.5

lnd v0.14.0-beta: https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/tag/v0.14.0-beta

mercury wallet v0.4.51: https://github.com/layer2tech/mercury-wallet/releases/tag/v0.4.51

simple bitcoin wallet v2.4.18: https://github.com/btcontract/wallet/releases/tag/2.4.18

immortan v0.5.6: https://github.com/btcontract/IMMORTAN/releases/tag/v0.5.6

fully noded v0.2.30: https://github.com/Fonta1n3/FullyNoded/releases/tag/v0.2.30

umbrel v0.4.8: https://github.com/getumbrel/umbrel/releases/tag/v0.4.8

hexa wallet v2.0.2: https://github.com/bithyve/hexa/releases/tag/v2.0.2

ledger live desktop v2.35.1: https://github.com/LedgerHQ/ledger-live-desktop/releases/tag/v2.35.1

IRS Sees Crypto Seizures Worth Billions of Dollars Next Year

- Tax agents seized $3.5 billion in the past fiscal year
- Infrastructure law gives IRS more sight into crypto trading

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-18/irs-sees-crypto-seizures-totaling-billions-of-dollars-next-year
archive: https://archive.ph/SzBMA

Amazon.com has amassed a vast amount of sensitive personal information on its customers. Internal documents reveal how a former aide to Joe Biden helped the tech giant build a lobbying juggernaut that has gutted privacy legislation in two dozen states.

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/amazon-privacy-lobbying/
archive: https://archive.ph/LKOzs

Six million Sky routers exposed to takeover attacks for 17 months

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/six-million-sky-routers-exposed-to-takeover-attacks-for-17-months/
archive: https://archive.ph/mbLFE

Tor Project sees decline in server numbers, will offer rewards for new bridge operators

https://therecord.media/tor-project-sees-decline-in-server-numbers-will-offer-rewards-for-new-bridge-operators/
archive: https://archive.ph//PG03q

Introducing tbDEX

- bitcoin decentralized exchange proposal released by Square

blog: https://tbd54566975.ghost.io/introducing-tbdex/
archive: https://archive.ph/mATgv
whitepaper: https://tbdex.io/whitepaper.pdf

Nunchuk - Bitcoin Self-Custody: A Path Forward

https://nunchuk.medium.com/bitcoin-self-custody-a-path-forward-bf131663d19f
archive: https://archive.ph/e3yis

El Salvador plans first 'Bitcoin City', backed by bitcoin bonds

https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/el-salvador-plans-first-bitcoin-city-backed-by-bitcoin-bonds-2021-11-21/
archive: https://archive.ph/W6ijb

NFL Player Odell Beckham Jr to take his entire $4.25M deal with Los Angeles Rams in bitcoin through partnership with CashApp

https://twitter.com/obj/status/1462836953888534528
archive: https://archive.ph/a77rG

Bitcoin vs Ethereum – Blockchain Size

- we attempt to compare and evaluate the differences in the blockchain size and data storage requirements, for Bitcoin and Ethereum

https://blog.bitmex.com/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-blockchain-size/
archive: https://archive.ph/gq6b7

Taproot vs. Security Threats

https://jimmysong.substack.com/p/taproot-vs-security-threats-bitcoin
archive: https://archive.ph/SIQxq

Swan Bitcoin Raises $6 Million in Series A Funding Round

- $90 million pre-money valuation

https://www.prweb.com/releases/2021/11/prweb18332261.htm
archive: https://archive.ph/wip/7Ljy7

U.S. official says El Salvador relations 'paused' for lack of interest

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-official-says-el-salvador-relations-paused-lack-interest-2021-11-22/
archive: https://archive.ph/jP2Ps

SeedSigner - Verifying dice seed generation

https://github.com/SeedSigner/seedsigner/blob/main/docs/dice_verification.md
archive: https://archive.ph/mfaiA

Samsung to Choose Taylor, Texas, for $17 Billion Chip-Making Factory

https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-to-choose-taylor-texas-for-17-billion-chipmaking-factory-11637627613
archive: https://archive.ph/seTA1